Every 10 years, NOAA releases an analysis of U.S. weather of the past three decades that calculates average values for temperature, rainfall and other conditions.
That time has come again.
Known as the U.S. Climate Normals, these 30-year averages — now spanning 1991-2020 — represent the new “normals” of our changing climate.
They are calculated using climate observations collected at local weather stations across the country and are corrected for bad or missing values and any changes to the weather station over time before becoming part of the climate record.
Simply stated: The Normals are the basis for judging how daily, monthly and annual climate conditions compare to what’s normal for a specific location in today’s climate.
For the past decade, the Normals have been based on weather observations from 1981 to 2010. In early May, climate experts at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, or NCEI, issued an updated collection based on the weather occurring from 1991 to 2020.
The data set reflects a “new normal” that takes the most recent 30 years of climate change-influenced weather and climate conditions into account.
A warmer normal
The U.S. Climate Normals collection has 10 versions: 1901-1930, 1911-1940 and so on through 1991-2020.
In the image below, we’ve compared the U.S. annual average temperature during each Normals period to the 20th-century average (1901-2000).
The influence of long-term global warming is obvious: The earliest map in the series has the most widespread and darkest blues, indicating colder temperatures, and the most recent map has the most widespread and darkest reds, denoting warmer temperatures.
A wetter normal?
In the collection of precipitation maps, few places exhibit a precipitation trend that is either steadily wetter or steadily drier than the 20th-century average. Instead, drier areas and wetter areas shift back and forth without an obvious pattern.
And yet, it’s probably not a coincidence that the last four maps in the series — the 1961-1990, 1971-2000, 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 Normals — are nationally the four wettest-looking maps in the collection.
At least some of that wetness relative to the 20th-century average is linked to the overall climate warming and “wetting” of the atmosphere that’s occurred as rising temperatures cause more water to evaporate from the ocean and land surface.
What used to be normal
The 1991-2020 Normals tell us what is normal in today’s climate. NOAA scientists conduct other analyses that tell us about what used to be normal.
For example, In NOAA’s monthly and annual climate monitoring reports, temperature averages and precipitation totals are ranked in the climate record dating to 1895; U.S. and global climate conditions are compared to the 20th-century average.
Visualizing climate is easier now than ever
NCEI has a collection of maps showing both recent and long-term trends in temperature and precipitation. You can also create a custom graph showing monthly, seasonal or yearly climate conditions for any region, state and many cities that shows the long-term trend.
The Normals might be shifting, but NOAA scientists and forecasters aren’t losing track of climate change.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council meeting this week will include a swearing-in for new police department employees and proclamations, with the council also to discuss an education program and award a contract.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The public may attend, however, the council chambers will have limited capacity and attendees must adhere to masking and social distancing mandates.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the city’s town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/forum_home. Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 6.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
The council will host a swearing-in of new police department employees and a presentation of police department employee awards, and present proclamations declaring May 9 to 15 as Police Week and May 2 to 8 as Public Employee Appreciation Week, and May as Military Appreciation Month and Older Americans Month.
On Thursday the council will receive a presentation and hold a discussion with Woodland College regarding a promise program for Clearlake students.
The council will consider a $335,048 contract with Pavement Coatings for the 2021 Chip Seal Project.
Mayor Dirk Slooten will announce the city’s appointment to the county’s Visioning Forum Planning Committee.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes of the April 15 meeting; continuation of declaration of local emergency Issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020; consideration of development agreement DA-2021-01 with Chandra Martinez for a commercial cannabis operation; approval of the second reading of the amendment to Clearlake Municipal Code Section 3-4 Purchasing and Sales; adoption of a resolution to continue city participation in the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority; and adoption of the 14th Amendment to the FY 2020-25 Budget (Resolution 2020-27) appropriating funding for the 2021 Chip Seal Project, Resolution No. 2021-26.
The council will hold a closed session following the public portion of the meeting to discuss labor negotiations with the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association, Clearlake Police Officers Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The family of Vanessa Niko, muralist Shane Grammer and the Hope Through Art Foundation are conducting a mural project for young artists in Upper Lake.
