Latest news with #Mendocino
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Northern California hitchhiker suspected of assaulting driver dies after confrontation with deputies
Authorities on the Northern California coast said a hitchhiker suspected of assaulting a driver who gave him a ride died after a confrontation with deputies Thursday night. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the 2000 block of Hearst Willits Road near the town of Willits around 7 p.m. following reports of a fight between the hitchhiker and the driver. The California Highway Patrol and police from Willits also responded to the scene. Deputies said the man "brutally assaulted" the driver who offered a ride after he entered the vehicle. The driver was admitted to a local hospital with injuries. An arriving deputy located the man, who was seen walking in the middle of the road. The sheriff's office said the man failed to comply with orders, took a fighting stance and lunged at the deputy, prompting the deputy to point a stun gun at the suspect. Soon after, the deputy moved away from the suspect and attempted to de-escalate the situation. The suspect continued to flee along the road when a sergeant from the sheriff's office arrived to assist. Deputies said the man ran into the brush as they ordered him to surrender and warned him that a stun gun would be used. As they attempted to arrest the man, deputies said they used pepper spray. The sheriff's office said he continued to resist and assaulted a deputy as they attempted to place handcuffs on him, prompting the use of a stun gun. After police officers from Willits arrived, they removed the man from the brush. Authorities were eventually able to place handcuffs on the suspect. As officers monitored the man, he became unresponsive, which led to restraints being removed from the man. Law enforcement performed CPR on the man and administered Narcan before medical responders arrived several minutes later. Fire and EMS personnel continued life-saving efforts on the man for 25 additional minutes, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies said the man was a 36-year-old from Willits but did not release his name. According to the sheriff's office, a coroner's investigation has been initiated and a post-mortem examination will be conducted. Meanwhile, the two members of the sheriff's office who were involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave. The Mendocino County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
California sheriff warns of cartels amid accusations of overstepping authority in tribal land cannabis raids
A Northern California sheriff is speaking out after a Native American tribe accused him of overstepping his authority when his office conducted raids on cannabis farms on tribal land last year amid his warning that drug cartel organizations had a "toehold" in the area. Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall told Fox News Digital his office has received pleas from tribal members asking for action to combat illegal cannabis farms as well as crime on the reservation. Kendall said most of his office's raids were not on tribal land. "They're begging me, saying, 'Please, we've got gunshots going on all night, all around us,'" he said. "These people are tribal members as well as people who aren't tribal members. I have to go up and protect these folks. I have to go up and deal with the law. But when I go up there and serve search warrants and whatnot, and next thing you know, I'm getting sued for it." "It's a very depressed economy, and it's kind of ripe for picking for bad things to come in," he said of the cartels. "We've had a lot of shootings up there, a lot of violence up there. It's not OK, the things that are going on." Kendall is named as one of several defendants in a lawsuit that accuses him of conducting raids where he did not have jurisdiction, including one in which an 86-year-old woman's garden was allegedly destroyed. The Round Valley Indian Tribes and three individual plaintiffs, April James, 48, Eunice Swearinger, 86, and Steve Britton, are asking a federal court to impose an injunction to prevent the sheriff's department from carrying out more raids on their land. The lawsuit also names Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal, a Humboldt deputy, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee and the counties of Mendocino and Humboldt. The lawsuit alleges that multiple sites on the tribe's reservation were targeted in illegal law enforcement operations. Lester Marston, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, told Fox News Digital that Kendall tried to enforce his authority on tribal land with the raids. "He has had training sessions on what his authority is," Marston said, contending that the sheriff knew he didn't have jurisdiction on the reservation. "And if he didn't know, he's a stupid idiot." Marston also alleged Kendall failed to disclose in his warrant application to a judge that at least one particular raid would be conducted on tribal land. Kendall said the valley has around 1 million marijuana plants and that drug cartels have spent a lot of money to establish marijuana-growing operations there. Google Maps satellite images he showed Fox News Digital show what he said are marijuana-growing structures all over the area. Round Valley, which is surrounded by mountains, is now rife with illicit cannabis and cartel activity as well as murders, Kendall said. "Right now, I believe drug trafficking organizations have a toehold