Without a Jury
More than anywhere else in California Humboldt’s jurors have gone AWOL
Cover Story
Without a Jury
One can only imagine Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would be sorely disappointed in Humboldt County. After all, it was Madison who penned what would become the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the right to trial by jury for the accused, and it was Jefferson who saw the right as the cornerstone of…
Fair Time!
It’s the time of year just about everyone looks forward to: county fair time! From thrilling rides to live performances, food, contests, showcases and horse racing, there’s something to satisfy everyone’s nostalgic jones at the 127th annual Humboldt County Fair. The fair opens its gates for 10 days and nights of fun, running Aug. 17-27…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, Aug. 16
Assuming that you are not screening a series of works by the great and recently late auteur William Friedkin, I suggest you head over to the Speakeasy at 7 p.m. to enjoy the funky electro stylings of Fernstock 2023 alums September Rain. The gig is free and I might just be sipping something in the…
Scenes from the Humboldt Obon Festival (Slideshow)
The second annual Humboldt Obon Festival got underway under warm sunshine on Sunday outside the Arcata Playhouse. The festival again drew a large crowd to celebrate traditional Japanese foods, Bon Odori dancing and culture. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. In a ceremonial opening after shakuhachi (Japanese flute)…
Comedy Tonight: Tuesday, Aug. 15
Speaking of Savage Henry Comedy Club, tonight at 9 p.m. the club is presenting one of its signature themed shows. Hosted by creator Rebekah Perry, Smutty Buddies is a series of live readings by various comedians of fan-fiction found in the far wastelands of the internet. A panel of judges will preside over the frivolity…
Jury Ghosting, Harbor Labor, SpongeBob and New Eats
Why aren’t people showing up for jury duty or even responding to their notices? We’ll look at the reason Humboldt is at the bottom of the juror response barrel and how that impacts trials locally. We’re also looking at harbor labor agreements ahead of the proposed offshore wind farm construction. The SpongeBob Musical is on…
Music Tonight: Monday, Aug. 14
Okie dokie, another installment of Metal Monday over at Savage Henry Comedy Club and this one is crammed with bands. I am told by promoter Eric that there will be a “vs.” quality to the 7 p.m. show, which seems to boil down to alternating bands setting up and performing on either the stage or…
Music Tonight: Sunday, Aug. 13
The local Grateful Dead reenactment enthusiasts in Rosewater will be complementing last night’s jam out with an all-ages, matinee return lap around the Humbrews stage. Three p.m. is the hour of power and $20 is the fee for anyone over the age of 13. Anyone younger is free as a bird.
Second Annual Humboldt Obon Festival Happening Sunday
The second annual Humboldt Obon Festival takes place this Sunday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. outside the Arcata Playhouse (free to attend). The festival, which drew a large crowd last year, is a celebration of traditional Japanese foods and culture. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors.…
Music Tonight: Saturday, Aug. 12
There’s a good one going on at the Miniplex tonight for all you lovers of ’70s groove-rock and root folk ensembles — basically the sounds from Scorsese’s The Last Waltz. Family Worship Center is a Portland collective that sounds as though the vinyl era never ended and The Band didn’t break up after its last…
Movies in the Park this Saturday
Unpack your snacks, roll out a blanket and settle in for a free outdoor family movie night at Sequoia Park when the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission presents Movies in the Park: The Lost World: Jurassic Park on Saturday, Aug. 12, starting at 7 p.m. (free). Watch giant CGI dinos scamper through Fern Canyon, projected across…
EPD Investigating Fatal Shooting
The Eureka Police Department has launched a death investigation after a man was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound early this morning. Officers responded to a report of a fight between a man and a woman involving a firearm the 3100 block of Ingley Street at 5:40 a.m. and arrived to find three women…
California Water Agency Under Investigation for Discriminating Against Tribes, People of Color
The Biden administration’s environmental justice office is investigating whether California’s water agency has discriminated against Native Americans and other people of color by failing to protect the water quality of San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by tribes and environmental justice…
Aaron Michael McKay: 1981-2023
