A Ukiah High School campus security guard is off the job and facing charges after police say he assaulted a student. Investigators say 39-year-old Julian Williams of Redwood Valley opened a locked classroom door and physically attacked a 15-year-old boy this past Tuesday, though the teen wasn’t hurt. Williams was arrested for child abuse and battery and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on $25,000 bail. The school district says he was placed on leave right away and that they are cooperating with police.
Downtown Ukiah is going full “Wizard of Oz” this weekend for its annual PumpkinFest, themed “Pumpkins of Oz.” The fall favorite runs Saturday and Sunday with parades, contests, live music, and plenty of food and family fun. There’ll be a giant pumpkin weigh-off, scarecrow city, and even a 3 on 3 hoop tournament. Organizers say the event brings the whole community together for one colorful weekend downtown. The fun kicks off tomorrow with the PumpkinFest Parade at 10am starting on State Street and low gap road.
A scary discovery north of Willits Thursday sent deputies and a bomb squad to a home in Brooktrails after a woman found what looked like an old stick of dynamite. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office told Redheaded Blackbelt the woman moved it outside before calling authorities. Deputies say it appeared to be leaking fluid, a dangerous sign that the nitroglycerin inside may have started to break down. A bomb squad from Sonoma County responded to determine how to safely dispose of it. officials said there was no danger to the public.
Protesters across Mendocino County will hit the streets tomorrow for “No Kings” demonstrations, part of a nationwide push against what organizers call anti-democratic behavior by President Trump. Rallies are planned in Fort Bragg, Willits, Point Arena, Gualala, and Ukiah throughout the day. The gatherings are being put together by Indivisible groups and local residents hoping to send a message about democracy and accountability.
More than a million Californians have already weighed in on Proposition 50, the ballot measure that could give Democrats control of the state’s congressional map until 2030. Political Data Inc. says turnout so far is about 4.5 percent, with Democrats and Republicans voting at roughly the same pace, around five percent each. Most early voters are over 50 and white, according to analysts. Supporters call Prop 50 a way to balance GOP redistricting in other states, while opponents say it’s just political payback. Voter registration closes October 20, and Election Day is on November 4.
California is cracking down on sexual abuse in schools with a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that takes effect January 1. The law requires schools to train staff on spotting and reporting abuse and creates a first-of-its-kind database to track teachers accused of misconduct. Lawmakers say it’s aimed at keeping problem educators from quietly transferring between schools. The bill follows a flood of lawsuits that have already cost districts billions and forced some to cut programs and staff.
Californians struggling with the cost of insulin are about to get some relief. Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that starting in 2026, the state will sell CalRx-branded insulin pens for $55 per five-pack, which breaks dow to just $11 per pen. It’s part of Newsom’s effort to lower prescription costs, a pledge he first made three years ago.
