Paul Elias, Author at Valley News

Residences were leveled by the wildfire in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday the wildfire that destroyed the town of Paradise is now 40 percent contained, up from 30 percent Wednesday morning. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Fire Evacuation Plan Questioned

by Paul Elias Associated Press, and Kathleen Ronayne Associated PressNovember 15, 2018

Magalia, Calif. — Ten years ago, as two wildfires advanced on Paradise, residents jumped into their vehicles to flee and got stuck in gridlock. That led authorities to devise a staggered evacuation plan — one that they used when fire came again last…

FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown speaks at a forum in Sacramento, Calif. Brown signed the nation's toughest net neutrality measure Sunday, Sept. 30, requiring internet providers to maintain a level playing field online. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Lawsuit Might Delay Calif. Neutrality Law

by Paul Elias Associated Press, and Mae Anderson Associated PressOctober 1, 2018

Crystal Easter uses a pot of water to put out spot fires around her home, as her neighbor's home burns to the ground in the background, Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, in Spring Valley, Calif. The Ranch Fire spotted 200 yards across the valley, burning two homes in Spring Valley. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)

Largest Calif. Blaze Poses Big Challenge

by Paul Elias Associated PressAugust 7, 2018

Firefighters gather as the procession for Redding fire inspector Jeremy Stoke passes in Redding, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Stoke, who died last week in the Carr Fire, was being taken from the coroner's office to a funeral home. Fire officials say a massive blaze in Northern California that has killed six people and torched more than 1,000 homes grew overnight, fueled by wind. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday firefighters made some gains and the blaze is now a third contained. (AP Photo/Michael Burke)

Deadly California Blaze Spawned Fire Tornado

by Paul Elias Associated PressAugust 3, 2018

In this March 1, 2018 photo, Rick Thompson, clockwise from bottom left, Keith Baskerville and Xavier Baskerville smoke marijuana while sitting in a booth in the smoking lounge at Barbary Coast Dispensary in San Francisco. San Francisco plans to issue more permits for marijuana smoking lounges this year after health officials finalize updated regulations. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

California Pot Lounges Are First in the Nation

by Paul Elias Associated PressMarch 18, 2018

Two women embrace outside Rancho Tehama Elementary School, where a gunman opened fire Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, in Corning, Calif. Authorities said, a gunman choosing targets at random, opened fire in a rural Northern California town Tuesday, killing four people at several sites and wounding others at the elementary school before police shot him dead. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Gunman Terrorizes Town, Kills 4

by Don Thompson Associated Press, and Paul Elias Associated PressNovember 15, 2017

Donald Trump supporter Arthur Schaper, center, argues opposing views during a free speech rally Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. Protesters gathered for a “Rally Against Hate” in response to a planned right-wing protest that raised concerns of clashes and prompted a large police presence. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Protest Turns Violent in California

by Paul Elias Associated Press, and Jocelyn Gecker Associated PressAugust 27, 2017

Water gushes from the Oroville Dam's main spillway Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, Calif. Crews working around the clock atop the crippled Oroville Dam have made progress repairing the damaged spillway, state officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Evacuation Lifted for Residents Living Below Dam

by Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press, and Paul Elias Associated PressFebruary 15, 2017

This June 20, 2016, photo released by the City of Orlando shows bullet holes and openings where police officers breached a wall of the Pulse nightclub to free hostages trapped in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history on the night of June 12, 2016. Forty-nine people were killed and dozens were injured after gunman Omar Mateen entered the gay nightclub and opened fire last June. (City of Orlando via AP)

Fla. Gunman’s Widow Pleads Not Guilty to Aiding Husband

by Paul Elias Associated PressJanuary 19, 2017

Brock Turner leaves the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Turner, whose six-month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at Stanford University sparked national outcry, was released from jail after serving half his term. (Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group via AP)

Brock Turner Leaves Jail Months’ Early

by Paul Elias Associated PressSeptember 3, 2016