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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Google this week unveiled a major collaboration with the California Community Colleges that will provide more than two million students and faculty across the state’s 116 community colleges with free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates, and some of Google's cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini for Education and NotebookLM.
The announcement came during the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Futures Summit 2025, an event designed to drive digital transformation and innovation across the California Community Colleges.
The system will also be one of the first members of Google’s AI for Education Accelerator, an initiative specifically designed to help prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
This announcement with Google represents a significant expansion and investment in workforce development within higher education, positioning California's community college students at the forefront of the AI-driven economy, education officials said.
As the largest system of higher education in the nation, the California Community Colleges play a crucial role in providing accessible education and career pathways.
This partnership aligns with the system's Vision 2030 goals, focusing on enhancing student access, support, and success.
By integrating Google's industry-recognized training and AI tools, the collaboration aims to equip students with the essential job-ready skills like AI and in-demand careers in fields like data analytics, cybersecurity, and more.
“This collaboration with Google is a monumental step forward for the California Community Colleges,” said Don Daves-Rougeaux, senior advisor to the chancellor of the California Community Colleges on Workforce Development, Strategic Partnerships, and GenAI. “Providing our students with access to world-class AI training and professional certificates ensures they have the skills necessary to thrive in high-growth industries and contribute to California's economic prosperity. This partnership directly supports our Vision 2030 commitment to student success and workforce readiness. Additionally, offering access to AI tools with data protections and advanced functionality for free ensures that all learners have equitable access to the tools they need to leverage the skills they’re learning, and saves California’s community colleges millions of dollars in potential tool costs.”
This new statewide partnership builds upon successful regional collaborations. Notably, Google previously worked with Stanford Digital Education and the Bay Area Community College Consortium, or BACCC, including faculty at San Jose City College, to integrate the Google Data Analytics Certificate into local curricula.
That pilot program demonstrated the value of combining industry-recognized credentials with the supportive structure of community colleges to equip students with the skills they need for the future of work.
Key components of the partnership include:
• No-cost access to cutting-edge AI tools: All students, faculty, classified professionals, and the regional consortia staff will receive access to the Gemini App, Google’s generative AI tool, with data protections, including FERPA compliance. This ensures they can use AI tools with their data in an equitable, safe and private way. Additionally, they will have access to Guided Learning, custom AI prompts called Gems, Deep Research reports, NotebookLM and more to help as they study, research and learn.
• No-cost access to training: All students and faculty will receive free access to Google Career Certificates, Google AI Essentials, and Prompting Essentials. These programs provide practical, hands-on training for in-demand jobs.
• Curriculum integration: Google and the Chancellor's Office will collaborate with faculty to integrate these certificate programs and AI courses, particularly focusing on Data Analytics and AI, into existing college curricula and pathways.
• Enhanced faculty development: Faculty will gain access to Google's training programs, professional development resources, including best practices and implementation playbook developed during the Stanford/BACCC pilot, to effectively leverage the certificates. Faculty will also have access to Google’s new Google AI in Higher Education course which teaches faculty ways to use AI as an assistant in their professional practice to save time, inspire creativity, and assist with research.
“Technology skills, especially in areas like artificial intelligence, are critical for the future workforce,” said Bryan Lee, vice president of Google for Education Go-to-Market. “We are thrilled to partner with the California Community Colleges, the nation's largest higher education system, to bring valuable training and tools like Google Career Certificates, AI Essentials, and Gemini to millions of students. This collaboration underscores our commitment to creating economic opportunity for everyone.”
Officials said this initiative builds on the success of Google's tools and programs like Gemini for Education which has been officially integrated into the academic and administrative frameworks of 1,000-plus US Higher education institutions.
By bringing these tools and resources to the vast California community college system, Google and the Chancellor's Office said they are making a significant stride in democratizing access to high-quality tech education and preparing learners for the jobs of tomorrow.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Two women died on Monday afternoon following a head-on crash on Highway 29 near Hidden Valley Lake.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the two crash victims as Velma Darlene Whitley, 92, and Sharon Gale Dennis, 83, both of Hidden Valley Lake.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said its officers were dispatched to the wreck at 2:35 p.m. Monday.
