Five staff members of the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) announced Monday in a letter to the executive board of the NEC that they had unionized and were striking until their demands were met, claiming that their “private Free Speech rights” were “infringed upon” by the board, and also that they were generally being treated unfairly.

The signees included all of the members of the NEC’s staff except for Public Lands Director Larry Glass, who is also a secretary on the NEC’s board. 

Three of the staff (Moxie Alvarnaz, Carlrey Arroyo, and an unidentified third member) were at meetings of the Arcata City Council last month where public commenters, attempting to persuade the city to change its approach to cleaning up and moving homeless people from a private property in Arcata, shut down proceedings by shouting over meeting participants, frequently berating and personally insulting them. 

City employees, including a former NEC employee and Mayor Alex Stillman, reached out to the NEC board to complain about how the staff members acted at the meetings; the board decided to reach out to meet with two of the staff to work something out, but the staff decided to unionize and strike instead.

As of publication, none of the staff members have returned a request for comment.

Alvarnaz speaks at the Aug. 6 Arcata City Council meeting

Glass said in a phone interview with the Outpost yesterday that the staff members’ actions at the city council meetings damaged the NEC’s reputation immensely. More than 20 people have unsubscribed from NEC’s EcoNews publication, and former employees and members have said they don’t want to be associated with the NEC. Member groups like the Audubon Society, the Native Plant Society, and the Sierra Club called the NEC to ask them to explain what was happening, Glass said; a board member that represents the Sierra Club almost quit. 

This month’s EcoNews will not be published. Their offices are closed, and the NEC won’t be able to conduct any business. The board will meet soon to discuss how to handle the situation.

“It showed the organization in a very unprofessional light,” Glass said. “…It’s very serious. This whole thing has been a complete disaster for us.”

In the letter, the strikers bristle at what they see as a suppression of their right to free speech, citing the First Amendment in their letter as a guarantor that they can “[voice] outrage at anti-homeless sweeps, police violence, and continued gentrification in their City of residence.” (The First Amendment only protects citizens against government suppression of free speech. Third parties, like social media companies or employers, aren’t covered.) 

Because they didn’t identify themselves as employees of the NEC at the city council meetings, the staff believe they should not be disciplined. The NEC disagrees, as does their lawyer, because plenty of people at the meetings knew who they were and their employers. 

Glass denied that they were “targeting” anyone — all they wanted to do, according to him, was discipline two of their employees for representing them unprofessionally, and couldn’t manage even that. 

“I feel betrayed personally,” Glass said. “These people were employees, and, I thought, friends. I was hoping we could resolve the issue, and we wouldn’t have any further events like that in the future. That’s what I was hoping for: a resolution. I certainly didn’t expect it to escalate the way it has.”

The strikers also complain that their workplace has become “hostile” after board members attempted to meet with them to evaluate their work performances. 

Board members also wanted to judge how well they had done at managing the NEC. Instead of having an executive director, the staff split the director’s responsibilities for a six month trial period, which started in November of 2024. The trial ended long ago, and NEC leaders still haven’t been able to set up a meeting with the staff to break down how they did.

Board member Margaret Gainer criticized the letter announcing the strike, and said she was disappointed that they had been so hard to contact and work with.

“Their announcement was, A: difficult to understand, and B: riddled with things that aren’t factual,” she said in an interview with the Outpost. “What was not explained was the typical process for employees, how to help them be their best, and all of the things that are nonprofit best management practices. None of that is explained in the announcement.”

There’s a line in public protest, she said, between what’s acceptable and what’s not. A heads-up to the NEC’s upper management that they were planning on protesting would have made a big difference. 

“I’m just so disappointed that there’s been this long history of really effective, strategic, thoughtful, well informed, well researched impact on environmental issues in our region, and strong protests that made a difference, and that they have chosen to go this route,” Gainer said. “It’s too bad. That history of strong, effective, strategic, clear, purposeful protest is a part of what we’re proud of the NEC. And this is certainly a different way.”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

 On Sept. 17, 2025, at approximately 2:39 a.m. a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the 1400 Block of Glendale Drive in Blue Lake. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 59-year-old Brandi Lynn Manjarrez of Loleta who was on active probation for three counts of felony narcotic related offenses.

