Today is International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day. Agencies in Lake County marked the event with proclamations and information sessions. Mendocino County held an event yesterday at Adventist Ukiah with a “Day of Remembrance and Hope.” Both counties have been combating the opioid epidemic with harm reduction resources, naloxone, or Narcan information and supplies, behavioral health support centers and more.
The Mendocino County Air Quality Management District is urging residents to be alert to changing air quality numbers today. Through the weekend, air quality should improve with increased ventilation and a chance of rain. However, fire weather conditions with persistent high pressure may bring those unhealthy skies back with smoke accumulation to valley areas. Today, MendoAir.org shows levels are good to unhealthy for sensitive groups, with some coastal areas reaching unhealthy levels. Current wildfires in the north are at low levels of containment that are contributing to smoke in our area.
The super blue moon shone orange last night, and will again tonight over northern California. Smoky skies were reflected in the bright orange moon due to fires in the north. Tonight, you can catch a glimpse as the moonrise starts a little after 8pm, according to MendoFever. It will be the last super full and blue moon combo until 2037.
Tomorrow is the First Friday Art Walk and in Ukiah, the Grace Hudson Museum is participating with live music and the exhibit “Something’s Happening Here: Artistic Reflections on the Back to the Land Movement.” Art Center Ukiah is also prepping for tomorrow with their “Quick Draw” artists. The artists have been practicing and are ready to create quickly tomorrow. Live music is on tap as well. Art Center Ukiah and the Grace Hudson Museum will be open for the Art Walk 5-8pm tomorrow night.
California State Parks are giving day-use access to more residents through their Golden Bear Pass program. In a release issued in KymKemp, the state announced the expansion to include those in California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The day-use access pass applies to over 200 parks in the state. The Golden Bear Pass is also going to residents who are on Social Security, CalWORKS recipients, and income-eligible residents over 62 years old. Equitable access to California’s state park system is one of the California’s First Lady Jennifer Newsom’s focus. The pass will go toward low-income Native families and more for valuable time in California’s natural wonders.
The Mendocino Board of Supervisors met this week and decided against a staff recommendation to disband the Municipal Advisory Councils. However, MendoFever reports the County Climate Action Advisory Committee and the Public Safety Advisory Board may be cut, along with some other groups formed years ago, but whose power has waned. County staff estimates dissolving the groups could save nearly a million dollars in General Funds. The county is continuing to account for the costs of councils and committees as they work on the fiscal impacts. Mendocino has six Municipal Advisory Councils, or MACs throughout the County. Council members were upset it was the first time they’d head about cutting out their groups. They say there are much greater costs to consider that aren’t on the agenda. Next month, more recommendations will be brought forward as the board looks at an 8-10 million dollar budget deficit.
The Arts Council of Mendocino County is looking for nominations for the Art Champion Awards. They made the announcement in MendoVoice, looking to the community to nominate an Artist Champion, Educational Champion, Business Champion for the Arts and Individual Champion for the Arts. Their 20th Annual Mendocino County Art Champion Awards will be presented by the Board of Supervisors in October. To make a nomination head to artsmendocino.org.
Northern California may have a dryer and warmer than normal winter ahead, due to El Nino. The Sac Bee reports weather professionals are saying the weather phenomenon is unpredictable, but the odds are another rainy winter is on tap. El Nino may shift storm tracks to the south. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting that Southern California will likely get more rain. In a Climate Prediction Center forecast released this month, they’re calling for above normal temperatures.
Magic mushrooms may be on the way to being legal in California. The fungus and other psychedelics are trending nationwide for mental health benefits. Cal Matters reports more and more research is coming to light aimed at using them as a tool to help heal those dealing with various mental illnesses. There is a lot of promising information on some psychedelic assisted therapies for PTSD, depression and other mental health issues. A bill to decriminalize plant based psychedelics will be tested in a hearing this week. Senate Bill 58 would halt arrests of people who have some psychedelics, but would not legalize their sales. Advocates say decriminalization promotes responsible use. The USDA has not approved the psychedelics but billions are being spent on research and development.
