The State of California

Will Diwali become newest state holiday? California bill awaits Newsom's decision Historic legislation would allow state employees paid time off and permit school closures for the Festival of Lights California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a significant decision that could make Diwali the newest state holiday, joining the ranks of Cesar Chavez Day and Native American Day in the state's official calendar. Assembly Bill 268, authored by Assembly members Ash Kalra of San Jose and Darshana Patel of San Diego Dist 76 , would designate Diwali as an official California state holiday, recognizing one of the world's oldest and most widely celebrated religious festivals. What the Bill Means for California Workers If signed into law, AB 268 would allow state employees to take time off with pay to observe Diwali. The legislation would also permit California community colleges and public schools to close in recognition of the holiday, though closure would not be mandatory and would r...

A Systems Approach to Fire Prevention and Response From molecular sensors to orbital satellites, artificial intelligence is transforming wildfire management into a comprehensive, predictive system that prevents fires before they start, detects them within minutes of ignition, and manages landscapes to reduce catastrophic risk By [Author Name] | September 23, 2025 The era of fighting wildfires after they start is ending. Across the American West and fire-prone regions worldwide, a revolutionary transformation is taking place—one that shifts the paradigm from reactive fire suppression to predictive fire management through an integrated ecosystem of artificial intelligence technologies. This transformation represents more than just technological advancement; it embodies a fundamental reimagining of how humanity coexists with fire in an age of climate change. Rather than isolated detection systems or individual response tools, AI is enabling a holistic approach that spans ...