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- Written by: Lake County News reports
In a joint announcement, the governor and legislative leaders called the broadband package “historic,” and “a legacy project that will benefit generations of rural and urban residents alike.”
The legislation is meant to yield vital, broadened access for California families by prioritizing the unserved and underserved areas, facilities, households, and businesses that remain disconnected in the digital era.
The legislation includes:
— More vital accountability and legislative oversight.
— Creating a “broadband czar” and nine-member council within the California Department of Technology.
— Hiring a third-party to build and maintain the “middle-mile network, high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at higher speeds over longer distances between local networks.
— Investing $3.25 billion to target that middle mile and build the broadband lines.
— Providing $2 billion for ‘last-mile’ infrastructure lines that will connect consumers’ homes and businesses with local networks ($1 billion for rural communities; $1 billion for urban communities).
“Our work on this critical issue is not done. We are fully committed to passing comprehensive measures by the end of this year’s legislative session to ensure the surcharge funding via the California Advanced Services Fund is extended. These surcharge funds are embedded in pending legislation and are critical to the long-term success of local connectivity projects and to ensure every Californian has access to high-quality broadband internet like they rightfully deserve,” the group said.
On Tuesday, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), whose district includes Lake County, and Sen. Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) lauded the bill but said more legislation will be needed.
“This broadband deployment budget bill will have an enormous impact on the lives of all Californians,” said Aguiar-Curry. “In partnership with my colleague Sen. Gonzalez, we have highlighted the critical need to modernize our state’s broadband policy and programs, and to commit long-term funding to guarantee internet connectivity for all California communities, rural and urban.
“I am immensely proud that our efforts have contributed to a budget deal between Gov. Newsom, Pro Tem Atkins and Speaker Rendon to provide a generational $6 billion investment in broadband infrastructure,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Modern, adaptable technology in every corner of our State will provide access to education and job training, health care, and the digital economy. Passage of AB 14 and SB 4 this year is the next essential step in providing a historic policy and funding package to lead California into the future.”
“This historic broadband budget bill is great news to celebrate! It invests in an essential backbone infrastructure that will help California achieve accessible and affordable Broadband for All and also takes critical steps toward equity by prioritizing unserved and underserved areas in both rural and urban communities throughout our state,” said Sen. Gonzalez.
“Overall, this budget bill is one we can be proud of, that represents the values of our state and that will provide a strong foundation through which we can accomplish much more this legislative session to help close the digital divide — because our work does not end here,” Gonzalez said. “Now, we must pass legislation to provide long-term, continuous funding for high-speed broadband infrastructure, to reaffirm the prioritization of equitable broadband infrastructure deployment projects and to ensure we have a comprehensive broadband package this legislative session to successfully address the digital divide once and for all.”
Details on the bill can be found in AB/SB 156.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The California Highway Patrol’s Williams Area office did not release the name of the 57-year-old Lake County resident pending the notification of his family.
The wreck occurred at 7:55 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20 east of Highway 16, the CHP said.
The CHP said the Clearlake man was driving a 2014 Toyota Tacoma pickup westbound at a high rate of speed as Jacob Funk, 27, of Orland was driving eastbound at 55 miles per hour in a 2017 Dodge Durango.
Vicky Davis, 40, and two children, a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, whose names were not released due to their juvenile status — all of them Orland residents — were riding with Funk, the CHP reported.
The CHP said the Clearlake resident swerved over the solid double-yellow lines and entered in the eastbound lane, directly in Funk’s path.
Funk attempted to avoid the crash by turning to the right but was unable to avoid the collision, the CHP said.
The left front of the Toyota Tacoma collided with the left front of the Dodge Durango, with the CHP reporting that the crash caused the Toyota’s left front door to detach.
The Clearlake driver, who was not wearing his seat belt, was ejected from his pickup. The CHP said he died of his injuries at the scene.
