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A now-former Fortuna City Council member was indicted for allegedly embezzling over $500K. Kris Mobley is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing money from her former employer, a construction company in Fortuna. She did not have access to public funds while repping the City of Fortuna. Kris could be looking at prison if convicted. *** RHBB [Furthermore, Fortuna's mayor recently stressed that council members do not have direct access to city funds and they have exhaustive oversight to prevent fraud. *** [T-S]
Just months ago she was flying high on the Fortuna City Council with allegedly a little extra money in her pocket
Three people were killed in a late-night Arcata apartment fire. At this time no foul play is suspected. Crews had the flames under control in about 30 minutes. *** RHBB
Local housing challenges are on display in a feud with a rent-raising landlord in Eureka. Before signing new leases, some tenants at Hillsdale in Eureka did not know the proposed increases, some over 40 or 50 percent, were way over cited state-law limits. The owner said he was correcting what he saw as artificially low rents. *** LoCo
Providence workers protested staffing cuts and low wages at the hospitals in Eureka and Fortuna. Connected to similar protests nationwide, more than 100 employees picketed in Eureka. *** T-S [This comes as Providence has been in the news for allegedly refusing life-saving care in the name of religion, cutting local birthing options, and cutting local cardiac care. -MC]
Humboldt County homicides dropped almost 70% in 2024. Last year saw seven reported homicides compared to 23 in 2023. Sheriff Billy Honsal credited the decline to a local reduction of illegal cannabis operations. *** T-S
The Eureka City Council rejected a police proposal for license plate-reading cameras. The officials unanimously said no thanks noting concerns about privacy and sharing data with federal immigration enforcement. Cops argued the tech would help fight crime faster. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and Blue Lake Rancheria already use similar technology. *** LoCo
The Humboldt County Fair is considering its horse-racing future. Our area’s horse racing industry (and the fair in general) is reportedly in decline and a major racing authority pulled its support, so there are questions about how to proceed. Horse races at the fair are a long-standing Humboldt County summer tradition. *** NCJ
Humboldt County Supervisors kept their commitment to DEI. Following its 2020 beginnings, supes were informed the programs have brought awareness, accountability, and staff support toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, while one supe said we continue to have community members who experience racism or exclusion. *** RHBB
Local policies were examined amid fears of federal deportations. Officials reviewed compliance with a local measure that limits local cops’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement except in cases of serious crimes. Over a year, the Sheriff’s Office reportedly denied 33 ICE hold requests for released inmates. An official said four of those inmates had offenses that qualified for ICE transfers, but those four were not handed over. *** RHBB
The conservative group Turning Points USA visited Cal Poly Humboldt which sparked a counter-demonstration. Music, dance, and waving rainbow flags were used to drown out the message of the group that promotes right-wing ideology. Controversial figure Chloe Cole, a detransitioner and critic of gender-affirming care, was there with Turning Points. *** RHBB
Cal Poly Humboldt is doing a temporary ‘hiring chill’ over budget woes. They’re implementing budget cuts due to a shortfall. *** CPH [We’ll keep an eye on this as the Arcata university is a major employer and economic driver. Their transition into becoming a polytechnic has so far failed to meet student-attraction expectations. -MC]
A company that farms local oysters was used in a Super Bowl ad to promote the use of Google’s AI. Hog Island Oyster Company utilizes Humboldt Bay and apparently uses AI for some of its business logistics. *** RHBB
A Cal Poly Humboldt export won a Grammy for Best American Roots Song. Melody Walker co-wrote the song “American Dreaming” on Sierra Ferrell’s album Trail of Flowers. Melody graduated locally from then Humboldt State in 2008 with a music degree and later found success with the Bay Area bluegrass band Front Country. *** LoCo
A musical headed to Broadway is tied to local events. Redwood starring Idina Menzel of Frozen fame was inspired by environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill, who lived in our local redwoods for over two years to protest logging. Julia lived in a local redwood tree for 738 days in the ‘90s. *** RHBB
Willow Creek is getting a bigfoot-style skatepark after a decade of effort. The park is part of a larger Veterans Park upgrade, with a Bigfoot-inspired design. So head on out to the new skatepark in Willow Creek when it opens this summer, and enjoy some shredding Sasquatch style. *** LoCo
Eureka export Sara Bareilles has announced awards open to local theatre students. The first-ever Sara Bareilles Awards are open to exceptional high school musical theatre performances across Northern California, including Humboldt County. The honor with our Grammy winner stems from a national awards program. There’s an awards ceremony in San Francisco in May with a possibility to advance to New York City. *** Registration info
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