On Tuesday, California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday administered the California Service Corps Pledge to thousands of new members of #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, California Climate Action Corps and AmeriCorps California launching the largest service force in the nation.

“These paid service programs are about restoring the social contract between government and its citizens,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “This public investment builds upon California Volunteers’ army of service members, which is larger than the Peace Corps, and exemplifies the spirit and idealism I see in young people across California.”

Over the coming year, California Service Corps programs will be over 10,000 strong and members will help communities by taking climate action, tutoring and mentoring students to help them succeed, supporting communities impacted by disasters, working to end hunger and connecting vulnerable people to vital resources and services.

"This year in California, service members have stepped up to bridge divides and help their communities by serving with a program in the California Service Corps,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “These members are the state’s future leaders and we need their energy and enthusiasm to address our greatest challenges.”

The event highlighted California Volunteers, Office of the Governor’s commitment and momentum to scale up its programs which are made possible by the leadership and budget investments of Governor Newsom and the State Legislature.

California Service Corps members gain skills and experience while making new friends and gaining satisfaction from making a positive difference. Members receive living stipends and many can receive up to $10,000 after completing their service to be used for college, trade school or to pay back student loans.

Those interested in finding a paid service opportunity are encouraged to attend an upcoming recruitment webinar on October 26, 2023, at 1 p.m., to learn more about the benefits and impact of service.

California Volunteers is currently accepting applications for California Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps and AmeriCorps California.

Sign up to find local volunteer opportunities: CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.   

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The south county’s two-term supervisor said Tuesday that he does not intend to run for reelection in 2024.

Supervisor Moke Simon made the announcement at the end of the board’s Tuesday morning session, when board members were giving their calendar updates for the week.

After reporting on his plans and upcoming meetings, Simon paused and then said, “I don’t know if this is the place to do it but I’m just going to do it today.”

He said he had spoken with fellow board members and County Administrative Officer Susan Parker.

“I’m going to make an announcement that I am not going to be seeking a third term for the District 1 supervisor,” said Simon.

“It's the fourth quarter of my life and I’ve got some things I want to get done,” he said.

Simon noted that he’s been getting “peppered” with questions about his plans all over, and would be making phone calls and emails to follow up with those who had contacted him.

A Middletown native, Simon, 51, was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2017, succeeding Jim Comstock.

Since 2012, he has served as tribal chair of Middletown Rancheria and since 2019 has served on the State Board of Fire Services.

He was a Middletown High School and college football standout, attending Butte College — where he was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2018 — and Texas A&M University.

After college, he played professional football for teams including the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts. Today he continues to coach high school football at Middletown High.

When the Registrar of Voters Office provided Lake County News with an updated list of campaign filings this week, Simon had not submitted either a candidate intention statement or petition-in-lieu papers.

However, the nomination period when candidates have to file a declaration of candidacy form, nomination papers and pay the filing fee in order for their name to be on the March 2024 presidential primary ballot is still weeks away. That filing period runs from Nov. 13 through Dec. 8.

So far, Bren Boyd and Bryan Pritchard have both filed candidate intention statements and petition-in-lieu papers for the District 1 seat.

With Simon now bowing out and the District 1 seat open, it’s likely that more candidates will join the race.

A large field is already forming for the District 4 seat in 2024, after appointed incumbent Michael Green said he will not run for election. So far, Brad Rasmussen, Laura McAndrews Sammel, Scott Barnett and Chris Read have filed paperwork signaling their intentions to run to represent the Lakeport area.

Board Chair Jessica Pyska, representing District 5, has indicated she will seek a second term. Others joining the field to challenge her so far include Daniel “Boone” Bridges and Dennis Holtzinger III.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hopefuls for several local elected offices are in the process of filing papers in order to be on the ballot for the March 2024 presidential primary.

The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office gave Lake County News an update on the latest filings.

Lake County offices on the ballot in 2024 are Superior Court judge seats for departments 1, 3 and 4; supervisorial seats for districts 1, 4 and 5; and sheriff-coroner.

Earlier this year, several candidates filed the candidate intention statement, or Form 501. That’s required for any candidate unless they raise or spend less than $2,000 in a calendar year.

Form 501 filers to date are:

• County Supervisor, District 1: Bren Boyd and Bryan Pritchard, challengers.

• County Supervisor, District 4 (open seat): Brad Rasmussen, Laura McAndrews Sammel, Scott Barnett and Chris Read.

