Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 11, 2025, at approximately 5:04 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check in the 800 block of Mad River Road following reports of an intoxicated adult female walking in the road with two small children. 

Deputies arrived at the scene and located the woman, later identified as 38-year-old Mary Elizabeth Miller, along with three children.   

During their investigation, deputies learned that Miller and her children gone to a local pumpkin patch where witnesses reported she was drinking alcoholic beverages while at the event. Upon leaving the event on foot she was observed falling down several times while holding one of the children. One of the children had visible injuries that did not require immediate medical attention.  

Child Welfare Services (CWS) was notified. Following their contact with the children’s father, the children were safely released into his custody.

Based on their investigation and witnesses’ statements, deputies arrested Miller and transported to her to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

She was booked on the following charges:

• P.C. 273d(a)– Child Abuse (Infliction of corporal punishment or injury)
• P.C. 273a(a)– Child Endangerment
• P.C. 647(f) – Public Intoxication

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Press release from the Northern California Community Blood Bank: 

The Northern California Community Blood Bank is sounding the alarm as supplies of O+ blood have reached critically low levels. This urgent shortage is attributed to increased local use, highlighting the pressing need for donations from individuals with this vital blood type.

O+ blood is essential for numerous medical treatments and emergencies, as it is one of the most commonly needed blood types. Its versatility allows it to be used for patients with multiple blood types, making it a crucial component of our healthcare system.

In light of this urgent situation, the Northern California Community Blood Bank calls upon all individuals with O+ blood to step forward and donate. Your contribution can directly impact the lives of patients in need, ensuring they receive the critical care and transfusions that can save lives.

Donating blood is a simple yet powerful way to give back to the community. We invite you to make a difference by donating today!

Please visit the Northern California Community Blood Bank’s website at nccbb.org, or call 707-443-8004 for more information.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this urgent matter and for your generosity in helping to replenish our O+ blood supplies. Together, we can ensure that patients receive the care they deserve.

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Gov. Newsom today announced that he has signed Senate Bill 243, legislation that adds guardrails to AI-powered chatbots that operate in the state.

The legislation had divided tech industry representatives and child safety advocates. Newsom left unsigned another bill regulating such bots, Assembly Bill 1064, which child advocates argued better protected kids.

Under SB 243, companies that offer chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, would be required to institute specific safeguards. Among those would be requirements to monitor chats for signs of suicidal ideation, and to take steps to prevent users from harming themselves, such as by referring them to outside mental health assistance.

Makers of the chatbots would also be required to remind users that responses are artificially generated, and to create “reasonable measures” to prevent children from seeing sexually explicit content when using the bots. Kids using the bots would also get reminders to take breaks.

The legislation, among the first in the nation regulating chatbots, comes after a series of disturbing reports. Stories around the country have highlighted how the chatbots can seemingly feed delusions, or fail to pick up on signs of suicidal ideation. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, faced backlash this year after a leaked copy of its chatbot rules revealed the company allowed its bots to have “sensual” conversations with children.

SB 243 received support from a changing mix of backers, with tech industry group the Computer and Communications Industry Association ending up supporting it. After initially opposing the legislation, the group said after changes that it would “provide a safer environment for children, while also not creating an overbroad ban on AI products.”

But child safety advocates, after initially supporting SB 243, soured on the legislation after those changes, saying they had conceded too much to the tech industry. Two groups, Tech Oversight and Common Sense Media, instead threw their support behind AB 1064, saying the bill “establishes critical regulations for the development and use of artificial intelligence systems that interact with children.”

Under AB 1064, chatbots would not be allowed without tech companies showing they are “not foreseeably capable” of harming a child, such as by encouraging self-harm.

“We’ve seen some truly horrific and tragic examples of young people harmed by unregulated tech, and we won’t stand by while companies continue without necessary limits and accountability,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his signing of SB 243.

The statement did not mention any action on AB 1064. The governor has until the end of the day to veto or sign the bill, although it going unmentioned suggested his office was unlikely to move forward with that legislation.

Loren Russell Jaques, age 77, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family in Salyer on October 2, 2025.

Loren was born November 30, 1947 in Bismarck, ND a son of Avalon and Edna Jaques.

He had been a resident of Salyer since 1989, and lived on the same property for 36 years.

Loren worked at Simpson Saw Mill in Klamath for several years before moving to Concord, Ca and working with his father in-law on the Bart System. Loren found his true interest in Janitorial work. Moving back to Humboldt County in 1975 he worked for the City of Arcata as their maintenance person, caring for five buildings till his retirement in December 2002.

