CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Two women were injured in a Saturday crash east of Clearlake Oaks.

The single-vehicle wreck occurred on Highway 20 near Walker Ridge Road shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Northshore Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Pat Brown said the small passenger vehicle in which the two women were riding went off the road and traveled about 150 feet down an embankment.

Radio reports indicated the vehicle rolled several times while going down the hill.

Northshore Fire brought in its own rescue unit and also received mutual aid from Williams Fire, which sent a heavy rescue unit, Brown said.

The two women were extricated and brought up the hill with the help of a rope rescue, an operation that Brown said requires a lot of manpower, which was one of the reasons for bringing in mutual aid.

He said both women sustained head injuries.

Due to the weather, Brown said an air ambulance was not available to transport the patients.

In addition, because of the terrain, “We couldn’t have landed anything up there,” he said.

Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire each transported one of the women to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake by ambulance, Brown said.

The crash occurred in an area of Highway 20 that saw a number of similar crashes several years ago, with vehicles going off the road and down the embankment, particularly in rainy weather.

Caltrans has since installed a rumble strip, signage and other safety measures to reduce the number of crashes, as Lake County News has reported.

“That’s the first one I’ve had there in a while,” Brown said of Saturday’s wreck.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Glenn County officials on Friday arrested two Bay Area men who allegedly were found to be in possession of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine.

Marcos Miguel Rodriguez-Villanueva, 20, of Richmond and Carlos Alejandro Mendoza-Villanueva, 39, of Novato were arrested by Glenn Interagency Narcotics Task Force agents.

The task force reported that it responded to a request from the California Highway Patrol at 11 a.m. Friday after receiving a request from CHP for a possible drug trafficking case.

Glenn Interagency Narcotics Task Force agents took over the investigation and seized 13.1 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $200,000 along with $2,475 in cash, and arrested the two men.

Rodriguez-Villanueva and Mendoza-Villanueva were booked into the Glenn County Jail. Bail was set at $600,000 for each of them, the task force reported.

The investigation is ongoing, task force officials said.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A local member of Congress will host a special public forum on gun violence prevention in Napa on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) will lead the forum from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Napa City Hall, 955 School St.

Last month, in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six teachers and administrators, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that Thompson would lead a task force to investigate new steps Congress can take to reduce gun violence and prevent massacres like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Thompson is a Vietnam veteran, hunter, gun owner and former chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.

The forum will bring together law enforcement officials, mental health experts, school officials, elected officials and community members for a comprehensive discussion on the steps that must be taken to reduce and prevent gun violence.

Thompson represents a portion of Lake and all or parts of Contra Costa, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties in the U.S. House of Representatives.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – In the wake of an appeals court hearing that overturned a rape conviction based on a more than century old loophole, the state senator representing Lake and several other North Coast counties said on Friday she would introduce legislation to fix the law.

Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), who chairs the Senate Judiciary committee and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, said she would introduce the legislation in reaction to a Second District Court of Appeal decision filed Wednesday.

That decision, People v. Julio Morales, reversed a rape conviction of a Southern California man based on a law codified in 1872.

Morales was accused of entering the dark bedroom of a female acquaintance after her boyfriend left and having sex with her while she slept, without disclosing his identity.

When the woman woke up and realized it was not her boyfriend, she pushed him away and began to cry and yell, and he left, the decision explained.

California Penal Code 261(a)(5) states that rape includes situations “where a person submits under the belief that the person committing the act is the victim’s spouse, and this belief is induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the accused, with intent to induce the belief.”

By referencing a “spouse,” the law does not cover single women.

The appeals court’s decision explains it this way: “A man enters the dark bedroom of an unmarried woman after seeing her boyfriend leave late at night, and has sexual intercourse with the woman while pretending to be the boyfriend. Has the man committed rape? Because of historical anomalies in the law and the statutory definition of rape, the answer is no, even though, if the woman had been married and the man had impersonated her husband, the answer would be yes.”

The justices pointed out that while Penal Code Section 261 has been amended numerous times over the past 140 years, two subdivisions – one, (a)(4), relating to a person “unconscious of the nature of the act, and this is known to the accused,” and the second being (a)(5), relating to a person submitting believing the person committing the act is their spouse – have not been changed.

