Willits City Council Full Report — August 26, 2026
A new fiscal sustainability committee, a state-funded water line to a mobile home park, and a Flock camera update from the police chief.
Elise Cox
Elise Cox is the founding editor of MendoLocal.News. She was previously news director at Mendocino County Public Broadcasting and has been part of the editorial team at the San Jose Mercury News and U.S. News & World Report.
Young Army Veteran Seriously Injured in Highway 20 Crash
A 22-year-old Army veteran is paralyzed from the chest down after the car he was driving went off Highway 20 and down a steep embankment near mile marker 24.3 on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 22.
Mendo Local Weekly Roundup — August 30, 2026
A Great Day in Elk turned 50, Redwood Valley residents file a lawsuit against the Board of Supes for approving a gas station that violated zoning rules to protect health & safety, and Willits residents challenge police vehicles that blend in
State Forest Management Overhaul Awaits Newsom's Consideration
California would overhaul how it manages — and logs — its 14 demonstration state forests, including Mendocino County's Jackson Demonstration State Forest, under a bill that cleared the Legislature on Aug. 27 and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for approval or veto.
Ukiah Planning Commission Won't Back Annexation Plan
After more than three hours of testimony from a standing-room crowd, the Ukiah Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Aug. 26 to recommend that the City Council deny the pre-zoning that underpins the "Ukiah 2026 Reorganization."
Jury Makes Quick Work of a Hay-and-Necessity DUI Defense
A 60-year-old Redwood Valley woman, who was found trespassing on one of her neighbor's properties, tried to fight subsequent DUI charges by raising a necessity defense — saying she fled from the scene to escape immediate harm.
In Willits, Police Cars That Blend in Raise Questions About California Law
A town hall on the low-contrast Willits' police cars will be held at the Little Lake Grange on Thursday, August 27, at 7 .p.m.
Fort Bragg Rewrites Its Coastal Zoning Rulebook in a Single Night
The Fort Bragg City Council moved nine zoning ordinances through first reading on Aug. 24, a rewrite that reaches into both residential neighborhoods and the city's commercial districts.
Fort Bragg Earns State Prohousing Designation
Fort Bragg's new prohousing designation could make the city more competitive for state and federal funds for housing.