This morning, the nominations for the 96th annual Academy Awards were announced and, since Humboldt is currently the world capital of filmmaking, we thought LoCO readers should get the first say on this year’s winners. The results will be sent to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a nice-but-firm note explaining why the LoCO Pollz results should be binding and final.

We are the Academy now. Happy voting. 

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PREVIOUSLY:

• SWAT Team Deployed to 14th and Union in Eureka After Report of Stabbing; Barricaded Suspect With Hostages; Streets Closed in the Area

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On January 22, 2024 at approximately 05:46 a.m., the Eureka Police Department responded to a report of a male juvenile that had suffered a significant laceration to his neck needing immediate medical attention. The juvenile reported he had been assaulted by an adult male family member. Officers located the juvenile and he was transported to a local medical facility for treatment of severe but not life-threatening wounds. The juvenile told officers the assault occurred at a residence in the 1400 block of Union Street in Eureka, and that there were additional occupants and juveniles in the home who had been threatened and were in danger. Officers entered the residence and began checking for additional occupants and victims. While in the residence, officers learned the male suspect had moved the rest of the occupants into a second-story bedroom where he had barricaded himself and was holding them hostage. The officers on scene began requesting additional resources and attempted to negotiate with the suspect.

At approximately 7:41 a.m., the Eureka Police Department issued a shelter in place notification that was sent out to local residences and businesses immediately adjacent to the incident location.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team as well as the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were requested and responded to the scene. Throughout the day negotiations continued until all four hostages were safely released at approximately 1:00 p.m. There was one adult female and three male juveniles, ranging in ages from 4-12 years old, removed from the residence. One of the juveniles had a large laceration to the side of his neck caused by the male suspect. All the juveniles were transported to a local medical facility and evaluated. The male juvenile with the significant laceration to his neck received treatment for his injury which was non-life threatening. The juveniles were then released into the custody of Child Welfare Services.

CNT continued to negotiate with the male suspect, who was non-compliant and refused to surrender and exit the room, for four more hours. Detectives with EPD had obtained a Ramey Warrant for the suspect’s arrest for the felony assault on the first male juvenile. At approximately 4:58 p.m., contact with the suspect was made, and an officer involved shooting (OIS) occurred. The male suspect was struck by gunfire. City Ambulance and Humboldt Bay Fire, who had been staged on scene, responded directly to the residence. Immediate life-saving measures were employed by members of the SWAT team and medical personnel. The suspect was transported to a local medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries.

The suspect has been identified as Daniel Martinez, 43 years old of Eureka. Two members of the Humboldt County SWAT team have been identified as having fired their firearms during the OIS. Both are deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and have been placed on paid special leave, as is protocol for their agency.

The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), led by the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, was activated to investigate this incident. This investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The Eureka Police Department appreciates the partnerships with the agencies that assisted with this incident: Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Fortuna Police Department, California Highway Patrol, City Ambulance, Humboldt Bay Fire, Yurok Tribal Police, Humboldt County Child Welfare Services, Yurok Social Services, Humboldt County Behavioral Health and Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka (CARE).

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Donald Bailey with the Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4215.

Press release from Friends of the Dunes:

After a nationwide search, the Friends of the Dunes Board of Directors is excited to announce that it has selected Suzie Fortner as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Suzie Fortner. Image via Friends of the Dunes.

Fortner’s background working as a dynamic environmental educator, an innovative Program Manager, and a highly successful Program & Operations Director for Friends of the Dunes for more than 15 years makes her the most highly qualified Executive Director that Friends of the Dunes has ever hired.

“We are thrilled to welcome Suzie as our new Executive Director,” said Desiree Davenport, President of the Friends of the Dunes Board of Directors. “She brings a deep knowledge of our community and environment, and a passion for collaborating with people from all backgrounds to advance coastal conservation. We are very lucky Suzie has stepped forward to lead Friends of the Dunes.”

When Fortner assumes the role on February 1, she will lead an organization that is currently working on the largest and most ambitious coastal land conservation and native dune ecosystem restoration projects in its 42-year history, as well as a true-to-its-roots nonprofit that brings thousands of Humboldt County kids to explore the coastal environments of Humboldt Bay each year on free field trips.

