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A bucket filled with Clear Lake hitch rescued from an isolated pool in Adobe Creek near Soda Bay in Lakeport, California, on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Photo courtesy of Lake County Water Resources.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s drought conditions led this week to the need to rescue hundreds of threatened native fish.

Lake County Water Resources staff and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, working alongside of Robinson Rancheria and Habematolel Pomo tribal members, leapt to the rescue on Thursday when it was reported that there were Clear Lake hitch in an isolated pool in Adobe Creek near Soda Bay in Lakeport.

The hitch, a large minnow found only in Clear Lake and its tributaries, has been a culturally important fish for the Pomo tribes, which considered it a staple food.

However, in recent decades it has significantly declined in numbers.

In 2014, the hitch was listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.

A federal endangered species listing was denied for the hitch in December 2020 but is now the basis of a lawsuit filed in August by the Center for Biological Diversity, which submitted both the state and federal listing petitions for the hitch in an effort to save it.

Lake County Water Resources reported that the low water levels, warm weather and groundwater use can cause streams to dry up more quickly than usual at this time of year.

That’s a problem for hitch and other fish that are swimming up streams to spawn.

“This sometimes leaves isolated, non-connected pools or runs in streams around Clear Lake. Any fish caught in these isolated pools can't access the Lake and sometimes, they can die when the pool dries up later in spring or summer,” Lake County Water Resources reported on its Facebook page.

Lake County Water Resources said Friday that, in all, 240 hitch were rescued.

The agency credited the successful rescue of the fish to a fast and coordinated effort between its staff, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the tribal partners.

The team of rescuers was able to move the hitch, one by one, using backpack electroshockers — which stun the fish without harming them — buckets and nets.

They put the fish into aerated coolers and drove them to a site near Konocti Vista Casino and Resort Marina in Lakeport where the fish were released into Clear Lake.

Water Resources said no fish died during the rescue, and all reports on the released hitch were positive.

Community members who see stranded fish in isolated pools or disconnected creeks are asked to contact Water Resources to help the fish.

That’s because officials emphasized that only permitted fisheries professionals from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife are allowed to conduct and supervise hitch rescues at this time. Any other type of hitch handling in streams is illegal.

Water Resources staffer Angela DePalma-Dow, who also writes the twice-monthly “Lady of the Lake” column for Lake County News, said they are encouraging reporting of strandings in the hope of saving more fish.

She said they also want to discourage illegal dumping in streams and creeks. “We see a lot of trash out there.”

If you see any stranded fish in creeks, call Water Resources at 707-263-2344 or message them on Facebook and they will investigate to see if a rescue is needed.

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.
Clear Lake hitch rescued from an isolated pool in Adobe Creek near Soda Bay in Lakeport, California, on Thursday, April 28, 2022, were placed in aerated coolers and transported to Clear Lake for a safe release.
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The solar system. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Following a thorough evaluation, NASA has extended the planetary science missions of eight of its spacecraft due to their scientific productivity and potential to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the solar system and beyond.

The missions — Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover), InSight lander, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, OSIRIS-REx, and New Horizons — have been selected for continuation, assuming their spacecraft remain healthy. Most of the missions will be extended for three years; however, OSIRIS-REx will be continued for nine years in order to reach a new destination, and InSight will be continued until the end of 2022, unless the spacecraft’s electrical power allows for longer operations.

Each extended mission proposal was reviewed by a panel of independent experts drawn from academia, industry, and NASA. In total, more than 50 reviewers evaluated the scientific return of the respective proposals. Two independent review chairs oversaw the process and, based on the panel evaluations, validated that these eight science missions hold substantial potential to continue bringing new discoveries and addressing compelling new science questions.

Beyond providing important programmatic benefit to NASA, several of these missions promise multi-divisional science benefits across NASA’s entire Science Mission Directorate (SMD), including their use as data relays for Mars surface landers and rovers, as well as to support other NASA initiatives such as the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS).

