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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The allocation has increased to 20 percent of requested supplies, up from 15 percent in December. The State Water Project, or SWP, provides water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians.
While January has been incredibly dry across California, storm runoff into the state’s reservoirs came in higher than forecasted at the end of December allowing for a modest allocation increase.
Storms in late November and early December had a positive impact by saturating the ground, allowing for storms through December to more efficiently runoff into reservoirs.
More storms are needed, and the long-range forecast does hint at a return to wet conditions in early February that could bring much-needed rain and snow.
“We are in the middle of our biggest months for precipitation for California, and unfortunately January has been very dry, putting a significant dent in our season,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “A return to wet weather is critical for our season’s success and it will take many more storms to make up the deficit and further boost water supply deliveries.”
Despite the dry conditions, California has effectively managed its reservoirs to keep storage above average for this time of year. Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, is currently at 127 percent of average for this time of year.
San Luis Reservoir, which is jointly operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, is at 102 percent of average for this time of year. Reservoirs in Southern California are also near or above their historical averages.
Each year, DWR provides SWP allocation forecasts based on available water storage, projected water supply, and water demands. Allocations are updated monthly as snowpack, rainfall, and runoff information is assessed, with a final allocation typically determined in May or June.
As the winter progresses, if California sees an increase in rain and snowfall, the allocation forecast may increase.
Learn more about how the State Water Project allocation process works here.
The allocation forecast notice to State Water Contractors and historical data on SWP allocations are available here.
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- Written by: LINGZI CHEN
The Lakeport Police Department presented its 2024 statistics report last Tuesday during the Lakeport City Council meeting.
The data shows a decrease in traffic offenses and most types of crimes, except for assaults.
“We have a slight increase in reported assaults for the year,” reported Sgt. Ryan Cooley.
The data shows 39 reported assaults in 2024, an increase from 10 in both 2022 and 2023. However, that 2024 number remained low when compared with 2021’s 90 cases.
Cooley then highlighted decreased police response time to non-emergency calls and cold calls, decreased cases in stolen vehicles, domestic violence, arrests, driving-under-the-influence, traffic collisions and suspended cases.
For the use of force, “The 2024 year showed 0 uses of force reportable to the California Department of Justice,” read the 2024 Use of Force Analysis Report.
“Nearly 50% increase in lesser uses of force that includes the pointing of firearms or less lethal devices,” Cooley said.
Although it was just passed in November, Cooley mentioned that the implementation of Proposition 36 has brought about “collaboration between the law enforcement stakeholders.”
City Manager Kevin Ingram added that the District Attorney’s Office was going to be “a critical piece on that.”
“We've already started to put the pieces into place to kind of start getting some of that communication in order,” he added.
Ingram also asked the public to call the police when in need.
“You got a shoplifter in your shop and there’s nothing we can do — that has changed,” Ingram said. “We do need people to kind of bring those calls and attention in, start the log, start the process, get things moving, where we can kind of enact some of those pools that come out of Prop. 36 so we're learning as we're going.”
Lake County News has put together five most important data sets across the past four years, drawing raw data from the police department’s staff report.
A: Crimes
The total number of crimes at 159 came to the lowest in 2024 in four years. Larceny, assault, and domestic violence were the most common crime types in Lakeport for the year. The number of assault cases in 2024 were four times higher than in 2022 and 2023, but remained far lower than 90 cases in 2021.
B: Traffic related
All types of traffic-related offences, including DUI arrests, reduced significantly from the previous year. To note, 2023 was a year with particularly high numbers across the board.
During council comments, Councilmember Kenny Parlet pointed to the correlation between the increase in traffic stops — from 916 in 2023 to 1027 in 2024 — and the “huge decrease in traffic accidents.” The number of traffic collisions dropped to 28 in 2024 from 66 in 2023.
C: Police activities
D: Police response time
In 2024, response time to non-emergency and cold calls were both brought down to five minutes or sooner for the first time.
E: Arrests
Misdemeanor arrests came to lowest in the past four years, more than 50% down from 2023. Felony arrests also decreased slightly compared to the previous year, but stayed higher than that of 2021 and 2022. Total arrests dropped to the lowest in the four-year period.
In addition, Lakeport police officers made 230 events of foot patrols in 2024. Councilmember Brandon Disney noted that it’s the first time that this data was recorded.
Email staff reporters Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
In 2021, following a disturbing increase in antisemitic hate, Gov. Newsom established the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education to identify instructional resources to teach students across California about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide and provide young people with the tools necessary to recognize and respond to instances of antisemitism and bigotry.
“In California, hate is unacceptable, and the shocking decline in awareness among young people about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide is especially alarming. I was proud to establish the Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education and grateful for their work on this comprehensive report. I look forward to reviewing the Council’s recommendations and ensuring that California continues to be a beacon for tolerance, empathy, and education,” said Newsom.
The council assessed the status of Holocaust and genocide education in California, made recommendations for how to improve Holocaust and genocide education in our schools, and will now work to promote best practices for educators, schools and organizations and sponsor Holocaust and genocide remembrance.
The council is co-chaired by State Senator Henry Stern, Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Dr. Anita Friedman, executive director, Jewish Family and Children’s Services/Northern California.
“California leads the nation in support for state-of-the art Holocaust and genocide education,” said Dr. Friedman. “As a result, our state is systematically creating a more unified society and a more informed, morally courageous and socially responsible next generation. We are inspired by the enthusiastic cooperation of educators, communities and students in this common cause."
