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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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting will be available via Zoom. The meeting ID is 813 6295 6146, pass code is 917658.
It also will be livestreamed on the Lake County Peg TV YouTube channel.
The group’s guest speaker will be Diana Mann of the Clearlake Oaks Community Water District, who will give an overview on the proposed wastewater infrastructure and rehabilitation project, which is currently in a public review period through Feb. 19.
The following items also are on this week’s agenda:
• ERTH Business: Update and consideration of ERTH activities/projects; housekeeping items; firebreak discussion; code enforcement update, Mountainview Road update and consideration of a Road Safety Committee
• Update on activities and consideration of Land Use Committee recommendations. Response to Kuehn senior housing and storage unit project letter
• District 3 MAC update.
• Community updates: Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Business Association and Live Oak Senior Center.
• Commercial cannabis report and cannabis ordinance update.
• Ongoing Project updates.
• EPA Superfund cleanup; Hypolimnetic Project Outreach; Klaus Park; county and agency project updates.
• Spring Valley update.
• Supervisor EJ Crandell’s updates.
• New business.
• Announcements.
ERTH asks that community members bring food donations — including perishable items that can be frozen — and supplies to the Big Oak Peer Support Center at the end of Big Oak
Shopping Center, 13300 E. Highway 20, Suite O, on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. closed during holidays and weekends). Those who can't make it during those times can feel free to bring items to the ERTH meeting, and they will ensure they are brought to the center.
ERTH’s next meeting will take place on March 4.
Members are Angela Amaral, Lori Correia, Holly Harris, Donna Mackiewicz and Sterling Wellman.
For more information visit the group’s Facebook page or website, or email
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