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News

House passes Thompson bill to address gun violence and save lives

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to pass Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05)’s H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act.

Rep. Thompson introduced this bill alongside House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) and Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairwoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).

This bill joins Rep. Thompson’s H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, as the most substantial gun violence prevention legislation to pass the House.

“The heartbreaking mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa, along with the everyday gun violence that often goes unreported must be addressed to save lives, and the House took action today to do just that,” said Thompson. “After each mass shooting, we hear the same thing from the other side: they offer their thoughts and prayers. The Protecting Our Kids Act is more than thoughts and prayers. Every provision in the Protecting Our Kids Act is consistent with the Second Amendment and will save lives. I was proud to work with Chairman Nadler, Chairwoman Jackson Lee, and all of our colleagues who have contributed bills and provisions to this final package.

“As a hunter, gun owner, and combat veteran, I know that raising the age to buy certain assault weapons will save lives. I know limiting magazine capacity will save lives. I know going after gun traffickers saves lives. I know safe storage saves lives. I know that regulating bump stocks and banning ghost guns will save lives.

“Senate Republicans must put the lives of our children, neighbors, and community members above their own political career. The moment has found us, and the time to act is now,” he said.

The Protecting Our Kids Act would:

• Raise the lawful age to purchase a semiautomatic centerfire rifle from 18 to 21 years old.
• Establish a new federal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of a large capacity magazine, with exceptions for certain law enforcement uses and the possession (but not sale) of grandfathered magazines; allow state and local governments to use the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to compensate individuals who surrender large capacity magazines through a buyback program.
• Establish new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchasers and authorize seizure of the property and proceeds of the offense.
• Establish voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage and award grants for Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs.
• Establish requirements to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises; create criminal penalties for violation of the requirements.
• Build on ATF’s regulatory bump stock ban by listing bump stocks under the National Firearms Act and statutorily banning the manufacture, sale, or possession of bump stocks for civilian use.
• Build on ATF’s regulatory ban of ghost guns by ensuring that ghost guns are subject to existing federal firearm regulation by amending the definition of “firearm” to include gun kits and partial receivers and changing the definition of “manufacturing firearms” to include assembling firearms using 3D printing.

Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, then-Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. Mike Thompson Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

This group, consisting of more than 185 Members of Congress, is devoted to finding common sense solutions to our nation’s ongoing gun violence epidemic.

Friday Heat advisory issued for Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Friday due to temperatures that could reach the century mark.

The advisory, issued on Wednesday night, will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday across much of the southern half of Lake County.

Temperatures in Lake County will be in the high 90s, with Middletown expected to have the high at 99 degrees.

Winds of up to 16 miles per hour, with gusts of more than 20 miles per hour, also are forecast for Friday.

Conditions are expected to cool down a bit over the weekend, rolling back to the high 80s and low 90s, before rising into the mid-90s by Wednesday.

Nighttime temperatures will range from the low 50s into the low 60s by midweek, based on the forecast.

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.

Preliminary election results show Ford, Krones, Reynolds and Sullivan top local races

From left, Assessor-Recorder Richard Ford, District Attorney Susan Krones, Middletown Unified Board member-elect Charise Reynolds and Treasurer-Tax Collector-elect Patrick Sullivan. Courtesy photos.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In Tuesday’s primary election Lake County’s voters returned the incumbent assessor-record and district attorney to office for new terms, elected the county’s tax administrator as the new treasurer-tax collector and selected a parent and school volunteer to join the Middletown Unified School District Board.

The Registrar of Voters office posted vote count updates throughout Tuesday night, with the final tallies of the preliminary results posted early Wednesday morning.

While the results will not be final until Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez certifies the election at the end of the 30-day canvass period, the preliminary count indicated large margins that are unlikely to change significantly in the races for assessor-recorder, district attorney, treasurer-tax collector and the Middletown Unified School Board.

In one of the primary’s most heated races, Susan Krones won a second term as district attorney with 61.1% of the vote, or 2,624 votes counted so far.

Her challenger, Anthony Farrington, who served four terms on the Board of Supervisors, received 38.8% of the vote, or 1,664 ballots.

For the assessor-recorder race, despite a challenging campaign, incumbent Richard Ford won a third term with 65.7% of the vote, or 2,747 ballots.

Challenger Hannah Faith Lee, a deputy public guardian and business owner, received 34.2%, or 1,432 votes.

In the race to succeed retiring Treasurer-Tax Collector Barbara Ringen, the preliminary count showed that Patrick Sullivan, who is the county’s tax administrator, received 58.8% of the vote, or 2,405 ballots, compared to Paul Flores, a treasury and cash analyst, who received 41.1%, or 1,679 ballots.

For the Middletown Unified School District, the early count showed that Charise Reynolds received 59.1% of the vote, or 407 ballots, compared to Bryan Pullman, who received 40.8% of the votes, or 281 ballots counted.

Other key county offices that appeared on this month’s primary ballot were uncontested. Sheriff Brian Martin, Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier and District 3 Supervisor Eddie “EJ” Crandell all won reelection with no challengers.

Jenavive Herrington, in her first election, also was uncontested in her run for county clerk-auditor.

In state races, Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry received 70.1% of the vote compared to challenger Bryan Pritchard’s 29.9%, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Sen. Mike McGuire handily won his primary race as well, with 75.3% of the vote. Gene Yoon of Cobb, his challenger, received 24.7%.

For Congress, in the race for the newly drawn District 4, incumbent Mike Thompson received 68.2% of the vote, followed by Matt Brock, 15.7%; Scott Giblin, 8.8%; Andrew David Engdahl, 4.7%; Jimih L. Jones, 1.4%; and Jason Kishineff, 1.3%.

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.

