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<p>The recent spate of wildfires and rain may have caused widespread loss of human life and property across the US state of California but it may also have presented a unique opportunity to make a fortune to the public. If reports are to be believed, California might witness 'Gold Rush 2.0' in the coming months as locals have found pieces of gold that were unearthed by natural events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nearly 175 years after the first gold rush, amateur miners are trekking towards the western slope of the Sierra Nevada - an area also referred to as the 'Gold Country'. According to historians, up until now, only 10 to 15 per cent of California's gold has been discovered and the miners are hoping that they might get their hands on the remaining 85 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the wildfires of last year loosened the soil, the torrential winter rainfall blasted millions of gallons of water through the mountain streams and rivers. The loose soil helped push the water downstream, carrying gold deposits as people started calling it 'flood gold'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Anytime you can stand next to a river, and you hear the boulders tumbling, you know the gold is moving, too,” Jim Eakin, owner of a local firewood business was quoted as saying by&nbsp;<em>The New York Times.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/lottery-huge-nugget-worth-250000-discovered-by-an-amateur-gold-digger-in-australia-576826" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | LOTTERY! 4.6 kg gold nugget, worth $250,000, discovered by amateur digger</strong></a></p>

<p>The treasure seekers of the valley routinely gather at the Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club and display their finds. According to one of the regulars at the club, they have seen more gold in the last two meetings than in the last two years combined.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There was $50,000 of gold up at that table. We’ve had more gold in the last two meetings than I’ve seen in the last two years," said the regular.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Albert Fausel, a third-generation owner of a Hardware store in Placerville (a 15-minute drive from the valley) is now selling metal detectors to amateur miners looking to make a fortune. Using a metal detector has been the go-to method of the majority of gold enthusiasts to find the precious metal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/digger-unearths-archaeological-treasure-from-a-burial-cave-in-israel-518415" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Digger unearths archaeological treasure from a burial cave in Israel</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Biggest Gold Rush season incoming?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Mark Dayton, a metal detector expert, it is the biggest event of his life and he fully expects the season to get crazier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As the water comes down really quickly, especially in steep canyons. It hits the banks and washes fresh dirt right off the banks and liberates new fresh deposits of gold right into the water," said Dayton.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This year's going to be unprecedented. Time to go get some gold. Best time to begin seeking gold deposits will be June and July, when the river levels begin to lower."</p>

<p>An ounce of gold is expected to fetch anyone around $2,000. However, not everyone is alright with the gold rush. Environmentalists are of the view that the original gold rush caused tremendous damage to nature as is suggested by 47,000 mines that remain abandoned across the state. Concerns are being raised that water quality may degrade as more miners make their way up the valley.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The recent spate of wildfires and rain may have caused widespread loss of human life and property across the US state of California but it may also have presented a unique opportunity to make a fortune to the public.

The recent spate of wildfires and rain may have caused widespread loss of human life and property across the US state of California but it may also have presented a unique opportunity to make a fortune to the public. If reports are to be believed, California might witness 'Gold Rush 2.0' in the coming months as locals have found pieces of gold that were unearthed by natural events. Nearly 175 years after the first gold rush, amateur miners are trekking towards the western slope of the Sierra Nevada - an area also referred to as the 'Gold Country'. According to historians, up until now, only 10 to 15 per cent of California's gold has been discovered and the miners are hoping that they might get their hands on the remaining 85 per cent. After the wildfires of last year loosened the soil, the torrential winter rainfall blasted millions of gallons of water through the mountain streams and rivers. The loose soil helped push the water downstream, carrying gold deposits as people started calling it 'flood gold'. “Anytime you can stand next to a river, and you hear the boulders tumbling, you know the gold is moving, too,” Jim Eakin, owner of a local firewood business was quoted as saying by The New York Times. ALSO READ | LOTTERY! 4.6 kg gold nugget, worth $250,000, discovered by amateur digger The treasure seekers of the valley routinely gather at the Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club and display their finds. According to one of the regulars at the club, they have seen more gold in the last two meetings than in the last two years combined. “There was $50,000 of gold up at that table. We’ve had more gold in the last two meetings than I’ve seen in the last two years," said the regular. Albert Fausel, a third-generation owner of a Hardware store in Placerville (a 15-minute drive from the valley) is now selling metal detectors to amateur miners looking to make a fortune. Using a metal detector has been the go-to method of the majority of gold enthusiasts to find the precious metal. WATCH | Digger unearths archaeological treasure from a burial cave in Israel × Biggest Gold Rush season incoming? According to Mark Dayton, a metal detector expert, it is the biggest event of his life and he fully expects the season to get crazier. "As the water comes down really quickly, especially in steep canyons. It hits the banks and washes fresh dirt right off the banks and liberates new fresh deposits of gold right into the water," said Dayton. "This year's going to be unprecedented. Time to go get some gold. Best time to begin seeking gold deposits will be June and July, when the river levels begin to lower." An ounce of gold is expected to fetch anyone around $2,000. However, not everyone is alright with the gold rush. Environmentalists are of the view that the original gold rush caused tremendous damage to nature as is suggested by 47,000 mines that remain abandoned across the state. Concerns are being raised that water quality may degrade as more miners make their way up the valley. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amateur treasure hunters flock to California for Gold Rush 2.0 after heavy rain, wildfires

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<p>A bill aiming to curtail caste-based discrimination, brought in the US state of California has cleared its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted in favour of the legislation setting it up for the next committee to evaluate it on other benchmarks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bill was brought in last month by Senator Aisha Wahab - the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the state legislature.&nbsp;After the committee's approval, Wahab said she had received death threats after proposing the legislation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’ve hit a nerve and exposed a form of discrimination many never even knew existed. Caste is an invisible shackle placed on people at birth. Those of us not raised in that system can’t possibly understand what it does to one’s psyche, the inter-generational trauma it causes," said Wahab who represents the Hayward district in northern California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Wahab told BBC that she herself did not experience caste discrimination but was aware of the social evil because of the area she grew up in.</p>

<p>"I've had friends tell me that their parents immigrated to this country because they belong to different castes and [their] families weren't accepting of that," Wahab was quoted as saying by the BBC.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/seattle-bans-caste-discrimination-cheers-and-celebrations-pour-in-564914"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Seattle bans caste discrimination: Cheers and celebrations pour in</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>What is the caste system?</strong></h2>

<p>The caste system is an archaic form of social division in South Asia, especially India. Generally, caste is an ascribed status with Brahmins sitting at the top of the hierarchy order while the Dalit community comes at the bottom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US lawmakers are of the view that caste-based discrimination has proliferated in the country as well with even big tech companies facing the problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, not everyone seems to agree with the legislation. Rakhi Israni, an attorney and California resident, who testified before the committee stated that bill was 'unconstitutional' in its structure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If this bill is adopted, caste will be the only discrimination law category that is not facially neutral/ Everyone has a race. Everyone has a colour. Everyone has an age. Not everyone has a caste. This bill is facially discriminatory," she told the committee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to an AP report, during the course of hearing in front of the committee, about 220 people said they support the bill while 420 said they oppose it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-afghan-american-lawmaker-seeks-law-against-caste-discrimination-575049" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | California: Afghan-American lawmaker seeks law against caste discrimination</strong></a></p>

<p>Prior to the bill in California, Seattle became the first city in the US to outlaw caste discrimination. In February, the city council voted to add caste to the anti-discrimination laws.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the bill is approved, California will become the first US state to make caste discrimination illegal by adding it&nbsp;as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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A bill aiming to curtail caste-based discrimination, brought in the US state of California has cleared its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted in favour of the legislation setting it up for the next committee to evaluate it on other benchmarks.