“Therefore, we reluctantly hold that a person who accomplishes sexual intercourse by impersonating someone other than a married victim’s spouse is not guilty of the crime of rape of an unconscious person under section 261, subdivision (a)(4),” according to the decision.

The appeals court decision also noted that the record did not make clear if the jury made its decision based on a legally invalid theory of the case presented by the prosecutor.

“I am shocked and appalled that the court didn’t see fit to uphold justice for this rape survivor,” Evans said. “The fact that such an outdated loophole still exists is baffling but I will introduce legislation this session that will bring uniform clarity. The definition of rape is found in the act itself and having sex with an unconscious person is rape. Period.”

California Attorney General Kamala Harris, whose office argued against the conviction being overturned before the appeals court, also decried the decision.

“The evidence is clear that this case involved a nonconsensual assault that fits within the general understanding of what constitutes rape,” Harris said in a Friday statement. “This law is arcane and I will work with the Legislature to fix it.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NASA-funded researchers analyzing a small meteorite that may be the first discovered from the Martian surface or crust have found it contains 10 times more water than other Martian meteorites from unknown origins.

This new class of meteorite was found in 2011 in the Sahara Desert. Designated Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034, and nicknamed “Black Beauty,” it weighs approximately 11 ounces.

After more than a year of intensive study, a team of U.S. scientists determined the meteorite formed 2.1 billion years ago during the beginning of the most recent geologic period on Mars, known as the Amazonian.

“The age of NWA 7034 is important because it is significantly older than most other Martian meteorites,” said Mitch Schulte, program scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We now have insight into a piece of Mars’ history at a critical time in its evolution.”

The meteorite is an excellent match for surface rocks and outcrops NASA has studied remotely via Mars rovers and Mars-orbiting satellites. NWA 7034’s composition is different from any previously studied Martian meteorite The research is published in Thursday’s edition of Science Express.

“The contents of this meteorite may challenge many long held notions about Martian geology,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “These findings also present an important reference frame for the Curiosity rover as it searches for reduced organics in the minerals exposed in the bedrock of Gale Crater.”

NWA 7034 is made of cemented fragments of basalt, rock that forms from rapidly cooled lava. The fragments are primarily feldspar and pyroxene, most likely from volcanic activity.

This unusual meteorite’s chemistry matches that of the Martian crust as measured by NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers and Mars Odyssey Orbiter.

“This Martian meteorite has everything in its composition that you’d want in order to further our understanding of the Red Planet,” said Carl Agee, leader of the analysis team and director and curator at the University of New Mexico’s Institute of Meteoritics in Albuquerque. “This unique meteorite tells us what volcanism was like on Mars 2 billion years ago. It also gives us a glimpse of ancient surface and environmental conditions on Mars that no other meteorite has ever offered.”

The research team included groups at the University of California at San Diego and the Carnegie Institution in Washington. Experiments were conducted to analyze mineral and chemical composition, age, and water content.

Researchers theorize the large amount of water contained in NWA 7034 may have originated from interaction of the rocks with water present in Mars’ crust.

The meteorite also has a different mixture of oxygen isotopes than has been found in other Martian meteorites, which could have resulted from interaction with the Martian atmosphere.

Most Martian meteorites are divided into three rock types, named after three meteorites; Shergotty, Nakhla, and Chassigny.

These “SNC” meteorites currently number about 110. Their point of origin on Mars is not known and recent data from lander and orbiter missions suggest they are a mismatch for the Martian crust.

Although NWA 7034 has similarities to the SNC meteorites, including the presence of macromolecular organic carbon, this new meteorite has many unique characteristics.

“The texture of the NWA meteorite is not like any of the SNC meteorites,” said co-author Andrew Steele, who led the carbon analysis at the Carnegie Institution’s Geophysical Laboratory. “This is an exciting measurement in Mars and planetary science. We now have more context than ever before to understanding where they may come from.”

The research was funded by NASA’s Cosmochemistry Program and Astrobiology Institute, part of the Planetary Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

The research also was supported by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium in Las Cruces, and the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Va.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Saturday, Jan. 5, marks National Bird Day, a day to reflect on the survival and well-being of the world's birds.

National Bird Day was established by bird activists to bring awareness to issues affecting captive and wild birds, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to be thankful for the native wild birds we see outside our windows.

