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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service’s Eureka office reported that unseasonably warm temperatures are expected across the North Coast through the weekend.
Forecasters said a system of high pressure is moving past the Pacific Northwest and impacting California’s northwest coast.
That system is reported to be contributing to drying and warming the region to record-breaking or near record-breaking temperatures, which could continue into Sunday.
The conditions led the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook for northwest California and Lake County, warning of a minor fire risk on Wednesday and into Thursday due to high winds at ridgetops, low relative humidities and marginally receptive fuels.
The forecast for the rest of this week calls for daytime temperatures into the high 70s, with nighttime conditions in the high 40s.
Winds of up to 15 miles per hour are forecast, particularly in the south county, on Thursday and Thursday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Forecasters said a system of high pressure is moving past the Pacific Northwest and impacting California’s northwest coast.
That system is reported to be contributing to drying and warming the region to record-breaking or near record-breaking temperatures, which could continue into Sunday.
The conditions led the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook for northwest California and Lake County, warning of a minor fire risk on Wednesday and into Thursday due to high winds at ridgetops, low relative humidities and marginally receptive fuels.
The forecast for the rest of this week calls for daytime temperatures into the high 70s, with nighttime conditions in the high 40s.
Winds of up to 15 miles per hour are forecast, particularly in the south county, on Thursday and Thursday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
While the National Football League’s top two teams are preparing to battle it out on the field this weekend, the California Highway Patrol is making its game plan to keep the motoring public safe long after the celebrations have ended.
Millions of people will watch the Super Bowl this year, with some attending parties and others heading to the big game in Southern California.
In anticipation of the festivities, the CHP is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind football enthusiasts that fans don’t let fans drive drunk.
“Getting behind the wheel while impaired can end tragically,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Instead, make responsible decisions if your plans include alcohol and help keep everyone safe by planning for a sober ride home. Do not turn a day of fun into a lifetime of regret.”
Preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System show that five people died, and 105 others were injured in alcohol-involved crashes on California’s roadways on Super Bowl Sunday last year.
That same day, CHP officers made 229 arrests for driving under the influence.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, be responsible and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Offer nonalcoholic beverage choices for designated drivers and remind your guests to designate a sober driver before the game begins.
Call 9-1-1 if you observe what you suspect to be an impaired driver. Be prepared to provide dispatchers with the vehicle’s description, location, license plate number, and the vehicle’s direction of travel.
Millions of people will watch the Super Bowl this year, with some attending parties and others heading to the big game in Southern California.
In anticipation of the festivities, the CHP is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind football enthusiasts that fans don’t let fans drive drunk.
“Getting behind the wheel while impaired can end tragically,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Instead, make responsible decisions if your plans include alcohol and help keep everyone safe by planning for a sober ride home. Do not turn a day of fun into a lifetime of regret.”
Preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System show that five people died, and 105 others were injured in alcohol-involved crashes on California’s roadways on Super Bowl Sunday last year.
That same day, CHP officers made 229 arrests for driving under the influence.
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, be responsible and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Offer nonalcoholic beverage choices for designated drivers and remind your guests to designate a sober driver before the game begins.
Call 9-1-1 if you observe what you suspect to be an impaired driver. Be prepared to provide dispatchers with the vehicle’s description, location, license plate number, and the vehicle’s direction of travel.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed legislation extending COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for workers, and early budget action to provide an additional $6.1 billion in tax relief, tax credits and direct grants for small businesses hit hard by the pandemic, bolstering the state’s historic COVID relief efforts and investing in California’s iconic entrepreneurial economy.
“As California continues to lead the nation’s economic recovery, today’s action deepens our commitment to supporting the workers and businesses that have sustained us all during this unprecedented pandemic and are driving our economy,” said Gov. Newsom. “We’re ensuring that workers have the time they need to take care of themselves and their loved ones, expanding our nation-leading small business relief grant program and supporting the businesses whose innovation and entrepreneurial spirit help make California the 5th largest economy in the world.”
Outlined by the governor, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in January, SB 114 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review ensures that employees continue to have access to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave through Sept. 30, 2022, which may be used by employees who have been advised to quarantine, those caring for COVID-impacted family members, attending a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, and more.
