Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

At approximately 6:44 p.m. [on Sept. 15], Eureka Police Department patrol officers responded to a report of a reckless driver traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour within the US Highway 101/South safety corridor.

During the incident, the passenger—who also owned the vehicle—requested the driver to pull over and let them exit due to the dangerous driving behavior. The driver refused, effectively detaining the passenger against their will while continuing to drive recklessly. When the vehicle eventually stopped near 4th and R Streets, the passenger was able to exit. The driver then fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

Officers located the suspect a short time later near the 3300 block of Broadway and conducted a traffic enforcement stop. The driver, identified as 35-year-old Abdul-Rahman Ahmed Omar of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was ultimately taken into custody for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Within the vehicle, officers recovered a pistol loaded with a high-capacity magazine.

Omar was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for multiple felony charges.

To protect the integrity of this ongoing investigation, further details are not currently being released.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Eureka Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) at 707-441-4300.

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Press release from Humboldt Waterkeeper and the Redwood Community Action Agency:

Humboldt Waterkeeper’s interactive digital Humboldt Bay Water Trail map is now available to help kayakers, paddlers, and others navigate around the bay. Originally developed by Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), Humboldt Waterkeeper has breathed new life into the map, updating it with channel depths from NOAA’s navigational charts and crowd-sourcing updates on the best boat launches. Download the georeferenced PDF for mobile apps like Avenza, or access the interactive web map directly in any browser.

“RCAA has been collaborating with leadership visionaries to provide a continually updated water trails map for residents and visitors alike,” said Denise Newman, Projects Coordinator for RCAA’s Natural Resource Services. “RCAA is pleased to see Humboldt Waterkeeper buoy this effort for our boating community with a digitized and easily updateable map.”

Beginning in 2009 with a variety of funding sources, RCAA has worked with Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, HSU Center Activities (now Cal Poly Humboldt Outdoor Adventures), the cities of Arcata and Eureka, local boating outfits and retailers to maintain the water trails map for residents and visitors alike.

“The updated Humboldt Bay Water Trails map is a great contribution towards getting more people on the water in fun and safe ways. It’s an important resource for local paddlers to discover new launch spots and paddle routes, and for visiting paddlers to see all the options for getting on the bay and to tailor their excursions to tides and other conditions,” said Brian Orland, a local sea kayaker and member of Explore North Coast.

Both the web map and the georeferenced PDF allow for live location tracking on a smartphone or other mobile device. Details on access, tides, safety, water recreation tips and local resources allow paddlers to make informed decisions for how to best enjoy Humboldt Bay by watercraft. These details can be found in the web map by tapping or clicking on symbols, such as the numbered dots representing boat launches. Choose your preferred location, route, length of trip, and time of day in tandem with the tides.

Humboldt Bay Recreation Survey

Humboldt Waterkeeper is surveying people about their uses of Humboldt Bay – whether you paddle, fish, swim, or none of the above, your input is helpful.

Encuesta sobre recreación en la bahía de Humboldt

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Humboldt Waterkeeper (formerly Humboldt Baykeeper) works to safeguard our coastal resources for the health, enjoyment, and economic strength of the Humboldt Bay community through education, scientific research, and enforcement of laws to fight pollution. For more info, visit https://humboldtwaterkeeper.org.

Redwood Community Action Agency is a nonprofit organization that provides housing, energy, natural resources, youth, and community services in Eureka and nearby areas. Learn how RCAA empowers people and changes lives since 1980. For more info, visit https://www.rcaa.org/.

Explore North Coast (ENC) is an association of paddlers that hosts regular paddling events, promotes paddling safety and education, and encourages stewardship of, and improvements to, bay and coastal access on the North Coast.https://explorenorthcoast.net/

Press release from the City of Arcata:

Construction is set to begin on Monday, Sept. 22 for the Arcata Annie and Mary Trail Connectivity Project.

The project will add approximately 3.5 miles of paved, multi-use trail extending from the Arcata Skate Park at Sunset Avenue, north through Valley West and ending at the Mad River at Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Park 1. Key features include the installation of four bridges, one boardwalk and new striping at Giuntoli Lane and Sunset Avenue.

Granite Construction has been awarded the project and will work along the southern section, between Sunset Avenue and St. Louis Road, through November 2025. The full project is expected to be completed by summer of next year.

Construction hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with possible Saturday work from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Community members are reminded to follow all posted safety instructions and traffic control devices when traveling through the project area.

Additional information can be found on the City’s website at the Current City Construction Projects page.

For more information, please visit cityofarcata.org or call (707) 825-2128

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

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Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a sweeping package of climate and energy policies to extend the cap-and-trade greenhouse gas emissions program, increase oil drilling and allow the state to create a Western regional electricity market.

The overhaul that Newsom and top lawmakers negotiated in the final days of the legislative session amid heavy lobbying last week reflects urgency in the Democratic Party to preserve its climate goals while simultaneously reining in the surging gas and energy costs that have threatened to drive voters to the right.