A bill aiming to curtail caste-based discrimination, brought in the US state of California has cleared its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted in favour of the legislation setting it up for the next committee to evaluate it on other benchmarks. The bill was brought in last month by Senator Aisha Wahab - the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the state legislature. After the committee's approval, Wahab said she had received death threats after proposing the legislation. “We’ve hit a nerve and exposed a form of discrimination many never even knew existed. Caste is an invisible shackle placed on people at birth. Those of us not raised in that system can’t possibly understand what it does to one’s psyche, the inter-generational trauma it causes," said Wahab who represents the Hayward district in northern California. Earlier, Wahab told BBC that she herself did not experience caste discrimination but was aware of the social evil because of the area she grew up in. "I've had friends tell me that their parents immigrated to this country because they belong to different castes and [their] families weren't accepting of that," Wahab was quoted as saying by the BBC. WATCH | Seattle bans caste discrimination: Cheers and celebrations pour in × What is the caste system? The caste system is an archaic form of social division in South Asia, especially India. Generally, caste is an ascribed status with Brahmins sitting at the top of the hierarchy order while the Dalit community comes at the bottom. The US lawmakers are of the view that caste-based discrimination has proliferated in the country as well with even big tech companies facing the problem. However, not everyone seems to agree with the legislation. Rakhi Israni, an attorney and California resident, who testified before the committee stated that bill was 'unconstitutional' in its structure. “If this bill is adopted, caste will be the only discrimination law category that is not facially neutral/ Everyone has a race. Everyone has a colour. Everyone has an age. Not everyone has a caste. This bill is facially discriminatory," she told the committee. According to an AP report, during the course of hearing in front of the committee, about 220 people said they support the bill while 420 said they oppose it. ALSO READ | California: Afghan-American lawmaker seeks law against caste discrimination Prior to the bill in California, Seattle became the first city in the US to outlaw caste discrimination. In February, the city council voted to add caste to the anti-discrimination laws. If the bill is approved, California will become the first US state to make caste discrimination illegal by adding it as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

California takes a step ahead in passing bill against caste discrimination

<p>A study has highlighted the potential threat currently faced by California as it experienced a record number of earthquakes recently. The study noted that in Long Beach and Seal Beach areas, a thousand tiny tremors have been recorded over eight months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They noted that the majority of the quakes were shallow, and reached depths less than two kilometres below the surface, but the region is at risk of bigger tremors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study - published in Seismological Research Letters - stated that the researchers used three dense nodal arrays consisting of thousands of sensors to detect and locate seismic events in the Long Beach–Seal Beach area of California. They said that small events can be detected at "sufficient signal‐to‐noise levels during the night when urban noise is relatively low."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study suggested that constant shallow earthquakes, on the other hand, could build up and generate the possibility of a surface earthquake. The Alquist-Priolo zone, which surrounds the surface of active faults, must be at least 50 feet wide.</p>

<p>In the media release, the study authors wrote: "Our results suggest the zone of high hazard at the surface may therefore be much wider than the Alquist-Priolo zone indicates."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study further mentioned that most of the located events are clustered at very shallow depths and the results have also supported earlier suggestions that the shallow Newport‐Inglewood fault is wide-splayed in this area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the story, the "seismicity pattern also compares well with some newly identified faults from reflection seismic surveys" and the shallow events underscore the complex nature of the faults and their seismic hazard. The study mentioned that shallow events elude detection by the regional seismic network.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some of the faults were discovered recently by oil company exploration studies, but Yang pointed out that there was no proof that the minor shallow earthquakes recorded in their investigation were triggered by oil and gas operations.</p>

<p>Caltech researchers Yan Yang and Robert Clayton wrote in the SRL study that the catastrophic Long Beach earthquake of 1933, magnitude 6.4, may have ruptured in part on the Newport-Inglewood fault. While big earthquakes, such as the one in 1933, would most likely begin six to ten kilometres below the surface, " shallow seismicity suggests that there are many possible paths for a rupture to propagate to the surface."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted, Yang said: "The Newport-Inglewood fault along its entire length, as well as the whole Los Angeles Basin, could benefit from such studies. This would help to see if there are faults that have not been detected with the permanent seismic network or through geologic mapping."&nbsp;</p>

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A study has highlighted the potential threat currently faced by California as it experienced a record number of earthquakes recently. The study noted that in Long Beach and Seal Beach areas, a thousand tiny tremors have been recorded over eight months.

A study has highlighted the potential threat currently faced by California as it experienced a record number of earthquakes recently. The study noted that in Long Beach and Seal Beach areas, a thousand tiny tremors have been recorded over eight months. They noted that the majority of the quakes were shallow, and reached depths less than two kilometres below the surface, but the region is at risk of bigger tremors. The study - published in Seismological Research Letters - stated that the researchers used three dense nodal arrays consisting of thousands of sensors to detect and locate seismic events in the Long Beach–Seal Beach area of California. They said that small events can be detected at "sufficient signal‐to‐noise levels during the night when urban noise is relatively low." The study suggested that constant shallow earthquakes, on the other hand, could build up and generate the possibility of a surface earthquake. The Alquist-Priolo zone, which surrounds the surface of active faults, must be at least 50 feet wide. In the media release, the study authors wrote: "Our results suggest the zone of high hazard at the surface may therefore be much wider than the Alquist-Priolo zone indicates." The study further mentioned that most of the located events are clustered at very shallow depths and the results have also supported earlier suggestions that the shallow Newport‐Inglewood fault is wide-splayed in this area. According to the story, the "seismicity pattern also compares well with some newly identified faults from reflection seismic surveys" and the shallow events underscore the complex nature of the faults and their seismic hazard. The study mentioned that shallow events elude detection by the regional seismic network. Some of the faults were discovered recently by oil company exploration studies, but Yang pointed out that there was no proof that the minor shallow earthquakes recorded in their investigation were triggered by oil and gas operations. Caltech researchers Yan Yang and Robert Clayton wrote in the SRL study that the catastrophic Long Beach earthquake of 1933, magnitude 6.4, may have ruptured in part on the Newport-Inglewood fault. While big earthquakes, such as the one in 1933, would most likely begin six to ten kilometres below the surface, " shallow seismicity suggests that there are many possible paths for a rupture to propagate to the surface." As quoted, Yang said: "The Newport-Inglewood fault along its entire length, as well as the whole Los Angeles Basin, could benefit from such studies. This would help to see if there are faults that have not been detected with the permanent seismic network or through geologic mapping." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

More than a thousand tiny earthquakes detected along California over eight months: Study

Authorities in northern California have arrested more than a dozen men. The detainees are members from two warring criminal syndicates. Police say that a violent rivalry was responsible for a mass shooting at a Sikh temple and a brutal sword attack at a parade in 2018.

