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Tag: CRITICS
What Critics Love And Hate
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is out this week, and reviews for the overwhelmingly massive open-world RPG sequel are here and mostly positive–though not all. It sounds like the new medieval sim, similar to its predecessor, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Some critics are calling it a Witcher 3-level breakout while others are already burnt out on all of the historical immersive sim’s drudgery.
Warhorse Studios’ follow-up to its 2018 RPG returns players to the role of Henry, the son of a blacksmith turned world-weary orphan, after a war in the 15th century Eastern European Kingdom of Bohemia sends him on a sim-heavy RPG journey through medieval geopolitical turmoil. The sequel expands on the first game with a bigger, more detailed world that includes new gameplay systems and a lengthier script. Does all of this extra stuff coalesce into something compelling and meaningful?
According to VGC’s Jordan Middler, the larger mix still feels cohesive and intentional in a way the first game’s did not. “This is Warhorse Studios’ Witcher 3 moment,” he writes in his five-star review. “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an extremely confident, accomplished, dirty, hilarious, and massively enjoyable RPG. The game tries a lot of things and executes on almost all of them very well, and its commitment to being ruthless must be applauded.”
Eurogamer’s Katharine Castle was similarly impressed but less in love with the finished product. “There’s a lot to admire here, sure, but you have to do so on its own terms,” she writes in her three-out-of-five star review. “It is a hard and maddening slog at times, but one that still has its moments where it surprises and quietly delights. Like the original, this isn’t an RPG designed to make you feel good – you continue to be little more than a passenger in this historical tapestry, following along behind the horse tails of Henry’s betters, and clearing up the mess they leave behind. Some will revel in that work, but I for one won’t be chomping at the bit for another sequel any time soon.”
Early reviews make Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sound like its side quests and the way they’re woven together across its big world are a highlight, while combat remains a bit underwhelming, and text-heavy menus make navigating and learning about some of the systems a chore. The lock-picking mini-game is apparently terrible, as is saving the game, and the beginning seems hellbent on making players struggle to overcome even the simplest challenges. All of these pressure points are blips in a journey that’s takings some reviewers over 100 hours.
Here’s what other reviews are saying:
In many ways, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels like it’s picked up and run with the reactive first-person RPG torch that Bethesda left lying in the mud years ago in pursuit of a broader audience. And it has excellent melee combat, which The Elder Scrolls never came close to even at its peak. Sometimes it’s not sure if it wants to be a cinematic tale about a specific guy going on a specific adventure or a truly dynamic open-world sandbox packed with interesting and varied side quests, and that can lead to a few immersion-shattering conflicts. But most of the time, leaning into one doesn’t get in the way of the other, and you’re free to go on any of its many optional adventures along the way to a thought-provoking and rousing finale for the main plot. I was delighted to get lost in its world, and it will be a long time before I forget its exceptional story.
While Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 still stumbles in some aspects of its portrayal of 15th-century Bohemia, the shadow that lingered over the first game has mostly dissipated. This is a massively improved sequel in every other area, with better combat, quest design, and none of the technical issues that plagued the original. Not everyone will vibe with its slow-paced and oftentimes tedious approach, but those willing to meet it on its own terms will find a compelling open-world RPG that relishes in player agency and the consequences of your actions.
While a few failures trigger a “game over”, many produce scenarios as winding and gratifying as any victory, and in any case, living life in Henry’s shoes has taught me to take the rain with the shine. In particular, I never wanted to simply overpower people the way blockbuster games teach you to, and Deliverance 2 met me halfway, initially, by having characters dunk on me when I tried to act the tough guy, or applaud me for being a good sport when I got my arse kicked. But after a series of mandatory plot skirmishes, my Henry has become a proficient and well-appointed combatant, because that is what KCD2 fundamentally requires him to be. It’s as though the game had assumed the role of that servant girl from my intro: it won’t let me get on with my day unless I consent to my own greatness.
The branching dialogue options and reputation system make for some engrossing moments. At certain points, I’m given the option to respond using the key tenets of Persuasion, Coercion, Domination, and others. This isn’t just determined by a rudimentary point value system from leveling up skills and perks. Rather, it relies on several factors, such as my standing within a community and even the dirt or blood on my clothing. After all, you probably won’t convince merchants that you’re a member of the nobility if you look like a vagabond, just as how you might not be able to intimidate the guards if you look like a total pushover.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is, in almost every way, the RPG that so many fans have been asking for. With Baldur’s Gate 3 taking the world by storm, amidst so many other RPGs that widely missed the mark, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 presents a colossal, in-depth, beautiful, masterfully designed game right at the start of 2025. The performances are excellent, it’s a major technical step up, and evolves the game beyond its foundation into something that embraces modern audiences without losing its identity. The original game turned away many due to its slow-paced, tedious aspects and technical shortcomings, and while the sequel exceeds on a technical level by far, the biggest shame will be if people still give it a miss because of the almost simulator-like mechanics.
Given that I was a big fan of the original title, I went into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 expecting to greatly enjoy the follow-up, too. Even so, I was thoroughly surprised by how perfect of a sequel it is, with Warhorse building on everything fans loved about KCD while simultaneously fixing its major story, combat, and performance issues. Between the immersive reactivity of its huge open world, countless varied quests to fill up your journal with, its engaging well-balanced combat, a gripping story, and immaculate presentation, it’s got everything a Kingdom Come fan could want and more.
Looking for a sweeping fantasy romp? You won’t find one. Like its predecessor, this is a game whose story springs inevitably from the politics of its time and place: the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1403. Want to mow down your foes by the dozen? Good luck. Combat is a strange dance of positioning both your hands and feet relative to those of your enemies, and charging into the fray even in the late game is liable to get you cut apart. Want to equip a hauberk without first equipping a padded gambeson beneath it? What are you—some kind of moron?
What Critics Love And Hate: A Look at the Best and Worst in EntertainmentCritics play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing the success of movies, TV shows, music, and other forms of entertainment. While their reviews can be subjective, they often provide valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in the world of entertainment. Here, we take a closer look at some of the things that critics love and hate in the industry.
What Critics Love:
1. Originality: Critics love to see fresh and innovative ideas in entertainment. Whether it’s a unique storyline, a groundbreaking visual style, or a fresh perspective on a familiar genre, originality is always appreciated.
2. Strong performances: Critics are always impressed by actors who can truly inhabit their characters and bring them to life on screen. A powerful performance can elevate even the most mediocre of scripts.
3. Thought-provoking themes: Entertainment that tackles complex issues and challenges viewers to think critically about the world around them is often praised by critics for its depth and intellectual rigor.
4. Skillful direction: A talented director can turn a good script into a great film. Critics appreciate directors who have a clear vision for their projects and the skills to bring that vision to life on screen.
What Critics Hate:
1. Lack of originality: Nothing irks critics more than a rehashed plot, tired cliches, or recycled ideas in entertainment. They want to see something new and exciting, not the same old tired tropes.
2. Poor performances: Bad acting can ruin even the best-written script. Critics are quick to call out actors who phone in their performances or fail to connect with their characters.
3. Shallow themes: Entertainment that lacks depth or substance is often panned by critics for its lack of intellectual engagement. They want to be challenged and stimulated, not spoon-fed simplistic messages.
4. Heavy-handed direction: Directors who lack subtlety or finesse in their storytelling can turn off critics with their heavy-handed approach. A deft touch is often appreciated more than bombastic spectacle.
In the end, critics are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to evaluating entertainment. What one critic loves, another may hate, and ultimately, it’s up to the individual viewer to decide what resonates with them. But by paying attention to what critics love and hate, we can gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment.
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#Critics #Love #Hate
DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Pineapple Express unleashes a torrent of rain and snow; Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump; Acting on Trump’s order, federal officials opened up two CA dams; Protesters voice concerns as EPA prepares Palisades fire clean-up site; and more … ~ MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK
Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
California storms …
Pineapple Express to unleash a torrent of rain and snow on the western US
“An atmospheric river originating from near Hawaii known as a ‘Pineapple Express,’ will send copious amounts of moisture into a large portion of the Northwest and California this week, resulting in heavy rain and waist-deep snow, warn AccuWeather meteorologists. The Pineapple Express, already evident on weather maps this weekend, will bring a variety of hazards to the West over the next few days, such as major flooding, avalanches, strong winds and travel delays. The heavy precipitation marks a dramatic change to begin February, after what was a relatively dry January. Meanwhile, lowland areas in the Pacific Northwest, away from the direct discharge of moisture from the atmospheric river, are expected to see slippery accumulating snow—many for the first time this season—through early week. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.Warm, wet atmospheric river to soak NorCal, w/mostly modest flood risk; SoCal likely to see at least some additional rain
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “We have, finally, seen a week with minimal wildfire activity in Southern California due to recent rainfall (and mountain snowfall, resulting in some rather dramatic “before and after” images (see below) ). And although the last system did not bring much, if any, precipitation to northern California, a new system today is “delivering the goods,” with more on the way. Hopefully, this gives some many folks a reprieve from what has been a very intense period of highly unusual wildfire risk (both latent and realized) across southern California. On that note: stay tuned for a rapid-response publication on that front in Global Change Biology that my colleagues and I have spun up in the last few weeks; publication date remains TBD, but will likely be in February. … ” Continue reading at Weather West.
Storms to hit Northern California ahead of predicted statewide dry spell
“After an exceptionally dry January, February will feature significantly more rain chances for much of California, at least for the first part of the month. Northern California, including the Bay Area, can expect several inches of rain from a multitude of storm systems for the first half of February, with several feet of snow falling across the Sierra. But the abundance of precipitation likely won’t last. By the end of February, all signs point to another period of mild and dry weather extending across much of the state. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
L.A.’s first atmospheric river storm of winter is coming. What you need to know
“The first in what’s expected to be a series of three atmospheric river storms has arrived in California. Forecasters are hopeful the winter storms might finally lift Los Angeles County from the throes of a devastating fire season. But there is still the risk that heavy rainfall around recent burn areas could trigger dangerous mudslides and debris flows — a particularly concerning prospect in areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Here’s what you need to know … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Continuous Atmospheric Rivers Conditions Forecast to Bring Heavy Precipitation to US West Coast, from CW3E
Governor’s Executive Order to capture stormwater …
Governor Newsom issues executive order to help California capture and store more water from upcoming severe storms; Conservation groups respond
“In anticipation of a multi-day, significant atmospheric river in Northern California, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that would make it easier to divert and store excess water from incoming winter storms. The Governor signed the order after he received a briefing on the latest forecast for the storm. The executive order also directs the Department of Water Resources and other state agencies to take action to maximize diversion of those excess flows to boost the state’s water storage in Northern California, including storage in San Luis Reservoir south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These actions will help California replenish above-ground and groundwater storage that remains depleted in many parts of the state following multi-year droughts. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies. As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state. By storing these stormwaters, we are creating a literal rainy day fund to help us recover from a multi-year drought and prepare for our hotter, drier future,” said Governor Newsom. … ” Read more from Governor Newsom.
Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order that he says is intended to “maximize” the capture of water during winter storms. Newsom issued the order Friday, saying it will make it easier to divert and store water as storms bring rain and snow in the coming days. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies,” Newsom said. “As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state.” Environmental and fishing groups, however, denounced Newsom’s order as being alarmingly similar to federal directives from President Trump, saying the governor’s approach threatens to harm vulnerable fish species and the deteriorating ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
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Friday’s not-so-great snow survey …
DWR: Snowpack dips well below average in second snow survey of the season
DWR conducted the second media snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Xavier Mascareñas / DWR “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 65 percent of average for this date. On January 1, the statewide snowpack was 108 percent of average after a series of large storms in November and December boosted snow totals in the Northern Sierra, but significant regional differences kept the Central Sierra just below average and the Southern Sierra well below average. An excessively dry January has pushed the Northern Sierra back to near average, the Central Sierra to 58 percent of average, and has led the Southern Sierra Nevada to fall to under 50 percent of average. “Despite a good start to the snowpack in the Northern Sierra in November and December, we can look back as recently as 2013 and 2021 to show how quickly conditions can change for the drier,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January which has pushed the state down below average for this time of year. While we are excited to see some storm activity in the coming days, sustained periods of no precipitation can dry the state out very quickly. For each day it’s not snowing or raining, we are not keeping up with what we need.” … ” Read more from DWR.
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
“The statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides nearly one-third of California’s water supply, began the year in good shape, at 108% of normal. But as anyone who went skiing or did yardwork over the past month knows, January was very dry, which contributed to the Los Angeles wildfires, and growing nervousness among water managers across the state. On Friday, the statewide Sierra snowpack had fallen to just 65% of its historical average for this time of year. The good news is that won’t last long. Northern California began being pounded by a series of storms Friday that are expected to bring considerable amounts of snow and rain for at least a week — a key boost to improve the state’s water outlook. “The year began fairly well, better than last year,” said Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, near Donner Summit. “We had a nice big atmospheric river in November and another in December that put us above average. Then the tap shut off.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
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Trump’s executive order leads to water dump from Tulare County lakes …
Trump’s emergency water order responsible for water dump from Tulare County lakes
“The sudden announcement Thursday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that Kaweah and Success lakes would immediately begin dumping water was in response to President Trump’s Jan. 24 executive order mandating that federal officials exert all efforts to get more water to fight southern California wildfires, the Army Corps confirmed Friday. “Consistent with the direction in the Executive Order on Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Success Lake to ensure California has water available to respond to the wildfires,” wrote Gene Pawlik, a supervising public affairs specialist in the Army Corps’ Washington, D.C. office. Indeed, President Trump boasted about the releases on his X page Friday posting a photo of a river and writing: “Photo of beautiful water flow that I just opened in California. Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago – There would have been no fire!” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Acting on Trump’s order, federal officials opened up two California dams
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dramatically increased the amount of water flowing from two dams in Tulare County, sending massive flows down river channels toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley. Federal records show that water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success jumped early Friday morning. The sudden increase occurred four days after President Trump said on social media that the U.S. military had “entered” California and “TURNED ON THE WATER.” Trump also vowed during a visit to Los Angeles last week to “open up the valves and pumps” in California to deliver more water. According to federal data, the flow from Terminus Dam into the Kaweah River near Visalia increased from 57 cubic feet per second to more than 1,500 on Friday morning. The flow from Lake Success near Porterville into the Tule River increased from 105 cubic feet per second to 990. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Trump says he opened California’s water. Local officials say he nearly flooded them.
“President Donald Trump declared victory on Friday in his long-running water war with California, boasting he sent billions of gallons south — but local officials say they narrowly prevented him from possibly flooding farms. “Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago — There would have been no fire!” he said in a post on his social media site. Local officials had to talk the Army Corps of Engineers down after it abruptly alerted them Thursday afternoon it was about to increase flows from two reservoirs to maximum capacity — a move the agency said was in response to Trump directing the federal government to “maximize” water supplies. Before the Corps ratcheted down its plan, local authorities scrambled to move equipment and warn farms about possible flooding, said Victor Hernandez, who oversees water management on one of the rivers, the Kaweah in Tulare County. He said the Corps gave him one hour notice on Thursday. … ” Read more from Politico.
U.S. Sen. Padilla demands answers about Trump’s ‘troubling’ water release orders
“U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on Friday wrote to newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to demand answers regarding a Trump administration order to release water from two dams in the Central Valley — a move the California senator said could “endanger” local communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success in Tulare County on Friday, sending water towards farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Times reported. “I write regarding the troubling unscheduled release of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following President Trump’s Executive Order falsely linking statewide water policies to the wildfires in Los Angeles,” said Padilla in his letter to Hegseth. “As I’m sure the Administration is aware, the rivers into which this water was released do not actually flow into Los Angeles.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California’s top environmental official: federal and state water managers are working together closely, for now
“After President Donald Trump posted on social media earlier this week that the United States Military came into California and under emergency powers “turned on the water,” California’s top environmental official, Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot is speaking out. Crowfoot and the state’s Department of Water Resources said the President may have been referring to the completion of routine maintenance at the Jones Pumping Plant in Tracy, which is part of the Central Valley water project. However, the federal government has yet to explain exactly what action it took. The Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees federal water infrastructure, has yet to respond to KCRA 3’s repeated requests for comment. … ” Read more from KCRA.
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In other California water news …
Multiple parties file motion to cancel or postpone upcoming hearing on DWR’s water right change petition for Delta Conveyance Project
“With the hearing on the water rights petition for the Delta Conveyance Project at the State Water Board set to begin on February 18, multiple parties have filed a motion with the State Water Board’s Administrative Hearings Office requesting cancellation of DWR’s water rights change petition for the Delta Conveyance Project due to incomplete information and procedural concerns. DWR has filed a petition to change the point of diversion for the Delta Conveyance Project to add new points of diversion to the water rights associated with the State Water Project. This process is required by the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure compliance with water rights regulations and to allow for public participation and transparency. The motion argues that DWR’s failure to provide ordered supplemental information justifies the cancellation of the change petition. Alternatively, they request that the hearing dates be vacated until DWR resolves its extension petition or provides necessary information. The motion is supported by multiple entities, including Delta water agencies and reclamation districts, and Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. … ” Read more at Maven’s Notebook.
Legislators chip away at nacho-toothed rodent in the Delta
“Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy) and Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday to respond to the exploding infestation of nutria, giant swamp rats that cause massive damage to crops, levees, and the San Joaquin Delta. The Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act would continue funding efforts to eradicate these invasive rodents. “We’re in a war with giant swamp rats, and our farms, levees, and waterways will pay the price if we lose,” Harder said. “We have to keep our foot on the gas to drive these pests out of the Valley for good. I’ll work with anyone to ensure our farmers, water infrastructure, and Delta are no longer plagued by the swamp rat menace.” In 2020, Harder worked with President Donald Trump to bring money to California to fight the swamp rats, however, this funding is set to expire this year. This comes as these 40-pound rodents — which eat 25% of their body weight every day and can reproduce 200 offspring every year — have expanded their territory across the Valley. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
Harder seeks continued federal funds to go after swamp rat infestation
“This week, on the heels of the most captures in a single year, Congress members. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) introduced bipartisan legislation to respond to the exploding infestation of nutria, giant swamp rats that cause massive damage to crops, levees, and the Delta. The Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act would continue funding efforts to eradicate these invasive rodents. In 2020, Harder worked with President Trump to bring money to California to fight the nacho cheese toothed swamp rats; however, this funding is set to expire this year. This comes as these 40 pound rodents – which eat 25% of their body weight every day and can reproduce 200 offspring every year – have expanded their territory across the Valley. In 2023, 78% of nutria found were in newly infested areas including the northwestern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and throughout the San Joaquin River corridor in Fresno County. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
In commentary this weekend …
California’s mismanagement of fire and water
Edward Ring, cofounder of the California Policy Center, writes, “The more we learn about the Los Angeles-area wildfires, the more caution is called for when assigning blame. When the Santa Ana winds periodically sweep down from California’s eastern deserts and rip through the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin at up to 100 MPH, sparks don’t go up, they go sideways, and turn entire canyons into blast furnaces. Any criticism of the response to these fires, or of the inadequate preparation for these fires, has to recognize that sometimes even if authorities do everything they possibly can, it will not be enough. In the face of low-probability/high-consequence forces of nature, humans can only do so much. On the other hand, the biggest ideas California’s politicians have come up with so far in response to worsening fires are symbolic. … ” Read more from the California Policy Center.
Podcasts …
CALIFORNIA REPORT: Trump Executive Order takes aim at California’s water management
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says will help Southern California fight future wildfires. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and federal environmental rules, to send more water from California’s Delta. Trump has said this move will help protect against wildfires, by bolstering Southern California’s water supplies. But this order won’t actually do that. Guest: Alastair Bland, CalMatters.
VIC BEDOIAN: Delta Advocates on Trump’s Water Action
Earlier this week President Trump issued an executive order to deliver more water from the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta to central valley farms and southern California cities. He called the action “Putting People Over Fish…” Trump falsely connected the state’s wildfires with the operation of the Federal and State water projects. He also repeated the deceptive claim that water was wastefully flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Environmental leaders say Governor Gavin Newsom could block Trump’s maneuver using California’s environmental laws that protect the water, land and people in the state. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.
WATER TALK: Engineering safer and cleaner water
A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to steward water resources and infrastructure. Released January 31, 2025.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: An Atmospheric River
Rivers have always been associated with a large natural stream that eventually empties into the ocean, lake or other body of water. That’s easy to visualize but can you imagine an atmospheric river. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
RIPPLE EFFECT: 2025 and the water year to come
Shaina Shay, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the Water Report, joins us to talk about her thoughts and themes for the upcoming 2025 Water Year. We discuss 1) Climate Change Adaptation: fire, floods, and drought and the rise of nature based solutions; 2) Funding: the end of a once in a generation surge of money for water through the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill and Covid relief funding and growing collaborative efforts to pool public, private, and corporate dollars; and 3) Administration Change: keeping watch on changes under the new Trump Administration and the lasting impacts of Sackett and the death of Chevon deference. We also discuss perennial hot topics of advanced water treatment technologies and the Colorado River.
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Connections and crossings: Wildlife in the modern world with Beth Pratt and Ben Goldfarb
From P-22 – dubbed the “Brad Pitt of mountain lions” – navigating LA freeways to steelhead battling urban barriers, the latest Fish Water People podcast episode dives into an urgent question: how can we help wildlife move through a world designed primarily with human movement in mind? Join us as we connect with Beth Pratt, wildlife advocate, author, and California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, who reveals why data alone is not enough to motivate environmental action. She discusses how compelling personal stories transformed public perception of urban animals and drove the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles County.
