McCarthy criticized for releasing security footage to Tucker Carlson

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing criticism for giving Tucker Carlson, a Fox News commentator, exclusive access to police security footage of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. 

McCarthy of Bakersfield has vowed to make the footage available to the public, but said that Carlson will have first access. 

Some Democrats have raised concerns about the potential misuse of the footage as a political tool to rewrite the history of the attack. 

Access to the footage will also be made available to the nearly 1,000 defendants being prosecuted for their roles in the siege. Source: AP

Snowpack may endure despite rain storms

California is expected to experience rainy and snowy weather throughout March, even after the start of spring on March 20. 

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has modelled the continuation of the inclement weather. Forecasters are also monitoring the possibility of warmer storms hitting the state, which could increase the likelihood of flooding. 

Yosemite National Park closed last week due to heavy snow, while the China Peak ski resort is closed for the weekend. Fresno County has opened shelters for residents without power, but warns motorists against trying to drive in the Sierra due to deep snow.

It is uncertain whether the snow will melt or not. Some forecasters are keeping an eye on the potential for warmer storms that could hit the state, soaking the massive snowpack and raising the potential for flooding. 

Dan Walters: High-speed rail still lacks money to complete Valley segment

In a commentary in CalMatters, Dan Walters writes that the California High-Speed Rail project, a proposed statewide system of very fast trains, is still lacking enough money to complete its initial segment in the San Joaquin Valley. 

The High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) recently announced the “historic milestone” of creating over 10,000 construction jobs since the start of construction on the initial stage, but this number is open to debate. 

The San Joaquin segment is currently projected to cost $22 billion, roughly one-fifth of what the entire north-south system would need. While construction unions have ramped up pressure to continue work, the project still lacks the necessary funding to complete the San Joaquin segment and make it a statewide system. 

The solution may depend on what happens in national politics, with Democrats supporting high-speed rail as a tool to battle climate change and Republicans opposing it as a boondoggle. Source: CalMatters