Humboldt Last Week

As wildfires south of us caused immense devastation, a seemingly preventable AT&T outage once again left Humboldt unable to call 911, get in touch with loved ones, make necessary connections online, and complete other crucial tasks. You can hear a local citizen's scathing rant, an analysis of AT&T's response, and much more. Also: Grave desecration in Trinidad, more reported rapes at HSU, crime coverage, Humboldt’s most adorable kid of the week, an update on a man allegedly lit on fire in Arcata, advice for those with laser pointers, faith in humanity restoration, and other top stories from Humboldt’s last week.

Some of our neighbors here in Humboldt will never be the same after what happened in Las Vegas. A McKinleyville mom said she was trampled by those running away from the devastation. She shares her experience. Also: A catchy song for trimmigrant season, McKinleyville High varsity football is in hot water, Jerry Springer involves himself with the locals, recreational pot purchases will be a thing in Eureka, dogs need to be adopted, an update and support for the Humboldt toddler who nearly drowned in a lake, crime updates, and much more.

Humboldt State University student Alex Cappa is very likely going to be the first HSU football player drafted into the NFL since 1991, and he certainly didn’t shy away from any hot topics surrounding his sport in a recent interview. Also: Wild weed robberies, a Humboldt toddler is in critical condition after being rescued from a lake, Humboldt Pride, reactions on fundraising to save HSU sports, strong reactions after an HSU student convicted of child porn charges will be allowed all over campus, a former Eurekan scored an upcoming Stephen King adaptation, helping at-risk youth, too many STDs, you can win a pair of tickets to the hard cider festival in Fortuna October 6, crime updates, and much more.

After a man was allegedly lit on fire while sleeping on the steps of a church across from Wells Fargo in Arcata, APD is trying to zero in on what exactly the suspect’s motives were. Also, a similar incident may have happened in Eureka five days later. Also: Humboldt gets another Mexican restaurant, Kirsten blunts, you can win tickets to see funny performers at The Minor, the latest on the murder of David Josiah Lawson, a former jail employee arrested for child molestation, concerns in the Public Defender’s office, additional crime updates, and much more.

A nonprofit that aims to reduce overdose rates among other things says they’re axing regular community cleanups after violence was imposed on their volunteers. HACHR Executive Director Brandie Wilson says the violence stems from misinformation (11:31). Also: The first person shot and killed by Arcata police in 37 years, a murderer tries to be a smartass at the courthouse, an Occupy Eureka protester gets a settlement, an alleged Winco purse-snatcher potentially with the bonehead move of the week, more from Kirsten Dunst and the “Woodshock” crew, waving good-pie, that Scientology bunker near Petrolia, additional crime updates, and much more.

After Eureka put out a press release including a salacious and so-far-unproven accusation regarding notorious landlord Floyd Squires, the property owner did respond to at least one reporter’s request for comment. North Coast Journal Assistant Editor Kimberly Wear is interviewed about her coverage. Also: An officer-involved shooting in Arcata leaves a suspect dead and an officer wounded, a Ferndale mom accused of trying to murder her daughter is using a temporary insanity defense, top local officials support dreamers, a large publication says we have the best climate in the state, a Humboldt-raised musician makes the third round of “American Idol” auditions, Lumberjack football might be axed, and much more.

A new and unique Humboldt-shot thriller starring Kirsten Dunst called “Woodshock” will debut locally a little earlier here. Our film commissioner gives us an inside look. Also: More on Rob Arkley’s desire to buy Indian Island, a new armored vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office thanks to Trump, too many kids in foster care, the Mateel is in debt over poor Reggae attendance, another fast food fail, a Humboldt magazine makes it into a new Netflix series, allegations of a sex-for-apartment transaction going up in flames, a fast food fail, a musician helping lawyers challenge Eureka’s panhandling ordinance, crime updates, and much more.

(12:36) Warning: Explicit language. Mike Patton -- the Humboldt-raised musician who hit it big with Faith No More and other bands -- made national headlines last week when his “supergroup” Dead Cross joined former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra onstage at a show in Berkeley to do a version of the 80s song “Nazi Punks Fuck Off,” this time with the title “Nazi Trumps Fuck Off.” Also: The Miami Dolphins sign Rey Maualuga, alleged arson brings down part of the Blue Heron in Eureka, the former DA comments on last week’s story, that eye-bulging Winco incident, a likely future NFL player at HSU, the lawyer with a loaded gun at the courthouse, the APD chief slams racist groups, a local novelist writes a horror, West Nile Virus in Humboldt, crime updates, and much more.

