Caltrans release:

Crews have made major progress toward reopening Route 36 east of Swimmer’s Delight near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. Thanks to around-the-clock efforts over the past three days — including work with two helicopters — more than 100 logs have been removed from the slope. While there is still much work to be done, we’re on track to reopen the highway to one-way traffic by this Thursday, barring any unforeseen events.

We’ll continue to assess and address remaining hazards before turning our attention to long-term slope repairs and a future catchment area. A huge thanks goes out to the fallers and loggers who’ve exhibited precision in their safety skills while making this challenging work possible. We’re also extremely grateful to Columbia Helicopters, who delayed their Alaska deployment to get their Chinook helicopter here. We couldn’t have done it without them.

We remain committed to restoring safe and reliable travel on Route 36. Route 299 continues to serve as the only state highway detour in Humboldt County.

PREVIOUSLY:

• One Arrested, Two At Large Following Early Morning Burglary in Arcata, APD Says
• Another Arrest Made in Arcata Burglary Case

###

Press release from the Arcata Police Department:

On June 26, 2025, at 4:30am, Arcata Police Officers interrupted a residential burglary in the 400 block of Shirley Boulevard. Three suspects fled on foot and the incident concluded with one suspect in custody after a foot pursuit.

Later that day APD Detectives identified an additional suspect as 47-year-old Arcata resident, Alvar Shane Sovereign. Sovereign was arrested without incident for burglary and fresh charges for felon in possession of ammunition, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A search warrant was served on a residence associated with Sovereign located in the 1100 block of Madrone Avenue in Arcata. The search yielded a firearm and methamphetamine. Sovereign was booked and lodged at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on an additional charge of felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 29, 2025, Investigators with the Arcata Police Department arrested a third suspect, 43-year-old Arcata resident, Daren Rasella, on the 800 block of Courtyard Circle in Arcata.  Rasella was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the charge of residential burglary.

The Arcata Police Department would like to thank the community for their continued support in reducing crime. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Arcata Police Department’s Investigations Unit, at 707-822-2424, or the Anonymous Crime Tipline, at 707-825-2588.

California’s revamped Low Carbon Fuel Standard takes effect on Tuesday, despite fierce Republican criticism and increasing Democratic trepidation over its potential to raise gas prices.

The new rules — which expand a program to reduce climate-warming gases and clean the air — ratchet up requirements for cleaner fuels and broaden a $2 billion credit market aimed at cutting emissions from cars, trucks and freight.

No immediate hike in gas prices will occur. Experts say the future impact is uncertain because it depends on how much the oil industry spends on buying credits and then passes it onto consumers.

The previous fuel standard, which was set in 2011, added 9 cents to the cost of a gallon; a UC Davis researcher estimates that the new one could add 5 to 8 cents per gallon.

The Newsom administration is bracing for more political attacks as Republican legislators have seized on the issue. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office issued a fact-check memo defending the rule and saying the impacts are exaggerated, while Republicans in the Legislature and Congress say it would damage the economy because Californians already pay the most in the nation for gasoline. State Sen. Brian Jones requested an audit of the rule, calling it “nothing short of price gouging by Newsom, hitting Californians where it hurts the most.”

Democratic lawmakers last week introduced legislation that would cap the price of the standard’s fuel credits in an effort to rein in price spikes at the pump. The measure is supported by one of the state’s most powerful Democrats, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, who said it “will reduce costs for drivers across the Golden State while continuing to move our climate and energy goals full steam ahead.”

The new fuel standard is projected to reduce carbon dioxide-equivalent gases by 558 million metric tons through 2046, according to the air board’s economic assessment. Those reductions are equal to the emissions of more than 120 million cars on average in a year. Some critics say that is an overestimate, because soybean fuels may not be as clean as reported.

