The Lakeport City Council is taking up an agreement with Sonoma Clean Power that backers say would save residents money through lower energy costs. On the agenda at this week’s meeting —what’s called a choice aggregation agreement with S C P, which would allow the not for profit public agency to offer service to compete with PG&E. PG&E would still maintain the electricity infrastructure like poles and wires and substations. City manager Kevin Ingram is recommending approval. Under the agreement, the city would participate in S C P’s decision making process as part of its Joint Powers Authority. The meeting starts at 6 pm..The session is in the city council chambers but you can also participate on Zoom and listen on a dedicated phone link,
Mendocino Public Health is out with new guidance about the flu for its employees. The department says starting November 1, those health care workers will have to wear masks if they haven’t received the latest flu shots. Officials say we are at the start of flu and respiratory virus season, which runs through April 30th. They say they want to protect those in Mendocino COunty who are at higher risk–including including infants, older adults, and people with impaired immune systems. There is more info on the virus season on the department of Health’s website.
The U S Department of Energy is cancelling millions of dollars of grants for clean energy projects including some in the North Coast. Representatives Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman are calling foul about the cuts in their districts, saying cancelling the 157.m illion dollars for projects in their districts is politically motivated and will hurt the local economy. Nationwide the energy department says its axing 7.5 billion dollars for 223 projects in 16 states.
Cal Fire is conducting a couple controlled burns in Mendocino County One is at Shamrock Ranch south and east of Laytonville.–the other at the CalFire Mendocino Headquarters on Highway 101 in Willits, Both will run though the week, conditions permitting, daily until Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. You may smell or see smoke in those areas. CalFire says the closely monitored burns will help bring the state closer to its fuel reduction goals.
The Catholic diocese that includes Lake and Mendocino Counties may soon face a small group of lawsuits related to its handling of sexual abuse claims. The Press Democrat says the judge overseeing the Santa Rosa Diocese’s 2023 bankruptcy has started proceedings for some of the 260 suits to move ahead. The suits were put on hold after the bankruptcy filing. Legal experts say if the cases end up in court, it could set a baseline for the church’s potential liability for abuse cases in the local diocese.
