Press release from the Hoopa Valley Tribe:

A major broadband project is set to begin in the Hoopa Valley, led by the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District (HVPUD). Known as the SB156 Middle Mile Project, this collaboration marks the first joint build agreement between a Tribe and the State of California. It’s a major step toward improving internet access and digital equity on the reservation and surrounding aboriginal territory.

Spanning more than 92,000 acres, the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation is the largest in California. Many households are located in areas with steep terrain and dense forests, making wireless coverage weak or unreliable. Wildfires and inclement weather have damaged above-ground infrastructure and disrupted essential services. Installing underground fiber optic lines will provide a more resilient solution.

“Reliable internet isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Linnea Jackson, General Manager of the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District. “This project reflects years of planning and partnership, and it will finally give our Tribe and surrounding community the connectivity we need to thrive—for school, work, and health care.”

Glass Roots Construction, the primary contractor for this project, was selected for its track record of delivering quality work with similar projects in the region, its understanding of the unique topography, and its proven commitment to partnership.

“We’re honored to have been selected by the Hoopa Valley PUD to help bring this critical fiber network to life,” said Marty Snella, CEO of Glass Roots Construction. “The trust they’ve placed in us is deeply valued, and we’re excited to partner with such an amazing community. This project is more than infrastructure—it’s about connection, opportunity, and future growth. We look forward to working hand-in-hand to deliver lasting impact.”

The SB156 Middle Mile Project will extend a high-capacity fiber optic network from Willow Creek through the Hoopa Valley Reservation to its northern boundary near Weitchpec. This new infrastructure will provide reliable, high-speed internet to homes, businesses, and public facilities, creating long-term benefits like improved access to education, healthcare, employment, and emergency services. It also aligns with California’s broader goal of expanding equitable high-speed internet in underserved, rural communities.

Construction is scheduled to begin within the next two months, with completion required by December 2026. During this time, residents should expect traffic delays along Highway 96 between Willow Creek and Weitchpec. Longer wait times are anticipated in certain bluff areas due to safety requirements and limited room for construction zones. HVPUD will continue to share updates as the project moves forward, so residents can plan accordingly.

“We know construction can be disruptive in the short term, but the long-term benefits of this project are significant,” Jackson said. “Fiber optic broadband is significantly more reliable than wireless and offers faster internet speeds, which will provide a reliable connection that lasts for decades.”

HVPUD is also advancing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Project (TBCP), bringing high-speed internet service directly to homes and businesses. More information about that initiative will be released in the coming weeks as we advertise the Request for Proposals and select a contractor.

The Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District is dedicated to community engagement and collaboration throughout this process. Regular updates, traffic notices, and project milestones will be shared on HVPUD’s website, social media, and local communication channels to keep residents informed and engaged every step of the way.

About Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District

The Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District (HVPUD) has been a trusted provider of essential utility services to the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation for over 40 years. Founded in 1982 under the authority of the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Constitution and By-Laws, HVPUD is committed to supporting the tribe’s long-term growth and economic vitality. In recent years, HVPUD expanded its services to include high-speed internet through Acorn Wireless, a broadband division dedicated to closing the digital divide and enhancing connectivity for residents and businesses in the region.

The mission of the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District is to provide a level of service and utility resources that enable and advance tribal strategies to grow economic opportunity, build a strong foundation of utility infrastructure, and ensure a framework for quality growth and development on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.

About Glass Roots Construction:

Glass Roots Construction (GRC), a subsidiary of VFN Holdings, Inc. (a/k/a Vero Networks), was founded with a specific focus on building fiber optic networks for some of the largest companies in the world. By pairing the latest technologies in field equipment and geospatial project management with industry-leading talent, GRC strives to be a different type of construction utility. GRC’s focus is on accurate, real-time cloud-based data, outstanding communication, and best-in-industry safety programs that deliver superior results for its clients.

PREVIOUSLY:

• (AUDIO) HUMBOLDT HOLDING UP: EPD Sgt. Leonard LaFrance on Progressive Policing and How CSET Has Worked to Address Homelessness and Mental Health Issues in COVID-Era Eureka
• The Librarian and the Cop: Struggling to Serve Eureka’s Homeless Population on the Streets and in the Stacks

###

La France. Photo: EPD.

