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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s longtime member of the House of Representatives hosted a virtual town hall Thursday that drew several hundred concerned constituents who wanted to hear what Congress is doing to address the Trump Administration’s actions to dismantle and upend parts of the federal government.

Congressman Mike Thompson, who was back in Washington, DC after having had a brief visit back to his Napa home to the Fourth Congressional District, hosted the hour-long town hall over Zoom and on his Facebook platform on Thursday evening.

At one point, nearly 900 people on Facebook alone were watching the meeting live, with the meeting’s Zoom capacity maxed out.

The virtual town hall also included a poll taken by 882 people regarding their concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, gaining access to the private information of millions of citizens. DOGE, being run by billionaire Elon Musk, was established by President Donald Trump by executive order on his first day in office.

Thompson’s staffer Redi Degefa, also in the Washington office, reported that 90% of those who took the poll said they were concerned about DOGE access, 8 percent were somewhat concerned and 2 percent were not concerned.

Regarding the situation in Washington, DC, Thompson said, “Things have been pretty chaotic.”

He said he’s heard from thousands of people about their concerns about the new Trump Administration. The phones in all three of his district offices and his office in Washington, DC, “have been literally ringing off the hook.”

Thompson said he’s constantly stopped by people who have concerns, including on his recent trip home.

“Please know that I share those concerns,” he said.

The big issue now is about allowing people's personal, medical and financial records to be accessed by individuals without the proper clearance.

Trump’s funding freeze also is causing problems. Thompson said that even in areas where Trump has lawful jurisdiction there have been issues, and the tariff threats are confusing trading partners and consumers alike.

Thompson is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and the ranking member of its Tax Subcommittee. Ways and Means has jurisdiction on fiscal matters — including taxes, tariffs and social service programs, according to its website.

Ways and Means held a press conference earlier in the day about DOGE’s unlawful access to taxpayer data, which Thompson called constitutional overreach. “This is serious.”

Federal law makes it unlawful for unauthorized people to view taxpayer data, said Thompson.

The freezing of federal funds in Thompson's district has meant that constituents can’t get access to do local fire mitigation projects and toxic waste cleanup, and a program for young farmers has been halted.

On Wednesday Thompson received a call from a 20-year employee of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, one of the agencies that has become a particular target for Musk and Trump.

He said the employee was overseas at the time and told she was being terminated and given 48 hours to pack up. Thompson said that’s no way to treat an employee and it’s likely illegal.

Focusing on the rule of law

Thompson emphasized that members of Congress like him are working to make sure the administration follows the rule of law, emphasizing that the United States is a nation of laws.

He said they are working on efforts including opposing the defunding of Medicaid and access to taxpayer data, the firing of the inspectors general and other unlawful federal employee terminations.

Ways and Means will introduce a resolution of inquiry that demands the Treasury Department answer questions about the accessing of personal and financial data. Thompson said that’s only the start of the work to protect taxpayers’ privacy.

“We’re not going to stop. We’re going to stay on this,” Thompson said.

During the town hall, Thompson responded to several questions, including how to stop Musk from getting peoples’ personal information, how to protect the Department of Education — another focus for Trump — how to protect California’s water and preserve the Inflation Reduction Act.

When it comes to protecting personal information, Thompson urged his constituents to speak up and help shape the court of public opinion.

He said that the administration appears to be attempting to “flood the zone” with actions to see what will stick, and that so far the courts don’t support what is being tried.

Asked whether House Republicans are getting heat and softening, Thompson said Congress is all about the math, and currently Republicans hold a narrow majority and so they have to stick together 100 percent.

However, Thompson pointed out that some of those Republicans hold seats in marginal districts where they barely won. If their constituents speak up, they will be forced to independently act.

In response to a question about preserving the Department of Education and funding for public schools, Thompson acknowledged that it’s an extremely important agency. The idea that public schools can be gutted and replaced with private schools “is frightening at best.”

Thompson is a fiscal conservative who is also concerned about waste. If stopping waste is your goal, the last thing you would want to do is get rid of inspector generals, he said.

“They talk a good game about waste, fraud and abuse,” said Thompson, adding that it’s more accurate to say they are eliminating everything they can to save money to extend their tax cuts for their rich friends.

If Trump’s tax cuts are extended in the form they are today, it will cost the United States $5 trillion. If all of Trump’s campaign promises, the price tag goes up to $16 trillion, he said.

Thompson said that will benefit the richest people and corporations. It does the least for working families and everyone on the downside of the economic scale.

Asked what his constituents can do to help him in Congress, Thompson said for people to share their stories and how the administration’s actions are impacting them.

