A truck hauling beer overturned yesterday on Highway 101 between Leggett and Laytonville, according to KymKemp. Police say the big rig went over sideways 15 feet from the road. CHP reported the incident just after 8am Monday morning near Rattlesnake Summit. Thankfully no injuries were reported, and traffic seemed to be clear within an hour.
The Pudding Creek Bridge work continues, and will be closed for two 10-night stretches starting next month. Now thru August the project will have a 24/7 traffic light for one lane in each direction at a time. MendoVoice reports backups are expected throughout the summer. The light at Elm Street will be off, helping the traffic flow easier. There will be two 10 night closures in July and in September. The construction on Highway 1 north of the last light in Fort Bragg will be closed to all traffic north of Pudding Creek Bridge from 10pm to 4am during those closures. Caltrans hopes to be complete with the project by mid October, but could be delayed.
The Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council met last week and discussed the county budget update, cannabis busts, water use and more. A tenant for the Revival Ranch spoke up to ask for events to be held at the property for the Flow Kana business. Also at the meeting, the county passed a balanced budget. The County Supervisor Board Chair Glenn McGourty discussed keeping water from the Eel River from coning into the Russian River. An update from Matt Kendall was presented with news of marijuana busts, the fatal fire on Colony Drive and escaped burn piles. There were updates from the Water Education Standing Subcommittee with the Potter Valley Project transition. The group discussed the Cannabis Prohibition Zone in Redwood Valley, that is next scheduled for a July 25 meeting. The next meeting for the Advisory Council will be in early August.
As the snow melts from this winter’s mega-storms, California expects to face significant flooding in some areas. It is prompting experts to call for revitalizing the state’s wetlands and floodplains, according to the California News Service. Snowmelt from this winter’s heavy storms threatens significant flooding and conservation groups are calling for large-scale restoration of wetlands to help absorb excess water. In April, the Biden administration recommended more than 60-million dollars go to projects in Northern California. It’s estimated that 90-percent of the state’s wetlands have been lost but efforts are underway to restore them, both along the coast and in traditional floodplains, like seasonally wet meadows in the Sierra foothills.
Governor Newsom welcomed President Biden to the state yesterday in what some call a good working relationship. The two went together to the Bay Area touting climate change policies and economic support. Newsom in the spotlight lately as Florida Governor DeSantis also visits NorCal goading Newsom to run for president. Newsom is actively supporting Biden’s reelection and in a series of fundraisers in NorCal is touting the Inflation Reduction Act and $600 million in federal funds for climate projects. Biden announced that California will get $67 million in federal funds to rebuild the state’s electrical grid and transmission.
New protections for prescribed fire and cultural burning were rolled out yesterday in California. $20 million is marked for the “Prescribed fire Liability Claims Fund Pilot” is set to cover losses in instances of escaped prescribed or cultural burns. Lake County News is reporting Senate Bill 926 supports mitigation of wildfire risks by making sure controlled burns and cultural burns continue to help make communities safer. Historically, lack of liability insurance had been a barrier for firefighters and community leaders. The bill supports carefully planned and implemented land management to reduce larger more severe wildfires. California has also begun a state-certified burn program and other efforts to lessen the risk of wildfire damage.
Graduating seniors received nearly $300,000 in scholarships at Anderson Valley High School. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports 42 students applied for scholarships com community organizations and the Anderson-Miner Foundation and the AV Education Foundation. Anderson Valley Superintendent Louise Simson told the Journal the scholarship applications were meticulously reviewed and awards were given during their Senior Seminar courses. Members of the Anderson Valley Fire Department, the American Legion, Lions Club, AV Teachers Association, the Grange Dusenberry Memorial and more were among the organizations that chipped in to the scholarships.
CalFresh EBT recipients get matching funds from the Market Match Program in the state, helping low income families get fresh produce. The Market Match, part of the California Nutrition Incentive Program has about nearly $20 million in fresh fruit and vegetable benefits that helped farmers’ markets statewide last year. The program is on the line now, as legislators and the governor negotiate the final state budget with it’s $31.5 billion deficit. CalMatters reports the Market Match program may have to transition from state funds if a budget cut is called for. As pandemic-era CalFresh benefits ended the number of those who face food shortages is expected to rise this year.
