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News Archive

Every news story that has appeared in The Understory on our home page is saved here once it leaves the home page, newest first. Click a headline to read the full story from its source.

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October 2026

  • Caltrans Raising Safety Corridor Speed Limit to 60 MPH
    Oct 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    Caltrans says it will raise the speed limit on the U.S. 101 safety corridor between Eureka and Arcata from 50 to 60 mph, with new signs going up starting Monday, November 2. The agency plans an engineering and traffic survey by the end of 2027 that could lead to further changes.
  • Elections Office Plans First Results at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, but a New State Law Could Delay Reporting
    Oct 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    The Humboldt County Elections Office says it plans to post the first results of the November 3 election at about 8:30 p.m., with updates roughly every two hours and certification on December 3. A new state law means that if voting hours are extended at any polling place anywhere in California, results everywhere must wait until all polls close.
  • How Arcata’s City Council Candidates Spent Their Money in the Final Weeks
    Oct 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Campaign finance filings covering September 20 to October 17 show most Arcata City Council candidates spent very little in the final weeks before the election. Candidate Genevieve Serna reported $250 in contributions from several groups and $13.87 in spending.
  • Recreational Dungeness Crab Season Opens November 7, With Closures and Trap Rules; Commercial Season Postponed
    Oct 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    State wildlife officials will open the recreational Dungeness crab season on November 7 under trap restrictions, but the stretch from Cape Mendocino to the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve stays closed because of domoic acid. The commercial season is postponed until at least January 1 because of the risk of humpback whales becoming entangled in gear.
  • Data Center Company Contacted Rio Dell Property Owners About Building a Facility There
    Oct 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    A data center developer has contacted owners of property in the Humboldt-Rio Dell Business Park, though no application has been filed and the city says it does not yet know how much power, water or space such a facility would need. The Rio Dell City Council would have to decide whether a data center fits current zoning or needs a new use category.
  • ‘Allegations Are Not Evidence’: Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Refuses to Pull Ballots for Alleged Noncitizens Ahead of Tuesday’s Election
    Oct 31, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    The U.S. Department of Justice sent Humboldt County a letter asking it to look into 16 people the department says may not be citizens, and to set aside their mail ballots rather than cancel them. Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes says the letter came with no evidence, that several of the names are not on the county’s voter rolls, and that his office does not plan to respond.
  • Wiyot Tribe Raises Concerns About Offshore Wind Terminal Near Tuluwat Island
    Oct 29, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Tribal
    The Wiyot Tribe released a video and statement asking for close review of how the proposed Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal on the Samoa Peninsula would affect Tuluwat Island, a sacred site, and Wiyot cultural practices. The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District has started the environmental review: written comments are due December 7, and public scoping meetings are set for November 4 at the Eureka Veterans Memorial Hall and November 5 at the Samoa Cookhouse.
  • Agencies Rehearse How Relief Supplies Would Reach the North Coast After a Cascadia Quake
    Oct 29, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Humboldt and Del Norte emergency officials joined local, state and federal staff at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds for a Cal OES tabletop exercise called Cascadia Surge, working out how food, water and medical supplies would reach the region after a magnitude 9 earthquake. It was a planning drill rather than a decision, and no policy was changed.
  • Weaverville Parks District Asks the Public About Lowden Park Upgrades
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Weaverville/Douglas City Parks and Recreation District is running a public survey on possible improvements to Lowden Park, including a proposed aquatic recreation facility. The district plans to use the responses to support an application for state grant money.
  • Eureka Mayor and Council Candidates Report What They Have Raised and Spent
    Oct 28, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    New campaign finance filings show how much money the people running for Eureka mayor and City Council have raised and spent so far. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and a few candidates have filed no reports, which state rules allow when a campaign raises under $2,000.
  • Trinity County Settles Jail Death Lawsuit and Weighs a Business Registry
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    At its October 6 meeting the Trinity County Board of Supervisors announced a $2.55 million settlement with the family of Aron Lewandowski, who died in the county jail in 2023. Insurers and coverage pools will pay it. On October 20 supervisors talked about a countywide business registration program but took no action, and asked staff to study it further.
  • Trinity County Superior Court Is Recruiting for the 2027 Civil Grand Jury
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Superior Court is looking for 11 to 19 residents to serve on the 2027 civil grand jury, the panel that looks into public complaints about local government agencies. Applications are open until December 11. The court did not get enough applicants to seat a jury in 2026.
  • Trinity and Klamath Tribal Communities Rally Before State Water Board Vote
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Tribal
    Tribal communities and residents along the Trinity and Klamath rivers are urging people to speak at a State Water Board hearing in Sacramento on October 29, where the board is expected to adopt the Bay Delta Plan and a set of voluntary agreements. Organizers say the plan could lower the water held in Trinity Lake and warm the Trinity River, and they point to Governor Newsom’s recent vetoes of tribal water rights bills.
  • CAL FIRE Lifts Burn Permit Suspension for Humboldt, Del Norte and Western Trinity on November 1
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Rules & Regulations
    CAL FIRE’s Humboldt-Del Norte Unit will lift its burn permit suspension at 6 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, after cooler weather and rain lowered the fire risk. Burning will still need a current CAL FIRE permit and a North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District permit, and residents must check that it is a permissive burn day before lighting a pile.
  • Trinity County Voters Have Until November 3 to Return Their Ballots
    Oct 28, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3 general election have gone out, and Trinity County voters can return them by mail, at a secure drop box, at the county elections office, or at any polling place. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and anyone who has not received a ballot can contact the county Elections Department.
  • Public Works Asks Supervisors to Rebuild Storm-Damaged Centerville Road Farther Inland
    Oct 27, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    At their October 27 meeting, Humboldt County supervisors were asked to approve rebuilding a storm-damaged stretch of Centerville Road inland rather than repairing it where it sits. Public Works says a repair in place would likely need costly follow-up work under Coastal Commission conditions and might have to be moved later anyway, and that some state and federal money is already available.
  • Six Rivers National Forest Lifts All Fire Restrictions
    Oct 25, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The Forest Service has lifted all fire restrictions on Six Rivers National Forest land, effective October 23. Campfires outside developed recreation sites still need a California Campfire Permit.
  • Mendocino County Hires a Santa Clara County Lawyer as Its New County Counsel
    Oct 25, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has hired Michael Rossi as the county’s new county counsel, the top in-house lawyer who advises the board and county departments. Rossi has worked for Santa Clara County since 1996, most recently as lead deputy county counsel, and starts the job on December 6.
  • Southern Humboldt Hospital District Holds Town Hall on New Hospital Design
    Oct 25, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    Architects for the Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District showed their design for a proposed replacement hospital in Garberville at an online town hall on October 22, saying they shrank the first floor by 24 percent to hold down costs. Residents asked why the district is not renovating the current hospital instead and whether the community can afford the project, which district officials said depends on Measure K passing.
  • Mendocino County Supervisors Name Sara Pierce Chief Executive Officer
    Oct 25, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has appointed Sara Pierce as the county’s permanent Chief Executive Officer, effective October 20. Pierce joined the county in 2020 as a senior analyst and had been serving as interim CEO since July.
