Mendocino County Today: Sunday 1/18/2026

High Pressure | Jet Trails | Wild Game | Pilar Clark | DUI Guilty | Susan Wagner | RVMAC Meeting | Hendy Free | Beach Available | Pet Mallory | Wild Ride | Local Events | Antle Testimony | Candidate Evans | Ornbaun Springs | Hendy Slug | Bridge Hearing | Swanson Letter | Covelo Matron | Yesterday's Catch | 49ers Lose | Mannish Boy | Poor Health | Billboard Painters | DeBartolo Fate | Dancing Girls | Dog Joy | ICE Agents | No Effect | Jesus Busted | White Women | Real Block | American Girl | Who's Leg | Unwelcome Strangers | Lead Stories | Insane Species | Horrible Feeling | Moral Degenerate | Affordable Housing | Wyoming Men | Old Men | Who/Whom | No Dominion | After Christmas

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HIGH PRESSURE is forecast to remain over NW California into the new week resulting in dry weather and generally above normal daytime temperatures. Overnight and morning temperatures will remain chilly with night and shallow morning fog in the river valleys. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): On the coast this Sunday morning I have 40F under clear skies. Some passing high clouds & fog is nearby but our forecast is for another lovely day. More of the same for this week. More hints of rain in the distance but too far to buy right now.

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BOYS BASKETBALL: EMOTIONS RUN HIGH IN RANCHO COTATE’S WILD WIN OVER UKIAH

by Gus Morris

Rancho Cotate’s home league game against Ukiah on Friday night ended with a police presence inside and outside Henry J. Sarlatte Gymnasium on the Rohnert Park campus.

An emotionally charged game that saw both Ukiah’s head coach and a fan ejected, four technical fouls and 44 fouls total, the first meeting of the season between the Cougars and the Wildcats ultimately ended in a 60-57 win for the hosts that was anything but straightforward.

Rancho Cotate (13-5, 4-0), which is now tied with St. Vincent for the league lead in the North Bay League Redwood division, led by 22 at halftime and as much as 24 in the second half before a valiant comeback effort by Ukiah (11-8, 2-2) came up just short.

The Cougars were on a roll from the jump, led by the hot hand of senior wing Jordan Alvarez, who hit four of his six threes in the first half for 14 of his game-high 23 points. The hosts led 17-12 after one and began to pull away with a 14-3 run to open the second quarter.

A packed and oftentimes unruly Rancho Cotate student section frequently spilled out onto the court just behind the basket on the east side of the gym in the first half, the energetic and at times frenzied crowd giving the game a playoff-like atmosphere. That fed into the overall intensity of the game, as did an officiating crew that drew the ire of both fan bases, coaches and players throughout the night.

As Rancho’s lead grew in the second quarter, so did the frustration from Ukiah, which finally boiled over as halftime neared.

With just under a minute until the intermission, a physical sequence left several Ukiah players sprawled on the court yet didn’t yield any whistles from the officials. First-year Ukiah head coach Marcus Newby was irate and ended up being called for consecutive technical fouls and ejected from the game.

“I thought it was poor officiating and poor handling by the administration,” he said after the game. “More so on the officiating.”

Rancho led 37-18 after the technical free throws before Luke Morie brought down the house with a buzzer-beating corner three, making it 40-18 at the half and sending the student section into its wildest frenzy of the night.

As the commotion was unfolding, several Ukiah and Rancho Cotate fans got into a yelling match that quickly evolved into shoving just in front of the bleachers. One Ukiah fan had to be restrained and physically escorted out of the building and police officers were called to campus. At least four officers remained inside the gym through the second half and more waited outside for the crowd to disperse after the game.

“Our guys are playing great right now and I feel that they’re trying to get all of their friends to come out and watch, so that’s why the energy was so high in the student section, but I did not expect it to get to the extent it did,” Rancho Cotate head coach James Slade said. “I did think it was going to be competitive and could get chippy, but I always want it to be positive — nothing like that. I was on our guys about not getting involved with the crowd or with the emotions. We have to stay as even-keeled as we can.”

Rancho looked poised to run away with the game after Izayah Rush, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five steals, hit a three early in the third quarter to make to 45-21, the largest lead of the night.

But after shooting nine free throws in the first half, Ukiah shot 16 alone in the third quarter to cut into the deficit. The Wildcats got within nine but the Cougars took a 54-42 lead into the fourth.

Both teams were whistled for technical fouls in the third quarter, but the game otherwise remained calm.

Ukiah’s comeback effort continued in the fourth, spurred by strong defensive play. The Wildcats held the Cougars scoreless for almost the entire final six minutes of the game as they chipped away at the lead.

Ukiah’s Dareon Dorsey hit a three with two minutes left to make it 58-51 and Kaleo Olsen, who scored a team-high 18 points, had an offensive putback to pull it within 58-53 with 1:10. Off his made layup, Ukiah got a steal and Dorsey made a floater to make it 58-55 with just over a minute to play, forcing a Rancho timeout.

But that’s where the comeback attempt would end. The Cougars were able to drain some clock and Grayson Gragg knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead back to five with under 30 seconds to play.

Slade thought that his team let the emotions of the game get to them in the second half.

“We have struggled keeping leads,” he said. “Sonoma Valley we had a lead, let them come back; Healdsburg we had a lead, let them come back; these guys, we had a big lead and let them come back. So, we have to be able to figure out how to finish games.”

Rancho Cotate has now won five in a row and will play St. Vincent on Wednesday night for sole control of first place in the NBL-Redwood.

(Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

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PILAR CLARK

Pilar B. I. Clark lovingly remembered as Lola Pilar, whose kindness, faith, and gentle smile touched many lives.

Pilar B. I. Clark, age 84, a resident of Novato, California, and formerly of Ukiah, California, peacefully began her journey into everlasting life on January 1, 2026. Pilar was a woman of deep and abiding faith whose life reflected her unwavering trust in God and devotion to family. She walked in grace and strength, guided by prayer and love. Her faith was not only spoken but lived daily through her actions. Pilar trusted fully in God’s promises, believing that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Born in San Isidro, Abra, Philippines, Pilar carried her faith and cultural roots with her throughout her life. She was married to the late George Dickson Clark III. Pilar retired after many years of dedicated service, including her career at Mervyn’s retail store and her work at Ukiah General Hospital during the 1980s. She served faithfully with the Altar Society and Eucharistic Ministries and volunteered devotedly at St. Anthony’s of Padua Parish, Carmel of the Mother of God Third Order Carmelites (OCDS), and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of the Miracles #1707. In all she did, Pilar humbly lived as a faithful servant of God.

Affectionately known as Lola Pilar, she was loving and generous, deeply devoted to her sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her community. She found great joy in nurturing her family and sharing love with all those around her. Pilar also loved gardening and traveling the world, delighting in both God’s creation and the people she met along the way.

Pilar is survived by her sons, Michael Ibarra Jr. and Mark Ibarra; her grandchildren, Sandra Ibarra, Desiree Richardson, Rosalynn Ibarra, Theofisto Ibarra, and Madden Nguyen; and her great-grandchildren, Michael Morris Jr., Anthony Gonzales, Skyler Richardson, Kaydence Gray, and Maverick Morris.

