The powerful NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has found an unexpectedly rich “undiscovered country” of early galaxies that has been largely hidden until now.
A few days after officially starting science operations, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope propelled astronomers into a realm of early galaxies, previously hidden beyond the grasp of all other telescopes.
Webb is now unveiling a very rich Universe where the first forming galaxies look remarkably different from the mature galaxies seen around us today. Researchers have found two exceptionally bright galaxies that existed approximately 300 and 400 million years after the Big Bang.
Their extreme brightness is puzzling to astronomers. The young galaxies are transforming gas into stars as fast as they can and they appear compacted into spherical or disc shapes that are much smaller than our Milky Way galaxy. The onset of stellar birth may have been just 100 million years after the Big Bang, which happened 13.8 billion years ago.
“Everything we see is new. Webb is showing us that there’s a very rich Universe beyond what we imagined,” said Tommaso Treu of the University of California at Los Angeles, a co-investigator on one of the Webb programmes. “Once again the Universe has surprised us. These early galaxies are very unusual in many ways.”
The results are from Webb’s GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program (Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space), and Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey, or CEERS.
Two research papers, led by Marco Castellano of the National Institute for Astrophysics in Rome, Italy, and Rohan Naidu of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts have been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
In just four days of analysis, researchers found two exceptionally bright galaxies in the GLASS-JWST images. These galaxies existed approximately 450 and 350 million years after the Big Bang (with redshifts of approximately 10.5 and 12.5, respectively), which future spectroscopic measurements with Webb will help confirm.
“With Webb, we were amazed to find the most distant starlight that anyone had ever seen, just days after Webb released its first data,” said Rohan Naidu of the more distant GLASS galaxy, referred to as GLASS-z12, which is believed to date back to 350 million years after big bang. The previous record holder is galaxy GN-z11, which existed 400 million years after the big bang (redshift 11.1), and identified in 2016 by Hubble and Keck Observatory in deep-sky programmes.
“Based on all the predictions, we thought we had to search a much bigger volume of space to find such galaxies,” said Castellano.
“These observations just make your head explode. This is a whole new chapter in astronomy. It’s like an archaeological dig, when suddenly you find a lost city or something you didn’t know about. It’s just staggering,” added Paola Santini, fourth author of the Castellano et al. GLASS-JWST paper.
“While the distances of these early sources still need to be confirmed with spectroscopy, their extreme brightnesses are a real puzzle, challenging our understanding of galaxy formation,” noted Pascal Oesch of the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
The Webb observations nudge astronomers toward a consensus that an unusual number of galaxies in the early Universe were much brighter than expected. This will make it easier for Webb to find even more early galaxies in subsequent deep sky surveys, say researchers.
“We’ve nailed something that is incredibly fascinating. These galaxies would have had to have started coming together maybe just 100 million years after the Big Bang. Nobody expected that the dark ages would have ended so early,” said Garth Illingworth of the University of California at Santa Cruz. “The primal Universe would have been just one hundredth of its current age. It’s a sliver of time in the 13.8-billion-year-old evolving cosmos.”
Naidu/Oesch team member Erica Nelson of the University of Colorado noted that “our team was struck by being able to measure the shapes of these first galaxies; their calm, orderly discs question our understanding of how the first galaxies formed in the crowded, chaotic early Universe.” This remarkable discovery of compact discs at such early times was only possible because Webb’s images are so much sharper, in infrared light, than Hubble’s.
“These galaxies are very different from the Milky Way or other big galaxies we see around us today,” said Treu.
Illingworth emphasised that the two bright galaxies found by these teams have a lot of light. He said one option is that they could have been very massive, with lots of low-mass stars, like later galaxies. Alternatively, they could be much less massive, consisting of far fewer extraordinarily bright stars, known as Population III stars. Long theorised, they would be the first stars ever born, blazing at blistering temperatures and made up of only primordial hydrogen and helium; only later would stars cook up heavier elements in their nuclear fusion furnaces. No such extremely hot, primordial stars are seen in the local Universe.
“Indeed, the most distant source is very compact, and its colours seem to indicate that its stellar population is particularly devoid of heavy elements and could even contain some Population III stars. Only Webb spectra will tell,” said Adriano Fontana, second author of the Castellano et al. paper and a member of the GLASS-JWST team.
