In light of the nearly unprecedented penalties paid by the powerful Westlands Water District to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges for misleading investors, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today launched an investigation with several of his congressional colleagues into a major settlement agreement between Westlands and the federal government. The settlement agreement, currently pending in Congress, would forgive hundreds of millions of dollars owed by Westlands yet lacks key safeguards and assurances that the water district will hold up its side

Officials from the City of Sacramento, Robla School District, and Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will celebrate the completion of the new Main Avenue Sports Field made possible through a joint partnership between the three entities. Currently used by the school district for children to play soccer and other physical exercise during school hours, officials expect word of the new “field of dreams” to spread throughout the community and attract a variety of year round sports activity including soccer and baseball.

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) praised the inclusion of several provisions that will provide relief to California’s ongoing drought in the Fiscal Year 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Rep. Calvert is a member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, which approved the bill earlier today.

Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) participated in an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing titled: Flint Water Crisis: Impacts and Lessons Learned. The Hearing was jointly held by the Health and Environment and Economy Subcommittees; Capps is a member of both subcommittees

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy, Water, and Related Agencies today approved the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The legislation provides annual funding for national defense nuclear weapons activities, the Army Corps of Engineers, various programs under the Department of Energy (DOE), and other related agencies.

A 37-year-old man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for fatally beating a homeless man nearly two years ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) announced today that it has been re-certified as a Bay Area Green Business by the California Bay Area Green Business Program, after meeting stricter standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development today approved fiscal year 2017 funding legislation that totals $37.5 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is $355 million more than fiscal year 2016 and $261 million more than the President’s request

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) issued the following statement at a House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on the Flint Water Crisis: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing today. First and foremost, we must do everything we can to support the women, children, and families in Flint affected by this public health crisis.

A felon was convicted and sentenced today for burglarizing two homes and assaulting and robbing a homeowner on Christmas and fleeing the scene after being shot by the homeowner. Jeremy William Bell, 31, Fullerton, pleaded guilty today to a court offer of two felony counts of first degree residential burglary, one felony count of aggravated assault, and one felony count of robbery, with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon, and a prior prison conviction in 2012 in Riverside County for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Over the People’s objection, Bell was sentenced to three years in state prison.

Plug loads, or devices that plug into the wall, are responsible for at least 25 percent of electricity use in California buildings. And not only is that percentage growing, it’s a hard number to manage since “plug loads” include hundreds of device types—from small appliances to electronics to lighting—making device-specific solutions ineffective in most cases

Under a public-nonprofit partnership with the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, developer Pacific Housing, Inc. will reach its goal of selling all 10 new homes in the first building phase of the Heritage at Del Paso Nuevo development in North Sacramento. A grand opening celebration is planned for Wednesday, April 13 at 10 a.m., at 640 Ford Road

The House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation provides funding for national defense nuclear weapons activities, the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy (DOE) programs, and other related agencies.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement upon the release of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2017, which includes language to deliver water to California’s Central Valley and southern Californian communities while protecting water rights

Environment California Research & Policy Center was joined in front of San José City Hall by Councilmember Ash Kalra and SunPower Managing Director Bobby Ram to celebrate San José’s impressive solar power achievements. San José has more solar panels than most major American cities, ranking 5th among dozens of metropolitan areas analyzed in a new report

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) released the following statement to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted on April 11, 1968. “48 years ago, the Fair Housing Act was passed into law, making it illegal to refuse to rent or sell a residence to any individual ‘because of race, color, religion, or national origin.’ This landmark civil rights act directly tackled the rampant housing discrimination across America.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee welcomed the Honorable Julian Castro, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to the East Bay to participate in a tour of the Oakland Housing Authority’s Leadership Training Center and learn more about OHA’s unique partnership with the Oakland Unified School District

Environment California Research & Policy Center was joined in front of San Diego International Airport’s 3.3 megawatt (MW) solar installation by Mayor Kevin Faulconer, airport officials, local renewable energy advocates and industry leaders to celebrate San Diego’s impressive solar power achievements. San Diego has more solar panels than most major American cities, ranking 2nd nationwide—for the third year in a row—among dozens of metropolitan areas analyzed in a new report.

Marking a big step toward implementing San Diego’s Climate Action Plan and the goal of 100 percent renewable energy use citywide by 2035, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer joined environmentalists and solar businesses Friday to release a new report that shows San Diego ranks second nationally in solar energy capacity following a 26 percent increase in solar panel installations over the past year.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) celebrated the completion of the American River Watershed Common Features Project as authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. The Project, in conjunction with other regional flood protection efforts that the Congresswoman has advocated for, will significantly reduce the risk from flooding in the region.