Viewing will be held on January 21, 2026, from 4:008:00 p.m. at Parent Sorensen Mortuary, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, CA 94952. The Rosary will be prayed from 6:307:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place on January 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Anthony’s of Padua Parish, 1000 Cambridge Street, Novato, CA 94947. The Mass will also be live streamed on the St. Anthony’s of Padua Parish website: https://stanthony novato.org/ A reception will follow in the church hall. Burial Service will be held on January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Russian River Cemetery, 940 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482. A reception will follow at the Plowshares Community Dining Center, 1346 S. State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend and celebrate Pilar’s life and faith. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony’s of Padua Parish in Pilar’s memory. “Well done, good and faithful servant Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:21

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DUI DRIVER WHO CAUSED HEAD-ON COLLISION AND INFLICTED GREAT BODILY INJURY CONVICTED BY JURY

A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its deliberations Friday afternoon to announce it had found the defendant guilty as charged.

Defendant David Lee Roy McCarty, age 39, of Redwood Valley, was found guilty of two felonies -- driving a motor vehicle causing injury while under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle causing injury with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater.

The jury also found true sentencing enhancements that alleged the defendant inflicted great bodily injury on the driver of the victim vehicle, and that there were two additional passengers injured in the victim vehicle.

After the jury was excused, the defendant was ordered to return to court on January 23, 2025, the time and place for the prosecutor to present any additional evidence on aggravating factors to be applied when the case is later called for judgment and sentencing.

The two-vehicle collision – caused by the defendant not maintaining his lane of travel -- occurred on and at the Green Bridge south of Hopland after midnight on September 23, 2023.

The law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene, assisted the injured, investigated the cause of the crash, and developed the evidence used at trial were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice’s forensic laboratory. Witness trial support was provided by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations and Victim/Witness Unit.

The defendant, the driver of the victim vehicle, and the two passengers in the victim vehicle were transported that night to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Healdsburg General Hospital, and Adventist Health Ukiah Valley for immediate care by ambulance services operated by Ukiah Valley Fire and Medstar.

The prosecutor who prepared the case and presented the People’s evidence at trial was Senior Deputy District Attorney Luke Oakley.

Superior Court Judge Victoria Shanahan presided over the five-day trial.

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SUSAN ALICE (BERTSCH) WAGNER (1939-2025)

Susan Alice (Bertsch) Wagner passed away on April 26th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family in Auburn, WA.

Born in Pasadena, CA August 11, 1939 to Dorothy and Harold Bertsch. She went to high school in Ukiah and spent some of her early adult life in Ukiah. She had a spirited and adventurous life primarily in California.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years William Wagner. She is survived by her children Stacie Maurer, Andy Wagner and Tyson Wagner. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was the “fun” grandma!

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THE REDWOOD VALLEY MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 14, 2026

by Monica Huettl

Report from 1st District Supervisor Madeline Cline

Supervisor Cline reported on the findings of the state audit of Mendocino County, released on December 18. There were three main items to focus on: 1) the budget deficit; 2) procedures needed to safeguard against waste, fraud and abuse; and 3) the 2024 primary election ballot snafu. Cline said there was “nothing surprising” in the audit. The Board of Supervisors already knew of the problems listed by the auditors, and are actively working on solutions.

Cline was appointed as the county’s representative on the board of the Inland Water and Power Commission, a Joint Powers Authority. If you didn’t attend the IWPC’s November Public Workshop, a link to the recording is available on the IWPC website.

The state legislature is looking at implementing a ban on the retail sale of nitrous oxide, so our local BOS will hold off on creating a county ban, as had been previously discussed.

District 4’s Bernie Norvell is this year’s chair. The BOS held a workshop where they discussed implementation of the response to the state audit, the county’s financial software, permit streamlining and lowering fees. A big priority will be combatting street-level homelessness.

Cline has scheduled two Constituent Coffee meetings, on February 13 at Testa Coffee Shop; in Redwood Valley, and again on March 6 at the McNab Tasting Room in Hopland. Both run from noon to 1 pm.

County CEO Darcie Antle announced she will retire in June.

MAC Member Deb Hughes asked if it would be possible to freeze county salaries for five years, and asked why the BOS gave themselves a raise when the county has a budget deficit. Cline stated that market studies showed that county employees were paid at lower rates than other similar counties, and they were brought up to market rates for those counties, not to the same level as an urban county. The supervisors and county employees are not expected to get another raise in the near future.

Report from Sheriff Matt Kendall

There were only two homicides in all of Mendocino County in 2025. Kendall attributes this to the decline of illegal cannabis grows. Both of the 2025 homicides were related to cannabis.

Kendall warned about new, sophisticated internet scams based in foreign countries, designed to part the unsuspecting from their money. The latest scam had a photo of Sheriff Kendall and a fake message from him. The Sheriff’s IT department worked quickly to take down the scammers. Kendall joked, “I’m sad that we had to take down the site because it was the only good picture of me.”

So far ICE has not come to Mendocino County. Recently, Homeland Security was in town investigating a case regarding the continuous abuse of a child. This had nothing to do with ICE or immigration. Kendall asked the Feds to tell him in advance when they would be in this county, but they don’t always notify him.

For those who want to exercise their legal right to protest, Kendall asked that you do not interfere with law enforcement. You are welcome to protest peacefully.

The behavioral health unit of the jail is expected to be finished by May. Kendall said, “I can’t believe a government project is going as well as it is.”

There’s a new CHP commander in town. Kendall has been asking for many years to bring more CHP officers to the North Coast, and the new commander supports that effort.

Regarding emergency evacuations, evacuation sites are not set in advance, as each emergency is different. There are three levels of emergency announcements. First is situational awareness, second is evacuation warning, and third is evacuation order. People in wheelchairs and walkers should prepare to evacuate during the situational awareness phase. Kendall said that the MTA drivers know most everyone in a wheelchair on their routes. A comment from the audience suggested that MTA be included in OES planning.

Report from Scott Alonso, Representative for State Assemblyman Chris Rogers

Governor Newsom’s budget proposition last week shows a $3 billion deficit. Legislative analysts say it’s closer to $18 billion. Money will be tight for local agencies over the next several years, and there will be cuts from the feds as well.

Rogers introduced AB 1574, The Tribal Foster Care Prevention Program, designed to ensure tribal children remain connected to their families and communities through culturally appropriate support services.

Rogers also introduced AB 1583 which will enable prosecutors in the county where a victim of wage theft or labor trafficking lives to file charges against employers or traffickers in another county. Often, the victim does not have the resources to pursue wage theft claims occurring on a job site in another county.

There was a comment from the audience asking that legislative salaries be reduced. Alonso replied that a citizen commission sets the pay for the legislature. State legislators no longer receive pensions.

The federal government has cut back on Department of Transportation grants for electric vehicle infrastructure, but is still committed to supporting zero emission public transit vehicles.

Traffic Issues

MAC Member Patricia Ris-Yarborough read a Facebook post from Jesse Tanning Sanchez, a resident of Laughlin Way. Jesse wants to start a petition to get the traffic speed lowered on Laughlin Way and Road N. There was discussion about lowering the speed limit on other roads in Redwood Valley. Speeding is a perpetual problem. The MAC has had past guest speakers from the Highway Patrol, CalTrans, and the County Department of Transportation, all of whom provided reasons why the speed limit cannot legally be lowered. MAC Chair Dolly Riley suggested that we contact the Mendocino Council of Governments, which oversees public transportation and traffic issues.

Gizmo Henderson attended the latest MCOG meeting, where the placement of a public transit mall on Gobbi Street was discussed, but that location is prone to flooding.

Redwood Valley County Water District — Ukiah Valley Water Authority

Redwood Valley County Water District Board Member Tom Schoeneman spoke about the 30% rate increase. Schoeneman, who is also on the boards of the Ukiah Valley Water Authority and the Inland Power and Water Commission, said, “This is a district that was built without any water.” The district must pump the water in, which is very expensive. Major infrastructure upgrades that had been put off for years are required. The aging water treatment plant is expensive to run. Other districts in Ukiah don’t provide ag water, another expense unique to Redwood Valley. The district needs to build up financial reserves in case of catastrophe. In the past they have held back contractor payments because they haven’t had enough money. The consolidation with Ukiah is not what triggered the rate increase.

