Public Safety · El Dorado County
More than 69,000 PG&E customers across 23 Northern and Central California counties lost electricity beginning Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. as part of a public safety power shutoff ahead of elevated wildfire danger. El Dorado (9,264), Placer (5,567), and Amador (5,188) counties were hardest hit, with affected communities including Camino, Pollock Pines, Foresthill, Colfax, and Emigrant Gap. Red flag warnings remained in effect through Friday at 10 a.m., with wind gusts of 40–55 mph and humidity potentially dropping into single digits. PG&E planned additional shutoffs Thursday and Friday mornings, with estimated restoration for many foothill communities by Saturday morning or midday. More than 40 community resource centers offering device charging, Wi-Fi, water, and snacks were available across 25 counties.
Public Safety · Nevada County
A wildfire named the Spaulding Fire was reported at 11:53 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Nevada County, California. The fire has burned three acres of private land. As of the initial report, there is no information regarding containment, and the cause remains under investigation.
Local Politics · Nevada County
Monday, Oct. 19 is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election in Nevada County, California. Residents who miss the deadline may still vote through same-day conditional registration at a vote center, though additional review steps apply. Ballots were mailed Oct. 5 to all registered voters and can be returned immediately; tracking is available at WhereIsMyBallot.sos.ca.gov. Students ages 16-17 are encouraged to pre-register so their registration activates automatically at age 18.
Community News · Nevada County
The second annual Nevada County All Veterans Stand Up event will be held Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Nevada City Elks Lodge #518 on State Highway 49. The free two-day resource fair connects veterans and their families with services including medical screenings, flu shots, DMV assistance, housing help, employment support, VA benefits guidance, meals, clothing, vision and chiropractic care. Organizers expect more than 300 veterans to attend the event, which replaces decades-long Stand Down events previously held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Nevada County is home to approximately 8,400 veterans, about 8% of the county population.
Public Safety · Penn Valley, CA
Penn Valley Fire Protection District has been awarded a $177,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to purchase new battery-powered hydraulic extraction tools for vehicle crash rescues. The application was approved October 1, and Battalion Chief Jon Pitts expects the equipment to arrive by December 2026. Fire Chief Clayton Thomas noted that traffic accidents on Highway 20 are a leading cause of traumatic injury in Penn Valley and the Rough & Ready communities, and PVFPD provides the sole ambulance service in western Nevada County's 92-square-mile district.
Local Politics · Grass Valley, CA
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio launched Reform California's statewide "Barbeque, Beer & Ballots" tour for Proposition 39 on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. The free event featured speeches from Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, Nevada County Supervisors Robb Tucker and Sue Hoek, and local candidates endorsed by the Nevada County Republican Party. Proposition 39, on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot, would require government-issued ID for in-person voting and the last four digits of an ID number on mail ballot envelopes, while providing free voter ID cards upon request. Supporters say the measure strengthens election confidence; opponents argue it creates barriers for eligible voters and raises administration costs. The tour includes 71 events across California through Nov. 2.
