As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol is highlighting the new public safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative session and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Unless otherwise noted, the laws referenced below take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Combating retail theft

Crimes: Organized Theft (SB 982, Wahab)

Senate Bill 982 makes the crime of organized retail theft permanent and strengthens measures to address retail crime. The bill eliminates the expiration date for specific provisions targeting organized retail theft, ensuring long-term tools for law enforcement to combat this issue.

Crimes: Fires (SB 1242, Min)

Senate Bill 1242 amends Penal Code Section 452 regarding the unlawful setting of fires. It updates penalties and legal language to clarify offenses, including circumstances involving organized retail theft.

Sentencing enhancements: Sale, exchange or return of stolen property

Senate Bill 1416 (Newman)

Senate Bill 1416 focuses on combating organized retail theft by increasing penalties for those involved in the resale of stolen goods, often referred to as “fencing.” The bill, until January 1, 2030, creates sentencing enhancements for individuals who sell, exchange, or return stolen property for value, particularly when the property exceeds specific thresholds. Punishment increases from one year to four years based on a property value scale ranging from $50,000 to over $3 million.

Theft: Jurisdiction (AB 1779, Irwin)

Assembly Bill 1779 addresses the issue of organized retail theft by streamlining the prosecution process. Specifically, it allows district attorneys to consolidate charges for theft offenses committed across multiple counties into a single trial, provided all affected county district attorneys agree.

Crimes: Organized Theft (AB 1802, Jones-Sawyer)

Assembly Bill 1802 ensures that the crime of organized retail theft remains permanently defined in state law and extends the CHP’s Property Crimes Task Force indefinitely. This bill eliminates the “sunset” clause that would have otherwise allowed the statute and the task force to expire.

Regional Property Crimes Task Force (AB 1972, Alanis)

Assembly Bill 1972 expands the scope of the CHP's Regional Property Crimes Task Force to include cargo theft as a property crime for consideration and requires the task force to provide logistical and law enforcement support for railroad police.

This bill emphasizes cargo theft as a specific priority and aims to strengthen resources for law enforcement agencies to combat these issues. As an urgency statute, AB 1972 went into effect immediately upon its passage in August 2024 to address these concerns promptly.

Crimes: Shoplifting (AB 2943, Zbur)

Assembly Bill 2943, also called the “California Retail Theft Reduction Act,” strengthens measures to combat organized retail theft by creating a specific crime for serial retail theft, allowing the aggregation of property value for thefts committed within 90 days to qualify as grand theft. It empowers law enforcement to make arrests using video evidence or sworn statements, shields businesses from lawsuits for reporting crimes and promotes rehabilitation through diversion programs for minor offenders. The bill aims to dismantle theft rings while balancing public safety and criminal justice reforms.

Crimes: Theft: Retail Theft Restraining Orders (AB 3209, Berman)

Assembly Bill 3209 creates a retail crime restraining order. A court may issue a restraining order when sentencing an individual for specific retail theft-related crimes, including vandalism of a retail store and assaulting a retail store employee. The restraining order prohibits the individual from entering or being on the grounds of the establishment and may include parking lots adjacent to and used by the establishment.

Emergency alert information sharing

Electronic Toll Collection Systems: Information Sharing: Law Enforcement (AB 2645, Lackey)

Assembly Bill 2645 allows transportation agencies operating electronic toll collection systems to share real-time license plate data with law enforcement during active emergency alerts, such as AMBER, Ebony, or Feather Alerts. This legislation eliminates the need for a search warrant in such situations, enabling quicker responses to locate suspect vehicles linked to emergencies, such as child abductions.

Tools to address reckless driving and sideshows

Vehicles: Speed Contests (AB 1978, Sanchez)

Assembly Bill 1978 permits storing a vehicle when an individual is arrested but not taken into custody for obstructing or placing a barricade on a highway or off-street parking facility for purposes of aiding a speed contest or exhibition of speed.

Vehicles: Impoundment (AB 2186, Wallis)

Assembly Bill 2186 permits the arrest and custody of individuals engaged in an exhibition of speed in an off-street parking facility. It also permits the impounding of the individual’s vehicle for not more than 30 days.

Vehicles: Sideshows and Street Takeovers (AB 2807, Villapudua)

Assembly Bill 2807 defines a “sideshow” and a “street takeover” as the same type of event.