There will be another 12% rate increase in July. Two pumps at the lake were paid for with grant money. All of the water districts in the Ukiah valley raised rates. The board members did not want to raise rates on their neighbors, and kept them artificially low for a long time, but it’s at the point where they need to raise rates.

Following up with Schoeneman after the meeting as to why the grant funding received from California’s SAFER program still left a need for hefty rate increases, Schoeneman replied:

“The SAFER money is tied to the infrastructure consolidation projects like the larger pipeline from Burkes Hill all the way to Redwood Valley. Pumps and inter-ties and all the connections in between.

“The different rate raises by the water districts are to offset all of our costs just to maintain services to deliver water to our customers. As far as the Redwood Valley, we’ve got an antiquated plumbing system that is under constant repair. A Water Treatment plant that needs to be repaired, pumps on Lake Mendocino to get water out of the lake over the hill and to the RV.

“An ongoing problem for Redwood Valley that we’ve very slowly addressed through the years is our lack of emergency funds or “reserves.” Even with our hefty rate hikes it will take five yrs. to make a difference.

“For decades we had Water Boards in the R/V that just couldn’t raise rates. Maintenance was put off. Upgrades were saved for later. As the Boards changed we saw the bind we are in and had to act.

“When the County paves Roads D, E and Colony Drive this summer, the District will have to pay to extend all the shut-off valve covers that are in the roadways.”

Redwood Valley Recreation Center

The Ukiah Unified School District is still attempting to sell the Redwood Valley School property, long abandoned by the district. The Redwood Valley Recreation Center committee was the only bidder in response to the UUSD’s RFQ. The committee’s proposal for a long-term lease of the property, similar to that of the Alex Rorabaugh recreation center in Ukiah, also owned by the UUSD, was met with a counter-offer. The committee will provide a response to the counter- offer by January 30.

Redwood Valley Community Action Plan

Mendocino County planners Julia Krog and Russ Ford extracted certain provisions from the proposed Community Action Plan, calling them “Community Specific Policies,” the naming convention used for the county’s other unincorporated towns. The policies are items within the control of the planning department, and if approved by the BOS, will be incorporated in the County General Plan. The remainder of the items in the CAP will be attached as an exhibit for the BOS to review, to keep Redwood Valley residents’ wishes as part of the public record.

Moratorium on New Gas Stations

The MAC submitted a letter to the BOS on October 8 asking for a moratorium on new gas stations in the county. The supervisors have not responded. The Grassroots Institute supports the MAC’s position. Supervisor Cline said she is not interested in pursuing the moratorium, concerned with the way the policy would be implemented.

Grange Update

The Grange meets every 3rd Thursday of the month. The remodeled, licensed commercial kitchen is available for rent and is already in use. The Grange Flea Market is every second Saturday. The Flea Market will offer pancakes for breakfast and hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch.

On Saturday January 24 from 11:00 AM to 12:30, the Grange will hold a free movement, dance, and theater arts class led by Jim Beatty, host of Radio HaHa for kids on KZYX.

A pancake breakfast is scheduled for Saint Patrick’s Day, co-hosted by the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County.

There is $4,000 in the Grange scholarship fund.

Fire Issues

Chair Riley reported that the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department has named Marty Creel as the new Chief. A siren policy was adopted.

Riley said that the Road A&B Fire Safe Council is going well and she urges everyone in Redwood Valley to start a Fire Safe Council, which can become Fire Wise if you meet certain criteria. Fire Wise homes may be eligible for reduced insurance rates. Requirements for Fire Safe include developing phone trees to alert neighbors during a fire, planning ahead for evacuations, and have homes assessed for home hardening.

On burn days, the piles are supposed to be lit at 9:00 am and finished by 3:00 pm. MAC Member Chris Boyd suggested writing a letter to the fire department if you have neighbors who regularly flout the rules.

State Farm Insurance agent Jay Epstein dropped off info about the state’s FAIR insurance program for fire insurance.

Mendocino College Trustee Info

Mendocino College Trustee Jay Epstein dropped off copies of the trustee board meeting notes.

MAC Officer Elections

Last year’s officers were re-elected: Dolly Riley — Chair, Chris Boyd — Vice-Chair, Patricia Ris-Yarborough — Treasurer, with no secretary.

The next Mac meeting is February 11, 2026. Attorney Phil Williams will speak on water issues concerning the Potter Valley Project.

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HENDY WOODS FREE ON MONDAY

The California State Parks Foundation is paying for Day Use entry to most CA parks this Monday, January 19, which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This includes Hendy Woods. Weather looks like it should be good! The Foundation was very helpful working with us when the state tried to close Hendy Woods back in 2011. So thanks for everything goes out to them!

Hendy Woods Community

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R.D. BEACON:

The Elk Creek Beach, is now available for sale, about 160 acres+. Cash only, $12 million, take in a small amount of Timberland, southeast of the beach area, on a side hill, and a quarter-mile Creek frontage, state highway, has an easement through the property, but does not own, that the right, to the underlying ground, natural runs steelhead salmon, up the river, original property had about nine buildings, and have photographs of some of them, according to coastal commission regulations, the combined, square footage of all nine structures could be used in one building, like a residence or several buildings, original property, with a small ranch, in the 1800s, good power access, and telephone lines available, and abundant water coming out of springs on the property, property has been under one family's control for over 100 years, serious, inquiries only, no access to the property, except by appointment, all requests to enter the property, must be made in writing, send email to, [email protected]. Absolutely no realtors, no second party sellers, interested parties must be buyers only.

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UKIAH SHELTER PET OF THE WEEK

Mallory is a bright, spirited 4-month old female Belgian Malinois with a heart full of curiosity and a love for adventure. She’s searching for an active family that can match her energy, take her exploring, and enjoy the fun she brings to daily life. This little girl loves to run, play, and discover new things. Whether she’s chasing toys, exploring the yard, or inventing her own games, Mallory knows how to keep herself entertained — and keep you smiling. Mallory is eager to learn, quick to pick up new skills, and motivated to please. With her intelligence and enthusiasm, she’ll thrive in a home with guardians who enjoy teaching, engaging, and bonding through activity. If you’re on the lookout for a smart, playful, adventure-ready companion, head to the Ukiah Shelter and meet Mallory.

To see all of our canine and feline guests visit: mendoanimalshelter.com.

We're on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/mendoanimalshelter/

For information about adoptions please call 707-467-6453.

Making a difference for homeless pets in Mendocino County, one day at a time!

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ANTLE’S ‘WILD RIDE’ TO END

by Justine Frederiksen

Calling her time at the helm of Mendocino County government a “wild ride,” Chief Executive Officer Darcie Antle announced this week that she will be retiring in six months.

“I am publicly announcing my retirement, which will be effective the end of June, 2026,” Antle told the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, speaking after a two-day workshop the board held to discuss the county’s priorities for the coming year, an endeavor that Fourth District Supervisor Bernie Norvell gave the CEO’s office credit for initiating.

“I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for the opportunity to serve as CEO,” said Antle, describing that opportunity as “as certainly being a wild ride. Some folks know that when I came to the county after 22 years in healthcare, I was looking to slow down. Well, that didn’t happen, (because) I’m pretty sure that a lot of the things I faced, particularly in the last three and a half years, (are things that) not many CEOs meet in their entire career.”

Antle served as Assistant CEO to former county CEO Carmel Angelo from May of 2021 until March of 2022, when Angelo retired. Antle then served as interim CEO until July of 2022, when she was officially appointed CEO by the Board of Supervisors.