  • Eureka Councilmembers Back a Bill Round-Up Fund to Help With Water and Sewer Costs
    Oct 24, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    At its October 20 meeting, the Eureka City Council looked at ways to ease rising water and sewer bills. Councilmember Leslie Castellano proposed letting customers round up their bill payments to build a fund for grants to residents who have trouble paying, and other councilmembers spoke in support. No formal vote was taken.
  • Arcata Council to Vote on Extending Its Data Center Freeze, and Holds a Housing Workshop
    Oct 23, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    On October 28 the Arcata City Council will consider extending its pause on new data center applications, which it first set at 45 days in September. An extension of up to 10 months and 15 days needs four of the five councilmembers to agree, plus a finding that the water and power demands of data centers pose an immediate threat. The same evening, the council and the Planning Commission hold a public workshop at the D Street Neighborhood Center on the city’s 2027-2035 housing plan, which must make room for 1,042 new homes.
  • County Public Works Says Crews Are Getting Humboldt Roads Ready for Winter Storms
    Oct 23, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Department of Public Works says road crews are checking equipment, clearing ditches and drains, and reviewing landslide and flood risk ahead of the rainy season. The county notes that larger repairs depend on state and federal funding decisions, and points residents to HumboldtGov.org/Roads for road conditions and HumboldtGov.org/RoadsUpdates for text or email alerts.
  • Arcata Council Approves $75,000 Purchase of Ravine Lot to Fix the B Street Landslide
    Oct 22, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The Arcata City Council voted unanimously to put $75,000 into the city’s Stormwater Fund and spend it on a 0.17-acre lot in the Campbell Creek ravine at B and 11th streets. The city needs access to the land to repair a slope that a landslide closed in late 2024, and plans to choose a contractor early next month.
  • County Planning Commission Approves Draft Humboldt Bay Area Plan
    Oct 22, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted to send a draft Humboldt Bay Area Plan on to the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners lowered the sea level rise scenario the plan uses to the intermediate level, and added a rule that the choice be reviewed for accuracy every five years.
  • Supervisor Rex Bohn Says He Is Under a County Harassment and Discrimination Investigation
    Oct 22, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    First District Supervisor Rex Bohn said in a Facebook post that the county is looking into several workplace incidents that may have broken its harassment and discrimination policy. The county’s chief administrative officer told him by email to take extra care and stay professional with staff while the investigation goes on.
  • Arcata City Council Candidate Dan Shahin Drops Out of the Race
    Oct 22, 2026 · Mad River Union · Elections
    Arcata City Council candidate Dan Shahin announced he is withdrawing from the race after posting a video that mocked the weight of someone who spoke at a council meeting. He apologized, deleted the video, said he has stopped campaigning and would not take the seat if elected; five candidates remain for two open seats.
  • County Told Federal Budget Delay Puts $750,000 Public Health Lab Grant in Doubt
    Oct 22, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    At the October 20 board meeting, the county’s lobbyists told supervisors that the $750,000 Rep. Jared Huffman secured for the county Public Health Lab will only arrive if Congress passes a full budget, and that a long-term stopgap would likely wipe it out. They also flagged a possible shift of CalFresh food aid costs onto counties and a proposed census change that could undercount local residents.
  • Arcata Mayor Asks the City to Move Two 2004 Housing Loans Into Her Name
    Oct 22, 2026 · Mad River Union · City
    Arcata Mayor Kimberley White has asked the city to move two housing loans from 2004, still held in the name of her late former husband, into her own name. She asked the state Fair Political Practices Commission whether that can happen while she sits on the council and says it found the city may proceed; the city is still reviewing her application.
  • State Grid Upgrades for Humboldt Offshore Wind Are Now in Doubt
    Oct 22, 2026 · Mad River Union · Rules & Regulations
    At an October 14 online meeting, a climate attorney said state plans to upgrade Humboldt County’s power grid for offshore wind are uncertain because of federal actions against the industry. The California Public Utilities Commission is deciding whether to keep planning, with a proposed decision expected later this year and a formal vote in early 2027.
  • Adult Fall Chinook Fishing Closes on the Lower Trinity River After Quota Is Met
    Oct 21, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Rules & Regulations
    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed fishing for adult fall-run Chinook salmon on the Trinity River, from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar down to where it meets the Klamath River. Anglers met that stretch’s quota of 536 adult fish on October 16. Smaller two-year-old jack Chinook may still be kept, and any adult Chinook caught must be released right away.
  • Eureka Council Asks for a Study of Narrowing Fourth and Fifth Streets to Two Lanes
    Oct 21, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    A Eureka city councilmember proposed looking at cutting Highway 101 through downtown, on Fourth and Fifth streets, from three lanes to two, and the council asked staff to come back with a report. Caltrans was reported to be against the idea.
  • Arcata Council Weighs Buying a Lot to Repair the B Street Landslide
    Oct 21, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    Arcata’s city council was asked on October 21 to approve about $75,000 from the stormwater fund to buy a small private lot east of B Street, just north of 11th Street. The city wants the land so it can fix a slope damaged by a landslide and reopen the road.
  • Trinity County Sets Two Public Meetings on the Downriver Wildfire Project
    Oct 21, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Resource Conservation District will hold two public meetings about the federally funded Downriver Wildfire Project, which thins fire fuels and shares wildfire information in communities between Big Flat and Gray’s Flat. The meetings are at 6 p.m. on November 9 at Burnt Ranch Elementary School and at 6 p.m. on November 10 at the Trinity River Natives Cultural Center in Big Bar.
  • Two Candidates Run for the State Senate Seat That Covers Trinity and the North Coast
    Oct 21, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Republican Tief Gibbs and Democrat Damon Connolly are each running for California’s Second Senate District, which includes Trinity County and the North Coast. State Sen. Mike McGuire cannot run again because of term limits.
  • HCAOG Releases Draft Road Safety Plan Naming the County’s 20 Most Dangerous Spots
    Oct 21, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Association of Governments has published a draft Vision Zero Action Plan that lists the 20 most dangerous locations on local roads and the fixes it proposes for them. Public comments are due November 9, and the HCAOG board is set to consider adopting the plan on December 17.
  • State Climate Report Flags Sea Level Rise and Wildfire Risk on the North Coast
    Oct 21, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation has released a North Coast report as part of California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, covering Humboldt and five nearby counties. It points to fast sea level rise, growing wildfire risk and infrastructure with few backups, and credits Tribal leadership and local resilience work. Cal Poly Humboldt researchers helped write it.
  • Forest Service Plans 37-Acre Prescribed Burn Near Weaverville
    Oct 21, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Trinity County
    The Shasta-Trinity National Forest plans to burn about 37 acres in the Weaverville Community Forest, east of Weaver Bally Road and north of Trinity High School, starting October 21. The work may continue through October 22 if weather and approvals allow.
