KZYX News

After weeks of detailed presentations, frank discussion, and grim fiscal forecasts, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has adopted a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. “It was a difficult budget, but we made it through it,” said Board Chair John Haschak after the unanimous vote that followed six weeks of budget hearings.

Tom Corning didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a police chief. His journey into law enforcement started with a more universal call to arms. He served nearly seven years, including a 13-month deployment in Iraq as a crew member on an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. After returning stateside, Corning became a recruiter for the Army in Marin and Napa Counties. When his service ended, he faced the realities of transitioning back to civilian life.

In local news today, there's an update on the status of the Older Americans Act, hotel tax receipts may be rebounding after a three-year decline, the governor wants feedback on a new online tool to protect communities from extreme heat and CAL FIRE offers burn pile safety tips.

Who bombed Judy Bari? Lauren Schmitt of KMUD looks into the thirty-five year old attack on Earth First organizer Judy Bari. The 40-year-old environmentalist was severely injured by a pipe bomb when she was driving in Oakland on May 24, 1990. She died seven years later. Her colleague Darryl Cherney sustained minor injuries and has been seeking justice ever since. 

Residents of Potter Valley are confronting a difficult choice as they consider the future of farming in their home town:  water that costs at least $200 acre feet a year or no water at all.

Just over a year ago the City of Point Arena was teetering on the edge of financial collapse. Today, it's making a fragile recovery — thanks in part to the dogged determination of interim City Manager Peggy Ducy.

Fort Bragg is taking a stand in support of gender and sexual diversity and will be holding its first ever Pride March on June 21st. Mayor Jason Godeke commemorated the city's support with a proclamation at the city council meeting on Tuesday. In other business City Manager Isaac Whippy said the purcahse of the MCN broadcast network has been finalized, and Public Works Director John Smith acknowledged trash issues last weekend.

First, a reminder that Willits will conduct an emergency drill this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. And in local news headlines, a sheriff's deputy who drove a patrol vehicle into a guardrail has been charged with multiple misdemeanors, and county department heads have been instructed to identify budget cuts of at least 10 percent.

In local news today correspondent Frank Hartzell attends a memorial service in Fort Bragg,  the Mendocino Coast is facing the threat of offshore oil drilling, and an assembly bill that aims reduces compensation for some homeowners with rooftop solar is advancing in the state legislature.

Mendocino County is full of beath-takingly beautiful county roads, but drivers on county road 404, also known as Little River Airport Road, have little opportunity to take in the scenery. They are too busy navigating a minefield of pits and potholes. Residents say the condition of a roughly two-mile stretch of the six-mile road isn't just a nuisance – it's a serious public safety hazard. 

The Ukiah City Council on Wednesday night adopted a comprehensive Climate Action Plan and an associated environmental study. 

As Mendocino County grapples with the impact of widespread illegal cannabis cultivation, supervisors are asking state agencies for help.  On May 6, they unanimously agreed to make a formal request. But even as violence related to illegal cannabis erupts in remote areas of the county, residents who are most affected remain conflicted about a crackdown.

Chamise Cubbison, Mendocino County's elected auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector, is facing significant hurdles following her return to office. The challenges, which center around obtaining transition information from CEO Darcie Antle's office, follow the dismissal of a criminal case filed against her by the county and the restoration of her elected powers by the Board of Supervisors.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is investigating two cannabis-related homicides. The investigations stretch from the Island Mountain area near Piercy south east to Covelo. The back to-back killings highlight the extent of illegal marijuana cultivation in the county and as well as the limited resources available to combat it.

For years, KZYX news has covered the devastation of the bull kelp forest off the Mendocino Coast, and its resulting impacts, including purple urchin barrens, the loss of the abalone and red urchin fisheries, the economic impacts on coastal businesses and local communities, and the related demise of the sunflower sea stars. Sequoias of the Sea is a documentary about this bull kelp disaster. Directed by Natasha Benjamin and Anna Blanco, it will be featured at a long list of film festivals and climate conferences, nationally and internationally. And it's showing at the Mendocino Film Festival on May 30th.  It looks back at the last seven years and what amounted to an emergency response from the local community. Most of the people featured in the documentary live and work on the coast in a variety of professions. They all have one thing in common: bring back the kelp. Benjamin and Blanco spoke to KZYX about the film and their inspiration. In the film, they cover many aspects of the story and engage with scientists, local tribes, fishermen, and sport divers.  For more information, you can access their website at sequoiasofthesea.org

Mendocino County Library officials recently made a difficult decision to cut library services. And a feasibility study to raise the Coyote Valley Dam begins again.

