Three people were hospitalized yesterday after a car went over a steep embankment along Highway 162 west of Covelo, landing roughly 60 to 80 feet below the road. CHP says crews reached the scene near mile marker 23 and found everyone out of the Honda Accord by the time help arrived. Fire crews and CAL FIRE stepped in, and a tow company later hauled out the heavily damaged vehicle. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
A wave of worry hit the Mendocino Coast after Judge Clayton Brennan abruptly retired, raising fears that the Ten Mile courthouse in Fort Bragg could be on the chopping block, but court officials say that isn’t happening. Presiding Judge Keith Faulder admits losing a coastal judge has created a real strain, though he insists both the coast and Ukiah will continue receiving full judicial services. Court Executive Officer Kim Turner points out that the new Ukiah courthouse only has room for seven judges even though the county has eight, calling it proof the Fort Bragg courthouse remains essential. For now, the court is juggling schedules and using remote hearings to keep cases moving.
Mendocino County’s holiday Gift Drive has hit its tenth year, once again rallying the community to buy presents for more than 280 homeless students. Starting Nov. 19, anyone can visit the MCOE River Campus in Ukiah, grab a tag with a child’s wish list, or donate to cover the cost of a gift. Superintendent Nicole Glentzer says the program gives kids a sense of being seen during what can be a rough time of year. All wrapped gifts are due Dec. 12, and donations are welcome anytime.
Lake County firefighters were called out yesterday to a serious two-car crash at Highways 20 and 16, where they treated two badly hurt patients and one with minor injuries. With weather grounding nearly all medical helicopters, CHP’s H30 was the only aircraft able to fly and airlifted one patient to a trauma center. A second critical patient was taken by ground to Adventist Health Rideout in Marysville, the closest Level 3 trauma hospital. Crews said the mutual aid network made the response smoother despite the lousy conditions.
Mendocino County’s latest homelessness count shows a troubling shift: while the overall number of unhoused people dropped, the number of chronically homeless residents surged. The annual point-in-time survey found 440 unsheltered people this January, down from 552 last year, but the chronically homeless population jumped from 154 to 267. County officials say long-term health conditions are keeping more people on the streets and making it harder for them to live independently. The full 2025 report, including demographic details, is available through the Mendocino County Homeless Services Continuum of Care.
Election officials in Lake County will hold a public manual tally next Thursday as they wrap up the official canvass for the Nov. 4 special election. They’ll hand-count at least one percent of precincts chosen at random that morning, covering everything on the ballot, including Prop. 50. The tally starts at 9 a.m. at the Registrar of Voters Office on North Forbes Street in Lakeport. Anyone can watch the process as long as they don’t disrupt it.
The race to be California’s next governor might be adding another big name. Congressman Eric Swalwell is said to be considering a run. He’s been a Democratic representative from the Bay Area for 12 years and a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. Two sources told MSNBC that he’s all but decided to run. It comes as the White House asked the Justice Department to investigate Swalwell for alleged mortgage and tax fraud. Swalwell believes the Trump administration is targeting him for political reasons.
