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• Attorney General Sues St. Joseph Hospital for Denying a Woman Emergency Abortion Care

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This week, the California attorney general announced a lawsuit again St. Joseph Hospital’s parent company for denying emergency abortion care to a Eureka woman, Dr. Anna Nusslock.

I live in Ferndale. I don’t know Dr. Nusslock, but I’m so sorry for what she’s gone through. Her story opened my eyes to how my own St. Joe’s story could have turned out differently.

The author and her daughter. Photo: Submitted.

I received miscarriage treatment there in April because a very wanted pregnancy ended on its own at seven weeks and had not passed out of my body by 11 weeks.

Let’s imagine my body’s process had gone just a bit differently. Let’s say the fetus wasn’t going to survive but hadn’t died yet. Let’s say I was bleeding, as happened repeatedly in my last pregnancy with my daughter, who’s now two. 

According to this lawsuit, the hospital policy might have dictated that I try to get myself to San Francisco, perhaps by paying out of pocket for a medical flight (if not too foggy), and risking death on the journey. Or I might have received a bucket and some rags and been told to get myself to Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata.

None of us — urban, rural, rich, middle-class, poor — deserve this indignity. Dr. Nusslock’s story shows that we - women and our loved ones - are not safe, even in a blue state. Stories like hers are being reported all across the U.S. since the fall of Roe v Wade under Donald Trump’s hand-picked Supreme Court.

This is why I believe we have to fight as hard as possible for better policies before and after the election — so that this doesn’t become our kids’ future. It doesn’t have to be this way. (If you’re not sure where to start, check out votesaveamerica.com.)

The doctors and nurses who cared for me at St. Joe’s were compassionate and skilled. The hospital policy, as alleged in the lawsuit, is wrong. All across the U.S., policymakers who want to control women’s bodies this way are growing more emboldened by the Republican party (which, by the way, also wants to replace Affordable Care Act’s protections with unspecified “concepts of a plan”).

Please share these stories with anyone, in any state, who needs convincing about the stakes of this election. I know so many of you have your own stories too.

I see Trump/Vance signs at houses in Humboldt County and I wonder, would those people really accept me bleeding out and leaving my daughter motherless? Is that what “pro-life” means to you? What are we even doing here?

I’m not very comfortable sharing my story. I’d rather not have to. I’ve just started my own company and I’m risking loss of potential business.

But I’m angry and baffled. And the stakes are too high.

Thank you, Dr. Nusslock and Attorney General Rob Bonta, for courageously trying to right this wrong at St. Joseph’s.

If you’d like to connect with others in our community who care about these issues (including the closure of Mad River’s labor & delivery unit) — to learn from each other and work to create a safer and more just Humboldt County — please go to this link, where a mutual aid organizing process is underway. 

Tamara Evans found something fishy in the expenses filed by a San Diego contractor for the state’s police certification commission.

Classes were reported as full to her employer, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, even if they weren’t. Meeting room space was billed, but no rooms were actually rented. Sometimes, the number of people teaching a course was less than the number of instructors on the invoice.

In 2010, Evans reported her concerns about the contract to auditors with the California Emergency Management Agency.

Then, Evans alleged in a lawsuit, her bosses started treating her poorly. Her previously sterling performance reviews turned negative and she was denied family medical leave. In 2013, she was fired – a move she contends was a wrongful termination in retaliation for whistleblowing.

Last week, a federal court jury agreed with her, awarding her more than $8.7 million to be paid by the state.

Tamara Evans sued California’s police credentialing agency after her dismissal in 2013 and 11 years later won $8.7 million from the federal jury that heard her whistleblower retaliation case. Photo courtesy of Bohm Law Group

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleged that Evans found governmental wrongdoing and faced retaliation from her employer, and that she wouldn’t have been fired if she hadn’t spoken up.

That’s despite a State Personnel Board decision 2014 that threw out her whistleblower retaliation claim and determined the credentialing agency had dismissed her appropriately.

Evans’ trial attorney, Lawrance Bohm said the credentialing agency hasn’t fixed the problems Evans originally identified. The money Evans complained about was federal grant money, but the majority of its resources are state funds.

“The easier way to win (the lawsuit) was to focus on the federal money, but the reality is, according to the information we discovered through the investigation, (the commission) is paying state funds the same way that they were paying illegally the federal funds,” Bohm said. “Why should we be watching California dollars less strictly than federal dollars?”

Bohm said Evans tried to settle the case for $450,000.

“All I know is that systems don’t easily change and this particular system is not showing any signs of changing,” Bohm said, who anticipates billing $2 million in attorney fees on top of the jury award.

“That’s a total $10 million payout by the state when they could have paid like probably 400,000 (dollars) and been out of it.”

Katie Strickland, a spokesperson for the law enforcement credentialing agency, said in an email that the commission is “unaware of any such claims” related to misspending state funds on training, and called Bohm’s allegations “baseless and without merit.”