Whether you are a bird owner, birdwatcher or simply a wildlife enthusiast, what better way to celebrate National Bird Day than signing up for an outing to view our national bird, the American bald eagle?

During January and February, the Bureau of Land Management will host free guided hikes to look for wintering bald eagles in the Cache Creek Natural Area in Lake County.

Hikers will enjoy scenic vistas of the Cache Creek Canyon, where eagles often soar over the creek and perch in streamside trees.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is host to California's second-largest population of wintering bald eagles.

Winter is the best time to look for these brilliant birds because they tend to concentrate in small areas.

With open water and fresh food sources such as catfish and carp, the Cache Creek Natural Area provides the perfect habitat for wintering bald eagles as they feed, soar and roost until about mid-April.

Spotting a bald eagle in person is not only an impressive sight, but also an inspiring reminder of how the species has recovered from near extinction.

Although bald eagles have made a remarkable comeback, continued conservation is necessary to keep populations strong.

Wild birds are an integral part of the natural community, but they need healthy habitats to survive. Permanent protection for the Berryessa Snow Mountain region will provide a safeguard for all of the unique birds and wildlife that we are able to come into close contact with and enjoy.

This National Bird Day, consider the wonderful diversity of birds, such as the bald eagle, living right here in our backyard. Take the opportunity to see it yourself, by signing up for the Bureau of Land Management’s free guided bald eagle hikes.

Participants in the guided hikes often spot other wildlife including tule elk, golden eagles, osprey, herons, red-tailed hawks and egrets.

Guided hikes will be held on Saturdays, Jan. 12, 19 and 26, and Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23.

They will start at the Redbud Trailhead parking area, eight miles east of Clearlake Oaks on Highway 20 at 10 a.m.

The hikes are four-miles long – including a steep 600-foot climb in the first mile – and will last three to four hours.

Participants should wear sturdy hiking boots suitable for wet conditions and dress for cold weather.

In addition, participants should bring water, a lunch and binoculars.

Space is limited. Reserve a spot by contacting the Bureau of Land Management’s Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.

For more information on permanent protection for the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, visit www.berryessasnowmountain.org .
 
Tuleyome Tales is produced by Tuleyome, a regional conservation organization based in Woodland. Charlotte Orr, a member of the Tuleyome staff, graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in community and regional development, emphasizing in environmental policy and education.

Nine bills authored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) in 2012, ranging in topic from religious freedom to reporting of elder abuse to pilot safety, become effective in 2013.

Yamada now represents Lake County, as part of the Fourth District, in the California Assembly.

The bills include the following.

AB 1964: Workplace religious freedom

Prohibits employers from segregating an employee from coworkers or the public due to the employee’s religious attire, grooming, or other observance.

AB 40: Criminal physical abuse of an elder or dependent adult

Requires nursing home staff and other mandatory reporters to report directly to law enforcement any suspected incidents of abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.

AB 511: Meteorological evaluation tower: Markings for pilot safety

Establishes a statewide standard for marking Meteorological Evaluation Towers (METs), which developers of wind farms use to measure wind velocity.

METs are invisible to low-flying agricultural pilots without such safety markings.

AB 999: Long-term care insurance: Rate increase controls

Modifies the long-term care (LTC) insurance ratemaking process to protect consumers from excessive rate increases by giving the insurance commissioner the discretion to allow a lower premium increase if he or she determines that it is in the interest of policyholders.

In addition, allows the insured, if the premium becomes too expensive, to convert paid-up coverage to a lifetime benefit equal to the amount of premiums paid to date for the coverage, instead of canceling, ensuring that the policyholder will not lose all their money or all their coverage.

AB 1623: Weights and measures: Consumer protections

Ensures that consumers receive the true amount of what they buy by raising the fee collection limitation on county weights and measures programs to allow fees that fully cover the costs of annually inspecting vendor and manufacturing measuring equipment, such as scales in grocery stores.

AB 1710: The Nursing Home Administrator ‘Right Sizing’ Act of 2012

Maintains state enforcement standards for nursing home care by requiring the annual adjustment of Nursing Home Administrator licensing program fees to fully support state costs of screening, testing, and investigating nursing home administrators.

AB 1793: Emergency preparedness: Nursing homes

Ensures that nursing homes are included in the planning and providing of emergency medical care during a disaster and that they are reimbursed from federal disaster funds for their services, like other entities providing such services.