“Extended missions provide us with the opportunity to leverage NASA’s large investments in exploration, allowing continued science operations at a cost far lower than developing a new mission,” said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington. “Maximizing taxpayer dollars in this way allows missions to obtain valuable new science data, and in some cases, allows NASA to explore new targets with totally new science goals.”

Two of the extended missions, MAVEN and OSIRIS-REx, welcome new principal investigators (PIs).

OSIRIS-APEX (Principal Investigator: Dr. Daniella DellaGiustina, University of Arizona): The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission is currently on its way back to Earth to deliver the samples of asteroid Bennu that it collected in 2020. Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx PI, will remain in place for the primary mission, while DellaGiustina begins her role as the newly named PI for OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX). With a new name to reflect the extended mission’s new goals, the OSIRIS-APEX team will redirect the spacecraft to encounter Apophis, an asteroid roughly 1,200 feet (roughly 370 meters) in diameter that will come within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of Earth in 2029. OSIRIS-APEX will enter orbit around Apophis soon after the asteroid’s Earth flyby, providing an unprecedented close-up look at this S-type asteroid. It plans to study changes in the asteroid caused by its close flyby of Earth and use the spacecraft’s gas thrusters to attempt to dislodge and study the dust and small rocks on and below Apophis’ surface.

MAVEN (Principal Investigator: Dr. Shannon Curry, University of California, Berkeley): The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission plans to study the interaction between Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic field during the upcoming solar maximum. MAVEN’s observations as the Sun’s activity level increases toward the maximum of its 11-year cycle will deepen our understanding of how Mars’ upper atmosphere and magnetic field interact with the Sun.

InSight (Principal Investigator: Dr. Bruce Banerdt, JPL): Since landing on Mars in 2018, the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission has operated the only active seismic station beyond Earth. Its seismic monitoring of “marsquakes” has provided constraints on Mars’ interior, formation, and current activity. The extended mission will continue InSight’s seismic and weather monitoring if the spacecraft remains healthy. However, due to dust accumulation on its solar panels, InSight’s electrical power production is low, and the mission is unlikely to continue operations for the duration of its current extended mission unless its solar panels are cleared by a passing ‘dust devil’ in Mars’ atmosphere.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) (Project Scientist: Dr. Noah Petro, GSFC): LRO will continue to study the surface and geology of the Moon. The evolution of LRO’s orbit will allow it to study new regions away from the poles in unprecedented detail, including the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) near the poles where water ice may be found. LRO will also provide important programmatic support for NASA’s efforts to return to the Moon.

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) (Project Scientist: Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, JPL): The Mars Science Laboratory and its Curiosity rover have driven more than 16 miles (27 km) on the surface of Mars, exploring the history of habitability in Gale Crater. In its fourth extended mission, MSL will climb to higher elevations, exploring the critical sulfate-bearing layers which give unique insights into the history of water on Mars.

New Horizons (Principal Investigator: Dr. Alan Stern, SwRI): New Horizons flew past Pluto in 2015 and the Kuiper belt object (KBO) Arrokoth in 2019. In its second extended mission, New Horizons will continue to explore the distant solar system out to 63 astronomical units (AU) from Earth. The New Horizons spacecraft can potentially conduct multidisciplinary observations of relevance to the solar system and NASA’s Heliophysics and Astrophysics Divisions. Additional details regarding New Horizons’ science plan will be provided at a later date.

Mars Odyssey (Project Scientist: Dr. Jeffrey Plaut, JPL): Mars Odyssey’s extended mission will perform new thermal studies of rocks and ice below Mars’ surface, monitor the radiation environment, and continue its long-running climate monitoring campaign. The Odyssey orbiter also continues to provide unique support for real-time data relay from other Mars spacecraft. The length of Odyssey’s extended mission may be limited by the amount of propellant remaining aboard the spacecraft.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) (Project Scientist: Dr. Rich Zurek, JPL): MRO has provided a wealth of data regarding the processes on Mars’ surface. In its sixth extended mission, MRO will study the evolution of Mars’ surface, ices, active geology, and atmosphere and climate. In addition, MRO will continue to provide important data relay service to other Mars missions. MRO’s CRISM instrument will be shut down entirely, after the loss of its cryocooler has ended the use of one of its two spectrometers.

