The internet is abuzz today, as a newsletter from Arcata High Principal Kristin Ferderber and mailed to the AHS community recently makes the rounds.

Some Arcata High students walked out of class today, in protest of the actions described and also because they believe the newsletter was written by AI.

Here’s the relevant text from the newsletter.

The past two weeks have been a time of both challenge and reflection for our school. Recent events—including an incident at our Homecoming Dance where non-AHS students gained unauthorized entry, brought alcohol onto campus, and used abusive and racist language toward staff—have underscored the importance of our collective commitment to safety, respect, and belonging for every member of our community.

In a charged moment at a recent football game, I made a serious mistake:

I repeated the racial slur that was directed at me by a non-AHS student, intending to convey the gravity of the situation to a colleague. Regardless of my intent, repeating that word was wrong. As your principal, I recognize my actions caused pain, especially for our Black students, families, and staff. The impact of hearing such language from me, in any context, is significant and hurtful, and I take full responsibility for that.

These incidents have brought to light not only the need for vigilance in maintaining a safe and secure environment at all school events, but also the importance of modeling integrity and care in every interaction. I am committed to making sure our campus is a place where all students feel safe, respected, and valued—free from fear, disrespect, or exclusion.

Moving forward, we are taking immediate steps to strengthen campus safety and event supervision, including a review of our entry protocols. I am also committed to ongoing personal growth, listening to our community, and participating in the healing process necessary to restore trust.

I am deeply sorry for my actions and their impact. I promise that word will never be repeated by me. I am here to listen, to learn, and to work with you to build a stronger, safer Arcata High School for all.

Thank you to those who have shared their experiences and perspectives with honesty and courage. Your voices are essential as we move forward together.

With respect and commitment,

Kristin Ferderber
Principal, Arcata High School

UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.:

The Sequoia Park Zoo also posted about this incident on social media, with two photos of the visiting bear.

It was an eventful morning at Sequoia Park Zoo! 

Staff conducting the Redwood Sky Walk daily inspection spotted a wild American black bear within the Zoo facility.  Emergency procedures were implemented immediately, and the facility deployed a rapid response to assess and resolve the situation.

We are grateful to Eureka Police Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their swift response and assistance in creating a calm and safe resolution. This was an exemplary execution of our emergency systems which resulted in the best outcome for everyone involved – including the bear!

The wild bear did not appear aggressive and was observed interacting with Tule, Ishŭng, and Kunabulilh through their habitat fencing. At no point did the wild bear enter any animal habitats and, after a brief exploration of the enrichment items around the night house, the bear was safely coaxed back into the woods through a service gate.

Overall, he was a very polite visitor. He stayed on the boardwalk path, kept two feet on the ground and didn’t try to climb over the railings! (But seriously. When we say “wildlife welcome”, this isn’t exactly what we have in mind. )

The perimeter fencing separating the Zoo from Sequoia Park is intact and secure, and it is currently unknown how the animal gained access to the Zoo. We will continue to monitor the situation. Wild bears and other animals call Sequoia Park home, and we remind our guests to responsibly live alongside them by observing wildlife from a distance, staying on marked trails and always being aware of your surroundings.

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Original post:

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The Eureka Police Department posted the following message to its Facebook page shortly after 10 a.m.:

This morning, our officers responded to Sequoia Park Zoo to assist with an unusual guest — a wild bear decided to stop by and check out the exhibits.

Rest assured, the bear is not aggressive and seems more curious than anything else (perhaps hoping to apply for a membership). Our officers are on scene to help keep everyone safe while California Department of Fish and Wildlife works on gently encouraging the bear to move along to a more appropriate habitat.

The zoo remains secure, and there is no immediate threat to the public. We kindly ask that you give wildlife plenty of space and follow any directions from staff if you’re visiting today.

It’s not every day we find ourselves helping with crowd control for a bear who doesn’t quite understand “stay behind the railings.” Thank you for your patience as we let nature take its course…safely.

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Batten down the hatches, Humboldt. We’re about to get soggy.

