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- Written by: California Highway Patrol
As millions of people venture out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Highway Patrol is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends in the nation.
To help motorists arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a maximum enforcement period, or MEP, and deploy all available officers through the holiday weekend.
The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27.
“As with every holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings with friends and family,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or in need of help on the side of the road.”
During the MEP, CHP officers will be working to assist and educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the state, actively looking for unsafe driving behaviors, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and people not wearing seat belts.
According to the CHP’s MEP data, 42 people, including 16 pedestrians and one bicyclist, were killed in crashes in CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. CHP officers issued more than 5,600 citations for speed and seat belt violations.
Additionally, CHP officers made 1,033 arrests for driving under the influence during the four-day period.
“Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities, but please celebrate responsibly, wear your seat belt, and always designate a sober, nondrinking driver,” said Commissioner Ray.
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- Written by: Clara G. Zundel, Wayne State University
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
People who breathe polluted air experience changes within the brain regions that control emotions, and as a result, they may be more likely to develop anxiety and depression than those who breathe cleaner air. These are the key findings of a systematic review that my colleagues and I recently published in the journal NeuroToxicology.
Our interdisciplinary team reviewed more than 100 research articles from both animal and human studies that focused on the effects of outdoor air pollution on mental health and regions of the brain that regulate emotions. The three main brain regions we focused on were the hippocampus, amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.
In our analysis, 73% of the studies reported higher mental health symptoms and behaviors in humans and animals, such as rats, that were exposed to higher than average levels of air pollution. Some exposures that led to negative effects occurred in air pollution ranges that are currently considered “safe” by the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards. In addition, we discovered that 95% of studies examining brain effects found significant physical and functional changes within the emotion-regulation brain regions in those exposed to increased levels of air pollution.
Most of these studies found that exposure to elevated levels of air pollution is associated with increased inflammation and changes to the regulation of neurotransmitters, which act as the brain’s chemical messengers.
Why it matters
Research into the physical health effects associated with air pollution exposure, such as asthma and respiratory issues, have been well documented for decades.
But only over the last 10 years or so have researchers begun to understand how air pollution can affect the brain. Studies have shown that small air pollutants, such as ultrafine particles from vehicle exhaust, can affect the brain either directly, by traveling through the nose and into the brain, or indirectly, by causing inflammation and altered immune responses in the body that can then cross into the brain.
At the same time, researchers are increasingly documenting the association between air pollution and its negative effects on mental health.
Unfortunately, research suggests that air pollution will only worsen as climate change intensifies and carbon emissions remain unregulated.
For this reason, more research into the health effects of air pollution exposure that goes beyond respiratory health outcomes into the realm of biological psychiatry is badly needed. For instance, the neurobiological mechanisms through which air pollution increases risk for mental health symptoms are still poorly understood.
What still isn’t known
In addition to our primary findings, our team also identified some notable gaps within the research that need to be addressed in order to paint a fuller picture of the relationship between air pollution and brain health.
Relatively few studies examined the effects of air pollution exposure during early life, such as infancy and toddlerhood, and in childhood and adolescence. This is especially concerning given that the brain continues to develop until young adulthood and therefore may be particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution.
We also found that within the studies investigating air pollution effects on the brain, only 10 were conducted in humans. While research on animals has extensively shown that air pollution can cause a host of changes within the animal brain, the research on how air pollution affects the human brain is much more limited. What’s more, most of the existing brain studies in humans have focused on physical changes, such as differences in overall brain size. More research is needed that relies on a technique called functional brain imaging, which could enable researchers like us to detect subtle or smaller changes that may occur before physical changes.
In the future, our team plans to use brain imaging methods to study how air pollution increases the risk of anxiety during adolescence. We plan to use a variety of techniques, including personal air monitors that children can wear as they go about their day, allowing us to more accurately assess their exposure.
Clara G. Zundel, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 945 1390 1976, pass code 304907. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,94513901976#,,,,*304907#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to
the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In a discussion timed for 10:15 a.m., the board, sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, will consider a proposed resolution to receive, approve and adopt the financial planning, revenue requirements and rate setting analysis for Lake County Sanitation District’s Middletown sewer system.
In their report to the board, Special Districts Administrator Scott Harter and Special Districts Deputy Administrator Jesus Salmeron said that the rate structure hasn’t been adjusted since sewer rates were adopted in 1995 for the district.
“Rates were set to be analyzed when the Valley Fire occurred and the analysis and any proposed rate adjustment was postponed due to that and subsequent disasters. Early in 2021 district staff coordinated with the California Rural Water Association for a Financial Planning, Revenue Requirements, and Rate Setting Analysis to determine the financial health of the district and support a Proposition 218 compliant rate increase if need be,” the report said.
The report said rate adjustments are not being proposed as part of Tuesday’s discussion and action. Instead, the rates will be taken up during a public hearing on Dec. 6.
On Tuesday, the board is being asked to accept and approve the attached financial planning, revenue requirements, and rate setting analysis by adopting the attached resolution as a precursor to the public hearing.
In a sampling of rates, the analysis shows that the bimonthly rate for single family homes is proposed to go from $32.60 to $59.36 in 2022-23, $62.93 in 2023-24, $65.13 in 2024-25, $67.41 in 2025-26 and $69.77 in 2026-27.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve public defender contract amendment No. 8 between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense LLP for the purpose of extending the term of the contract to March 31, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Approve the agreement between the county of Lake and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake for Animal Care and Control services on tribal lands and authorize the Animal Care and Control Director to sign the agreement.
