san joaquin valley

California has become the first state in the US to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases since the onset of the pandemic earlier this year. On Friday, the California Department of Public Health confirmed 39,070 new cases and 351 fatalities, which increased the overall tally to 2,003,146 and death toll to 23,635 in the most populous US state, reports Xinhua news agency. There are 18,875 people with Covid-19 currently hospitalised in the state, and 3,962 of them are in intensive care units (ICU).

Restaurants in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area and the state's agricultural san joaquin valley shut for all but takeout and delivery. Playgrounds closed, stores reduced capacity and hair salons and barbershops shuttered.

Health officials advised attendees of the Lightning in a Bottle festival in Kern County to watch for symptoms like fever and respiratory discomfort after identifying five cases of Valley Fever, with three hospitalizations. Valley Fever, common in California's san joaquin valley, can spread through inhaling dust containing fungal spores. Preventative measures include wearing N95 masks and avoiding dust exposure.

Environmentalists have cheered a plan to reconnect the river this fall. But it is over budget, overdue and vehemently opposed by local farmers and some Republican lawmakers. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a 2016 Republican presidential hopeful, once joked about eating its protected fish with crackers.

Valley fever cases are significantly rising in California, reaching 11,076 by November 2024, a near 20% increase from the previous year. The disease, caused by a soil-dwelling fungus, has the highest numbers reported in Kern County. Symptoms resemble pneumonia with severe cases requiring antifungal treatments.

Valley fever is rapidly spreading across California, with confirmed cases surging, particularly in the Central Valley and coastal regions. Health officials are concerned as the state is on track to exceed last year's record high, driven by climate change and shifting weather patterns. Precautions like avoiding dusty areas and wearing masks are crucial to protect against this serious illness.

Kannadigas in the Bay Area of Silicon Valley, USA have organised a memorial service for Sandalwood star Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away last week.

California lifted regional stay-at-home orders across the state Monday in response to improving coronavirus conditions, returning the state to a system of county-by-county restrictions.

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake centered near Isleton in Sacramento County, Northern California, jolted residents awake. The quake coincided with the annual earthquake drill and triggered a widespread alert from the USGS. Though it caused no significant damage, it served as a reminder of the seismic risk in California, which has over 500 active fault lines. The event disrupted train services and emphasized the importance of earthquake preparedness and early warning systems.

One of the most intriguing races for the U.S. Congress in 2012 will be for California's District 11 seat, which currently includes most of San Joaquin County and parts of Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Valley fever cases have increased following an outbreak that affected at least 19 attendees of the Lightning in a Bottle music festival near Bakersfield in May. The lung infection is caused by inhaling a soil-borne fungus found in California's san joaquin valley and Central Coast. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, night sweats, and respiratory issues.

Tulare Lake, having been drained in the 19th century for agriculture, has reappeared in California's san joaquin valley after massive winter storms and snowmelt. Reclaiming around 94,000 acres, the lake now engulfs farmland, raising environmental concerns, but also reviving local wildlife and ecosystems.

An Indian-origin family kidnapped at gunpoint from their trucking business in central California was found dead in an orchard on Thursday, local police said. Sheriff Vern Warnke announced Wednesday that the bodies of a baby and 3 others were found in a Merced County orchard and told reporters: “Our worst fears have been confirmed.”

Authorities in California and the FBI investigated eight Indian-origin suspects. The suspects were arrested in connection with a kidnapping and torture case. The case involved an international Punjabi street gang. The gang is accused of running a brutal extortion racket. The racket stretches from California to murder plots in India.

Under the lockdown, most offices will close and gatherings of people from different households are banned. Bars and personal services such as hair salons will be temporarily closed, and restaurants will only be allowed to offer take-out and delivery.

The newest onslaught, arriving early on the second official day of spring, was concentrated mostly in Southern California, the state's central coast and its agricultural heartland, still sodden from a relentless string of storms that began in late December.