Shortly after the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon that a criminal grand jury had declined to indict anyone in connection with the 2017 stabbing death of David Josiah Lawson, Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn told the Journal that his department is committed to continuing its investigation into the 19 year old’s slaying. […]
Iridian Casarez
Iridian Casarez was a staff writer at the North Coast Journal from 2019-2023.
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Remembering Benito Nuñez-Rodriguez
It’s about 5 p.m. on March 10 and under a blue sky, a handful of people walk down Goble Lane in Ferndale, where family and friends of Benito Nuñez-Rodriguez will place a cross with his name a little ways away from where a search team found him March 1, about 12 hours after he went missing in the […]
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Save the Redwoods League Will Dedicate Tree to Tony Smithers
The Save the Redwoods League will dedicate a redwood tree near the league’s memorial grove neighboring Avenue of the Giants to Tony Smithers, the late director of the Eureka-Humboldt Visitors Bureau who died suddenly on Jan. 14. “We are honored to dedicate a redwood tree in the wilderness of Humboldt Redwoods State Park to honor […]
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Vigil Set to Commemorate Ferndale Flood Victim
Benito Nuñez-Rodriguez, the 35-year-old man who drowned in the flood waters of the Eel River Feb. 28, will be remembered by family and friends as a funny, compassionate and helpful man. Michelle Rodriguez, a friend of 13 years, remembers Nuñez-Rodriguez spending time helping his neighbor maintain his yard after the neighbor sustained a back injury. […]
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Hinson Guilty of Manslaughter in SoHum Beating Death
William Lamar Hinson III was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter “with the special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon” in the 2015 killing Khan Lam in Garberville, according to a press release sent by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. Lam, 37, was involved in a physical altercation with a family member in […]
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With Wet Week Ahead, Flood Warnings Issued
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch advisory as rainfall is expected to continue to hit most of Humboldt County today and into tomorrow morning. With continuous rainfall forecast today through tomorrow morning, rivers are rising, and roads with poor drainage and low-lying areas are also at risk of flooding, according to Kathleen […]
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PIT Count Finds Almost 1,500 People Without Shelter in Humboldt
Almost 1,500 people spent the night of Jan. 22 without shelter in Humboldt County, according to results of the Point in Time count released by the county Department of Health and Human Services. The biennial count held Jan. 23 found that 1,473 people had experienced unsheltered homelessness the night before, more than double the number […]
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The Village Returns
When a controversial student housing project known as The Village came before the Arcata City Council last year, surrounding neighborhoods were concerned over the development’s size before it stalled. Six months later, the project is back, with the developer having added about 90 units and 50 beds to its proposal. AMCAL, the developer looking to […]
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Arcata Council Advances Revised Village Housing Project
Arcata’s The Village housing project is not dead, the City Council decided last night with a unanimous vote to reconsider the newly revised development proposal. The project will go through three more review hearings before moving forward: one with the Arcata Planning Commission and two more with the council, including one focused on vacating St. […]
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Rain, Hail, Snow Expected Throughout the Day
Winter is here, bringing snow and hail throughout Humboldt County this morning, with more expected in inland areas. A colder storm will drop snow levels from 1,500 feet down to 500 feet above sea level throughout the day. Areas around Kneeland are expected to record 5 inches of snow through tonight, with coastal snow showers […]
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Arcata City Council to Mull Revamped Village Project
The Arcata City Council will consider a revamped proposal for a large student housing project next week, with Community Development Director David Loya saying he expects the council to make a “go-no-go” decision on the project. Loya and city staff presented a revised plan for The Village at a public meeting Wednesday, about five months […]
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Getting out the Count
Offering hot chili and coffee with a friendly smile, Jennifer Solis sat at a table in the Applebee’s parking lot surveying Eureka’s homeless population as part of the biennial Point in Time Count. With a soft voice, she began inquiring about their demographics, substance abuse issues, mental health and where they had slept the night […]