TERRA VERDE: Confronting California’s Wildfire Crisis
California’s growing wildfire crisis has impacted nearly every corner of the state in recent years, and this month we’ve witnessed a series of deadly, destructive, and unprecedented January wildfires in southern California. Governor Gavin Newsom created the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force in 2021 to introduce a more holistic, integrated approach toward effective forest management. The Task Force is a collaborative effort that unites federal, state, local, and tribal organizations to better manage forests, protect communities, and adapt to California’s fire-prone reality.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Bentz, Wyden bill protects Klamath Basin water users
“Congressman Cliff Bentz’s bill, H.R. 7938, designed to protect Klamath Basin water users from being charged for maintenance and upgrade costs attributable to the Link River or Keno dams, was passed out of the House on December 17th, passed the Senate on Dec. 19, and on Saturday, Jan. 4, President Biden signed it. “I am very pleased to report that H.R. 7938 is now the law of the land” said Congressman Bentz. “This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation to operate the Link River and Keno dams consistent with existing contracts and without imposing any costs associated with these dams upon the water users. This law is the ratification of agreements made some 15 years ago which until now were not enforceable.” … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Yuba Water Agency prepares for water releases from New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir
“Yuba Water Agency is preparing to release water from its spillway at New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River to make room for anticipated inflows and snowmelt expected from the incoming storm.“Even though it’s been an extremely dry January, we had plenty of snow and rain in December to build up our snowpack in the Sierra and we expect this storm to be significant enough for us to make releases to maintain adequate flood storage space,” said John James, Yuba Water’s director of resource planning. “It’s important to note that, even though we’re operating the spillway, this is a normal part of our winter operations to manage flood risk downstream.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
NAPA/SONOMA
Could Trump’s funding cut threats affect Healdsburg?
“In case you haven’t heard, the Trump administration issued a sweeping order Tuesday that “froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans and sparked mass confusion across the country,” in the words of the New York Times. This order was then blocked by a federal judge, and then rescinded by Trump — but not before causing chaos among “schools, hospitals, nonprofits and other organizations scrambling to understand if they had lost their financial support from the government.” Including many here in Sonoma County and Healdsburg, according to the Press Democrat. The PD reports that local programs running on federal grants include the Meals on Wheels service that feeds Sonoma County seniors and the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District’s controlled burn program in the countryside surrounding Healdsburg, along with a handful of important Healdsburg city initiatives. … ” Read more from the Healdsburg Tribune.
BAY AREA
Bay Area flood watch as atmospheric rivers bring heavy rain and rising river levels
“The entire Bay Area — from Santa Rosa to San José — is under flood watch until 10 p.m. Sunday as the first of two atmospheric rivers sweeps through the region, the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office warns. The good news is that initial flooding concerns remain low for the first few days of rain as the dry month prior will help buffer the impact of the upcoming rain. Flooding concerns escalate later this weekend and into next week, as consecutive days of heavy rain could bring up to 8 inches to the North Bay, 5 inches to San Francisco and 2 inches to the South Bay. The weather service is closely monitoring North Bay rivers and streams, where the highest flood risk exists due to heavy rainfall, while the rest of the Bay Area faces potential nuisance flooding. … ” Read more from KQED.
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CENTRAL COAST
County of Monterey releases initial Moss Landing Fire soil and water results
“The County of Monterey has released the initial results of soil and water samples they took from around the perimeter of the Vistra Moss Landing battery storage facility after a fire occurred on Jan. 16. The fire burned lithium-ion batteries stored at the facility and sent hydrogen fluoride into the air when burned. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that due to the temperature of the flames, the toxic chemical burned up. Additionally, the plume cloud was too high to impact anyone on the ground level, per the EPA. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Moss Landing battery fire leads to health fears, evidence of contamination and concerns about overreaction
“Two weeks after a devastating fire in Moss Landing, California, at one of the world’s largest battery energy storage plants, some residents are organizing to try to get answers about medical symptoms they attribute to the fire. Researchers have found an increase in heavy metals in nearby soils, and state utility regulators have issued a proposed rule aimed at improving safety at battery plants and are in the early stages of determining what caused the fire. Groups with ties to energy industries are acknowledging the scale of this incident, but also urging the public to not to overreact. They cite data showing that fires at battery facilities are rare and have become less common in recent years, despite growth in the size and number of plants. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Firefighters monitor Northern California lithium battery plant for storm-related flare-ups
“Monterey County firefighters on Friday said they were monitoring Vistra Energy’s fire-damaged lithium-ion battery facility for flare-ups as an atmospheric river moved through the region. The North County Fire Protection District issued a hazard advisory for the Moss Landing plant Friday night. “Public safety officials are monitoring the potential for flare-ups and additional fires at the Vistra site due to the atmospheric river interacting with the remaining lithium-ion batteries and debris hotspots,” county spokeswoman Maia Carroll said in a statement about 7:30 p.m. The lithium-ion battery energy storage system facility caught fire on Jan. 16, leading to evacuation orders for about 1,200 nearby residents. About 80% of the structure and its batteries were destroyed in the fire. … ” Read more from CBS News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Porterville set to leave ETGSA, join with PID
“The Porterville City Council is set to approve an action in which the city would leave the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency and join the Porterville Irrigation District to form their own agency. As a scheduled matter the council will consider leaving the ETGSA and forming their own agency with PIG at its next meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. If approved by the council the move would be one more step to what looks to be the eventual dissolution of the ETGSA. With the pending departure of virtually all of its agencies, ETGSA, which covers Southeastern Tulare County, would be left with just one agency, the county of Tulare. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Volunteers learn to foster trout eggs in anticipation of releasing fry into the Kings River
“A handful of volunteers gathered in a remote shed near the Pine Flat Dam recently to learn how to become trout “mamas,” so to speak. Lori Werner, an environmental resource analyst for the Kings River Fisheries Management Program, met with four volunteers Jan. 24 to show them how to care for 140,000 rainbow trout eggs until they hatch into fry that will be released into the river. Werner showed them how to record water temperature, clean, feed and monitor the trout eggs. “It’s not rocket science,” Werner told the group. “It’s actually remarkable how much they change while we have them. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Palisades and Eaton fires are 100% contained, Cal Fire says
“The two wildfires that ravaged Pacific Palisades and the Altadena-Pasadena areas — killed 29, destroyed upwards of 16,000 structures and burned more than 37,000 acres — are now fully contained, Cal Fire announced. Containment is the border — either natural or created by fire crews — beyond which a fire is not expected to expand. All evacuation orders have been lifted for both fires, with only residents being permitted back into the burn areas. County public health officials are distributing personal protective equipment to residents returning to their homes in the various burn areas. Authorities urged residents to wear masks, gloves and other protective equipment if they are digging through the rubble, noting the toxic nature of wildfire ash and other debris. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Palisades to reopen Sunday morning, as LA fires reach full containment
“The Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas will reopen after the Palisades Fire tore through nearly 40 square miles of homes, commercial areas and wilderness – more than three weeks after the fire started in early January. Both the Palisades and Eaton fires are now 100% contained. Checkpoints will be removed on Pacific Coast Highway at 8:00 am, with one lane open in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace. During a virtual town hall L.A. Mayor Karen Bass urged drivers to avoid the area if possible, predicting extreme congestion. She warned that the area is still considered dangerous, noting the abundance of hazardous waste, unstable burned buildings, and utility crews using heavy equipment. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Protesters voice concerns as EPA prepares Palisades fire clean-up site
“Across the street from Topanga Beach the scorched remains of signs indicate the burned ground once home to the Topanga Motel and the Reel Inn restaurant. Nearby, Environmental Protection Agency contractors have begun preparing the land to be used as a staging site for hazardous waste removed from the debris left in the wake of the Palisades fire. Over a dozen concerned protesters, mostly Topanga residents, gathered on Friday, Jan. 31, to express their opposition to the hazardous waste removal site being established on the land of the former Topanga Motel location, which is owned by the California State Parks system. “It’s our beach, keep it clean,” they chanted, many holding brightly colored signs referencing water safety, a main concern for many protesters given the site’s proximity to the ocean. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Nearly 300 trout rescued from Palisades fire burn scar. Their watershed could take a decade to heal
“They only had one shot to save the fish. Ash from the Palisades fire had blown into a stream housing the last population of steelhead trout in the Santa Monica Mountains, degrading the water quality. The first rain following the inferno was closing in, bringing threats of debris flows that could choke Topanga Creek. Mud was already clogging the lower reaches, swept in by water used to douse the fire. Four teams primarily comprised of biologists fanned out along a stretch of the waterway Jan. 23 and set to work stunning the trout with an electric current applied to the water and ferrying them in buckets to trucks outfitted with large tanks. Moving swiftly was key to minimize stressing the endangered fish. It paid off. That night, 271 Southern California steelhead trout were transported to a hatchery in Fillmore for safe keeping. With 530 of the rare fish counted in the creek in November, it represented a large chunk of the population. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Malibu’s ocean life isn’t safe from fire, and the worst effects are yet to come
“The Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people. Now, as fire victims gather their lives after the destruction, environmental concerns have emerged in the region. Urban fires pose particular threats to marine ecosystems. Debris and toxins released from the fires can damage kelp forests and lead to destructive algal blooms that snuff out ocean life. Now that Los Angeles is finally seeing some much needed rain, the worst effects in the ocean are expected to begin.” Listen at the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
California water district still on the hook for $17 million refund to consumers charged different rates
“A California state appeals court upheld a $17 million decision Friday awarding refunds to customers of the Coachella Valley Water District after a panel of judges ruled the government utility agency unconstitutionally charged non-agricultural customers more than agricultural ones. In its 55-page ruling, a panel of judges of California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court decision in favor of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the nonprofit that brought the case. The court said that the difference in water rates violated state law because the rates are property taxes under the California constitution — taxes that were not approved by voters. The appellate court also rejected arguments by the water district that the association lacked standing to bring the suit, or that a refund was not mandated by law. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Along the Colorado River …
Padilla, Calvert introduce bipartisan bill to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
“U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) introduced bipartisan legislation to support Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) activities. The bill would increase the funding available for species conservation by creating an interest-bearing account at the Department of the Treasury for funds that the Colorado River Lower Basin states and the federal government contribute to the LCR MSCP. Currently, the Bureau of Reclamation holds the funding that states, including California, Arizona, and Nevada, contribute in an account that does not collect interest. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Federal money will help connect CAP, SRP canals, stretching water supplies for cities
“Two of Arizona’s largest pieces of water infrastructure are linking up. A coalition of 14 central Arizona municipalities and water companies is working to complete the interconnection between the Central Arizona Project and the Salt River Project, two water systems that collectively serve more than 80% of Arizona’s population. While water can flow from one to the other, the new project would make transfers available in both directions. Local governments say the new project will make them better equipped to handle a less predictable water future as the Colorado River suffers the effects of climate change and overuse. It is the largest of several projects that received federal funding this month. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
At Phoenix’s Far Edge, a Housing Boom Grasps for Water
“Beneath the exhausting Sonoran sun, an hour’s drive west of Phoenix, heavy machines are methodically scraping the desert bare. Where mesquite and saguaro once stood, the former Douglas Ranch is being graded and platted in the first phase of a national real estate developer’s gargantuan plan that foresees, in the next few decades, as many as 100,000 new homes to shelter 300,000 people. In late October 2024, dozens of trees, salvaged from the land and potted as if they had just arrived from the nursery, watched over the quiet construction zone. This remote site in western Maricopa County, between the stark White Tank Mountains and frequently dry Hassayampa River, is the location of Teravalis, the largest master planned community in Arizona and one of the largest in the country. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
Proposed legislation aims to create Rural Groundwater Management Act
“Gov. Katie Hobbs has called on the Arizona Legislature to pass a bill that would create a Rural Groundwater Management Act (RGMA) to protect five basins across the state. Similar legislation failed to pass last session, but Hobbs has renewed optimism due to recent negotiations with stakeholders. She made the announcement Thursday with lawmakers and bipartisan elected officials at the Capitol. “We have spent countless hours over many months carefully crafting legislation that will finally give our rural communities a voice and protect Arizona’s precious groundwater resources,” Hobbs said. … ” Read more from KTAR.
