August 01st, 2014

     All of California is in a drought. In fact, right now over 80% of the state is in extreme drought! How dry is it? Last year, Los Angeles received 3.6 inches of rain for the entire year! San Francisco received even less with 3.4 inches! Southern California has gotten more rain this year, but not by much. Last year's dry conditions combined with this year's makes it the driest ever since rain records began in 1877.
        It has not rained in Los Angeles since April! May? - 0%! June? - 0%! July? - 0%! And there is no relief in sight! To make matters worse, California is setting heat records. The temperatures have been extremely hot! For most of California, temperatures during the first half of 2014 were the hottest ever recorded!
     Governor Brown has urged residents to cut back. Huge road signs have been posted (see picture) and fines have been given out liberally to any who over-water. It is only going to get worse! In the midst of this historic, even disastrous, drought comes a story hard to believe.
Michael Korte and Laura Whitney from Glendora (suburb of Los Angeles), were trying to do their part by conserving water. But now they find themselves in hot water! The local government sent a letter warning them to get their lawn green in 60 days or they will be fined up to $500! Fined for conserving too much water! They're confused. Do they conserve or not? Even the capitol has a brown lawn. The government should make up its mind so Michael and Laura  know what to do! I guess they're going to have to sneak outside at night so no one sees them watering the lawn! To water or not to water?... that is the question!

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