He said he just received an email from someone who, along with nearly 200 other people, was terminated from a job because of Trump's actions on federal funding. A toxic cleanup program for a site in the Fourth Congressional District has been stalled, as has a program to help young farmers, along with important medical research.

“If you've been affected by this, I want to know about it. I want to hear about it,” Thompson said.

Thompson also was asked about how to preserve the Inflation Reduction Act, specially the GREEN-Act, Thompson’s bill to incentivize the expeditious rollout of green energy projects as well as to help with medication prices. He said the states benefitting most are red, the bill is paid for and doesn’t increase the budget.

Thompson also is seeking input from those impacted by the federal funding freeze.

To ask a question about the situation or to share impacts about the funding freeze, email Thompson at mikethompson.house.gov, call his district office in Napa at 707-226-9898 or Washington, DC at 202-225-3311.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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The Lake County Board of Supervisors during its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Photo by Lingzi Chen/Lake County News.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The debate over the processes for renaming Kelseyville returned to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, nearly two months after the board voted to recommend changing the town’s name to Konocti to federal and state agencies.

The meeting was not a reconsideration or reverse of the board’s former decision to support the name change, as some residents and advocates had pushed for.

Instead, supervisors considered sending letters to federal and state naming authorities, requesting them to update their name-changing process.

Throughout the 50-minute discussion, public interest in the letters stayed minimal, and supervisors questioned their necessity. Criticism over the letters and the local leadership on the name change process over the past year ensued.

Ultimately, the motion to send those letters to the naming authorities—United States Board on Geographic Names and the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, often referred to as the BGN and CACGN respectively—died for lack of a second.

On Dec. 10, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to support the name change from Kelseyville to Konocti, despite more than 70% of voters opposing it in a November advisory ballot.

Supervisor Eddie Crandell, and outgoing supervisors Moke Simon and Michael Green voted in favor of the option to recommend the name change. Supervisor Jessica Pyska and Bruno Sabatier voted against it.

The formal recommendation was sent to the naming authorities on Dec. 13.

Despite efforts to keep comments focused on the agenda item, discussions on Tuesday veered into concerns over the actual matter of Kelseyville’s name change — revisiting the board’s prior support for renaming Kelseyville, the likelihood of federal approval, and doubts about local leadership in the process — all of which were not mentioned in the letter on the agenda.

Supervisor Sabatier commented at one point that he was not sure if people had heard or read the actual agenda item — the letters.

“There was obviously some massive confusion, because the majority of the public comments that we received were not related to the item on the agenda,” he said, out of the context that most public comments were about “whether they wanted to keep the name or change the name.”

Calls for the supervisors’ reconsideration

Since the board’s December vote, calls have grown for the board to revisit the matter or reverse the decision.

Rachel White of the advocacy group Save Kelseyville asked the board to bring back the matter for “discussion and action to reverse the recommendation to support the name change,” in her Jan. 13 email to supervisors Pyska and Rasmussen, citing “flaws” in the name change application process.

At the board meeting on Jan. 14, five-term former Supervisor Rob Brown requested the board to bring the issue back during public comment. He argued that the newly sworn-in supervisors — District 1 Supervisor Helen Owen and District 4 Supervisor Brad Rasmussen — should have the opportunity to weigh in.

Brown also discussed his requests with Supervisor Crandell—who this year serves as the board chair — prior to and after that board meeting. Crandell replied in an email on Jan. 15: “I will definitely reach out to you with the date and time this will be agendized.”

“It’s obviously not happening,” Brown said during public comment this Tuesday regarding his request.

“I understand this isn’t exactly what you wanted; I deferred to the district supervisor,” said Supervisor Crandell in response to Brown’s comment, suggesting that the agenda item of sending the letters was brought up by District 5 Supervisor Pyska, whose district includes Kelseyville.

Crandell reiterated it to Lake County News in a quick interview right after the meeting, adding that he had “never imposed anything.”

The chamber was half filled, noticeably less packed than the full-house December meeting where nearly 40 public comments were made by the proponents and opponents of the name change.

This time, most of the public members who spoke up were against the name change, requesting for a revisit of the matter by the board.

“Some people left this room on Dec. 10 feeling like they got slapped in the face,” said Sabatier later in the meeting. “But saying the process is flawed is also a slap in the face of the 30% who voted to change the name and got that name changed. The process worked for the 30%.”

In fact, although the board submitted a letter supporting the name change, Kelseyville’s name has not yet been changed. The “difficult conversation,” as supervisors repeatedly called it, remains ongoing.

The December vote was over. Can the supervisors actually bring it back?