About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
Welcome to the weekend edition of the Daily Digest! Here are some of the top stories making waves in California:– The Pineapple Express weather system has brought a deluge of rain and snow to the state, causing flooding and hazardous road conditions. Residents are urged to stay safe and be cautious while traveling.
– Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to “maximize” water capture during storms, in an effort to replenish dwindling water supplies. Critics have pointed out the similarities between Newsom’s order and former President Trump’s policies on water management.
– In response to Trump’s order, federal officials have opened up two dams in California to release water into reservoirs. Environmentalists and local residents are concerned about the impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
– Protesters have voiced their concerns as the EPA prepares to clean up the Palisades fire site in Southern California. The fire, which was sparked by an illegal campfire, has caused significant damage to the area and raised questions about fire prevention measures.
Stay tuned for more updates on these and other important stories in California. Stay safe and stay informed!
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#DAILY #DIGEST #weekend #edition #Pineapple #Express #unleashes #torrent #rain #snow #Newsom #issues #order #maximize #water #capture #storms #Critics #sounds #Trump #Acting #Trumps #order #federal #officials #opened #dams #Protesters #voice #concerns #EPA #prepares #Palisades #fire #cleanup #site #MAVENS #NOTEBOOK
DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Pineapple Express unleashes a torrent of rain and snow; Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump; Acting on Trump’s order, federal officials opened up two CA dams; Protesters voice concerns as EPA prepares Palisades fire clean-up site; and more … ~ MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK
Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
California storms …
Pineapple Express to unleash a torrent of rain and snow on the western US
“An atmospheric river originating from near Hawaii known as a ‘Pineapple Express,’ will send copious amounts of moisture into a large portion of the Northwest and California this week, resulting in heavy rain and waist-deep snow, warn AccuWeather meteorologists. The Pineapple Express, already evident on weather maps this weekend, will bring a variety of hazards to the West over the next few days, such as major flooding, avalanches, strong winds and travel delays. The heavy precipitation marks a dramatic change to begin February, after what was a relatively dry January. Meanwhile, lowland areas in the Pacific Northwest, away from the direct discharge of moisture from the atmospheric river, are expected to see slippery accumulating snow—many for the first time this season—through early week. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.Warm, wet atmospheric river to soak NorCal, w/mostly modest flood risk; SoCal likely to see at least some additional rain
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “We have, finally, seen a week with minimal wildfire activity in Southern California due to recent rainfall (and mountain snowfall, resulting in some rather dramatic “before and after” images (see below) ). And although the last system did not bring much, if any, precipitation to northern California, a new system today is “delivering the goods,” with more on the way. Hopefully, this gives some many folks a reprieve from what has been a very intense period of highly unusual wildfire risk (both latent and realized) across southern California. On that note: stay tuned for a rapid-response publication on that front in Global Change Biology that my colleagues and I have spun up in the last few weeks; publication date remains TBD, but will likely be in February. … ” Continue reading at Weather West.
Storms to hit Northern California ahead of predicted statewide dry spell
“After an exceptionally dry January, February will feature significantly more rain chances for much of California, at least for the first part of the month. Northern California, including the Bay Area, can expect several inches of rain from a multitude of storm systems for the first half of February, with several feet of snow falling across the Sierra. But the abundance of precipitation likely won’t last. By the end of February, all signs point to another period of mild and dry weather extending across much of the state. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
L.A.’s first atmospheric river storm of winter is coming. What you need to know
“The first in what’s expected to be a series of three atmospheric river storms has arrived in California. Forecasters are hopeful the winter storms might finally lift Los Angeles County from the throes of a devastating fire season. But there is still the risk that heavy rainfall around recent burn areas could trigger dangerous mudslides and debris flows — a particularly concerning prospect in areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Here’s what you need to know … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Continuous Atmospheric Rivers Conditions Forecast to Bring Heavy Precipitation to US West Coast, from CW3E
Governor’s Executive Order to capture stormwater …
Governor Newsom issues executive order to help California capture and store more water from upcoming severe storms; Conservation groups respond
“In anticipation of a multi-day, significant atmospheric river in Northern California, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that would make it easier to divert and store excess water from incoming winter storms. The Governor signed the order after he received a briefing on the latest forecast for the storm. The executive order also directs the Department of Water Resources and other state agencies to take action to maximize diversion of those excess flows to boost the state’s water storage in Northern California, including storage in San Luis Reservoir south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These actions will help California replenish above-ground and groundwater storage that remains depleted in many parts of the state following multi-year droughts. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies. As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state. By storing these stormwaters, we are creating a literal rainy day fund to help us recover from a multi-year drought and prepare for our hotter, drier future,” said Governor Newsom. … ” Read more from Governor Newsom.
Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order that he says is intended to “maximize” the capture of water during winter storms. Newsom issued the order Friday, saying it will make it easier to divert and store water as storms bring rain and snow in the coming days. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies,” Newsom said. “As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state.” Environmental and fishing groups, however, denounced Newsom’s order as being alarmingly similar to federal directives from President Trump, saying the governor’s approach threatens to harm vulnerable fish species and the deteriorating ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
Friday’s not-so-great snow survey …
DWR: Snowpack dips well below average in second snow survey of the season
DWR conducted the second media snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Xavier Mascareñas / DWR “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 65 percent of average for this date. On January 1, the statewide snowpack was 108 percent of average after a series of large storms in November and December boosted snow totals in the Northern Sierra, but significant regional differences kept the Central Sierra just below average and the Southern Sierra well below average. An excessively dry January has pushed the Northern Sierra back to near average, the Central Sierra to 58 percent of average, and has led the Southern Sierra Nevada to fall to under 50 percent of average. “Despite a good start to the snowpack in the Northern Sierra in November and December, we can look back as recently as 2013 and 2021 to show how quickly conditions can change for the drier,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January which has pushed the state down below average for this time of year. While we are excited to see some storm activity in the coming days, sustained periods of no precipitation can dry the state out very quickly. For each day it’s not snowing or raining, we are not keeping up with what we need.” … ” Read more from DWR.
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
“The statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides nearly one-third of California’s water supply, began the year in good shape, at 108% of normal. But as anyone who went skiing or did yardwork over the past month knows, January was very dry, which contributed to the Los Angeles wildfires, and growing nervousness among water managers across the state. On Friday, the statewide Sierra snowpack had fallen to just 65% of its historical average for this time of year. The good news is that won’t last long. Northern California began being pounded by a series of storms Friday that are expected to bring considerable amounts of snow and rain for at least a week — a key boost to improve the state’s water outlook. “The year began fairly well, better than last year,” said Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, near Donner Summit. “We had a nice big atmospheric river in November and another in December that put us above average. Then the tap shut off.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
SEE ALSO:
Trump’s executive order leads to water dump from Tulare County lakes …
Trump’s emergency water order responsible for water dump from Tulare County lakes
“The sudden announcement Thursday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that Kaweah and Success lakes would immediately begin dumping water was in response to President Trump’s Jan. 24 executive order mandating that federal officials exert all efforts to get more water to fight southern California wildfires, the Army Corps confirmed Friday. “Consistent with the direction in the Executive Order on Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Success Lake to ensure California has water available to respond to the wildfires,” wrote Gene Pawlik, a supervising public affairs specialist in the Army Corps’ Washington, D.C. office. Indeed, President Trump boasted about the releases on his X page Friday posting a photo of a river and writing: “Photo of beautiful water flow that I just opened in California. Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago – There would have been no fire!” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Acting on Trump’s order, federal officials opened up two California dams
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dramatically increased the amount of water flowing from two dams in Tulare County, sending massive flows down river channels toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley. Federal records show that water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success jumped early Friday morning. The sudden increase occurred four days after President Trump said on social media that the U.S. military had “entered” California and “TURNED ON THE WATER.” Trump also vowed during a visit to Los Angeles last week to “open up the valves and pumps” in California to deliver more water. According to federal data, the flow from Terminus Dam into the Kaweah River near Visalia increased from 57 cubic feet per second to more than 1,500 on Friday morning. The flow from Lake Success near Porterville into the Tule River increased from 105 cubic feet per second to 990. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Trump says he opened California’s water. Local officials say he nearly flooded them.
“President Donald Trump declared victory on Friday in his long-running water war with California, boasting he sent billions of gallons south — but local officials say they narrowly prevented him from possibly flooding farms. “Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago — There would have been no fire!” he said in a post on his social media site. Local officials had to talk the Army Corps of Engineers down after it abruptly alerted them Thursday afternoon it was about to increase flows from two reservoirs to maximum capacity — a move the agency said was in response to Trump directing the federal government to “maximize” water supplies. Before the Corps ratcheted down its plan, local authorities scrambled to move equipment and warn farms about possible flooding, said Victor Hernandez, who oversees water management on one of the rivers, the Kaweah in Tulare County. He said the Corps gave him one hour notice on Thursday. … ” Read more from Politico.
