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On Wednesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an investigation into how and whether Elon Musk’s X and xAI broke the law in the past few weeks by enabling the spread of naked or sexual imagery without consent.

xAI reportedly updated its Grok artificial intelligence tool last month to allow image editing. Users on the social media platform X, which is connected to the tool, began using Grok to remove clothing in pictures of women and children.

“The avalanche of reports detailing the non-consensual sexually explicit material that xAI has produced and posted online in recent weeks is shocking,” Bonta said in a written statement. “This material, which depicts women and children in nude and sexually explicit situations, has been used to harass people across the internet. I urge xAI to take immediate action to ensure this goes no further.”

Bonta urged Californians who want to report depictions of them or their children undressed or commiting sexual acts to visit oag.ca.gov/report.

Research obtained by Bloomberg found that X now produces more non-consensual naked or sexual imagery than any other website online. In a posting on X, Musk promised “consequences” for people who made illegal content with the tool. On Friday, Grok limited image editing to paying subscribers.

One potential route for Bonta to prosecute xAI is a law that went into effect just two weeks ago creating legal liability for the creation and distribution of “deepfake” pornography.

X and xAI appear to be violating the provisions of that law, known as AB 621, said Sam Dordulian, who previously worked in the sex crimes unit of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office but today works as a lawyer for people in cases involving deepfakes or revenge porn in private practice.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, author of the law, told CalMatters in a statement last week that she reached out to prosecutors, including the attorney general’s office and the city attorney of San Francisco, to remind them that they can act under the law. What’s happening on X, Bauer-Kahan said, is what AB 621 was designed to address.

“Real women are having their images manipulated without consent, and the psychological and reputational harm is devastating,” the San Ramon Democrat said in an emailed statement. “Underage children are having their images used to create child sexual abuse material, and these websites are knowingly facilitating it.”

Bonta’s inquiry also comes shortly after a call for an investigation by Gov. Gavin Newsom, backlash from regulators in the European Union and India and X bans in Malaysia, Indonesia, and potentially the United Kingdom. As Grok app downloads rise in Apple and Google app stores, X is facing calls by lawmakers and advocates to ban downloads.

Why Grok created the feature the way it did and how it will respond to the controversy around it is unclear, and answers may not be forthcoming, since an analysis recently concluded that it’s the least transparent of major AI systems available today. xAI did not address questions about the investigation from CalMatters.

“The psychological and reputational harm is devastating.”
— Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Democratic Assemblymember, San Ramon

Evidence of concrete harm from deepfakes is piling up. In 2024, the FBI warned that use of deepfake tools to extort young people is a growing problem that has led to instances of self harm and suicide. Multiple audits have found that child sexual abuse material is inside the training data of AI models, making them capable of geneating vulgar photos. A 2024 Center for Democracy and Technology survey found that 15 percent of high school students have heard of or seen sexually explicit imagery of someone they know at school in the past year.

The investigation is the latest action by the attorney general to push AI companies to keep kids safe. Late last year, Bonta endorsed a bill that would have prevented chatbots that talk about self harm and engage in sexually explicit conversations from interacting with people under 18. He also joined attorneys general from 44 other states in sending a letter that questions why companies like Meta and OpenAI allow their chatbots to have sexually inappropriate conversations with minors.

California has passed roughly half a dozen laws since 2019 to protect people from deepfakes. The latest, Assembly Bill 621, amends and strengthens a 2019 law, most significantly by allowing district attorneys to bring cases against companies that “recklessly aid and abet” the distribution of deepfakes without the consent of the person depicted nude or committing sexual acts. That means the average person can ask the state Attorney General or the district attorney where they live to file a case on their behalf. It also increases the maximum amount that a judge can award a person from $150,000 to $250,000. Under the law, a public prosecutor is not required to prove that an individual depictured in an AI generated nude or sexual image suffered actual harm to bring a case to court. Websites who refuse to comply within 30 days can face penalties of $25,000 per violation.

In addition to those laws, two bills (AB 1831 and SB 1381) signed into law in 2024 expand the state’s definition of child pornography to make possession or distribution of artificially-generated child sexual abuse material illegal. Another required social media platforms to give people an easy way to request the immediate removal of a deepfake, and defines the posting of such material as a form of digital identity theft. A California law limiting the use of deepfakes in elections was signed into law last year but was struck down by a federal judge last summer following a lawsuit by X and Elon Musk.