NASA’s Planetary Science Division currently operates 14 spacecraft across the solar system, has 12 missions in formulation and implementation, and partners with international space agencies on seven others.

The detailed reports from the 2022 Planetary Science Senior Review may be found here.
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Amid intensifying climate impacts, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced that the state has released an Extreme Heat Action Plan outlining a strategic and comprehensive set of state actions to adapt and strengthen resilience to extreme heat.

The announcement comes on the heels of a heat wave earlier this month in Long Beach that reached a high of 101°F, nine degrees hotter than the record high in April 2014.

“Extreme heat driven by climate change endangers the lives and livelihoods of Californians in every corner of our state, and threatens our vital natural systems,” said Gov. Newsom. “The Extreme Heat Action Plan is a critical part of California’s commitment to strengthening community resilience and will guide partnerships and investments in equitable solutions to protect all Californians.”

Projections from the state’s best climate science forecast that all of California will be impacted in the years and decades to come by higher average temperatures and more frequent and life-threatening heat waves, impacting public health and safety, economic prosperity, and communities and natural systems — with profoundly disproportionate consequences for the most vulnerable Californians.

Extreme heat ranks amongst the deadliest of all climate change hazards, with structural inequities playing a significant role in the capacity of individuals, workers, and communities to protect and adapt to its effects.

In partnership with the Legislature, Gov. Newsom advanced an $800 million package in last year’s budget to protect California’s communities from heat.

The package includes $300 million to support implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan and numerous other investments that protect communities, the economy, and natural systems from extreme heat.

The governor is proposing to allocate this additional funding in the 2022-23 budget to support the implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan.

Gov. Newsom has put forward a historic $37.6 billion climate package — more than what most other countries are spending — to protect all Californians from the costs and impacts of climate change, while accelerating efforts to reduce the dependence on big polluters and fossil fuels.

With the launch of the Extreme Heat Action Plan, the Newsom Administration is announcing an all-of-government approach to address extreme heat across four action areas:

— Building public awareness and notification: The administration will prioritize the needs of high-risk California communities most impacted by extreme heat by increasing access to timely and appropriate information and resources that can help them stay safer. The most impacted groups include people experiencing housing insecurity, outdoor workers, older adults, young children, and people with existing health conditions. Additionally, the public awareness effort includes actions to equip communities, governments, and tribes with easily accessible data.

— Strengthening community services and response: The burden of extreme heat falls disproportionately on rural and disadvantaged communities and California Native American tribes. The community services and response effort includes a suite of actions that reduce heat exposure, build communities’ capacity to respond to heat events, support local climate adaptation planning and implementation, and advance heat illness prevention standards for indoor and outdoor workers.

— Increasing resilience of the built environment: As temperatures increase and heat waves become more frequent and severe, the cascading impacts of extreme heat on infrastructure and the environment exacerbate risks to people, the economy, and the natural environment. The built environment track includes actions to protect critical energy, transportation, and other infrastructure, support heat-resilient communities through relevant regulations and codes, and scale weatherization and cooling technologies.

— Utilizing nature-based solutions: Nature-based solutions deliver multiple benefits, including addressing extreme heat by cooling communities, providing strategic shade, and regulating temperature of buildings and surfaces during extreme heat events. This track includes actions to promote nature-based solutions to reduce extreme heat risks, support nature’s ability to withstand and adapt to increasing temperatures and reduce heat risk to water supply and systems.

The content and organization of the plan was guided by extensive public input, including listening sessions and regional workshops, as well as consultations with California Native American tribes.

Stakeholder input highlighted the need for the Extreme Heat Action Plan to drive coordination and collaboration across federal, regional, and local efforts, support localized action through funding and technical assistance, and maximize multi-benefit strategies that advance the state’s climate and public health goals.

Implementation progress of the Extreme Heat Action Plan will be tracked through the California Climate Adaptation Strategy’s annual reporting process to advance California’s all-of-government approach to climate adaptation.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has two more new dogs this week that are waiting for homes.

