The late US Senator Dianne Feinstein is laying in state at San Francisco’s City Hall today. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Feinstein’s daughter and granddaughter followed her flag draped casket. The Press Democrat reports she served as the city by the bay’s first female mayor and joined Barbara Boxer as the first women to represent California in the US Senate. A memorial service is set for tomorrow outside of City Hall with Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer scheduled to attend.
A Gale Warning is in effect until 11pm tonight. The National Weather Service is warning the seas will be 11-13 feet with north wind gusts up to 40 knots from Point Saint George to Cape Mendocino. Strong winds are making hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. Those on the water are urged to remain in port, seek safe harbor or alter course and secure your vessel for severe conditions.
Kaiser Permanente workers could walk off the job today. Negotiations between the institution and unions representing about 75,000 healthcare workers ended with non resolution yesterday. There are 1,800 Kaiser workers in Sonoma County who could start striking this morning. The Press Democrat reports the SEIU Healthcare Workers West said they are fully prepared to go on strike, but said that union negotiators are on standby. A key issue is labor shortages with staffing said to be inadequate jeopardizing patient safety. Kaiser officials say talks are ongoing as they reschedule non-emergency and elective surgeries and brin in temporary staff saying local hospitals and pharmacies will stay open. The unions say they’d like Kaiser to commit to a $25 minimum wage and more.
A Cobb man is facing attempted murder and assault charges and is slated for a jury trial next month. Hunter Toles appeared remotely at the Lake County Surperior Court. His trail was set for this month, until his attorney, Thomas Quinn requested a continuance with pretrial discovery issues. The charges come from an event in spring of last year, when Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to Rainbow Road on Cobb Mountain with a woman who had been shot. She was treated with a non life threatening gunshot wound and identified Toles as the suspect. The Record Bee reports he was found and taken into custody with bail set at over $3 million. His bail was reduced to $100,000 and agreed to stay away from the witness and be placed under the probation department control. Toles entered a not guilty plea to all counts and denied special allegations.
There will be a National Wireless Emergency Alert System test today. It’s part of a nationwide test by the FCC and FEMA and will affect cell phones, radio and television broadcasts at 11:20am. In a release issued in MendoVoice, FEMA authorities say it will be the third nationwide test, and second test to all cell devices. The agencies are coordinating to make sure that public safety is preserved in the case of an emergency, particularly on the national level. The alerts are made and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies in geo-targeted areas. You’ll hear the EAS test on the radio, and it will last about one minute.
Guest speaker Pamela Lee from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farm to School will speak at the Willits Economic Localizations’ Building Community series in an event this Sunday. The series includes a new $60 million grant program for schools, farmers, distributors and the community to improve kids’ health and local food systems in Willits. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the aim is to build support for programs including connecting local producers with school district buyers, boosting the local farm economy. The organization also wants to see kids more connected with food cultivation and nutrition topics. The event this Sunday is free but donations are encouraged at the Grange.
The Clearlake City Council is meeting tomorrow at 6pm in City Hall. The agenda includes discussing an increase of legal expenses as the city faces tribal lawsuits. The Council will also go over a proposed water rate increase. Lake County News reports the meeting tomorrow will begin with proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The council will consider doubling their legal expense budget to half a million to defend the city against lawsuits filed by the Koi nation. They’ll hear Golden State Water Company’s request for a 32-41 percent rate increase over a three year period. The council also is expected to award a nearly $600,000 contract for the Senior Center Kitchen Remodel Project.
Authorities are investigating an assault that severely injured a woman last month. Sunday, September 17th at around 4:40am, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a home on South Dora Street in Ukiah. There they found a 33 year old woman being treated by emergency responders for multiple severe injuries. Reportedly, her boyfriend, Larry Commander beat her with a pistol, threatening to kill her. In a release in KymKemp, Commander was arrested for the attack after a search that included a clinic in Ukiah where employees say he was acting highly unusual. Commander was found walking near the Pear Tree Shopping Center and was taken into custody. He is in jail being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Derek Cleek of Willits has been found guilty of four felonies and will be sentenced on Halloween in Mendocino County Superior Court. The county District Attorney posted on social media the outcome of the case; Cleek was charged with being a felon with a shotgun and ammo, having three destructive Molotov cocktails and more. In one hour, jurors deliberated yesterday and returned with the guilty verdicts. Based on his four convictions, his sentencing will be recommended by the Mendocino County Adult Probation Department. The new Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder presided over the court and will sentence Cleek at the end of the month.
The Ukiah City Council is approving the Redwood Credit Unions plans for a branch. In a special meeting Friday, MendoFever reports the council accepted the bank’s 7th draft for the new branch on Perkins and Main Streets. The latest plan includes a partial second floor with two small offices. With fierce opposition over subdividing the property and the decision on whether the bank will also have an ATM one councilmember said if they didn’t act on the latest plan, they’d send a signal to the greater community that Ukiah is not a place to waste your time. After over 3 hours, the council voted 3 to 2 to approve RCU’s final proposal.
There is more information to the PG&E assistance as part of the California Climate Credit to be distributed by the utility to over 5 million customers. The California Cap-and-Trade Program is creating the credit aimed at transitioning customers to a low-carbon future. Residential homes will get a credit of about $40 on their October bills. It is the same credit that was given in March this year. Lake County News reports residential households get the electric credit twice yearly and a natural gas credit issued once. PG&E is also providing more assistance with the California Alternate Rates for Energy Program with a discount of 20 percent or more monthly on gas and electricity.
Cal Fire is planning a public review of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest next week. There is a revised Forest Management Plan for the next decade. In a release in MendoFever, Cal Fire says the Jackson Advisory Group and the agency have been seeking public input over the last several months on modifications to the plan. They’ll go over tribal access and co-management, sustainable management and accelerated forest restoration. Public recreation and research are also objectives. During the meeting a week from Friday, they’ll present a road map for meeting goals and objectives in reducing fire risk, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration and more. The meeting is set for October 13th from 5 to 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Bragg. Public comment will be accepted until November 10th.
