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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The federal government shut down overnight, a development leading to questions about the impact on Lake County directly.
Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night — and shortly after midnight Wednesday — Congressman Mike Thompson, who represents Lake County in the House of Representatives, reported, “The government has shut down and Republicans are on vacation.”
The shutdown followed failed attempts to get new spending bills through Congress, with the two major parties deadlocked.
“After Democrats flew back to Washington, D.C. this week to negotiate a bipartisan deal that funds the government and lowers your health care costs, Republicans refused to come to the table. Every American, regardless of party stripe, should be angry at Congressional Republicans’ manufactured crisis,” said Thompson.
“After kicking 15 million people off of their health coverage this summer, Congressional Republicans now want to pass a spending bill that increases premiums by 97 percent for Californians enrolled in Covered California plans,” Thompson added. “Our health care system is already broken. We should be working to increase access to affordable care, not raising prices on working people. I’ll continue to work to ensure we fund the government without ripping away your health care.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Thompson was among the leaders of a bipartisan coalition of 70 members of Congress who urged House and Senate leadership to extend telehealth coverage benefits so that all Medicare beneficiaries retain access to these services.
Without that extension by Tuesday, Thompson said seniors on Medicare will lose access to critical telehealth services.
So far, it’s unclear how the shutdown will directly impact Lake County.
Impacts are expected for the Mendocino National Forest and other federal agencies at work in the community.
Meanwhile, the Governor's Office listed 10 ways Californians may be impacted by the shutdown, including the potential for non-essential federal government employees to be furloughed, which could have a significant impact in a state that is home to more than 150,000 federal workers.
The other potential impacts on the state include cuts to schools, including education programs like Head Start that are at-risk of not being funded; mass firings such as those the White House is threatening; delays at Social Security; economic harm, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics expected to stop collecting critical data on the nation’s economy; no new flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program as the wet season is beginning; depletion of federal food assistance programs; possible delays in payments to to victims of natural disasters; and flight delays.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will consider whether or not to move forward with joining an organization that will provide power to city residents and consider rescinding actions relating to hotel and road projects in response to a lawsuit.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 819 8866 1218, the pass code is 899422. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82771053751#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 646-931-3860.
On Thursday, the council will consider rescinding actions related to the 18th Avenue Road and Hotel Development Project in response to court rulings at the state level.
On Dec. 13, 2022, the Clearlake Planning Commission approved environmental review and project entitlements for construction of the 18th Avenue Road Project and development of a hotel, City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council explained.
He said the Koi Nation of Northern California appealed the project approvals to the City Council, with the council rejecting the appeal.
The Koi Nation then filed a writ of mandate with the Lake County Superior Court. On Dec. 22, 2023, the local court denied the Koi’s request, with the tribe then filing an appeal with the State Appellate Court, which ultimately ordered the city to set aside the project approvals and environmental review, Flora said.
“The attached resolution takes the action ordered by the Court,” Flora’s report explained.
The council also is scheduled to hold a public hearing to discuss and consider changes to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Fee Schedule.
Under business, the council will discuss and consider the city of Clearlake joining Sonoma Clean Power. The council met with the Lakeport City Council and the Board of Supervisors in a special meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the proposal.
Also on the agenda are October's adoptable dogs, a proclamation declaring October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and presentations by Police Chief Tim Hobbs of an employee commendation and certificates of appreciation to the Clearlake Summer Concert and Movie Night Sponsors.
On the meeting’s consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes; the continuation of the director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for winter storms; continuation of the director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for the Boyles fire; and approval of Resolution number 2025-37 approving the road closure on Oct. 31 for the Trunk or Treat Event.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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