A man was found dead Friday morning after deputies responded to a possible home invasion on South State Highway 29, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived around 7 a.m. and discovered an adult male inside the residence, who was pronounced deceased. His identity has not been released, and detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are investigating. Officials say there is no hazard to the public, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
California’s governor has chosen a new judge for Mendocino County. On Thursday, Gavin Newsom appointed FredRicco McCurry to the Superior Court, filling the spot left when Judge Jeannie Nadel retired last year. McCurry has been with the county’s public defender’s office since 2022 and previously ran a private practice for more than two decades. The Army veteran and Pepperdine law grad was one of 15 judges Newsom named across the state.
WalletHub just named Woodland Community College the best in California and the fourth-best in the country. The study ranked more than 650 schools, judging them on cost, education, and career results. Woodland didn’t take the top spot in any one category, but its steady performance across the board pushed it to the top in California. School officials say the honor reflects their commitment to keeping tuition affordable and helping students succeed.
A Rancho Cordova man known for stealing cars is headed back to prison after a court appearance in Mendocino County. Prosecutors say 46-year-old Peng Yang swiped a Sacramento mom’s Toyota Camry in July and was caught by CHP driving it north of Piercy. In court Friday, he was sentenced to four years for his fifth felony auto theft conviction and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. The DA says Yang should be paroled back to Sacramento County, where his long record of thefts began.
Deputies in Lake County are investigating a possible home invasion after finding a man dead inside a house Friday morning. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a call on South State Highway 29 around 7 a.m. and discovered the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified. Detectives are still working to determine how he died, but they say there’s no threat to the community. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office.
The Gray Whale Inn in Fort Bragg is making a comeback, thanks to new owners Natalie and Joe Dingman. The 1917 building, once the town’s first hospital, has been empty for years, but the couple is restoring its redwood doors, fireplaces, and even an old surgical lamp. Locals see it as more than a hotel, it’s a piece of town history, and city leaders say the project is key to downtown’s revival. The hope is the Gray Whale’s return will draw more visitors, keep them in town longer, and give Fort Bragg its own spotlight on the coast.
California’s governor just signed a new law making sure police and immigration agents can’t hide their faces. The “No Secret Police Act,” signed Saturday by Gavin Newsom, bans officers from wearing masks during operations and requires them to show clear identification like a badge or name tag. There are a few exceptions, such as undercover work, SWAT gear, or medical needs. Newsom also approved new rules restricting ICE from entering schools and hospitals without a warrant.
Governor Gavin Newsom is bringing back a plan to create “zone zero,” a fire-safety buffer around homes. The idea is to ban flammable plants and materials within five feet of houses, giving firefighters a better shot at slowing wildfires. Cities will be tasked with passing local rules, and while new homes must comply right away, existing homeowners will get three years to clear the area, with exceptions for mature trees. More than two million buildings are expected to be affected, and a draft of the rules will go before the state forestry board in November.
