The US Geological Survey is reporting a small earthquake shook parts of Northern California this morning. The quake was a magnitude 4, about 4 miles deep, centered near The Geysers just after 7 AM. Reports say about 30 people, from as far away as Napa and Kelseyville felt it. There are no reports of damage. Seismologists say magnitude 4 quakes are often felt but don’t usually cause damage. The U S G S now uses the term “magnitude” instead of the old “Richter scale” to grade the power of quakes.
The state says the number of COVID cases is going up. State health data puts the 7-day positive test rate at 13 percent. That is the highest rate since July 2022. The CDC says most new cases are a variant called BA.2.86. It has been detected in wastewater samples across the country. No word on any new guidelines, but the health department says vaccination with the latest booster is still the best defense, especially for people in high-risk groups.
The California Transportation Commission is out with a list of infrastructure projects worth more than 3 Billion dollars—and a project in Lake County has made the cut. The state will spend 1.6 million dollars to realign and make other safety improvements on Route 20 near Clearlake Oaks, east to Walker Ridge. The money comes from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the State Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Caltrans director Tony Tavares says the projects will have an impact across the state and that commuters, truckers, and visitors will all benefit from improvements. Also on the list of projects, 8.1 million for a cable median barrier along U.S. 101 from Route 20 to Uva Drive/North State Street near Ukiah 17.4 million for improvements at the Jack Peters Creek Bridge on Route 1 near the community of Mendocino.
A popular campground at Lake Mendocino is open again. The Ky-en Campground has been closed for recreational camping for about five years, but the Army Corps of Engineers says work on the storm and fire-damaged infrastructure has been finished and that that area around the Lake is open for recreation. The site was last used in 2018 to house wildfire victims and has undergone several upgrades since the 2021 Hopkins Fire did significant damage. Work included new bridges on the popular Shakota trail, new shelters, and a new restroom. The website recreation.gov has information on the campsites and other federal land destinations around the state and around the country.
Tribal Leaders will travel to Sacramento next week for a hearing about an audit that found the California State University system is dragging its feet in repatriating hundreds of sets of remains and artifacts it has collected for decades. That audit, out in June, said the system has given back just a fraction of those items and that many Cal State campuses lack the resources to finish the work. The tribes say the school violates federal and state laws about handling culturally significant Native American objects. The tribes say they are frustrated because 12 of the 21 state schools with collections have not finished mandated reviews, while 16 campuses have little or no repatriation activities. Tuesday’s legislative committee meeting will include school officials who will give an update on the returns.
It is almost time again for a Lake County tradition. The Lake County Fair is set to open next Thursday, through September 3rd. The fairgrounds in Lakeport will be alive with all of your fair favorites, including nightly grandstand shows at 8 p.m., rides, contests, and of course, food. The fair website has tickets and other information.