The trusty meteorologists over at the National Weather Service are warning of “strong mid-level troughing over the Northeast Pacific.” Translation: A big ol’ atmospheric river is likely heading our way, bringing the potential for heavy rain, high winds and copious snow starting late next week and into the following one.

As shown in the map above, Humboldt County finds itself square in the crosshairs of this thing, with a “high risk” of both heavy rain across the county and heavy snow in the hills.

Expect the lowlands to flood, and avoid travel if you can. For the kids’ sake, let’s hope this thing passes by Halloween.

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As Halloween draws near, the Community Access Project for Eureka (CAPE) is doing its darndest to make sure all local kids have the opportunity to trick-or-treat in their outfit of choice with its annual costume drive.

CAPE is accepting monetary donations and new costumes for kids of all ages until Friday, Oct. 24. There are a few specific costume requests: a large-sized Jack Skellington, a toddler-sized Bingo from Bluey and a L. Clawdeen Wolf from Monster High.

If you wanna make someone’s spooky dream come true, you can deliver your donations to the Adorni Center (1011 Waterfront Drive) and the Uplift Eureka Resource Center (1111 E Street). More information can be found below:

Spooky season is right around the corner, but with your help it can be a little less scary and a lot more fun!

The Community Access Project for Eureka (C.A.P.E.) is putting on our annual Halloween Costume Drive to benefit local children in need. Halloween costume donations will be accepted until October 24th at the Adorni Center and Uplift Eureka Community Resource Center. Monetary donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase children’s preferred costumes.

We are looking for new costumes for children ages 0 to 17 that are appropriate in nature. Information on specific costumes needed can be found at eurekaheroes.org or by calling 707-672-2253.

Thanks for your help in making Halloween fun for everyone!

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

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Women in California today have fewer places to give birth than they did a decade ago. Legislation signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to create more options for them by making it easier for birth centers to operate outside of hospitals.

The “Freedom to Birth Act” by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, a Democrat from Oakland, streamlines burdensome licensure requirements that have prevented birth centers from receiving state approval. Without licensure, birth centers frequently can’t contract with health insurers or Medi-Cal. That leaves patients who can’t pay cash unable to use midwives or birth centers.

The legislation was introduced and signed following reporting by Cal Matters over the past two years revealing that vast areas of California have no hospitals or birth centers following dozens of closures. In some areas, pregnant people may have to drive two hours to give birth at a hospital.

“The fact that (CalMatters is) quoted in every letter of support that was sent to the Legislature and to the governor’s office asking for his signature says a lot,” said Sandra Poole, a lobbyist with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which co-sponsored the legislation. “The information you provided was foundational in the work that we did in this area.”

Birth centers, which are most commonly owned and operated by midwives, specialize in low-risk, out-of-hospital births. Research shows that midwife-led deliveries at birth centers are safe and lead to fewer interventions like cesarean sections.

Over the past three years, at least 20 birth centers have closed in California, according to CalMatters reporting and the California chapter of the American Association of Birth Centers. Of the roughly 30 facilities left, only four are licensed by the state public health department.

The birth center closures come at the same time that hospitals have closed dozens of labor and delivery wards. Nearly 60 maternity wards have closed since 2012, according to a CalMatters database.

The new law removes a mandate that birth centers operate within 30-minutes of a hospital with labor and delivery services and removes duplicative Medi-Cal requirements. The measure passed unanimously in the Assembly and the Senate.

“Red tape should never stand in the way of proven solutions to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare for Californians. By signing (the law), our state has taken a much-needed step to address the maternal health crisis,” Bonta said in a statement.

Survey: More than half of women consider midwives for birth

The new law is a crucial step toward making birth centers and out-of-hospital births more accessible, advocates say.

“When we first started looking at this issue there were 10 licensed birth centers on the state website. Then you start calling folks and it became six, and now we’re down to four,” Poole said. “It’s going in the wrong direction for sure.”

Poole said she’s hopeful the relaxed regulations will encourage more birth centers to open and allow those that have given up on licensure to try again. Doing so would also make the services more accessible for low-income families. Medi-Cal, the state insurance program for people with disabilities and low-income people, pays for half of all births in the state.

