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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Congressman Mike Thompson will host a virtual town hall this week to discuss the economy.
The event will take place via Zoom beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.
During the Thursday event, Thompson will host author and economic commentator, Kyla Scanlon.
Together, they will discuss the state of the nation’s economy and answer questions about how current economic and trade policies are affecting the community.
To RSVP for Zoom, visit this link.
The town hall also may be watched on Thompson’s Facebook page.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon, Gov. Bob Ferguson of Washington and Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii announced coordinated winter virus vaccination recommendations through the West Coast Health Alliance, or WCHA.
These recommendations include the 2025–26 COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines.
In addition, Gov. Newsom signed AB 144, authorizing California to base future immunization guidance on credible, independent medical organizations rather than the CDC’s increasingly politicized Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
“Our states are united in putting science, safety, and transparency first — and in protecting families with clear, credible vaccine guidance. The West Coast Health Alliance stands united in protecting public health and always putting safety before politics,” the governors said in a joint statement.
Vaccination is safe, effective and the best protection available against respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza and RSV.
Seasonal vaccination is also a critical public health tool to reduce serious illness, community transmission, and strain on hospitals.
“We want the people who live and work in our states to know that there is a strong public health, healthcare & scientific community that will continue to stand together to provide and use the data and evidence needed for you to make healthy choices, and we are here to protect our communities,” said Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health
"As a physician, I swore an oath to do no harm — and we know vaccines are among the most powerful tools to prevent illness and save lives. As a new mother, I want the same protection for my newborn that every Oregon family deserves. At a time when Washington is undermining our most basic public health safeguards, Oregon is charting a different course. Our actions today affirm that here, public health is about protecting people, not playing politics—and that every family who wants protection this respiratory virus season should be able to get it simply, safely, and affordably,” said Dr. Sejal Hathi, MD, MBA, director of the Oregon Health Authority.
“Vaccines protect more than just ourselves — they help safeguard our families, neighbors, and communities. By staying up to date, Washingtonians can reduce the spread of illness and keep our state strong this season. The Alliance’s recommendations are rooted in science, giving our communities confidence in the guidance we provide,” said Washington State Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham.
“The effectiveness of public health institutions depends on the public’s trust. We understand our responsibility to earn that trust by helping people protect themselves, their families and their community. These recommendations represent a collaborative effort, done with humility and based on science, to meet our responsibilities to our communities and the public at large,” said Kenneth S. Fink, MD, MGA, MPH, director, Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Truth under assault
In recent weeks, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has aggressively weaponized the CDC by purging its vaccine advisory committee, firing all 17 members and replacing them with cherry-picked appointees who include vaccine skeptics.
He’s forced out the CDC director, triggered high-level and career-staff resignations, and scheduled expedited meetings where this reshaped panel will vote on critical recommendations that guide national vaccine policy and insurance coverage.
Public health leaders warn these moves dismantle independent, science-based oversight and inject politics into decisions that protect Americans’ health — undermining the CDC’s credibility at a moment when trust and clarity are most needed.
States stepping in
Alliance states are fighting back against the Trump administration’s assault on science — sharing a commitment to ensuring that health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust.
To develop these recommendations, health officers, who are all medical doctors, and subject matter experts from each of the WCHA states reviewed guidelines from credible national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Alliance members believe that all clinically recommended vaccinations should be accessible to the people of our states.
In its Wednesday statement, the WCHA said it will continue to build its structure, evaluate new evidence and recommendations as they become available, and determine how to ensure the review process is transparent.
“WCHA is committed to sharing any updated assessments with our communities,” the statement said.
To learn more about these updated recommendations, click here.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — When people think of fish in Clear Lake, they tend to associate it with bass, catfish and the hitch.
So the appearance this week of a sturgeon — a fish not known to be at home in Clear Lake — has both startled and baffled fishing enthusiasts, lake lovers and scientists alike.
Based on its shape and color, the big fish in question appears to be a white sturgeon, an ancient fish that’s the largest freshwater fish in North America.
