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Alcohol misuse is responsible for thousands of deaths and traffic crashes each year
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, recognizes the importance of Alcohol Awareness Month every April due to the high number of alcohol-related deaths each year in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 178,000 people die each year from excessive alcohol use. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-related car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA.
"This month serves as an important reminder to engage in conversations about the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and to encourage safe and responsible behavior.” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough.
ABC regulates the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in California.
The department recognizes the serious health and public safety concerns surrounding alcohol, especially when it is misused.
Licensees and bystanders are also encouraged to do their part by reporting any signs of excessive or underage drinking to local authorities.
The effects of alcohol misuse are both deadly and expensive. Alcohol is the fourth-leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and has a role in at least 7.1% of all emergency room visits.
The financial burden of alcohol misuse cost the U.S. an estimated $249 billion per year. NHTSA estimates that drunk driving crashes cost the U.S. $68.9 billion annually.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, recognizes the importance of Alcohol Awareness Month every April due to the high number of alcohol-related deaths each year in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 178,000 people die each year from excessive alcohol use. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-related car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA.
"This month serves as an important reminder to engage in conversations about the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and to encourage safe and responsible behavior.” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough.
ABC regulates the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in California.
The department recognizes the serious health and public safety concerns surrounding alcohol, especially when it is misused.
Licensees and bystanders are also encouraged to do their part by reporting any signs of excessive or underage drinking to local authorities.
The effects of alcohol misuse are both deadly and expensive. Alcohol is the fourth-leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and has a role in at least 7.1% of all emergency room visits.
The financial burden of alcohol misuse cost the U.S. an estimated $249 billion per year. NHTSA estimates that drunk driving crashes cost the U.S. $68.9 billion annually.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The Assembly Emergency Management Committee has unanimously approved AB 1863, a bill that would revise and strengthen California’s Feather Alert, an alert system to notify the public when Indigenous people go missing.
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) authored the 2022 legislation that took effect a year ago.
“The Feather Alert is a tool to enlist the public’s assistance when a Native American might be at peril,” Ramos said. “Earlier this year, the Assembly reviewed the effectiveness of this important tool one year after it began, and listened to tribal members and law enforcement. We are committed to ensuring that this lifesaving notification system works effectively and easily for families worried about missing loved ones.”
Since the Feather Alert’s implementation, tribal communities made five requests, but the California Highway Patrol, in consultation with local law enforcement, granted activation in two instances. Of the two approved alerts, only one missing individual was found.
AB 1863 would streamline the process for activating the Feather Alert and make it more easily accessible.
The proposed changes would also expand definitions of endangered and missing for purposes of the alert notification and would require the CHP to issue a reason for denying activation within 48 hours.
“We carry the strength of our ancestors to ensure our tribal citizens are safe and protected,” said Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria Chairwoman Josefina Frank. “The work that has been done on AB 1863 has provided tribal nations their voices back to ensure we end MMIP.”
Chairwoman Frank continued, “We are the voice and movement for those we have lost, those who are hurting and the generations to come.”
“We are grateful to Assemblymember Ramos for introducing the Feather Alert and putting forth AB 1863 this session to directly address concerns from those at the forefront of this crisis,” Pechanga Band of Indians Councilwoman Catalina Chacon said. “Allowing our tribal governments to communicate directly with the State affirms our sovereignty, saves critical time, and will further help bring our missing people home safely.”
“I thank Assemblymember Ramos for creating this mechanism to quickly get the word out when Indigenous people go missing or are at risk,” said Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James.
In citing his support for AB 1863 James stated, “We supported previous legislation that created this alert because it will help reduce the disproportionate rate of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in California. The next generation of Indigenous California should not have to live in a world where they have to worry about family members going missing or worse. With the updates in this legislation, we will take action to address the remaining root causes of this complex crisis.”
AB 1863 is sponsored by the Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria, the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Yurok Tribe.
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) authored the 2022 legislation that took effect a year ago.
“The Feather Alert is a tool to enlist the public’s assistance when a Native American might be at peril,” Ramos said. “Earlier this year, the Assembly reviewed the effectiveness of this important tool one year after it began, and listened to tribal members and law enforcement. We are committed to ensuring that this lifesaving notification system works effectively and easily for families worried about missing loved ones.”
Since the Feather Alert’s implementation, tribal communities made five requests, but the California Highway Patrol, in consultation with local law enforcement, granted activation in two instances. Of the two approved alerts, only one missing individual was found.
AB 1863 would streamline the process for activating the Feather Alert and make it more easily accessible.
The proposed changes would also expand definitions of endangered and missing for purposes of the alert notification and would require the CHP to issue a reason for denying activation within 48 hours.
“We carry the strength of our ancestors to ensure our tribal citizens are safe and protected,” said Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria Chairwoman Josefina Frank. “The work that has been done on AB 1863 has provided tribal nations their voices back to ensure we end MMIP.”