The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.

The following dogs are available for adoption.

“Captain.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Captain’

“Captain” is a male border collie mix with a black, white and blue coat.

He is dog No. 49623709.

“Big Phil.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Big Phil’

“Big Phil” is a 13-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a blue coat.

He is dog No. 49951647.

“Andy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Andy’

“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.

He is dog No. 48995415.

“Bear.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Bear’

“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.

He has been neutered.

“Chai.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Chai’

“Chai” is a female Alaskan husky mix with a gray and white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 49279552.

“Colt.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Colt’

“Colt” is a male Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a short rust and black coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 49812106.

“Fritz.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Fritz’

“Fritz” is a male Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat.

He is dog No. 49278179.

“Snowball.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Snowball’

“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 49159168.

“Terry.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Terry’

“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.

He is dog No. 48443693.

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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The state of California has introduced a new program that gives community members a way to use their library cards to access state parks in an effort to advance safe and equitable outdoor access to all Californians.

California State Parks and the California State Library have announced a three-year pilot program that introduces the California State Library Parks Pass.

As part of the effort, which kicked off earlier this month during National Library Week, California State Parks is distributing the California State Library Parks Pass to public libraries across the state for checkout by library patrons.

“Spending time in nature is crucial to our mental health and well-being,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “With the California State Library Parks Pass, anyone with a library card will be able to unlock the benefits and beauty of our majestic state parks.”

The new pass will allow free vehicle day use entry at more than 200 participating state park units.

That includes Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake, and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, which straddles the Lake and Napa County border, south of Middletown.

“Libraries are trusted community hubs where Californians know they can find what they need to work, play, and thrive,” said California State Librarian Greg Lucas. “This partnership with State Parks now allows Californians to ‘check out’ California’s great outdoors at their community library.”

State officials said the goal of the program is to bring together the largest state park system in the nation with California’s public libraries to reduce barriers to park access and help more Californians explore the outdoors and generate positive impacts in the area of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections.

“Parks and libraries have the potential to be powerful symbols and agents for California’s open spaces,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

Starting this month, each library jurisdiction will receive at least three California State Library Parks Pass hangtags per branch for checkout by library patrons, including mobile libraries.

Park passes will enter circulation on a rolling basis throughout April and May for checkout by library patrons; library users can contact their local library for more information. Library-card holders will be able to check out the pass for the allotted number of days allowed by the local library, then return the pass to the library for others to use.

The pass is valid for entry of one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle at participating state park units.

Lake County Librarian Christopher Veach said it’s an exciting new program for the state.

“We have received three passes from the state so far and are working to make them available to Lake County Library card holders only since there are so few,” Veach said.

He said the passes will be assigned one each to Lakeport, Middletown and Redbud Library.

“According to an email from the state, we expect to receive at least 11 more by the end of the month which will be distributed between all four branches. The state library decided how many to send to each Library system by population,” Veach added.

State officials said libraries are already an important part of Californians’ lives.

There are 1,184 public library buildings in California, and more than 23 million Californians have library cards.

In 2019-2020, California’s libraries circulated over 97 million items free of charge, such as books, technology, Wi-Fi hotspots, videos, music, instruments, tools, telescopes and more.

Additionally, California’s libraries hosted over 300,000 programs in 2019-2020, with almost 7.5 million people attending.

The Lake County Library’s facilities include those in Lakeport, Middletown and Redbud Library, and in Upper Lake.

Veach has worked hard to expand the offerings of the Lake County Library system, providing resources, programs and online training, and staying connected with the community despite the pandemic.

Veach said there are 26,640 active Lake County library cards registered. The county’s overall population is around 65,000.

Lake County Library card holders can view and request the California State Library Parks Pass on the library catalog here.

The California State Library will be providing grant funding to libraries for outdoor-related items for checkout, programs that teach natural resource stewardship and outdoor skills, or to encourage their library patrons to enjoy the outdoors and make historical and cultural connections to parks.

The 2021-22 State Budget included initiatives to advance equitable access to state parks and open spaces for all Californians.

