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Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on Wednesday issued a proclamation declaring July 2025 as Disability Pride Month.
The text of the proclamation is below.
PROCLAMATION
California joins communities around the nation in recognizing July as Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate the many ways that people living with disabilities — whether visible or invisible, mobility or cognitive, vision or hearing, learning or sensory, developmental or acquired — add to the diversity and strength of our state.
Observed in July, Disability Pride Month marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a major civil rights milestone signed into law on July 26, 1990. Sponsored by California Congressman Tony Coelho, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, removing barriers to employment, transportation, public services, and other critical areas.
California is home to more than 7 million adults with disabilities and provides one in eight kids with disability services in schools. For decades, our state has played a pivotal role in promoting the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. In partnership with the Legislature, the Newsom Administration is working to expand educational opportunities, employment options, health, and homecare access, civil rights, and community living for people of all ages with disabilities. The state also continues to prioritize accessibility of all state services and is deepening our commitment to employment opportunities for people with disabilities within state service.
As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, let us reflect on the essential contributions of people with disabilities to our communities, our state, and our nation, and reaffirm our commitment to their rights and independence.
NOW THEREFORE I, ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Acting Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim July 2025 as “Disability Pride Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of July 2025.
ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Acting Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKEPORT, Calif. — A longtime family owned business is celebrating breaking ground on a building project that will significantly expand its operations and opportunities.
Community members, and business leaders and city leaders gathered with the Disney family for a groundbreaking at the site where the new Disney’s Boat Rentals will be located at 2200 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport on Wednesday, July 2.
“We’re really, really excited. It’s been a long time coming,” said Brandon Disney, son of the founders and a Lakeport City Council member.
He said his family has been pouring their hearts and souls into the project.
Roy and Charlotte Disney, along with Roy’s brother, Kory Disney, founded the company in 1983.
Brandon Disney noted that, in a very real sense, the business was his parents’ first child. He was born 10 years after the business was founded.
Disney’s Boat Rentals is a true family affair. In addition to Roy, Charlotte, Kory and Brandon, there is Roy and Charlotte’s other children, Connor and Brenda.
The project is a big upgrade for the longtime business. It was in different locations in its early years — including Konocti Harbor and Willopoint — before arriving at its current location at 401 S. Main St. 31 years ago.
The new location, next door to the Lakeport Unified School District main campus, will be a significant upgrade in size for the business, which currently is housed in a 600-square foot building on one acre.
The site will feature a two-story building that’s just under 3,000 square feet. It sits on six acres, across from the lake, that the Disneys purchased in 2021.
They’ve been in the project planning stage ever since the purchase, Brandon Disney said.
Brandon Disney said the new building will include office space, storage, and a new retail store for snacks and drinks.
The building will go up on the only spot that isn’t in the flood plain and also will be elevated, Disney said.
Disney said they are preserving the oak trees on the property, with a goal of having it look like the state park.
The process to get to groundbreaking included a year of intense planning, leading up to approvals from the Lakeport Planning Commission in January and the Lake County Planning Commission, necessary due to the required lake variances, this spring, he said.
There will be two new docks across the street from the building on the lake. One will be 125 feet long and the second will be 100 feet long. The county needed to grant variances due to the length of the docks and the fact that there is a second dock, which isn’t for public use but for fueling and cleaning.
There will be a crosswalk with rapid flashing beacons and advance warning to help with traffic as the Disneys, their employees and customers make their way back and forth to the lake.
Excavation and site prep started the week before the ribbon cutting. The footings are set to be dug this week, with concrete to be poured next week or later.
Brandon Disney said they received the building permit the day before the ground breaking, “Which was icing on the cake because we planned this.”
At the new Lakeshore Boulevard location, Disney said they can expand and improve efficiency, which excites him.
He said they’re also excited to be out of downtown, because now downtown is a destination for their customers to visit.
Connor Disney said they want to be in the new building in the spring of 2026.
“Our goal is to operate our rental season here next year,” Brandon Disney said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Planning Commission will meet this week to discuss a short-term rental application.
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda is available here.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 814 1135 4347, pass code is 847985.
To join by phone, dial 1-669-444-9171; for one tap mobile, +16694449171,,81411354347#,,,,*847985#.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The main item of business on the commission’s agenda is an application by Lynndal Daniels for a use permit to allow for a short-term rental within an existing residence located at 2075 Lakeshore Blvd.
The commission will next meet on Aug. 13.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
As wildfire conditions intensify across the Pacific Northwest, Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed the deployment of a Cal Fire Type 3 engine strike team to assist firefighting efforts in southern Oregon.
The deployment includes five fire engines and a strike team leader who will join suppression operations just north of the California-Oregon border.
“Just as Oregon supported our state during the Los Angeles firestorms, we’re glad to support our Northern neighbors with strike teams and fire engines to aid in their wildfire response efforts. I’m proud California can lend a helping hand to fellow Americans in their time of need,” said Gov. Newsom.
This mobilization comes in response to a significant lightning event that ignited numerous wildfires across the region.
Southern Oregon has experienced more than 2,000 lightning strikes in recent days, compounded by high temperatures and gusty winds.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings through July 8 for much of southern and central Oregon, signaling elevated fire danger and the need for immediate firefighting reinforcements.
Upon arrival in Medford, Cal Fire resources will seamlessly integrate into Oregon’s Department of Forestry command structure to support suppression efforts on active fires.
This response is part of a long-standing interstate mutual aid agreement that strengthens wildfire readiness across the western United States.
California remains prepared to send additional resources should conditions escalate.
“We stand with Oregon during this critical time, just as they’ve stood with us during some of California’s toughest fire seasons,” said Anale Burlew, chief deputy director of Cal Fire. “These mutual aid partnerships are built on trust, coordination, and a shared commitment to public safety.”
Earlier this week, Newsom announced the deployment of 27 highly skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to Texas to assist with ongoing response efforts related to severe flooding impacts.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS