From the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Central Management Area (Sonoma/Mendocino County line (38°46.125’ N. latitude) to Point Conception (34°27’ N. latitude)) beginning Jan. 5, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., with pre-soak to begin on Jan. 2, 2026, at 8:01 a.m. This area (Fishing Zones 3, 4 and 5) will be subject to a 40% trap reduction. The trap reduction is expected to reduce entanglement risk for humpback whales by decreasing the number of vertical lines attached to traps in the water.

The Dungeness crab season in the Northern Management Area (Fishing Zones 1 and 2, California/Oregon border (42° N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) will be further delayed pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 8276.2 because of the inability to conduct meat quality testing due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Pending results of ongoing domoic acid testing, the season will open on Jan. 15, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., under a 15% trap reduction in both Fishing Zones. A pre-soak period will begin on Jan. 12, 2026, at 8:01 a.m. The crab quality delay triggers the fair start provision under Fish and Game Code Section 8279.1. Under fair start a vessel is prohibited from taking, possessing onboard or landing crab in an area previously delayed for a period of 30 days from the date of the opening if that vessel previously participated in other commercial Dungeness crab fishing areas (including those in Oregon and Washington) during the same season.

Opening the commercial crab fishing season under a trap reduction strikes a balance between the needs of the commercial fishery and the protection of humpback whales which remain in areas that overlap with key fishing areas off the California coast.

“Setting the opening date of the Dungeness crab fishery is never easy. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery is inherently complex, and careful consideration is required to ensure we are supporting California’s fishing communities while also reducing risk of entanglement of whales and sea turtles off our coast,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “CDFW is grateful for the collaborative effort between commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental groups, scientists and agency partners that support our work in managing this iconic West Coast fishery.”

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The two broken dams on the Upper Eel River found a powerful champion this morning, after the United States Department of Agriculture filed a motion to intervene in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings that would see them removed.

The department’s filings today follow Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’s letter to the editor published in the Mendocino Voice last week, in which Rollins told Potter Valley farming interests that they were “not alone in this righteous fight, which strikes at the very heart of our freedoms.”

The dams — together known as the “Potter Valley Project,” and owned by Pacific Gas and Electric — have been unable to generate power for many years, which is the purpose they were built for a century ago.

In the last few years, Rep. Jared Huffman has led efforts to form a compromise “two-basin solution” that would allow for continued diversion of water from the Eel to the Russian River, supporting agriculture and population in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

When that was completed — and after local tribes, environmental organizations, Humboldt County and the principal water agencies in both Mendocino and Sonoma all signed on — PG&E officially filed a decommissioning plan with FERC in July 2025. 

But chapters of the Farm Bureau in communities along the Russian River have stood in dissent, and have communicated their displeasure to the Trump Administration — as has the government of Lake County, which is home to Lake Pillsbury, the reservoir behind one of the dams.

Now, with the official intervention of the Department of Agriculture, it appears their pleas have been heard. Writing for the department, Tucker A. Stewart, senior advisor to Secretary Rollins, argues on a number of fronts that FERC should deny PG&E’s application to remove the dams, at least in its current form.

Though the department’s principal concern appears to be protecting farmers and ranchers, especially those in the Potter Valley region. But it also makes a number of arguments about the decommissioning plan’s effects on firefighting, recreational opportunities and reforestation. (Read the full letter here.)

Stewart concludes:

It is abundantly clear that PG&E’s application fails to consider appropriately the elimination of water supply to local communities without viable alternatives; the negative impact that removal will have on downstream communities and agricultural producers; and the diminished capacity for wildland firefighting in one of the most fire-prone regions of the country. Unless and until PG&E addresses the aforementioned issues included in these comments, the Department respectfully requests that the Commission reject PG&E’s application to surrender its FERC license for Potter Valley Project dam because of the profoundly negative and irreversible impact on local farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, communities, and USDA equities.

Reached this afternoon, Scott Greacen, conservation director for Friends of the Eel, told the Outpost that the department’s ask of FERC appears to be to force PG&E to continue to maintain the dams — an option he argued was forbidden under federal law.

“The Federal Power Act expressly forecloses that at as an option,” Greacen said.

Back in September, when Rollins first started tweeting about the Potter Valley Project, Rep. Huffman, in an interview with the Outpost, argued that political intervention in the proceedings would only harm the people the administration was attempting to help.

“When you have the ability to order federal agencies to do things for purely political reasons, you can definitely slow things down,” Huffman said. “That’s my sense of what this means. And, you know, who’s hurt the most by that? Ironically, it’s the people in Potter Valley and in the Russian River Basin, because it delays the water supply solution that is the only way their needs are going to be met.”