There is a new pope in the Vatican and around the world Catholics and people of other faiths are wondering how Pope Leo the fourteenth may affect their lives. In the United States, there was surprise and celebration that a boy from the south side of Chicago, of rich but humble heritage, the son of school principal, would be selected to be the representative of Christ on earth. The amazement and hope extended to Mendocino County, where Pastor Matt Davis, leader of the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, took time from his duties on Friday to answer questions from curious students from Montessori Del Mar, and where Ed Burke, a parishioner at St. Anthony's in Mendocino reflected on his years at Mendel High School, where the new pope also studied.

Mendocino's Bull Kelp Disaster Captured on FilmFor years, KZYX news has covered the devastation of the bull kelp forest off the Mendocino Coast, and its resulting impacts, including purple urchin barrens, the loss of the abalone and red urchin fisheries, the economic impacts on coastal businesses and local communities, and the related demise of the sunflower sea stars. Sequoias of the Sea is a documentary about this bull kelp disaster. Directed by Natasha Benjamin and Anna Blanco, it will be featured nationally and internationally at a long list of film festivals and climate conferences. And it's showing at the Mendocino Film Festival on May 30th.  It looks back at the last seven years and what amounted to an emergency response from the local community. Most of the people featured in the documentary live and work on the coast in a variety of professions. They all have one thing in common: bring back the kelp. Benjamin and Blanco spoke to KZYX about their inspiration for the documentary. In the film, they cover many aspects of the story and engage with scientists, local tribes, fishermen, and sport divers.  For more information, you can access their website at sequoiasofthesea.org

Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF), located near Fort Bragg, California, is the largest of CAL FIRE's fourteen demonstration state forests, encompassing 48,652 acres. Established in 1949, JDSF strives to be a sustainable forest management practices, research, and education. Last summer, it was also the scene of a crime wave. Night after night, a thief stole camping fees from the iron rangers. Calfire pursued thief but could not catch the person in the act.

Working dogs, rescue dogs, and dogs that were purchased with pure-bred papers gathered on equal footing and with equal excitement to participate in a day designed just for them, and that also benefited the Mendocino Coast Humane Society. In addition to best dressed, there was doggie finger painting, a photo booth, and opportunities to show off your best trick. A nutrition counselor and a dog communicator were on hand to help dogs and their owners better meet each other's needs.

The CPUC is finishing up a process to review and possibly update the rules for what's known as the “Carrier of Last Resort” or COLR. Landlines are under threat. And a bill in the state legislature would cancel void solar contracts when a home was sold,

 Journalist Jenn Procacci interviews Willits Mayor Tom Allman about the biggest challenges facing the Gateway to the Redwoods. 

 At the April 28th Fort Bragg City Council meeting, the City's independent auditor gave Fort Bragg the highest rating for audits.  Whippy's annual financial report was also good news.  The city spent less than it took in for 2024, resulting in a 2-million-dollar surplus.Council approved debt financing for the broadband project totaling 6.93 million.  Economic Devwelopment Manager, Sarah McCormick explained how residents can track the project, including ongoing press releases and a city web page.  She also explained why the contractor hit a water main in the first week of construction and the City's plans to mitigate this type of disruption going forward.  Assistant Director of Engineering, Chantell O'Neal presented on four upcoming construction projects at Fort Bragg city facilities that will disrupt public access.  A new floor is being installed at the city offices on Franklin.  Efforts will be made to accommodate public needs, but there may be some inconveniences. The long-promised upgrade of Bainbridge Park will disrupt its use through November.  The children's play area should remain open most of that time. At Town Hall, the public restrooms will close through July to be remodeled.  During this time, Town Hall will not be available for rentals, however, official meetings will continue to be held there.   At the police station, a security upgrade in the lobby will restrict public access.   Mayor Godeke provided an update from the ad hoc culture and education committee, highlighting the ongoing improvements of the old Fort building on Franklin.  The building will be an educational resource about local tribes and their culture.  It will have rotating displays and will host the public.  The Council approved a land acknowledgement that addresses the original Pomo tribe's loss of their land.  The Executive Director of the Noyo Center for Marine Science, Sheila Seimans, updated the council on the aquaculture program and the la bonatory. The la bonatory is scheduled to break ground on the headlands this summer.  The aquaculture program, which is part of the city's blue economy initiative, is still a work in progress.  Permitting issues have held up some studies, but Seimans remains hopeful that they will be able to grow bull kelp and abalone at the Noyo Harbor field station.Under consent, the Fort Bragg City Council authorized the donation of surplus IT equipment to local non-profits.  Approved a change order to Akeff Construction for the EV installations at the police station, increasing the approximately $160,000 contract to $182,000.  And they approved a 1-year contract with Lumos and Associates for on-call engineering and surveying for up to $72,000.  Finally, Whippy announced that the CV Starr Center will now be open on Sundays starting May 18th and that the first annual Blues Festival, which the City sponsored, is sold out, netting the City $40,000.  A free concert is planned for Saturday, May 3rd, on Laurel at Franklin from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. 

