How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick captured this timelapse photo of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) International Space Station as it orbited 272 miles above the South Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand just before sunrise on Sept. 28, 2024.
At the time, the comet was about 44 million miles away from Earth.
Though the comet is very old, it was just discovered in 2023, when it approached the inner solar system on its highly elliptical orbit for the first time in documented human history.
Beginning in mid-October 2024, Comet C/2023 A3 will become visible low in the west following sunset.
If the comet’s tail is well-illuminated by sunlight, it could be visible to the unaided eye. Oct. 14-24 is the best time to observe, using binoculars or a small telescope.
The comet hails from the Oort Cloud, which scientists think is a giant spherical shell surrounding our solar system. It is like a big, thick-walled bubble made of icy pieces of space debris the sizes of mountains and sometimes larger.
The Oort Cloud lies far beyond Pluto and the most distant edges of the Kuiper Belt and may contain billions, or even trillions, of objects.
- Details
- Written by: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council has approved the creation of a working group to consider the uses of the many properties owned by the city government.
At the council’s Sept. 17 meeting, the council unanimously voted for forming the group, which will make recommendations to the council on the city’s many properties and “provide a more strategic approach to maximizing the community benefits of city-owned lands,” City Manager Kevin Ingram said in his written report.
Ingram’s report also said the working group “will focus on reviewing proposed uses and leases and provide recommendations that align with the City’s broader goals for economic development, community well-being, and public space optimization.”
Ingram said that in recent months the city had received multiple requests from community partners regarding the potential use and enhancement of some of these sites. In one day about two to three months before the meeting, the city fielded three different calls about three or four different city-owned properties.
At that point, Ingram said it forced him to go back and look at a listing of all of the different agreements the city has for use of those properties, adding it’s a daunting list. That was the driver for moving forward with the working group proposal.
As examples of some of the city’s property agreements, Ingram pointed to what he considers the three most pressing projects that would benefit from the working group’s creation and its resulting input.
Those top projects include the Carnegie Library lease agreement between the city and the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center for use of the Carnegie Library. Ingram reported that the city is in the process of revising that lease for the establishment of an educational resource center. In his written report, Ingram acknowledged, “This project requires careful consideration to ensure that the use of the historic library meets the needs of both the community and our partner organization.”
There also is the city’s collaboration with the Westside Community Park Committee and local equestrian enthusiasts on a potential lease agreement for the use of portions of the 500-acre City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District property along Highway 175 for an equestrian center and trails use.
The city also is actively seeking a developer to build a waterfront hotel on the city-owned Dutch Harbor property at 910 N. Main St. Ingram said it’s anticipated that the city will need to enter into a development agreement or similar lease arrangement as part of any future development at the site.
Ingram said a lot of staff hours go into the leases for these properties.
He said the idea behind the work group is that it would be a “first look group,” with the full lease agreements still going to the council for a final decision.
The city has an old lease agreement for the Green Ranch property, where its wells are located, that has been active for decades, with cattle grazing the land for weed control. Ingram said that property also can be added for consideration, as it’s probably time to modernize it and put it out for a request for proposals.
A year or so ago, the city overhauled its lease for the Yacht Club property at Library Park, Ingram said.
Ingram said the council could adopt the resolution that night and Mayor Michael Froio could move forward with appointing two members to it. Appointments to the working group would then be included with the other commitments up for appointment at the end of each year.
Aaron Hiatt, a general building contractor and local rancher, was one of those community members who has reached out to the city about leasing property. In particular, he’s interested in leasing the Green Ranch property.
“Local is very important in keeping businesses here,” said Hiatt, who has raised his children in Lake County.
He said he inquired many years ago about grazing his cattle at the city’s sewer ponds property but was told it was rented and unavailable. Based on his research, Hiatt said a Humboldt County resident has held the lease for 21 years. In that time, it has been up for auto renewal for 13 years, with no competition.
Hiatt suggested the city is getting little revenue and he hoped the agreement would be reviewed.