“I’m extremely honored and excited to take on this new role with Friends of the Dunes,” said Suzie Fortner. “The mission of the organization is very close to my heart. The work we do connects thousands of people with nature each year and engages our community in the conservation of coastal environments. The dedication of our volunteers, members, and supporters to the protection of Humboldt’s unique and diverse coastal dunes is truly inspiring and I’m grateful to be a part of this community-supported organization.”

Fortner has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz, and a Masters Degree from Cal Poly Humboldt’s Environment & Community Program, with a focus on nature education. She combines this strong academic background with years of practical, proven experience bringing thousands of students to the dunes for life-changing experiences, while successfully managing complex, multi-partner grants totaling more than $5 million.

“I was thrilled to hear the news of Suzie becoming Executive Director,” said Leisyka Parrott, California Coastal National Monument Manager for the Bureau of Land Management. “I have worked with Suzie for over 13 years on many successful, collaborative projects with Friends of the Dunes. Her leadership and commitment to the mission and vision of Friends of the Dunes is an asset to all who work with and support coastal conservation.”

“Suzie brings a wealth of knowledge to the Executive Director position,” said Andrea Pickart, Coastal Ecologist for the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. “Her friendly demeanor and strong work ethic promise to continue the excellent record of the Friends of the Dunes in coastal conservation.”

Fortner succeeds Mike Cipra, who leaves Friends of the Dunes after serving five years as Executive Director.

“Suzie is a thoughtful communicator, a natural collaborator, and an inspiring leader,” said Mike Cipra. “It has been an amazing experience to work alongside Suzie the last five years and to partner with her to grow our nonprofit’s positive impact. With Suzie as our new Executive Director, Friends of the Dunes’ future is bright.

The fire-insurance premium for Bill King’s home has risen 145% since 2017 — from $399 to $979 — under the California FAIR Plan, the state’s last option for homeowners seeking fire insurance.

Add that to the increase in his auto-insurance premium, and King, who lives in Running Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains, is worried.

“What do I do?” asked King, a retiree who will turn 70 years old this summer. “Do I move out of California? At some point I’m going to have to look at things… Will I be able to face future increases depending on how long I’ll live?”

A former Orange County employee, he said he’s having a tough time wrapping his head around the situation: “It’s hard when you’ve planned your retirement and your insurance company comes along and threatens your economic well-being.”

King’s story is similar to that of other property owners who have turned to the FAIR Plan as many insurers have stopped issuing fire insurance in the state, citing climate risks and inflation. As the FAIR Plan has exploded in size — from 126,709 policies in 2018 to more than 350,000 today — homeowners and insurance brokers say they are now facing problems such as delays in mortgage closings, or homeowners losing their coverage.

Recently, King found he was unable to pay for his policy renewal online, as he usually does. He couldn’t email the FAIR Plan because the plan’s website does not provide an email address. Instead, the website tells homeowners to contact their insurance brokers. King’s broker found out that he had been assigned a new policy number without his knowledge. He barely had time to send a payment via his broker, putting him dangerously close to cancellation. Based on his individual experience, King has concluded that the FAIR Plan “​​is doing everything it can to help policies lapse.”

The FAIR Plan Association, a pool of insurers required by state statute to provide fire-insurance policies when property owners can’t find them elsewhere, is experiencing major growing pains.

The California Insurance Department, which under state law has oversight over the FAIR Plan — including approving its requested rate changes — in 2020 investigated consumer complaints about non-renewals and cancellations. But even after an agreement late last year that included the FAIR Plan vowing to change some of its practices, there continue to be fresh signs of turmoil.

First: Bill King is an associate pastor at a church in Running Springs. Jan. 15, 2024. Last: A cross on the outside of Bill King’s home in Arrowbear Lake on Jan. 15, 2024. Photos by Julie A. Hotz for CalMatters

The plan is supposed to be a temporary solution as well as a last resort for property owners, but many people, like King, have been buying insurance through the association for years.

Hilary McLean, a FAIR Plan spokesperson, said the number of policy-holders who stay on the plan has increased over the years; 90% of current FAIR Plan customers are renewing their policies for another year.

The Insurance Department has proposed new regulations, expected to be finalized at the end of the year, to try to get insurers to resume writing fire policies in the state again. But it could be a couple of years until that happens, so the FAIR Plan is likely to continue growing, which could threaten its solvency because it is taking on additional high-risk policies.

“It’s clear that a growing FAIR Plan is a problem for all Californians because of the solvency risks from a major wildfire,” said Michael Soller, spokesperson for the Insurance Department, in an email. “The commissioner’s strategy is focused on returning people to the normal market from the FAIR Plan.”