In local news today we have the story of a water quality alert that went awry and also a cold case that was recently reopened in Fort Bragg. The water quality alert was issued by the State Water Resources Control Board and the County of Mendocino on Tuesday night. It  created a stir in the coastal village of Mendocino on Wednesday before it was rolled back. New information in the missing persons case of Brittany Jane Adkins prompted the search of a 24-acre property south of Fort Bragg.

In local news today, the Fort Bragg City Council authorized a $7 million loan for its municipal broadband project, the Mendocino County Grand Jury issued a report on Fort Bragg's innovative approach to addressing homelessness, and residents of the Village of Mendocino provided feedback on an expansion of the Fort Bragg program further down the coast.

While town hall meetings typically aren't sell-out events, the Caspar Community Center was packed to standing room only as Rogers candidly addressed issues like Cal Exit, the state's “fantasy” budget, and California's donor status vis a vis the federal government. 

In Fort Bragg, a family is searching for a missing husband and a father  — a man who once walked through the raging Paradise fire to save lives, but who now has vanished without a word.

Discussion about the budget for Mendocino County for the coming fiscal year dominated the board of supervisors meeting on Tuesday

As the climate crisis deepens, more people are looking for ways to cut carbon emissions at home. But sorting through rebates, appliance options, and installation logistics can be overwhelming. This weekend, a local group is making it easier to see what going electric really looks like. (Note this audio was updated at 7:30 a.m.)

The Mendo Food Network is laying off staff due to federal cuts and appealing to the community for help; The Raging Grannies, founded in 1987, provide a model for humor and resilience during difficult times; the federal Bureau of Reclamation reviews Potter Valley funding

The Trump administration is preparing to ask Congress to rescind more than $1 billion in previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The move that could devastate rural radio stations like KZYX.

Fort Bragg City Council Hears Annual Reports on Crime Statistics, Homeless Programs, and Stray Animals The April 14th City Council meeting was lightly attended. It's not clear if an error on the agenda itself was partially to blame.  The Zoom meeting link was missing the passcode, making remote participation impossible, although streaming was available.  Emails to the city clerk were responded to with the correct link.   Two annual reports, one from the Fort Bragg Police Department and one from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society, provided insights into crime rates and the number of stray animals.Chief Cervenka provided crime statistics for 2024. The police responded to over 15000 calls, which resulted in 1166 reports, 514 arrests, and 315 traffic citations.  They seized 8.75 pounds of illegal drugs and 26 firearms.  There were 106 vehicle collisions, of which 8 were due to DUIs.   In general, crime decreased locally except for domestic violence, which increased by 53%.  Chief Cervenka said the increase was due to better training of his officers, who are making more arrests, and the victims' access to post-pandemic assistance.Chief Cervenka also provided an update on the extreme weather shelter for this past winter.  The extreme weather shelter is run by the police department through their Crisis Response Unit (CRU) program, which facilitates helping houseless individuals off the street and into housing.  The extreme weather shelter operates from November 15th to March 31st and is opened based on precipitation and temperature as predicted by the National Weather Service.  The shelter operated 83 out of the possible 136 operational days, provided beds 644 times for 107 individuals.  The emergency shelter handles overflow from the hospitality house, which maintains 25 beds.  Although there was an increased need for beds this past winter, there was a 15% drop in individuals needing help.  Cervenka attributed that to the police department's homeless housing program, or CRU.  Judy Martin, the Executive Director for the Mendocino Coast Humane Society provided an annual report on the animals in their care.  They currently have 97 animals, of which 44 are available for adoption.  In 2024, they took in 631 animals and adopted out 504.  According to Martin, the coast shelter takes in animals from Leggett to Gualala, provides basic veterinary care to low-income families, and works with Fort Bragg police on impounds.The City of Fort Bragg provides the Humane Society with $60,000 in funds and leases property to them for the shelter.  The Humane Society is primarily funded by sales at the Arc Thrift Store, donations, and grants. The City declared May 1st through 7th as Rhododendron week to recognize the many hybrids developed in Fort Bragg.  The 46th annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show is scheduled for May 3rd and 4th.  It is held adjacent to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and is open to the public. Admission to the Rhododendron show is free.Under consent, the council approved updates to the purchasing, bidding, and signatory requirements, affording City Manager Isaac Whippy the authority to sign off on purchases of up to $60,000.  All contracts over $5000 require a minimum of three bids.  Contracts over $60,000 require council approval.  The council also adopted changes to the municipal code, reducing parking and altering parking lot landscaping requirements for multi-family housing developments, and approved a four-year lease with Toshiba for printers and copiers.  Earlier on the meeting agenda, the council honored Jason Balassi for his thirty years of service in the public works department, received a presentation from the Fort Bragg Library, and honored volunteers during National Volunteer Week, which is April 20 – 26 this year.Under, items from the council, Councilmember Lindy Peters provided a report on the FBFD financials.  According to Peters, the Fort Bragg Fire Department is in good shape financially.  It currently has approximately $954,000 in the bank and expects additional funding from Mendocino County soon.  Lindy thanked the staff and many volunteers who keep the fire department operational.  

