Across California, AT&T customers are receiving notices stating that their traditional landline service will be discontinued and encouraging them to switch to alternative technologies. While these letters may sound definitive, they can be misleading and do not...
The Barbed Wire will be on hiatus June 5th during RCRC’s Board of Directors Meeting taking place in the County of the Chair (Mariposa County). The Barbed Wire will return June 12,...
The Assembly and Senate faced deadlines this week to pass bills introduced in 2026, out of the house in which they were introduced (known as the “House of Origin”). Policy Committee hearings in the second house will commence next week and conclude at the end of the...
CalRecycle will host a webinar on how SB 1383 intersects with SB 54 on Wednesday, June 17, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The webinar will also cover Circular Action Alliance’s (CAA) Reimbursement Program; jurisdiction enforcement; jurisdictions assessing the SB 54...
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced $648 million in grant funding for firefighters and other first responders nationwide on May 18. The funding is available through Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG); Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency...
On May 20, Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Joe Neguse (D-CO), announced the recent introduction of the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act (H.R. 8523). This measure would prohibit Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the...
Prior to departing Washington for the Memorial Day Recess, Republican leaders in both chambers delayed action on the $72 billion budget reconciliation package focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funding. Senate...
A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities. GSFA Boosts Homebuyer Assistance for National Homeownership Month GSFA is offering a limited-time enhancement to its...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Sarah Mangum, of Woodland, has been appointed to the California Educational Facilities Authority. Mangum has been Associate Vice Chancellor of Budget and Institutional...
RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications. What the Colorado River Drought Means for California – KQED The Colorado River basin faces record-low...
RCRC, along with our local government partners, opposes AB 1294 unless amended. This measure, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), would direct the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to adopt a standardized development...
On Thursday, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order intended to mobilize state agencies, labor experts, economists, universities, and industry leaders to develop new policies, gather data, and identify early warning signs of workforce disruption. The order directs...
On Thursday, Governor Newsom announced a new feature to integrate California Communities Extreme Heat Scoring System (CalHeatScore) data into a wide range of applications to help Californians stay safe during extreme heat. CalHeatScore was released last year to...
On May 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed Stevan Pearce as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of a larger package of nominees approved by Senate Republicans. Mr. Pearce, a former seven-term Republican congressman from New Mexico, takes over an agency...
The House Appropriations Committee released its fiscal year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill on May 20, 2026. The following day, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee met to consider the measure and approved it,...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. Farfalla Borah, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Borah held multiple positions at University of California,...
RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications. Counties Call on State Leaders to “Protect Our Safety Net” Ahead of Deep Federal Cuts – California...
On Thursday, May 14, Governor Newson released his Administration’s May Revision of the 2026-27 state budget. This revision is the next step in the State’s budget negotiations with lawmakers, who must pass a budget by June 15 for the July 1 start of the 2026-2027...
In simultaneous hearings on May 14, the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees acted on 978 bills from their respective suspense files. Measures with cost impacts over the committee-designated Suspense File threshold faced two possible outcomes: Passed off the...
California livestock producers and interested residents are being asked to weigh in on a survey examining compensation for wolf-related livestock losses. UC Berkeley and the UC Cooperative Extension are seeking participants for the survey, which researchers say will...
On Thursday, Governor Newsom announced the availability of up to $30 million through the new Regional Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Grant Program. These grants, from voter approved Climate Bond funds (Proposition 4) and supported by the Legislature, are intended...
On May 14, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the launch of a new round of funding through the ReCoverCA Single-Family Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (ReCoverCA) Program, a housing recovery effort to help homeowners and...
May is California Tourism Month, and the most recent economic data according to Visit California’s 2025 Economic Impact Report, tells a story of resilience. Despite wildfires, global economic headwinds and softening international travel, California’s tourism industry...
On May 12, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and more than 60 House colleagues sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and USFS Chief Tom Schultz opposing the USDA’s proposed reorganization of the U.S. Forest...
On May 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance clarifying its review procedures for Clean Air Act Title V operating permits. The guidance is intended to reduce permitting delays by allowing state, local, and Tribal permitting authorities to...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties. John Ohanian, of Vacaville has been appointed Statewide Chief Data Officer at the Office of Data and Innovation. Ohanian has been the Senior Policy Advisor for Data...
RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications. Medi-Cal losses will strain California county services – Sacramento Bee In a commentary for the...
On May 7, Democratic leadership in the State Assembly released their framework for the 2026-27 State Budget. Like the Senate’s framework document released in April, it prioritizes protecting health care access in the wake of cuts resulting from the passage of Federal...
RCRC, along with other local government and planning stakeholders, supported Assembly Bill 2741 if amended. This bill, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), would have provided regulatory clarity for local governments following an October 2025 court...
On Thursday, as part of Wildfire Preparedness Week, Governor Newsom announced the availability of up to $70 million in grant funding for community-focused wildfire prevention and resilience projects. The grants are intended to empower locally led efforts that reduce...
Sarah Dukett
Senior Policy Advocate
Leigh Kammerich
Senior Policy Advocate
John Kennedy
Senior Policy Advocate
Staci Heaton
Senior Policy Advocate
Tracy Rhine
Senior Policy Advocate
Eric Will
Policy Advocate
Mary-Ann Warmerdam
Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs