Three people are injured after an ATV crash northeast of Cloverdale. A 17-year-old boy suffered the most serious injuries on Saturday night. He was airlifted to a hospital in Santa Rosa with a back injury after being thrown from the ATV. Two men were also hurt but only suffered scrapes, bumps and bruises. The crash happened in an area known as Panther Rock Ranch. The California Highway Patrol says a total of five people were involved.
A Democratic California State Senator is joining the Republican Party. Marie Alvarado-Gil announced her party affiliation change on Thursday, saying the current Democratic party “is not the party that I signed up for decades ago.” This is the first time in 80 years that a Democratic lawmaker has switched mid-term. Alvarado-Gil represents Senate District 4, which encompasses parts of several counties in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills. State Democrats still have a super-majority in the Senate, holding 31 out of 40 seats.
July was the hottest month ever recorded in California. That’s according to recent numbers from the National Centers for Environmental Information, which found that the average temperature in the Golden State last month was 81-point-seven degrees. That’s the first time an entire month averaged over 80 degrees. The National Centers for Environmental Information’s data traces back as far as 1895.
A California man who assaulted several police officers during the attack on the U.S. Capitol will serve prison time. On Friday, David Dempsey was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the second-longest sentence for a defendant convicted in connection with the Capitol riot. Federal prosecutors asked for more than 21 years for Dempsey, arguing he “viciously” assaulted law enforcement officers at the Lower West tunnel of the Capitol. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to assaulting officers with pepper spray, flag poles, and broken pieces of furniture.
California is showing off a new fleet of electric trains. They’re faster, quieter and more spacious. Governor Newsom joined other state leaders in San Francisco Saturday for the first ride. He says the Caltrain project is an integral part of high-speed rail while former House speaker Nancy Pelosi calls it a model to the nation. The 51-mile stretch of electrified tracks is also expected to carry bullet trains from the Central Valley to the Bay Area.
Some progress was made over the weekend to contain the Park Fire. The fire that’s been burning since July 24th is now 38% contained, according to CalFire. The largest fire this year has claimed just over 429-thousand acres so far. As it covers 4 counties, the Park Fire has destroyed 641 structures, and damaged another 52. CalFire said in its latest update that cooler temperatures today could help with suppression efforts, but they may be accompanied by gusty winds. A Chico man, Ronnie Stout, has been arrested for arson in connection to the fire.
Mendocino County just received a $2.4 million grant from FEMA to support wildfire preparedness efforts. The funding is part of a $50 million project that will help create defensible space, reduce hazardous fuels, and retrofit homes with fire-resistant materials. The initial phase, which includes planning and mapping, will continue until 2026. The county’s Prevention, Recovery, Resilience, and Mitigation Division says they want community input on the project and encourage residents to come to community meetings and forums.
As the school year begins, kids will be bringing home lots of germs that can cause illnesses like the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and more. Lake Co News reports COVID-19 infections are rising in the state thanks to new variants and relaxed isolation guidelines, and they say schools are likely to see an increase in cases this fall. Proper hygiene, like covering coughs and sneezes, handwashing, and vaccinations, is crucial to minimize the spread. Keeping sick children at home is ultimately the best way to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses. You should keep your child at home if they are running a fever, vomiting or have diarrhea. Experts say keep them home until they’re fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