5.3: Approve request to close Behavioral Health Services offices from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, for winter all staff training meeting.
5.4: Adopt resolution authorizing an amendment to the standard agreement between county of Lake and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission for the period beginning upon contract execution through Sept. 30, 2026, and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the standard agreement amendment and the grant award claim form.
5.5: Approve amendment No. 1 to the participation agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority to include modifications to Exhibit C — participant-specific committed funding and payment terms; and Exhibit D — participant contingency budget with no change to the contract maximum for fiscal years 2021-29 and authorize the board chair and department head to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2022-119 establishing position allocation for fiscal year 2022-2023, Budget Unit 2602 (Building & Safety).
5.7: Approve amendment to the purchase amount of a new 2023 Ford Explorer for the Building & Safety Division, from $25,000 to $50,000.
5.8: Approve equitable sharing agreement and certification between the county of Lake Sheriff's Office and the US Department of Justice; and authorize the sheriff and chairman to sign.
5.9: A) Approve the FY 2022 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $141,465; B) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; C) authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.
5.10: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Housing Support Program for the term of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.11: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3, approve budget transfer allocating money from object code 17.00 to 62.74.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of the Sept. 30, 2022, report of Lake County pooled investments.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of request for hearing in the matter of 8020 High Valley Road, Cobb (APN 011-040-26); The Cryptorights Foundation Inc., a California nonprofit corporation.
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Nov. 8, hearing of appeal of notice of violation and notice of nuisance and order to abate. Property owner: Thomas Carter. Location: 1622 Hunter Point Road., Upper Lake (APN 022-001-05).
6.5, 10:15 a.m.: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of proposed resolution to receive, approve and adopt the financial planning, revenue requirements and rate setting analysis for Lake County Sanitation District Middletown Sewer.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of agreement with Lake County PEG for professional videography services specifically for coverage of municipal advisory councils.
7.3: Consideration of appointment to the Geothermal Advisory Committee.
7.4: Consideration of Resolution No. 2022-118 adopting final budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 to increase revenues and appropriations in Budget Unit 4015 — Behavioral Health Services Department.
7.5: Consideration of a) request to waive competitive bidding according to Section 38.2(2); and b) agreement between county of Lake and New Life Health Authority dba New Life LLC for substance use disorder outpatient drug free services, intensive outpatient treatment services and narcotic treatment program services for fiscal year 2022-23 in the amount of $10,000,000.
7.6: Addendum, consideration of recognition of Department of Public Works Director Scott De Leon for the 2022 California County Engineer of the Year.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation. Title: County Administrative Officer Susan Parker.
8.2: Public employee evaluation. Title: Health Services Director Jonathan Portney.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 5456.9(d)(1) — Flesch v. County of Lake.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — Sabalone v. County of Lake.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — City of Clearlake v. Testate & Intestate Successors of Bailey Lumbers Co., et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
All of the following vacancies are countywide unless otherwise stated. Membership is voluntary.
A fully online application is available here.
Applications are also available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 North Forbes St., Lakeport.
If you have questions regarding a vacancy on one of these advisory boards, please contact the Clerk of the Board at 707-263-2368 or
The following seats are available.
Animal Control Advisory Board: Seven vacancies — one each for supervisorial districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and two each for members at large.
Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission: Seven vacancies, four agriculture users category, one member at large and two water district category.
Child Care Planning and Development Council: Seven vacancies — one consumer, two public agencies, two community representatives, one discretionary appointee and one child care provider.
Cobb Municipal Advisory Council: Six vacancies, five members at large and alternate.
Countywide Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Five vacancies, one representative from each supervisorial district.
East Region 3 Town Hall: Five vacancies — one member from Spring Valley Property Owner's Association, one member from Clearlake Oaks Keys Property Owner's Association, one member of the Clearlake Oaks Business Association and two members at large.
Emergency Medical Care Committee: Eighteen vacancies — two hospitals (Sutter Lakeside and Adventist Health Clear Lake), one community college district, four consumer interested group, two emergency room affiliated-medical care coordinator, two emergency medical technician representatives, one private ambulance company, five fire departments and one paramedic representative.
Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee: Eleven vacancies — two fish and wildlife conservation, one land conservation, one agriculture, one education, one recreation, five general public (one from each supervisorial district).
Geothermal Advisory Committee: Five vacancies — one from Cobb Area Water District, two Anderson Springs community members and two Cobb community members.
Heritage Commission: Seven vacancies, one representative from each supervisorial district and two members at large.
In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Eleven vacancies — four senior consumers, one disabled community representative, two disabled community representatives, two senior community representatives and two providers.
Kelseyville Cemetery District: One vacancy — general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Law Library Board of Trustees: One vacancy — one public member.
Library Advisory Board: Five vacancies — one representative from each supervisorial district.
Lower Lake Cemetery District: One vacancy — one general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors: Two vacancies — public members (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Lucerne Area Town Hall: Five vacancies — members at large (must live within the area boundaries).
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board: Ten vacancies — general membership.
Mental Health Board: Two vacancies — one member at large and one consumer family member of a past/present consumer.
Middletown Cemetery District: Three vacancies — three general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
North Bay Cooperative Library Advisory Board: One vacancy — Lake County representative.
Resource Conservation District: Two vacancies — one district one member, one member at large.
Scott’s Valley Community Advisory Board: Five vacancies — five public members at large.
Upper Lake Cemetery District: Three vacancies — general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Western Region Town Hall: Four vacancies — one public member-at-large, three public members from Upper Lake.