Superior Court Judge Ann Moorman has denied Mendocino County’s request to move Auditor Chamise Cubbison’s civil lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors to another venue, despite claims of local media bias. Moorman dismissed criticism from county attorneys and a San Francisco law firm about local judicial impartiality, asserting that decisions are based solely on court records and not public opinion. Mendofever is reporting that the case will remain in Moorman’s courtroom, with additional legal briefings set for August.
As of yesterday morning at 8, Cal Fire suspended residential burn permits in Mendocino County due to increased wildfire risk from drying vegetation caused by warm temperatures and winds. The ban covers the burning of landscape debris in Cal Fire’s State Responsibility Area. The Mendocino Voice says the agency has already responded to nearly 2,700 wildfires statewide since January 1. Cal Fire also encourages residents to maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around homes and buildings.
The Fort Bragg Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who broke into a home on South Harrison Street and sexually assaulted a resident around 3 Saturday morning. The suspect, described as an adult male wearing a neck-gaiter mask, hooded sweatshirt, and leggings, was last seen between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m. near South Harrison and Hazel streets. The Ukiah Daily Journal says police are asking residents in the area with security cameras to go over their surveillance footage from 1:30 to 3:30 a.m. Saturday, and submit anything you think could be relevant to this case on the community portal.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will consider ending its tax-sharing agreement with the cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena at its meeting later this morning. The proposed termination, which is sponsored by Supervisor Ted Williams, is due to fiscal concerns and the impact of a proposed annexation on the county’s ability to provide essential public services. If approved, the board would notify the Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission that the annexation poses a significant risk to mandated public protection services. The Ukiah Daily Journal says today’s meeting begins at 9 in person at the Board Chambers or on Zoom.
Trader Joe’s is issuing a recall of a popular item. The company issued an alert to customers across Northern California and Northern Nevada, warning that Face Rick Creamery’s Vampire Slayer Cheese Curds is potentially contaminated with Listeria. The CDC says the bacteria is known to cause listeriosis, an infection with symptoms like fever, headaches, confusion, seizures and is most likely to harm pregnant women, newborns and older adults. Trader Joe’s advises customers who purchased the cheese curds with a August 29th, 2025 Use By date to trash the product or take it back to the store for a full refund.
About two-thirds of California is facing dry conditions, with about a third of the state experiencing some level of drought. The most severe effects are felt in Southern California and the Central Valley. According to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor update, 62 percent of the state is classified as "abnormally dry," 39 percent under "moderate" drought, and 23 percent facing "severe" drought. Nearly six percent of the state is in extreme drought,
Firefighters quickly contained a vegetation fire near the Ukiah Gun Club with an aerial attack involving two tankers and a helicopter. The fire began around 2 Sunday afternoon and prompted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office to warn residents to avoid the Vichy Springs area. The Ukiah Daily Journal says the blaze burned about an acre before forward progress was stopped. Also on Sunday, Cal Fire crews conducted a 23-acre prescribed burn at Lake Mendocino’s Coyote Valley Dam to help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with an annual dam inspection.
