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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Are you being impacted by the federal funding freeze?

If so, Congressman Mike Thompson wants to hear from you.

Late last month, President Donald Trump’s administration issued a broad freeze on federal grants and funds.

The courts have issued a temporary stay to prevent the funding freeze, with another judge ordering the Trump Administration to comply with that stay after states reported his administration was not following the court order.

Meantime, Thompson said he and his team are hearing reports from constituents who continue to be impacted.

If you are experiencing ongoing impacts due to this funding freeze, Thompson asks that you share your experience by filling out this survey.

Constituents also are urged to contact his nearest office directly with any questions or to seek support:

• Napa: 707-226-9898.
• Santa Rosa: 707-542-7182.
• Woodland: 530-753-5301.
• Washington: 202-225-3311.

Thompson also can be reached online.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The man who authorities said was responsible for a fatal shooting in downtown Lakeport was back in court on Tuesday.

Joshua Jacob Tovar, 33, was in court on Tuesday morning to enter his not guilty plea in the shooting death of 32-year-old Vicente Zeta Colacion, also of Lakeport.

Colacion was shot and killed at Library Park on the evening of Friday, Jan. 31.

Tovar is charged with homicide, assault with a firearm, in this case, a handgun; felon in possession of a firearm; felon in possession of ammunition; and special allegations that include personal and intentional use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

He’s facing prosecution for separate drugs and weapons charges, and for violating the terms of his post release community supervision, which is given to inmates released from state prison. Tovar has previous felony convictions for assault and weapons charges.

He appeared to plead all of the cases on Tuesday and will return for preliminary hearing on March 26. He is being represented by the Public Defender’s Office.

A second man, Parker John Coggins, 27, of Lakeport, was arrested by police for assault with a deadly weapon on Colacion. However, District Attorney Susan Krones told Lake County News that her department is still investigating the case and formal charges have not yet been filed on Coggins.

Colacion’s life was commemorated at a candlelight vigil on Saturday night.

He was remembered by friends and family as a man who had great love for others, and who was a dedicated poet and artist.

Vicente Colacion’s aunt, Yvonne Colacion, told Lake County News in an email, “As Vicente's family and extended family work through this senseless violence that took away such a complex beautiful loving person; we simply can't understand how someone goes from writing poetry with a friend in the charming town of Lakeport, to minutes later dying in the arms of that same friend overlooking the lake.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Blue Zones Project – Lake County announced that Aromas Café at Woodland Community College has officially earned the designation of a Blue Zones Project- approved restaurant.

This achievement was celebrated recently during the Lake County Restaurant Expo with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and certificate presentation.

During the ceremony, Chef Robert Cabreros, who also heads up the Woodland Community College Lake County Campus’s Culinary Arts Program, shared that although the café operates just one day a week during each school semester, the previous session saw over 350 Blue Zones Project-inspired menu items sold.

This success highlights the growing demand for fresh, healthy dining options among community members.

In pursuit of Blue Zones approval, Chef Cabreros incorporated a unique educational component into his culinary program. He developed a lesson plan that introduces students to the principles of the Blue Zones and the Blue Zones Project, equipping them with the knowledge to engage customers on the significance of dining at an approved restaurant.

As part of their learning, students also watch the Emmy award-winning docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

Aromas Café updates its menu weekly and has committed to offering at least one Blue Zones-inspired, plant-slant option each week. This dedication ensures that patrons seeking plant-forward healthy meals always have a nutritious and flavorful choice available.

Additionally, Aromas Café supports well-being beyond its menu by offering split plates at no extra charge—promoting portion control and affordability. Takeout containers are also available
to encourage the practice of Hara Hachi Bu, a mindful eating principle from Okinawa, Japan, one of the original 5 Blue Zones.

"Chef Rob’s leadership in bringing Blue Zones Project principles to both his culinary program and Aromas Café is truly inspiring," said Jamey Gill, executive director of Blue Zones Project – Lake County. "By integrating well-being education into his curriculum and ensuring that fresh, healthy options are available to patrons, he is making a lasting impact. We are thrilled to have Aromas Café as a partner in our mission to make Lake County an even happier, healthier place to live, work, and play."

