Loitering near public restrooms in Lakeport is now against the law. The City council has passed an ordinance aimed at cutting down on the increasing complaints over the last 18 months of people just hanging out around those spots. The ordinance bans people from loitering within 15 feet and intentionally blocking entrances and exits. Violators would be told to leave and not come back for 72 hours. According to the Lake County News, Chief Dale Strobe says while he doesn’t have statistics, his personal experience backs up his belief that loitering is a problem. He says he’s been on at least 5 restroom loitering calls recently, more than he had been to in the past ten years total. Of those recent encounters, the chief told the council that the loiterers were more aggressive than in the past as well. Police say they won’t use the new rule to target anyone in particular, but rather as a tool to make the restroom areas safe and available for everyone.
A no-contest plea for a man accused of having 65 grams of suspected fentanyl when he was pulled over last year in Clearlake. Anthony Holloman of Clearlake was stopped for doing 81 in a 55-mile-an-hour zone on Highway 53 last August, in a car that n had been reported stolen in Yolo County. The Record Bee reports Holloman agreed there is enough evidence to convict him of drug possession with intent to sell—without admitting the crime itself. Other charges, including possession of stolen property, were dropped. Holloman will be sentenced in Lake County Superior Court later this month.
The Lake County Sheriff’s office is investigating after several reports of vandalism in Lucerne. The reports of smashed mailboxes and damaged vehicles came in late Sunday and early Monday from an area around Plaza Terrace. Deputies know of about 5 cases and think that underage criminals are likely to blame. Investigators are going through neighborhood doorbell camera videos, so if you have any you’d like to share, you can contact the sheriff’s office.
A group that supports the solar power industry is slamming the California Public Utilities Commission before a state senate committee hearing about high electric rates. The California Solar and Storage Association says the PUC is wrongly blaming rooftop solar users for higher bills. The group says there is no evidence that solar users contribute to higher rates and that the PUC is ignoring utility spending as a reason you’re paying more to keep the lights on. The CSSA claims energy costs have soared because the PUC allows utilities a 10 percent profit margin for every dollar spent, costing consumers millions. The Senate oversight committee wants to determine if the PUC is doing enough to get electric rates under control.
