There are new details this morning on that Motel 6 shooting in Ukiah we told you about yesterday. Deputies have identified 36-year-old Michael France as the man arrested last week at Lake County Superior Court after investigators linked him to the September 9 robbery and gunfire. Evidence from the motel and surveillance video backed up victim accounts, including one man treated for a gunshot wound to his hand. France is locked up on nearly $800,000 bail, accused of attempted murder, robbery, and assault with a firearm.
Two people are recovering after being shot Monday night in Clearlake. Police say the victims were found in the back parking lot of WestAmerica Bank on Lakeshore Drive around 8 p.m., both hit in the legs. Medics rushed them to Adventist Health Clear Lake, and from there they were flown out by air ambulance to regional trauma centers. Detectives are still sorting out what happened and haven’t said anything yet about possible suspects.
We now know the name of the man killed in a Lower Lake home invasion last week. The sheriff’s office says 25-year-old Luis Padilla Pina was found dead inside a house on South State Highway 29 early Friday morning. Detectives have ruled it a homicide but say it appears to be an isolated case between people who knew each other. The investigation is still underway, and deputies are asking anyone with tips to call 707-263-2690.
Fishermen are getting the green light to go after quillback rockfish again off California’s coast. The ban was lifted last week after fresh data showed the population bouncing back faster than expected. Just two years ago, the species was considered overfished, with numbers at only 14 percent of normal levels. NOAA says better data and teamwork between scientists and the fishing industry made the difference.
Lake County leaders say PG&E’s plan to tear down the Potter Valley Project dams is reckless, and now there’s a new state reports to back them up. On Monday, the county revealed documents from the Department of Water Resources showing Scott Dam and other structures are safe for continued operation, despite PG&E’s warnings about seismic risks. Officials argue losing Lake Pillsbury would cripple water supplies needed for farming, fire suppression, and local communities. PG&E insists the project is just too costly to keep, and federal regulators will make the final call.
Deputies say they’ve caught two men accused of a brutal home invasion in Sonoma. Investigators arrested 20-year-old Hugo Matamoros-Acosta of Hidden Valley Lake and 22-year-old Sincere Rush Tanner of Santa Rosa after tracking them to Twin Pine Casino. The suspects are accused of storming a home on Wood Valley Road September 12, tying up three victims, two of them elderly, and injuring one by hitting them over the head. Both men are facing a long list of charges and remain locked up on bail set at more than a million dollars each.
Fort Bragg is bringing in a new face to lead its police department, at least for now. Eric Swift takes over as interim chief October 1, bringing two decades of experience from Napa County, Santa Rosa, and beyond. The city says he’ll emphasize transparency and community-focused policing while the hunt begins for a permanent chief. Locals can weigh in at a community town hall on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall on North Main Street.
Fort Bragg Police want the public’s help identifying a prowler seen the night of September 20 in the 200 block of East Oak Street. Investigators say the man ran off when spotted, and was wearing blue and white jeans, black shoes, and a black hoodie pulled up. The video is at the Fort Bragg Police Facebook page and if you recognize him, you can contact dispatch at 964-0200 anytime. Police have also opened a digital evidence portal where neighbors can share security video or photos from that night.
California’s legal cannabis industry just got some breathing room. On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 564, a bill that scraps a 25 percent tax increase and sets the excise tax at 15 percent through 2028. Newsom says the change is about helping the legal market grow while keeping consumers safe and businesses alive. At the same time, the state says it will keep cracking down on illegal growers and sellers using tax dollars already in place.
California just moved closer to offering reparations, with lawmakers passing Assembly Bill 62. The proposal would let people who lost homes or businesses because of government racial discrimination finally seek compensation. Backers point to examples like Germany’s payments to Holocaust survivors and say the bill is about restoring dignity as much as money. It’s now on Governor Newsom’s desk, but he vetoed a similar effort last year.
