Eureka Man Killed in SoHum Crash

By Kimberly Wear on July 1, 2024 at 2:53PM

Supreme Court Gives Cities in California and Beyond More Power to Crack Down on Homeless Camps

By Marisa Kendall/CalMatters on June 28, 2024 at 3:26PM

“Homelessness is a crisis in California. The misguided 9th Circuit decision has tied the hands of local officials, allowing encampments to multiply unchecked,” California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of Rocklin said in an email to CalMatters.

Court Rejects Zoellner Appeal

By Thadeus Greenson on June 28, 2024 at 2:54PM

The United States’ Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling finding Arcata police had probable cause to arrest Kyle Zoellner on suspicion of murdering David Josiah Lawson, rejecting Zoellner’s claim for damages against the city. The unanimous ruling filed Tuesday rejects all five of Zoellner’s legal arguments, upholding the October 2022 decisions of United States District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, who overturned a jury’s verdict finding an Arcata detective violated Zoellner’s civil rights by instigating a malicious prosecution.

Newsom: Dark Forces Are Threatening California

By Alexei Koseff/CalMatters on June 25, 2024 at 5:57PM

Eschewing the convention of delivering live remarks to the Legislature in the stately Assembly chambers of the Capitol, Newsom’s subdued approach this year drew fierce condemnation from his Republican critics — who had fastidiously tracked the days since he canceled his original speech in March and called him a coward for not showing up in person to defend his record in office. “While this pre-recorded speech fulfills the governor’s legal mandate, it does not in any real way fulfill his responsibility to Californians who deserve a safe, affordable and opportunity-filled future,” Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Murrieta Republican, said in a pre-response video.

Felix's Hot Start Propels Crabs Sweep

By Brandon Dixon on June 18, 2024 at 7:54PM

Two wins in a row to end last week added to a clean sweep of five games this week means the Crabs are on a roll. This week saw the good guys make easy work of Berkovich Honor and the Novato Knicks.

Caltrans Selects Tunnel Option for Last Chance Grade

By Kimberly Wear on June 18, 2024 at 2:44PM

McGuire, Assemblymember Wood and local leaders, was key to reaching consensus here. I'm excited to start moving forward on this ambitious but necessary long-term solution.”

Grand Jury Blasts Eureka Schools' for Lack of Transparency, Due Diligence in Jacobs Deal

By Thadeus Greenson on June 12, 2024 at 3:30PM

at the Dec. 14, 2023, ECS Trustee meeting,” the report states. The report details the property exchange agreements’ apparent ties to parallel efforts to thwart the city of Eureka’s plans to replace city-owned downtown and Old Town parking lots into housing developments, concluding that district trustees “have been knowingly or unknowingly roped into the ongoing local housing versus parking controversy.” Specifically, the report details how the same attorney who negotiated the land exchange agreement on behalf of a newly formed LLC looking to acquire the Jacobs property — Bradley B. Johnson — also represented a group that’s filed numerous legal challenges to the city’s housing plans and another seeking to block the plans through a citizen initiative that will appear on the November ballot and, if successful, would also rezone the Jacobs property.

A New Season and New Conference for the Crabs

By Brandon Dixon on June 10, 2024 at 5:31PM

Like a lot of people, I drive by the empty Arcata Ball Park in the winter months, longing for sunny days at the yard. The Crab Grass Band plays in my head with the cheers of “Tip Tip Hooray,” the chanting of “Nanananana BATBOY!” and even our famous hecklers.

Journal Named Finalist for State, National Awards

By North Coast Journal Staff on June 6, 2024 at 3:46PM

The North Coast Journal has been named a finalist in eight categories in the 2023 statewide California Journalism Awards, as well one category in the national Association of Alternative Newsmedia awards. The California Journalism Awards are bestowed annually by the California Newspaper Association, which was founded in 1888 and has more than 500 member papers throughout the state.

Eureka Schools Amends Property Exchange Agreement, Sets Escrow Deadline

By Thadeus Greenson on June 4, 2024 at 2:54PM

Eureka City Schools has entered into an amended property exchange agreement with a mystery developer looking to acquire its old Jacobs Middle School site that stipulates the parties should close escrow on the deal on or before July 11. Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol seems to be back at the negotiating table for the old campus it had hoped to purchase and turn into its Northern Humboldt headquarters until the district, seemingly out of nowhere, entered into an exchange agreement with a newly formed company — AMG Communities-Jacobs, LLC — on Dec. 14.