  • Rep. Huffman Takes Questions at Eureka Town Hall and Urges Residents to Vote
    Oct 20, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    About 200 people came to a Eureka town hall on October 19 where Rep. Jared Huffman answered questions and encouraged everyone to vote in the November election. Attendees asked about the courts, election security, government corruption, student financial aid, the Potter Valley Project dam dispute and a wind power buyout.
  • Supervisors Approve $550,000 Purchase of Three Downtown Eureka Parcels
    Oct 20, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Humboldt County supervisors voted 5-0 to buy three small parcels at Fourth and L streets in Eureka for $550,000, which covers the price plus closing costs and an environmental study. The county says the land will likely be used for parking in the short term and could later hold county offices as part of its downtown campus plan.
  • Greater Eureka Chamber Publishes Candidates’ Answers on Business Issues
    Oct 20, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    The Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce has published candidates’ written answers to its fall questionnaire about business and policy issues. It covers races for Eureka mayor and city council, school board, harbor commission, water district, the state Legislature and Congress, and the Chamber says it is not endorsing anyone.
  • Arcata City Council Candidate Dan Shahin Drops Out of the Race
    Oct 19, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Dan Shahin, a software engineer running for Arcata City Council, has stopped campaigning and says he will not take the seat if he wins. He said he was acting out of regret over a 2025 video in which he mocked a public commenter.
  • Planning Commission Sends the Humboldt Bay Area Plan to the Supervisors
    Oct 19, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted on October 15 to recommend the draft Humboldt Bay Area Plan, which now goes to the Board of Supervisors for the final decision. Commissioners disagreed over how much sea level rise the plan should prepare for and settled on a lower, middle estimate, adding a rule that it be checked for accuracy every five years.
  • BLM Starts Fall Prescribed Burn Season Across Four North Coast Counties
    Oct 18, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The Bureau of Land Management’s Arcata Field Office and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service say planned burns to cut wildfire fuel could begin as early as October 19 and continue through fall and winter on public lands in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties. Smoke may be visible and can settle in low-lying areas overnight; the agencies ask people to close windows at night and drivers to slow down and use headlights where smoke is heavy.
  • Eureka Police Step Up Enforcement of E-Bike, Electric Motorcycle and Scooter Laws
    Oct 17, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    The Eureka Police Department says it spent August educating riders about state rules for e-bikes, electric motorcycles and scooters, and began adding enforcement in September. Officers may write citations or impound a vehicle, and may contact a parent or guardian when the rider is a juvenile.
  • SoHum Hospital Board Votes to Back Measure K and Limit How Bond Money Could Be Spent
    Oct 16, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    The Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District board voted to endorse Measure K and, with four members in favor and one absent, adopted a resolution promising that money from the proposed $25 million bond would be used only to build a replacement hospital in Garberville. If voters approve the measure on November 3, property owners in the district would repay the bond through a property tax, though a future board could undo the resolution.
  • Three Candidates Run for the Harbor District Seat That Covers Most of Eureka
    Oct 17, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    Craig Benson, the incumbent, plus Christopher Honar and Jane Madsen are running for Division 4 of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District board on the November 3 ballot. The board helps decide the proposed offshore wind terminal on the Samoa Peninsula, channel dredging, shoreline protection and public access to the bay.
  • State Says Ukiah Must Plan for 1,500 New Homes, and the City Is Asking Where
    Oct 17, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    State law requires Ukiah to plan for 1,500 new homes between 2027 and 2035, and the city has begun updating the housing section of its General Plan. People can comment at a community meeting on October 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, or by email, with a draft due in early December.
  • Humboldt Extends Its Dry Weather Water Test Period a Second Time
    Oct 17, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Humboldt County’s Division of Environmental Health has extended the dry weather test period through October 31, or until the first rainfall of more than half an inch in 24 hours, whichever comes first. These tests measure how much water is available for proposed subdivisions and new houses.
  • Fewer Buses to the Bay Area May Be Coming on the Arcata to Martinez Route
    Oct 16, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority is studying service cuts to the Gold Runner bus between Arcata and Martinez, likely starting with the Tuesday and Wednesday runs, because the route costs far more to run than it brings in. No decision has been made: comments on the study are due October 21, and a decision is not expected until early next year.
  • State Weighs Whether to Keep Planning Power Lines for Humboldt Offshore Wind
    Oct 16, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The California Public Utilities Commission is deciding whether to keep planning a new substation and two power lines in Humboldt County that would carry electricity from offshore wind. At an October 14 presentation, an attorney for the Environmental Protection Information Center argued the planning should continue, while the local utility, onshore wind developers, ratepayer advocates and the Humboldt County Farm Bureau have raised concerns. A proposed decision is expected later this year, with a vote in early 2027.
  • Fortuna and Rio Dell Police Seize More Than 1,300 Illegal Flavored Tobacco Products
    Oct 16, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Police in Fortuna and Rio Dell inspected four tobacco shops in the Eel River Valley on October 13 and seized about 1,335 flavored vaping and smokeless nicotine products. The stores were cited for selling flavored nicotine, which state law bans, and for not posting required warning signs. The citations have not been tested in court.
  • Eureka Asks Residents to Help Shape Cooper Gulch Park Upgrades
    Oct 16, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    Eureka is applying again for state Statewide Park Program money to upgrade Cooper Gulch Park, and the city wants public comment before it files. Residents can speak up in person at the park on October 24 at 11 a.m. or on Zoom on October 29 at 5:30 p.m.; the grant application is due December 17.
  • State Closes Adult Fall-Run Chinook Fishery on the Lower Trinity River
    Oct 16, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is closing the adult fall-run Chinook salmon fishery on the lower Trinity River at 11:59 p.m. on October 16, from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar down to where the river meets the Klamath. The closure is triggered because anglers are expected to reach the season limit of 536 adult fish; smaller jack Chinook may still be kept.
  • District Attorney Finds Deputies Were Justified in 2025 Fatal Shooting Near Blue Lake
    Oct 15, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    District Attorney Stacey Eads released her review of the July 2025 shooting of Jared Nelson by three Humboldt County sheriff’s deputies on Glendale Road near Blue Lake. She found the deputies acted lawfully under state law after Nelson fired a pistol at them.
  • Yurok Tribe Posts Unofficial Results of Its 2026 Primary Election
    Oct 15, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Tribal
    The Yurok Tribe has released unofficial primary results for its North, Requa and Weitchpec districts. The tribe's Election Board is set to certify the count on October 19.
  • Humboldt County Mails Out Ballots for the November 3 Election
    Oct 15, 2026 · Mad River Union · Elections
    The county Office of Elections says vote-by-mail ballots are going out this week for the November 3 general election. Voters can mail them back, use an official drop box until 8 p.m. on election night, or vote in person at a Vote Center, with more centers opening October 24 and October 31.
  • BLM Eases Seasonal Fire Rules on Arcata Field Office Lands
    Oct 15, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The Bureau of Land Management lifted its summer fire restrictions on public lands managed by its Arcata Field Office, effective October 13. Campfires with a valid permit and recreational target shooting are allowed again unless a site is posted otherwise.