 

Per the terms and conditions of her probation, Manjarrez was subject to search at any time and was not to use, possess, traffic drugs or associate with drug users or traffickers. During this investigation deputies determined she was in violation of her probation, and she was arrested and transported the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for processing and booking. During this process a body scan revealed she had an object concealed in a body cavity. She was then transported to a local hospital for medical clearance.  

 

While at the hospital Manjarrez was found to be in possession of narcotics.  After medical clearance she was transported to the HCCF and booked on the following charges:

 

• H.S. 11351 - Possess / Purchase for sale narcotics / controlled substance
• P.C. 4573 (a) – Smuggle controlled substance into jail
• H.S. 11364(a) – Possession of drug paraphernalia 
• P.C. 148(a)(1) – Resist/Obstruct/Delay Peace Officer 
• P.C. 1203.2(a) – Violation of Probation
• H.S. 11350(a)- Possession of narcotics/ controlled substance

 

This case is still under investigation.

 

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 Redwood National and State Parks:

Since January of 2025, Redwood National and State Parks has had several metal objects stolen from the parks, including war veteran memorial plaques, donor recognition plaques, metal art sculpture objects, and commonplace items such as shower drains. These items celebrate and recognize individuals and groups who have contributed to the redwood forests and include items that bring culture and inspiration into the parks, benefitting visitors and local communities.

Redwood National and State Parks welcomes public assistance with this issue by being on the lookout for these items at metal recycling locations or other potential resale locations. If anyone is aware of these items being resold or has information about the burglary you are encouraged to call Ranger Greg McKisson at (707) 498-4362 or leave a tip anonymously at 707-465-7353.

>Pictured above are examples of the types of the metal items that were recently stolen from Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, including a 20-inch bronze canoe tactile model and a 12-inch bronze Coho salmon tactile model.

###

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

###

Several health care bills are now on the governor’s desk, aiming to improve access for Californians who can’t afford prescription drugs, shorten delays to medical decisions, and address threats to personal privacy.

This year, California lawmakers backed at least half a dozen bills that would change how consumers access drugs and health care – and set new protections for their medical privacy. Opponents of some of these efforts say more regulations will only make health care more expensive, while advocates say consumers need protection from the federal government and from powerful industry lobbies that drive up costs.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Oct. 12 to approve or veto these measures.

Making prescription drugs more affordable

Rising drug costs are one of the leading drivers of increased health spending. Between 2022 and 2023, the most recent year state data is available, spending on prescription drugs increased by nearly 11%. That’s part of why state lawmakers are trying to make prescription drugs cheaper for consumers by limiting out-of-pocket costs and cracking down on companies that control prescription drug benefits.

Newsom vetoed a proposal to cap insulin costs two years ago, pointing to a $100 million state initiative to manufacture low-cost insulin instead. But with that project — named CalRx — yet to produce any insulin, lawmakers returned with a new push to bring immediate relief to diabetes patients.

Reintroduced this year by Sen. Scott Wiener, Senate Bill 40, which passed unanimously in the Senate and Assembly, would cap monthly out-of-pocket spending on insulin at $35. It’s a life-saving drug, but its high cost, which can be hundreds of dollars per month, can lead patients to skip doses and ration medication.

Wiener said he brought this measure back in the hopes of helping patients find financial relief as soon as January. “Whatever happens with CalRx is not mutually exclusive with the goal of capping (out-of-pocket) costs for insulin,” he added.

Wiener focused a lot of attention on prescription drug costs this year. Another of his measures, Senate Bill 41, would create some of the strongest regulations in the country for pharmacy benefit managers.

Pharmacy benefit managers serve as intermediaries between health insurance companies and drug manufacturers. They manage claims, negotiate the price of drugs under a complex system of rebates, and control the list of prescription drugs that insurers will cover.

In California, they’ve gone largely unregulated.

