How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Community
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Sen. Niello replaces Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), who served on the Commission from 2023 until he was termed out of office in 2024.
Sen. Wilk automatically left the commission when his legislative service ended.
“It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to be appointed to the Little Hoover Commission and contribute to its mission of improving state government. I am looking forward to collaborating with my fellow Commissioners to make a meaningful impact in shaping a government that addresses Californians’ needs,” said Niello.
Niello has been senator for California’s Sixth Senate District, representing portions of Placer and Sacramento counties, since 2022.
In 1974, he joined his family business, the Niello Auto Group, and spent the next 25 years running retail automobile dealerships with his family partners.
Niello was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, in a special election in 1999 and in 2004 was elected to the California State Assembly and re-elected twice.
After his time in the Assembly concluded, he accepted an appointment as president and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Niello has served as president of the Golden State Voter Participation, chair of the Sacramento Valley Lincoln Club Board, co-chair of the California Civic Learning Partnership in Sacramento County, member of the University of California Center Sacramento Advisory Board, the Dignity Health Sacramento Service Area Hospital Community Board, the Greater Sacramento Economic Council Board, and Sacramento Rotary.
In February 2011, he was named the University of California Center Sacramento Governance Fellow, the first to serve in that position.
Sen. Niello earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his Master’s Degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.
The Little Hoover Commission is America’s only permanent, independent citizens commission working to improve state government. A nonpartisan oversight agency created in 1962, the Commission includes 13 Commissioners appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. The commission’s mission is to investigate state operations and promote efficiency, economy, and improved service.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CREP is a voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.
The Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act would expand lands eligible for the program to include certain qualified wetlands for which there are habitat concerns or risks.
The bill also provides incentives to farmers to engage in seasonal field flooding to better manage their working croplands while supporting wetland-dependent species.
“Many wildlife species rely on wetland habitat created by California’s farmers, including our rice growers. With the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act, we can expand USDA support for our local growers, offering resources so qualified farmers can flood their fields in the off-season to both improve soil conditions and support the Pacific Flyway ecosystem. Thank you to Rep. LaMalfa for his partnership on our legislation,” said Thompson.
“Drought is always just around the corner, and we have to make the most of the water we get to benefit farms, people, and wildlife. Even in a better water year, poor water policies hurt both farmers and wildlife,” said LaMalfa. “This bill helps protect both by supporting agriculture and the hundreds of species that rely on the Pacific Flyway. It’s a common-sense, bipartisan approach to keeping habitats intact and land productive.”
“The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a valuable tool that incentivizes producers to seasonally flood croplands, providing habitat and nutrients for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife,” said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited managing director of federal affairs. “Pacific Flyway waterfowl rely on these seasonally flooded agricultural lands, and the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act ensures continued availability of this vital habitat. We’re happy to see Rep. LaMalfa and Rep. Thompson introduce this important legislation to support landowners and waterfowl habitat.”
“We appreciate Rep. LaMalfa and Rep. Thompson’s Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act as an additional tool in the toolbox to reward the stewardship of producers to conserve and enhance waterfowl habitat on their working lands,” said John Devney, chief policy officer at Delta Waterfowl. “We look forward to this being part of the conversation as Congress presses forward with continuing work on the Farm Bill and the myriad of ways we can work with private landowners to conserve, restore, and enhance duck habitat.”
Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The new class will be offered at the Redbud Library located at 14785 Burns Valley Road in
Clearlake.
Classes will begin on Friday, March 7, and will be offered weekly on Fridays from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m.
Classes and all materials and supplies are free to students, open to all levels and native languages, and will be taught in English.
For more information or to sign up for the class, call the Library Literacy Program at 707-263-7633 or email
In addition to the free ESL class, the Library Literacy Program offers free one-on-one tutoring for adults who wish to improve their reading and writing skills, and adults who wish to learn English.
The program is in need of bilingual volunteer tutors to work with learners with limited to no English skills.
No experience is necessary to become a literacy tutor as long as one has patience, a desire to help others, and a good command of the English language.
Tutor training, where volunteers learn useful techniques for teaching adults to read, is provided free of cost, along with ongoing support.
Upon completion of tutor training, tutors will be matched with learners, with tutoring hours being flexible for both the tutor and learner; sessions are typically held once per week for one hour.
The program is supported in part by the California Library Literacy Services and by the Lake County Literacy Coalition.
If you are interested in becoming a literacy tutor or know someone who could benefit from our services, please call 707-263-7633 or email
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
They will host office hours from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Kelseyville Unified School District’s Board Chambers at 4410 Konocti Road.
Constituents are invited to drop in to discuss any support you may need.
If you need help with passports and visas, veterans benefits, IRS issues, agricultural issues, small business assistance, immigration, Medicare and Medicaid, or if you are facing any other problem navigating the federal government, Thompson’s office said their team is ready to help.
Consider attending the team’s office hours this Wednesday, contact them online at mikethompson.house.gov or call his Napa office at 707-226-9898.