California is once again trying to lend a hand to those looking to purchase their first home. The state has relaunched its Dream For All lottery program to help prospective buyers by giving out 250-million dollars in down payment assistance. The program offers up to 20 percent for down payment and closing costs not to exceed 150-thousand dollars. Those wanting to take advantage of the lottery program have to apply online. Last year the program ran out of money in less than two weeks.
Democrats in Sacramento are still divided on how to solve the budget crisis. Governor Newsom and Senate leaders have their plan, but assembly leadership has other ideas. Newsom and Senate leaders announced an Early Action Budget Pact on Thursday to address 17-billion dollars of the expected 73-billion dollar shortfall. Meanwhile, GOP State Senator Brian Dahle says Democrats are now taking back a lot of things they over promised during the good years. The arm twisting will likely continue before the Governor announces his May revisions to the state budget.
A Fort Bragg man has been sentenced to 4 decades in prison for the sexual abuse of children. Robert Hrbac was in court yesterday morning in Ukiah to face sentencing on several charges including Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14. Hrbac is facing 43 years in the CDCR and will be required to serve 85% of that sentence. According to the Mendocino County District Attorney, four of Hrbac’s alleged victims testified in court. Hrbac was arrested in February after an investigation into reports that he abused a 6 year old in Fort Bragg in May of 2023. His Co-defendant and wife Yani Beaty changed her guilty plea in February to a no-contest plea after being charged with Dissuading a Witness From Reporting a Crime to Law Enforcement, which is a felony.
A Ukiah man was arrested for stealing a generator. On Tuesday, just after 1am, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of a possible generator theft on Pomo Lane in Ukiah. During the investigation deputies reportedly learned the generator was at a residence nearby. They were able to find the generator at a property belonging to Tony Nelson. Nelson was arrested and charged with felony theft of over 950 dollars and a probation violation. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and bail was set at $17,500.
Summer’s coming and Ukiah’s Todd Grove Park is getting ready. Officials said they’ll work to give the barbecue area a makeover starting on Monday. MARZ Engineering has the job of renovating the area. They’ll be bringing in 18 new picnic tables, a new 30×30 shade structure, 5 new barbecue grills, and 2 new prep tables. The project is expected to take 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the weather. If you’d like to snag a spot when the barbecue area reopens, you can call the Ukiah Valley Conference Center to make reservations.
A stockpile of firearms was found after a domestic violence call in Ukiah. The Ukiah Police Department got a letter that was sent to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in early March, detailing a domestic violence incident at a home on Capps Lane in Ukiah. The letter accused Blake Cox of assaulting his wife. The investigating officer was then contacted by the wife a couple weeks later, who reportedly told him she’d been assaulted again by Cox. This time UPD caught up with Cox during a traffic stop near Low Gap Road and North Bush Street. He was arrested at the scene and a search warrant was granted for his residence. According to a press release UPD seized a total of 37 firearms from the home, 12 of them had illegal enhancements. Cox was taken to the Mendocino County Jail on charges of Possession of assaults weapons.
Get your garden started and help out a great cause. The Mendocino Kindergarten through 8th grade annual garden fundraiser happens this afternoon. Get your plants from 3 to 6 pm at the school garden. They will have organic starter plants including vegetables, berries, houseplants, succulents, flowers, trees, roses, and bushes. All proceeds will go to the garden program in Mendocino.