Vehicles: Removal and Impoundment (AB 3085, Gipson)

Assembly Bill 3085 provides authority to seize and impound a vehicle with a warrant when the vehicle was used in violation of a speed contest or exhibition of speed (including aiding or abetting). This bill also permits electronic service of the notices of impoundment and storage hearings.

Electric bicycle safety

Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage (SB 1271, Min)

Beginning January 1, 2026, SB 1271 focuses on improving the safety standards for electric bicycles (e-bikes), powered mobility devices, and related lithium-ion batteries. It requires these devices and their components, such as batteries and charging systems, to be tested by accredited laboratories to meet specific safety standards. The bill also mandates labeling these products to show compliance with safety regulations, ensuring consumers are informed. Furthermore, it prohibits distributing, selling, or leasing e-bikes and related equipment unless they meet these standards, aiming to reduce risks like fire hazards and electrical malfunctions. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill would prohibit a person from renting or offering for rental an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery unless it has been tested to the specified safety standard.

Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1774, Gipson)

Assembly Bill 1774 prohibits modifying an electric bicycle’s speed capability to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. Also, it prohibits selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle.

Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1778, Connolly)

Assembly Bill 1778 authorizes a local authority within the County of Marin, or the County of Marin in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 2 electric bicycle or requiring a person operating a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a helmet.

Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 2234, Boerner)

Assembly Bill 2234 establishes the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Program and authorizes a local authority within the County of San Diego, or the County of San Diego in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.

Photo Enforced Speed Enforcement Pilot Program

The City of Malibu’s Speed Safety System Pilot Program (SB 1297, Allen)

Senate Bill 1297 establishes a five-year Speed Safety System Pilot Program in the City of Malibu. The bill defines a ‘speed safety system’ as a fixed or mobile radar or laser system, or any other electronic device that utilizes automated equipment, to detect a violation of speed laws and obtains a clear photograph of a speeding vehicle’s license plate. The bill establishes mandates regarding policy, enforcement, implementation, public notification, and a system evaluation report.

Clean air vehicle sticker extension

Vehicles: High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (AB 2678, Wallis)

Assembly Bill 2678 permits vehicles with a Clean Air Vehicle decal to drive in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes until Jan. 1, 2027, if federal law permits.

Autonomous vehicles

Vehicle Equipment: Driver Monitoring Defeat Devices (SB 1313, Ashby)

Senate Bill 1313 prohibits using, possessing, or selling devices designed to interfere with driver monitoring systems in vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems or autonomous technology. These systems monitor driver alertness and help ensure safety when automated features are used. Violating this law is classified as an infraction. Exceptions are provided for manufacturers testing new technology, vehicle repairs, and updates compliant with safety standards or modifications for disability accommodations. This law aims to enhance road safety by preventing tampering with critical monitoring systems.

Autonomous Vehicles Interactions with First Responders and Traffic Violation Notices – AB 1777 (Ting)

Upon the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adoption of necessary regulations, AB 1777 creates new authority for a law enforcement officer to issue a “notice of autonomous vehicle (AV) noncompliance” to an AV manufacturer for an alleged traffic violation committed by one of their vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2026, AB 1777 establishes additional requirements for how AVs that operate without a human operator in the vehicle interact with first responders, including a requirement for manufacturers to provide a two-way device in the vehicles to communicate with first responders.

Pedestrian safety around buses

Transit buses: Yield Right-of-Way Sign (AB 1904, Ward)

Assembly Bill 1904 authorizes a transit agency to equip a transit bus with a “yield” right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus. The sign may be a static decal or a flashing light-emitting diode (LED).

License plate manipulation

License Plates: Obstruction or Alteration (AB 2111, Wallis)

Assembly Bill 2111 prohibits any alteration of a license plate’s reflective coating to avoid detection from any entity, not just law enforcement.

Property theft from a vehicle

Crimes: Theft from A Vehicle (SB 905, Wiener)

Senate Bill 905 creates the crime of Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle, which addresses unlawfully entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or any felony. It also adds the crime of Automotive Property Theft for Resale, which addresses possessing stolen property obtained from a vehicle with the intent to sell or exchange the property for value. The property's value must be over $950.00 and not for personal use. The value of property can be combined within two years of separate acts.

Deep Space Station 23’s 133-ton reflector dish was recently installed, marking a key step in strengthening NASA’s Deep Space Network.

