A decade-spanning political battle between housing developers and defenders of California’s preeminent environmental law likely came to an end this afternoon with only a smattering of “no” votes.

The forces of housing won.

With the passage of a state budget-related housing bill, the California Environmental Quality Act will be a non-issue for a decisive swath of urban residential development in California.

In practice, that means most new apartment buildings will no longer face the open threat of environmental litigation.

It also means most urban developers will no longer have to study, predict and mitigate the ways that new housing might affect local traffic, air pollution, flora and fauna, noise levels, groundwater quality and objects of historic or archeological significance.

And it means that when housing advocates argue that the state isn’t doing enough to build more homes amid crippling rents and stratospheric prices, they won’t — with a few exceptions — have CEQA to blame anymore.

“Saying ‘no’ to housing in my community will no longer be state sanctioned,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who introduced the CEQA law as a separate bill in March. “This isn’t going to solve all of our housing problems in the state, but it is going to remove the single biggest impediment to building environmentally friendly housing.”

Unlike most environmental laws, which explicitly mandate, monitor or ban certain environmental behavior, CEQA is just a public disclosure requirement. The 54-year-old statute requires state and local governments to study and publicize the likely environmental impact of any decisions they make. That includes the permitting of new housing.

But for years, the building industry and “Yes in my backyard” activists have identified the law as a key culprit behind California’s housing shortage. That’s because the law allows any individual or group to sue if they argue that a required environmental study isn’t accurate, expansive or detailed enough. Such lawsuits — and even the mere threat of them — add a degree of delay, cost and uncertainty that make it impossible for the state to build its way to affordability, CEQA’s critics argue.

With today’s vote, the Legislature will be putting that argument to the test. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who spent much of last week cajoling the Legislature to pass the bill as part of his budget package, is all but certain to sign it.

Now the question is whether this monumental political and policy shift will actually result in more homes getting built in California’s cities.

Many of the bill’s backers are optimistic.

“I think when we look back on what hopefully is California finally beginning to confront this housing crisis, this year — 2025 — and this bill will be viewed as a turning point,” said Matt Haney, a Democrat who represents San Francisco in the Assembly where he chairs the housing committee.

On paper, the new law, unlike most that deal with housing approvals and environmental regulation, is actually pretty straightforward.

Urban “infill” housing developments — housing built in and around existing development — are no longer subject to CEQA.

There are some exceptions and qualifiers, but development boosters say they are relatively minor.

The exemption is“the most significant change to the California Environmental Quality Act’s effect on housing production since CEQA was passed,” said Louis Mirante, a lobbyist for the Bay Area Council, a business coalition that regularly pushes for legislation that makes it easier to build.

The bill is limited to projects under 20 acres, but that cap is only relevant to the biggest multi-block-spanning mega developments.

A certain level of density is required, but it really only precludes using the policy for single-family home construction.

Before any project can move forward, any affiliated tribal government will have to be notified first, but the consultation is put on a short timeline.

In order to qualify for the exemption, a proposed project must also be consistent with local zoning, the regulations that determine what types of buildings can be constructed where. But thanks to another CEQA-chopping bill authored by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener that exempts many changes to zoning rules from CEQA and which is also packed into the budget, that appears less likely to be a real constraint.

To buy off the ferocious opposition of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, a construction union umbrella group, the bill also includes some higher wage requirements.

But those rules are not likely to apply to most potential residential development projects. “The lion share of housing being built” in California will no longer be governed by CEQA, said Mark Rhoades, a planning and development consultant in Berkeley.

Take a massive five-story apartment building spanning a full city block, said Bill Fulton, a longtime urban planner and professor at UC San Diego.

“You don’t have to worry about labor and you don’t have to worry about CEQA? That’s a big deal,” he said.

CEQA seachange

What a difference nine years make.

Consider how things went back in 2016 when then-Gov. Jerry Brown tried to ram a CEQA fix for California’s rising housing costs through the state budget process. Brown’s big idea was to “streamline” the housing approval process, allowing developers to make an end-run around the California Environmental Quality Act, so long as they set aside a certain share of units for lower-income residents.

