The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is recommending threatened status for certain Southern and Central Coast mountain lion populations while also allowing limited removals in the Eastern Sierra to protect struggling Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Following the governor's Dec. 9 emergency declaration, Insurance Commissioner Lara ordered a one-year moratorium on wildfire-related insurance cancellations for 14,800 Mono County policyholders and directed insurers to rescind recent nonrenewals.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture appointed Stephen Beam as director of Animal Health and Food Safety Services and named Amanda Murray acting state veterinarian, elevating longtime leaders with deep experience in food safety and animal health.

The House passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, allowing whole milk to return as an option in school meal programs by excluding milk fat from saturated fat limits. The bill now awaits the president's expected signature.

