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Press release from Green Diamond Resource Company:

Weather conditions permitting, Green Diamond Resource Company plans to conduct prescribed burning  for fuel hazard reduction today, December 19th, 2024 approximately 9 miles east of Trinidad in the Headwaters of Maple creek near Redwood National Park.  Burning operations are implemented in coordination with CAL FIRE and the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District.  Please note that smoke may be visible in surrounding areas, including Highway 101 near Big Lagoon and from Bald Hills Road, while burning is being conducted.  Green Diamond staff will be onsite monitoring prescribed burning and fuels reduction operations. 

In stark contrast to the spring, when hundreds of students were arrested and suspended for violating campus policies, far fewer participated in protests this fall. Campuses had warned students they would be enforcing these policies much more strictly than they had in the spring, when rallies and pro-Palestinian encampments protesting the Israel-Hamas war grew unchecked.

As protests emerged this semester, campus police departments quashed any that broke the rules. In all, at least six students have been arrested and 12 have been suspended at universities around the state.

Throughout October, which marked one year since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, campuses reacted swiftly to violations of protest rules — known on campuses as time, place and manner policies.

While there have been some rallies and protests, no campus has seen the mass demonstrations, or encampments, that swept across California campuses last spring. That’s when, according to a CalMatters analysis, around 560 people, largely students and faculty, faced discipline or arrests. Some student protestors erected tents and other structures that remained on campus for several days or, in some cases, multiple weeks before universities intervened. In light of legal actions and pressure from lawmakers, campus administrators are tightening enforcement.

“I think students are still definitely riled up and ready to have their voice heard,” said Aditi Hariharan, president of the University of California Student Association. “Whenever they take steps to share their voice, I think the administration takes an opposing step and is trying to push them back.”

Meanwhile, some students and faculty are still facing charges related to last academic year’s demonstrations. And now some who were arrested are suing their campuses.

New year brings emphasis on enforcing protest policies

While many of today’s protest policies were in place prior to last spring, campus administrators showed discretion in the past over when or whether to respond.

Universities’ varied approaches to dealing with the encampments led state lawmakers and system administrators to seek uniform enforcement of policies governing where and how students can protest. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, SB 1287 requires the University of California and California State University systems to update their policies and create training to educate students on “what constitutes violent, harassing, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct that creates a hostile environment on campus.”

“Even when dealing with divisive issues, all student voices have the right to be heard and none should be silenced,” said now former state Sen. Steve Glazer, an Orinda Democrat, speaking in support of the bill in an Assembly judiciary committee hearing. “I believe this legislation will restore an environment of civil discourse on our campuses.”

Pro-Palestinian student protesters gather at both sides of the entrance of a solidarity encampment at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles on May 1, 2024. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters

First: Pro-Palestinian protesters wait in folding chairs in a taped-off area after being arrested by Los Angeles Police Department during a protest at the University of Southern California. Last: A Los Angeles Police Department officer holds out their baton behind police lines during the protest in Los Angeles, on April 24, 2024. Photos by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

In response to the new law, the leadership of both the UC and Cal State systems communicated the need for consistent time, place and manner policies for the start of the academic year. Michael Drake, the UC president, wrote a letter to the 10 UC campuses outlining policies on free speech and protests, including a complete ban on camping and erecting encampments, blocking campus facilities, and refusing to identify oneself. The letter largely banned actions already enshrined in laws and campus policies.

At UCLA, university police officers arrested four people Nov. 19 during a protest the campus’ Students for Justice in Palestine organization announced as a “Nationwide Student Strike.” According to acting UCLA Chief of Police Scott Scheffler, the protestors violated time, place and manner policies after they attempted to block access to the campus walkway through Bruin Plaza. This case is still under investigation.

Scheffler is the second acting chief at UCLA since the former chief John Thomas was reassigned in May, following criticisms of his handling of the spring protests on campus. The UCLA Police Department announced Dec. 10 was Thomas’ last day with the university.