Chairwoman Frank continued, “We are the voice and movement for those we have lost, those who are hurting and the generations to come.”
“We are grateful to Assemblymember Ramos for introducing the Feather Alert and putting forth AB 1863 this session to directly address concerns from those at the forefront of this crisis,” Pechanga Band of Indians Councilwoman Catalina Chacon said. “Allowing our tribal governments to communicate directly with the State affirms our sovereignty, saves critical time, and will further help bring our missing people home safely.”
“I thank Assemblymember Ramos for creating this mechanism to quickly get the word out when Indigenous people go missing or are at risk,” said Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James.
In citing his support for AB 1863 James stated, “We supported previous legislation that created this alert because it will help reduce the disproportionate rate of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in California. The next generation of Indigenous California should not have to live in a world where they have to worry about family members going missing or worse. With the updates in this legislation, we will take action to address the remaining root causes of this complex crisis.”
AB 1863 is sponsored by the Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria, the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Yurok Tribe.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities have arrested a Lakeport man for a drive-by shooting last week that killed a Clearlake woman.
Nathaniel Ladre Hueners, 21, was arrested early Monday, according to Lt. Martin Snyder of the Clearlake Police Department.
He is accused of fatally shooting 45-year-old Elizabeth Williams.
On Friday just before 11 p.m., Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the 15300 block of Pacific Avenue for a report of multiple gunshots heard, Snyder said.
While on the way to the call, Snyder said officers learned a victim of a gunshot wound was being transported to the hospital by an involved party.
He said the officers responded to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital and contacted the adult female victim who was receiving medical treatment for a gunshot wound.
Hospital staff attempted lifesaving measures, however, the victim, identified as Williams, died of her injuries.
Snyder said Clearlake Police detectives responded to assist in the investigation, during which it was determined that Williams was driving in a vehicle near Pacific Avenue and Konocti View Road.
Another vehicle pulled up next to Williams’ vehicle, and one of the occupants of the other vehicle shot at Williams' vehicle, striking her one time. The suspect then left the scene in their vehicle.
Based upon the evidence and witness statements, Snyder said officers identified Hueners as the possible suspect. After further investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for him.
At about 1 a.m. Monday, Lakeport Police officers responded to a hotel in Lakeport for a noise complaint, Snyder said.
While investigating the noise complaint in one of the rooms, the officers contacted three people, one of whom was Hueners. Snyder said the Lakeport Police officers also located a firearm believed to be associated with Hueners at the hotel.
Hueners was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for murder, assault with a firearm, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and violation of post-release community supervision.
Hueners, whose occupation is listed as an In-home Supportive Services worker, is being held without bail on the murder charge, according to his booking sheet.
Jail records show he is due to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Wednesday.
If you have information regarding this incident, please contact Det. Chris Kelleher at 707-994-8251, Extension 321.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — This week the Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees will consider extending the contract of the interim dean of the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College while the recruitment for the permanent dean continues.
The board will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 11, for a closed session before the open session begins at 5 p.m. at Yuba College’s Building 300, 2088 N. Beale Road, Marysville.
The meeting also will be available via Zoom. The call-in number is 1 669 900 6833, the Zoom meeting ID is 8.32 4748 3204
The full agenda is here.
Staff is recommending board members approve the proposed employment extension of Patricia Barba, who has been acting as the Lake County Campus’ interim dean since the board approved her appointment in November, as Lake County News has reported.
Her annual salary is $113, 774 and the initial appointment was to continue through May 10.
The proposed extension will have Barba in the job until Nov. 8.
Meantime, the district is continuing its recruitment to find an individual to take the job on a permanent basis.
The closing date for the application is April 23.
In a March 28 email to area leaders, new Woodland Community College President Dr. Lizette Navarette reported that the job recruitment — dean of both the Lake County Campus and Colusa Center — was underway, with the job posted not just on the college website but on 10 different job sites.
Navarette also asked local leaders to share the position opening throughout their networks.
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.
The board will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 11, for a closed session before the open session begins at 5 p.m. at Yuba College’s Building 300, 2088 N. Beale Road, Marysville.
The meeting also will be available via Zoom. The call-in number is 1 669 900 6833, the Zoom meeting ID is 8.32 4748 3204
The full agenda is here.
Staff is recommending board members approve the proposed employment extension of Patricia Barba, who has been acting as the Lake County Campus’ interim dean since the board approved her appointment in November, as Lake County News has reported.
Her annual salary is $113, 774 and the initial appointment was to continue through May 10.
The proposed extension will have Barba in the job until Nov. 8.
Meantime, the district is continuing its recruitment to find an individual to take the job on a permanent basis.
The closing date for the application is April 23.
In a March 28 email to area leaders, new Woodland Community College President Dr. Lizette Navarette reported that the job recruitment — dean of both the Lake County Campus and Colusa Center — was underway, with the job posted not just on the college website but on 10 different job sites.
Navarette also asked local leaders to share the position opening throughout their networks.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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