CLEARLAKE
City officials claim major setback in kids sports complex schedule
The City was set to break ground on the Sports Complex in Burns Valley this year but now faces what could be 12-18 months of delays. While the City has prevailed in every lawsuit filed by the Koi Nation of California, the tribe has now appealed the court’s December 2024 decision. After obtaining additional grant funds last year from Congressman Thompson, the City secured the funding needed to start construction of the complex.
“Unfortunately, further delays means construction costs will continue to increase significantly, putting the project in limbo again while the courts decide the outcome,” said City Manager Alan Flora. “We remain confident the appeal will result in another favorable ruling for the City but, unfortunately, we have no control over the timing. We will keep you posted as the appeal is decided.”
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CLEARLAKE
College classes to start beginning March 17
Woodlake Community College in Clearlake has late start classes beginning March 17 and is right in our backyard! There are courses from Intro to Environmental Science to Health and Lifestyle and many more. Find out more at WCC.YCCD.edu/lake or 707-995-7900.
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LAKE COUNTY
Child Abuse Prevention Month events planned for April
- Pinwheel Garden Challenge: Kicking off April 1 (see example: https://www.lakecoe.org/students/healthy-start/childrens-council/april-child-abuse-prevention-month).
- Art Contest: More informatio at https://www.lakecoe.org/students/healthy-start/childrens-council/childabuseprevention
- Children’s Festivals: Two festivals will be held: one in Lakeport on April 12 and another in Clearlake at Austin Park on April 26.
- Proclamations: Proclamations will be made at the Board of Supervisors, City of Lakeport, City of Clearlake, and Lake County Office of Education.
- Children’s Memorial Flag Raising: This year, we’re kicking off the month with flag raisings at the new Lake Family Resource Center location in Lakeport and the new Lake County Probation location in Lower Lake, in addition to our traditional flag raising on the last Friday of April to honor children lost to abuse. (See a past flag raising here: https://youtu.be/0Z_Vfvkoi4U?si=LCV7E_3D27CvLDIE).
- #WearBlueForKids: We encourage everyone to wear blue every Friday in April to show their support. This year’s theme is “Be a Hero, It Takes a Village.”
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SACRAMENTO
Covered California reaches landmark achievement with nearly 2 million enrolled as Open Enrollment concludes
Covered California announced that 345,711 Californians newly selected a health plan for 2025 during open enrollment and more than 1.6 million Californians renewed their health insurance, bringing Covered California’s overall enrollment to a record-high of 1,979,504 consumers.
Enrollment rose for the fourth consecutive year after the passage of enhanced premium tax credits through the American Rescue Plan in 2021. The federal enhanced subsidies were supplemented by a California-only Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) program that Californians took advantage of the past two open enrollments.
“The tremendous success during this open enrollment is the payoff from the work California has done for years to maximize the Affordable Care Act,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “California’s uninsured rate has continued to drop as Covered California has made it easier for consumers to find quality coverage at an affordable price.”
Open enrollment began with a record-low uninsured rate of 6.4 percent among Californians, according to federal data. Since Covered California launched in 2014, California’s uninsured rate has fallen from 17.2 percent to 6.4 percent in 2023, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation during the ACA era.
More than 6.3 million Californians, or approximately 1 in 6, have had marketplace coverage since 2014.
“Covered California continues to deliver on the promise of the Affordable Care Act,” executive director Jessica Altman said.
“The law was created to make sure all Americans could have access to health insurance. With the enhanced federal subsidies since 2021 and California’s exclusive cost-sharing-reduction program introduced last year, we have made that a reality for more Californians than ever before in 2025.”
Enhanced subsides set to txpire
That reality may change in 2026 without action from the United States Congress and President Trump to extend the enhanced subsidies after they expire at the end of this year. Data shows that on average, consumers save an additional $101 on premium costs each month and that includes over 170,000 middle-income enrollees that are now receiving tax credits when they weren’t previously eligible. For some consumers, that means as much as $395 a month in financial assistance.
“Without an extension for the enhanced subsidies, the loss of coverage could be significant in California,” Altman said. “Every region and corner of the state would be impacted negatively – from small business owners and gig workers, to agricultural workers and residents working multiple jobs to make ends’ meet. It is imperative that federal actions are taken to keep these Americans enrolled.”
Signing up for coverage is easy
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:
- Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help in whatever language or dialect consumers prefer.
- Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
- Use Covered California’s online calculator tool.
- Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.
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