Humboldt County News
Headlines from the newsrooms covering Humboldt County, gathered in one place. Each story opens on its own site.
Today
Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMWoman Found Dead After Fire at Hayfork Senior Housing Complex
A space heater may have contributed to an October 27 fire that was confined to one room at Eskaton Hayfork Manor, where firefighters discovered a deceased woman. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:03 AMGunfire Strikes Eureka Home and VehicleDeputies recover stolen Kia believed used in shooting. HCSO seeks public's help identifying shooters. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:02 AMHeads Up, Trinity River Boaters: Rockfall Work Underway Near WeitchpecCaltrans is warning boaters, anglers, and Route 96 drivers about weeks of hillside work below the MP18 Fire burn scar, and where on the river they should steer clear. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:01 AMLetter Writer Says Logging Critics Misunderstand Modern Forestry RulesA 21-year timber faller pushes back against the Friends of Dutch Charlie Creek and the injunction halting two Mendocino County harvest plans, arguing that today’s logging rules already protect the fish and that local jobs hang in the balance. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMHappyDay: Burnout, Grief, and Gratitude at the End of a Hard Farm SeasonCasey O’Neill remembers loved ones who have passed, counts the wins and losses of a tough year, and explains how his crew keeps showing up for each other as winter comes on. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMAuditor-Controller’s Office Wins State Financial Transactions Reporting Award“This accomplishment reflects the county’s steady progress across all areas of accounting,” said Interim Auditor-Controller Mychal Evenson. “It is a testament to how quickly improvements can be made by implementing generally accepted accounting principles and best practices." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMCAL FIRE Plans 55-Acre Prescribed Burn Near Hayfork TodaySmoke may be visible during the day and overnight as crews work north of Buck Lane and east of Demos Court to reduce grasses, brush, and dead trees. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMHelp Make the Holidays a Little Brighter for Local Children"This December, EPD will provide 50 children with a $120 gift card and an opportunity to spend the day shopping alongside local police officers, firefighters, and other first responders...Community members who would like to contribute can donate directly through participating Eureka Police Department employees through a pay app or drop off cash or checks at the EPD front counter." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMLocal Couple Paints the Arcata Marsh, and You’re Invited to See ItA local painting couple brings two months of watercolors and pastels to the Marsh Interpretive Center, and they’re inviting the public to a free meet-the-artists reception this Sunday. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMHumboldt County Sheriff’s Office Supports Local Children Through No Shave November Campaign"This November, Sheriff’s Office personnel will be growing out their facial hair and/or coloring their hair and nails blue, to raise funds for Humboldt County child advocacy programs." Source
Yesterday
Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AM‘An Environmental Nightmare’: Humboldt Looks to Put Teeth Into Illegal Dumping Penalties
“I guarantee you, if we get a couple cars confiscated and get a couple people arrested, fined, and get it out there and publicize it, people are going to think twice, look over their shoulder and say, okay, maybe I can find a different way to do this,” Supervisor Bohn said. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:04 AMSeabirds and Mammals Pack Shelter Cove’s Surf as an Extraordinary Ocean Feast UnfoldsFolks at the ocean are reporting seabirds in astonishing numbers, marine mammals feeding near shore and humpbacks breaching offshore. NOAA forecasts suggest the ocean changes behind such unusual activity could extend into next year. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:04 AMMendocino Man Arrested After Alleged Theft Confrontation Ends in Shooting, Sheriff’s Office SaysA man accused of stealing a car battery was shot in the leg during a confrontation in Covelo early Saturday, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, which said deputies found no evidence he posed an imminent threat to the shooter. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:02 AMSeasonal Firefighters: Apply now for the 2027 fire seasonGrounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:02 AMMan Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Shoot Sheriff’s Sergeant Near UkiahThe suspect "also approached the Sheriff’s Sergeant in an aggressive manner from an elevated position while armed with a metal pole." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:01 AMWoman Arrested After Allegedly Stealing From Ukiah Dollar Tree, Threatening EmployeeThis is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty: On 10/17/2026 at approximately 6:40 P.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Dollar Tree, located at in the 1300 block of North State Street in Ukiah, regarding Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:01 AMDarwin’s Finches Art Exhibition at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Reese Bullen GallerySAVE THE DATE! Cal Poly Humboldt’s Reese Bullen Gallery presents Darwin’s Finches by Eloisa Guanlao. The Exhibition runs November 4th through December 19th! Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:01 AMHansen Knob Prescribed Burn Planned in Salmon Creek Today"Burn operations are tentatively scheduled for November 2nd, 2026, pending favorable weather conditions, fuel moisture, staffing availability, and regulatory approval." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMHumboldt–Del Norte Film Commissioner Testifies on Protecting California Film JobsHesseltine pointed to the statewide impact of One Battle After Another, which the Motion Picture Association reports supported more than 4,500 jobs and 700 vendors across California. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMRoad Construction on W. Harris Street Expected Through HolidaysBeginning Monday, November 2nd through December 31, 2026, this work will cause lane closures and detours. Source
