How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
National Cancer Institute awards $12.45 million to lead the first long-term cancer study of diverse U.S. Asian ethnic groups.
UC San Francisco researchers have received $12.45 million from the National Cancer Institute, or NCI, to lead the first long-term study of cancer among Asian Americans, a highly diverse yet understudied group.
Despite a growing incidence of cancers that in some cases exceed those of other groups, there has never been a national longitudinal study of cancer in the Asian American community, and there are many open questions.
For example, the researchers are seeking to understand why Asian American women who never smoked are susceptible to lung cancer, and why Asian Americans have become the first racial/ethnic group for whom cancer is the leading cause of death.
Researchers also plan to study the increasing rates of breast cancer, especially among young Asian American women; and the relatively high rates of nasopharyngeal cancer, a type of head-and-neck cancer, in Chinese Americans; as well as liver cancer in Southeast Asian Americans; gastric cancer in Korean and Japanese Americans; and thyroid cancer in Filipino Americans.
Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the United States and comprise 7% of the population. Yet, as of 2020, less than 1% of funding from the National Institutes of Health was devoted to research on Asian Americans. A 2016 review of NCI grants found almost no studies on the causes of cancer among Asian Americans.
“The fact there’s been so little funded research in the cancer etiology of Asian Americans continues to perpetuate the sense that the cancer burden in these populations is very low,” said Scarlett Lin Gomez, PhD, MPH, co-leader of the Cancer Control Program at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, and one of three co-principal investigators of the study. “That the NCI recognized this as a major gap and will be providing funding for this historic cohort is a significant step forward.”
Study seeks participants from every Asian American group
The grant supports the creation of a national cohort called ASPIRE, or ASian American ProspectIve REseach. Gomez, along with co-principal investigators Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH, and Salma Shariff-Marco, PhD, MPH, will lead the effort in collaboration with UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai, the University of Hawaii, Temple University, and Jefferson University.
"As the first national cohort to study cancer risks in our diverse Asian American communities, this is a historic milestone,” said former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health, Howard Koh, MD, MPH, of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School, who serves on ASPIRE’s scientific advisory board. “Our communities have been waiting for this moment for a lifetime, and we hope they will join the call to action to be a part of ASPIRE."
The initial cohort will be supported by a national network of partners across about 20 academic institutions, 40 community organizations, and two policy groups committed to Asian American health. In the coming years, they plan to recruit 20,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 75 years old from all Asian American ethnic groups with diverse socioeconomic levels and lifestyles. They aim to expand the study to at least 50,000 participants.
Recruitment will be centered in selected regions that comprise more than a third of the Asian American population: California (the Bay Area, L.A, Orange County, and Sacramento) as well as the New York metropolitan region, including North Jersey, and the Philadelphia metropolitan area, which includes South Jersey. Researchers also will recruit nationally.
Alarming trends that need continued study
Cancer patterns for Asian Americans differ from those found in Asian countries, and new research shows anti-Asian discrimination has increased such cancer health risks as tobacco use and obesity.
It also affects the extent to which Asian Americans get screened for cancer and utilize other types of health care.
“There are unique cancer burdens in these groups, and the patterns and trends get lost when Asian American data are aggregated into one single statistic,” said Cheng, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics. “We don’t have cohort studies that can tell us what the risk factors are for cancer in diverse Asian American populations.”
Victoria Colliver writes for UCSF.
- Details
- Written by: Victoria Colliver
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. — Considered to be the biggest of its kind west of the Mississippi, the three-day Catfish Derby closed to cheers on Sunday, May 19, the last day of the event.
The big winners? The Mandujano family from Healdsburg, California. Brothers Omar and Efrain both placed in the top tier.
Omar Mandujano took first prize, $5,000, with his 27.68-pound catfish. His brother, Efrain. placed fourth, taking home $700, for his 24.43-pound catch.
Six members of the Mandujano family fished in the Derby. Not all placed but they fished together as a family, just as they’ve been doing for years.
“We’ve all been fishing in this Derby as a family for a long time, but this is the first year my brother and I placed high on the leaderboard in the same year,” Omar Mandujano said.
The brothers enjoy quibbling over who is the better fisherman. Efrain Mandujano, the younger of the two, said, “Our mom had me teach my older brother to fish.”
Later, drawing hard applause and laughter, Efrain wheeled Omar out on a makeshift four-wheel wagon to claim his big cash prize.
“It’s how we roll,” Efrain said.
When announcing Omar Mandujano’s win Dennis Locke, chair of the Derby, reminded the audience that Omar took first place in 2008, winning a Lowe fishing boat. Omar said the boat served the family well for many years.
