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- Written by: SEN. MIKE MCGUIRE’S OFFICE
SB 1328 requires public pensions systems here in California — including the two largest in America, STRS and PERS — to divest from Russian and Belarusian assets and companies.
The bill was approved with a 5-0 vote in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
“The state of California has incredible economic power and strength and we must use this clout for good. The people of California will not stand idly by while an autocratic thug attacks the innocent people of Ukraine and attempts to destroy their livelihoods,” McGuire said. “Democrats and Republicans alike are working together on SB 1328. The Golden State stands strong for Ukraine and we’ll do everything in our power to usher in debilitating economic consequences on Russia for this horrific and bloody war.”
As Putin’s war continues, US and European economic sanctions have put increasing pressure on the Russian economy.
California is the world’s fifth largest economy and enhanced action taken by the state can help the people of Ukraine by putting additional financial pressure on the already beaten-up Russian economy.
It’s believed California has Russian investments approaching $2 billion, primarily in its pension funds. At this point there can be no excuse to invest in and support Putin, his oligarchs and the Russian economy.
Russia’s economy, not even in the top 10 of world economies, is one of their big pressure points, and California should use its power to exert influence where it can.
“The free world has a moral obligation to help the people of Ukraine. This creates a legal one as well. By requiring California’s capital to divest from Russian assets, we can play a real role in helping defend democracy internationally,” said McGuire.
SB 1328 also asks private companies based in California to divest their investments in the Russian economy.
In addition, the legislation would block the awarding of state contracts to any company that is conducting business with Russia.
The legislation, with 57 co-authors — and growing — can be found here.
The bill will be heard next in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee in the coming weeks.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County Behavioral Health Services
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines drug addiction as, “A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.”
Alcohol addiction can likewise cause even severe social, occupational and health consequences.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes alcohol addiction is a, “Chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.”
Someone's first time using a substance is typically considered voluntary, though social determinants of health can play a role in the overall effects and consequences of substance use and abuse.
If use is continued, the brain can begin to physically change. An individual’s use transitions into the chronic brain disease we dub “addiction.” Addiction is not a choice.
Lake County residents who engage with substances primarily use alcohol, methamphetamine and/or opioids.
The Community Health Dashboard generated by Hope Rising Lake County reported that, as of 2019, approximately 15% of Lake County adults engaged in binge drinking. The number of overdoses due to substance use increased dramatically from 13 deaths in 2018 to 66 deaths in 2021; methamphetamine overdoses were most common.
In 2020, the annual opioid prescription rate was 545 prescriptions per 1,000 residents. In 2019 Lake County had more than triple the number of overdose deaths than the statewide average.
Substance use, when not managed, is fatal. However, help and treatment options are available.
Alcohol use disorder can be treated with naltrexone or acamprosate, both of which reduce cravings.
Effective treatment options are also available for opioid use disorder. These include buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone, all of which help stop the cravings.
This information and more can be found in medication-assisted treatment resources available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Contingency management, or CM, is a treatment approach that relies on operant conditioning, a type of learning that uses incentive-based interventions to modify behavior.
CM uses incentives to promote achievement of treatment goals. When used in conjunction with other treatment therapies or medications like those listed above, it can be highly effective in treating substance and alcohol use disorders.
Regardless of our personal status, whether we have a history of substance use or not, being equipped with knowledge and resources to aid our fellow community members can be lifesaving.
The visual signs of an overdose are unconsciousness or slowed and irregular breathing, pinpoint pupils, limp body, and if the person is of fairer skin tone, blue lips and fingers is another indicator. If you come across someone demonstrating some or all of these indicators, call 911 for medical help.
Additionally, administering Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug that comes in a nasal spray, can restore breathing in a matter of minutes. Just as carrying a first aid kit is intended to reduce potential harms, carrying Naloxone is a preventive tool we can empower ourselves, knowing it could potentially save a life. You can learn more at www.Narcan.com.
Lake County SafeRx offers no-cost Naloxone and training on how and when to use it. Organizations like the National Harm Reduction Coalition assist in locating resources near you and NIDA's webpages also provide valuable drug facts, strategies and direction.