A $9.1 million one-time General Fund investment was included in the budget to launch a state parks pilot to expand parks pass distribution, especially for youth in disadvantaged communities.

The pilot includes the California State Park Adventure Pass program that provides free day-use passes for fourth graders and their families, the revamped Golden Bear Pass Program and the California State Library Parks Pass.

Detailed information on the new California State Library Parks Program, including full terms and conditions, is available online at www.CheckOutCAStateParks.com. For more information on all the new parks pass programs, visit www.parks.ca.gov/CaliforniaOutdoorsForAll.

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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — This week the Board of Supervisors held a discussion on possibly returning the Human Resources Department to a free-standing department once again after several years of it being under the control of the County Administrative Office.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier asked the board to consider the matter during its Tuesday meeting.

Since 1980, Human Resources has primarily been a stand-alone department, with brief periods of having been placed under the County Administrative Office for various reasons.

However, in 2018, the board handed the department over to County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson at her request.

At that time, the county was in the midst of a lengthy classification and compensation study that led to the supervisors approving two rounds of county employee raises during the pandemic totaling $21 million. That resulted in Huchingson and other department heads seeing large increases in pay.

Huchingson is preparing to depart her job this week, and earlier this month the board appointed Huchingson’s assistant, Susan Parker, to act as interim county administrative officer.

One of the matters raised during the discussion was the concern about a potential conflict for Parker to oversee Human Resources while it undertakes the recruitment for the county administrative officer’s job, which Parker has confirmed she intends to pursue on a permanent basis.

Noting that the county will soon have a new beginning with the next county administrative officer, Sabatier asked the board to separate Human Resources from the County Administrative Office in order to allow the new county administrative officer to focus on priorities including economic development and housing. He also offered a resolution to allow the separation.

Human Resources Director Pam Samac said she serves at the pleasure of the board and takes its direction from the board. Samac maintained that working with Huchingson has been positive, noting that Human Resources has benefited from synergy, training and leadership Huchingson has offered.

“I have appreciated the way that it has been,” Samac said.

It was noted during the discussion that Human Resources would need a half-time accounting person to cover the fiscal services now being offered by the County Administrative Office.

Supervisor Tina Scott said she thought there was no issue and things are working well.

Huchingson said that it’s true that Human Resources has gone back and forth between being under the County Administrative Office and a stand-alone department. She said the current model is common among the 12 counties used for comparison in the classification and compensation study.

She said the board will soon be making a decision about a permanent county administrative officer and it would be wise to take input from that person about the structure.

Supervisor Jessica Pyska said the conversation should be tabled until they have a new county administrative officer in place.

It was Board Chair EJ Crandell who would address what he called “the elephant in the room.”

He acknowledged that the interim CAO — Parker — has the potential to impact the recruitment for the job on a permanent basis.

While he said he believes that’s just “optics” and that it wouldn’t be the case that Parker would influence the process, the public might see it otherwise. He said he would like to see Human Resources be a stand-alone department.

“Let’s clear up those optics,” replied Pyska.

Samac said she’s in a confidential unit and hasn’t discussed the recruitment with the interim county administrative officer.

She again said she responds directly to the board.

“I believe that I have the professionalism to draw that line,” Samac said, adding that Parker is professional and would never cross that line.

However, County Counsel Anita Grant would speak up to correct statements Samac made repeatedly, claiming she answers directly to the board.

That’s not the case, said Grant, noting that Samac has a boss — in this case, the county administrative officer.

Grant suggested there were ways to reduce the optics of some kind of a conflict of interest.

“Conflicts are built on many things, including fear of consequences,” Grant said.

She suggested the board might want to establish some very clear rules that the Human Resources director has to follow for this recruitment, which may address any issues the public has.

“I too have distanced myself from this recruitment,” said Huchingson, adding that there recently was a development in the recruitment that required Samac to reach out directly to the board chair.

Grant noted that, as far as recruitment optics, appearance doesn’t mean an actual conflict exists. However, she added, that appearance can be more pernicious than the actual conflict might be.

She said the board could ask Samac to come back with basic requirements for the recruitment to guard against conflict and favoritism.