17 Sikh Community members detained in the US, detainees are members from two warring gangs

<p>In Disney's Zootopia, Officer Judy Hopps is a bunny who wants to become a cop. She hails from a family of carrot farmers. However, she succeeds in becoming the first bunny cop in her city. Little did Hopps know, a real-life bunny cop exists in Sacramento, California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Percy, who was once an abandoned rabbit, has a crucial job at the California police station, CNN reported. He is a wellness officer and helps other cops decompress from their stressful lives. According to an officer, appointing the bunny was a joke, but it caught on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Percy has an important role. He has to stay soft and look cute. Lt Michelle Brazil with the Yuba City Police Department told CNN, "I just love how soft he is. I think that's what I love the most."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/science/himalayas-have-lost-glacier-mass-equal-to-weight-of-570-million-elephants-study-579733">Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>Police officers encounter violence at their jobs leading to trauma and anxiety. Percy, the little brown ball of fur with little legs and a pink nose, is an outlet for stress for officers and staff members. "Being able to hold him, pet him, and just kind of step back from that situation for a minute, regroup is vital," Brazil added.</p>

<p>The Yuba City Police Department appointed Percy as a Wellness Officer in 2002 when the department increased its focus on police officers' mental health. Officer Ashley Carson found him abandoned while on duty. "I started to call him. I said, here bun. He came running and he stood on his hind legs. I picked him up," she stated.</p>

<p>Initially, Carson took Percy to the animal shelter. However, a few weeks later, when no family came to pick Percy up, department officer Chelsea Macready adopted him. She not only gave him a home but an office. Percy goes to work with Chelsea every day. The 'hard-working bunny' works shifts even when Officer Chelsea is not around.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Officer Brazil, the department has seen long-term benefits from appointing Percy in a short period. "He's a great little furry friend. I go in and see him every chance I get," said Carson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indeed, Percy is a cop that hops.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In Disney's Zootopia, Officer Judy Hopps is a bunny who wants to become a cop. She hails from a family of carrot farmers. However, she succeeds in becoming the first bunny cop in her city.

In Disney's Zootopia, Officer Judy Hopps is a bunny who wants to become a cop. She hails from a family of carrot farmers. However, she succeeds in becoming the first bunny cop in her city. Little did Hopps know, a real-life bunny cop exists in Sacramento, California. Percy, who was once an abandoned rabbit, has a crucial job at the California police station, CNN reported. He is a wellness officer and helps other cops decompress from their stressful lives. According to an officer, appointing the bunny was a joke, but it caught on. Percy has an important role. He has to stay soft and look cute. Lt Michelle Brazil with the Yuba City Police Department told CNN, "I just love how soft he is. I think that's what I love the most." ALSO READ | Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study Police officers encounter violence at their jobs leading to trauma and anxiety. Percy, the little brown ball of fur with little legs and a pink nose, is an outlet for stress for officers and staff members. "Being able to hold him, pet him, and just kind of step back from that situation for a minute, regroup is vital," Brazil added. The Yuba City Police Department appointed Percy as a Wellness Officer in 2002 when the department increased its focus on police officers' mental health. Officer Ashley Carson found him abandoned while on duty. "I started to call him. I said, here bun. He came running and he stood on his hind legs. I picked him up," she stated. Initially, Carson took Percy to the animal shelter. However, a few weeks later, when no family came to pick Percy up, department officer Chelsea Macready adopted him. She not only gave him a home but an office. Percy goes to work with Chelsea every day. The 'hard-working bunny' works shifts even when Officer Chelsea is not around. According to Officer Brazil, the department has seen long-term benefits from appointing Percy in a short period. "He's a great little furry friend. I go in and see him every chance I get," said Carson. Indeed, Percy is a cop that hops. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bunny with a badge! Rabbit at K9 unit supports mental health of California police officers

Reservoirs whose water levels had plummeted during punishing drought have recovered, but officials warn to not waste water. Hem Soraya brings you the report.

Storms dramatically fill reservoirs in California

Despite dire warnings from China, Taiwanese President Tsai met with US House Speaker McCarthy in California. With this, McCarthy has become one of the most senior US officials to meet a Taiwanese leader on US soil in decades.

Chinese aircraft, warships detected in Taiwanese airspace after McCarthy met Tsai

<p>Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to this research by UC Riverside, the Central Valley's private, untreated well water systems had the highest manganese amounts. The researchers found it in public water systems, but at amounts that were greater than those that have been linked to harmful health impacts in previous studies.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chatgpt-can-propel-four-day-work-week-heres-what-nobel-prize-winning-economist-says-579621">ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says</a></p>

<p>As per the study, over 1.3 million Californians may be drinking tap water with high levels of this chemical element.&nbsp;In the Central Valley of California, the water is sufficiently high in manganese to impair children's cognitive function and motor coordination and to give adults Parkinson-like symptoms, as per reports citing the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous studies show that school-aged children consuming drinking water with naturally elevated concentrations of manganese have demonstrated lower academic achievement scores as well as poor memory attention, and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite these studies, the research paper says that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a secondary contaminant status for manganese on the basis of adult cohort studies that did not observe neurotoxic endpoints.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In several Southeast Asian nations, manganese is controlled as a primary contaminant. Nevertheless, it is only treated as a secondary contaminant in terms of regulation in the US. It means there is no set maximum limit for it.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-us-south-korea-drills-driving-tensions-in-korean-peninsula-to-brink-of-nuclear-war-579606">North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war'</a></p>

<p>It said that some recent studies show that a disproportionate amount of domestic well-dependent communities in California are underprivileged populations that probably experience financial difficulties in groundwater testing and treatment. A growing body of evidence suggests that manganese concentrations previously considered safe may pose significant health threats to vulnerable populations such as children, the research noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is a relatively small number of people, compared to the total population of the state, who are getting the tainted water. But for them, the health risks are high," said Samantha Ying, UCR soil scientist and principal study investigator. "These people are particularly concentrated in disadvantaged communities, so if they wanted to monitor and treat the water, they would have a hard time doing so," Ying said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: Is India emerging as a space leader?</strong></p>

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<p>Even though there are options for point-of-use treatment, include water softeners, chlorination, reverse osmosis systems, etc. Yet, the expense of water quality monitoring equipment and the cost of treating manganese infused water are both up to $400 per year.</p>

<p>"It is possible to purchase filters for manganese, but a lot of people cannot afford them. We are hoping people in these communities can be subsidised to buy treatment options," Ying said.</p>

<p>It stated that community water system users may have access to municipal monitoring and treatment, but out-of-pocket costs for domestic well communities may be a considerable financial burden, particularly for those below the poverty line.</p>

<p>"Using existing groundwater model predictions of manganese concentrations at deeper depths did not change the number of wells likely to be contaminated," Ying said.</p>

<p>The study suggests that legislative changes to primary contaminant regulation may have co-benefits upon secondary contaminant remediation. As per the study, it has been reported that a decrease in arsenic concentrations was correlated with the implementation of stricter regulation of As.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Arsenic has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in the US and "wells are labeled unsafe if they contain arsenic, but not if they contain manganese," Ying said. "Thus, the number of wells considered safe may be greatly overestimated."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state.

Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state. According to this research by UC Riverside, the Central Valley's private, untreated well water systems had the highest manganese amounts. The researchers found it in public water systems, but at amounts that were greater than those that have been linked to harmful health impacts in previous studies. Also Read | ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says As per the study, over 1.3 million Californians may be drinking tap water with high levels of this chemical element. In the Central Valley of California, the water is sufficiently high in manganese to impair children's cognitive function and motor coordination and to give adults Parkinson-like symptoms, as per reports citing the study. Previous studies show that school-aged children consuming drinking water with naturally elevated concentrations of manganese have demonstrated lower academic achievement scores as well as poor memory attention, and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite these studies, the research paper says that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a secondary contaminant status for manganese on the basis of adult cohort studies that did not observe neurotoxic endpoints. In several Southeast Asian nations, manganese is controlled as a primary contaminant. Nevertheless, it is only treated as a secondary contaminant in terms of regulation in the US. It means there is no set maximum limit for it. Also Read | North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war' It said that some recent studies show that a disproportionate amount of domestic well-dependent communities in California are underprivileged populations that probably experience financial difficulties in groundwater testing and treatment. A growing body of evidence suggests that manganese concentrations previously considered safe may pose significant health threats to vulnerable populations such as children, the research noted. "It is a relatively small number of people, compared to the total population of the state, who are getting the tainted water. But for them, the health risks are high," said Samantha Ying, UCR soil scientist and principal study investigator. "These people are particularly concentrated in disadvantaged communities, so if they wanted to monitor and treat the water, they would have a hard time doing so," Ying said. Watch | Gravitas: Is India emerging as a space leader? × Even though there are options for point-of-use treatment, include water softeners, chlorination, reverse osmosis systems, etc. Yet, the expense of water quality monitoring equipment and the cost of treating manganese infused water are both up to $400 per year. "It is possible to purchase filters for manganese, but a lot of people cannot afford them. We are hoping people in these communities can be subsidised to buy treatment options," Ying said. It stated that community water system users may have access to municipal monitoring and treatment, but out-of-pocket costs for domestic well communities may be a considerable financial burden, particularly for those below the poverty line. "Using existing groundwater model predictions of manganese concentrations at deeper depths did not change the number of wells likely to be contaminated," Ying said. The study suggests that legislative changes to primary contaminant regulation may have co-benefits upon secondary contaminant remediation. As per the study, it has been reported that a decrease in arsenic concentrations was correlated with the implementation of stricter regulation of As. Arsenic has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in the US and "wells are labeled unsafe if they contain arsenic, but not if they contain manganese," Ying said. "Thus, the number of wells considered safe may be greatly overestimated." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Over 1.3mn Californians may be drinking water that can trigger cognitive issues, Parkinson-like symptoms

The US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has will meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California in California on Wednesday despite Beijing's warnings.

US House speaker McCarthy to meet Taiwan President Tsai in California

<p>California has been battered by heavy rain and strong winds, leaving the&nbsp;entire state&nbsp;covered in a blanket of snow, looking extremely beautiful.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest figures from the California Department of Water Resources show that winter weather has driven up snow levels to 237% of normal after three years of extreme drought.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The figures have put this year's snowpack on track to be the largest on record. Currently, it is perhaps the deepest snowpack recorded in more than 70 years, officials said Monday, as reported by US-based media outlets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sean de Guzman, chief of the CDWR Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Section, told reporters at the survey site: "As of right now, it's looking like this year's statewide snowpack will probably most likely be either the first or second biggest snowpack on record dating back to 1950".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What's the reason behind this situation?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Experts have stated that a series of 'atmospheric rivers' have contributed to the bumper snowpack. On the other side, they have also led to widespread flooding, rockfalls and sinkholes across the most populous US state. The Central Valley, known as the country's agricultural breadbasket, has been impacted badly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The situation also has some positive impacts as the flooding and snowstorms also had a positive effect by allowing reservoirs to refill and alleviating drought in much of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CDWR Director Karla Nemeth said drought was still a concern as the record snow will. What will happen then?</p>

<p>Nemeth said: "It is possible that, given the conditions in the Central Valley, particularly in the to Tulare Lake Basin, that there will be simultaneously water supply challenges that come along with drought, but also water supply challenges that come along with very, very significant flooding."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the authorities have started taking action as Gavin Newsom, who is the state's governor, recently signed an executive order to help the flood response in the basin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Newsom said, "With historic rain and snowpack creating immense challenges for this region, our first priority is protecting lives and livelihoods impacted by this devastating flooding."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"State officials are on the ground to assist communities, support the local emergency response under way and prepare for the surge of snowmelt runoff in the months ahead," &nbsp;Newsom added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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California has been battered by heavy rain and strong winds, leaving the entire state covered in a blanket of snow, looking extremely beautiful. The latest figures from the California Department of Water Resources show that winter weather has driven up snow levels to 237% of normal after three years of extreme drought.

California has been battered by heavy rain and strong winds, leaving the entire state covered in a blanket of snow, looking extremely beautiful. The latest figures from the California Department of Water Resources show that winter weather has driven up snow levels to 237% of normal after three years of extreme drought. The figures have put this year's snowpack on track to be the largest on record. Currently, it is perhaps the deepest snowpack recorded in more than 70 years, officials said Monday, as reported by US-based media outlets. Sean de Guzman, chief of the CDWR Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Section, told reporters at the survey site: "As of right now, it's looking like this year's statewide snowpack will probably most likely be either the first or second biggest snowpack on record dating back to 1950". What's the reason behind this situation? Experts have stated that a series of 'atmospheric rivers' have contributed to the bumper snowpack. On the other side, they have also led to widespread flooding, rockfalls and sinkholes across the most populous US state. The Central Valley, known as the country's agricultural breadbasket, has been impacted badly. The situation also has some positive impacts as the flooding and snowstorms also had a positive effect by allowing reservoirs to refill and alleviating drought in much of the state. CDWR Director Karla Nemeth said drought was still a concern as the record snow will. What will happen then? Nemeth said: "It is possible that, given the conditions in the Central Valley, particularly in the to Tulare Lake Basin, that there will be simultaneously water supply challenges that come along with drought, but also water supply challenges that come along with very, very significant flooding." Meanwhile, the authorities have started taking action as Gavin Newsom, who is the state's governor, recently signed an executive order to help the flood response in the basin. Newsom said, "With historic rain and snowpack creating immense challenges for this region, our first priority is protecting lives and livelihoods impacted by this devastating flooding." "State officials are on the ground to assist communities, support the local emergency response under way and prepare for the surge of snowmelt runoff in the months ahead," Newsom added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

California snowpack on track to be largest on record

At a gurudwara gathering in Sacramento, California, two people were shot. The two injured people were taken to a hospital and, according to the sheriff's officials, they would survive their wounds. A 21-year-old man was recognised as one of the shooters.

Two Indians shot at during festivities at Gurudwara in Sacramento

Worries about recent bank failures and bailouts are rippling through the world economy, from New York to Beijing, and central bankers are working to calm depositors and financial markets. WION-VOA brings you this report from California, where a major player in the tech industry, Silicon Valley Bank, collapsed earlier this month.

WION-VOA Co-Production: Fears of bank failure grip markets

<p>A California lawmaker on Wednesday (March 22) introduced a legislation that seeks to ban discrimination based on caste. If the bill introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab gets passed, California will be first state in the US to ban discrimination based on caste.</p>

<p>The bill from Wahab, an Afghan-American lawmaker, has come just a month after Seattle became first country in the US to ban caste discrimination.</p>

<p>Caste system is a social evil found in South Asia, mainly India, that defines a social hierarchy based on old, worn-out criterion. It has been used as a justification by 'upper' castes to oppress those designated to 'lower' castes for centuries. There have been numerous reports of such caste-based discrimination among people of Indian heritage in the US.</p>

<p>California is home to major tech companies. The sector attracts large number of tech professionals from India. If the law gets passed, it will cover everyone in the state along with thousands of individuals with Indian heritage.</p>

<p>Senator Wahab herself represents a district in north California which has large number of South Asians. She was raised in San Francisco Bay area by a US couple after her parents passed away. She told BBC that she herself did not experience caste discrimination but she was aware of the social problem because of the the area she grew up in.</p>

<p>"I've had friends tell me that their parents immigrated to this country because they belong to different castes and [their] families weren't accepting of that," said Wahab, as quoted by the BBC.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A California lawmaker on Wednesday (March 22) introduced a legislation that seeks to ban discrimination based on caste. If the bill introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab gets passed, California will be first state in the US to ban discrimination based on caste.