Press release from CIT International:

Leonard LaFrance, Commander of Eureka Police Department, was recently awarded the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award by CIT International for their upcoming annual conference which will be held in Anaheim, CA from Aug. 11-13, 2025. It is anticipated there will be over 1,600 attendees representing law enforcement professionals, behavioral healthcare providers and advocates.

The CIT Law Enforcement Executive Award recognizes a Sheriff, Chief or a member of the Law Enforcement Executive Staff who actively supports the CIT program in their community. This person must demonstrate their support of the Core Elements of the CIT program as well as a commitment to community partnerships. This person may be instrumental in driving the creation of a new program or in maintaining a vibrant existing program that incorporates refresher training and other advanced efforts.

Commander Leonard LaFrance exemplifies what it means to be a law enforcement executive who fully embraces the principles and goals of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs. Since becoming involved with the Humboldt County CIT Program, he has served as a Co-Coordinator, lead law enforcement instructor, and champion for expanding mental health crisis response services. He has taken an active role in program development by launching the Community Safety Engagement Team and supporting the creation of the CARE alternate response team in Eureka. A committed educator, he teaches multiple segments of the 40-hour CIT training course and leads monthly steering committee meetings, demonstrating his belief in the power of training and collaboration. His dedication extends beyond law enforcement as he co-hosts community block parties that bring together service providers, politicians, and unhoused residents to build trust and share resources. Commander LaFrance is also engaged in expanding regional CIT efforts and contributes to statewide POST training initiatives. He partners closely with Tribal law enforcement, schools, and service agencies to ensure CIT serves all community members equitably. Known for his kindness, accessibility, and unwavering support of his community, Commander LaFrance is a tireless advocate for a more compassionate and effective approach to crisis response.

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and substance use professionals, individuals who live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, their families, and other advocates. More information is available at www.citinternational.org

###

From the Eureka Police Department:

The Eureka Police Department is proud to announce that Commander Leonard LaFrance has been named the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Law Enforcement Executive of the Year by CIT International. This prestigious award recognizes Commander LaFrance’s outstanding leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to improving crisis response and community safety.

With nearly 18 years of service at EPD, Commander LaFrance has been a driving force behind several key initiatives, including the formation and success of the Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) and the development and implementation of the Crisis Alternative Response Eureka (CARE) program. His efforts have helped shape a more compassionate, effective approach to mental health and crisis response in Eureka.

Commander LaFrance is deeply committed to building strong partnerships with community organizations and advancing a wraparound approach to addressing mental health challenges. He has also developed and teaches de-escalation courses tailored for law enforcement, business owners, and community members—ensuring that everyone is equipped with the tools needed to handle difficult situations safely and effectively.

Chief Stephens shared his praise:

“I am extremely proud of Commander LaFrance and this international recognition for his dedication to our community. His hard work, global thinking, and desire to continue pushing forward innovative solutions to the issues we face is both commendable and well-deserving of this honor.”

Please join us in congratulating Commander LaFrance on this well-earned recognition and in celebrating his ongoing contributions to a safer, stronger Eureka.

###

Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:

Standing as a symbol of collaboration, compassion, and creativity, a new mural at Cal Poly Humboldt was created by incarcerated artists and University students. 

The project, completed this month, is the result of a unique partnership between Pelican Bay State Prison and the University and part of a successful initiative led by the Prison Arts Collective (PAC). Based at San Diego State University with a chapter at Cal Poly Humboldt, PAC provides arts programming to correctional institutions in California.

Launched in summer 2024, the effort connected two groups inside Pelican Bay: one who painted a mural inside their gymnasium, and another who designed the University mural soon to be installed on campus. 

The latter design was then painted by students and community members in Humboldt. The mural depicts an individual experiencing incarceration working through a program called Project Rebound at College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt, and finally being released from prison. 

Project Rebound is a California State University program that supports the higher education and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. By connecting students to resources and support systems, Project Rebound helps break cycles of incarceration, boasting a less than 1% recidivism rate among its participants.