NASA’s Deep Space Network, an array of giant radio antennas, allows agency missions to track, send commands to, and receive scientific data from spacecraft venturing to the Moon and beyond. NASA is adding a new antenna, bringing the total to 15, to support increased demand for the world’s largest and most sensitive radio frequency telecommunication system.

Installation of the latest antenna took place on Dec. 18, when teams at NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California, installed the metal reflector framework for Deep Space Station 23, a multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna. When operational in 2026, Deep Space Station 23 will receive transmissions from missions such as Perseverance, Psyche, Europa Clipper, Voyager 1, and a growing fleet of future human and robotic spacecraft in deep space.

“This addition to the Deep Space Network represents a crucial communication upgrade for the agency,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program. “The communications infrastructure has been in continuous operation since its creation in 1963, and with this upgrade we are ensuring NASA is ready to support the growing number of missions exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

Construction of the new antenna has been under way for more than four years, and during the installation, teams used a crawler crane to lower the 133-ton metal skeleton of the 112-foot-wide (34-meter-wide) parabolic reflector before it was bolted to a 65-foot-high (20-meter-high) alidade, a platform above the antenna’s pedestal that will steer the reflector during operations.

“One of the biggest challenges facing us during the lift was to ensure that 40 bolt-holes were perfectly aligned between the structure and alidade,” said Germaine Aziz, systems engineer, Deep Space Network Aperture Enhancement Program of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “This required a meticulous emphasis on alignment prior to the lift to guarantee everything went smoothly on the day.”

Following the main lift, engineers carried out a lighter lift to place a quadripod, a four-legged support structure weighing 16 1/2 tons, onto the center of the upward-facing reflector. The quadripod features a curved subreflector that will direct radio frequency signals from deep space that bounce off the main reflector into the antenna’s pedestal, where the antenna’s receivers are housed.

Engineers will now work to fit panels onto the steel skeleton to create a curved surface to reflect radio frequency signals. Once complete, Deep Space Station 23 will be the fifth of six new beam-waveguide antennas to join the network, following Deep Space Station 53, which was added at the Deep Space Network’s Madrid complex in 2022.

“With the Deep Space Network, we are able to explore the Martian landscape with our rovers, see the James Webb Space Telescope’s stunning cosmic observations, and so much more,” said Laurie Leshin, director of JPL. “The network enables over 40 deep space missions, including the farthest human-made objects in the universe, Voyager 1 and 2. With upgrades like these, the network will continue to support humanity’s exploration of our solar system and beyond, enabling groundbreaking science and discovery far into the future.”

NASA’s Deep Space Network is managed by JPL, with the oversight of NASA’s SCaN Program. More than 100 NASA and non-NASA missions rely on the Deep Space Network and Near Space Network, including supporting astronauts aboard the International Space Station and future Artemis missions, monitoring Earth’s weather and the effects of climate change, supporting lunar exploration, and uncovering the solar system and beyond.

For more information about the Deep Space Network, visit https://www.nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/dsn.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Among its last items of business for this year, the Board of Supervisors earlier this month approved a lease agreement for office space for the Public Defender’s Office, but it did so over objections from a longtime defense attorney and a former supervisor citing issues of proximity to a public park and cost.

The Board of Supervisors approved the 10-year lease for the Public Defender’s Office on the second and third floors at 55 First St. in a unanimous vote on Dec. 3. The lease was retroactive to Dec. 1, and will end on Nov. 30, 2034.

The lease document also grants the county the first right of refusal to rent an additional 1,403 square feet in the building once the current tenant’s lease expires no later than Aug. 31, 2025.

Property records say the three-story building was constructed in 1987 and is 21,000 square feet in total size. It is owned by Lakeport Plaza LLC, based in West Sacramento, which was incorporated by Rahul Patel in January, according to Secretary of State’s Office business records.

In February 2023, the County Administrative Office brought to the board for discussion a report completed by the Boston-based Sixth Amendment Center, or 6AC, a national nonpartisan nonprofit the county hired in August 2021 to conduct an operational analysis of indigent defense services, as Lake County News has reported.

Following that, the board moved to accept the County Administrative Office’s direction toward transitioning from the Lake Indigent Defense contract to the Public Defender’s Office, a model that had been followed unsuccessfully in the early 1980s. That included considering an implementation plan for the public defender services program and reconstituting the Lake County Public Defender Advisory Committee.