Most births happen in hospitals, but midwives deliver a growing number of babies in the state. Planned out-of-hospital births increased by 30% over the past decade even as birth rates overall declined, according to data from the Medical Board of California.

A 2018 survey by the California Health Care Foundation found that more than one-third of pregnant patients would be interested in having a midwife for a future birth. That interest was highest among Black women. More than 50% of women who wanted a midwife at birth said they didn’t use one because insurance wouldn’t pay for it.

Cindy Haag, a licensed midwife, has operated Pacifica Family Maternity Center in Berkeley for 13 years. In the beginning she tried to get licensed thinking it would be easy. Instead, Haag said the process was onerous and confusing. The health department didn’t even know what a birth center license was when she applied, Haag said, a story that multiple midwives who have attempted licensure have told CalMatters. The application was denied.

Without licensure she couldn’t take Medi-Cal patients.

“It’s really sad because it changes the diversity and the accessibility,” Haag said.

In recent years, Haag has come to an agreement with a local Medi-Cal plan to take some of their patients who want to give birth with a midwife outside of the hospital. Still, without full licensure, the birth center is limited on how much it gets reimbursed for Medi-Cal patients.

“We are doing the right thing because we care about accessibility, but it’s not for our financial gain,” Haag said.

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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.

Rosalia Marie Mott was born March 31, 1938 in Eureka, to Winnifred Marie Baldy and Elmer Gray George. She passed away October 13, 2025 at home in Hoopa. She was the eldest of three siblings, Mervin George Sr. and Reva Grant. She grew up in Eureka for a time, and returned to the family ranch in Hoopa in her teens. 

Rosie was a lifelong resident of Hoopa, went to school in the valley and graduated in the class of 1956. She played in the school band, tenor saxophone and piano. She also played in the family band with her Uncle Ray and Auntie Edith, and later played accompaniment now and then for her brother’s band, Merv George Band. She shared her love of music with her daughter and granddaughter, who both played saxophone. 

She began work at the United States Postal Service as a clerk out of high school, working under Postmaster Ernie Marshall and Rosalind Marshall, and stayed with the Post Office her entire career, finishing in the late 1990s, due to injury, as Hoopa Post Office Postmaster. 

Every summer she would spend weekends (and more) at Trinity Lake at Trinity Center, Cedar Stock, Estrallita Marinas. She was an avid water skier, and enjoyed her fair share of parties out on friends’ and family’s house boats. Once in a while she would also play piano for drinks out at the Cedar Stock bar. 

Rosie married Frank Reckord in 1958, and had one daughter, June Reckord. She later remarried to Francis Mott in 1968, staying married until his death in 2000. 

She assisted her family in Hupa tribal world renewal ceremonies, starting up the dances again when Rudolph Socktish brought them back. She worked in the Socktish Camp assisting her mother, Winnifred George, who was our Medicine Woman.

Rosie served her tribal government in later years on committees at TERO, EDA, and Hoopa Tribal Credit. 

She helped raised her granddaughter Brittany Britton, who was her riding partner on trips to town, shopping and more. Her daughter June was a dedicated caretaker for her mother for the past years, and the family is grateful for her work and love. 

Raise a glass for Rosie – a lot of you probably have fond memories of her at Club Hoopa, out at the lake or behind the counter at the Post Office. 

Rosie did not suffer fools gladly, but she had a heart big enough for everyone, as seen by the sheer number of people who called her grandma, auntie and mom. 

The family would like to thank Doctor Krall, CMA Evette Lewis at Kim:aw Medical Center, and all of the medical staff who have assisted with her care over the years. Thank you to past care from Doctors Eva Smith and Emmett Chase.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Winnifred George, her aunt Edith, Uncles Valin, Ferrel, Ray, Milton, Newton, her brother Merv George Sr., Andrew Andreoli. Her husband Francis Mott Sr., stepson Daniel Mott. Brother-in-law Wayne Grant, Nephew George Grant. 