Mendocino County's Chief Executive Darcy Antle held the first of several listening sessions on next year's budget in Fort Bragg on Tuesday. The goal of the session was for the public to provide feedback on budget priorities — what they want funded as well as what they are willing to cut. Among the priorities mentioned were two dangerously deteriorated roads, as well as need for the coast to get its fair share of funding for spay and neuter. Regarding cuts, residents said it was too late to trim the spending they believed was most wasteful — an expensive criminal prosecution of an elected official who ended up being fully vindicated. They called for accountability from the people they believed were responsible: the district attorney and the county's chief executive.

A new rule requiring all non-citizens who have been in the United States for 30 days or more to register went into effect on Friday.  What does this mean for non-citizens who have been here for years, who may own cars, homes, and businesses? KZYX News spoke with Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the U.S. Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

In local news today, the United States Army Core of Engineers will undertake a study addressing increased water storage in the Russian River watershed and farmers have asked President Trump to intervene in the Potter Valley decommissioning project. So far the president has not responded. 

 the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has voted three to two to allow cannabis farms to expand mature canopy from 10,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet in appropriately zoned areas.

Mendocino County Supervisors voted 4 to 1 on Tuesday to include an additional one million dollars on road repairs in a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.  Supervisors Ted Williams and Madeline Cline brought the motion forward to shine a spotlight on the continuing and deplorable condition of county roads.  "Taxpayers expect us to give roads focus, and by focus, I mean funding," Supervisor Williams said.

As Mendocino County begins the often challenging process of planning next year's budget, a projected $17 million deficit is casting a long shadow. he combination of stagnant revenue and increasing salaries and benefits for county employees is a key driver of the deficit. This combination of stagnant revenues and rising personnel costs is a key driver of the deficit. Adding to the pressure, Pierce noted the discontinuation of several federal public health grants and rural schools funding, further impacting the county's bottom line. However, these made up just a few hundred thousand dollars.

California is facing a $6.2 billion budget gap thanks to an ambitious expansion of Medicaid, which in California we call Medi-cal. The shortfall comes a year after California decided to provide free health care to all low-income adults in the California regardless of their legal immigration status. Undocumented adults aged adults aged 26 to 49, were allowed to apply for Medi-Cal starting Jan. 1, 2024. The cost turned out to be far more than the state projected and the expansion is having a  ripple effect in Mendocino County. KZYX News interviewed Natasha Adams, senior program manager of In Home Supportive Services. Adams said there's not enough social workers to process everyone who is seeking in home care. 

On Friday night in Ukiah, more than four hundred people put democracy to the test, packing an auditorium at Mendocino College for a town hall. The next day thousands of people across the county joined millions in nationwide  protests against the Trump administration's policy with large gatherings in Fort Bragg and Ukiah and relatively large gathering in Willits and Point Arena. 

More than 400 constituents gathered at Mendocino College on Thursday to engage U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Assemblymember Chris Rogers on a variety of concerns ranging from water supply to health care, civil rights and foreign policy.

In February, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced up to $2 million in funding for new farm to community food hub programs. The announcement caught the eye of local entrepreneur Paul Katzeff. About fifty years ago, Katzeff tried to start a community cannery in Mendocino County. He failed to get funding, but he didn't give up on the idea. 

The Fort Bragg City Council has unanimously approved plans for an 87-unit apartment complex. The decision, made at the last meeting of the city council,  comes as California cities face increasing pressure from the state to approve new housing. Councilmember Lindy Peters said opponents could appeal to the coastal commission.

The tussle between cannabis farmers and their neighbors over how much cannabis can be grown next door continued at the last meeting of general government committee on March 26th. But there were signs that the issue may have played itself out, with some cannabis farmers on small plots questioning the push by a small number of farmers to push for a reinterpretation of the ordinance that would benefit them.

Recent welfare checks in Fort Bragg and Little River led to two separate arrests for attempted murder and the City of Fort Bragg is seeking to close a $7 million funding gap for its broadband initiative with a proposed loan.

The announcement came late Friday, following a closed session of the Willits City Council to evaluate City Manger Brian Bender's job performance. After the meeting, Mayor Larry Stranske made a brief statement during the public portion of the meeting—but offered few details.

Authorities identify two deceased individuals in separate Mendocino and Humboldt County cases. The Mendocino Farm Bureau speaks up for farmers in Siskiyou over water regulations.