Funk and Davis were wearing their seat belts and the two children were in child safety seats. Funk had neck and back pain, Davis suffered a head contusion and the children had complaints of pain, the CHP said.
Radio reports indicated three air ambulances were summoned to the scene, landing in an area on Highway 16.
The CHP said Funk and the two children were transported via REACH air ambulance to UC Davis for further treatment of moderate injuries, while Davis, who had major injuries, was taken by REACH air ambulance to Kaiser Vacaville Hospital.
The initial CHP report indicated alcohol and/or drugs were possible factors in this wreck.
Highway 20 was shut down from Highway 53 in Clearlake Oaks to Highway 16 until just before 11 p.m. Sunday due to the wreck, according to scene reports.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Grillers are needed to help fire up the annual “Grillin’ on the Green” event, returning this year following its cancellation in 2020 due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grillers are invited to once again compete in the barbecue cook-off that highlights the family fun activity. Sponsors are also sought and will be recognized at the event.
The 11th annual “Grillin’ on the Green” cook-off, presented by the Westside Community Park Committee and Grillin’ on the Green Organizing Committee, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at Westside Community Park.
The fundraiser supporting park improvements features food, drink and entertainment for all ages.
Attendees may taste competitors’ barbecue fare, dance to live music by the LC Diamonds, and enjoy a car show featuring vintage vehicles from local car clubs. Kids may participate in children’s water activities, as well.
Local organizations, individuals and professionals battle for bragging rights each year by preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast Peoples’ Choice votes for their favorites.
Additionally, “celebrity” judges including Sheriff Brian Martin will select their favorite grillers in various categories.
Interested grilling chefs and team representatives are urged to sign up as soon as possible. Call Cindy Ustrud at 707-349-0718. Entries are due by July 16.
Event organizers are seeking sponsors of the event and sponsors for grillers this year. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500 and up.
Opportunities to sponsor a Grillin’ participant are available at the rate of $500.
Major sponsors for this year’s event include Lake County Tribal Health Consortium, Community First Credit Union, Lake County News, Law Office of Mary Heare Amodio, the Ustrud-Rollins Family, the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation and Brian Grey, DDS, MSD.
Information about the event can be found on the park’s website or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page. Additionally, people may call Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for information.
Westside Community Park is a City of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development for more than 20 years.
The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
The committee maintains and operates the majority of the park.
Westside Community Park is home to the Konocti Youth Soccer League, Westshore Little League's softball league, the Lakeport team of the Ukiah Men's Soccer League and the Early Lake Lions Horseshoe League.
Improvements to the park for which the Westside Community Park Committee seeks funding include continued development of a horse park on a separate site located off State Highway 175, west of Lakeport.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The outages, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, occurred during the midst of the latest heat wave, as Lake County News has reported.
The first outage, which began at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, impacted 885 customer accounts in Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown and Lower Lake, said PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras.
“Several PG&E ‘troublemen’ were dispatched to the area where a fault was detected on the line, on Old Spruce Grove Road, east of Highway 29,” said Contreras. “They inspected the area several times but the cause of the fault was not found.”
She said that, due to the high fire threat rating on Saturday, PG&E wanted to ensure the line was 100% inspected before re-energizing it.
Crews also used a helicopter early Sunday morning to inspect the line to ensure debris or vegetation was not on the line, she said.
Contreras said power was completely restored to all of the impacted customers by 9 a.m. Sunday.
“We thank everyone for their patience and for their understanding, especially during the high temperatures, as we wanted to ensure the line in this high fire-threat area was safe to re-energize,” she said.
The second outage began at about 5:19 p.m. Sunday, said Contreras.
She said power was disrupted again to about 540 customers just in the Hidden Valley Lake area for about three hours.
“Crews were checking that Spruce Grove Road area again and they did find the cause to be impacted electrical equipment. I can say this outage was heat-related,” Contreras said.
She said the repairs were made and power was restored by 9:21 p.m. Sunday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at