Officials with Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport have had serious concerns about the conditions of the airport’s main runway. That’s according to internal emails obtained by the Press Democrat through the California Public Records Act. According to the emails, airport operations and safety employees have documented sinking and cracking pavement that has led to holes forming and water ponding on key parts of the runway. The emails also say the airport isn’t reporting all the issues through its official communications with pilots. Only a few parts of the main runway at the 85-year-old airport have been repaved since 2001. Sonoma County officials say a major re-pavement project likely won’t happen for at least another four years.
The Mendocino County Coroner’s Office has identified a 37-year-old woman who’s decomposing body was found in the Russian River two miles south of Ukiah. Investigators say Caitlin Bunger was a transient who was first reported missing six months ago. Officials say Bunger frequented the Perkins Street Bridge Area in Ukiah. Her body was found by a bodyboarder on March 24th. He was bodyboarding the river as a tribute to a relative who was also found dead in the water about a month ago.
The North Coast Wine Challenge starts today. During the next two days, 30 judges will take sips of 1,121 wines. It’s a blind taste test, meaning the wine bottles will be stripped of their labels, prices, and packaging. The wines being judged come from makers in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Solano Counties. This is now the 12th year of the wine challenge, and it’s happening at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds’ Showcase Café.
The California Natural Resources Agency will require 19,000 permanent state workers to head back to their offices or work in the field at least twice a week starting this spring. The agency cites the importance of in-person work for increasing collaboration, mentorship, and productivity. The agency says its review of national surveys and its own employees’ feedback show a strong preference for hybrid work and a greater work-life balance. Supervisors and managers will be required to report to their offices or work in the field at least twice a week starting on May 20th. Starting June 3rd all employees will have to be in the office or field two days a week. The mandate affects workers in eight departments including the Office of the Secretary, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Department of Water Resources.
The union representing many fast-food workers says restaurant owners can afford California’s new $20 an hour minimum wage. Ali Bustamante, with the Roosevelt Institute, spoke during a virtual press conference and said there’s no need to raise prices or lay off employees, as fast-food chains have warned they may do. He said wages have steadily increased in California, and fast-food profits are at record highs. Beginning this week, California’s mandatory minimum wage for fast-food workers is $20 per hour.
A man was injured when his car slid 30 feet down an embankment near Lakeport. It happened yesterday afternoon on State Route 175 between Hopland and Lakeport, according to reports. California Highway Patrol responded to the scene just after 5:30pm, they called in air support to help find the vehicle. Firefighters eventually spotted it upside down in a ravine about 30 feet down an embankment. The driver was able to get himself out of the vehicle and he was treated for injuries at the scene. Reports said the driver hydroplaned and lost control, causing the crash. CalTrans was able to bring the vehicle back up, and the roadway was re-opened just after 8pm.
Travel plans are being halted after a huge chunk of Highway 1 fell into the ocean from heavy weekend rains, trapping up to 16-hundred people in Big Sur. One lane has since reopened for evacuations and convoys will continue this morning. But all state parks along the 70-mile stretch of rugged coast are closed. Campers and visitors to parks in the area will be turned away. Reservations have been canceled and refunds are on the way. There’s still no timetable for reopening the highway.
There’s a new push to make California the first state with a “right to disconnect” law. It would let workers do just that when their shift is over. The bill allows them to ignore calls or text from colleagues or bosses after they leave the office. Public and private employers would have to clearly outline work hours and guarantee uninterrupted personal and family time outside of that. Exceptions include emergencies or scheduling purposes.