Every new state law helps give lawyers like Dordulian a new avenue to address harmful uses of deepfakes, but he said people still need new laws to protect themselves. He said his clients face challenges proving violation of existing laws since they require distribution of explicit materials, for example with a messaging app or social media platform, for protections to kick in. In his experience, people who use nudify apps typically know each other, so distribution doesn’t always take place, and if it does, it can be hard to prove.

For example, he said, he has a client who works as a nanny who alleges that the father of the kids she takes care of made images of her using photos she posted on Instagram. The nanny found the images on his iPad. This discovery was disturbing for her and caused her emotional trauma, but since he can’t use deepfake laws he has to sue on the basis of negligence or emotional distress and laws that were never created to address deepfakes. Similarly, victims told CNBC last year that the distinction between creating and distributing deepfakes left a gap in the law in a number of U.S. states.

“The law needs to keep up with what’s really happening on the ground and what women are experiencing, which is just the simple act of creation itself is the problem,” Dordulian said.

California is at the forefront of passing laws to protect people from deepfakes, but existing law isn’t meeting the moment, said Jennifer Gibson, cofounder and director of Psst, a group created a little over a year ago that provides pro bono legal services to tech and AI workers interested in whistleblowing. A California law that went into effect January 1 protects whistleblowers inside AI companies but only if they work on catastrophic risk that can kill more than 50 people or cause more than $1 billion in damages. If the law protected people who work on deepfakes, former X employees who detailed witnessing Grok generating illegal sexually explicit material last year to Business Insider would, Gibson said, have had protections if they shared the information with authorities.

“There needs to be a lot more protection for exactly this kind of scenario in which an insider sees that this is foreseeable, knows that this is going to happen, and they need somewhere to go to report to both to keep the company accountable and protect the public.”

Suanna Rowell (Bonhote)
June 10, 1947-January 11, 2026

Suanna Rowell was born to Louis and Barbara Bonhote in the old St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. She attended St. Bernard’s Elementary and High School and graduated in 1966. After High School Suanna attended College of the Redwoods and then Humboldt State University, and studied history.

Suanna married Marvin Rowell in 1971. They later divorced.

In 1976 Suanna started working at Crestwood Behavioral Health. She starting working as a nurse’s aide. She held numerous positions and her last position was service coordinator, where she provided great insight for new staff sharing how mental health has changed over the years. Suanna received numerous awards for compassionate care of mental illness.

Suanna has been a member of St. Bernard’s Parish her entire life. She was baptized, received her first communion, received confirmation and was married at St. Bernard’s Church.

Suanna was very involved in many activities at the church. She was in the choir for many years. Suanna was also lector and Eucharistic Minister. She would assist the priest in opening the church, setting up for Mass for Saturday and Sunday. Suanna joined the third order Franciscans and grew deeper in her faith. Suanna was a member of the Humboldt Redwood Cursillo for 18 years and spoke so highly of the retreat experience. She always looked forward to the Cursillo retreats.

Suanna was inducted into the St. Bernard’s Alumni Hall of Fame in April 2017.

Suanna was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Barbara Bonhote.

She was survived by her sister, Sr. Mary Geneva Bonhote, CSJ., her brother James Bonhote, his wife Margie, her nephew Jason Bonhote her niece Chelsey Newman, husband Todd, and her family. Suanna’s special friend- Marian Griffin and numerous friends and co-workers.

A special thanks goes to St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Room and the ICU team of nurses and staff, along with Dr. Chavoshan, MD.

Everyone is invited to attend the Rosary and Mass for Suanna. The Service will be held on January 31, 2026 at St. Bernard’s Church, at 6th and H streets. Rosary 9:30 a.m. and funeral mass 10:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Suanna Rowell’s name to:

Humbold Redwood Cursillo
P.O. Box 735
Eureka, Calif. 95502-0735

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On January 15, 2026, at approximately 2:15 a.m., officers from the Eureka Police Department (EPD) were dispatched to the area of 4th and A Streets for a report of a firearm being brandished.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim, who is currently experiencing homelessness and was attempting to sleep in the area. The victim reported that two suspects approached him, pointed what appeared to be a firearm at him, and demanded his property while threatening to shoot him. When the victim did not comply, he armed himself with two edged weapons he had in his possession, causing the suspects to flee the area on an electric scooter.

Officers conducted a search of the surrounding area and located two subjects matching the suspects’ descriptions. Upon seeing officers, the suspects fled into a motel located in the 200 block of West 5th Street causing the officer to temporarily lose sight of the suspects. Officers contacted motel staff and obtained surveillance video, which showed the suspects entering a specific motel room. A perimeter was established while a detective from the Criminal Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant for the room.