• County Supervisor, District 5: Jessica Pyska, incumbent; Dennis Holtzinger III; and Daniel “Boone” Bridges.

• Sheriff-Coroner (open seat): Luke Bingham.

The process to file for candidacy starts with in-lieu-of-filing petitions, available between Sept. 14 until Nov. 8.

To date, the Registrar of Voters Office said the following candidates have pulled petition-in-lieu papers:

• Superior Court Judge, Department 1: Michael Lunas, incumbent.

• Superior Court Judge, Department 3: Andrew Blum, incumbent.

• Superior Court Judge, Department 4: Shanda Harry, incumbent; Anna Gregorian, challenger.

• County Supervisor, District 1: Bren Boyd and Bryan Pritchard, challengers.

• County Supervisor, District 4 (open seat): Brad Rasmussen, Laura McAndrews Sammel and Scott Barnett.

• County Supervisor, District 5: Jessica Pyska, incumbent, and Dennis Holtzinger, challenger.

• Sheriff-Coroner (open seat): Luke Bingham.

Next up is the nomination period, which runs from Nov. 13 through Dec. 8.

During that period, all candidates for elective office must file a declaration of candidacy form, nomination papers and pay filing fee in order for their name to be printed on the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election ballot.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article reported that the Form 501 limit was $1,000. The Registrar’s Office said the amount is now $2,000.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department is making the public aware of available tools and resources related to trespassing on private property and other non-emergency concerns.

For business and property owners struggling with trespassing issues, the police department recommends visiting its new Trespass Enforcement Authorization information page or visit the Lakeport Police website and choose Trespass Enforcement Authorization from the left menu.

The landing page includes an expressed waiver, description of ineligible properties, the process for submitting the letter and a link to the letter in Word format for downloading, editing and printing.

This letter allows the police department to enforce no-trespassing on private property in the city of Lakeport by taking enforcement action when voluntary compliance and warnings do not appropriately address the issue.

Have you had a concern or issue you wanted to address to the Lakeport Police Department or information you wanted to share, but do not need an immediate response from an officer? You can go to: https://lakeport.crimegraphics.com/2013/default.aspx.

You can also visit the Lakeport Police website and choose Community Portal – Crime Activity/Crime Analysis & More from the left menu; select Directed Patrol Request.

Complete this form with contact information and concern, issue or question. Then submit the form online and a member of the department will respond.

The Lakeport Police Department said it remains committed to providing high-quality law enforcement service to our community.

“We hope these resources benefit those who live, work, operate a business or visit our city,” The agency said in its report.

For more information, contact Chief of Police Brad Rasmussen at 707-263-5491.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Effective Monday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m., Cal Fire will lift the burn permit suspension in the State Responsibility Area in Colusa, Lake, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

Cal Fire’s burn permit suspension in Napa County will be lifted on Monday, Nov. 6.

In Lake County, this does not apply to the annual burn ban which is still in effect.

Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Mike Marcucci is formally canceling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning after these dates for the respective counties on permissible burn days.

Agriculture burns must be inspected by Cal Fire prior to burning until the end of the peak fire season.

Inspections may be required for burns other than agriculture burns. This can be verified by contacting your local air quality management district.

Cooler temperatures, higher humidities and the chance of winter weather have helped to begin to diminish the threat of wildfire.

Property owners and residents are asked to use caution while conducting debris or agriculture burns, follow all guidelines provided and maintain control of the fire at all times.

Individuals can be held civilly and/or criminally liable for allowing a fire to escape their control and/or burn onto neighboring property.

Residents in the counties where Cal Fire is lifting the ban who wish to burn must verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning.

Check with the following agencies depending on county:

• Lake County Air Quality Management District, 707-263-7000.
• Colusa County Air Pollution Control District, 530-458-0581.
• Bay Area Air Pollution Control District, 800-792-0787.
• Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, 707-433-5911.
• Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, 530-757-3660.

For information on burn permits for Lake County, please visit the South Lake County Fire Protection District website at https://www.southlakecountyfire.org./home/permits/.

Pile burning requirements:

• Only dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned.
• The burning of trash, painted wood or other debris is not allowed.
• Do NOT burn on windy days.
• Piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and in height. You can add to pile as it burns down.
• Clear a 10-foot diameter down to bare soil around your piles.
• Have a shovel and a water source nearby.
• An adult is required to be in attendance at the fire at all times.

