Convenience Big Store: Refugees in Sacramento fear for loved ones still in Afghanistan

Refugees in the Sacramento area fear for loved ones stuck in Afghanistan – For the past two decades, thousands of Afghan refugees have made the Sacramento region home after being granted special immigration visas. As the Afghanistan government crumbled to insurgent forces Sunday, Aug. 15, refugees now residing in the Sacramento area are left wondering what will become of the family they left behind. “We will not be seeing our family again,” Mohib Momand said. He's among thousands of refugees living in the region processing the collapse of Afghanistan. He said he and his family arrived in the U.S. in 2019 on U.S. special immigration visas after spending 15 years working with an American agency, but he left behind five brothers and nine sisters. “Taliban will kill and shoot them one by one, all of them who have worked for the U.S. government and U.S. Army," Momand said. (Van Tie, ABC10)

PG&E announces first power shut off of 2021 – Portions of 16 counties could be impacted by planned blackouts from PG&E due to forecasted dry winds and wildfire risk. PG&E is following a potential dry wind event that could start Tuesday evening. Citing wind, exceptional drought and dry vegetation, PG&E said they've started sending notice about the possible blackouts, which could impact 39,000 customers in portions of the Sierra Nevada foothills, North Coast, North Valley and North Bay mountains. The majority of the customers impacted, about 27,000, would be in Shasta and Butte counties. (Eric Escalante, ABC10)

EXPLAINER: Western states face first federal water cuts – U.S. officials on Monday are expected to declare the first-ever water shortage from a river that serves 40 million people in the West, triggering cuts to some Arizona farmers next year amid a gripping drought. Water levels at the largest reservoir on the Colorado River — Lake Mead — have fallen to record lows. Along its perimeter, a white “bathtub ring” of minerals outlines where the high water line once stood. (Suman Naishadham, AP)

TIP OF THE DAY

Increase in food stamp benefits... President Joe Biden's administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food aid available to needy families — the largest single increase in the program's history. The average monthly per-person benefits for food stamp assistance will rise from $121 to $157. (Associated Press)

SMILE

Horse therapy helps child through cancer recovery... Hoof and Harness is a Tennessee non-profit that provides therapeutic carriage driving, sensory processing and literacy skills to children who need a helping hand. Holston Haun was diagnosed with Leukemia a few years ago and utilizes the facility to re-learn motor skills. (Tegna)