Regional
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over what he called a politically-motivated termination of $4 billion in federal grants to the project.
The lawsuit alleges that termination of the agreements is petty, political retribution, motivated by President Trump’s personal animus toward California and the high-speed rail project, not by facts on the ground.
“Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s yet another political stunt to punish California,” said Newsom. “In reality, this is just a heartless attack on the Central Valley that will put real jobs and livelihoods on the line. We’re suing to stop Trump from derailing America’s only high-speed rail actively under construction.”
Thursday’s action comes as the project enters the track laying phase, is actively building across 171 miles, has built more than 50 major railway structures — including bridges, overpasses, and viaducts — and completed over 60 miles of guideway.
In the last year, high-speed rail has marked significant progress — with all environmental reviews spanning 463 miles from Los Angeles to the Bay Area complete, the electrification of Caltrain complete, trainset selection underway, station and track construction on deck, continued work with partner rail systems to create a southwest regional high-speed rail network, and more than 15,000 good paying jobs created. Passenger service is expected in the coming years, between 2030 and 2033.
High speed rail is a key part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades and creating jobs throughout the state.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
As part of the ongoing investigation into the origin and cause of the Esparto pyrotechnics facility explosion, the Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal, or OSFM, has taken action to suspend the pyrotechnic licenses of Kenneth Chee of Devastating Pyrotechnics Inc. and Craig Cutright of Blackstar Fireworks who were identified in conjunction with the facility.
The Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal is conducting a thorough and comprehensive investigation and cannot comment on specific details related to the investigation at this time.
“The OSFM remains committed to keeping the public informed and will release relevant information that does not affect the integrity of the ongoing investigation as it becomes available,” Cal Fire said in its announcement.
“While our arson and bomb investigators have completed their evidence collection from the explosion site, the investigation remains very active,” said California State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant. “We continue to remain laser focused on this investigation as the family and the community deserve answers. The effort to find the cause can take time, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a thorough and accurate investigation.”
On July 1, the Esparto Fire Protection District Fire Chief, acting as incident commander, requested OSFM take the lead on investigating the origin and cause of an explosion at a pyrotechnics facility in Yolo County, named the Oakdale Incident.
OSFM said this type of incident is very rare as facilities like this are required to follow California fireworks/pyrotechnic devices storage requirements: Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Division 1, Chapter 6, Article 8 and Federal explosive storage requirements, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Part 555, Subpart K.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley said Tuesday that she has fled murder charges against a Napa man for a homicide earlier this month.
Ramiro Ochoa Mendoza, age 36, is facing charges in connection with the murder of Noel Batres, age 47, also of Napa.
In addition to murder, Mendoza faces allegations that the murder involved the use of a deadly weapon; the murder exhibited violence, cruelty, viciousness or callousness; that the crime shows an increasing level of seriousness from previous crimes; that the defendant had a prior prison term, was on probation or parole, and that he had prior poor performance on probation or parole.
It is alleged that Mendoza killed Batres and left his body under the Third Street Bridge, on the banks of the Napa River at Soscol Avenue, where it was discovered on the afternoon of July 3.
Mendoza had previously been granted mental health diversion by the Napa County Superior Court but failed to comply with the program.
In early 2025, the defendant faced multiple criminal charges in Napa County. He was arrested on April 27 for violating a restraining order, violating his Post-Release Community Supervision, or PRCS, and resisting arrest.
Two days later, on April 29, the court raised concerns about his mental health competency to stand trial and appointed two doctors to evaluate him.
By May 28, both physicians concluded that Mendoza was not competent. The court dismissed the PRCS violation, in accordance with the law, and despite numerous attempts by defense counsel to dismiss the cases outright, the court followed the Legislature’s direction and ordered mental health diversion for the defendant with supervised release for the two remaining misdemeanors.
Senate Bill 317, which was designed to decriminalize mental illness in low-level offenses, significantly amended Penal Code sections 1370.01 and 1370.2 – a defendant can no longer be restored to competency when they are only charged with misdemeanors. Instead of criminal prosecution, the law requires the court to conduct a mental health diversion hearing.
Mendoza promptly failed to appear in court for his mental health diversion review and was found to be out of compliance with the diversion program.
Because the law prohibits prosecution from continuing in cases where a defendant is deemed incompetent on only misdemeanor charges, the court had no choice but to dismiss both remaining cases and did so on July 8.
Three days after his court no-show and the dismissal of his two misdemeanor charges, on July 11, Mendoza was taken into custody by Napa Police officers and charged with the murder of Batres.
“This case highlights the real-world impact of the recent legal reforms, where courts are required to prioritize mental health treatment over traditional prosecution, even when defendants exhibit an unwillingness or inability to comply with court-ordered programs,” said Napa County Deputy District Attorney Katie Susemihl, who is prosecuting the case against Mendoza.
No further information regarding this case will be released at this time, as DDA Susemihl prepares the People’s case against Mendoza.
The defendant appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for an arraignment hearing, he is held without bail at the Napa County Department of Corrections.
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
The California Highway Patrol on Thursday announced more than $35 million in grant funding to 148 California law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to help address the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
“As the legal cannabis market continues to grow, so do the state’s efforts to ensure Californians are recreating responsibly. By supporting the organizations that enforce and amplify our laws on the ground, we can keep everyone safer,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The grants from Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, assigned the CHP the responsibility of administering grants for education, prevention and enforcement programs aimed at helping communities tackle impaired driving.
Additionally, funds are available for crime laboratories that conduct forensic toxicology testing. The funding for these grants comes from a tax on the sale of cannabis and cannabis products in California.
“This funding represents a major step forward in our ongoing mission to save lives and prevent impaired driving,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “With over $35 million going to nearly 150 public safety partners across the state, we’re expanding our reach like never before. These resources will help those on the frontlines keep California’s roads safer for everyone.”
These funds will go towards a variety of activities. One hundred twenty-six recipients of law enforcement grants will use the funding to combat impaired driving in their communities. The funds will also support drug recognition evaluator training to improve the identification of drug-impaired drivers, as well as public outreach campaigns, including educational presentations and community events.
Eleven recipients of education grants will use the funds to inform local communities about impaired driving laws while highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Seven recipients of two-year toxicology crime laboratory grants will use the funds to eliminate backlogs in analyzing forensic science evidence and to purchase or upgrade laboratory equipment to enhance testing capabilities.
Four recipients of two-year medical examiner’s and coroner's office grants will use the funds to improve and advance data collection in cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The application process for future grant funding is expected to reopen in early 2026. More information is available on the CHP website at CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.