A coalition of construction labor unions, environmental interests and local government groups torched the idea. The proposal didn’t even get a vote.

Nearly a decade later, once again a Democratic governor opted to stuff a CEQA-trimming policy package through the budget process in the name of cheaper housing.

The measure passed overwhelmingly in both the Senate and Assembly — and this time it didn’t even include an affordability requirement.

Learn more about legislators mentioned in this story.

Wicks’ proposal is somewhat narrower than the 2016 version, exempting only infill. New suburban-style subdivisions carved from farmland or undeveloped sagebrush will not qualify.

That infill focus has made it easier for the Democratic-controlled Legislature to swallow such a significant scaling back of California’s signature environmental law. Promoting denser urban development generally means using less land, constructing new housing that uses less energy and setting up new residents to do a lot less driving.

“When you are building housing in an existing community, that is environmentally beneficial, it is climate friendly, that is not something that should be subjected to potentially endless CEQA challenges and lawsuits,” Wiener said on the Senate floor on Monday just prior to the vote, when the measure passed 28 to 5.

Even so, Wicks’ proposal always looked like a long shot.

Since Brown’s failed gambit, lawmakers have managed to pass a raft of bills giving housing developers an escape route around CEQA. But those laws have always contained a trade-off. Developers get to skip CEQA, but in exchange they have to pay state-set “prevailing wages” (which typically work out to union-level pay), hire union workers outright, set aside a certain share of units for lower income residents, or some combination of the three.

These conditions were born of political necessity. A CEQA lawsuit — or even the suggestion of one — makes for a powerful negotiating tool. Organized labor groups, mostly especially the building trades council, have not been keen to give up that leverage without getting something in return.

As housing developers proved less willing to use the new streamlining laws than those bills’ sponsors and supporters had hoped, many pro-building advocates, academics and commentators began calling for environmental streamlining with no strings attached.

Wicks answered that call earlier this year. Under her proposal, infill developers would be allowed to ignore CEQA, full stop. That marked a major break from recent legislative precedent, and one that seemed a stretch, even with so many Democratic lawmakers carting around copies of Abundance.

The deal that almost wasn’t

Just last week, Wicks’ proposal seemed on the verge of collapse.

A version of the bill introduced last week included what amounted to a minor wage hike for the lowest paid construction workers, who are virtually all non-union. While the state’s carpenters’ union supported it, the trades council emphatically did not — with one of the groups’ associated lobbyists likening it to Jim Crow. The trades objected so strenuously — arguing that it set dangerous precedent and undercut apprenticeship programs — that lawmakers removed the proposed wage change.

Instead, developers working on projects that are entirely designated to be affordable would now be required to pay prevailing wages in order to take advantage of the new law.

Developers of any projects over 85 feet tall would be required to hire a certain share of union workers. There are added restrictions for construction in San Francisco specifically.

By the standards of prior housing streamlining bills, those are relatively modest concessions. Most developments over 85 feet use concrete and steel frame construction, which require a higher skilled labor force that is often unionized anyway.

Most entirely income-restricted housing projects make use of public subsidies that require paying union-level wages.

“Affordable housing is forced to play by different rules because the state has decided that if you are receiving public funds a certain wage should be attached to it,” said Ray Pearl, executive director of the California Housing Consortium, which advocates for affordable housing construction. The addition of a prevailing wage requirement for affordable housing “is a head scratcher,” he said. “But it really is reaffirming existing policy.”

That leaves every other type of housing project: Market rate and mixed-income apartment buildings under seven-or-so stories. For that type of construction, which defines the bulk of urban development in California, CEQA is soon to be entirely optional — no string attached.

That this is the new trades-endorsed deal has been met with a perplexed kind of glee from some corners of the “yes in my backyard” movement. The new version of the bill “is now *even better,*” UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf marveled on Twitter.

Will it matter?

What will urban housing construction look like in California without CEQA?