The Young Artist Intern Mural Project began Friday, April 30, and will continue through Wednesday, May 5.
The mural will be of Vanessa Niko, who was a member of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake as well as being of Samoan descent.
Niko died in June 2017 after being severely injured in a domestic violence assault by the father of her children, as Lake County News has reported.
Organizers reported that Niko is a missing and murdered indigenous women “sister” because of being a victim of domestic violence.
Young artists from around Lake County have been invited to participate in this event to promote awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women like Niko.
The Hope Through Art Foundation is a nonprofit entity devoted to broadening public awareness and education of social issues such as missing and murdered indigenous women through art.
The mural will be dedicated in honor of Niko’s life on National MMIW Day, Wednesday, May 5.
The dedication will take place at 12:30 p.m. at 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake.
To honor Niko’s Pomo and Samoan heritage there will be a Pomo dance group and Kumu Hula Mikilani Young, a representative of United Pillars of Aloha, will be in attendance.
Following the dedication ceremony, there will be a dinner and they will close out with a song and prayer.
For further information on this national epidemic of violence against indigenous women, go to www.mmiwusa.org.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a series of initiatives building on the state’s work to vaccinate California’s hard-to-reach communities against COVID-19, address vaccine hesitancy and drive innovative efforts in the communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
New efforts focus on direct appointment assistance; community outreach including neighborhood canvassing, phone banking and text banking; at-home vaccinations and transportation services; and an additional $33 million in funding, bringing the total to $85.7 million, to support community-based organizations.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in our COVID-19 vaccine rollout – more than 30 million doses have been administered in California to date, and it’s going to take some new approaches to reach those who haven’t been vaccinated yet,” said Governor Newsom. “These enhanced initiatives build on the community-based approach the state has taken throughout this crisis, in order to ensure vaccines are easily within reach of more people.”
In addition, building on the bipartisan work done during the “Wear A Mask” campaign, California Governors Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pete Wilson have come together to encourage all Californians to get vaccinated. The PSA was created and produced by ATTN and can be viewed above.
About 60 percent of eligible Californians have received at least one dose and as of April 15, anyone age 16 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine. As the number of unvaccinated Californians narrows, the state’s robust vaccine performance management system has helped determine where to focus efforts.
To bolster vaccine access in hard-to-reach communities, the state is moving away from mass vaccination sites and toward more targeted outreach with small clinics in communities with the highest disease burden. Officials said this move will make it easier for people to access vaccines.
Mobile sites will continue to operate in partnership with places of worship throughout the state, as well as in coordination with businesses, school districts and local health departments where vaccination efforts are already underway.
These new initiatives build on the state’s Vaccine Equity Metric, or VEM, that started in early March to send double the amount of doses to those communities facing the highest disease burden, defined as those ZIP codes in the lowest quartile in the Healthy Places Index, or HPI.
Since the VEM went into effect, California has dedicated 40 percent of the state’s supply of doses to the lowest HPI quartile to improve equity in vaccinations.
An estimated 53 percent of individuals in the lowest quartile still need COVID-19 vaccinations, while just 28 percent of individuals in the highest quartile remain unvaccinated. Since January, California has accelerated its pace of vaccination and now exceeds the national average.
"One of the most important responsibilities of government is to make sure that the most vulnerable receive equal protection, especially during a crisis,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. “These enhanced efforts aim to meet people where they are while building upon California’s ongoing commitments to ensure that equity is guiding our overall strategy."
The governor announced seven new and enhanced equity strategies in the state’s vaccine rollout, including the following.
More transparency on vaccination progress
The state’s www.covid19.ca.gov website now displays data on California’s progress in vaccinating groups and communities with the most urgent need.
Dashboards include statewide and county progress by the VEM, race and ethnicity or age.
A map displays ZIP-code-level data on vaccination progress within each VEM quartile. These dashboards will be updated weekly, on Wednesdays.
“Get Out the Vaccine” phone bank and door-knocking campaign
Modeled after successful ground-level campaigns, a new state “Get Out the Vaccine” effort coordinates with 70 community-based organizations to employ callers and door-knockers to help Californians make a plan to get vaccinated.
