We’re looking at a lot of rain over the next several days. The National Weather Service says we could get about three to four inches over the next few days and will likely have snow at the higher elevations. Forecasters will be watching some of the rivers for potential flooding. They say the heaviest rain will be today and tomorrow but it’s set to be with us through Tuesday so far. Lake County News cites the California Nevada River Forecast Center saying the rain could double Cache Creek’s flow and raise the level of Clear Lake by several inches.
There’s going to be a one month pause in the hearing over whether suspended Mendocino County Auditor Chamise Cubbison and former Payroll Manager Paula Kennedy will go on trial for felony misappropriation of public funds. Following five days of testimony so far, the judge announced late Wednesday that due to court scheduling conflicts for a couple of people involved in the case, including the judge, the hearing will not restart until February 24. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the case has already been delayed for 16 months just to get to this hearing, and once it’s over it could take the judge a month to decide if there will be a trial. The DA alleges Kennedy illegally paid herself overtime for extra work done during the pandemic and that Cubbison authorized it. Cubbison says the previous auditor approved it and she was the one who flagged it.
The CHP is investigating a Wednesday crash near Clearlake Oaks in which someone was killed. CHP officers were called to help Lake County deputies who were investigating a missing persons case and found a car down a steep embankment on High Valley Road near Valley Oak Drive. The missing person was reportedly found dead near the vehicle. No names have been released as the family is still being notified.
A new type of organized housing for transients is going to be discussed by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors next month. In a press release Thursday the Department of Planning and Building Services says at the February 11 Supervisors meeting they will talk about what they call Low Intensity Camping which they say would allow for a limited number of short-term commercial campsites on properties within the Inland areas of the County. Supervisors meetings are open to the public and you can also watch on Zoom or a live stream on the Mendocino County YouTube page. Check the County website to see how you can add comments and questions.
A group of state legislators including Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire have issued a statement saying they plan to hold a legislative hearing on the massive program cuts at Sonoma State University. The Press Democrat reports the statement came out after school administrators wrapped up a virtual town hall yesterday for the SSU community. About 1400 students and staff crammed into Seawolf Plaza to watch the town hall on big screens with officials saying there were another 1400 watching from home. Last week SSU announced it was ending several majors, cutting all sports and letting go of a lot of faculty and staff to meet a nearly $24 million shortfall. The legislators said in the statement they plan to conduct in-person meetings with SSU leadership and expressed criticism with the way they’ve handled the announcements.
