Eastern Sierra News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2026 CHP URGES DRIVERS TO ‘SLOW THEIR ROLL’ DURING HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT PERIOD Speeding continues to endanger lives on California roadways, making it a priority for the California Highway Patrol in its efforts to make roads safer. SACRAMENTO— The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding motorists to slow down and drive responsibly as they head out for Independence Day celebrations statewide. To address unsafe driving and keep California’s roads safe, the CHP will conduct a Holiday Enforcement Period (HEP) from July 2 at 6 p.m. to July 5 at 11:59 p.m., with an emphasis on combating speeding. During last year’s 78-hour Independence Day HEP, CHP officers responded to more than 850 speed-related crashes. Tragically, at least seven of those collisions resulted in the loss of life, and nearly 400 crashes resulted in injuries to those involved. In addition, CHP officers made 1,311 arrests for driving under the influence – an average of one DUI arrest...

June 30, 2026 Landfills to be Closed on Friday All county landfills will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, for the Fourth of July Holiday. Landfills will be open to the public on Saturday, July 4. The landfills will be open for regular hours the rest of the week. https://sierrawave.net/105266-2/

Forest Service News Release Contact: SM.FS.pressoffice@usda.gov Forest Service publishes proposed rule to redefine, streamline guidance for employees Changes to manual, handbooks to simplify direction, more quickly make management decisions Washington, D.C., June 30, 2026—The U.S. Forest Service is inviting public comment on a proposed rule to modernize its directives system – the agency’s internal documentation that guides how employees carry out their work. The proposal would redefine the agency’s manual and handbooks to reduce procedural burdens, encourage innovation and return decision-making authority to employees closest to the land. “Today, the Forest Service maintains more than 900 chapters of national guidance and thousands of additional regional and unit-level supplements,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Half of these directives are more than 20 years old, and many exceed 100 pages in length. By streamlining our directives, we can empower local decision-mak...

Area Forecast Discussion Owens Valley / Mammoth Lakes / Mono County / Death Valley Dennis Mattinson / Weather & Atmospheric Forecaster Synopsis - TUE JUN 30 2026 We remain under a trouging pattern, which should keep temps closer to average. Along with this expect those persistent afternoon Zephyr winds. By the holiday weekend, a ridge of high pressure builds over the West. This should allow temps by Sunday in Bishop to reach 98°. Very near normal for the first part of July...DMATT Area Wide Temperatures Today: Bishop: 88 / 51 Big Pine: 88 / 56 Independence: 90 / 61 Lone Pine: 88 / 63 Olancha: 91 / 64 Mammoth Lakes: 68 / 41 Death Valley: 108 / 82 https://sierrawave.net/?p=105252

Red White & You The 4th of July Parade starts at 11am this Saturday, led by Grand Marshal Deena Kastor and a record 55+ parade entries. Thanks to Mammoth Lakes Tourism, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, High Country Lumber (Float Competition Sponsor), and our Uncle Sam Sponsors—Cerro Coso Community College, Holiday Haus Motel, and Edelweiss Lodge, as well as all our sponsors—for helping bring this community tradition to life. Put on your red, white and blue, find a spot along Old Mammoth Rd. or Main St, and come celebrate. Watching the parade is FREE and everyone is welcome! >>> Click here for info Plan Ahead On the morning of the 4th, allow extra time to get around. Main Street will close at 9am, one hour earlier than in previous years, with additional hard road closures to enhance safety along the parade route. Past detours via Forest Trail and Sierra Blvd (Morrisons corner) won't be available this year. After 10am, when Old Mammoth Rd closes, traveling from one side of...

Forest Service News Release Contact: SM.FS.pressoffice@usda.gov Identities Released of Three Firefighters Who Died Responding to Knowles Fire in Colorado Departments of the Interior and Agriculture coordinating support for families, crews and communities MESA COUNTY, Colo.—Federal wildland fire officials are releasing the identities of three firefighters who died while responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on Saturday. The firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire when the incident occurred. The deceased firefighters have been identified as: - Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack. - Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest. - Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack. Two additional firefighters were inj...

RCRC and CSAC Back California to Defend Reliable, Universal Communications and Emergency Connectivity SACRAMENTO, CA – The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), in partnership with The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the state Attorney General in a lawsuit initiated by AT&T. The lawsuit seeks to relieve AT&T of its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations and clear the way for the discontinuation of universal service in California. COLR obligations ensure that all Californians have access to basic telephone service, safeguarding essential communications during disasters, power outages, and other emergencies when public safety is at risk. AT&T’s efforts to retire landline service before reliable replacement technologies are identified, tested, and widely de...