The program is in partnership with Healthy Future California and the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s STOP COVID CA initiative.
About 2,000 individuals from targeted communities will be employed to make peer-to-peer appeals and provide support to help overcome barriers to vaccinations. The program, now underway, has already resulted in more than 4,900 appointments scheduled.
Partnering with philanthropic organizations to enhance support for community organizations
Trusted messengers play a vital role in supporting the state’s equitable administration of vaccines. California is expanding its public-private partnerships to support community-based organizations, or CBOs, bringing the total amount of funding to $85.7 million and aiding a total of 480 organizations to date.
The state is expanding its partnership with the Public Health Institute Together Toward Health initiative, created and funded through 18 major philanthropic organizations led by the California Endowment to stop the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen health and resilience in the state’s most impacted communities.
This fund now totals $33.4 million and supports more than 323 organizations. Additional CBOs will be awarded grants on a rolling basis in the months to come.
The state is also partnering with Sierra Health Foundation on a new $29 million “Vaccine Equity Campaign” fund that will invest in CBOs and faith-based organizations across the state.
This new funding builds on $23.3 million awarded by the California Department of Social Services and Labor & Workforce Development Agency to support 157 organizations on multilingual outreach and public health education in communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
A subset of these organizations have helped facilitate approximately 111,000 vaccine appointments and 236,000 referrals to appointment platforms or providers. FAQs on the statewide network of community-based organizations can be found here.
Grants to support vaccination equity
Building off the previously announced awards for Los Angeles County and Bay Area counties, the state is now making available an additional $34.2 million in funding for underserved and high-risk communities throughout California’s other counties.
This funding will be directed by local health jurisdictions to support back-end operations and expand vaccine distribution to enhance targeted outreach in communities and ZIP codes most impacted by COVID-19.
Counties with a population over one million will receive $1.5 million for every one million people; those with populations between 500,000 and one million will be eligible for $650,000 in grant funding; and counties with populations under 500,000 will be eligible for $350,000 in funding to expand vaccination programs and achieve equity goals.
In total, $56.8 million is now being provided to, or at the direction of, local health jurisdictions throughout all of California to support the state’s equity goals.
Localized plans for promoting equity in vaccination
Along with statewide strategies, leaders of each of California’s 61 local health jurisdictions working in partnership with the state’s third-party administrator, Blue Shield of California, created and submitted plans to the state to promote vaccination equity in their communities.
This includes a wide range of approaches, from small mobile vaccine clinics located in remote areas; to engaging micro-influencers to impact specific groups or populations; to partnering with schools and faith-based partners for outreach, education and selection of trusted clinic sites.
At-home vaccination program
Homebound residents can currently contact their health care providers for in-home vaccinations.
These services are expanding statewide and individuals unable to leave their home to get vaccinated may also indicate as such via www.myturn.ca.gov or contact the state’s CA COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255 to be connected with their local health jurisdiction to arrange for in-home vaccination services.
Free transportation to vaccine appointments
Individuals who do not have a means of transportation can receive free transportation through www.myturn.ca.gov or by contacting the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255.
Transportation includes automobile transportation for ambulatory patients and non-emergency medical transportation for non-ambulatory patients including wheelchair vans, gurney transportation and other options.
Medi-Cal managed care and fee-for-service beneficiaries will be connected with their health plan or service provider to access this service as an existing health benefit.
Californians needing a vaccination can schedule an appointment at www.MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling the CA COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for assistance.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to highlight the help and tools available to assist those who need them.
Launched by Mental Health America in 1949, this is the most highly-recognized mental health awareness event in the United States.
Last year, Mental Health Awareness Month media and materials were used and seen by over 230 million Americans.
This past year has presented myriad obstacles and challenges that have truly tested the community’s resilience and strength.
The global pandemic forced people to cope with unimaginable situations, leaving many of them struggling with their mental health.
The good news is there are tools and resources available to support the well-being of individuals and communities.
Now, more than ever, it’s important to combat the stigma surrounding mental health.
That’s why Lake County Behavioral Health Services is highlighting #Tools2Thrive, what individuals can do throughout their daily lives to prioritize mental health, gain resiliency, and continue to cope with whatever life throws our way.