“On this Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, we reaffirm the plea to 'Never Forget.' Never forget our ancestors, the unimaginable horrors endured, and the systemic failures that allowed such atrocities to unfold. We remember not only to honor our ancestors but to safeguard against history repeating itself,” said Sen. Stern. “Understanding the patterns of genocide that occurred to numerous groups worldwide, is essential in fostering empathy, combatting hate, and upholding our collective moral responsibility. We have to ensure that our students are learning this complex subject matter so they are equipped to enter a society increasingly rife with misinformation. I'm proud that this critical report will allow us to invest in the resources, teacher training, and curriculum necessary to equip our students with factual information to break the cycle of history repeating itself.”
“There is no place for hate in California. The California Department of Justice is committed to combatting all forms of hate and bigotry, and to building a more just, empathetic society for our children,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Acknowledging the truth and teaching our youth are crucial steps toward ensuring that we don't repeat the atrocities of our past. I'm grateful to our state partners and the Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education for their work and recommendations to continue fighting antisemitism and intolerance through education and beyond.”
“We must counter hate wherever and whenever it rears its head, and especially in our schools,” Said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “Every child must feel safe to learn, and every child should feel that they belong on their school campus. It takes strong leaders to end hate and foster understanding. I am proud to stand alongside nearly 100 school and district leaders and antibias practitioners as we commit to use the power of education to end hate across California.”
“I’m grateful for the work of the Governor’s Council Holocaust and Genocide Education for identifying gaps in education on the Holocaust and other genocides. This education is vital as history often repeats itself if unchecked. Young people are our future leaders, and this education equips them with the tools to recognize and respond to antisemitism and bigotry in all forms. California must always stand for love, tolerance, and understanding. Securing that future begins with a strong foundation of empathy and understanding amongst our youth population,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Key findings
Key findings of the study released Monday show that while some districts have developed robust programs, the overall landscape remains fragmented, with success often dependent on individual educator initiative. Local Educational Agency (LEA) representatives emphasized the need for state-level support – ultimately pointing to the necessity of a systematic, state-supported approach to ensure the kind of equitable, high-quality Holocaust and genocide education statewide that the Council envisions.
Respondents highlighted increased student knowledge, heightened empathy, and higher levels of engagement as key successes of their Holocaust and genocide education efforts. However, the study uncovered significant gaps in implementation support. The majority of respondents shared that their LEAs did not provide professional development focused on Holocaust and genocide education.
The California-focused analysis revealed that while the state has made significant strides, including recent legislation and funding allocations, there are opportunities to further align and amplify these efforts.
Recommendations
Drawing on these comprehensive findings, this report offers 10 recommendations to strengthen Holocaust and genocide education in California:
• Communicate California’s Vision for Holocaust and Genocide Education.
• Revise the California History–Social Science Content Standards.
• Revise the History–Social Science Framework for California Public Schools.
• Update, Distribute, and Provide Guidance for the Model Curriculum for Human Rights and Genocide.
• Continue to Create a Vetted Central Clearinghouse for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Professional Learning.
• Increase Direct Funding to Districts and Schools for Holocaust and Genocide Education
• Expand Existing Statewide Professional Learning on Holocaust and Genocide Education
• Monitor and Evaluate Educational Outcomes
• Continue to Conduct Additional Research to Inform the Council’s Future Actions
• Expand, Publicize, and Strengthen the Role of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education.
Fighting hate
Working with the Jewish Caucus and Legislature, the Newsom administration successfully secured millions of dollars to ensure that future generations of Californians never forget the lessons of past genocides, including millions of dollars to develop curriculum resources related to Holocaust and genocide education, such the Holocaust Museum LA, the JFCS Holocaust Center, the Museum of Tolerance, and the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education.
Governor Newsom joined members of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education during the body’s inaugural convening in Sacramento.
Holocaust and Genocide Education in California PDF by LakeCoNews on Scribd
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
In response, the State Water Contractors are calling for a collaboration to modernize California’s water infrastructure.
“The State Water Contractors appreciate President Trump’s support for our California water users. As stewards of more than half of California’s water supply, managing water that serves one in twelve Americans, our focus is always on working toward a stronger and more resilient water future for our cities, farms and environment,” said Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors.
Pierre said California’s current set of water delivery regulations are guided by real-time science to maximize water supplies and deliveries for all users in compliance with the law and based on the best available information.
“This real-time, data-driven approach has been successful and is a huge step forward from where we used to be as a state. But we can still do more. The State Water Contractors welcome ongoing coordination with state and federal leaders to ensure continued improvements in water reliability through the water system,” Pierre said.
California’s water infrastructure is vast and sophisticated, but it is also outdated, Pierre said.
“Our aging infrastructure directly impacts California’s ability to deliver and store water at the times and in the volumes needed. Projects like delta conveyance, addressing subsidence and improving our storage capacity will give California, and especially southern California, the resiliency it needs,” she said.
“We look forward to working with partners at all levels of government to better understand the recent Executive Order and Jan. 20 Memo in order to work together to modernize our infrastructure and benefit all users,” Pierre said.
The State Water Contractors is a statewide, nonprofit association of 27 public agencies from Northern, Central and Southern California that purchase water under contract from the California State Water Project. Collectively the State Water Contractors deliver water to more than 27 million residents throughout the state and more than 750,000 acres of agricultural land.