She is survived by her daughter June Reckord, and granddaughter Brittany Britton, and Ana Kolpin. Her sister Reva Grant, sister-in-law Laura Lee George. Nieces Brenda Grant, Melodie Moore, Jennifer George, Nephew Mervin George Jr. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, too many to mention here. Stepson Francie Mott jr., Stepdaughter Susan Rowe, step-grandchildren, Shannon Mott Michael, Coty Mott, Daniel “Duffy” Mott, and Special family Evette Lewis and her daughter Andee Lewis.

We apologize if we missed listing anyone, we know a lot of people loved Rosie and had her in their lives and hearts. 

Pallbearers are Daniel “Duffy” Mott, Curtis Kane, Robert Kane Sr., Robert Kane Jr., Cole Kane, Jamie Lewis. Honorary Pallbearers are Emmett Chase, Steve Baldy, Harold “O’s” Campbell, Sam Campbell, Joseph Lemieux, Heath “Bubbs” Jackson, and Kevin Britton.

Graveside services will be held at the Baldy Family Cemetery Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Hoopa Tribal Firehall at 2 p.m. Join us in celebrating her life with memories and stories. 

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Michelle Flynn has been a nurse in Providence St. Joseph Hospital’s emergency department for almost a decade. The environment inside, amid the often desperate patients and hustling staff, can be described as “so much chaos,” she said in an interview earlier today.

In recent months, though, Flynn has been able to spend a lot more time with each patient, answering their questions, explaining their labs, even helping them make appointments or arrange family visits.

Ironically, perhaps, this increased level of personal engagement has been facilitated through cutting-edge technology that takes her out of the hospital entirely — physically, anyway. Working from home, Flynn appears in patient rooms virtually, her face popping up on a wall-mounted TV screen while she interacts with patients via secure, two-way audio and visual, enabled through a remote-controlled high-resolution camera.

Here’s what that looks like:

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Back in July, St. Joseph Hospital became the first Providence-owned medical facility to launch a virtual nursing model and hybrid approach in its Emergency Department. This pilot program combines telehealth with traditional bedside care, an approach that’s part of a broader tech-forward strategy that includes adoption of A.I.-empowered documentation and a “Physician in Triage” model that is streamlining workflows while enabling more patient-centered care, according to staff.

Hansen

Kristen Hansen, director of nursing for St. Joseph’s emergency department, told a group of reporters this morning that the virtual nursing program has been a hit with both patients and staff. Participating nurses do their rounds virtually, beaming into patient rooms to handle documentation, assess their pain levels, answer questions, facilitate language interpreter services when necessary — in short, handling tasks that help to free up in-person medical staffers for direct care.

“They can help with isolation patients, so the [other] nurses don’t have to go into the rooms as often, or violent patients with behavioral health [issues],” Hansen said.

The program is also helping Providence to retain some of its most experienced nurses in Humboldt County. Working in the Emergency Department can be very physically and emotionally demanding, Hansen said. “So this [virtual nursing program] gives an opportunity for us to keep those really high-performing nurses who are highly experienced involved in emergency care even when it’s difficult for them, physically or emotionally, to keep doing that work.”

Technology is allowing these nurses to reconnect with the most meaningful aspects of their work, Hansen said.

“Everyone gets into nursing because they want to take care of patients, and then you find that so much of your time is a checklist of things. You have to document; you have to complete [administrative] tasks; you don’t get to spend that time connecting with patients as much,” she explained. “The virtual nurses all express how much they love the opportunity to connect with their patients and actually spend the time doing the work that they got into nursing to do.”

Patients have been much happier, too.

“Our patient experience metrics have gone through the roof — some of the highest they’ve been in years,” Hansen said. 

Nurses in the program work from home on special Providence-issued computers built to comply with all HIPAA privacy regulations. The in-room cameras are all turned off and aimed away from patients until a virtual nurse beams in and “knocks,” then asks permission to “enter,” meaning turn the camera around and engage. 

