The effects of climate change – from drought to excessive heat and poor air quality – often fall hardest on low-income communities. So the green banks will target projects that improve so-called “climate equity” such as clean buses, energy efficiency or urban tree plantings that clean the air and keep things cooler. Cities and nonprofits are racing to finish their applications for the 27-billion-dollar Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund – because the deadline is October 12th.. The California News Service reports Communities and nonprofits interested in applying can go to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund section of the E-P-A website.
The North Coast Representative Jared Huffman is talking about the pending government shutdown. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports Huffman says they are anticipating the shut down this coming Sunday. He issued a statement yesterday saying the House and Senate leadership reached a budget deal earlier this summer, but some members are holding the government hostage. Huffman asks federal workers to reach out to representatives before the weekend. Some services impacted include Food Assistance Programs, Head Start funding, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Servicemembers and Law Enforcement Members Pay and more. He says he and his staff are doing everything in their power to help those impacted and hopes it won’t be for long.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is rejecting an application for a cannabis prohibition zone near Willits. Instead, KymKemp reports the board is directing Code Enforcement to target illegal grows in the area. The Board also heard a report of an enhanced code enforcement in Redwood Valley after another application was denied. 137 sites were investigated from August through September 7th. Properties growing illegal plants were asked to voluntarily cut them down or work to get legal permitting. 52 grows were hit with violations. In July, the Planning Commission recommended to approve a prohibition zone but a legal grow was already operating. Supervisor Ted Williams said that federal legalization is on the way and that smaller grows are destined to disappear.
A man evading authorities was caught during a traffic stop in Ukiah last weekend. Ukiah Police report Kourosh Sadeghi was riding a motorcycle when he was weaving in and out of traffic lanes and pulled over. He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to jail. MendoFever reports Sadeghi has been a fugitive for nearly 4 decades, after disappearing on parole for a bank robbery in 1984 in San Diego. It was close to exactly 39 years since he stole over $20,000 after an armed bank robbery. Ukiah Police realized he had an active Federal Marshal warrant. He also faces felony false identification and faces steep punishments.
The Fort Bragg City Council is looking for a new City Manager. At the end of their meeting Monday, MendoVoice reports the Council accepted the resignation of the City Manager, Peggy Ducey who was appointed city manager last summer. The council voted to accept her resignation and let her stay for up to six months during a transition period while they look for her replacement. Ducey has served in government leadership roles for the last 35 years and retied to Mendocino’s Coast a couple years ago.
The state’s Attorney General is urging better protection for seniors and people with disabilities. AG Rob Bonta issued a bulletin to law enforcement agencies saying their obligation is to enact policies to help improve enforcement of crimes against the vulnerable population. Lake County News reports the Senior and Disability Justice Act of 2019 urges local law enforcement agencies to improve investigations of elder and disability abuse. He tells authorities seniors and the disabled victims need to see justice that they are entitled to. Across the country, people with disabilities are over 3 times more likely to be victimized.
Robert Lombardi is being honored in Lake County. During the Lake County Fire Protection District meeting yesterday, Chief Willie Sapeta presented Lombardi with a Challenge Medal for heroic actions. Lombardi is credited with saving a child and mother from a house fire last month and is the first to receive the honor. Lake County News reports Lombardi was home on August 29th, when he heard an explosion nearby. He ran into the home and helped bring out a woman and young daughter out of a blazing fire, helping them until emergency responders arrived. The Chief said a fire involved a couple of houses with downed power lines and strong winds.
The Fort Bragg Unified School District has a new building for its preschool program. The Advocate News reports the new building on the campus of Redwood Elementary Shool is just one improvement along with a paved bus lane and safer sidewalks. The federally funded Head Start building will continue to run – if the government shutdown is avoided – and share play equipment. Earlier this month, the Board of Trustees officially cut the ribbon for the new facility. It can now fit up to 35 children ages three to five with morning and afternoon classes.
The state bird is doing well. Quail season opened last week, and hunters are cashing in on a healthy population. The Record Bee reports Lake and Mendocino Counties have a couple of species, the California and mountain quail. The Mendocino National Forest has both kinds of quail that are numerous in areas like Snow Mountain, Lake Pillsbury, Mendocino Pass and Etsel Ridge. The most productive time of the year to hunt the bird is now as coveys will get smaller by December. The quail season runs through January 29th with a daily limit of 10 and a total possession of 30. Only steel shot can be used and a hunting license is required along with an upland game stamp.
The state’s community colleges are rebounding a little bit after an historic drop in enrollment about five years ago. The Press Democrat reports that decline meant less funding. The 2022-2023 school year saw about a 5 percent increase and there are early indications that this year’s numbers are increasing as well. It could be due to the pandemic freefall when students left at record rates. With COVID relief funds, community colleges are drawing students back with recruitment events and classes for high school students. Some colleges are redesigning their curriculum with more flexible hours, online classes and new courses.
Exxon Mobile may not ship crude oil to refineries on shore in California. Bloomberg reports a US District Judge in LA yesterday denied the company’s request to overturn a decision to reject the oil companies trucking plan last year. The judge maintains Exxon can operate its offshore oil platforms, but does not have a right to truck the crude oil. They proposed using 25,000 trucks a year on Highway 101 and State Route 166 until a pipeline is repaired or replaced. Three offshore platforms of Exxon’s Santa Ynez Unit have been shut down since an oil spill in 2015.
The State Water Board will hold a public hearing and workshop on details of the proposed Making Conservation A California Way of Life regulation. The meeting at CalEPA Headquarters in the Capitol is set for next Wednesday morning at 9:30am. The board is aiming at giving all interested parties an opportunity to comment on proposed regulation. There sill be an overview of the initial regulatory package that creates a new framework for efficiency goals for water suppliers. The Water Board hopes to reduce urban water use by more than 400 thousand acre feet in 7 years. The new Water Supply Strategy was released last year and is expected to motivate suppliers to invest in changes on water use.
An 18 year old is facing felony counts of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license, after an accident last weekend that killed his 19 year old passenger. Pedro Lopezsantos of Healdsburg was charged this week in Sonoma County Superior Court and is alleged to have been drunk driving recklessly on Sunday morning before crashing into a tree. The passenger, Jesus Paredes died in the accident. After being treated himself Lopezsantos was arrested and booked into jail. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bail and is scheduled to plea October 17th.
Scientists are predicting another wet winter for California. Maven’s Notebook reports after a record setting wet and warm August forecasters are predicting El Nino is gaining strength and will likely carry into 2024. The system returned in June and has been growing in strength, with a 95 percent chance it will last through early spring. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the odds of El Nino becoming strong this round have increased to over 70 percent certainty. NOAA officials say with ocean temperatures at their highest point in human history, an El Nino event of this magnitude creates a different situation and they’re predicting a wetter than normal winter