“I’ve been fishing this Derby for 30 years. In fact, I began fishing the Derby before my son, Renato, was born,” he said.
Renato Mandujano recalled fishing since he was old enough to hold a rod. “I couldn’t have been older than 4 when I started fishing with my dad,” he said.
The Mandujanos fish for catfish, bass, crappie, salmon and trout — mostly catch and release.
“Usually we camp, this trip we stayed on the boat the entire time,” Renato said. “We’re a serious fishing family.”
Renato is raising his son like his dad raised him.
At 12 years old, Preyden fishes in the adult division. “My catch was not quite big enough to place this time but there’s always next year,” he said.
Continuing the family tradition, Omar said they would return next year. “You might say I’m addicted to fishing. I want to do better each time; next year I want to catch a bigger fish,” he said.
But it’s more than that Omar said. “Fishing and camping was a way to introduce nature and the outdoors to my kids. To be here today with my brother — his kids, Diego and Fabian — and mine, means so much. We’re a family who loves nature and fishing together.”
Also continuing family tradition, a local family trio from Clearlake enjoyed a first this year — all scored wins. Matthew Ross won sixth place with his 23.04-pound catch; Kristal Harris placed 16 with her 20.89-catch; and Mathew Ross Jr. placed 20 with his 20.52-pound catch.
“We see this family every year,” Locke said. “But this is the first time all 3 have placed on the leaderboard in the adult category.”
Also back this year were Ivy and Wyatt, who have been fishing the Derby from a very young age.
Jack “Bear” Scott and mom Colleen along with other family and friends have been coming to the Derby for years.
Ivy, Locke recalled, won first place in the 11 to 15-year-old category in 2017.
“That year she and brother Wyatt both placed, Wyatt won a fourth place award. In 2019 Ivy took a 3rd place award, also in the 11 to 15-year category. Fast forward to 2024 and she’s graduating High School. I hope we see her with the family again next year,” Locke said.
In a prior interview with parents Colleen and “Bear” Scott, they said winning is always nice but coming together every year as a family, supporting the kids and enjoying the sport, was most important and the reason they attend the Derby each year.
The Reordans of Lakeport — mom, dad, grandparents — were all smiles as Scarlett Reordan stepped up to receive the first prize award, $100, for her 20.82-pound catch in the 11 to 15-year category.
This is Scarlett’s second time winning a first place award; she also took first place In 2021 in the up to 10 category.
“Great family and memories,” Locke said. “We’re all so happy to see Scarlett take home another 1st prize award.”
The youngest to place this year hit high on the cuteness meter. At just 3 years old, Tyson Wyn took first place in the up to 10-year-old category with his 17.67-pound catch, taking home $100.
The family drove in at nine minutes to noon, just in time to make his catch count. “Mom and dad couldn’t have looked prouder,” Locke said. The family lives in Clear Lake Park.
In addition to the Mandujano brothers, who took first and fourth place, top tier winners in the adult category were Juan Lopez of Folsom placing second with his 25.22-pound catch for a prize of $1,000; Michael Loijos of Upper Lake placing third with his 24.91-pound catch for a cash award of $800; and Dan Fountain of Lathrop placed fifth with his 23.46-pound catch for a cash award of $600.
Closing out the event, Locke said there were not as many registrations as last year, but overall the fish were bigger and most fished as families.
“And as always, the crowd was bigger than the number that fished, swelling on the last day of the Derby to hear the results and congratulate the winners,” Locke said. “For those of us who work on the Derby, every year is better than the last.”
Details of all wins and a host of photos can be found onThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and on Facebook, Catfish Derby at the Oaks, many impromptu photos are posted.
Olga Martin Steele is a member of the organizing team for the annual Catfish Derby.
The big winners? The Mandujano family from Healdsburg, California. Brothers Omar and Efrain both placed in the top tier.
Omar Mandujano took first prize, $5,000, with his 27.68-pound catfish. His brother, Efrain. placed fourth, taking home $700, for his 24.43-pound catch.
Six members of the Mandujano family fished in the Derby. Not all placed but they fished together as a family, just as they’ve been doing for years.
“We’ve all been fishing in this Derby as a family for a long time, but this is the first year my brother and I placed high on the leaderboard in the same year,” Omar Mandujano said.
The brothers enjoy quibbling over who is the better fisherman. Efrain Mandujano, the younger of the two, said, “Our mom had me teach my older brother to fish.”
Later, drawing hard applause and laughter, Efrain wheeled Omar out on a makeshift four-wheel wagon to claim his big cash prize.
“It’s how we roll,” Efrain said.