Last year, lawmakers concerned about the solvency of the FAIR Plan tried to find a legislative solution to address it and other concerns about the state’s insurance market, but no lawmaker sponsored a bill to do so.

A copy of the proposed bill language, seen by CalMatters last week, shows it would have allowed the FAIR Plan to pay for claims by issuing bonds through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, which provides low-cost financing to state and local government entities. Although the FAIR Plan is not a state entity, the bill would have deemed it “in the public interest” for the FAIR Plan to qualify for financing through the bank.

FAIR Plan President Victoria Roach refused to speak on the record for this story. Spokesperson McLean said the association is dealing with an onslaught of new applications — about 900 a day, down from 1,000 a day last November but up from 350 a day in December 2022. Incoming phone calls nearly doubled over the last half of 2023, to more than 50,000 phone calls a month. The association has hired more people, bringing the number of staff to more than 200 employees plus 80 temporary workers, to help handle the additional workload.

Making matters worse, at the end of last year the FAIR Plan went ahead with long-planned changes to its software system, leading to confusion. McLean acknowledged that led to some homeowners getting kicked off the plan — or as King describes his case, almost getting kicked off — for payment issues.

Georgia, a Placer County homeowner who requested that her last name not be used for privacy reasons, said that in mid-December, her insurance broker informed her the day her premium was due that her payment had not been received, even though the money was in escrow and she later found out that her mortgage company had already paid it. The result: She, her husband and their three kids had to part with $2,380 right before Christmas to pay their premium because they didn’t want to risk losing fire insurance.

“That was my car payment, Christmas, everything we had,” she said. Her broker, mortgage company and the FAIR Plan told her she would get her money back on Jan. 5, she said, but added that she has yet to receive it.

Meanwhile, insurance broker Tyler Nelson said the new system caused delays that led to his clients losing out on loans for homes in escrow. Nelson said he would call the FAIR Plan, wait on hold for three hours and get no help. The new system, called Duck Creek, is “the most awful thing I’ve literally ever dealt with,” he said in an email.

The FAIR Plan would not discuss individual cases and complaints. McLean said the association notified brokers that they were adopting a new system, and offered them training and help. She also said the plan has made changes that “have greatly reduced delays and otherwise improved service levels.”

“In the very rare instance of a policy being canceled in error, the FAIR Plan works diligently to resolve the issue and restore coverage per the customer’s original policy agreement,” she added.

Soller, the spokesman for the Insurance Department, said consumers should contact the department if they have trouble getting coverage from the FAIR Plan.

Even before the FAIR Plan’s software transition, Ann Avalos lost her Auburn home’s fire-insurance policy in 2021 because of a payment issue after her mortgage was sold to another company.

The FAIR Plan “didn’t contact anyone until days before they dropped me,” she said, and refused to give her a grace period or reinstate her. “No communication, customer service, compassion,” she added. Her only recourse was to reapply for another policy, and she said her $2,257 annual premium increased to $3,481. Last year, she said it rose again, to $3,686. And because she can’t get fire insurance anywhere else, she has no choice but to accept the price increases.

Asked to respond, McLean said: “FAIR Plan policy agreements detail customer responsibilities… these responsibilities are consistent with industry standards, such as on-time payments and maintaining the structural integrity of the dwelling.”

“Why wouldn’t they drop you?” Avalos asked, noting that the association’s members are the insurers themselves. “Now they have the opportunity to double what they charge you.”

“We disagree with this characterization,” McLean said. “FAIR Plan rates are approved by the California Department of Insurance and rates are the same for new policyholders and renewing customers.”

A road in Arrowbear Lake on Jan. 15, 2024. Photo by Julie A. Hotz for CalMatters

The agreement reached by the Insurance Department and the FAIR Plan in November over complaints of non-renewals and cancellations between 2016 and 2019 has led the plan to make changes. One of them is to allow policy-holders to pay a surcharge if there’s a fixable issue on their property, instead of citing it as a reason to cancel their plan. Once the issue is taken care of, the surcharge is canceled. Soller, speaking for the state Insurance Department, said that because of the agreement, the FAIR Plan “should be making it easier, not harder,” for homeowners to renew their plans.

As King thinks about his own insurance worries and his future in California, he has also had to contend with FAIR Plan premium increases for his local church, where he is an associate pastor. A couple of years ago, he said, the fire-insurance premium for the church’s main building doubled from $4,000 to $8,000.