There are no shortage of reasons not to build housing in California. Labor costs, even without regulatory requirements, are high. So are interest rates. Tariffs and aggressive immigration enforcement are more recent sources of uncertainty. Developers are always happy to complain about slow permitting, high local fees and inflexible building codes.

“It’s not the CEQA costs that are holding up housing,” said Rhoades, the Berkeley consultant.

“I don’t think this is going to make more development happen,” he said of the budget bill. “It’s going to make development that is already happening a little easier.”

Critics of the law can and do point to specific projects — housing for students, housing near public transit, affordable housing built upon city-owned parking lots — that have been sued in the name of the environment as examples of “CEQA abuse.”

Under the new laws, such litigation will largely go away in California’s cities.

“The one thing we do know is that CEQA is a time suck,” said Ben Metcalf, managing director of UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation and the former head of the state’s housing agency under Brown. “If you can just get out of that six months, nine months, twelfth months of delay, that takes a whole cohort of projects and gets them in the ground sooner. In a state that’s facing a housing crisis, that’s not for nothing.”

But the more important consequence of CEQA, many of its critics regularly argue, has been its chilling effect.

How many new units of housing would have been built, but for concerns that they might become ensnared in environmental litigation? How many developers, anticipating a possible legal challenge, have preemptively pared back their plans? How many financiers of housing projects pulled out or demanded higher interest rates over such concerns?

California may soon find out.

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

Hank (Henry) Ingham passed away on June 26 in Eureka, Calif., surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cheryl, his daughter Michelle, son Kyle, and 4 grandchildren, along with his siblings Tex (Harvey IV), Stephanie, and Donald. Hank’s father and mother, Harvey III and Jean Ingham, were longtime Eureka residents.

Hank was born in Minnesota. At an early age, he drew cartoon pictures to amuse his friends and brothers. His talent for art and his quick sense of humor continued throughout his life. In high school in Pennsylvania, he studied Latin and the classics. Hank was a walking encyclopedia; he knew the definitions of every word and would cite derivations. He was the best partner to have in Trivial Pursuit, knowing the most obscure facts in every subject, and the most formidable opponent in Scrabble, always winning.

Hank attended Bucknell University, earning a BS in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the Army where he served as a radio communications specialist, stationed in Germany. He enjoyed leaving the Army base and found local beer halls a great place to learn German. After receiving an honorable discharge, Hank enrolled in the Peace Corps and served two years in Iran working in tourist development. The Peace Corps required intensive training in Farsi, another language he quickly picked up. He was proud of his time living in the heart of the ancient civilization and loved the Persian food.

When he returned to the U.S., he settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and applied his international experience as manager of Pier One Imports in Berkeley. The birth of his son Kyle motivated him to leave the urban setting and move to Humboldt County.

He soon started what became his lifelong career at KIEM-TV. His first job there was making TV commercials for local businesses. His clever scripting, artwork and distinctive voice were always attention getting. During these years Hank also took classes at Humboldt State University and earned a second degree in Art. He became a member of the Ink People where he learned the art of print-making, and gained the attention of the local press with his tongue-in-cheek exhibit “The Death of Santa.”

He continued to work at KIEM and in 1983 began a collaboration with an administrator for the County Office of Education to produce two television series, What Did You Do in School Today? and Not Just For Kids. His persistent focus on turning educational concepts into words the viewing public could understand garnered state and national public relations awards for the programs. The hours they spent editing the monthly episodes that aired on KIEM built a level of trust and respect between Hank and the show’s co-producer. That deepened, and in 1985 he married that partner, Cheryl, and embraced her daughter Michelle as his own.

Hank played the guitar, the piano and basketball. He loved basketball and played in all the local “over” leagues, Over 30, Over 40, Over 50. He became more active in the local community when he was promoted to General Sales Manager at KIEM. He was a member of Rotary International, a Paul Harris Fellow and served as President of the Eureka Rotary Club in 1998-99. He livened the weekly meetings with his quick banter and clever humor. Hank was kind-hearted to the core. After publicly fining members, each received a hand-written note expressing his personal appreciation and acknowledging their contribution to the club’s good causes. Hank loved dogs, his own and anyone else’s, and served on the Board of the Sequoia Humane Society for a number of years.

