LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County finished 2014 with a drop in unemployment, according to the latest report on joblessness released by the state.

The California Employment Development Department reported that Lake County's December unemployment rate was 9.5 percent, down from a revised November rate of 9.8 percent and below the December 2013 estimate of 11.1 percent.

Across California, the jobless rate also went down slightly, dropping to 7 percent in December from 7.2 percent the previous month and 8.3 percent in December 2013, according to the report.

The nationwide rate also showed an improvement, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting the nation's unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent, a drop from 5.8 percent in November and 6.7 percent the previous December.

Statewide, in December nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 700 for a total gain of 1,522,900 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010, with nonfarm jobs last month totaling 15,643,900, according to a survey of 58,000 California businesses.

The report said the year-over-year change – from December 2013 to December 2014 – showed an increase of 320,300 jobs, up 2.1 percent.

At the same time, a federal survey of 5,500 California households estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in December was 17,507,000, an increase of 40,000 from November 2014, and up 489,000 from the employment total in December of last year.

The number of people unemployed in California in December was 1,327,000 – down by 29,000 over the month, and down by 205,000 compared with December of last year, the state reported.

Slight improvements to local job picture

Lake County's December labor force totaled 26,270 individuals, with 23,770 employed and 2,490 unemployed. That's compared to 26,570 members of the labor force – with 23,980 employed and 2,590 unemployed – in November.

Lake ranked No. 40 among California's 58 counties for its December unemployment rate. Its neighboring counties were ranked as follows: Colusa, 20.8 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 9.9 percent, No. 42; Mendocino, 6.2 percent, No. 19; Napa, 5.1 percent, No. 10; Sonoma, 4.7 percent, No. 6; Yolo, 8.2 percent, No. 33.

Marin continued to hold onto its No. 1 spot, registering a 3.4-percent unemployment rate in December, while Imperial County came in at No. 58, with a 21 percent jobless rate.

Lake County's industry sectors that showed growth in December were wholesale trade, 5.6 percent; transportation, warehousing and utilities, 1.7 percent; retail trade and educational and health services, 0.5 percent; and service providing, 0.1 percent, according to Employment Development Department data.

Industries showing declines included total farm, -7.8 percent; federal government, -6.7 percent; mining, logging and producing, -5.4 percent; professional and business services, -1.7 percent; and leisure and hospitality, -1.0 percent, the data showed.

Statewide categories showing growth, declines

The Employment Development Department report showed that in December five industry categories – trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government – added 18,800 jobs across the state. Leisure and hospitality posted the largest increase over the month, adding 8,300 jobs.

Four categories – construction, information, professional and business services, and other services –  reported job declines totaling 18,100 jobs in December, the state said, while two categories, mining and logging and manufacturing, were unchanged over the month.

In a year-over-year comparison – December 2013 to December 2014 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 320,300 jobs, an increase of 2.1 percent, the report showed.

The report said eight categories posted gains totaling 325,000 jobs. Those categories are mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on both a numerical and percentage basis, adding 110,900 jobs, a 4.7-percent increase.

Three categories – financial activities, other services and government – posted job declines over the year, down 4,700 jobs.

Among those, the report said that government posted the largest decline on a numerical basis, down 3,500 jobs, a 0.1-percent decrease. Other services posted the largest decline on a percentage basis, decreasing by -0.2 percent, a loss of 1,000 jobs.

The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 436,034 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the December 2014 survey week, compared with 392,610 in November and 504,558 the previous December.

New claims for Unemployment Insurance in December totaled 47,858, compared with 60,211 in November and 73,458 in December of last year, the state report said.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is offering four adult cats for adoption this week.

The cats are all domestic short hair mixes, two with black coats and two with tabby and white coats.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Domestic short hair mix

This male adult short hair mix cat has a coat with brown and white markings.

He's in cat room kennel No. 48, ID No. 1364.

Domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair mix has a coat with white and brown tabby markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 73, ID No. 1316.

Domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix has an all almost entirely black coat, with a white mark on his chest.

