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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The governor announced that Lake County will have a new judge for the new year.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said John Langan will be the newest member of the Lake County Superior Court bench.
Langan has a lengthy record of service in the legal profession in Lake County. Most recently, he has served as a commissioner at the Lake County Superior Court since 2019.
In that position, Langan has handled cases involving the Department of Child Support Services, traffic, small claims and unlawful detainers.
The court commissioner job is a good preparation for a judicial appointment — while not a judge, it has similar powers and the ability to carry out judicial functions as directed by the court.
Langan received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
He went on to serve as deputy public defender at the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office from 1999 to 2001.
From there, he came to Lake County, where he’s spent the majority of his career.
Langan served in several roles in the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, beginning as a deputy district attorney from 2001 to 2004.
From 2004 to 2019, he served as a senior deputy district attorney in Lake County before he was selected to be the Superior Court commissioner in January of 2019.
The newly appointed Judge Langan succeeds Judge Andrew Blum, who retired before the end of his term. Blum’s last day on the bench as a full-time judge was July 3. In the months since, Blum has begun hearing cases as a retired judge, a common practice at a time when judges are needed not just locally — as Lake County has a high case rate — but throughout the state.
The last time a Lake County Superior Court judicial vacancy was filled by a gubernatorial appointment was when Judge J. David Markham was appointed to succeed Judge Richard Martin by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in December 2017.
Langan’s appointment was among 10 new Superior Court judges Newsom’s office announced on Monday.
The other new judges appointed this week — all Democrats like Langan — include Alameda Superior Court judges Novella Coleman and Kathleen Vermazen Radez; Fresno Superior Court Judge David Chiappetta; Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alma D. Puente; Orange Superior Court Judge Allison Chan; San Francisco Superior Court judges Christopher Hu and Dane Reinstedt; San Mateo Superior Court Judge Jennifer M. Frost; and Shasta Superior Court Judge Ryan Birss.
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John Langan with retiring Judge Andrew Blum at Blum’s retirement party on Friday, July 3, 2025. Langan has been appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to succeed Blum on the Lake County Superior Court bench. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Water tank installation resumed Monday for residents impacted by the Robin Lane sewer spill, as well testing continues and officials prepare for another town hall later this week.
After a pause over the weekend, the total number of water tanks installed rose from 25 to 29, with 22 installed by the incident management team and seven by the Lake County Social Services Department.
An additional 22 water samples were collected Monday, bringing the total to 441, up from 419 the previous day.
These samples have been drawn from 151 sites, a number that has remained unchanged since Jan 29, which covers at most three quarters of the properties impacted, according to public data released by officials.
The spill began more than three weeks ago, on Sunday, Jan. 11, when a 16-inch force main operated by the Lake County Sanitation District ruptured on Robin Lane, releasing nearly three million gallons of sewage over a 38-hour period.
The incident led to temporary relocations for some residents who rely on private well water, as dozens of wells were found to be contaminated amid ongoing testing.
The city of Clearlake declared a local emergency on Jan. 12, while the spill was still active, and announced that 58 properties were impacted in the area enclosed by Robin Lane, Pamela Lane, Pond Road and Rumsey Road.
Since Jan. 26, the city of Clearlake and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services have started leading the recovery operation, establishing a “joint command,” following more than two weeks of immediate response led by the Special Districts.
That day, the city announced that more than 200 properties relying on a private well were impacted by the spill — a significant increase from the initially cited 58.
On Jan. 31, an updated map was released showing nine impact zones totaling an estimated 550 acres — an increase of about 250 acres — on the northern end of Clearlake. The update did not indicate the number of properties affected within the expanded area.
The city’s most recent Frequently Asked Questions document states, “As a precautionary measure, 151 properties that rely on private wells are now included in the monitoring and testing area." This number has remained unchanged since Thursday.
For the first time, the incident management team also reported on Monday the number of wells sanitized, which totaled 65.
After sanitization, a well is deemed safe for use once it receives two negative test results — taken 24 hours apart — for E. coli and coliform, according to City Manager Alan Flora and Undersheriff Corey Paulich, who also is the deputy director for the Office of Emergency Services at last week’s town hall.
At that point, the property owner will be notified with test results and information on how to treat the well going forward.
So far, the city has not publicly released any notices or aggregated data on contaminated wells that have been cleared for safe use in the impacted area.
