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It won’t come as news to most Outpost readers that Humboldt County’s economy has taken an epic dump over the past decade or so, thanks largely to the collapse of the commercial cannabis industry. To employ the jargon du jour, this downturn has been our lived experience. 

Which sucks, obviously, but it can be mildly satisfying to have our maladies accurately described. A new report from the UC Davis Labor and Community Center does just that, mapping our region’s economic pain through statistics and charts. While grim, the data may help validate our collective sense of financial malaise while highlighting the importance (and shortcomings) of government assistance programs. 

Drawing on data from the California Department of Social Services, the UC Davis Labor and Community Center analyzed CalFresh usage rates among various age groups.

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The news hook, if you need one, was November’s pause in funding for CalFresh (federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) due to the federal government shutdown, which temporarily cut off $5.7 million in monthly assistance to people experiencing food insecurity in Humboldt County alone.

“This financial hit to low-wage recipients, along with rising food prices and reduced federal spending on emergency food distribution, deepened food insecurity and highlighted the precarious nature of food access Californians regularly experience,” a research brief explains. “Although the November federal government shutdown ended, many factors that contribute to food insecurity in California and Humboldt County remain.”

The Center’s study examines longer-term trends in food insecurity. It found that every age group in Humboldt County saw increased CalFresh enrollment between 2014 and 2024, particularly the 18 to 59 age group, which far outpaced statewide rate increases.

As shown in the chart below, 22.5% of Humboldt County residents age 18 to 59 were enrolled in CalFresh in 2024. That’s more than twice the statewide rate of 11.1%, and the gap has been widening. From 2014-2024, this age group’s CalFresh enrollment statewide increased by 2.4%, but in Humboldt County it increased by 8.2%.

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Making matters worse, the median household income in Humboldt County has fallen further behind statewide averages, and our rate of full-time workers living in poverty nearly doubled in ten years.

In fact, in 2014 Humboldt County had a lower percentage of full-time, year-round workers living in poverty than the statewide average (3.5% versus 3.6%). By 2024, however, the statewide figure declined to just 2.2% while in Humboldt County it rose significantly to 6.2%. See the chart below.

Here’s some more data to bring the growing disparity into focus: From 2014 to 2024, the median household income in Humboldt County increased 43.2%, or $17,526. Statewide over that period, the median household income grew 61.7%, or $38,216. (All figures cited are in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars.)

Here’s what that looks like in chart form:

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Looking for yet more sobering stats? We got you:

• The number of Humboldt County residents receiving CalFresh benefits has steadily increased over the last 10 years, exceeding 30,000 individuals in 2024, a 55.5% increase since 2014.
• In 2014, Humboldt County had the 19th-highest CalFresh enrollment rate among California’s 58 counties; by 2024 we ranked 9th.
• More than 1 in 4 children in Humboldt County (28.4%) were enrolled in CalFresh in 2024, along with more than 1 in 6 seniors age 60+ (17.5%).
• Back in 2014, Humboldt County had the 16th-highest enrollment rate for working-age adults; by 2024 we ranked 5th, with more than 1 in 5 (22.4%) of our residents age 18 to 59 enrolled in CalFresh. 
• A disproportionately high percentage of workers in Humboldt County work full-time, year-round, yet live in poverty. In 2014, this rate in Humboldt County was slightly lower than the statewide average, 3.5% versus 3.6%. In 2024, however, the statewide figure decreased to just 2.2%, while in Humboldt County it rose significantly to 6.2%.

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CalFresh benefits expanded during the COVID pandemic, but the expansion was rolled back in March 2023. As a result of that rollback, resident needs increased exactly as you’d expect. Food for People (Humboldt County’s food bank) went from serving about 16,000 people per month to serving roughly 21,000, a 31% increase.

The Center’s report notes more trouble on the horizon:

“In addition to the 2025 government shutdown and the forthcoming H.R. 1-mandated cuts, the USDA also recently threatened to withhold SNAP benefits from [Democratic] states, including California, that do not comply with its demand to hand over data on SNAP enrollees, including immigration-related codes,” the report brief says.

