It’s official, Humboldt State University is now California Polytechnic University Humboldt — Cal Poly Humboldt, for short — the California State University system’s third polytechnic and the only one in Northern California. It’s a change that promises to transform the campus and the surrounding community. “Cal Poly Humboldt will be a polytechnic for the 21st […]
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Moving Up
State Sen. Mike McGuire recently gained a new title — majority leader — which takes him up a rung on the Capitol ladder to the second-highest-ranking position in the California Legislature’s upper house. The Jan. 19 appointment by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins also marks the first time in 30 years that a North […]
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Cannabis in Crisis
To hear insiders tell it, Humboldt County’s cannabis industry can be likened to a small ship in rough seas. Battered by an onslaught of waves seemingly coming from all directions — taxes, fees, compliance costs, COVID disruptions and fierce market forces — the boat has capsized, leaving its occupants struggling to keep their chins above […]
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Frustrated and Confused
While few details have emerged about misconduct allegations facing former Arcata Mayor and sitting Councilmember Brett Watson, text messages between his fellow councilmembers show a growing frustration about his conduct. Things spilled into public view when the city called a special Oct. 20 session to discuss selecting a new mayor. Though Watson, who had been […]
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The Stress Test
Back in August, when Humboldt County schools returned from summer break for in-person instruction amid a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Delta variant, concerns were pervasive. Parents worried whether their children would be safe in the classroom, while others questioned whether schools would act as virus incubators that hastened community spread. School administrators, […]
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Project Censored
Project Censored co-directors Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth title their introduction to this year’s edition of State of the Free Press “A Return to News Normalcy?,” drawing a direct parallel between our world today and that of post-WWI America, “when the United States faced another raging pandemic and economic recession,” with other sources of tumult as well: […]
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‘Proactive’
Well before Public Health announced the highly contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant had been confirmed to be circulating locally and reported a record 400 new cases of the virus on Jan. 3, local school administrators felt the surge coming. For days, many had been hearing of positive tests among teachers and staff, with McKinleyville Middle School […]
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Vaccination:
While a growing body of evidence suggests Omicron can still infect and transmit among the fully vaccinated — and even boosted — it also suggests vaccination and boosting for those eligible significantly reduces risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Vaccines are free and appointments can be made at local pharmacies, or by visiting www.vaccines.gov. […]
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Omicron Surging
Amid an unprecedented surge in local cases, Health Officer Ian Hoffman informed the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 10 that he will be leaving his post March 4, having accepted a job that allows him to return to clinical work. “This decision does not come easy to me as this is the most […]
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COVID-19 Resources at a Glance
With the highly contagious Omicron variant confirmed to be here in Humboldt County, officials are urging residents to redouble layered mitigation measures to reduce spread of the virus, including vaccination, masking, testing and distancing. Here’s a look at the resources available locally. Vaccination: While a growing body of evidence suggests Omicron can still infect and […]
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What’s Ahead for California Businesses (and Employees) in 2022
Clogged supply chains. Hiring struggles. New mask rules. A virus that trampled right over return-to-work schedules. Last year was chaotic for many businesses across California. What does 2022 hold? Layered on top of pandemic uncertainty is the question of what policymakers might do for — and to — businesses. “2022 is going to be a […]
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Uh-oh …
For weeks, as cases surged in other areas of the country, officials warned that the highly contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant had already reached Humboldt County. Then, with the holidays passed and cases already rising, came a bombshell Jan. 3 report from Public Health: The county had confirmed a record 400 new cases of the virus […]