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- Written by: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
As the popularity of electric bikes, or e-bikes, continues to skyrocket, the California Highway Patrol is launching an online e-bike safety and training program to help keep commuters and recreational cyclists safe.
“With the rise in popularity of e-bikes across the state, the CHP worked with Governor Newsom’s Administration, the Legislature, and key stakeholders to develop California’s first e-bike safety and training program,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP’s program can be accessed on our website and is designed to promote safety for those who choose to ride this alternative mode of transportation.”
Assembly Bill 1946, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom and took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, required the CHP to work with relevant stakeholders to develop an online training program that offers information on e-bike safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road, and laws related to e-bikes.
The e-bike safety and training program features tutorials, videos, a quiz, and other interactive elements with an easy-to-follow, intuitive presentation to help make the material engaging, practical and informative.
Electric bicycles are heavier and faster than standard bicycles and, without the proper safety education and training, e-bike riders have a higher risk of becoming severely injured or killed in a crash.
As e-bikes become more commonplace, it’s also important for drivers to familiarize themselves with sharing the road with e-bike riders.
According to preliminary data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, there were more than 9,600 bicycle-involved crashes in 2022.
At least 225 of those crashes involved an e-bike, including four which resulted in fatal injuries. This reflects a significant increase from the previous year when there were 80 e-bike crashes reported in California.
The CHP’s online e-bike safety and training program is designed to help riders of all abilities and all ages identify potential hazards, while offering information on safe riding practices and hazard-avoidance maneuvers.
The CHP collaborated with, and would like to thank, the many stakeholders who assisted with the content and creation of the e-bike safety and training program.
This diverse group of safety stakeholders includes several leading organizations committed to bicycle safety; federal, state and local government traffic safety partners; and injury prevention coordinators from hospitals throughout the state.
Through these partnerships, and other safety programs, the CHP is committed to enhancing safe travel for all road users.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
State Controller Malia M. Cohen’s office confirmed that Cohen authorized an audit of Mendocino County after conversations with county officials who expressed concerns as to whether the annual financial reports required to be prepared and delivered to the state are correct and complete.
Controller Cohen acknowledged receipt of the request for an audit from the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, which voted unanimously to request the State Controller’s Office’s assistance to resolve what some officials have referred to as a ‘fiscal crisis’ within the county.
“As California’s chief fiscal officer, the financial health of all 58 counties is of paramount importance to the overall fiscal wellbeing of the state,” said Controller Cohen.
Controller Cohen’s action also follows a recent warning issued that the county’s rating may be placed under review for possible withdrawal of credit rating unless the county completes its now-delinquent annual financial statements.
In response to the county officials’ statements concerning the fiscal uncertainty and instability of the county, Controller Cohen said: “My office will review the county’s internal controls. The failure to deliver timely financial reports as mandated by law could place the county at a competitive disadvantage and may drive up the interest rate beyond what the county would typically pay for such issuance.”
The audit has commenced and is underway.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held annually on Aug. 31 to honor those who have died of overdoses.
Earlier this month, the Lakeport and Clearlake city councils joined with Lake County Behavioral Health Services, the Lake County Public Health Department, and the agencies and organizations that comprise SafeRx Lake County to present proclamations marking the event.
It’s an especially important event for Lake County: In 2022, there were 79 people who fatally overdosed in Lake County.
Health officials reported that those deaths account for the highest fatal overdose rate in the state of California.
Ahead of the Aug. 31 commemoration, SafeRx Lake County hosted the third annual commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day in Austin Park on Aug. 19.
The county of Lake reported that 105,258 people died due to overdose in the United States in 2022.
Almost 90,000 of those who died from overdose had fentanyl in their system, officials said.
Fentanyl is a potent and dangerous drug, and can be found in a variety of other narcotics. Officials said many who die from fentanyl overdose do not know they have consumed fentanyl.
Officials said all overdose deaths are preventable, and everyone is encouraged to have naloxone — also known as Narcan — on hand to prevent overdose, along with other resources that prevent overdose such as syringe exchange, drug testing, and medication-assisted treatment.
Experts said that addiction is a chronic, relapsing and treatable disease that should not be conflated with moral or personal failure yet continues to be the subject of stigma and marginalization.
Lake County has a syringe service program, Any Positive Change, which has been operating since 1995.
The California Department of Public Health approved Any Positive Change as a state-authorized syringe service program on Aug. 3. Any Positive Change can be reached at 707-480-7319.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The National Weather Service has issued the red flag warning for parts of the Northern Sacramento Valley.
However, the Governor’s Office reported that all Cal Fire units are at peak staffing.
Engines, water tenders and helicopters have been prepositioned in Colusa, Glenn and Sonoma Counties.
Reserve engines are staffed and resources added in Lake, Butte, Napa, Shasta and Tehama counties.
There also are more boots on the ground than ever before, and California is home to the world's largest aerial firefighting fleet, the Governor’s Office reported.
Already, the program has successfully alerted Cal Fire to 77 fires before any 911 calls were made.
Although there is not a red flag warning currently in effect for Lake County — one that was in effect ended on Wednesday — the National Weather Service said there is the chance of showers and light winds on Friday night, and a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday.
“While wildfire season is year-round in California, we’re heading into some of the most challenging months for fire weather — and we’re better equipped than ever before,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “We’ve sent additional equipment and firefighters to where the latest weather and prediction technology shows the greatest wildfire risk, and are using some of the most advanced tools in the world to detect and monitor new wildfires."
In addition to the prepositioned resources, Newsom’s office said California is leveraging technologies like AI to fight fires faster and smarter, saving countless lives and communities from destruction.
Cal Fire has launched a pilot program that uses AI to monitor live camera feeds and issues alerts if anomalies are detected.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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