The Cal Poly Humboldt Art department has played a foundational role in this collaboration. Since 2021, the department has operated a PAC chapter, regularly providing art instruction for incarcerated individuals at Pelican Bay. This mural, which will be installed outside of the Project Rebound office in Nelson Hall East, is one of several public art projects the department has undertaken over the past two years. The mural also comes two years after Cal Poly Humboldt’s Reese Bullen Gallery exhibition of work by incarcerated artists from Pelican Bay through the PAC program.

The mural itself came to life through the efforts of many hands. Art Education students Alexia Friedman and Alicia Rosales primed the boards, and painting was done by Kinesiology major  Mariah Kirkpatrick. A host of faculty, staff, and students—including PAC Coordinator Erin Austin, Art Education Professor Jim Woglom, and others—helped with logistics, supplies, and design transfers. Mark Taylor with Project Rebound provided  expertise and time coordinating the effort with the artists at the University and Pelican Bay campuses.

“The artists wanted to depict how Project Rebound helps people work toward education, rehabilitation, and release,” says Taylor.
But this mural is more than a finished product—it’s a powerful statement on the importance of human dignity and transformation.

“People in California State Prisons live in demoralizing, dehumanizing spaces—bare gray concrete walls that reinforce the immutability of their conditions,” Woglom says. “The act of changing even a small part of that environment through art can uplift not only those painting it but the broader prison community as well. And by bringing their work to outside spaces like our campus, we amplify their voices and stories.”

Looking ahead, the work continues. Woglom plans to engage in more mural projects at Pelican Bay and Corcoran State Prison this summer, with hopes of expanding to other institutions in the future.

“When people who are incarcerated are afforded the opportunity to express themselves through art, a mural becomes not just paint on concrete, but a testament to humanity and hope. That’s just one example of the transformative impact of education when Cal Poly Humboldt partners with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” says Jenn Capps, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 18, 2025, deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Patrol Division executed a search warrant at a residence in the 600 block of Montana Road, McKinleyville. The operation resulted in the arrest of four adults and the placement of two young children into protective custody.

Upon entering the residence, deputies found the home in a state of severe disrepair, with drug paraphernalia accessible to children. The two minors were promptly placed under the care of Child Welfare Services and subsequently released to a family member.

The following individuals were arrested and charged as follows:

Elizabeth Hayes, 46, of McKinleyville:

• PC 273a(a): Child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death
• H&S 11366: Maintaining a drug residence
• PC 12022.1: Committing a new felony while out on bail

Nicholas Arbuckle, 28, of McKinleyville:

• PC 273a(a): Child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death
• H&S 11365(a): Visiting a location where controlled substances are used
• PC 1203.2: Probation violation
• Multiple outstanding arrest warrants

Holly Carlson, 39, of McKinleyville:

• H&S 11365(a): Visiting a location where controlled substances are used

Patrick Rex, 42, of Arcata:

• H&S 11365(a): Visiting a location where controlled substances are used
• H&S 11364(a): Possession of drug paraphernalia
• PC 21310: Carrying a concealed dirk or dagger

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to Problem-Oriented Policing and addressing community concerns related to public safety. We encourage residents to report issues involving problem properties in their neighborhoods. Your cooperation is vital to our efforts tomaintain safe and healthy communities.

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.

###

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

###

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to tap at least $2.5 billion from the state’s climate fund to pay for state firefighting crews and the long-troubled high-speed rail project.

In his budget proposal unveiled last week, Newsom announced that he is seeking to extend the state’s landmark cap and trade program, which is funded by credits bought and sold by major polluters, through 2045. But the allocation of the money is already triggering a fervent debate among state lawmakers.

Large polluters, such as oil refineries and power plants, pay for their greenhouse gases through a market system of auctioned credits called cap and trade. Over the past 11 years, almost $13 billion from cap and trade auctions has already been spent on electric vehicles, public transit, clean energy and other projects to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change.

