North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, joined 17 of his cohorts today in sending a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substance Act. Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the act, putting it in the same category under federal law as heroin, […]
Government
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Biologist Pleads Guilty in Yurok Embezzlement Case
A local biologist pleaded guilty today to a single federal count of conspiring to embezzle funds from an Indian tribal organization stemming from the bilking of nearly $1 million in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe over a three-year period beginning in 2007, tribal spokesman Matt Mais confirmed. According to court documents, Mad River Biologists […]
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County projecting large budget deficit
It looks like the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will have some tough decisions to make in the coming months. The board is slated to receive its mid-year budget update Tuesday, and the news is pretty grim. According to the staff report, County Administrative Officer Phillip Smith-Hanes is expected to tell the board that the […]
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Updated: Friendly Fire: Police Association in Dispute with City
Fortuna police officers seem to be experiencing some growing unfriendly feelings toward their city. Charles Ellebrecht, a sergeant with the department and president of the Fortuna Police Employees Association, took the podium during the public comment period of Monday’s council meeting and aired a grievance that it appears has long been simmering behind closed doors. […]
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She’s back…
Remember that huge Navy ship that docked in Eureka for a bit last week? She’s back. The U.S.S. Independence, a 420-foot helicopter carrier and combat ship, returned to Humboldt Bay on Tuesday night and pulled back up to the Schneider Dock, where it refueled and picked up a spare part to fix one of its […]
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Coming soon: Eureka’s next city manager
The city of Eureka is zeroing in on its next city manager. The City Council will meet in special session at 8:30 a.m. Monday to interview six candidates, according to Mayor Frank Jager, with the hopes of naming a finalist or two by the end of the day. While the city isn’t releasing it’s list […]
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A Tribe in Mourning
The Yurok Tribe is mourning the death of longtime Tribal Councilmember Bonnie Green, who died Saturday. Green served six terms representing the tribe’s south district on the council, and another as vice chair, and was intimately involved in a host of tribal issues, including battles over fishing rights, management of tribal forest lands and healthcare […]
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Supes Call a GPU Element Do-over
The Board of Supervisors voted this afternoon to return a much-debated element of the county’s draft general plan back to the Planning Commission for review — the latest twist in the general plan update saga. After some discussion of state requirements for general plan updates, the board voted 3-2 (with 2nd District Supervisor Estelle Fennell […]
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Prayer OK-er
A lawsuit intending to stop invocations at city of Eureka functions was denied last week after nearly a year in court. Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson ruled — on Christmas Eve, no less — that invocations at council meetings do not violate the California Constitution, according to a press release issued by the […]
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Happy Birthday, North Coast Marine Protected Areas
Journal correspondent Jennifer Savage sends us this friendly reminder that today, Dec. 19, is the first-year anniversary of our North Coast Marine Protected Areas, part of a statewide network of underground “parks” where a variety of protections aim to conserve habitats, critters, fish, plants and cultural resources. The North Coast MPAs are in state waters […]
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Huffman Drops Some Knowledge on Climate-Change Deniers
Oh (cold) snap! Our U.S. Congressman, Jared Huffman, took to the House floor today to debunk the oft-mocked Fox News canard about climate change — that global warming can’t be true because look! Snow! The Huff’s counterpoint? “The fact that it’s snowing simply means that it’s snowing.” Mic-drop speech below:
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Chet Albin Will Be Eureka’s Next Councilmember
Looks like Eureka’s next councilmember will be the ward-hopping, party-switching, Tea Party-liking, Fox News-watching “Democrat” Chet Albin, who is set to replace ailing 5th Ward representative Lance Madsen. Here’s the press release: Mayor Frank Jäger announced today that he is recommending Chet Albin for appointment to the Eureka City Council, 5th Ward. The appointment will be […]