While officers were preparing to execute the warrant, a male juvenile, approximately 15 years old, exited the room and was detained without incident. Officers then executed the search warrant by announcing their presence and conducting a call-out, utilizing both PA commands and phone contact. Two adult males and one adult female subsequently exited the room and were detained without incident.

Photo: EPD.

During the search of the motel room, detectives located and seized evidence consistent with the reported attempted robbery and brandishing. The firearm used in the incident was determined to be a realistic-looking CO₂-powered BB gun.

The investigation identified Jack Nye, 18, of Eureka, and the 15-year-old male juvenile as the primary suspects. Nye was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of attempted robbery, brandishing a replica firearm, conspiracy, and criminal threats.

The juvenile was released to a legal guardian at the scene. A criminal complaint will be forwarded to the Humboldt County Probation Department requesting charges for the same offenses.

EPD would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for their assistance throughout the evening and during the execution of the search warrant.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to call EPD Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.

Photos: Isabella Vanderheiden, County of Humboldt

Press release from the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office:

Couples looking to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day can take advantage of extended hours and unique ceremony locations offered by the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office on Saturday, Feb. 14. 

In-person civil wedding ceremonies will be available, by appointment, during extended hours from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to accommodate couples who wish to make their love official on this romantic holiday. 

This year, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office will perform civil wedding ceremonies at two memorable locations.

Couples have the option to exchange vows aboard the historic Madaket and experience romance on the water with breathtaking views of Humboldt Bay as their backdrop. Couples may also choose to say “I do” surrounded by knowledge and history at the Humboldt County Public Library’s beautiful Humboldt Room in Eureka. The Humboldt Room offers an elegant, intimate indoor setting with a fantastic view of Humboldt Bay from the library’s second floor. 

Ceremonies scheduled at both locations will be held rain or shine.

How to Book a Valentine’s Day Wedding Ceremony

Civil wedding ceremony bookings must be done in person at the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s office. The fee to book a wedding ceremony is $100. Spanish language ceremonies are available upon request.

Due to high demand, couples must book their Valentine’s Day ceremonies no later than Wednesday, Feb. 11 and are reminded that a marriage license is required for a wedding to be performed. 

All couples must arrive to their ceremony with marriage license materials on hand. 

How to Obtain a Marriage License

A marriage license can be obtained up to 90 days before the ceremony date. A marriage license application may be completed in person in the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s office, or you may begin the application process online at tinyurl.com/HumCoWeddings. 

Please note that the couple must appear in person to complete the application process and provide a valid government-issued ID. The marriage license application process takes about 30 minutes and costs $78 for a public license or $80 for a confidential license.

Choose Your Own Wedding Officiant

Couples can make prior arrangements with the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office for the ceremony to be performed by a person of their choice, age 18 or older. The persoAbout the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office About the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office n must be an ordained officiant or deputized to perform the ceremony in advance by the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder. The fee to be deputized to officiate a wedding ceremony is $55. The Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office will provide comprehensive wedding ceremony packets containing ceremony wording, instructions and sample license completion guides for all officiants.

For more information or to schedule your wedding ceremony, please call 707-445-7593 or visit HumboldtGov.org/Clerk-Recorder

About the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office

The Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office maintains vital records and provides essential services to the public, including the issuance of marriage licenses and performance of civil marriage ceremonies. The office is committed to providing efficient, professional service to all Humboldt County residents. For more information on services the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s office provides, please visit humboldtgov.org/Clerk-Recorder

Press release from Humboldt Made:

Humboldt Made Launches Arcata Fire Relief Fund Following $50,000 Commitment from The PG&E Corporation Foundation

Community partners unite to support businesses impacted by devastating Arcata fire

In response to the devastating fire that impacted several Arcata businesses, a powerful, community-driven recovery effort is taking shape across Humboldt County. What began as a moment of shock and loss has quickly transformed into an extraordinary example of regional collaboration, generosity, and shared commitment to ensuring that local businesses are not left to rebuild alone.

Humboldt Made, working in close partnership with the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, City of Arcata, Humboldt Lodging Alliance, Small Business Development Center, Pay It Forward Humboldt, and other regional leaders, has launched the Arcata Fire Relief Fund to provide direct financial support to the businesses affected by the fire. The fund will operate as a 100% pass-through donation, with no administrative fees taken, ensuring that every dollar raised goes directly to impacted businesses.