The sturgeon ended up on the beach on property owned by Ken Young, a Buckingham resident.
Young told Lake County News that he discovered the fish on Monday afternoon when a fisherman offshore was yelling at him to go take a look.
“I thought he was crazier or drinking too much but no, he was right. It’s huge,” Young said.
Young shared a photo of the fish being measured by another man. He said it is 7 feet long and estimated it could have been 150 pounds.
Young said he had a biologist come by to take samples to make sure the fish wasn’t dumped here and to determine if it was real. He said he also reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife but that they hadn’t responded.
What makes the discovery so noteworthy is that sturgeon are not known to be in Clear Lake’s waters.
A University of California webpage for fish native to Clear Lake lists 14 species. Nowhere on that list is the sturgeon.
Additionally, introduced fish — including bass, carp and catfish — make their homes in the 69-square-mile eutrophic lake.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, reports that there are 25 species of sturgeon worldwide, and of those two are known in California — the white and the green.
The white, like that found on Young’s beach, is larger than the green. While the Buckingham sturgeon, at 7 feet, is a huge fish for Clear Lake, for the species overall, it’s on the smaller side, with CDFW biologists reporting that white sturgeon can grow to be as long as 20 feet.
A first for Clear Lake
Lake County News contacted CDFW to ask about the sturgeon’s discovery.
“That’s a first for Clear Lake as far as we know, but it’s not impossible,” said CDFW spokesman Peter Tira in an email response.
As for how the sturgeon got into Clear Lake, Tira offered one possible explanation.
“There was a period of time when people were planting white sturgeon everywhere and they turn up in various reservoirs throughout the state on occasion,” he said.
“Clear Lake is a bit warm to support sturgeon but then again sturgeon are far more tolerant of warm temperatures than some other species and very adaptable in terms of what they eat. So all of this is certainly plausible, but not part of a white sturgeon’s natural or historic range,” Tira said.
Tira told Lake County News that none of CDFW’s local biologists or staff had seen the fish in person as far as he could tell.
In response to a question about the possibility of the fish migrating from the Bay Delta — which the waters of Clear Lake feed into — Tira responded, “Clear Lake is not part of its native range so there is almost no way it could have entered through the Delta.”
He reiterated, however, “people years ago moved white sturgeon around and introduced them to many large lakes and reservoirs throughout the state for fishing opportunities so they do turn up on occasion in unexpected places outside of their native range.”
An ancient fish
CDFW’s white sturgeon information page said it’s a very long-lived fish with a slow growth rate that can live a life as long as a human.
The oldest white sturgeon on record was 103 years old at the time of capture, “but most fish in the Delta are now believed to be less than 20 years old,” CDFW reported.
White sturgeon are a candidate species for listing as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, while green sturgeon from the southern population were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2006, CDFW reported.
Additionally, CDFW said the northern population green sturgeon are not state or federally listed, but they both are categorized as a state species of special concern.
Sturgeon also are under threat across the globe. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists 85% of sturgeon species as being considered to be at risk of extinction.
White sturgeon in California are catch and release only, and fishing is only allowed at certain times of the year.
In its “Conserve the Sturg” video, CDFW staff reported that white sturgeon can grow to 20 feet and 1,500 pounds, although smaller ones are more common in the 4- to 6-foot range, and even up to 7 feet.
The sturgeon is one of the oldest fish species in California, with fossil records dating back to the early Cretaceous period, more than 200 millions years ago, CDFW said.
The primary population is in the California Delta, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Over the last quarter century, CDFW estimates there has been an 80-percent reduction in white sturgeon numbers.
Habitat loss has contributed significantly to the white sturgeon’s decline, along with overharvesting and poaching, CDFW said.
More recently, CDFW harmful algal blooms have impacted the fish.
The discovery of the dead sturgeon coincides with a fish dieoff that’s been taking place in Clear Lake since the start of this month that CDFW is attributing to a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Scientists have reported that such conditions can harm white sturgeon just like they do other fish.