Present Webb distance estimates to these two galaxies are based on measuring their infrared colors. Eventually, follow-up spectroscopy measurements showing how light has been stretched in the expanding Universe will provide independent verification of these cosmic yardstick measurements.
Webb is the largest, most powerful telescope ever launched into space. Under an international collaboration agreement, ESA provided the telescope’s launch service, using the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Working with partners, ESA was responsible for the development and qualification of Ariane 5 adaptations for the Webb mission and for the procurement of the launch service by Arianespace.
ESA also provided the workhorse spectrograph NIRSpec and 50% of the mid-infrared instrument MIRI, which was designed and built by a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (The MIRI European Consortium) in partnership with JPL and the University of Arizona.
Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency.
AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for a significant storm to cause a slew of hazards across the eastern United States, including heavy rain, snow and gusty winds, next week with the potential for holiday travel disruptions in the days leading up to Thanksgiving — and impacts may continue beyond the holiday as well.
The adverse weather will initially develop as two smaller storms form and travel thousands of miles, impacting millions of people around the holiday from the nation's midsection to the East Coast. Travelers in parts of the Midwest and Northeast may need to factor in the potential for wintry weather in their travel plans later in the week.
For those getting a head start on their holiday travel this weekend into Monday, people in a large swath of the nation will enjoy quiet weather conditions, and the vast majority of people will encounter few weather-related travel issues.
One of the ingredients for this potentially significant storm, an area of low pressure, will start to impact travelers beginning on Tuesday. Heavy rain and mountain snow will move into the Northwest and western Canada. This part of the storm will pack most of the energy needed for the bigger storm to form later in the week.
On Wednesday, the second ingredient, moisture emerging from the Gulf of Mexico, will help spark showers and thunderstorms across eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley, slowing pre-Thanksgiving travel there, including in Houston and Dallas.
Those two separate systems will begin to combine into a larger storm over the Midwest, Mississippi and Ohio valleys and parts of the South on Thanksgiving.
Thunderstorms packing torrential downpours will make for a soggy Turkey Day in cities such as Lake Charles and New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. Meanwhile, snow showers will make for a wintry scene and slick roads in parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, including in Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota.
While the strength and positioning of any developing storm are still uncertain a week out, there is the potential for further strengthening to occur as the storm reaches the Atlantic coast around Friday. Combined with fresh cold air rushing in from Canada, a swath of snow can interrupt post-Thanksgiving travel in parts of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast from Friday into next weekend.
Impacts can also occur along the coast, from the Carolinas to New England, including strong winds, high waves and tidal flooding, as the storm strengthens offshore.
If the two storms end up being weaker or the colder air ends up pushing farther south, the ingredients may not come together in the right position or in time to produce significant travel-impacting precipitation in the East.
Regardless, travelers should plan in advance for the potential of flight delays or cancellations at major airports, including Chicago-O'Hare, Atlanta-Hartsfield and the airports in the New York City tri-state area, as well as slow travel on major highways such as interstates 40, 70, 80, 90 and 95.
The potential for more snow in the Great Lakes will come in the wake of a major lake-effect snow event late this week and weekend, where several feet of snow is expected to accumulate, including in Buffalo.
Bill Deger is an AccuWeather senior meteorologist.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Lee Herrick to serve as California’s 10th Poet Laureate.
Herrick, 52, of Fresno, is a writer and professor who teaches at Fresno City College and the MFA program at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe.
A former Fresno Poet Laureate, Herrick’s work is a vivid celebration of the California experience.
“As a teacher, poet, and father, Lee writes movingly about his identity as a Californian and encourages others to reflect on what the state means to them,” said Gov. Newsom. “Lee’s dedication to highlighting the diverse experiences of Californians, and making them so accessible through his poetry, makes him a perfect candidate for Poet Laureate. I look forward to his work to inspire communities and individuals across the state through the power of the written word.”
Herrick’s poetry canon explores the diversity and vitality of the California experience and the exhilarating success of the American experiment. Born in Daejeon, South Korea and adopted as an infant, he grew up in Modesto immersed in literature, art and various cultural influences.