Small businesses employing 25 or fewer workers are exempt from the legislation, which is retroactive to sick leave taken beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
“Paid sick leave is key to ensuring workers don’t have to make the impossible choice between going to work sick or losing wages needed to pay rent and keep food on the table,” said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “By signing COVID paid sick leave into law today, Gov. Newsom provided critical protection to front line workers and families across the state, and underscored California’s commitment to the essential workers that have given so much to help our communities weather this devastating pandemic.”
Building on last year's robust support for small businesses impacted by the pandemic — including $6.2 billion in tax relief for small businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans — Gov. Newsom on Wednesday signed SB 113 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review to provide an additional $6.1 billion in tax relief, tax credits and direct grants to the hardest hit businesses.
SB 113 includes provisions that:
Provide a nearly $500 million tax cut for restaurants and venues: By conforming state tax policy for the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund and federal Shuttered Venue Operators grant programs, grants received by such businesses will not be considered taxable by the state — translating into a tax cut totaling nearly $500 million over the coming years.
Restore $5.5 billion in tax credits and deductions for California businesses: By restoring business tax credits, including for research and development and the net operating loss deduction for businesses one year early, the near-term benefit for such businesses is estimated to reach $5.5 billion.
Invest $150 million in COVID-19 relief grants for California’s small businesses: SB 113 invests an additional $150 million in California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to fund applicants on the waitlist — the program has provided grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
“This business relief package of more than $6 billion will help to offset losses employers have incurred, help create good paying jobs, and will speed up our economic recovery from the pandemic,” said Jennifer Barrera, CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. “While we have more work to do, this sends the right message that California is investing in the success of our business community.”
“Paid sick leave is a life or death issue for grocery workers like me and the customers in our stores,” said Samantha Webster, a grocery store worker at Safeway in Hercules and a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5. “I’m proud of the way grocery workers came together to demand this important public health measure. Having access to supplemental paid sick leave will now let me stay home if I need to and not have to worry about getting my customers and co-workers sick.”
From the beginning of the pandemic, the administration has taken action to protect and support California’s workforce, including expanding access to job-protected paid family leave and workers’ compensation; more resources for critical child support services for essential employees and vulnerable populations; additional weekly unemployment benefits; building a pipeline of personal protective equipment to help workers stay safe on the job; and support for employees to isolate and quarantine outside their home, among other measures.
“I’m grateful to the Governor and our leaders in the Legislature for taking this urgent action to support teachers like me with the paid sick leave we need to keep ourselves, our families and colleagues safe while providing a safe learning environment for students,” said Johanna Garcia Normart, a teacher at Eden Gardens Elementary in Hayward. “This extension will help our schools continue to meet the unprecedented pandemic challenges we face every day.”
“Paid COVID sick leave really matters for all workers, and especially for health care workers, who need it in order to provide quality safe services to our patients and communities, and in order to take care of ourselves and families, too,” said Mayra Castaneda, a health care technologist and member of SEIU UHW.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
“As California continues to lead the nation’s economic recovery, today’s action deepens our commitment to supporting the workers and businesses that have sustained us all during this unprecedented pandemic and are driving our economy,” said Gov. Newsom. “We’re ensuring that workers have the time they need to take care of themselves and their loved ones, expanding our nation-leading small business relief grant program and supporting the businesses whose innovation and entrepreneurial spirit help make California the 5th largest economy in the world.”
Outlined by the governor, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in January, SB 114 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review ensures that employees continue to have access to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave through Sept. 30, 2022, which may be used by employees who have been advised to quarantine, those caring for COVID-impacted family members, attending a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, and more.
Small businesses employing 25 or fewer workers are exempt from the legislation, which is retroactive to sick leave taken beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
“Paid sick leave is key to ensuring workers don’t have to make the impossible choice between going to work sick or losing wages needed to pay rent and keep food on the table,” said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “By signing COVID paid sick leave into law today, Gov. Newsom provided critical protection to front line workers and families across the state, and underscored California’s commitment to the essential workers that have given so much to help our communities weather this devastating pandemic.”