A big lake
Lake County News reached out to Lake County Water Resources Director Pawan Upadhyay to ask if he had information about the fish’s discovery, but did not receive a response on Tuesday.
Angela De Palma-Dow is a scientist and water resources professional who serves as executive director of the Lake County Land Trust, formerly worked as invasive species coordinator for Lake County Water Resources and is the author of Lake County News’ “Lady of the Lake” columns.
She said she also is working to track down more information on the discovery.
De Palma-Dow said she got her report from a county fisheries biologist.
“Apparently everyone is shocked .... even the long time fish biologists and fishers,” she said in an email response to questions from Lake County News.
Similar to Tira, De Palma-Dow suggested the sturgeon likely was released in Clear Lake when it was younger, much like goldfish and carp were.
“Maybe from a bait bucket, or someone caught a small one that was under the allowable size and released it ...we don't know!” she said in an email.
De Palma-Dow added that, ultimately, how the fish got to Clear Lake could be the story.
She pointed out that Clear Lake is huge. “What else could be in this lake that we don't know about?”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday will review the police department’s military equipment policy, consider a draft request for proposals for a new animal control contract following the August termination of the current provider’s contract and weigh creating two new management positions in the city.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 819 8866 1218, the pass code is 899422. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82771053751#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 646-931-3860.
The council will hold a public hearing on the police department’s military equipment policy and hear its annual military equipment report, as required under Assembly Bill No. 481.
According to the staff report, the department currently owns a mobile command unit used as a field post for major incidents such as fires, public events and crime scenes, and plans to purchase a drone for search and rescue, tactical operations, crime scene documentation and hazard monitoring.
The department also is evaluating the possible acquisition of an armored rescue vehicle to enhance officer and community safety in high-risk situations and support rescues.
Under business, the council will discuss a request for proposals, or RFP, for animal care and control service.
On Aug 7, the council terminated the animal care contract with North Bay Animal Services, or NBAS.
The agenda item for that meeting was extremely vague and did not indicate what it is now clear was the council’s intention.
North Bay Animal Services also has told Lake County News they were not notified in advance of the potential for contract termination.
Flora sent a notice of termination to NBAS on Aug. 15, according to the staff report.
Staff was also asked to prepare an RFP draft with Mayor Russ Cremer and Councilmember Tara Downey, which is under review for approval this week.
The council will also consider changes to job classifications to create two new middle-management positions — building services manager and finance manager — with a salary range from $79,375 to $96, 481.
The staff report said costs would be offset by revenue from grants, fees and reduced consultant hours.
The building services manager would oversee the Building Department, including code enforcement, budget management, staff supervision, and the rental registration program.
The finance manager, reporting to the finance director, would supervise accounting staff, manage grants, prepare financial reports, and coordinate the annual audit.
On the meeting’s consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 279-2025 amending Section 9-4 of the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding residential rental registration and inspection; warrants; Lake County Vector Control Board minutes; council minutes; and award of contract to All-American Construction Inc. for the Moss/40th Ave Intersection Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $393,007.50, with authorization for the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss anticipated litigation, including one potential case pursuant to Paragraph 2 of subdivision (d) of Government Code § 54956.9.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
A bill to close a loophole in California’s sex offender registration law is now headed to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 680 (SB 680) ensures that adults who commit serious sexual offenses against minors can no longer avoid registration due to outdated legal technicalities.
The bill, authored by Sen. Susan Rubio (D–Baldwin Park), passed through the Legislature with strong bipartisan support.
“This bill is about one thing — protecting our girls,” said Rubio. “A predator like Jeffrey Epstein could have been sentenced to decades in prison. But when he got out, current California law might not have required him to register as a sex offender for some of his crimes. That’s appalling. If a grown man sexually abuses a young girl, we’re going to make sure he’s treated like every other sex offender. No loopholes. No excuses. SB 680 makes sure of that.”
Under current law, most sexual offenses involving minors carry mandatory sex offender registration as part of the sentence. But a loophole allows some predators to slip through the cracks.