Charlie Jolin to be remembered at June 11 event at Westside Community Park

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Charlie Jolin, the inspiration and driving force for the creation of Westside Community Park in Lakeport, will be recognized and remembered on Saturday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at the park.

Jolin, who passed away at the age of 96 in July 2020, gave many years of service to the citizens of Lakeport not only through his work on the Westside Community Park but in helping to establish Library Park, serving as a Boy Scout Leader and serving on numerous city committees and commissions.

In recognition of his dedication to the Westside Community Park’s development, the City Council named the street into the park, “Charlie Jolin Way.”

The nonprofit Westside Community Park Committee has placed a plaque commemorating Jolin’s service in the park.

An official unveiling of the plaque following a brief ceremony will take place on June 11th. The public is invited to attend.

Following the unveiling, the Lakeport Lions Club will host a community picnic and ribbon cutting for the new “Lions Legacy Playground.”

This free event will feature food, bounce houses and prizes for children. The community picnic will run from 10:30. a.m. until 2 p.m.

Westside Community Park is located at 1401 Charlie Jolin Way (formerly Westside Park Road) off of Parallel Drive just past the Matt Mazzei Auto Dealerships in Lakeport.

Community veterans outreach event planned June 16

KELSEYVILLE — Lake County Vet Connect members will host a quarterly mobile Stand Down, an outreach event for local veterans who are homeless or experiencing uncertain housing.

The event will take place Thursday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 5340 Third St.

Veterans must provide their ID cards or DD Forms 214.

The Stand Down offers immediate intervention support in the form of supplies and housing, employment services and other community resource information. Lunch will be served by Vet Connect volunteers.

Resources will be offered covering a variety of topics including veterans’ services, MPIC VetWorks, housing and homeless assistance, employment, safe medication disposal, emergency preparedness, employment assistance, child support assistance, respite care, and Woodland Community College, behavioral health, and substance abuse counseling services.

“In the military, ‘Stand Down’ afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirits, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment,” said Vet Connect Chair Chris Taliaferro.

“Today, ‘Stand Down’ refers to grassroots, community-based intervention programs designed to help the nation’s homeless veterans ‘combat’ life on the streets. Homeless veterans are invited to a single location and are provided access to the community resources needed to begin addressing their individual problems and start rebuilding their lives,” added Taliaferro.

Vet Connect committee members are asking the public to spread the word regarding the event so that local homeless or near homeless veterans can be reached and may benefit from the support available.

For more information, contact Taliaferro at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Nikki Derr at 707-234-9950.

For updates, visit the Vet Connect Hookup Hub on Facebook.

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

Gov. Newsom takes action to prevent price gouging on infant formula

As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to support families amid the national shortage of infant formula, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed an executive order establishing consumer protections against price gouging on formula to help improve access for parents and caretakers.

In response to the ongoing supply chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of a manufacturing facility earlier this year that further impacted supply, the order generally prohibits sellers from selling infant formula for a price that is more than 10% greater than the price they charged on Feb. 17, and gives additional tools to the California Department of Justice and Attorney General’s Office, district attorneys and other local law enforcement to take action against price gougers.

“California continues to take urgent action to support families feeling the impacts of the nationwide formula shortage. We’re connecting families in need with helpful resources and working to improve access for all parents and caregivers to keep California families safe and healthy,” said Gov. Newsom.

The California Department of Public Health’s Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, program has expanded the list of formula brands eligible for purchase with WIC benefits, enabling the state’s WIC participants to choose from more than 130 different formula brands.

WIC serves pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children with a gross income of no more than 185% of the federal poverty level.

Resources and tips for families, and additional information on the infant formula shortage, can be found on the CDPH Infant Formula web page.
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Community

  • Lake County Wine Alliance offers sponsor update; beneficiary applications open 

  • Mendocino National Forest announces seasonal hiring for upcoming field season

Public Safety

  • Lakeport Police logs: Thursday, Jan. 15

  • Lakeport Police logs: Wednesday, Jan. 14

Education

  • Woodland Community College receives maximum eight-year reaffirmation of accreditation from ACCJC

  • SNHU announces Fall 2025 President's List

Health

  • California ranks 24th in America’s Health Rankings Annual Report from United Health Foundation

  • Healthy blood donors especially vital during active flu season

Business

  • Two Lake County Mediacom employees earn company’s top service awards

  • Redwood Credit Union launches holiday gift and porch-to-pantry food drives

Obituaries

  • Rufino ‘Ray’ Pato

  • Patty Lee Smith

Opinion & Letters

  • The benefits of music for students

  • How to ease the burden of high electric bills

Veterans

  • CalVet and CSU Long Beach team up to improve data collection related to veteran suicides

  • A ‘Big Step Forward’ for Gulf War Veterans

Recreation

  • Wet weather trail closure in effect on Upper Lake Ranger District

  • Mendocino National Forest seeking public input on OHV grant applications

  • State Parks announces 2026 Anderson Marsh nature walk schedule 

  • BLM lifts seasonal fire restrictions in central California

Religion

  • Kelseyville Presbyterian to host Ash Wednesday service and Lenten dinner Feb. 18

  • Kelseyville Presbyterian Church to hold ‘Longest Night’ service Dec. 21

Arts & Life

  • Auditions announced for original musical ‘Even In Shadow’ set for March 21 and 28

  • ‘The Rip’ action heist; ‘Steal’ grounded in a crime thriller

Government & Politics

  • Lake County Democrats issue endorsements in local races for the June California Primary

  • County negotiates money-saving power purchase agreement

Legals

  • March 3 hearing on ordinance amending code for commercial cannabis uses

  • Feb. 12 public hearing on resolution to establish standards for agricultural roads

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