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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 401, which calls on the Department of Community Services and Development to develop a plan for a statewide Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program.
“The time has come to develop a comprehensive program to help relieve the financial burden on low-income households dealing with significant increases in the cost of water,” Dodd said.
Over time, water districts across California have slowly raised the average cost of water in order to maintain and upgrade water treatment and delivery systems.
In some cases water rates have jumped over 300 percent since 2006, Dodd's office reported.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Lake County community of Lucerne, where the average water residential ratepayer pays nearly $1,300 annually, and many pay significantly more than that.
According to measurements of water affordability used by the California Department of Public Health, this average rate is roughly triple the affordability threshold for this community, where the median income is just half of the state average.
While current California law requires gas and electric companies to provide discounted rates for low-income ratepayers, there is currently no requirement for water companies to provide discounted rates.
A number of the larger water utilities in California have Low-Income Rate Assistance programs, but there is no statewide standard and the discounts currently provided can leave many people, specifically seniors, with little real benefit.
“We need to ensure that we have an efficient, sustainable, and equitable water system in California.” said Dodd. “This bill is one piece of that broader puzzle, and I will continue to work for smart water policy in Sacramento.”
AB 401 would require the Community Services and Development to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of a low-income water rate assistance program by 2017.
Sen. Mike McGuire joined Dodd in introducing the legislation and will be a principal co-author of the bill.
This announcement follows Dodd’s introduction last week of legislation to help restore Clear Lake’s wetlands, maintain its water quality, and preserve its ecosystem.
Dodd was elected last fall to represent the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties.
AccuWeather reports storms will continue to affect the West through this weekend and into next week with rounds of precipitation for some needy areas as well as delays for travelers.
The pattern change that began last weekend will allow progressively colder conditions over the West and moderating temperatures in the eastern half of the nation next week.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark, “The system late this week into this weekend will not bring heavy precipitation, but rain and snow will be widespread over the West.”
This next storm is slated to take a southward path across the interior West, after moving onshore from the Pacific in British Columbia and Washington state. This path will spread precipitation over a broad area in the West.
The storm will spread coastal rain with inland and mountain snow across the Northwest beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark, “It looks like more rain and mountain snow for California Friday through the weekend.”
Rounds of snow will make for slippery conditions over Donner Pass and I-80 in California Friday into the weekend.
“It is all good news after very little rain for the past two months, before the storm last weekend,” Clark said.
Parts of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada will pick up a foot or more of snow from the storm into the weekend. While the amounts are not huge, any snow in the high country is beneficial at this point with so little snowfall over the winter so far.
It is the high country snow that gradually melts during the spring, causing runoff to feed into streams and reservoirs down below.
However, much more precipitation is needed than what these storms will bring to alleviate the drought conditions in California and other parts of the West.
Since July 1, 2013, Los Angeles has received less than half of its average rainfall. To date, there has only been about 11 inches of rain over the past 20 months or so.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sacramento will receive some rainfall from the storm into the weekend.
Ski resorts in California, Oregon and Washington which have been struggling this season will welcome the snow.
Some snow will also fall over the various ranges of the Intermountain West and Rockies late this week and into the weekend.
Enough snow can fall to make for slippery travel in Salt Lake City; Boise, Idaho; Flagstaff, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; Spokane, Washington; Pendleton, Oregon; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Denver, spanning the second half of the week and into the weekend.
As the pattern continues next week, there will be more opportunities for beneficial moisture, along with waves of cold air for the West.
While the pattern is good news for the West in terms of moisture as Clark stated, the region still has a long way to go to climb out of the drought.
AccuWeather.com will continue to provide updates on the storms heading for the West.
Alex Sosnowski is a senior meteorologist for www.AccuWeather.com .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two incidents of vandalism have done significant damage to a portion of one of Clearlake's two post offices and resulted in nighttime closures for the facility.
Postmaster Miguel A. Chavez said the incidents happened late last week and over the weekend at the post office, located at 14500 Olympic Drive.
In the first incident – believed to have occurred late Friday night or early Saturday morning – someone set fire to a trash can inside the building, Chavez said.
He said the fire went up one of the building's columns. “Luckily, it was contained just to the one area there.”
However, he said the damage – particularly from the fire's smoke – was “extensive.”
On Monday he didn't have a dollar figure available for damages.
The damaged area is still roped off and will remain that way until investigators with the federal US Postal Inspection Service – the law enforcement agency tasked with dealing with crimes related to the US Postal Service – have a chance to assess the scene, Chavez said.
“We do have surveillance footage of an individual who may have started the fire,” said Chavez. “That’s under investigation by the federal authorities.”
He said the federal authorities also work with local law enforcement on cases.
Chavez noted that in his four years as postmaster, “We’ve had vandalism before, but not fire.”
