• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) recently introduced the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act, bipartisan legislation that would create a new competitive grant program through the Economic Development Administration (EDA). “The holiday shopping season serves a reminder of how important small businesses are to our communities and local economies,” Padilla said in a statement. “Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on many small businesses, particularly those in low-income, rural, and minority communities. … The Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act would provide funding to organizations that support our small businesses, leveraging their expertise and knowledge of local neighborhoods to help entrepreneurs thrive.” The bill would authorize $250 million for this program over the next five years to fund community-based initiatives to help small businesses identify resources and develop skills to retain and create jobs. The grant program creates additional support that is tailored to individual businesses’ needs as it recognizes the unique challenges that businesses face.
• The Santa Barbara County Fire Department recently released a public service announcement regarding winter fire safety. As temperatures drop during the winter months and more time is spent inside, residents should make sure their home is protected from any fire hazards, the department stated. The first suggestion is to hire a professional and have the furnace checked annually. It is better to know when something is not working properly than to have it abruptly break down when it’s needed the most. Homes with fireplaces should get a chimney inspection to make sure there aren’t any hazards capable of starting a fire. It’s important to remember to use dry, seasoned wood—which produces more flame with less smoke—when starting a fire and that fireplaces should always be covered by a metal screen or tempered glass to protect from any sparks leaving the fireplace. Double check that smoke alarm batteries are fresh, the department said, adding that smoke alarms should be located in the hallway outside bedrooms, in each bedroom, and on every floor, regardless of whether there is a bedroom on that floor. Finally, the department suggests being aware of lit candles and space heaters. Candles may set the mood for a relaxing evening, but can be easily knocked over by kids or pets. Space heaters should not be placed near curtains, tablecloths, or other flapping fabrics. Space heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch that forces the heater to turn off as soon as it reaches a dangerously high heat level.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a Dec. 11 statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Texas’ abortion rules. “I am outraged by yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing Texas’ ban on most abortion services to remain in place and largely endorsing Texas’ scheme to insulate its law from the fundamental protections of Roe v. Wade. But if states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts that compare assault weapons to Swiss Army knives, then California will use that authority to protect people’s lives, [whereas] Texas used it to put women in harm’s way,” Newsom said in a statement. The Texas abortion law bars the procedure after the first six weeks of pregnancy, and the court’s action means that the case will return to a district court for further proceedings.
This article appears in Dec 16-23, 2021.