Visit https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/ to learn more or to apply for a permit.

Safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards.

State, federal and local land management and fire agencies will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health and resiliency on private and public lands.

For more information on burning, visit the Cal Fire website at www.fire.ca.gov.

 

Firearm injuries are now the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens following a huge decadelong rise.

Analyses published on Oct. 5, 2023, by a research team in Boston found an 87% increase in firearm-involved fatalities among Americans under the age of 18 from 2011 to 2021.

Such an increase is obviously very concerning. But as scholars of adolescent health and firearm violence, we know there are many evidence-based steps that elected officials, health care professionals, community leaders, school administrators and parents can implement to help reverse this trend.

Trends in firearm deaths

The latest study is based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This data also provides information on whether firearm deaths were the result of homicide, suicide or unintentional shootings.

We have seen increases over time in all three areas. The steepest increase has been in the rate of firearm homicides, which doubled over the decade to 2021, reaching 2.1 deaths per 100,000 children and teens, or about 1,500 fatalities annually. Firearm-involved suicides have also increased steadily to 1.1 deaths per 100,000 children and teens in 2021.

Whereas the proportion of youth firearm-involved deaths due to unintentional shootings is typically highest during childhood, the share of gun deaths due to suicide peaks in adolescence.

In 2021, homicide was the most common form of firearm-involved deaths in almost every age group under the age of 18, with an exception of 12- and 13-year-olds, in which suicide was the leading cause of firearm fatalities.

Racial disparities in firearm deaths, which have been present for multiple generations, are also expanding, research shows.

Black children and teens are now dying from firearms at around 4.5 times the rate of their white peers.

This disparity is the consequence of structural factors, including the effects of systemic racism and economic disinvestment within many communities. Addressing racial disparities in firearm-involved deaths will require supporting communities and disrupting inequity by addressing long-term underfunding in Black communities and punitive policymaking.

More research is needed to fully understand why firearm-involved deaths are universally increasing across homicide, suicide and unintentional deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic and its exacerbation of social inequities and vulnerabilities likely explain some of these increases.

How to reduce gun fatalities

Reducing young people’s access to unsecured and loaded firearms can prevent firearm-involved deaths across all intents — including suicide, homicide and unintentional shootings.

Gun-owning parents can help by storing all firearms in a secure manner – such as in a locked gun safe or with a trigger or cable lock – and unloaded so they are not accessible to children or teens within the household.

Data shows that only one-third of firearm-owning households with teens in the U.S. currently store all their firearms unloaded and locked.

In addition to locking household firearms, parents should consider storing a firearm away from the home, such as in a gun shop or shooting range, or temporarily transferring ownership to a family member if they have a teen experiencing a mental health crisis.

Families, including those that don’t own firearms, should also consider how firearms are stored in homes where their children or teens may spend time, such as a grandparent’s or neighbor’s house.

Community-based and clinical programs that provide counseling on the importance of locked storage and provide free devices are effective in improving the ways people store their firearms. In addition, researchers have found that states with child access prevention laws, which impose criminal liability on adults for negligently stored firearms, are associated with lower rates of child and teen firearm deaths.

Reducing the number of young people who carry and use firearms in risky ways is another key step to prevent firearm deaths among children and teens. Existing hospital- and community-based prevention services support this work by identifying and enrolling youth at risk in programs that reduce violence involvement, the carrying of firearms and risky firearm behaviors.

While researchers are currently testing such programs to understand how well they work, early findings suggest that the most promising programs include a combination of reducing risky behaviors – through, for example, nonviolent conflict resolution; enhancing youth engagement in pro-social activities and with positive mentors; and supporting youth mental health.

Support structures

In addition to ongoing focused prevention efforts, hospital-, school- and community-based interventions that support youth in advancing social, emotional, mental, physical and financial health can reduce the risk of firearm deaths. Such measures include both creating opportunities for children and teens – building playgrounds, establishing youth programs and providing access to the arts and green spaces – and community-level improvements, such as improved public transportation, economic opportunities, environmental safety conditions and affordable and quality housing. Allocating resources toward these initiatives is an investment in every community member’s safety.

Over the past decade, we have seen an 87% increase in firearm-involved fatalities among children and teens in the United States. But we also have the strategies and tools to stop and reverse this troubling trend.

Rebeccah Sokol, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Michigan; Marc A. Zimmerman, Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan, and Patrick Carter, Co-Director, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention; Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.