AB 1823: Veterans homes: Notice of financial obligation

Requires quarterly financial statements sent to California’s veterans home residents to include clearly written information about prospective health-related charges due upon the death of a veteran and payable by his or her estate.

AB 1626: Contesting false and misleading ballot statements

Allows a county clerk to contest in court possible false and misleading arguments on a ballot.

Visit Yamada online at www.asm.ca.gov/yamada .

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of a congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, on Friday announced 12 vice chairs to serve on the task force.

The vice chairs and Thompson will make up the task force’s leadership team.

“I am proud to announce our leadership team for the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,” said Thompson. “Our vice chairs have a wide range of expertise, come from different backgrounds representing all corners of the House Democratic Caucus, and will bring unique ideas to the table as we work to reduce and prevent gun violence while also protecting the rights of law-abiding individuals without a history of dangerous mental illness to own legitimate firearms for legitimate purposes.”

Thompson was recently named by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to chair a congressional task force on reducing and preventing gun violence.

Thompson is a hunter, gun owner, former chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and veteran who carried a military-style assault weapon during a tour in Vietnam.

He is hosting three public forums on preventing gun violence next week – in Napa on Jan. 8, Vallejo on Jan. 9 and Santa Rosa on Jan. 10.

The 12 vice chairs are:

• Rep. Ron Barber (AZ) – Congressman Barber had a 30-year career with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Under his direction, the division improved services for families, while running one of the five most cost-efficient, high-quality programs in the country. After his retirement, Barber became district director for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. He was standing next to her on Jan. 8, 2011, when a gunman opened fire at a Congress on Your Corner event. Barber was shot twice and critically wounded. When Congresswoman Giffords stepped down to focus on her recovery, Barber ran for the seat, winning the right to succeed her in office.
• Rep. John D. Dingell (MI) – Congressman John D. Dingell is the Dean of the House of Representatives and a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. A lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist, Congressman Dingell is an avid hunter and sportsman and member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Congressman Dingell is also one of the primary authors of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Amendments Act of 2007.
• Rep. Bill Enyart (IL) – Bill Enyart is the retired Major General of the Illinois National Guard and served in the military for 35 years. He is a proud gun owner, enjoys hunting, and is a conservationist.
• Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT) – Elizabeth Esty represents Newtown, Ct in Congress. In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, she has met with first responders, mental health professionals, educators, community leaders, and local elected officials in Newtown. She approaches the need for sensible gun policies as a community leader, attorney, and mother who has served as a room parent for a first-grade classroom. As a member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives, Esty advocated for commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence and keep families safe.
• Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA) – Ranking Member on House Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies. Fattah, a major supporter of the ATF, is deeply involved in issues dealing with firearms, public safety and law enforcement. In Philadelphia, he created the successful gun buyback “Groceries for Guns” program that has removed thousands of dangerous, unwanted firearms from streets and homes of Philadelphians in exchange for grocery coupons.
• Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (NY) – Congresswoman McCarthy, a lifelong nurse, strode into a life of activism to reduce gun violence after her husband was murdered and son critically wounded in the 1993 mass shooting on the Long Island Railroad in New York. Her activism led her to Washington first to lobby members of Congress as an advocate for victims, and then as a member herself after running against her own congressman who voted against the assault weapons ban. Today she is the House sponsor of bills to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines, close the gunshow loophole, strengthen our national background check database, and ban the anonymous bulk online sale of ammunition. Later this month she will also introduce a new assault weapons ban with Congressman Ed Perlmutter and Senator Dianne Feinstein.
• Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA) – Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. In 2001, she secured funding to provide on-site mental health services for schools within her District, which has now expanded to 15 area schools. Napolitano introduced the Mental Health in Schools Act, authorizing funding to implement on-site mental health services for schools on a national level and each year has introduced legislation recognizing May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. In 2010, Napolitano created the Mental Health Task Force, which includes notable figures such as: Los Angeles Laker, Metta World Peace; World Championship Boxer, Mia St. John, and Dancing with the Stars celebrity, Mark Ballas to help raise awareness about mental health, rid stigma, and encourage others to seek help. Additionally, Napolitano established the 38th Congressional District Mental Health Consortium, a group of local mental health professionals in her District to help advise on mental health related issues and policy.
• Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO) – Congressman Ed Perlmutter represents the 7th Congressional District of Colorado encompassing the northern and western suburbs of the Denver metro region. Residents of the 7th CD are diverse, moderate and middle of the road with their personal values, economics, and education. Perlmutter represented the City of Aurora, CO during the tragic movie theater shootings in July 2012. He also represented the area surrounding Columbine High School when he was serving in the Colorado State Senate.  Perlmutter has extensive experience in Colorado working to create mandatory criminal background checks for all gun purchases, and during his time in the state Senate, he sponsored many crime control and victims' assistance measures.
• Rep. David Price (NC) – Congressman David Price of North Carolina is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, where he has worked to improve public safety and ensure first responders have access to the tools they need to protect our communities. As a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, he has long supported robust funding for mental health services and was an early advocate for the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act, which became law in the 110th Congress. Rep. Price has also supported efforts to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals and limit the sale of military-style weapons.
• Rep. Bobby Scott (VA) – Congressman Bobby Scott serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. He is a known leader of legislative efforts to reduce crime and prevent youth violence by advocating for comprehensive, evidence-based solutions. Towards this goal, he has introduced the Youth PROMISE Act. Following the Columbine tragedy, he co-led a bi-partisan effort to develop juvenile crime prevention and accountability legislation that resulted in the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program (JABG) legislation which was cosponsored by every member of the Crime Subcommittee on both sides of the aisle and passed into law in 2002. He has also co-led bipartisan legislative efforts to add fines and suspensions to the tools available to the ATF to enable the agency to more effectively enforce gun sale and transfer regulations and to close the gun show loophole.
• Rep. Jackie Speier (CA) – Congresswoman Speier was Legislative Counsel to Congressman Leo Ryan in 1978 when she accompanied him to investigate the People’s Temple cult in Jonestown, Guyana. Congressman Ryan was assassinated, and Speier was shot five times at close range. She still carries two of the bullets in her body. Since that time, she has been a consistent advocate of gun control, and carried assault weapons ban legislation in California twenty years ago. She supports the 2nd Amendment, but believes we cannot simply blame this crisis on violent video games or mental illness. The proliferation of military style assault weapons and assault magazines are part of the problem, and should be banned. In addition, she believes it is essential that loopholes in the background check process be closed.
• Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) – An avid hunter, Congressman Bennie Thompson has been selected to chair the bipartisan Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus during the 113th Congress. Congressman Thompson has served as the lead Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security since 2007. Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Thompson served as alderman and mayor of Bolton, Mississippi and as a supervisor in Hinds, County Mississippi.