The governor’s new plan would commit $1.54 billion of the 2025-26 climate funds, and more in later years, to pay for Cal Fire’s “fire prevention, fire control, and resource management activities.” That would amount to more than a third of the state fire agency’s $4.47 billion budget, according to the governor’s proposed budget. Wildfires have grown more extreme because of climate change, straining Cal Fire’s resources.

In addition, through 2045, the governor’s plan would earmark at least $1 billion a year of the climate funds to the California high-speed rail project, which aims to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco. The project, which has been beset with construction delays, cost overruns and fights about the route for years, was allocated $407 million of cap and trade money last year.

Combined, the firefighting and high speed rail costs could consume more than half of the projected $4.8 billion that cap and trade would provide in the next fiscal year.

Newsom’s proposal to extend California’s cap-and-trade program, which expires in 2030, for 15 more years could spark one of the year’s most consequential fights in the Legislature over climate change.

The push to extend the program is bound to be contentious, particularly if Newsom seeks a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, as various groups jostle for a slice of the funding. Watchdogs, policy analysts and environmental justice advocates also have raised concerns about how the program is structured and who benefits the most.

Many legislators have already expressed concerns about the use of climate funds to pay for firefighters and high speed rail. Some lawmakers and other critics and analysts say diverting the money would mean cutting other priorities, such as the transition to electric vehicles.

“You’re going to have some tough choices,” said Helen Kerstein, who tracks the cap and trade program for the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. “You can’t add $1.5 billion — and growing — and not take anything away, at least in the near term, given current projections.”

“You’re going to have some tough choices. You can’t add $1.5 billion — and growing — and not take anything away, at least in the near term.”
— Helen Kerstein, Legislative Analyst’s Office

Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Democrat from Suisun City, said she is concerned that using climate fund money to pay for Cal Fire’s activities could crowd out spending that has already been promised to reduce emissions from cars and trucks and fund mass transit.

Transportation “is the largest single source, but the hardest to decarbonize,” Wilson said. “And the whole point is to transition, which is why those investments (are) necessary.”

A coalition of environmental justice groups said the governor, by using so much money for high speed rail and general fund expenses, is leaving inadequate money “for extreme heat impacts, affordable housing, clean drinking water, and other critical environmental programs that reduce greenhouse gasses and clean up contaminated air, water and soil that pose direct threats to public health.”

The cap and trade proposal came as California faces a $12 billion budget deficit. By proposing the cap and trade extension as an addition to the budget bill, which moves through the legislative process faster than standalone bills — Newsom could sidestep what might otherwise be a longer, more contentious climate debate.

The move links the reauthorization of the program to broader budget negotiations — boosting the governor’s leverage but reducing legislative oversight and public input.

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Irvine, protested the governor’s moves at a committee meeting on Thursday.

“This is probably the most challenging budget situation the state of California has faced in at least the last seventeen years. We are going to be grappling with some very, very tough choices, very tough decisions,” she said. “Trying to then layer in, and shoehorn in, the reauthorization of our landmark climate cap and trade — cap and invest — program seems kind of insane to me.”

Newsom’s proposed extension of the program — which he wants to rename “cap and invest” — comes after President Donald Trump attacked it in an executive order targeting blue-state climate initiatives. The order singled out California’s cap and trade program as forcing businesses to meet “radical requirements.”

Newsom framed his cap and trade proposal in the resistance language reminiscent of clashes during the first Trump era. “California won’t bend the knee to a federal administration hellbent on making America polluted again,” Newsom said in a statement.

But some state lawmakers are already questioning key parts of the plan. Assemblymember Steve Bennett, a Democrat from Oxnard, questioned during the hearing Thursday whether revenues from cap and trade could realistically cover all of Newsom’s promises.

“So, in a sense you’re proposing more money than we’re saying we have?” Bennett, chair of the committee, asked Newsom administration officials from the state Department of Finance.

Bennett was also openly skeptical of continuing to use cap and trade money to pay for the high-speed rail project, which has ballooned to a cost of $128 billion. “We need to… make sure we don’t have a train to nowhere,” he said.

Through 2030, 25% of all cap and trade money is earmarked for high speed rail under state law. A bill in the Assembly authored by a Republican that would eliminate that earmark has not moved forward.

