Gavin Newsom wants to send $600 to millions of Californians, extend renter protections [Sacramento Bee]
Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking state lawmakers to approve an additional $600 in cash for low-income families and an extension of California’s eviction moratorium to help people through the coronavirus pandemic, Newsom announced Wednesday morning. … The proposals Newsom unveiled Wednesday are part of his 2021-22 state budget plan, which he will unveil in full Friday. … Also included in Newsom’s early action proposal are $2 billion for school reopenings and nearly $1 billion in small business help.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article248310240.html
UC Riverside scientists fight citrus greening disease by breeding new fruit [Riverside Press-Enterprise]
… Since 2013, UCR scientists have been trying to breed citrus varieties that resist Huanglongbing or HLB — also known as citrus greening disease — which has ravaged Florida oranges and spread widely among Inland Empire backyard trees. At the same time, scientists are trying to develop fruit with a taste that appeals to consumer palates. … The UCR-led effort — done in partnership with researchers from Texas A&M University, the University of Florida, Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — recently received a $4.67 million grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Prominent Ukiah area water managers jockey for seat at the table as Water Board considers drought management [Mendocino Voice]
… We may be barreling towards drought in 2021, which could lead to curtailments in water use like we saw in 2014. … In anticipation of this, prominent leaders and water managers of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau, Russian River Flood Control, and the City of Ukiah have banded together to advocate for local interests in the case of a water shortage. … “End goal would be to fairly allocate resources,” said Devon Jones, executive director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau, a group which works to protect agricultural interests in Mendocino County. “We don’t want the whole burden falling on one group.”
Gallo finalizes $810 million purchase. Here’s what it means for Modesto wine giant [Modesto Bee]
- & J. Gallo Winery announced Tuesday that it has finally completed an $810 million purchase from Constellation Brands Inc. The Modesto-based company got 30-plus labels at various price levels, along with winemaking capacity in the Lodi area and four other locations. … The FTC approved the deal with a few anti-trust conditions. Gallo must sell its Sheffield Cellars port and Fairbanks sherry to Precept Wine, based in Seattle. Constellation must retain its Cook’s and J Roget sparkling wines and sell its Paul Masson brandy to Sazerac, based in New Orleans.
https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article248294540.html
What the wine world’s mega-deal between Gallo and Constellation means for supermarket wine [San Francisco Chronicle]
… Many California grape farmers will breathe a sigh of relief at the news that the deal has been finalized. During the last two harvests, the limbo state of the Gallo-Constellation transaction had caused considerable instability in the grape markets, since many farmers who had fruit contracts for the brands in question didn’t know if they’d suddenly be working with a new company at harvesttime. Now, at least, everyone knows where the chips have fallen. The really key takeaway here, though, is that competition has been preserved on the supermarket shelves.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/What-Gallo-s-mega-deal-with-Constellation-15850747.php
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