At that time, Antle said she had “lived in Mendocino County for over 30 years. During these years I have gathered experiences and knowledge that will serve me well in my effort to make Mendocino County a better place for all county residents. My experience in education, health care, county finances and communications will allow me to serve Mendocino well as the chief executive officer.

“This is possible only through the direction of our Board of Supervisors and with the help of all departments and divisions working together. I pledge to always be open in communication, always dedicate my best efforts, and always put Mendocino County’s welfare first. Mendocino County is my home.”

Nearing the end of her tenure this week, Antle said she was “excited to be leaving, (though also) a little sad, conflicted, and a little emotional. There’s never enough time, and there’s always more to do, but the successes have been many, and rewarding, so now you’re going to have to bear with me as I mention a few:

Securing Behavioral Health Jail Wing funding: “which is leading to the completion of that wing this spring. That adventure of going out for certificates of participation was difficult, but we managed through.”

Evidence Storage Relocation to a county-owned facility: “which is a huge improvement from where our storage for evidence has been prior.”

Purchased Whitmore Lane during Covid: “for a safe place for folks to recover, which will soon be opened, as a final goal of Measure B, as a Psychiatric Health Facility.”

Purchased a hotel during Covid: “which was turned into Project Homekey, with the magnificent oversight of Megan Van Sant.”

Upgrade to a Munis system: “that was seven versions behind; we were on the verge of not being supported for our financial system.

Hired several department heads: “They are so wonderful, I think we found some really good, longterm individuals who will help move this county forward.”

Worked through several financial audits, including from the state auditor, and one from the state controller, which helped identify areas of improvement.

Antle also noted that “increased financial transparency” had been accomplished during her tenure, but added that “yes, (Fifth District) Supervisor Ted Williams, we’ve got a long way to go on that.”

Just before Antle’s announcement, during the end of the board’s workshop on goals, Third District Supervisor John Haschak brought up a recent state audit, and mentioned how certain activities might need to be “paused” pending further review.

“Something we didn’t talk about regarding the state audit,” Supervisor Williams then added, “is that my read told us: ‘Don’t do these Broiler dinners again’,” referring to the state auditors’ describing District Attorney David Eyster’s “string of annual steakhouse dinners… as a “gift of public funds,” as reported by Mike Geniella.

“I don’t know what to do with that, I don’t want to be involved,” Williams continued.

“The District Attorney (Eyster) had some arguments, maybe he’s right, maybe he’s wrong, but that should be between the DA and the state. And I’m concerned that if some of what they told us not to do happens again after they told us, (then) is it this board that’s responsible for not setting policy?”

Antle noted that the previous advice from County Counsel was that the matter be brought back to the board at a future meeting, to which Williams said, “Is it safe to assume that while we figure out what’s allowable, that such activities are paused?

“They should be paused, yes,” said Antle. “And hopefully we can have a discussion on Feb. 3.”

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LOCAL EVENTS (today)

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MIKE GENIELLA: Mark Scaramella nails it re CEO Darcie Antle: Let me add one more thought: I watched, and listened, to Ms. Antle’s sworn testimony during the preliminary hearing on District Attorney David Eyster’s failed bid to criminally convict Auditor Chamise Cubbison. It was pitiful. Judge Ann Moorman rightly dismissed the politically-laced prosecution.

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MEET FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR CANDIDATE KEVIN EVANS

Hello friends and neighbors,

Please find below an announcement of my upcoming town hall meeting in Elk/Greenwood on Friday January 23rd at 6 p.m. at the Greenwood Community Center (6129 S. Highway 1 in Elk. I would like to extend an invitation for you to join in the meeting and share the announcement with your friends and neighbors. I look forward to your comments and issues that concern you, your family and community.

I hope you can join us,

Warm regards,

Kevin Evans

Gualala

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OLD ORNBAUN HOT SPRINGS

Hi neighbors,

Anyone know anything about old Ornbaun Hot Springs located off Fish Rock Road near Yorkville? I was looking for the location of some items for sale and I noticed on the map Old Ornbaun Hot Springs. Is there really a Hot Springs there? Anyone know the history of that place? Google search turned up nothing. Just curious. Anyone?

Robert Deutsch [email protected]

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MOLLY BEE REPLIES;

Just want to point out that Ornbaun Hot Springs is NOT the same as Orr Hot Springs, and AI is trained to say seemingly-cogent things that merely SOUND true. E.g. how to navigate Mendocino using that handy (nonexistent) Greyhound terminal… Uh, right.

I know about the hot springs on the Garcia River where there was once built-up infrastructure for visitors. Sounds like the Ornbaun hot Springs would be further south from there if you're fishing around Fish Rock.

I remember an Ornbaun family on the north end of Elk, neighbors to the Matsons. The man's first name was Ken (or Kenny) probably short for Kenneth. No idea if that would be related to your hot spring in question, but worth a stretch.

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MONTANA GIRL:

AI Overview

Old Ornbaun Hot Springs refers to a historic area in Mendocino County, California, known for its natural geothermal waters, particularly associated with the Orr Hot Springs Resort, a clothing-optional retreat offering mineral baths, pools, and cabins in a redwood setting. While the original Ornbaun ranch was a significant family homestead with a hotel, today it's primarily known for the popular Orr Hot Springs, a tranquil escape with no Wi-Fi, offering a chance to relax in nature.

Key Aspects:

Location: Nestled in the hills near Ukiah, California, within the Mendocino Coastal Range.

History: First discovered by Native Americans, later became a homestead for the Ornbaun family, and eventually developed into a resort featuring mineral springs.

The Resort: Orr Hot Springs is a small, rustic resort on 27 acres at the headwaters of Big River, featuring various pools (co-ed, private tubs, spring-fed cold pool), a steam room, sauna, and cabins.

Atmosphere: Known for its tranquil, non-judgmental, clothing-optional environment, natural beauty, and lack of technology (no phone/Wi-Fi). Activities: Soaking in mineral waters, hiking, enjoying the redwood forests, and unwinding.

In essence, when people talk about Old Ornbaun Hot Springs, they're usually referring to the historic roots of the area and the modern-day Orr Hot Springs Resort that continues to offer natural hot spring experiences.

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ALBION BRIDGE HEARING NOTICE

Coastal Development Permit Application No. 1-25-0828 (Caltrans Albion River Bridge Repair and Maintenance, Mendocino County). Application by the California Department of Transportation District 1 to repair and maintain the Albion River Bridge through replacement in-kind of 53 deteriorated timber scabs and inspection and potential replacement of at least three split ring connectors and one mole claw connector located at the base of the timber towers, all located above the Albion River within the Caltrans right of way on Highway 1, Mendocino County. (MP-SF) Hearing Date. This matter will be considered by the Coastal Commission on February 4, 2026 as agenda item W13a. The Commission Meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

Availability of Staff report. A copy of the staff report on this matter is available at www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html. Click on the Wednesday tab and scroll down to agenda item W13a.

Please note that this will be a hybrid meeting, with both virtual and in person participation allowed. Please see the Coastal Commission’s Hybrid Hearing Procedures posted on the Coastal Commission’s webpage at www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html for details on the procedures of this hearing. If you would like to receive a paper copy of these procedures or have any questions about the hearing, please email [email protected] or call 415-904-5202.

The in-person hearing will be held at Oceano Hotel & Spa, 280 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. The Commission still strongly encourages continued participation virtually through video and teleconferencing to reduce our carbon footprint. To view the live stream of the hearing, please visit https://cal-span.org/January 16, 2026

How to provide written comments for this hearing.