Building on last year's robust support for small businesses impacted by the pandemic — including $6.2 billion in tax relief for small businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans — Gov. Newsom on Wednesday signed SB 113 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review to provide an additional $6.1 billion in tax relief, tax credits and direct grants to the hardest hit businesses.
SB 113 includes provisions that:
Provide a nearly $500 million tax cut for restaurants and venues: By conforming state tax policy for the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund and federal Shuttered Venue Operators grant programs, grants received by such businesses will not be considered taxable by the state — translating into a tax cut totaling nearly $500 million over the coming years.
Restore $5.5 billion in tax credits and deductions for California businesses: By restoring business tax credits, including for research and development and the net operating loss deduction for businesses one year early, the near-term benefit for such businesses is estimated to reach $5.5 billion.
Invest $150 million in COVID-19 relief grants for California’s small businesses: SB 113 invests an additional $150 million in California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to fund applicants on the waitlist — the program has provided grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
“This business relief package of more than $6 billion will help to offset losses employers have incurred, help create good paying jobs, and will speed up our economic recovery from the pandemic,” said Jennifer Barrera, CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. “While we have more work to do, this sends the right message that California is investing in the success of our business community.”
“Paid sick leave is a life or death issue for grocery workers like me and the customers in our stores,” said Samantha Webster, a grocery store worker at Safeway in Hercules and a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5. “I’m proud of the way grocery workers came together to demand this important public health measure. Having access to supplemental paid sick leave will now let me stay home if I need to and not have to worry about getting my customers and co-workers sick.”
From the beginning of the pandemic, the administration has taken action to protect and support California’s workforce, including expanding access to job-protected paid family leave and workers’ compensation; more resources for critical child support services for essential employees and vulnerable populations; additional weekly unemployment benefits; building a pipeline of personal protective equipment to help workers stay safe on the job; and support for employees to isolate and quarantine outside their home, among other measures.
“I’m grateful to the Governor and our leaders in the Legislature for taking this urgent action to support teachers like me with the paid sick leave we need to keep ourselves, our families and colleagues safe while providing a safe learning environment for students,” said Johanna Garcia Normart, a teacher at Eden Gardens Elementary in Hayward. “This extension will help our schools continue to meet the unprecedented pandemic challenges we face every day.”
“Paid COVID sick leave really matters for all workers, and especially for health care workers, who need it in order to provide quality safe services to our patients and communities, and in order to take care of ourselves and families, too,” said Mayra Castaneda, a health care technologist and member of SEIU UHW.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — At the request of the county superintendent of schools, the Board of Supervisors has approved consolidating a special Middletown Unified School District Board election with the state primary in June.
Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg asked the board to approve having the Registrar of Voters Office handle the election and consolidate it with the statewide primary on June 7.
Falkenberg submitted to the board a resolution of the Lake County Office of Education ordering the special election and seeking the consolidation with the primary.
The supervisors unanimously approved the request on Tuesday as part of its consent agenda.
The special election was triggered after a group of community members filed a petition to challenge the Dec. 1 appointment of Annette Lee to the Middletown Unified board.
Lee was chosen to fill the seat vacated a month and a half earlier by LaTrease Walker, who quit over her objections to COVID-19-related mandates.
Walker has since helped organize the petition against Lee, which was submitted to Falkenberg’s office on Dec. 30, just under the 30-day deadline after Lee’s appointment.
The petition’s proponents needed to collect 92 valid signatures, or 1.5% of the number of voters registered in the district’s last election, which totaled 6,129.
Falkenberg said his office received 185 signatures, of which 125 were deemed valid.
He said they also received one request to have a name removed from the petition.
Consolidating the election is meant to help cut the costs to Middletown Unified.
Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez told Lake County News she had estimated a stand-alone election could be as high as $50,000, based on a similar election held by another school district.
On Tuesday, she said that as long as no other school district asks to be consolidated, the cost could be about a third or half that $50,000 estimate.
Districts have until 88 days before the election — which this year is March 11 — if they want to place a measure on the ballot, and Valadez said she has had no indications so far that will happen.
She also cautioned, “The cost of everything has gone up.”