In April 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution establishing a position allocation for the 2022-23 budget year for the chief public defender.

The Public Defender’s Office, with its own specific budget unit under the County Administrative Office, was included for the first time in the 2023-24 final recommended budget, which was adopted at the board’s Sept. 12, 2023, meeting.

The document’s goal for the department included retaining a chief public defender and completing phase one of the workplace to transition to a statutory office.

At its next meeting on Sept. 19, 2023 the board voted unanimously to hire Raymond Buenaventura, the then-mayor of Daly City, as the chief public defender. His hire was effective Oct. 16, 2023, the day he was sworn in before the board.

The Public Defender’s Office has been operating out of the Lake County Courthouse on Forbes Street and has reportedly primarily used conference rooms.

County Administrative Office staff’s report to the board for its Dec. 3 meeting said its staff has been assisting the Public Defender’s Office with “searching for an appropriate office space for several months,” finding two “viable” spaces.

The one they didn’t propose — and which they did not specifically identify during the meeting — would have required many months of renovation, while they called 55 First St. “relatively move-in ready.”

Buenaventura received the county Space Use Committee’s approval of the location at its Sept. 12 meeting, staff reported.

“The space proposed for lease is 4,716 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate existing and anticipated future Public Defender staffing requirements,” the staff report explained.

The monthly base rent amount is $9,903.60, static for 10 years — in other words, no consumer price index or other increases, staff reported.

In addition to that base amount, the lease terms require a $1/square foot charge for operating expenses, which encompass electricity, sewer, trash, disposal, water service, elevator service, heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance, pest control, basic landscaping and an alarm system.

That brings the overall monthly total to $14,619.60, which comes out of $3.10 per square foot.

Staff said the operating expenses flat fee will be “re-evaluated, and adjusted to reflect actual costs,” at the start of years four and seven of the lease agreement.

Concerns about location

Assistant County Administrative Officer Stephen Carter, who went over the written report’s highlights with the board at the meeting, noted, “Some concern has been raised that some clients may not be able to meet with public defender staff so near a public park.”

Those concerns were raised by Angela Carter — a longtime defense attorney who had, at one time, run the county’s public defender contract — and her husband, Rob Brown, the retired District 5 supervisor.

Specifically, Carter and Brown were concerned because of the potential for sex offenders to visit the Public Defender’s Office in its new location, which is in close proximity to Library Park’s playground.

Stephen Carter, who is not related to Angela Carter, said Buenaventura had provided his assurance that alternative locations are available, such as in the courthouse's conference rooms.

Another issue during the discussion that Brown raised was the version of the lease agreement that was made publicly available before the meeting. Stephen Carter told the board that, during multiple edits, the lease’s termination clause had been inadvertently omitted. He said that was later added back.

The lease may be terminated by mutual consent or by the county giving six months notice. Stephen Carter said the owner found a 30-day termination window to be too short.

Acknowledging that there had been comments made to county leadership about the cost of the lease, Stephen Carter said the county already has $78,000 budgeted, which he said was more than enough to cover it, as the budget also had included remodeling costs. There also is enough in the budget to cover the next fiscal year, he added.

Buenaventura, who thanked staff for their help in the process, said they had looked at four locations.

In addition to 55 First St., those included the Vista Point Shopping Center, purchased earlier this year by the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium; the former Record-Bee building at 2150 S. Main St., which he said required too much renovation; and the former Westamerica Bank building, for which he said the landlord would not commit.

He called it a “saving grace” that they didn’t get those spots and got the First Street location instead. “We will be very happy for the next 10 years to be in that spot. It has everything we need,” he said, pointing to its close proximity to the courthouse.

“We want to be good neighbors to our community and to the people that are at the park. We recognize what the law is and we will abide by the law,” Buenaventura said, adding that, at the same time, his office will take care of clients, no matter what charges they are facing.

Buenaventura said his staff is bursting at the scenes — suffocating in the space they are in currently — and ready to move. “I think it’s time,” he said, adding they can’t afford to wait any longer.

He said he believes the First Street location is “the ideal spot” for the location.

Board Chair Bruno Sabatier said he appreciated the ability to terminate the contract, as with the new courthouse being built on Lakeport Boulevard, there might be better options for the Public Defender’s Office in the future. While now it’s an easy walk, that won’t be the case when the new courthouse is completed.

Stephen Carter said in his “conversations” with Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram, Ingram had no issues with use of the building for the Public Defender’s Office.

