Regional
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- Written by: California Department of Insurance
The commissioner’s bulletin shields those living within the perimeters or adjoining zip codes of the Thompson fire from insurance non-renewal or cancellation for one year from the date of the governor’s emergency declaration regardless of whether they suffered a loss.
“Consumers affected by the Thompson fire should have peace of mind knowing that they get to keep their insurance coverage as they take the time to assess, rebuild, and begin the long recovery process. My top priority is consumer protection for all Californians, and especially vulnerable consumers and disaster survivors,” said Commissioner Lara. “My moratorium order is just one of the many actions that I am taking to provide relief to homeowners while I continue to work with stakeholders and climate experts to address the root causes of these ever-intensifying natural disasters in order to prevent even greater losses.”
The commissioner’s ability to issue moratoriums is a result of a California law he authored in 2018 while serving as state senator in order to provide temporary relief from insurance non-renewals and cancellations to residents living within or adjacent to a gubernatorial-declared wildfire disaster.
Since 2019, Commissioner Lara’s actions have protected nearly 4 million homeowners. Thursday’s order protects an estimated 46,000 policyholders in 18 zip codes for one year, effective July 3, 2024.
Consumers who were non-renewed prior to the emergency declaration date and are unable to obtain insurance or are dissatisfied with their current coverage should contact the California Department of Insurance for assistance in understanding their options and tools.
Consumers can go to the Department of Insurance website to see if their zip code is included in the moratorium. Consumers should contact the Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or via online chat or email at insurance.ca.gov if they believe their insurance company is in violation of this law, or have additional claims-related questions.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lt. Andrew Porter said the remains of the woman have not yet been positively identified, but they are believed to be those of 66-year-old Dagmar Stankova of Covelo.
At 2:17 p.m. Monday, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to assist Cal Fire with a wildland fire in the 94500 block of Mina Road, north of Covelo, according to Porter’s report.
The fire was reported to be a rapidly moving wildfire with one structure possibly fully involved and one person potentially missing, Porter said.
Upon arrival in the area, Porter said deputies contacted an adult male at the property who stated a burn pile had escaped and started the wildfire.
The man reported that a family member, Stankova, was missing and had last been seen in and around the residence attempting to extinguish flames, Porter said.
Due to the intensity of the fire, deputies were not able to access the area of the residence so they proceeded to work on evacuating people in the surrounding neighborhood. Porter said a missing person report was ultimately taken for Stankova as she had not been located.
On Tuesday at approximately 2 a.m., the agency was notified by fire personnel that suspected burned human remains had been located in a structure that had burned during this fire, Porter reported.
Sheriff's office detectives, along with Cal Fire prevention officers, responded to the scene which still had active fire burning. Porter said investigators located the human remains and due to the burned condition of the body, investigators were not able to make a positive identification of the deceased.
During the investigation, Porter said it was determined that Stankova had last been seen adjacent to the residence attempting to protect her home from the fire with a garden hose.
Porter said the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division is actively working to identify the human remains that were located; however the remains are believed to be Stankova based on the investigation and circumstances of the fire.
Stankova's next of kin is aware of this case and is assisting with this investigation, Porter said.
An autopsy for the deceased located during this investigation is being scheduled and the final cause and manner of death will not be released until the autopsy and toxicology reports are available, Porter said.
The coroner's case for the unidentified decedent is being investigated under Mendocino County Sheriff's Office case #2024-13948. Cal Fire prevention officers are conducting the investigation regarding the cause of the fire related to this incident.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086. Information can also be provided anonymously through the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley on Thursday announced the filing of one charge of failure of a mandated reporter to report suspected child abuse or neglect against American Canyon High School Principal Andrew Goff, 61, of Napa.
The case is in connection with allegations of child molestation made against a former track and field coach and teacher at the high school.
As an employee of the Napa Valley Unified School District, Goff is a mandated reporter and it is alleged he was notified of a suspected sexual relationship between a student and faculty member Brad Rowell, 41.
The district attorney further alleges that Goff failed to report this information in a timely manner to either law enforcement or child welfare services.
Rowell, who is being held at the Napa County Department of Corrections with a bail amount of $500,000, is charged with 25 felony counts of lewd act upon a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation of a person under 18, and possession of photos and videos depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct.
It’s also alleged that the sex crimes Rowell is accused of took place in multiple jurisdictions, that the crimes involved vulnerable victims and that he committed the crimes from a position of trust.
The charge against Goff of failure of a mandated reporter to report child abuse or neglect is a misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to six months confinement in a county jail or by a fine of $1,000, or by both imprisonment and fine.
Arraignment is scheduled for July 11 2024, at 8:30 a.m., in Napa County Superior Court.
“The point of mandated reporter laws is to ensure that the most vulnerable among us who may have difficulty finding the courage or the resources to ask for help are given support,” Deputy District Attorney Shashawnya Worley said. “Our office will enforce those laws so that crime survivors are protected, cases are investigated and ongoing abuse is stopped.”
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal Arson and Bomb Unit, in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley Police Department the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of Casey Robert
Goonan.
Goonan is believed to have been responsible for the firebombing attack of a UC Berkeley Police Department vehicle and three other arson attacks on UC Berkeley campus earlier this month.
Authorities arrested Goonan on Monday following a comprehensive investigation that led to his identification and apprehension.
He’s facing multiple felony charges including the possession and use of destructive devices and multiple counts of arson.
As of Monday night, Goonan was being held at the Alameda County Jail on $1 million bail.
The Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal Arson and Bomb Unit commended the ongoing efforts of the UC Berkeley Police Department, UC San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco County Sheriff's Office, ATF and FBI.
“The collaborative efforts of all agencies involved demonstrate their ongoing commitment to protecting our communities,” Cal Fire said.
To report arson activity, please contact the Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal Arson and Bomb Unit at
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