As the first speaker during public comment, Brown requested again to have the new board vote on the same item that the former board voted on in December — whether to recommend changing the name of Kelseyville to Konocti.

Supervisor Crandell deferred to County Counsel Lloyd Guintivano.

Guintivano said the board could not add any new items immediately to the current meeting beyond the agenda item about the letters to the BGN and CACGN.

During the discussion, he further added that the deadline to submit or propose a reconsideration of the board's action that took place on Dec. 10 would have been the next regularly scheduled board meeting, which should be Dec. 17, citing Section 3, Rule 9 of the board rules.

“That time has passed,” Guintivano said.

Brown challenged it.

“The Brown Act Rule 27 allows for reconsideration of any item that’s been voted on by the board,” Brown said, adding that Supervisor Crandell—who voted in the majority on December 10—would be eligible to bring forward a motion for reconsideration within a year. He insisted that the Brown Act should “supersede.”

Crandell again directed the questions to Guintivano, who in turn reiterated and held tight to the board policies.

“I can certainly contend that those are compliant with the Brown Act,” he said.

“There are consequences to violating the Brown Act. There are no consequences to violating or going against board policy,” Brown said.

No conclusion was attained from this discussion.

After the meeting, Lake County News asked Supervisor Crandell if the matter of name change will be brought back again.

“I don’t have an answer for now,” he said.

Criticism of the letters and of local leadership

It appeared that no one on the board believed that the letters on motion would work or matter, including Supervisor Pyska who brought it up.

The draft letters on the agenda make early reference to the Trump Administration’s executive order — “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” issued on Jan. 20. The order said it aimed at promoting the nation’s heritage and ensuring future generations “celebrate the legacy of our American heroes.”

It ordered the BGN to reappoint board members within seven days, and to advance the new policy goals on all naming and renaming applications, which would include the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ recommendation to rename Kelseyville to Konocti submitted in December after the board vote.

The executive order also stated that the BGN may update its “principles, policies, and procedures” in order to advance the new goals.

Pyska said at the beginning of the meeting that this executive order “gives us the opportunity to share where we found those policies fell short over the last year, specifically around renaming populated places.”

The letters request the BGN review its policies because “the current policies and procedures lack clarity, contain conflicting information, and have generally frustrated the residents of Lake County.”

The letters also explicitly asked the BGN to “develop a process for ‘alternate names,’” which was associated with the fact that the original name change proposal submitted by the local group Citizens for Healing on Oct. 2023 only included one replacement name for Keyselville — “Konocti.”

The proposed letter and the board’s agenda setting itself faced immediate resistance when it came to public comment.

“They [The BGN] do have a procedure for accepting other names,” said White of Save Kelseyville, criticizing the letters as containing inaccurate information. “No other names were accepted because we don't want to change our name, period.”

She added, “Our name is not changing, and we want to move on. This letter is another step in the wrong direction, and if you can't figure out where we're going, we need new leadership.”

Board members voice concerns over proposed letters, process

Board members also voiced their discontent with the letter and the board’s leadership over the name change matter.

“Before we tell someone else that their process should be changed, I think we need to review our process as a whole,” said Sabatier during board comment. “Before we point a finger at someone else, we should be pointing it at ourselves.”

He added, “I don’t think we should be sending a letter today.”

Sabatier went on to ask not to spend staff time on drafting these letters.

“If a board member wants to bring something, they can do that on their own,” Sabatier said, adding that staff should spend time on priorities that “make our communities better” such as economic development and creating better opportunities.

“This is not on the list of things that we’re asking staff to work on,” he said of the letters.

For Supervisor Rasmussen, public engagement hadn’t been sufficient. The letters were only made public last Thursday afternoon which left not enough time for the public to be fully informed and engaged.

“I also think that this board in 2024 could have taken a more active role in engaging the public,” he added.

On Feb. 26, 2024, the BGN reached out to the Board of Supervisors, requesting their opinion on the name change. The Board of Supervisors did not act collectively until it held a special meeting on July 30, where the supervisors passed a motion on a 3-2 vote to put the Kelseyville name change on the ballot for countywide vote as an advisory measure, known as Measure U.

“We weren't involved until the board decided to put it to a vote,” Rasmussen said. “We just weren't engaged.”

Rasmussen added that he thought the decision to change the name or not should remain local.

“I personally don’t think the federal government ought to be involved in changing the name of populated places anywhere in the United States. They're not here.” he said. “If we were going to send any letters, I don't think they ought to be involved in any of these decisions.”

“The public input was brought to us on a ballot,” said Supervisor Owen. “If that was to be ignored, it shouldn’t have been put on the ballot in the first place.”

