Lake County just picked up some statewide recognition for keeping its books straight. State Controller Malia Cohen gave the county’s Auditor-Controller and County Clerk’s Office, led by Jenavive Herrington, an award for accurate and transparent financial reporting. The honor came at the annual County Auditors Conference in Lake Arrowhead, where 46 counties were recognized for their clean data and accountability. Cohen said strong reporting builds public trust and shows taxpayers their money’s being handled right.
California transportation officials have approved over $30 million to replace the Albion River Bridge in Mendocino County. It’s part of a nearly $5 billion investment aimed at updating and strengthening the state’s transportation network. Caltrans says the funding will cover dozens of projects, from road repairs in Fort Bragg and Philo to safety improvements along Highway 101. Officials say the goal is a more connected, resilient system for local communities. The money comes from both state and federal programs.
Governor Gavin Newsom says California is stepping in where Washington won’t, deploying the National Guard and volunteers to help feed families caught in the federal shutdown. He’s freeing up $80 million in state funds to keep food banks running as millions risk losing access to CalFresh benefits by October 23. Newsom blasted the Trump administration for what he called a failure that’s “literally taking food out of people’s mouths.” The Guard won’t be enforcing laws—just lending hands to get food on tables, much like they did during the pandemic.
Mendocino County supervisors clashed Tuesday over how to respond to PG&E’s plan to remove the Potter Valley Project dams. The system has sent Eel River water to the Russian River for more than a century, serving farms and towns across the region. After hours of debate, the board agreed to move forward with Supervisor Ted Williams’ resolution backing decommissioning—but can’t vote on it until Nov. 4. Supervisors Madeline Cline and Bernie Norvell blasted the decision, saying their proposal to study how the loss of water could hurt local communities was pushed aside without fair notice.
Lake County’s top public defender is leaving just two years after taking the job to build the office from scratch. Raymond Buenaventura has been tapped by Monterey County supervisors to become their next chief public defender, with a four-year contract worth more than $270,000 a year starting Dec. 1. His exit leaves Lake County’s young public defender’s office without clear leadership, and county officials say they haven’t received his resignation or started looking for a successor. It’s an awkward limbo for an office still finding its footing after being revived only last year.
California is taking action against businesses that fail to pay their workers. Governor Newsom has signed SB 261 which will make it much more costly for employers who ignore court orders to pay their employees. Starting January 1st, if a company doesn’t pay a wage theft ruling within 180 days, they could face hefty fines of up to three times the amount they owe, plus interest. Half of the penalty money will aid affected workers, while the other half supports enforcement. The law also ensures courts cover reasonable attorney fees and prevents companies from shutting down to evade debts.
Mendocino County’s top attorney is moving up to the bench. Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed County Counsel Charlotte Scott as a Superior Court judge, filling the seat left open by retiring Judge Cindee Mayfield. Scott’s been with the county since 2016 and has led its legal team for the past year. Her appointment was one of a dozen new judgeships the governor announced Wednesday across California.
