In today's newscast:
Timber Fire moves deeper into Ventana Wilderness
The Timber Fire has burned 17,817 acres and is 23% contained, as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
It’s moving deeper into the Ventana Wilderness.
Carol Olson is executive director of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance, which maintains backcountry trails. She says most of them are now closed.
"These closures could be expanded. They could last a very long time," Olson said. "We've had some trails closed for years after a fire."
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office added more evacuation orders on Monday.
We're updating our Timber Fire page as things change.
Bill would broaden Safe at Home concept
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill expanding privacy protections for those who provide support services for immigrants.
The new law gives immigrant supportive service providers additional privacy protections for their addresses and other sensitive information.
Lawmakers have expanded these protections under the California Safe at Home Act for healthcare workers who provide reproductive and gender-affirming care in recent years.
The new law aims to protect immigrant service providers from threats as well.
Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta is the bill’s author.
"A disagreement about immigration policy should not be separating us and not be putting workers and their families in danger," she said.
The bill faced fierce pushback from GOP lawmakers, including San Diego Assemblymember Carl DeMaio.
"It limits the First Amendment rights of citizen journalists to record and post evidence of fraud," DeMaio said.
Republicans say influencers should be able to publicly post information in order to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in public programs.
Bonta and other proponents insist the law doesn’t do anything to limit free speech.
That reporting from our partner, CapRadio.
