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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The search for a new chancellor for the Yuba Community College District has reached a key stage, with finalists named and public forums arranged for early April.

Yuba Community College District’s Search Committee for the next chancellor has chosen four finalists for the position.

The finalists are Dr. Beatriz Espinoza, Dr. Eugene Giovannini, Dr. Shouan Pan and Dr. Wei Zhou.

Dr. Espinoza has spent more than 30 years in higher education. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at UT-Pan American, her master’s and doctor’s degrees in rehabilitation psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a post-doctorate in community college leadership at the University of Texas-Austin, and served as a Kellogg Fellow with the Minority Serving Institutions higher education leadership program. Her university and community college experiences expand the roles of faculty, researcher, counselor, director, dean, vice president, vice chancellor and president/CEO across six states.

Dr. Giovannini has 14 years of experience as a community college president and six years of experience as chancellor of a multi-campus community college. In his latest position as Chancellor of Tarrant County College District, Giovannini oversaw six campuses. He also served the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona as founding President of Maricopa Corporate College in Scottsdale, including 11 years as President of Gateway Community College in Phoenix. Giovannini earned his doctorate in Community College Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Education and Master of Education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Pan has held several senior-level positions, including as chancellor of Seattle Colleges, president of Mesa Community College, provost of Broward College, South Campus, executive dean of Instruction and Student Services at Florida State College at Jacksonville. As an immigrant, Dr. Pan is deeply passionate about serving the community college mission. Dr. Pan has been actively engaged at both national and local levels, including serving on the Board of Directors for American Association of Community Colleges, League for Innovation in the Community College, National Asian Pacific Islander Council and Arizona Commission for Post-secondary Education.

Dr. Zhou is a University of California, Davis, Center for Community College Leadership and Research Wheelhouse Fellow and California Community College Inaugural CEO Leadership Academy graduate with a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin’s top-ranked doctoral program in education. He has extensive California community college administrative experience in multi-college districts and Hispanic serving institutions, serving large geographical areas including positions as dean of math, science and engineering at Evergreen Valley College, vice president for academic affairs at Copper Mountain College, vice president of instruction and interim president at Cuyamaca College, president of Crafton Hills College and assistant superintendent/vice president of academic affairs at Cerritos College.

More information about each finalist is available on the YCCD website.

As a final step in the selection process, the public, staff and students are invited to attend public forums to be held April 3 to 5 at both Yuba and Woodland Community Colleges.

The public forums will give staff, students and community members an opportunity to meet each finalist, learn about his/her/their vision for the district and answer questions.

The forums can be attended in person or virtually via Zoom using Yuba College Forums Zoom Link or Woodland Community College Forum Zoom Link.

The schedule follows.

Monday, April 3
Woodland Community College, Building 800, 2300 E Gibson Road, Woodland

3 p.m.: Dr. Wei Zhou
4 p.m.: Dr. Eugene Giovannini
5 p.m.: Dr. Beatriz Espinoza

Tuesday, April 4
Yuba College Theatre, 2088 N. Beale Road, Marysville

10 a.m.: Dr. Wei Zhou
11 a.m.: Dr. Eugene Giovannini
12 p.m.: Dr. Beatriz Espinoza

Wednesday: April 5
Yuba College Theatre, 2088 N. Beale Road, Marysville

11:30 a.m.: Dr. Shouan Pan

Wednesday: April 5
Woodland Community College, Building 800, 2300 E Gibson Rd, Woodland

3:30 p.m.: Dr. Shouan Pan

All are encouraged to submit questions for the finalists using this form: Chancellor Finalist Forum Question Suggestions.

Questions will be reviewed for appropriateness and related or similar questions will be grouped together and asked as one question.

After the completion of the forums, attendees may continue to provide feedback on each candidate using the forms located on the Chancellor Search webpage. The feedback forms must be completed by noon on Thursday, April 6.

Community input from the public forums and the feedback forms will be used by the YCCD Board of Trustees in rendering the selection of the new chancellor.

