The Pickett Fire near Calistoga is nearly out, with crews reporting 90 percent containment after scorching close to 7,000 acres. Firefighters are still busy mopping up hot spots and repairing fire lines, a tough job made slower by steep ground and hot weather. A small flare-up Sunday was quickly handled and stayed within control lines. Evacuations remain in effect in parts of Napa County, and Cal Fire is asking drivers to watch for heavy equipment on the roads.
Traffic is moving again on Little River Airport Road after yesterday’s violent crash that left four people injured. A car went off the road and hit a tree, with three victims airlifted in critical condition and another treated for minor injuries. The wreck was so severe it triggered a mass casualty response, tying up the road for hours. Crews cleared the scene late Monday, and the highway is back open today.
After a string of brutal attacks on women in Lake County, former Supervisor Rob Brown is helping women better protect themselves by putting pepper spray directly in their hands. Brown bought more than 600 canisters thanks to help from Kelseyville Lumber and plans to hand them out free over the next two weeks. He says it’s about giving women a fighting chance if they ever find themselves in danger. Any woman 18 or older can call 707-349-2628 to get one.
Mendocino County is kicking off a public health summit September 10 to dig into how looming Medicaid cuts could hit local hospitals and caregivers. The first session is at the county offices in Ukiah, with more meetings planned later in the year and into spring 2026. The push comes after protesters packed East Perkins Street last week, waving signs against the federal reconciliation bill that slashes more than a trillion dollars from Medicaid. Leaders say the summit is about turning that frustration into a plan to protect rural health care.
Lakeport’s City Council is back in session tonight at 6 with a busy agenda. On the table is a major study recommending fee hikes across city services—the first full review since 2006. Leaders will also hear about traffic complaints, bike and pedestrian safety improvements, and vote on a hazard mitigation plan to keep disaster funding flowing. Another item would accept $10,000 in state money to replace oil spill gear used on Clear Lake. The meeting is open at City Hall or live online through Zoom.
Clearlake’s rental rules are back on the table this Thursday. After meeting with local Realtors, city staff is bringing an updated rental registration and inspection ordinance to a 6 p.m. council meeting, which will be held just after a 5 p.m. workshop at City Hall. Leaders will take public comment on the first reading, then pivot to a Senior Center Month proclamation, the countywide hazard mitigation plan, and a drainage project contract. You can stream it on the city’s YouTube channels via Zoom. The agenda is available online and has all the links.
Expect slowdowns on Highway 1 and other locations in Mendocino County this week as Caltrans crews work on a full slate of road work. Paving, bridge repairs, and culvert projects are underway, plus new guardrail work near Ten Mile Bridge is planned for tomorrow. The longest delays could be near Westport, where emergency work may slow down drivers for as long as 30 minutes. Highway 20 east of Fort Bragg will see mowing and repairs, and Highway 101 has its share of paving and bridge projects from Ukiah to north of Willits. One-way traffic controls and lane closures will be common, so officials advise you to plan ahead.
Cultural treasures are back home in Lake County after California State Parks returned 21 items to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The belongings had been stored at the State Indian Museum in Sacramento, some for more than a century. Under federal repatriation law, museums must return such items to their rightful communities, and this was the first repatriation for the museum in over ten years. Big Valley leaders say bringing the items home reconnects the community to their ancestors.
California’s plan to fine oil companies for raking in big profits is on ice until 2030. The move comes just as two major refineries, together making up nearly a fifth of the state’s fuel supply, announced they’re shutting down. The profit penalty was pitched by Governor Newsom back in 2023 as part of his climate agenda but never really got off the ground. Regulators are still pushing other rules though, like speeding up oil well approvals and forcing refineries to keep minimum fuel supplies when they shut down for maintenance.