“His only concern was the proximity to the park and certain clientele, which once I provided him that answer, did not have any further objections,” Stephen Carter said.

Separately, Ingram told Lake County News that the county had not made a formal inquiry or request for comment on the matter to the city.

However, he said County Administrative Office staff reached out to him on the day of the board meeting, and Sheriff Rob Howe also had contacted Police Chief Dale Stoebe.

“Our response was that the Lakeport Police Department actively enforces restrictions for registered sex offenders violating mandated distance restrictions from City Parks, specifically those involving children’s play structures,” Ingram wrote in an email.

When Lake County News asked how the county reached out, and if it was last minute, Ingram responded, “I would say that last minute is accurate. I would not say that they were even conversations, more of a note that it would be appearing on the 12/3 agenda and they had a couple of folks bringing up concerns about 290 registrants [registered sex offenders] being in close proximity to the park.”

Changing law regarding proximity to parks

Sabatier said the state law has changed somewhat recently about where registered sex offenders can be based on different tiers. He asked if staff wanted to elaborate.

“We actually did do some research,” said Buenaventura.

He said the laws have changed when it comes to convicted sex offenders and if you can ban them from the park. The law is that you cannot, he said, explaining that the California Supreme Court overturned such a law that allowed for that, claiming it was creating a homeless issue. They can, however, be ordered by a judge or parole board not to go to some spots.

Buenaventura’s comments appeared to refer to Proposition 83, or Jessica’s Law, passed by voters in 2006. The state Supreme Court found the law unconstitutional because it caused some offenders to become homeless and unable to access certain services.

Buenaventura said there is an entrance on the opposite side of the building that such clients can use to enter, and they don’t have to go near the park. At the same time, public defenders can meet them off site and occasionally even go to their homes.

He said they can accommodate clients and be good neighbors in the community.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Adult Parole Operations said they enforce rules that cover where registered sex offenders can live, which now can be no closer than half a mile to schools. Issues with parks became too broad.

Courts also can impose additional parole conditions keeping convicted sex offenders from living near parks and schools on a case-by-case basis.

‘The devil you don’t know’

During public comment, Angela Carter — who has been an attorney in Lake County for 33 years — said she practices almost exclusively criminal defense with these kinds of clients.

“It’s not the devil you know, it’s the devil you don’t know,” she said, referring to registered sex offenders who she said, when they are released from prison, have a parole condition requiring them to be 2,000 feet from a park.

Based on the mapping, the new office location is a few hundred feet from the park playground with play structures for the “littlest members of our community” and the restroom they use, she said.

She said she has clients who are registered sex offenders who come to her, and that attorneys don’t always have their full rap sheets available.

“These folks need an office. They really, really do,” she said of the Public Defender’s Office.

Angela Carter said she has spoken to many sex offenders over the years, noting, “It’s an impulsivity control thing. I don’t think anyone would deny that. I don’t think setting up a circumstance where those impulsivity problems come to fruition is a good idea. Just exercising my moral obligation to say so.”

Her husband, retired District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, spoke next. Brown pointed out that the three-minute limit for public comment had emerged from times when people were lined up to speak on controversial topics.

“It was never intended to silence the public when there’s two people here,” he said, adding that keeping the rule in place appears to be a way to keep the “annoying public” from expressing their opinions, and the board might want to rethink the policy at some point.

Brown, a longtime bail bondsman who helped build the interview center for child sex abuse victims at the District Attorney's Office, said he was glad they were talking about the registered sex offenders issue.

He said that, in full disclosure, the city manager of Lakeport knew about the situation “because I brought it up,” adding he was glad they had spent the morning trying to resolve it.

Brown noted that while his wife cares about the law, he doesn’t, he doesn’t think sex offenders should be allowed near the park and that leaders have an obligation. While some criminal behavior can be solved, he said the impulsivity of child sex abuse cannot be.

With that being said, “I highly doubt you’re going to change your mind,” Brown said, noting a comment made by Stephen Carter earlier in the discussion about the building owner planning to be there that afternoon to sign the contract.

Brown also took issue with the rental cost. Usually, the more square footage there is, the less the cost. He pointed to the board’s July 2021 approval of new office space for the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office at 325 N Forbes St. The lease for that property was capped at $1.11 per square foot for a total of $2,200 per month for the first five years, and afterward increases of no more than 2% a year are possible based on 90% of the Consumer Price Index.

