WATCH the nominated series from #FirePowerMoney here:

#PGE #Wildfire #Wildfires #CampFire #ZoggFire #Utilities #California #News #Journalism

https://youtu.be/YTRX_SWw-9c

Good evening after a long day in Shasta County-- where a judge followed through today on his plan to dismiss felony charges against PG&E for starting the 2020 #ZoggFire.

If the case had been allowed to go before a jury, prosecutors say PG&E would have been found guilty of 4 manslaughter felonies: "That's sad that that was taken away from us and taken away from the family members."

Watch tonight's coverage from #ABC10 / #FirePowerMoney: https://youtu.be/_UYftfVobGI

#ZoggFire #PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California

"This resolution... it does not make me happy," Bridgett says.

She wanted to take PG&E to trial, but it wasn't possible in her judgement.

Bridgett says PG&E would have been found guilty if the case was allowed to go before a jury. She says Judge Flynn's plan to toss the case out is the reason that won't happen.

#ZoggFire #PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney

DA Bridgett says she talked to the families, to direct some of this money toward causes that honor the memories of the 4 people killed.

Some $ will go to scholarships, an animal evac center, the Igo-Ono school... which will make a new play structure in memory of 8-year-old Feyla.

There's also "Feyla's fund" to assist families recovering from disasters.

#ZoggFire #PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney

The deal has PG&E paying $50M, also enforcement/oversight provisions, Bridgett says.

Added weather stations, undergrounding, removal of abandoned lines are all part of the agreement, DA Bridgett says.

Also changes to tree inspection practices, requiring more process/sign-offs to de-list trees (not cut) that are marked as known hazards.

#PGE #ZoggFire #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney #ZoggFire

DA Bridgett is up. "PG&E's failure to remove a hazard tree that they had marked for removal... fell and caused the devastating #ZoggFire."

She names the 4 people killed.

"PG&E needs to change its practices to save lives... it was my desire to criminally convict PG&E to accomplish this goal."

#PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney

We are awaiting a news conference with Shasta County DA Stephanie Bridgett regarding the settlement deal and dropping of #ZoggFire criminal charges against PG&E.

Family members of people killed in the fire are here.

Will provide video later today, meantime I'll post updates here.

#PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney

"It's just almost like rubber stamping now," #ZoggFire survivor Kyle Drake tells me at a protest outside of court.

"Eventually the last straw will come around. I don't know what town's gonna get destroyed that's finally the last straw. Maybe somewhere on the coast. Los Gatos. Maybe then someone would pay attention."

#PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California #FirePowerMoney

BREAKING: Judge Daniel Flynn dismisses the manslaughter case against PG&E for the 2020 #ZoggFire, pending a civil settlement between the DA and PG&E.

#PGE #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California

Judge Flynn is getting testy with the property owners' attorney, who just made a filing. The judge is reviewing it now.

The attorney, Tyler Lalaguna, has said his clients have not been given property treatment by the DA under the victims bill of rights.

#ZoggFire #PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California

BREAKING: DA Stephanie Bridgett is asking Judge Flynn to take the dismissal of the #ZoggFire case, without prejudice-- pending a CIVIL agreement between the prosecution and PG&E.

This is similar to what happened in the #KincadeFire and #DixieFire last year, when 6 DAs settled their criminal investigations.

A lawyer representing property owners is objecting, arguing the deal affects potential restitution payments to his clients.

#PGEManslaughterHearing #Shasta #wildfires #ABC10 #California

8-year-old Feyla McLeod died alongside her mom Alaina trying to escape the #ZoggFire in 2020. Neighbors Karin King and Ken Vossen were also killed.

A federal judge found PG&E in violation, as did CAL FIRE’s arson investigations and the CPUC safety investigation. #california #pge #wildfires #crime #FirePowerMoney

Catch up on the story here: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/family-pleads-judge-not-to-dismiss-pges-manslaughter-charges/103-582e9c63-1034-4632-9bef-c3696674c2df

Friends of the McLeod family protest outside the #ShastaCounty courtroom of Judge Daniel Flynn.

The judge announced his intent to dismiss the felony manslaughter and reckless arson charges against PG&E for the #ZoggFire. It was set for trial June 6. Hearing is about to start.

#FirePowerMoney #abc10 #pge #california #PGEManslaughterHearing

NEW: With the #ZoggFire criminal manslaughter charges against PG&E poised to be dismissed Wednesday, the monopoly's former top regulator calls on local prosecutors to stand strong.

"We have to fight for justice," Loretta Lynch told #abc10.

Only from #FirePowerMoney: she explains why the case matters to millions of Californians' power bills-- and to their safety. #PGE #Wildfires #California #Utilities

STORY: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/pge-regulator-urges-shasta-prosecutor-to-fight-for-justice/103-72b0d186-389b-492f-a1ba-30db403f7aa5

UPDATE: #ZoggFire family ‘livid’ at #CPUC deal with PG&E:

“I can’t believe they did this. They’re supposed to protect the public.”

#PGE #California #Utilities

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/zogg-fire-family-livid-cpuc-deal-pge/103-7c334715-7054-40f2-a083-8a488c479fba

THIS MORNING: Despite finding that PG&E’s “egregious” behavior started the deadly 2020 #ZoggFire
the state agency tasked with protecting the public from for-profit utilities plans to allow PG&E to settle “severe” violations without a finding of wrongdoing.

STORY: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/cpuc-scrutinized-pge-zogg-fire-deal/103-ec13b819-a286-407a-a0a0-f957765f1e91

#wildfire #California #PGE #Utilities

All of this coincides with a stunning development in the criminal case over the #ZoggFire.

In a reversal of his own position, #Shasta County judge Daniel Flynn announced plans to dismiss all felony charges against #PGE, including 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Family members of the dead are pleading with him not to do it.

STORY: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/family-pleads-judge-not-to-dismiss-pges-manslaughter-charges/103-582e9c63-1034-4632-9bef-c3696674c2df

#crime #wildfire #California #PGE #Utilities

The settlement also calls for PG&E to spend $140 million on so-called “shareholder-funded initiatives," which has been presented in past #CPUC news releases as a "penalty" for #PGE.

Most of the $$ is aimed at improving PG&E's tree work, which critics argue PG&E should have been doing better all along.

BUT... there's also... I am not making this up... $3M in there for PG&E to buy the #CPUC a consultant to “review and update” the *very same rules* PG&E was accused of breaking:

#Wildfire #ZoggFire #California

The #ZoggFire killed four people.

The settlement was reached behind closed doors between #PGE and #CPUC staff.

Instead of the proposed $155M fine, PG&E will pay $10M. (That works out to 4 hours of PG&E's revenue.)

#PGE #Wildfire #ZoggFire #California

This is up for vote in tomorrow's #CPUC voting meeting at 11am.

It's on the consent agenda (a package of business commissioners plan to pass as a batch without debate.)

The meeting is open to public comment, but CPUC only allows you to speak for one minute.

Here's a link to the meeting with details on how to call in: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/events-and-meetings/cpuc-voting-meeting-2023-05-18

#PGE #Wildfire #ZoggFire #California