To submit written materials for review by the Commission, either email (via [email protected]) or submit such materials to Commission staff no later than 5pm on the Friday before the hearing. (Staff will then distribute your materials to the Commission.)

Note that such materials received after this time will not be distributed to the Commission. Alternatively, you may also submit such materials directly to the Commissioners (a current list of Commissioner names and email addresses is available from Commission staff or from the Commission’s website) as long as such materials are submitted to all Commissioners, all alternates for Commissioners, the three non-voting members of the Commission, and Commission staff. We request that you mail the materials so that the Commissioners and staff receive the materials no later than Thursday of the week before the Commission meeting. No matter how comments are submitted, you are requested to summarize the reasons for your position in no more than two or three pages, if possible.

How to provide oral testimony.

You may sign up to provide both in-person and remote Zoom oral testimony on the Commission’s website at www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html by selecting the “Submit Speaker Request” option above the agenda.

Allotted Time for Testimony. Oral testimony may be limited to 3 minutes or less for each speaker depending on the number of persons wishing to be heard.

Additional Procedures:

The above item may be moved to the Consent Calendar for items removed from the regular calendar (Item W8) by the Executive Director when, prior to Commission consideration of the Consent Calendar, staff and the applicant are in agreement on the staff recommendation. If this item is moved to the Consent Calendar, the Commission will either approve it as recommended by staff or remove the item from the Consent Calendar by a vote of three or more Commissioners. If the item is removed, the public hearing described above will still be held at the point in the meeting originally indicated on the agenda (Item W13a).

No one can predict how quickly the Commission will complete agenda items or how many will be postponed to a later date. The Commission begins each session at the time listed and considers each item in order, except in extraordinary circumstances. Staff at the appropriate Commission office can give you more information prior to the hearing date.

Questions regarding this item should be directed at Melba Policicchio.

Office: 455 Market Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 415-904-5200.

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MIKE GENIELLA: Friend Scott Swanson, retired Deputy Police Chief for the City of Santa Rosa, wrote this letter to editor of a Montana newspaper. Swanson lives in Bozeman, Montana, where ICE raids are apparently planned in the coming weeks.

I am a former police officer who served his community for thirty years. I write the following thoughts with sadness but also great conviction. Never have I felt such shame for federal law enforcement. And what I truly reference isn’t about legitimate law enforcement, it's about the militarization of federal forces. Federal forces who seem hell bent on violating the rights of both citizens and others who reside in our nation. Every day I see videos of masked men who act with thuggish behaviors, pushing, shoving, smashing windows, using tear gas, and most tragically, shooting people. These actions are anathema to the America in which I was raised.

Let me be clear, I support the lawful and humane arrest of persons who have committed serious crimes in our country. In fact, I believe that persons who have committed felonious crimes need to be brought to justice; immediately and in court!

It has been my experience that it is the rare situation where police are required to employ the use of force to affect an arrest. In those infrequent instances where it is required then it must be done using the minimum force necessary to affect that arrest. The use of force for its own sake is wrong. Criminally wrong. “Street Justice” has no place in our democracy.

Shockingly, many ICE and Border Patrol agents do not understand use of force constraints. It appears that many agents are not properly selected, not adequately trained, not effectively managed, and/or not held to account for violations of codified organization procedures and legal standards. The lawful, ethical and professional enforcement of the law by ICE and the Border Patrol must be a national priority. Sadly this is not the belief of the current director of Homeland Security who has no sense of decency.

In Gallatin County we must be cognizant of what is happening in Minnesota, California, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Someday it could happen here. We must take every LAWFUL effort to support ethical policing and oppose the militarization of American law enforcement. It is best said over the front entrance to the Supreme Court Building: Equal Justice Under Law.

Scott D. Swanson

Swanson retired as deputy chief of police for the Santa Rosa, Ca. Police Department after thirty years of service. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, California Command College, and the University of California. He is a resident of Bozeman.

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CATCH OF THE DAY, Saturday, January 17, 2026

JOSH CALDERON, 18, Clearlake/Ukiah. DUI causing bodily injury, no license.

ROBERT CALVERT, 47, Westmoreland, Tennessee/Ukiah. DUI.

JOHNATHAN HENDERSON, 23, Ukiah. Concealed dirk-dagger, paraphernalia, probation violation.

ADRIEL HERNANDEZ, 22, Hopland. Kidnapping, unlawful sexual intercourse with minor with perp over 21 and victim under 16, domestic abuse, oral copulation with person under 18, child neglect.

SARA KLEIN, 52, Redway/Ukiah. Failure to appear.

JEREMIAH MCOSKER, 47, Ukiah. Under influence, paraphernalia, probation violation.

CATALINA MENG, 22, McKinleyville/Ukiah. Battery with serious injury, disorderly conduct-alcohol.

JEFFREY MURRAY, 43, Ukiah. Failure to appear, probation revocation.

JACOB NEUER, 22, Ukiah. Controlled substance, paraphernalia, failure to appear, probation revocation.

RANDY PIKE JR., 34, Point Arena. Controlled substance with two or more priors, paraphernalia, county parole violation, offenses while on bail.

CELIA RODSETH, 28, Willits. Failure to appear.

DALE ROTHAUGE, 33, Fort Bragg. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

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49ERS’ SEASON GETS STUFFED IN SEATTLE as S.F. suffers worst playoff defeat since 1987

by Noah Furtado

SEATTLE — Lumen Field has no roof. If it did, Rashid Shaheed proposed a renovation. His 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to open Saturday night’s playoff game put the San Francisco 49ers in a hole that would only get deeper on Saturday night.

Eventually, the game ended in a 41-6 loss to the top-seeded Seahawks, marking the 49ers’ worst margin of defeat in a playoff game in nearly 40 years, dating back to their 49-3 bashing by the New York Giants on Jan. 4, 1987.

“Nobody thought we would even be here, let alone thought we would win this game,” Trent Williams said, referencing a slew of injuries to key players, including tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa. “At the end of the day, we playing with house money when you get to this point, playing with who we played with.

“During the season, we came down here with a healthy team and we won. I think that’s what we can be. Obviously, when you’re playing with guys you signing off practice squads, guys you taking off the street, I mean, you got to temper your expectations a little bit.”

The 49ers got the ball first to start the second half down 24-6, an opportunity to start a comeback. But with star running back Christian McCaffrey busy getting treatment for a first-half shoulder stinger, quarterback Brock Purdy tried but failed to steady the offense that suffered a turnover on downs. By the time McCaffrey re-entered the game, Purdy threw an interception past the ducking head of Williams.

And the Seahawks kept scoring. Or more specifically, Kenneth Walker did; he finished with three rushing touchdowns. McCaffrey, banged up, was taken out soon after the third. So was Purdy.

“You really have to play smart football, check the ball down and stay on the field on third downs,” Purdy said. “They’re a kind of defense, they’re not going to give up the big shot plays. … They’re going to play soft zone and make you go through your read and check it down. … I think for all of us, including myself, we’ve got to understand that when we’re going against these guys.”

The Seahawks needed only the first quarter to race out to a 17-0 lead, scoring more points against the 49ers than they had in either of their regular-season meetings (13).

All the 49ers had to show for their first two drives: a botched 4th-and-1 trick play and a lost fumble. Head coach Kyle Shanahan called a horizontal option play between fullback Kyle Juszczyk and McCaffrey to get one yard, which instead lost three, as Juszczyk pitched McCaffrey out of bounds. Then an 11-yard catch for backup tight end Jake Tonges was nullified by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who stripped the ball away for safety Julian Love to recover.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, suffering from a left oblique injury in the days leading up Saturday, appeared more than OK when he capped the subsequent drive with a 4-yard dart to first-team All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In coverage was 49ers backup cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. Starting corner Renardo Green had been pulled from the drive, and verbally berated by Shanahan, who benched him in this critical moment. Green appeared to be involved in a 21-yard completion surrendered to Seahawks wideout Cooper Kupp that effectively negated a sack by safety Malik Mustapha the play before.

