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Young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children will be safe from deportation and eligible for work permits, according to a new policy announced by the Obama administration.

The policy applies to immigrants between the ages of 16 and 30 who were brought to the country through no choice of their own, have no criminal record and are either in school or have a high school diploma. Veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. military also qualify.

1st District Congressman Mike Thompson has announced a $145,837 federal grant that will help provide permanent housing and support to veterans on the North Coast. The grant, provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will be administered by the North Coast Veterans Resource Center and Humboldt County Housing Authority. The funds will be used as vouchers to provide rental assistance for homeless and disabled veterans. Twenty-five vouchers were awarded.

Healdsburg firefighters are accustomed to coming to the rescue of others. Now the federal government is coming to the aid of the strapped Fire Department with a $325,000 federal grant to beef up staffing.

“We are thrilled to have received the grant, because what it does is allow us to fully fund a 40-hour firefighter position,” City Manager Marjie Pettus said. “It's fantastic news.”

There are always so many people to thank when good things happen. The June 2 ceremony at the Napa River Bay Trail celebrated another step in a great partnership between the Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District, the city of American Canyon, Department of Fish & Game, Napa-Vallejo Waste Management Authority, State Coastal Conservancy, State Lands Commission, the nonprofit SF Bay Trail Project and citizen advocates and elected representatives.