In her comments, Pyska reemphasized that the two naming authorities lacked clarity and were not responsive to her questions throughout last year, which she found frustrating. She said she brought the matter to a countywide vote to seek public input, but the board voted in an opposite direction. She also mentioned the county counsel’s response that she could not bring the board’s December vote back.

For Pyska, the letters to the BGN and CACGN were the next possible steps she came up with.

“This is what I felt like the very next thing that we could do—is share the frustration that I have had over this last year with the lack of participation and engagement from both of these committees,” Pyska said of her motivation in proposing sending the letters.

“It’s a frustration because this was just dumped on our lap with no support and it’s taken a lot of time and energy,” she said.

She then made a long, dismissive comment on the letters she proposed and the federal order’s impact on the name change:

“So here we are. This executive order pretty much says the name is not going to change,” said Pyska. “The Trump administration is taking this direction. They are completely gutting the BGN. They are replacing all of the BGN board members. The staff is gone, and the policies need to be rewritten. And so here's our suggestion — if you're rewriting policies here. But at the end of the day, nothing is going to happen.”

Regarding the application to change Kelseyville’s name and her proposed letters on state and federal policy, Pyska said, “If this committee ever reforms and is productive, it's going to take years to figure out any of this, and this file is never going to even get opened. So I don't really want to put any more time and resources into this.”

The audience clapped, which was the first time that applause followed Pyska’s comments in the board meetings regarding the name change.

Still, Brown, who was Pyska’s predecessor for 20 years as the supervisor of the district, wasn’t buying it.

“What I’ve heard, as this discussion goes, from Jessica—it’s the BGN’s fault. It’s Trump’s fault. It’s CACGN’s fault. It’s the board members that voted against the will of the vote—it’s their fault. It's the county counsel’s fault because they gave me rule nine,” Brown said. “That’s the one thing that’s lacking is your admission that you should hold yourself accountable.”

Unresolved: ‘The letter is still there’

Toward the end of the discussion, the supervisors reached a consensus of belief that the name of Kelseyville was not going to be changed under the current Trump Administration, despite the board’s December letter to the federal and state agencies to support the name change.

“We all know the way that I voted,” said Crandell of his vote in favor of the name change in December. “However, knowing how this goes now, it more than likely isn’t going to happen with the diminishing of the departments.”

Crandell added, “What this letter was to me was to give them some insight, to ensure another community doesn’t get broken apart by this type of vote.”

Supervisor Owen asked about the board’s December letter supporting the name change. “The letter is still there.”

Even if the current federal government may not address it, Owen asked whether the letter could be brought up again when there's a new president in the future.

“Will it drop off and go away?” she asked.

There was no definite answer to the question during the meeting.

After all of the discussion, Pyska read the motion to send the letters of policy suggestions to the BGN and CACGN. Without a second, “Motion dies,” Crandell announced.

Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The audience during the Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Photo by Lingzi Chen/Lake County News.






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LAKEPORT, Calif. — The man authorities said is responsible for a murder in Lakeport’s Library Park on Friday night has made his first court appearance in the case.

Joshua Jacob Tovar, 33, of Lakeport was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in Lake County Superior Court, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson.

Tovar was arrested Sunday morning for the killing of 32-year-old Vicente Zeta Colacion, also of Lakeport.

Colacion was found unconscious near the seawall in Library Park shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday. He died at the scene a short time later.

The District Attorney’s Office’s filing against Tovar includes four felony charges: homicide, assault with a firearm, in this case, a handgun; felon in possession of a firearm; and felon in possession of ammunition.

Along with those four main charges are seven special allegations: five for personal and intentional use of a firearm, one for inflicting great bodily injury and the last which outlined the crime’s numerous aggravating factors, including its violence, Tovar being armed and the way it was carried out, indicating it involved planning.

The criminal filing also stated that Tovar has served a prior prison term, and that his previous performance on probation and post release community supervision was “unsatisfactory.”

Tovar’s prior convictions outlined in the complaint document include two each in San Joaquin and Lake counties.

The San Joaquin County felonies, both from October 2012, were for Tovar — while a California Youth Authority inmate — assaulting a person who was not an inmate, and assault with a deadly weapon.

The Lake County felony convictions include a November 2016 conviction for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and an August 2018 conviction for felony battery on a police officer by gassing, which involves throwing bodily waste on a peace officer.

Along with the homicide case, the District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday filed a second complaint against Tovar, alleging three felonies: possession of a controlled substance with two prior convictions, possession of methamphetamine with two priors and a felon in possession of ammunition, with four priors.