Lawmakers opened the session this year declaring a focus on making California more affordable, following a bruising national election for Democrats. The energy package was central to that goal, with progressives proposing to lower costs with industry regulations.

But after two years declaring special sessions targeting the oil and gas industry, Newsom began to warm up to them as oil refineries announced closures that could send gas prices spiking. As a result, one of the bills he signed Friday would boost domestic oil production in Kern County by approving a long-delayed environmental impact report for new wells.

“We have to effectively transition,” Newsom said at an event in San Francisco. “This is not an ideological endeavor. We’re in the practical application business. We’ve got to manifest our ideals and our goals. So this lays it out. But it lays it out without laying tracks over folks.”

The biggest part of the complex package he signed were bills to extend the state’s cap and trade program, which since 2013 has put a price tag on carbon emissions. The program caps the amount of greenhouse gases that polluting industries can emit, and to a limited extent allows companies that cut emissions to sell permits to other companies that pollute. The program raises money for many of the state’s climate programs.

The extension leaves the program largely the same, which disappointed environmental justice advocates who argued it has allowed oil and gas to continue polluting near low-income communities. In a nod to those concerns, Newsom also signed another bill in the package that creates a state fund to monitor pollution mitigation in disadvantaged communities.

He also signed two bills affecting the electricity grid. One would allow the state to create a Western regional energy market, allowing the state to trade more electricity with neighbors.

Proponents, including mainstream environmental groups, say the idea would lower prices by allowing California producers to sell excess clean energy during times the state doesn’t need it — when it’s sunny, but not hot, for example, while importing power during heat waves and other high-demand times.

The other bill aims to lower the cost of transmission infrastructure for customers by setting up a public financing system for building new power lines. It would also prevent some utilities’ wildfire mitigation costs from being passed on to customers, and replenish the state’s wildfire fund by $18 billion. The money, paid by shareholders and ratepayers over the next decade, is used to pay wildfire victims.

The package Newsom signed leaves one imminent concern unaddressed: upcoming refinery closures. Negotiations late in the legislative session to keep two Bay Area refineries open have so far failed to produce any deals.

Some Democrats simply didn’t want to give more to the oil industry, while others disagreed on how much support the state should provide, Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Suisun City Democrat, told CalMatters last week. Wilson had been pushing for the state to support the Valero refinery in Benicia that is now set to close by the end of the year without a deal, costing the city its largest private employer.

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Cayla Mihalovich is a California Local News fellow.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Claiming Infringements on Free Speech Rights, Northcoast Environmental Center Staff Members Strike
• Striking Northcoast Environmental Center Staff Issue Statement

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The Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) is in turmoil. Its staff have gone on strike, accusing the board of misrepresentation, disrespect, and silencing of their political activism. Their demands call for sweeping changes to the NEC’s governance, communications, and even its very identity.

The staff clearly feel strongly about their vision for the future. But here’s the hard truth: if your ideology no longer matches the institution you work for, the solution is not to seize the institution and bend it to your theology. The solution is to build your own.

The NEC is not a blank slate. It is nearly fifty years old, with deep roots in the North Coast’s environmental history. It carries the legacy of redwood protection campaigns, citizen science, coalition building, and the long, slow work of conservation in both policy and community. You may not agree with every decision made by past leaders, but you cannot erase the foundation they built.

Trying to reshape an established institution to reflect a new and radically different ideology comes at a steep cost. It risks alienating longtime members, confusing the public, and burning through the credibility that took decades to build. It fractures the community into factions rather than broadening the movement.

I know this because I’ve created not one, but two organizations myself. Building something new is hard — far harder than taking the keys to an existing brand. It requires vision, persistence, and the ability to inspire people to join you. It demands earning the trust of funders, members, and partners. And it forces you to prove that your vision is viable: that it resonates with enough people, and that your target base has the resources to sustain it.

If the NEC staff’s ideology truly reflects the future of environmentalism, then they will find an audience. They will attract members. They will secure grants and donations. They will stand on their own. And in doing so, they will earn the freedom to shape governance and communications exactly as they wish, without being constrained by the expectations of an older institution.

But if the ideology is too fringe, or if the target community lacks resources, then the new organization may not survive. That is the test every founder faces — and it is a fairer test than dismantling an elder institution from within.

The NEC was born in another time, to meet the needs of that era. Its staff are calling for something new, born of today’s intersectional justice movements. Both have value. But they don’t have to be in the same house. The respectful path is to allow NEC to continue in its tradition, while new organizations rise to carry forward new visions.

Our community needs both continuity and innovation. It needs legacy institutions with deep roots, and new ones with fresh energy. But we must resist the temptation to cannibalize one to create the other. If you believe the future demands a new theology, then have the courage to build it.