U.S. Sen. Padilla demands answers about Trump’s ‘troubling’ water release orders
“U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on Friday wrote to newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to demand answers regarding a Trump administration order to release water from two dams in the Central Valley — a move the California senator said could “endanger” local communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success in Tulare County on Friday, sending water towards farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Times reported. “I write regarding the troubling unscheduled release of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following President Trump’s Executive Order falsely linking statewide water policies to the wildfires in Los Angeles,” said Padilla in his letter to Hegseth. “As I’m sure the Administration is aware, the rivers into which this water was released do not actually flow into Los Angeles.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California’s top environmental official: federal and state water managers are working together closely, for now
“After President Donald Trump posted on social media earlier this week that the United States Military came into California and under emergency powers “turned on the water,” California’s top environmental official, Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot is speaking out. Crowfoot and the state’s Department of Water Resources said the President may have been referring to the completion of routine maintenance at the Jones Pumping Plant in Tracy, which is part of the Central Valley water project. However, the federal government has yet to explain exactly what action it took. The Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees federal water infrastructure, has yet to respond to KCRA 3’s repeated requests for comment. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO:
In other California water news …
Multiple parties file motion to cancel or postpone upcoming hearing on DWR’s water right change petition for Delta Conveyance Project
“With the hearing on the water rights petition for the Delta Conveyance Project at the State Water Board set to begin on February 18, multiple parties have filed a motion with the State Water Board’s Administrative Hearings Office requesting cancellation of DWR’s water rights change petition for the Delta Conveyance Project due to incomplete information and procedural concerns. DWR has filed a petition to change the point of diversion for the Delta Conveyance Project to add new points of diversion to the water rights associated with the State Water Project. This process is required by the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure compliance with water rights regulations and to allow for public participation and transparency. The motion argues that DWR’s failure to provide ordered supplemental information justifies the cancellation of the change petition. Alternatively, they request that the hearing dates be vacated until DWR resolves its extension petition or provides necessary information. The motion is supported by multiple entities, including Delta water agencies and reclamation districts, and Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. … ” Read more at Maven’s Notebook.
Legislators chip away at nacho-toothed rodent in the Delta
“Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy) and Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday to respond to the exploding infestation of nutria, giant swamp rats that cause massive damage to crops, levees, and the San Joaquin Delta. The Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act would continue funding efforts to eradicate these invasive rodents. “We’re in a war with giant swamp rats, and our farms, levees, and waterways will pay the price if we lose,” Harder said. “We have to keep our foot on the gas to drive these pests out of the Valley for good. I’ll work with anyone to ensure our farmers, water infrastructure, and Delta are no longer plagued by the swamp rat menace.” In 2020, Harder worked with President Donald Trump to bring money to California to fight the swamp rats, however, this funding is set to expire this year. This comes as these 40-pound rodents — which eat 25% of their body weight every day and can reproduce 200 offspring every year — have expanded their territory across the Valley. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
Harder seeks continued federal funds to go after swamp rat infestation
“This week, on the heels of the most captures in a single year, Congress members. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) introduced bipartisan legislation to respond to the exploding infestation of nutria, giant swamp rats that cause massive damage to crops, levees, and the Delta. The Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act would continue funding efforts to eradicate these invasive rodents. In 2020, Harder worked with President Trump to bring money to California to fight the nacho cheese toothed swamp rats; however, this funding is set to expire this year. This comes as these 40 pound rodents – which eat 25% of their body weight every day and can reproduce 200 offspring every year – have expanded their territory across the Valley. In 2023, 78% of nutria found were in newly infested areas including the northwestern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and throughout the San Joaquin River corridor in Fresno County. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
In commentary this weekend …
California’s mismanagement of fire and water
Edward Ring, cofounder of the California Policy Center, writes, “The more we learn about the Los Angeles-area wildfires, the more caution is called for when assigning blame. When the Santa Ana winds periodically sweep down from California’s eastern deserts and rip through the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin at up to 100 MPH, sparks don’t go up, they go sideways, and turn entire canyons into blast furnaces. Any criticism of the response to these fires, or of the inadequate preparation for these fires, has to recognize that sometimes even if authorities do everything they possibly can, it will not be enough. In the face of low-probability/high-consequence forces of nature, humans can only do so much. On the other hand, the biggest ideas California’s politicians have come up with so far in response to worsening fires are symbolic. … ” Read more from the California Policy Center.
Podcasts …
CALIFORNIA REPORT: Trump Executive Order takes aim at California’s water management
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says will help Southern California fight future wildfires. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and federal environmental rules, to send more water from California’s Delta. Trump has said this move will help protect against wildfires, by bolstering Southern California’s water supplies. But this order won’t actually do that. Guest: Alastair Bland, CalMatters.
VIC BEDOIAN: Delta Advocates on Trump’s Water Action
Earlier this week President Trump issued an executive order to deliver more water from the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta to central valley farms and southern California cities. He called the action “Putting People Over Fish…” Trump falsely connected the state’s wildfires with the operation of the Federal and State water projects. He also repeated the deceptive claim that water was wastefully flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Environmental leaders say Governor Gavin Newsom could block Trump’s maneuver using California’s environmental laws that protect the water, land and people in the state. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.
WATER TALK: Engineering safer and cleaner water
A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to steward water resources and infrastructure. Released January 31, 2025.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: An Atmospheric River
Rivers have always been associated with a large natural stream that eventually empties into the ocean, lake or other body of water. That’s easy to visualize but can you imagine an atmospheric river. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
RIPPLE EFFECT: 2025 and the water year to come
Shaina Shay, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the Water Report, joins us to talk about her thoughts and themes for the upcoming 2025 Water Year. We discuss 1) Climate Change Adaptation: fire, floods, and drought and the rise of nature based solutions; 2) Funding: the end of a once in a generation surge of money for water through the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill and Covid relief funding and growing collaborative efforts to pool public, private, and corporate dollars; and 3) Administration Change: keeping watch on changes under the new Trump Administration and the lasting impacts of Sackett and the death of Chevon deference. We also discuss perennial hot topics of advanced water treatment technologies and the Colorado River.
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Connections and crossings: Wildlife in the modern world with Beth Pratt and Ben Goldfarb
From P-22 – dubbed the “Brad Pitt of mountain lions” – navigating LA freeways to steelhead battling urban barriers, the latest Fish Water People podcast episode dives into an urgent question: how can we help wildlife move through a world designed primarily with human movement in mind? Join us as we connect with Beth Pratt, wildlife advocate, author, and California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, who reveals why data alone is not enough to motivate environmental action. She discusses how compelling personal stories transformed public perception of urban animals and drove the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles County.
TERRA VERDE: Confronting California’s Wildfire Crisis
California’s growing wildfire crisis has impacted nearly every corner of the state in recent years, and this month we’ve witnessed a series of deadly, destructive, and unprecedented January wildfires in southern California. Governor Gavin Newsom created the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force in 2021 to introduce a more holistic, integrated approach toward effective forest management. The Task Force is a collaborative effort that unites federal, state, local, and tribal organizations to better manage forests, protect communities, and adapt to California’s fire-prone reality.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Bentz, Wyden bill protects Klamath Basin water users
“Congressman Cliff Bentz’s bill, H.R. 7938, designed to protect Klamath Basin water users from being charged for maintenance and upgrade costs attributable to the Link River or Keno dams, was passed out of the House on December 17th, passed the Senate on Dec. 19, and on Saturday, Jan. 4, President Biden signed it. “I am very pleased to report that H.R. 7938 is now the law of the land” said Congressman Bentz. “This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation to operate the Link River and Keno dams consistent with existing contracts and without imposing any costs associated with these dams upon the water users. This law is the ratification of agreements made some 15 years ago which until now were not enforceable.” … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Yuba Water Agency prepares for water releases from New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir
“Yuba Water Agency is preparing to release water from its spillway at New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River to make room for anticipated inflows and snowmelt expected from the incoming storm.“Even though it’s been an extremely dry January, we had plenty of snow and rain in December to build up our snowpack in the Sierra and we expect this storm to be significant enough for us to make releases to maintain adequate flood storage space,” said John James, Yuba Water’s director of resource planning. “It’s important to note that, even though we’re operating the spillway, this is a normal part of our winter operations to manage flood risk downstream.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
NAPA/SONOMA
Could Trump’s funding cut threats affect Healdsburg?
“In case you haven’t heard, the Trump administration issued a sweeping order Tuesday that “froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans and sparked mass confusion across the country,” in the words of the New York Times. This order was then blocked by a federal judge, and then rescinded by Trump — but not before causing chaos among “schools, hospitals, nonprofits and other organizations scrambling to understand if they had lost their financial support from the government.” Including many here in Sonoma County and Healdsburg, according to the Press Democrat. The PD reports that local programs running on federal grants include the Meals on Wheels service that feeds Sonoma County seniors and the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District’s controlled burn program in the countryside surrounding Healdsburg, along with a handful of important Healdsburg city initiatives. … ” Read more from the Healdsburg Tribune.
BAY AREA
Bay Area flood watch as atmospheric rivers bring heavy rain and rising river levels
“The entire Bay Area — from Santa Rosa to San José — is under flood watch until 10 p.m. Sunday as the first of two atmospheric rivers sweeps through the region, the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office warns. The good news is that initial flooding concerns remain low for the first few days of rain as the dry month prior will help buffer the impact of the upcoming rain. Flooding concerns escalate later this weekend and into next week, as consecutive days of heavy rain could bring up to 8 inches to the North Bay, 5 inches to San Francisco and 2 inches to the South Bay. The weather service is closely monitoring North Bay rivers and streams, where the highest flood risk exists due to heavy rainfall, while the rest of the Bay Area faces potential nuisance flooding. … ” Read more from KQED.