Authorities have so far offered few details of what led to the shooting, but have tied it to a fight earlier in the evening at a downtown bar between Colacion and Parker John Coggins, 27, of Lakeport.

Coggins, who was taken into custody early Saturday, also has a lengthy criminal record. He is being held at the Lake County Jail and was also scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday. His booking sheet shows him as being charged with assault with a deadly weapon that’s not a firearm and a probation violation.

Friends say Colacion was a creative man who wrote poetry and also was a visual artist.

A candlelight vigil for Colacion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the gazebo in Library Park.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In light of the current winter weather conditions, the Lake County Office of Emergency Services reminds residents to visit https://Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov for preparedness, response and recovery information. Lake County faces various hazards — including wildfire, earthquake and severe weather — and preparing for all hazards is essential.

The “Prepare” tab has information by topic as well as detailed information and a downloadable PDF for the 5 Steps to Prepare:

• Get Alerts;
• Know Your Zone;
• Plan for Emergencies;
• Prepare Your Home;
• Connect with Neighbors.

As the community prepares for additional rainfall and snow by the end of next week, residents are encouraged to visit the “Response” tab where winter weather and storm conditions links and phone numbers for critical information are available, including:

• Find or report electric outages and how to report downed power lines to PG&E: pge.com/en/contact-us/report-an-issue/report-electric-issue.html#:~:text=. Leave the area immediately and then call 9-1-1,-800-743-5000.

• For county-maintained roads visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lakecountydpw/.

• Current Highway conditions can be checked at https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php (enter the Highway Number) or by calling 800-427-7623 or 511 (Real-time Traveler Information). You can also visit https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.

• The latest weather forecasts and related information can be accessed through the US National Weather Service’s Eureka office: https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka or https://www.weather.gov/eka/.

• Flood Safety Tips are also available here: https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1231/Flood-Safety-Tips.

Additionally, in Lake County, information and referral services are always available by dialing 211. Please do not call 211 to report an emergency; this line is intended to provide resource support and connect people to information.

The Office of Emergency Services encourages residents to plan for potential emergency conditions of all types and to help loved ones and neighbors who do require assistance accessing internet sites. The resources at https://Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov/ can help your family stay prepared and safe.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Congressman Mike Thompson is inviting community members to participate in a virtual town hall on Congress’ response to actions by the Trump Administration.

The town hall will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6.

Thompson will discuss and answer constituents’ questions on how Congress is fighting back against the unlawful actions of the new administration.

All constituents of California’s Fourth Congressional District are invited to attend. Details are below:

To participate via Zoom, register here. The town hall also will be streamed on Thompson’s Facebook page.

Those who are not able to make the town hall but have any questions about Thompson’s work, upcoming legislative action, or issues that affect the district are invited to call Thompson’s office at 202-225-3311 or click here to email him.

Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council will recognize Black History Month and consider several contracts when it meets this week.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 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 883 3990 4760, the pass code is 356647. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,88339904760#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.

The council will start the meeting with a presentation of a proclamation declaring February 2025 as Black History Month.

Business items for the meeting include the council’s consideration of several contract awards.

They include:

• The 2025 City Wide Striping Project in the amount of $437,625.50 to Chrisp Co., along with authorizing City Manager Alan Flora to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.

• The Senior Center Landscape Irrigation Project; no contractor or cost is included in the agenda packet.
• Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program towing, storing, dismantling and disposal services contract, proposed to be awarded to Alvarez Performance LLC; a total contract amount was not reported.
• A contract with Case Excavating for $229,400 for the demolition and abatement of properties located at 16140 Dam Road, 16272 32nd Ave., 16116 33rd Ave., 13790 Sonoma Ave., 3273 11th St., 6347 Armijo Ave., 14045 Hale St., 14053 Hale St., 14236 Hale St., 3014 Fifth St., 13535 Santa Clara Ave., 5740 Hale Ave., 16026 25th Ave., 3971 Pine Ave. and 3783 Cedar Ave.

The council also will review its norms and procedures.

On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes; continuation of the director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for the Boyles Fire; adopt resolution to approve allocation and execution of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grant Agreement for 2017/18 disasters; closeout of 20-Community Development Block Grant-CV1-00184 Senior Community Center Kitchen Remodel and submit the closeout package; and approval of Amendment No. 1 to consultant services agreement with Government Finance Services LLC for a new total of $60,000.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed an executive order to further improve community hardening and wildfire mitigation strategies to neighborhood resilience statewide.

“We are living in a new reality of extremes. Believe the science — and your own damn eyes: Mother Nature is changing the way we live and we must continue adapting to those changes. California’s resilience means we will keep updating our standards in the most fire-prone areas,” said Newsom.