The first red flag warning of the year this week in Northern California is prompting the state to mobilize firefight resources. The governor’s office reports all Cal Fire units are already at peak staffing along with the worlds largest air resource fire fighting fleet, according to Lake County News. Though the red flag warning this week has passed, forecasters with the National Weather Service are looking at tomorrow night with windy conditions and thunderstorms predicted for Saturday. Governor Newsom announced the state is using AI tech to fight fires faster and smarter. CalFire’s pilot program using AI monitors is in place and can issue alerts if dangers are detected.
A bill will be heard in the State Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow that would stop requiring youths convicted of a crime to pay restitution and change how victims are made whole. Assembly Bill 1186 would instead make those crime survivors eligible for financial assistance through the California Victims Compensation Board. Counties have only been able to collect on 20 percent of the restitution orders since 2010. According to the California News Service, youths would still be held accountable, and could be ordered to take part in restorative-justice programs that involve community service, skill-building programs and job opportunities. The California District Attorneys Association opposes the bill, worrying that some victims would lose access to restitution because not all crimes qualify via the Victims Compensation Board.
Any Positive Change is working in Lake County to focus on California Syringe Exchange Programs. As today marks International Overdose Death Awareness Day, the program aims to change the narrative and cheer on first responders in saving lives. In a release in Lake County News, the syringe program is joining others in California today with memorials and gatherings. Instead of looking down on addicts, the program wants to highlight those individuals who take care of each other. They mention nearly 40,000 overdoses that were reversed over the past three years. The program says funding harm reduction programs has real health benefits to the public. More and more people are using naloxone, or NarCan, provided by mental health programs statewide. Any Positive Change has been serving in Lake County for over 25 years, but was recently transitioned to a state authorized program.
In the waning days of the legislative session in Sacramento, climate change groups are promoting two bills that would smooth the way for offshore wind energy. Assembly Bill 3 would require the state to study improvements to port infrastructure to move power into the grid. AB 80 would research impacts on the ocean ecosystem. An official with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute says offshore wind will help California become energy independent. California News Service reports Plans are in motion to put floating platforms the size of the Eiffel Tower in federal waters about 25 miles off the towns of Morro Bay and Humboldt, where winds blow almost around the clock.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife are reporting four new packs of wolves in the state. Lake County News reports there are currently eight wolf packs that’ve made California their home since 2015. The four new packs are confirming scientist’s predictions that the state has a habitat that is sustainable for the k9s. The latest pack found last month in Giant Sequoia National Monument Park is made up of a mother wolf and three pups. The adult wolf female came from Oregon’s Rogue Pack with the father of her babies from the Lassen Pack. It’s the southern most spot in the state to confirm the new pack. The gray wolf is native to the state but was nearly extinct 100 years ago. The Federal Endangered Species Act is protecting the wolves
Hunting season is here, and tomorrow is California’s dove season start. The Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a release in MendoFever announcing the season that will run through September 15th. It’s the first of bird hunting season to open with quail, pheasant, turkey and others with seasons continuing through the end of the year. The department wants to remind hunters to get in education requirements. The dove opener brings in hunting tourism, with the 1st of September being one of the busiest days for the sport. Wildlife officers will be patrolling and check in on hunters statewide. Wildlife hunting areas and seasonal information is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
Mendocino College is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Exhibit. Next Thursday, September 7th from 4-6pm the college is hosting a reception for the community. It’s a closing reception for an exhibition that has featured the history of the area. The Anniversary Gallery Exhibit includes photos, artifacts and documents that show the evolution of Mendocino College over the last 50 years. The community, alumni, students, staff and more are invited to the event at the Mendocino College Gallery in Ukiah.
California Highway Patrol will be doing a Maximum Enforcement Period this Labor Day weekend. The enforcement will begin Friday at 6pm and continue through midnight on Monday, September 4th. Law enforcement will be looking for traffic violations and helping drivers. They will be working to arrest drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic deaths and injury. Last year CHP officers made over 900 DUI arrests in the state along with 5,700 speeding tickets. Labor Day of 2022 saw 52 people killed in crashes on California’s roadways.