He's in cat room kennel No. 79, ID No. 1605.

Domestic short hair mix

This young black cat has a short, all-black coat.

Shelter staff did not report the cat's gender.

The cat is in cat room kennel No. 99, ID No. 1618.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Lower Lake residence was damaged in a fire on Wednesday, but the quick work of firefighters saved the structure from destruction.

Lake County Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the fire on Lakeridge Road, off Morgan Valley Road, early Wednesday afternoon.

The fire resulted in partial damage to the interior of the single story structure, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.

“It was one heck of a save,” Sapeta said.

The fire was initially spotted by Battalion Chief George Murch who was in the area at the time. Upon arrival he found the structure to be about 50-percent involved.

Units were dispatched to the scene at 12:14 p.m., arriving at 12:27 p.m. Sapeta said the fire was contained at 12:45 p.m. and cleanup continued for about two hours with units cleared from the incident at 3 p.m.

Sapeta said the structure had a metal roof, which caused the fire to burn laterally rather than vertically.

“The fire found its exit through the front and the back. We had 20- to 30-foot flames coming out the front,” he said. “We were able to contain the fire to living room and kitchen areas with only water damage to the rest of the home.”

Sapeta said Lake County Fire responded with its chief, two battalion chiefs, three engines, a water tender and two medic units.

Sapeta said one person was transported to the hospital with burns to the hands.

Cal Fire provided mutual aid with a battalion chief and an engine, Sapeta said.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – McLaughlin Natural Reserve is a participant in an ambitious plan to use the University of California Natural Reserve System to detect and forecast the ecological impacts of climate change in California.

The University of California, Davis' field station at the reserve – established in 1992 and situated on 80 acres of the 7,050-acre McLaughlin property – is one of 39 UC field stations.

At the heart of the plan is a proposal to establish a UC-wide institute for the study of ecological and geological and evolutionary impacts.

The plan has received $1.9 million in funding, the largest of the Research Catalyst Awards announced by new UC President Janet Napolitano.

It will offer an opportunity for scientists to study how climate change will affect California ecosystems and the ecosystem services that people rely on.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the UC Davis reserves and for the reserve system as a whole,” said UC Davis Natural Reserve System Associate Director Virginia Boucher. “As a result of long-term collaborations between the UC Davis reserves and campus engineers and computer scientists, our reserves provide prototypes for a variety of sensor networks.”

The multi-campus project is led by Barry Sinervo, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.

“We are going to be creating a large network of UC climate researchers and using the NRS system as a climate change observatory for biotic systems,” Sinervo said.

The local contact for McLaughlin Natural Reserve is resident Co-Director Catherine Koehler.

The researchers will assemble historical records, establish a new system for data collection, and conduct experiments and long-term monitoring studies across the state from 39 field stations.

Although there have been many in-depth studies documenting climate impacts, they have largely been done independently, with results that are difficult to compare among studies.

The new institute will pursue a coordinated approach across broad geographic scales.

Researchers will develop models to predict future changes to ecosystems and potential impacts on ecosystem services that might threaten the capacity of Californians to adapt to a changing climate.

“I have worked with grants for the reserve for 25 years and I’ve worked in a bunch of different reserves and it has become clear to me that there should be some better way to coordinate the data that we collect,” said Boucher.

“It used to be that everybody would get together once a year and agree, yes, that’s important and then they’d all go home where they had enough work to do already and nothing happened,” Boucher explained.

The institute is one of five newly funded projects designed to stimulate UC research in areas that could benefit California and the world. 

The President's Research Catalyst Awards will channel $10 million over three years to fund research in areas of strategic importance, such as sustainability and climate, food and nutrition, equity and social justice.

“It’s not just a huge collection of researchers using a large number sites,” said Koehler. “There is an opportunity for the people of Lake County to get involved in this and to be participants in the data collection and make a difference to the science of this.”

Koehler said that geologists, ecologists and environmentalists will be well-served by the McLaughlin site.