The executive order issued by Gov. Newsom does the following:

• Directs the State Board of Forestry to accelerate its work to adopt regulations known as “Zone 0,” which will require an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of structures located in the highest fire severity zones in the state.
• Tasks the Office of the State Fire Marshal with releasing updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for areas under local government responsibility, adding 1.4 million new acres of land into the two higher tiers of fire severity, which will update building and local planning requirements for these communities statewide.
• Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to work with local, federal and tribal partners on improvements to the Federal resource ordering system for wildfire response.

Protecting homes

Science has shown that combustible material within the immediate five feet of a structure contributes the greatest risk of embers directly or indirectly igniting the home.

“Zone 0” regulations under development for new and existing construction would require an ember-resistant zone within the immediate 5-feet of structures in local area very high fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas, and fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility areas.

Zone 0 regulations would move forward this year in tandem with financial assistance and relief for homeowners, proposed in the Governor’s January Budget, and to be augmented by the California Conservation Corps supporting work in vulnerable communities and in coordination with local Fire Safe Councils.

While it is anticipated that the regulations would apply to new construction upon taking effect, requirements for existing homes would likely be phased in over three years to allow homeowners to prepare and prioritize mitigations and secure financial assistance.

Research suggests that the cost of building a home with Zone 0 mitigations already incorporated adds little to no cost to building a comparable home without those features.

Updating fire hazard severity areas

To ensure future resiliency against urban firestorms, local government planners and developers will have to factor in wildfire-hardening requirements in building planning, design, and construction within nearly 2.3 million acres of land in areas where local governments are responsible for wildfire prevention and response, known as local responsibility areas.

The release of updated fire hazard severity zones for local responsibility area maps would identify new areas where new development is required to adhere to the highest standards of wildfire resilient building codes and land-use planning.

These new zones and maps would add approximately 1.4 million new acres of land into the two higher tiers of fire hazard severity. Specifically, they would expand current wildfire building resiliency requirements in the high fire hazard severity zone to approximately 1.16 million new acres, and they would expand both current wildfire building and local planning resiliency requirements in the very high fire hazard severity zone to approximately 247,000 new acres.

The release of these updated zones and maps, which are expected to be released one region at a time beginning in Northern California, would begin a 120-day clock for local government jurisdictions to adopt local ordinances incorporating the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations.

The release of these local responsibility area maps would follow last year’s release of equivalent updated zones and maps in the state responsibility area, and follow months of planning discussions, including consultation with insurance providers who have developed their own models to determine risk, premiums and coverage that are independent of the state’s fire hazard severity zone maps.

Investing in wildfire prevention

Overall, the state has more than doubled investments in wildfire prevention and landscape resilience efforts, providing more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience since 2020, with an additional $1.5 billion from the 2024 Climate Bond to be committed beginning this year for proactive projects that protect communities from wildfire and promote healthy natural landscapes.

Of note, since 2021, the state has made strategic investments in at least 61 fuels reduction projects near the Palisades and Eaton fire perimeters through projects treated over 14,500 acres.

The Newsom Administration has invested $2 billion to support Cal Fire operations, a 47% increase since 2018, which has helped build Cal Fire from 5,829 positions to 10,741 in that same period, and the Administration is now implementing shorter workweeks for state firefighters to prioritize firefighter well-being while adding 2,400 additional state firefighters to Cal Fire’s ranks over the next five years.

Augmenting technological advancements and pre-deployment opportunities

The Newsom Administration has also overseen the expansion of California’s aerial firefighting fleet, including the addition of more than 16 helicopters with several equipped for night operations, expanded five helitack bases, and assumed ownership of seven C-130 air tankers, making it the largest fleet of its kind globally.

California is also leveraging AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker, has deployed the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System to provide real-time mapping of wildfires, and has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense to use satellites for wildfire detection and invested in LiDAR technology to create detailed 3D maps of high-risk areas, helping firefighters better understand and navigate complex terrains.

In anticipation of severe fire weather conditions in early January 2025, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services approved the prepositioning of 65 fire engines, as well as more than 120 additional firefighting resources and personnel in Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, and Cal Fire moved firefighting resources to Southern California including 45 additional engines and six hand crews to the region.

During the wildfires, California was able to mobilize more than 16,000 personnel including firefighters, National Guard servicemembers, California Highway Patrol officers and transportation teams to support the response to the Los Angeles firestorms, and more than 2,000 firefighting apparatus composed of engines, aircraft, dozers and water tenders to aid in putting out the fires.
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From left, Commander Dan Fansler of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office and new CHP officer, Corey Burgess. Photo courtesy of the CHP.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office has welcomed its newest officer.

