Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Cal State Faculty Ends Strike After Reaching Tentative Contract Agreement
Posted By Mikhail Zinshteyn/CalMatters on Tue, Jan 23, 2024 at 11:56 AM
The deal falls short of the 12 percent general salary increase the union sought for this academic year and instead provides a retroactive 5 percent raise to July 1, 2023 — consistent with what Cal State leaders were offering for the past several months.
The deal also provides a 5 percent salary increase starting July 1, 2024 for all 29,000 faculty — contingent on Cal State receiving at least the same amount of state funding lawmakers and the governor approved last summer. That’s a shift for Cal State officials — previously, they only wanted to offer a 5 percent raise next year if the state increased funding to the university.
“We’re messaging this as 10 percent in the next six months,” said Kevin Wehr, chair of the faculty union’s bargaining committee and a professor at Sacramento State.
The faculty union represents 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, sports coaches and mental health professionals.
Cal State officials argued since the fall they couldn’t afford the 12 percent raise the union sought. Also, the contracts it signed with other employee unions last year raised wages by 5 percent. Some of those contracts had provisions that would reopen salary negotiations if any other union received more than a 5 percent raise.
Cal State said last fall that every 1 percent raise in salary for faculty costs the system at least $26.5 million annually.
“The agreement enables the CSU to fairly compensate its valued, world-class faculty while protecting the university system’s long-term financial sustainability,” said Cal State Chancellor Mildred García in a statement.
EPD: Suspect Shot After Hours-Long Standoff
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Jan 23, 2024 at 9:23 AM
Police reported they were called to a residence in the 1400 block of Union Street around 5:45 a.m. yesterday after a report that a 12 year old had been stabbed.
"Upon further investigation, it has been determined that the suspect has barricaded himself in the residence with multiple hostages inside," EPD posted on social media, adding that the SWAT team had been called out to assist.
At 5:26 p.m., EPD reported that four hostages — an adult female and three juveniles — were "safely removed from the premises" but the incident ended with police shooting the suspect. The agency offered no information on the suspect's condition, or that of the juvenile who had been stabbed, but said more information would be released today.
The shooting is being investigated by the county's multi-agency Critical Incident Response Team, and roadways in the area that had been closed throughout the incident were re-opened at 1:05 a.m. today, according to EPD.
Monday, January 22, 2024
CHP: Three Killed in Crash on 101 North of Rio Dell
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 12:38 PM
The identities of the deceased are being withheld until their families can be notified, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At 10:37 p.m. yesterday, the CHP's dispatch center received a report of a Toyota truck traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. highway 101, followed about six minutes later by a report of a head-on collision that left both vehicles engulfed in flames near Metropolitan Road.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene to find a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and a 2010 Mercedes Benz blocking both lanes. The driver of the Tacoma and both the driver of the Mercedes and their passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.
"At this time, it is unknown exactly where the wrong-way Tacoma entered U.S. 101," the CHP reported in a p press release. "It is also unknown at this time if drugs and/or alcohol contributed to the cause of this crash."
The collision remains under investigation and the CHP asks anyone with information to call (707) 822-5981. The full collision report can be found here.
Friday, January 19, 2024
Judge Takes Earth Flag Case Under Submission
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 4:07 PM
After hearing brief final arguments today, Judge Timothy Canning said he would take the matter under submission before rendering a ruling based on those comments and a series of briefs submitted by both sides of the case raising unprecedented legal and constitutional questions.
Canning noted he had 90 days to issue his decision but would “try to get it out sooner than that.”
The “Blue Marble” image of the Earth has been flying in the top position on three flag poles since Dec. 16, 2022, the morning after the Arcata City Council decided in closed session to uphold a voter-approved initiative directing the placement, with the qualification that the city would also seek a "judicial resolution" on whether Measure M conflicts with state or federal law.
The initiative is believed to be the only of its kind in the United States, not only in upsetting the traditional protocol of flying the American flag above all others, but by enacting a local law as a symbolic gesture, in this case expressing an opinion of Arcatans that the well-being of the Earth needs to be prioritized.
Complicating matters, there simply appears to be no comparable case law addressing the issues now before the court.
In previous court filings and at today’s hearing, attorney Angela Schrimp de la Vergne outlined the city’s main contention that complying with Measure M “violates two state laws,” which — as a general law city — “Arcata is bound” to follow.
Those are the California Government code on flag display, which states, in part: "At all times the National Flag shall be placed in the position of first honor." The other is a section of California Military and Veterans Code, which includes the provision: "No other flag or pennant shall be placed above, or if on the same level, to the right of the Flag of the United States of America, except during church services, when the church flag may be flown."
Proponents of Measure M, including former City Councilmember Dave Meserve, take a different view, one of a case rooted in the rights of freedom of speech guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution, as well as the power of the initiative process granted to state residents by the latter.
In court, their attorney Eric Kirk noted those points have already been covered extensively in multiple filings before the judge while outlining for Canning aspects that he described as “context that the city is missing.”
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Sheriff's Office IDs Homicide Victim in Manila
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 1:32 PM
According to a news release, the 56 year old was known to be “living in a well-established makeshift metal structure in a homeless encampment at the dunes.”
“This case is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Division,” the release states. “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies to Pete Dibean’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
The exact cause of his death was not released.
