The California Highway Patrol on Thursday announced more than $35 million in grant funding to 148 California law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to help address the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

“As the legal cannabis market continues to grow, so do the state’s efforts to ensure Californians are recreating responsibly. By supporting the organizations that enforce and amplify our laws on the ground, we can keep everyone safer,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The grants from Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, assigned the CHP the responsibility of administering grants for education, prevention and enforcement programs aimed at helping communities tackle impaired driving. 

Additionally, funds are available for crime laboratories that conduct forensic toxicology testing. The funding for these grants comes from a tax on the sale of cannabis and cannabis products in California.

“This funding represents a major step forward in our ongoing mission to save lives and prevent impaired driving,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “With over $35 million going to nearly 150 public safety partners across the state, we’re expanding our reach like never before. These resources will help those on the frontlines keep California’s roads safer for everyone.”

These funds will go towards a variety of activities. One hundred twenty-six recipients of law enforcement grants will use the funding to combat impaired driving in their communities. The funds will also support drug recognition evaluator training to improve the identification of drug-impaired drivers, as well as public outreach campaigns, including educational presentations and community events.

Eleven recipients of education grants will use the funds to inform local communities about impaired driving laws while highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Seven recipients of two-year toxicology crime laboratory grants will use the funds to eliminate backlogs in analyzing forensic science evidence and to purchase or upgrade laboratory equipment to enhance testing capabilities.

Four recipients of two-year medical examiner’s and coroner's office grants will use the funds to improve and advance data collection in cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The application process for future grant funding is expected to reopen in early 2026. More information is available on the CHP website at CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — A man was injured in a shooting in Hamilton City on Friday evening.

The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were dispatched to a fireworks stand on State Route 32 and Sacramento Avenue in Hamilton City on Friday, July 4, at 6:38 p.m. for the report of five males in a physical disturbance. 

One male reportedly pulled a gun and shot one of the other males and fled the scene in a white Chevrolet pickup truck, authorities said.

Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies and officers from California Highway Patrol and Orland Police immediately responded to the scene and searched for the suspect. 

Deputies found a 35-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency Medical Services responded and transported the man to an area hospital where he was treated for his injuries. 

The suspect was not located after a thorough search of the area. 

The Glenn County Sheriff’s Investigations and Narcotics Taskforce initiated an investigation of this crime. If anyone has any additional information related to this incident, please contact the Glenn County Sheriff’s Investigations and Narcotics Taskforce at 530-934-6441. 

This investigation is ongoing. No further information on this incident is available at this time.

For general information, contact the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office at 934-6441, visit www.countyofglenn.net/sheriff or access the agency on Facebook.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley on Thursday announced the filing of murder charges against a Napa man who authorities said killed a woman pregnant with twins.

Haley is charging Ernie Victor Solis, age 40, of Napa, in connection with the murders of Hailey Privett, age 33, who was reported to be his fiancee, over the weekend.

The twins she was pregnant with at the time of her death are reported to have been fathered by Solis.

Solis is charged with three counts of murder and faces the special allegation of multiple murder — the unlawful killing of more than one person that can result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, depending on the circumstances.

Solis also faces allegations that the crimes are serious and violent felonies; involved the use of a deadly weapon; great bodily injury; violence, cruelty, viciousness or callousness; the use of a weapon; vulnerable victims; violent conduct; that he was in a position of trust; that the crimes increase in seriousness from past crimes; that he had a prior prison term, a prior strike, and prior poor performance on probation or parole.

It is alleged that Solis murdered Privett and her unborn babies at her Dale Drive home in Napa, on the morning of June 8.

A team led by the Napa Police Department and consisting of the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, and Napa County Special Investigations Bureau collaborated on the investigation, which led to the defendant’s arrest.

Officials said no further information regarding this case will be released at this time, as Napa County Deputy District Attorney Michelle Roberts prepares the People’s case against Solis. The defendant is held without bail at the Napa County Department of Corrections and is next scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m., June 17, in Department 1 of the Napa County Superior Court for a hearing in which he is expected to enter a plea and to set a future preliminary hearing.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said one of its deputies fatally shot a subject on Thursday afternoon, an incident which remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s public information officer Summer Hansen said that at 2:16 p.m. Thursday, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a male subject who had entered the Bear River Recreation Center with a bandaged, bloody arm and was actively dripping blood throughout the facility.

Deputies arrived on scene and determined that the subject was uncooperative but in need of medical attention. Emergency medical assistance was requested but the subject refused treatment, Hansen said.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., deputies cleared the scene and the subject agreed to leave.
However, instead of leaving, Hansen said the subject became combative and confronted the deputies with a weapon in a threatening manner.

A deputy discharged their service weapon at the suspect, striking the suspect, Hansen said.

Emergency medical assistance was rendered immediately and fire and medical personnel were
dispatched to the scene. Hansen said the suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Hansen said the suspect is a 29-year-old white male adult. He does not appear to be a resident of Humboldt County or affiliated with the Bear River Rancheria.

The Critical Incident Response Team was notified and investigated the case alongside the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and the Major Crimes Division.

This incident was witnessed by several people at the scene and was captured on a body-worn camera, said Haensen.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division at 707-268-2539.

Officials gather to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the new bridge and aqueduct near Butte City, California, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

GLENN COUNTY, Calif. — Caltrans, along with local and state officials, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the new State Route 162 (SR 162) bridge and viaduct near Butte City.

This new $116 million bridge replaced a 77-year-old structure with a safer, modern span built to current seismic standards.

Funded through a combination of federal and state sources, including $15.1 million from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, this project enhances regional mobility and long-term safety across the Sacramento River.

The new 4,686-foot-long bridge was built with modern construction techniques and includes standard 12-foot lanes and 8-foot shoulders in each direction. In the center of Butte City, a wider 14-foot shoulder was added on eastbound SR 162/Main Street to help improve traffic flow and safety.

“This project emphasizes Caltrans’ commitment to public safety and provides travelers with infrastructure that meets their evolving needs, including more space to accommodate larger vehicles and enhancing a vital agricultural and commercial link between local communities and regional markets,” said Sergio Aceves, director of Caltrans District 3. “This new bridge signals a milestone for Glenn County and reflects our ongoing investments in projects that are safer, more resilient, and designed to meet the needs of Californians now and for decades into the future.”

SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

Visit build.ca.gov to learn more about transformative infrastructure projects happening in communities throughout the state.

Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews performing these improvements.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man killed in an industrial accident over the weekend.

The man who died was Rodrigo Reyna-Sanchez, age 58, who was working for a Humboldt County contractor, authorities said.

On Saturday, May 31, at approximately 5:53 a.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to a report of an industrial accident in the 13000 block of Highway 36 in Carlotta.

Authorities said the incident involved a significant amount of debris falling from the active landslide, resulting in the fatality.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division responded to the scene to help handle the case.

“The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Reyna-Sanchez during this difficult time,” the agency said.