Herrick writes eloquently on the immigrant experience – bringing to life the smell of chapchae and the sound of mariachi trumpets, the farmers market at midnight, and the small talk of Armenian neighbors. Herrick’s work is a Whitmanesque celebration of the best spirit of our state, the vibrancy of the Central Valley, and ourselves.
“I am deeply honored, humbled, and excited to be named California Poet Laureate,” said Herrick, who will use his platform called Our California to bring together poetry with a social justice or civic engagement organization in each city that he visits during his term as Poet Laureate. “I am grateful to Gov. Newsom, his staff, First Partner Siebel Newsom, the Fresno Arts Council, the City of Fresno for making me a poet, poets and writers and readers throughout this great state, friends, teachers, colleagues, students, and mostly, my family, parents and sister, and my wife and daughter for their love and light.”
Herrick served as Poet Laureate of the City of Fresno from 2015 to 2017, where he led local efforts to bridge communities and engage young people in expressing themselves through writing.
“I’m thrilled that Lee Herrick will serve as California’s next Poet Laureate. Lee’s poetry invites us to reflect on our love of California and reminds us of the values we hold so dear -- our inclusivity, empathy, and creativity,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “Lee’s deep understanding of culture and community alongside his irrefutable talent will no doubt guide him throughout his tenure as our state’s poetry advocate. I look forward to working with him as he spreads a love and appreciation of poetry and literature across California, especially amongst our youth.”
Herrick’s work has been published in the Bloomsbury Review, Columbia Poetry Review, Berkeley Poetry Review, the Normal School, The Poetry Foundation, ZYZZYVA, and other publications.
He is a contributor to many anthologies, particularly those examining the literary flourishing of California’s Central Valley.
Herrick is the author of three books of poetry: “Scar and Flower,” “Gardening Secrets of the Dead” and “This Many Miles from Desire.”
The California Poet Laureate is charged with advocating for poetry in classrooms and boardrooms across the state, inspiring an emerging generation of literary artists, and educating all Californians about the many poets and authors who have influenced our state through creative literary expression.
Over the course of a two-year term, the Poet Laureate provides public readings in urban and rural locations across California, educates civic and state leaders about the value of poetry and creative expression and undertakes a significant cultural project, with one of its goals being to bring poetry to students who might otherwise have little opportunity to access it.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the California Arts Council provides an annual stipend. Herrick is a Democrat.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — In the years to come, Lake County residents should see dozens of newly planted valley oaks trees becoming part of the landscape at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, their canopies growing broad and tall over a life span marked in centuries.
This week, State Parks staff planted 100 valley oak seedlings over three locations at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
It’s part of a collaborative project between State Parks, the city of Clearlake and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.
“We’re excited,” Ryan Martin, the natural resources manager for the State Parks division that includes Lake County, said of the project.
The 1-year-old valley oak seedlings were sourced locally from Native Nursery, owned by Larry Ray. Chad Mackie, a State Parks forestry aide, picked up the trees on Tuesday.
A team of five planted the trees in just two days, starting with 77 on Wednesday and the remaining trees on Thursday.
The trees were planted along Seigler Canyon Creek, across Highway 53 from the park’s ranch house, as well as on the North Flat area and in the grassland around the ranch house itself.
Planting 100 trees in two days was “quite a feat,” said Chaye VanKeuren, a State Parks environmental scientist.
The recent rains softened the ground and offered the right conditions for planting.
“We’ve been waiting for rain to really pull the trigger,” said VanKeuren.
Valley oaks, known by their scientific name as Quercus lobata, are native to California and the largest oaks to grow in North America.
The little trees, now about 1 foot tall, could someday reach 100 feet in height and could live as long as 600 years.
Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association Board member Henry Bornstein said State Parks staff settled on 100 trees as the number that would work best for the area.
“Planting trees is always a good idea,” said Bornstein.
VanKeuren said they placed the trees in areas where they thought they would do best, including areas along hillsides.
Rosie Blackburn, a State Parks environmental services intern who mapped where the trees would be located, helped plant the last of the trees on Thursday.
Blackburn said the trees were planted in clusters of six. She said they will be monitoring the seedlings and will base their watering schedule on conditions after winter.
