David and Travis Shane Smith, the father-son duo charged with reckless arson in the 2021 #CaldorFire, will face preliminary hearing October 10 in El Dorado Superior Court.

They gave one-word answers to the judge when asked if they agreed to waive their speedy trial rights to allow for the delay.

The arson counts against them carry potential sentences of 6 years. There are also weapons charges in the case.

#california #laketahoe #abc10 #wildfires

Early start today in a muggy, damp Placerville, #California… where we’ll have a status update in People vs. Smith: the #CaldorFire reckless arson case against a father-son pair.

The fire burned for weeks and forced the evacuation of most of the #LakeTahoe basin in 2021.

The 2-day preliminary hearing (mini bench trial to establish probable cause) was supposed to start tomorrow, but we expect it to be delayed. #abc10 #wildfire

I'm pleased to share #FirePowerMoney received a nomination at the NATIONAL News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

Our 3-part series "Fire – Power – Money: How Governor
Gavin Newsom Protected PG&E" is nominated for Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative Report.

#ABC10 is also nominated for breaking news coverage of the Caldor Fire.

Both entries were honored with regional #EmmySF awards in 2022.

It's an honor to see our #journalism receive this recognition. I'm grateful to our bosses at ABC10 & #TEGNA support this level of work. More to come!

#StayTuned #News #NewsEmmys #Emmy

A beautiful, mild morning at the #AmericanRiver in #Sacramento.

The river is still very high.
#cawx #abc10

I'm incredibly grateful to work with so many talented, caring people on the ABC10 Originals team and in the #ABC10 newsroom.

The station took home an additional 8 #EmmySF statues on Saturday, including the big one: Overall Excellence. (Which we won last year, too!)

Congrats to all of my colleagues-- we were up against some amazing work from other NorCal/regional stations. There is some fantastic broadcast #journalism happening here.

https://www.abc10.com/article/about-us/award-winning/abc10-emmys/103-6c0820e6-a5b4-4c12-9aff-4b42999bf0c2

Poison? In Lake Tahoe?

Poison. In Lake Tahoe.

WATCH🎥👇

#california #ecology #environment #climatechange #water #abc10 #journalism #laketahoe #tahoe

https://youtu.be/JC00fIHg900

The Keys destroyed the biggest wetland marsh in the entire Sierra, which served for millenia as a natural water filter for Lake Tahoe-- helping it to achieve its famous clarity.

#ABC10 Originals has a deep look at this story here: https://youtu.be/JC00fIHg900

It's well worth 7 minutes of your time. (Kudos to colleague Tyler Horst, who shot and edited the piece!)

Watch our latest #ABC10 Originals story:

Deep Debate | Poisons tested at Lake Tahoe

A controversial test to poison invasive underwater weeds is dividing locals and environmental groups in Lake Tahoe.

We take you all the way to the story's roots:

WATCH NOW: (7.5 minutes)
https://youtu.be/JC00fIHg900

Tonight at 8pm, after the #NBAPlayoffs game on #ABC10:

Poison in #LakeTahoe?

#California #climatechange #ecology

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

She praised Judge Boeckman, who bound PG&E over for trial after a preliminary hearing.... and says she disagrees with Judge Flynn who announced his intent to toss the charges.

Bridgett says she's not willing to gamble with the outcome, hence the civil settlement-- which she says will provide tangible changes now.

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

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