Wiener’s proposal would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from “steering” patients to specific pharmacies or charging patients more for a drug than they reimburse the pharmacy. It would also, among other regulations, require them to pass all savings negotiated with drug manufacturers on to patients.

Opponents of the measure argue that it would prevent pharmacy benefit managers from effectively negotiating lower drug costs with manufacturers and will cost the state billions of dollars. They also contend that enough regulation was inserted into a budget deal Newsom made in May requiring pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed by the state and note that the state finance department is opposed.

“Californians simply cannot afford policies like SB 41 that would enrich pharmaceutical manufacturers by raising costs across the state’s patients and small businesses,” according to an unsigned statement from the Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance, a group representing pharmacy benefit managers.

Helping Californians with timely access and hospital bills

Thousands of Californians struggle with health care delays and unpaid bills each year. Health advocates say these issues cause many people to wait in limbo while their condition deteriorates or forgo health care altogether.

One of the reasons for delays is prior authorization, a process in which medical providers must get approval from health insurance before they can provide a service or dispense medication. Insurers say prior authorization is needed to keep health spending down by preventing people from getting unnecessary or duplicative services, but doctors and patients criticize it because it can delay care.

Two Democrats, Sen. Josh Becker from Menlo Park and Assemblymember John Harabedian from Pasadena, want to make it easier for patients to get the care recommended by their doctors without waiting for insurance to weigh in.

Becker introduced Senate Bill 306, a measure that would eliminate prior authorization requirements for treatments that health insurance plans approve 90% of the time. Harabedian’s measure, Assembly Bill 512, would speed up the process by shortening the time health insurers have to respond to prior authorization requests. Insurers would have to make decisions for requests made electronically within three days for standard requests and 24 hours for urgent ones.

“Doctors should be spending their time with patients — not drowning in paperwork for treatments that nearly always get approved anyway,” Becker said in a statement earlier this year.

The state’s doctor lobby sponsored both bills. Meanwhile, health insurers opposed them, arguing that current prior authorization rules are necessary for safe and cost-effective care.

Lawmakers also voted for legislation that aims to make it easier for patients to receive financial assistance from hospitals.

Research has shown that many patients do not know about or do not apply to hospital charity care programs even though they may qualify. Assembly Bill 1312 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, a Santa Clarita Democrat, requires hospitals to check whether patients are eligible for financial assistance or discounted payments before sending them a bill.

Under the proposal, hospitals would have to presume that people who are enrolled in means-tested programs, such as food stamps and cash assistance, are eligible for financial aid, along with people who are experiencing homelessness. Hospitals would have to proactively screen patients for charity care eligibility if they are uninsured, enrolled in Medi-Cal or in a Covered California health plan.

If signed, the bill would take effect in 2027.

Protecting sensitive medical information

As the Trump administration pushes the limits on immigration enforcement and pushes norms on abortion restrictions, California lawmakers are seeking to boost privacy protections for sensitive medical information.

Sen. Jesse Arreguín, a Berkeley Democrat, sought to add protections for immigrants in medical facilities. His bill came as incidents where immigration agents showed up at hospitals raised questions and confusion, as well as fear among patients and health workers.

Senate Bill 81 would require hospitals and clinics to designate “non-public spaces” in their facilities and restrict immigration agents from entering those spaces unless agents can present a judicial warrant. The Fourth Amendment already protects people from unreasonable searches in places where they can expect privacy, such as a medical exam room. If signed, this bill would add a state-level layer of protection.

“This legislation is urgent and necessary,” Arreguín said in August. “No one should have to choose between seeking medical care and fearing detention or deportation.”

Lawmakers are also attempting to safeguard abortion information after Texas and other states that heavily restrict or ban abortion enacted laws allowing their residents to sue out-of-state abortion providers.

Already doctors in California and New York have been sued for providing abortion medication to residents in states where the procedure is not allowed.

If signed, a bill authored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry would allow doctors, pharmacists and other authorized prescribers to prescribe abortion pills without putting their names or the patient’s name on the prescription label. The Davis Democrat’s measure aims to create an added level of legal protection for abortion providers in California during a time marked by conflicting inter-state laws.

