CHP officers in Ukiah and Laytonville pulled over two drivers last week and found more than just bad driving. In the first stop, an officer caught a driver who blew through a stop sign and ended up uncovering roughly 82 pounds of marijuana in the truck. Two mornings later, officers in Laytonville stopped another car swerving across lanes and found it packed with pot too. Both drivers were cited for having way more cannabis than the law allows, and CHP says the cases are still under review.
Mendocino County’s getting a new face in charge of clean air. Glen Stephens steps in as the county’s Air Pollution Control Officer after more than three decades working in environmental protection, including a long stint running the Eastern Kern district. County CEO Darcie Antle says his experience will give a big boost to the county’s air quality efforts. Stephens says he’s honored to take on the role and excited to serve the community.
Residents who heard aircraft circling over Arcata early Monday were listening to part of an overnight search for a missing 17-year-old girl in the Arcata Community Forest. Police say two siblings went hiking Sunday evening and failed to return, prompting a search that began around 8:30 p.m. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office took command of the rescue, with help from Arcata Police and the U.S. Coast Guard, which flew over the area around 2 a.m. Authorities later confirmed the teen was found safe early Monday morning.
Fort Bragg officers nab a teenage vandal after someone called in a tip about graffiti downtown. Cops showed up fast, found fresh tags, and chased down two suspects, catching one from Fort Bragg with paint-covered evidence in his pockets. He was cited and sent home to a parent while police kept hunting for the other suspect. Investigators think the pair hit multiple spots around downtown. If you’ve got footage or photos, you can upload them through the department’s evidence.com link or call Officer Moore at 707-961-2800 ext. 225.
Fort Bragg’s fire crews and local experts are teaming up to help business owners cut their fire risks and stay on the right side of safety rules next month. The session on November 19th covers everything from electrical safety and emergency planning to code compliance and fire extinguisher basics. It’s a quick, one-hour crash course aimed at keeping workplaces safe and ready. Chamber members get in free, and others can join for ten bucks by calling 707-961-6300 to sign up.
Ukiah’s library is throwing one more produce share this Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m., and this is the last one of the year. Show up, grab fresh fruits and veggies, and don’t stress about bringing anything; staff say it isn’t a swap and nobody’s turned away. The event grew out of a simple idea from Petaluma and now pairs with the library’s Little Free Pantry by the front door. If you want to help, drop off shelf-stable food and handheld can openers during business hours so the pantry doesn’t run dry.
Over four million ballots are already in for California’s special election on Proposition 50, the measure that could redraw the state’s congressional map. So far, about 18 percent of voters have returned their mail-in ballots, with Democrats slightly ahead of Republicans and independents lagging behind. Roughly 23 million ballots went out earlier this month, and analysts say participation looks healthy. Turnout could end up around 50 percent statewide, a strong showing for a special election.
California Governor Gavin Newsom isn’t ruling out a White House run. In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Newsom admitted he’s giving “serious thought” to running for president after his final term ends in 2027, saying he’d “be lying otherwise.” He’s already made stops in early primary states like South Carolina, hinting at bigger ambitions ahead of 2028. With his term winding down, the California governor seems to be laying the groundwork for a national campaign.