When announcing Omar Mandujano’s win Dennis Locke, chair of the Derby, reminded the audience that Omar took first place in 2008, winning a Lowe fishing boat. Omar said the boat served the family well for many years.
“I’ve been fishing this Derby for 30 years. In fact, I began fishing the Derby before my son, Renato, was born,” he said.
Renato Mandujano recalled fishing since he was old enough to hold a rod. “I couldn’t have been older than 4 when I started fishing with my dad,” he said.
The Mandujanos fish for catfish, bass, crappie, salmon and trout — mostly catch and release.
“Usually we camp, this trip we stayed on the boat the entire time,” Renato said. “We’re a serious fishing family.”
Renato is raising his son like his dad raised him.
At 12 years old, Preyden fishes in the adult division. “My catch was not quite big enough to place this time but there’s always next year,” he said.
Continuing the family tradition, Omar said they would return next year. “You might say I’m addicted to fishing. I want to do better each time; next year I want to catch a bigger fish,” he said.
But it’s more than that Omar said. “Fishing and camping was a way to introduce nature and the outdoors to my kids. To be here today with my brother — his kids, Diego and Fabian — and mine, means so much. We’re a family who loves nature and fishing together.”
Also continuing family tradition, a local family trio from Clearlake enjoyed a first this year — all scored wins. Matthew Ross won sixth place with his 23.04-pound catch; Kristal Harris placed 16 with her 20.89-catch; and Mathew Ross Jr. placed 20 with his 20.52-pound catch.
“We see this family every year,” Locke said. “But this is the first time all 3 have placed on the leaderboard in the adult category.”
Also back this year were Ivy and Wyatt, who have been fishing the Derby from a very young age.
Jack “Bear” Scott and mom Colleen along with other family and friends have been coming to the Derby for years.
Ivy, Locke recalled, won first place in the 11 to 15-year-old category in 2017.
“That year she and brother Wyatt both placed, Wyatt won a fourth place award. In 2019 Ivy took a 3rd place award, also in the 11 to 15-year category. Fast forward to 2024 and she’s graduating High School. I hope we see her with the family again next year,” Locke said.
In a prior interview with parents Colleen and “Bear” Scott, they said winning is always nice but coming together every year as a family, supporting the kids and enjoying the sport, was most important and the reason they attend the Derby each year.
The Reordans of Lakeport — mom, dad, grandparents — were all smiles as Scarlett Reordan stepped up to receive the first prize award, $100, for her 20.82-pound catch in the 11 to 15-year category.
This is Scarlett’s second time winning a first place award; she also took first place In 2021 in the up to 10 category.
“Great family and memories,” Locke said. “We’re all so happy to see Scarlett take home another 1st prize award.”
The youngest to place this year hit high on the cuteness meter. At just 3 years old, Tyson Wyn took first place in the up to 10-year-old category with his 17.67-pound catch, taking home $100.
The family drove in at nine minutes to noon, just in time to make his catch count. “Mom and dad couldn’t have looked prouder,” Locke said. The family lives in Clear Lake Park.
In addition to the Mandujano brothers, who took first and fourth place, top tier winners in the adult category were Juan Lopez of Folsom placing second with his 25.22-pound catch for a prize of $1,000; Michael Loijos of Upper Lake placing third with his 24.91-pound catch for a cash award of $800; and Dan Fountain of Lathrop placed fifth with his 23.46-pound catch for a cash award of $600.
Closing out the event, Locke said there were not as many registrations as last year, but overall the fish were bigger and most fished as families.
“And as always, the crowd was bigger than the number that fished, swelling on the last day of the Derby to hear the results and congratulate the winners,” Locke said. “For those of us who work on the Derby, every year is better than the last.”
Details of all wins and a host of photos can be found on
Olga Martin Steele is a member of the organizing team for the annual Catfish Derby.
- Details
- Written by: Olga Martin Steele
As Memorial Day weekend approaches and Californians gear up for summer festivities, the California Highway Patrol will implement a statewide traffic enforcement effort to help everyone reach their destination safely.
Last year over the holiday weekend, 46 people were killed in crashes throughout California.
Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 24, the CHP will initiate a statewide maximum enforcement period, or MEP, to address the expected surge in holiday travelers on California roads.
The MEP will continue through 11:59 pm. on Monday, May 27.
“Loss of life on our roads is preventable when drivers make safe and responsible choices behind the wheel,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Always remember to drive sober, avoid distraction, adhere to the speed limit, and ensure adults are buckled up and children are properly secured in an appropriate car seat.”
Throughout the holiday weekend, expect a heightened presence of CHP officers on patrol to enhance public safety by deterring reckless driving behaviors and taking necessary enforcement action when needed.