Blue Zones Project is a county-wide health and well-being initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through lasting changes to the environment, policy and social networks. Inspired by
research on the world's longest-lived populations, the project aims to enhance community well-being and longevity.

For more information about the Blue Zones Project – Lake County, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

With another significant winter storm system expected to reach California later this week, work continues statewide to ensure communities impacted by recent wildfires are protected.

To prepare for this storm, Gov. Gavin Newsom is directing a whole-of-government response to bolster local resources.

In Altadena on Tuesday, Gov. Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom surveyed ongoing work by state crews to prepare the Eaton Fire burn scar area ahead of rain.

At Gov. Newsom’s direction, the state has installed emergency protection materials to contain burn scar debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires from entering creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

The state is coordinating locally requested materials such as K-rails (concrete barriers) to divert debris flow and has completed debris basin clean-up activities over the last month to mitigate potential impacts in vulnerable areas.

“California has been in a constant state of readiness preparing for extreme winter weather,” said Newsom. “Crews have been on the ground for weeks working to secure areas against possible mudslides and debris flows. If you’re in the storm’s path, please remain vigilant and follow all guidance of local authorities.”

California is monitoring storm impacts, in particular to burn scar areas that pose the threat of mudslides and debris flows.

The National Weather Service said this storm system will bring far-reaching impacts across the state, including risks of urban flooding and burn scar impacts in Southern California, high winds and heavy snow.

State actions to protect communities include:

• 319,000 sandbags and 5,600 super sacks have been deployed to Southern California locations through the Department of Water Resources.

• 242 total Cal Fire engines are deployed throughout the state to rapidly respond, including 109 engines Cal Fire Southern Region and 133 engines Cal Fire Northern Region.

• Cal OES has prepositioned flood fighting and debris flow resources and more than 400 personnel in eight counties, including Colusa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Glenn, Tulare, Ventura and Santa Barbara. In total the state is deploying through the Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System the following: 48 fire engines, 8 dozers, 5 helicopters, 8 dispatchers, 6 hand crews, 8 swiftwater rescue teams, 3 local Incident Management Teams, 1 Regional Task Force, 2 excavators, 2 loaders and 5 heavy rescue teams

• Nearly 120 miles of emergency protection materials, including straw wattle, compost sock and silt fencing, have been installed through the California Conservation Corps to contain burn scar debris from entering creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

• 30 watershed protection specialists have been deployed to burn scar areas.

• Caltrans is placing erosion-control devices, including wattles, to limit mudflows. Caltrans is mobilizing crew members to monitor for rocks and other debris falling from burned slopes on the Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

• 14 geologists are deployed to study and map burn scars of the Palisades, Eaton and Kenneth fires. The California Geological Survey is using this information to determine where debris flow could occur and where to install mitigation. The department also coordinated aerial flights over the scars to gather LiDAR data to further study burn areas for possible debris flow.

• 70 soldiers and heavy engineering equipment through the California National Guard are deployed in the area to support debris removal efforts.

• The California Department of Social Services is coordinating with local partners on shelters and warming centers to serve impacted communities.

• The California Department of Public Health is supporting licensed healthcare facilities.

These early actions add on to the work the state has done in recent weeks to protect California communities and boost the state's water supply.

On Jan. 31, the governor signed an executive order to direct state agencies to direct additional water storage by maximizing excess water from winter storms.

Residents in affected areas are urged to stay informed about potential debris flow risks, especially during storms, and to follow guidance from local emergency officials.

Preparing for upcoming weather

On Thursday, rainfall rates could approach 1” per hour near thunderstorms. In addition, there’s anticipated heavy mountain snow, with levels dropping to 2,000-3,000 feet across the north and down to 6,500 feet in the far south. Parts of the state will see wind gusts of 35 to 55 miles per hour, particularly in Central and Southern California.

The incoming storm could bring an increased risk of power outages, flooding in small streams and low-lying areas, and debris, rocks and mudslides on roadways.

Residents are encouraged to not drive through flooded roadways, prepare in advance for power outages and reduce injury risks from falling limbs and trees by staying inside during high wind events.

