As if California’s gas prices aren’t high enough, drivers could end up paying double for their car insurance. This is one of three states where prices are projected to increase this year. The company Insurify predicts rates will soar 54% before December. They blame damage from severe storms and wildfires. Fourteen states are currently paying more for full coverage with Maryland the highest at $3,400 a year.
The most visited national park in California is deciding whether to make reservations permanent. Yosemite may keep the system during peak hours, but is asking for feedback first. This is the chance for visitors to offer other ideas. The park superintendent says they want everyone to enjoy the park and stay safe, and not suffer through endless traffic jams and long waits. Public comments will be accepted through the end of September.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is searching for additional victims after the arrest of a convicted child sex offender. Scott Bartholomew Prange, a Tier 3 sex offender, reportedly has a history of fleeing and possessing child sexual abuse material. He was arrested in February while trying to buy a ring for a 15-year-old girl. Investigators have uncovered thousands of inappropriate videos and believe there may be more victims. Authorities are investigating Prange’s connections across several counties and states as they continue their search.
A 20-billion-dollar bond measure aimed at increasing the housing stock in all nine Bay Area counties will not appear on the November ballot after all. On Wednesday, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority voted unanimously in favor of pulling the measure. Officials say it was not on track to get the approval from two-thirds of voters, which it needed to pass. If it did pass, Sonoma County would have received $553 million to build more affordable housing.
Firefighters are making slow progress on the Park Fire. Today it is listed as 41% contained. The fire burning North of Chico is an arson fire that started on July 24th and remains the largest wildfire this year in the US. CalFire’s latest update said progress is ongoing but difficult in some areas due to the terrain and heavy vegetation.
Two people were arrested in Ukiah after being found in a stolen vehicle. UPD picked up the pair while on patrol August 7th in the Kohl’s parking lot on North Orchard Avenue. Lane Johnson, of Crescent City and Hanna Fierro-McGarry, of Oregon were found sitting in a vehicle that had old dealer plates on the bumpers. When officers ran the plates, they found the vehicle had been reported stolen in Redding. Fierro-McGarry was arrested at the scene. They tried to detain Johnson, but he ran. Officers were able to catch him a short time later and he was arrested. When UPD searched the vehicle, they reportedly found multiple social security cards and a BB gun. Johnson was also searched and found to be carrying methamphetamine. Both suspects were taken to Mendocino County Jail and now face several charges including identity theft, conspiracy, resisting arrest, and possession of a controlled substance.
The California Public Utilities Commission has announced another round of grant money is being awarded from the 2 billion dollar Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. According to a press release, the money will be used to bring broadband internet access to rural and low income communities in California. Mendocino County will receive part of $91 million in grant funding for ongoing projects in the cities of Ukiah and Fort Bragg.
Bower Park in Gualala has fully reopened after a tree removal project. Mendo Voice dot com reports that part of the park shut down in 2022 because of several trees that were seen as hazardous. Those trees have since been removed by the county, according to a news release. The release also said a new project to renovate the park has been approved and will be funded by just over $2 million that has been secured by State Assemblyman Jim Wood.
A group of people managed to put out a vehicle fire last night in Willits. Mendo Fever dot com reports the vehicle burst into flames in the Brooktrails subdivision around 6:30pm. The car was burning on Tulip Place, and quick thinking residents grabbed their garden hoses to try and keep the fire from spreading to nearby vegetation. Once Willits and Brooktrails firefighters got to the scene, the fire was put out in about 10 minutes. No one was injured by the fire.