But the bottom line, here in Humboldt, is that working full-time often isn’t enough to make ends meet. Here’s the conclusion from Jason Whisler, M.A., and Marcos Lopez, Ph.D., at UC Davis:

While unemployment contributes to CalFresh use, in Humboldt County, the wide range of low-wage employment is insufficient for workers to afford basic necessities, such as food,” the brief says. “Over the past 10 years, Humboldt County has fallen further behind the state of California in median household income and has seen a significant increase in the number of workers who work full-time, year-round, yet remain in poverty.

As a result, Humboldt County has risen in the ranks of counties with the highest CalFresh enrollment rates. Unlike household-level reports on CalFresh, this analysis shares insight into where policy changes and/or investments could address age-specific food access needs, such as improving access to jobs that provide economic security to working adults.

Our findings indicate that city-, county-, and state-level decision makers must be prepared to address the specific food access needs of nearly one-fourth of Humboldt County residents to meet the challenges posed by food insecurity compounded by federal policymaking.

PREVIOUSLY

• Sheriff’s Office Investigating Familial Attempted Homicide Case on Humboldt Hill

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A Eureka man accused of assaulting his uncle with a knife was charged with attempted murder by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office Thursday.

20-year-old Felix Yancy Arbaugh has pled not guilty.

According to the complaint, Arbaugh is charged with alleged “willful, deliberate and premeditated” attempted murder and felony assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury. He also faces enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon — a knife — and for causing great bodily injury.

Police responded to a Eureka home on Humboldt Hill on Monday night to a report of a physical assault.

There, Humboldt County Sheriff deputies located a 47-year-old male reporting his nephew physically attacked him. The man was bleeding and sustained serious but not-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital, according to HCSO. 

Meanwhile, Felix Arbaugh had minor injuries “which did not require immediate medical treatment,” according to HCSO.

HCSO said based upon the victim’s statements, injuries and evidence located during the investigation, deputies determined a violent crime had occurred inside the residence on Wycliff lane.

Arbaugh was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility Monday. He is being held on $500,000 bail, according to court records.

He is represented by the Public Defender’s office.

HCSO, which is investigating the case, encourages those with information to call the office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 3.

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Get out and enjoy the (mostly) clear skies while you can, Humboldt! We’re about to get pummeled by another round of heavy rains and strong winds.

Our meteorologist friends at the National Weather Service are warning of a “strong atmospheric river system” headed toward the North Coast, bringing the potential for “prolonged periods of moderate to heavy rain, strong winds and mountain snow.” The storm is expected to hit late tonight and continue through Tuesday.

The NWS Eureka office has issued a high wind warning for inland areas and a wind advisory for the rest of the county. Folks living in higher elevations and along ridgetops can expect 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts up to 70 mph.

There aren’t any flood advisories in place as of yet, but it’s probably safe to assume that the usual flood-prone areas will flood once the rain hits. You can check LoCO’s weather alerts here to find updated information about your neck of the woods. The NWS also posts regular updates on its Facebook page.

No major road closures are in effect at this time, but the Humboldt County Department of Public Works is asking residents to carry chains on about a dozen county roads out in the hills, including:

• Alderpoint Road
• Shelter Cove
• Kneeland Road
• Fickle Hill Road
• Monument Road
• Bear River Ridge Road
• Showers Pass
• Redwood House Road
• Bald Hills Road
• Titlow Hill Road
• Johnson Road
• Snow Camp Road
• Guy Kerr Ranch Road
• High Prairie Road

You can sign up for county road updates here. More information on local highways can be found on Caltrans’ QuickMap.