into that area and other places in my county," Kendall said. "Illegal marijuana cultivations are really dropping because the price is so low. Round Valley is really just ramping up." The lawsuit centers around the enforcement of Public Law 280, a decades-old statute that gives California and a handful of other states – Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin – the authority to enforce criminal laws on tribal land. However, attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that the law doesn't apply to regulatory matters like cannabis, an industry that is regulated in California. They also contend that Round Valley has the right to set and enforce its own laws. The result of the statute is that federal criminal jurisdiction became extremely limited in most reservations in the six states where it applied, while state jurisdiction was greatly expanded. "He has a duty to enforce criminal law on the reservation," David Dehnert, another attorney for the plaintiffs, told Fox News Digital. "He has no authority to enforce California regulatory law on the reservation, which is what they were doing." Dehnert said the tribe has its own marijuana law and that Kendall was aware of it before conducting the raids. He said he sent Kendall a cease-and-desist letter after the raids. Marston said Kendall was out of his jurisdiction and that what his office did was the same as enforcing California laws in Nevada. "He knew that the tribe had enacted a tribal law prohibiting the possession, sale and cultivation of cannabis, except for medical purposes," Marston said. The raids were conducted in July 2024, with the plaintiffs accusing deputies of leaving homes and gardens in shambles. James, a grandmother who suffers from arthritis and a degenerative disc disorder, makes her own medicinal cream with the cannabis she cultivates to ease the daily pain due to her disorder, the lawsuit said. She had two structures on her trust allotment where she grew cannabis plants, which were destroyed by a tractor by pushing the soil and all the plants and improvements into a pile of dirt and rubbish, the suit alleged. At Swearinger's home, sheriff's deputies showed up and destroyed her vegetable garden and tore out her plants, her attorneys said. Her grandchildren were present and watched as heavily armed officers stood guard, the lawsuit said. Swearinger had a license to grow 10 plants on her property, Marston said. Britton, a rancher, alleged that deputies destroyed cannabis plants, cultivation structures and equipment, fencing and an electric gate on his property. In all three raids, authorities failed to produce a valid search warrant, the lawsuit said. The Round Valley Indian Tribes did not return a Fox News Digital request for comment. Kendall said he has a duty to drive protection in the county and pushed back on the notion that the raids had a racial component. "That is a load of bull----," he said. "I'm not putting up with that. That is a flat-out lie." He noted that he grew up in the Round Valley area of Mendocino County and did not personally decide which properties were raided, only that they targeted the "biggest and the baddest" grow sites.
CNET
7 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Hybrid Meat Is My Favorite Health Hack of 2025. Here's How It Works
Hybrid meat may sound like something out of a science fiction cookbook but the simple health hack is about as straightforward as it gets. If you're not following the latest technical food news, terms such as "cultured," "cultivated" or "hybrid" meats may have escaped you but there have never been more ways to eat meat -- or not eat meat -- and one of them might be the key to a diet with less of the stuff your doctor said to avoid. With summer grilling season on the brink, it's a good time to remind ourselves that the future of meat is here and it's objectively healthier if you do it right. Hybrid meat, the mixing of animal meat with healthier plant-based ingredients that mimic the taste and texture of meat is at the top of my healthy-eating hacks list for 2025. I spoke to Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, founder and principal food consultant at Mendocino Food Consulting, and Kiran Campbell, registered dietitian nutritionist for MyNetDiary, to better understand cultured, cultivated and hybrid meats, along with their food safety and nutritional considerations. What is hybrid meat? Both and other hybrid meat purveyors combine meat and plant-based ingredients to achieve a meaty taste with less cholestorol. Both Different from cultured or cultivated meat, this category of animal protein that consumers are likely to be introduced to soon is called hybrid meat. "Hybrid meats are products that blend meat with plant ingredients in varying proportions to create the desirable flavors and textures of meat, with the nutrition, sustainability and affordability of plants," said Le. Such products may eventually also be made from cultured meats, but are already on some grocery shelves using conventional meat, with Both, Choppy and Quorn developing products that aren't vegetarian, but extend the utility of meat with plant-based ingredients. Meatballs, meat loaf and pasta sauce are good places to lace meat with healthy nuts and vegetables. David Watsky/CNET "Hybrid meats are a smart and healthier option for people who want to cut back on meat but aren't ready to give it up completely," said Campbell. "They can also taste very similar to animal products, so you don't have to give up flavor or texture," she added. From