A defining moment in this effort came when local Pacific Gas and Electric Company leaders proactively reached out to Humboldt Made to identify the nonprofit and the partner to help distribute relief funds. Without being asked, The PG&E Corporation Foundation stepped forward with a commitment of $50,000, recognizing both the urgency of the situation and the importance of acting quickly to support small businesses during a moment of crisis. The funds are expected to be distributed in April, and in the meantime, Humboldt Made has opened a dedicated bank account and begun accepting additional community donations to build a strong, collective relief pool.

“This kind of leadership matters,” said Rosa Dixon, Executive Director of Humboldt Made. “PG&E didn’t wait to be asked — they saw a need and stepped in with real, meaningful support. That generosity set the tone for what has become a much larger community effort. Our small businesses are the soul of our towns, and when they’re hurting, we all feel it. This response has been about listening first, working together, and making sure support gets to the people who need it most — quickly, transparently, and with care.”

The Arcata Chamber is leading a needs assessment survey to better understand the immediate and long-term challenges facing affected businesses and employees. Results from that survey will help guide a collaborative committee — made up of trusted community partners — in determining how relief funds are distributed.

“The Arcata Chamber is incredibly grateful for this collaboration with all the community partners, especially Humboldt Made,” said Meredith Maier, Executive Director of the Arcata Chamber. “The PG&E Corporation Foundation’s early commitment has given this effort momentum and hope, and together we’re making sure these funds are handled responsibly and reach businesses in a way that truly supports recovery.”

Additional organizations have already pledged support, including Cal Poly Humboldt, Coast Central Credit Union, Redwood Capital Bank, and Vero, demonstrating the depth of commitment across sectors to help Arcata rebuild.

“As a board, it was important to us that this fund be handled with complete integrity,” said Michael Kraft, Board President of Humboldt Made. “That’s why we’ve committed to taking zero administrative fees. One hundred percent of donations will go directly to businesses impacted by the fire. PG&E’s contribution made it possible to build this fund the right way — from the start — with transparency, accountability, and trust.”

To help kick off fundraising efforts, Cal Poly Humboldt has donated 100 basketball game tickets, which Humboldt Made will sell at the Cal Poly men’s basketball game this Thursday, with all proceeds benefiting the Arcata Fire Relief Fund. Humboldt Made volunteers will be on site starting at 4:30 PM, accepting donations and sharing information about the relief effort. A QR code will be available to make giving quick and easy.

“Hundreds of us at PG&E are proud to call Humboldt County home. We saw the destruction caused by the downtown Arcata fire firsthand, and the businesses impacted are important to us and our families. We’re committed to supporting our neighbors, and we’re proud to seed this fund alongside our partners. We hope that the recovery effort continues to grow through the support of other local organizations,” said Brian Gerving, Regional Senior Manager for PG&E’s Humboldt Division.

As Arcata businesses begin the long road to recovery, this collective effort reflects a shared belief that rebuilding is strongest when done together. Humboldt Made will continue working alongside its partners to ensure funds are distributed thoughtfully, equitably, and in a way that honors the resilience of the local business community.

Donation Link: https://square.link/u/X8PlFEsk

For updates, vetted fundraising opportunities, and relief resources, visit the Arcata Chamber website.

Media Contact: Rosa Dixon Executive Director, Humboldt Made rosa @humboldtmade.com 707-601-1638

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Civil Air Patrol, in coordination with the Offices of Emergency Services for Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, intends to deploy one small airplane on a north-to-south coastline flight on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The flight is an exercise to train personnel and test loudspeakers that might be used in a distant-source tsunami warning situation, such as the 2011 undersea 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that first struck Japan and then sent dangerous waves onto our shores hours later.

The test flight is expected to begin at the Oregon state line at about II:30 a.m., cross into Humboldt County at about 12:20 p.m., and leave the coastline just south of Shelter Cove at about 1:40 p.m.

The plane’s loudspeaker system will announce that the flight is a test of the Civil Air Patrol’s public address system and reference the County Office of Emergency Services.

This Saturday’s flight will utilize a brightly-painted red, white, and blue single-propeller airplane, with the letters “CAP” prominently visible under the wings.

Similar Civil Air Patrol loudspeaker test flights took place in 2018, 2021 and 2022, with coordination from coastal counties, the National Weather Service Eureka Office and the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group.

Bad weather or technical problems may cause the test flight to be rescheduled.

During a real tsunami warning, if the distance from the earthquake provided adequate time to mobilize an aircrew and fly the plane to our coast, the audible announcement would instruct beachgoers to head inland or go to high ground, and seek further information from the local County Office of Emergency Services.