“People start to think, ‘Oh, ecologists and environmentalists are people running around with butterfly nets,’” she said, “but a lot of ecologists are mathematicians who try to understand incredibly complex interactions and patterns by using mathematics, just like in astrology.”

Locally, the UC program will awaken the population hereabouts to the unique environment and scientific resources of the Lower Lake site.

Once the site of a gold mining operation that employed 200 people, it is now a knowledge mine for ecological and research scientists.

McLaughlin is a unique site in the UC system, said Koehler, because it places a university in partnership with a mining company that operated in the 1980s until the 2000s.

“It is an interesting alliance,” she said, “because there are so many liabilities and problems that could arise. The reason UC would partner with a mining company is that (McLaughlin) is an extremely conscientious company, so the risk involved to both parties is very low. An excellent agreement has been crafted.”

Contributing to the unique aspects of the McLaughlin Natural Reserve are the opportunities for soil studies.

“We are living smack in the middle of an amazing hot spot that is globally significant,” said Koehler.

That’s largely because of the mix of soils – i.e., pentament, volcanic and serpentine – at the site, she added.

In addition to multiple faculty members from UC Davis, representatives from the entire UC system are joined in the project.

They include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Merced.

Environmental Science and Policy Associate Professor Marissa Baskett and John Muir Institute of the Environment Director Mark Schwartz are coordinating the campus effort.

“One of the most interesting was a researcher for NASA Ames who continues to work out here. She is studying the hydroxide and the microbes that live in the weird water here,” said Koehler. “The microbes seem to be living on iron atoms.”

Another scientist from Duke University is presently studying the mimulus – known as “monkey-flowers” – that grow at the site.

Koehler said that stateside there also have been research teams from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Wisconsin.

Study teams from the University of Toronto, China, Germany, the United Kingdom and “a few I can never remember” also have conducted research there, said Koehler.

One of its strongest attractions is the serpentine soil, which has a radically different chemistry than more common soils, she said.

“Serpentine soil may be common here, but it is not common across the country,” said Koehler.

She said that an average of 15 scientific research projects are annually conducted on the property.

“For Lake County, what’s really exciting about this place,” she added, “is that all of a sudden you’ve got the university community right out the back door.”

Persons looking for more information about the project can reach Koehler by phone at 707-995-9003 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Saturday, personnel with Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and Napa County Fire assisted with a rescue of a rock climber in the Table Scraps rock climbing area of Napa County.

Cal Fire reported that the climber – who was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall – fell approximately 20 feet at the rock climbing area on Mount St. Helena.

The emergency call was made to Cal Fire's St. Helena Emergency Command Center at approximately 1:21 p.m., authorities said.

Two state helicopters with crews, California Highway Patrol H32 and Cal Fire's Copter 104 from Boggs Mountain, assisted with the rescue, according to Cal Fire.

Fire and medic personnel hiked in to the incident area. Cal Fire said CHP's Copter H32 performed the patient hoist rescue and transported the patient to a local hospital. The rescue concluded just before 3 p.m.

Cal Fire did not have a condition update on the climber Saturday evening.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Napa County Sheriff's detectives have recovered most of the wine stolen from the famed French Laundry restaurant on Christmas night.

Capt. Doug Pike reported that on Monday, following weeks of investigation, analysis of forensic evidence and numerous interviews, Napa County Sheriff’s detectives traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina, to recover the majority of the wines stolen from the renowned Yountville restaurant.

Authorities reported that 76 bottles of wine, valued at an estimated $300,000, was taken in the theft.

Pike said no arrests have been made to date, but the investigation is ongoing.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office will be working with both state and federal law enforcement authorities to following up on leads developed in this case, Pike said.

“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. I feel as if this tree knows everything I ever think of when I sit here. When I come back to it, I never have to remind it of anything; I begin just where I left off.” – Willa Cather, “O Pioneers!”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Highlands Park in the city of Clearlake is a nugget worth seeking out.

Located at 14365 Lakeshore Drive on one acre, it overlooks beautiful Clear Lake.

Here, you can sit amongst the oak trees and picnic, fish or ruminate.