This month, Lake County Behavioral Health Services is focusing on how a healthy lifestyle may help prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, anxiety and depression, along with physical health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Managing stress, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising can go a long way in making one both mentally and physically healthy.
When you or a loved one is grappling with a mental health concern, sometimes it is a lot to handle.
“Mental health is essential and critical to one’s overall health and well-being,” said Todd Metcalf, director of Lake County Behavioral Health Services. “Mental illnesses are common and treatable.”
The staff at Lake County Behavioral Health Services wants everyone to know mental illnesses are real, and recovery is always the goal.
Living a healthy lifestyle may not always be easy, but taking a look at one’s overall health every day — both mentally and physically — helps ensure a focus on fitness.
By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, you can find a balance between life’s ups and downs and successfully cope with issues and challenges brought on by the pandemic and other stressors.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider updating a county vision document, look at separating out the Community Development director’s job and offer several proclamations.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 933 8613 0854, passcode 715750. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93386130854#,,,,*715750# US.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and passcode information above.
On the agenda is consideration of an update to the county’s document, “Vision 2028: Reimagining Lake County, Ten Key Priorities to Build a Brighter Future.”
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board for the item explains that during the board’s April 16 governance workshop, Supervisor Jessica Pyska raised concern that disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery is not specifically stated in the plan, originally adopted on April 10, 2018, and amended on May 22, 2018.
The board will hold a discussion to update the document’s goals for public safety, as Pyska suggested.
Also on Tuesday, in another untimed item, the board will consider forming a roadmap task force committee, which came out of the board’s April 16 special governance workshop.
The task force will focus on four goals: developing and maintaining a high standard of disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery, including an applicable update to Vision 2028; create a community revitalization pilot project; continue to support the efforts of the Economic Development Task Force; and continue to support efforts to invest in and develop the workforce as necessary to accomplish the board's goals.
Membership is recommended to include Supervisor Jessica Pyska and Supervisor Bruno Sabatier; the Community Development director; the Animal Care and Control director; Sheriff Brian Martin; and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution to establish positional allocations for the current fiscal year for the planning budget unit in order to separate out the Community Development director job.
Huchingson’s report to the board explains that, historically, the Community Development director classification has been allocated as part of the Planning Budget Unit 2702.
“In February 2020, your Board combined the Community Development Department with the Departments of Public Works and Water Resources, and in the next Fiscal Year budget cycle, said classification was eliminated from BU 2702,” Huchingson said.
Noting that Community Development “deals with a very high volume of complex work, essential to residents needing the services and vital to the local economy,” Huchingson said the resolution would reallocate the Community Development Director classification as a separate classification within the Planning Budget Unit 2702, and so return to the long-time model with a director focused 100-percent of the time on the department.
Scott De Leon has held the job of Public Works, Water Resources and Community Development director since February 2020, as Lake County News has reported.
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier told Lake County News that the county is going to begin advertising the separate Community Development director job this week.
On Tuesday, from 9:06 to 9:14 a.m., the board will present several proclamations, including one to commend Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families, and to designate May 2021 as Mental Health Month and Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 3 to 8 as Wildfire Preparedness Week.
The board also is scheduled to have another closed session to conduct interviews for the Public Health officer position.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating May 3 to 8, 2021, as Wildfire Preparedness Week.
5.2: Adopt proclamation commending Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families.
5.3: Approve the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve contract between the Lake County Assessor-Recorder's Office and Kofile Technologies Inc. for redaction services in the amount of $99,570.55 and authorize assessor-recorder to sign.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve Amendment 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Social Solutions Global Inc. for the Service and Coordination of Activities Involved With the Lake County Continuum of Care Homeless Management Integration System Software for Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2023-24 to allow for an increase to the total number of licenses provided and an increase to the contract maximum of $137,670.00 for a total of $253,570 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.6: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Month.
5.7: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.8: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 13, 2021.