Residents are urged to stay informed and listen to local authorities about actions they should take including evacuation orders or safety recommendations. In burn scar areas, officials recommend preparing for possible sudden debris flows by having a go-bag packed and knowing evacuation routes.

For more information on winter storm preparedness visit ready.ca.gov.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and a coalition of privacy defenders led by Lex Lumina filed a lawsuit on Tuesday asking a federal court to stop the U.S. Office of Personnel Management from disclosing millions of Americans’ private, sensitive information to Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The complaint on behalf of two labor unions and individual current and former government workers across the country, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, also asks that any data disclosed by the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, to DOGE so far be deleted.

The complaint by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, along with Lex Lumina LLP, State Democracy Defenders Fund and The Chandra Law Firm argues that OPM and OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell illegally disclosed personnel records to Musk’s DOGE in violation of the federal Privacy Act of 1974.

Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing a critical Treasury payment system under a similar lawsuit.

This lawsuit’s plaintiffs are the American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO; the Association of Administrative Law Judges, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Judicial Council 1 AFL-CIO; Vanessa Barrow, an employee of the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Medical Center; George Jones, President of AFGE Local 2094 and a former employee of VA New York Harbor Healthcare; Deborah Toussant, a former federal employee; and Does 1-100, representing additional current or former federal workers or contractors.

As the federal government is the nation’s largest employer, the records held by OPM represent one of the largest collections of sensitive personal data in the country.

In addition to personally identifiable information such as names, social security numbers, and demographic data, these records include work information like salaries and union activities; personal health records and information regarding life insurance and health benefits; financial information like death benefit designations and savings programs; and nondisclosure agreements; and information concerning family members and other third parties referenced in background checks and health records.

OPM holds these records for tens of millions Americans, including current and former federal workers and those who have applied for federal jobs. OPM has a history of privacy violations—an OPM breach in 2015 exposed the personal information of 22.1 million people—and its recent actions make its systems less secure.

With few exceptions, the Privacy Act limits the disclosure of federally maintained sensitive records on individuals without the consent of the individuals whose data is being shared. It protects all Americans from harms caused by government stockpiling of our personal data. This law was enacted in 1974, the last time Congress acted to limit the data collection and surveillance powers of an out-of-control President.

“The Privacy Act makes it unlawful for OPM Defendants to hand over access to OPM’s millions of personnel records to DOGE Defendants, who lack a lawful and legitimate need for such access,” the complaint says. “No exception to the Privacy Act covers DOGE Defendants’ access to records held by OPM. OPM Defendants’ action granting DOGE Defendants full, continuing, and ongoing access to OPM’s systems and files for an unspecified period means that tens of millions of federal-government employees, retirees, contractors, job applicants, and impacted family members and other third parties have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords.”

For more than 30 years, EFF has been a fierce advocate for digital privacy rights. In that time, EFF has been at the forefront of exposing government surveillance and invasions of privacy—such as forcing the release of hundreds of pages of documents about domestic surveillance under the Patriot Act—and enforcing existing privacy laws to protect ordinary Americans—such as in its ongoing lawsuit against Sacramento's public utility company for sharing customer data with police.

2025-02-11 - Afge v Opm Sdny - Complaint by LakeCoNews on Scribd

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 13 other Democratic senators in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that threatens the safety of communities in California and across the nation.

The Trump Administration’s Jan. 20 hiring freeze of federal civilian employees inexplicably did not exempt federal seasonal firefighters, despite exempting other critical public safety personnel.

Federal seasonal firefighters risk their lives to protect communities and save lives. This hiring freeze is particularly dangerous as staffing and training ramp up ahead of peak wildfire season. While Padilla secured a temporary pay raise for wildland firefighters in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, recruitment and retention remain significant challenges as firefighters work long hours with insufficient pay.

The attrition rate of firefighters at the U.S. Forest Service has been 45 percent over the past four years — making the hiring freeze at the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service all the more dangerous.

“The Administration must not sacrifice the safety of the American people for the benefit of implementing a political agenda,” wrote the senators. “We urge you to immediately reverse course, begin hiring and onboarding seasonal firefighters again, and continue supporting and growing the federal firefighting workforce.”