DOCUMENTS:

• USDA’s “Notice of Intervention,” filed with FERC on Dec. 19, 2025.
• USDA’s Arguments Against the Decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project, filed with FERC on Dec. 19, 2025.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Lake County May Try to Derail Eel River Dam Deal With Direct Appeal to President Trump
• Farm Bureaus in Russian River Counties Issue Plea to President Trump to Keep the Potter Valley Dams in Place
• Humboldt Supervisors OK Potter Valley Water Diversion Plan, Paving the Way for Eel River Dam Removal
• PG&E Files Its Application to Surrender its Hydropower License, Paving the Way for the Removal of the Potter Valley Dams on the Eel River
• Trump Administration Slams Eel River Dam Removal Plan, But Huffman is Confident the Project Can’t Be Stopped

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It’s a wet one out there, folks!

While this storm doesn’t appear to be as hellacious as promised, our friends at the National Weather Service (NWS) office on Woodley Island are reporting some minor flooding in the usual flood-prone spots around Humboldt Bay, including Old Arcata Road, Elk River Road and Howard Heights Road.

There’s a flood advisory in effect til 3:45 p.m. today, and it looks as though the drenching will persist into next week. Stay safe out there, Humboldt!

Press release from the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria:

Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria announces temporary “Hibernation” of the Bear River Family Entertainment Center for exciting renovations and new amenities.

The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria announces that the Bear River Family Entertainment Center will temporarily close for renovations beginning after its final day of operation on December 31, 2025. This is part of a restructuring change and the facility will be operated by the Bear River Casino Resort and its staff. On January 1, 2026, the facility, new name TBD, will enter a special “hibernation” phase as plans move forward to enhance the space with new amenities and expanded experiences for the community.

The upcoming renovations are part of a broader effort to reimagine the Family Entertainment Center, creating a refreshed destination that will offer upgraded features, improved comfort, improved service, and new attractions designed for guests of all ages. The Tribe anticipates welcoming guests back with a grand reopening sometime in Summer 2026.

“We are incredibly excited about what’s ahead”, said General Manager John McGinnis. “This transformation will allow us to better serve our community and visitors with a more modern, engaging, and family-friendly environment. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support and patience as we prepare for this next chapter”.

The Bear River Band kindly asks the community to continue their support throughout this transition and to stay connected for progress updates, sneak peaks, and reopening announcements by following Bear River Casino Resort’s website and social media channels.

More information about the renovation timeline and upcoming amenities will be shared in the coming months.

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

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Californians will see the minimum wage increase to $16.90 per hour starting Jan. 1. The adjustment — a boost of 40 cents per hour — was calculated in August by the Department of Finance as part of its minimum wage annual review required by state law.

California has been raising its minimum wage over the past decade. Former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016 signed a watershed law to increase minimum wage from $10.50 per hour to $15 per hour, plus annual adjustments for inflation.

The current rate of $16.50 per hour suggests that a minimum wage worker needs to work 98 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom rental at fair market rent in California, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

California is one of 19 states to raise minimum wages in 2026, according to payroll company ADP. Cities and counties can also set their own minimum wages. This year, over two dozen local jurisdictions have increased local minimum wages. West Hollywood will have a $20.25 minimum wage starting in January — the highest of any California city, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center.

Voters last November narrowly rejected a ballot measure that would have increased the minimum wage to $18 per hour. But some low-wage workers this year have successfully lobbied for bumps in pay in specific industries.

Under laws Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in 2023, fast food workers earn a minimum wage wage of $20 an hour and health care workers are on track to make $25 an hour.

That momentum extended to Los Angeles hotel and airport employees. Labor organizers in May secured a city minimum wage increase to $30 per hour for those workers by the 2028 Olympics. Large businesses fought back, arguing that wage hikes will only increase challenges for the tourism industry, which is still struggling to find its footing after the pandemic.

After failing to gather enough signatures for a ballot measure to repeal the new minimum wage, business groups later filed a different measure that could gut millions of dollars of revenue from the city’s general fund.

Following the move, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson this month introduced a motion to delay the full wage increase from taking effect until 2030, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times.

Labor leaders rebuked the motion, calling it “repulsive.”

“You can’t threaten to blow a hole in our budget and then the only way to stop it is on the backs of workers,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of the union that represents many hotel workers, UNITE HERE Local 11. “That kind of raw extortion and shakedown has no place in our city.”

According to Peterson, a coalition of community organizations and unions are beginning to collect signatures for a ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour for all workers in Los Angeles.

“The power is everyone together,” said Peterson. “Working people need help and raising wages is the easiest, most straightforward thing to do. Going up 40 cents per hour in 2026 doesn’t move the needle at all.”

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Cayla Mihalovich is a California Local News fellow.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Nov. 22, 2025, at approximately 3:29 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 3200 block of Redwood Drive in Redway to investigate a reported robbery and kidnapping.  Deputies contacted a 41-year-old male victim and through their investigation and subsequent follow-up, deputies identified the suspect as 25-year-old Dylan Cody Olivas of Redway.

On Dec. 15, 2025, deputies obtained a Ramey warrant for the arrest of Olivas on charges of PC 211 Robbery and PC 207(a) Kidnapping. A search warrant was also obtained for Olivas’ residence, located at 77 Mill Rd. in Redway.

On Dec. 17, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., deputies, with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, responded to 77 Mill Rd. to execute both the arrest warrant and search warrant. Deputies located Olivas inside the residence along with his live-in girlfriend, 37-year-old Jazmyne Roe, and several other individuals.