Like all natural spots, no two days are ever the same. It's true here, near the oaks on the lake, for sure.

Our lake and the surrounding hills and valleys are host to hundreds of species of birds – it's a bird-watcher's paradise.

We have such a prodigious amount and variety of bird life that the National Audubon Society has designated Clear Lake as an “Important Bird Area.”

The UC Cooperative Extension, which houses a great store of information about our lake, suggests visiting the Web site, www.ebird.com , to learn about the birds that visit or live year-round.

This Web site combines information on bird life from the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

It is common to view the prehistoric-looking American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on Clear Lake, as well as a variety of ducks and birds of prey. 

In winter the lake hosts a myriad of ruddy ducks and buffleheads, and even eared grebes have been spotted here.

It's easy to enjoy nature’s shows. The obvious: spring extravaganzas when she paints every available spot in showy pastels, summer’s swaying golden hillsides and fall’s variety show of ruby, yellow and orange foliage.

A Lake County winter puts on a subtle, but no less resplendent show, if one looks carefully. 

A winter walk is to be savored, taken slowly and with concentration. 

Nature is contradictory in that she becalms and energizes a person at the same time. While walking at an unhurried pace a multitude of minutia will reveal themselves – free gifts.

Take time to peer down to the wet banks of the lake, to “read” who’s been here before.

Some wood ducks glide out from the dried tule reeds and present a study in grace and perfection with their rippling reflections on the waters.

The evidence of visiting skunk or raccoon in the form of tracks is imprinted in the soil at the shoreline, offering proof of busy comings-and-goings here on Clear Lake.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

“That's one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind.”

When Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, many strides came before to achieve that moment in history.

The same is true for a human mission to Mars. One step towards that journey begins in March 2015, when NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will make history as the first American to spend a year in space.

“This will be a significantly different experience; being aboard the International Space Station more than twice the duration of my previous flights will not be easy, but I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Kelly, a veteran of three space flights.

This one-year mission will be a stepping stone to human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Scott Kelly and Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will embark on the first joint U.S.-Russian one-year mission, underscoring the “international” in International Space Station as the partners exemplify multilateral cooperation with regard to science.

How will their bodies react to a year of weightlessness? NASA's Human Research Program is about to find out.

“The one-year expedition will be a focused effort to reach across international and technological boundaries to enhance integrated science on the station,” said John Charles, NASA Human Research Program associate manager for international science.

Researchers expect the mission's investigations to provide data on physical and mental changes and challenges astronauts may face when they embark on longer-duration missions, like those to an asteroid, Mars, or beyond.

“It's not always easy for the body to adapt to microgravity,” said Kelly. “The conditions in a weightless environment take getting used to.”

NASA and Roscosmos recently selected several collaborative investigations for this mission to evaluate the effects of long-duration spaceflight on humans.

Each of the U.S. investigations will be grouped into one of seven categories: functional, behavioral health, visual impairment, metabolic, physical performance, microbial, and human factors.

The “functional” category will include investigations that will study the changes in performance of functional tasks for lunar and Mars operations. The field test and functional task test are two investigations in the “functional” category.

After returning to Earth, some astronauts have difficulty with movements like standing up straight. These investigations will examine what happens to the body when astronauts return to Earth's gravity after 12 months of weightlessness.

Researchers hope to develop a recovery timeline for crew members and to evaluate methods to help retrain the body's ability to do those tasks.

“These tests will mimic potential astronaut activities and their capability to perform them after they trek the six or eight months to Mars,” Charles said.

Results of these investigations may be applicable to patients recuperating from a long period of bed rest.

The “behavioral health” category will include studies to learn more about our brain and how it relates to stress and fatigue in space.

In cognition and sleep monitoring, researchers will test how astronauts manage their sleep and how fatigued they become during long-duration missions.

From this data researchers plan to develop software that tests the crew's comprehension, memory, attention and reasoning.

The results of these studies will be helpful for the larger international medical community by learning more about the effects of stress and fatigue, and more importantly, how to combat it.