At the same meeting, Flora said the city has hired a hydrologist to assist with studying the aquifer and understanding the spill’s impact on it.
The fourth in a series of town halls on the spill is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
“The hydrologist will be there to speak,” Clearlake Councilmember Tara Downey wrote in a Facebook group called “Robin Ln sewage spill & contamination,” where impacted residents share information.
Water tanks offered to assist affected households
For the past 23 days, households in the impacted areas have not had safe access to their private water wells. Some of them — 29 so far — have had a water tank installed for them that is large enough to provide clean water of a minimum of 60 gallons per person per day as recommended by Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Bernstein.
On Jan. 21, the Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $750,000 to the Lake County Special Districts to cover costs of purchasing and installing water tanks for impacted residents, as well as refilling the tanks.
“We are out of money; we've depleted our reserves in that district,” Special Districts Administrator Robin Borre said of its disaster response funding at that meeting.
The 34-minute special meeting revolved mostly around water tanks including their quantity, size and costs.
“This money would purchase an extra, I believe, 60 tanks,” District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said of the initial $500,000 requested at the meeting. “We have a number of the amount of wells that are out there. We're hoping 60, and the program that Social Services is providing will provide what is needed.”
To cover water refilling, “It would need to be raised a little bit, at least to $600,000,” said Assistant County Administrative Officer Stephen Carter.
Sabatier suggested a bigger amount.
“So why not make it $750,000 and if we don't spend it, we don't spend it,” he said. “If we have to spend it, at least it's available so we don't have to have an urgent situation of money.”
At the last town hall, a resident asked how many water tanks out of the 60 had been ordered.
“I'm not sure where that number came from,” said Undersheriff Paulich. “There was never a number put to — we're going to buy 60 tanks.”
Paulich said he did not watch the entire board meeting but he was briefed by the County Administrative Office.
“Five hundred thousand dollars was the original. There was a request for $250,000 more, and that was for the testing and for water supply,” said Paulich. “That's why I've been advised by our County Admin.”
Use of these funds in water testing was neither specifically mentioned during the meeting nor in the resolution document.
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- Written by: Craig Nelson
LAKEPORT, CA – Massive limits and spring-like conditions highlighted the inaugural Best Bass Tournament Golden Mussel Division season opener at Clear Lake on Sunday.
Under clear skies and highs reaching the 70s, 25 boats competed in a historic event that saw some of the heaviest five-fish limits recorded on the lake in recent years.
The tournament was a showcase of Clear Lake’s legendary “big fish” reputation.
Four teams brought in limits exceeding 30 pounds, while the top two finishers both broke the 40-pound mark — the largest five-fish limits recorded for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
First Place: Chris Perez of Rocklin and Kent Simpson of Galt claimed the top spot with a staggering 45.16-pound mega-bag.
Second Place: Alec Pitts of Santa Rosa and Christian Burns of Petaluma followed closely with an impressive 42.20 pounds.
Third Place: Mason McAbee of Bakersfield and Mark Cobey of Woodland secured third with 37.95 pounds.
The competition remained tight through the top five, requiring a minimum of 30 pounds to place.
Local anglers Tom Jolin and Danny Andrusaitis of Lakeport took fourth place with 30.2 pounds, followed by Nathan Phillips of Kelseyville and David Burruss, owner of Clear Lake Outdoors.
The "Big Fish" of the day were equally remarkable, with the top three individual bass weighing in at 13.07 pounds, 11.06 pounds and 10.96 pounds.
The event featured a 100% payback to the participants, supported by tournament sponsors including Clear Lake Outdoors and G-Ratt Baits.
Garrett Dixon of G-Ratt Baits provided a significant portion of the raffle prizes distributed during the Saturday evening check-in.
Tournament Director Doug Bender and his staff received high marks for the event's smooth operation.
“Blast off went off with no delays,” noted organizers, as anglers enjoyed a full eight-hour day on the water.
Following the success of this inaugural event, the Best Bass Tournament staff expressed enthusiasm for their scheduled return to Lake County later this season.
Craig Nelson is a former professional golfer who fell in love with tournament bass fishing 20 years ago. He found Lake County after fishing an FLW Stren Series event and never left. He’s the back-to-back winner of the Konocti Classic and runner up in the inaugural WON Bass Clear Lake Open.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Applications are now being accepted for the 13th Poet Laureate of Lake County.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2026.