Officer Corey Burgess joined the agency and is stationed in Kelseyville.

The CHP said he graduated from Academy class CTC IV-24 and will now start his field training working with experienced CHP officers in Lake County.

The agency also encourages anyone interested in becoming a CHP officer to apply now. www.chpmadeformore.com.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Air Quality Management District reported that it reopened the district office to walk-in traffic on Monday.

The district office will be open to walk-in traffic Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to allow for paperwork drop off and limited services.

The agency said its district office was closed to walk-in traffic in September due to a staffing shortage.

“The district has not fully resolved our staffing shortage, however we are reopening with limited days and hours,” said Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.

Gearhart advised the community that intermittent office closures may occur during these times due to ongoing staffing shortage. Appointments are still recommended to ensure staff is available to assist members of the public. The district asks that the public call its office to schedule an appointment.

Burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Lake County Air Basin. Residential and agricultural burn permits can be obtained online at www.lcaqmd.net or by appointment at the district office.

A smoke management plan burn permit is required for multi-day burns, overnight burns, standing vegetation burns, whole tree or vine removal, burns over 20 acres in one day, and any other burn where significant smoke impacts may occur or sensitive receptors may be impacted and can be obtained at the district office. Appointments are required for smoke management plans.

Requests for county or city building and demolition permit sign-offs can be submitted in person at the district office or to its general email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Include all documents pertaining to the project as appropriate. For example: building/demolition permit application, location map, engine information, engine specification sheets, engine emission sheets.

Additionally, a drop box is generally available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the district office if you wish to drop off documents.

To obtain applications, forms and more information visit www.lcaqmd.net.

“We appreciate your support during this difficult time,” Gearhart said.
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“Starburst.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has many deserving dogs wanting new homes.

The shelter has 47 adoptable dogs listed on its website.

This week’s dogs include “Starburst,” a 6-month-old female mixed breed dog.

The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.

This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Lakeport man who was killed during a confrontation in Library Park will be remembered at two events this week.

Vicente Zeta Colacion, 32, was shot to death near the seawall in Library Park on Friday night.

Colacion was a poet and visual artist. In honor of his life and memory, community members have organized two upcoming events.

From 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, the Middletown Art Center’s open mic event will be dedicated to Colacion. Readers and singers are welcome to perform in his memory.

“MAC mourns the loss of powerfully intense and moving Lake County poetry artist Vicente Zeta Colacion. Gone too young, too soon, too tragically. Vicente read many a visceral poem at the MAC over the years. Always impressive. Always physically vibrational. Speckled with brilliance, desire, need, and lonesomeness,” the center said on its Facebook page.

“Vicente liked to come and read from his phone from time to time. Let's do it for him,” the center said.

Then, on Saturday night, a candlelight vigil will be held from Colacion at Library Park.

The vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place at the gazebo.

Community members are invited to come and honor him.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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Following two of the most destructive wildfires in California history, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and a bipartisan coalition of state senators on Tuesday announced critical legislation to bolster Cal Fire’s firefighting and fire prevention efforts.

The Golden State and the entire West are burning at historic rates. Eight of the most destructive wildfires in California history have hit this state over the past five years, with two of the deadliest wildfires recently burning over 16,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County just 13 days after Christmas.

State officials said this escalating crisis has stretched firefighters dangerously thin. The threats to their health and safety along with the threats to local communities have never been greater.

The Fight for Firefighters Act proposes a desperately-needed modern day staffing plan, at the cost of $175-185 million per year ongoing, to include the following:

• The state would phase out seasonal Cal Fire firefighters who work nine months out the year - typically laid off during the winter months - and transition these 3,000 firefighters to full-time status.

• All 356 Cal Fire fire engines would be fully operational 365 days per year. This would give every corner of this state a needed shot in the arm when it comes to fire and emergency response.

• All of Cal Fire’s 38 vegetation management crews would be fully operational all throughout the year.

• These vegetation management crews focus on fire prevention and develop fire breaks around neighborhoods, remove dead and dying trees, and create defensible space in the cities and towns we love.

• The Fight for Firefighters Act will also ensure all Cal Fire helicopter bases are fully staffed year round.

As firefighters continue to battle longer, hotter, and more extreme fire seasons, they continue to face some of the most severe mental health challenges in the state. Injuries, fatigue, stress, and long-hours have resulted in severe burnout. Coupled with strenuous working conditions, firefighters have been pushed to the brink. In the past six years, over 57,000 calls have been made to the state’s mental health hotline.

The Fight for Firefighters Act is a tactical, commonsense approach to get more boots on the ground and to make sure the people in those boots have the backup and support they need to protect this state.