The Middletown Unified seat that will be on the ballot for the special election will also be on the ballot in November, as the term expires at the end of this year.
Some candidates for local offices are now circulating in-lieu petitions to reduce the costs of fees to file to run.
Valadez said school board candidates don’t do those in-lieu petitions, so candidate filings have not yet begun.
She said the filing period for the Middletown Unified seat will run from Feb. 14 to March 11.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg asked the board to approve having the Registrar of Voters Office handle the election and consolidate it with the statewide primary on June 7.
Falkenberg submitted to the board a resolution of the Lake County Office of Education ordering the special election and seeking the consolidation with the primary.
The supervisors unanimously approved the request on Tuesday as part of its consent agenda.
The special election was triggered after a group of community members filed a petition to challenge the Dec. 1 appointment of Annette Lee to the Middletown Unified board.
Lee was chosen to fill the seat vacated a month and a half earlier by LaTrease Walker, who quit over her objections to COVID-19-related mandates.
Walker has since helped organize the petition against Lee, which was submitted to Falkenberg’s office on Dec. 30, just under the 30-day deadline after Lee’s appointment.
The petition’s proponents needed to collect 92 valid signatures, or 1.5% of the number of voters registered in the district’s last election, which totaled 6,129.
Falkenberg said his office received 185 signatures, of which 125 were deemed valid.
He said they also received one request to have a name removed from the petition.
Consolidating the election is meant to help cut the costs to Middletown Unified.
Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez told Lake County News she had estimated a stand-alone election could be as high as $50,000, based on a similar election held by another school district.
On Tuesday, she said that as long as no other school district asks to be consolidated, the cost could be about a third or half that $50,000 estimate.
Districts have until 88 days before the election — which this year is March 11 — if they want to place a measure on the ballot, and Valadez said she has had no indications so far that will happen.
She also cautioned, “The cost of everything has gone up.”
The Middletown Unified seat that will be on the ballot for the special election will also be on the ballot in November, as the term expires at the end of this year.
Some candidates for local offices are now circulating in-lieu petitions to reduce the costs of fees to file to run.
Valadez said school board candidates don’t do those in-lieu petitions, so candidate filings have not yet begun.
She said the filing period for the Middletown Unified seat will run from Feb. 14 to March 11.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said the cleanup of properties impacted by the August Cache fire in Clearlake has been completed.
Cal OES reported that state contractors have cleared the remains — burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil — from all 78 homes and property in Lake County whose owners enrolled in the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program.
At the same time, they also completed the cleanup work on all 19 properties in Mendocino County impacted by last year’s Hopkins fires.
In total, state-managed crews removed 5,024 tons of debris from Mendocino County and 9,308 tons of debris from Lake County, Cal OES reported.
Metal and concrete is diverted for recycling, while ash, debris, and contaminated soil is disposed of at lined landfills approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Under the program, administered by Cal OES and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle, in collaboration with county officials, participating property owners incur no direct costs.
Property owners opted into the program by submitting a right-of-entry form to their county, which allows the state to begin work on their property and incur no direct costs for the removal of burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from their properties.
Statewide, crews have removed debris from 1,138, or 66.4%, of the 1,715 parcels enrolled in the full program. An additional 377 properties are participating in the hazardous trees-only element of the program.
State and federal officials are reviewing additional commercial parcels that may be subsequently approved for debris removal.
Steps left to complete
Before homeowners can begin rebuilding, cleared properties need additional work including:
• Separate contractors collect soil samples for verification at a laboratory that they meet state environmental health and safety standards.
• Contractors next may install erosion control measures.
• Certified arborists or professional foresters assess wildfire-damaged trees in danger of falling on the public or public infrastructure for removal by separate contractors.
• Finally, state officials inspect the property to verify all completed work meets state standards. Debris officials submit a final inspection report to local officials to approve the property for reconstruction.
To date, 15 properties in Lake County have completed the entire debris removal process and been returned to county officials to begin the permitting process.
Property owners can track progress on the Debris Operations Dashboard for the 2021 statewide wildfires.
The dashboard is updated every hour and provides users with the ability to search by county or address.
