With regard to state contests, the November election was a sleepy time on the North Coast. Election Day victories of Democratic state legislative heirs-apparent Assemblyman Jim Wood and Sen. Mike McGuire’s were never in doubt, so one might imagine that the Humboldt County Central Democratic Committee was just kicking back, watching the races unfold, right? […]
Government
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UPDATED: Supes Consider Post-Consolidation Pay Bump for Sheriff
UPDATE: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, after less than 15 minutes of discussion, voted unanimously to approve the pay increase requested for Sheriff Mike Downey to compensate him for the extra duties he’s taking on in the wake of his office consolidating that of the coroner-public administrator. Each member of the board stressed before […]
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County Mental Health Crisis Reprieve Expected
County officials announced a plan today to address a staffing crisis at the Mental Health Branch that bubbled to the surface in recent weeks. A spate of resignations was poised to leave mental health — which runs Sempervirens, the county psychiatric hospital, and provides other outpatient adult and child psychiatric services — with only one […]
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DA Probing Borges Death
The Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has initiated a review of the June 13, 2014 in-custody death of Daren Borges, who died hours after being booked into the county jail by Eureka police officers. Borges’ sister, Stephany Borges, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit last week, alleging officers acted negligently in booking him into jail […]
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Downtowner Movin’ on up
Eureka received a $3.8 million grant from the state to develop Danco’s Lodge at Eureka on the site of the derelict Downtowner Motel. Residents have long grumbled about the property, and last year became a contentious political point when 4th District Supervisor Virginia Bass, who was running for re-election, appointed Downtowner owner Kevin McKenny to […]
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Squires Tenants File $25K Claims Against City
Seven former tenants of Floyd and Betty Squire’s Blue Heron Lodge have filed nearly identical claims for damages against the city of Eureka, arguing the city unlawfully evicted them, violated their civil rights and intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon them when the city moved to condemn the lodge earlier this month. Each of the claims […]
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On the Klamath dams front
Former Oregon state senator Jason Atkinson has co-produced a new documentary about the conflict between users of the Klamath River and how they finally hashed out the historic Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement to take out four dams and restore salmon and other habitat. The agreement awaits Congress’ approval. The film, by Atkinson and filmmaker Jeff Martin, […]
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Eureka Closes Blue Heron; Squireses File Claim for Damages
Eureka officials shuttered the Blue Heron Lodge this morning, boarding up the dilapidated blue building after working to help tenants find temporary housing assistance. The city contends that the property’s owners, Floyd and Betty Squires, have failed to secure a lodging permit for the 15-room on Broadway for this year, after operating without one for […]
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City to Shutter Squires’ Blue Heron
Following a standoff with defiant property owners Floyd and Betty Squires, the city of Eureka is condemning the couple’s Blue Heron Lodge, a 15-room motel on the south side of town. Eureka Chief Building Official Brian Gerving said the couple — who for years have faced allegations of providing substandard housing in their more than […]
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Facing Possible Removal, Newman Resigns Land Trust Post
Facing the threat of a vote to remove him from office, Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner Aaron Newman has stepped down from his seat on the Northcoast Regional Land Trust Board of Directors. “There was just a difference of opinion that caused some discomfort on that board, so I didn’t want to […]
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Holy Congressional Infographic, Batman!
North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman’s first term in office has been no cakewalk. In fact, it’s involved a lot of elbow grease and heavy lifting. Don’t’ believe it? Well, check out this handy infographic The Huff put together to show you just how much he’s accomplished over the past two years. See? He’s sent 92,709 […]
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Long-Time Weather Boss Retires
After 36 years with the National Weather Service — 20 of those as the meteorologist in charge at the Eureka Weather Forecast Office on Woodley Island — Nancy Dean has retired. Her last day was today. “She’s been a great boss,” said Troy Nicolini on the phone this afternoon. “I feel really thankful. … I’ve […]