The Eureka City Council is scheduled Tuesday to hear a presentation from a local syringe exchange program at the center of a public backlash against the practice, which some view as responsible for the needle litter scourge now rampant across the city. The Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction, known as HACHR, also submitted a […]
Medical / Health
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Shark Bites Woman at Trinidad Beach
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Savona has confirmed that a woman suffered a shark bite while standing in about a foot of water at Trinidad Beach. “She received non-life-threatening injuries,” he said. The incident happened around 2:15 p.m. and an ambulance was called to the scene to take the woman to the hospital. Few other […]
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Crow Tests Positive for West Nile Virus
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services reports that a crow has tested positive for West Nile Virus and that local humans should take precautions to avoid the disease. West Nile Virus is spread by mosquito bites and in humans the symptoms can range from none to severe illness and even death. DHHS […]
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UPDATED: Local Dialysis Workers Vote Not to Unionize
UPDATE: IWW representative Nathan Irvine reports that the workers ultimately voted not to unionize. “I didn’t really see that one coming but it happens,” Irvine said. “I think people got scared.” “Though we later braced ourselves for a possible defeat, we also remind ourselves that this is just one battle, of a bigger campaign, of […]
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County Announces $7.5 Million Grant for School Mental Health Services
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services announced today that $7.5 million in grant funding will pour into the county over the next four years to provide additional mental health services in local schools. Coupled with two additional grants, that means more than $9 million in mental health funding will be coming to […]
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Nationwide Morphine Shortage Impacting Local Hospitals
Local healthcare providers have been struggling to supply patients with injectable morphine, according to representatives from St. Joseph, Mad River and Jerold Phelps hospitals. “This is a very multi-faceted topic, not limited to opiates alone,” Terry Lerma, director of pharmacy services at St. Joseph Hospital told the Journal. “Most of the nation has been grappling […]
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State Steps in Amid Surge in HIV Cases
The California Department of Public Health is stepping in amid a dramatic rise in newly diagnosed HIV cases in Humboldt County and officials believe there are at least 35 people in the community who may not be aware they have been exposed and may be infected, according to a Department of Health and Human Services […]
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Mass Shooting Drill at Mad River Community Hospital Tonight
Mad River Community Hospital will be conducting a mass shooting drill tonight with the Humboldt State University Police Department, United Indian Health Services and Arcata Fire to test the hospital’s ability to accommodate a sudden influx of patients during an emergency. The drill taking place from 9 to 11 p.m. will include around 25 “victims,” […]
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UPDATE: Health Officials: New HIV Cases Cause of Concern
UPDATE: County health officials released additional information today about a spike in new locally acquired HIV cases that appear to be related. Of the eight people diagnosed so far this year, five are believed to be linked. The public health investigation is ongoing and that number is expected to change. Another 13 cases that came to […]
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State Audit Confirms Inadequacies in For-Profit Skilled Nursing
A report published on the California State Auditor’s website this morning appears to confirm the worst suspicions of state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood, who in June of 2017 requested an audit of skilled nursing providers and the state agencies that monitor them. The audit focused on for-profit company Brius, which holds a […]
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St. Joseph Health Hit with Anti-Trust Lawsuit Alleging Unfair Business Practices to Protect 10-fold Price Markeups
The company that owns Redwood Urgent Care has filed a federal lawsuit against St. Joseph Hospital, alleging pervasive and systemic violations of state and federal laws designed to protect fair business competition. Wahidullah Medical Corp., which owns Redwood Urgent Care and its outpatient medical testing laboratory, filed the anti-trust suit earlier this month, seeking a […]
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Partnership Health Awards Humboldt County $1.05 Million for Affordable Housing
Partnership HealthPlan of California, the region’s MediCal administrator, announced this morning it has awarded the county $1.05 million in grant funding for supportive housing units. The nonprofit also granted the Redwood Community Action Agency $1.26 million. According to the press release, Partnership awarded a total of $25 million in grants this week for “housing-related projects […]