The Board of Trustees will conduct finalist interviews April 3 and 5, and anticipates hiring the new chancellor this spring.

The Board of Trustees hired search firm PPL Inc., to lead the search for a permanent chancellor and appointed the 14-member Search Committee.

The committee is made up of highly-diverse members including faculty, staff, students and community members. The finalists were chosen through a rigorous process and all four interviewed with the entire Committee before the slate of finalists were identified.

Visit the YCCD website for more information about the public forums and the search process.

In the wake of Monday’s tragic mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee that took the lives of three children and three adults, Congressman Mike Thompson is renewing his call for universal background checks.

“Congress has the power to help save lives and reduce gun violence. The shooting in Nashville is an horrific tragedy that is going to leave a lasting impact on the students, teachers, staff, and the entire Covenant School community. It does not have to be like this, we can act and pass legislation to save lives,” said Thompson (CA-04), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

“When will Republican leadership have the guts to stand up to the gun lobby and join us in passing reforms that will help keep our kids safe in school and save lives? Let’s put my Bipartisan Background Checks Act up for a vote and get it to President Biden. This legislation will reduce gun violence, and if my colleagues truly care about protecting American children, this is an easy step for them to take,” Thompson said.

Thompson and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) reintroduced the Bipartisan Background Checks Act on Feb. 1, 2023.

Chairman Thompson has introduced background check legislation every Congress since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting which killed 20 children and six adult staff members.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act was first introduced in the 116th Congress by Rep. Thompson and was passed in the House by a vote of 240-190, and again passed in the 117th Congress and passed the House by a vote of 227-203.

The bill languished in the Senate due to the filibuster.

Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

On Tuesday, surrounded by legislators and community leaders in the rotunda of the California State Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to implement the strongest state-level oversight and accountability measures on Big Oil in the nation.

Newsom’s office said the move brings transparency to California’s oil and gas industry, shining new light on the corporations that have for decades operated in the shadows while ripping families off and raking in record profits.

It is the latest instance in which the Governor’s Office said he has successfully taken on the historically powerful industry for putting profits over people.

Last year, Gov. Newsom signed legislation adding new reporting requirements to oil refiners, as well as a law protecting neighborhoods and schools from oil drilling.

“With this legislation, we’re ending the oil industry’s days of operating in the shadows. California took on Big Oil and won. We’re not only protecting families, we’re also loosening the vice grip Big Oil has had on our politics for the last 100 years,” Newsom said.

Authored by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), co-sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta and approved by a supermajority in both the Senate and Assembly, SBx1-2 creates a dedicated, day-in and day-out, independent watchdog to root out price gouging by oil companies and authorizes the California Energy Commission, or CEC, to create a penalty to hold the industry accountable.

The law will go into effect on June 26, the 91st day after the end of the special session.

“I am proud of my colleagues for passing this first-in-the-nation protection against price gouging by Big Oil,” said Skinner. “Californians faced outrageously high gas prices last year, prices that strained family budgets an extra $600 or more a month. In calling for immediate action, Governor Newsom responded decisively in proposing SBX 1-2, the strongest, most effective transparency and oversight measure in the nation. This landmark law will allow us to hold oil companies accountable if they pad their profits at the expense of hardworking families. With SBX 1-2, California has sent a clear message to the oil industry: Open your books and prove you’re not price gouging, otherwise Big Oil will pay the price — not consumers.”

When the law’s new transparency and oversight requirements go into effect at the end of June, the state will begin receiving more information than ever before, including last year when it appeared that oil producers suppressed supply to drive up prices and rake in record profits.

Industry knows that the new independent watchdog division will be closely monitoring them and will refer any violation of law — including industry misconduct or market manipulation — to the attorney general for prosecution.