The role of a poet laureate is to represent and promote poetry and literacy in the community they represent.
This is a volunteer position with a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.
Officiated by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the Lake County Poet Laureate role was inducted in 1998 by inaugural Poet Laureate Jim Lyle.
Between 1998 and 2024, a total of 12 poets laureate have been appointed in Lake County with diverse backgrounds and visions for this role.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and a Lake County resident for at least two consecutive years.
Qualifications include having literary works published, including self-publishing, and a proven track record of literary-based community engagement and collaboration.
Applicants are asked to submit a mission statement, four original poems, two letters of recommendations, and a resume of literary involvement in the community, publications, and public readings.
Application and full guidelines can be found online at https://forms.bettercollected.com/lakecountypoetlaureate/forms/26-28-application.
If accommodations are needed for the application process, please reach out to current Lake County Poet Laureate 2024-2026 Brenda Marie Yeager, or Lake County Poet Laureate Emerita 2020-2024 Georgina Marie Guardado.
Questions can be directed to
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
As part of his 2026-27 budget proposal, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday released a budget trailer bill proposal to support the inclusion of expanded perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal health care in the state.
“This proposal will expand access to essential, evidence-based care in a way that’s affordable and fiscally responsible for the state. At a time when Trump’s Big Ugly Bill is driving up health care costs nationwide, California is doing the opposite: lowering barriers and putting women’s health first,” said Newsom.
“At every stage in life, women deserve access to affordable health care that meets them where they are—especially when experiencing the life-altering symptoms connected to menopause conditions that have long been under-recognized in our health care system. California always has and will continue to invest in women, and I’m proud that we are advancing awareness and expanding access to critical menopause-related care,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
The proposal announced by Gov. Newsom would:
• Improve prescription drug coverage for symptoms of menopause by requiring certain health plans to cover FDA-approved treatments for perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal symptoms, including coverage in the Medi-Cal program.
• Increase consumer and provider awareness by requiring plans to screen enrollees age 40 and older for menopause during primary care and OB/GYN appointments.
• Notify health plan enrollees of the menopause services available to them.
• Provide professional training incentives for physicians who specialize in menopause care.
• Invest $3 million to support a statewide public awareness campaign.
Expanding health care access while retaining affordability is especially important as consumers across the nation face double-digit rate increases in health care premiums due to what Newsom’s office calls Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill,” HR 1.
"I commend Gov. Newsom for including menopause language in the budget and continuing to prioritize women's health,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda). “Despite the widespread impact of menopause, most women still struggle to receive proper diagnosis, care, and treatment. This investment in both coverage and education is a critical step toward closing the healthcare gap that has left too many women without the support they need. Thank you, Governor, for being a partner in this: together, we're ensuring California women get the care they deserve.”
“Women’s health care is a top priority for the California State Senate, especially as HR 1 will jeopardize health care access for millions across the state,” said Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “Menopause care in particular is an often overlooked and under-resourced area of care despite impacting more than half of the population. I look forward to continuing my work with Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan and the Governor to ensure this budget proposal successfully improves access to menopause and perimenopause treatments, as well as offers new educational opportunities for providers — helping millions of women in the Golden State.”
“Many women, especially women of color, lack information and access to menopause care – leaving them feeling vulnerable to misinformation and mistreatment,” said Jodi Hicks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “Women must be supported and receive equitable health care access throughout their entire reproductive health journey and providers must be equipped to provide that care. This is a positive step forward on this critical, and too often neglected, issue.”
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider authorizing Special Districts to pursue a geothermal project proposal and selecting neighborhoods to advocate for federal Opportunity Zone tax incentives.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will consider authorizing the Special Districts to develop a geothermal facility proposal involving EGX Energy, brought forward by the County Administrative Office and Special Districts.
The proposed geothermal power plant and wells would be located on the Southeast Treatment Plant property which is owned by the county. The property is near the area impacted by the recent massive sewage spill caused by the rupture of a 16-inch focus main at Robin Lane. The force main is owned and operated by the Lake County Sanitation District, overseen by Special Districts.
According to the staff memo, there have been “preliminary discussions” between EGX Energy and county agencies. The company has indicated it is open to a possible development agreement that could include infrastructure improvements for Special Districts and a ground lease in lieu of property taxes for the county.