5.9: Adopt resolution authorizing the 2021-2022 Grant Project-Lake County Victim Witness Assistance Program and authorize the chair to sign the certification of compliance.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.11: Approve the continuation of resolution ratifying the declaration of local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.14: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.15: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.16: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases; (b) approve purchase of a 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab 4x4; and (c) authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue and sign a purchase order not to exceed $30,000 to Matt Mazzei Chevrolet-Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram of Lakeport.
5.17: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as CalFresh Awareness Month.
5.18: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods and services, and (b) approve and sign the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 in the amount of $197,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:05 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families.
6.3, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as CalFresh Awareness Month.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Month.
6.5, 9:12 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.6, 9:14 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 3 to 8, 2021, Wildfire Preparedness Week.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of recommendations for formation of roadmap task force.
7.3: Consideration of update to “Vision 2028: Reimagining Lake County, Ten Key Priorities to Build a Brighter Future.”
7.4: Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-134 Establishing Position Allocations For Fiscal Year 2020-2021, Budget Unit No. 2702, Planning.
7.5: Consideration of Change Order No.’s 4, 5, 6, & 7 FEMA FMAG Culvert Replacement No. 1 & No. 2 Project, Federal Project No.’s FMAG DR 5093-1-1R & FMAG DR 5112-1-1R, Bid No. 19-01, for an increase of $19, 528.66, and a revised contract amount of $667,369.93.
7.6: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 1 with Storesund Construction, Inc. for the Soda Bay CSA-20 Redwood Water Tanks Replacement Project, CalOES Disaster #4240 and Project Number 4240-40-36R, for an increase of $30,055.09 and a revised contract amount of $655,139.54.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Interviews of Public Health officer; (b) appointment of Public Health officer.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
On Tuesday, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Leadership of the Task Force wrote to President Joe Biden asking him to prevent the publication of the online files that allow people to 3-D print firearms at home.
They urged him to maintain the controls that have previously prevented a release of these files, citing the urgent need to prevent further printing of these untraceable firearms.
A copy of the letter is below.
President Joseph R. Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
As members of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, we write to urge you to take swift action to prevent the online publication of dangerous files that enable at-home 3D printing of firearms. This issue has become very time sensitive following the April 27 decision by two members of a Ninth Circuit panel which lifted a district court injunction on the finalization of dangerous Trump-era regulations. If that decision is allowed to take effect as written, which could happen within a few weeks of this writing, strong State Department protections against the publication of those files will be lifted, and we could immediately see widespread at-home production of firearms. We urge you to act swiftly to retain the strong State Department controls to avert this potential public safety disaster.
The publication of those 3D-printing files qualifies as exports of “technical data” associated with small arms and are currently on the U.S. Munitions List (“USML”) and subject to strong State Department regulations. The Trump State Department recklessly sought to remove most small arms exports from the USML and finalized regulations in January 2020 to transfer responsibility over those exports to the Commerce Department, which does not have the experience or regulations in place to supervise the export or prevent publication of 3D-printing files.
Attorneys general in 22 states and Washington, DC have been in court working to prevent the finalization of those rules as they apply to 3D-printing files, and a district court injunction has been in place since March of last year. Absent further litigation, the new Ninth Circuit decision will lift that injunction within a matter of weeks and technical data will be removed from the USML and supervision of the State Department, allowing the files to be immediately published, downloaded, and used to produce illegal guns.
The best and most effective action would be to reverse the Trump State Department’s regulations and keep the technical data on the USML. The State Department should issue a new interim final rule that retains this technical data. All small arms exports belong under the State Department’s jurisdiction and should be subject to the Congressional oversight required under the USML, which can properly supervise controls protecting human rights and national security. If your Administration chooses not to reverse those State Department regulations, we urge you to strengthen the Commerce Department regulation’s with a new interim final rule that prevents the spread of the dangerous technical data for 3D printed firearms.
The urgency of this issue can hardly be overstated. Unlike many regulatory changes, the effect of allowing this publication cannot be reversed. Once these files are widely available online, they can be downloaded by millions of users. We applaud your April 8, 2021 executive actions on ghost guns, and urge you to also move quickly to prevent the release of 3D-printed firearm information that could be used by criminals to make untraceable firearms. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
Many kids are attending public schools this spring with the use of COVID-19 safety protocols, including more desk spacing, more frequent cleaning and mandates to wear masks.