A California lawmaker on Wednesday (March 22) introduced a legislation that seeks to ban discrimination based on caste. If the bill introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab gets passed, California will be first state in the US to ban discrimination based on caste. The bill from Wahab, an Afghan-American lawmaker, has come just a month after Seattle became first country in the US to ban caste discrimination. Caste system is a social evil found in South Asia, mainly India, that defines a social hierarchy based on old, worn-out criterion. It has been used as a justification by 'upper' castes to oppress those designated to 'lower' castes for centuries. There have been numerous reports of such caste-based discrimination among people of Indian heritage in the US. California is home to major tech companies. The sector attracts large number of tech professionals from India. If the law gets passed, it will cover everyone in the state along with thousands of individuals with Indian heritage. Senator Wahab herself represents a district in north California which has large number of South Asians. She was raised in San Francisco Bay area by a US couple after her parents passed away. She told BBC that she herself did not experience caste discrimination but she was aware of the social problem because of the the area she grew up in. "I've had friends tell me that their parents immigrated to this country because they belong to different castes and [their] families weren't accepting of that," said Wahab, as quoted by the BBC. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

California: Afghan-American lawmaker seeks law against caste discrimination

In today's episode of WION Climate Tracker, we bring you climate stories from around the world - UN seeks solution to global Water Crisis, California struck by fierce Tornado, Are food grains reaching Africa? Is Indonesia building its new capital at the cost of environment? 'Bomb Cyclone' knocks out power in California, Air pollution spikes in Beijing.

UN seeks solution to global Water Crisis; California struck by fierce tornado | WION Climate Tracker

The abnormal winter weather has impacted many parts of California for the past few months and the end of winter is not bringing any relief for the state from a historically stormy cold season.

U.S: snow storm in California's lake Tahoe

In the U.S. State of California, flooding continued along several central California rivers after this week’s devastating storm. Shivan Chanana brings you this report.

U.S: Recent storm inundanted California | WION Climate Tracker

<p>Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day who went on to post videos of the incident on social media, said a report by the Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 40-second video was captured by Jaime Hernandez who was at the King Cong Brewing Company in Sacramento, California celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and was among a group of people who witnessed the surprising sight and quickly started filming. In an email to AP, Hernandez said, “Mainly, we were in shock, but amazed that we got to witness it. None of us had ever seen anything like it.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, the owner of the King Cong Brewing Company posted the video shot by Hernandez on their Instagram page calling it “crazy fireworks” which flew over the brewery.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>But what was it? Seems like an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics had the answer which was space debris. In an interview with AP, the astronomer said that he was 99.99 per cent sure that the streaks of light were from burning space debris. A Japanese Inter-Orbit Communication System that relayed information from the International Space Station to a satellite and back to Earth became obsolete in 2017 and was retired.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Space Force also confirmed the re-entry of the equipment weighing 310 kilograms was jettisoned from the space station in 2020 as it was occupying space and would burn up completely upon re-entry. The space force also confirmed that the timing is consistent with what people saw in the sky, McDowell told AP. The flaming bits of wreckage created a “spectacular light show in the sky”, said the astronomer.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
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Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St.

Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day who went on to post videos of the incident on social media, said a report by the Associated Press. The 40-second video was captured by Jaime Hernandez who was at the King Cong Brewing Company in Sacramento, California celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and was among a group of people who witnessed the surprising sight and quickly started filming. In an email to AP, Hernandez said, “Mainly, we were in shock, but amazed that we got to witness it. None of us had ever seen anything like it.” Subsequently, the owner of the King Cong Brewing Company posted the video shot by Hernandez on their Instagram page calling it “crazy fireworks” which flew over the brewery. View this post on Instagram A post shared by King Cong Brewing Company (@kingcongbrewing) × But what was it? Seems like an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics had the answer which was space debris. In an interview with AP, the astronomer said that he was 99.99 per cent sure that the streaks of light were from burning space debris. A Japanese Inter-Orbit Communication System that relayed information from the International Space Station to a satellite and back to Earth became obsolete in 2017 and was retired. The US Space Force also confirmed the re-entry of the equipment weighing 310 kilograms was jettisoned from the space station in 2020 as it was occupying space and would burn up completely upon re-entry. The space force also confirmed that the timing is consistent with what people saw in the sky, McDowell told AP. The flaming bits of wreckage created a “spectacular light show in the sky”, said the astronomer. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch | ‘Crazy fireworks’: Mysterious lights in night sky leave Californians shocked, amazed

A California scientist plans to live underwater for about 100 days and in the process he's looking to create a world record. He claims to be taking this extreme step to further scientific research.

Scientist attempts create a world record by staying underwater for 100 day

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidT8BK8dLKENIT" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><strong>Jodha Akbar actor Aman Dhaliwal</strong> was shifted to hospital after he was stabbed while working out in a gym in California. A video related to the incident has been making rounds on the internet. In the video, the attacker can be seen holding Aman Dhaliwal hostage at knifepoint. Reportedly, Aman was stabbed many times, and he sustained critical injuries.</p>

<p>Some photos of Aman Dhaliwal have also surfaced on the internet showing him with a bandaged head, with scars and stitch marks on the actor’s neck and head.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Aman Dhaliwal?</strong></h2>

<p>Aman Dhaliwal is a Punjabi actor, who is best known for his role in the Jodha Akbar movie. He has appeared in numerous Punjabi films, including Ik Kudi Punjab Di, Ajj De Ranjhe, and others.</p>

<p>Apart from Jodhaa Akbar, Dhaliwal has also worked in Big Brother in Bollywood. Also, the actor has appeared in TV programmes including Vighnaharta Ganesh, Porus, and Ishq Ka Rang Safed.</p>

<p>For those who don't know, Aman Dhaliwal is the son of Gurtej Kaur Dhaliwal and Mithu Singh Kahneke. He spent his childhood in Mansa, Punjab.</p>

<h2><strong>Who attacked Aman Dhaliwal?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report by ANI, Aman Dhaliwal was assaulted by a 30-year-old man named Ronald Chand from Santa Ana. Both men went inside the gym, where Dhaliwal was held at knifepoint until he resisted and disarmed the attacker. Later, people in the gym also rushed to help the wounded actor.</p>

<p>The police reported that Dhaliwal had many stab wounds on his upper body. For non-life-threatening injuries, he was sent to a local hospital and later released. The actor’s health condition is stable now, and he is recovering well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ronald Chand also sustained minor wounds and was taken to the hospital for care. He was subsequently arrested for attempted murder and brought to the Robert Presley Correctional Facility. According to US media outlets, his bail amount was set at $1 million.</p>

<h2><strong>Aman Dhaliwal net worth</strong></h2>

<p>According to several media reports available on the internet, Aman Dhaliwal’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million.&nbsp;<em>Wion has not independently verified this figure</em>.</p>


Jodha Akbar actor Aman Dhaliwal was shifted to hospital after he was stabbed while working out in a gym in California. A video related to the incident has been making rounds on the internet.

