> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mendolocal.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Mendo Local Weekly Roundup — August 30, 2026 - URL: https://www.mendolocal.news/mendo-local-weekly-roundup-august-30-2026/ - Published: 2026-08-30T19:32:45.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-30T19:32:45.000Z - Description: 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 - Author: Elise Cox - Tags: Weekly News ### 🏛️ Mendocino County **AB 2494 Awaits Newsom's Signature** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 30* AB 2494, the bill would broaden the mission of state demonstration forests to weigh tribal uses, recreation, and climate research on equal footing with logging, has passed the legislature and is waiting for Governor Newsom to sign it into law. Read [MendoLocal.News story](https://www.mendolocal.news/state-forest-management-overhaul-awaits-t-newsoms-consideration/), [Read MendocinoCoast.News analysis ](https://mendocinocoast.news/ab2494-passes-senate-awaits-newsom-bill-would-change-demonstration-forests-with-tribal-mandate-allowing-higher-camping-fees-and-putting-other-uses-on-equal-footing-with-logging-will-lawsuits-be/?ref=mendolocal.news) **New Mendocino County Psychiatric Health Facility Still Months From Opening** *By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · August 27* Mendocino County's new psychiatric health facility, under construction south of Ukiah since 2024, is on track to finish building by early September but won't admit patients for several more months while it completes state licensing. [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/08/new-mendocino-county-psychiatric-health-facility-still-could-be-several-months-from-opening/?ref=mendolocal.news) **Mendocino County Issues Updated Scam Alert for Permit Applicants** *By Mendocino County Planning and Building Services · August 25* Mendocino County Planning and Building Services issued an updated scam alert warning that fraudulent emails impersonating Interim Director Richard Angley are pressing permit applicants to wire additional funds. Red flags include @usa.com sender addresses rather than official @mendocinocounty.gov ones, wire-transfer demands, and insistence on email-only contact; the department urges applicants to verify by phone and report the messages. [Read more](https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/?ref=mendolocal.news) **Trump Administration Proposes Removing Prohibitions on Roads Throughout National Forests** *By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · August 23* The Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which would open nearly 45 million acres of national forest — including tracts in Mendocino and Lake counties — to road building and logging. Colorado and Idaho have state protections that would blunt the change, but California has none. [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/trump-admin-proposes-removing-prohibitions-on-roads-throughout-national-forests-california-does-not-have-state-protections-that-would-thwart-trump-administration-effort-to-allow-roadbuilding-into-nat/?ref=mendolocal.news) --- ### 🎉 Elk **Great Day in Elk Turns 50** *By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · August 28* The Great Day in Elk community festival marks its 50th anniversary Aug. 29, with a new evening dinner added to the traditional benefit for the Greenwood Community Center. The origin of the event's name remains disputed, credited variously to part-time resident Bill Edison and to the Oasis Bar crowd. [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/great-day-in-elk-turns-50-who-gave-it-that-great-name-its-a-great-night-now-too-chef-matt-cooks/?ref=mendolocal.news) --- ### 🌊 Fort Bragg **From a Living Room Idea to a Healthcare Powerhouse: Winesong Celebrates 41 Years** *By Mandela Linder, The Mendocino Voice · August 27* Winesong, the annual wine-and-food fundraiser for the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation, has raised more than $10.7 million over 41 years for coast health programs. The 2025 event netted $725,000 for uses including medical equipment, food banks, and emergency services across the coastal healthcare district. [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/08/from-a-living-room-idea-to-a-healthcare-powerhouse-winesong-celebrates-41-years/?ref=mendolocal.news) **Fort Bragg Rewrites Its Coastal Zoning Rulebook in a Single Night** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 25* The Fort Bragg City Council unanimously adopted nine zoning changes in a single Aug. 24 session, legalizing short-term vacation rentals downtown for the first time and allowing formula (chain) businesses with city approval. The rewrite also permits detached garages on property lines and home cottage-food production, and refocuses sign rules on size rather than content. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/fort-bragg-rewrites-its-coastal-zoning-rulebook-in-a-single-night/) **Fort Bragg Earns State Prohousing Designation** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 25* California has awarded Fort Bragg a Prohousing Designation, making the city eligible to compete for state housing grants of roughly $150,000 to $2 million. The designation follows two years of local policy changes meant to streamline development and expand housing options. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/fort-bragg-earns-state-prohousing-designation/) **Fort Bragg's New Icehouse Is Generating Complaints as Well as Ice** *By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · August 24* The Noyo Harbor District's new 20-ton flake-ice machine in Fort Bragg is drawing noise complaints from uphill Trailer Cove residents. [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/08/fort-braggs-new-icehouse-is-generating-complaints-as-well-as-ice/?ref=mendolocal.news) **A Letter to Georgia-Pacific the City Kept Confidential for Nearly 12 Years** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 24* A 2014 letter from Fort Bragg's mayor assured Georgia-Pacific the city would not press state regulators to require active cleanup of the contaminated Mill Pond — a position the council reversed in 2017 when it voted to demand full remediation. The letter stayed confidential for nearly 12 years until a railway company's lawsuit forced its release. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/a-letter-to-georgia-pacific-the-city-kept-confidential-for-nearly-12-years/) **Man and Dog Save Dog, Driver: Fort Bragg Police Give Update on Pudding Creek Crash** *By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · August 24* A 62-year-old man, Lloyd Lewis, and his dog helped rescue an injured driver and the driver's dog after a vehicle crashed into Pudding Creek in Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg police and volunteer firefighters brought the driver to shore, and the rescued dog was checked at the Humane Society. [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/man-saves-two-dogs-driver-fort-bragg-police-give-update-on-pudding-creek-crash/?ref=mendolocal.news) --- ### 📻 Gualala **KTDE Seeks Donations to Replace Antenna Mast** *By KTDE, The Independent Coast Observer · August 27* *Gualala* Tide Community Radio (KTDE) is raising $10,900 to replace an aging antenna mast. Contributions can be sent to The Tide Community Radio, PO Box 1557, Gualala, CA 95445. [Read more](https://www.mendonoma.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(*Subscription to the *Independent Coast Observer* required*)* --- ### 💡 Point Arena **Four Options to Address Hwy. 1 Flooding at Garcia River** *By Karen Elowitt, The Independent Coast Observer · August 27* Caltrans presented a feasibility study on options to address chronic Highway 1 flooding near the Garcia River in Point Arena at the Mendocino Council of Governments' August 24 meeting. Three of the four alternatives are long-term projects — two viaduct designs and a relocation of Windy Hollow Road — while the fourth would replace the Hathaway Creek bridge and raise the surrounding grade. [Read more](https://www.mendonoma.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(*Subscription to the *Independent Coast Observer* required*)* --- ### ⛽ Redwood Valley **Supervisor John Haschak Nominated Democrat of the Year** *By Mathew Caine, Willits Weekly · August 27* About 80 local Democrats gathered at the Redwood Valley Grange on August 22 to honor retiring Third District Supervisor John Haschak as Democrat of the Year. Haschak is stepping down from the county Board of Supervisors. [Read more](https://www.willitsweekly.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) **Jury Makes Quick Work of a Hay-and-Necessity DUI Defense** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 27* A Mendocino County jury quickly convicted a 60-year-old Redwood Valley woman of two misdemeanor DUI counts, rejecting a necessity defense that she drove drunk only to escape allegations that she was trespassing and taking hay that didn't belong to her. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/jury-makes-quick-work-of-a-hay-and-necessity-dui-defense/) **Residents File a Lawsuit in an Effort to Block Redwood Valley Gas Station** *By Alessandra Rizzo, The Mendocino Voice · August 25* Three Redwood Valley residents sued Aug. 17 to overturn the Board of Supervisors' May approval of a Chevron station permit, arguing it violates zoning rules meant to protect public health and safety. The suit cites operator Faizan Corporation's record of violations, including a $500,000 settlement over faulty leak-detection equipment and false octane labeling. [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/08/residents-file-a-lawsuit-in-an-effort-to-block-redwood-valley-gas-station/?ref=mendolocal.news) --- ### 🏙️ Ukiah **Ukiah High Students Help Carry Forward Nearly Lost Northern Pomo Language** *By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · August 27* Four Ukiah High School graduates earned California's Seal of Biliteracy in Northern Pomo this year, a language nearly lost to historical suppression. The honor marks the fifth year of the school's Native Language program, built with local tribes and UC Berkeley researchers. [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/08/ukiah-high-students-help-carry-forward-nearly-lost-northern-pomo-language/?ref=mendolocal.news) **Ukiah Planning Commission Won't Back Annexation Plan** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 27* The Ukiah Planning Commission voted 4-1 to reject the city's proposed pre-zoning plan to annex roughly 1,485 parcels. Commissioners said they remained open to annexing developed neighborhoods but objected the current map. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/ukiah-planning-commission-wont-back-annexation-plan/) --- ### 🥳 Willits **The Munchery Celebrates Third Anniversary** *By Mathew Caine, Willits Weekly · August 27* The Munchery at Brown's Corner marked three years in business with an anniversary party on August 21\. Lupine Driver provided live music for the celebration. [Read more](https://www.willitsweekly.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) **In Willits, Police Cars That Blend in Raise Questions About California Law** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 26* The Little Lake Grange is challenging Willits' low-contrast police vehicles, arguing they violate California's requirement that traffic-enforcement cars carry distinctive markings. Under state law, officers in improperly marked cars can be barred from testifying in speed cases, though how the rule applies to the Willits fleet remains unclear. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/in-willits-police-cars-that-blend-in-raise-questions-about-california-law/) **Why the City of Willits Wanted to Cancel the Election for City Council** *By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · August 24* The City of Willits city council missed the legal deadline to cancel the election and save $7,000–$8,000\. Candidates Robin Leler and Sherrie Ebyam will now appear on the ballot for two open seats, with write-in entries still possible. [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/why-the-city-of-willits-wanted-to-cancel-the-election-for-city-council/) --- ### 🐻 CalMatters **Newsom Drops Utility-Cost Plan in Final Legislature Wildfire Deal** *By Jeanne Kuang and Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters · August 29* Gov. Newsom abandoned his plan to shield utilities from wildfire costs after opposition from lawmakers, insurers, and fire survivors, settling instead for a narrower agreement. The final deal creates a "fast-pay" program for survivors and bars private-equity investment in wildfire claims as well as executive bonuses at utilities responsible for fatal fires. [Read more](https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/08/final-legislature-wildfire-deal-newsom/?ref=mendolocal.news) **PPIC Study Links Prop. 47 to Rise in Homelessness and Drug Use** *By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters · August 27* *California* A new Public Policy Institute of California report estimates that Proposition 47 — the 2014 measure that downgraded many drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors — likely drove a roughly 10% increase in street homelessness between 2015 and 2019, or about 7,000 additional unsheltered Californians. The study also ties the reform to a 7–8% rise in drug use and a 20% drop in people receiving drug treatment, though researchers cautioned the correlation does not by itself prove causation. [Read more](https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/08/ppic-prop-47-study-drugs-homelessness/?ref=mendolocal.news) ---