Sacramento, California - The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has activated the State Operations Center (SOC) to support local cities and counties impacted by heavy rain, snow and high winds during the next few days across the entire state.

Sacramento, California - Wildlife officers at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are turning to an age-old enforcement tool the horse - to help protect California’s natural resources.

Sacramento, California - Anthony Merrell Tyler, 34, of Yuba City, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to serve 46 months in prison for violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The crime involved a racially motivated attack by Tyler and two co-defendants, Billy Hammett, 30, and Perry Jackson, 29, on a white man and an African-American woman in Marysville in 2011. In addition to his term of incarceration, Tyler was ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison and to pay $175 in restitution.

Sacramento, California - The California Energy Commission approved its first $10 million to fund Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) research and development (R&D) projects during its monthly business meeting today. The Commission also approved grants for the operation of a hydrogen fueling station, biofuel production, geothermal exploration and rooftop solar for schools.

Los Angeles, California - The FBI and law enforcement partners continue to seek the public’s assistance in learning the identity of a suspect who robbed a Beverly Hills bank on November 28, now nicknamed the “Patient” Bandit,” based on the surgical-type mask he wears around his mouth and nose. An unidentified male who matches the description of the suspect in the November 28 robbery was seen in bank surveillance photographs taken on December 5 at a Citibank located at 3rd and Fairfax. Witnesses described the man’s activity on December 5 as suspicious while he stood in the customer service line at the bank.

Sequoia National Park, California - The National Park Service is initiating public scoping on a proposal to evaluate a full range of ecological restoration options to address a large erosion gully in Cahoon Meadow, located within the John Krebs Wilderness of Sequoia National Park. The purpose of this project is to protect and restore wetlands in Cahoon Meadow.