“Real tracks are being laid…so I want to get (high speed rail) done. That’s our commitment. That’s why it’s still reflected in the cap and trade extension.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom

Newsom said at his budget briefing Wednesday that his “commitment (to high speed rail) is firm.”

“Real tracks are being laid…so I want to get it done,” Newsom said. “That’s our commitment. That’s why it’s still reflected in the cap and trade extension.”

Several other lawmakers also raised concerns about the governor’s budget math and were skeptical of relying on a funding stream that is supposed to shrink over time as California reduces its carbon emissions.

“Trying to…shoehorn in the reauthorization of our landmark climate cap and trade program (in budget negotiations) seems kind of insane to me.”
— Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris

California Transit Association Executive Director Michael Pimentel said the governor’s plan was “silent on the importance of continued climate investment” into mass transit.

“To combat climate change, improve air quality, and address the affordability crisis faced by everyday Californians, state leaders must stand up to protect and maintain continued investment in clean, efficient, and affordable public transit projects and services,” he said.

A contentious history

California launched its cap-and-trade program in 2013 as a key tool for slashing greenhouse gas emissions. Created under the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, the system set a declining cap on emissions from major polluters and allowed businesses to buy and sell permits, creating a market for emissions.

By 2017, then-Gov. Jerry Brown faced a critical inflection point. The program was set to expire in 2020, and Brown sought to extend it through 2030. But the path to reauthorization was anything but smooth.

The political lift came in securing a two-thirds vote in the Legislature, the threshold that would help inoculate the program from legal attacks, given that California voters expanded the definition of a tax in 2010.

That supermajority required bipartisan support, and Brown courted moderate Republicans with concessions: tax breaks for manufacturers, fee waivers for rural residents and spending assurances.

Newsom’s proposal would maintain many of the program’s most controversial provisions. Those include free emission permits for the oil and gas industry, a price ceiling mechanism and the use of carbon offsets, which have drawn criticism over concerns about their effectiveness. The governor’s proposal leaves most of the details up to the discretion of the Air Resources Board, which oversees the cap and trade program.

One key issue is the number of free allowances to industry, including the oil and gas industry. Newsom’s proposal could extend many of those giveaways through 2045, said climate expert Danny Cullenward, vice chair of an independent advisory cap and trade committee.

Cullenward told CalMatters that the market will likely begin shifting from a surplus of pollution permits to a scarcity. That will raise emissions reductions and state revenue, but also potentially increase consumer costs, with key decisions left to the Air Resources Board.

“It’ll bring in more money to the state, but it’ll also have higher consumer price impacts,” Cullenward said. “That’s going to be a key issue.”

The cap and trade debate is unfolding amid growing concern over affordability in California — a theme running through nearly every aspect of the state’s climate policy. A new report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office raised questions about how much the program could cost Californians. For instance, the cap and trade program could add 74 cents to the cost of gasoline if credits rise to their highest levels, amounting to about an additional $700 a year for the average California household, the report said.

Of the $12.8 billion spent so far, nearly $9.2 billion has been invested in projects that benefit disadvantaged communities that are designated as a priority, according to the air board.

The cap and trade debate is unfolding amid growing concern over affordability in California — a theme running through nearly every aspect of the state’s climate policy.

But environmental justice advocates have long criticized the program for failing to reduce local pollution in those communities, which often bear the cost of higher gasoline prices, too. Because cap and trade allows companies to comply with greenhouse gas limits by buying credits, they can continue operating in low-income neighborhoods without reducing emissions there.

Advocacy groups have asked the Legislature to reject a plan similar to the governor’s that would largely leave the program unchanged.

“Our communities, who bear the disproportionate burden of some of the worst air quality in the state, and the nation, are also predominantly communities of color,” Connie Cho, senior policy advisor for the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, said at a state Senate hearing earlier this month.

“We believe it is not only possible, but absolutely necessary, to achieve and balance all three: climate, health equity and affordability through the cap and trade program as the cost of living rises to a fever pitch.”