On average, U.S. public schools are more than 50 years old – and by and large they are not being properly maintained, updated or replaced. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded America’s public K-12 infrastructure a D+ in their 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, the same abysmal grade as in their prior 2017 report.
But help may finally be on the way.
The US$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11 provides nearly $130 billion for K-12 education and could trigger much-needed investment in the U.S.‘s crumbling public school buildings. The package provides an additional $350 billion for state, local and territorial governments – some of which could also be invested in schools.
Such unprecedented federal investment could fuel a long-term national effort to repair and modernize our public schools – the second-largest public infrastructure in our nation, behind roads and highways.
Why schools are crumbling
For decades now, the funding of our public school infrastructure has remained the most inequitable aspect of our school finance system.
School districts rely primarily on local property taxes to build and renovate their schools. On average, states pay for 45% of local school operations, but cover only 18% of school capital costs. Twelve states provide no capital aid. The federal government contributes an average of 8% for local school operations, but less than 1% of capital spending.
The 2016 “State of Our Schools” report by the Center for Green Schools concluded that the U.S. underfunds school facilities by about $46 billion each year – a 32% annual shortfall that compounds over time and has worsened in recent years.
As a former assistant state superintendent for research and policy and now a professor of educational leadership and policy, I’ve seen firsthand the problems that arise from this inadequate and inequitable funding. In my home state of Michigan, wealthy districts can build and upgrade fine schools, often with low property tax rates. Meanwhile, poor districts endure aging, dilapidated and sometimes unsafe schools – despite paying high property tax rates.
In prosperous Ann Arbor, for example, children will enjoy the benefits of a $1 billion capital bond approved in late 2019 by local voters, including me. The bond program, fully funded by local property taxes, will upgrade the district’s 35 buildings, including new and enhanced technology, building entrance renovations, outdoor classrooms, kitchens, teaching gardens and the construction of two new schools.
In nearby Hamtramck Public School District, however, where property values are lower, and some school buildings are so old they’ve been designated historical landmarks, school leaders need their new federal relief to fix windows that won’t open.
The educational toll of inequity
Recent news reports like the one about kids sitting on a curb outside Taco Bell with their Chromebooks, trying to connect to the internet to do their schoolwork, have thrown a spotlight on inequities.
In Chicago, where the average school building is 80 years old, the public schools have spent $100 million upgrading HVAC systems since last spring. Still, the district has a $3.5 billion backlog of building repairs.
In Baltimore, nearly two-thirds of the public school buildings are over 50 years old. They are poorly maintained. According to six years of inspections records, only 17% of Baltimore’s schools were in “good” or “superior” shape – the lowest percentage in the state.
In old school buildings, it’s more likely that pipes will burst, heat and air conditioning will fail, and plumbing and electrical problems will arise. And these problems take an educational toll on kids and teachers.
Research confirms that a dry building with good indoor air quality and thermal comfort reduces student illness and absences and elevates student achievement. Facility quality can also significantly impact teacher retention.
The American Rescue Plan can help immensely. The biggest pot of the $128 billion earmarked for K-12 schools is $122.8 billion allocated to school districts and states. Fully 90% goes to local districts through the Title I formula, which favors districts with low-income families.
Districts will get to determine how they use these funds. The sole restriction requires they use at least 20% of the money to address “learning loss.” Examples mentioned in the law include “summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive after-school programs or extended school-year programs.”
Most importantly, the amount of K-12 aid can’t be used to pay for state and local cuts to school funding. Combined with the two previous federal COVID-19 relief packages, this K-12 emergency funding totals about $195 billion, nearly twice the amount schools received in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
And finally, the American Rescue Plan money is a one-time injection. It can be used until 2024, but should not be baked into school operating budgets without solid plans for state or local replacement funding. So hiring more teachers and support staff, though attractive as an educational investment, would probably lead to massive and disruptive layoffs in a few years. Infrastructure upgrades, however, sidestep this problem.
