Daily Republic: Friday, February 17, 2023 by mcnaughtonmedia

Sheriff adds cowboy hats back to uniform A3

City crew works to fix 3rd water main break A4

FRIDAY | February 17, 2023 | $1.00

DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.

Georgia grand jury investigating Trump, allies recommends perjury charges Tribune Content Agency

Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic

Col. Derek M. Salmi gives the State of the Base address at Travis Air Force Base, Thursday.

World events heighten readiness agenda at Travis Todd R. Hansen

THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Travis Air Force Base refueling crews assisted in the mission to shoot down what was believed to be a Chinese spy balloon over Billings, Montana about two weeks ago. It was one of several balloons and other objects the Air Force, under orders of President Joe Biden, has shot down – actions that have been met by China with promises of retaliation. Those heightened tensions in an already shaky U.S.-China relationship, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, North Korea’s accelerated missile launch program, the Middle East and other global events have also heightened the readiness efforts at Travis, Col. Derek M. Salmi told a gathering Thursday at

the third annual State of the Base. Salmi is the commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing. He has been at Travis for about seven months. Part of those readiness efforts are training missions that were highlighted during the program, which was a combination of Salmi’s remarks and several video presentations. The event was conducted in Hangar 837 with a C-17 as a backdrop to the stage. About 125 people attended, including U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, who opened the program with a speech lauding the base and the community, state Sen. Bill Dodd and about a dozen elected county and city officials. The program also highlighted profiles of seven airmen, six who attended. Salmi said they exemplify the driving mantra of “Airman, Team, Pride and Readiness.” One

of those, Tech. Sgt. John Powell, a security leader with the 821st Contingency Response Squadron, was part of the Ukraine support response. That includes 1.8 million pounds of clothing and other goods. “We went in support of Ukraine and our NATO allies,” Powell said in his video profile. The first anniversary of Russia’s invasion is Feb. 24. “Over 30% of all aid the U.S. has provided comes through Travis,” Salmi said of the missions to Ukraine. He also noted the training provided by California National Guard members and others tied to the state. He said that in 2022, there were more than 160 flights and 2.6 million tons of cargo delivered. In an interview after the See Travis, Page A8

ATLANTA — For nearly eight months, 23 Fulton County residents met in secret to investigate a hotly contested question: Did former President Donald Trump and his allies break Georgia laws by meddling in the 2020 election? On Thursday, the public got its first glimpse into what they found as a judge released five pages of their final report. Members of the special grand jury agreed unanimously that there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election as Trump and his supporters had claimed. A majority of the panel also recommended that prosecutors should pursue perjury charges against at least one witness they believe lied under oath in their testimony. But anyone looking

for juicy details about the probe came away disappointed. Besides dropping some tantalizing clues, the portions of the report which were made public raised more questions than they answered. No witnesses were named and no new evidence revealed. There was also no mention of the panel’s highly anticipated recommendations for who should be charged with state crimes. Those portions are likely to be released only after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis makes indictment decisions, which could take weeks or longer. Still, Thursday’s excerpts were being picked apart by observers seeking hints on what was proposed. Some expressed surprise that the final document might only be nine pages See Trump, Page A8

Fearing return of dry conditions, Newsom seeks to waive environmental protections in Delta Los Angeles Times

Rotary honors 20 Fairfield-Suisun students with Good Character Youth Awards Matt Miller

MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Twenty Fairfield-Suisun School District students were honored Wednesday night with Good Character Youth Awards presented by the Fairfield-Suisun Rotary Club and NorthBay Health at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Suisun City. It was the eighth annual event that features recommendations from school principals, teachers, counselors, coaches and staff related to the actions of those who are deemed “out-

standing students.” They are honored for bringing service to others, uplifting the marginalized and standing up for justice without prompting. Among the night’s recipients, one student made encouraging videos for his classmates during the Covid-19 pandemic; another brings breakfast to classmates in need. “We’re here to shine a light on exceptional young people in our community,” Fairfield-Suisun Rotary Club President Gerry Raycraft said in his opening remarks. “These See Awards, Page A8

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Jimmy Green, a student at Fairfield High School, talks to dignitaries during the Good Character Youth Awards at the Kroc Center in Suisun City, Wednesday.

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As January’s drenching storms have given way to an unseasonably dry February, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking to waive environmental rules in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in an effort to store more water in reservoirs – a move that is drawing heated criticism from environmental advocates who say the action will imperil struggling fish populations. In an executive order signed Monday, Newsom directed the State Water Resources Control Board to “consider modifying requirements” for California’s two water conveyance systems in the Delta, the State Water Project and the federally operated Central Valley Project. “While recent storms

WEATHER 62 | 34 Mostly sunny. Forecast on A9.

Daily Republic file (2012)

An aerial photo of the southern tip of Ryer Island, in 2012. have helped replenish the state’s reservoirs and boosted snowpack, drought conditions continue to have significant impacts on communities with vulnerable water supplies, agriculture and the environment,” an announcement of the order read. “Until it is clear what the remainder of the wet season will hold, the executive order includes provisions to See Delta, Page A8

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