Sunday, November 1
Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMWelcome Home: After More Than a Decade, Garberville’s Veterans Finally Have Their Hall Back
Local veterans spent years carrying their flags and paperwork from room to room, and now they’re unpacking for good in a building that means far more to Southern Humboldt than a meeting place. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:04 AMBehold! Darkness Arriveth Early…Clocks Fall Back TodayNorth Coast residents get an extra hour to sleep Sunday morning, but earlier darkness will mean less daylight for evening chores and the drive home. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:03 AMSoHum, Cannabis Reps Among New Tourism Board AppointeesThe optimism of the TAB appointees was tempered by Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, who noted that local chambers and groups will be “de-funded” when the current fiscal year ends on July 31. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMSouth Covelo Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd"This prescribed burn will treat approximately 300-acres of chaparral and understory vegetation within oak woodlands and mixed conifer habitats, creating a mosaic of variously burned vegetation and islands of unburned habitat." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMLocal Organic Farmers Donate 3,701 Pounds of Produce to Feed NeighborsThirteen local farms contributed fresh produce to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Fortuna for distribution to people in need. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMSouthern Humboldt Residents Can Dump Brush for Free This NovemberA two-day partnership between Caltrans, CAL FIRE, and local fire safety advocates aims to make defensible space a little less of a hassle. Source
Saturday, October 31
Redheaded Blackbelt6:00 PM[UPDATE 6:01 p.m.: Photo of the Aftermath] Corn Harvester Reportedly Explodes Near Ferndale
One witness said the blast shook her house as a thick column of black smoke rose across the river from Fortuna’s Drake Hill Road. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt5:28 PM[UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Another Photo] Pickup Crashes Into Light Pole Outside Murphy’s Market in CuttenFirefighters were dispatched with extrication equipment after a man was reported unable to get out of the pickup. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt2:47 PMOne Arrested After Assault at Arcata PlazaAn Arcata Police sergeant said Halloween festivities can continue following an isolated incident Saturday afternoon. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt1:19 PM[Oh, My Word, the Kiddo is even Sweeter than we knew!] Garberville, You Outdid Yourself This Halloween!One little trick-or-treater whose KitKat obsession was only topped by his honesty made this our favorite Garberville Halloween celebration yet. Did you capture some of the fun? Share your photos in the comments! Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMBend School Shooting Hero Is a Ukiah High GradThe teacher who tackled a gunman inside an Oregon elementary school grew up in Ukiah, and she has broken her silence. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMHomicide Plea Collapses, Football Field Fight Skips Hate Crime Count, Cal Poly Activist Gets Diversion, and More: Inside Humboldt CourtsMost of what happens at the Humboldt County courthouse never makes the news. Inside Humboldt Courts is our regular look at the hearings, filings, and cases moving through local courts, and what they mean for the people who live here. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMDelCastillo Pleads Guilty with No Deal, Leaving His Fate in a Judge’s HandsOcean DelCastillo took no promises when he admitted to killing Anisha Gutshall, and what happens at a December trial without a jury will shape his sentence. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:02 AMProtect Yourself and Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season with Vaccinations, Says CDPH"CDPH recommends that individuals at higher risk for serious illness such as children 6-23 months, adults 65 years or older or those who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should get up to date on the current COVID-19 vaccine." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMFriends of the Arcata Marsh Hosting Four Tours in November"Saturday 2 p.m. Arcata Marsh tours for November 2026." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMSoHum Health Celebrates Statewide Honor, New Grants and Progress on Local CareSoHum Health reports more than $1.1 million in grants, approval of plans for a new hospital and clinic, and a nearly finished home for Garberville Optometry. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMSpeed Limit Returning to 60 MPH Between Eureka and Arcata After More Than Two DecadesCaltrans crews will begin changing signs Monday, November 2, following years of safety improvements along U.S. 101. A temporary lower limit near the southbound Eureka Slough Bridge will remain during emergency bridge work. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMMeasure K Is the Fiscally Responsible Choice, Says Letter to the Editor"Most of what we pay in taxes disappears into Sacramento or Washington, D.C., and we rarely see what it buys. Measure K is different. Every dollar stays in SoHum and builds something you can drive past: a hospital on Sprowel Creek Road with an emergency room, operating rooms, and modern equipment." Source
Friday, October 30
Redheaded Blackbelt7:13 PM[Update: Photo & Video] Shed Fire Spreads to Vegetation in McKinleyville