Ingram said he thinks Hiatt’s concern about the property would be right in line with the purpose of the working group.
Councilman Kenny Parlet apologized to Hiatt for the situation. He said city staff does so much but acknowledged that it’s “a big deal” for Hiatt.
Councilman Brandon Disney agreed that staffers have a lot on their plate. The list of agreements and properties is extensive and it’s easy to roll over agreements from year to year.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina moved to approve the resolution establishing the advisory group, which Disney seconded and the council approved 4-0. Councilwoman Kim Costa was absent.
The group’s meetings are now reported to be underway.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
At the council’s Sept. 17 meeting, the council unanimously voted for forming the group, which will make recommendations to the council on the city’s many properties and “provide a more strategic approach to maximizing the community benefits of city-owned lands,” City Manager Kevin Ingram said in his written report.
Ingram’s report also said the working group “will focus on reviewing proposed uses and leases and provide recommendations that align with the City’s broader goals for economic development, community well-being, and public space optimization.”
Ingram said that in recent months the city had received multiple requests from community partners regarding the potential use and enhancement of some of these sites. In one day about two to three months before the meeting, the city fielded three different calls about three or four different city-owned properties.
At that point, Ingram said it forced him to go back and look at a listing of all of the different agreements the city has for use of those properties, adding it’s a daunting list. That was the driver for moving forward with the working group proposal.
As examples of some of the city’s property agreements, Ingram pointed to what he considers the three most pressing projects that would benefit from the working group’s creation and its resulting input.
Those top projects include the Carnegie Library lease agreement between the city and the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center for use of the Carnegie Library. Ingram reported that the city is in the process of revising that lease for the establishment of an educational resource center. In his written report, Ingram acknowledged, “This project requires careful consideration to ensure that the use of the historic library meets the needs of both the community and our partner organization.”
There also is the city’s collaboration with the Westside Community Park Committee and local equestrian enthusiasts on a potential lease agreement for the use of portions of the 500-acre City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District property along Highway 175 for an equestrian center and trails use.
The city also is actively seeking a developer to build a waterfront hotel on the city-owned Dutch Harbor property at 910 N. Main St. Ingram said it’s anticipated that the city will need to enter into a development agreement or similar lease arrangement as part of any future development at the site.
Ingram said a lot of staff hours go into the leases for these properties.
He said the idea behind the work group is that it would be a “first look group,” with the full lease agreements still going to the council for a final decision.
The city has an old lease agreement for the Green Ranch property, where its wells are located, that has been active for decades, with cattle grazing the land for weed control. Ingram said that property also can be added for consideration, as it’s probably time to modernize it and put it out for a request for proposals.
A year or so ago, the city overhauled its lease for the Yacht Club property at Library Park, Ingram said.
Ingram said the council could adopt the resolution that night and Mayor Michael Froio could move forward with appointing two members to it. Appointments to the working group would then be included with the other commitments up for appointment at the end of each year.
Aaron Hiatt, a general building contractor and local rancher, was one of those community members who has reached out to the city about leasing property. In particular, he’s interested in leasing the Green Ranch property.
“Local is very important in keeping businesses here,” said Hiatt, who has raised his children in Lake County.
He said he inquired many years ago about grazing his cattle at the city’s sewer ponds property but was told it was rented and unavailable. Based on his research, Hiatt said a Humboldt County resident has held the lease for 21 years. In that time, it has been up for auto renewal for 13 years, with no competition.
Hiatt suggested the city is getting little revenue and he hoped the agreement would be reviewed.
Ingram said he thinks Hiatt’s concern about the property would be right in line with the purpose of the working group.
Councilman Kenny Parlet apologized to Hiatt for the situation. He said city staff does so much but acknowledged that it’s “a big deal” for Hiatt.
Councilman Brandon Disney agreed that staffers have a lot on their plate. The list of agreements and properties is extensive and it’s easy to roll over agreements from year to year.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina moved to approve the resolution establishing the advisory group, which Disney seconded and the council approved 4-0. Councilwoman Kim Costa was absent.
