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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
DOGE has taken action to terminate AmeriCorps grants and dismantle the agency through an 85% reduction of its workforce, effectively ending the agency’s ability to continue administering the programs, operations, and funding that make its important work possible.
AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly addresses the country’s educational, public safety and environmental needs.
Every year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities.
AmeriCorp’s work in Lake County has included work in schools, food drives, and projects with parks, nonprofits and local agencies.
“Service sits at the very core of who we are as Americans,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is suing the Trump administration to defend thousands of hardworking service members and the communities they serve. These actions by President Trump and Elon Musk not only threaten our funding — they vandalize our values. We’re going to fight to stop them.”
In the complaint filed on Tuesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a multistate coalition argue that by abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce, the Trump administration is effectively shuttering the national volunteer agency and ending states’ abilities to support AmeriCorps programs within their borders.
The coalition establishes that the Trump administration has acted unlawfully in its gutting of AmeriCorps, violating both the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. Congress has created AmeriCorps and the programs it administers, and the president cannot incapacitate the agency’s ability to administer appropriated grants or carry out statutorily assigned duties.
Further, by dismantling AmeriCorps and its programs, which are creations of Congress, the Trump Administration has violated the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed, the lawsuit alleges.
“AmeriCorps volunteers bring out the best in America and in our communities. By abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce and volunteers, DOGE is dismantling AmeriCorps without any concern for the thousands of people who are ready and eager to serve their country — or for those whose communities are stronger because of this public service,” said Attorney General Bonta. “In California, AmeriCorps volunteers build affordable housing, clean up our environment, and address food insecurity in communities across our state. California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump Administration and DOGE accountable to the law — and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve their communities and by awarding grants to local and national organizations and agencies which use funding to address critical community needs. These organizations and agencies use AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.
AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved the physical and mental well-being of millions of Americans.
In early February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force. Since then, AmeriCorps has placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave immediately and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025.
On April 25, California received notice from the federal government of termination of its AmeriCorps grant programs which support volunteer and service efforts. Grant cancellations and program termination notices were sent to approximately 1,031 programs nationwide.
“DOGE isn’t just cutting jobs — they’re attacking the very people who keep California strong,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “They’re coming after the service members who responded to the LA fires, the tutors helping our kids and the young leaders caring for our seniors. It’s outrageous, it’s illegal and we won’t back down. In California, we’re not just defending service — we’re strengthening it. California is doubling down, and we trust the courts will strike this down and uphold the values we fight for every day.”
As the federal government cuts AmeriCorps programs, officials said the state is recruiting for the California Service Corps program — already the largest service corps in the nation, surpassing the size of the Peace Corps.
AmeriCorp’s California impact
AmeriCorps funds support California public agencies and nonprofits that provide critical services to low-income communities.
In 2024, at least 6,150 California members served at at least 1,200 locations, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
AmeriCorps invested more than $133 million in federal funding to California last year to support cost-effective community solutions, working with local partners on the ground to help communities, who most intimately understand their needs, tackle their toughest challenges.
When the devastating fires struck Los Angeles earlier this year, AmeriCorps members were on the ground, distributing supplies and supporting families. The agency’s shutdown ends these efforts.
California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, consisting of four paid service programs: CaliforniansForAll College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, Youth Service Corps and AmeriCorps California.
Combined, the California Service Corps is a force larger than the Peace Corps and is mobilized at a time when California is addressing post-pandemic academic recovery, rebuilding from the LA fires and planning for the future of the state’s workforce.
In the 2023-24 service year, AmeriCorps members in California:
• Provided 4,397,674 hours of service;
• Tutored/mentored 73,833 students;
• Supported 17,000 foster youth with education and employment;
• Planted 39,288 trees;
• Members helped 26,000 households impacted by the LA fires and packed 21,000 food boxes.
In bringing Tuesday’s lawsuit Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general of Maryland, Delaware, and Colorado lead the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) introduced the bill, AB 362, that also requires the state and local boards to adopt, when applicable, water quality standards to protect reasonable protections of tribal water uses.
“Under current law State and Regional Water Boards are not required to work with tribal communities even though the state’s First People have managed the land and its resources for centuries,” Ramos said. “Tribes are committed to the health and safety of delicate eco systems and a tradition of responsibility and stewardship. This long history and deep knowledge by our tribes deserves to be respected, and put to good use as we work to wisely manage our natural resources.