Last week Governor Jerry Brown announced he would commute the sentence of a woman who was convicted in the murder of a Eureka man back in 2001. Also: Blue Lake has the only all-female city council in the state, a rattlesnake's dry bite, HSU welcomes new students, jobs lost for Humboldt Creamery, librarian out, comments on potential hate groups in Humboldt, a reporter helps cops arrest a man for assault and arson, other crime updates, and much more.

New York based comedian Shane Torres has been receiving a lot of national coverage and praise after coming to the defense of Humboldt’s own celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Also: A happy ending for a pit bull that was pointlessly shot in the neck, yoga on the inside, police chasing a topless woman, 420 in Arcata, a bounce house on the river, crime updates, and much more.

LEGOLAND comments on their miniature version of Ferndale at their theme park location in Southern California. Also: Portland nixed from the airport, a box of puppies, that reggae fail, Rob Arkley’s statements regarding the future of Indian Island, a Eureka-native NASA star, crime updates, and much more.

Accused child rapist and former restaurateur Chad Smith will face a jury and possible life sentence in prison after a judge ruled there was enough evidence to take his case to trial. Also: Differing views on a police officer shooting and killing a bulldog, medical detox finally comes to Humboldt, a Humboldt man was shot at Ruth Lake, the lighthouse in Trinidad will probably be moved soon, painting outside of the box, possible changes at the Crabs’ lab, crime, and much more.

After almost four years of service as the Police Chief of Eureka, Andy Mills has taken a gig as the top cop in Santa Cruz. Also: That new mural in Eureka, a cannabis farmers market is nixed for now, speculation that a recent prostitution arrestee is actually a victim, an attempted plane ride with pounds, an officer involved shooting, crime, and much more.

The Sheriff’s Office has been looking into how an office they oversee has been illegally allowing the sale of dead people’s stuff to their own employees. LoCO reporter Ryan Burns guests. Also: Some of our local news TV stations were bought out by a company that has drawn criticism for its conservative leanings (former North Coast News reporter Jeremy Chen guests). A local gets the rare Citizen’s Distinguished Service Medal, there’s a military general in our midst, that “oh ship” moment, and much more.

Elle Snow, a local sex trafficking victim and activist, was on CNN last week discussing her experiences and efforts to end “the game.” Also: A press conference on the case of an HSU student murdered at a house party, Betty Chinn is stolen from and the community rallies, possible energy karma, a new Humboldt-launched app, a corruption investigation within the Sheriff’s Office, a viral video of an altercation at a local business leaves you furrowing a brow, crime updates, and much more.

A grandma was arrested for leaving her two-year-old granddaughter in a hot car in the Bear River Casino parking lot for about 40 minutes while she gambled inside. The child was found unresponsive hidden underneath a blanket. Also: An interview with John Marciel who likely saved a child’s life after intervening when her mother was “trying to remove the demons” from her at the beach, the cowboy-hat criminal, imposters, an amazing foster family, the new all-inclusive scout group, Humboldt’s Cheech and Chong shout-out, cannabis country crooning, and much more.

A law professor recently analyzed potential charging developments in the tragic stabbing death of 19 year old HSU student David Josiah Lawson. NCJ's editor Thadeus Greenson is interviewed. Also: Crime updates, court dates for big cases, HACHR keeps working to reduce overdose deaths, Humboldt’s polluted beach problem, a scary attempted exorcism, better teeth, Humboldt’s new famous baby zebra, a tribute to how lucky we are, poll results, and much more.

A local firefighter filed a grievance after his boss asked him to stop wearing a Black Lives Matter pin on his uniform. Also: An update on the murder investigation of HSU student David Josiah Lawson, a former restaurateur and substitute teacher pleads not guilty to pedophilia-related charges, Jevin Kitchen is doing amazing things as a track star, comment sections under fire, the EPD chief accepted a job in Santa Cruz, a man was Rice Krispies Treated at the hospital, hacking Russians, Pepsi is iced from HSU, upcoming events, and much more.

After an eight-month investigation Humboldt County’s Civil Grand Jury released reports suggesting there are significant problems with the way allegedly abused and neglected children are protected here. Also: Crime, a crazy dog bite, more car races, the women-only showing of “Wonder Woman,” more sweet words from Sara Bareilles per usual, a bill to extend last call, trauma care designations for some local hospitals, and much more.

After at least two reported incidents spawned a community conversation about bullying last week, community leaders weigh in with their experiences and thoughts. Also: Preliminary hearings for an alleged murder with a truck in Shelter Cove, sentencing for an assault on an elderly restaurateur, charges added for Marci Kitchen, an inmate firefighter died on the job, car racing, ticks, a soap opera actor trying to make some Humboldt weed money, lasers, movies at the park, a fight over 420 is reignited in Arcata, possibly Humboldt’s first openly transgender school administrator, a person played by Hilary Swank, and so much more.