The neuromapping investigation will use MRI before launch and after landing back on Earth to look at how changes in gravity affect the brain's ability to control movements after a year in space.

The Journals study will analyze the astronauts' diaries to gather data on how crew members adjust emotionally to their spaceflight environment, and how they perceive their ability to perform tasks during long-duration missions.

The Reaction Self Test will provide objective feedback and inform researchers of astronauts' level of cognitive performance while on space station missions. It also seeks to evaluate effects of sleep loss and circadian disruption.

The “visual impairment” category will include the fluid shifts and ocular health investigations to study what happens when fluids shift into the upper body during weightlessness. This shift may cause changes in vision.

Physiological data will be collected using non-invasive tools to study visual impairment and intracranial pressure caused by prolonged weightlessness.

Patients on Earth suffering from similar problems, such as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), may benefit from research of this syndrome and the increased focus on non-invasive measurement techniques.

Experiments in the “metabolic” category will study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on body chemistry, the heart and immune systems.

The biochemical profile study will result in a database of biomedical data before, during and after flight to share among investigators and medical personnel.

The cardio ox investigation will provide insight into the role of oxidative stress on the body. It will also look at how these biological markers may pose a risk for plaque build-up in arteries following extended stays in space.

The integrated immune studies will look at the effects of spaceflight on human immunology, and validate an immune monitoring strategy.

Although there is evidence that the immune system can become dysfunctional during spaceflight, the cause is unknown.

These studies may have potential applications for the monitoring of immune functions of people on Earth with altered immunity.

The “physical performance” category includes studies that will enhance our knowledge of the effects of weightlessness on bones, muscles and heart.

The sprint investigation, currently ongoing on station, evaluates a new exercise regimen involving less frequent, higher intensity tasks, to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular functions that can occur over long periods in space.

The hip QCT study will help define the risks for early onset osteoporosis and bone fracture due to long duration spaceflight, as well as for individuals on Earth.

Included in the “microbial” category is the microbiome investigation. This ongoing study will continue during the one year mission to help researchers determine what happens when microbial species, which help to manage the body's health, live in space for long periods. The study will also evaluate potential impact on a crew member's health.

Samples of crew members' saliva, blood, perspiration and stool will be collected, as well as surface samples from air vents, sleep quarters, exercise equipment, water dispensers and the lavatory. These samples will be correlated with hygiene and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.

By sampling the microbiome of astronauts on Earth and comparing it to their microbiome in space, researchers will be able to define how the body responds to various aspects of space travel.

The “human factors” category will include investigations to assess how astronauts interact with the space station environment.

The fine motor control study will determine the effects of long-duration weightlessness on fine motor performance by using a tablet computer that measures tasks of pointing, dragging, pinch-rotating, and tracing.

The habitability investigation will determine how livable the station is with crew members' observations in periodic questionnaires, crew-collected video footage and videos of key areas of the orbiting complex. This data will aid in the design of future space vehicles and habitats.

During the training retention study, researchers will collect data at three-month intervals on the astronaut's ability to retain training techniques in space, examine how much assistance will be needed from the ground, and compare training retention on a long-duration mission with that on Earth.

“These studies will help us determine if crews could go to Mars and return to Earth safely,” Kelly said.

The research to be conducted on this one-year mission will help NASA and the international community better understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body.

This is a key stepping stone to ensuring the health of our astronauts as NASA makes its next giant leap for humanity.

The year 2014 ranks as Earth's warmest since 1880, according to two separate analyses by NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists.

The 10 warmest years in the instrumental record, with the exception of 1998, have now occurred since 2000.

This trend continues a long-term warming of the planet, according to an analysis of surface temperature measurements by scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

In an independent analysis of the raw data, also released Friday, NOAA scientists also found 2014 to be the warmest on record.

“NASA is at the forefront of the scientific investigation of the dynamics of the Earth's climate on a global scale,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The observed long-term warming trend and the ranking of 2014 as the warmest year on record reinforces the importance for NASA to study Earth as a complete system, and particularly to understand the role and impacts of human activity.”

