California’s school superintendent is supporting no phones in class. Tony Thurmond says excessive smartphone use has a negative impact on kids. He echoed Governor Newsom’s push yesterday for all schools to immediately ban the devices as a way to avoid learning distractions and free students from the pressures of social media. Several schools in the state already have those restrictions in place. Some families have even pledged not to give their children a cell phone at all until at least eighth grade.
There’s a renewed push to let some California criminals out early. A bill brought back into the Assembly aims to give those serving life without parole a second chance at freedom. They would be allowed to reduce their time if they’ve been behind bars since June of 1990, or for 25 years. The bill doesn’t call for an automatic release, inmates still have to go through all the steps to get several hearings. It could be up for debate within two weeks.
A tiny home builder in California is leaving customers with a huge problem. They prepaid to add an accessory dwelling unit to their property, but the company just shut down. Many now have ADUs half built or barely started. The CEO of Anchored Tiny Homes admits they grew too fast and took on too much debt. He says it’s “too late for reorganization” and they’re now exploring bankruptcy. The Contractors State License Board is investigating.
A 20-billion-dollar bond measure aimed at increasing the housing stock in all nine Bay Area counties could be pulled from the November ballot. The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority approved the measure in June. The governmental body will have a special meeting this morning, where it will consider pulling the bond measure off the ballot. Officials are citing legal issues, uncertain voter support and timing. The measure would need a two-thirds majority vote to pass. A poll taken in June found 55 percent of voters were in favor of the measure, which is below the threshold needed for it to pass.
A historic drive-in restaurant in Cloverdale, one of the oldest of its kind left in California, is up for sale. Pick’s Drive-In will stay open until the owners find the right buyer. Ownership last changed hands in 2021. Nicole Hinchliffe, who owns Pick’s with her husband, says family, along with their mental and physical health, factored into the decision to sell. Pick’s Drive-In first opened in 1923 as the Reed and Bell Root Beer Stand.
A man was arrested after Ukiah Police discovered an improvised explosive device while searching a tent. It was around 3am on Saturday when the UPD officer was doing a routine security check along Airport Park Boulevard when he found a tent behind a large wooden sign. The tent was in an area near the Sourdough Bread Company. The officer found a man inside the tent, identified as Kenneth Lindaas, a convicted felon with several open warrants. During a search, UPD turned up a homemade explosive device, a loaded flare gun, pepper spray, ninja stars, and suspected methamphetamine. The Sonoma County Bomb Squad responded to the scene to safely detonate the device. Lindaas was taken to the Mendocino County Jail and booked on several counts including his outstanding warrants.
A Fort Bragg sting led to a large seizure of cocaine. Fort Bragg police got a tip that someone was selling cocaine on Minnesota Avenue, and when they investigated, they found enough evidence to request a search warrant. The property was searched just before 8am on August 7th and Mendo Fever dot com reports officers found over 22 thousand dollars in cash and cocaine that was packaged for sale. Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force was called in to assist. There were two people in the home at the time of the search. A woman was questioned and released. Christopher Moran, of Fort Bragg, was arrested and taken to Mendocino County Jail on a felony charge of possession of Narcotics with intent to sell.
The Park Fire is now 40% contained. CalFire says evacuation orders and warnings are still in effect for some parts of Tehama, Plumas, and Shasta Counties. In other areas, people are being allowed to return to their homes. The fire has been burning for three weeks now and has destroyed over 429 thousand acres in 4 counties. Field damage inspections are ongoing. You can get the latest updates and see structure status maps at Fire.CA.gov
The Reservoir fire in Lake County is now 75% contained. Burning since Monday afternoon, the fire has covered 68 acres just southeast of Indian Valley Reservoir. CalFire says there are no reports of structures being damaged, or anyone being injured. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
