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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation in both English and Braille declaring October 2025 as "Disability Employment Awareness Month."
This is the first time in the history of the state that a proclamation has been issued in Braille.
The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below in English. A talk-to-speech file is available here.
PROCLAMATION
This October, California joins the nation in recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month. More than 7 million adults with disabilities call California home, and each and every one of them enriches our state — making invaluable contributions to our workplaces, economy, and communities.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” celebrates all that employees with disabilities achieve and the immeasurable talent they bring to the workplace. It is also a chance to reaffirm our commitment to creating an economy — a world — where everyone has equal opportunity to succeed.
California has a rich history in the disability rights movement, and we are committed to upholding and furthering that legacy. All Californians with disabilities should have access to competitive, integrated employment opportunities — and we are providing resources and establishing protections to make that a reality. We’ve enacted laws to help state agencies identify, hire and promote employees with disabilities to reach parity with the working age population; facilitate reasonable accommodation for state employees with disabilities; and end subminimum wages for workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
My administration released a Master Plan for Career Education to support hands-on learning for Californians of all backgrounds — no matter, age, income, disability, immigration status, and more, Californians have greater access to the training they need to land a good job.
We are seeing attacks on hard-won rights and progress, as the federal government dismantles regulations, access, and protections for disabled people across the country. They’re rolling back programs that support employment protections and hiring goals for people with disabilities and cutting funding for critical resources. These attacks are not going unchallenged. The disabled community is vital to this state, and to this nation.
Employees with disabilities enrich their workplaces with their talents and perspectives. This month, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening career pathways for students and workers with disabilities. Together, we can build an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of Californians and powers the 4th largest economy in the world.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as “Disability Employment Awareness Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 30th day of September 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake Oaks man arrested for kidnapping and rape in August has been ordered to stand trial in the case.
Clifford Merle Cutrell, 55, was in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday for his preliminary hearing before Judge Shanda Harry.
Cutrell was arrested and charged for the rape case committed in August as well as a separate case involving another victim for an April assault.
Harry ordered Cutrell to stand trial on the rape case following the Thursday preliminary hearing.
His preliminary hearing in the April assault also was due to take place on Thursday but was continued to Oct. 13, according to court records.
Under an amended complaint in the rape case, he’s charged with 10 felonies: kidnapping with the intent to commit rape; assault with intent to commit rape; four counts of oral copulation by force or injury; rape; burglary; criminal threats; and sexual battery.
For the assault, he’s facing two felony counts: assault likely to cause great bodily injury and false imprisonment.
Cutrell is a registered sex offender who has previously served prison time. The state gave him a risk assessment score of 21, placing him in the “high” category for risk of reoffending.
Case documents say he has seven previous felony convictions in Tuolumne, Sonoma and Lake counties from 1995 to 2020 involving battery causing serious bodily injury, sexual battery, false imprisonment, failure to register as a sex offender, disobeying a police officer and possession of an illegal weapon.
Since his arrest for the rape and kidnapping by Clearlake Police on Aug. 12, Cutrell has remained in custody at the Lake County Jail.
At the time of his arrest, bail was set at just over $1 million. His booking sheet now shows bail at $4 million. Bail review was held at the same time as his preliminary hearing last week, according to jail records.
He’s been ordered to return to court for arraignment in the rape and kidnap case on Oct. 14, after which it’s expected the court will consider dates for trial.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department and its community partners are hosting the National Night Out Against Crime in Lakeport’s new Xabatin Community Park on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m.
This event is a community building partnership meant to bring law enforcement, other agencies and the public together in public spaces under positive circumstances.
There will be numerous games and other fun activities for the whole family at the event including face painting, raffle prizes, balloons and music.
This event is sponsored by many local citizens and businesses and everything is free.
Community partners will be present with booths providing important public information and resources.
Lakeport Kiwanis Club will again be serving hot dogs, donated by local grocers, and popcorn, donated by Lakeport Cinema 5.
Lakeport Police, supported by local youth volunteers, will have snow cones, lemonade and water available.
Safety Pup, Chipper and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on-hand interacting with the community.
There will be many raffle prizes for both children and adults. All in attendance will be given two general prize raffle tickets with opportunities to earn more by adults visiting all of the partner booths and completing a bingo card, and by children participating in games.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission will meet this week to discuss a new cell tower, get a cannabis update and discuss a new county climate plan.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 994 1760 2765, the pass code is 155982.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,99417602765#,,,,*155982# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
At 9:05 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing to consider a major use permit for a 150-foot-tall monopole wireless communication tower at 6720 Leslie Place in Lucerne.
The tower will be located within a 50-foot by 50-foot lease area that also will contain tower support equipment.
In an untimed item, the commission will receive an update from planning staff on cannabis regulation.
The staff report explains, “Since 2014, regulations concerning cannabis-related businesses have been established. The Board of Supervisors has periodically revised these regulations to reflect updates in state law and to incorporate insights gained from existing procedures. This update reflects a considerable amount of input from the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Cannabis Ordinance Task Force, relevant departments, and the public.
The report continues, “Staff recommends amending Article 27, Uses Generally Permitted in light of these contributions, while we concurrently work on establishing thresholds of significance through the CEQA process for issues associated with the revised Cannabis Ordinance, Article 73, which is in the Drafting process with the Planning Division.”
In another untimed item, the commission will receive a presentation and hold a discussion on the Lake County Climate Action Plan.
Staff reported that the county and the two cities are developing a Climate Adaptation Plan to address climate-related hazards and build community resilience countywide.
“This Climate Adaptation Plan will use the Pillars of Landscape Resilience framework developed by the Lake County's Office of Climate Resiliency in 2022 to map out adaptation strategies. The framework addresses resilience through ten interconnected pillars: air quality, water security, wetland integrity, biodiversity conservation, forest resilience, carbon sequestration, fire dynamics, fire-adapted communities, economic diversity, and social and cultural well-being,” the report explains.
“The Climate Adaptation Plan will aim to reduce climate risks for all residents with focused attention on populations with higher vulnerability, strengthen infrastructure systems to maintain essential services during hazard events, and enhance the social and cultural well-being of vulnerable populations and community support systems,” staff reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at