The Lake County Board of Supervisors will continue to discuss updated guidelines for cannabis-related growing structures and consider appointments to the town hall created to replace the Lucerne Area Town Hall. The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, and can be watched live on Channel 8. The board will proclaim that May 5 is Lake County Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People. They’ll also recognize National Foster Care Awareness Month and Wildfire Preparedness week. According to Lake County News, the board will work on their new Central Region Town Hall, the new group formed to replace the Lucerne Area Town Hall, which the Board of Supervisors chose to halt.
Another mental health bill is before the California Senate, passed by the judiciary committee last week. This bill would make it easier to forcibly treat more people. It comes on the heels of CARE Court, a program rolling out this year that broadened state powers to impose psychiatric care. In the LA Times today, information indicates that involuntary commitments have risen around the country. Studies show that California detains people at a rate even higher than the U.S. average. In 2021, California’s three-day detentions, known as 5150 holds were imposed on more than 120,000 people.
Cities in the state are falling short when it comes to providing shelter for homeless communities. But despite reassurances from Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers, there’s no state requirement for cities and counties to make sure they have enough housing for the homeless. In CalMatters, a bill working its way through the Legislature could change that, and potentially lead to sanctions against local governments that fail to plan for the needs of homeless Californians. Senate Bill 7 would require municipalities to plan enough beds for everyone living without a home. If the bill passes officials would have to include homeless housing in their plans. At a recent hearing, some bill critics wondered where the money would come from to build all this extra housing.
California ‘s teachers may be getting a hefty raise. In CBS Sacramento today, there’s a new bill in the state legislature designed to close the wage gap between educators by increasing teacher pay 50% over the next seven years. It would use a “local control funding formula” to factor the cost of living into salaries. Supporters of the measure point out that many teachers and other school employees cannot afford to live in the communities where they work. The California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, and the California School Employees Association are supporting the measure.
A Philo man was arrested on charges of domestic violence by the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office last week. The female victim was held against her will when the two had an argument Monday night. She was taken to the hospital with injuries sustained from domestic violence. The next day, Acradio Mateo Diego was taken to jail with four felony charges, involving kidnapping and injuring his girlfriend. Diego was booked into jail and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
California regulators approved new rules requiring all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2036 Friday, a day after the California Air Resources Board adopted reduced emission regulations for locomotives. The rule also requires fleets to transfer to zero-emission vehicles. Big rigs, local delivery and government fleets must transition to zero emission by 2035, and garbage trucks and local buses by 2039. On Thursday, they also adopted new locomotive regulations requiring that by 2030 only those less than 23 years old could operate in the state.
The Lakeport City Council is set to consider a contract amendment to expand a road study this week. The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow. The Public Works Director will seek the council’s support for the first amendment to the city’s agreement with WMH, the company hired last fall for work on the Lakeport Boulevard at Bevins Street, at a cost of just under $150,000. The expanded contract will cost the city about $158,000, according to Lake County News today. Also on the agenda is the receipt and filing of the illegal fireworks operations plan, and more.
There’s an update on the dog attack that injured two women in Fort Bragg about 10 days ago. One woman had significant injuries to her arm and a bite to her face. She was taken to a local hospital and has been released. The second woman had significant damage to her fingers and arm, and was airlifted out to a hospital. According to the Fort Bragg Police Department, her fingers were able to be reattached by doctors. The two attacking dogs were euthanized. A third non-aggressive dog was also attacked, is being treated.
The local drought emergency is over, according to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. In Mendovoice online, thanks to a rainy winter and spring, the board voted unanimously to approve the end to the drought, last week. The end to the emergency means higher standards in water tank permitting; those with tanks have 30 days to apply for the appropriate permits.
There were two structure fire alerts over the weekend, that are now cancelled.. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office alerted people, via the Nixle program of two fires near the Willits area. At about 7:30pm Saturday night, they called the “all-clear” for the areas. To get alerts, you can check out Nixle online, or text 888777 to opt-in.
Lake County is warning of blue-green algae that may grow in large amounts and can be hazardous. So far though, none have been spotted. The blue-green algae looks like spilled green or blue-green paint with green streaks or globs, and can become a hazardous algal bloom, which can be unhealthy to people and animals. The blooms can produce cyanotoxins, which can cause sickness, especially those who are vulnerable. The drinking water in the surrounding areas is typically treated and safe to drink, but if you’re concerned, you can call the county. Every two weeks when it’s warm, water quality is tested by Big Valley Rancheria throughout the Clear Lake area. If you see an algal bloom, please call Lake County Water Resources at 707-263-2344.
The California Department of Cannabis Control awarded $20 million in research grants to 16 universities. Included in the research funding, will be a first-of-its-kind study of California’s legacy cannabis genetics. Research will also be conducted on the impact of cannabis on mental health, as well as helpful medicinal uses. In KymKemp online, the Chief Deputy Director at the department hopes the studies will help refine the legal framework around the plant, and the industry.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is getting ready for Wildfire Preparedness Week, today through the 7th. In a press release, Cal OES is reminding people that due to climate change, the state is experiencing more frequent and intense fires, so it’s important that people remain prepared. You can sign up to get alerts at CalAlerts.org and et some safety tips, including making defensible space around your home, and having a plan. As a reminder, as of today, the burn ban goes into effect. For information about burn permitting, try out the new online portal at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District is announcing new office hours. The district office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm. The new hours, announced at the board meeting last week, will allow staff time to work on permit review applications, processing grant projects and work on inspections.
NASA is helping a project that began on Earth Day last year. The Biden Administration asked the Department of Agriculture and the BLM to define and map forests on federal lands. After a year, a first-ever national inventory of old-growth forests will soon be viewable to the public. The project will be the first formal accounting of the forests. In Lake County News, NASA funded research is helping the Forest Service with a space-based instrument called Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation, or GEDI. From the International Space Station, GEDI’s laser imager is able to peer through dense forest canopies to see nearly all of our planet’s temperate and tropical forests.
Caltrans is reporting that road work continues around the North Coast. In Lake County, utility work on Highway 20, west of Upper Lake continues this week, with one-way traffic control. On Highway 175, road work west of Mathews Road is ongoing with one way traffic control from 7a to 7p. In Mendocino County, emergency work on Highway 20 is ongoing at Hardy Creek and James Creek with one-way traffic control from 7a to 5:30p. On Highway 187, emergency work begins today near Goodlin Creek with lane closures through 5:30p. More information and details are at QuickMap at dot.ca.gov.