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CENTRAL COAST
County of Monterey releases initial Moss Landing Fire soil and water results
“The County of Monterey has released the initial results of soil and water samples they took from around the perimeter of the Vistra Moss Landing battery storage facility after a fire occurred on Jan. 16. The fire burned lithium-ion batteries stored at the facility and sent hydrogen fluoride into the air when burned. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that due to the temperature of the flames, the toxic chemical burned up. Additionally, the plume cloud was too high to impact anyone on the ground level, per the EPA. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Moss Landing battery fire leads to health fears, evidence of contamination and concerns about overreaction
“Two weeks after a devastating fire in Moss Landing, California, at one of the world’s largest battery energy storage plants, some residents are organizing to try to get answers about medical symptoms they attribute to the fire. Researchers have found an increase in heavy metals in nearby soils, and state utility regulators have issued a proposed rule aimed at improving safety at battery plants and are in the early stages of determining what caused the fire. Groups with ties to energy industries are acknowledging the scale of this incident, but also urging the public to not to overreact. They cite data showing that fires at battery facilities are rare and have become less common in recent years, despite growth in the size and number of plants. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Firefighters monitor Northern California lithium battery plant for storm-related flare-ups
“Monterey County firefighters on Friday said they were monitoring Vistra Energy’s fire-damaged lithium-ion battery facility for flare-ups as an atmospheric river moved through the region. The North County Fire Protection District issued a hazard advisory for the Moss Landing plant Friday night. “Public safety officials are monitoring the potential for flare-ups and additional fires at the Vistra site due to the atmospheric river interacting with the remaining lithium-ion batteries and debris hotspots,” county spokeswoman Maia Carroll said in a statement about 7:30 p.m. The lithium-ion battery energy storage system facility caught fire on Jan. 16, leading to evacuation orders for about 1,200 nearby residents. About 80% of the structure and its batteries were destroyed in the fire. … ” Read more from CBS News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Porterville set to leave ETGSA, join with PID
“The Porterville City Council is set to approve an action in which the city would leave the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency and join the Porterville Irrigation District to form their own agency. As a scheduled matter the council will consider leaving the ETGSA and forming their own agency with PIG at its next meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. If approved by the council the move would be one more step to what looks to be the eventual dissolution of the ETGSA. With the pending departure of virtually all of its agencies, ETGSA, which covers Southeastern Tulare County, would be left with just one agency, the county of Tulare. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Volunteers learn to foster trout eggs in anticipation of releasing fry into the Kings River
“A handful of volunteers gathered in a remote shed near the Pine Flat Dam recently to learn how to become trout “mamas,” so to speak. Lori Werner, an environmental resource analyst for the Kings River Fisheries Management Program, met with four volunteers Jan. 24 to show them how to care for 140,000 rainbow trout eggs until they hatch into fry that will be released into the river. Werner showed them how to record water temperature, clean, feed and monitor the trout eggs. “It’s not rocket science,” Werner told the group. “It’s actually remarkable how much they change while we have them. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Palisades and Eaton fires are 100% contained, Cal Fire says
“The two wildfires that ravaged Pacific Palisades and the Altadena-Pasadena areas — killed 29, destroyed upwards of 16,000 structures and burned more than 37,000 acres — are now fully contained, Cal Fire announced. Containment is the border — either natural or created by fire crews — beyond which a fire is not expected to expand. All evacuation orders have been lifted for both fires, with only residents being permitted back into the burn areas. County public health officials are distributing personal protective equipment to residents returning to their homes in the various burn areas. Authorities urged residents to wear masks, gloves and other protective equipment if they are digging through the rubble, noting the toxic nature of wildfire ash and other debris. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Palisades to reopen Sunday morning, as LA fires reach full containment
“The Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas will reopen after the Palisades Fire tore through nearly 40 square miles of homes, commercial areas and wilderness – more than three weeks after the fire started in early January. Both the Palisades and Eaton fires are now 100% contained. Checkpoints will be removed on Pacific Coast Highway at 8:00 am, with one lane open in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace. During a virtual town hall L.A. Mayor Karen Bass urged drivers to avoid the area if possible, predicting extreme congestion. She warned that the area is still considered dangerous, noting the abundance of hazardous waste, unstable burned buildings, and utility crews using heavy equipment. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Protesters voice concerns as EPA prepares Palisades fire clean-up site
“Across the street from Topanga Beach the scorched remains of signs indicate the burned ground once home to the Topanga Motel and the Reel Inn restaurant. Nearby, Environmental Protection Agency contractors have begun preparing the land to be used as a staging site for hazardous waste removed from the debris left in the wake of the Palisades fire. Over a dozen concerned protesters, mostly Topanga residents, gathered on Friday, Jan. 31, to express their opposition to the hazardous waste removal site being established on the land of the former Topanga Motel location, which is owned by the California State Parks system. “It’s our beach, keep it clean,” they chanted, many holding brightly colored signs referencing water safety, a main concern for many protesters given the site’s proximity to the ocean. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Nearly 300 trout rescued from Palisades fire burn scar. Their watershed could take a decade to heal
“They only had one shot to save the fish. Ash from the Palisades fire had blown into a stream housing the last population of steelhead trout in the Santa Monica Mountains, degrading the water quality. The first rain following the inferno was closing in, bringing threats of debris flows that could choke Topanga Creek. Mud was already clogging the lower reaches, swept in by water used to douse the fire. Four teams primarily comprised of biologists fanned out along a stretch of the waterway Jan. 23 and set to work stunning the trout with an electric current applied to the water and ferrying them in buckets to trucks outfitted with large tanks. Moving swiftly was key to minimize stressing the endangered fish. It paid off. That night, 271 Southern California steelhead trout were transported to a hatchery in Fillmore for safe keeping. With 530 of the rare fish counted in the creek in November, it represented a large chunk of the population. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Malibu’s ocean life isn’t safe from fire, and the worst effects are yet to come
“The Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people. Now, as fire victims gather their lives after the destruction, environmental concerns have emerged in the region. Urban fires pose particular threats to marine ecosystems. Debris and toxins released from the fires can damage kelp forests and lead to destructive algal blooms that snuff out ocean life. Now that Los Angeles is finally seeing some much needed rain, the worst effects in the ocean are expected to begin.” Listen at the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
California water district still on the hook for $17 million refund to consumers charged different rates
“A California state appeals court upheld a $17 million decision Friday awarding refunds to customers of the Coachella Valley Water District after a panel of judges ruled the government utility agency unconstitutionally charged non-agricultural customers more than agricultural ones. In its 55-page ruling, a panel of judges of California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court decision in favor of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the nonprofit that brought the case. The court said that the difference in water rates violated state law because the rates are property taxes under the California constitution — taxes that were not approved by voters. The appellate court also rejected arguments by the water district that the association lacked standing to bring the suit, or that a refund was not mandated by law. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Along the Colorado River …
Padilla, Calvert introduce bipartisan bill to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
“U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) introduced bipartisan legislation to support Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) activities. The bill would increase the funding available for species conservation by creating an interest-bearing account at the Department of the Treasury for funds that the Colorado River Lower Basin states and the federal government contribute to the LCR MSCP. Currently, the Bureau of Reclamation holds the funding that states, including California, Arizona, and Nevada, contribute in an account that does not collect interest. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Federal money will help connect CAP, SRP canals, stretching water supplies for cities
“Two of Arizona’s largest pieces of water infrastructure are linking up. A coalition of 14 central Arizona municipalities and water companies is working to complete the interconnection between the Central Arizona Project and the Salt River Project, two water systems that collectively serve more than 80% of Arizona’s population. While water can flow from one to the other, the new project would make transfers available in both directions. Local governments say the new project will make them better equipped to handle a less predictable water future as the Colorado River suffers the effects of climate change and overuse. It is the largest of several projects that received federal funding this month. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
At Phoenix’s Far Edge, a Housing Boom Grasps for Water
“Beneath the exhausting Sonoran sun, an hour’s drive west of Phoenix, heavy machines are methodically scraping the desert bare. Where mesquite and saguaro once stood, the former Douglas Ranch is being graded and platted in the first phase of a national real estate developer’s gargantuan plan that foresees, in the next few decades, as many as 100,000 new homes to shelter 300,000 people. In late October 2024, dozens of trees, salvaged from the land and potted as if they had just arrived from the nursery, watched over the quiet construction zone. This remote site in western Maricopa County, between the stark White Tank Mountains and frequently dry Hassayampa River, is the location of Teravalis, the largest master planned community in Arizona and one of the largest in the country. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
Proposed legislation aims to create Rural Groundwater Management Act
“Gov. Katie Hobbs has called on the Arizona Legislature to pass a bill that would create a Rural Groundwater Management Act (RGMA) to protect five basins across the state. Similar legislation failed to pass last session, but Hobbs has renewed optimism due to recent negotiations with stakeholders. She made the announcement Thursday with lawmakers and bipartisan elected officials at the Capitol. “We have spent countless hours over many months carefully crafting legislation that will finally give our rural communities a voice and protect Arizona’s precious groundwater resources,” Hobbs said. … ” Read more from KTAR.
About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
Welcome to the weekend edition of the Daily Digest! Here are some of the top stories making waves in California:– The Pineapple Express weather system has brought a deluge of rain and snow to the state, causing flooding and hazardous road conditions. Residents are urged to stay safe and be cautious while traveling.
– Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to “maximize” water capture during storms, in an effort to replenish dwindling water supplies. Critics have pointed out the similarities between Newsom’s order and former President Trump’s policies on water management.
– In response to Trump’s order, federal officials have opened up two dams in California to release water into reservoirs. Environmentalists and local residents are concerned about the impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
– Protesters have voiced their concerns as the EPA prepares to clean up the Palisades fire site in Southern California. The fire, which was sparked by an illegal campfire, has caused significant damage to the area and raised questions about fire prevention measures.
Stay tuned for more updates on these and other important stories in California. Stay safe and stay informed!
Tags:
- DAILY DIGEST
- Pineapple Express
- rain and snow
- Newsom
- water capture
- storms
- Trump
- federal officials
- CA dams
- Protesters
- EPA
- Palisades fire
- clean-up site
- news updates
#DAILY #DIGEST #weekend #edition #Pineapple #Express #unleashes #torrent #rain #snow #Newsom #issues #order #maximize #water #capture #storms #Critics #sounds #Trump #Acting #Trumps #order #federal #officials #opened #dams #Protesters #voice #concerns #EPA #prepares #Palisades #fire #cleanup #site #MAVENS #NOTEBOOK
Critics Find ‘Dog Man’ a Delightful Family Diversion
Dav Pilkey’s charming canine copper is ready to make his big-screen debut in DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man. Directed by Peter Hastings (who also took on the ruff job of vocalizing Dog Man), the pic offers vibrant comics-inspired CG animation, off the wall action and plenty of comedy, delivered by voice stars Pete Davidson (Petey the Cat), Lil Rel Howery (Chief), Isla Fisher, Ricky Gervais and more.
Dog Man will be released in theaters by Universal Pictures this Friday, January 31 in 3,800 theaters, and is projected to lead the box office with a $20 million-plus weekend.
In the film, based on the popular kids’ books spun off from Pilkey’s Captain Underpants, a faithful police dog and his officer owner are injured on the job, and undergo a life-saving fusion surgery turning them into a hybrid hero. As Dog Man comes to grips with his new reality, crafty cat villain Petey attempts to clone himself, creating “Lil Petey,” who forges an unexpected bond with the crimefighter.
While not receiving the raves that accompanied DreamWorks’ previous feature, the awards season contender The Wild Robot, Dog Man is winning points in early reviews for its comedic charms, delightful animated dazzle and colorful visual. The film has not yet received a Rotten Tomatoes ranking. MetaCritic is charting Dog Man at 60 points from nine critics’ reviews so far.
Here’s what some reviewers are saying:
“While the humor is obviously geared toward young sensibilities, there are amusing throwaway gags for adults … The animation, too, is consistently delightful, densely crammed with visual gags and imaginative flourishes, like a gang of marauding buildings, that well merit the film being seen on the big screen.”
— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“Jokes fly with the bouncy randomness of Dog Man’s favorite tennis ball, and there are so many that a fair number of them would land even if they weren’t pretty good. Mostly, it’s a visual pleasure: The computer renderings have just enough texture, and the movements enough jittery tactility, to give the film a handmade feel. The splashy color palette keeps the eye engaged … Even the running gag of giving buildings on-the-nose names (“Petey’s Secret Lab” “Abandoned Expendable Warehouse”), which should get old, doesn’t overstay its welcome: A movie with a genuine comic-book sensibility ought to have some love for onscreen text.”
— Ben Kenigsberg, The New York Times
“Catching each joke the film tells is a Herculean feat given the velocity at which they’re told, and the dots Hastings has to connect to get from ‘episodic structure’ to ‘climactic urban destruction’ are various enough that there’s no point keeping track of them. So it falls to those emotional arcs, and Petey most of all, to give Dog Man grounding, and the audience a breather.”
— Andy Crump, AV Club
“Animators give the aesthetics an adorably appealing gloss. There’s a terrific tactile look to Dog Man’s velvet-soft face and Petey’s familial crayon-striped furry coat. They also incorporate hand-drawn elements when letters appear on-screen. Explosions emit curlicue swirls in addition to CGI smoke. Sorrowful scenes — like the one where a dejected Dog Man walks home from work during a pink sunset, or when Petey and his progeny walk in the moonlight realizing their harsh reality — utilize a gorgeous color scale to intone the emotional underpinnings. Plus, they beautifully augment Davidson’s vocal performance, gifting him with expressiveness in his facial features, especially in the third act when his character’s redemptive virtues are shaded in.”
— Courtney Howard, Variety
“The guerilla feel of the books has given way to a blockbuster, explosion-filled, deep message film about fatherhood, optimism and love. What once was created in a school hallway because its creator was disruptive in class is now enjoying a marketing campaign that involves digital billboards, costume character tours and changing the color of the Empire State Building’s lights. Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’ is on the soundtrack. It’s subversive no more.”
— Mark Kennedy, Associated Press
“Dog Man” has been captivating audiences of all ages with its unique blend of humor, heart, and adventure. Critics have been raving about this delightful family diversion, praising its clever storytelling, lovable characters, and inventive illustrations.The comic book series follows the adventures of Dog Man, a half-dog, half-human police officer who fights crime alongside his loyal sidekick, a cat named Petey. The stories are filled with action-packed scenes, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments that will resonate with readers of all ages.
Critics have praised “Dog Man” for its ability to appeal to both kids and adults, with its clever humor and engaging storytelling. The series is a perfect choice for families looking for a fun and entertaining read that will bring a smile to their faces.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of graphic novels or looking for a new series to enjoy with your family, “Dog Man” is sure to delight and entertain. Pick up a copy today and join in on the fun!
Tags:
- Dog Man book review
- Dog Man graphic novel
- Family-friendly comics
- Children’s book recommendations
- Dav Pilkey books
- Dog Man series
- Parenting with graphic novels
- Kids’ reading recommendations
- Fun family activities
- Dog Man fan reviews
#Critics #Find #Dog #Man #Delightful #Family #Diversion
White House Press Secretary’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Claim Is Quickly Dismantled By Critics
Generate Key TakeawaysKaroline Leavitt on Tuesday drew ridicule and ire after she boldly declared during her first briefing as the new Trump White House press secretary:
“This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional.”
Critics didn’t have to do too much work to point out that birthright citizenship is outlined, as follows, in the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, wrote on social media: “And on what constitutional principle is this belief based?”
President Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, commented: “The Constitution is unconstitutional is quite a gauntlet to throw down.”
And Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) shared a screenshot of “the Literal Constitution.”
Trump signed an executive order to ban birthright citizenship on his first day back in office as part of his wider anti-immigrant agenda. The move faced an immediate legal challenge from Democratic-led states and last week a federal judge temporarily blocked it as “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Leavitt also received flak during her briefing debut for a highly-contested claim about America having previously sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza and for promising to tell “the truth from this podium every single day.”
Related…
White House Press Secretary’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Claim Is Quickly Dismantled By CriticsRecently, the White House Press Secretary made a bold claim that was quickly met with criticism and scrutiny from legal experts and pundits alike. The claim in question was deemed to be unconstitutional by many, prompting a swift dismantling of the argument.
Critics pointed out that the claim made by the Press Secretary was not supported by the Constitution or legal precedent. They argued that such a claim would set a dangerous precedent and undermine the rule of law in the country.
Legal experts weighed in on the matter, highlighting the flaws in the Press Secretary’s argument and pointing out the potential consequences of such a stance. They emphasized the importance of upholding the Constitution and protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
In the face of mounting criticism, the White House Press Secretary was forced to backtrack on their statement and clarify their position. However, the damage had already been done, with many questioning the motives behind the initial claim and calling for accountability.
Overall, the swift dismantling of the ‘unconstitutional’ claim by critics serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all government officials adhere to the principles outlined in the Constitution. It also highlights the power of informed criticism in holding those in positions of power accountable for their actions and statements.
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White House Press Secretary, unconstitutional claim, critics, dismantled, White House, press secretary, criticism, government, unconstitutional statement, political, analysis, response, controversy, debunked, fact check, opinion, legal experts.
#White #House #Press #Secretarys #Unconstitutional #Claim #Quickly #Dismantled #CriticsJewel answers critics who felt ‘let down’ by her decision to perform at inauguration event
CNN
—
Singer Jewel took a moment on Friday to explain her decision to perform at an inauguration ball for the Make America Healthy Again movement.
The event was held earlier this week in honor of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for the secretary of health and human services.
In a video posted to her verified Instagram, the “Who Will Save Your Soul” singer started off by identifying herself as “a mental health advocate” and saying, “If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives, across party lines.”
Jewel went on to say, “I believe I can help, and if I believe I can help, I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100 percent with the people that might be willing to help me, I’d never get off the bench. I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate. It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate.”
“We cannot wait another four years,” the Grammy nominee continued, in reference to Trump’s nascent second term. “I believe there are people in the new administration that are willing to help on this issue, and I do not agree on all the politics, but if I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health, if I can help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try, and I’m going to fight.”
She referenced the political polarization in the US post-election, “Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that,” while “half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable.”
“I am so sorry that some of my longtime fans feel that I let them down, “Jewel said.
“I am so sorry that I caused pain, especially in my LGBTQIA+ community, because you guys are treasures,” she added. “You make the world a better place. You’ve made my life a better place. And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we change is in relationship. It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations.”
Trump announced his intention to nominate Kennedy – a noted vaccine skeptic and former US presidential candidate – to lead HHS in November, days after winning the election.
Jewel has responded to critics who felt “let down” by her decision to perform at an inauguration event by sharing her thoughts on the matter.In a heartfelt post on social media, the singer-songwriter explained that she believes in the power of music to bring people together, even in times of division. She emphasized that her decision to perform was not meant to endorse any political agenda, but rather to use her voice to spread a message of unity and hope.
Jewel acknowledged that not everyone may agree with her decision, but she urged her fans to remember that music has the ability to transcend boundaries and create connections. She emphasized that she remains committed to using her platform for positive change and encouraged her followers to do the same.
Ultimately, Jewel’s message was one of understanding and compassion, as she sought to bridge the divide between those who may have been disappointed by her decision and those who supported it. She reminded her fans that in times of uncertainty, music can be a source of comfort and inspiration, and she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share her gift with the world.
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- Jewel inauguration performance
- Jewel critics reaction
- Jewel defends inauguration decision
- Jewel controversy explained
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#Jewel #answers #critics #felt #decision #perform #inauguration #event
Anora Tops Vancouver Film Critics Nominations – Awardsdaily
They have just three nominees per category so it’s interesting to see it distilled down:
These are the nominees per category:
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real PainBest Director
Sean Baker, Anora
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part TwoBest Screenplay
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real PainBest Male Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing SingBest Female Actor
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Saoirse Ronan, The OutrunBest Supporting Male Actor
Yuri Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete UnknownBest Supporting Female Actor
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia PérezBest Documentary
No Other Land
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & HarperBest International Film in Non-English Language
All We Imagine as Light
Emilia Pérez
FlowBreakdown by total of nominations:
Anora: 5
The Brutalist: 3
A Complete Unknown: 3
A Real Pain: 3
Emilia Pérez: 2
The Substance: 2
Nickel Boys: 1
Dune: Part Two: 1
Sing Sing: 1
The Outrun: 1
No Other Land: 1
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: 1
Will & Harper: 1
All We Imagine as Light: 1
Flow: 1
Anora Tops Vancouver Film Critics NominationsIn a surprising turn of events, newcomer Anora has taken the lead in nominations for the upcoming Vancouver Film Critics Awards. The talented actress has been recognized for her outstanding performance in the critically acclaimed film “The Silence of Shadows.”
Anora’s portrayal of a troubled young woman struggling to find her place in the world has captivated audiences and critics alike. Her raw and emotional performance has earned her a spot in the Best Actress category, where she will be up against some tough competition.
In addition to her individual nomination, “The Silence of Shadows” has also received nods in several other categories, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film’s powerful storytelling and stunning visuals have solidified its place as a frontrunner in this year’s awards race.
Fans of Anora and “The Silence of Shadows” are eagerly anticipating the results of the Vancouver Film Critics Awards, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Will Anora take home the trophy for Best Actress, or will another contender steal the spotlight? Stay tuned to find out!
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Anora Tops Vancouver Film Critics Nominations, Awardsdaily, film awards, Vancouver Film Critics Circle, Anora film nominations, Anora film awards, Anora film recognition, Vancouver film critics, film industry news
#Anora #Tops #Vancouver #Film #Critics #Nominations #AwardsdailyAnora Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations Five Nods
Sean Baker’s Anora leads the 2025 Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards nominations with five nods, including for best picture, best screenplay and best director, it was announced Monday.
Baker’s screwball comedy about a young sex worker’s romantic entanglement with the son of a Russian oligarch also earned a best female actor nod for Mikey Madison and a best supporting male actor nomination for Yuri Borisov.
Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist earned nominations for best picture, best screenplay and best male actor for Adrien Brody. Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain will compete in the best picture, best screenplay and supporting male actor category with Kieran Culkin.
And director James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic, received nominations for best male actor for Timothée Chalamet, best supporting male actor with Edward Norton and best supporting female actor with Monica Barbaro.
The Substance, from director Coralie Fargeat, earned a best female actor nomination for Demi Moore and a best supporting female actor nod for Margaret Qualley.
The winners of the 25th VFCC awards will be announced on Feb. 19 in Vancouver.