The group’s meetings are now reported to be underway.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Thursday, California unveiled newly updated, first-of-their-kind dashboards that will help Californians track the state’s wildfire prevention work.
Along with these new tools, state officials announced that 700,000 acres of land were treated for wildfire resilience in 2023, and that prescribed fire more than doubled between 2021 and 2023.
For the first time, all fuels management projects are being tracked in one place, on one map, delivering valuable information for project planning and wildfire response.
“Everything we do to protect California from wildfires is connected, and nowhere else has as many tools to show the full picture while improving land management and supporting firefighters. We’re embracing the technology and best practices that will help us fight wildfires, and making sure Californians see the tireless work in their communities,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Thousands of wildfire resilience projects have been completed across California to protect our communities and landscapes from catastrophic wildfire in recent years, and more are underway,” said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency and co-chair of the Task Force. “Thanks to historic investments from our state and federal leaders, dozens of local agencies and hundreds of organizations are delivering these projects. Now for the first time, we have a dashboard that tracks all these diverse projects in one place and on one map. This enables us to measure our overall progress toward building wildfire resilience across the state and provides regional leaders valuable information to plan future projects.”
Interagency Treatment Dashboard
The updated version of the Interagency Treatment Dashboard shows wildfire resilience work (or “treatments”) for three calendar years (2021, 2022 and 2023).
The data, which was sourced from federal, state, local, tribal, and private entities, is now available in a single hub that allows Californians to easily see where treatments (such as prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and tree planting) have been completed. This information is used to inform firefighting efforts, ensure transparency to the public, and track progress toward statewide goals.
The Task Force released a Beta version of the dashboard last year with 2022 data. This updated version now includes data for 2021, revised data for 2022, and new data for 2023.
Over 1 million acres worth of treatment work on 700,000 acres of land
The dashboard shows significant progress on multiple fronts to bolster wildfire resilience in California. In 2023, more than one million acres of treatments were conducted on about 700,000 acres, with many acres receiving multiple treatments such as thinning, prescribed fire, or other practices to improve forest health and community resilience.
The Task Force is tracking both “activity acres,” which reflect the level of effort conducted through various state, federal, and private programs — and “footprint acres” — which show the total geographic area treated in a calendar year.
The 2023 data shows a significant increase in acres treated since 2021. The increase is largely due to a significant expansion of prescribed fire treatments, which more than doubled since 2021.
These efforts have put the state on a solid path toward meeting its joint commitment with the U.S. Forest Service to complete treatments on more than a million acres by the end of 2025.
The Task Force is committed to increasing the pace and scale of statewide actions to address California’s wildfire crisis.
The dashboard is part of a larger strategy to connect the various statewide entities committed to this monumental task.
Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Dashboard
Cal Fire also launched a Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Dashboard, which shows how wildfire prevention projects are helping protect communities and landscapes when wildfire strikes.
“Utilizing technology, we can now track in real time when wildfires hit areas where fuel treatments have been conducted. We can then go into an area and see how those treatments affected fire behavior, evacuation routes, firefighting efforts and more,” said Cal Fire Chief/Director Joe Tyler. “This new dashboard is a tool for the public to see how fuels treatments had a positive impact on the firefight and how this work is making a difference.”
“No other state in the country is tackling wildfire resilience at this scale or with this level of innovation,” added U.S. Forest Service Deputy Regional Forester Kara Chadwick. “From groundbreaking prescribed fire projects to comprehensive data tracking systems, we’re setting the standard for what it means to protect our landscapes and communities.”
Along with these new tools, state officials announced that 700,000 acres of land were treated for wildfire resilience in 2023, and that prescribed fire more than doubled between 2021 and 2023.
For the first time, all fuels management projects are being tracked in one place, on one map, delivering valuable information for project planning and wildfire response.
