The man in Ukiah accused in connection to the death of a one-year-old has finally appeared in court. A couple of days ago Edward Two Feathers Steele refused to appear by video by the jail, but yesterday he was in attendance for his arraignment. It comes after two tots, one two-year-old and his infant brother were abandoned near the railroad tracks. In court yesterday, the judge in the case ordered his court appointed lawyer to make sure she had no conflicts, but then the DA asked for a new judge saying the current judge has been accused of prejudice so plaintiffs believe they can’t get a fair trial. The judge had previously been a public defender herself and Steele appeared before her previously in another matter. So no plea was entered, and Steele will have to appear again August 24th. He faces life in prison if he’s convicted for second degree murder and child cruelty among other charges.
The fire burning across Humboldt and Trinity County continues to grow and send smoke into the air across Northern Calif. The Six Rivers Lightning Complex is moving pretty slow, but nonetheless has burned well over 11,000 acres. The complex is burning in rugged terrain near Willow Creek in Humboldt County and Salyer in Trinity County, where there have been evacuation orders in place. The fire has no 0% containment, but there have been no injuries and so far no damage.
A fire broke out in Kelseyville after some cars, boats and RVs went up in flames and it spread to nearby vegetation. The Pharo fire broke out yesterday afternoon but only charred about
1.5 acres.
A fire has engulfed a massive piece of construction equipment used by a logging company. Apparently, protestors none too happy about the work by the Humboldt Redwood Company being used to build roads in the Rainbow Ridge area torched it. Kym Kemp reports locals heard on scanners that firefighters were being sent to a vehicle fire in the area, but then revised, asking for a full wildland response. A large tractor had been set ablaze, but thankfully it didn’t spread to nearby brush and very dry fuels, thanks to the extreme drought. The news site reports protestors have been trying to stop the Redwood Co. from logging old growth trees for years. One protestor was living in a tree in the area a couple of weeks ago. On Monday there were reports of up to 3 dozen people in the area blocking the gate into the area.
A woman accused of driving a pickup and crossing to the other side of Highway 101 near state route 271 has been seriously injured along with two children. Sherrie Keener was in the pickup and came upon a box truck which was pulled over. For some reason Keener drove onto the shoulder of the 101 and hit the side of the truck. That driver had no injuries, but Keener had major injuries. A man with her was treated on the scene for moderate injuries. And the two kids were being treated in a hospital. Keener was also arrested before being hospitalized for felony DUI of drugs resulting in injuries to another person.
The Governor has nominated a new chief justice for the state Supreme Court. Governor Newsom has chosen Justice Patricia Guerrero, who was appointed to the court as an associate justice in February. She was the first Latina to sit on the court. The nomination comes after the current Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s announces she was not going to go after a second term when her current term ends in January. Newsom says Guerrero, who hails from the Imperial Valley, has broken barriers and “enriched the highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians.”
A naturopathic doctor from Northern Calif. who delivered worthless COVID19 immunization treatments and bogus vaccination cards could be going to jail after her plea agreement was tossed. The judge in the case of Juli A. Mazi, of Napa, would not allow her to change her plea or back out of a plea deal. The judge also said no to the agreement, for a guilty plea to wire fraud and making false statements related to health matters. Mazi fired her lawyers and was representing herself. It’s the first federal criminal fraud prosecution of its kind related to forged vaccination cards for COVID-19.
The Governor has nominated a new chief justice for the state Supreme Court. Governor Newsom has chosen Justice Patricia Guerrero, who was appointed to the court as an associate justice in February. She was the first Latina to sit on the court. The nomination comes after the current Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s announces she was not going to go after a second term when her current term ends in January. Newsom says Guerrero, who hails from the Imperial Valley, has broken barriers and “enriched the highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians.”
Another drinking water advisory for folks who take the water directly out of Clear Lake. Residents who live along the shore of the Lower and Oaks arms were warned by the county there is bad bacteria in the water, and boiling or putting chemicals in the water, won’t help. Those impacted can pick up 25 gallons /week of drinking water at filling stations, courtesy of Golden State and Mt. Konocti Mutual Water Companies. Last month the Big Valley Environmental Protection Agency sampled 19 locations and visible, harmful algal blooms were noted at 14 of the locations sampled. 16 of the samples were submitted to cyanotoxin levels. Five locations had dangerous levels and testing showed there might also be other contaminants in the systems too.
The list of parks who are getting grants from the California State Parks Foundation has been released. The 2022 State Parks Improvement Grant recipients include Mendo Parks. The $10,000 will be distributed across several parks, Mendocino Headlands, Jug Handle Nature Reserve, Van Damme, Russian Gulch, and the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. The state’s working with local indigenous tribes to update park brochures with new photographs and potentially all-new brochure artwork by contemporary Pomo artists. There will also be updated trail guides and public ADA accommodations noted therein.
Intro: State lawmakers are about to vote on twin bills to study and mitigate heat waves. If passed, there would be a heat-ranking system, similar to what’s in place for tornadoes and hurricanes. David Azevedo with A-A-R-P California says heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the country.
:14 "Older people are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to weakened cardiovascular systems, pre-existing health conditions, and the fact that many prescription medications used by older people impact temperature regulation and hydration."
Tag: California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, in 2018, predicted that excess deaths due to extreme heat could hit 43-hundred per year by 2025, and 11-thousand by 2050 if trends continue.
Second Cut: Azevedo says one of the bills in the Assembly could fund projects to increase tree canopies, build shaded bus shelters, install so-called “cool pavement” and retrofit buildings to make them more heat-resistant.
:14 "AB 2076 would also create an extreme heat and health reporting system, which will receive and analyze data from local health departments, clinics and hospitals to better identify where extreme heat is most negatively harming communities."
Tag: The bill would also create the country’s first “chief heat officer.” The two bills could get an up-or-down vote without a hearing.
