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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Chamber of Commerce will host its employment law summit on the latest developments affecting California employers in 2026.
The event will be held on Monday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at 225 Park St. in Lakeport and will include a continental breakfast.
Registration is $45 for chamber members and $60 for non‑members. Register here.
The summit is presented in partnership with Leap Solutions and Management Connections.
California employers face a full slate of new employment laws in the New Year, with several changes requiring immediate action such as policy revisions, updated notices, and expanded reporting obligations.
The summit will provide a comprehensive overview of these new requirements, along with practical guidance to help employers prepare for the year ahead.
Attendees will receive updates on legislative changes, agency activity at both the state and federal levels, and other emerging issues that demand employer attention. Time will also be reserved for questions and discussion.
Topics covered during the presentation include changes to the California Equal Pay Act and pay data reporting, a new “Workplace Know Your Rights Act” notice required for all employees, statewide and local minimum wage increases, new paid sick leave, victims’ leave, and paid family leave rules, new collection authority for employee tips and gratuities, limits on employment contract terms and repayment provisions, expanded personnel file and training record requirements, increased public works pay data disclosure and state efforts to regulate federally governed bargaining relationships.
Additional agency and court developments affecting employers will also be addressed.
The featured presenter is Richard C. Rybicki of Rybicki & Associates, P.C.
Rybicki is an attorney who works closely with employers to navigate complex workplace issues. He is known for his practical, solutions‑focused approach to developing compliant policies, resolving conflicts, and managing the challenges of an evolving regulatory environment.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Mediacom Communications recognized two employees based out of the Clearlake Mediacom office, who achieved the company’s top performance rankings for outstanding customer service over the past year.
An award ceremony was held with corporate executives, where the Clearlake-based individuals were recognized for their high performance in 2025.
James Peden earned high marks in service performance over the past year, resulting in a system-level award for excellence in technical operations.
He was named the Area Operations Employee of the Year for the Clearlake, California region. Mediacom has employed him for 18 years.
Daniel Davey has been a Mediacom employee for three years and received the People’s Choice Award for excellent performance in technical operations.
He was one of 42 employees nationwide to earn a system-level award for exemplary service in 2025.
Companywide, Mediacom employs over 3,000 people, and the award recipients were among 200 employees recognized for performance achievements over the past year.
Award recipients receive a monetary bonus and other employee recognition.
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- Written by: Redwood Credit Union
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Redwood Credit Union, or RCU, invites the community to give back this holiday season through its annual gift drive and a new porch-to-pantry food drive.
RCU has partnered with a nonprofit startup to launch an innovative model that makes it simple for anyone to make a difference. The program allows North Bay and San Francisco residents to donate food directly from their doorstep.
Porch-to-pantry food drive
Community members can sign up to donate at any RCU branch or online at this link.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, volunteers will pick up the shelf-stable foods from donors’ homes and deliver them to local food banks and pantries.
Gift drives
In addition, RCU’s 22 branches and RCU Auto Services are accepting gift items through mid-December for holiday distribution by local nonprofit agencies. The following is where to donate and the local organizations that will benefit. To find a branch near you, click here.
Lake County branch
Drop off a new, unwrapped gift at the RCU Lower Lake branch through Dec. 12 to support children in Lake County through Toys for Tots.
Last year, RCU distributed 947 gifts and collected 3,126 pounds of food — enough for 3,751 meals.
Building on last year’s success, RCU hopes to provide even more gifts and meals to North Bay and San Francisco communities this holiday season.
For more information, visit www.redwoodcu.org/holidaygiving.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Redwood Credit Union members have collectively saved more than $1.5 million in just eight months thanks to a suite of new financial tools and services designed to promote financial resilience and long-term stability.
Earlier this year, Redwood Credit Union, or RCU, introduced two automated savings tools, Simple Save and Round Up & Save, alongside a new Certified Financial Coaching program, offered at no cost to members.
These initiatives aim to make saving more accessible and to provide personalized guidance for financial planning.
Having inadequate savings can result in a lack of financial stability, security, and opportunities for long-term growth. The standard budgeting advice of setting aside 3 to 6 months of expenses for emergencies doesn’t work for many people.
Most Northern California residents live paycheck to paycheck and struggle with ways to start saving money. RCU provides members with ways to save that are easy, repeatable, realistic, and attainable. This includes helping those who need it to get started with smaller, manageable steps before graduating to bigger steps.
According to RCU, 72% of members have savings of over $500 which is 4% higher than national average of 68%. The credit union attributes this progress to its focus on meeting members where they are and helping them build savings incrementally.
“We want our members to be as financially resilient as possible,” said Brett Martinez, president and CEO of RCU. “Whether it’s preparing for a natural disaster, a family emergency, or back-to-school expenses, our goal is to help our communities stand strong financially.”
Simple Save, launched in April, automatically transfers a selected percentage of new checking deposits into savings. Round Up & Save, introduced in January, rounds up debit card purchases and transfers the difference into savings.
Together, these tools demonstrate how RCU’s commitment to innovative solutions deepens social impact while helping members build financial wellness.
One RCU member recently reported that using both Simple Save and Round Up & Save helped them easily save $15 to $20 per week, which has quickly added up to more than $300 in their savings account.
“I could have really used this type of savings tool ahead of unexpectedly having to replace my car’s alternator last year,” said the RCU member.
In addition to the new savings tools, RCU’s Certified Financial Coaching program provides free, confidential support in setting financial goals and learning to reach them by budgeting, saving, debt repayment, and credit building.
The program is supported by over 80 RCU team members, all certified through the Financial Counseling Certification Program, or FiCEP, offered by America’s Credit Unions. Financial Coaching appointments are available by video call or in person at any of RCU’s 22 branches, and can be scheduled online.
“Our financial coaches often hear that members feel more confident and less stressed after talking through their financial situation,” said Jose Alvarez, regional VP of member experience at RCU. “These conversations empower our members, offering real solutions and personal support to turn financial dreams into achievable goals.”
RCU serves eight counties across the North Bay and San Francisco and continues to invest in programs that advance the financial well-being of its members and communities.