Cal-Fire puts the Medicine Fire near Coveloat 75 percent contained nearly a week after it started. Crews have spent the day mitigating hot spots and strengthening perimeter lines as they work to get full containment of the 262 acres. The fire was reported last Sunday, the cause is still under investigation. Forecasters predict no increased fire risk through the weekend.
The Lake County School District confirms it is getting its share of millions of dollars withheld by the US Department of Education at the end of June. It means the district won’t have to replace the 1.2 million it had been counting on as the school year approached. The money will continue to fund programs amounting to more than 16 percent of the school district budget. Officials had predicted serious cuts if the money weren’t freed up soon. California and 23 other states had sued over withholding. AG Rob Bonta says his office will watch closely to make sure all allocated money gets to the districts as planned.
Lake County is dealing with the loss of funding for a program officials say is critical to keep invasive Zebra Mussels out of Clearlake. The state has denied Lake County’s application for the Clear Lake Mussel prevention project because of a clerical error. Now, the board has contacted the governor and other state officials and hired a lobbying firm to try to get the $400,00 put back. The county has received the money for the past seven years/ Without it, officials say the risk from the Zebra Mussels will increase substantially, which could lead to devastating consequences to the environment and the economy. The mussels destroy native habitat, disrupt fishing, and block intakes for municipal water systems. The money has been spent in the past to monitor for the pests, and has so far been successful.
