No word how a fatal crash happened in Ukiah a few days ago. A Ford Escape was headed north on US-101 near La Franci Road. When the driver made an unsafe turn, they left the road onto the gravel shoulder and hit a tree. After crashing into the tree, the car burst into flames and the driver died at the scene. The CHP says they’re unsure if drugs or alcohol were factors in the Saturday crash. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and says they’ll release the name of the driver after their family is notified.
A new report says top jobs in higher education in California more oftentimes than not, go to white men. The report from a professor at USC says there’s a “social justice urgency and a political and economic urgency”. The report shows California is in need of more “equity-minded” leadership, and says institutions of higher education have “been designed by whites for
whites.” The College Futures Foundation had the report put together. “Whiteness Rules: Racial Exclusion in Becoming an American College President” and “Tools to Redesign Presidential Search for Racial Equity” are both for presidential search teams to come up with a way to find candidates of color in a more equitable way.
Why are more violent prisoners without needed rehabilitation being released early from prison? That’s what the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) wants to know. The organization trains and advocates for elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal divisions, and thousands of prosecutors. CBS News reports some prisoners who’ve been released have gone out and committed more serious crimes afterwards. CBS reported the case of a mass shooter in Sacramento first denied parole after a fight with another inmate, but since a domestic violence conviction was not considered a violent crime, he was released.
It’s First Friday again and for that Grace Hudson Museum will open to the public. From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday you can visit the National Native American Heritage Month exhibit, including a flute player live with the exhibition, “Gathering Time: Pomo Art During the Pandemic”. There are 15 contemporary Pomo artists on display, and Little Bear and friends have an interactive table of Native American tools and toys. Light refreshments will be served.
The CHP is cracking down on illegal sideshows, takeovers, and street racing after receiving a federal grant. This is to curb reckless driving in the state after $5.5 million was included in the 2022-23 state budget. The CHP’s Campaign to Eliminate Street Racing and Sideshows received another $1.5 million for a taskforce to slow the amount of fatal and injury-related crashes due to the illegal acts. The Calif. Highway Patrol reported in 2019-2020 speed was one reason for almost 40% of all fatal and injury crashes in California. Then it went up a year later by 21%. The law enforcement agency says they’re still getting tons of reports about the illegal acts, which the CHP commissioner says are a “threat to all who use California’s roadways”.
The State Attorney General is reportedly checking into any conflicts the Mendocino County District Attorney may have deciding if the former Ukiah police chief should be prosecuted. The State Atty. General has apparently confirmed they’re considering if DA David Eyster should continue as the lead prosecutor if the criminal assault complaint against former Chief Noble Waidelich moves forward. It comes after the DA also just got the report from an outside investigation from Sonoma County about the case, which Eyster has not released to the public. It was Eyster who asked for the state AG to review the case after potential conflicts were raised in the case. A former county probation officer and Waidelich’s ex-fiance alleges the former chief abused her, then used it against her at her job.
Covered Calif. is open for enrollment for 2023. The Affordable Care Act marketplace is open to all who need health insurance except those who can access healthcare policy through their job. Right now, there are about 1.7 million people who get healthcare policies through Covered California. The premiums depend on how much money a household brings in each year. If folks meet a minimum, they may get a government subsidy, but if they make too much, they cannot. Those who sign up for the “minimal essential” coverage through an employer’s health plan also do not get the subsidy.
PG&E Corp. is asking the state to move forward with an extension of Diablo Canyon after previously moving to close it. The company applied through the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the nuclear plant’s license and put off its planned 2025 closure. The San Luis Obispo County plant reportedly gives the state about 9% of its power. The Governor was opposed to keeping the plant open, then reversed that, signing a bill to keep it open until 2030. It also allows PG&E to take out a loan of as much as $1.4 billion from the state for upgrades it needs to postpone the plant’s closure.
The latest Mendocino County CEO report has been released to the public. In it CEO Darcie Antle writes from the cash the county got from the US Government because of the pandemic, it is okay to use the money for lost revenue, to support public health and economic response, pay for eligible workers performing essential work, and investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. The county had until the end of 2024 to designate projects that had to be done by the end of 2026. The county got almost $17 million dollars, of which 100% has been allotted, for County Core services, infrastructure projects, and emergency funding, plus employee stipends and related benefits. The report also updated on PG&E settlement funds and where they’re going. CEO Antle says there were 81 unique contracts to outside agencies and more are in the offing.