If you’re feeling adventurous (and have adequate transportation and snow chains), take a note from these local folks and trek on over to Horse Mountain for a li’l snowy escape. If you choose to do so, please heed the following advice from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

With more winter weather ahead this weekend, Humboldt County residents are encouraged to recreate responsibly when visiting areas of our county with snow. Having a safe snow day starts with basic preparedness:

1. Stay Warm – Be sure to bring water-resistant snow clothing, gloves, hats and scarves to protect against hypothermia. Bring a change of clothes for the drive home and pack extra blankets in case your vehicle becomes disabled.

2. Check the Road Conditions – Most public access properties require vehicles equipped to handle the snow. Use a 4-wheel drive vehicle and always carry chains.

3. Utilize Public Recreation Locations – Residents are asked to use public recreation locations only, such as the Horse Mountain Botanical Area in the Six Rivers National Forest. Though there may be snow, the Kneeland-Greenwood Heights area is private property and trespassers can be prosecuted.

4. Bring Provisions – Whether going sledding or just traveling through a snowy area, bring food and water in case your vehicle becomes disabled. Always take your trash with you when you leave.

If your vehicle becomes disabled in the snow and you are not in need of emergency assistance, contact a private towing service. If in need of an emergency rescue, call 9-1-1. Then:

Stay in the vehicle.

    1. If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.

    2. Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.

    3. While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

    4. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.

Be visible to rescuers.

    1. Turn on the vehicle’s parking lights at night.

    2. Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door.

    3. After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.

Humboldt County property owners in snow-prone areas are encouraged to install visible “No Trespassing” signs to alert snow-goers of private property.

Want to share your winter wonderland photos with LoCO? Drop us a line at news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

It’s been almost a year since snow last quilted the hills and ridges of the eastern three-quarters of the county. This winter has been a dry winter, void of many of the pleasures that allow people cloistered inside respite from battling the short days and grey skies; leaning into the weather and having a good foot or so of snow instead to enjoy is a tradeoff worth making, one whoever is in charge of the weather hadn’t offered Humboldt until Tuesday.

But someone took the deal, and now, it is beautiful. Your Lost Coast Outpost tackled the enjoyable task of documenting a slice of it for you with aplomb. 

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

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In a major blow against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that he does not have the authority to impose the wide-ranging tariffs that have caused economic uncertainty in the state, nation and beyond.

Trump cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 as he set tariffs on goods from most countries around the world soon after he took office early last year. In a 6-3 decision, the court said only Congress has the broad power to impose taxes on Americans under the act.

“The President enjoys no inherent authority to impose tariffs during peacetime,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr. and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

The White House did not immediately respond to CalMatters’ questions, including whether it plans to cite other laws. The Trump administration has the power to impose tariffs using other laws, but the president has used tariffs as an economic cudgel largely under the act that the Supreme Court has now said does not give him the broad authority to do so.

American businesses and consumers have paid the bulk of the cost of the president’s tariffs, recent studies by researchers for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and others have shown. In California, the tariffs have affected ports, farms, businesses, workers and consumers in different ways, and have been a factor in persistent inflation.

The state’s trade activity with China dropped so steeply that it is no longer the state’s top trade partner, according to a recent Public Policy Institute of California analysis.

Daniel Payares-Montoya, the researcher for the PPIC who based his analysis on International Trade Administration data, said trade with China has been declining since Trump’s first term, “but to see the dramatic fall, I wasn’t expecting it.”

In 2024, imports from and exports to China comprised 20% of all California trade activity. In 2025, at least through October, that number fell to 13.4%. Mexico became the state’s top trade partner, followed by China and Taiwan.

Payares-Montoya stressed that his analysis wasn’t causal: “I can’t tell what would have happened in the absence of (Trump’s tariff unveiling known as) ‘Liberation Day,’ or if Kamala Harris had won (the presidency).”