“Usually, for the most part, they say, ‘I guess so,’” Flynn told reporters from her position on one of the wall-mounted TVs. Referring back to her description of the pandemonium that often overtakes the Emergency Department, Flynn said, “Being a virtual nurse? We’re like the calm in the chaos. … I’m able to go in and, like, talk with them for as long as they’d like.”

Predictably, some patients are a bit taken aback during their initial interactions with a virtual nurse. 

“They’re very, like, ‘Oh, this is weird,’” Flynn said. “But then, by the end of it, they’re like, ‘This is amazing.’”

Flynn was likewise a bit hesitant about the new approach at first. She wasn’t sure she’d like appearing remotely, but she said serving in this new role allows her to spend 20 or 30 minutes talking to individual patients.

“By doing this, I’m able to go on their chart and reassure them,” she said. “I’ve made appointments for patients that needed [them]; I have called family members. It’s very personal and it’s very, I don’t know, it’s meaningful. I actually really do enjoy doing this, and I feel like patients do as well.”

Meanwhile, St. Joseph Hospital has started using A.I. assistants to help with documentation, which saves medical staff even more time. 

Below is a press release from Providence with more information:

Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka enhances care delivery and reduces wait times with new innovations in the Emergency Department

Eureka, Calif. — Patients arriving at the Emergency Department at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka, a Level III Trauma Center, are now being seen on average in less than ten minutes of their arrival, thanks to a series of groundbreaking innovations designed to enhance the care experience, improve efficiency, and support bedside teams.

On July 17, St. Joseph Hospital Eureka became Providence’s first Emergency Department to launch a virtual nursing model and hybrid approach that blends telehealth support with traditional bedside care. This pilot program is part of a broader strategy that also includes adoption of AI technology by physicians and utilization of the Physician in Triage model to streamline workflows and enable more patient-centered care. “

These innovations are transforming how we deliver emergency care,” said Kristen Hansen, director of nursing, Emergency. “Patients are being seen faster, receiving more personalized attention, and our caregivers are feeling more supported than ever.”

Virtual nurses support ED teams

Each Emergency Department room is equipped with a mounted TV and camera, allowing virtual nurses to assist patients remotely via secure two-way audio and video. With a patient’s consent, family members or advocates can also join calls from outside the hospital. 

Virtual nurses do not replace bedside nurses, they provide supplemental support handling key tasks such as admissions, discharge preparation, medication reconciliation, and patient education, freeing up bedside teams to focus on direct care. 

One virtual nurse, Matthew Stevens, shared how the model is reshaping the patient experience:

“Virtual nursing allows us to return to the fundamentals of nursing, like being present, listening, educating, and advocating. In our fast-paced environment, virtual nurses can help patients feel seen and supported, while also relieving bedside caregivers of tasks like coordinating with outside facilities or facilitating interpreter-supported video calls. It’s a collaborative approach that truly enhances care.”

Patients are already noticing the difference. Vanessa Anderson, who recently visited the ED, shared her experience:

“The virtual nurse made sure I had everything I needed because they were busy; the emergency room was packed! The bedside nurse isn’t having to run around from room to room, making life easier. I was happy with my overall experience.”

Artificial Intelligence and Physician in Triage streamlines workflows 

St. Joseph Hospital Eureka also utilizes an AI assistant that securely captures patient-physician conversations and automatically converts them into notes for delivery within Providence’s electronic health record in real-time. Since implementation, the ambient tool has significantly reduced administrative burdens, allowing providers to spend more of their time focused on their patients at the bedside.

In addition, the hospital now utilizes a Physician in Triage model, placing a physician at the front of the emergency department workflow, allowing patients to be assessed and treated more quickly upon arrival. 

Together, these innovations are helping St. Joseph Hospital Eureka deliver faster, smarter, and more compassionate emergency care.

“We’re building this together,” Hansen said. “The response from our caregivers and patients has been overwhelmingly positive. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape the future of health care delivery.”

St. Joseph Hospital Eureka is proud to help lead these efforts for the broader Providence health system and welcomes feedback from the community as the pilot continues to evolve.