Drug and alcohol addiction can be scary, and deadly, but it doesn't have to be managed alone. As a county, learning together and equipping ourselves with preventive tools and resources is an essential part of our collective healing process.
For more information, contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 6302 13th Ave., Lucerne, telephone 707-274-9101, or 7000-B South Center Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-7090.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio said the fire was reported at 11630 Beryl Way shortly before 8:30 a.m.
In addition to Northshore Fire, Lake County Fire and Cal Fire responded, Ciancio said.
He said firefighters managed to knock down the fire very quickly upon arrival.
Ciancio said the fire involved an RV and an upstairs apartment in a nearby garage. The fire was contained to the property.
There were two people on the property at the time and one man was taken to Adventist Clear Lake Hospital for smoke inhalation. He was later released, Ciancio said.
A fire investigator responded to the scene and arrived shortly before 1 p.m., according to radio traffic.
Ciancio said investigators are called in when a fire’s cause is not apparent or is more difficult to determine.
Based on radio reports, Ciancio also remained on scene until later in the afternoon as the investigation and mop up continued.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Employment Development Department said Lake County’s January jobless rate was 6.7%, up from 5.8% in December. The January 2021 rate was 9.5%.
At the same time, California’s January jobless rate remained at 5.8%, unchanged from December.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate for January was 4%, up from 3.9% in December. The January 2021 rate was 6.4%.
In Lake County, unemployment has typically trended higher in the early months of the year, after the holidays.
The number of Lake County unemployed residents rose from 1,600 in December to 1,890 in January.
Employment sectors showing increases in January in Lake County were led by total farm jobs, a category which was up by 32%. Showing slight increases were professional and business services, 1.5%; leisure and hospitality, 0.9%; local government, 0.3%; and educational and health services, 0.2%.
All other sectors either lost jobs or had no change. Largest percentage losses were reported in state government and wholesale trade, both down by 10%.
For January, Lake County had a statewide employment rank of 41 out of 58 counties.
Marin continued to have the lowest jobless rate, with 3.1%, while the highest unemployment once again was reported in Imperial County, 15.6%.
Lake’s neighboring county jobless rates and ranks were: Colusa, 14.8%, No. 57; Glenn, 6.5%, No. 39; Mendocino, 5.1%, No. 22; Napa, 4.5%, No. 12; Sonoma, 4%, No. 7; and Yolo, 4.9%, No. 21.
Details on the state’s jobless situation
Statewide, the Employment Development Department said employers added 53,600 nonfarm payroll jobs, with payroll jobs totaling 17,194,100.
The number of Californians employed in January was 17,960,200, an increase of 109,200 persons from December’s total of 17,851,000, and up 939,700 from the employment total in January 2021, the report said.
The report said the number of unemployed Californians was 1,104,300 in January, an increase of 9,200 over the month, but down 533,100 in comparison to January 2021.
The Employment Development Department said the agency said updated data shows that California outpaced the rest of the nation in year-over job gains — from January 2021 to January 2022 — with the state posting a 7.4% increase in jobs compared to the national job increase of 4.6% for the same time period.
The benchmarked data shows the state’s job recovery so far is much stronger than first estimated, now regaining 2,261,100 — or approximately 82% — of the 2,758,900 jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state said the revised data also shows the peak unemployment rate during the pandemic was 16.1% in May 2020 instead of the previous estimate of 16% in April 2020.
Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in January with Trade, transportation, and utilities (+26,600) posting the largest gain, primarily within the general freight trucking industry subsector.
Both the trade, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services industry sectors have regained all job losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also noted that the biggest industry sector job losses were in government (-800); more specifically in local government education.
In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, the Employment Development Department said there were 412,738 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January 2022 sample week. That compares to 355,749 people in December and 818,589 people in January 2021.
Concurrently, the agency said 54,399 initial claims were processed in the January 2022 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 5,328 claims from December, but a year-over decrease of 3,978 claims from January 2021.
Email Elizabeth Larson at