Aaron Michael McKay, 41, was born in Arcata, California on Oct. 22, 1981. He tragically left this earth on July 21, 2023. Aaron attended Equinox Charter, Pacific Union School and Arcata High School. He leaves behind his loving wife of eight years, Angela McKay, sons and best friends Nathan McKay and Kaleb Butterworth, mother Bobbie…
What’s Good: Burgers and Arepas
A Cherry Burger You can’t miss the shiny black Cap’s Food Shack truck, partly because it’s covered in neon-style icons that make it look like a rolling bar. It’s also been everywhere, scenting the air at block parties and outdoor markets with hot burgers and fries. Owner Michael Campusano has been showing up to back-to-back…
Ruth Arietta’s Illusory Interiors at Morris Graves Museum of Art
Ruth Arietta paints both outdoor and indoor scenes, but it’s the paintings of domestic interiors that showcase the particular strengths of her approach. In these works, densely patterned surfaces negotiate new relationships with the rectilinear volumes set up to contain them. Sometimes they abide within the constraints imposed by floor tiles, window casements, picture frames…
Arts! Arcata
THE ROCKING HORSE First Floor Jacoby Storehouse NorthCoast 3D Printing, live demo. UMPQUA UPSTAIRS GALLERY 1063 G St. Sierra Martin, mixed media. ARCATA ARTISANS GALLERY 883 H St. Jim Lowry, digital photographs and Elaine Y. Shore, porcelain. PLAZA GRILL Top Floor of Jacoby Storehouse Amanita Mollier, silk paintings and metal reproductions. Artist reception from 5…
No Country Music for Old Men
Now that much of the controversy surrounding Jason Aldean’s latest single has been supplanted by another meaningless and obnoxious salvo in the seemingly endless, mind-crushing American culture war — thank you, Lizzo — I wanted to share something that occurred to me during all the hubbub. While I’m not interested at all in the “Try…
SpongeBob Soaks Up the Limelight
Stephen Hillenburg attended what was then Humboldt State University in the early 1980s, about a decade before I did. He had a more impressive major than myself: natural resource planning and interpretation, better known as NRPI (all the formidable science degrees on that campus seem to have acronyms) with an emphasis in marine biology. But…
Bigger Sharks to Jump
THE MEG 2: THE TRENCH. Whether because or in spite of its unrepentant silliness (stupidity?), I found a lot to like about The Meg (2018). Jason Statham plying his acerbic brand of ass-kickery against a gigantic dinosaur shark? Yes, please, and some more, if there’s any. Thing is, I kind of thought I was more…
It’s Actually Worse
Editor: In your article “Hunger in Humboldt” (July 20) it’s mentioned that Food for People serves 16,000 people. The number of people who could use their help is probably at least triple that. Many people won’t go to the food bank because of pride, convenience, hoping things will get better or just adding it to…
Port of No Entry
Editor: An interesting article, however salient points were omitted (“Port of Entry,” July 27). The Biden administration’s optimistic timeline cannot be met. There are no steel manufacturers in the U.S. that can make the steel necessary for the towers. Same with ship builders, suppliers of raw materials, etc. The U.S. must compete in the international…
Looking the Other Way?
Editor: I read with great interest “Port of Entry,” the excellent article by Elaine Weinreb about the proposed offshore wind farm. At one point, the article says that the Harbor District has signed an “exclusive right to negotiate agreement” with Crowley Maritime Co., which builds and manages ports. Thinking that I had recently seen some…
Wizard Sticks
Like all wizards, my old friend Merdalf carried a long wooden staff. It was covered in markings that looked like ancient runes and mysterious maps. He found it washed up on the beach. Unfortunately, Merdalf the Wizard violated some unwritten rule of wizardry and fell into a magic bottomless pit. On calm nights, you can…
Unpredictable
This life This year This month This week This day Someone has stirred up The rhythms of our worldy existence And left it swirling Twirlin Unfurling Into directions we couldn’t foresee Unpredictable little things Predictable big things Unschedule-able little parts of everyday Each one tripping Up the next…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Stephen King’s novel It, a character named Beverly is in love with a man who projects a sense of authority but also listens well. He is strong-minded but receptive; confident but willing to be changed; self-possessed but open to influence. That’s an apt description of the allies I wish for…
‘Staggering Solidarity’
In Los Angeles it’s rare to see actors and housekeepers standing shoulder to shoulder on picket lines, or TV writers standing behind UPS drivers fighting for better pay. Yet such signs of solidarity across social classes are prominent features of what some are calling a “hot labor summer” sweeping California. Strikes have ground Hollywood to…