The commission’s “position on this matter is and has always been that it did not retaliate against Ms. Evans for engaging in protected conduct, and that her termination in March of 2013 was justified and appropriate,” Strickland said. “While (the commission) respects the decision of the jury, it is disappointed in the jury’s verdict in this matter and is considering all appropriate post-trial options.”

Bohm said the training classes amount to paid vacation junkets to desirable locations like San Diego and Napa, where trainees might bring their spouses and make a weekend out of it while spending perhaps an hour or two in a classroom.

“Why is it that there are not a lot of classes happening in Fresno?” Bohm said. “I think you know the answer to that.”

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

Lloyd Andrew Hughes, a beloved father, professional entertainer, inventor, outdoorsman, tradesman and all-around creative force of nature was born on August 29, 1952 in Colorado. He passed away unexpectedly on August 21, 2024 in Eureka at the age of 71.

Throughout Andrew’s life he wore many hats with grace and skill. From entertaining audiences with his charismatic performances to inventing new gadgets and exploring the great outdoors with an adventurous spirit as well as honing his skills as a tradesman — there seemed to be nothing Andrew couldn’t do when he set his mind to it.

Those who knew him best will remember him as a man who embodied creativity in everything he did. Whether it was through music or artistry or even just in conversation, Andrew had an innate ability to infuse beauty into every aspect of life.

But perhaps what stood out most about Andrew was not just what he accomplished but how he made others feel along the way. He was caring beyond measure, compassionate without fail, kind through thick and thin. His heart overflowed with empathy for those around him and anyone who crossed paths with him felt uplifted by his warmth.

Andrew pursued higher education at San Bernardino Junior College, where he cultivated knowledge that served as fuel for both personal growth and professional success throughout his lifetime.

A celebration of Andrew’s remarkable life will be held on September 28 at the Manila Community Center at 2 p.m., where friends and family will gather together to honor this extraordinary man whose impact reached far beyond himself.

In lieu of flowers or gifts please consider making a donation in memory of Lloyd Andrew Hughes towards causes close to your heart as we carry forward the legacy of compassion that defined him so completely.

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

The search is underway for Cal Poly Humboldt’s new president.

The California State University Board of Trustees is holding an open forum to kickstart the process October 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Van Duzer theater on Humboldt’s campus. There’s also a virtual option available.

The board wants people to show up and share what they want the new president to be like. There’s also a survey for thought-sharing as well.

Interim president Michael Spagna took over after the previous president, Tom Jackson, resigned in July. The new president will be announced in March 2025 by the Board of Trustees.

Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees is beginning the search for the next regularly appointed president of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt). Michael E. Spagna is currently serving as interim president.

The first meeting of the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President will be held in a hybrid in-person/virtual open forum from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in the Van Duzer Theatre on campus. During this time, the committee will outline the search process, and the community will be invited to share their preferred attributes of the next president of Cal Poly Humboldt.

The open forum will also be live-streamed and archived on the Cal Poly Humboldt Presidential Search webpage, where individuals may also provide their input via written submission.

Pre-registration is not required to attend and provide comment in person. However, campus and community members wishing to address the committee through the virtual option are required to register in advance on the president search webpage. The deadline to register to speak virtually during the open forum is Tuesday, October 8, at 5 p.m. Confirmed registrants will receive details about how to participate.

CSU Trustee Leslie Gilbert-Lurie will chair the committee. The other trustee members include Larry L. Adamson, Lillian Kimbell and Anna Ortiz-Morfit, as well as Trustee Chair Jack B. Clarke Jr. and CSU Chancellor Mildred García.

Board policy requires the CSU trustees chair to appoint an Advisory Committee to the Trustees’ Committee. The Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from the faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as a member of a campus advisory board, all of whom are selected by the campus’s constituency groups. Also on the Advisory Committee is a vice president or academic dean from the campus, and a president of another CSU campus, both selected by the chancellor. Both the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President and the Advisory Committee to the Trustees’ Committee function as one unified group.

Members of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the President include:

• Daniel Barton, department chair and professor, Department of Wildlife, and Marissa Ramsier, professor, Department of Anthropology (faculty representatives)
• Carmen Bustos-Works, associate vice president, Academic Programs and dean, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies (administrative representative)
• Mara Kravitz and Wysdem Singleton (student representatives)
• Soraya M. Coley, president, Cal Poly Pomona (president representative)
• Betty Chinn and Virgil Moorehead (community representatives)
• Bella Gray, student placements and community engagement specialist, College of Professional Studies (staff representative)
• Daniel E. Sealy (alumni representative)
• Miles Slattery, President’s Advisory Board representative
• James F. Woglom, chair, University Senate

Over the next several months, the committee will review candidates and conduct interviews, with the announcement of Cal Poly Humboldt’s next regularly appointed president made during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in March 2025.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Monday, Sept. 30 at about 9 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies responded to the report of an armed robbery at the Fairway Market on Herrick Ave. in Eureka.

