A traffic stop in Lakeport has led police to a big haul of enough deadly Fentanyl that could have theoretically killed thousands of people. When officers stopped a man identified as James Biocca of Healdsburg on South Main Street Tuesday, they say he was carrying drug paraphernalia, about 100 grams of Fentanyl and about 20 grams of Meth. He was arrested on several charges and booked into the County Jail. Based on the weight of the Fentanyl found, detectives say it could have killed almost 50,000 people. It doesn’t take much. According to the DEA, an OD of just 2 milligrams can kill.
Tribes from across the state want action to deal with the number of missing, murdered, and indigenous persons in California. Members held their first day of action this week in Sacramento to support two bills to address the issue—and keep tribes safe. Yurok Tribe chairman Joseph L. James says it is past time for solutions to a problem he says weighs heavy on the hearts of every Native person in the state. One of the bills would coordinate response between tribal law enforcement and other officers by sharing a state database and giving more enforcement jurisdiction. Another bill would require counties and courts to notify tribes, key family members, and attorneys when a child is missing from their foster care placement. Tribal leaders also want California to spend more money on at-risk girls, women, and other people to keep them from becoming victims.
State lawmakers will discuss an ambitious plan to guarantee income for homeless high school students. Those kids would get $5,000 spread out between April and August 2024. The SOAR bill – Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience -would cover students without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Sponsors say as many as 15,000 teens could get help with basic expenses to keep from falling into a cycle of homelessness. Legislators will have to iron out the details before the money can start flowing.
The lake County Library is getting some help from its friends. The Lake County Wine Alliance has made an $8,000 donation for library collections. The money will go to large type books and children’s materials, including audiobooks. These items will be distributed to all four \branches of the county library system. The gift is welcome because the library is funded by property taxes, but that isn’t always enough for everything in the stacks.
Clear Lake is at risk from invasive species, and the state is hoping to catch and remove some of them between now and next week. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has started a seine netting project looking for carp and goldfish. The work has new urgency, especially with this week’s declaration of a state of emergency about the endangered Clear Lake Hitch—or Chi. The carp and goldfish can be predators and could be among the reasons the high population has been falling so fast. Nets have been set up at several locations around the lake. The work continues through the 13th.
If you are a natural gas customer, it isn’t a surprise that the price of that fuel is up. Just last month, the cost of natural gas from PG&E went up an average of $195. California is the exception because, across the country, the average cost has dropped by half since the fall, according to a report by Bloomberg. Possible reasons—the state imports more of its natural gas from elsewhere, maintenance issues in the West Texas Oil and Gas fields, and lower gas storage capacity on the west coast. Governor Newsom isn’t sure those are the only driving up your bills. He wants regulators to see if something else, like market manipulation or anti-competitive behavior, is making gas cost so much more here. The PUC says it will look into the issue. Among the ideas, spreading out any sticker shock over three to six months. They are also considering a bill credit tied to how much PG&E cuts back on its carbon footprint.
You know that eggs are one item that is busting your food budget, but some people are trying to get around the cost smuggling. The US Customs and Border Patrol says there has been a big increase in egg smuggling from Mexico, which is illegal because of the risk of bird flu and other illnesses. Border patrol agents say don’t even try—they are on the look out for egg rustlers and will scramble any plans to bring eggs over the border.
Extra SNAP help for families ends next month and that has food banks and groups that help the hungry concerned. Those extra benefits have been in place since the early days of the pandemic, but the federal aid that pays for them is going away. The California Association of Food banks says the loss could be about $200 a month for the average CalFresh family—a big hit for those who have come to rely on the emergency assistance. Some even say they won’t be able to afford food. Food Banks say they are preparing to see more people in need. They would like the state to come up with 2 billion dollars over them next five months to help families adjust to the decreased benefits.