###

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

###

Six months after California voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative that increases the pay of doctors treating Medi-Cal patients, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to divert that money to cover other health costs.

Newsom last week proposed using $1.6 billion generated by Proposition 35 over the next two years to help address California’s $12 billion state deficit. The governor said the spending plan is allowable under the ballot measure, while doctors, hospitals, clinics and others who support the measure are crying foul.

Rising costs are making Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance for low-income people, unsustainable, triggering a controversy over use of funds that voters earmarked for specific health costs, such as doctor’s pay and women’s reproductive health.

In addition to reallocating the Prop. 35 funds, the governor also wants to move $500 million from the state tobacco tax into the state’s general fund. That money, which voters approved in a 2016 ballot measure, is supposed to support family planning and women’s health care, among other services.

Health advocates say the governor’s proposals for shifting the money will weaken the state’s health safety net and hamstring reproductive health care.

Planned Parenthood said the double hit from Newsom’s Prop. 35 and tobacco tax proposals in the state budget could cripple its services.

Jodi Hicks, chief executive of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and co-chair of the Yes on Prop. 35 campaign, called Newsom’s proposal “shocking” and “plain cruel.” She said Planned Parenthood would lose a third of its budget if it is approved by the Legislature next month. Low-income patients would have to contend with longer wait times, fewer appointment options and potentially need to drive further to access care.

“Our footprint is so large in sexual and reproductive health care in California. There is no way for other clinics to absorb that,” Hicks said.

Newsom’s proposal comes at a time when the Republican-led Congress is contemplating deep cuts to Medicaid. Included is cutting off all federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (Medi-Cal is California’s name for Medicaid.) “We need the state to help us prepare, not make things significantly worse,” Hicks said.

“Our footprint is so large in sexual and reproductive health care in California. There is no way for other clinics to absorb that.”
— Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

The use of state health funds will likely be a centerpiece as the state Legislature negotiates a budget deal with Newsom over the next month. A final budget is due June 15.

The state’s Democratic lawmakers, who have a supermajority in the Legislature, have largely balked at Newsom’s changes to Medi-Cal, which also include freezing new enrollment for most adults without permanent legal status.

“I’m disheartened that the Governor’s updated budget is riddled with deep cuts to our constituents’ healthcare. We cannot boast about having the fourth-largest economy while balancing our budget on the back of everyday Californians’ healthcare,” Assembly Health Committee Chair Mia Bonta, a Democrat from Oakland, said in a statement.

Is it legal to move Prop. 35 funds?

Prop. 35, approved by 68% of California voters in November, was designed to guarantee doctors would get paid more to serve patients covered by Medi-Cal. Reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal are so low that patients often struggle to find doctors who will accept their insurance.

Prop. 35 uses a special tax paid by health insurance plans to generate revenue for Medi-Cal. Most of the money — $9 billion in 2024-25 — goes to the state’s general fund. But the additional $1.6 billion that Newsom wants to take for general Medi-Cal spending was supposed to be reserved to increase the amount doctors get paid for specific services, such as primary care, specialty care and emergency room visits.

Newsom’s budget proposal would instead use the $1.6 billion intended for doctors’ pay increases to support higher Medi-Cal spending for primary care, specialty care, ambulances and hospital outpatient procedures.

Planned Parenthood and the California Medical Association helped lead the industry group that put the measure on the ballot.

In a statement, Dr. Shannon Udovic-Constant, president of the medical association, called Newsom’s budget proposal a “direct violation of the will of California voters.”

“The proposition was passed to prevent exactly this kind of maneuver – raiding health care funding to solve budget problems,” she said.

“The proposition was passed to prevent exactly this kind of maneuver – raiding health care funding to solve budget problems.”
— Dr. Shannon Udovic-Constant, California Medical Assn.

When questioned about the move during a budget presentation on Wednesday, Newsom denied this characterization and said the proposed spending is “absolutely consistent” with the rules established by the ballot measure.

Newsom repeatedly blamed Prop. 35 for causing part of the state’s budget shortfall and called it and other recent ballot measures “unfunded initiatives.”