“Record high retail gas prices — and record-breaking profits for Big Oil — hurt those who can least afford it most of all. For too long, Californians have been left in the dark when it comes to the practices of the gas industry. And while oil companies have been lining their pockets, many Californians are struggling to make ends meet. I proudly stand with the Governor as he signs into law our co-sponsored bill to bring accountability and transparency to the gas industry. Together, we are fighting to even the scales for California consumers and take this burden off their shoulders,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“This bill provides important tools to help Californians get the answers we deserve about oil company profits and price gouging,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). “Through the leadership of Senators Skinner, Bradford, Limón, and McGuire, and our colleagues in the Assembly and the Administration, these new reforms are strong on transparency and accountability. That’s a big part of what it will take to stop any wrongdoing and protect California consumers.”

“This landmark reform makes California the first state in the nation to authorize a windfall profits cap on oil refiners so that they can no longer gouge consumers at the pump,” said Jamie Court, president, Consumer Watchdog. “Combined with unprecedented transparency measures and a new watchdog bureau, this price gouging penalty will prevent Californians from enduring the price spikes and profits spikes that have plagued the gasoline market last year. Gov. Newsom has balanced the scales on behalf of millions of Californians who no longer will have to choose between $6 per gallon gas and putting food on their tables.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County and Lake Palliative Care recently named Jonathan Blank as the agency’s executive director.

He has previously served in leadership roles with hospice and palliative care organizations for 17 years nationally and globally.

His leadership, experience and passion for hospice care will guide the organization to sustain and grow the quality end of life care for residents in Lake County.

“We welcome Jonathan to the Hospice Services and palliative care team,” shared David Flaig, chair of the Hospice Services of Lake County Board of Directors. “His background in agency operations and strategic planning, along with his compassionate character, will play a pivotal role as we continue to extend our quality services to families in need. Our board of directors engaged in a thoughtful process to fill this leadership role. We are excited Jonathan Blank accepted this position and are thrilled how he has demonstrated commitment to mission-focused leadership and building a strong care team.”

Blank joined the organization in February, coming from a similar position in an Arizona hospice organization.

“I am excited to have this opportunity to work with the team at Hospice Services of Lake County,” says Blank. “We have outstanding employees and volunteers with an unwavering patient-centered culture that effectively aligns with other health care providers throughout the county. I look forward to sustaining the high standard of care the agency is known for and growing services that will meet the ever-changing health care needs in our community.”

Hospice Services and Lake Palliative Care is a nonprofit health care organization serving Lake County residents for over 44 years.

The core of hospice service is to provide patient- and family-centered symptom management, ensuring the highest level of comfort.

Services are available for individuals with an anticipated life expectancy of 6 months or less and their caregivers wherever they call home.

Services are paid for 100% by Medicare, Medi-Cal and the Veterans Affairs. Many private health insurances also cover hospice care.

Palliative care provides symptom management and support of all kinds to individuals with chronic conditions who have Partnership as their primary insurance.

“Community members are encouraged to learn how our compassionate team can assist you and your loved ones. Sooner is better,” said Blank.

Call 707-263-6222 or visit Hospice Services at 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport.

Additional information is also available on Hospice Services of Lake County’s website, www.lakecountyhospice.org.

Janine Smith-Citron is director of development for Hospice Services of Lake County.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — A virtual town hall this week will offer community members the opportunity to hear the latest on the economy and potential impacts for the North Coast.

On Wednesday, March 29, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi will hold a Zoom town hall to discuss the state of the economy and other top-of-mind issues facing our communities.

The town hall will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.

For the first half hour, Rep. Thompson will be joined by Mr. Zandi. For the remaining time, Rep. Thompson will answer questions on general topics.

All constituents of California’s Fourth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to attend.

RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a Zoom link or watch live on Rep. Thompson’s Facebook page.

Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — A program that aims to bring more diversity into the firefighting profession is seeking Native American women trainees.

Through the Yurok Tribe’s partnership with Redwood National Park, the Yurok Fire Department was selected to train four female firefighters for the National Park Service’s forward-looking Women in Fire Program.

