The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the nation’s largest urban water supplier, selected a new general manager on Wednesday.
The board offered a legal settlement to Adel Hagekhalil, closing out a seven-month investigation into the former general manager over allegations of sexism and discrimination. Hagekhalil refused to settle and vowed to pursue a legal challenge. His lawyer called the decision a power grab and a “return to old and antiquated water policies,” according to the LA Times.
Environmental groups had backed Hagekhalil during the investigation, arguing he had given them a greater voice in Delta water decisions than any previous leader.
The interim general manager, Deven Upadhyay, has assumed the role permanently. The board reasoned the removal of Hagekhalil after the lengthy deliberation will stabilize the organization and workforce.
Newsom appoints San Diego mayor to CARB
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria to the Air Resources Board, after two members termed out last month.
Before running for mayor in 2020, Gloria was an assemblymember for four years. He tapped into those connections in 2023 to push for a bill to block local avocado growers from switching to a more affordable water supplier. San Diegans worried the separation would leave them with higher water fees.
Committee amendments provided the growers enough time to finalize the divorce before the bill took effect. Yet other growers looking to do the same now face a higher bar for annexing.
USDA offers disaster SNAP to LA residents USDA found that roughly 81,000 households impacted by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County are likely eligible for its Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Acting Agriculture Secretary Gary Washington stated USDA’s commitment to the families and that the agency is working with state and local partners to distribute support.
CalCAN program threatened by funding freeze
The California Climate and Agriculture Network notified members that their Midwest climate smart agriculture program – a pilot program serving Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas – was interrupted by the Trump administration’s funding freeze.
The initiative was made possible through an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Despite launching the program in October, CalCAN said they have yet to be reimbursed by NRCS for the $400,000 award.
RFK: ‘I don't want to take food away from anybody’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set today for the second of his two confirmation hearings. This time he’ll be before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Its jurisdiction includes the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates 80% of the food supply.
The committee’s chaired by Bill Cassidy, R-La., a gastroenterologist and a potential holdout on Kennedy’s nomination who’s being watched closely. During Wednesday’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Cassidy grilled RFK about the Medicare program.
Democrats went after Kennedy repeatedly over his long history of questioning vaccine safety.
As for food and ag issues: Kennedy committed to working with Ag Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins to serve and support farmers. Kennedy said he wanted to work with Rollins to help farmers transition to regenerative agricultural techniques, including the use of less chemical-intensive practices that he said are destroying the soil and making people sick.
Kennedy re-upped concerns about the amount of ultraprocessed foods and sugary beverages in federal nutrition programs like SNAP and school meals. These are under USDA’s jurisdiction, but Kennedy suggested he could have some input through nutrition research and consumer awareness.
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“I don't want to take food away from anybody. If you like … a McDonald's cheeseburger or a Diet Coke — which my boss loves — you should be able to get them,” Kennedy said. “But you should know what the impacts are on your family and on your health.”
By the way: Kennedy has won over Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who isn’t on the Finance Committee. Hoeven, who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA and FDA, said he met with Kennedy on Tuesday and talked through “the realities” of farming and ranching. They also discussed Kennedy’s approach to the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“He has committed to follow the agenda that President Trump puts forward,” Hoeven said. “Obviously we support President Trump’s agenda, and as long as RFK is willing to follow the president’s agenda, then I think it works.”
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Continued confusion over Trump spending freeze
Confusion continued for a second day Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s attempt to freeze federal grants and loans.
The Office of Management and Budget rescinded a memo from Monday that directed the pause in funding and a review of federal programs. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded with a post on X that denied OMB was ending the funding freeze.
Later, a federal judge in Rhode Island asked 23 state attorneys general to prepare an order that would prevent the Trump administration from cutting off funding to states and organizations that rely on it, the Providence Journal reported. A Justice Department lawyer tried to argue to the judge that rescinding the memo made the lawsuit moot.
Back in D.C. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was among those left confused by the White House signals. “I thought the rescission order was very clear. It was one sentence, right. That was pretty clear. So, what I'm not clear on is the following comment that came from the White House spokesperson.”
By the way: The Organic Trade Association issued a statement Wednesday saying the government had a duty to provide farms with funding that was previously obligated. “Many farms and businesses have already spent dollars and are awaiting reimbursement from these government programs,” the statement said. An OMB Q&A from Tuesday insisted that direct payments to farmers and small businesses would not be affected.
Zeldin confirmed to lead EPA
The Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator in a 56-42 vote Wednesday.
Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Mark Kelly of Arizona voted with Republicans in favor of the confirmation. Two Democrats did not vote.
Zeldin formerly served as a congressman from New York. During that time he was a critic of the Renewable Fuel Standard, however, during his confirmation hearing he appeared open to working with senators on biofuel issues.