Mackie said cages will be placed around the little trees before spring.
The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association will eventually do the watering, weeding and maintenance for the seedlings.
Two educational panels about the trees, at North Flat and near the ranch house, eventually will be installed.
In June, the city announced that it would provide $21,000 to the planting project at Anderson Marsh from $100,000 in tree mitigation fees paid by the developer of the 102-unit Konocti Gardens, an affordable housing project being built by CSI Construction at 3930 Old Highway 53.
City Manager Alan Flora, who along with Mayor Dirk Slooten came out to check out the last of the plantings on Thursday, said the Konocti Gardens project removed close to 100 oak trees, some of them very large.
While the state has made affordable housing projects statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, the city was able to require mitigation.
That’s because the city of Clearlake is the only jurisdiction in the county to have an oak tree protection ordinance that requires developers who cut down native oak trees to either replant trees of the same species or choose to pay a fee to fund replanting by the city.
That ordinance, which the Clearlake City Council passed in April 2008, established regulations to protect certain native trees — blue oak, valley oak, interior live oak, California black oak, canyon live oak and Oregon white oak, as well as any tree the Clearlake City Council designates as a “heritage tree” — in order to enhance the attractiveness and livability of the city
Koi tribal monitor Yolanda Sanchez was on the site on Thursday to make sure they didn’t dig into archaeological sites. Another tribal monitor, Fabian Romero, also had assisted with the project on Wednesday.
Bornstein said no one really knows if there were oaks in the planting areas before.
He said that the Army Corps of Engineers has done numerous projects along Cache Creek over the years, including straightening the creek and taking a foot off the Grigsby riffle. Even with those alterations, Bornstein said portions of the park, including along the Cache Creek trail, still flood during high water years.
There is the potential for more projects in the future, but nothing ready to go yet, said Flora. “We still have some funding but we haven’t identified anything.”
Flora said the city also is looking at possible conservation easements or acquiring property for future planting projects.
Correction: The article has been corrected to state that this was a collaborative project between State Parks, the city of Clearlake and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, not Anderson Marsh State Historic 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, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport Fire Protection District said its north Lakeport station sustained major damage on Saturday night after a vehicle crashed into it.
The damage was done to Lakeport Fire Station 52 at 3600 Hill Road East.
Station 52, which is currently unstaffed due to budget constraints, sustained significant damage to its steel framework, as well as the bay doors, the district reported.
On Wednesday, the district said it did not yet have a formal estimate of the cost to repair the station, but conservative estimates place the damage as likely over $100,000.
The district said that at 9:15 p.m. Saturday a vehicle traveling at high speed crashed into Station 52.
Due to the high rate of speed of the vehicle, the district said the driver was unable to properly negotiate the Hill Road exit off Highway 29.
As a result, the vehicle crossed Park Way, went over a curb and through a grassy area, traveled through a Caltrans highway fence and across Hill Road before hitting the station and finally coming to a stop.
The district said the California Highway Patrol was on scene immediately and the Lakeport Fire Protection District firefighters and paramedics arrived within minutes to render medical aid to the driver.
The driver was uninjured, the district reported.
The district’s main operations are based out of its headquarters, Station 50, located at 445 N. Main St. in downtown Lakeport.
Rebecca S.B. Fischer, Texas A&M University and Annette Regan, University of San Francisco
Every fall and winter, viral respiratory illnesses like the common cold and seasonal flu keep kids out of school and social activities. But this year, more children than usual are ending up at emergency departments and hospitals.
In the U.S., the winter respiratory virus season started earlier than usual this year. Since peak infections usually occur in late December or January, this uncharacteristic early wave suggests that the situation could get much worse for people of all ages, particularly children.
We are epidemiologists with expertise in epidemic analysis for emerging disease threats, including respiratory infections. We watch patterns in these infections closely, and we pay particular attention when the patterns are unusual. We’ve grown increasingly concerned about the amount of pediatric hospitalizations over the last few months and the pattern that is emerging.
The ‘triple threat’
In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory about increased activity in respiratory infections – especially among children. The CDC and other health experts are warning of the so-called “triple threat” of respiratory illness from RSV, influenza – or the seasonal flu – and COVID-19.