In a statement, Aguiar-Curry said the proposal “is about making sure Californians can get the care they need without fear or politics getting in the way.”

###

Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

Andrea Jeanette Rose Marshall Kelsey
November 8, 1941 – September 12, 2025

Andrea Jeanette Rose Marshall Kelsey was born on November 8, 1941, and peacefully passed away surrounded by family at her home in Hoopa, on September 12, 2025. She was the beloved daughter of Ernest C. Marshall and Rosalind Marion Risling Marshall.

During the 1970s, Andrea attended the University of California, where she earned a double major in Creative Writing (Letters and Science) and Native American Community Development (Applied Behavioral Sciences). She went on to serve as the administrative assistant for the Native American Language Project at D-Q University and later became an Outreach Officer for the University of California. She also served as Education Director for the Hoopa Valley Tribe.

From 1980 to 1985, Andrea was the Editor and Manager of Common Sense, a local Hoopa newspaper project. At the same time, she owned and operated a gift shop in Hoopa called I-Ee-Quee. She later moved to California’s Central Valley, where she served as Executive Director of Local Indians For Education (LIFE), Inc.

Andrea’s many accomplishments also reflected her passion for the arts, publications, and productions. She was an accomplished poet and playwright and enjoyed painting, traveling, and serving as a Presbyterian Church Chair and Youth Group Leader — among countless other pursuits she loved.

By her friends and family, she was called “Jen,” and in later years she was affectionately known as “Grummy” by her grandchildren. She was truly the coolest — fun, vibrant, and deeply curious. With a love for art, poetry, world history, politics, and philosophy, she was a captivating conversationalist. She generously shared her family’s traditional stories and songs with anyone who visited or asked. She could always find the magical, beautiful, and spiritual dimensions in this world and readily shared this perspective.

In the 1970s, she was a daring and passionate college student who participated in the Occupation of Alcatraz, climbing a fence to help reclaim a federal facility for the Indian college known as D-Q University — all while driving a brand new Ford Mustang. She was fun, and she was fun to be around.

Andrea was preceded in death by her brothers Ernest E. Marshall and Larry Marshall; her sister Ernestine Marshall Prindle; and her sons Dale Dalton Kelsey and Michael Robert Kelsey.

She is survived by her children Jene (Edward) Moore, Honor Kelsey-Tracy, and Alfred Kelsey; her grandchildren Morgan (Lyle) Tracy, Lawrence (Erika) Tracy, Kendall (Merv) Allen, Ryan Allen, Adam (Ashley) Allen, and Dale (Danielle) Kelsey Jr.; and her great-grandchildren Rian (Danger) and Taelyr Tracy; Chayden, Dayne, and Deja Baldy; Leila, Queen, Tashee, Isde:w, Diniwh, and Xodistl’o:n Tracy; Callen and Delmar George; Isaiah Campbell; Josiah and Elijah James; Alani and Aryah Allen; and Aiden and Jamison Kelsey. She is also survived by her sisters Darlene Marshall Hailey, Bonny Marshall Roberts, and Betty Marshall Hutt.

Pallbearers:

Alfred Kelsey, Adam Allen, Lawrence Tracy, Rian Tracy, Lyle Baldy Jr., Chayden Baldy, Dayne Baldy, Isaiah Campbell, Josiah James, Elijah James, Clifford Marshall, Jordan Hailey, Joey Hailey, Gordon (Sport) Surber, Wesley Hutt, Merv George Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers:

Dale Risling, Gary Risling, Edward Moore, Lyle Marshall, Barron Risling, Leslie Risling.

Andrea is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and we apologize to anyone who may have been unintentionally omitted.

A graveside service will be held at the Hoopa Tribal Cemetery on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at the Hoopa Fire Hall.

Dennis Domijan was born in Fontana, California on July 22, 1964. He grew up and lived in Southern California until he, his wife and daughters traveled the California coast in 1994 landing in Willow Creek. 

