Local Politics · Humboldt County
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday to approve a long-term plan to move Centerville Road inland away from rapidly eroding coastal cliffs, rejecting a previously approved short-term beach parking lot repair project. Deputy Director of Public Works Hank Seemann presented the options, noting that a 2024 landslide at Fleener Creek Overlook and ongoing bluff erosion threaten access to the Lost Coast Headlands, residences, and agricultural land. The county must now seek federal and Caltrans approval to redirect storm-recovery funding originally allocated for beach repairs; if denied, the road would remain open until erosion makes it impassable. Separately, the board appointed 16 members to a newly formed 20-person Humboldt County Tourism Advisory Board tasked with advancing the Countywide Travel and Tourism Marketing Strategy.
Crime · Rio Dell, CA
Ocean Del Castillo, 24, pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2026, to vehicular manslaughter and driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing death, stemming from a head-on collision near Rio Dell on Highway 101 that killed 19-year-old passenger Anisha Gutshall on Oct. 28, 2025. The open plea was entered at Humboldt County Superior Court before Judge Lawrence Killoran in lieu of a scheduled preliminary hearing. Del Castillo remains in custody without bail, with sentencing set for December 15. Prosecutors intend to present aggravating circumstances seeking a harsher sentence, while Gutshall's family pursues a separate civil lawsuit against Del Castillo and a nitrous oxide manufacturer.
Local Politics · Humboldt County
Humboldt County residents have multiple voting options ahead of the November 3 election. The Humboldt County Elections Office (707-445-7481) operates vote centers Monday through Friday from October 5 through Election Day, with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself. Additional vote centers are open October 24–November 3 and October 31–November 3. Secure ballot drop boxes at various locations accept ballots starting October 5 during regular business hours and close at 8 p.m. on Election Night.