The underlying reasons for the convergence of these viruses and the increase in infections so early in the season are not yet clear. But health experts have some clues about contributing factors and what it could mean for the coming months.
When it comes to COVID-19, 2022 is expected to usher in another winter wave of infections, similar to patterns seen in 2020 and 2021. Previous winter surges stemmed from a combination of factors, including the emergence and spread of new viral variants, more people gathering indoors rather than distanced outside, and people coming together for the holidays.
But unlike previous pandemic winters, most COVID-19 precautions – such as using masks in public areas or avoiding group activities – are more relaxed than ever. Together with the looming threat of new variants, it is difficult to predict how big the next COVID-19 wave could be.
And while the seasonal flu has proved somewhat unpredictable during the COVID-19 pandemic, it nearly always hits during late October. Flu season also arrived about a month early and in greater numbers than in recent history. By our read of the data, pediatric flu hospitalizations are nearing 10 times what has been seen for this time of year for more than a decade.
RSV infections tend to follow a similar seasonal pattern as the flu, peaking in winter months. But this year, there was an unexpected summer wave, well before the start of the typical fall respiratory virus season.
In typical years, RSV garners little media attention. It’s incredibly common and usually causes only mild illness. In fact, most children encounter the virus before age 2.
But RSV can be a formidable respiratory infection with serious consequences for children under 5, especially infants. It is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in young children, and more severe illnesses can lead to pneumonia and other complications, often requiring hospitalization.
One reason the youngest children are at greater risk is that their immune systems are not yet fully developed and don’t produce the robust immune response seen in most adults. What’s more, infants younger than 6 months – who are most at risk of severe disease – are still too young to be vaccinated against influenza or COVID-19.
These viruses present challenges on their own, but their co-circulation and coinciding surges in infections create a perfect storm for multiple viruses to infect the same person at once. Viruses might even act together to evade immunity and cause damage to the respiratory tract.
There are a few reasons why the U.S. may be seeing a surge in pediatric respiratory infections. First, COVID-19 protection strategies actually help prevent the transmission of other respiratory pathogens. School and daycare closures likely also minimized exposures children normally have to various respiratory viruses.
These and other efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 seem to have suppressed the broad circulation of other viruses, including influenza and RSV. As a result, the U.S. saw an overall drop in non-COVID respiratory infections – and an almost nonexistent flu season in the winter of 2020.
The decreased viral activity means that children missed out on some exposures to viruses and other pathogens that typically help build immunity, particularly during the first few years of life. The resulting so-called “immunity debt” may contribute to an excess of pediatric respiratory infections as we continue into this season.
To further complicate the picture, the changing nature of viruses, including theemergence of new COVID-19 variants and the natural evolution of seasonal influenza viruses, means that we could be seeing a unique combination of particularly transmissible strains or strains that cause more severe illness.
Proactive steps people can take
The early surge in respiratory infections with high rates of hospitalization highlights the importance of prevention. The best tool we have for prevention is vaccination. Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 and influenza are available and recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. They have been shown to be safe and effective, and they can and do save lives.
The best way to protect infants younger than 6 months old against flu and COVID-19 is by vaccination during pregnancy. When a pregnant mother is vaccinated, maternal antibodies cross the placenta to the baby, reducing the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization in young infants by 61%. Vaccination of other caregivers, family and friends can also help protect infants.
Other preventive measures, like hand-washing, covering sneezes and coughs, staying at home and isolating when sick, can help to protect the community from these viruses and others. Paying attention to local public health advisers can also help people to have the most up-to-date information and make informed decisions to keep themselves and others – of all ages – safe.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — At a fire station in Napa on Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state fire officials announced the end of peak fire season in most areas of California, while highlighting Cal Fire’s early work in preparation for next year’s wildfire season.
The state stays ready to respond to wildfires across the state.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles and Ventura counties were under red flag warnings, underscoring how California wildfire season is year-round.
Due to a number of factors — including weather, the work of local, state and federal firefighters, and state investments — this year’s wildfire season was significantly less severe than previous years, which officials said allowed Cal Fire to get a head start on prevention projects ahead of next year.