“The bottom line is this: pausing the hiring and onboarding of federal seasonal firefighters — while historic wildfires destroy communities and upend livelihoods across the West — is simply irresponsible and dangerous,” continued the senators. “We will be woefully unprepared to fight the fires to come and instead will continue to see record levels of damage, ultimately costing communities and taxpayers even more at a time when the cost of living is already too high.”

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and destructiveness in California and across the nation. Last month, the devastating Southern California fires, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, burned over 57,000 acres and destroyed over 16,200 structures, claiming the lives of at least 29 victims.

Nationally, over 64,800 fires burned 9 million acres in 2024, up from approximately 56,500 wildfires and 3 million acres in 2023. The rise in catastrophic wildfires demands even more seasonal firefighter hiring — not a freeze.

In addition to Senators Padilla and Rosen, the letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last month, Padilla reintroduced the bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect the pay raise he secured for wildland firefighters in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2023, Padilla and a bipartisan group of senators urged Senate leadership to avoid mass resignations within the wildland firefighter ranks by ensuring the prompt passage of their bipartisan legislation.

Padilla and a bipartisan group of senators also urged the Biden Administration to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters to prevent staffing shortages and strengthen wildfire response efforts in 2022. Following that request, the administration announced a temporary pay raise.

Additionally, Padilla’s Wildfire Emergency Act, announced last week, would establish a prescribed fire-training center in the West and authorize grants to support training the next generation of foresters and firefighters, among other important fire mitigation efforts.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Burgum, Acting Secretary Washington, and Acting Director Ezell:

We write today following reports that hiring and onboarding for federal seasonal firefighters has stopped due to the Trump Administration’s federal hiring freeze. We are extremely concerned to hear that this is happening across the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service ahead of what’s expected to be another devastating wildfire year. The Administration must not sacrifice the safety of the American people for the benefit of implementing a political agenda. We urge you to immediately reverse course, begin hiring and onboarding seasonal firefighters again, and continue supporting and growing the federal firefighting workforce.

President Trump’s January 20th memorandum ordered a hiring freeze for all federal civilian employees. It also explicitly exempted public safety personnel from this freeze and allowed the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to grant further exemptions. We are appalled that federal seasonal firefighters are not already exempted, given the critical role they play in public safety throughout our communities. Federal seasonal firefighters are brave public servants who risk their lives to protect those around them. They work long hours in dangerous environments to not only fight fires on private, public, and Tribal lands, but also carry out hazardous fuels management, which is crucial to preventing and mitigating the effects of future fires.

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and destructiveness in the U.S., necessitating even greater seasonal firefighter hiring. In 2024, over 64,800 wildfires occurred across the country, which is up from approximately 56,500 in 2023. Additionally, fires burned nearly 9 million acres in 2024, compared to only 3 million in 2023. Such fires also no longer stick to a particular season, meaning that we must be prepared 365 days per year to fight fires, putting even more stress and strain on a workforce that desperately needs additional support and higher pay. While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law led to some small increases from the 18,700 seasonal and career federal firefighters we had in 2022, this investment is still not meeting our current wildfire needs.

Although there is an urgent need to hire more federal firefighters, the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze does the opposite and is pausing hiring at a critical time for this already understaffed workforce.

On top of this, firefighter retention continues to be a problem, with reports indicating that the attrition rate of firefighters at the Forest Service has been 45 percent over the past four years. We therefore need to focus on recruitment and retention of this critically important workforce, rather than place more uncertainty within it through an arbitrary freeze. The federal seasonal firefighter hiring process is already time consuming, and we don’t need to delay it further with more bureaucratic red tape.

The bottom line is this: pausing the hiring and onboarding of federal seasonal firefighters – while historic wildfires destroy communities and upend livelihoods across the West – is simply irresponsible and dangerous. We will be woefully unprepared to fight the fires to come and instead will continue to see record levels of damage, ultimately costing communities and taxpayers even more at a time when the cost of living is already too high. We urge you to put the safety of families and communities across the country first and allow the federal seasonal firefighter hiring process to continue without delay. Every moment that we wait puts lives and livelihoods at greater risk.