On Wednesday, Lake County’s Representative Mike Thompson joined the majority of House members in voting for a bill to avoid a government default. He voted to pass H.R. 3746, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement according to Lake County News. Thompson emphasized that while the bill isn’t perfect, it achieves two key points: It prevents default, averting an economic disaster, and it preserves not only Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, but also protects climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and more. The bill moves to the Senate now.
Today, the City of Ukiah’s Zoning Administrator will consider a new firefighting training tower, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. A nearly 40 foot tall training tower would be used by the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority to train firefighters on roof operations, interior firefighting, confined space rescues and more. The location they will consider is on the southwest side of the Civic Center, south of another training tower. The tower will be fenced in to restrict public access. The money for the tower will come from Mendocino County from the PG&E settlement from 2017 wildfires. $1 million of a $22 million settlement to the county was set aside for the towers. The 2pm meeting at the Ukiah Civic Center today will also include a permit renewal request from Vibe Ukiah, a cannabis business on State Street.
Fort Bragg Police and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies found thousands of prescription pills and distribution materials. In mid-May, authorities were investigating a suspect who purchased narcotics online and was reselling them. In a search on Digger Creek Drive, Bryan Grizzle was arrested for several felony charges. Elias Rutherford was also at the scene and was arrested as both were taken to jail. In The Fort Bragg Advocate News today, the search revealed about $60,000 worth of just received drugs, some possibly counterfeit and may have contained fentanyl.
Facebook’s parent company, Meta, said it will remove news content in California, if legislation is passed that forces tech companies to pay publishers. In Reuters yesterday, the social media company reacted to the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act that requires online platforms to pay a journalism usage fee to providers. Meta tweeted a statement saying the bill would benefit bigger out of state media companies under he guise of the state’s publishers. The company made the same threat to the US Congress last December, saying it will pull news from it’s platform altogether.
A bill going through the legislature in California may help renters afford a down payment. AB 12 passed the Assembly last week. It would limit security deposits to one month’s rent. If the bill passes and the governor signs it California could be the 12th state to limit security deposits. In the LA Times, supporters of AB 12 say it could help fight homelessness. Opponents say they are against regulation that hurts small businesses. A spokeswoman for the California Apartment Association says they are disappointed there are no alternatives. Some hope amendments to the bill would include insurance or bond programs to cover potential damages.
This Saturday, June 3rd, thousands of Californians will be among several hundred thousand Americans heading into the great outdoors to celebrate National Trails Day. Thousands of events are planned nationwide, from hikes to cleanup events and more. Alanna Smith with the Save the Redwoods League notes that most trails cross the unceded ancestral homelands of native nations, adding that the holiday is a good time to give back.
PG&E will be conducting an internal inspection of natural gas pipelines in the Willits and Redwood Valley areas. The work will take place near Baechtel Road and East Hill Road in Willits, and south of the intersection of West Road and East Road in Redwood Valley. We do not expect any disruption to natural gas service for customers while the work is conducted. In a press release issued today, PG&E says the process uses a tool known as a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) that travels through the pipeline looking for potential issues that can occur over time, such as dents and corrosion. It minimizes impacts to traffic. Beginning now through September, PG&E will be in the area conducting these safety inspections.
Two Sonoma County charter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have been found guilty of murder and racketeering conspiracy and more in a federal jury. Raymond Foakes and Christopher Ranieri were part of a criminal enterprise that tried to intimidate the community through fear according to FBI Special Agent Robert Tripp. In Mendofever online, the trial of the two is the second one in 6 years in Sonoma County, where the Hells Angels were branded as outlaws and were involved in numerous offenses from drug distribution to murder. In all, five former Presidents of three Hells Angels charters have been found guilty in the federal probe. Ranieri faces a maximum life prison sentence, while Foakes faces a maximum of 60 years.