Cal Fire has completed more than 20,000 acres of prevention and mitigation projects like prescribed burns in the last two months alone, compared to lesser amounts in recent years when firefighters were instead battling wildfires.
“There’s no better representation of how volatile fire seasons can be than my first term as governor — two of the most destructive wildfire seasons in recorded history, and two of the least destructive in a decade,” said Gov. Newsom. “That’s why we’ve made record investments in wildfire response and treating more acres than ever before so we can protect lives and save homes. While we’ve reached the end of peak fire season in a better position than recent years, wildfire season in California is year-round and we remain vigilant, focused on protecting lives and livelihoods.”
On his first full day in office in January 2019, Gov. Newsom focused on wildfire resilience and preparedness, signing two executive orders aimed at protecting Californians from the growing threat of wildfires and other natural disasters.
In just the past two years, the state has allocated a record $2.8 billion in wildfire resilience as part of the California Climate Commitment. These investments in restoring forest health are guided by the Governor’s 99-point Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. The exponential increase in funding launched more than 552 wildfire resilience projects in less than a year.
Cal Fire also met its 2025 goal of treating 100,000 acres a year a full three years ahead of schedule. Since fiscal year 2019-20, treatment work has significantly increased and Cal Fire has averaged 100,000 acres treated each year.
An additional $674.1 million in 2022-23 will add 1,350 new positions and expand fire crews, air attack operations, and provide for additional relief for Cal Fire staff to meet the demands of wildland firefighting in a changing climate. California also introduced “FIRIS” statewide, to provide real-time information and situational awareness to the state and California’s mutual aid system responders and managers.
Never in California’s history has the state had the number of initial attack aircraft available to respond to fires that it does today, the state reported.
In addition to Cal Fire’s existing fleet of 62 aircraft, 18 exclusive use helicopters and six exclusive use fixed wing aircraft were hired and strategically located throughout the state to provide an even greater response capability.
Additionally this was the first year Cal Fire’s new Fire Hawk helicopters were capable of nighttime aerial firefighting operations, which has proved to be another valuable capability. This year’s state budget provided four additional Fire Hawk helicopters, adding to the 12 Fire Hawks purchased by the state since Gov. Newsom was elected in 2018.
“We’re proud to announce the end of the 2022 peak fire season and sincerely thank the brave women and men who have worked tirelessly this year to protect and safeguard California communities and natural resources,” said Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler. “While Mother Nature gave us favorable conditions, it’s the investments made by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature, and the hard work of our crews and communities coming together that will continue to turn the page on the severity and destruction of past wildfire seasons. But our work is far from over and we continue to ask all Californians to double-down on fire safety and prevention efforts.”
According to Cal Fire, the state has seen a significant reduction in acres burned and structures damaged or destroyed this year compared to years past.
While firefighters still battled blazes this time last year, the state has been able to pivot early and focus on prevention and mitigation, completing more than 20,000 acres of prescribed fire and mechanical fuels reduction in strategic areas in the past two months. Completed in partnership with local, state and federal partners, and a range of tribal communities, significantly more work is underway than in recent previous years.
“California is rising to meet the growing challenges posed by climate change by building robust partnerships across the local, state and federal levels,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “We are also leveraging new technology, adding more personnel and equipment and upping our game to detect fires rapidly and put them out where they start.
Successful and aggressive initial attack efforts were aided by additional staff, aerial resources, and equipment kept many fires small that could have been catastrophic. Examples include the Rices Fire, Electra Fire and Dutch Fire.
In larger wildfires where properties were lost, firefighters were able to prevent massive catastrophes, including saving an estimated 9,236 threatened structures on the Mosquito Fire (where 78 structures were destroyed), and saved 427 threatened structures from damage or destruction on the Oak Fire (where 194 structures were destroyed).
While mother nature played a substantial role, the full fire prevention and protection toolbox of prevention, education, suppression and protection, and recovery all worked together to keep Californians safe while protecting state communities and forests.
This year is likely an outlier in terms of favorable conditions. According to a state report published earlier this month, half of the state’s largest wildfires in the past 70 years occurred in just two years: 2020 and 2021.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The process to hire a new chancellor of the Yuba Community College District is underway.