“That’s a lot of money for our little church,” he said, noting that the church’s annual budget was less than $70,000. So instead he shopped around and found a business policy that included fire insurance, which is costing the church about $6,000. “Insurance at times seems like a great evil perpetrated upon us,” he said.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

A Cal State systemwide strike secured what more than half a year of negotiations and partial strikes couldn’t: a deal.

Negotiators of the California Faculty Association and California State University finalized a tentative agreement tonight, the union said, ending what would have been a week-long strike at the nation’s largest four-year public university system.

The deal falls short of the 12% general salary increase the union sought for this academic year and instead provides a retroactive 5% raise to July 1, 2023 — consistent with what Cal State leaders were offering for the past several months.

The deal also provides a 5% salary increase starting July 1, 2024 for all 29,000 faculty — contingent on Cal State receiving at least the same amount of state funding lawmakers and the governor approved last summer. That’s a shift for Cal State officials — previously, they only wanted to offer a 5% raise next year if the state increased funding to the university.“

We’re messaging this as 10% in the next six months,” said Kevin Wehr, chair of the faculty union’s bargaining committee and a professor at Sacramento State.The faculty union represents 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, sports coaches and mental health professionals.Cal State officials argued since the fall they couldn’t afford the 12% raise the union sought. Also, the contracts it signed with other employee unions last year raised wages by 5%. Some of those contracts had provisions that would reopen salary negotiations if any other union received more than a 5% raise.

Cal State said last fall that every 1% raise in salary for faculty costs the system at least $26.5 million annually.

​“The agreement enables the CSU to fairly compensate its valued, world-class faculty while protecting the university system’s long-term financial sustainability,” said Cal State Chancellor Mildred García in a statement.

After negotiations between the two camps broke down two weeks ago, the union moved ahead with its plan to hold its first-ever systemwide strike. Faculty picketed across 23 campuses this morning. University officials maintained campuses were open but it’s likely most professors canceled classes.

“I think it’s quite clear that management was not happy about the strike,” Wehr said in an interview. “I don’t know whether they underestimated us but 23 campuses were shut down, and it was clear that they were motivated to not have the strike go another day.”

At around 4 p.m. today, Cal State negotiators sent the bargaining team the outline of a deal. Union officials debated it and concluded this evening it was strong enough to call off the strike.The deal also provides the lowest paid faculty additional $3,000 raises applied retroactively to July 1, 2023. That move alone would benefit thousands of workers the union represents who until now earn the salary floors of $54,000 and $65,000 in their respective pay ranges. About two-thirds of the union’s membership sit in those bottom two pay ranges and a majority of those members receive the base pay.

Another $3,000 raise will kick in for faculty who currently earn the lowest salary of $54,000 starting July 1, 2024. About a third of faculty will see additional 2.65% raises.

Though it’s not the 12% raise in 2023-24 the union demanded, Wehr thinks the union members will “overwhelmingly” ratify the contract once it’s put to a vote.

He said a public version of the tentative agreement could go public by Friday once university officials and union leaders finalize the language.

According to a message to faculty, the contract’s highlights also include paid parental leave growing from six weeks to 10 weeks — less than the full semester the union sought. Other aspects of the tentative deal include providing a union representative when faculty deal with police, “improving access” to spaces to pump breastmilk and extending the current contract by one year to June 30, 2025.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Vista Lee McIntosh (McKnight) passed away on December 28, 2023. She was born on September 8, 1929 in Richmond, Calif. where her parents, Lloyd and Vista McKnight, ran a lunch counter and her father was a carpenter in Gilroy.

With the help of Lloyd’s sister, Maude, and a loan from Moon Lee of Weaverville they purchased 500 acres in Burnt Ranch. In payment to Moon Lee, Lloyd was to provide a weekly delivery of hogs to Moon Lee’s market. This was in the early 1930s, so Vista was very young when they moved to Burnt Ranch. Her mother soon became the postmistress and served for over 50 years. Vista and her siblings Elnora and Thomas attended Burnt Ranch School and then went to Weaverville for high school.

At a community dance in 1947, she met Bruce McIntosh of Willow Creek. They were married in 1948 and were blessed with four sons: Bruce, Frasier, Loren and Clayton. Vista’s life centered around her children: their schools, Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts and PTA. She served on the local election board for 40-plus years. She did while canning and preserving an enormous supply of produce from the family farm (McIntosh Farm). In the summers, she always found time to take her children and up to 20 other young family members to the “farm swimming hole” on the Trinity River.