In his personal time, travel was a priority. He and Cheryl explored Italy, France, Mexico, Great Britain, Virgin Gorda, Bora Bora, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Canada and took many trips throughout the U.S. Their travel priorities later shifted to Lake Tahoe with the marriage of their daughter Michelle to John Gurner and the birth of two grandchildren, Claire and Cameron. A decade later they added a stop in San Rafael to their travel itinerary when Kyle and his wife Tiffani expanded the Ingham clan with two more grandchildren, Gavin and Dylan.

In 2007 Hank was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He faced the debilitating disease head-on. Hank was a fighter. He was committed to a rigorous exercise regimen, which included Rock Steady Boxing, to slow down the symptoms of PD. In addition to the workouts, he joined the local Parkinson’s support group and became close friends with others who had PD.

Throughout the years, Hank was known for both his humor and his artistic talent, In the early 1980s, well before the current popularity of memes, Hank was adding his own witty captions to the TV press release photos he posted in the studio to amuse his co-workers. He liked making people laugh. He participated in the Humboldt County Pun-off, and recorded dozens of funny messages on his answering machine. Friends who called often secretly hoped he might not answer so they could listen to the latest message. H

is artistic talent was expressed in many different mediums. In the 1980s a Hank Ingham signature adorned the holiday graphics painted on many Eureka storefront windows. A trip to the Southwest in the 1990s inspired the series of pen and ink drawings and several large acrylic works he presented in a show “Cactus Bones.” His artwork has been the logo on the front of the Humboldt County Science Fair t-shirts since its inception. After his retirement in 2017, he devoted more time to perfecting his skills in watercolor painting. He studied under Alan Sanborn and became fast friends with other local artists in Sanborn’s Art Critique groups. 

Hank adored his children; they could do no wrong. He was immensely proud of them and this unconditional love instantly flowed over into his grandchildren. He found delight in each of their special qualities. In his last year Hank found new opportunities to share his humor and creative talents with the caregivers at Timber Ridge Eureka. He considered those who cared for him there, laughed at his quick jokes and watched a bit of basketball game with him as his extended family. Hank died of complications of Parkinson’s Disease after a short illness. Donations in Hank’s memory would be welcomed by the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Sequoia Humane Society.

A Celebration of Hank’s life will be held in Eureka on July 12th. If you may wish to attend, please contact the family at the link below for details on time and location. 

Contact family.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Henry Ingham’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Gregory Lee Rael, 75, passed away at his Bayside home on June 14, 2025. 

Greg lived a life of incredible depth in the outdoors, overseas, and in the courtroom. He was a friend and mentor to many, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a grandfather, a counselor to those who ran afoul of the law, an amateur architect, a painter, a trader of wood and lumber, and a hunter. He was a collector of artifacts – some valuable, most not, but all with a story behind them. More so, he was a collector of interesting people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Greg’s seemingly infinite stories were slow and circuitous talks that inevitably led to unexpected and often hilarious conclusions.

An alum of and counselor at Camp Unalayee in the Trinity Alps, he met and mentored many young people over the course of his life and became deeply familiar with the lakes, trails, and mountains in the wilderness areas of Northern California. He was impressed by people of character and deeply admired people with rare skills – whether they were privileged and educated, but especially if they struggled in life.

Born on April 17, 1950, in Compton, California to Isador “Izzy” Rael and Paula Jocelyn Rael (Goren), he was named after his grandfather Greg Rael. The family moved to Whittier, California where Greg attended elementary school and La Serna High School. During a YMCA trip to Peru, he met his lifelong friend Becky Evans. Greg attended Stanford University and spent his junior year studying in Italy, where he became fluent in Italian. He then earned his law degree from Stanford Law School. Stanford was an institution he loved, and its medical facilities later cared for him as he wrestled with complicated health issues. He married Rhonda Parker in 2002. The two loved to travel, have friends and family over for elaborate dinners, garden, and spend time at their cabin near Somes Bar on the Klamath River. They were married nearly 23 years. 