  • McKinleyville District Asks Residents What to Improve at Pierson Park
    Oct 15, 2026 · Mad River Union · City
    The McKinleyville Community Services District is holding two public workshops to decide which park improvements go into a state grant application. Early ideas include restroom updates, more shade trees, basketball and pickleball courts, and the next phases of the skatepark. The workshops are October 15 at Azalea Hall and November 7 at the McKinleyville Teen Center; nothing is funded or approved yet.
  • Measure K Town Hall Draws Questions About the Hospital, Taxes and SoHum's Future
    Oct 15, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    At an October 13 town hall in Redway, SoHum Health officials explained Measure K, the $25 million bond on the November 3 ballot that would help pay for a $100 million replacement for Jerold Phelps Community Hospital under state seismic rules taking effect in 2030. Residents asked about the cost to property owners, whether the district had stress-tested its finances, and what a larger hospital would cost to run.
  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest Lifts Summer Fire Restrictions
    Oct 14, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Rules & Regulations
    Cooler, wetter weather has led the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to lift its summer fire restrictions. The Bureau of Land Management eased its rules for public land in Trinity and nearby counties on October 1, but campfires and gas stoves still need a free California campfire permit.
  • Arcata Says the Highway 101 Cap Is Not a Top Priority Right Now
    Oct 14, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    City staff say the proposed deck over Highway 101, which would add about five acres for housing, shops and public space, is still in the plans but is not a current priority. A 2024 state grant has not been paid out because of California budget problems, so Arcata is using a separate $700,000 Caltrans grant for the next planning phase.
  • Eureka Police Get $46,000 State Grant for Traffic Safety Enforcement
    Oct 14, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded the Eureka Police Department a $46,000 grant that runs through September 2027. It pays for DUI checkpoints and patrols, enforcement of speeding, distracted driving and right-of-way violations, officer training in spotting impaired drivers, and community traffic safety presentations.
  • Eureka Mayoral Candidates Bergel and Dwivedi Meet in Televised Forum
    Oct 14, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel and challenger Anil Dwivedi answered questions at a forum on KEET-TV hosted by the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County. They discussed homelessness, tourism, public safety, and how to balance new downtown housing against parking. A third candidate, Casey Dresser, was invited but did not take part.
  • Trinity Planning Commission Begins Review of Draft General Plan Update
    Oct 14, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Planning Commission met on October 8 for the first of two review days on the nearly 900-page draft General Plan update, working through 64 public comments along with eight community plans and the land use map. Requests about data centers, cannabis zoning and telecommunications were set aside for a separate Zoning Code update expected to begin in January, and the commission meets again on October 22.
  • Arcata Planning Commission Approves the City's First Cannabis Smoking Lounge
    Oct 14, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The Arcata Planning Commission voted unanimously to let Pacific Paradise open a cannabis smoking lounge next to its dispensary on H Street. The permit requires the business to keep smoke and odor inside the building, and the owner says state approval and a new ventilation system mean it could be more than a year before it opens.
  • Humboldt Assessor Begins Sending Paper Property Files Offsite to Be Scanned
    Oct 13, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    Starting October 19, the Humboldt County Assessor's Office will send paper files covering more than 76,000 parcels offsite to be scanned and indexed, work the Board of Supervisors funded with $169,000 in this year's budget and that is expected to finish in June 2027. Records already in the online system stay available, but requests for files that are offsite may take longer.
  • Eureka Police Oversight Board Reports to City Council on Complaint Findings
    Oct 13, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    The Citizens Oversight on Police Practices Board told the Eureka City Council on October 6 that since the board was formed in 2022, nearly half of the complaints against police were found to be unfounded and about 30 percent were sustained. Most complaints were about conduct rather than use of force, and the board chair said no community group has sent in feedback despite outreach.
  • Trinity County Sets October 22 Hearing to Adopt the 2050 General Plan
    Oct 8, 2026 (updated Oct 13) · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Planning Commission will meet on October 22 at 2 p.m. in the Trinity County Library conference room at 351 Main Street in Weaverville to decide whether to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the 2050 General Plan Update and its final environmental report. Written comments must reach the county Planning Division by the close of business on Monday, October 19.
  • Arcata's Measure G Asks Voters to Make Its Sales Tax Permanent
    Oct 12, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Arcata voters will decide Measure G in November. The city's three-quarter-cent sales tax, in place since 2009, is set to end in 2029, and Measure G would keep it at the same rate with no end date. The city says the money has gone mostly to road work and police staffing.
  • Mendocino Coast Health Care District Plans to Borrow for $20 Million Hospital Earthquake Retrofit
    Oct 12, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Mendocino Coast Health Care District board voted to have its financing team ask banks and other lenders for loan offers to pay for a state-required earthquake retrofit at the hospital in Fort Bragg, estimated at about $20 million. The district says it would rather borrow than spend its cash reserves, that no new taxes are proposed, and that it will review the loan offers at its November 19 meeting.
  • Eureka Planning Commission Weighs County's Downtown Psychiatric Facility
    Oct 12, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    Humboldt County wants to build a two-story, 21,700-square-foot psychiatric building on a county parking lot at 5th and J streets in Eureka, with a 16-bed inpatient unit and a four-bed crisis stabilization unit for adolescents and adults. The city Planning Commission took up whether the plan fits Eureka's General Plan on October 12; its finding is advisory, and the county's environmental review is not finished.
  • Expect Lines on Election Day, Humboldt's Registrar Says. Here Is How to Skip Them
    Oct 11, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes says he expects many more people to vote in person on Election Day, November 3, and asks voters to mail or drop off their ballots early if they can. He also described how the office checks every ballot signature and confirms citizenship when people register.
  • State Closes Del Norte County Razor Clam Fishery Over Toxin Levels
    Oct 10, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County. Clams sampled at Crescent Beach in late September tested above the federal safety limit for domoic acid, a natural toxin. Humboldt County's razor clam fishery has been closed since May 2024.
  • Measure K Asks Southern Humboldt Voters for $25 Million in Hospital Bonds
    Oct 9, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Measure K would let the Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District borrow up to $25 million to help replace its aging hospital in Garberville, paid back through property taxes at about $80 per $100,000 of assessed value. It would replace the district's current $125 flat parcel tax and needs a two-thirds yes vote to pass.
  • Humboldt Supervisors Ease Cannabis Code Enforcement for Buyers of Former Grow Sites
    Oct 9, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to change how cannabis code violations are handled when someone buys a former grow property. New owners will not be cited for the old violations, including environmental ones, unless growing continues more than 30 days after they take ownership. (This news is near the end of a longer article about data centers.)
  • Humboldt Supervisors Pause New Data Center Permits for 45 Days
    Oct 9, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved a 45-day hold on new permit applications for data centers that would draw more than 15 megawatts of power, and the hold can be extended for up to 11 months while the county writes rules. Projects that use 100 percent renewable energy and closed-loop water systems are exempt.
