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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has many new kittens waiting to be adopted.
The kittens and cats at the shelter that are shown on this page have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A recent ranking placed Woodland Community College first among California community colleges and fourth nationwide.
On Aug. 12, WalletHub, a personal financing consultant firm, released its 2025 community colleges ranking, which considers factors including affordability, education and career outcomes.
Out of 653 community colleges across the country, Woodland Community College ranked 64th in cost and financing, 94th in education outcomes and 91st in career outcomes.
While it did not lead in individual categories, its healthy overall performance placed it at the top in California and fourth in the nation.
The analysis uses data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Campaign for Free College Tuition, U.S. Department of Education, and Council for Community and Economic Research.
The national top community college in the ranking, State Technical College of Missouri, delivers one of the best education and career outcomes. However, it ranks 367 in cost and financing.
“As a college, our staff, faculty, and students are honored to be recognized for their mission-focused and student-centered efforts,” Woodland Community College President Lizette Navarette told Lake County News in an email.
“This achievement reflects our dedication to affordability, academic excellence, and advancing student success while fostering a caring and supportive campus culture,” said an email from Korinda Ebenhack, dean of the college’s Lake County campus and Colusa County Center.
Woodland Community College has three campuses: the main campus in Woodland, the Colusa County Center in Williams, and the Lake County campus, which has been located in Clearlake since 1974.
While California is among the most expensive states, Woodland Community College is ranked more affordable than over 80% of all community colleges analysed in the study.
Typically, the college charges residents a state-mandated enrollment fee of $46 per unit, plus a $10 student health fee except for high school dual enrolled students. For nonresidents or foreign students, it would be $365 per unit.
Various financial aid programs are available to help students in need pay for school.
“Many students wind up paying no tuition, because almost every student is eligible for financial aid or for the Cal Grant,” Ebenhack told Lake County News in a late-2024 phone interview. “If they qualify for a support program like EOP [Education Opportunity Program], they get extra funding so they can get books paid for.”
In the school year 2024-25, the total amount of financial aid disbursed is reported to be $7,569,048, with over $5.5 million coming from grants. Some 567 degrees and 415 certificates are awarded, with 208 degrees for transfer for the school year.
The school now has a 7,655-student headcount with an average age of 23. Among all students, 2,278 are high school students, and 2,540 are full-time equivalent students.
The student body consists mostly of minority ethnicities: 52% Latinx, 23% White, 11% Asian and 3% Black.
Woodland offers programs and credentials across five fields of study: arts, communication and culture; business, hospitality and entrepreneurship; natural resources and the environment; social justice and public service; and science and technology.
Find out more about the college at their official website.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has more dogs waiting this week for new homes.
The dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of cattle dog, Chihuahua, German shepherd, Labrador Retriever, pit bull terrier, terrier and shepherd.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
Those animals shown on this page at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
With the school year just getting into full swing, California State Parks, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency are inviting all fourth graders in California public schools to download the free California State Park Adventure Pass.
The pass opens the door to California’s stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, granting students and their families a year of free entry to 54 state parks full of sandy beaches and desert canyons, majestic redwood forests and eye-opening historic sites.
Championed by the First Partner, whose California for All Kids initiatives support children’s physical, mental and social-emotional well-being, and the Newsom Administration’s Outdoors for All initiative, the California State Park Adventure Pass expands the opportunity for fourth graders and their families to enjoy the benefits of connecting with nature, each other and their communities.
The pass for this school year’s fourth graders is valid until Aug. 31, 2026.
To date, more than 89,000 passes have opened new doors and fostered a love of state parks for California fourth graders.
“As a mom, I know how much time in nature shapes a child’s health, happiness, and love for the outdoors,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “The California State Park Adventure Pass has opened the door for more kids and families to experience the joy and benefits of our beautiful state parks. I encourage all public school fourth graders and their families to take advantage of this opportunity, and to explore all the incredible natural treasures California has to offer!”
“California’s state parks are true wonders of nature and human history,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “The Adventure Pass is an invitation to fourth graders and their families to discover the world of California. It’s your home.”
“California’s natural treasures belong to all of us,” said California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “By opening our parks to public school fourth graders at no cost, we’re investing in healthier kids, stronger communities, and the next generation of stewards who will care for the Golden State’s wealth of natural and cultural resources.”
Obtaining a free California State Park Adventure Pass online is simple:
• Have a parent and/or guardian visit com or call (800) 444-7275 (Spanish-speaking customer service available).
• If they don’t already have a ReserveCalifornia account, they can set up a profile by providing their name, address, phone number and email address.
• After completing the form, the free pass will be sent to their email right away and can be used immediately to enjoy any of the 54 participating parks.
• Individuals who do not have access to a smartphone, computer or printer, and/or do not have an email address, can request a pass by visiting a State Parks Pass Sales Office or by calling (800) 444-7275.
There are 54 picturesque state parks that fourth graders and their families can visit once they have the pass, including Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake and Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville.
Why was the California State Park Adventure Pass program established?
Made possible by Assembly Bill 148, the program was signed by Gov. Newsom in July 2021.
The pass is valid for the one-year period during which the child is a fourth grader or fourth-grade equivalent and attends a public school, from September 1 to August 31 of that year.
The pass is also a good educational tool for California fourth-grade teachers, who can encourage students with the Adventure Pass to extend their classroom learning into state parks and explore these living classrooms. For full terms and conditions, click here.
The Outdoors for All initiative champions the right of all Californians to have access to recreational opportunities and enjoy the cultural, historic, and natural resources found across the state.
Too many Californians cannot access either public outdoor spaces or the state’s array of museums, and cultural and historical sites.
The state is prioritizing efforts to expand all Californians’ access to parks, open space, nature and cultural amenities. This priority requires focusing funding and programs to expand opportunities to enjoy these places. Doing so advances Governor Gavin Newsom’s strong personal commitment to building a “California for All.”
Outdoors for All Pass Programs
In addition to the California State Park Adventure Pass, all Californians can check out a California State Parks Library Pass by using their library cards to access more than 200 participating state park units. The Library Pass program is also available to tribal libraries throughout the state.
Families receiving California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids, or CalWORKs, individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income and income-eligible Californians 62 and over can apply for the Golden Bear Pass with their smartphone or other web-based device in just minutes and have access to more than 200 California state park units.
The Golden Bear Pass is also available to participants of California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program.
For more information on all three State Park Pass programs, please visit parks.ca.gov/OutdoorsForAll.
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