a nutritional standpoint, hybrid meats are generally viewed favorably. "These products often have less saturated fat, fewer calories and more fiber and antioxidants than regular meat. Some even count toward your daily veggie servings," Campbell said, while cautioning against overly processed options. "The key is to evaluate the full nutrition label and ingredients list." This is similar to the argument with some analogue meats: the nobility of a plant-based approach may be negated by products whose ingredient lists are long and full of unfamiliar or unpronounceable elements. A DIY approach to hybrid meat Mixing lentils, mushrooms or nuts in with ground beef gives your meat a fuller nutrition profile. Alina Bradford/CNET While more brands enter the hybrid meat space, you can easily take a do-it-yourself approach to hybrid meats, which can both help to reduce your carbon footprint and offer nutritional benefits. "As a huge advocate for at-home cooking, concocting hybrid meat options at home is a simple and healthful way to add nutrients and reduce the amount of meat in a meal," said Campbell, without eliminating it entirely. Ground meats made from beef, pork, chicken or turkey can be blended with a variety of plant-based ingredients for hybrid burgers, sauces, taco and burrito fillings, meatballs or even meatloaf. Campbell recommends the following grains and vegetables that are easy, healthy and budget-friendly to incorporate in this way. "These additions enhance the nutritional value of meals and support sustainability goals by stretching animal protein further," she said. Tacos can be filled with hybrid meat without young ones or picky eaters catching on. Narcisa Palici/500px/Getty Images Lentils or beans : Black beans, kidney beans or chickpeas. They add fiber, plant-based protein and healthy carbs. Cooked lentils are especially good in tacos, spaghetti sauce and meatloaf. : Black beans, kidney beans or chickpeas. They add fiber, plant-based protein and healthy carbs. Cooked lentils are especially good in tacos, spaghetti sauce and meatloaf. Chopped mushrooms : Cremini or portobello mushrooms are awesome for adding a meaty texture and savory flavor. Just chop them up finely and mix into burgers, meat sauces or even meatballs. : Cremini or portobello mushrooms are awesome for adding a meaty texture and savory flavor. Just chop them up finely and mix into burgers, meat sauces or even meatballs. Walnuts : Meaty walnuts make an excellent supplement to a package of ground beef or pork in bolognese or burgers. : Meaty walnuts make an excellent supplement to a package of ground beef or pork in bolognese or burgers. Grated zucchini or carrots : These veggies are a sneaky way to boost nutrition. They help keep your meat moist and bring in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins like A and C. Just grate and mix them into whatever ground meat you're using. : These veggies are a sneaky way to boost nutrition. They help keep your meat moist and bring in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins like A and C. Just grate and mix them into whatever ground meat you're using. Oats or cooked quinoa : These help bind your meat together and give it a great texture. Plus, they bring extra fiber, plant-based protein and minerals like iron. I add oats to meatballs and meatloaf every time I make them. : These help bind your meat together and give it a great texture. Plus, they bring extra fiber, plant-based protein and minerals like iron. I add oats to meatballs and meatloaf every time I make them. Edamame or crumbled tofu : Lightly mashed edamame or firm tofu can be mixed into ground meat for a protein boost. Tofu soaks up flavor easily, making it a versatile and budget-friendly option. : Lightly mashed edamame or firm tofu can be mixed into ground meat for a protein boost. Tofu soaks up flavor easily, making it a versatile and budget-friendly option. Tempeh: Tempeh has a nutty flavor and firm texture that works great in taco fillings or stir fries. It's packed with protein and adds a nice bite. What is cultured or cultivated meat? Lab-grown beef browns up nicely. David Parry / PA Wire Cultured meat or cultivated meat, which is the same thing, refers to animal meat which can be produced without sacrificing the lives of animals. Unlike meat analogues such as Beyond and Impossible that behave like meat but are made from plants, cultured meats are animal meats that are biologically identical to animals. "Cultured or cultivated meats, also known as lab grown meat, involves growing animal cells in a bioreactor to produce meat," explained Le. "These cells are then added to a bioreactor to replicate in a nutrient-rich medium," he said, along with "scaffolding" made of edible elements such as cellulose and collagen, which help give a desirable shape to the meat cells being grown. (Because nobody wants a Möbius strip steak.) While the concept of lab-grown meat may incite an ick factor for some --though probably not more than the ick factor that would doubtless arise from witnessing factory farming first hand -- growing food cells from biological animal cells has been happening in the dairy space for years. Microbial rennet is a vegetarian-friendly coagulant that has been engineered to replace traditional rennet in some cheeses, an enzyme which is otherwise harvested from ruminant animal stomachs. And dairy milk without the participation of cows is already available in the US, with brands such as Bored Cow and remilk being stocked even at conventional grocery retailers. (I've