  • Arcata Planning Commission to Decide on Pacific Paradise Cannabis Lounge Next Week
    Oct 9, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    Pacific Paradise has applied to open a cannabis smoking lounge next to its store at H and 11th streets in Arcata. The Arcata Planning Commission is set to decide next week whether to approve the permit.
  • Harbor District Restarts Environmental Review for Offshore Wind Terminal
    Oct 8, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    The Humboldt Bay Harbor District has restarted its environmental review for a heavy-lift marine terminal on the Samoa Peninsula that would build and ship floating offshore wind turbines. Written comments are due by December 7, and scoping meetings are set for November 4 at the Eureka Veterans Memorial Hall and November 5 at the Samoa Cookhouse, both at 5:30 p.m.
  • State Awards $315,000 to Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation to Rebuild Smith River Boat Ramp
    Oct 8, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Tribal
    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is giving the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation $315,000 to rebuild the boat ramp at Xaa-wan'-k'wvt Village and Resort on the Smith River in Del Norte County. It is one of six projects in a $2.7 million round of state grants meant to improve boating access and help stop the spread of invasive golden mussels.
  • County Planning Commission Approves McKinleyville Ace Hardware Expansion
    Oct 8, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted unanimously on October 1 to approve permits for an expansion of McKinleyville Ace Hardware on Central Avenue, adding 56 parking spaces, greenhouse and lumber structures, and a new access road. The plan fills some wetlands on the site and requires the owner to restore or create replacement wetlands, with conditions set by state water and wildlife agencies.
  • Trump Administration Seeks to Narrow Endangered Species Protections, With Potential Impacts on North Coast Habitat
    Oct 8, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Federal wildlife agencies have dropped the official meaning of the word 'harm' from Endangered Species Act rules, and the Justice Department is now defending that change in court. The change narrows the protection a listed animal gets when its habitat is damaged. Humboldt County species such as the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, coho salmon and the Humboldt marten could get less protection from logging, development and water diversions.
  • Two Candidate Statements Were Left Out of Humboldt County Voter Guides
    Oct 8, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    The Humboldt County Elections Office says human error left two candidates' statements out of mailed voter information guides. The office is sending affected voters a letter and a copy of each missing statement, one from Harbor District candidate Christopher Honar and one from Eureka City Council candidate Victor Garcia.
  • Arcata Council Votes to Apply for Trail Town Designation
    Oct 8, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The Arcata City Council voted unanimously to have city staff apply for the International Mountain Biking Association's Trail Town designation, which the city hopes will draw more visitors. The council also began discussing how to spend about $1 million in repaid state Community Development Block Grant loans, and will pick projects at its next meeting.
  • Miranda case outcry brings county response
    Oct 8, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    Humboldt County planning director John Ford says the county is handling Miranda's Rescue's land use permit separately from a criminal investigation. Residents told the Planning Commission that the 180-day suspension of the permit does not go far enough, because the permit can be brought back later.
  • Post Mountain to Vote on Road Tax
    Oct 7, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    Voters in the Post Mountain Public Utilities District will decide Measure D in the November election. It is a $100 special tax that would raise about $100,000 each year for road repairs, and it needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
  • Eureka City Council Approves Contract for 40-Bed Old Town Shelter
    Oct 7, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The Eureka City Council voted 5-0 to hire a contractor to build an emergency homeless shelter at 16 Second Street in Old Town, with beds for up to 40 people. The city plans to use prefabricated units and hopes to open the shelter by February 2027.
  • Six Candidates Run for Three Seats on Trinity Healthcare District Board
    Oct 7, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    Six candidates are running for three four-year seats on the Mountain Communities Healthcare District board in Trinity County in the November election. The three incumbents, Dero Forslund, Jennifer Flint and Sarah Sheetz, face challengers Chad Smith, Laura Ecklin and Marianne Keesee.
  • Humboldt County Posts Vote Center and Ballot Drop Box Locations for November 3 Election
    Oct 7, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    The Humboldt County Office of Elections has published the list of vote centers and ballot drop box locations for the November 3, 2026 general election. Vote-by-mail ballots are going out this week, and voters can return them by mail, at a drop box, or in person at a vote center.
  • Shasta College Puts $129 Million Bond on the November Ballot; Weaverville Forum October 17
    Oct 7, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Measure C, a $129 million school bond for Shasta College, goes to voters in the college district on November 3. The college says it would extend an expiring 2002 bond rather than raise the tax rate, and it will hold a public forum at its Trinity Campus in Weaverville on October 17.
  • Newsom Said He Vetoed the Demonstration State Forest Bill Because of Science. We Asked What the Money Said.
    Oct 7, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2494, which would have rewritten how California manages its 14 demonstration state forests, including the 48,652-acre Jackson Demonstration State Forest on the Mendocino coast, and would have opened a path for tribes to help manage them. The report reviews campaign donations from timber interests and says it found no evidence of a deal tied to the veto.
  • Humboldt's Hydrogen Buses Sat Idle for Months; Transit Agency Says They Are Coming Back
    Oct 7, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Humboldt Transit Authority says its 11 hydrogen-powered buses went unused for months because fuel deliveries stopped after a hydrogen truck exploded in San Bernardino County in February. A special delivery has now fueled the buses, and the agency plans to run one hydrogen bus a day on the shortest Redwood Transit route until a permanent fueling station opens in early 2027.
  • Humboldt Supervisors Approve 45-Day Ban on New Data Centers
    Oct 6, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to stop approving new data centers in the county's unincorporated areas for 45 days, while staff write zoning and operating rules. Small closed-loop facilities that use 15 megawatts or less of renewable power are exempt.
  • Planning Commission Lets Fortuna-Area Cannabis Farm Add Manufacturing and Distribution
    Oct 6, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission approved a permit allowing a cannabis farm near Fortuna to expand into manufacturing and distribution. Neighbors spoke against the expansion.
  • Supervisors to Vote on Data Center Freeze, Large Redwood Tree Rules and a Prop. 45 Stand
    Oct 5, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, October 6, with three policy items on the agenda. They are an emergency 45-day freeze on new data center applications in the unincorporated county, a moratorium on permits to cut large redwoods (40 inches or more across) outside timber production zones, and a resolution opposing Proposition 45, a state ballot measure that would shorten the application review process to 30 days.
  • County Sets Four November Meetings on Flood and Evacuation Readiness
    Oct 5, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services will hold four public meetings in November about flood and winter storm readiness. They run 6 to 8 p.m. on November 4, 12, 17 and 18 at the Humboldt Hill Grange, Freshwater Grange, Ferndale City Hall and Orick Community Hall, and will cover evacuation steps and emergency alerts.
  • Humboldt and Trinity Residents Invited to Three Broadband Planning Meetings, October 6-8
    Oct 4, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Redwood Rural Reach project is holding public meetings in Garberville on October 6, Willow Creek on October 7 and Junction City on October 8, each from 4 to 6 p.m. What residents say at them will shape broadband plans for 23 rural communities in Humboldt and Trinity counties, which the communities will use to apply for state and federal funding.