Over the next month the task force will hold a number of meetings and hearings with different experts designed to identify the best policies to reduce and prevent gun violence.

A comprehensive set of policy proposals will be released by the task force in early February.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Several more states – including California – are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, in their states.  

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont and Utah were conditionally approved on Thursday to operate a state-based exchange, and Arkansas is conditionally approved to operate a state partnership exchange.  

Health and Human Services also is providing more guidance to states today on marketplaces that will be operated in partnership with the federal government.

“States across the country are working to implement the health care law and build a marketplace that works for their residents,” Secretary Sebelius said Thursday. “In 10 months, consumers in all 50 states will have access to a new marketplace where they will be able to easily purchase affordable, high quality health insurance plans, and today’s guidance will provide the information states need to guide their continued work.”

Thursday’s conditional approvals follow those previously granted to Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington to operate state-based exchanges and to Delaware to operate a state partnership exchange.  

To date, 20 states including the District of Columbia have been conditionally approved to partially or fully run their marketplaces – with the remaining states having until Feb. 15 to apply for a state partnership exchange.

Thursday’s new partnership guidance provides valuable information for states considering this option.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses will have access to a new marketplace starting in 2014 where they can access quality, affordable private health insurance. These are similar to those choices that will be offered to members of Congress.

Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces and may be eligible for tax credits to help pay for their health insurance.     

To learn more about exchange conditional approvals, visit: http://www.cciio.cms.gov/resources/factsheets/state-marketplaces.html .

For more information on exchanges, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/exchanges .

To access the guidance released Thursday, visit http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/partnership-guidance-01-03-2013.pdf .

AccuWeather reports beginning near or just past the middle of the month, signs are pointing toward waves of frigid air moving southward across North America from the North Pole.

