Public Safety
A UC Davis study identifies specific Northern California coastal areas most at risk of flooding this winter due to El Niño conditions, including Santa Cruz beaches, SFO and Oakland airports, Alviso in San Jose, Highway 37 from Vallejo to Novato, Stinson Beach, and Humboldt Bay. Sea levels are expected to be 2 to 3 feet higher than normal, and NOAA reported on Oct. 8 a 100% chance of strong El Niño conditions through March with an 83% probability it ranks as the strongest since 1950. The riskiest periods coincide with King Tides around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Experts say residents can prepare with sandbags and storm drain cleaning, but long-term federal and state investment in billions is needed to address rising sea levels.
Crime · Eureka, CA
A judge in Eureka denied bail for Raeleen Olson, 55, who is charged with striking and killing pedestrian James Christopher Lee. Prosecutors alleged Olson was under the influence of methamphetamines and cannabis at the time of the crash on Broadway. The court found a substantial likelihood that Olson poses a danger to the public, citing prior driving convictions and her admission to police that she should not have been driving. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 28.
Local Politics · Arcata, CA
Candidate Dan Shahin announced his withdrawal from Arcata's City Council race Sunday night after posting a YouTube video mocking the physical appearance of a citizen who spoke at a council meeting during Oral Communications. Shahin said he took offense to the speaker's comments about Gaza and responded by suggesting the man was an expert on obesity due to his size, calling it "a really crappy comment." With voting well underway, Shahin acknowledged supporters may have already cast ballots for him but stated he would not accept the seat if elected. Five candidates remain competing for two council seats: Blase Bonpane, Reese Halter, Genevieve Serna, Abbie Strickland, and Kimberley White.
Local Politics · Humboldt County
The Humboldt County Planning Commission approved a draft of the Humboldt Bay Area Plan at its Oct. 15 meeting, sending it to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. The most debated element was sea level rise risk categorization: commissioners downgraded the scenario from "intermediate high" to "intermediate," citing forecasting uncertainty and concerns about impacts on property values and development costs. A clause requiring review of the intermediate scenario every five years helped resolve the split, with Commissioner Jerome Qiriazi casting the sole dissent vote. Planning Director John Ford acknowledged the difficulty of planning so early in the sea level rise process, noting outcomes depend on global emissions reduction.
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Local Politics · Arcata, CA
Arcata Mayor Kimberley White is working to transfer two city housing loans, originally taken out in 2004 with her late former husband, into her own name. The loans fell 43 payments delinquent by August 2014, and a 2017 authorization to modify them was never completed due to administrative issues. White initiated a Fair Political Practices Commission review to address potential conflicts of interest under Government Code Section 1090. The FPPC advised that the "rule of necessity" allows the city to proceed with the transfer as an essential government function, though White must still meet program eligibility requirements.
Local Politics · Humboldt County
State plans to upgrade Humboldt County’s power infrastructure for offshore wind energy are currently under review by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). EPIC climate attorney Matt Simmons presented the status of these plans during an Oct. 14 online meeting, noting that federal actions have created uncertainty but arguing that planning should continue due to low current costs and future ratepayer savings. Opponents include PG&E and the Humboldt County Farm Bureau, while supporters cite local infrastructure needs and emissions goals. The CPUC is expected to issue a proposed decision later this year for public comment, with a formal vote scheduled for early 2027.
Public Safety · Arcata, CA
The Arcata City Council unanimously authorized the purchase of a 0.17-acre parcel in the Campbell Creek ravine for $75,000 to enable repairs at the intersection of B and 11th streets, closed since a late-2024 landslide weakened a creek embankment. The city previously approved $200,000 for the repair in March, funded through the Stormwater Fund after a transfer from the General Fund. Work can begin before escrow closes, with a contractor decision expected early next month, and City Hall aims to finish repairs before rainy season worsens the damage.
Public Safety · Humboldt County
A preliminary magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred near Ferndale, California, at 10:38 p.m. local time on Thursday, Oct. 22. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter was approximately 43 miles west of Ferndale with a depth of 6 miles. This event follows two smaller tremors in the same region earlier in the week.
Social Events · Humboldt County
The Mad River Union lists several community events and services in Humboldt County for late October. Highlights include a documentary screening at the Minor Theatre in Arcata on Oct. 28, a Stop Amazon Fair in McKinleyville on Oct. 24, and free household lead testing in Eureka on Oct. 29. Additional offerings include a Queer Dream Group online series, collaborative art making in Freshwater, drop-in respite care in Arcata, and neighborhood produce harvesting.