Also at UCLA, one person was arrested Oct. 22 for failing to disperse during a student rally of about 40 people. The campus police department posted on X that the rally violated the school’s protest policies against erecting unauthorized structures on campus.

At UC Santa Cruz, police arrested one student who was using a megaphone during a demonstration on Oct. 7, according to an eyewitness who spoke to LookOut Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office public arrest reports show one person was arrested on the Santa Cruz campus for obstruction of a public officer and battery without injury that day.

While no arrests were made, Pomona College has suspended 12 students for the remainder of the 2024-25 academic year following an Oct. 7 demonstration in which they entered, damaged and vandalized a restricted building, according to the student newspaper. The college also banned dozens of students from the four other campuses of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium that includes Pomona.

Private colleges have implemented their own policy changes. Pomona College now requires students and faculty to swipe their ID cards to enter academic buildings. Since last semester, students and visitors entering USC are also required to show a school or photo ID.

Some students are still facing charges from last year’s protests

Few charges have been filed after UCLA’s encampment made headlines in April, when counter-protestors led an attack on encampment protesters while law enforcement did not intervene for several hours. The following day, 254 people were arrested on charges related to the protest encampment. In October, two additional people were also arrested for participating in the counter-protester violence.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is pursuing three felony cases against individuals arrested at UCLA in relation to violence during last spring’s protests.

Meanwhile, the city attorney’s office is reviewing 93 misdemeanor cases from USC and 210 from UCLA, according to information it provided to CalMatters last month.

Lilyan Zwirzina, a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, was among the students arrested in the early morning of April 30 following protesters occupying a campus building and ignoring orders to disperse from the university. Law enforcement took her to Humboldt County Correctional Facility where she faced four misdemeanor charges, including resisting arrest. Zwirzina thought she’d have to cancel her study abroad semester, which conflicted with the court date she was given.

“I was pretty frustrated and kind of freaked out,” Zwirzina said. Authorities dropped the charges against her in July.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demand police officers go home during a protest outside of Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata on April 22, 2024. Photo by Mark McKenna for CalMatters

The Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office didn’t pursue charges against 27 of the 39 people arrested, citing insufficient evidence. The 12 remaining cases were referred to the Cal Poly Humboldt Police Department for investigation. Those cases remain under investigation, according to the university.

For 13 people, including students, arrested at Stanford University in June, the Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has not pressed charges as of Nov. 20, according to information his office provided CalMatters.

Elsewhere across the state, some district attorneys are pursuing misdemeanor and felony charges against student protesters. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is pursuing misdemeanor charges against 50 people, including two UCI professors, a teaching assistant, and 26 students, stemming from a protest at UC Irvine on Oct. 22, 2023. Charges include failure to disperse, resisting arrest and vandalism.

At Pomona College, 19 students were arrested April 5 on charges of trespassing after some protestors entered and refused to leave an administrative building. Students arrested either had their cases dismissed or have accepted community service in lieu of further legal action. James Gutierrez, the attorney representing the arrested students, said he asked that the college drop charges against its students, citing their right to protest the use of paid tuition dollars.

“They are righteously demanding that their colleges, the ones they pay tuition to and housing fees and pour a lot of money into, that that university or college stop investing in companies that are directly supporting this genocide and indirectly supporting it,” he said.

Students fight back against campus protest policies

As administrators face the challenge of applying protest policies more uniformly and swiftly, the truer test of California public higher education institutions’ protest rules will be playing out in court.

In one already resolved case, UC leadership agreed in August to comply with a court order requiring the campus to end programs or events that exclude Jewish students. A federal judge ruled some Jewish students in support of Israel who were blocked from entering the encampment had their religious liberties violated — though some Jewish students did participate in UCLA’s protest encampment.

Now, students have filed at least two lawsuits against their campuses and the UC system for violating their rights while ending student encampments last spring. In September, ACLU NorCal filed suits against the UC and UC Santa Cruz for not providing students due process when they immediately barred arrested students from returning to campus.