Loren’s life centered around his family and the Kingdom Hall. He became one of Jehovah’s Witness in 1965 and loved telling others about the Bible and the wonderful hope it contained. A fond memory for ones who knew him was he would always carry peppermint candy and offer it to anyone that would take it. His unfortunate accident hit by a drunk driver, while riding his motorcycle, on May 22, 2022 left him totally disabled. His hobbies included fishing, camping, riding his motorcycle in the back roads of Trinity and Humboldt counties, gardening and walking.

Loren will be missed by his loving wife of 57 years, Brenda Jaques of Salyer; by his beloved son, Mark Jaques and his wife Patricia of Salyer; by his loving sister, Donna Hamann of Redding; by his adoring grandchildren, Desire’ Jaques of Roseburg, Oregon, and Kacey Jaques of Hermiston, Oregon: and 1 great grandchild, Freya Jaques. He was proceeded in death by his parents, 1 brother, two brothers and their wives, one sister and her husband.

A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 65 Blue Jay Lane, Willow Creek, Saturday November 1 at 5 pm. Finger food and snacks will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made online to jw.org or support.apdaparkinson.org

In Loving Memory of Craig Charles Hansen
May 18, 1951 – September 25, 2025

Craig Charles Hansen was born on May 18, 1951, to Harlan and Susan Hansen in San Bruno, California. At an early age, the family moved out of the busyness of the Bay Area to Loleta. After the 1964 floods, they resettled in Ferndale, where Craig was baptized at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and graduated proudly with Ferndale High School’s Class of 1969. He remained a devoted resident of Humboldt County for the rest of his life.

Craig was blessed with a large and loving family. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Lisa (who was the love of his life and stayed by his side during his battle with cancer). Craig had four children: Michelle (husband Philip), Michael (fiancée Sheryl), Scott, and the late Scotty. His grandchildren were the light of his life: Emma and Bennie (Michelle), Mya (Michael), Ari (Scotty) and Angel (Scott).

Craig shared many memories and adventures with his six siblings: his best friend Chris (wife Stacy), Kevin (wife Augie), Darren (wife Karen), Darcy (husband Ken), and his late siblings Roger and Marcia. He is also survived by his stepmother Beverly (husband Bob), and many nieces and nephews he adored.

Raised on a dairy farm, Craig learned the value of hard work early on—milking cows, baling hay in Carlotta, and, of course, getting into plenty of mischief with his brother Chris. In high school, nicknamed Pontiac, he played as a guard on the Ferndale Wildcats football team - his JV year was one in which the team was undefeated and only one team scored on them. After graduation, he attended College of the Redwoods and went on to build a remarkable career defined by grit and determination. He hauled logs, drove for UPS, and worked alongside his brother Roger at RH Hansen Towing before being nudged by his father into what was deemed a more “sensible” career: insurance. With two very young children in tow, in 1978 Craig joined the insurance business, which proved to be a perfect fit. Craig and his dad worked alongside each other for many years, faithfully sharing lunch every Thursday—a tradition later continued with his son Michael when he joined the business. Craig had great success; he truly valued his clients and the longstanding relationships and friendships throughout the years.  He remained committed to helping his clients right up until the final weeks of his life.

One of Craig’s proudest accomplishments was earning his pilot’s license in the late 1980s. In his early flying days, he would occasionally whisk his family off to Shelter Cove for breakfast after church — because why drive when you can fly? Though he eventually stepped out of the cockpit, he was thrilled to sit in the co-pilot’s seat and land a jet just weeks before he left this world.

A man of deep faith, Craig lived with unshakable confidence in the promise of reunion with loved ones in heaven. He faced cancer with extraordinary courage, beating every prognosis and gaining 17 more years of life. He eagerly participated in clinical trials, always hopeful, not only for his own healing, but for the chance to help others — often joking with doctors, “I’d eat dirt if it would cure me.” If 17 bonus years isn’t a miracle, what is?  

A man of action and connection, Craig poured himself into his community. He was actively involved with the Eureka Rescue Mission, the Rotary Club of Eureka, the Ingomar Club, and Baywood Golf and Country Club. He loved to travel, play golf, sip a good glass of red wine, and swap stories with friends old and new. A passionate hunter, he was fiercely proud of the adventures—and lifelong bonds—formed at “The Hunting Club.”

A celebration of Craig’s life will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Center Foursquare Church, 1032 Bay Street, Eureka, California. A reception with shared stories will follow at Baywood.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UCSF Prostate Foundation, The American Cancer Society or any of the charities Craig supported. Our family would like to thank the entire oncology team at both St Joseph’s Hospital and UCSF; their compassion and care was exceptional.

