Bond proposals on the General Election ballot last month means more money to schools. Voters approved about 2/3rds of the TK-12 and community college construction bond proposals. Of the 71 of 101 approved, 65 out of 94 TK-12 proposals and six of seven community college district ballot measures will bring in about $20 billion for renovations and new construction. Humboldt County lost almost $8 million for the Ferndale district though, they had many buildings in disrepair even before last week’s earthquake. Napa also lost by only a half point. Most of the bonds won in Southern California where some of the initiatives won more than 70% of the vote. Some of the districts say they’ll have to dip into COVID relief money for the repairs.
One of the largest wine-making companies in the US is suing their insurance company after damage to their properties from wildfires. Jackson Family Wines, who makes Kendall-Jackson, Arrowood and more sued in federal court claiming Zurich Insurance Co. had not paid anywhere near their policy claims for the Nuns, Tubbs and Pocket fires of 2017; the Kincade Fire of 2019; and the Glass Fire of 2020. The company says they’ve received less than $70 million dollars, or about 16% of their total losses they submitted invoices and proposals for. Jackson Valley has several wineries and around 15,000 acres of vines in Napa and Sonoma counties. They say the insurer was deliberating delaying open fire claims to avoid paying out.
A man from Ukiah’s behind bars after he was found by patrol officers with drugs, a knife, and a dirk/dagger. Deputies out on patrol Friday saw 30-year-old Kevin Worley driving a car and knew he had a suspended license and an active misdemeanor arrest warrant. Worley pulled over and was searched. He was found with a concealed dirk or dagger, suspected methamphetamine and suspected fentanyl and booked into jail on $18,500.00 bail.
After the atmospheric river ripped through Mendocino County the National Weather Service says it dropped about six inches of rain or more. The service reports there was heavy rain across the county, with the most at over six inches in Northwest Mendocino County at 3,100 feet. There were history making rain reports, over 1.9 inches fell on Woodley Island in Eureka, breaking its last record of 1.68 inches almost to the day, on Dec. 26, 1931. There were also strong winds that toppled a tree onto one person’s car while they sat at a campground in Humboldt County. The NWS had reported strong winds took down multiple trees across Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino counties.
The wildfire risk map is being updated in California. It’s the first time since 2007. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or Cal Fire is having meetings to discuss the updated map next month in Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. The department’s Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone Map still needs formal regulatory approval though. It currently shows more wildfire hazard areas within California than there were 15 years ago, including in unincorporated and rural areas.
A man is dead after a crash in Potter Valley. The California Highway Patrol reports 18-year-old Samuel Caldwell of Potter Valley was driving a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek on Eel River Road early Monday morning when for unknown reasons he went over the double yellows into opposing lanes of traffic. His car was hit head on by a 2001 Chevy Cavalier on Eel River Road. The CHP says Caldwell and another 18-year-old, also from Potter Valley, both had major injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet, a 19-year-old male, also from Potter Valley, also had major injuries. And a 28-year-old man in the Chevy who lives in Willits was killed. The CHP says they suspect alcohol was a “contributing factor in the crash”. They arrested Caldwell for suspicion of felony driving under the influence.
A slew of new laws go into effect like any other New Year. But for the first time ever in California, though, jaywalking will be decriminalized January 1st. For nearly 100 years, California had one of the strictest jaywalking laws in the country which included possible arrest and big fines. Now the “Freedom to Walk” Act gives more flexibility to pedestrians, at the same time saying careful judgment when crossing streets, if there is no immediate danger, and the pedestrian isn’t creating a hazard, is legal.
California is now considered the most populous state. According to a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau, which also says the Golden State has lost over a half-million residents since April 1st of 2020. As of July 1st, of this year, California’s population was just over 39-million-29 thousand.
Federal law enforcement agencies being heralded by Congressman Mike Thompson, the Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force on new rules regarding ghost guns. Lake County News reports Thompson, who now covers all of Lake County, is strongly supporting a move by the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for new guidance on ghost guns which Thompson says criminals use because they’re untraceable and can be sold without a background check. The new rules come after the House’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force pressured the ATF to enforce a rule against the use and sale of ghost guns.
The CHP has put out some guidance ahead of the New Year on public and traffic safety after the Governor signed some new bills into law regarding rules of the road. One of them lists who can legally sell recycled catalytic converters as the parts. The recyclers are now required to have documentation on the part and a copy of the vehicle title where the catalytic converter came from. It’s to bring down the amount of catalytic converter thefts in the state. Another is regarding speeding and reckless driving with more and more street racing in Calif. Anyone involved in sideshow activity, exhibition of speed, or speeding over 100 miles per hour resulting in a death can be charged with Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence. And the new “Feather Alert” will begin, like the Amber or Silver Alert, the Feather Alert is triggered when an indigenous person has been kidnapped, abducted, or reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, and specific criteria has been met to permit alert activation.