The HCSO release states the investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have any information about this homicide to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Find the full release below:
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office has positively identified human remains discovered in the area of the Manila Dunes on 1/5/2024 as that of 56-year-old Pete William DIBEAN of Manila, CA. DIBEAN was living in a well-established makeshift metal structure in a homeless encampment at the dunes. On 1/5/2024, at about 4:52 PM, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call regarding human remains in the area of the Manila Dunes homeless encampment. Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies and a deputy coroner responded to the scene and recovered the remains. An autopsy was conducted on 1/10/2024 and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide. This case is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Division. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies to Pete DIBEAN’s family and friends during this difficult time. This is an active investigation, and the Sheriff’s Office would like to thank those that have come forward with information relating to this case. We want to encourage others that may have any information about this homicide to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Monday, January 15, 2024
UPDATE: Local Emergency Declared Due to Storm Damage
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Mon, Jan 15, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal has declared a local emergency due to the “significant impact of floods” during this past weekend's storm, the first step toward being able to request state and federal assistance.
“Significant flooding of small creeks and streams, as well as main stem flooding of the Mad River began on Friday, Jan. 12,” a new release today states. “The extensive flooding resulted in numerous flood rescue operations, extensive damage to local infrastructure, including damage to numerous culverts, cracking, slip outs, and degradation of county-maintained roads, as well as damage to numerous private residences, businesses, and agricultural land; these impacts are exhausting and exceeding available county resources.”
Anyone who experienced damage is encouraged to work with their insurance to file claims, the release states, noting the local proclamation “does not guarantee individual or financial assistance for damages incurred during the flooding event.”
They are also asked to report damage to the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services (OES) by filling out the January 2024 Flooding Damage Report form here. Those reports will be used to assess damage sustained across the county.
“Though the immediate response has subsided, Humboldt County Public Works crews are still actively engaged in conducting emergency road repairs, exploring options for alternative routes, and cleaning up storm and flood debris along public rights of way,” the release states.
Find the full release at the bottom of this post.
This weekend’s storm system dropped record amounts of rain on Saturday, pushing the Mad River to its highest levels in 60 years and closing down roadways across the county, including U.S. Highway 101 at two points, due to flooding.
How many people were displaced due to flooding, the locations of the areas worst hit and estimates for the extent of damage countywide were not immediately available from the county Office of Emergency Services but more information is expected tomorrow, according to Sheriff William Honsal.
“We are doing damage assessments right now for the lower Mad River areas,” he said in a text to the Journal. “There was damage to some homes, but mostly damage to roadways and infrastructure. We will get some preliminary numbers tomorrow and consider declaring a local emergency based upon the initial damage assessments.”
The Mad River peaked at 27.26 feet at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, with surrounding areas from Blue Lake to Tyee City and the Arcata Bottoms being inundated as a result, according to the NOAA hydrologic prediction service.
Flood stage for the Mad River is 22 feet, with 24 feet considered moderate flood stage and 28 feet major flood stage.
In a social media post, OES described it as the “most significant flooding of the Mad River since 1964.”
Friday, January 12, 2024
EPD Releases Body Cam Footage from Fatal Shooting
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Fri, Jan 12, 2024 at 4:18 PM
According to EPD, Williams fled from the passenger seat of a vehicle EPD pulled over for expired registration tags near the Ingomar Club and officers Jeremy Sollom and Nick Jones contacted him on the north end of the Humboldt County Library's main branch. There, Williams reportedly pulled a firearm from his waistband and chambered a round, prompting the officers to open fire.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Cal State Faculty Union Vows to Strike Over the University’s Final Pay Offer
Posted By Mikhail Zinshteyn/CalMatters on Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 10:55 AM
The California Faculty Association is asking for 12 percent raises this fiscal year, plus other other benefits, like extended parental leave and higher minimum salaries for the lowest-paid workers. But the 5 percent is an amount other employee unions in the system accepted last year as Cal State fought to stave off an even larger labor walk off. From Cal State’s perspective, its latest and final offer concludes contract negotiations. For the faculty union, it reaffirms its plans, broadcast in December, to strike in late January.
“Management’s imposition gives us no other option but to continue to move forward with our plan for a systemwide strike,” the faculty union told its members Monday afternoon. Planning to join the faculty union on the picket lines is the smaller Teamsters Local 2010, a labor group of 1,100 skilled maintenance workers.
The whiplash in messaging — raises on one hand but a vow to strike in pursuit of higher pay and benefits — is yet another flare-up in the months-long standoff between leaders of the nation’s largest public four-year university, home to more than 400,000 students, and the faculty union that represents 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches. The union had already staged strikes at four campuses in December, cutting off instruction a week before the start of students’ final exams.
“Management’s imposition gives us no other option but to continue to move forward with our plan for a systemwide strike.”
California Faculty Association
The university’s decision also precedes the Jan. 10 unveiling of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spending plan for 2024-25. He’s expected to spell out the state’s deep budget hole, which one analysis says will be a $68 billion deficit.
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Despite Coastal Commission Appeal, Schneider Mansion Demolition, Restoration Could be Complete by July
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Jan 9, 2024 at 1:43 PM
The deal ratified by the commission in July would have seen Schneider avoid up to $3.6 million in fines for a long list of permit violations by tearing down his partially constructed, more than 20,000-square-foot home, removing up to 15,000 cubic yards of fill dirt brought to the property, returning it to its natural grade and gifting a portion of it containing a documented archeological site to a third party to be held for the three local area Wiyot tribes. But six months later, the structure’s graying skeletal framing remains at the foot of Walker Point Road, with the California Coastal Commission having appealed the county’s decision.
Schneider submitted a host of documents to the commission’s staff Friday – including surveying maps, restoration and monitoring plans, and aquatic resource declinations — needed before the commission schedules a full appeal hearing for the case.
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Sheriff's Office Investigating 'Suspicious' Death
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Sat, Jan 6, 2024 at 1:39 PM
According to a press release, beachgoers reported finding the unidentified male body at 4:52 p.m. yesterday and deputies and a deputy coroner were dispatched to the scene.
"The unidentified male is believed to have died under suspicious circumstances," the press release states. "The cause and manner of death remain under investigation."
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