Cleaner, low-carbon fuels include biofuels made from soybeans or cow manure. The program has been particularly successful in reducing the diesel fuels used by medium and heavy-duty trucks. Over the 13 years, it has displaced 25 billion gallons of petroleum fuels, according to the air board.

The new fuel standard was temporarily delayed earlier this year when the state’s administrative law office rejected it and sent it back to the air board to add more clarity to the rule.

Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, a Bakersfield Democrat, last month called for the resignation of California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph over concerns that the agency did not study the economic impacts of its new standard.

Randolph said in a statement that gas prices are “over a dollar per gallon cheaper than just a few years ago. Our efforts to deploy more zero-emission vehicles and reduce fossil fuel use is working to cut demand and create more competition in the fuels market, and the (fuel standard) is a big part of that effort.”

In an unrelated action, California’s gasoline excise tax, which is adjusted annually, will increase by 1.6 cents per gallon on Tuesday. The tax is primarily used to pay for roads and highways.

###

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

The National Weather Service’s Eureka arm is cautioning folks to the east to stay alert. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today through 11 p.m. on  Tuesday for interior Humboldt, and parts of Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties due to the threat of dangerous weather conditions.

“Scattered thunderstorms are expected to produce lightning and gusty and erratic outflow winds,” NWS announced in a release today. “New fire starts are possible.”

Stay safe out there, friends. 

Trails being all the rage as they are these days, we thought we’d direct your attention to this slick video from Caltrans highlighting the recent opening of the Rio Dell Trail, which winds through lush areas adjacent the Eel River. Hear from Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes and City Manager Kyle Knopp, while taking an aerial trail tour in the Caltrans-produced video above.

More from Caltrans:

Check out this short video for a bird’s eye view of the new Rio Dell Trail and an up close look at the student artwork that welcomes visitors at the trailhead. The Clean California-funded project formally opened earlier this month and has been packed with locals taking advantage of Rio Dell’s first designated access point to the beautiful Eel River.

For those who made the scene, Saturday was one of those banner Humboldt days when it was easy to feel exceptionally prideful over the place we are lucky enough to call home. 

Though LoCO is very aware that some of y’all have been opening your Christmas presents early, June 28, 2025 marked the official opening of the south segment of the Humboldt Bay Trail — meaning you can now walk, run, bike or skate from Arcata to Eureka along Humboldt Bay without fear of becoming Highway 101 roadkill.

The occasion was commemorated with a celebration at Eureka’s Adorni Center, where local dignitaries congratulated each other for a job well done. The proceedings culminated with a “ribbon connection” to symbolize the new path joining Humboldt’s two largest population centers. 

[For more on the gritty details on how the Humboldt Bay Trail came to be, tune in to this week’s EcoNews Report.]

Outside the Adorni, hundreds of Humboldt residents took advantage of the perfect weather to make the city-to-city trek. Because we are weirdos, LoCO opted to wait until later in the day after the crowds had mostly dissipated to enjoy an ethereal sunset voyage. We offer our video evidence of the magical day that was via the clip above. Hopefully you get to experience our new shared wonder for yourself soon. Do it.

Below: Local trail explorers receive their reward.

###

(AUDIO) First 5 Humboldt’s Karina Vazquez on KSLG

Raising kids ain’t easy! That’s why the good folks at First 5 Humboldt are constantly looking for new ways to help support local children and their families.

A couple of months back, the organization launched its “Nurturing Humboldt,” a podcast exploring “the big and small moments that shape children, families and caregivers – sharing stories, expert insights and practical tools to nurture resilience, equity and the power of connection.” The podcast delves into a variety of topics, ranging from children’s mental health issues and the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Humboldt County to the importance of playgroups.

Karina Vazquez, First 5 Humboldt’s community engagement coordinator, sat down with KSLG’s Rhi Marie this week to talk about the new podcast and some of the unique challenges parents and caregivers face in raising kids in a rural place like Humboldt. 

Click that link up top for the full interview. More information about First 5 Humboldt can be found here.