LOCAL / CALIFORNIA A4 | NOVEMBER 2026, 2014 AP PHOTO/THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER, RICK ELKINS Tulare County Fifth District Supervisor Mike Ennis (L) speaks with Tulare County Office of Emergency Services director Andrew Lockman at the site where portable showers have been placed in East Porterville on Nov. 17. Dry Central California Town Gets Portable Showers By Scott Smith FRESNO—Hundreds of people living in a drought-stricken California farm town could soon be taking their first hot shower in months after county officials set up portable facilities in a church parking lot. Residents of East Porterville in the agricultural Central Valley must bring their own towel and soap, but the hot shower is free. Until now, many have been forced to bathe from buckets and drink bottled water. Andrew Lockman, manager of the Tulare County Office of Emergency Service, said Tuesday that officials were worried about residents taking sponge baths during the colder weather. “The poor certainly get poorer,” he said. “We’re trying to provide a safety net, a basic quality of life as people struggle through this disaster.” The county brought in 26 portable showers at a cost of $30,000 a month in the poor town with about 7,000 residents nestled against the Sierra Nevada foothills. The wells in the area began running dry early this year, and Lockman said he knows of 600 households where people are taking sponge baths from buckets. The county is renting trailers containing the showers and paying for security, janitorial services, and electricity to provide the service. Over six months, it could cost more than $150,000, with the state contributing 75 percent, Lockman said. The drought has put many people out of work along with depriving families of running water, he said. “There’s a lot of people out there who have a really strong need,” he said. “They’re out there working in the fields. They come home wet and dirty.” From The Associated Press www.TheEpochTimes.com Automakers Debut Key Models at L.A. Auto Show LOS ANGELES—One out of every 10 new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year was purchased in California. So it’s no wonder automakers save some of their most important introductions for the Los Angeles Auto Show. As usual, green cars are a focus in eco-conscious L.A. Toyota is showing its emission-free hydrogen fuel-cell car, the Mirai, which goes on sale next year in the U.S. and Europe. Honda also has a fuel-cell concept car, the FCV, which is expected to go on sale in 2016. But with U.S. gas prices at a four-year low and California’s economy rebounding, this year’s show is also heavy on luxury cars. Bentley kicked things off Monday evening with the unveiling of its Grand Convertible show car, a drop-top version of the $330,000 Mulsanne Speed. Show-goers’ reactions will help Bentley decide whether to make it. Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and Land Rover will also have important introductions at the show. The L.A. Auto Show opens to the public Nov. 21. Here are some of the most talked-about vehicles debuting at the show: AUDI: The German luxury brand hints at its new design direction with a concept sedan, the Audi Prologue. It’s the first vehicle from Marc Lichte, a 45-yearold Volkswagen veteran who was appointed head of Audi design in February. The car is shorter and sportier than the current A8, and has a lower, wider, and more angular grille. Under the hood is a 605-horsepower V8 engine. The twodoor coupe could become Audi’s new flagship A9. But AP PHOTO/CHRIS CARLSON From left, Arilou Information Security Technologies CEO Gil Litichever, IOActive Director of Vehicle Security Intelligence Chris Valasek, Global Automakers Director of Safety Michael Cammisa, and Assured Information Security Senior Consultant Karl Heimer, participate in the Connected Car Expo discussion on Automotive Cybersecurity: A Frank Discussion, at the LA Auto Show on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Los Angeles. AP PHOTO/CHRIS CARLSON Marc Lichte, head of Audi Design, introduces the Audi prologue concept car during the Los Angeles Auto Show in LA on Nov. 19. in the meantime, look for the new design to trickle into the brand’s future products. CHRYSLER 300: Chrysler hopes to breathe some life into the lagging full-size sedan segment with the first full update of the 300 since 2005. The car still has its imperious, 1950s-inspired looks, but there’s a new, more prominent grille and LED lights. Inside, there’s more premium content, including a new 7-inch driver information display. Chrysler promises best-inclass fuel economy of 31 mpg on the highway with its eightspeed transmission—now standard—and new safety features, including forward collision warning. The new 300 goes on sale early next year with a starting price of $32,390 including shipping. FORD EXPLORER: The SUV that kicked off America’s love affair 20 years ago is getting a refresh for 2016. New features include front and rear cameras equipped with washers—an industry first—and a hands-free liftgate that can sense the driver’s foot. Ford says the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower should deliver fuel economy similar to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost it replaces. The Explorer goes on sale next summer. Pricing wasn’t released. MAZDA CX-3: Mazda enters the fast-growing subcompact SUV market with the CX-3. The tiny utility—at 168 inches, it’s about the same length as the Buick Encore— will be sold in North America with Mazda’s 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine, which gets up to 40 mpg on the highway in the Mazda3 compact car. It will also have a six-speed automatic transmission and optional allwheel drive. The CX-3 goes on sale in the spring in Japan and globally soon after. Pricing wasn’t announced. VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R VARIANT: The wagon version of the sporty Golf R is a parent’s dream: It seats five and has the cargo space of a small SUV but also has a “race” mode for track driving and accelerates from zero to 50 mph in just 3.8 seconds. It shares the Golf R’s 296-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift option. The Golf R Variant goes on sale in Europe this spring before coming to North America. Pricing wasn’t announced, but the Golf R on which it’s based will start at $37,415. 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