The district, which includes Woodland Community College and its Lake County campus in Clearlake, is seeking a permanent chancellor to succeed Dr. Douglas B. Houston, who left the college last year.
Since July 1, 2021, Dr. James L.J. Houpis has served as interim chancellor.
Documents for the district board’s meeting last Thursday, Nov. 10, explained that the governing board approved the chancellor’s job announcement at its July 14 meeting.
It was developed based on a districtwide survey conducted in September 2021.
At the board’s meeting last week, board Vice President Juan Delgado reported that the search committee met again recently to review applicants.
The committee will meet again to review the first round of applicants on Dec. 5, he said. At that point, committee members also will review potential questions in order to prepare for the interviews.
Delgado said the search committee will begin reviewing applications at the end of January.
The district is accepting applications until Jan. 16. The initial screening of applicants will take place on Jan. 20.
At staff’s suggestion, the board approved the revised chancellor job announcement as presented with a unanimous vote.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control continues to offer many dogs to new homes.
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The following dogs are available for adoption.
‘Zeda’
“Zeda” is a female Labrador retriever mix.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 51108916.
‘Aoki’
“Aoki” is a male Siberian husky mix with a white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50905477.
‘Athena’
“Athena” is a female American pit bull mix terrier with a short brindle coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49934476.
‘Babs’
“Babs” is a female Labrador retriever mix with a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49505856.
‘Baby’
“Baby” is a female American pit bull mix with a white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50933640.
‘Bruce’
“Bruce” is a 2-year-old American pit bull mix with a short gray coat with white markings.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50684304.
‘Buster’
“Buster” is a male pit bull mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50762164.
‘Domino’
“Domino” is a male terrier mix with a short white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50815541.
‘Eros’
“Eros” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50754504.
‘Foxie’
“Foxie” is a female German shepherd with a red, black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49702845.
‘Goliath’
“Goliah” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and tan coat.
He is dog No. 50754509.
‘Hakuna’
“Hakuna” is a male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
‘Herman’
“Herman” is a 7-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a brown coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 51236411.
‘Hondo’
“Hondo” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a buff coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s dog No. 50227693.
‘Jack’
“Jack” is a 9-month-old male terrier mix with a short black and brindle coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50992658.
‘Little Boy’
“Little Boy” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50075256.
‘Luciano’
“Luciano” is a male Siberian husky mix with a short black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50596272.
‘Mamba’
“Mamba” is a male Siberian husky mix with a gray and cream-colored coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49520569.
‘Matata’
“Matata” is male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
‘Maya’
“Maya” is a female German shepherd with a black and tan coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50428151.
‘Mikey’
“Mikey” is a male German shepherd mix with a short brown and tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 51012855.
‘Molly’
“Molly” is a female Samoyed mix with a long white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50933031.
‘Paige’
“Paige” is a female American pit bull mix with a short brown coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 51194668.
‘Poppa’
“Poppa” is a 3-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a short red and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50773597.
‘Rascal’
“Rascal” is a male shepherd mix with a black and brown coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50806384.
‘Reese’
“Reese” is a female German Shepherd with a black and an coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50884542.
‘Sadie’
“Sadie” is a female German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49802563.
‘Snowball’
“Snowball is a 1 and a half year old male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49159168.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a handsome male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He gets along with other dogs, including small ones, and enjoys toys. He also likes water, playing fetch and keep away.
Staff said he is now getting some training to help him build confidence.
He is dog No. 48443693.
‘Trike’
“Trike” is a male border collie-Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat and blue eyes.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 51029972.
‘Willie’
“Willie” is a male German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50596003.
‘Zeus’
“Zeus” is a male Samoyed mix with a long white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50933068.
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 Thursday, Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), alongside Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), released the following statement after the House passed the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency, or FIRE, Act.
“California remains on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and as wildfires and drought continue to threaten our communities, we must ensure that we have the resources we need to efficiently prepare and respond to disasters,” said Rep. Thompson. “The FIRE Act will help us provide a robust response to wildfires, pre-deploy resources before potential disasters, and improve equitable disaster assistance. Proud to work with leaders such as Reps. Lofgren, Huffman, and Panetta and Senator Padilla to ensure FEMA’s disaster preparedness can fully address wildfires and the communities they impact.”
