Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace announced this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in 2016, giving credence to rumors that had been circulating for weeks. It appears he will finish out his term. Several weeks ago Lovelace told the Journal he hadn’t come to a decision yet, and that he hadn’t anticipated making one […]
Government
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Yurok Tribe Swindled of $250K in Casino Push
The Yurok Tribe is alleging that it fell victim to a conman who bilked the tribe of $250,000 as it pushed to finance the opening of its new Redwood Hotel and Casino in 2014. In a letter last month to tribal members, Tribal Chair Thomas O’Rourke Sr. explained that, in an effort to fund staffing […]
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City of Eureka Cancels Contract with Chamber of Commerce
The Eureka Chamber of Commerce recently sent out letters to its members announcing that its contract with the city had been canceled. As of July 1, 2016 the chamber will no longer receive city funds. Neither City Manager Greg Sparks nor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Don Smullen was available to speak on this story, […]
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Cops for Hire?
Do shoplifters have you wanting an added police presence at your local business? Does that rash of car break-ins have you and your neighbors wishing for a dedicated officer that could spend nights circling your block? Maybe you just don’t like the look of your daughter’s friends and want a little extra security to fend […]
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Station Down: Frustration Surrounds Humboldt Bay Fire’s Announcement
If you live in the Myrtle Avenue area, you might want to be extra careful with those fireworks today: Help is a little farther away than it was just a few days ago. Humboldt Bay Fire announced this week that Station 4 — located on Myrtle Avenue — will be closed until further notice, a […]
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Camp On, Camp Off
Police Chief Andy Mills denied Monday that his department is wholly scrapping plans to create a temporary city-sanctioned campsite for Eureka’s homeless. Instead, Mills said, the plan has been put “on a back burner.” “We ran into several issues with oversight and funding. Unfortunately, this is just one of those deals where it’s tough to […]
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Body Cameras Go Live in Rio Dell; EPD Eyeing Launch by End of Year
If you find yourself being stopped by a cop in Rio Dell, remember to smile and maybe even fix your hair: You’ll be on camera. After ironing out a few technical kinks, Rio Dell Police Chief Graham Hill and each of his four officers are now outfitted with body cameras to wear in the field. […]
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Measure Z Payouts Include Airport Tree Cutting, After All
The aviation division’s gonna get some of that sweet, sweet Measure Z cashola. In its Tuesday meeting, the Board of Supervisors bypassed the Measure Z Committee’s recommendations and awarded the division, a branch of county public works, nearly $80,000 for tree trimming. The aviation division requested the funds in order to remain in compliance with […]
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UPDATE: Eureka City Council Chambers Packed for Budget Drama
UPDATE: A second budget meeting, held last night, explored options to preserve funding for public safety, according to an article in this morning’s Times-Standard. Council Member Melinda Ciarabellini suggested halving funding for Eureka Main Street and the chamber of commerce and cutting funding entirely for such organizations as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the […]
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Gavin Newsom Photobombs Garberville
Just about every name in North Coast weed was there; packed into a sweaty, crowded theater for a glimpse at California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Selfies with the photogenic former San Francisco mayor weren’t the only reasons Garberville’s Redwood Playhouse was standing room only — it was the first substantial outreach from Sacramento’s power players […]
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Grand Jury: Separate Aviation from Public Works
The Humboldt County grand jury just released the results of an investigation into the county’s beleaguered Aviation Division and the six airports it manages. As you may recall, the Aviation Division is in dire financial straits, expected to end this fiscal year nearly $1 million in the hole and with an ongoing structural deficit in […]
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Arcata’s Medical Marijuana Innovation Area Gets a Go-ahead
The Arcata City Council played to a packed house last night as the public weighed in on a proposal for a Medical Marijuana Innovation Area. The council ultimately voted unanimously in favor of the proposal, but not before an antsy, standing-room-only crowd stood by while the council burned through two hours wading through the night’s […]