“Those students should have gotten a hearing, an opportunity to defend themselves or to explain themselves, and the school would have shown evidence of why they created a risk of disturbance on campus,” Chessie Thacher, senior staff attorney at ACLU of Northern California, said.

UC Santa Cruz spokesperson Scott Hernandez-Jason said the university “appreciates the court’s careful deliberation” and that the university “is committed to upholding the right to free expression while also protecting the safety of its campus community.”

In October, ACLU SoCal filed lawsuits on behalf of two students and two faculty members against the UC and UCLA alleging the actions the university took to break down the encampment violated their free speech rights.

UCLA spokesperson Ricardo Vazquez told CalMatters via email that the university would respond in court, and that UCLA “fully supports community members expressing their First Amendment rights in ways that do not violate the law, our policies, jeopardize community safety, or disrupt the functioning of the university.”

“The encampment that arose on campus this spring became a focal point for violence, a disruption to campus, and was in violation of the law,” Vazquez said in the email statement. “These conditions necessitated its removal.”

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June Hsu and Lizzy Rager are fellows with the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters higher education coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.

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

The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker.

Starting Jan. 1, car buyers who purchase a faulty vehicle will have to navigate a new version of California’s “lemon law” that for five decades has given consumers the right to demand car companies fix or replace defective vehicles they sell.

That is, unless lawmakers quickly pass a law that allows some of the car companies to opt out of the new requirements.

The confusion stems from a law Gov. Gavin Newsom reluctantly signed in late September, after the bill was hastily jammed through the Legislature in the waning days of the session following secret negotiations between lobbyists.

Newsom said it was important to address the problem of California’s courts getting clogged with lemon law cases, even as critics said the bill significantly watered down consumer protections.

But Newsom said he signed it only after lawmakers said they’d introduce legislation next year to make the reforms voluntary for automakers.

Lawmakers have already introduced legislation that they say meets Newsom’s demands. It’s now anyone’s guess how long it will take the bill to make it through the Senate and the Assembly and get Newsom’s signature. Meanwhile, portions of the new lemon law take effect Jan. 1; others in April.

Adding to the confusion, a month after Newsom signed the new lemon bill, Assembly Bill 1755, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s lemon law doesn’t require manufacturers to honor a car’s warranty when it’s re-sold as a used vehicle. Before the Supreme Court’s ruling, courts had interpreted the lemon law to require manufacturers to replace or repair a defective used car or truck if the clunker was sold within the window of its original new-vehicle warranty.

The justices said that if Californians have a problem with how they’ve interpreted the statute, state lawmakers are welcome to write a new bill.“Those arguments are best directed to the Legislature, which remains free to amend the definition of ‘new motor vehicle’ to include used vehicles with a balance remaining on the manufacturer’s new car warranty,” the court wrote in its Oct. 31 opinion. At least one lawmaker has suggested to CalMatters he and his colleagues could take the court up on that suggestion.

As the Legislature sorts this out, Rosemary Shahan of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety said car buyers next year are going to have a tough time figuring out what to do if they drive a lemon off the lot.

“It’s going to be really confusing for consumers,” she said.

Lemon law cases clog California courts

California’s lemon law defines a “lemon” vehicle as one that has serious warranty defects that the manufacturer can’t fix, even after multiple attempts. The lemon law applies only to disputes involving the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty.

If the manufacturer or dealer is unable to repair a serious warranty defect in a vehicle after what the law says is a “reasonable” number of attempts, the manufacturer must either replace it or refund its purchase price, whichever the customer prefers, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Disputes can be resolved through arbitration or in court if a consumer sues. The new lemon law was a compromise between U.S. automakers, consumer attorneys and judges who came together to address a growing backlog of lemon law cases in the state’s courts.

The number of such cases in California courts climbed from nearly 15,000 in 2022 to more than 22,000 last year. In Los Angeles County, nearly 10% of all civil filings are now lemon law cases.