Cal OES reported that state contractors have cleared the remains — burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil — from all 78 homes and property in Lake County whose owners enrolled in the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program.
At the same time, they also completed the cleanup work on all 19 properties in Mendocino County impacted by last year’s Hopkins fires.
In total, state-managed crews removed 5,024 tons of debris from Mendocino County and 9,308 tons of debris from Lake County, Cal OES reported.
Metal and concrete is diverted for recycling, while ash, debris, and contaminated soil is disposed of at lined landfills approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Under the program, administered by Cal OES and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle, in collaboration with county officials, participating property owners incur no direct costs.
Property owners opted into the program by submitting a right-of-entry form to their county, which allows the state to begin work on their property and incur no direct costs for the removal of burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from their properties.
Statewide, crews have removed debris from 1,138, or 66.4%, of the 1,715 parcels enrolled in the full program. An additional 377 properties are participating in the hazardous trees-only element of the program.
State and federal officials are reviewing additional commercial parcels that may be subsequently approved for debris removal.
Steps left to complete
Before homeowners can begin rebuilding, cleared properties need additional work including:
• Separate contractors collect soil samples for verification at a laboratory that they meet state environmental health and safety standards.
• Contractors next may install erosion control measures.
• Certified arborists or professional foresters assess wildfire-damaged trees in danger of falling on the public or public infrastructure for removal by separate contractors.
• Finally, state officials inspect the property to verify all completed work meets state standards. Debris officials submit a final inspection report to local officials to approve the property for reconstruction.
To date, 15 properties in Lake County have completed the entire debris removal process and been returned to county officials to begin the permitting process.
Property owners can track progress on the Debris Operations Dashboard for the 2021 statewide wildfires.
The dashboard is updated every hour and provides users with the ability to search by county or address.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Enforcement Program is reporting on its activities in Lake County last year.
Last week, the agency released its year-end numbers for the 2021 calendar year, looking at its operations statewide.
CDFW said its 68 dedicated cannabis enforcement officers work with county, state and federal partners to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation operations. Their goal is to uncover and curtail operations that result in significant environmental damage.
Statewide in 2021, CDFW eradicated 2.6 million illegal cannabis plants, destroyed 487,270 pounds of illegal cannabis flower, served 1,125 search warrants, seized 794 firearms, and removed 32,230 pounds of trash and 404 illegal water diversions from public lands.
In Lake County, CDFW last year eradicated 83,735 cannabis plants, seized 4,756 pounds of processed cannabis, served 31 search warrants and seized 32 firearms, said Janice Mackey, a spokesperson for CDFW’s Cannabis Program.
“The numbers represent all operations where CDFW was either the lead agency or in a support role,” said Mackey.
She added that there could have been other enforcement operations during the year in which CDFW was not involved.
CDFW said that illegal cannabis cultivation continues to move away from public land operations to private property.
The public is encouraged to report environmental crimes to the CalTIP hotline by calling 888-334-2258 or by texting information to “TIP411” (847411).
Last week, the agency released its year-end numbers for the 2021 calendar year, looking at its operations statewide.
CDFW said its 68 dedicated cannabis enforcement officers work with county, state and federal partners to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation operations. Their goal is to uncover and curtail operations that result in significant environmental damage.
Statewide in 2021, CDFW eradicated 2.6 million illegal cannabis plants, destroyed 487,270 pounds of illegal cannabis flower, served 1,125 search warrants, seized 794 firearms, and removed 32,230 pounds of trash and 404 illegal water diversions from public lands.
In Lake County, CDFW last year eradicated 83,735 cannabis plants, seized 4,756 pounds of processed cannabis, served 31 search warrants and seized 32 firearms, said Janice Mackey, a spokesperson for CDFW’s Cannabis Program.
“The numbers represent all operations where CDFW was either the lead agency or in a support role,” said Mackey.
She added that there could have been other enforcement operations during the year in which CDFW was not involved.
CDFW said that illegal cannabis cultivation continues to move away from public land operations to private property.
The public is encouraged to report environmental crimes to the CalTIP hotline by calling 888-334-2258 or by texting information to “TIP411” (847411).