The CHP said the crash occurred on Highway 29, south of mile post marker 29.12, near Hidden Valley Lake.
When the officers arrived, they determined that Whitley was driving a 2010 Ford Edge southbound on Highway 29, according to the CHP report.
The CHP said Margaret Ann Titus, 58, of Lower Lake was driving a 2011 Nissan Altima northbound with Dennis as her passenger, seated in the front passenger seat.
For reasons the CHP said are still undetermined, Whitley allowed her vehicle to cross into the opposing traffic lane, resulting in a head-on crash with Titus’ Nissan.
Whitley was transported from the scene and ultimately succumbed to her injuries, the CHP said.
Titus suffered moderate injuries and was transported from the scene, the CHP said. Dennis died of her injuries at the scene.
The CHP said all three women were believed to be wearing their seatbelts. Drug or alcohol impairment is not suspected in this crash.
Resources from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Fire Protection District, Caltrans, California Department of Fire and Five Star Towing responded to the scene and assisted the California Highway Patrol with the investigation.
Highway 29 was closed for a short period during extrication efforts, with one-way traffic control established shortly thereafter, the CHP said.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake man arrested for arson last month and later released from custody has been arrested for a second arson case.
Patrick Blaine Squier, 66, was in court on Tuesday afternoon for the second of the two arson cases he’s now facing, which happened 15 days apart.
The Clearlake Police Department arrested Squier on two felony counts of arson for an incident that occurred on Aug. 23, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson.
Watson said the fire in question occurred behind Foods Etc., located at 15290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
The fire was reported just after 11 p.m. Aug. 23.
Initial dispatch said it was a trash can on fire behind the store, according to radio reports. Firefighters found it against a building and near numerous propane tanks, between the store and the Adventist Health clinic. The fire was contained within minutes of dispatch.
Watson said Squier was arraigned on the arson charges on Aug. 26, at which point the court decided to release him on his own recognizance.
Then, Clearlake Police arrested Squier again early on Sept. 6 for felony arson and committing a new offence while on bail, based on court and jail records.
That new case, said Watson, was for a fire that occurred the day of Squier’s arrest behind the Grocery Outlet in Clearlake.
Radio traffic for that morning included a dispatch at 4:08 a.m. for a debris fire behind the Grocery Outlet, located at 14806 Olympic Drive. Minutes later, police ran Squier’s name over the radio.
By 4:36 a.m., the fire was reported to be out, with Clearlake Police on scene with firefighters.
Squier’s booking sheet for that fire shows he was arrested at 4:46 a.m.
Watson said Squier was arraigned on Tuesday for the Sept. 6 fire. “The District Attorney’s Office argued for Squier to remain in custody without bail.”
The court agreed to keep Squier in custody without bail, Watson said.
He said both arson cases are set for preliminary hearing on Monday, Sept. 15.
A review of Lake County Superior Court documents shows a Patrick Blaine Squier with numerous other criminal case convictions, including felony assault, criminal threats and possession of a controlled substance.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
A new research effort is investigating how occupational exposures may increase cancer risk among California firefighters.
On Tuesday, the Governor’s Office announced the major new effort, led by the University of California Los Angeles and UC Davis, in collaboration with Cal Fire.
The project, a sub-study of the California Firefighter Cancer Research Study, or CAFF-CRS, is backed by nearly $9.7 million in funding from Cal Fire and will include 3,500 firefighters from departments across the state over a two-year period.
The research team is guided by a firefighter advisory board to ensure the study remains grounded in real-world needs and priorities.
“This research underscores Cal Fire’s commitment to protecting firefighter health through science, innovation, and partnership,” said Cal Fire Director Chief Joe Tyler.
The study will analyze how exposures on the fireground, especially during significant events, may drive changes in the body that contribute to cancer risk over time.
A specific area of focus will compare exposures and biological changes in firefighters who responded to the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles with those who did not.
Funding partners are Cal Fire and the University of California Office of the President.
This research is part of a broader, multi-agency effort to protect the health of those who protect our communities.
By better understanding the relationship between biomarkers of exposure such as heavy metals and biomarkers of effect such as epigenetic alterations, transcriptomics, and markers of inflammation and immune dysfunction, the team hopes to pave the way for new prevention and intervention strategies for firefighters nationwide.
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