News Articles

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance funds will be available to eligible applicants such as state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Lake County.

This is funding for local communities to use to repair critical public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, water infrastructure and sewage collection facilities.

The federal government covers 75 percent of the costs, and the state and locals governments split the remaining 25 percent.

The United States Postal Service has officially listed Napa’s earthquake-damaged downtown post office building for sale. An asking price was not provided, so it will be up to bidders to make their best offers for the historic property.

The property “represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a historically significant building in Napa’s thriving downtown,” said a USPS marketing brochure. Potential bidders are invited to attend a tour of the property, at 1351 Second St., on Oct. 26, Nov. 9 or Nov. 16. Within 30 days after the tours, bids will be due.

WASHINGTON -- If House Republicans think it's important to create new committees to investigate Planned Parenthood and Hillary Clinton's link to the 2012 Benghazi attack, Democrats have an idea for a better committee: one focused on gun violence.

Nearly a year after losing its federal grant support, Napa County’s housing advocacy group is on the verge of regaining its lifeline.

Officials with Fair Housing Napa Valley have confirmed the approval of a new three-year grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD is allotting the Napa nonprofit $279,467 during the first year, starting on or shortly after Nov. 1, according to Pablo Zatarain, Fair Housing’s executive director.

Napa Valley College has received a $2.625 million Hispanic-Serving Institutions Department of Education grant to improve services for immigrant students.

The grant, which will be paid out over five years, will help the college to expand educational opportunities for all students and with a special focus on improving the educational attainment of Hispanic students. The college will be able to expand and enhance its academic offerings and program quality.

WASHINGTON -- Nearly 150 members of Congress wrote to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday, urging him to take up legislation that would help stem gun violence.

I was working on the East Coast when I received news of an unprecedented wildfire in southern Lake County. The Valley Fire, as it would come to be known, was growing at an extreme rate. When my emergency flight back to California landed, more than 50,000 acres had already been engulfed, and the fire was only 5 percent contained.

As I drove through communities that I’ve represented for 25 years, the smell of smoke filled the air. Fires were still raging in the distance. And once vibrant communities looked like long-deserted ghost towns.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson today announced a $258,600 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center.

“Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is a patient-focused organization that provides top-notch services to people throughout our valley,” said Thompson. “This funding will help them to further expand their dental services, and allow them to continue offering quality health care services to our community.”