Dennis was a man of honor, integrity and compassion with the most jovial spirit, and is cherished by family, friends and many community members. Everyone remembers him for his big cheery smile, his laughter, willingness to help others, kindness, generosity and industriousness. He carried a genuine heart of gold and is well known for being a great guy; he truly was an irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind man. He was always easy to talk with, laugh with, great with words and listened with empathy. For those who didn’t know him that personally, you likely knew him as your mechanic, given his 30+ years of dedication and service to keeping people mobile for work, travel, commutes and driving throughout these beautiful mountain communities. He enjoyed music, hunting, traveling, beach days, accomplishing projects and most of all spending time with his wife, girls, family, friends, dogs and God, ensuring to make memories that last a lifetime time and beyond. His kind-hearted spirit and unforgettable smile are the legacy that he leaves us with. Through his demonstration of actions, may we all always be kind, help each other, forgive and reserve judgment. 

At the age of 61, on September 6, 2025, Dennis passed unexpectedly and swiftly with dignity while doing what he loved - hunting, enjoying God’s beauty in the mountains and being in serenity. Let his memory be a blessing to us all and may we never forget his smile, laugh and spirit.

Dennis Domijan is survived by his wife and best friend of 43 years Deborah Domijan, his oldest daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Joshua Agne, his youngest daughter and son-in-law Julieann and Dennis Bieneck, granddaughter Robyn Weiss, grandsons Rhiland Weiss and Royce Bieneck, his loving mother Doris Domijan, brothers Frank and Jeff, his pups -  Honey and Velvet and extended family including nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins who all love and miss him dearly. He is preceded in death by his father Frank Domijan and grandparents. 

We would like to thank Trinity Alps Funeral Home for their empathy and handling our loved one with care. 

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for continued prayers, kind thoughts and support from the community, reflecting the spirit of care that Dennis shared throughout his life.

###

After months of advocacy by pro-Palestinian protestors, the Arcata City Council voted last night to publish a letter urging CalPERS to withdraw its investments from companies profiting from “weapons manufacturing, human rights violations, for-profit prisons, and immigration detention centers,” and to use that money in more “ethical and socially responsible” ways. 

They also adopted a resolution asking for “Immediate, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid” into Gaza.

“CalPERS has the opportunity to lead by example and align its investments with values of justice, equity, and responsibility,” the letter reads. “We urge you to act promptly and responsibly.”

About 25 people showed up to the special meeting of the city council, with another 20 or so on Zoom. Demonstrators have been calling on Arcata’s City Council to divest from CalPERS for almost two years, and last month were part of a group that shut down several city council meetings. The city council did adopt a resolution calling for a general end to war in the Middle East in March of 2024.

City councilmember Stacy Atkins-Salazar said at a city council meeting last month that she’d written a resolution advocating for the free and unhindered flow of aid into Gaza, and that it’d be on an upcoming city council agenda. Councilmember Meredith Matthews said at that meeting that she did not support a proposal to withdraw Arcata’s pension funds from CalPERS because of the fiscal harm it might cause the city and the employees whose retirement packages are bound to it, but this letter instead simply puts the onus on CalPERS.

Eureka’s city council approved a similar letter last month, although they were more explicit about the relation to the “genocide of the Palestinian people.”

In a phone call today with the Outpost, Arcata Mayor Alex Stillman said she didn’t know if adopting the resolution and sending the letter would satisfy people, but hoped it’d do something to bring Arcata together. 

“I hope it makes a difference for people in Arcata,” Stillman said. “…We took action. Some people will be happy; some people won’t.”

Many are not. DivestHumboldt said the city council “needed to change” and they would keep pushing for a more targeted approach. The council received many emails telling them they were going too far, and many emails from residents who said the letters and the resolution didn’t go far enough.

“I support Arcata sending this letter with one important change requested: please be explicit in stating that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians (as agreed upon by all major human rights orgs scholars, and international courts),” reads one. “Using only language of “humanitarian disaster”, human rights violations”, and ‘famine’ obscures the underlying issue: Israel’s intentional and ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced starvation of Palestinians and illegal occupation of Palestine.”