Local Politics · Humboldt County
Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes declined to comply with a U.S. Department of Justice letter demanding voter information for 16 alleged noncitizens and segregation of their ballots within 48 hours. Cervantes said several names on the list did not appear on county voter rolls, the DOJ provided no evidence of ineligibility, and some entries contained obvious data errors such as a middle name listed as 'null.' The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals separately rejected a DOJ request to block California from counting ballots for approximately 20,000 people identified as likely noncitizens. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3; voters with ballot questions can contact the Humboldt County Elections Office at 707-445-7481.
Public Safety
The National Weather Service office in Eureka, CA, issued a beach hazards statement at 10:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, valid from Sunday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 10 p.m. The advisory covers Coastal Del Norte, Northern Coastal Humboldt, Southwestern Humboldt, and Coastal Mendocino zones, warning of an increased threat of sneaker waves. The NWS cautions that large, unexpected waves can sweep people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches, and can move large objects such as logs. Residents are advised to avoid rocks, jetties, and steep beaches, stay far back from the water, and never turn their backs on the ocean.
Crime · Eureka, CA
On October 31, 2026, at approximately 5:50 a.m., multiple 911 calls reported gunfire in the 500 block of Higgins Street in Eureka. Deputies found that a residence and a vehicle had been struck by gunfire, with no injuries reported. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is investigating and seeking information about a white sedan with a red top seen traveling eastbound on Higgins Street shortly after the shots were fired. Anyone with information or surveillance footage is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (707) 445-7251.
Public Safety · Humboldt County
The Bondi Fire started at 1 p.m. on October 31, 2026, in Humboldt County, California. The fire is burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As of the 4:03 p.m. update, there is no available information regarding the cause or containment status.