Jodha Akbar actor Aman Dhaliwal was shifted to hospital after he was stabbed while working out in a gym in California. A video related to the incident has been making rounds on the internet. In the video, the attacker can be seen holding Aman Dhaliwal hostage at knifepoint. Reportedly, Aman was stabbed many times, and he sustained critical injuries. Some photos of Aman Dhaliwal have also surfaced on the internet showing him with a bandaged head, with scars and stitch marks on the actor’s neck and head. Who is Aman Dhaliwal? Aman Dhaliwal is a Punjabi actor, who is best known for his role in the Jodha Akbar movie. He has appeared in numerous Punjabi films, including Ik Kudi Punjab Di, Ajj De Ranjhe, and others. Apart from Jodhaa Akbar, Dhaliwal has also worked in Big Brother in Bollywood. Also, the actor has appeared in TV programmes including Vighnaharta Ganesh, Porus, and Ishq Ka Rang Safed. For those who don't know, Aman Dhaliwal is the son of Gurtej Kaur Dhaliwal and Mithu Singh Kahneke. He spent his childhood in Mansa, Punjab. Who attacked Aman Dhaliwal? According to a report by ANI, Aman Dhaliwal was assaulted by a 30-year-old man named Ronald Chand from Santa Ana. Both men went inside the gym, where Dhaliwal was held at knifepoint until he resisted and disarmed the attacker. Later, people in the gym also rushed to help the wounded actor. The police reported that Dhaliwal had many stab wounds on his upper body. For non-life-threatening injuries, he was sent to a local hospital and later released. The actor’s health condition is stable now, and he is recovering well. Ronald Chand also sustained minor wounds and was taken to the hospital for care. He was subsequently arrested for attempted murder and brought to the Robert Presley Correctional Facility. According to US media outlets, his bail amount was set at $1 million. Aman Dhaliwal net worth According to several media reports available on the internet, Aman Dhaliwal’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million. Wion has not independently verified this figure.

Who is Aman Dhaliwal—the Indian actor stabbed in California? Police reveal details about the attacker

Weather blues continue in California as a storm in the U.S. state has prompted evacuations. While the land is soaked under flood water, a state of emergency has been declared in 43 of California's 58 counties.

U.S.: After California floods, storm forces 21,000 people to evacuate state | WION Climate Tracker

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<p>A helicopter crashed in the early hours of Wednesday in the US state of California after a thief attempted to steal it, reported Associated Press. The incident took place at the Sacramento Executive Airport</p>

<p>Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident as the thief fled the spot while the authorities remain on the lookout. Sacramento police informed that the intruder trespassed into the property between 4 AM and 6 AM local time and attempted to hotwire four helicopters sitting on the tarmac. The thief got lucky with one chopper, managing to start it but soon lost control over it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been called upon to investigate the accident. The agency informed it had already zeroed in on a suspect. Sean Reagan, special agent in charge said the agency collected surveillance video and witness information leading to a particular person of interest.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/decoding-the-disasters-nepals-troubled-history-of-plane-crashes-552899"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes</strong></a></p>

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<p>Reagan added that the agency was trying to determine the motive of the thief.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If someone wanted to take an aircraft for a joyride, someone who wanted to take an aircraft to do some other criminal activity or damage to other property, terrorism would be at the other end of the scope."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Bell 429 heavy-lift helicopter which belonged to a company named Capitol Helicopters released a statement and hoped that the perpetrator was caught early.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Sometime early this morning several helicopters operated by our company were vandalized by an individual unknown to us, and one aircraft was severely damaged. All our employees are safe, and we do not believe that anyone was injured in today’s events," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This incident is currently under investigation by several state and federal authorities. We are hopeful that the people responsible are located quickly. We have no further information to report at this time. We appreciate the support from all the agencies and individuals involved."</p>

<p>Alongside FBI,&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board have also started investigating the case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A helicopter crashed in the early hours of Wednesday in the US state of California after a thief attempted to steal it, reported Associated Press. The incident took place at the Sacramento Executive Airport Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident as the thief fled the spot while the authorities remain on the lookout.

A helicopter crashed in the early hours of Wednesday in the US state of California after a thief attempted to steal it, reported Associated Press. The incident took place at the Sacramento Executive Airport Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident as the thief fled the spot while the authorities remain on the lookout. Sacramento police informed that the intruder trespassed into the property between 4 AM and 6 AM local time and attempted to hotwire four helicopters sitting on the tarmac. The thief got lucky with one chopper, managing to start it but soon lost control over it. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been called upon to investigate the accident. The agency informed it had already zeroed in on a suspect. Sean Reagan, special agent in charge said the agency collected surveillance video and witness information leading to a particular person of interest. WATCH | Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes × Reagan added that the agency was trying to determine the motive of the thief. "If someone wanted to take an aircraft for a joyride, someone who wanted to take an aircraft to do some other criminal activity or damage to other property, terrorism would be at the other end of the scope." Meanwhile, the Bell 429 heavy-lift helicopter which belonged to a company named Capitol Helicopters released a statement and hoped that the perpetrator was caught early. "Sometime early this morning several helicopters operated by our company were vandalized by an individual unknown to us, and one aircraft was severely damaged. All our employees are safe, and we do not believe that anyone was injured in today’s events," read the statement. This incident is currently under investigation by several state and federal authorities. We are hopeful that the people responsible are located quickly. We have no further information to report at this time. We appreciate the support from all the agencies and individuals involved." Alongside FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board have also started investigating the case. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Heist gone wrong: Thief crashes stolen helicopter at Sacramento Airport

<p>A Californian appeals court has ruled that "gig" economy firms like Uber and Lyft can continue to treat their state-based drivers as independent contractors. This verdict comes in a case regarding a labour measure known as Proposition 22. Labour groups have for long opposed the measure; they claim that it robs them of sick leave and other rights. The appeals court, however, found the measure largely constitutional. This decision overturns an earlier decision by a lower court. The 2021 verdict said that Proposition 22 affected lawmakers' powers to set standards at the workplace.</p>

<p>A three-judge panel on Monday ruled that the measure was legal and California-based workers at Uber, Lyft and other similar firms can continue to be treated as independent contractors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Global bank stock rout deepens after SVB collapse</strong></p>

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<p>The judges, however, removed a clause that put restrictions on collective bargaining by the independent contractors.</p>

<p>Uber's chief legal officer, Tony West, hailed the verdict and said that "today's ruling is a victory for app-based workers and millions of Californians who voted for Prop 22."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-crypto-lender-loses-usd-200-million-to-hackers-571683">UK: Crypto lender loses USD 200 million to hackers</a></strong></p>

<p>"We're pleased that the court respected the will of the people and that Prop 22 will remain in place, preserving independence for drivers," he added.</p>

<p>Lyft too celebrated the victory and said that Proposition 22 "protects the independence drivers value and gives them new, historic benefits."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-top-executives-are-leaving-at-a-breakneck-speed-heres-why-571599">Apple's top executives are leaving at a breakneck speed. Here's why</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Following the ruling, shares of the two companies experienced an almost five per cent high in after-hours trading. Proposition 22 was passed by Californian voters in November 2020. Since then, many drivers and labour groups have opposed it. They claim that the proposition denies gig workers benefits like sick days, leave and overtime pay, all of which are available to 'employees'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A Californian appeals court has ruled that "gig" economy firms like Uber and Lyft can continue to treat their state-based drivers as independent contractors. This verdict comes in a case regarding a labour measure known as Proposition 22.