Currently, the charge of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” does not automatically trigger registration. That means when a grown man is more than 10 years older than a girl under 16, he could avoid registration entirely.
SB 680 closes that loophole by requiring registration in those cases, bringing the law in line with how California treats other serious sex offenses against minors.
Sen. Rubio introduced the bill in partnership with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which identified real-world cases where adult men avoided sex offender registration even after abusing girls, simply because of how California law was written.
Rubio’s office said SB 680 doesn’t create new crimes or increase penalties — it fixes a blind spot that lets some of the most serious offenses against minors be treated as less serious under the law.
“I commend the California Legislature for passing Senate Bill 680, as this critically important bill will close a loophole in our sex offender registration requirement,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “I am proud to have worked with Sen. Rubio to sponsor this bill. SB 680 eliminates the so-called Jeffrey Epstein exception for mandatory registration of offenders who are at least 10 years older than their victims.”
“It should not be controversial to say that adults who abuse children should be on the sex offender registry,” Rubio added. “SB 680 makes sure that’s true in every case. No one gets treated differently. If you hurt a young girl, the law will treat you like every other sex offender.”
SB 680 now heads to Gov. Newsom for his signature. If signed, it will finally bring California’s sex offender registry in line with the seriousness of the crimes it’s meant to address and ensure young girls are no longer left unprotected by a technicality, Rubio’s office said.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced a new initiative that encourages and helps men step up and serve their communities through the California Service Corps and volunteer and service opportunities with partner organizations.
The action continues Newsom’s effort announced through a statewide executive order to address disconnection in young men and boys.
Prompted by the rising suicide rates, disconnection, and declining career options among young men and boys, these efforts aim to address this generation’s mental health crisis, while creating pathways for purpose, leadership and belonging.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families. This action is about turning that around. It’s about showing every young man that he matters, he has purpose, and he has a community,” said Newsom.
“Our boys are growing up in a time when too many feel disconnected and unseen. Women and men may face different challenges, but we share a responsibility to lift up the next generation, and that work will take all of us. The California Volunteers Men’s Service Challenge calls on 10,000 young men to step forward as mentors and coaches, offering the care and connection that can combat isolation and build belonging. In doing this work, we embody the very best of California, lifting up the next generation and reshaping our culture for the better,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
In partnership with Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, or GO-Serve, Director Josh Fryday, the state is partnering with leaders already doing the work, including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentor California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund and the American Institute for Boys and Men.
California Men's Service Challenge participants will engage young men directly, helping them build connections to education, careers and community.
The effort advances Gov. Newsom’s broader commitment to create more pathways for youth success. By combining service with mentorship and skill development, the initiative provides a sustainable model to ensure young men feel valued, supported and equipped to thrive.
“Young men across California are struggling with disconnection, loneliness and a lack of direction. Through service, we can give them a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build careers while making a difference in their communities,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “We need 10,000 men to step up and lead in their communities. We’re also calling on organizations to join us as partners. This initiative is about investing in the next generation of men as leaders, teachers and mentors.”
The California Men’s Service Challenge builds on the California Service Corps, the largest service force in the nation, which empowers Californians to tackle the state’s toughest challenges while building skills for the future.
Together with local partners, schools and community organizations, this new effort will ensure more young men see themselves as leaders with the power to create lasting change.
The crisis of loneliness
Young men are more disconnected from school, work, and relationships than ever before, with nearly one in four men under 30 years old reporting that they have no close friends, a five-fold increase since 1990, with higher rates of disconnection for young Black men.
A lack of social connection is associated with increased risk of poor health, including mental health disorders, poverty, and even premature death.
This disconnection has pulled men out of the workplace. Labor force participation among men without a college degree is currently at historic lows, with about one in nine men aged 25-54 neither working nor looking for work.
The unemployment rate for men in California is also higher than the rate for women, and college enrollment and completion rates for men have dropped significantly over the past decade.