Proponents argue the bill Newsom signed will speed up the process of getting consumers a working vehicle, while setting new procedural rules for the litigation process that will ease the burden on courts.

But Shahan and other critics argue the changes will primarily benefit U.S. car companies, since they’re the ones most commonly sued under the state’s lemon law at the expense of consumers. Foreign car companies largely opposed the measure.

Shahan says the statistics on lemon law cases show why U.S automakers wanted the rule changed. U.S. car companies have a significantly higher number of lemon law cases in California than their foreign counterparts.

It’s also why, if lawmakers pass the bill Newsom wants, the foreign companies are likely to choose to abide by the original version of the lemon law.

In the meantime, until lawmakers pass the pending legislation, buyers who purchase any defective new vehicle will have less time to sue, and they’ll get less money from rebates, according to Shahan and other critics.The new rules also shrink the period they can use the lemon law to just six years instead of the entire life of a vehicle’s warranty, which can last longer, Shahan said.

And because of the Supreme Court’s ruling that said new vehicle warranties do not cover the car once it’s resold used, plaintiffs such as Mariana Alvarado Rodriguez are now feeling the squeeze.

“It’s going to be really confusing for consumers”
— Rosemary Shahan , Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety

Court ruling impacts used lemon vehicle disputes

In 2021, Alvarado Rodriguez, a seasonal farmworker who lives in Tulare County, purchased a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 with 40,002 miles from a Fresno County car dealer for $25,000, according to court records.

Almost immediately after she drove it off the lot, she said the truck started having mechanical problems that she claims should have been covered under the vehicle’s warranties. But she said the car’s maker, General Motors, refused to honor them.“I kept making payments,” she said in Spanish. “Then … I finally decided to get an attorney and told the dealership, ‘That truck, it just doesn’t work.’ ”

A Fresno County judge tossed her lawsuit a year later after the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled in a separate case that warranties that would apply to new cars don’t carry over if the vehicle is sold again. The Supreme Court affirmed that judgment.

Alvarado Rodriguez said she still doesn’t have reliable transportation for when she returns to work this spring in the fruit-packing sheds.“The process has been so long,” she said. “It’s really, really affected me.”

Democratic Sen. Tom Umberg of Santa Ana is one of the authors of the new lemon law reforms slated to take effect next year. He also co-wrote the new legislation in December to address Newsom’s concerns.. For now, it doesn’t address the Supreme Court’s ruling that impacted used vehicle warranty claims like Alvarado Rodriguez’s.

He said lawmakers will likely take that issue up as well when they reconvene after the holidays.

“I would expect that there would be further conversation,” he said. “At least it’s my point of view that you don’t want consumers to be hoodwinked.”

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CalMatters reporter Sergio Olmos contributed to this story.

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

James Erwin Fredrickson, Jr.
July 1, 1947 – December 13, 2024

James (Jim) Erwin Fredrickson, Jr. passed away peacefully on December 13, 2024 in Eureka, with his wife Kathy by his side. They were excited about making their 46th anniversary just days before on December 9. Jim was a native of Humboldt County, born to James Sr. (Erwin) and June Fredrickson on July 1, 1947 in Arcata. He attended Kneeland School while growing up, and graduated from Eureka Senior High School (Class of 1965), then attended College of the Redwoods the following year.

Jim worked over 45 years in the trucking industry until 2005, when he became disabled. He worked hauling freight, loading and hauling logs, lumber, pipe, cattle and anything that was required to be moved. Jim had fond memories of being taught to drive a cattle truck with live, moving critters by his long time friend Joel Van Vleck. He hauled and worked for most of the local trucking and lumber companies throughout the North Coast and Oregon including: Nielson Freight, Pacific Towing, Alto Bros Trucking, Baird Trucking, Simpson’s, Redwood Coast Trucking, Sierra Pacific Industries, Louisiana Pacific, Humboldt County, Georgia Pacific and his last employer, Foster Lumber in Vallejo.

