Local Politics · Humboldt County
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider approving a $550,000 purchase of three parcels at 1101, 1117 and 1119 Fourth Street in downtown Eureka to advance the county's "county campus concept" outlined in its 2020 Facilities Master Plan. The 0.33-acre property currently houses Humboldt Check Cashing, Beauty 4 U Supplies and Eureka's Body of Jesus the Christ Church, and sits two blocks from the county courthouse. The board will also consider amending the Commercial Cannabis Land Use Ordinance to permit indoor cultivation in non-residential buildings constructed after Jan. 1, 2016, and renewing a license for a GPS earthquake-monitoring station at Rohnerville Airport through October 2036.
Crime · Eureka, CA
Raeleen Olson, 55, of Eureka pleaded not guilty to a felony DUI-causing-injury charge and misdemeanor meth possession after striking pedestrian James Christopher Lee, 35, on Broadway on October 14. According to court minutes, the felony charge was specified as driving under the influence of drugs, with an enhancement for allegedly causing brain injury. Lee's family reported he suffered catastrophic injuries including five skull fractures and was declared legally brain dead; they are arranging organ donation and fundraising for funeral expenses. Eureka Police data identify Broadway as the city's most collision-prone street, with multiple recent fatal pedestrian incidents along that stretch of U.S. Highway 101. A release hearing for Olson was set for Tuesday, October 20, and police ask witnesses to contact the investigations unit at 707-441-4300.
Housing & Development · Humboldt County
During a Tuesday webinar led by Tanner Etherton of the Schatz Energy Research Center, Humboldt Bay shellfish growers and researchers outlined risks posed by the proposed Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal on the Samoa Peninsula, including introduction of oyster herpesvirus (OSHV-1), dredging-released contaminants, chemical exposure, and harmful algal blooms. The bay's aquaculture sector supports 57 full-time equivalent jobs, generated $4.8 million in labor income, and supplies roughly 66% of West Coast shellfish seed; growers warned vessel traffic could jump from 10–15 to 380–400 annually. NOAA has funded hydrodynamic modeling through the Danish Hydraulic Institute to study pathogen spread via ship traffic. The Humboldt Bay Harbor District's Notice of Preparation is open for public comment through Nov. 30.
Crime · Humboldt County
A trial-setting date for 51-year-old Shawn Kolpak, accused of attempted murder and mayhem in a Jan. 30 attack on William "Bill" Spenceley at Arcata Community Forest, has been pushed from Oct. 16 to Jan. 13, 2027. The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office is awaiting an autopsy report after Spenceley died at home in October following months of hospitalization. DA Stacey Eads said additional charges are "certainly possible" given Spenceley's passing but the office needs more information before deciding. Kolpak also faces separate felony assault charges for a Sept. 1, 2025 attack on a Eureka Natural Foods employee. Spenceley's family announced his death via a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $37,000.
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Transportation · Arcata, CA
The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, which manages Gold Runner bus Route 7 between Arcata and Martinez, is considering reducing midweek service due to high operating costs that have risen 146% since 2022 while ridership grew only 47%. The route carried more than 46,000 passengers from October 2024 through September 2025 but cost $1.9 million to $3.2 million to operate, making it the third most expensive of Gold Runner's 13 routes. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which see the fewest riders, would be the first days targeted for reduced service, though no decisions have been made and none are expected until early next year. Humboldt Transit Authority general manager Katie Collender voiced support for maintaining current service levels, while transit advocate Colin Fiske warned that cuts would harm car-free residents who rely on midweek buses to access health care further south.
Local Politics · Arcata, CA
Dan Shahin, a local software engineer and Arcata City Council candidate, announced he is dropping out of the race after viewing a year-old YouTube video in which he made a disparaging comment about someone's weight. Shahin said no one pressured him to quit; he deleted the video and cited his own free-speech principles as the reason he could not continue serving. He is the second candidate to exit the Arcata council race this cycle, following incumbent Meredith Matthews in August. Although it is too late to remove his name from the ballot, Shahin has stopped campaigning and stated he will decline the seat if elected.
Community News · McKinleyville, CA
McKinleyville BMX, a three-acre USA BMX-sanctioned racing facility at 1315 School Rd., officially opened Aug. 22 in McKinleyville, California. The track features a concrete starting hill, wide turns, and dynamic jumps, along with a playground, half-court basketball court, pickleball court, walking paths, and picnic areas. The facility is partnering with the Wiyot Tribe and Two Feathers Native American Family Services to develop youth programs for children in local communities and tribal reservations, with a planned launch in spring 2027. A Bikes and Books program pairing reading time with track riding is also planned. Track operator Jason Orlandi led community outreach and fundraising over three years, securing state grant funding with support from the McKinleyville Community Services District.