The governor said Medi-Cal has a growth problem that the state cannot afford.

State spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled since 2017 and is now projected to cost $76.8 billion in the 2024-25 budget year. Earlier this year lawmakers approved an extra $6 billion for unexpected Medi-Cal costs.

The governor said Medi-Cal has a growth problem that the state cannot afford. State spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled since 2017 and is now projected to cost $76.8 billion.

Linnea Koopmans, chief executive of the Local Health Plans of California and chair of the Prop. 35 advisory committee, said in a statement to CalMatters that Newsom’s budget does not reflect California’s values.

“Undoubtedly, the state budget challenge is real, but sweeping more than $1 billion of (Prop. 35) revenue is not an option. These funds must be used to support Medi-Cal investments in providers and workforce that are necessary to improve access to care,” Koopmans said.

The Prop. 35 advisory committee was established by the ballot initiative to oversee how the state spends the money.

Industry supporters of the measure say Newsom’s proposal doesn’t actually pay doctors more; it conflates increased costs associated with Medi-Cal’s growing enrollment with payment.

Molly Weedn, a spokesperson for the Yes on 35 campaign, said in a statement that the budget proposal raises “serious legal concerns.”

“The Governor proposes using Prop. 35 funding to cover already incurred costs in Medi-Cal and not for increasing provider payments to increase access to health care,” Weedn said.

The most contentious part of the debate comes down to whether he’s using the Prop. 35 money to pay the state’s general expenses, not just health care.

The Newsom administration’s finance department said in a document shared with CalMatters that doctors’ pay is reviewed and increased annually, which aligns with Prop. 35’s requirements. The department also denies that using the money to pay for Medi-Cal would replace general fund spending because the amount that the state is taking from the general fund for Medi-Cal continues to grow.

Critics say these standard adjustments are not necessarily a true rate increase for doctors — they mostly reflect increased Medi-Cal costs as a result of more patients enrolling or more expensive care being provided. In order to substantially increase how much doctors get paid, the state would have to submit an application for federal approval, which it has not done.

“It appears the caseload growth in Medi-Cal is being used to justify the need for these funds,” said Jennifer Kent, an advisor to the Prop. 35 campaign and former director of the health care services department.

Newsom isn’t the first governor to sweep money approved by voters into the general fund, and his budget proposal also mirrors a move made by his predecessor, Jerry Brown, in 2017 to eliminate payments made for family planning, women’s health and dentistry by the state tobacco tax.

Amy Moy, co-chief executive of Essential Access Health, which provides grants to clinics for reproductive health care, said the governor’s proposed cuts jeopardize California’s commitment to making abortion, contraceptives and other reproductive health services accessible.

Moy, a member of the Proposition 35 stakeholder advisory committee, said she is confident the final budget approved by the Legislature will pull back some of Newsom’s proposed cuts.

“Ultimately we believe that California’s commitment, including our administration’s commitment, to sexual and reproductive health will be reflected in the final budget.”

###

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.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 10, 2025, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies responded to a residential burglary in the Loleta area. The suspect caused significant property damage and stole items valued at tens of thousands of dollars, including multiple firearms and a vehicle.

Following a thorough investigation, deputies identified and arrested Robert Leroy Ellis, 48, on May 14, 2025. Ellis, recently released from state prison just eight (8) days prior, faces multiple charges related to the burglary. The stolen vehicle was recovered prior to his arrest, and on May 16, 2025, HCSO deputies successfully located most of the stolen firearms. Efforts to recover the remaining stolen property are ongoing.

Ellis is currently in custody without bail, charged with the following offenses:

• PC 459/461(a): First-Degree Burglary
• VC 10851(a): Vehicle Theft
• PC 29800(a)(1): Felon in Possession of Firearm
• PC 3455(a): Post-Release Community Supervision Violation
• PC 487(a): Grand Theft
• PC 487(d)(2): Grand Theft of Firearm
• PC 594(b)(1): Felony Vandalism
• PC 148.9(a): Providing False Identification to a Peace Officer

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring public safety and commends the diligent efforts of its deputies in resolving this case. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.