While there wasn’t consensus to pursue any changes with Human Resources’ structure, the board did agree to have staff pursue Grant’s suggestion for rules to guarantee the integrity of the county administrative officer’s recruitment.

When those guidelines come back, Sabatier said he also wants the supervisors to discuss what they are looking for in the next county administrative officer — including strengths and the focus of their efforts. He said he’s had some confusion over why they haven’t had that conversation yet.

Crandell thanked the board for the discussion, saying that he wanted to make sure everything is on the table.

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.
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Starting on May 1, Medi-Cal, California’s health coverage program for low-income individuals and families, is extending eligibility for full coverage to more than 185,000 individuals who are 50 years of age or older, regardless of immigration status.

“We’re delivering concrete results for Californians, continuing to fulfill the promise of a Healthy California for All, and I encourage all those eligible to take advantage of these essential health services,” said Gov. Newsom. “This is an investment in our people, our economy, and our future. But we’re not stopping there. California is on the path to expand Medi-Cal to all eligible Californians regardless of age or immigration status, providing the most comprehensive health coverage in the entire country.”

Gov. Newsom last year signed legislation making California the first state in the nation to expand full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility to low-income adults 50 years of age or older, regardless of immigration status.

Subject to legislative approval, Gov. Newsom has this year proposed expanding Medi-Cal to all eligible residents, regardless of age or immigration status.

The expansion population includes individuals 50 years of age or older who are eligible for Medi-Cal, who do not have satisfactory immigration status or are unable to establish satisfactory immigration status for full-scope Medi-Cal and are not yet enrolled in Medi-Cal. It also includes individuals 50 years of age or older who are currently enrolled in restricted scope Medi-Cal.

Individuals ages 50 and over, regardless of their immigration status, who have not applied for Medi-Cal can apply here starting May 1, 2022.

“This expansion of Medi-Cal supports the Newsom Administration’s vision of a Healthy California for All by addressing health coverage disparities that disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities. We’re committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on behalf of all Californians,” said Michelle Baass, Director of the Department of Health Care Services, or DHCS. “This action reflects our fundamental conviction that all Californians deserve quality health care.”

Many of these individuals and their communities have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and have had limited access to care. This expansion will improve access to preventive and routine care, improve financial security for those who enroll, and strengthen California’s efforts to address health disparities and inequities, especially among populations of color.

The state has worked for the last several years to extend health coverage to more Californians.

In May 2016, children under 19 years of age became eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, and in January 2020, full-scope Medi-Cal was extended to young adults ages 19 through 25, regardless of immigration status.

Previously, these individuals only qualified for limited Medi-Cal services, such as emergency, prenatal, and long-term care. Now they can access the full range of benefits available to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, including no-cost/low-cost quality health, behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and dental services through the various delivery systems under the Medi-Cal program.

“These Californians now have a place where they can coordinate all of their medical, dental, mental, and substance use disorder needs, and a primary care physician to better manage their health conditions,” said Jacey Cooper, State Medicaid Director. “Everyone benefits from ensuring access for all Californians, and many of us know someone who depends on Medi-Cal for vital health coverage.”

The next step in California’s coverage expansion, subject to legislative approval, is outlined in the Governor’s 2022-23 budget, which proposes to expand Medi-Cal coverage to an estimated 700,000-plus adults ages 26 through 49 without satisfactory immigration status, effective no sooner than Jan. 1, 2024.

Extending Medi-Cal to hundreds of thousands more is an important step to help close health equity gaps in the state and get California closer to universal coverage, the Governor’s Office reported.

The expansion to individuals aged 50 and over was included in Assembly Bill 133 (Chapter 143, Statutes of 2021), which amended Welfare and Institutions Code section 14007.8. For nearly a year, DHCS held monthly advocate and county work group meetings to implement this expansion.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services do not consider health, food and housing services as part of the public charge determination. Therefore, using Medi-Cal benefits (except for nursing home or mental health institution care) will not hurt an individual’s immigration status.