“Wildfires present a unique and increasing danger in California and across the country. Congress must ensure all federal agencies and statutes are set up in ways that best support our communities as they prepare for and respond to deadly fires,” said Rep. Lofgren. “Wildfire assistance should not be treated as less important than hurricanes, tornadoes or floods, and our bill importantly improves and brings parity to FEMA’s efforts by focusing on disaster-specific needs. Passage of this bill is part of a whole-of-government approach to better prevent and respond to destructive wildfires.”
“The FIRE Act advancing in the House today will ensure that our state and country are better equipped to prepare for and respond to the imminent threat of wildfires each year,” said Sen. Padilla. “Protecting our communities from destructive wildfires is a bipartisan issue that requires the complete coordination of all levels of the government. I thank my colleagues in Congress for understanding the importance of providing the necessary resources for our communities to face the threat of wildfires every year, and I look forward to sending the FIRE Act to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
“Climate change is accelerating, and our policies need to keep pace so communities can withstand the worst of its impacts – like the devastating wildfires my district has been battling year after year,” said Rep. Huffman. “Today’s vote on our FIRE Act is an important step towards reaching that goal. This bill will help FEMA evolve their practices to respond faster and prioritize the needs of impacted communities and survivors, while improving partnerships with tribal governments. The climate crisis isn’t waiting, and I hope to see the Senate take this up again and get it to the President’s desk as soon as possible for the health and safety of our communities.”
“As the American West continues to endure record drought, we will continue to be threatened by catastrophic wildfires,” said Rep. Panetta. “The FIRE Act would help meet that threat by reviewing expansion of eligibility for relocation assistance to fire-prone areas and allowing FEMA to proactively deploy its resources during red flag warnings. Such critical measures will allow FEMA to provide timely, efficient, and necessary disaster preparedness that is so deserved and needed by our vulnerable communities.”
“Since the aftermath of the Tubbs fire, Santa Rosa has been working closely with FEMA and other federal partners to rebuild a more resilient community,” said Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Rogers. “Along the way we had to overcome federal regulatory and policy issues that have added significant time and expense to our rebuilding process. Congressman Thompson’s work and leadership on the FIRE Act will ensure that federal policy must continue to adapt to meet today’s disaster mitigation and recovery needs. The FIRE Act will provide FEMA with additional flexibility to help fire impacted communities rebuild faster and in a more efficient manner.”
The FIRE Act will update the Stafford Act that governs the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to improve its wildfire preparedness and response programs such as by looking at pre-deployment of assets during times of highest wildfire risk and red flag warnings and by increasing equity and consistency across multiple FEMA assistance programs. In September, the Senate passed a version of the bill, sponsored by Senator Padilla.
In 2015, the City of Santa Rosa restored Santa Rosa Fire Station No. 5. In 2017, it was completely burned to the ground.
Normally in disasters, cities can utilize FEMA's relocation assistance. However, when the city went to FEMA for help rebuilding the fire station, which was essential to the safety of the community, they were told that the fire station didn't qualify for relocation assistance, because the Stafford Act specifically states that there must be demonstrated repeated damage to a structure before FEMA will release funding for rebuilding or repair. In the case of fires, it is impossible to show repeated damage.
Due to FEMA being bound by the Stafford Act, they couldn't provide assistance to rebuild the fire station and the city had to work with Congressman Thompson to get funding elsewhere.
Click here to view or download full text of the House-passed FIRE Act.
One of Lake County’s members of Congress reported he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) revealed his diagnosis on Wednesday.
“After taking a regular PCR test, I have tested positive for COVID-19,” he said in the Wednesday statement.
“Thanks to being fully vaccinated and receiving both booster shots, I am experiencing only mild symptoms. I will be working from home and my office remains fully open to serve the people of our district,” Thompson said.
“As COVID-19 continues to evolve, I recommend every American to get their updated COVID-19 vaccine and booster to stay healthy and protect their friends and families,” he added.
Thompson currently represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
Last week, Thompson was elected to the newly redrawn Fourth Congressional District, which will include all of Lake County, rather than just the county’s southern half, as his current district does.