Caltrans is asking for the public’s assistance following a series of illegal hazardous material dumping along the 101 in Mendocino County.Earlier this week, the CHP, the Mendocino County Environmental Health Department, and Redwood Empire Hazmat Incident Response, worked together to remove 19 barrels containing hazardous waste from an embankment south of Leggett near the Empire Rest Area. The cleanup and disposal cost is pegged at $30,000. Officials say the materials were only 10 feet away from dropping over a cliff right into the creek, which would have been disastrous.The string of incidents began in November with illegal dumping occurring twice in Hopland, again last month in Laytonville near the Shamrock Ranch, and most recently at this location.
The Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) says they’re expanding opportunities for locals to enter the healthcare field. MCOE has launched a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program this summer, which is designed for students 16 years and older, it’s free, offered through June 2026, and is funded by a Healthcare Career Pathway grant from Empowered Aging. The class includes 85 hours of in-class instruction and 100 hours of clinical experience, in conjunction with local facilities. The program is in partnership with Ukiah Unified School District, while also running a summer cohort open to Mendocino County adults. It joins MCOE’s existing Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Phlebotomy courses as part of the agency’s broader Medical Pathways initiative.
The National Day of Prayer in 2025 is next Thursday, May 1 at noon for an hour in front of the Mendocino County Courthouse. The two main speakers are pastors Joe and Aaron Donnell. The free event is sponsored by Body Builders. You should know that the National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Truman. The president is required by law to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
The city of Ukiah recently approved a permit requested for a Habit Burger & Grill restaurant to operate out of the old Denny’s location on Pomeroy Street. The minor site development permit for the project was approved by Craig Schlatter, who also serves as the city’s director of Community Development. The Ukiah Daily Journal says city staff did acknowledge that at least two public comments came in just before the public hearing: One appeared in support of the new restaurant, while the other comment expressed concern about how it would affect traffic in the area. You should know that the entrance to the former Denny’s parking lot is very close to one of the busiest intersections in Ukiah. However, Senior City Planner Jess Davis says that the applicant modified the project to address concerns.
Ukiah Unified School District (UUSD) says they’ve appointed four new leaders to vital positions within the district. Angela O’Donnell, Jessica Hernandez, Kim Barden and James Snyder. O’Donnell joins UUSD as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Hernandez has been named the new Principal at Calpella Elementary School. Barden joins the district as Coordinator of Educational Programs, Special Education and Snyder has been named the new Director of Educational Programs at the District Service Center. The Ukiah Daily News says all four come with great leadership experience and will move forward the district’s goal of preparing all students for future success.
The Middletown Unified teachers union says its members are ready to strike. Earlier this week, the Middletown Teachers Association, or MTA, announced that its membership overwhelmingly voted to authorize a potential strike. Lake County News reports that the union says there’s a lack of transparency and communication that makes it harder for teachers to serve their most vulnerable students, as well as issues with compensation, both for multilingual teachers and cost of living adjustments for everyone else. Jeff Crane, Middletown Unified Superintendent says a bargaining session between the district and union is set for May 2 and they’re optimistic they can find middle ground.