What others are saying
“Mentorship is how young men transform isolation into connection and purpose. At Improve Your Tomorrow we’ve seen that service and brotherhood are powerful antidotes to the loneliness so many boys face today. That’s why we strongly support the Governor’s California Men’s Service Challenge. When young men are given the chance to be seen, be supported and serve their communities, they not only change their own lives — they help shape the future of our society,” said Michael Lynch, CEO and co-founder, Improve Your Tomorrow.
“As bell hooks reminds us, ‘Love is an action, never simply a feeling.’ Our boys are in crisis — starved for belonging, aching for someone to see them and stand with them. True connection, that active love, can be their lifeline. MENTOR California is proud to join Gov. Newsom, GO-Serve and partners statewide in shining a spotlight on belonging, unlocking opportunity and igniting hope,” said Marcus L. Strother, executive director, MENTOR California.
“At a time when so many young men face disconnection, dwindling opportunity and unmet needs, Big Brothers Big Sisters is ready to answer the call — together with our community. We need more men to step forward as mentors, so every young man has the consistent support he deserves. As mentors, as role models and as a community, we can harness the power of mentoring and social connection to drive real, lasting change,” said Sloane Keane, CA Association Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters, California Volunteers Commissioner.
“Now more than ever, there is a need for boys and young men to feel a sense of purpose and connection. As the Center for Community Well-Being across the LA region, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles knows the power of service in shaping healthier, more connected communities and has long been a source of great mentorship and volunteerism. The LA Y is proud to partner with the California Men's Service Challenge to call on our male Californians to join in, inspire service, and to foster roles that inspire leadership, resilience, and build brighter futures for all.” said Victor Dominguez, president and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
"In a healthy society, everybody knows that the community needs them. Too many men today do not feel that. As a result, they can become detached, even despairing. But we need men in our families and in our communities, bringing their energy and talents to the table. Right now, many organizations say they don't have enough men stepping forward to serve; meanwhile, many men say they are unsure of their purpose and role in our communities. This is a timely call to men: We need you,” said Richard Reeves, president, American Institute for Boys and Men.
“We’ve seen firsthand how young men, whether stepping onto a field as a coach or serving as a Junior Giants Ambassador, gain confidence and a stronger sense of purpose. These opportunities change not only the lives of the players but also the young men who choose to serve — and that’s why this work is so important,” said Cassandra Hofman, program director, Giants Community Fund.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake man has been ordered to stand trial for separate arson cases that happened about two weeks apart.
Patrick Blaine Squier, 66, was in Judge J. David Markham’s courtroom on Monday afternoon for his preliminary hearing in the two cases.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Rotow said Squier has been ordered to stand trial in the cases. He’s set to return to court later this month.
Squier is facing arson charges for fires authorities said he set on Aug. 23 and Sept. 6, both in Clearlake.
The fire on Aug. 23 was reported at about 11 p.m. behind Foods Etc., located at 15290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
A trash can was set on fire behind the store, against a building and near numerous propane tanks, between the store and the Adventist Health clinic, as Lake County News has reported.
Squier was arrested a short time after that fire and, after his arraignment on Aug. 26, was released on his own recognizance.
Then, at around 4 a.m. Sept. 6, a debris fire was reported behind the Grocery Outlet, located at 14806 Olympic Drive. Police again arrested Squier shortly after that fire.
He was arraigned on Sept. 9 for that second incident.
As for why Squier set the fires, “I have no information on motive,” Rotow told Lake County News on Monday afternoon, following the preliminary hearing.
Squier remains in custody in the Lake County Jail. At the Sept. 9 arraignment, the District Attorney’s Office argued for Squier to remain in custody without bail and the judge agreed.
Rotow said Squier could file a motion for reconsideration of bail but so far he has not done so.
“I think that would be an uphill battle, but legally he could make the request. We’ll strongly oppose it,” Rotow said.
Squier is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on Sept. 30. Rotow expects the case to be set for trial after that.
“We intend to put the cases together so they’re tried as one case,” he said.
Rotow added that he expects the case to go to trial because the District Attorney’s Office does not plan to offer a plea agreement.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