Vista and her husband Bruce spent every winter in their RV traveling the US and Canada and staying in Arizona or Mexico. Her grandchildren were the greatest delight in her life and she was also very special to them! She and her husband were diligent gardeners and grew so many beautiful roses that she started a business when in her 70s selling them at the Arcata Farmers Market (Vista’s Roses). Vista made friends easily, was well-liked and respected at the market and in her community on the river. Vista and Bruce were married for over 71 years! She was the true matriarch of her family and her passing has changed the fabric of the entire family.

Preceded in death by her beloved son, Frasier McIntosh she leaves behind her sons Bruce (Debby); Loren (Aida); Clayton (Danielle); and daughter-in-law Theresa McIntosh. Her grandchildren: Tom, Brandon, Duncan, Owen, Denise, Tina, Derek, Loreesa, Gwenn, Kyle, Jaril, Kate and Tia. She has 19 great-grandchildren. She will be missed!

Her ashes will be spread on the family farm in Willow Creek at a later date.

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Roy F. Johnson
July 8, 1941- December 31, 2023

Roy F. Johnson was born in Eureka on July 8, 1941 to George and Bernice (Hemenway) Johnson. He passed away peacefully, December 31, 2023 in the comfort of his home.

Roy attended Washington Elementary, Eureka Jr. High, and later graduated from Eureka High School in 1959. In 1957 Roy met the love of his life, Diana Brouillard, and they later married in 1961. Soon after, they welcomed, and then lost, their first-born son Roy E. Johnson. In 1963 they welcomed their second son Gregg, and then third son Troy in 1966.

Roy worked in construction during his early years at Johnson Structures Inc., a family business, moving houses. He moved houses and structures during the 1964 flood ranging from Ferndale to Rio Dell. He took pride in the many landmarks he helped build; one being the Mad River Fish Hatchery.

While his boys were growing up, their Summers were spent traveling to Allstar baseball games throughout the North State; many times, Roy being the coach. They went onto win several District 26 Tournaments. He had fond memories of the players and the love they shared of the sport.

In 1972 he began working at Humboldt Community Services District and retired in 1995 as a foreman. He took pride in his work ethic and was often found saying, at home and at work, “If you’re bored, I’ll find something for you to do.” He valued the lasting relationships with fellow co-workers and kept in touch with many even after retirement.

Roy reveled in his retirement with wife, Diana. They spent their later years attending concerts, traveling, camping, and held season passes to the Crabs baseball games. Roy enjoyed riding his dune buggy at Fort Baker, and time spent at the hunting camp with his sons and friends. They spent many Summers with family at Dean Creek Resort where they had a seasonal RV spot. In true Roy fashion, everything was a teaching moment. He set up a charge account at the camp store for his granddaughters and all they had to do was say “Charge It To Papa, Please.” He taught them the value of a dollar and was always gloating about how they would not abuse the privilege.

His granddaughters have wonderful childhood memories with their Papa: sleepovers, Shelter Cove just for lunch, Bandon, Oregon for lobster, shoe shopping on Sundays, teaching them to drive, stock car races, and grandparents’ day at school. He never missed a chance to spend quality time with his loved ones.

He and Diana were married for 62 years and his pure love for her never wavered. His granddaughters often said they wanted to find a man that looked at them the way “Papa looked at Nana.”

He leaves behind his wife, Diana, son Troy (Alma) Johnson, daughter-in-law Janie Johnson, brother Brad Johnson, granddaughters Brittney (David) Duran and Ambyr (Tyler) Heckel, great-grandchildren: Kynadi, Austyn, and Keaton. Many cousins, nieces and nephews; to name a few: Laura (Ralph) DuBois, Lisa (David) Boettger, Bruce (Michelle) Brouillard, Starla (Brian) Spencer, Beth Conway, and Larry (Polly) Johnson. A very special thank you to his nieces Lisa and Laura who were an amazing help at the end of his life.

He is proceeded in death by his parents George and Bernice, sons Roy E. Johnson and Gregg Johnson, brother George Johnson, sister Dorthy Doggett, and brother-in-law Louis Brouillard.

A Celebration of Life will be held on February 3, 2024 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Redwood Acres Wayne Vickers Hall.

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