Meadow Fire Expands in Yosemite, Forces Helicopter Evacuations
The Meadow Fire is tearing a wild path in Yosemite National Park's high country. The current acreage count has expanded to close to 2,600 acres from around 700 on Monday. As the fire raged east of Half Dome, about 85 hikers had to be evacuated. Despite the Meadow Fire, Yosemite's Facebook page reports air quality and visibility are good. The Park remains open, but backcountry trails are closed.
Schwarzenegger Returns to Capitol to Unveil Official Portrait
Former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a visit to Sacramento Monday to unveil a portrait of himself. The portrait is a 6-foot painting he paid for himself. Gov. Jerry Brown praised Schwarzenegger's independence in bucking party politics by helping craft the state?s 2005 landmark climate change law. Schwarzenegger in turn praised Brown's vision in the 1970s as helping spark the state's focus on environmental protection.
Kern County Considers New Crude-by-Rail Facility
The Kern County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposed rail terminal for a Bakersfield refinery on Tuesday. The terminal could be the state's largest crude-by-rail facility.
As Online Classes Take Off at Community Colleges, Battle Brews Over Local Control
As community colleges look to expand course offerings as cheaply as possible, online courses have taken off. At Saddleback College in south Orange County, the percentage of students taking online classes has doubled in the last eight years.