June 28, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion Owens Valley / Mammoth Lakes / Mono County / Death Valley Dennis "Matt" Mattinson / Weather & Atmospheric Forecaster Synopsis - MON JUN 29 2026 Over the weekend, a large trough pushed inland to our North, bringing Inyo and Mono Counties Significant Critical Fire Weather conditions. So the primary weather impact was gusty winds, to +30 mph in the Owens Valley and +50 mph in Mammoth. All this brought us temps below normal Sunday, with Bishop only at a high of 83°. Today your temps slowly rebound this week, reaching near normal by Friday...MATT DMATTs Weather Fact: Please be mindful of ignition sources this month and the rest of the Summer, as temps warm up! Area Wide Temperatures Today: Bishop: 84 / 49 Big Pine: 84 / 54 Independence: 86 / 59 Lone Pine: 84 / 60 Olancha: 87 / 62 Mammoth Lakes: 63 / 40 Death Valley: 104 / 79 https://sierrawave.net/weather-atmospheric-forecast-june-29th/

June 26, 2026

Death Valley National Park News Release Van and Trailer Destroyed by Fire on SR-190 in Death Valley National Park Firefighters respond in 108°F conditions For Immediate Release: June 26, 2026 Contact: DEVA_News@nps.gov Death Valley, Calif. — Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire on State Route 190 in Death Valley National Park on June 20. All six occupants escaped without major injuries, but the van and attached trailer were destroyed. The group were driving westbound up Towne Pass when the driver noticed the vehicle overheating. After stopping, they saw flames and smoke coming from the engine compartment at approximately 5:20 pm. They attempted to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers but were unsuccessful. Temperatures were around 108°F as personnel from the National Park Service, California Highway Patrol, and the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department responded. Despite responders’ efforts, the van and trailer were a complete loss. Despite the loss of this vehicle, the...

June 26, 2026

Southern Inyo Health Care District Due to the wind advisory SIHD has canceled the 4th Annual Health Fair. https://sierrawave.net/sihd-due-to-the-wind-advisory-sihd-has-canceled-the-4th-annual-health-fair/

June 26, 2026

Rep. Kiley Calls on Governor Newsom to Adopt Federal Education Tax Credit Washington, D.C. – Last year, Congress passed legislation that created the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), a nationwide program designed to provide additional education funds for low and middle-income families. The EFTC would allow taxpayers to receive an income tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that provide scholarships to families to offset qualified education expenses and provide additional resources to support students. Unfortunately, Governor Newsom has chosen not to allow California to participate in the program. “Last year, I fought for $5 billion in education dollars for low and middle-income families to access services like special education, tuition, and tutoring,” said Rep. Kiley. “It is unfortunate that Governor Newsom is refusing to let California families access funds that will be available to other students across the...

County of Inyo Water Commission INYO COUNTY WATER COMMISSION MEETING June 29, 20266:00 p.m.Inyo County Consolidated Office BuildingRoom 1001360 N Main St.Bishop, CA The public will be offered the opportunity to comment on each agenda item prior to any action on the item by the Water Commission or, in the absence of action, prior to the Commission moving to the next item on the agenda. The public will also be offered the opportunity to address the Commission on any matter within the Commission's jurisdiction prior to adjournment of the meeting. Public Notice: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Water Department at (760) 878-0001 (28 CFR 35.102-3.104 ADA Title II). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the County to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. Should you, because of a disability, require appropriate alternative format...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2026 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Inyo County Public Relations Liaison Darcy Israel, (760) 878-0373 Milestone Year for Rural County Photo Contest 10th Annual Statewide Competition Opens July 1 The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) will soon be accepting entries for its popular digital photography contest aimed at highlighting and celebrating life in California’s rural counties. The contest, now in its 10th year, is used to promote tourism and economic development in RCRC’s 40 member counties. “RCRC is proud to mark a decade of highlighting the beauty, character, and spirit of rural California through photography,” spokesperson Christopher Egan said. “We invite residents to capture life in rural California by showcasing the landscapes, activities, and people that define their communities. From scenic waterways and wildlife to livestock, agriculture, architecture, seasonal changes, and everyday moments across farms, ranches, and to...

INYO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AGENDA REGULAR MEETING June 30, 2026 8:30 A.M. Board of Supervisors Room - County Administrative Center 224 North Edwards, Independence, California NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC: (1) This meeting is accessible to the public both in person and, for convenience, via Zoom webinar. The Zoom webinar is accessible to the public at https://zoom.us/j/868254781. The meeting may also be accessed by telephone at the following numbers: (669) 900-6833; (346) 248-7799; (253) 215-8782; (929) 205-6099; (301) 715-8592; (312) 626-6799. Webinar ID: 868 254 781. Anyone unable to attend the Board meeting in person who wishes to make either a general public comment or a comment on a specific agenda item may do so by utilizing the Zoom "hand-raising" feature when appropriate during the meeting (the Chair will call on those who wish to speak). Generally, speakers are limited to three minutes. Remote participation for members of the public is provided for convenience only....