Citizens’ feedback, comments, and recordings of this Saturday’s test flight may be submitted online to the local County Office of Emergency Services as follows: · Del Norte County OES Give-Feedback form https://www.preparedelnorte.· Humboldt County OES email address: oes@co.humboldt.ca.us

The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer-operated auxiliary of the US Air Force, and an important resource for a variety of emergency missions, including searches for missing aircraft, search and rescue operations, damage assessment, and disaster relief. For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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California health care advocates, labor unions and progressive lawmakers are urging the governor and the Legislature to find new money to fund medical care and other social services for millions of low-income and disabled Californians.

Their coalition, known as “Fight for Our Health,” demanded Wednesday on the Capitol steps that the Legislature and soon-to-be lame duck Gov. Gavin Newsom take action to backfill funding cuts that President Donald Trump and Republicans approved last year.

The dilemma over how to respond to billions of dollars in cuts to social services — particularly to the budget for Medi-Cal, the state’s nearly $200 billion Medicaid program — foreshadows a showdown that will dominate both the 2026 legislative session and the midterm elections.

As one union pursues a controversial wealth tax ballot measure to offset the cuts, progressive Democrats in the Legislature are floating a separate corporate tax, though details remain scant. If that materializes into a bill, it’s also likely to divide the party, which is sensitive to accusations that Californians are over-taxed and has recently declared its leaders will focus on lowering costs for state residents.

In his final year as governor, Newsom faces a tug-of-war between two politically radioactive options: increasing taxes, or letting benefits lapse for millions of low-income and disabled Californians. Though his administration has sought only to blame Trump for the federal cuts, health care advocates made it clear they will push Newsom to help prevent steep coverage losses.

“I want to take a moment to address the governor and the state Legislature,” said Judy Mark, president of Disability Voices United, from the Capitol steps. “We know that you are not responsible for these awful cuts, but now the responsibility does lie in your hands. You have the power to protect us.”

The governor angered health advocates when he didn’t include money to backfill coverage when he released his state budget proposal, which acknowledges that tens of thousands will lose coverage and counts fewer services among projected revenue savings. This year, the state began freezing new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented immigrant adults over rising costs in the program, over the objections of progressives and health advocates.

Newsom’s analysts expect about 522,000 Californians to lose Medi-Cal coverage in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, rising in the future to 1.8 million. His administration has said the state simply doesn’t have the money to pay for coverage for people who are booted off the program due to new federal laws.

One union, the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West, has proposed a ballot initiative that would impose a wealth tax on California billionaires to help cover the roughly $30 billion the state would lose annually from Trump’s tax-and-spending law. Proponents say the one-time 5% levy would generate about $100 billion for the state’s health care system. About 10% of the money raised would be reserved for public schools.

But Newsom is fighting the measure, which has yet to qualify for the ballot but has still sent Sacramento and Silicon Valley into a tizzy.

Billionaires critical to state budget

The proposal has set off a flurry of opposition. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have reportedly moved to shift some business entities out of California while others are threatening to leave. Democratic strategists close to Newsom are running a campaign committee to defeat the measure as the union collects the nearly 900,000 signatures needed to qualify it for the November ballot.

Newsom, who has repeatedly opposed state wealth tax proposals, this week told Politico he’s been personally pushing the measure’s proponents to drop it over concerns it could drive the targeted demographic — and their incomes — out of California. He also has longstanding personal ties to many of the tech titans who would likely be subject to a proposed wealth tax, and has reason to keep them close: they are potential donors should he make an expected presidential run after finishing up his term as governor this year.

Even as progressives push Newsom to raise revenue to bolster Medi-Cal, few of them have actually embraced the wealth tax proposal, with most of them taking a wait-and-see stance. They also won’t criticize Newsom’s opposition, a potential sign that liberal lawmakers are hoping he’ll be willing to pursue other funding for health care.

Newsom’s office did not respond to inquiries Wednesday about whether he would consider alternative tax proposals.

The health advocates said they would make replacing federal funding a key priority this legislative session. Progressive lawmakers, who led the charge against Newsom’s proposal to cut costs by freezing Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants, have signaled they’ll take up the fight as well.

Assembly Health Chair Mia Bonta, an Oakland Democrat, suggested the state look at imposing new taxes on corporations that employ workers who are paid so little they qualify for public health care assistance.

“We cannot let these corporations keep getting a free ride,” she said. “California has a responsibility to act decisively, and we will.”

But she has not introduced a bill, and health care advocates said they’re still just hoping to have more options on the table.