State attorney general secures order restoring $11 billion in critical public health funding

California Attorney General Bonta on Thursday issued a statement on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island’s decision granting a temporary restraining order that immediately restores $11 billion in critical public health funding to state and local public health agencies across the country, including $972 million to California.

“Two days after filing our 9th lawsuit against the Trump Administration, we have secured a temporary order that restores public health funding and ensures communities nationwide are prepared for public health threats,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As our lawsuit continues, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure state and local health agencies have what they need to keep Americans healthy and safe.”

Beginning on March 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, abruptly, with no advance notice or warning, issued termination notices to state and local public health agencies across the country, purporting to end federal funding for grants that provide essential support for a wide range of urgent public health needs, including identifying, tracking, and addressing infectious diseases; ensuring access to immunizations; and modernizing critical public health infrastructure.

The federal funding was appropriated by Congress to ensure the United States is better prepared for future public health threats.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Bonta announced co-leading a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s HHS and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the unlawful termination of public health funding.

On Thursday, the court responded by granting the requested temporary restraining order.

The order temporarily restores essential public health funding and vital programs that serve millions of Californians, including children, rural communities, and nursing homes, including:

• Over $800 million that the California Department of Public Health intended to use, in part, to vaccinate 4.5 million children statewide and assist hospitals in directing injured and ill patients to available health facilities during all types of emergencies, where efficient routing saves lives.
• $119 million to the California Department of Health Care Services which supports key programs, including substance use disorder prevention and early intervention services for youth in at least 18 counties.
• $45 million to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to use in part, to strengthen the county’s efforts to prevent the spread of measles, and seasonal and avian influenza.

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Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS

Published: 04 April 2025

California State Library receives notice of termination of federal funds

The California State Library has been notified by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS, that, effective April 1, the 2024-25 federal grant awarded under the Library Services and Technology Act has been terminated.

In the current fiscal year, the State Library received $15,705,702 in funding to assist local
California libraries provide programs and services, as well as supporting the services provided by the State Library to state government, policymakers, and the public.

Over 21 percent of that funding has yet to be sent to California.

“We are deeply disappointed by this ill-informed decision, which immediately affects critical programs supported by these funds,” said California Deputy State Librarian Rebecca Wendt. “The California State Library remains committed to serving all of the people of California and will explore alternative means to ensure continued access to essential library services.”

The Library Services and Technology Act,or LSTA, has provided critical funding for a wide range of programs that benefit communities across California.

These funds support early learning and literacy programs, such as storytimes and play spaces for low-income families, summer reading initiatives that engage over a million children and teens, and programs that help at-risk youth develop workforce-readiness skills.

Additionally, LSTA funds have enabled State Library staff to assist with the expansion of the Student Success Card program, ensuring that all California students receive a public library card by third grade.

Beyond literacy, LSTA funding strengthens communities by supporting diverse programs that align with California’s cultural, educational, and environmental priorities.

Local libraries have used these funds to create climate education programs, community gardens, tool libraries, and telehealth privacy pods for individuals without home internet access.

Libraries also provide valuable services for veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and tribal and rural communities. High-speed broadband initiatives, along with programs like California Revealed and the Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Program, ensure that California’s history and cultural treasures are preserved and accessible to the public.

LSTA funding also expands access to learning resources for Californians of all ages. It supports the state’s only shared eBook collection, free access to major news publications like The New York Times and CalMatters for Learning, and databases that serve state employees, lawmakers and the general public.

The Career Online High School program, supported by State Library staff, enables adults to earn their high school diplomas through local libraries, while the Braille and Talking Book Library ensures that visually impaired Californians have free access to books in accessible formats.

Additionally, these funds help strengthen California’s library workforce through statewide training, leadership development, and tuition reimbursement for those studying to become librarians.

Libraries also benefit from partnerships with state agencies, including the Departments of Aging, Public Health, and Technology, which allow public libraries to serve as vital hubs for government resources and community engagement.

Moreover, LSTA funds support programs that promote government transparency, such as cataloging and maintaining access to federal and state government documents.

From fostering literacy and lifelong learning to preserving history and expanding digital access, LSTA funding plays an essential role in ensuring that California’s libraries remain innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

The California State Library said it will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.

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Written by: California State Library

Published: 04 April 2025

Celebrate National Library Week at Lake County Library April 6 to 12

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — What draws people to the library? Everything!

From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are vital to thriving communities.

National Library Week, celebrated April 6 to 12, highlights the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination and support lifelong learning.

At Lake County Library, we invite you to join the celebration! Whether you're a longtime patron or haven't visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all we have to offer.

Our libraries provide storytimes for kids, books, eBooks, DVDs, audiobooks, crafting clubs and even seed libraries to help you start a garden.

No matter your interests, we offer resources that educate, inspire and connect.

Libraries serve as hubs for learning and creativity. Whether you're preparing for a career change, launching a business, raising a family, or embracing retirement, the library supports your journey.

We offer public computers, free WiFi, and tech assistance every Tuesday during Tech Tuesday, along with a variety of online learning resources available on our website.

Our Adult Literacy program can even help adults and families build their literacy skills, or learn English, with one-on-one sessions with a volunteer tutor.

This National Library Week, rediscover all that your library has to offer. Visit one of our four branches in Lakeport, Clearlake, Middletown and Upper Lake, or stop by the bookmobile!

First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country.

For more information about resources and events at Lake County Library, visit https://library.lakecountyca.gov.

Christopher Veach is the Lake County librarian.

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Written by: Christopher Veach

Published: 03 April 2025

State superintendent of schools sponsors bill challenging immigration actions on school grounds

Amid growing fear and tension among immigrant families and advocates nationwide, California State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond on Wednesday presented a bill, Senate Bill 48, that will limit the presence of ICE agents on school campuses.

SB 48, authored by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-33), is sponsored by Thurmond to address safety concerns of immigrant families and protect school funding that is projected to decline in some parts of the state as attendance is suppressed as undocumented individuals fear deportation consequences at school.

The bill is in direct protest to President Trump’s threats to lead mass deportation efforts at schools and houses of worship.

“We know that the fearmongering happening across our nation has disruptive impacts on children in our immigrant families, and it could cost California schools millions of dollars,” Thurmond said.

California is one of a handful of states that still uses an average daily attendance system for attributing funding or the loss of funding to schools.

Approximately half of all students in California are members of immigrant families, in which at least one parent is an immigrant.

One in five students in California live in mixed-status families, in which one or more parents are undocumented.

“All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning, regardless of immigration status,” said Gonzalez. “As chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to be partnering with Superintendent Tony Thurmond to author this important legislation, which will prevent disruptions to student learning, keep children in school, and prevent families from being torn apart.”

Thurmond has called on federal policymakers to create a path to citizenship where undocumented immigrants, who are estimated to generate billions in state revenue through earnings, can take on hard-to-fill jobs and pay into the tax system.

Thurmond and the California Department of Education are leading numerous efforts to push back on Trump policies and executive orders, including leading a plan to block the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education.

SB 48 was heard on Wednesday, April 2, in the California Senate Education Committee.

A recording of the Superintendent’s testimony on April 2 is available on the California State Senate website.

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Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS

Published: 03 April 2025