The 103 acre Snell Fire was contained by Monday. There were no reported injuries or buildings effected by the blaze that burned, according to the Press Democrat. The Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief said portions of Snell Valley Road and Butts Canyon Road were closed Friday night. The Chief said Cal Fire is sending more resources to fires earlier as Cal Fire gears up for this wildfire season. The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit was able to increase staffing, enabling them to be more aggressive early into a blaze. Firefighters are performing controlled burns and cutting back vegetation that grew during the late winter storms. Cal Fire recommends that residents cut down that additional vegetation now, while humidity is still relatively high.
Yesterday was the first time California recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in recent legislation. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will meet today and discuss making Juneteenth a county holiday. The Mendocino County Racial Equity and Justice Committee is sponsoring the agenda item for the meeting today. In a proclamation, the committee says Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the US and is observed nationally. The committee hopes to increase knowledge of the holiday to all Mendocino County Residents, according to MendoVoice. The Governor’s proclamation over the weekend marks this year as the first Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance. The state holiday will honor the centuries of struggles and triumphs that have brought us to this moment. The governor called on all Californians to reflect on the ongoing cause of freedom for Black Americans.
The State Bar of California is asking to revoke John Eastman’s license to practice law. NBC is reporting the Trump lawyer who wrote a memo that argued Vice President Pence could overturn the 2020 election is facing disciplinary hearings today in the state. Prosecutors allege Eastman made false and misleading statements including remarks at the rally on the Ellipse just before the January 6th Capitol attack. The court will decide if Eastman’s conduct qualifies for suspension or revocation of his California law license from the California Supreme Court. The lawyer faces multiple charges of violating the state’s business and professions code with statements of quote moral turpitude, dishonesty and corruption.
The California Fish and Game Commission posted a release in KymKemp after their June meeting. The Commission discussed adding the Greater sage-grouse as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. They will hold a one-year status review to make the decision. The Commission approved a couple of experimental fishing permits for Sustainable Seas Technology to test systems of exploratory fishing for brown box and king crab, and for the National marine Sanctuary Foundation to test fishing gear innovations and systems for the California commercial Dungeness crab fishery.
President Biden is in Northern California today and is with Governor Newsom. The two are discussions on climate change impacts and the dangers of AI today. As Biden campaigns for a second term Newsom is hosted the President in Silicon Valley yesterday. Today, Biden will meet with big technology’s critics as many call for regulation of the burgeoning AI industry. Last year, Biden’s administration created a Blueprint for An AI Bill of Rights and is working with industry leaders on AI risks and advantages. California lawmakers have ideas on legislation to establish regulation, according to the LA Times. AI’s threat to workers is also a topic the two Democratic leaders are exploring. Political propaganda and disinformation are also top concerns as the leaders focus on putting guard rails in place.
California and Oregon are being sued by the Center for Biological Diversity, for failing to consider fatal impacts to salmon from toxic pollution. The California Department of Transportation is one defendant as the suit claims road-maintenance projects in salmon habitat released deadly chemicals. In a release in MendoFever the suit urges transportation departments for both California and Oregon to get chemicals off the roads and out of waterways. The toxin, 6PPD was responsible for storm-related salmon die-offs in urban areas, according to a study in 2021. The pollutant rubs off tires through normal wear and tear, and during rain storms washes into streams and leads to coho salmon death. The National Marine Fisheries Service with CalTrans must reconsider the effects, under the Endangered Species Act, according to the suit.
A study released today out of the University of California brings a comprehensive view of how people become homeless in the state. The AP reports in a survey of over 3,000 homeless people, the average income was less than $1,000. With rent in the state averaging about $1,400 per month, a main reason is clear. California hosts one third of the nation’s homeless population. Researches say they hope to strengthen policies that offer housing and rental assistance, rather than policies of punishment. People in the survey say substance abuse and mental health issues are often the reasons for homelessness. The study was requested by Governor Newsom, who has made homelessness a priority issue.
The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority will be doing a controlled training burn this Saturday. The south end of the airport will be the place where live fire exercises will commence, beginning at 8:30am.