Even when something went right for the 49ers, something going wrong seemed to follow.

After they strung together a pair of field goals, a 3rd-and-2 rush by Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet appeared to be stopped short. Rather than a punt away from getting the ball back with three minutes until halftime, a 5-yard holding penalty by 49ers defensive tackle Jordan Elliott preserved the drive, and led to another touchdown.

“Self-inflicted wounds, when you’re playing playoff football, they are going to capitalize,” Mustapha said.

“Credit to them, but I look at the guys in this locker room and there’s another step we can take. I know guys are going to take those necessary precautions to make sure we never have this situation happen again.”

Speculation swirled around whether Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock would make an appearance with Darnold at less than 100 percent. Lock did ultimately enter the game, after all, midway through the fourth quarter.

But the game, and the 49ers' season, had effectively been long over by that point.

“I just thanked them for the whole season,” Shanahan said. “How much they battled through everything. I know everyone in there was sick about tonight and the way that went in every facet. But I tried not to make it about tonight when I was in there (postgame) with them.”

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49ERS GAME GRADES: Worst playoff loss since 1987 has no highlights

SEATTLE — The worst playoff defeat for the San Francisco 49ers since 1987 was jam-packed with lowlights in a game that dispelled much doubt of the outcome from the opening kickoff — which the Seattle Seahawks returned for a touchdown to put the Niners in a hole 13 seconds into the game. The 41-6 defeat marked the ignominious end to an improbable season as the litany of injuries, punctuated by schedule-shortened weeks left them unready to compete with the NFC’s top seed.

Offense: F

Two weeks after failing to get the ball into the end zone against the Seahawks’ defense in the regular-season finale, the 49ers again failed to get any traction. Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges were both injured during the game, with McCaffrey (shoulder stinger) initially not back on the field to start the second half. As desperation mounted, two possessions ended on downs, another on a Brock Purdy interception, their fourth on a fumble, throttling any shot at a comeback.

Defense: F

Whatever was left in coordinator Robert Saleh’s bag of tricks apparently got used up against the Eagles. The Seahawks scored on seven of their first eight possessions. Giving up big-yardage plays (including a 30-yard run by Rashid Shaheed on an end-around) on the Seahawks’ last possession of the first half helped put the game out of reach, while Kenneth Walker became the second Seahawks running back to score three TDs in a playoff game while rumbling to 145 total yards.

Special teams: F

After a season of improvement from this unit under new coach Brant Boyer, the first-play TD — with Eddy Piñeiro trying a flagged soccer-style slide in an attempt to trip Seattle’s Shaheed on his kickoff return for a TD. Piñeiro’s 56-yard field goal just squeaked over the cross bar, a hollow reminder of his excellence over the season. After kicking just twice in December, Bryan Morstead got to participate with a fourth-quarter punt.

Coaching: D-

In a season defined by finding workarounds, this was another sad ending. Seeing their first offensive possession scuppered by calling for a handoff to McCaffrey on 3rd-and-1 into the teeth of a stacked Seahawks defense and then going for it on 4th-and-1 with Kyle Juszczyk losing the ball and three yards, was a brutal but defining sequence. The opening drive of the second half was no better: The play call on 4th-and-2 at Seattle’s 44 generated a 14-yard sack of Purdy. With no tricks left up either sleeve, Kyle Shanahan’s team got bodied and beaten.

Overall: F

As Scott Ostler has noted, it had to end somewhere, and as much hope as there was that it might be in Levi’s Stadium in Super Bowl LX, it was not to be. The Seahawks were rested and ready, and the 49ers were decisively outclassed. There’s no real room for second-guessing here; a 12-5 season, in part thanks to a soft schedule, was nevertheless an accomplishment. But what magic this team had got used up in Philadelphia.

(sfchronicle.com)

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MANNISH BOY

Oh yeah, oh yeah
Everything gonna be alright this morning

Now when I was a young boy at the age of five
My mother said I'm gonna be the greatest man alive
But now I'm a man, I made twenty-one
I want you to believe me, honey, we're having lots of fun

I'm a man (yeah!), I spell "M", "A" child
"N", that represents man (yeah!)
No "B" (whoa!), "O" child
"Y", that spell "Mannish Boy"

A man (yeah!), I'm a full grown man (yeah!)
I'm a man (yeah!), I'm a rolling stone (whoa!)
I'm a man (yeah!), I'm a Hoochie Coochie man
Sitting on the outside, just me and my mate
I made the moon come up two hours late (yeah)

Ain't that a man (yeah!), I spell "M", "A" child
"N", that represents man (yeah!)
No "B", "O" child
"Y", that spell "Mannish Boy"

I'm a man (yeah!), I'm a full grown man (whoa!)
I'm a man (yeah!), I'm a rolling stone (whoa!)
I'm a man (yeah), full grown man…

— Muddy Waters, Mel London, and Bo Diddley (1955)

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STATE OF THE ESTUARY: Health of CA Delta Fish Rated "Poor" As Freshwater Flows Decline

by Dan Bacher

A new scientific report published by the San Francisco Estuary Institute finds that fish populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are in “poor shape,” citing “poor freshwater conditions” and other factors behind the collapse.

The report, “State of the Estuary,” has provided a comprehensive assessment of the health of San Francisco Bay and the Delta for many years.…

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/16/2363762/-State-of-the-Estuary-Health-of-CA-Delta-Fish-Rated-Poor-as-Freshwater-Flows-Decline

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THE GREATEST ERA IN 49ERS HISTORY WAS UNDONE BY A CORRUPT GOVERNOR

Ex-49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo's fate looks strange in the new gambling-obsessed NFL

by Gabe Lehman

Online sportsbooks sure seem to have a stranglehold on the National Football League. Ever since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports gambling in 2018, sportsbooks have dominated football discourse. Podcasts and studio shows spend endless hours dissecting money lines, points spreads and parlays. You can hardly watch a football telecast today without Kevin Hart screaming at you about bonus bets.

When Super Bowl 60 kicks off next month in Santa Clara, expect to see the Manning brothers’ FanDuel ads, TV segments with NBC Sports betting analyst Matthew Berry and countless influencers milling around Levi’s Stadium’s Cache Creek Casino Resort Field Club.

With the NFL’s recent wholesale embrace of online betting, it’s easy to forget that it was a gambling scandal that took down the most beloved non-player in San Francisco 49ers history.

The 49ers (red and) golden age

Eddie DeBartolo Jr. started out as a nepo baby. His father, Eddie DeBartolo Sr., was the leading developer of America’s shopping malls and had become a business titan. When the 49ers came up for sale in 1977, DeBartolo Sr. bought the team for $13 million — and gave it to Eddie Jr., who was 30 at the time.

To many league insider’s surprise, DeBartolo’s Niners turned into a dynasty: 13 NFC West titles, five Super Bowls, eternal NFL greats like Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice and “The Catch,” perhaps the defining play in American football history.

Through all these triumphs, “Eddie D,” as he was affectionately called by players and fans, became immensely popular. In the pre-salary cap era, the 49ers frequently had the league’s highest payroll, earning many complaints from other owners. And DeBartolo also spent lavishly outside of the roster, famously taking the team on post-championship trips to Hawaii.

Even as the team switched coaches and quarterbacks, the 49ers under DeBartolo were the jewel of the league. But then, suddenly, things took a turn.