“More aggressive fires, and an unrelenting year-round wildfire season, demands more aggressive responses,” said Pro Tem McGuire. “Wildfires don’t take three months off. So the elite Cal Fire firefighting force that is our first and last defense in protecting lives and homes across the state should be year-round too. This investment will make communities more wildfire safe and greatly improve fire and emergency response in every corner of California.”

“Ask any firefighter: Fires have changed. Fire season has changed,” said Tim Edwards, President of Cal Fire Local 2881. “What hasn’t changed is the commitment and bravery of our firefighters. When firefighters are on the job, that’s all they’re focused on. If it were up to them they wouldn’t stop. But pushing our firefighters past the breaking point doesn’t do them, their families, or our communities any good. Fires don’t respect calendars. We need to respect and protect our firefighters by making sure we have enough to do the job safely year round.”

“We know the risks for firefighters don’t end when the embers go out,” said Battalion Chief Elizabeth Brown. “There are ongoing physical and mental health challenges that affect firefighters long after they respond to a disaster. The longer fire crews go without any relief, the greater the potential for long term harm. Having more firefighters available provides relief and takes some of the pressure off. The year-round firefighters this bill provides will not only be able to support communities in times of disaster, but will also have the backs of their fellow firefighters as well.”

“The grueling work of fighting these devastating wildfires takes a toll on physical and mental health, in ways we don’t yet entirely understand,” said Senator Tim Grayson (D-Concord), a joint-author of the bill. “In 2017, the year of the deadly Tubbs Fire, more firefighters died by suicide than on the front lines. This is an alarm bell and the State Senate is answering the call by moving this critical bill forward. Our firefighters need the training, rest, and resources to be ready to respond to emergencies 12-months a year, every year. It’s California’s life that’s on the line.”

“The Palisades and Eaton Fires have razed entire neighborhoods to the ground,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego). “When fires tear through homes, they don’t discriminate — and neither do the firefighters who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. From battling wildfires to responding to emergency calls, we owe the brave men and women of Cal Fire our highest debt of gratitude. We have much more work to do, but this bill is a critical first step to giving our firefighters the job stability and support they need and deserve.”

“The level of devastation in Altadena is truly hard to understand until you see it. Tragically, 17 people lost their lives, and thousands more suffered trauma and destruction. Throughout it all, our brave first responders faced unimaginable conditions to protect lives, homes, businesses, churches, and schools across Los Angeles. However, resources were spread thin across Los Angeles County as our firefighters battled multiple mega fires simultaneously,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “January has highlighted a new reality of climate change, one that demands we fully prepare for year-round, climate-driven disasters, making legislation for increased staffing levels essential. Firefighters are experiencing these staffing shortages firsthand and need additional personnel to ensure they can respond effectively to disasters wherever they occur. I’m grateful to Pro Tem McGuire for advancing legislation that will strengthen our firefighter ranks and ensure California is better equipped to prevent and respond to the next disaster.”

“There is so much loss and pain in my community right now,” said Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica). “As we start to rebuild, we want to lower the chances of this kind of horrific disaster from devastating another community again. One way to do that means more boots on the ground when the next fire starts. Firefighters are heroes but not machines who can work back-to-back 24 and 36 hour shifts; they need rest, medical attention and relief. Pro Tem McGuire’s legislation will grow our ranks by 3,000 highly-skilled, full-time firefighters, ready to go 24/7and 365 days a year.”

“My heart goes out to the countless Angelenos whose lives have been forever changed from the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” said Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “The firefighters responding to this historic disaster have been pushed to the brink defending our communities and saving lives. We’ve seen firsthand the challenging conditions throughout our state that firefighters are facing on the ground. It’s time they have the security and support they need to keep us safe. As we continue to experience year-round, deadly fires it is critical that our firefighting force has what it needs to address the ongoing challenges of extreme weather conditions.”

Sen. McGuire, whose district includes Lake County, has long championed legislation to protect and uplift California’s firefighters, including supporting historic investments to:

• In the last eight years, double the number of Cal Fire firefighters from 6,700 to 12,000 today.

• Made massive investments in new Cal Fire fire engines.

• Built out the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world.

• Invested over $4 billion in vegetation management projects in recent years.

Upcoming Calendar

8Feb
02.08.2025 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Harlem Voices at the Tallman Hotel
Tallman Hotel
8Feb
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Harlem Voices at the Tallman Hotel
Tallman Hotel
8Feb
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14Feb
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15Feb
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Kelseyville Lions Club fundraiser breakfast
15Feb
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15Feb
02.15.2025 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
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