Gusty Winds and Critical Fire Weather Conditions Tomorrow into the Weekend KEY POINTS - Gusty southerly winds are expected tomorrow and Saturday. Winds will turn to the north on Sunday but remain breezy. - Critical to locally extreme fire weather conditions are expected Friday and Saturday. - Temperatures cool to well below normal by Sunday. CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS BRIEFING - A Red Flag Warning is in effect for most of the region Friday and Saturday. - A Wind Advisory is in effect for a large portion of the area Friday and Saturday. WEATHER RISK OUTLOOK Risk levels incorporate potential impacts from weather hazards and likelihood of occurrence for a reasonable worst case scenario. https://sierrawave.net/nws-gusty-winds-and-critical-fire-weather-conditions-tomorrow-into-the-weekend/

National Headquarters Forest Service News Release Contact: SM.FS.pressoffice@usda.gov Forest Service announces proposed pilot projects to enhance recreation monitoring Public invited to provide feedback during 30-day comment period (Washington, D.C., June 25, 2026) — The Forest Service is publishing a Federal Register notice announcing an interagency effort to monitor recreation use by implementing pilot projects across public lands. This effort is geared towards improving recreation resource management, visitor services, and planning. The purpose of these pilot protocols is to model recreation use patterns, including low-use and dispersed recreation activities, that may not be effectively measured by existing general and opportunistic survey and monitoring protocols. The Federal Register notice will be available for public inspection tomorrow and will officially publish on Monday, initiating a 30-day public comment period on the proposed pilot projects. The notice will direct t...

NWS HeatRisk is a color-numeric-based index that provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts to occur over a 24-hour period. HeatRisk takes into consideration: - How unusual the heat is for the time of the year. - The duration of the heat, including both daytime and nighttime temperatures. - If those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the CDC. We encourage you to check the HeatRisk map every day as these risk categories can change with the official forecast, which is updated at least twice a day. https://sierrawave.net/nws-heatrisk-owens-valley-looks-minor-for-the-week/

If you were summoned to appear in INDEPENDENCE on Monday, June 29, 2026, this panel has been canceled, and you DO NOT need to appear. https://sierrawave.net/jury-duty-announcement-34/

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: In order to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Governor Newsom has signed AB 361 that temporarily modifies certain requirements of the Brown Act. The Inyo County Water Department will conduct this meeting both in person and via a Zoom webinar. The Zoom webinar is accessible to the public at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81278024144?pwd=CqpsaZGpvxS4MrdDbMiL6kamLLqeb5.1 Individuals will be asked to provide their name and an email address in order to access the videoconference. Anyone who does not want to provide their email address may use the following generic, non-functioning address to gain access: donotreply@inyocounty.us. Additional methods to join the meeting via phone are provided on the following page. Remote participation for members of the public is provided for convenience only. If the remote participation connection malfunctions for any reason, the Inyo County Water Department reserves the right to conduct the meeting without remote access. Public...

Forest Service News Release Contact: SM.FS.pressoffice@usda.gov U.S. Forest Service adds long-sought protections to limit health risks for wildland firefighters (WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2026 ) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service along with the Department of the Interior today announced new steps to reduce hazardous exposure for federal wildland firefighters during the 2026 fire year. These actions include expanded access to N95 respirators on the fireline, required training and standardized decontamination protocols. Wildland firefighters work in extreme conditions with prolonged exposure to smoke, ash and airborne particles. While no respirator currently meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for wildland firefighting, the Forest Service is moving forward with practical protections that can reduce risk now. “Secretary Rollins has made it clear that we will no longer stand by as firefighters face long-term health risks just from doing their...

INYO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPECIAL MEETING June 29, 2026 9:30 A.M. AGENDA Cardinal Village Resort Meeting Hall 321 Cardinal Rd., Bishop, CA 93514 NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC: (1) This meeting is accessible to the public both in person and, for convenience, via Zoom webinar. The Zoom webinar is accessible to the public at https://zoom.us/j/868254781. The meeting may also be accessed by telephone at the following numbers: (669) 900-6833; (346) 248-7799; (253) 215-8782; (929) 205-6099; (301) 715-8592; (312) 626-6799. Webinar ID: 868 254 781. Anyone unable to attend the Board meeting in person who wishes to make either a general public comment or a comment on a specific agenda item may do so by utilizing the Zoom "hand-raising" feature when appropriate during the meeting (the Chair will call on those who wish to speak). Generally, speakers are limited to three minutes. Remote participation for members of the public is provided for convenience only. In the event that the r...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Award-Winning Care at 18,000 Feet: Sierra Lifeflight Nurse Recognized for Regional Excellence One clinician’s recognition reflects the level of critical care patients across five Western states depend on every day – right here in our community. BISHOP, Calif. (June 24, 2026) – In emergency care, outcomes often hinge on what happens before a patient ever reaches a hospital. Across Global Medical Response’s (GMR) Pacific region – spanning Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California – that responsibility frequently falls to air medical crews like those at Sierra Lifeflight, part of REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) and GMR. One of those clinicians is drawing regional recognition not just for his skill, but for what it represents to the communities served. Devon “DJ” Jeffrey, RN, CFRN (certified registered flight nurse), has been named Pacific Region Flight Nurse of the Year, an honor awarded across 323 flight nurses from GMR’s five-state regio...

Should not quite hit the Owens Valley but if you plan on traveling a little east you may run into some thunderstorm activity. Waves of showers with isolated thunderstorms will move across the area through this afternoon, generally along I-15 and drifting northward. Strong wind gusts and lightning are the primary expectations with these storms, with substantial rainfall (unfortunately) not expected. Storms will diminish and move east through this evening https://sierrawave.net/nws-thunderstorm-alert-for-those-slightly-east-of-us/