The state’s beverage industry was weighed down by tariffs, the analysis showed. California’s beverage exports of brewery, winery and distillery products fell more than 32% compared to the same period in 2024, from over $1.3 billion to $880 million through October, Payares-Montoya found. A big factor was that beverage exports to Canada fell to 16% in 2025 because of a boycott of American products and travel, which also was related to the president’s threats to annex Canada. The big drop came after beverage exports to Canada averaged almost a third of the state’s yearly total from 2010 to 2024. Most recently, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canada for striking a trade deal with China.

Overall, the state saw a slight decline, 0.1%, to $459 billion, in the dollar value of imports and exports in the first 10 months of last year, the PPIC analysis found.

Two of the nation’s busiest ports, in Long Beach and Los Angeles, ended up handling their highest and third-highest volumes of cargo, respectively, last year despite the uncertainty around tariffs. But exports decreased as retaliatory tariffs hit American farmers, too.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said in a media briefing this week that soybean exports to China from his port fell 80% last year.

“Virtually every agricultural commodity that we export was affected,” said Noel Hacegaba, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, in an interview with CalMatters this week.

The Supreme Court decision will spark what could be a chaotic process to return the tax revenue the government has collected, which totaled more than $264 billion in 2025. U.S. corporations including Costco, Alcoa and Revlon have sued the federal government over the tariffs, hoping to be first in line for refunds.

In his dissent, Kavanaugh wrote that the Supreme Court’s decision is likely to lead to “serious practical consequences in the near term,” and that “refunds of billions of dollars would have significant consequences for the U. S. Treasury.”

Trump has fretted on social media about possible refunds, saying that “it would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay. Anybody who says it can be quickly and easily done would be making a false, inaccurate, or totally misunderstood answer to this very large and complex question.”

But U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the federal government could issue refunds if needed, though he questioned how businesses would handle possibly getting their money back: “Costco, who’s suing the U.S. government, are they going to ​give the money back to their clients?”

Costco, which filed its lawsuit in November, did not respond to questions by CalMatters, including about how soon it would seek refunds from the federal government. The Treasury Department did not respond to an email about how refunds would work.

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 08:37 hours, Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to a reported structure fire at the 7600 block of Myrtle Avenue, in the Indianola area. Humboldt Bay Fire responded with three Engines, one Ladder Truck and a Battalion Chief.

Engine 8114 was the first arriving unit and found smoke coming from single wide mobile home. Engine 8114 pulled a hose line and quickly initiated fire attack. Battalion 8105 arrived on scene and assumed Myrtle Command, declaring an offensive fire attack.

Incoming units were assigned to perform a search for victims, and provide ventilation. A unit was designated as the Rapid Intervention Crew in case of a firefighter emergency. The fire was located and contained to one bedroom, there was smoke damage throughout the residence.

Arcata Mad River Ambulance was on stand-by at the scene. PG&E was requested to the scene to secure gas and electrical utilities. Red Cross was requested to aid the displaced occupant. Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank these agencies for their response. An investigation was performed to find the cause and origin of the fire. The cause is still under investigation, but believed to be accidental in nature. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to remind everyone the importance of discussing with your family what to do if a fire occurs in your home. Working smoke detectors save lives, also have a pre-determined outside meeting place that everyone in your household knows.

From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Feb. 19, at 7:42 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff deputies, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team served a search warrant at a residence located in the 2300 block of Lee Ln. in Eureka.  

The warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation into the use and possession of narcotics, and suspected child endangerment involving 49-year-old suspect Gilbert Modesto Barff.

Upon service of the warrant, deputies contacted Barff inside the residence, where his 10-year-old son also resides.  Barff was found to be in possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.  A subsequent search of the residence yielded additional items consistent with the possession and use of narcotics, ammunition, and numerous items containing fentanyl residue located with reach of the child.

Gilbert, who is a convicted felon, was arrested and transported the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:

• HS 11366: Keep place to sell/etc. narcotic/controlled substance
• PC 273a(a): Child abuse w/possible great bodily injury/death
• PC 30305(a)(1): Prohibited person own/possess/ammunition

Humboldt County Child Welfare Services was notified, and the child was released into the care of his mother.

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.