To his delight and trucking career as a Teamster, he had an opportunity to work on one of the many Star Wars movies (Return of the Jedi), transporting stars and cast members around the various movie sets in Smith River. Jim was very knowledgeable about operating heavy equipment and was an asset to his employers. He enjoyed working and interacting with all of his trucking friends on the road, while they enjoyed laughing and telling jokes to pass the long hours on the highway. He could find humor in any situation.

Jim was a member of the Teamsters, Freshwater and Humboldt Granges, Native Sons of the Golden West and the Swiss Club. He loved spending time at his home on Kneeland that he and his wife built together on the family ranch. Jim looked forward to hunting season, cutting wood, and enjoying family and friends throughout the year. He also enjoyed playing rummy with his wife, Kathy, and cribbage with his father, Erwin and son, Terry. Jim and his father were very close, and he was proud of the fact that they shared the same name and birthday. He was also an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants baseball. Jim had many loyal dogs throughout the years that brought him much joy. His last two dogs, Coco and Mazey, provided him comfort and companionship.

Jim is survived by his wife Kathleen (Kathy); his daughter Stephannie Fredrickson Sykes of Rio Linda, Calif.; his step-children Kimberly Wallace of Elk Grove, Calif., and Eric Wallace of Prineville, Ore.; his three granddaughters – Kaylee Joseph (Casey), Cheyenne Wallace, and Breana Fredrickson. He is also survived by his brother Duane Fredrickson (Karen) of Kneeland, and sister Darlene Shearer (Steven) of Eureka; nieces and nephews – Jason Fredrickson (Emily), Melissa Fredrickson Grace, Kevin Meyer (Barb), Lynn Hillegeist (Paul), Kelly Ramirez (Alejandro), Ryan Grammer, and many more relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents Erwin & June Fredrickson, his son Terry Fredrickson, his son-in-law David Sykes, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Joseph & Lucille Arruda.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Chris West and his Staff at Open Door Clinic, the St. Joseph Hospital ICU/PCU Staff, Palliative Team, and Home Health for their care and thoughtfulness; as well as Jim’s brother Duane Fredrickson, and good friends Vickie McCulley, Earl Morgan, John and Lynn Raymond, Jerry and Carol Crnich, and his nephews Jason Fredrickson (Emily) and Kevin Meyer (Barb) who were always there to lend him a helping hand when needed.

Memorial services will be held at Sanders Funeral Home on March 1, 2025 at 11 a.m. (1835 E St. Eureka) with a Celebration of Life following at the Humboldt Grange #501 (5845 Humboldt Hill Rd. Eureka). A private family burial will be conducted at the Iaqua Cemetery on Kneeland at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jim Fredrickson Jr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

‘Jaydean Lee Parent
Aug 26, 1956 - November 10, 2024
Wife - Mother - Friend

Jaydean Parent was a wonderful, caring, generous soul who left too soon. She passed away peacefully Sunday, November 10, with her kitties on her lap, and her husband holding her hand.

Jaydean was born in Eureka, where she attended Lincoln, Winship and Eureka High. She always had a job, and started her career at the trophy store, working for enough to buy her 1965 Ford Mustang. Later she worked at Eureka Printing for Jerry Carter as a graphic artist, for Jody Lawlor and at North Coast Advertising for Jack Daly.

In 1984 Jaydean married Mike Parent. They enjoyed over 40 wonderful years together, buying and remodeling a house into a home,and had a son named Andrew. Andrew was Jaydean’s pride and joy, and they had a special bond. They loved each other very much.

She was the kindest person you could ever meet, a devoted cat mom to countless feline companions throughout her life. A loving wife and mother, she also had a green thumb and love for 1970s and 1980s rock music. She loved to bake with her son, and everyone waited at Christmas for her famous cranberry bread. She loved arts and crafts, old movies and films, and hangouts out with her family. Halloween was always her favorite holiday, decorating the house with fake spiderwebs and barfing pumpkins.