The Fort Bragg City Council is considering letting outdoor dining rules continue as the county returns to pre-pandemic rules. In May, outdoor dining tents were recommended by the Fort Bragg City Council Community Development committee for a long-term basis. In Mendovoice, Fort Bragg leaders will consider letting some businesses in the community keep tents and other outdoor spaces open. Increased tourist revenue helped ease the financial troubles that all restaurants had during the COVID emergency. The council heard the recommendation on Monday, but won’t formally be on the agenda until next month. The council may allow the outdoor spaces to remain for an another six months, while the council works on a permanent plan. In Mendocino County businesses have been given until August to apply for the appropriate permits. The City of Ukiah is following suit.
Governor Newsom announced a tribal-state gaming compact between the state and the Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria, the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria, and the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California. In Mendofever online, the governor issued a press release and copies of the compacts that ensures the state supports the tribe’s sovereign authority over the regulation of its gaming facilities.
A couple of North Bay area beaches are among the best “secret beaches” in the US according to Family Destinations Guide. In the Press Democrat, Wildcat Beach in Point Reyes was ranked 8th on the list, with it’s nearly 3 mile stretch along the Point Reyes National Seashore. Bowling Ball Beach was 22nd on the list. The beach is part of the Schooner gulch State Beach is known for its bowling ball shaped sandstone cavities that fill the shore during low tide. The “most secret beach” on the list is in Hawaii. The list is based on a survey of 3,000 families in the US who were asked where they would go this summer.
California is sending $95 million is to flood victims this month. The state’s Department of Social Services will make funds available to undocumented residents who suffered from the February and March storms. It’s been two months since Governor Newsom made the announcement to help flood victims from the state’s Rapid Response Fund. According to Cal Matters, officials were trying to ensure the program would be accessible to the population while protecting taxpayer funds from fraud. Households could qualify for up to $4,500. The money is designated for those living or working in counties that are in the major disaster areas. To minimize risk of fraud, nonprofit organizations will interview applicants in person. Those who were unable to qualify for FEMA funds because of their immigration status could get some help. The state has yet to name the organizations.
PG&E held an open public meeting Tuesday on wildfire safety in the region. In the Record Bee, the utility also discussed community resources available to help in mitigating wildfire threats. PG&E officials are encouraging everyone to prepare for emergencies with a disaster supply kit for your family or business. They offered an update on improvements to the electric system and discussed multiple layers of protection. PG&E built and installed a network of high-def cameras and weather stations. Last year, they reached a goal of 600 cameras installed throughout the North Coast area that they say allows them to see more than 90 percent of high fire risk areas. Leaders from the utility also talked about cutting down and pruning trees that are close to power lines. Strengthening power poles and prioritizing underground lines were discussed, with an additional 153 miles forecasted to be set up in the next two years.
Carbon monoxide poisoning killed two men during the storms of January in Sea Ranch. The two men died of asphyxiation according to the Sonoma County Sheriff. The two brothers-in-law were found January 11 by a Mendocino County tree service who were there to remove a fallen tree. In the Press Democrat, it appears the cause of the carbon monoxide was from a generator the men set up to power the house. Hundreds of homes in the Sea Ranch area were without power due to the storms that rolled through in atmospheric rivers from late December to mid January. Other deaths have been linked to the storms, including a toddler who died when a tree fell on a home in Occidental.
Californians who are on Medi-Cal may have problems finding an eye doctor. In the Sacramento Bee, some optometrists in the state say the reimbursement rates for eye care are not enough to cover expenses. The California Optometric Association says California’s rates of reimbursement are the third lowest in the country and haven’t been adjusted in more than two decades. Earlier this month, Governor Newsom called for adjustments saying increasing the reimbursement rates was critical to the health of Medi-Cal patients. However, there are no adjustments in the latest budget. Some say the Department of Health Care Services may include rate adjustments in next year’s budget. Optometric Association members in the state say 9 out of 10 patients say they had a difficult time finding a Medi-Cal provider near them.
A new mobile food trailer was donated to the Mendocino Unified School Enrichment group last week. The custom vehicle has a motorized roof and is valued at around $50,000. The van was donated by a nonprofit organization run by Bon Appetit Management Company, who has donated to the school district in many ways in recent years. In the Mendocino Beacon today, the mobile food trailer looks like a VW and may be the only one of its kind. The organization says the food trailer will be available for any school fundraiser or event.