Then, sometime late Sunday night or early Monday, someone used a BB gun to shoot several of the post office's windows, Chavez said.
The building remains open to the public during daytime hours, said Chavez. However, it's now being closed from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. daily.
“That’s until further notice,” and depends on a decision by the US Postal Inspection Service, Chavez said.
Anyone with information about the crimes can call the US Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 and follow the prompts.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – “How far would you walk for health care?”
With that question, Worldwide Healing Hands invites individuals of all ages to take part in the second annual “Hike 4 Healing” on April 25.
In addition, Worldwide Healing Hands seeks sponsors for the event and for hikers.
Sponsors will be recognized in print and broadcast releases about the event as well as acknowledged on information available at the hike.
All donations will help support the Worldwide Healing Hands’ goals and missions to provide quality health care to women and children, especially those who do not have access to such care.
Hike participants will traverse the Wright Summit Trail on Mount Konocti, a little more than six miles round-trip and an elevation gain of 1,600 feet.
Entrance fee for the hike is $25 per person. There is no charge for children under the age of 12 to participate.
Participants may register on EventBrite, https://eventbrite.com/event/15794115625/ .
The Hike 4 Healing was launched last year as a fundraiser for Worldwide Healing Hands’ missions, according to Hike 4 Healing coordinator Anthy O’Brien, one of the group's board members and a supporter.
Led by Dr. Paula Dhanda, an obstetrician and gynecologist based in Kelseyville, Worldwide Healing Hands provides health care services to women and children in underserved areas of the world.
Worldwide Healing Hands teams have traveled to Nepal, Chad and Haiti to deliver health services.
The organization's volunteer medical teams also have provided free health screenings to homeless in Lake County.
Worldwide Healing Hands recently sent a team of volunteers to Haiti for a week-long mission in conjunction with Project Medishare.
While in Port-au-Prince, the Worldwide Healing Hands doctors and nurses conducted cervical cancer screenings and treatment for dozens of Haitian women and provided training to Haitian physicians and midwives.
The Worldwide Healing Hands Board of Directors is considering the next mission and is proposing Uganda as the location.
“We will need funds to acquire equipment and supplies for a clinic in Uganda,” said Dhanda.
Doctors, nurses and staff who accompany Dhanda on the Worldwide Healing Hands missions are not paid for their time; they donate their services.
However, there are other costs incurred, mainly for much-needed supplies and medicine, according to Dhanda.
“Please join us on our Hike 4 Healing this year so that we may help many more women and children with the health care they need and deserve,” O’Brien said.
The hike is not a race nor competition, she added. “Your prize is the satisfaction of completing the hike and helping a worthy cause.”
For more information about the Hike 4 Healing, call 707-279-8733.
Visit Worldwide Healing Hands’ Web site, www.worldwidehealinghands.org , to read more about the organization.
Clearlake, Calif. -- Clearlake police have arrested a Clearlake man for the shooting of his cousin last week.
Jose Murillo, was arrested by Clearlake Police Officer Mike Ray on February 21, 2015 at approximately 2:26 pm. The investigation is continuing on the other two suspects involved in this incident.
Murillo was booked into Lake County Jail on charges relating to Attempted Murder, Burglary and Impersonating a Peace Officer.
On February 21, 2015 at approximately 2:29 am Clearlake Police were dispatched to St. Helena Hospital Emergency Room on a report of a possible victim of a gunshot wound.
On arrival Officers contacted the victim who was identified as a 35 year old Clearlake resident. The victim reported that he and his wife were sleeping when three armed men
broke into their residence on Jackson Street claiming to be Clearlake Police Officers. Once inside, one of the suspects shot the victim in the hip then all fled.
The victim and his wife recognized one of the suspects as a cousin by marriage.
Murillo remains in custory at Hill road Jail.
Any person with information in relation to this case is encouraged to contact Officer Travis Lenz at the Clearlake Police Department at (707) 9948251 ext. 511.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two personable cats are waiting for their new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control.
“Petey” and “Betsy” are sweet cats who enjoy interactions with humans and would be wonderful companions.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
'Petey'
“Petey” is a handsome 1-year-old male domestic short hair mix with a black and white coat.
He weighs 9.4 pounds, has gold eyes, and loves to be petted and get treats.
Shelter staff said he will be neutered when the right family or person adopts him. He also has had his FVRCP cat vaccine.
Petey is in cat room kennel No. 8, ID No. 1755.
'Betsy'
“Betsy” is a 3-year-old domestic short hair mix who came into the shelter as a stray.
She weighs 6 pounds and has gorgeous gold eyes.
Betsy had her FVRCP cat vaccine, and will be rabies vaccinated and spayed when adopted.
Shelter staff said she loves to be brushed and is looking for a home that will give her lots of love.
Betsy is in cat room kennel No. 43, ID No. 1745.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at