Last year, CHP recorded more than 1,100 arrests for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the 78-hour Memorial Day MEP, which is an average of an arrest every four minutes.
The CHP urges all drivers to make the right choices and avoid impaired driving. Arrange for a sober driver, use ride-sharing services, taxis, or public transportation if you have been drinking.
If you see or suspect an impaired driver, safely pull over and call 9-1-1 immediately. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel. Your phone call may save someone’s life.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.
Last year over the holiday weekend, 46 people were killed in crashes throughout California.
Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 24, the CHP will initiate a statewide maximum enforcement period, or MEP, to address the expected surge in holiday travelers on California roads.
The MEP will continue through 11:59 pm. on Monday, May 27.
“Loss of life on our roads is preventable when drivers make safe and responsible choices behind the wheel,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Always remember to drive sober, avoid distraction, adhere to the speed limit, and ensure adults are buckled up and children are properly secured in an appropriate car seat.”
Throughout the holiday weekend, expect a heightened presence of CHP officers on patrol to enhance public safety by deterring reckless driving behaviors and taking necessary enforcement action when needed.
Last year, CHP recorded more than 1,100 arrests for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the 78-hour Memorial Day MEP, which is an average of an arrest every four minutes.
The CHP urges all drivers to make the right choices and avoid impaired driving. Arrange for a sober driver, use ride-sharing services, taxis, or public transportation if you have been drinking.
If you see or suspect an impaired driver, safely pull over and call 9-1-1 immediately. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel. Your phone call may save someone’s life.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.
- Details
- Written by: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
The California Senate has overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Safer California Plan, a package of bills aimed at addressing the fentanyl crisis and curbing retail theft and community-based crime.
Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) is coauthoring all 15 bills — 10 focus on evidence-based prevention and treatment solutions aimed at the fentanyl crisis and substance use disorder, and five are directed at preventing, deterring, and prosecuting retail theft and community-based crimes.
“The Senate’s Safer California Plan is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we set aside party politics and work together to solve problems,” McGuire said. “These 15 evidenced-based bills will help curb the deadly fentanyl epidemic and the rising rates of retail theft and community-based crimes that are impacting communities up and down the Golden State. We look forward to working with the Assembly and Governor to get this comprehensive legislative package across the finish line, which will make this state safer and our communities healthier.”
The Safer California Plan has been widely acclaimed by law enforcement, firefighters, medical experts and addiction professionals.
Bills included in the Safer California Plan and Senate votes are noted below.
Fentanyl
SB 1319 (Wahab): Expedites approval of projects that expand the continuum of substance use disorder rehab facilities. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1320 (Wahab): Requires health plans to develop a mechanism to reimburse providers who provide primary care and behavioral health integrated services. Final vote: 36-0
SB 1385 (Roth): Supports navigators in hospital emergency departments and in the criminal justice system to ensure patients and justice-involved individuals are connected to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder and to ongoing treatment services. *Would include corresponding budget action to ensure navigators receive support training. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1442 (Ochoa Bogh & Skinner): Empowers CalRX to supply California providers with vital United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved testing and health assessment equipment, which will allow access to affordable rapid response testing strips for diagnostics purposes. Final vote: 38-0
SB 1468 (Ochoa Bogh & Roth): Educates and encourages providers to make use of the new federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) rule to allow practitioners to dispense a three-day supply of narcotic medication to start detoxification treatment or maintenance treatment for people who use opioids. Final vote: 38-0
SB 908 (Cortese): Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to spread awareness of the increase in opioid overdoses and develop guidelines to protect and prevent fentanyl-related deaths of children zero to five. Final vote: 38-0
SB 909 (Umberg): Addresses physician shortages, including addiction medicine specialists, in underserved areas by eliminating the cap on the Steven M. Thompson loan repayment program for physicians who agree to provide direct patient care in an underserved area for 36 months. Final vote: 39-0
SB 910 (Umberg): Establishes statewide standards used by collaborative courts to improve programming, drug testing, and medication-assisted treatment for individuals moving through the criminal justice system. Final vote: 39-0
SB 950 (Skinner): Expands the number of re-entry hubs to provide more warm hand-offs and treatment options to individuals returning home from the criminal justice system. *Would include corresponding budget action to align state reimbursement models with federal rules to maximize funding potential. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1502 (Ashby): Prevents illicit use and trafficking of Xylazine (aka “tranq”), an animal tranquilizer with no approved human use that is increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply and has been linked to rising overdose deaths across the country. Final vote: 38-0
Retail theft and community-based crime
SB 1144 (Skinner): Disrupts the sale of stolen goods on online marketplaces by requiring that third-party sellers be certified, and bans sellers suspected of criminal activity from operating through online marketplace platforms. Final vote: 33-1
SB 1416 (Newman): Increases penalties on professional organized retail theft in particularly significant large-scale resale schemes. Final vote: 39-0
SB 905 (Wiener): Removes the locked door loophole for automotive property thefts. Final vote: 38-0
SB 982 (Wahab): Cements the work California has done on organized crime by making the law on organized retail theft permanent. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1242 (Min): Requires courts to impose higher penalties on criminals who create fires in order to engage in retail theft. The higher penalties do not impact Proposition 47. Final vote: 36-0
More information about the Safer California Plan can be found here.