During the search of the residence, deputies located evidence that established probable cause to believe Olivas and Roe were operating a drug house. Both were arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, where they were booked.

The other individuals who were located inside the residence were released from the scene.

Olivas was booked on the following charges:

• PC 211: Robbery
• PC 207(a): Kidnapping
• HS 11366: Operate/Maintain a Drug House

Roe was booked on the following charges:

• HS 11366: Operate/Maintain a Drug House
• PC 273.6: Violate Domestic Violence Court Order

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

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

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Regulators on Thursday approved a slight reduction to the profits shareholders are allowed to receive from California’s three major investor-owned utilities.

The decision dropped all three major investor-owned power companies’ returns by 0.3%, bringing the shareholder return for Pacific Gas & Electric to just below double digits for the first time in at least two decades. A decision proposed last month would have imposed a slightly larger profit cut of 0.35%.

All of the utilities asked for a return of more than 10%. The decision is unlikely to significantly impact customer bills, which remain the second-highest in the nation after Hawaii.

Darcie Houck was the only “no” vote on the California Public Utilities Commission, saying the decision did not properly take into account the cost to ratepayers.

“Every economic indicator tells us that we’re living in a time of extreme precarity for working Californians,” she said. “I do not think the decision threads the needle sufficiently to consider the full impact to the customer interest.”

Utilities say that a high potential rate of return for shareholders is important to bring in needed funding for infrastructure projects, which are typically paid for up front by investors and bonds and later reimbursed by ratepayers once regulators approve costs. This return is considered compensation for the risk of doing business.

The returns are not listed specifically on customers’ bills, instead baked into the rate customers pay.

The decision set 2026 potential shareholder returns for PG&E at 9.98%, Edison at 10.03%, and San Diego Gas & Electric at 9.93%. These returns are not guaranteed and can be affected by a utility’s financial performance throughout the year, going down if a utility has cost overruns. Historically, only San Diego Gas & Electric achieves its full shareholder return, while PG&E and Edison typically fall short of the full amount.

The three utilities’ approved returns have hovered around 10% for decades, which is also the national average for utility shareholder returns, often going above that. Academics and ratepayer advocates have argued for years that this is a problem because a higher return rate is meant to compensate for risk, but utilities are a historically low-risk industry. Their rates are set by regulators and their income is largely predictable and effectively guaranteed by ratepayers, who will continue needing services like electricity. U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which are considered the baseline for a risk-free investment, are about half of the utilities’ approved rate. Utilities regularly push back on this point, saying that wildfires in particular have made their industry more risky.

Utilities criticized the proposed drop in shareholder rates, saying it would exacerbate already high bills for ratepayers. The California Public Advocates Office, which advocates for ratepayers before the commission, pushed back on this, saying that claim is “entirely without merit.”

“The evidentiary record shows the [utilities’] claims for increasing their respective [returns] are based on flawed methods and would inevitably result in unreasonably high customer rates,” it said in a December response to utilities’ comments.

The utilities said the decision isn’t an accurate reflection of the risks their industry faces in the state.

“We think the reduction from current ROEs doesn’t reflect the unique risk environment facing California IOUs and their investors,” David Eisenhauer, spokesperson for Edison, said.

Similarly, PG&E was “disappointed that the final decision fails to acknowledge current elevated risks to help attract the needed investment for California’s energy systems,” Mike Gazda, PG&E spokesperson, said. “We will keep working with regulators and state leaders to ensure adequate funding needs and reasonable long-term rates for customers, so we can continue stabilizing our energy prices and funding critical energy system improvements for customers.”

Anthony Wagner, spokesperson for SDG&E, did not address the regulators’ decision directly, saying the company is “working every day to manage our costs responsibly while continuing to provide the essential service our communities depend on – offering tools and resources to ensure every customer has access to the support they need.”

The shareholder profits are a percentage of a utility’s “rate base” – the total value of its assets that it can earn a return on. This includes things such as power plants. While a utility’s approved shareholder returns fluctuate, the rate bases for California’s three utilities steadily rise. Each utility’s rate base is billions of dollars, earning hundreds of millions for shareholders even if a utility doesn’t reach its full shareholder return.

In 2023, for example, Edison had a rate base of $29.7 billion, and it was allowed to earn $198 million for shareholders that year. If its approved return was one percentage point lower, it would still have been allowed to earn $178 million for shareholders. Though it came in far short of this that year, it still brought shareholders $91 million from ratepayers.

In Houck’s dissent, she noted that the rate bases for the utilities, including Edison’s natural gas arm, are expected to go up by about 10% each year, with the combined authorized potential returns approaching $1 billion more than 2025. Her analysis for this included Edison’s natural gas arm, SoCalGas.

Houck recommended that regulators revisit this issue annually instead of every three years. California ratepayers are facing an affordability crisis for power bills because of factors such as wildfire recovery and hardening. Shareholder profits, which impact bills, have also risen in recent years because of utilities’ growing rate bases.