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt2:01 PMAnother fatal DUI case, St. Bernard’s fight, shotgun struggle, Flock sabotage, Hot Brew closes, more (Humboldt Last Week podcast)Plus hateful restaurant posts, Rex Bohn under scrutiny again, a bizarre election dropout, Humboldt’s fentanyl crisis, a World Series win with local ties., and much more. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:07 AMThis American Life and the Little Door in Paul Bunyan’s ShoeA roadside giant familiar to most of us North Coast residents supplies the opening mystery in a recently rebroadcast episode of This American Life—and a discovery that makes knowing the secret surprisingly sweet. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMDOJ Warns Humboldt of Criminal Liability Over Flagged Ballots“[I]f the federal government has credible evidence that someone is ineligible to vote, we have established procedures to review and act on that information," states Humboldt County Clerk Juan Pablo Cervantes. "This letter provides no such evidence.” Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMLetter to the Editor: ‘Let’s Invest in Taking Care of Each Other’, Yes on Measure K"When I think of all the things my tax dollars have gone towards for the last 50 years of my working life and 35 years of my property owning life, there aren't many that I have been whole-heartedly in favor of. For many reasons, I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to choose to put some of my tax dollars behind Measure K." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:03 AMBurn Permit Suspension to Lift November 1 in Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Shasta"On Sunday, October 25th, CAL FIRE responded to a two-acre vegetation fire east of Fortuna. The fire was caused by an unpermitted and unlawful burn pile." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMCentro del Pueblo Invites the California North Coast Community to Celebrate Día de Muertos on Sunday, November 1"Centro del Pueblo is delighted to invite the Humboldt County community to its 9th Annual Día de Muertos Celebration on Sunday, November 1, at the Eureka Theater, located at 612 F Street, Eureka. Starting at 12:00 p.m., with our Food Mercadito, Altares and Ofrendas. Visitors can explore the community ofrenda and enjoy our delicious traditional Mexican food and local vendors." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMMajor Roadwork Scheduled Friday, October 30 through Thursday, November 5Know what’s happening on the roads you drive. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMBigfoot Trail Alliance Celebrates Record Year of Trail Restoration, Volunteer Service, and Youth Engagement"Learn more and volunteer with us." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMCoast Central Credit Union Awards $150,000 in Grants to 25 Nonprofits"The grants are part of Coast Central’s Community Investment Program, through which the credit union invests more than $700,000 annually in spring and fall grants, scholarships, and sponsorships. Coast Central employees are also on track to support our community with more than 5,000 hours of volunteer work this year." Source
Thursday, October 29
Redheaded Blackbelt5:51 PMShelter Cove Fire Department Releases Details on Fire That Left One Dead in RV
Firefighters say explosions forced them to hold back at first after arriving to a scene far bigger than the shed fire that was called in, and the sheriff’s office is now leading the investigation. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt5:28 PMVehicle Fire Spreads to Brush in Brooktrails, Triggering Full Wildland ResponseAir crews and dozers were called to Skyview Road after a burning vehicle sent flames into the vegetation nearby. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:05 AMPlant Humboldt Owner in Briceland Says County Permit Dispute Threatens Nursery’s Future"“Holding a gun to the head of the entire business, threatening the employees’ jobs and threatening my livelihood over some of these unrelated and dangerously demented requirements is a gross abuse of official authority,” Plant Humboldt owner Mikal Jakubal wrote. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:01 AMCity Of Ukiah Announces Appointment of New Fire ChiefPress release from the City of Ukiah and Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District: The City of Ukiah and Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District (District) are pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Buckingham as Fire Chief of the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, following his service as Acting Fire Chief. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 4, Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMMateel Announces Return of Reggae on the River to County Line Ranch for 38th Year with New Early Summer Dates in 2027"To celebrate the festival’s return, special discounted Rude Boy tickets officially go on sale Wednesday, October 28, 2026, offering the best possible rates of the season across all pass tiers." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMMcCutcheon Calls for Change in Eureka in Candidate StatementJason McCutcheon outlines his priorities for homelessness, addiction treatment, traffic enforcement, and city spending, urging voters dissatisfied with current leadership to support him. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMArt, Music, and Community: Cal Poly Humboldt Celebrates Veterans and Their Continuing ServiceFree workshops, live music, shared meals, and a service fair will bring veterans, students, and neighbors together during multiple November celebrations. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMPrescribed Burns Planned Near Petrolia Thursday and FridayPrescribed Fire Operations in Petrolia area are now planned for private grassland areas on Prosper Ridge on Thursday, October 29th and continuing Friday, October 30. Do not Report this Good Fire!!! Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:00 AMUkiah Man Again Convicted of Violating Domestic Violence Restraining OrderMendocino DA calls defendant a "a slow learner and no stranger to the local courts." Source
Wednesday, October 28
Redheaded Blackbelt1:00 PMMyth, Masks and Mystery at Trinidad Art Gallery
"Trinidad Art Gallery will feature the work of painter Mara Friedman and mask maker Donvieve during the month of November." Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt12:21 PMVideo Captures Struggle and Shotgun Blast During Attempted Robbery in Blue LakeTerrifying video shows a clerk grappling with an armed robber at a Blue Lake fuel station, knocking over shelves as the struggle continues even after the weapon appears to fire. Source
- Redheaded Blackbelt10:28 AMSuspected Fentanyl Found During Eureka Traffic Stop Leads Deputies to Firearms at Residence, HCSO SaysDeputies say they arrested Thomas Grzymski Sr., 48, after an October 27 traffic stop, then seized additional suspected narcotics and firearms during a probation search of his Eureka residence, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Source