Dianne Ella Caracappa was born September 27, 1940 to Ella (Flosi) Caracappa and Vito Caracappa in Eureka.

In 1958, Dianne was part of the 2nd class to graduate from St. Bernard High School. She graduated from Humboldt State College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies (Social Science). She married Ray Luzzi in 1962 and they later had daughters Alisa and Gina.

Dianne was a life-long and enthusiastic learner. She took many classes throughout her life, including finance, art history, yoga, and painting. When she came home from her first painting class, her teenage daughters thought they’d have to dig deep to find positive things to say about her first work of art. But the small still life she brought home with its nuanced shading was beautiful! They were speechless.

She shared her enthusiasm for learning by becoming a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher at St. Bernard Elementary and Winship Junior High. She loved her students and no doubt remembered everyone’s names years after she taught them.

For all of her 85 years, Dianne was a devout member of St. Bernard parish. Her faith was strong and she lived it in a variety of ways. She welcomed others into the Catholic faith through her role as a leader of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at St. Bernard Church for many years. She helped feed the hungry at St. Vincent de Paul Dining Facility, bringing along her young teen children to show them the importance of caring for those who had less. 

She provided care to those diagnosed with breast cancer by serving as the coordinator for the Reach to Recovery program. She extended that care to countless patients at St. Joseph hospital by volunteering in the gift shop for many years.

Dianne had a special place in her heart for elders, especially those who had known her parents. Continuing to connect with those friends was important to her and they were certainly thrilled to see her arrive every Christmas, bringing them homemade bourbon balls and other holiday goodies. She also regularly visited an elderly Italian man at Pacific convalescent home for several years, simply because he reminded her of her beloved father and had no family or friends left in the area. 

Dianne always loved animals, starting with her childhood dog Tobey, a cute little Beagle mix who used to dig up carrots in their garden. As an adult, she had 2 beloved Pomeranians and later rescued a scruffy older dog who she named Francis (after the saint). She had him only a matter of weeks before his passing, but loved him dearly. She welcomed a long line of feline friends to her home, concluding with her last cat, Sasha.

She loved to travel: Europe, Mexico, New York, New Orleans, and within California. Her favorite trips were to the blackjack tables in Reno. Never any big winnings, but always a lot of fun.

Having lived her entire life in Eureka, Dianne not only knew lots of people, but also who was related to whom, where they went to school, whose cousin was married to the brother of the neighbor down the street. She couldn’t go to the symphony or the grocery store without running into at least 1 person she knew, usually more. Her family knew all too well that when she spotted someone she knew, they should take a seat because it’d be another 20 minutes before she was ready to leave. Within all of those acquaintances, she was blessed with a network of dear friends who were very important to her, whether they talked frequently or only occasionally as the years went on. They made up her birthday groups, coffee socials, spiritual gatherings, and bridge partners. Of special note are Carla Munther, Nick Giannini, and Jim Matthias. She met all three of them in elementary school and those friendships endured for the rest of her life.

Dianne passed away on October 7, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ella and Vito Caracappa, her sister Florence D’Ambrosio, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and cherished friends. 

She is survived by daughters Alisa Luzzi and Gina Luzzi (Michelle Weston), ex-husband Ray Luzzi, the entire Luzzi family whom she loved dearly, and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the country. 

Many thanks to the tireless caregivers at St. Joseph Hospital, Fortuna Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, Granada Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, and Timber Ridge in McKinleyville. All of them attended to her with such love. A special thank you to her friend of 61 years, Jeanne Michael, for adopting Sasha.

A rosary will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at 11 a.m. at St. Bernard Church in Eureka, followed by a funeral Mass, which will conclude the formal services for the day. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (www.donate.cancer.org) or Miranda’s Rescue (mirandasrescue.org/donate).

Assemblymember Damon Connolly joins the program to break down what was a historic legislative session. The legislature made major revisions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) with the stated purpose of helping to build more housing but some folks — like Assemblymember Damon Connolly — are concerned that the legislature may have gone too far and a “clean-up bill” is needed. Asm. Connolly shares his thoughts on how we balance environmental protection with the “Abundance agenda” sweeping Sacramento. 

The legislature is set to distribute billions of dollars from the state climate bond. What is coming for the North State that excites the Assemblymember? 

And we celebrate a win. Governor Newsom recently signed AB 263, legislation sought by the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and sponsored by Asm. Rogers, Connolly and Ramos. What responsibilities does a legislator have when representing sovereign tribal nations?