In today's newscast:
Congress's role in trade
As the US-Canada trade war escalates, a Central Coast representative is co-sponsoring a bill to reassert Congress’ role.
Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta and a few colleagues introduced the BAD DEAL Act after the White House said it would impose $20 billion dollars in tariffs on Canadian goods.
It seeks to repeal part of the 96-year-old bill that the Trump Administration used to unilaterally levy the tariffs. It also refunds all duties paid under this authority so far.
“We're seeing damage to the people in the United States of America," Panetta said. "We're seeing damage to our small businesses. We're seeing damage to our economy because of the, basically the taxes that are being imposed on the consumer.”
Panetta doesn’t expect the bill will get a vote under Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, even though he thinks it has bipartisan appeal.
“So the least that Congress can do is put forward this type of legislation that reclaims its authority," he said.
The latest tariffs took effect Tuesday with Canada imposing dollar-for-dollar levies of its own.
A $6 million donation to Big Basin
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is getting a $6 million donation from a Bay Area family. Executive Director Bonny Hawley says the funds will fully cover the construction of a new interpretive center at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
" There'll be changing exhibits, and it will be really the heart of the old growth area of the park," she said.
The gift was made by 98-year-old Barbara Reyneri in memory of her husband, Cesare Reyneri. The Friends nonprofit will hold the money until State Parks is ready to build.
Big Basin is still recovering from the 2020 fire, but Hawley says in some places, the regrowth has been so successful that it’s hard to tell it burned at all.
" For people who haven't been back to Big Basin since the fire, I really welcome you to come visit, because it's inspiring to see how nature is rebounding," she said.
The park has opened several miles of trails and is working on more.