Explaining that the First Street location is the size and twice the money for the elections office, Brown said it's not a good deal.

He also faulted the county for not having the correct version of the lease available to the public ahead of the meeting. Stephen Carter said they had updated the document and set out paper copies for the public.

“That’s all the public had to look at until now,” Brown said of the incorrect version online.

He said the county is paying double for rent for a program that he said has not proven that it will be successful for 10 years, with “lots of hiccups” with it.

The Public Defender’s Office location and the conditions that apply to sex registrants need to be taken very seriously, Brown said. “It’s nice that you guys go to their homes, but you won’t have them come to your home, so that should be a test right there.”

Board deliberates, won’t reopen public comment

After the closing of public comment and during board deliberation, Supervisor Michael Green said the need for space for the Public Defender’s Office had been “amply demonstrated.”

“We need this service and the city has been a good partner,” he said.

Green said there had formerly been a wine bar near there and claimed he was the only person concerned about its nearness to the park.

He said the Lakeport Police Department conducts foot patrols in the park, and that while there are issues there with the homeless, “There’s a lot of eyes on that park.”

Brown wanted to speak again to the matter but Sabatier told him no, that public comment was closed. Brown said he should have the chance to respond.

“Tthank you for sitting down,” said Sabatier.

Brown in turn accused the board of not posting the agenda properly and not listening.

Supervisor EJ Crandell was interested if a shorter lease term was available, asking staff when the new courthouse was to be completed.

Stephen Carter said the most recent information is that it will be completed sometime around 2026. Even then, if they looked at placing the Public Defender’s Office in the fourth floor of the courthouse, where the court currently is located, it would need to be renovated in order to allow for county departments to move around, and that a shorter term would lead to higher expenses.

The plan is that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office headquarters will move to its new location at the former Lakeport Armory next to the Lake County Jail, the Probation Department will go into the current sheriff’s headquarters on Martin Street. The Public Defender’s Office is interested in taking over the current Probation Department space on Smith Street. But Stephen Carter said that’s years down the road.

Sabatier wanted to know if they could add language to the lease that no registered sex offenders will be seen on the premises.

Buenaventura said they should include language that the Public Defender’s Office will comply with all court orders and state law regarding registered sex registrants, as he did not think a blanket prohibition would stand.

Sabatier acknowledged concerns about the location. “The known is less scary to me than the unknown.”

He also recognized the cost for the rent is a lot, but that public defenders can’t continue in their current location. “We have to move somewhere.”

County Counsel Lloyd Guintivano noted a short time later that the language Buenaventura suggested about court orders would make the building’s owner responsible for enforcing it. Instead, he said Buenaventura may consider implementing internal policies within his office to impose certain standards and provisions in dealing with registered sex offenders.

“I can commit to that. I can absolutely commit to that,” said Buenaventure, adding he would draft that internal policy.

Green moved to approve the lease with the termination clause added, with Supervisor Moke Simon seconding and the board approving the motion 5-0.

Sabatier asked that a revised version of the lease be posted on the county’s website. As of the time of this article’s publication, the corrected lease did not appear to be on the county’s website, as the lease that was published had no specific termination clause.

County staff also did not respond to Lake County News’ question about whether or not the lease needed to be reposted for 72 hours due to the degree of changes in it.

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.

State Controller Malia M. Cohen has released the financial data for 131 public retirement systems for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 on the State Controller’s Office By the Numbers website.

“The financial data shows that in Fiscal Year 2022-2023, public retirement systems received $138.71 billion in contributions from employers, employees, and investment income. There was also $78.23 billion in deductions,” stated Controller Cohen. “By releasing this data, we are empowering taxpayers to independently track the financial conditions of each of the public retirement systems.”

California Government Code requires that public retirement systems submit annual reports to the state controller within six months after the close of the fiscal year.

This reporting promotes transparency, which is vital for evaluating the adequacy of funding for state and local public retirement systems.

The state controller also publishes financial data for cities, counties, special districts, transportation planning agencies and transit operators.

The website's financial information encompasses a 20-year period — from FY 2002-2003 through FY 2022-2023 — and makes valuable public information easily accessible, allowing users to sort and filter information to identify trends and analyze spending.

The SCO created this website to make it easier for taxpayers to track revenues, expenditures and other financial data.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has many dogs that are waiting for their forever homes.