Two years ago, I wrote an article about fixing America’s crumbling public schools and argued that passage of the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2019, a bill that would invest $100 billion over 10 years in our school buildings, was a no-brainer. That bill never passed, but was reintroduced this session and has been largely folded into President Biden’s infrastructure bill called the American Jobs Plan, which was announced on March 31.
The plan calls for $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools. The bill’s proposed tax hikes, however, prompted immediate criticism from Republicans and prominent business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Much negotiation and change to the $2 trillion package can be expected.
But in the meantime, there’s the American Rescue Plan. The K-12 money in this sprawling relief package is not dedicated to school infrastructure and is not a final fix to an enormous problem that has been decades in the making. But using a good share of this massive, one-time federal investment to address this chronic need in our poorest schools makes total sense to me.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will hear an update from Pacific Gas and Electric and also consider grant agreements and projects.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. for an evaluation of City Manager Kevin Ingram before the open portion of the council meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 4.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799. The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three-minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
Tuesday’s agenda includes a presentation by PG&E about its Community Wildfire Safety Program and a proclamation recognizing May 9 to 15 as Police Week.
Ingram will ask the council to approve a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Lakeport Main Street Association for the period of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
Finance Director Nick Walker will present an update on the utility rate study and seek direction to staff on next steps.
The council also will consider a waiver request for accrued interest in the amount of $9,041.57 for the parcel located at 2403 Hartley St. in exchange for the full payment of the parcel’s base assessment in escrow, and the denial of a reduction in the AB1600 water expansion fee for that same parcel.
Community Development Director Jenni Byers will present a resolution approving an allocation of funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief.
Byers also will take to the council a draft resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the statement of assurances and submit an application for the State Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Rounds 2 and 3.
Public Works Director Doug Grider will discuss with the council items regarding the 2021 Sewer Main Rehabilitation Project.
Councilmembers will be asked to terminate the construction contract with AFelix General Engineering, Inc. dba WestPac Construction under Section 6-5 of the contract’s standard specifications, and award a construction contract to Ghilotti Construction for the 2021 Sewer Main Rehabilitation Project subject to the previously-approved budget adjustment.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances, minutes of the special council meetings on April 15 and 20, and the regular meeting on April 20; approval of event application 2021-004, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Home Amateur Winemakers Winefest on Sept. 18; approval of event application 2021-008, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Memorial Day Parade on May 29, 2021; approval of a resolution authorizing examination of sales or transactions and use tax records and authorize the city manager to sign an amendment and novation agreement.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The cities of Clearlake and Lakeport are gearing up for a summer in which officials are planning for more of Lake County’s traditional events while also adhering to health and safety standards developed over the past year.
Leaders from both cities said planning is now underway.
There are still some unknowns about what many events in the coming summer and fall months may look like.
That’s because rules could change more once California fully reopens — which is still on track to take place on June 15 — at which time the state’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy is expected to end.
In the city of Clearlake, city leaders said they’re now putting together plans for the Independence Day celebration.
Last year, Clearlake conducted a drive-in July 4 celebration last year, but without the parade and the festival.
This year, however, the city’s festivities, which will be held on Saturday, July 3, will once again include the parade, a classic car show at Austin Park and a Carnival, along with the evening fireworks.
They’re also planning a Saturday evening concert at the new Austin Park bandshell, ahead of the fireworks display. The bands to perform are still being determined, said Deputy City Clerk Tina Viramontes.
On the other side of the lake, the city of Lakeport is preparing for the summer events that the pandemic caused to be canceled in 2020.
The Lakeport City Council last month directed staff to process summer event applications in collaboration with Lake County Public Health.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said that means that summer events canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic may be back on the calendar for 2021.
However, he said some of the events may look a little different with COVID-19 prevention measures in place, including masking, social distancing and using available hand-washing stations.
In addition to giving staff the go-ahead to process events, the Lakeport City Council at its April 20 meeting approved the Lake County Farmers’ Finest downtown farmers markets on Tuesdays, which start this week in Library Park, and the city’s July 4 celebration, which was canceled in 2020.
Ingram said that staff believes that many of the summer events that Lakeport has been known for can still be held if additional changes are adhered to and that they’re confident they can appropriately review event applications.