personally had Bored Cow. It's all but indistinguishable from regular milk, and offers a longer shelf life.) While you won't find cultured or cultivated meat on your shelves today, in 2023 the United States Department of Agriculture approved the sale of lab-grown chicken by Upside Foods and Good Meat to restaurants. It seems a matter of time before such products are evaluated and scaled enough for widespread production. What are the safety implications for cultured or cultivated meats? Lab-grown chicken made its glitzy 2024 debut at a press event in New York City. David Watsky/CNET Given a sterilized lab environment, which is markedly different from factory farm environments, food safety isn't a big concern at this point for cultured or cultivated meats, but it merits consideration. "Food safety greatly depends on the process, and generally, we do not yet know what the potential hazards are in large-scale and long-term production," said Le. Meanwhile, however, the benefits may outweigh the risks. According to Le, "cultivated meats have the potential benefits of improving food security and nutrition since they could allow for larger amounts of meat to be consumed throughout the world in shorter amounts of time," he said, making nutrient-rich meat more broadly available around the world. Environmental impact is also a potential upside. "Although the research is still limited, it is likely that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in large-scale cultivated meat production would be lower than those in conventional farming," said Le. Whether lab-grown meats eventually catch on will likely depend on many of the factors above, and how they are communicated to consumers. "Public trust and transparency play a major role in consumer acceptance," added Campbell. "People may have hesitations about how 'natural' or sustainable these products are," she said, even though early research is generally positive. As both a food writer and culinary-school trained cook, I'm eager to try these products. Are cultured and cultivated meats good for you? Lab-grown meat is coming to a plate near you. Firn/Getty Images The good news is, food scientists and nutrition professionals seem to be in alignment about the health benefits of these kinds of products. "Cultivated meat is as healthy as normal meat, since they are basically the same, although other nutrients can be added to cultivated meat," said Le. Campbell concurs: "From a nutrition standpoint, lab-grown meat is meant to be very similar to regular meat, with the same protein, fat and nutrients like iron and vitamin B12," she said. "Because cultivated meat is produced in a highly controlled environment, there is the potential to modify the nutrient profile by adding things like heart-healthy omega-3 fats or lowering saturated fat, but those improvements are still being researched and there is no telling if these changes will be any healthier than conventional meat products."
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Victim in deadly Northern California cannabis grow shooting identified as 30-year-old man
Authorities on the Northern California coast said they have identified a man who was fatally shot near an illegal cannabis grow earlier this month. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday provided an update on the May 14 shooting, which took place near the community of Covelo, about 180 miles north of San Francisco. One man died in the shooting and two others were injured. Deputies said they identified the deceased victim as 30-year-old Jorge M. Zavala Estrella of Vallecito in Amador County. According to a forensic pathologist, Zavala Estrella's preliminary cause of death was due to multiple gunshot wounds. According to the sheriff's office, deputies were dispatched to an area north of Covelo around 9 p.m. after a disconnected 911 call. Deputies said an unidentified male caller told dispatchers he needed help for a friend before the call disconnected. A dispatcher was able to trace the approximate location of the call to a location on Mina Road. While deputies responded to the 911 call, another deputy responded to Adventist Health hospital in Ukiah after a man with possible gunshot wounds arrived in the emergency room. During a search for the 911 caller on Mina Road, deputies were approached by a group of people who reported that an unresponsive male was found a mile away on Hulls Valley Road. The deputies found the victim, later identified as Zavala Estrella, next to two vehicles. He was pronounced dead from apparent gunshot wounds at 12:42 a.m. on May 15. Multiple firearms were found near Zavala Estrella, along with expended cartridge casings. Deputies said they followed a trail of blood for about ¼ mile and found what was described as a "large marijuana grow" with hoop houses and several trailers. At the hospital, deputies were able to interview the man being treated for gunshot wounds and determined both incidents were related. Later that morning, deputies located a third victim on Hulls Valley Road, an adult male who was also found with apparent gunshot wounds. Both men were airlifted to hospitals outside Mendocino County for treatment. Deputies said on May 20 that they found evidence of illegal cannabis cultivation under the control of a drug trafficking organization, but did not provide additional information about the group, citing the ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office dispatch at 707-463-4086 and select Option 1. Tips can also be given anonymously by calling 707-234-2100.