The shelter has 46 adoptable dogs listed on its website.

This week’s dogs include “Country,” a male pit bull terrier mix with a brown brindle coat.

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.

 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service said another round of atmospheric river storms is expected to bring heavy rain and winds through the weekend.

The parade of storms, which began Christmas night, is forecast to continue through Sunday.

Although the forecast says that “none of the individual storms look particularly strong,” there will be very little break in between them, which the National Weather Service said will increase the potential for flooding.

During that time, the National Weather Service’s forecast expects Clearlake to get over 2 inches of rain; Cobb nearly 4 inches; Middletown, 3 inches; Lakeport, nearly 2.7 inches; and Upper Lake, 3.2 inches.

Between Thursday and Saturday, the storms are predicted to bring winds with gusts of over 20 miles per hour.

Temperatures during that time frame are expected to range from the low 40s to low 50s at night, with daytime temperatures forecast to push close to 60 degrees.

On Monday, forecasters expect a brief break in the rain before chances of rain return to the forecast on Tuesday.

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.

The Little Hoover Commission has released 13 reports in the 2023-24 biennium, according to a new report summarizing the work of the independent, nonpartisan watchdog agency.

The new report, “Advocating for Change, 2023-24,” also notes that 15 bills supported by the commission to implement its recommendations were passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

The studies released by the commission during the past two years touch upon a wide array of policy areas, including how the state cares for those with developmental disabilities, efforts to divert organic materials out of landfills, the impact of the aging of the state's population, the California Environmental Quality Act, the state's response to retail theft, the homeowners insurance market, and the use of artificial intelligence in state government.

The state also released several reports examining how well its past recommendations had been implemented, including with regard to intimate partner violence, human trafficking for purposes of labor exploitation, and the state's Medi-Cal Dental Program.

Each report follows an extensive hearing and study process by the commission and its staff, including testimony from a variety of affected groups, a review of existing research, and in some cases original data-gathering by staff.

"Our commission searches for ways to make state government work better for Californians," said commission Chairman Pedro Nava. "By focusing on the facts and digging deep, we offer practical solutions to the problems facing our state."

After making recommendations for policy change, the commission supports actions, including legislation, that implement its recommendations.

The new report outlines commission-supported bills signed into law this biennium on topics including the developmental disabilities system, labor trafficking, intimate partner violence, open-meetings laws, organic waste disposal, and customer-centric government.

The commission includes nine public members and four sitting members of the Legislature, who are appointed by a combination of the governor and legislative leadership.

By law, no one political party may control more than five of the nine public seats.

The commission is charged in statute with making reform recommendations that foster "economy, efficiency and improved service."

Covered California has surpassed 1.8 million enrollees, reaching its record-high enrollment with over a week until the first open enrollment deadline on Dec. 31.

During this open enrollment, 143,686 Californians have signed up for 2025 coverage as of Dec. 14, marking a 3 percent increase over the same period last year.

Another 1,647,162 Californians have renewed their coverage so far, a 4 percent increase over the same period last year.

“We have a record 1.8 million Californians already enrolled for 2025 coverage, but history teaches us the next week will be our busiest for new sign ups,” Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said. “We want to make sure every uninsured Californian understands that the most financial assistance ever offered through the Affordable Care Act is available here in California for 2025. Now is the time to take advantage of this financial assistance to start the New Year with affordable, name-brand health coverage and peace of mind for you and your family.”

With the first open-enrollment deadline of Dec. 31 quickly approaching, Covered California is urging consumers to sign up now so they can have their health care coverage for all of 2025, beginning on Jan. 1. Open enrollment will end on Jan. 31.

Nearly half of the new enrollees have come from four Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino) counties with 68,095 sign-ups.

Also, nearly 39,000 new enrollees identified as Latino, while nearly 28,000 Asian Americans have signed up for coverage so far.

Over 33,000 White Californians and over 4,000 Black Californians have enrolled, and over 28,000 Californians did not disclose their Race/Ethnicity.

Despite the continued progress, the latest data from the California Simulation of Insurance Markets, or CalSIM, a model created by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, shows that there are nearly 1.3 million uninsured Californians who either qualify for subsidies through Covered California (591,000) or are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage (675,000), and they reside all over the state.

California’s cost-sharing reduction program highlights assistance

In 2025, Covered California is offering more financial help for Californians than ever before.

