KUKI News

Pacific Gas and Electric is facing an even bigger record fine. PG&E agreed last fall to pay nearly one-point-seven-billion dollars for causing two of California’s deadly wildfires. Consumer groups protested, saying the settlement was too low. After further review, the CPUC agreed and are now proposing a two-point-one-billion dollar fine.

A Ukiah woman is facing several charges – including attempted murder. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Nichole Birdsall entered a home in Ukiah and began attacking two women in the residence who were sleeping, with a knife. Birsdall had previously dated one of the women, who had obtained a restraining order against Birdsall. Deputies arrived to find a 47 year-old female victim with multiple lacerations to her arms and legs, and Birdsall with an injury to her abdomen. Both women were treated at a hospital and Birdsall was booked into Mendocino County Jail.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Mendocino will now be conducting inspections seven days a week – instead of just weekends – for invasive mussel species. The daily inspections for species like quagga and zebra mussels will start this Sunday and will continue to take place at the North and South Boat ramps. The increased inspections are being done with help from the Sonoma County Water Agency.

As part of the work of finalizing and certifying the local results of the March 3 presidential primary, the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office will conduct a public manual tally on Monday, March 16. The count will begin at 9 a.m. in the registrar’s office at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport. Observers are invited to view the manual tally of the ballots but not interfere with the election process.

Multiple arrests were made in a violent offender special enforcement operation. On Tuesday, the Clearlake Police Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole, and Lake County Probation conducted the operation across the city which included 24 specific locations of people known to be on active CDCR parole, post release community supervision or probation. 7 people were arrested, including 3 felony and 4 misdemeanor arrests.

The Lake County Fair Board of Directors has selected Sheli Wright as the new chief executive officer of the fair. Mendocino Fair CEO Jim Brown has been serving as the interim CEO since former CEO Courtny Conkle left last fall to take over as Wyoming State Fair manager. Wright previously worked as manager for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ North Coast Region Office. She will officially take over as the Lake County Fair CEO on March 16th.

Health officials have confirmed that a coronavirus case in California could represent the first person-to-person transmission in the U.S. The CDC reports that the individual is a resident of Solano County. There are 10 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the state, according to the California Department of Public Health. Approximately 200 people have been tested to date. Local health officials say the risk of the coronavirus making its way to Lake and Mendocino Counties remains low.

California wildfire victims are urging a judge to stop FEMA from being reimbursed. The agency filed a claim for nearly four-billion dollars after PG&E’s equipment sparked fires in 2017 and 2018.  Lawyers for the utility say this could affect the 13-billion dollar settlement with victims. Congressmen Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson are co-sponsoring legislation that would prevent the federal government from demanding victims return aid.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation has awarded the city of Lakeport a grant to build a new lakefront park. Almost 6 million dollars will go towards the park project at the former Natural High School site. The grant will cover the city’s cost of purchasing the land from the school district, plus the amenities that will come with the park. Plans call for a skate park, splash pad, basketball court, amphitheater, shaded picnic areas, a concessions building and restroom, parking lot, and more.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers continues their cleanup work of Bushay and Kyen Campgrounds at Lake Mendocino, with a goal to have both campgrounds open by Memorial Day. Temporary workers have been helping with 2019 storm damage repairs.The work includes cleaning up the debris from fallen trees, doing vegetation management, and getting the sites and roads ready for public use. Workers spent 3 months working the Bushay Campground, and will spend another 3 months cleaning up the Kyen Campground.