Officials from the local group Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Project presented research on the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The group — which started meeting in 2016 to examine the high rates of perinatal substance use in the county — informed the board that research […]
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
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County Counsel Suit Alleges Conspiracy in Legal Billings; Supes Approve $1.4M in Retro Payments, New Contract with Law Firm
The county’s head attorney has filed a civil lawsuit against two fellow top administrators, an outside attorney and her Bay Area-based law firm alleging they conspired against him when he tried to expose excessive billing practices. According to Jefferey Blanck’s lawsuit, bills from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore “increased three-fold” from 2016 to 2018 — from $137,000 to […]
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McCloskey Out of First District Supes Race
Allen McCloskey has withdrawn his candidacy to become Humboldt County’s next First District supervisor in the face of fraud and perjury allegations reported last week by the Lost Coast Outpost. “The last two months (and more notably the last two weeks) have been incredibly difficult for me as an individual, for my immediate and extended […]
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County Counsel Files Claim After Being Placed on Paid Leave
The county of Humboldt’s lead attorney Jeffrey Blanck filed a claim for damages this week alleging the board of supervisors placed him on paid administrative leave after he raised concerns about an outside law firm’s contract and then violated open meeting law by not reporting the board’s action out of closed session. Nearly three weeks […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
New Fairgrounds Lease Leaves the Public in the Dark
In case you missed it, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors decided Oct. 16 that you don’t get to have input into how the county fairgrounds are operated or how public funds are spent to maintain them. The board voted 4-1, with Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson dissenting, to approve an eight-year lease with the […]
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3rd UPDATE: Bass Leads in Fourth District Race, Results Unchanged in Final Report
3rd UPDATE: The race for Fourth District supervisor remained unchanged in the final election report with Supervisor Virginia Bass still ahead with 57.27 percent of the vote while challengers Dani Burkhart and Mary Ann Lyons were separated by one vote at 21.21 and 21.18 percent, respectively. PREVIOUSLY: 2nd UPDATE: Supervisor Virginia Bass was still ahead […]
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3rd UPDATE: Madrone Takes Slim Edge in Final Election Night Report
3rd UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, Fifth District challenger Steve Madrone has taken a 33-vote lead in the final election night tally over incumbent Supervisor Ryan Sundberg. Sundberg led throughout the evening, from the early returns through the third election night report, which saw him with a 185-vote edge, but the final return […]
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Supes Pass Cannabis Ordinance 2.0
After hours of discussion, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted this afternoon to pass its new commercial cannabis land use ordinance. The ordinance got four “yes” votes but Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson didn’t support it, though it’s unclear if he voted against it or abstained. (It seemed like he said he abstained from […]
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Humboldt Supes Fast Track Cannabis Ordinance
In a packed chamber, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors began discussing its commercial cannabis land use ordinance March 19 and — after a two-hour staff report and a couple hours of public comment — Fifth District Supervisor and Board Chair Ryan Sundberg indicated he’s hopeful the board will adopt the new ordinance when it […]
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Supes Set to Consider Cannabis Ordinance, Permit Cap Monday
As we reported in this week’s print edition, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Monday to consider approving a new land use ordinance to govern commercial cannabis and placing a cap on the number of cultivation permits issued countywide. The proposed ordinance would change the way cannabis […]
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Public Defender Reportedly Got $25K in Severance Pay
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors reportedly agreed to give embattled former Public Defender David Marcus two-months severance pay when he resigned his position, according to Marcus’ letter of resignation. That would equate to about $25,000 given Marcus’ $150,000 annual salary. It’s unclear when the board reached this agreement or how it was finalized. With […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Bait and Switch
You’ll have to excuse Humboldt County cannabis farmers if they feel they’ve been had. A trio of state agencies released emergency regulations Nov. 16 that will govern the launch of the state’s recreational and medical cannabis industries next year, dictating how cannabis products can be grown, manufactured, transported, tested, bought and sold (see NCJ Daily). […]