Building on the existing federal subsidies to help pay for health insurance premiums, Covered California is enhancing its cost-sharing reduction program that reduces the cost of accessing health care for consumers by lowering out-of-pocket costs when they seek medical care, including eliminating deductibles in all three Silver cost-sharing reduction plans.

The cost-sharing reduction program for out-of-pocket costs is available to all Californians with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level (which is $30,120 for a single person and $62,400 for a family of four), while those under 200 percent of the federal poverty level will continue to have access to higher levels of benefits.

In 2024, nearly 800,000 existing Covered California enrollees are taking advantage of this program, and over 100,000 of our new enrollees have qualified for these cost savings and richer benefits for 2025. That means nearly 1.1 million enrollees have already enrolled in enhanced Silver plans for 2025.

Nearly 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees receive financial help. Two-thirds of those enrollees are eligible for health insurance for $10 or less per month, and nearly half could get a comprehensive Silver plan for that price.

Signing up for coverage is easy

Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help in whatever language or dialect consumers prefer.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Use Covered California’s online calculator tool.
• Call Covered California at 800-300-1506.

Californians who forgo health coverage will be subject to a tax penalty administered by the State Franchise Tax Board. The penalty for not having coverage the entire year will be at least $900 per adult and $450 per dependent child under 18 in the household.

A family of four that goes uninsured for the whole year would face a penalty of at least $2,700.

 

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will again offer free, community hikes beginning at noon on New Year’s Day.

The hikes are part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes program. The nationwide First Day Hikes program offers individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year by taking a healthy hike on Jan. 1 at a state park close to home.

Participants can choose between two routes this year. The first hike will be a leisurely trip to the end of the Dawa Qanoq’ana trail. Formerly known as the McVicar trail, “Dawa Qanoq’ana” means “south way in front of me” in the Pomo language.

This hike will go from the parking lot to the shores of Clear Lake across from Indian Island. This is a round-trip of about 7½ miles of mainly flat terrain, with the first about 0.3 miles being accessible.

This hike should take about three hours, depending on how many times we stop to admire what we see along the way.

The second shorter hike covers a three and a half mile loop over the Cache Creek, Marsh and Ridge trails, with the first about 0.5 miles being accessible. This hike should take between two and two and a half hours.

The New Year’s Day hikes will be led by State Parks volunteers associated with the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, or AMIA.

“The event offers a wonderful opportunity to begin the New Year right by getting outside, enjoying nature and welcoming the New Year with friends and family on Jan. 1,” said Henry Bornstein, an AMIA board member who is one of this year’s hike leaders.

Hikers will experience grasslands, oak woodlands, willow and cottonwood riparian habitats, and the tule marsh habitat of the Anderson Marsh Natural Preserve, and may encounter a variety of migrating and resident birds and other wildlife.

Both hikes begin at noon at the park off Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.

Children of all ages are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Hikers should bring water and snacks, binoculars if they have them, and a hat for protection against the weather. Sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud are recommended.

Participants on both hikes are welcome to walk part way and make an early return at their own pace.

No dogs are allowed on these trails, which pass through the Anderson Marsh Natural Preserve.

Heavy rain will cancel the walks.

For further information, the public is asked to contact AMIA at 707-995-2658 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In the final shopping days before Christmas, the California Highway Patrol conducted a successful enforcement operation targeting organized retail crime, promoting safe shopping experiences for communities throughout California.

The collaborative statewide retail theft crackdown on Friday, Dec. 20, resulted in 117 arrests, the recovery of over $38,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of two illegal firearms, and the recovery of three stolen vehicles.

Charges range from petty theft, grand theft, organized retail crime, felon in possession of a firearm and auto theft.

“Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated.”

Key results of the operation:

• 117 arrests made for organized retail theft and related offenses.

• Recovery of 767 stolen items, valued at $38,290.70, including clothing, shoes and fragrances.

• Enhanced collaboration among 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 different retail partners to improve in-store security and reporting.

• Increased law enforcement visibility in high-traffic shopping areas, deterring additional crimes.

The daylong operation was conducted in collaboration with the Hemet Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Woodland Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, Livermore Police Department and San Ramon Police Department.

As the holiday season winds down, the CHP will continue working with businesses and communities to prevent retail theft year-round. Anyone with information about organized retail theft operations is encouraged to contact the CHP.

Since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 3,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 3,500 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.3 million stolen goods valued at $51.3 million.