A Gift Goes Horribly Wrong

In 1996, two years after his father died, DeBartolo was awarded a riverboat gambling license from the state of Louisiana. But what the 49ers owner did not know at the time was that the FBI was closely watching Edwin Edwards, the scandal-ridden Louisiana governor who was on his fourth term in office at the time.

According to the FBI, Edwards demanded DeBartolo pay him $400,000 to secure the license. The 49ers owner agreed to the deal during a meeting at a hotel bar in Baton Rouge in March of 1997. He paid entirely in $100 bills. It took just a few months for DeBartolo to end up in front of a grand jury and, on Dec. 2 of that year, word got out that DeBartolo would be indicted for gambling fraud.

When that news dropped, DeBartolo stepped down from his role as 49ers owner, leaving his sister in charge. It was intended to be a temporary move.

DeBartolo pleaded guilty to failing to report an extortion attempt — a felony charge. He only had to pay a $1 million fine and serve a two-year probation, thanks to his participation in the case against Edwards — who would spend more than eight years in prison on his racketeering charge.

The NFL was more firm, handing down a yearlong suspension. The scandal prompted a bitter legal battle within the DeBartolo family. Eventually, after litigation and pressure from the league’s other owners, Eddie completely walked away from the organization and handed over full control of the franchise to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York in 2000.

DeBartolo’s exit came in a different era of sports gambling. But in the past five years alone, the NFL announced it was adding not one, but three sportsbook partners, reportedly gave permission to team owners to own a piece of those sportsbooks themselves and allowed fans to place bets in sportsbooks inside NFL stadiums during game days. It’s not hard to imagine things would be different for DeBartolo if his case happened today rather than in the 1990s.

‘You Are My 49er Family’

Since DeBartolo’s exit at the turn of the millennium, the 49ers have certainly changed quite a bit. One thing ended up almost exactly the same: another nepo baby stepped in to lead the team.

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THUNDER that is still too far away for us to hear presses down on Ben’s ears and he wakes us and leans hot and chesty first against M., then against me, and listens to our slow, warm words that mean we love him. But when the storm has passed, he is brave again and wants to go out. We open the door and he glides away without a backward glance. It is early, in the blue and grainy air we can just see him running along the edge of the water, into the first pink suggestion of sunrise. And we are caught by the old affinity, a joyfulness - his great and seemly pleasure in the physical world. Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?

— Mary Oliver, Dog Talk

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A GROUP OF ICE AGENTS ate a late lunch in a small, family-owned Mexican joint in Willar, Minnesota, apparently enjoying both the meal and the fact that their presence dressed in tactical gear sent chills through the staff and patrons. The four ICE agents returned later that night, just as the restaurant was closing down, followed three of the workers who’d cooked and served them their meals as they headed home and then arrested them in front of a Lutheran church…What kind of person does this and boasts about it?

— Jeffrey St. Clair

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MEAGAN DAY: “If Renee Good’s car posed an actual threat to Jonathan Ross’s life, he would be dead. We know this because shooting her in the face had no effect on the immediate course of the car.”

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AFTER RENEE GOOD KILLING, DERISIVE TERM FOR WHITE WOMEN SPREADS ON THE FAR RIGHT

Vocal Trump supporters are demonizing Renee Good, her partner and their allies, with some even using an acronym: AWFUL, or Affluent White Female Urban Liberal.

by Clyde McGrady

In the days since a federal agent killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, Republican officials and conservative commentators have called the 37-year-old white woman “very violent,” a “deranged lunatic woman” and a “domestic terrorist.”

Some right-wing influencers have latched onto a different word — or rather an acronym: Ms. Good, they have said, was AWFUL.

“An AWFUL (Affluent White Female Urban Liberal) is dead after running her car into an ICE agent who opened fire on her,” the conservative commentator Erik Erickson posted on social media. “Progressive whites are turning violent. ICE agents have the right to defend themselves.”

From a co-host on an AM radio show in Orlando, Pierce Outlaw, to an army of internet trolls, the acronym has taken off. Mr. Outlaw called AWFULs “the scourge of polite society.” The term popped up on the internet Wiktionary this month as AWFL, without the “U.”

Beyond labels and name-calling, the death of Ms. Good and the protests and anger in its wake have sparked a response from many on the right that is particularly targeted at white women in the streets, even though men have been just as involved. A majority of college-educated women, including white women, have long been skeptical of President Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, and that skepticism has been growing, according to exit polls after the 2024 election. And for months now, such women are attracting the ire of the president’s supporters.

Liberal white women are only the latest group to be on the receiving end of right-wing animus. In late October and November, as Tucker Carlson offered a friendly interview to the Holocaust-denying white nationalist Nick Fuentes, the fear among some conservatives was that attacking Jews was inching toward the mainstream of the Republican Party. Last month, Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy entrepreneur who is a Republican candidate for governor in Ohio, was calling out a surge of bigotry directed at Indian Americans, like himself.

Trump administration officials say they are focused on immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota, not the taunts of a few of their supporters.

“I’m more concerned with facts on the ground than I am about acronyms,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, wrote in a text message.

But for the broader core of Mr. Trump’s followers, the description of white, urban women as violent radicals obstructing mass deportations seems to reflect older anxieties around race, gender and immigration among the white, non-college educated men who make up the core of Mr. Trump’s movement and perceive their place in society slipping, said Dr. Shauna Shames, a political scientist at Rutgers and co-editor of the book “The Right Women: Republican Party Activists, Candidates, and Legislators.”

The notion of “white replacement” is not new. Far-right protesters in Charlottesville, Va., were chanting “Jews will not replace us” in 2017. But the president’s mass deportation effort has crystallized battle lines. And gender is rising in that divide, along with race and ethnicity.

“It’s all come to a head here,” Dr. Shames said of Ms. Good’s killing.

White, educated women may indeed be a threat to Mr. Trump, at least in the electorate. Seventeen percent of all voters last year were white women with college degrees, nearly matching the 18 percent who were non-college-educated white men.

And in an election in which Mr. Trump cut into Democratic advantages among Black, Latino and Asian American voters, Kamala Harris actually expanded the Democratic lead among college-educated white women, winning 58 percent of their vote compared with Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s 54 percent in 2020, according to the Center for Women and American Politics at Rutgers University. Mr. Trump’s hold on non-college-educated white women held steady at 63 percent.

The term AWFUL is not the first derisive name targeting white women. People across the political spectrum once gleefully targeted so-called Karens, a term meant to denigrate women — usually white and middle-aged — caught using their privilege to bend the world in their direction.

And the use of AWFUL emerged well before Ms. Good was killed. Conservative critics began attaching it to female protesters at least as far back as last summer. Conservatives say there is good reason to key in on such women. Mr. Erickson, in a lengthy Substack post on Thursday, called Ms. Good’s death a “tragedy,” but one that Ms. Good and “her lesbian partner” had brought on themselves.

“Good had been harassing ICE agents much of the day,” he wrote, continuing, “Good had been involved in a progressive activist group called ICE Watch that encouraged not just obstruction of ICE, but also something they call ‘de-arrest,’ which means helping detained illegal immigrants escape.”

It is not clear how deeply Ms. Good or her partner were involved in the organized protests that have greeted immigration agents in Minnesota. And while administration officials have claimed that she was violent or mentally ill, that description bears no resemblance to the person relatives and neighbors said they knew.

Liberal academics have been diagnosing what they see as the problem. Laura K. Field, author of the book “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right,” said social, demographic and economic changes had left men with a sense that they have lost status.

“Women are, for many of them, the place holder for their ‘stolen’ status,” she asserted.