Much of the nation has been experiencing higher-than-average temperatures and lower heating bills so far during the cold weather season, with the exception of some bouts the past couple of weeks.

However, there are signs of a potential change on the way beginning during the second half of January.

A phenomenon known as sudden stratospheric warming has occurred in the arctic region during the past few days. The stratosphere is located between six miles and 30 miles above the ground.

Often when this occurs, it forces cold air to build in the lowest layer of the atmosphere then to drive southward.

The problem is the exact timing and location of the emergence of this cold air is uncertain. Typically, the movement of cold air begins 10 to 14 days later.

During the next week or so, a flow of milder Pacific air will invade much of the nation.

Because of the time of year, some locations – in particular, the northern part of the Great Basin and northern New England – may hold on to the cold they have now due to long nights, light winds and weak sunshine. However, most locations will experience an upswing in temperature for at least a several-day period.

According to AccuWeather.com’s Long Range Team, including Mark Paquette, “Overlaying this with other tools, we expect to see cold air spreading out from central Canada later next week into week three of January.”

It is possible the cold push will arrive in one big blast. However, it is more likely the cold will advance along in waves of progressively colder air with each wave driving farther south and east.

According to Long Range Weather Expert Paul Pastelok, “The early indications are that the initial thrust of the brutal cold will be directed over the Northwest, northern Rockies or northern Plains first, with subsequent waves reaching farther east.”

Expert Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson stated, “Initially, the cold may seem to be run-of-the-mill or even delayed, but once the cold air engine starts, it may run for quite a while with progressively colder and colder waves of air.”

According to Expert Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston, “As the waves of cold air spread to the south and east, some energy may be released in the form of a series of storms riding the cold air.”

The storms may initially track from the Southwest to the Upper Midwest, then the western Gulf to the Great Lakes, the eastern Gulf to the Appalachians and perhaps finally northward along the Atlantic Seaboard.

Expert Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg added, “While a zone of high pressure off the southern Atlantic coast will offer some resistance to the cold initially in the East, most of the time in situations like this, cold air finishes the job and reaches the Atlantic Seaboard.”

So while the atmosphere may seem to be settling into a pattern like last winter for some people, meteorologists at AccuWeather.com will be watching the evolution of the winter beginning in mid-January with great interest.

Folks may want to check their supply of fuel for the second half of the winter sooner rather than later, in the event the waves of arctic air develop to their full potential.

Alex Sosnowski is an expert senior meteorologist for www.AccuWeather.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. –Dozens of friends, family and colleagues came to honor a Lake County Superior Court judge on his retirement during a Thursday afternoon celebration.

Judge David Herrick is retiring after 18 years on the Lake County Superior Court bench.

The Thursday party to honor Herrick was held in his Department 1 courtroom.

Herrick, 64, was elected in 1994 to succeed Judge John Golden. He took the bench in January 1995.

Michael Lunas, elected in November, is succeeding Herrick to the Department 1 bench.

Lunas will be sworn in during a special ceremony on Monday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m., also in the Department 1 courtroom.

Herrick told Lake County News that he plans to continue working part-time during his retirement, although he’s looking forward to more time to play golf and travel with wife of 32 years, Cheryl.

Lake County News will publish an in-depth interview with Herrick about his time on the bench in the coming week.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) was sworn in on Thursday as the representative in the U.S. House of Representatives for California’s Fifth Congressional District.

The Fifth District, recently redrawn, includes the southern portion of Lake County as well as all or parts of Contra Costa, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

“I am honored to have been sworn in to represent California’s 5th Congressional District,” said Thompson. “It is my high honor to serve our great district in Congress. As your representative, I will work every day to make our district a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Constituents who would like help with federal agencies, to schedule tours in Washington D.C., or order a U.S. flag can call Thompson’s district office at 707-226-9898 or Washington Office at 202-225-3311.

Constituents also can sign up to receive Thompson’s e-newsletters on his Web site or at this link: https://mikethompson.house.gov/forms/form/default.aspx?ID=590 .

Constituents can follow Thompson on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeThompson .

Thompson’s district office is located at 1040 Main St., Suite 101 in Napa. New district offices will be opening soon in Vallejo and Santa Rosa.
 
Thompson is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He also is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.