Since 1880, Earth's average surface temperature has warmed by about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius), a trend that is largely driven by the increase in carbon dioxide and other human emissions into the planet's atmosphere.

The majority of that warming has occurred in the past three decades.

“This is the latest in a series of warm years, in a series of warm decades. While the ranking of individual years can be affected by chaotic weather patterns, the long-term trends are attributable to drivers of climate change that right now are dominated by human emissions of greenhouse gases,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt.

While 2014 temperatures continue the planet's long-term warming trend, scientists still expect to see year-to-year fluctuations in average global temperature caused by phenomena such as El Niño or La Niña.

These phenomena warm or cool the tropical Pacific and are thought to have played a role in the flattening of the long-term warming trend over the past 15 years.

However, 2014's record warmth occurred during an El Niño-neutral year.

“NOAA provides decision makers with timely and trusted science-based information about our changing world,” said Richard Spinrad, NOAA chief scientist. “As we monitor changes in our climate, demand for the environmental intelligence NOAA provides is only growing. It's critical that we continue to work with our partners, like NASA, to observe these changes and to provide the information communities need to build resiliency.”

Regional differences in temperature are more strongly affected by weather dynamics than the global mean.

For example, in the U.S. in 2014, parts of the Midwest and East Coast were unusually cool, while Alaska and three western states – California, Arizona and Nevada – experienced their warmest year on record, according to NOAA.

The GISS analysis incorporates surface temperature measurements from 6,300 weather stations, ship- and buoy-based observations of sea surface temperatures, and temperature measurements from Antarctic research stations.

This raw data is analyzed using an algorithm that takes into account the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and urban heating effects that could skew the calculation.

The result is an estimate of the global average temperature difference from a baseline period of 1951 to 1980.

NOAA scientists used much of the same raw temperature data, but a different baseline period. They also employ their own methods to estimate global temperatures.

GISS is a NASA laboratory managed by the Earth Sciences Division of the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Maryland. The laboratory is affiliated with Columbia University's Earth Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York.

NASA monitors Earth's vital signs from land, air and space with a fleet of satellites, as well as airborne and ground-based observation campaigns.

NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records and computer analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing.

The agency shares this unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The BYU Young Ambassadors will bring their new musical revue show to Lakeport as part of their Northern California tour this Thursday, Jan. 29.

The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the MAC Building at the Clear Lake High School campus, 350 Lange St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person, and can be purchased at the Clearlake Grocery Outlet, 14806 Olympic Drive, or by calling Tom Engstrom in Lakeport at 707-245-5194.

A very limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The Young Ambassadors’ new production, “Heartsongs – Melodies of Love,” highlights some of the world’s all-time favorite love songs in a vibrant musical journey through the roller coaster of life.

With show tunes from award-winning Broadway musicals such as “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Cinderella,” “Singing In the Rain” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and featuring international hits by the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Bublé, Adele and Michael Jackson, “Heartsongs” celebrates life’s unforgettable seasons of love in a spirited 90-minute showcase that is appropriate for family members of all ages.

This fast-paced musical revue features singers, dancers and a live, onstage band, in a high-energy, nonstop performance – complete with colorful costumes.

The Young Ambassadors made their worldwide debut in 1970 at Osaka’s World Expo, and have been entertaining audiences across the globe ever since.

Last fall, the group returned from a three-week tour in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, where they performed for the princess of Thailand. 

Over the past 44 years, the Young Ambassadors have shared their remarkable talent and energy in 66 countries. Since 2000, the Young Ambassadors have been to Brazil, Argentina, the 2002 Winter Olympics, Canada, Russia, Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, China, Africa, Tasmania, throughout Scandinavia, and all over the US. The Young Ambassadors have also performed for heads of state in India, Britain, Jordan, Egypt, Japan and the United States.

Prominent past members include former Miss America Sharlene Wells Hawkes, Diamond Rio’s Dan Truman, and Broadway favorites Christeena Michelle Riggs and Candese Marchese.