  • 'Super' El Nino Rain Forecast: What Humboldt County Officials Are Doing to Prepare
    Oct 3, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Humboldt County emergency officials will hold four public meetings in November for flood-prone areas, including King Salmon, Fields Landing, Freshwater, Ferndale and Orick. Public Works crews spent the summer clearing ditches and replacing culverts, and the Board of Supervisors will look at ways to pay for a bigger sandbag supply. The county aims to keep at least 100,000 sandbags on hand.
  • Humboldt County Extends Dry Weather Well Test Period to October 15
    Oct 2, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Humboldt County's Division of Environmental Health has extended its dry weather testing window through October 15, or until the first rain of more than half an inch in a day, whichever comes first. People who plan to split a parcel, build a second unit, or develop a parcel in the coastal zone using a private well or spring must show the water source can produce at least 720 gallons a day per home, and this is the period when that test counts.
  • Two Candidates Run for Eureka's Ward Three City Council Seat
    Oct 2, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Incumbent G. Mario Fernandez, a labor organizer, and challenger Janelle Jackson, a police officer with 25 years of service, are running for the Ward Three seat on the Eureka City Council. Fernandez talks about housing and workers' rights, while Jackson talks about stronger enforcement of laws on homelessness and more openness at city hall.
  • Arcata Council Candidate Who Criticized Data Centers Holds Nvidia and Amazon Stock
    Oct 2, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Dan Shahin, who is running for Arcata City Council and has objected to data centers being built without public input, reports holding $10,000 to $100,000 each in Nvidia and Amazon stock on his required economic interest filing. Shahin says the shares were mostly inherited from his parents, that he has already sold some, and that he is waiting to sell the rest for tax reasons.
  • Eureka Police Chief Responds After Former Officer's DUI Case Is Dismissed
    Oct 2, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The Humboldt County District Attorney dropped the drunk driving case against former Eureka police officer James Whitchurch on September 24, saying there was not enough evidence to prove the charges. Police Chief Brian Stephens said the department's own review found policy violations and that Whitchurch was fired in January, and the city's independent police auditor found that review thorough and fair.
  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest Lifts Summer Fire Restrictions
    Oct 2, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    The Shasta-Trinity National Forest lifted its summer fire restrictions on October 2, saying cooler weather and more moisture have lowered the fire danger. Forest staff still ask visitors to be careful with fire, noting that more than 80 percent of wildfires are started by people.
  • Big Lagoon Water District Proposes Tripling Water Rates
    Oct 1, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Big Lagoon Community Services District has proposed raising water rates in steps through late 2029, which would take a typical monthly bill from about $75 to about $255. Staff pay is the district's biggest expense, including about $71,000 a year for a general manager and a part-time operator, and the district also points to water storage and other repairs. The system serves 42 homes and one elementary school.
  • Supervisor Asks Caltrans to Study New Highway 101 Ramps at Hiller Road
    Oct 1, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone wants Caltrans to study adding a southbound on-ramp and a northbound off-ramp at Hiller Road in McKinleyville, to pull some traffic out of the downtown area. He said he will meet with Caltrans staff in the next week and a half.
  • County Suspends Miranda's Rescue Permits Over Missing Flood Permits
    Oct 1, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Humboldt County's planning and building director suspended the use permits for Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna, saying the operator did not file the grading permits for flood elevation work that were required under a compliance agreement signed in May. While the suspension is in place, the rescue cannot take in new animals and cannot have customer traffic on the property.
  • County to Add Right-Turn Lane on Central Avenue in McKinleyville
    Oct 1, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    Humboldt County Public Works will restripe the intersection of Central Avenue and Railroad Drive and add a dedicated right-turn lane, to improve safety near McKinleyville Middle School. The work runs October 5 through October 8 during daytime hours. (This news is the first item in a longer McKinleyville news roundup.)
  • Blue Lake City Council Candidate Forum Set for October 2
    Oct 1, 2026 · Mad River Union · Elections
    Four candidates are running for two seats on the Blue Lake City Council: Elise Scafani, Charis Bowman, Adelene Jones and Verda Winona Pitts. A public forum runs Friday, October 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mad River Grange, hosted by the Grange with the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County. (This news is inside a longer article about the Blue Lake Medieval Festival.)

September 2026

  • Trinity County Superior Court Is Recruiting for the 2027 Civil Grand Jury
    Sep 30, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Superior Court is looking for residents to serve on the 2027 civil grand jury, a panel of 11 to 19 people that looks into complaints about local government agencies. Applications are open until December 11, and people who applied in 2026 stay in the drawing unless they ask the court to take them out.
  • Two Candidates Run for Eureka's Fifth Ward City Council Seat
    Sep 30, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Kathleen Herrera and Jeff Leonard are running for the Fifth Ward seat on the Eureka City Council in the November election, a ward that covers downtown and the waterfront. Herrera talks about affordable housing and a Housing First approach to homelessness, while Leonard, who served on the council from 2002 to 2010, talks about helping local businesses and adding downtown parking.
  • District 2 State Assembly Candidates Agree on Priorities
    Sep 30, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Incumbent Chris Rogers, a Democrat, and challenger Michael Greer, a Republican, are running for the state Assembly seat that covers Trinity County and the north coast. Both name health care and school funding as top priorities. Rogers also points to climate change, while Greer points to the state deficit and the cost of living.
  • Trinity County Supervisors Approve the 2026-2027 County Budget
    Sep 30, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    Trinity County supervisors approved the county's 2026-2027 budget on Monday, September 28. They adopted it with no changes from the proposed budget that was presented to them on September 22.
  • Trinity County Planning Commission Denies Cell Tower at Weaverville's Lowden Park
    Sep 30, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The Trinity County Planning Commission voted 4-0 on September 25 to turn down a T-Mobile plan to replace a light pole at the Lowden Park ball field in Weaverville with a taller pole carrying cell antennas. Neighbors objected because the site sits next to an elementary school and inside a public park.
  • Eureka Asks Property Owners to Sign Up Land for Future Housing by November 1
    Sep 29, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · City
    The City of Eureka is updating its Housing Element for 2027 to 2035, a state-required plan that must name enough sites for 1,740 new homes. The city is mailing letters to selected property owners inviting them to add their land to that list. Signing up is free and voluntary and does not commit an owner to build anything. Responses are due November 1.
  • Eureka Mayoral Candidate Agrees to Pay $102,750 to Settle Rent Increase Lawsuit
    Sep 29, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Anil Dwivedi, a landlord running for mayor of Eureka, has agreed to pay $102,750 to settle a class action lawsuit brought by tenants who say he raised their rents by more than state law allows. The deal also bars illegal rent increases for 18 months. A judge gave it early approval on October 9, and final approval is set for April 9, 2027. Dwivedi says the settlement is not an admission that the claims were true.
  • Trinity County Sets Two Public Meetings on Rural Broadband Project
    Sep 29, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Trinity County
    Trinity County is holding two open meetings about the Redwood Rural Reach broadband project, a USDA-funded effort to write broadband plans for 23 communities in Trinity and Humboldt counties. The meetings are October 7 in Willow Creek and October 8 in Junction City, both from 4 to 6 p.m.