At 10 a.m., the board will consider which neighborhoods to recommend to the governor for designation as Opportunity Zones.
Opportunity Zones were made a “permanent fixture of the federal tax code” with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. The law also requires governors to submit zone recommendations to the federal government by July 1 of this year, according to the staff memo.
The memo said the new legislation introduced several changes to the program. At least 25% of new Opportunity Zones must now be located in rural areas. In addition, the income threshold for eligibility was lowered: neighborhoods must have a median family income of 70% or less of the area median, down from the previous 80%.
Developments within Opportunity Zones are eligible for federal tax benefits. Projects in rural zones qualify for a 30% tax discount, compared to 10% in nonrural areas, and are required to invest only 50% of a property’s value in renovations — rather than 100% — to receive the benefit.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will hold a second reading of an ordinance establishing a low-value property tax exemption for properties assessed at less than $5,000. The staff memo said the cost of collecting taxes on such properties “outweighs the benefit.”
During closed session, the board will conduct a public employee performance evaluation of Special Districts Administrator Robin Borre and hold labor negotiations regarding salary and benefits for county employees and department heads.
The board also will confer with legal counsel regarding the Potter Valley hydroelectric project and five potential cases of “significant exposure to litigation.”
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Approve out-of-state travel for District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska to attend the NACo Western Interstate Region Conference in Maui County, Hawaii, May 4–8, 2026.
5.2, (a) Approve update to the 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting calendar changing the mid-year budget date to March 3, 2026; and (b) affirm the addition of the Jan. 21, 2026 special meeting, retroactively.
5.3, Approve side letter to Lake County Correctional Officer Association Unit 6, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2029, MOU.
5.4, Approve amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Windsor Care Center of Sacramento MHRC for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for FY 2025–26, with no change to compensation, and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.5, Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes of Dec. 16, 2025, Jan. 21, 2026, and Jan. 27, 2026.
5.6, (a) Waive competitive bidding requirements; (b) approve agreement with the California State Franchise Tax Board to collect court-ordered fines; and authorize the Treasurer-Tax Collector to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: New and noteworthy at the library.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: (Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission) Consideration of letter to Colusa County Board of Supervisors and authorization for the Chair to sign.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of authorizing Special Districts to develop a proposal with EGX Energy to locate geothermal facilities on the Southeast Treatment Plant property.
6.6, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of census tracts to advocate for Opportunity Zones selection.
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: Second reading—Consideration of ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code to implement a low-value property tax exemption.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Erratum—Consideration of advisory board appointments: Central Region Town Hall, Middletown Area Town Hall, Scotts Valley Community Advisory Council, and Law Library Board of Trustees.
7.3, Second reading—Consideration of ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the Lake County Zoning Code to implement sixth-cycle Housing Element policies.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, Public employee evaluation: Special Districts Administrator.
8.2, Conference with labor negotiator: Deputy County Counsel Association.
8.3, Conference with representatives regarding salary and benefits for unrepresented management employees.
8.4, Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation—FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.5, Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation—five potential cases.
8.6, Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation—one potential case.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council will consider approving a proposed ordinance that would allow cannabis events at the Lake County Fairgrounds and discuss a new police vehicle purchase.
The council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
On Tuesday, the council will hold a public hearing to introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending the municipal code to allow limited temporary cannabis events at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Lakeport Planning Commission discussed the proposal and voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance.
Under council business, Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will give an update on the communications team activity for calendar year 2025.
Police Chief Dale Stoebe also will seek the council’s approval of a 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit Utility All-Wheel Drive patrol vehicle from Thurston Dodge of Ukiah, vehicle upfitting services from Precision Wireless of Lakeport, sole-source procurement of the Motorola Solutions M500 mobile audio-video system, and sole-source procurement of police vehicle markings from Signs by Randy Hare, with a total project cost not to exceed $92,742.97, which includes a 10 percent contingency.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the Jan. 20 meeting; approval of application 2026-007, with staff recommendations, for the 2026 Winefest event; approval of application 2026-008, with staff recommendations, for the 2026 Memorial Day Craft Fair; approval of application G2026-003, with staff recommendations, for the 2026 Best Bass Tournament schedule using the Third Street boat ramps; receipt and filing of the draft of the Measure Z Advisory Committee minutes from the Jan. 14 meeting; the Jan. 26 warrant register; and receipt and filing of the Community Development Department quarterly report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