The Young Ambassadors represent the School of Music in cooperation with the Department of Dance from the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

NICE, Calif. – The body of a local man who didn't return from a late December kayaking trip has been located.

A Lake County Sheriff's deputy on Saturday afternoon found the body of Michael Harold Belhumeur, 68, of Upper Lake, along the lakeshore near Nice, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

Belhumeur was reported missing by his niece on the evening of Dec. 30. He had gone out on one of his routine kayaking trips earlier in the day, and when he didn't return home, his niece became concerned and called authorities, as Lake County News has reported.

A water search was conducted that same night by Lake County Marine Patrol deputies, while patrol deputies carried out a shore search, Brooks said.

Brooks said the search – which went well into the night – was hampered by high winds and waves.

Early the next morning the search resumed, by water, land and air. The searchers included Lake County Marine Patrol, a California Highway Patrol helicopter and Lake County Search and Rescue members, Brooks said.

While conducting a grid search on the water, a Lake County Sheriff's Marine Patrol deputy located a blue kayak, a life jacket and a paddle, which were positively identified as belonging to Belhumeur, Brooks said.

The search for Belhumeur has continued since the time he was reported missing, Brooks said.

Last weekend, search activities took place at the Davis Rest Area in Lucerne, Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed to Lake County News.

On Saturday afternoon, Brooks said a Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol deputy was conducting a shoreline search for Belhumeur east of Ceago Winery, which is located in the 5000 block of E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Brooks said the deputy noticed an object in the water close to the shore. As the deputy was able to get closer, he determined the object was a body, which was positively identified as being that of Belhumeur.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer was in the area and assisted the deputy with the recovery, Brooks said.

Brooks said family members were notified of the the recovery of Belhumeur's body.

An autopsy will be scheduled for sometime next week to determine the exact cause of death, Brooks said.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday police arrested an 11-year-old Clearlake boy who is alleged to have tried to set fire to his dog.

Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph said the dog involved, a teacup Chihuahua, did not appear to be seriously injured.

Just before noon on Thursday School Resource Officer Bobi Thompson, who Joseph said is primarily assigned to the Konocti Unified School District, was notified of a possible animal abuse case.

A staff member from a local school reported to Thompson that an 11-year-old student had a small burn mark on his hand, Joseph said. When staff asked the child how the injury occurred, the child admitted to burning himself while trying to light his dog on fire the previous day.

When the school obtained this information, Thompson was notified, Joseph said.

Thompson met with the child at the school. Joseph said the child had a small red burned area on one of his hands. The burn was superficial and did not require medical attention.

The child admitted to Thompson that on Wednesday one of his dogs had urinated and defecated on the floor of the home he shares with his parents, Joseph said.

Joseph said the child, wanting to punish the dog, waited for his parents to leave the house.

After the child was left alone in the home, he located some matches and a bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Joseph said the child poured some of the rubbing alcohol onto the dog's back and lit a match. The rubbing alcohol caught on fire, partially burning some of the dog’s hair as well as the child’s hand.

Thompson and Clearlake Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller responded to the child’s residence, located in the 16000 block of 20th Avenue, where Joseph said the crime was committed.

At the home Thompson and Tuller located three dogs – a young female teacup Chihuahua, a young male teacup Chihuahua and a male dachshund, according to Joseph.

Joseph said the young female teacup Chihuahua did have some burned hair along her back but did not need immediate veterinary care. The other two dogs appeared uninjured.

Tuller seized the three dogs from the home for safekeeping and further proceedings, Joseph said.

Thompson arrested the juvenile on a felony charge of animal cruelty and booked him into Lake County Juvenile Hall, Joseph said.

Joseph said the child’s parents are fully cooperating with the investigation.

The case, Joseph said, will be submitted to the Lake County Juvenile Probation Department for review of charges.

Joseph said the Clearlake Police Department and Clearlake Animal Control take cases of animal abuse seriously. Violators will be prosecuted.

Anyone wishing to report suspected animal abuse is asked to contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at 707-994-8251, Extension 115.