“Everything we do to protect California from wildfires is connected, and nowhere else has as many tools to show the full picture while improving land management and supporting firefighters. We’re embracing the technology and best practices that will help us fight wildfires, and making sure Californians see the tireless work in their communities,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Thousands of wildfire resilience projects have been completed across California to protect our communities and landscapes from catastrophic wildfire in recent years, and more are underway,” said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency and co-chair of the Task Force. “Thanks to historic investments from our state and federal leaders, dozens of local agencies and hundreds of organizations are delivering these projects. Now for the first time, we have a dashboard that tracks all these diverse projects in one place and on one map. This enables us to measure our overall progress toward building wildfire resilience across the state and provides regional leaders valuable information to plan future projects.”
Interagency Treatment Dashboard
The updated version of the Interagency Treatment Dashboard shows wildfire resilience work (or “treatments”) for three calendar years (2021, 2022 and 2023).
The data, which was sourced from federal, state, local, tribal, and private entities, is now available in a single hub that allows Californians to easily see where treatments (such as prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and tree planting) have been completed. This information is used to inform firefighting efforts, ensure transparency to the public, and track progress toward statewide goals.
The Task Force released a Beta version of the dashboard last year with 2022 data. This updated version now includes data for 2021, revised data for 2022, and new data for 2023.
Over 1 million acres worth of treatment work on 700,000 acres of land
The dashboard shows significant progress on multiple fronts to bolster wildfire resilience in California. In 2023, more than one million acres of treatments were conducted on about 700,000 acres, with many acres receiving multiple treatments such as thinning, prescribed fire, or other practices to improve forest health and community resilience.
The Task Force is tracking both “activity acres,” which reflect the level of effort conducted through various state, federal, and private programs — and “footprint acres” — which show the total geographic area treated in a calendar year.
The 2023 data shows a significant increase in acres treated since 2021. The increase is largely due to a significant expansion of prescribed fire treatments, which more than doubled since 2021.
These efforts have put the state on a solid path toward meeting its joint commitment with the U.S. Forest Service to complete treatments on more than a million acres by the end of 2025.
The Task Force is committed to increasing the pace and scale of statewide actions to address California’s wildfire crisis.
The dashboard is part of a larger strategy to connect the various statewide entities committed to this monumental task.
Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Dashboard
Cal Fire also launched a Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Dashboard, which shows how wildfire prevention projects are helping protect communities and landscapes when wildfire strikes.
“Utilizing technology, we can now track in real time when wildfires hit areas where fuel treatments have been conducted. We can then go into an area and see how those treatments affected fire behavior, evacuation routes, firefighting efforts and more,” said Cal Fire Chief/Director Joe Tyler. “This new dashboard is a tool for the public to see how fuels treatments had a positive impact on the firefight and how this work is making a difference.”
“No other state in the country is tackling wildfire resilience at this scale or with this level of innovation,” added U.S. Forest Service Deputy Regional Forester Kara Chadwick. “From groundbreaking prescribed fire projects to comprehensive data tracking systems, we’re setting the standard for what it means to protect our landscapes and communities.”
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Governor’s Office has reappointed a Lakeport resident to an important state post.
Mark Toney has been reappointed to the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, where he has served since 2020.
Toney has been executive director of The Utility Reform Network since 2008.
He was executive director of the Center for Third World Organizing from 2000 to 2004 and executive director of Direct Action for Rights and Equality from 1986 to 1994.
Toney was lead organizer at Workers’ Association for Guaranteed Employment from 1982 to 1985, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Whistleblower Center.
He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Brown University.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem.
Toney is a Democrat.
Mark Toney has been reappointed to the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, where he has served since 2020.
Toney has been executive director of The Utility Reform Network since 2008.
He was executive director of the Center for Third World Organizing from 2000 to 2004 and executive director of Direct Action for Rights and Equality from 1986 to 1994.
Toney was lead organizer at Workers’ Association for Guaranteed Employment from 1982 to 1985, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Whistleblower Center.
He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Brown University.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem.
Toney is a Democrat.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS