California has instituted a $400 million extreme heat action plan to protect workers and help vulnerable communities. The state is expected to move into Phase 2 of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan this week. It calls for increased coordination with state and local officials. Excessive heat watches and advisories are in effect. CalOES released information warning the heat event that begins tomorrow through Monday will “rival some of the worst heat waves this area has ever seen” according to the National Weather Service. The AP reports employers in California are reminded to give outdoor workers water, shade and regular breaks to cool off, per state regulations. Officials say the power grid should be able to withstand the heat wave. Bay Area News Group reports heat not only increases risks of fires, but the weather tends to bring snakes out and about, so watch where you’re walking. And the California State Fair has cancelled horse racing events for the opening weekend.
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat advisory this week for Lake and Mendocino Counties with temps expected to rise to about 110 degrees. The Ukiah Valley Conference Center downtown will be open and have ice water, wifi and other amenities out during the week. The library in Ukiah will also be open through Saturday till 6pm. Lake County announced cooling centers will be available this weekend. Friday and Saturday most county libraries will be open through 5pm, with some closing at 3pm. In Clearlake Oaks the Big Oak Peer Support Center will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4:30pm. Cal Fire officials continue to remind residents not to use motorized equipment as the heat warms up the interior valleys saying there will be significant deep layer warming and drying. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports Saturday and Sunday will be the warmest days. Authorities remind people to stay shaded and hydrated during hot weather conditions and make sure your outdoor animals have plenty of fresh water and shade as well. Check on those without AC and limit outdoor activities. The Press Democrat reports Sonoma County will not open cooling centers because of the limited days temperatures will be in the triple digits.
Mendocino County’s 3rd district Supervisor John Haschak released his monthly letter in MendoFever with an update on summer festivities and more. He reports the Board is working to reduce housing barriers. Haschak noted the Board invested $2 million of PG&E’s settlement funding into a carbon reduction fund. Half a million has been spend on electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels. They are planning to convert the county’s fleet of cars to EV and improve energy efficiency in buildings. They’ll formally present the plan on their July 25th meeting. Haschak says for the first time, the Economic Development Standing Committee met with a goal to bring industry leaders, labor leaders, housing advocates and more to create a more vibrant economy. He’ll hold his monthly table talk this morning at 10am at the Brickhouse Coffee in Willits.
Lakeport’s new director for the homeless shelter was arrested for inflicting corporal injury on his partner according to information obtained by the Record Bee from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Christopher Bloodworth was arrested yesterday afternoon and is being held on a $15,000 bail. A court date for August 29th has been set. The controversial Sunrise Special Services that recently saw the termination of Yvonne Cox has operated under contract for the county. The Board of Supervisors approved the continuation of the shelter crisis for the homeless just this week. Local media is working to get more information on the director’s arrest and the state of the shelter.
Financial website SmartAsset released information about ten of the poorest California counties. The Sacramento Bee reports the statewide median household income is about $84,000 while over 12 percent of residents live in poverty. Lake County comes in at number 9 with a median income of about $53,400 with over 16 percent of residents living in poverty. The poorest county in the state is up north in Trinity County, with a median income of just $42,000 with 19 percent living in poverty. The richest counties include Marin and San Francisco.
Junk fees or hidden charges will be illegal in a new bill going thru legislation. Lake County News reports the Attorney General along with senators from the Bay Area are urging passage of the bill that ensures consumers aren’t deceived in added costs. President Biden has campaigned for an end to junk fees from banks, airlines, ticket vendors and more. California Senate Bill 478 expands Biden’s proposal and would expressly stop junk fees and penalize companies that don’t follow the rule. The bill was approved by the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee this week after passing in the Senate.
Governor Newsom spoke up about a bill to make child trafficking a felony in the state in an announcement yesterday. The bill would increase the penalties and make the crime part of the three strikes law, according to the Associated Press. The bill passed the Senate earlier in the year and is expected to have support in the Assembly. Tuesday, Democrats decided to not advance the bill making it likely it won’t pass this year. Newsom said he was surprised and called legislators to talk about it. He noted the budget includes $25 million for services for child victims of sex trafficking. In a surprising move, the governor sided with Republican backers of the bill and questioned why Democrats are stalling. The new Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas says they are working to get the bill right saying he is engaged in the issue.
Representatives Mike Thompson is helping to introduce bipartisan legislation to increase protections of national security sites, infrastructure and farmland. Thompson joined with the Chair of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and China and others on the bill’s introduction yesterday. Thompson said the bill will help identify foreign actors wanting to buy land near military installations while maintaining food security in the nation by protecting farmland. Thompson is calling for a review of purchases around Travis Air Force Base. The Protecting US Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act would give oversight to sensitive land purchases and more.
California’s caregiver workforce is struggling. CalMatters reports caregivers in the state are few and far between and are fighting for better pay. The issue not only affects the workforce, but aging baby boomers will have a hard time in finding caregivers. Some legislators have introduced bills to protect workers and facilitate recruitment and retention. In just over 6 years, almost 20 percent of California residents will be 65 and older. The California Department of Aging suggests there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million care workers by 2030. Leaders are looking for long-term care solutions that would increase wages and provide benefits to find more and keep caregivers. The governor’s budget includes $1.5 million on a working group for the caregiver crisis. A representative for the workforce says it’s a vital first step.
Cal Fire Officials are warning this summer is reminiscent of 2017’s wildfire season after a wet winter led to increased vegetation. It was one of California’s most destructive fire seasons, with 47 people killed and about 11,000 buildings burned, according to the Record Bee. The state and Cal Fire are investing in new technology to mitigate an expected hot season with drones, satellites, infrared images and AI. They have a new fleet of helicopters that can fly at night, called Fire Hawks. Scientists, researchers and legislators are working to help predict fire weather and prepare communities with the latest information and technology.
The local US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Lake County is again holding a free life jacket giveaway for kids this Saturday. The event will be at the Konocti Bait Shack at Lucerne Harbor Park at 10am. Life jackets will be given to kids 12 and younger with two weight divisions. The group will register and weigh the children and fit them with the right sized vest. They’ll also show parents the proper way to put vests on their kids. They’ll be there thru 2pm, or until they run out of life jackets. As one of the hottest days of the summer approaches, getting in the water is especially tempting, and the auxiliary and Konocti Women’s Service Club want everyone to be safe in the water.
There was a head-on crash near Ukiah causing major trauma on Sunday. It happened after 8pm alone Pine Ridge Road near Low Gap Road as two Subarus collided head-to-head. One driver had serious injuries to her leg and arm. The woman told police she and her daughter, as well as the other driver needed emergency medical attention. CHP is investigating the accident.
This month, the Konocti Women’s Service Club gave 11 scholarships to seniors in Lake County. The awards totaled about $9,000 according to Lake County News. The club worked to raise funds for the scholarships through their Christmas gift basket raffles and a barn dance fundraiser last year. The club thanks the community for their help in assisting local students as they progress in their academic career.
More homes are selling in Lake County and prices have gone up according to the Lake County Association of Realtor’s report in Lake County News. In May home sales were up from April, and slightly down from a year ago. Homes sold at about 96 percent of the asking price. The median price of a single family home in the county was bout $340,000 about the same during the same month last year.