The store owner reported the incident shortly after it occurred, prompting immediate response from deputies in the area. According to the store owner, a person entered the market and pointed a firearm at the owner.  The suspect demanded cash, and threatened to shoot the owner if he did not comply.  The suspect then fled on foot and was last seen in the area of Carolyn Ct.  Deputies arrived on the scene within minutes of the 911 call; however, after an exhaustive search they were unable to locate the suspect.     

The suspect is described as a white male adult, approximately 6’ tall and weighing between 150-160 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black gloves, and was seen carrying a blue canvas bag. If anyone has information about this crime or a potential suspect, they should contact HCSO.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today took a couple of small steps toward increased flexibility in multi-family housing development.

With Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo absent, the board passed a pair of ordinances that will implement and expand upon a state law that took effect last year. That law, called the Middle-Class Housing Act of 2022, allows housing to be built in zones where office, parking or retail are permitted.

There are certain restrictions on those allowances. For example, any new housing projects must be located within an “urban cluster,” and here in Humboldt they’ll have to be built at a density between 15 and 30 units per acre. No single-family houses and no huge apartment complexes, in other words.

Potential locations for this new housing development include Fields Landing, Cutten, Scotia and the long stretch between McKinleyville and Fortuna.

There were some differences of opinion among the board members as they discussed potential tweaks to the Commercial Residential Ordinance, which the Planning Commission passed along with a recommendation for approval from the supes. 

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson argued that multi-family housing shouldn’t be put in commercial zones right next to industrial zones, and he said the ordinance should specify that new housing development must occur only in areas with existing services, such as public water and sewer and access to public transportation. 

“I’m not agreeing with everything you’re saying,” Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell interjected. Regarding his call for housing to be located in existing service areas she said, “For the very unincorporated areas, especially in my district where housing could be appropriate there, I’m not feeling his language change.”

In particular, Bushnell asked about the potential for development in the Cooks Valley region, and Planning and Building Director John Ford said Wilson’s suggestion would indeed exclude that area.

Wilson said that’s justified. 

“Housing is very needed,” he said, “but we can create a pretty substantial service burden, from a local government perspective, if we’re putting multi-family housing in areas that are quite isolated.”

The two wound up compromising by having the ordinance say that multi-family development in areas without services may be allowed, but they’ll require a special permit.

Another point of disagreement arose in a discussion about parking requirements. Wilson suggested eliminating parking requirements for all housing that’s within half a mile of a bus stop. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn pushed back on that idea.

“I mean, I know we’re trying to get everybody out of their cars and everything else, but I’m pretty sure we all drove here this morning,” he said. “So I just think [allowing development with] no parking is an issue.”

Ford said that the Planning Commission also struggled with this topic but decided that parking requirements should not be required for affordable housing projects or those served by public transit.

Bohn also made the argument that excessive red tape is preventing housing from being developed. 

“We’re not building a lot of stuff,” he said. “Everybody wants to get a piece of their pie, and it just seems like — .” He stopped himself. “I’m going through the same rant that I always do,” he lamented.

Wilson said today’s decisions should actually help resolve that complaint.

“In general, this ordinance increases entitlements and decreases restrictions for building housing,” he pointed out.

The board voted unanimously to pass the Commercial Residential Ordinance after excising parking requirements for developments within half a mile from a bus stop and specifying that any developments that aren’t in an “urban cluster” must first get a special permit.

Considerably less debate accompanied passage of the Zoning Updates Ordinance — tweaks to existing regulations “that individually are quite small,” Ford said, adding, “Cumulatively, they’re not significant.”

The changes involved such matters as fence heights the and definition of the terms “family” and “mini-storage.” 

Bohn objected to an element of this ordinance that will prohibit mini-storage units in certain zones in an effort to keep them on the periphery of mixed-use commercial and residential areas. As such, he wound up voting “no,” but the motion still passed with a vote of 3-1.

Press release from the Calfire Humboldt-Del Norte Unit:

What:

Professionally controlled prescribed burn planned for the consumption of invasive European Beachgrass involving approximately 14-50 acres, as conditions allow.

When:

The prescribed burn is planned for Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024.

Where:

Ocean Ranch southwest of Table Bluff. Four miles northwest Loleta.

Why:

This burn is part of a multiyear prescribed fire study for invasive plant management and hazardous fuels reduction. The treatment will help to enhance the health of the native plant communities, aid in the control of non-native plant species, protect and enhance habitat for multiple dune species, and aid in the reduction of hazardous fire fuels.

Who:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), CAL FIRE. During these prescribed fire operations, residents may see an increase in fire suppression resource traffic, smoke will be visible and traffic control may be in place. Please be cautious for your safety as well as those working on prescribed burns.

Learn more how you can prepare for wildfire by visiting: www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

For more information, please contact the CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit Public Information Officer line at: (707) 726-1285.