The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has sworn in new members for the new year. Supervisors Bernie Norvell from the 4th District, Madeline Cline from the first district, and Mo Mulherin from the second district took their oaths this week. CEO Darci Antle says the new members elected in November are well qualified to lead the county this year. This is Cline and Norvell’s first term, while Mulherin is starting her second term.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors has sworn in its latest members. or the coming year. Three members elected in November took their oaths this week. District 1 supervisor Helen Owen and District 4 supervisor Brad Rasmussen join the board as new members while Jessica Pyska returns to the board for a second term. Supervisor Eddie Crandall will be the chair of the board and Supervisor Rasmussen will serve as the vice chair. It was also time to say goodbye to outgoing board members. Former supervisors Moke Simon and Michael Green thanked county staff for their help during their terms.
A new member of the Lake County Board of supervisors is taking applications for the District 1 representative on the Lake County Planning Commission. Helen Owen says she is reaching out to the community to fulfill a campaign promise that she would represent everyone in the district fairly. Owen says she has set up a panel with representatives from all parts of the district to look over the applications. Top candidates will be interviewed. Owen will then make a recommendation to the full board. l Applications are due by January 21st to Helen dot Owen at Lake County ca.gov
The Ukiah Planning Commission is considering a proposed new zoning designation for the city. It would be called Open Space and Commission staff say the new category will be similar to Mendocino County’s open space zoning District. The city says the idea is to identify land that shouldn’t be developed, or is more valuable if left undeveloped. It would preserve open space but still allow Public Access and some limited residential development. The idea is on the agenda for tonight’s Planning Commission meeting at 6PM at the city council chambers/
Expansion continues at the Medo Food Network, with a new 15,000-square-foot distribution center in Willits and three new employees. The group says more space and more staff means more food help –especially in rural Mendocino County. Executive Director Amanda Friscia tells the Daily Journal that the new building is taking shape and when it’s done it will be a big improvement over the network’s current space. The MFN is still running its Season of Sharing Food Drive through next week. You can help with cash or donations of cash food items They also welcome volunteers to add to the190 people who already give their time
More Californians are staying home to go to college. The University of California says it enrolled a record number of in-state students this fall. The UC system has been under pressure to accept more in-state students. UC President Michael Drake calls that good news.Te says the enrollment figures show that the UC system has an investment in California students and is dedicated to providing what he called a world-class education. Officials also say that racial and ethnic groups of first-year classes and transfers went up among Asian American, Black, and Native American students. That goes against the trend of other top-level institutions in the US, where minority enrollment has stayed the same or decreased. This is the first incoming class where the nine campuses have made those comparisons since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action.
Sustainable Forest management is getting a boost in California. Cal Fire has received USDA money to strengthen incentives for private landowners to take better care of their forests and permanently conserve them. Cal Fire will provide technical assistance and pay landowners to support forest resilience and climate-related projects. About 2500 acres of private, non-industrial forest land will get more help. States will share 206 million dollars
It’s a hellacious day in Southern California. Wildfires are raging in several places around LA. They fire pushed by howling wind of up to 100 miles an hour. Thousands of people have been evacuated, some with little more than the clothes on their backs. Homes in several communities like Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Santa Monica are charred shells. There is no immediate improvement in sight either.