McGuire represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.
Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) is coauthoring all 15 bills — 10 focus on evidence-based prevention and treatment solutions aimed at the fentanyl crisis and substance use disorder, and five are directed at preventing, deterring, and prosecuting retail theft and community-based crimes.
“The Senate’s Safer California Plan is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we set aside party politics and work together to solve problems,” McGuire said. “These 15 evidenced-based bills will help curb the deadly fentanyl epidemic and the rising rates of retail theft and community-based crimes that are impacting communities up and down the Golden State. We look forward to working with the Assembly and Governor to get this comprehensive legislative package across the finish line, which will make this state safer and our communities healthier.”
The Safer California Plan has been widely acclaimed by law enforcement, firefighters, medical experts and addiction professionals.
Bills included in the Safer California Plan and Senate votes are noted below.
Fentanyl
SB 1319 (Wahab): Expedites approval of projects that expand the continuum of substance use disorder rehab facilities. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1320 (Wahab): Requires health plans to develop a mechanism to reimburse providers who provide primary care and behavioral health integrated services. Final vote: 36-0
SB 1385 (Roth): Supports navigators in hospital emergency departments and in the criminal justice system to ensure patients and justice-involved individuals are connected to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder and to ongoing treatment services. *Would include corresponding budget action to ensure navigators receive support training. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1442 (Ochoa Bogh & Skinner): Empowers CalRX to supply California providers with vital United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved testing and health assessment equipment, which will allow access to affordable rapid response testing strips for diagnostics purposes. Final vote: 38-0
SB 1468 (Ochoa Bogh & Roth): Educates and encourages providers to make use of the new federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) rule to allow practitioners to dispense a three-day supply of narcotic medication to start detoxification treatment or maintenance treatment for people who use opioids. Final vote: 38-0
SB 908 (Cortese): Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to spread awareness of the increase in opioid overdoses and develop guidelines to protect and prevent fentanyl-related deaths of children zero to five. Final vote: 38-0
SB 909 (Umberg): Addresses physician shortages, including addiction medicine specialists, in underserved areas by eliminating the cap on the Steven M. Thompson loan repayment program for physicians who agree to provide direct patient care in an underserved area for 36 months. Final vote: 39-0
SB 910 (Umberg): Establishes statewide standards used by collaborative courts to improve programming, drug testing, and medication-assisted treatment for individuals moving through the criminal justice system. Final vote: 39-0
SB 950 (Skinner): Expands the number of re-entry hubs to provide more warm hand-offs and treatment options to individuals returning home from the criminal justice system. *Would include corresponding budget action to align state reimbursement models with federal rules to maximize funding potential. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1502 (Ashby): Prevents illicit use and trafficking of Xylazine (aka “tranq”), an animal tranquilizer with no approved human use that is increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply and has been linked to rising overdose deaths across the country. Final vote: 38-0
Retail theft and community-based crime
SB 1144 (Skinner): Disrupts the sale of stolen goods on online marketplaces by requiring that third-party sellers be certified, and bans sellers suspected of criminal activity from operating through online marketplace platforms. Final vote: 33-1
SB 1416 (Newman): Increases penalties on professional organized retail theft in particularly significant large-scale resale schemes. Final vote: 39-0
SB 905 (Wiener): Removes the locked door loophole for automotive property thefts. Final vote: 38-0
SB 982 (Wahab): Cements the work California has done on organized crime by making the law on organized retail theft permanent. Final vote: 39-0
SB 1242 (Min): Requires courts to impose higher penalties on criminals who create fires in order to engage in retail theft. The higher penalties do not impact Proposition 47. Final vote: 36-0
More information about the Safer California Plan can be found here.
McGuire represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
- Is hard water bad for you? 2 water quality engineers explain the potential benefits and pitfalls that come with having hard water
- Forest Service awards more than $16 million to Lake County to reduce wildfire risk and invest in wood innovations projects
- Lakeport Police Department assigns officer to city’s downtown