A Californian appeals court has ruled that "gig" economy firms like Uber and Lyft can continue to treat their state-based drivers as independent contractors. This verdict comes in a case regarding a labour measure known as Proposition 22. Labour groups have for long opposed the measure; they claim that it robs them of sick leave and other rights. The appeals court, however, found the measure largely constitutional. This decision overturns an earlier decision by a lower court. The 2021 verdict said that Proposition 22 affected lawmakers' powers to set standards at the workplace. A three-judge panel on Monday ruled that the measure was legal and California-based workers at Uber, Lyft and other similar firms can continue to be treated as independent contractors. Watch | Global bank stock rout deepens after SVB collapse The judges, however, removed a clause that put restrictions on collective bargaining by the independent contractors. Uber's chief legal officer, Tony West, hailed the verdict and said that "today's ruling is a victory for app-based workers and millions of Californians who voted for Prop 22." Also read | UK: Crypto lender loses USD 200 million to hackers "We're pleased that the court respected the will of the people and that Prop 22 will remain in place, preserving independence for drivers," he added. Lyft too celebrated the victory and said that Proposition 22 "protects the independence drivers value and gives them new, historic benefits." Also read | Apple's top executives are leaving at a breakneck speed. Here's why Following the ruling, shares of the two companies experienced an almost five per cent high in after-hours trading. Proposition 22 was passed by Californian voters in November 2020. Since then, many drivers and labour groups have opposed it. They claim that the proposition denies gig workers benefits like sick days, leave and overtime pay, all of which are available to 'employees'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

California appeal court allows for Uber, Lyft worker to be classified as individual contractors

Extreme weather conditions continue to haunt the American state of California. A fresh storm has hit the western coastal state and raging floodwaters have prompted fresh evacuation orders. @RohitWellington brings you this report.

Storm breaches California's river levee

<p>Two suspected migrant-smuggling boats sank off the coast of southern California on Sunday (March 12), killing at least eight people, according to rescuers, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We lost eight souls," the lifeguard chief for the city of San Diego, James Gartland, told a press conference.</p>

<p>"This is one of the worst maritime smuggling tragedies that I can think of in California, certainly here in the city of San Diego," he added, with reference to clandestine migration into the United States.</p>

<p>The disaster occurred at night in a place that Gartland called "hazardous" because of sand bars and in-shore rip currents, although it was unclear what specifically caused it.</p>

<p>He stated that just before midnight on Saturday, a Spanish-speaking person called the 911 emergency line and reported that two small, open boats — one carrying eight people and the other carrying 15 — had capsized at Torrey Pines beach in San Diego, a city close to the Mexican border, trapping about 23 people between them.</p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer:</em>&nbsp;<em>WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos on social media</em>.</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/viralvdoz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#viralvdoz</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CALIFORNIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CALIFORNIA</a>:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: 8 Dead After Smuggling Boat Capsizes Off Black's Beach, when 2 migrant smuggling boats approached the beach amid heavy fog and one capsized in the surf. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UltimaHora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UltimaHora</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanDiego?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanDiego</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Accident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Accident</a> <a href="https://t.co/f1KWCJwoTi">pic.twitter.com/f1KWCJwoTi</a></p>
— ViralVdoz (@viralvdoz) <a href="https://twitter.com/viralvdoz/status/1635011646845231107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rescuers could not find any survivors, but some "may have left the beach" by the time the teams arrived, according to Gartland.</p>

<p>He stated that all of the deceased were adults and that he was unsure of their nationalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lufthansa-flight-crew-asked-passengers-to-erase-pictures-videos-of-mid-air-turbulence-report-571221">Lufthansa flight crew asked passengers to erase pictures, videos of mid-air turbulence: Report</a></p>

<p>Illegal crossings have risen during Joe Biden's presidency. According to the Associated Press, several migrants have turned themselves in to Border Patrol officers and have been permitted to stay in the nation while they pursue their cases in immigration court.</p>

<p>Many migrants from South and Central America slip through US borders, frequently facing great dangers with the aim of making it to the country.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Two suspected migrant-smuggling boats sank off the coast of southern California on Sunday (March 12), killing at least eight people, according to rescuers, as reported by AFP.

Two suspected migrant-smuggling boats sank off the coast of southern California on Sunday (March 12), killing at least eight people, according to rescuers, as reported by AFP. "We lost eight souls," the lifeguard chief for the city of San Diego, James Gartland, told a press conference. "This is one of the worst maritime smuggling tragedies that I can think of in California, certainly here in the city of San Diego," he added, with reference to clandestine migration into the United States. The disaster occurred at night in a place that Gartland called "hazardous" because of sand bars and in-shore rip currents, although it was unclear what specifically caused it. He stated that just before midnight on Saturday, a Spanish-speaking person called the 911 emergency line and reported that two small, open boats — one carrying eight people and the other carrying 15 — had capsized at Torrey Pines beach in San Diego, a city close to the Mexican border, trapping about 23 people between them. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos on social media. #viralvdoz#BREAKING #USA #CA #CALIFORNIA:#WATCH: 8 Dead After Smuggling Boat Capsizes Off Black's Beach, when 2 migrant smuggling boats approached the beach amid heavy fog and one capsized in the surf. #BreakingNews #UltimaHora #SanDiego #Accident pic.twitter.com/f1KWCJwoTi — ViralVdoz (@viralvdoz) March 12, 2023 × Rescuers could not find any survivors, but some "may have left the beach" by the time the teams arrived, according to Gartland. He stated that all of the deceased were adults and that he was unsure of their nationalities. ALSO READ | Lufthansa flight crew asked passengers to erase pictures, videos of mid-air turbulence: Report Illegal crossings have risen during Joe Biden's presidency. According to the Associated Press, several migrants have turned themselves in to Border Patrol officers and have been permitted to stay in the nation while they pursue their cases in immigration court. Many migrants from South and Central America slip through US borders, frequently facing great dangers with the aim of making it to the country. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Migrant-smuggling boat capsize leaves 8 dead off San Diego coast

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<p>Paul Flores, the man convicted of killing 19-year-old California student Kristin Smart in 1996 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Flores has been given the maximum sentence possible under California's current penal system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Judge Jennifer O'Keefe while pronouncing the sentence said Flores 'deserved' to be in prison for the rest of his life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You deserve to spend every day you have left behind bars," O'Keefe was quoted as saying by Reuters. She also said that Flores had continued to drug and assault women in 'predatory behavior' that 'has spanned your adult life'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-found-guilty-of-killing-california-student-kristin-smart-in-1996-526614" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Man found guilty of killing California student Kristin Smart who went missing in 1996</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, representing the prosecution side, Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle called Flores a 'true psychopath', adding that the defendant continues to lie to this day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sentencing brings a culmination to over a quarter-century case that surprised the investigators as well as the common folks alike.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both Smart and Flores were students at California Polytechnic State University when she went missing in May 1996. Flores was the last person seen with Smart, accompanying her on the 10-minute walk back to her dormitory from a party that night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the trial, prosecutors said Paul Flores had stalked Smart for months and might have even drugged her drink at the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For several years, Flores remained the prime suspect in the case. However, the absence of evidence meant that he was not tried. That changed in 2019 when freelance journalist Chris Lambert in his documentary podcast titled 'Your Own Backyard', helped investigators crack the case.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-delhi-police-solve-six-month-old-murder-case-534086"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Dispatch: Delhi police solve six-month-old murder case</strong></a></p>

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<p>Flores was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury at Monterey County Superior Court last year in October. His father&nbsp;Ruben Flores, accused of hiding the body was acquitted by the jury.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The body of 19-year-old Smart has never been found, even though the authorities have searched 18 locations. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson has vowed that the case file will not be closed until Smart's remains are found.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Paul Flores, the man convicted of killing 19-year-old California student Kristin Smart in 1996 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Flores has been given the maximum sentence possible under California's current penal system.

