EU puts tariffs on US but hopes for change with Biden [Associated Press]
The European Union said Monday it would impose tariffs on up to $4 billion worth of U.S. goods and services over illegal aid for plane maker Boeing — but expressed hope that trade ties would improve once President Donald Trump leaves office. European trade ministers agreed on the move a few weeks after international arbitrators gave the EU the green light for such punitive action. The World Trade Organization had deemed illegal some U.S. support for Boeing — which is a bitter rival to Europe’s Airbus — and said the EU could make up for that with a limited amount of penalties on U.S. trade.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/article247084972.html
California’s climate agenda likely to get big boost from Biden — look for reversal of Trump policies [San Francisco Chronicle]
California’s war with Washington over the environment will soon come to an end. The legal wrangling that sparked 57 environmental lawsuits against the Trump administration — for loosening policies on everything from automobile pollution to pesticide use and salmon conservation — should turn to consensus and cooperation. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to act quickly to restore and strengthen dozens of protections on public lands, water and wildlife….But just how far a Democratic president can push an environmental agenda, and how quickly, is limited in large part by Republicans, who are likely to control the Senate….Federal water managers, under Trump, were given greater leeway to pump water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, fulfilling the president’s pledge to deliver more water to California farms. This compromised the amount of water for struggling fish populations, including delta smelt and chinook salmon.
Thunder, lightning, hail, and rain: First storm of Tulare County’s wet season in the books [Visalia Times Delta]
…On Monday, after a series of storms past through California, those living on the Valley floor woke up to a clear view of the vast mountain range and blue skies. “The first storm of the wet season is in the record books,” National Weather Service (NWS) Hanford stated in its Monday forecast discussion. “A complex weather system that lasted over the past three days brought strong winds across the area on Friday, showers on Friday night into Saturday morning and showers and thunderstorms with heavy snow in the Sierra on Sunday.”…It’s been months since the area has experienced rain. Total rainfall for the calendar year in Visalia is just over 5 inches, according to NWS. Tulare County wasn’t the only region in the state impacted by wet weather. Several inches of snow fell in mountains east of Los Angeles, where tire chains were required and a winter storm warning was in effect through 10 p.m. Sunday. Gusty winds were predicted throughout the region until early Monday.
La Niña might bring a better water year in 2021 [Klamath Falls Herald and News]
La Niña is here, and meteorologists say it may bring a particularly eventful winter to Oregon this year. The temperature change in the equatorial Pacific Ocean will likely have significant impacts on weather throughout the northern hemisphere during the next few months. And there’s a chance it could result in a better water year for 2021….Based on prior La Niña conditions, Parsons predicted a milder start to the winter and colder, wetter weather later in December and through January. In January, he forecasted that the South Central climate region of Oregon, which encompasses the Klamath Basin, may receive 40 to 50% more precipitation than normal. He also said there will be a higher chance of windstorms, floods, blizzards and dumps of Arctic air throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Napa County moves idea of a single water agency to future talks [Napa Valley Register]
…“California counties such as Marin County have one water authority that manages all water treatment, delivery and wastewater across the county,” the study said. Other counties have agencies that deal with regional water issues in a less comprehensive fashion. The idea of a possible Napa County water czar raised concerns. One is that cities might dominate at the expense of farming areas. The California Farm Bureau Federation requested time for more public analysis and discussion.
Salinas company voluntarily recalls romaine lettuce with two October package dates [Salinas Californian]
…Salinas-based Tanimura & Antle issued a voluntary recall of their packaged single head romaine lettuce labeled with a package date of Oct. 15, 2020, or Oct. 16, 2020, because it may be contaminated with E. Coli, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). At the time of Friday’s announcement, there were no reported illnesses associated with the recalled lettuce. The test result of E. Coli came from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as part of their normally conducted sampling program.
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