Rep. Mike Thompson has been serving in Congress since 1999. Following redistricting in 2013, Thompson has been representing California’s 5th district, which includes Napa County and parts of Contra Costa, Lake, Sonoma and Solano counties, including Benicia. On Friday, Thompson stopped by the Herald offices to discuss his upcoming election and vision for the district. […]
Thompson: $2 million available for quake repairs
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, the Napa Democrat who represents Benicia in the House, said $2 million in federal emergency relief funds would help cover the cost to repair area infrastructure damaged by Sunday’s magnitude 6.0 earthquake. He said the money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, and would go to […]
Benicia by Torchlight: Annual Third of July parade to be marshaled by city theater group
This year’s Torchlight Parade that starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on First Street has an unusual grand marshal — the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group. BOTTG President Dan Clark said this may be the first time an organization, rather than an individual or couple, has been the parade’s grand marshal. It was an apt choice. […]
U.S. reps.: Make crude shipments safer
Thompson, others call for new regulations to prevent accidents U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, has joined three other California members of Congress in asking Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to make crude shipments by rail safer. Thompson, Benicia’s member of the House, as well as Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, George Miller, D-Martinez, and John Garamendi, D-Fairfield, […]
Benicia school officials ‘elated’ by Measure S passage
■ $50 million bond approved by 63 percent of city voters Benicia Unified School District officials rejoiced Wednesday after hearing voters approved a $50 million general obligation bond measure Tuesday by a healthy majority. “We are thrilled with the outcome of the election and grateful to the community for the support of our schools,” BUSD […]
The time to vote is now: Primary election day is here
Tuesday is primary election day, and several state candidates are trying to clear the hurdle on the way to the general election Nov. 4. Benicians also will decide whether to support a bond measure to pay for repairs and upgrades at the city’s schools.
Thompson: Congress, campaign ‘in transitional period’
Benicia’s representative seeks ninth term in U.S. House Editor’s note: Third of three parts. Looking at Congress and this year’s campaign, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson said, “This is a transitional period.” He said, “People are grumpy, and rightfully so.” Thompson said those who could be described as “regular Republicans” are trying to deflect the influence […]
Congressman sees opportunities for Mare Island, and Benicia
Editor’s note: Second of three parts. Mare Island’s history as a shipyard dates to 1854, when it became the first U.S. Naval installation on the West Coast under Commodore David Farragut’s command. For more than a century, the Navy operated the shipyard, and at one time it had more than 18,000 employees before the naval […]
Research ship to be repaired in Vallejo
Mare Island firm wins contract to fix NOAA’s Ronald H. Brown Mare Island Dry Docks has been awarded another contract, this time worth $1.9 million, for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship’s repair, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, announced. The Ronald H. Brown, a NOAA research vessel, will be dry docked and repaired by the […]
Thompson backs tougher penalties for illegal marijuana grow operations
By Donna Beth Weilenman Staff Reporter The medicinal use of marijuana may be legal in California, but growing the plants on trespassed land is not, and U.S. Representative Mike Thompson, Benicia’s member in the House, said he applauds actions that would reduce environmental destruction caused by such illegal operations. The United States Sentencing Commission has […]