LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that a special election to fill a seat on the Middletown Unified School District Board of Trustees has been consolidated with the Statewide Direct Primary Election and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 7.

The first day a candidate may file for office is Monday, Feb. 14, and the last day is Friday, March 11, at 5 p.m.

Official declaration of candidacy forms for eligible candidates desiring to file may be obtained from the Lake County Registrar of Voters office in person at 325 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed County holidays and weekends.

For more information call the Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or toll-free at 888-235-6730.

On Friday, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission announced the absence of a lawsuit challenging the new Congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization maps.

Article 21, section 3(b)(2) of the California Constitution states that any registered voter in this state may file a petition for a writ of mandate or writ of prohibition, within 45 days after the commission has certified a final map to the Secretary of State, or SOS.

Because maps were certified to the SOS on Dec. 27, 2021, the deadline to file a lawsuit was Feb. 10, 2022, at midnight.

“We're glad to cross this first legal threshold to effectuate the people’s maps,” said Commission Chair Russell Yee. “The absence of a state lawsuit challenging these maps is a testament to the effectiveness of California's open, publicly accessible redistricting process and the design of its independent redistricting commission. We worked hard to apply the constitutional redistricting criteria and consider testimony from throughout the state, especially from minority communities. While the maps do not please everyone, we believe they are fair and equitable. We would have confidently defended these maps in court but are thankful we now won't need to.”

The possibility of other legal challenges remains. Article 21, section 2(i) of the state Constitution states that the map enactment date — Dec. 27 — triggers the 90-day period for a referendum petition to be filed. In the absence of a sufficient and timely referendum petition being filed, the maps would otherwise become “effective” 90 days after enactment/certification, or March 27.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated a congressional map in Alabama that a lower court ruled hurt Black voters.

The state Constitution's legal challenge deadline does not apply to any challenge that might be filed in federal court alleging a violation of the U.S. Constitution or the federal Voting Rights Act.

Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its electoral districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts.

In 2008, California voters passed the Voters First Act, authorizing the creation of the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization district lines. In 2010, the Voters First Act for Congress gave the Commission the responsibility of drawing new Congressional districts following every census.

For more information, please visit www.WeDrawTheLinesCA.org.

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. ‌‌— ‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
‌‌‌ ‌
Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Road work west of Upper Lake near Saratoga Springs Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway‌‌ ‌‌29

— Utility work near Middletown south of Grange Road is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work near Leggett is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Emergency work continues south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C101KC

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through March 2022.

— Tree work continues south of Confusion Hill. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 175

— Utility work in Hopland is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Utility work will occur near Big Dann Creek on Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Emergency work and construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays at all hours.

— Shoulder work near Ocean World in Crescent City will continue. Lane closures will be in place from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Utility work north of Crescent City at the Dr. Fine Bridge is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute.

Highway 197

— Utility work near the 101 junction is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic will be in effect. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 199

— Permit work near the Collier Tunnel is scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work moving from the 101 junction to west of Dinsmore on Tuesday, Feb. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays total.

Highway 96

— Emergency work near Willow Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Motorists should expect 20-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

Highway 255

— Utility work near Manila will continue. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Emergency repairs east of Blue Lake to Willow Creek to continue. One-way traffic control in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays.

This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing National Burn Awareness Week which runs from Feb. 6 to 12, 2022.

This resolution asks local governments, health care organizations, first responders and people across the nation to commemorate National Burn Awareness Week to raise awareness about the seriousness of burn injuries and honor survivors, patients, and those who care for them.

“Every year, more than 400,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution with Representative Joyce to raise awareness about the dangers of burn injuries and work to support the victims, survivors, and those who care for them,” said Congressman Thompson. “This week, we are spreading awareness about ways to prevent burn injuries and sending our gratitude to the first responders and health care professionals who respond to and care for those who suffer from burns.”

“Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in the United States,” said Congressman Joyce. “What’s worse is that nearly a third of all burn injuries afflict children under the age of 15. I’m proud to once again introduce this bipartisan resolution alongside Congressman Thompson to help promote burn injury awareness, prevent these terrible accidents that threaten thousands of lives every year, and recognize the first-responders who are dedicated to saving and caring for the victims of burn injuries.”

“So many of the burn injuries that we see every day are preventable. Each survivor that we help is a person, with a family and a life ahead of them. Raising awareness about the common sense steps that the public can take to protect themselves and their loved ones is essential. We are appreciative of Representatives Thompson and Joyce introducing this resolution, continuing to lead the way in Congress on burn injury prevention,” said Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, FACS, President of the American Burn Association.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — It’s time for the Lake County Women's Civic Club to contribute $10,000 to a Lake County nonprofit.

LCWCC maintains an investment which provides dividends that the group watches and waits ever so eagerly to cross the $10,000 mark so that they can pass it along to a chosen cause.

If you are a local nonprofit that believes your group would make the best use of this funding then the group wants to hear from you.

They ask applicants to share the following: Your story (100 to 500 words), mission statement, current funding sources, committee/board members, potential use for the $10,000, and contact information.

Mail your presentation to LCWCC, P.O. Box 52, Lakeport, CA 95453.

The deadline is Feb. 14.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call Helen Finch at 707-972-1807.

Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced legislation that would enhance wildfire prevention in California through implementation of a $20 million prescribed fire claims fund.

“We know fighting fire with fire is one of the most effective means of prevention, which is why I wrote the law to encourage greater use of this wildfire prevention technique last year,” Sen. Dodd said. “This new proposal continues our efforts to encourage greater use of prescribed fire by ensuring those who practice this time-tested technique can have some protection from any unintended costs.”

Prescribed fire, also known as controlled burning, has been used for centuries to clear tinder-dry trees and brush that are known to fuel runaway wildfires.

Rarely do prescribed fires escape their bounds and cause damage to neighboring properties. If they do, Sen. Dodd’s new bill would establish a fund to help cover costs.

It is a follow-up to Senate Bill 332, written by Sen. Dodd and signed into law last year, which protects landowners and prescribed fire managers from having to pay fire suppression expenses unless they have acted with gross negligence.

Sen. Dodd’s new bill is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy.

“The science tells us that greater use of prescribed fire is a critical step to protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy program at Stanford University. “Sen. Dodd has been a leading advocate for smart, careful use of prescribed fire. This bill creates a structure that will allow landowners and prescribed burners to feel more comfortable using this important tool, knowing that if unintentional harm occurs, there are funds to make people whole.”

“This claims fund is the lynchpin of all the other prescribed fire efforts we’ve been working on,” said Lenya N. Quinn-Davidson, fire director of University of California Cooperative Extension and director of Northern California Prescribed Fire Council. “With this bill, Sen. Dodd is proposing an equitable, effective approach to rolling out the fund. We are so grateful for his continued efforts to promote and expedite this important work.”

Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.