At the same time, Ingram said the state’s guidance doesn’t always address the kinds of events the city has, specifically, large events that are unticketed and held in open spaces.
Ingram said when it comes down to enforcing safety measures, the city will be heavily dependent on event organizers and people doing the right thing.
“It’s really nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel and think about some of these events happening for us,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
Lakeport’s July 4 celebration will return with the big fireworks display, which didn’t take place last year. Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. of McClellan will provide the show for $21,500, up by about $1,000 from the cost of the last show in 2019, the city reported.
In order to ensure enough space in the downtown — which in years past had been crowded with several thousand people — Ingram said they are considering having the fireworks barge move toward Fifth Street, north of its usual spot, to broaden the viewing area.
This year they’re also prohibiting alcohol sales as a measure of making sure people adhere to social distancing and masking, and as an effort to keep down the number of fights that police often have to respond to during the event.
Ingram cautioned that, “It’s not going to be the same as it has been in the past,” but that it’s the start to getting back to normal.
At its meeting Tuesday, the council is expected to approve event applications for the Memorial Day Parade on May 29 and the Home Amateur Winemakers WineFest on Sept. 18.
Community groups make decisions about events
While California is moving toward reopening, the timing of planning and organizing events has challenged a return to a more recognizable schedule for some county groups.
Last week, the Lake County Fair Board voted to hold the fair this year over Labor Day weekend, as Lake County News has reported. Details of the fair are being developed over the coming months but anticipated modifications could include smaller crowd size.
However, for other groups, events have had to once again be postponed or canceled for the year because of either lack of time to plan or the necessary funding.
At the start of April, the Kelseyville Business Association announced it would not hold the June Beer, Wine and Swine Festival or the Kelseyville Pear Festival in September, but they’re hoping to hold their summer street dances and Christmas in the Country.
For the association, fundraising — the Pear Festival costs tens of thousands of dollars — and planning for the event would have had to be underway months earlier, while the pandemic was still surging and the situation was unclear of when events could again go forward.
Last year, the Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Business Association was one of the first groups in Lake County to have to cancel a major event when it at first postponed and then canceled its famed May Catfish Derby.
However, with the Catfish Derby being the association’s one and only annual fundraiser, last year’s cancellation is impacting this year’s event plans, said association President Camille Gouldberg.
Goldberg said they are planning for the Catfish Derby this month — and they are expecting a nice turnout — but they don’t have sufficient funds to sponsor the Maxine Sherman fireworks display, which will be canceled for a second year.
Dennis Locke, a stalwart member of the Catfish Derby team, said they’re working hard to get the derby together. It’s scheduled to take place from May 14 to 16.
He said they’ve scaled things back to just fishing and won’t be doing some of the other aspects that usually bring a lot of people together.
“We were expecting a light turnout because of that. But advance sign-ups have actually been higher than usual so maybe we’ll see something near normal. People are ready to get out, I guess,” Locke said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
As part of the Commission’s Broadband Data Collection effort to collect comprehensive data on broadband availability across the United States, the FCC is encouraging the public to download the FCC’s Speed Test app, which is currently used to collect speed test data as part of the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program.
The app provides a way for consumers to test the performance of their mobile and in-home broadband networks.
In addition to showing network performance test results to the user, the app provides the test results to the FCC while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of program volunteers.
“To close the gap between digital haves and have nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly data set on broadband availability. Expanding the base of consumers who use the FCC Speed Test app will enable us to provide improved coverage information to the public and add to the measurement tools we’re developing to show where broadband is truly available throughout the United States,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The network coverage and performance information gathered from the Speed Test data will help to inform the FCC’s efforts to collect more accurate and granular broadband deployment data.
The app will also be used in the future for consumers to challenge provider-submitted maps when the Broadband Data Collection systems become available.
The FCC Speed Test App is available in the Google Play Store for Android devices, and in the Apple App Store for iOS devices.
“Ruby” is a female domestic long hair with a brown coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 14475.
‘Moxi’
“Moxi” is a female domestic longhair with a calico coat and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 133, ID No. 14483.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.