How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Business News
- Details
- Written by: Editor
According to the notice from the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), sampling of spiny lobster and analysis of samples by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) laboratories indicates that consumption of spiny lobster taken from this area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.
On Oct. 24, 2017, state health agencies determined that spiny lobster in waters around Anacapa Island, Ventura County and the east end of Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara County had unhealthy levels of domoic acid and recommended closure of the commercial fishery in this area.
The commercial closure remains in effect in all state waters around the northeast end of Santa Cruz Island east of 119°40.000' W. longitude, west of 119° 30.00' W, and north of 34°00.000' N. latitude and south side of Anacapa Island east of 119°30.000' W, west of 119°20.000' W, and south of 34°00.000' N latitude.
State waters extend three nautical miles beyond outermost islands, reefs and rocks. The recreational fishery for spiny lobster remains open statewide with a warning from CDPH to recreational anglers to avoid consuming the viscera (tomalley) of spiny lobster taken from the closed area.
This closure shall remain in effect until the Director of OEHHA, in consultation with the State Public Health Officer at CDPH, determines that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health and recommends the fishery be open in this area.
CDFW will continue to coordinate with CDPH and OEHHA to test domoic acid levels in spiny lobster to determine when the fishery can safely be opened in the closed area.
Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin produced by a naturally occurring marine alga, whose levels can be increased under certain ocean conditions.
State and federal laws prohibit the commercial distribution of seafood products that contain domoic acid levels above the federal action level, which is 20 parts per million in the viscera of spiny lobster.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – One hundred twenty members and affiliates of the Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, had dinner at Boatique Winery during their annual installation of the board of directors.
Dinner was provided by Chic Le Chef and musical entertainment by David Neft.
The theme chosen by 2018 president Melissa Chapman, designated broker at Chapman Real Estate, was “Fabulous 50s.” Irene Rivas of Country Air Properties was presented the Hazel Pluth Lifetime Achievement Award in Real Estate. Rivas started her real estate career in 1983.
Heidi Johnson, current president of the Lake County Realtors Scholarship and Community Fund, was honored by the Realtor membership as Realtor of the Year 2017, because of her efforts and accomplishments which have provided over 64 Lake County High School Seniors with scholarships over the last two years.
Leana Teschner of Stearns Home Loans, which is a mortgage and refinancing lending service Realtors frequently utilize, was chosen Affiliate of the Year.
Teschner is a member of the Lake County Realtors Scholarship and Community Fund organization and won the award for the second year in a row.
The Outstanding Customer Service Award went to Kim Hansen, executive assistant at LCAOR.
Hansen’s career includes more than 20 years in human resources and customer service.
The Byron Whipple Outstanding Community Service Award went to Mike Damiata, broker associate at Shore Line Realty.
Damiata has coached youth athletic teams for more than 10 years and serves as President of the Clear Lake High School Sports Foundation.
Scott Knickmeyer, association executive and master of ceremonies, kept the dinner meeting lively, and the incoming board of directors were installed, pledging to keep the ethics of the association to high standards.
Joining Chapman as LCAOR directors for 2018 are: Mary Benson, president-elect, Realty 360 Wine Country; Christie Burris, Noble Realty; Victoria Gindele, secretary/treasurer, RE/MAX Gold Lake County; Heidi Johnson, Broker Network; Bobby Dutcher, past president, RE/MAX Full Spectrum; Jessica Walker, Pivinska Real Estate Group; Rob Ishihara, Country Air Properties; Yvette Sloan, 2015 LCAOR past president, NextHome – Yvette Sloan.
Noteworthy also, the ongoing scholarship committee sponsored a silent auction and raffle at this dinner event, which raised more than $6,000 and will be added to the scholarship money distributed to each of the five high schools in Lake County annually.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
The rule went into effect on Jan. 17, 2017, but was illegally suspended by the Trump Administration on Dec. 8.
It requires oil and natural gas producers to cut wasteful leakage of methane on federal lands.
In the lawsuit, Attorneys General Becerra and Balderas underscored that suspending key provisions of the rule would be arbitrary and capricious as well as contrary to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's statutory mandate to prevent waste and ensure the safe and responsible development of oil and gas resources on public lands.
“By suspending the Waste Prevention Rule, the Trump Administration is effectively threatening the health of our families and our environment,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The California Department of Justice won't stand by and subscribe to this blatant violation of our laws. We are committed to defending the Waste Prevention Rule.”
Since December 2016, California and New Mexico have been defending the Waste Prevention Rule from legal challenges brought in U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming by industry groups and the States of Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Texas.
On July 5, Attorneys General Becerra and Balderas filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for illegally delaying the implementation of the rule.
On Oct. 4, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of the two state Attorneys General, forcing the Administration to immediately implement the rule.
The next day, the Bureau of Land Management published a notice of proposed rulemaking in hopes of suspending this critical environmental measure.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
Mortgage-backed securities are complex investments which include thousands of mortgage loans of potentially varying quality, where the buyer typically relies on assurances that the loans have been carefully screened and are not too risky.
An investigation conducted by the Attorney General's Office found that the descriptions of these mortgage-backed securities to investors failed to accurately disclose the true characteristics of many of the underlying mortgages, and that due diligence to remove poor quality loans from the investments was not adequately performed.
RBS was aware of the misrepresentations but failed to correct them. This resulted in millions in losses to CalPERS and CalSTRS.
“RBS decided to mislead California’s pension funds in order to line its own pockets – plain and simple,” said Attorney General Becerra.
He said the settlement returns to the pension funds, which hardworking Californians rely on upon retirement, money that RBS wrongfully took from them.
The settlement with RBS is the latest action by the California Department of Justice to recover losses suffered during the financial crisis and to hold accountable the institutions that contributed to it.
To date, the Attorney General's Office has recovered more than $1 billion for California’s public pension funds.