Jaydean was preceded in death by her parents Aldean Dilling, Tom Dilling, Richard Chain, her friend Dana and her loving pets. She is survived by her husband Mike, her son Andrew, her sister Noel and her husband Chris, their kids Jack, and Katie. Her all time favorite Aunt Judy and her husband John, and their kids, Becky, and Katie. Her friends, Lauren, Janeane, Marion, All her great facebook friends, and her loving pets. A special thanks to our wonderful neighbors Jen and Kenny, and Derick and Julia, Bob, Rendel and Tasha, Ron and Sarah, Jeff and Jyoce.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring amidst blooming flowers and singing birds, a fitting tribute to a life filled with beauty and love.

We will forever remember Jaydean’s warm smile, her generous spirit, and her unwavering love. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jaydean Parent’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Photos: Humboldt Bay Fire.

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

At approximately 9:08 am on Tuesday, December 17th Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) was dispatched to a reported structure fire on the 1800 block of Circle Dr. Several reporting parties stated flames and smoke were visible from a residence at that location. HBF responded with a full first alarm assignment consisting of four fire engines and a Battalion Chief.

Engine 8114 arrived on scene first due and reported heavy fire and smoke showing from the porch and attic area of a single-story residential structure. E8115 arrived on scene and established a water supply while E8114 began attacking the fire. Additional units arrived on scene and confirmed that everyone was out of the structure. Fire control was achieved in approximately 10 minutes. At the time of the fire the structure one resident was home. She was able to exit the structure on her own with no injuries.

The pre-fire value of the home was approximately $375,000 with estimated fire loss totaling $60,000. Fire crews did an excellent job protecting the majority of the interior of the home and contents through aggressive fire attack and salvage work. PG&E responded to the scene and secured the gas and electrical service from the residence. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to remind everyone that smoke detectors save lives! Smoke detectors give you crucial early warning that there may be a fire in your home and allots you time to escape. Once you’ve exited a home go to your family meeting place and ensure that everyone has made it out.

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At last night’s meeting, the Eureka City Council unanimously voted to appoint Councilmember Leslie Castellano, the city’s First Ward representative, as Mayor Pro Tem for the second consecutive year. 

Castellano | Screenshot

Councilmember Scott Bauer made a motion to appoint Castellano, noting that she “has done a great job” during her time in the position. Councilmember Renee Contreras-De Loach agreed and offered a second to the motion, which passed 5-0, with Councilmember Kati Moulton appearing via Zoom.

What exactly does the Mayor Pro Tem do, you ask? The Mayor Pro Tem is an appointed position that is essentially second-in-command to the Mayor. If the Mayor is absent, the Mayor Pro Tem is the person who presides over city council meetings in their place. In some cities, the Mayor Pro Tem takes on additional responsibilities, like training new council members.

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Other notable bits from last night’s meeting:

• Remember last month when a group of determined city employees braved a so-called bomb cyclone and bitter sea winds to hang up Christmas decorations at the Old Town Gazebo? That ordeal was a part of the Mayor’s Holiday Lighting Fundraising Campaign, which raised nearly $23,000 to light up Old Town for the holiday season. The city council approved a proclamation in support of the initiative.
• The city council finalized plans for the Harris Medical Center Project, a multi-use housing development and medical facility slated for the former Apostolic Faith Church on Harris Street, near Henderson Center. 
• The city council received a presentation on design standards and neighborhood character from Cristin Kenyon, the city’s director of development services. The presentation was the third and final installment in a series that looked into the city’s past, present and future design standards and how those decisions have influenced Eureka’s aesthetics and zoning regulations. The council discussed different aspects of the city’s current design review process and how it could be improved upon but did not take any formal action on the item.
• The city council also approved an amendment to the city’s Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance that will give eligible property owners a little more flexibility in making city-mandated repairs to their sewer lines.
• The city council finalized the results of last month’s General Election.
• The city council also went through the annual process of appointing its members to boards, commissions, working groups and various local committees.

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You can find a recording of last night’s meeting at this link. See you next year, Eureka City Council!