Paul Flores, the man convicted of killing 19-year-old California student Kristin Smart in 1996 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Flores has been given the maximum sentence possible under California's current penal system. Judge Jennifer O'Keefe while pronouncing the sentence said Flores 'deserved' to be in prison for the rest of his life. "You deserve to spend every day you have left behind bars," O'Keefe was quoted as saying by Reuters. She also said that Flores had continued to drug and assault women in 'predatory behavior' that 'has spanned your adult life'. Read more: Man found guilty of killing California student Kristin Smart who went missing in 1996 Meanwhile, representing the prosecution side, Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle called Flores a 'true psychopath', adding that the defendant continues to lie to this day. The sentencing brings a culmination to over a quarter-century case that surprised the investigators as well as the common folks alike. Both Smart and Flores were students at California Polytechnic State University when she went missing in May 1996. Flores was the last person seen with Smart, accompanying her on the 10-minute walk back to her dormitory from a party that night. During the trial, prosecutors said Paul Flores had stalked Smart for months and might have even drugged her drink at the party. For several years, Flores remained the prime suspect in the case. However, the absence of evidence meant that he was not tried. That changed in 2019 when freelance journalist Chris Lambert in his documentary podcast titled 'Your Own Backyard', helped investigators crack the case. WATCH | WION Dispatch: Delhi police solve six-month-old murder case × Flores was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury at Monterey County Superior Court last year in October. His father Ruben Flores, accused of hiding the body was acquitted by the jury. The body of 19-year-old Smart has never been found, even though the authorities have searched 18 locations. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson has vowed that the case file will not be closed until Smart's remains are found. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Man convicted of killing California student Kristin Smart sentenced to 25 years in jail

Extreme conditions continue to haunt the American state of California. A French storm has hit the Western coastal state and raging flood waters have prompted fresh evacuations orders in the U.S. state. The Pajaro river in the state overflowed due to heavy rain and several people living nearby had to be transported to shelter.

Floods due to fresh storm in California, evacuation as Pajaro River overflows

Parts of California face 'flooding emergency' as storm kills at least 2. The deadly storm season turned even deadlier Friday as the first of two atmospheric river storms descended on the state, prompting widespread evacuation orders as it flooded creeks and rivers and dropped warm, heavy rain atop the state’s near-record snowpack.

Parts of California face 'flooding emergency' as storm kills at 2

Mountain roads were closed again in Northern California as yet another cold storm moved through the state on Sunday, dumping snow in the Sierra Nevada and rain in valleys. Interstate 80 and several other routes were shut down in the Lake Tahoe area near the Nevada border, where the California Highway Patrol said driving conditions were treacherous amid blizzard conditions.

Another round of winter storms in California

On Sunday, as part of a national tour laying the groundwork for an anticipated White House run, Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis took his battle against liberalism all the way to the Democratic-leaning state of California.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis condemns 'woke ideology' of Democrat leaders

<p>In 1995, the remains of a woman were discovered by recyclers inside the refrigerator, which was partially submerged in a northern California canal.</p>

<p>The authorities, who refer to the crime as “Lady in the fridge” case, had described the dead body to be of a woman, between the age of 29 and 41 years, with strawberry blond hair. The body had remained underwater for several months.</p>

<p>For the next three decades, investigators continued to make efforts to identify the woman, but in vain. However, last week, a major breakthrough was achieved by the sheriff’s office in the case.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-discovers-dead-baby-near-the-area-where-constance-marten-partner-were-arrested-567491">Police discovers dead baby near the area where Constance Marten, partner were arrested</a></p>

<p>“It is with a tempered heart that I announce we have identified a young woman found 27 years ago who was murdered in our county. Her name is Amanda,” announced Patrick Withrow, the San Joaquin county sheriff.</p>

<p>The sheriff’s office partnered with a Texas-based company, Othram Forensics, to build a DNA profile and the forensic genetic genealogy was used to come up with leads, after which the remains were finally identified as those of Amanda Lynn Schumann Deza.</p>

<p>The dead woman, Deza, was a mother of three who had disappeared at the age of 29, as stated by the investigators. In 1994, she was last spotted with a man she had met at a rehab facility in Napa, which is 80 miles away from where the recyclers had found the remains eventually.</p>

<p>The authorities stated that nobody had filed a missing person report for Deza, who they stated was facing “challenging times” before she died.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Hong Kong: Model Abby Choi's severed body found in fridge, head still missing</strong></p>

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<p>The authorities made the breakthrough in the case with the help of her daughter Veronica Tovar who made a contribution to the DNA sample to confirm the remains found were indeed those of her mother.</p>

<p>“I’ve lived my whole life just not knowing. She was gone and I just never knew why. I thought that she just left us. I felt left,” the 34-year-old daughter said.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In 1995, the remains of a woman were discovered by recyclers inside the refrigerator, which was partially submerged in a northern California canal. The authorities, who refer to the crime as “Lady in the fridge” case, had described the dead body to be of a woman, between the age of 29 and 41 years, with strawberry blond hair.

In 1995, the remains of a woman were discovered by recyclers inside the refrigerator, which was partially submerged in a northern California canal. The authorities, who refer to the crime as “Lady in the fridge” case, had described the dead body to be of a woman, between the age of 29 and 41 years, with strawberry blond hair. The body had remained underwater for several months. For the next three decades, investigators continued to make efforts to identify the woman, but in vain. However, last week, a major breakthrough was achieved by the sheriff’s office in the case. ALSO READ | Police discovers dead baby near the area where Constance Marten, partner were arrested “It is with a tempered heart that I announce we have identified a young woman found 27 years ago who was murdered in our county. Her name is Amanda,” announced Patrick Withrow, the San Joaquin county sheriff. The sheriff’s office partnered with a Texas-based company, Othram Forensics, to build a DNA profile and the forensic genetic genealogy was used to come up with leads, after which the remains were finally identified as those of Amanda Lynn Schumann Deza. The dead woman, Deza, was a mother of three who had disappeared at the age of 29, as stated by the investigators. In 1994, she was last spotted with a man she had met at a rehab facility in Napa, which is 80 miles away from where the recyclers had found the remains eventually. The authorities stated that nobody had filed a missing person report for Deza, who they stated was facing “challenging times” before she died. WATCH | Hong Kong: Model Abby Choi's severed body found in fridge, head still missing The authorities made the breakthrough in the case with the help of her daughter Veronica Tovar who made a contribution to the DNA sample to confirm the remains found were indeed those of her mother. “I’ve lived my whole life just not knowing. She was gone and I just never knew why. I thought that she just left us. I felt left,” the 34-year-old daughter said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Lady in the fridge’ case: Victim identified using DNA sample 27 years after body’s discovery

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