“We appreciate and applaud Committee Chair Damon Connolly and the committee members’ leadership today in voting to expedite the equitable protection of tribal uses of water,” said bill sponsor Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians’ Vice Chairperson Malissa Tayaba said. “By moving this critical issue forward, it shows a recognition of the need to finally elevate tribal beneficial uses to the same level as other beneficial uses that were codified decades ago. Designation and implementation of tribal uses statewide is long overdue. It’s time that California finally acts to put tribal uses of water on equal footing with other beneficial uses.”
In managing water quality and access, the State Water Board designates certain uses such as recreation, navigation, and preservation and protection of aquatic resources and wildlife as beneficial uses of water that are defined in the California Code of Regulations.
Also supporting AB 362 are Audubon California, Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe of California, Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, California Environmental Voters, California Indian Environmental Alliance, California Nations Indian Gaming Association, Clean Water Action, Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe of the Colfax Rancheria, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the River, Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, Restore the Delta, San Francisco Baykeeper, Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Save California Salmon, Sierra Club, Sierra Consortium Suscol Intertribal Council, The Climate Reality Project, California State Coalition, The Sierra Fund, Water Climate Trust and Wilton Rancheria.
AB 362 will head next to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 882 1128 7564, the pass code is 893215. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82771053751#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 646-931-3860.
On Thursday, the council will host presentations of proclamations declaring May 11 to 17 as Police Week, May 4 to 10 as Public Service Recognition Week and May 12 to 16 as Military Appreciation Week.
The council also will receive a presentation on the Annual Public, Education and Government Channel Board report.
On Thursday’s agenda are two public hearings regarding abatements.
The first is to hear and act upon appeals of orders to abate for properties at 15893 33rd Ave., 16721 Cache Creek Lane, 4800 Old Highway 53, 4782 Yarrington Court, 4030 Hayward Ave., 14042 Woodland Drive, 3228 Third St., 3297 Third St., 3152 Ninth St., 3426 12th St., 3307 13th St., 3188 14th St., 3059 Eastlake Drive and 3223 Eastlake Drive.
Staff is asking the council to adopt a resolution denying the appeals.
The second public hearing also will be to consider appeals of an order to abate for a property at 6725 Old Highway 53.
In that case, the council also is being asked to adopt a resolution denying the appeals.
The cases in question for the two hearings were initiated between 2019 and 2024, staff reported.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and council minutes.
The council also will hold a closed session for a performance evaluation of City Manager Alan Flora.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Efforts to improve Lake County’s health by reducing smoking and vaping took another step forward recently.
Hope Rising Lake County organized and hosted a commercial tobacco smoking and vaping cessation facilitator training that resulted in 28 newly trained facilitators across Lake and Mendocino counties.
The class, led by Lou Moerner — a nationally recognized expert in commercial tobacco cessation — is a major milestone in the ongoing work to improve community health.
The training was a direct outcome of the Lake County Innovation Summit, held in the fall of 2024, where addressing commercial tobacco use was identified as a top priority for improving the county’s health outcomes.
Participants from a diverse group of organizations came together to complete the training, including Adventist Health Clear Lake, Blue Zones Project Lake County, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Lake County Public Health, Kno'Qoti Native Wellness Inc., Lake County Office of Education, Mendocino County Public Health, Lakeview Health Center and Konocti Unified School District.
The intensive workshop equipped attendees with the tools to:
• Understand the power of nicotine addiction and its hold on users
• Teach the risks associated with tobacco use and the life-changing benefits of quitting
• Guide participants in preparing personalized quit plans
• Offer strategies to prevent relapse
• Educate on cessation therapy aids, including how medications work and proper usage.
“This initiative marks a significant step toward empowering our local organizations to help individuals break free from commercial tobacco and vaping addiction,” said Christina Braden, project manager for Hope Rising / Adventist Health Clear Lake. “Thanks to Hope Rising’s leadership, led by Executive Director Laurie Allen, and the momentum generated at the Innovation Summit, we are building a stronger foundation for public health in our communities.”
Tobacco use in Lake County: A persistent challenge
Lake County faces some of the highest commercial tobacco use rates in California.
In 2021, nearly 20% of adults in Lake County reported smoking cigarettes, compared to the statewide average of around 10%, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Commercial tobacco-related illnesses remain a leading cause of preventable death, driving up healthcare costs and lowering quality of life.
With these newly trained facilitators now ready to lead cessation classes throughout Lake and Mendocino counties, the region is better equipped than ever to offer hope and real solutions to individuals ready to quit smoking and vaping.
For more information about upcoming cessation classes or to learn how to get involved, contact Christina Braden,