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UCD studies new way to restore speech BrainGate2 will use brain implants and machine learning By Lisa Howard Special to The Enterprise SACRAMENTO — UC Davis Health is recruiting volunteers for a clinical trial with the goal of building a “neurological prosthesis” for restoring speech to people who have lost — or are losing — the ability to speak. The research is aimed at people who have neurological injuries or progressive neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injury, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With this study, UCD joins BrainGate, an ambitious consortium of universities and academic medical centers studying how brain-computer interfaces can be used to restore neurological function in people living with paralysis. The technology is also sometimes referred to as brain-machine interfaces or neuroprostheses. The focus of BrainGate is to use
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A wide white ring shows the dramatic decline of water levels at Lake Mead on the Colorado River.
California dodges water cutback By Rachel Becker CalMatters
Arizona and Nevada will face steeper cuts to Colorado River water in 2023 as drought continues to deepen, but California will once again be spared — at least for now. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation this week announced the first-ever Level 2a shortage
condition for Lake Mead, the massive reservoir that supplies water to about 25 million people. That designation triggers more curtailments for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico, while California, which holds more senior rights, is not affected. But there’s been no agreement among the Colorado River basin states to further cut their
water use by 2 to 4 million acre feet in 2023. It’s a tremendous amount — at least seven times more than Nevada is entitled to in a year. In mid-June, Bureau Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton gave the states a 60day deadline to craft a deal, or face federally mandated cuts instead. But the deadline has
Fired director sues Yolo Food Bank By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer The abrupt firing of Michael Bisch as executive director of the Yolo Food Bank has resulted in a lawsuit. Bisch, who was terminated as executive director in May, has filed suit against the food bank and several current or former members of its board of directors alleging wrongful termination, violation of whistleblower protection laws, breach of contract and defamation, among other complaints. Bisch served as executive director of the food bank from January 2018 until his termination in late May
VOL. 124, NO. 100
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Business ���������� A3 Living ����������������B4 Trivia ����������������B4 Classifieds ������ A4 Obituary ���������� A4 The Wary I �������� A2 Forum ������������� B3 Sports ��������������B8 Yolo DIY ������������B1
of this year. In a press release on May 31 announcing his BISCH firing, YFB Lost job in May board member Kate Stille (chief impact officer for Nugget Markets) said, “our board has decided that the organization needs to move in a different direction and that the first step in that process is to install a new executive director. “We’re very appreciative of the work that Michael did over the past four years to help put the Food Bank on a positive path forward,
WEATHER Today: Sunny and not so hot. High 93. Low 60.
and we wish him the best of luck.” But Bisch’s lawsuit contends he was wrongfully terminated “after being subjected to harassment and retaliation for (his) good-faith efforts to document and shed light on egregious non-compliance with SB 1383 by Yolo County and its cities from 2019 to present date.” SB 1383 is a state law passed in 2016 that established methane-reduction targets for California, including by reducing disposal of organic waste in landfills and recovering edible food for human consumption. For most
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come and gone with no plan and no concrete consequences from the Bureau of Reclamation. “To date, the states collectively have not identified and adopted specific actions of sufficient magnitude that would stabilize the system,” Touton said.
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School-board trustees look ahead to coming year By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer The Davis School Board’s meeting Thursday had everything from budget revisions to health and safety updates to prepare for the start of the new school year. Associate superintendent of business services Amari Watkins spearheaded the presentation of the 45-day budget revision. The presentation itself comes in the wake of the June adopted budget and covered material changes, cost of living adjustments, revenue allocations, attendance, state
revenue investments, grants, the general fund budget as well as a multiyear projection summary. “Every budget is dependent upon changing assumptions. This budget is built upon spring demographic enrollment projections and assumes attendance closer to our pre-pandemic norm of nearly 96%,” said Watkins. “As of now, we’re seeing increases in the number of students enrolling DJUSD schools, but also recognize COVID-related absences are not yet behind us. “As an example, an
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