  • Six Rivers National Forest Plans Prescribed Burns Through November
    Sep 29, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    The Six Rivers National Forest plans controlled burns from late September through November in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity and Siskiyou counties. Some areas may close to the public while crews work, and people nearby should expect smoke and drive with their headlights on.
  • The Biggest Donors in the Arcata City Council Race? The Candidates
    Sep 29, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Campaign finance reports for the six people running for Arcata City Council show very little money coming from outside donors. Three of the six candidates loaned money to their own campaigns, the largest being a $7,000 loan from candidate Daniel Shahin to himself, spent mostly on postcards and signs.
  • Local Study Finds California's Rat Poison Limits Are Cutting Exposure in Owls
    Sep 28, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    A Blue Lake research center tested more than 1,000 barred owls taken across northwestern California and found rat poison exposure fell from about half of young owls in 2019 to about one in five by 2024, after two state laws restricted the chemicals. Researchers also found a different poison in roughly one in five owls, which suggests some users have switched products.
  • Wiyot Tribe to Vote October 3 on Dropping Blood Quantum From Enrollment Rules
    Sep 26, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Tribal
    The Wiyot Tribe votes October 3 on whether to drop its blood quantum requirement for tribal membership and enroll people by lineal descent instead, meaning documented ancestry rather than a percentage. In a letter to the editor, a Wiyot descendant urges a yes vote, saying the current rule separates siblings and cousins.
  • Campaign Finance Filings Show What Eureka Council and Mayor Candidates Raised and Spent
    Sep 25, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Candidates for Eureka city council and mayor have filed their campaign finance reports, showing how much money each one raised and what they spent it on, including union money, individual donations and personal loans. Candidates who raised only a small amount were not required to file a detailed disclosure.
  • Animal Control Stops Inspections at Miranda's Rescue After Being Denied Access
    Sep 25, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office says it has stopped its regular inspections and animal wellness checks at Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna, because owner Shannon Miranda denied staff access to the property. Those checks had been part of how the county kept watch on the shelter.
  • County Farm Access Passes Due November 10 for Work Inside Evacuation Zones
    Sep 24, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    Humboldt County's Agricultural Access Pass lets approved farmers and livestock owners return to an evacuation zone to feed and water animals, irrigate crops, or run generators. The Office of Emergency Services runs it with the Agricultural Commissioner. Applications are due November 10, and applicants must attend in-person training on November 4 or November 10.
  • County Restarts Committee to Write Surveillance Rules, Including License Plate Readers
    Sep 24, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    Humboldt County supervisors have re-formed a small committee to draft countywide rules for surveillance equipment, including Flock license plate readers. Staff have until the end of 2027 to bring back draft rules.
  • Public Candidate Forums Set for Arcata and Eureka Races
    Sep 24, 2026 · Mad River Union · Elections
    The Humboldt Association of Realtors will host free public forums for candidates in the November 3 election. Arcata City Council candidates meet on September 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and Eureka mayor and city council candidates follow in October, both at 220 First St. in Eureka with a live stream on the association's Facebook page.
  • Heather Durand Appointed to the Humboldt County Superior Court Bench
    Sep 24, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Heather S. Durand, a Humboldt County attorney for 26 years, has been appointed as a judge of the Humboldt County Superior Court. She is set to be sworn in on October 2 and to begin work in a criminal law assignment on October 5.
  • Humboldt County Jail to Stop Accepting Personal Mail for Inmates
    Sep 23, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Starting October 19, letters, photos and drawings for people in the Humboldt County jail must be mailed to a post office box in Maryland, where a contractor will scan them and send the copies to inmates on tablets. The Sheriff's Office says the change is meant to keep drugs and other contraband from coming in through the mail.
  • Trinity Utility District Says It Will Fight Federal Hobo Fire Lawsuit
    Sep 23, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    The federal government is suing Trinity Public Utility District, saying the district's equipment started the 2020 Hobo fire. The district's board said it disagrees with the claims and will defend itself, and pointed to its inspections, tree clearing, and its push for wider clearances along power lines.
  • Trinity County Voters Have Until October 19 to Register for the November Election
    Sep 23, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Trinity County residents have until October 19 to register online to vote in the November 3 general election. After that date people can still register and vote in person at the county elections office. Local seats on the ballot include the Mountain Communities Healthcare District and Weaverville Community Services District boards.
  • County Lifts Permit Suspension for Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna
    Sep 23, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    The Humboldt County Planning and Building Department has lifted the permit suspension it placed on Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna in August, so the animal shelter can take in and adopt out animals again. Planning Director John Ford said the three violations behind the suspension, including using a parcel the permit did not cover, have been fixed. A separate criminal investigation into the property is still open.
  • Eureka Asks Property Owners to Register Land for Future Housing
    Sep 22, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    The City of Eureka is mailing forms to property owners who might want their land counted as a possible housing site in the city's 2027-2035 housing plan, which the state requires. The plan must identify room for 1,740 new homes. Owners have until November 1 to reply, and signing up does not commit anyone to build.
  • Three Candidates Run for Eureka City Council's Ward 1 Seat
    Sep 22, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Victor Garcia, Jason McCutcheon and Audra Sisson are running for the Ward 1 seat on the Eureka City Council, which covers the West Side and the Broadway corridor. They differ on downtown housing and parking, how to address homelessness, and how the C Street bike boulevard project was carried out.
  • Humboldt Community Services District Incumbent Seeks Another Term, Opposes Rate Increases
    Sep 22, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Elections
    In a statement he submitted, Gregg Gardiner says he is running to keep his seat on the Humboldt Community Services District board in the November 3 election. He says he opposes further water and sewer rate increases, and wants the district to seek grants and low-interest loans before raising costs for customers.
  • Governor Vetoes Bill to Change How California Manages Its Demonstration Forests
    Sep 22, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · Rules & Regulations
    Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2494, which would have moved California's demonstration forests, including Jackson Demonstration State Forest in Mendocino County, away from timber production as their main purpose and toward forest health, wildfire resilience and tribal co-management. He said the state needs flexibility in how it manages the land. The Environmental Protection Information Center criticized the veto.
  • Planning Commission Approves Removal of 88 Trees Near Eureka
    Sep 21, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted 3-1 to let two Eureka-area projects cut down 88 trees, including 80 redwoods, over county staff's recommendation to keep the larger ones. The Board of Supervisors is separately working on a countywide tree ordinance and is set to vote on a temporary pause on tree removals on October 6.
  • Governor Orders Statewide El Nino Preparations; Humboldt Named in Storm Recovery Order
    Sep 21, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order to prepare all of California for a strong El Nino winter. It lets the state stage sandbags and pumps, place equipment along at-risk highways, prepare the National Guard for flood response, and speed up permits for storm work. In a separate proclamation, he named Humboldt, Glenn, Kern, Mendocino and Santa Barbara counties for recovery from the February storms.