When someone applies for state-funded benefits, their information is only used to determine if they qualify. State laws protect the privacy of their information.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The annual burn ban in Lake County starts on Saturday, May 1.

All burn permits expire on April 30.

The burn restriction, meant to address concerns over both fire hazard and air quality, applies to all areas in Lake County.

It includes all open waste burning, though exemptions are possible for agricultural operations, essential control burns for fire hazard reduction projects, public safety burns, and others.

The annual burn ban was first implemented in 1986 in response to weather conditions that often create extreme fire danger and poor air quality.

A managed approach incorporating fire and air agency concerns has been implemented and improved upon for many years.

The ban allows a quick fire agency response to all fires observed from May 1 on, as they are all assumed to be uncontrolled fires unless specifically authorized by an exemption permit.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District said this successful program is one of the primary reasons Lake County has superior and healthful air quality.

To obtain an exemption permit to burn after May 1, first contact Lake County Air Quality at 707-263-7000 to determine need, then contact your local fire agency so that your burn site can be inspected for fire safety.

After the fire agency notifies the air district that the proposed burn site is fire safe then an exemption permit may be obtained from the air district.

Anyone responsible for open burning during the ban without an exemption permit may be subject to citation, fines, and fire agency response costs to extinguish the fire. Burn restrictions will remain in effect until Cal Fire declares an end to fire season.

The district urges the community to help reduce the danger and losses caused by uncontrolled fires, and protect our clean air.

Public cooperation is greatly appreciated and results in a safer and more healthful environment for us all, officials said.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo, has scheduled a protest hearing next week for the city of Lakeport’s proposed South Main Street annexation.

The meeting will take place from 11 to 11:15 a.m. Friday, May 6, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The hearing’s purpose is to receive written protests about the annexation. They will not take testimony about the substance of the city’s application.

The annexation covers nearly 137 acres, made up of 50 parcels, in the area south of the existing Lakeport city limits, adjacent to South Main Street and Soda Bay Road and east of Highway 29.

The city of Lakeport formally began the annexation process in 2019.

LAFCo approved the annexation proposal at a special March 30 meeting subject to a protest proceeding after receiving a small number of written protests from property owners.

LAFCo reported that property owners and voters residing within the annexation area may now file written protests against this proposal.

To be counted, protests must be in writing and submitted before the close of the hearing, and they must be made by owners of land within the area and/or by registered voters residing within the subject detachment territory.

Download a protest form here.

Protests may be mailed to Lake LAFCo, P.O. Box 2694, Granite Bay, CA 95746 or delivered to LAFCo Executive Officer John Benoit or his designee at the protest hearing.

Each protest must clearly state whether it is made by a landowner or a registered voter or submitted for both and must include the name and address of the person submitting it with an original signature.

Landowner protests must also include a street address or assessor’s parcel number identifying the location of the property in question. A registered voter’s protest must show the voter’s name and residence address as it appears on the affidavit of registration.

LAFCo said the value of protests received and not withdrawn before the hearing concludes will be determined within 30 days following the hearing in accordance with Government Code Section 57075.

This annexation may be effective upon recordation of the certificate of completion, LAFCo reported.

For more information, call the LAFCo office at 707-592-7528.

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.
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The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, announced the deployment of firefighting resources to New Mexico in response to ongoing statewide wildfires.

One Type 3 Cal OES strike team is departing on Saturday and expected to arrive in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Sunday.

The strike team consists of five engines — one each from the departments of Ontario, Victorville, Chino Valley, Apple Valley and Rancho Cucamonga — and a Cal OES assistant chief.

Strong winds and dry conditions are contributing to massive wildfires burning throughout New Mexico. As of Friday, three wildfires have burned more than 63,000 acres combined.

The largest of those fires, the Cooks Peak Fire, has burned 55,978 acres and is 54% contained.

The Cerra Pelado Fire has consumed 7,258 acres and is 15% contained, while the newly-started Water Fire in the Gila National Forest burned 700 acres in less than two hours and has no containment.

Cal OES continues to monitor operations in New Mexico and requests for additional Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, assistance.

