News Articles

A Benicia man on Friday received medals for his service in the United States Air Force, including during the Vietnam War, almost four decades later.

Jim Hilderbrand, however, said he's undeserving of the attention.

"I'm overwhelmed," Hilderbrand, 64, said. "I would rather have gotten it in the mail, it'd be a lot easier than this. The people who deserve the attention more are those who are unaccounted for."

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, assisted with the process and presented the medals to the veteran in front of the Benicia Veterans Hall on First Street.

Bipartisan legislation by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) meant to improve the Medicare Advantage program for seniors passed the House by voice vote, Thompson's office announced Thursday.

The Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act (H.R. 2507), co-authored by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) would expand an annual comment period for proposed payment rates and regulatory changes for Medicare Advantage plans, according to the announcement.

A bill introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson, D-Napa, and Diane Black, R-Tenn., would simplify the Affordable Health Care Act for businesses, the two members of Congress said.

Thompson represents Benicia in the U.S. House.

Their bill, HR 2712, is called The Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015.

Workable options for employers to offer health coverage for their employees through the Affordable Care Act would result from the passage of a new bill introduced Wednesday by U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Diane Black (R-TN-06), Thompson's office announced.

H.R. 2712, the Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015, would create a voluntary prospective reporting system and streamline the reporting process for businesses under the so-called Obamacare health care overhaul, Thompson said.

Details about 100 abandoned mines in nearby hills and the potential dangers they pose to the environment should become clearer over the next couple of years.

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $467,000 brownfield grant to assess mine contamination in the watersheds of Putah Creek, which flows into Lake Berryessa, and Cache Creek in Yolo County. Some abandoned mines in eastern Napa County and neighboring counties date to the mid-1800s.

Legislation introduced Thursday aims to improve the administration of Medicare in cases involving workers compensation settlements and provide an avenue to appeal determinations by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The bipartisan legislation, known as the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers' Compensation Settlement Agreements Act, was proposed by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and California Rep. Mike Thompson, both Democrats, and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Washington Rep. Dave Reichert, both Republicans.

San Joaquin and Contra Costa County leaders today applauded $1 million in new funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agricultural Research Service (USDA‐ARS), Area-wide Pest Management Program to help in the ongoing battle to control the invasion of aquatic plants in the Delta.

The city of Lakeport voted in support of the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

"I'm proud to support the proposed Berryesa Snow Mountain National Monument," said Lakeport Mayor, Martin Scheel. "This designation will stimulate local economies and protect our natural and recreational resources. Lakeport and many other surrounding cities will benefit from protecting these lands."