  • THE ECONEWS REPORT: Proposition 45 Harms Humboldt
    Sep 19, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Rules & Regulations
    An environmental group argues Proposition 45 would weaken environmental review, and that small rural planning offices could not meet its deadlines.
  • County Wildfire Protection Plan Is Open for Public Input
    Sep 18, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council is updating the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which guides wildfire safety work across the county. Residents can comment at a virtual workshop on September 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. or through online surveys.
  • Supervisors Expand Surveillance Oversight After Committee Shakeup
    Sep 18, 2026 · Redheaded Blackbelt · County
    County supervisors told staff to write surveillance rules that are not limited to license-plate readers, after Supervisor Madrone resigned from the committee. Drone use and satellite surveillance were raised during the discussion.
  • Planning Commission Splits Over Sea Level Rise Planning for Humboldt Bay
    Sep 17, 2026 · Mad River Union · County
    The Humboldt County Planning Commission could not agree on which sea level rise projection to build into the Humboldt Bay Area Plan, so it set that question aside for later. Commissioners did approve adding high-density housing zoning to the plan, and public hearings begin October 15.
  • Arcata City Council Pauses New Data Centers for 45 Days
    Sep 17, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    Arcata's city council voted unanimously to stop approving new data center permits for at least 45 days, to study how these facilities could strain the city's water and power systems.
  • County Registrar Asks Voters to Plan Ahead Amid Postal Service Uncertainty
    Sep 17, 2026 · Mad River Union · Elections
    Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes said proposed changes to Postal Service rules, and federal court cases over them, have made mail voting uncertain nationwide. He asked voters to make a plan and vote early, by mail, at a 24-hour drop box, or in person, with early in-person voting opening October 5 at the Office of Elections.
  • McKinleyville District Asks for Townwide Traffic Study Before Central Avenue Road Diet
    Sep 17, 2026 · Mad River Union · City
    The McKinleyville Community Services District board voted unanimously to ask for a traffic study of the whole town before Central Avenue is narrowed from five lanes to three. Directors said the change could make it harder to reach and repair the utility lines under the street.
  • Trinity County Voter Registration Deadline Is October 19
    Sep 16, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Elections
    Trinity County residents have until October 19 to register to vote online for the November 3 general election. After that date, people can still register and vote in person through the county elections office. The local ballot includes seats on the Mountain Communities Healthcare District and the Weaverville Community Services District boards.
  • Trinity County Budget Hearings Begin September 22
    Sep 16, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    Trinity County supervisors open hearings on a proposed budget of about $165 million, up 9.2 percent from last year's $151 million. The general fund share is $28.6 million, and the full proposed budget is posted online for residents to read before the hearings.
  • Eureka City Council Advances Plan to Restrict Data Centers, Potentially Allowing Small Facilities in Industrial Areas
    Sep 16, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · City
    Staff outlined the tradeoffs — heavy electrical demand, water needed for cooling, and public-safety and emissions questions — as the council weighed how to regulate data centers in Eureka. Members signaled openness to smaller facilities in industrial-zoned areas but not large ones; Councilmember Scott Bauer said he did not see the need for a large one, given the city's power limits. Jen Kalt of Humboldt Waterkeeper raised concerns about wastewater discharge, and the city plans to extend its 45-day pause on new applications while staff writes permanent rules.
  • Flock Surveillance Ad Hoc Group Rejiggered; Lobbyists Respond to Miranda's Rescue Case
    Sep 16, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    In a 4-1 vote (Rex Bohn dissenting), the Board dissolved its Flock Safety camera oversight committee and replaced it with a broader group tasked with writing countywide surveillance-technology rules by the end of 2027. Supervisors also declined to cover a roughly $1.3 million budget overspend in the District Attorney's office from the county's emergency contingency fund. County lobbyists reported tracking about 60 bills in Sacramento, backing 20 and opposing 4, including a win securing $1 million toward a new one-stop permit center. The board also proclaimed September 25 Dolly Parton Day.
  • Telecom Company Eyes Humboldt County Site for Large Data Center
    Sep 15, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    Oppidan Connect is looking into building a large data center somewhere in Humboldt County to boost undersea internet cable signals. Arcata's city manager said Arcata itself isn't a good fit due to space, and local officials are still weighing whether to restrict this kind of development.
  • Supervisors Deny $1.3 Million Request to Cover District Attorney's Budget Overrun
    Sep 15, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    District Attorney Stacey Eads asked the Board of Supervisors for $1.3 million from county reserves after her office overspent its 2025-26 budget, largely because expected grant money never arrived. After a two-hour debate the board turned the request down and asked the office for quarterly financial reports instead.
  • Schools, Police Pledge Support for Immigrant Families Amid ICE Concerns
    Sep 14, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · County
    At a McKinleyville community meeting, school officials pledged to help immigrant families set up temporary caregiver authorizations and share bilingual policy information, while local police reaffirmed they won't help federal immigration enforcement and will keep following the state's sanctuary laws.
  • Humboldt Elections Office Urges Early Voting Amid Mail-Ballot Court Fights
    Sep 9, 2026 · Lost Coast Outpost · Elections
    Humboldt's Registrar of Voters is asking people to vote early because federal court cases and possible postal changes could delay mail ballots; drop boxes and in-person voting centers are ready as backup.
  • Trinity Sheriff Reports to Supervisors on License Plate Cameras
    Sep 9, 2026 · Trinity Journal · Trinity County
    Sheriff Tim Saxon told the Board of Supervisors on September 1 that four automated license plate readers on Highway 299 in Weaverville had been used in about 50 searches since July 1, with data kept 31 days and not shared out of state. Three more cameras on Highway 36 are awaiting Caltrans permits.
  • Board Approves Elk River Timberland Rezoning, $1 Million Housing Grant, and Two New Department Directors
    Sep 1, 2026 · Access Humboldt (meeting broadcasts) · County
    Supervisors approved rezoning about 750 acres near Elk River from agricultural to Timberland Production Zone, accepted a $1 million HOME grant for first-time homebuyer and rental assistance, and appointed Stephanie Kretz and Jeff Scott to lead Child Support Services and the Library, respectively. The board also approved a $173,985 racial-equity contract with the Humboldt Area Foundation, backed renaming the Ohman Creek Bridge for Thomas Dale Sarver, sold a surplus patrol vehicle to the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Police Department, and met in closed session over ongoing litigation.
  • Eureka Weighs Housing Crunch Fixes as Council Freezes New Data Center Applications
    Sep 1, 2026 · Access Humboldt (meeting broadcasts) · City
    Planning staff shared what they heard in summer workshops as Eureka plans for its state-required 1,740 new housing units: homeowners reported few problems, while renters cited affordability, availability, and upkeep struggles and pushed for stronger rent control. The council also voted unanimously to freeze new data center applications for 45 days, a pause that can be extended, while staff drafts permanent zoning and Coastal Plan rules. Ideas raised for easing the housing crunch included faster permitting, deferred city fees, low-interest state loans for accessory dwelling units, and stronger enforcement on vacant properties.

August 2026

April 2026

March 2026

Date Not Listed