EMAC — which includes the participation of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands — is a nationally recognized mutual-aid system that provides the foundation for states to request and send resources across their borders when impacted by a disaster.
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Caltrans’ 32nd annual Workers Memorial in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

Caltrans dignitaries, employees, families and friends gathered solemnly on the west steps of the State Capitol on Thursday for the department’s 32nd annual Workers Memorial to remember and honor the 189 public servants who have died since 1921 while building and maintaining California’s transportation system.

The yearly memorial — in addition to honoring families and giving staff the opportunity to pay respects to their fallen colleagues — reminds us to “Be Work Zone Alert” and “Move Over” a lane when you see flashing amber lights ahead, or slow down if not safe to do so.

“Safety is always Caltrans’ top priority and the tragedies that brought us here today have resulted in intensified safety efforts within the department,” said Caltrans Acting Director Steven Keck. “Zero deaths on our state highway system is the only acceptable number, and — as we recognize those who tragically died while at work on our transportation system — we remind all motorists to please Slow for the Cone Zone, Be Work Zone Alert and Move Over when you see flashing amber lights.”

During the ceremony, Caltrans placed 189 orange traffic cones in a diamond "caution sign" configuration, each bearing the name of an employee lost since 1921.

A black cone in the center represented all people killed while working on the state highway system, including private contractors, tow truck drivers, California Highway Patrol officers and other emergency responders.

The commemoration also included the Caltrans Honor Guard, who led the symbolic tribute. Additionally, flags are flying at half-staff today at the State Capitol and at all Caltrans facilities in honor of these fallen workers.

Thursday’s ceremony marked the third year in a row that no new names were added to the memorial — the longest stretch in nearly 75 years — though speakers at the memorial stressed the need for everyone to remain vigilant.

With the help of Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, as well as the recently enacted federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Caltrans and local agencies now have significant additional funds to repair and maintain California’s transportation system.

The additional funding also increases the number of Caltrans employees and contractors working on our roadways, increasing their exposure.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, highway construction and maintenance work is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States.

In 2020, more than 6,500 work zone collisions occurred on California roadways, resulting in an estimated 1,964 injuries and 60 fatalities.

Nationally, drivers and passengers account for 85 percent of the people who are killed in work zones.

In February, Caltrans announced a new Director’s Policy on Road Safety, which commits the department to the Safe System approach and reaffirms the vision of reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries on state highways by 2050.

This policy takes steps to further a shift that began in 2020, as state transportation leaders recognized a bolder and more focused approach was necessary to combat the troubling rise in fatalities and serious injuries on California roads.

The state’s 2020-24 Strategic Highway Safety Plan — managed by Caltrans and involving more than 400 stakeholders — was updated to include the Safe System approach.

Caltrans has partnered with the California Transportation Foundation to develop two funds to benefit the families of Caltrans workers killed on the job.

The Fallen Workers Assistance and Memorial Fund helps with the initial needs a surviving family faces and the Caltrans Fallen Workers Memorial Scholarship is available to the children of these workers.

For more information or to make donations, visit the California Transportation Foundation.
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A homemade explosive device found in Lakeport, California, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department said it is continuing its investigation into the discovery of what it called a homemade explosive device located in the Grocery Outlet parking lot on Tuesday.

The agency reported that at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeport Police officers and Lakeport Fire Protection District firefighters were dispatched to Grocery Outlet in response to a report of an improvised explosive device that had been located in the parking lot.

Officers determined that a customer located the device under their vehicle in the parking lot.

Circumstances of when and how the device was placed are currently under investigation, officials said.

A Lakeport Police sergeant trained in explosive recognition determined that the device was constructed with a cardboard tube and contained powder, shrapnel and a fuse.

Police said the sergeant found that the device would not explode on its own and could be safely packaged for transport to a remote area where we could render it safe.

Officers transported the device to the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District Property west of the city and took measures to render it safe and further examine for evidence purposes.

The investigation is currently ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact us at 707-263-5491, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by sending us an anonymous message by testing the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by the message to the number 888777 To protect the integrity of the investigation not further details will be released at this time.

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