Cover Story
Big Backyard Visitors
A black bear’s sense of smell is 2,100 times better than a human’s and seven times better than a bloodhound’s, according to the national bear education program Bearwise. A full-sized bear also eats thousands of calories per day and, leading up to hibernation, that number can reach more than 20,000 calories. While bears in Humboldt enter…
Newsom Apologized to Tribes for Historic Harms, Vetoed 2 Bills that Would Have Empowered Them
This story was originally published by ICT and CalMatters. Five days after signing a law formalizing a state apology for “harms and atrocities” against California’s Native peoples, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed two additional bills that California tribes had championed, one on water and the other on sacred sites. Tribal leaders say the vetoes leave them…
Time in a Bottle
I was recently driving up and down the coast a lot in the space of a few days, specifically the area between Arcata and Trinidad, mostly for work but a bit for fun as well. Any amount of leisure driving counts as a vacation — in the financial sense of cost analysis anyway — in these…
A Memo from the Department of War
From the extremely large, solid oak desk of Secretary of War Peter Hegseth: Questions regarding the Pentagon’s plans to develop a High-T military are harshing my morning buzz so I will be addressing some of your baby-ass concerns here. Side note: We will also begin construction of a new building, swapping out the five-sided thing…
‘Wusatoumuduk: We Make It Burn’ Lights a Fire
It has been quite a long while since I’ve seen a production that transcends conventional understanding of theater. Wusatoumuduk: We Make It Burn is one of those productions. As the program notes, the original play was “envisioned by Wiyot culture-bearer Marnie Atkins and collaboratively written by an inter-tribal group with direct connections to local efforts…
A Very del Toro Spooky Season
Last week, I took advantage of the re-release of writer and director Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) in theaters to see it on the big (well, bigger) screen. The strange, sad, dreamy marvel of it bears as many rewatches as a person’s heart can take. Like so much of del Toro’s catalogue, even those…
Bone to Pick
Editor: I note with some interest the campaign by one disgruntled individual to eliminate or reduce the skeletons displayed for Halloween in Ferndale, where I live. Based on a completely unscientific poll, we are told that a large majority agrees with the disgruntled — a whole eight or so folks. Based on my objective observation…
‘This One Struck Home’
Editor: I am extremely impressed by this week’s editorial (Jennifer Fumiko Cahill, “The Good Ones,” Oct. 8, 2026). You covered a lot of territory that was clear and concise. Thank you for taking the tact that you chose. The two instances of abusers represent two very different motives for abuse, but the victim is still…
Yes on Measure D
Editor: As a longtime local merchant and resident of Fortuna, I’m supporting Measure D, which will raise sales tax in the City of Fortuna by ¾ of 1 percent, from 9.5 percent to 10.25 percent. The city of Fortuna is severely challenged by declining sales tax and declining transient occupancy taxes, coupled with increased expenses…
‘It Is Serious’
Editor: It’s that time and it is serious. No Propositions: 38…39…41…42…43…44…45!!!!!! Yes Propositions: 38…4…40!!! No Kings Vote Early Rally Oct. 17, courthouse, noon-2. Everyone is encouraged to come, thank you! Kathryn Travers, Eureka
Yes and No
Editor: Are you on Medi-Cal? Or know someone on Medi-Cal? In Humboldt County, nearly 40 percent of our county relies on Medi-Cal. Trump’s “Big Bad Bill” slashed healthcare and food stamps, while giving tax breaks to the rich and corporations. On Jan. 1, all of us will feel the force of those cuts on our…
Supporting Kimberley White
Editor: I am here to express my solid approval for Kimberley White to continue to do her noble work for the city of Arcata as a member of the City Council. Kimberley is currently the mayor of our city. I sleep better at night knowing she is watching over us. Blessings for us all. Maureen…
