California State Parks has repatriated cultural items to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians that have now returned home as part of compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.  The tribal chairman sang prayer in Pomo over the items. It was the first time in over a century that the native language was spoken over the artifacts.

Mendocino County will receive nearly $34.6 million from a new $3 billion statewide transportation package. Key projects include $13.9 million for U.S. 101 in Hopland and $8.3 million to replace the Eel River Bridge on Route 162. Storm-damaged areas like Laytonville will get $5 million for U.S. 101 repairs, while Route 162 near Covelo receives $2.6 million for slope repair. Additionally, $4 million is allocated for Route 128 drainage and fish-passage improvements. 

The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 3.  The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, in Clearlake Oaks.  The meeting will be available via Zoom.

The Clearlake City Council this week will once again consider an updated version of the city’s rental registration and inspection ordinance following revisions that arose from city staff’s discussion with local Realtors.  The council will meet for a workshop at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, before the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m.  The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.

The Lakeport City Council will review a comprehensive study of city service fees that recommends both new charges and increases across multiple departments , hear updates on traffic safety and consider a hazard mitigation plan to maintain eligibility for disaster funding.  Adoption also keeps the city eligible for several federal and state funding for disaster mitigation, according to the staff report.  The council will also consider accepting up to $10,000 in state grant funds to replenish the city’s oil spill response trailer and equipment. when it meets today, Tuesday at 6 pm.

The suspect in the Aug. 25 fatal shooting of Darrin Estephen Johnson, 31, has been arrested. Steven Shane Boykin, 42, was arrested Friday afternoon (Aug. 29) about 12:30 p.m. at a residence in the 80 block of East Wells Street in “the base” area of south Roswell. RPD personnel arrested Boykin without incident. He has been booked into the Chaves County Detention Center.

RPD says Johnson was allegeldy involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend. The woman called friends for help. Boykin is then believed to have gotten into a fight with Johnson outside the residence. Boykin is believed to have shot Johnson before fleeing the scene.

Eddy County Manager Mike Gallagher has appointed two new directors. Jason Flores has been named IT Director. Flores began his career with the county as an IT Specialist in 2008. He was promoted to assistant director in 2019. Flores is a Carlsbad native qwho attended the University of Pennsylvannia, where he earned a degree in computer science and engineering with a focus on economics.

And Anna Vasquez has been named Human Resource director. With more than 36 years of experience in both the private and government sectors, Anna brings knowledge, compassion, and a fresh vision for the department. Vasquez has worked for Eddy County since 2012, when she was hired on as a human resources specialist. She was promoted to assistant director in 2015.

Good news for drivers in South Charleston —there’s been major progress on the Jefferson Road widening project.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation says all the bridge lanes connecting Jefferson Road to U.S. 60 and Corridor G are now open. A newly widened five-lane stretch of Jefferson Road is also open to traffic.

The work was part of a massive $46.8 million project awarded to Kokosing Construction back in 2019. It replaces a notoriously congested intersection and rail crossing with a smoother setup that includes a new bridge and roundabout.

There’s still some finishing work to tie the road into nearby neighborhoods and businesses, but crews expect to have it all wrapped up by the end of this month.

West Virginia is the last place in the United States with greyhound racing. Now a disturbing training complaint has been filed against an owner with dozens of dogs running the state’s two tracks. GREY2K USA – an anti-dog racing nonprofit organization – has filed a complaint with state racing officials claiming an investigator has video evidence of live lure training with rabbits at a Kansas dog training farm. It’s banned in the racing industry and according to state regulations, any dogs trained in that way must be disqualified. Eyewitness News said if the claims are substantiated, it could result in a lifetime ban from the sport.

Several agencies responded to a Kanawha County structure fire early Monday morning. The blaze was reported about 3:30 a.m. along Little Sandy Road in Elkview, according to a Metro 911 alert. Crews told Eyewitness News the flames started in a shed and spread to a nearby home, damaging an attic. Firefighters from Pinch, Clendenin and Yeager Airport’s Air National Guard all responded. There were no injuries. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.