Press release from the City of Eureka:

On Saturday, September 13, 2025 the community celebrated the grand opening of Da’ Yas “Where the Cypress Are” Park located between Buhne St. and W. Henderson St. and between California St. and Union St. The event, hosted by the City of Eureka Community Services Department, featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, community painted mural, free ice cream, scavenger hunt, games, sports demonstrations, and free bike valet.

The four-acre neighborhood park received a $6.4 million grant from California State Parks, Prop 68 Statewide Parks Program, Round 3. Prior to improvements, the space was largely undeveloped, the condition had visibly deteriorated, and was lacking basic amenities needed to serve the community. The revitalized park now features a custom egret and watershed themed all-inclusive playground, multi-use sports courts, new parking and restrooms, fitness equipment, accessible pathways, grass play area for volleyball and soccer, new plaza on Union St. as well as upgrades to Jacob Haney Ball Field.

Park History

Previously named 20/30 Park, the City of Eureka opened the park in 1953 through the assistance, both financially and physically of the Twenty-Thirty Club of Eureka. Though no longer active in Eureka, the Twenty-Thirty club functioned as a service club for 20-30-year-old men. The park we know today is a direct result of their past investments in supporting city parks and we celebrate their history and impact on our community.

Visionary Planning

The thoughtful park design includes features for all abilities and can be attributed to the brilliant creative minds at Melton Design Group (MDG), the landscape architects behind this project. Based out of Chico, CA, MDG worked with the community to transform a blank slate into a community asset that beautifully blends artful form and functionality. Every design element was intentional, from curving pathways to connect all aspects of the park to sight lines for parents that allow clear visibility whether children are on the little league field or on the playground, and inclusive access to play pieces such as wheel devices being able to roll directly onto the playground structure. Custom made by Landscape Structures for this park project, the egret playground is one of a kind and does not exist anywhere else in the world. The egret emerged as the park’s central symbol, reflecting its widespread presence in the local environment. This careful attention to detail and innovation not only creates a visually appealing park, but also ensures it serves the diverse needs of the community for years to come.

A local community member said, “This park is a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. We are grateful to be able to be within walking distance to the park. It is ADA accessible for my son and all the other kiddos with special healthcare needs. We have been four times in the past week. It was needed for our neighborhood. There are a lot of grateful families, thank you!”

Renaming With the park slated to receive major improvements, an opportunity was provided to consult the community about the park’s identity. The first renaming survey shared information about the origin of the park and its current name. A majority of respondents supported renaming the park. Survey respondents were also provided the opportunity to suggest possible names. The majority of the respondents expressed a desire for the park to have a Wiyot name. In consultation with the Wiyot Tribe, a list of possible park names was provided translated into Soulatluk. The final renaming decision was placed in the hands of Eureka’s residents. By survey, the community chose Da’ Yas Park - “Where the Cypress Are”.

A New Era

The park welcomed over 1,000 visitors from the community during the Grand Opening party. HumBubbles, a group of local volunteers, brought a magical touch to the park with bubbles. Local muralist, Mir De Silva, led a collaborative paint-by-number mural on the restroom, allowing community members to leave their mark by painting their own section. The Coalition for Responsible Transportation, offered a free bike valet service to ensure all who biked to the park had a safe place to leave their bike. Local sports leagues, Humboldt Soccer and Humboldt Hockey, performed sports demonstrations of futsal and roller hockey on the multi-sport court attracting many enthusiastic spectators.

Robin Praszker, Project Manager, said, “This unprecedented level of investment in our city parks system marks a transformative moment for both the immediate neighborhood and the broader community. Da’ Yas is more than just a park, this is a space for community and connection.” 

Tennie Helena Brooks born March 14, 1939 passed away peacefully at her home on August 26 after a long courageous battle with dementia.

Tennie grew up in Holland, where her grace and spirited nature inspired many. She pursued a career in nursing and worked as a resident nurse on a cruise ship traveling the Rhine River in Europe.

Her compassion for others and adventurous spirit eventually carried her across the ocean to America in the early 1970s. In California, Tennie found her calling as an OB nurse in the Turlock area, supporting countless families through some of life’s most important moments.

In 1995 she and her beloved husband Hank Brooks moved to Humboldt County. Tennie went on to devote nearly three decades as a lead registered nurse at the Northern California Community Blood Bank, where her steady hand and kind heart touched colleagues and donors alike.

Beyond her profession, Tennie found joy in sewing, theater, music, crafts and gardening, avidly supporting the arts locally. She was a frequent volunteer at the Humboldt Botanical Garden, where her love for nature and flowers brighten the lives of all who worked alongside her.

Tennie was preceded in death by her husband, Hank. She will be remembered with love and gratitude by her friends and colleagues, and all who were fortunate to know her. Her legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and quiet strength.

A memorial will be held at the College of the Redwoods Humboldt Botanical Garden on Saturday October 4, at 2 p.m.

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