If liberal academics have their theories, Naomi Wolf, who was once a liberal writer but moved rightward after the Covid pandemic, has hers. Writing on social media, Ms. Wolf said liberal men, “disproportionately estrogenized” and “physically passive,” had left liberal women sexually frustrated and eager for a fight.

“The smiles you see on their faces now say it all: white women long for all out combat with ICE — who tend to be strong, physically confident, masculine men — because the conflict is a form of physical release for them,” she wrote.

On Thursday, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media site X, jumped in, amplifying a post to his 232 million followers that asserted, “Liberal women will divorce their husband and only let him see his children once a month, then cry about how ICE hurts families.”

White men have been prominent in Minneapolis streets as well. But critics of the onslaught of attacks on women say male protesters are not being singled out as a cohort.

To be sure, white women who fit a traditional mold do enjoy status in American society, Dr. Field said. But that mold is not what the Trump administration and its supporters are responding to in Minneapolis.

“Trump and this administration are heavily misogynist, and that’s always a big part of what he does,” said Barbara Comstock, a former Republican congresswoman from Virginia who is a fierce critic of the president.

Ms. Comstock pointed to polling that shows that strong majorities now disapprove of the president’s handling of immigration, but public opinion is not tempering the administration’s tactics or rhetoric.

“I think the problem is these guys all talk to themselves, and they are in their own bubble,” Ms. Comstock said.

When Mr. Trump was told in an interview with CBS News that Ms. Good’s father was a supporter of his, the president responded, “I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person. But, you know, her actions were pretty tough.”

There are signs that the categorization of Ms. Good as a radical may not be taking hold among the broader public.

Joe Rogan, the influential podcaster who endorsed the president in 2024, said he was horrified watching video of Ms. Good’s killing. “It’s complicated, obviously, but it’s also very ugly to watch someone shoot a U.S. citizen, especially a woman, in the face,” Mr. Rogan said on his podcast, which has more than 20 million subscribers on YouTube.

In all of this, race is at play, for critics of the white women in the streets and for their sympathizers.

“The idea that you could lose your life, that you too are at risk in the way that Black people have been for centuries, I do think that’s different,” Dr. Shames said.

(NY Times)

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AMERICAN GIRL

Well, she was an American girl
Raised on promises
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Was a little more to life somewhere else
After all, it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to
And if she had to die tryin', she
Had one little promise she was gonna keep

Oh yeah, all right
Take it easy, baby
Make it last all night (Make it last all night)
She was an American girl

Well, it was kinda cold that night
She stood alone on her balcony (Ooh)
Yeah, she could hear the cars roll by
Out on 441 like waves crashin' on the beach
And for one desperate moment there
He crept back in her memory
God, it's so painful when something that is so close
Is still so far out of reach

— Tom Petty (1976)

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ON-LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Goodbye to the amber waves of grain, the gleaming, healing hospitals, the concert halls, our elders filling their shopping baskets without worry, young couples in their own homes with cradles to fill. America used to be Thanksgiving every day, so no problem welcoming folks in for fellowship and a full plate of food. But now that it is 3 days after thanksgiving and our elders and children are scraping the plates, we are less welcoming to strangers, especially strangers who hate us, harm us and steal the silverware on their way out the door.

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LEAD STORIES, SUNDAY'S NYT

D.H.S.’s Role Questioned as Immigration Officers Flood U.S. Cities

Conservative Rally Organizer Chased From Minneapolis Streets by Counterprotesters

How Many People Has the Trump Administration Deported So Far?

National Anger Spills Into Target Stores, Again

After Trump Reignites a Trade War Over Greenland, Europe Weighs Going All-Out

Under Patel, F.B.I. Scours Its Records to Discredit Trump Opponents

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"MAN IS THE MOST INSANE SPECIES. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he’s destroying is this God he’s worshipping."

— Astrophysicist Hubert Reeves

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MIKHAIL IPSSEL:

In the old Soviet Union, I lived under five (because it has been a long life) thoroughly unelected rulers: Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, and Gorbachev.

The first was a cruel, uncouth, cunning psychopath who liked to present himself, Urbi et Orbi, as an artless smiley simpleton, rustic hayseed, aw-shucks country bumpkin, deceptively gullible happy-go-lucky clown, strategically minded carnival barker.

The second - a laid-back bon vivant, none too bright or inquisitive if intuitively sly and ruthless sybarite by nature, still retaining the basic remnant instincts of a once-handsome youthful Lothario, in the first half of his interminable Kremlin tenure, and then (almost without a requisite transition) a pitiful multi-stroke-addled zombie.

The third - the bespectacled, soft-spoken, bespoke-suit-wearing, single malt-sipping, tennis-loving, bad poetry-writing cerebral monster, former head of the world's largest and deadliest secret police, the truly ominous and sinister ascetic Savonarola of long-dead ideology of proletarian world dominance who, luckily (indeed) for the peace on the planet and humankind's very continued existence, kicked the old bucket, on account of kidney insufficiency, just a little over one year into his GenSec-ship.

The fourth, the most desperate of choices on rapidly expiring regime's part, happened to have been the first one's erstwhile trusted lifelong sidekick and card partner - and was a de-facto mental and physical boiled vegetable (a head of cauliflower, say) by the time the world got to get a glimpse of him.

And the fifth one, the only recognizably human person among the lot - though still inevitably a prisoner of the barbaric ideology that had shaped them all and, in the course of the twentieth century's seven decades, had devoured untold millions of innocent people's lives all across the senselessly vast country's eleven time zones (and beyond) - finally, if primarily of dire economic necessity, dared to lift the half-soldered cast-iron lid off the pressure cooker of Soviet life, only to be instantly knocked off his feet by a near-lethal head of putrid, toxic steam bursting forth therefrom.

Five former rulers of my "first life." Why did I remember them just now? Because ten minutes ago, I saw in the morning news on my laptop, in snowed-under Montreal, how the bravely, abjectly smiling leader of Venezuela's freedom movement, a strong woman, no matter what one might think of the soundness of her judgment in this case, "re-gifted" her Nobel Peace prize to the delighted five-year-old child with impulse-control issues behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office - an 80-year-old moral degenerate and all-around dipshit, sworn enemy of democracy everywhere, twice elevated to the world's sole superpower's presidency in free and fair elections (freaking boggles the mind, I know) - and it occurred to me just then that none of the five aforesaid Soviet dictators on my personal memory were nearly, remotely as needy, pathetic, and downright cringeworthy as this supposed leader of the free world.

Not nearly and not remotely. All five - even the poor insensate, incognizant Chernenko - had much more personal dignity about them. "History, in the end, becomes a form of irony," to quote the eminent historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

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SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER the case of Cody Roberts, the Wyoming man who chased and ran over a wolf with his snowmobile, captured the wounded animal, duct-taped its mouth shut, dragged it into a bar where it was tortured, then took it outside and shot it. Now three more Wyoming men are facing trial for roping a sick, one-eyed female moose, then riding the wild animal and digging spurs into its side until it died. Another recent case of animal abuse in the Cowboy state involves a man who allegedly ran down and killed a wild horse with his four-wheeler. The backlash to these cases, even in the gun-happy state of Wyoming, has been fierce. “This is not the Wyoming way, not the cowboy way,” said Paul Ulrich, president of Wyoming Sportsmanship. “The stewardship of our wildlife is something we cannot take lightly.” Still, you’ve got to wonder what’s in the water out there, aside from fracking fluid…

— Jeffrey St. Clair

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MOST PEOPLE were heartless about turtles because a turtle’s heart will beat for hours after it has been cut up and butchered. But the old man thought, “I have such a heart too.”

“It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.”

“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”

“Why do old men wake so early? Is it to have one longer day?”

― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

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AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINION

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashore;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

— Dylan Thomas (1933)

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