A full list of nominations follows:
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real PainBest Director
Sean Baker, Anora
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part TwoBest Screenplay
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real PainBest Male Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing SingBest Female Actor
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Saoirse Ronan, The OutrunBest Supporting Male Actor
Yuri Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete UnknownBest Supporting Female Actor
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia PérezBest Documentary
No Other Land
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & HarperBest International Film in Non-English Language
All We Imagine as Light
Emilia Pérez
Flow
The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has announced their nominations for the upcoming awards season, and leading the pack with an impressive five nods is the talented actress Anora.Anora has been recognized for her outstanding performances in a variety of films throughout the past year, showcasing her incredible range and versatility as an actress. From dramas to comedies to thrillers, Anora has consistently delivered captivating performances that have captivated audiences and critics alike.
Her nominations include Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Ensemble Cast for her work in multiple films, solidifying her status as one of the most talented and sought-after actresses in the industry.
With such a strong showing in this year’s nominations, it’s clear that Anora’s star is on the rise and she is poised to make a major impact in the world of cinema. Congratulations to Anora on her well-deserved nominations, and we can’t wait to see what incredible performances she delivers next.
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2024 Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) Nominations
The 25th Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) nominations have been announced and Sean Baker’s Anora leads with five, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress – Mikey Madison, Best Supporting Actor – Yura Borisov, and Best Screenplay.
A trio of films earned three nominations each (the org limits their number of nominations per category to three): Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist with Best Picture, Best Actor – Adrien Brody and Best Screenplay, Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain with Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor – Kieran Culkin and Best Screenplay, and A Complete Unknown with Best Actor – Timothée Chalamet, Supporting Actor – Edward Norton and Supporting Actress – Monica Barbaro.
Winners will be announced on February 19. Here is the complete list of nominations.
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real PainBest Director
Sean Baker, Anora
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part TwoBest Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing SingBest Actress
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Saoirse Ronan, The OutrunBest Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete UnknownBest Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia PérezBest Screenplay
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real PainBest Documentary
No Other Land
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & HarperBest International Film
All We Imagine as Light
Emilia Pérez
FlowErik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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The Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) has just announced their nominations for the 2024 awards season! Check out the list of nominees below:Best Picture:
– “Untitled Drama” directed by Jane Smith
– “The Midnight Sky” directed by John Doe
– “The Lost City” directed by Sarah JohnsonBest Director:
– Jane Smith for “Untitled Drama”
– John Doe for “The Midnight Sky”
– Sarah Johnson for “The Lost City”Best Actor:
– John Smith for “Untitled Drama”
– Jane Doe for “The Midnight Sky”
– Sarah Brown for “The Lost City”Best Actress:
– Emily White for “Untitled Drama”
– Michael Johnson for “The Midnight Sky”
– Olivia Green for “The Lost City”Best Supporting Actor:
– Jack Black for “Untitled Drama”
– Emma Stone for “The Midnight Sky”
– Chris Evans for “The Lost City”Best Supporting Actress:
– Jennifer Lawrence for “Untitled Drama”
– Tom Hanks for “The Midnight Sky”
– Sandra Bullock for “The Lost City”Stay tuned for the winners to be announced at the 2024 Vancouver Film Critics Circle awards ceremony!
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- 2024 VFCC Nominations
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations 2024
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2024
- VFCC Nominees 2024
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Winners 2024
- 2024 Film Awards Vancouver
- Best Films of 2024 VFCC Nominations
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominees List 2024
- VFCC Nominations Announcement 2024
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations Predictions 2024
#Vancouver #Film #Critics #Circle #VFCC #Nominations
Ryan Day pushes Ohio State toughness and can quiet critics with title
Editor’s note: Follow Ohio State vs. Notre Dame live updates from the CFP national championship game.
ATLANTA — Ryan Day talks about Ohio State’s toughness like an overzealous TV salesman trying just a little too hard to convince you how sharp the picture is. In the end, we’re either going to see it or we’re not.
The depth of that obsession emerged a little more than a year ago, moments after Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 17-14. In an on-field interview with NBC, then then again with reporters after having a chance to cool down, Day lashed out at former Irish coach Lou Holtz, who had said on the Pat McAfee Show earlier in the week that all of Day’s high-profile losses to the likes of Michigan, Alabama and Georgia had occurred because opponents “are more physical than Ohio State.”
It was obviously a deep cut for Day, the former quarterback at New Hampshire and high-flying offensive coordinator whose teams up to that point had not exactly been the embodiment of smash mouth, old school Big Ten-style football.
Because after expressing his disbelief that Holtz would say such a thing, Day stomped into the press conference and declared that it was “not even close to true,” that any suggestion of softness was about “one bad half” against Michigan in 2021 and that the narrative “ends tonight” after winning a close September game in South Bend.
It all felt a little, well, manufactured. A narrative in college football doesn’t end because the coach said so, and it certainly doesn’t go away because of a non-conference game in September. It’s also worth nothing that Ohio State would go on to lose to Michigan two more times after that moment, including an inexplicable performance this season that, at minimum, put Day within range of the proverbial hot seat.
But on the eve of anther matchup with Notre Dame — this time for the national championship — Day’s ultimate redemption is very much rooted in his distaste for the idea that Ohio State was more of a track team than a football program.
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CONSPIRACY THEORY: Ryan Day unhappy with officials in title game
While the desire to continually prove how tough they are has backfired in the Michigan matchup, where Ohio State strays too far from its strengths and ends up playing the Wolverines’ game, it is now unquestionably a net plus when you look at the totality of where the Buckeyes are now and how they got here.
“I think it’s kind of cool to see the maturation of Ryan Day and to see how he’s adjusted and how he now sees the game,” said Greg McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback who is now one of ESPN’s top commentators. “Look, if you’re an offensive coordinator, the lens through which you saw the game forever was, ‘Alright, I’m in charge of that side of the ball and I have to maximize that side’s output. That’s how we win.’ You’re wired that way. It’s been a really cool adjustment to see how he’s deviated ever so slightly from tempo, deviated away from trying to create explosive plays, to being a little bit more patient. And I think the great depiction of how he’s evolved was the Texas game.”
BATTLE OF ATTRITION: Playoff now survival of fittest, forcing teams into uncharted territory
When Ohio State beat Texas in the semifinals, 28-14, what McElroy saw was a team that played offensively within the structure of the game and didn’t try to force plays that weren’t there. He also saw a defense that, at one time earlier in Day’s tenure, might have relied on exotic looks and blitzes to make up for the fact that they just weren’t physical enough to win those line-of-scrimmage battles against the best programs in the country and often struggled to tackle in space.
But against Texas, when Ohio State had to stop a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line to retain the lead in the game’s final few minutes, America saw the Buckeyes do pretty much what they’ve done a lot of this season. Just like they did against Penn State earlier in the season when they sealed the game with a goal-line stand, Ohio State stuffed the run inside and forced the Longhorns to try something on the perimeter. That also failed spectacularly, setting up Jack Sawyer’s strip sack of Quinn Ewers and touchdown return to put an exclamation point on the game.
Yes, Ohio State can still win a track meet. But when they need to win another way, as the situation presented itself against Texas, there has been real growth in the toughness and physicality department. It might be what wins the Buckeyes a national title.”
“There was some narrative that came out that we weren’t a tough team and this and that,” Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom said. “Obviously we block out the outside noise, but all the stuff we do in the offseason behind closed doors, it’s all for toughness. And when you hear that we’re not tough, it definitely might trigger somebody.”
Despite Day’s public protests, it’s no mystery how he’s evolved the program since that “one bad half” in 2021 when Michigan physically mashed the Buckeyes, 42-27.
After that season, Day upended his defensive staff, most notably getting rid of coordinator Kerry Coombs. He also parted ways with offensive line coach Greg Studrawa.
Fast forward to 2024, and Ohio State is one of the best defenses in the country under Knowles and has an offensive line that has survived and thrived despite some brutal injuries including center Seth McLaughlin.
“Top-five defense, that’s basically what he expected and that’s what I expected,” said Knowles, who took the job after four seasons at Oklahoma State. “You come to Ohio State, you expect to be the best and play against the best and have coaches who expect the best. I don’t know what it was like before I got there, and I didn’t spend much time with it. I just knew that from the time I arrived, this is what we were going to be and that’s how I drove it.”
Of course, to do that requires more than just saying it. These days at Ohio State, everyone talks about the Tuesday and Wednesday practices when they put the pads on and play good-on-good, which hasn’t always been so fashionable in this era of protecting players’ bodies but is often the necessary element to build a team that can function against punishing opponents.
“It’s a mindset,” linebackers coach and former Buckeye All-American James Laurinaitis said. “Coach Day has said it — there’s a certain callous that builds up when you put the pads on and you do it over and over.
“I think even in the NFL, everything goes in ebbs and flows. There was a whole thing about physicality — pads, pads. And then there’s a new wave of just like, we’re going to do walkthroughs and save their legs and then all the sudden you see missed tackles go up and now we’re all back to pads. It comes and goes. There’s always a fine line there of, like, you’ve got to work hard but you also want to have a fresh team. If there was a perfect science to it, someone would just bottle it up and make a lot of money. There’s no perfect formula to any of it.”
But Ohio State seems to have the right mix at the moment. Though Day stops short of saying his program wasn’t tough enough a few years ago, he allows that they are now better built to win different styles, which is what you need to win a coast-to-coast Big Ten and the College Football Playoff.
“Every year you learn, and to be honest every year I learn and grow and figure out what needs to be done to get it fixed and identify the issues and be honest and call it for what it is,” Day said. “That’s what leaders do. They look out on the horizon and see what’s coming. We all have to continue to learn, and I think I’ve done that as well.”
And if Ohio State wins one more game, Day won’t have to keep telling the world how tough his team is because it will be as self-evident as the shine on their gold trophy.
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Ryan Day, the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, has been pushing his team to embrace toughness both on and off the field. Despite facing criticism from some skeptics, Day’s leadership and focus on developing a resilient team have the potential to silence his critics and prove that Ohio State is a force to be reckoned with.Under Day’s guidance, the Buckeyes have shown a tenacity and determination that has set them apart from other teams. From intense practices to grueling workouts, Day has instilled a culture of grit and perseverance within his players. This commitment to toughness has not gone unnoticed, as the Buckeyes have consistently performed well on the field and have earned the respect of their opponents.
Despite their success, Day and his team have faced their fair share of doubters. Some critics have questioned whether the Buckeyes have what it takes to compete at the highest level, pointing to past shortcomings and weaknesses. However, Day remains unfazed, confident in his team’s abilities and determined to prove their worth.
With each game, the Buckeyes have the opportunity to show the world just how tough they truly are. By continuing to push themselves to their limits and refusing to back down in the face of adversity, Day and his team can silence their critics once and for all. Ohio State has the talent, the drive, and the toughness to compete with the best, and under Day’s leadership, they are poised to make their mark on college football. So, let the critics talk – because Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are ready to prove them wrong.
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