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Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS

Published: 29 January 2026

SACRAMENTO — California families that rely on the state’s system for developmental disabilities continue to struggle with barriers to service, lengthy delays, and inconsistent implementation across regions, according to testimony received by the Little Hoover Commission.

Witnesses described long waits for critical services and the heavy burden placed on families to navigate gaps in the system. 

The Jan. 22 hearing reviewed implementation of the commission’s past recommendations for reforms to the system.

Michelle Del Rosario said that even when her son’s needs were formally identified, services were not implemented. 

“Services exist, but there is no consistent process to ensure they are implemented,” she told commissioners. 

Her son, William Del Rosario, underscored the impact of those delays, noting he has waited six years for communication-trained support staff. “Six years is far too long to wait for access to education, employment, and community life.”

Judy Mark, co-founder and president of Disability Voices United, told commissioners that access to services still depends too heavily on a family’s ability to fight the system. 

“We have spent decades building supports that should be there by default,” she said, warning that uneven implementation continues to leave many families behind.

Pete Cervinka, who became director of the California Department of Developmental Services slightly more than a year ago, said the department has issued new guidance and oversight measures aimed at improving consistency across regional centers, while acknowledging that translating policy changes into timely, on-the-ground results remains an ongoing challenge.

Amy Westling, executive director of the Association of Regional Center Agencies, testified that regional centers have worked to reduce disparities in spending levels for Latino and non-Latino clients, though she was pressed by commissioners about the need for greater consistency, greater independence of regional center boards, and more use of the state's self-determination program.

The hearing was part of the commission’s review of its recommendations from its past report “A System in Distress: Caring for Californians with Developmental Disabilities.”

The commission anticipates releasing a report later this year regarding the implementation of that report's recommendations.

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Written by: Moul Dey, South Dakota State University

Published: 29 January 2026

Older adults can dramatically reduce the amount of ultraprocessed foods they eat while keeping a familiar, balanced diet – and this shift leads to improvements across several key markers related to how the body regulates appetite and metabolism. That’s the main finding of a new study my colleagues and I published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

Ultraprocessed foods are made using industrial techniques and ingredients that aren’t typically used in home cooking. They often contain additives such as emulsifiers, flavorings, colors and preservatives. Common examples include packaged snacks, ready-to-eat meals and some processed meats. Studies have linked diets high in ultraprocessed foods to poorer health outcomes.

My team and I enrolled Americans ages 65 and older in our study, many of whom were overweight or had metabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance or high cholesterol. Participants followed two diets low in ultraprocessed foods for eight weeks each. One included lean red meat (pork); the other was vegetarian with milk and eggs. For two weeks in between, participants returned to their usual diets.

A total of 43 people began the dietary intervention, and 36 completed the full study.

In both diets, ultraprocessed foods made up less than 15% of the total calories – a significant reduction from the typical American diet, where more than 50% of total calories comes from ultraprocessed foods. The diets were designed to be realistic for everyday eating, and participants were not instructed to restrict calories, lose weight or change their physical activity.

We prepared, portioned and provided all meals and snacks for the study. Both diets emphasized minimally processed ingredients and aligned with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. government’s nutrient-based recommendations for healthy eating, while providing similar calories and amounts of key nutrients.

The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released on Jan. 7, 2026, explicitly recommend eating less ultraprocessed food, but the previous versions of the guidelines did not specifically address food processing. Our feeding study design allowed us, for the first time, to examine the health effects of reducing ultraprocessed foods while keeping nutrient levels consistent with recommended targets.

We compared how participants fared while eating their habitual diets with how they responded to the two diets that were low in ultraprocessed foods. During the periods when participants ate fewer ultraprocessed foods, they naturally consumed fewer calories and lost weight, including total and abdominal body fat. Beyond weight loss, they also showed meaningful improvements in insulin sensitivity, healthier cholesterol levels, fewer signs of inflammation and favorable changes in hormones that help regulate appetite and metabolism.

These improvements were similar whether participants followed the meat-based or the vegetarian diet.

Why it matters

Ultraprocessed foods make up more than half the calories consumed by most U.S. adults. Although these foods are convenient and widely available, studies that track people’s diets over time increasingly link them with obesity and age-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With older adults making up a growing share of the global population, strategies that preserve metabolic health could support healthy aging.

Most previous feeding studies testing how ultraprocessed foods affect people’s health haven’t reflected real-world eating, especially among Americans. For example, some studies have compared diets made up almost entirely of ultraprocessed foods with diets that contain little to none at all.

Our study aimed to more closely approximate people’s experience while still closely tracking the foods they consumed. It is the first to show that for older adults a realistic reduction in ultraprocessed foods, outside the lab, has measurable health benefits beyond just losing weight. For older adults especially, maintaining metabolic health helps preserve mobility, independence and quality of life.

What’s still unknown

Our study was small, reflecting the complexity of studies in which researchers tightly control what participants eat. It was not designed to show whether the metabolic improvements we observed can prevent or delay diseases such as diabetes or heart disease over time. Larger, longer studies will be needed to answer that.

On the practical side, it’s still unclear whether people can cut back on ultraprocessed foods in their daily lives without structured support, and what strategies would make it easier to do so. It’s also not fully understood which aspects of processing – for example, additives, emulsifiers or extrusion – matter more for health.

Answering these questions could help manufacturers produce foods that are healthier but still convenient – and make it easier for people to choose healthier food options.

The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

Moul Dey, Professor of Nutrition Science, South Dakota State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Written by: Craig Nelson

Published: 28 January 2026

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With temperatures climbing into the high 60s, Clear Lake has become a bustling theater for some of nature’s most impressive aviators. 

While many anglers are firing up their boats in search of bass and crappie, the real action lately has been happening in the sky and on the shorelines.

The "majestic" American bald eagle is the star of the show this season. 

These iconic birds migrate to our shores between December and March to fish and perch among the lakeside trees. 

Recently, a mating pair was spotted scouting territory at Long Tule Point before relocating to Rodman Island later in the afternoon. 

Catching a glimpse of these hunters in action is an exhilarating experience that is truly breathtaking.

It isn’t just the eagles making waves. Clear Lake remains a premier habitat for several other massive species.

The great blue heron stands 4 feet tall with a staggering 7-foot wingspan, these are North America’s largest herons. These birds are frequently seen stalking fish and small mammals along the shoreline. One was recently observed successfully snagging a bluegill for lunch near Lands End. 

Another bird of prey recently observed is the American white pelicans. These winter regulars are hard to miss, boasting wingspans of up to 9.5 feet. Look for them gathering in large groups to fish the shallow waters near Lucerne Harbor Park, where they work together to corral schools of fish.

For those who prefer the action below the surface, the Best Bass Tournament Golden Mussel Division is the next big event on the calendar, starting this weekend.

Hosted by Clear Lake Outdoors, the team-format event features a 100% payback. 

Whether you’re holding a fishing rod or a pair of binoculars, the warm winter weather makes this a perfect week to explore Clear Lake.

Craig Nelson is a former professional golfer who fell in love with tournament bass fishing 20 years ago. He found Lake County after fishing an FLW Stren Series event and never left. He’s the back-to-back winner of the Konocti Classic and runner up in the inaugural WON Bass Clear Lake Open.