California is releasing new numbers on the statewide crackdown on retail crime. Governor Newsom and the CHP report nearly 500 arrests and the recovery of more than 160-thousand stolen goods in just three months. Since January, the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has conducted 185 investigations leading to 474 arrests and more than four-million dollars’ worth of goods recovered. In a statement, Newsom thanked local police, sheriffs and DA’s for helping “shut the door on this unacceptable crime.” California has invested over a billion dollars since 2019 to fight crime and improve public safety.
According to a new survey, a majority of California workers say they are happy to be back in the office. The survey by Wealth of Geeks reveals over half of those surveyed say they value face-to-face conversations. Connections during team lunches or happy hours were reportedly missed the most about the office. And, 1 in 5 respondents revealed some time and space away from their partner brings them joy. When asked to rate their happiness, the average California employee who is back in the office full-time rates their work happiness a 7 out of 10.
Do you have a poem in your pocket? In celebration of National Poetry Month, today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. If your pocket is empty, you can write one yourself, or pick up a Pocket Poem from any branch of the Lake County Library today. Once your pocket is full of poems, you’re encouraged to share them on socials using the hashtag Pocket Poem, read your poem to friends and family, post it somewhere at your workplace, and make sure you share it with the Lake County Poet Laureate Facebook and Instagram pages. If you haven’t met the new Poet Laureate yet, Brenda Yeager will be appearing at the Lakeport Library this Saturday at 3pm along with other special guests in honor of National Poetry Month and Earth Day.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors did not have a meeting this week. They’ll reconvene on Tuesday, April 23rd at 9am in the Board Chambers, Room 10-70 at the County Administration Building. We’ll keep you posted on agenda items as soon as they’re released. In the meantime, check Mendocino County dot GOV for updates.
A Fort Bragg man was arrested for brandishing an illegal firearm. On Monday, Fort Bragg PD responded to a report of a verbal disturbance just after 11pm. They found Elijah Zapata of Santa Rosa, and he ran. Officers chased him and were able to catch and arrest him. A witness at the scene said Zapata had threatened him with a gun. When officers searched the area they found an unregistered, unloaded revolver. According to the police report, no one was injured. Zapata was released on his own recognizance.
More than two dozen Google employees have been fired following sit-in protests over a project involving the company and the Israeli government. According to an internal memo, the employees took over office spaces in various Google locations and defaced property. The employees protested Google’s involvement with the one-point-two-billion-dollar Project Nimbus, a cloud computing project with Israel’s government and military.
An effort to protect California’s most vulnerable kids is moving forward. Lawmakers approved harsher penalties this week for people trying to pay for sex with children. But instead of starting at 17-years-old, they changed it to 15 and under. The bill would make solicitation a felony instead of the current misdemeanor, meaning at least two years behind bars and double the fine. The amended bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
There’s no end in sight to California’s insurance crisis. Two more companies are leaving nearly 13 thousand people without coverage. Tokio Marine America Insurance and Trans Pacific Insurance say they will send out non-renewal notices starting July 1st. Both plan to withdraw from the homeowners and personal insurance markets in the state, but didn’t say why. Most other companies have cited the risk of wildfires.
Make way for banana slugs. That could be California’s next state slug. An assembly bill passed this week with the UC Santa Cruz mascot showing support in person. Sammy the Banana Slug has been cheering on athletes for 38 years after students voted for it in 1986. The bill now goes to the Senate and will head to the governor’s desk if it passes. California has more than 40 state symbols such as the grizzly bear and golden poppy.