“It is a huge privilege to train these firefighters for the Women in Fire Program,” said Yurok Fire Chief Rod Mendes, who has trained hundreds of firefighters. “We look forward to providing four Native American women the skills and experience they need to acquire good-paying jobs with tribal, federal or state wildland fire departments.”

"It is the goal of this program to recruit, train, and offer exposure to multiple aspects of wildland fire in addition to exposure to the planning and implementation of prescribed fire projects,” said Redwood National Park Fire Management Officer Rick Young.

“After completion of this program the participants will not only be able to compete for a career in wildland fire as a crewperson, but hopefully be inspired to continue on to become future leaders in the fire service,” said Young. “I’m excited to partner with the Yurok Tribe in this effort and I hope to expand the program in the coming years, creating more opportunities for a large segment of our community that is currently underrepresented within the fire service."

With $100,000 from the National Park Service, or NPS, the Yurok Fire Department is recruiting four Native American women to participate in the paid program.

Once hired, the Yurok Fire Department will put the women through an intensive wildland fire training academy focused on the fundamentals of wildland firefighting.

Based out of the department’s headquarters on the Yurok Reservation, the comprehensive training will consist of classroom instruction and hands-on skill-building exercises.

The classroom part of the course will cover a wide variety of topics, such as wildland fire behavior, firefighting tactics and the Incident Command System, as well as communications, fire line safety and situational awareness.

In the field, the four trainees will perform exercises with many different forms of firefighting equipment, ranging from fire pumps to chainsaws. They will also learn to work as a team.

The in-depth training will prepare program participants to pass the written and physical tests required to receive an interagency-certified Incident Qualifications Card, or Red Card, and a Firefighter 2 credential, which will qualify them to land firefighting jobs anywhere in the United States.

After they complete the training and certification process, the four women will work out of the Yurok fire house in Tulley Creek. On a daily basis, the firefighters will be assigned duties and respond to calls for service as members of the Yurok fire crew until the end of the 2023 fire season.

Their duties may include fighting local forest fires, participating in cultural burns on tribal lands and managing woodland fuels to protect elders’ homes.

The female firefighters will also spend stints with Redwood National Park and US Forest Service fire crews, which will further expand their skill sets.

The Yurok Fire Department is the first tribal firefighting organization to administer the transformational Women in Fire Program in California.

The National Park Service launched the program in 2021 in an effort to make its workforce more resilient and encourage more females to pursue leadership positions within the male-dominated profession. Women currently make up just 12% of the federal wildland fire workforce.

The Yurok Tribe and the park service recognize that diversity drives innovation, which is needed now more than ever before as the land managers confront climate change, drought and longer, more severe fire seasons.

Prior to partnering with the Yurok Fire Department, NPS implemented Women in Fire Programs with conservation corps in multiple states.

The Yurok Fire Department is an all-risk, all-hazard organization that focuses on fire detection, prevention and suppression in conjunction with traditional and conventional fuels management. The chartered tribal agency fights wildfires in the local area and across the US.

In addition to extinguishing fires, the Yurok crew conducts cultural burns to moderate forest fuel loads, improve wildlife habitat and increase access to traditional basket-weaving materials on tribal lands. When they are not contending with fires or performing controlled burns, the Yurok crew works on projects that reduce fire risk on the reservation.

The Yurok Fire Department is led by Chief Rod Mendes. Chief Mendes has more than 35 years of fire officer leadership experience, including lengthy terms as a district fire management officer for the Klamath National Forest and as the Chief of Fire and Office of Emergency Services for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, and over 20 years with Inter-agency Incident Management teams. He is also a governor-appointed member of California’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee.

Chief Mendes will design and oversee the Women in Fire Program training.

“I can say from experience Chief Mendes is a tremendous resource for new firefighters, especially those who want to climb the ranks. The park service couldn’t have selected a better mentor for participants in the Women in Fire Program,” said Yurok Firefighter and Yurok citizen Faith Tracy.

To apply for the Women in Fire Program on the Yurok Reservation, please fill out the Yurok Tribe employment application, which can be found here.