Greg first came to Humboldt County when he completed a law school internship, working for both the district attorney and the public defender. He decided to stay on as a public defender for much longer than is common, insisting it was critical to understanding the law and the legal profession. He met John Young in the public defender’s office, and they opened a private practice. After they closed that office, Greg opened his own criminal defense practice and had a long and storied career before retiring at the age of 74.

His reputation as an ethical and fair attorney brought him many cases and clients, both high profile and otherwise. Greg’s longtime assistant Marlene Birnie was his companion through his legal adventures and became his close friend and confidante through many ups and downs. Greg was not above providing legal services in exchange for, say, a load of manzanita firewood, or a few days’ worth of work building a new structure at his beloved cabin. He considered the property among his greatest works of art and the fulfillment of his parents’ dream to own a cabin.

Greg also loved hunting in the Trinity Alps with his brother Dennis and friends and came to know the area around Scott Mountain well. Always maintaining a connection to his roots, Greg made a number of pilgrimages to New Mexico where his family was from. He visited the Santuario in Chimayo each time he went to New Mexico and made sure to bring back exquisite carved santos (saints) that he purchased from the Lopez family for decades. Greg and Rhonda made one last trip to the Santuario in May.

Many will miss Greg’s wit, advice, tremendous generosity, counsel, humor, and warmth. His was a life well-lived, and those who were a part of it have lived life better because of him. 

Greg is survived by his wife Rhonda (Parker); his granddaughters Dayna, Shelby, and Macie; his brother Dennis and his wife Carol Falkenthal; nieces, Trula and Coco Rael; stepchildren Darren and Chad Brittain and Angela Pialorsi; and his Aunt Rosie Orona; his brothers-in-law David (Carol) and Kent (Sheila Parker); and his mother-in-law Arlene Parker. He is preceded in death by his parents Isador and Paula; his grandfathers, Greg Rael and Morris Goren; his grandmothers Lucy Rael and Clara Fischer (Perlmutter) and his stepson Gino Pialorsi.

A celebration of Greg Rael’s life will be held on July 12, at 1 p.m. at the Bayside Grange. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gregory Rael’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Diane Marie Mohorovich passed away surrounded by family on May 22, 2025. She was born March 29, 1935, to Roy and Caroline McGauhey in Eureka. In 1952, she married William (Bill) Mohorovich. They bought their first home on L Street in Eureka, where they raised three sons: Rick, Dean, and Jimmy.

She had many hobbies—needlepoint, knitting, and canning many types of fruits, vegetables, tuna, as well as jams. Peaches from Gambies in Willow Creek and pears from Ukiah were family favorites.

Her favorite flowers were the beautiful begonias she grew in the backyard, along with the hanging fuchsias. Her son Rick always encouraged her to enter her begonias in the County Fair. Unfortunately, that never happened.

At 15, she started her first job at Harvey M. Harper as a secretary, until she finished high school. She became a stay-at-home mom in June 1955 when Rick was born. In March 1957, her son Dean was born, followed by Jimmy in 1961.

When the boys entered junior high and high school, Diane returned to the workforce—first at the Unemployment Office, then at the State Compensation Office, where she worked for 20 years. After retiring, she stayed in touch with the friends she made there, gathering for lunch and catching up.

After retirement, Bill and Diane began to travel with some of their closest friends. That was quite a group, and they knew how to have fun. The fun extended to their home—they never let guests leave hungry and sometimes sent them off a little blurry-eyed.

This group consisted of Paul and Deloris Guyot, Ken and Sabra Skelton, Dair and Lana Magnusen, and Calvin and Gail Hamblin. All were big-time 49ers fans—except Ken, who always bet against them. They had all been friends since high school. Ed Lewis Logging and family, along with Darrel and Margie Sauers, also joined the group on trips to Mexico and cruise ship excursions.

After Dad passed away in 1971, Mom joined a travel group and began exploring the world—something she had always wanted to do. She was an avid reader and knew there was a lot out there to see. Her adventures took her to China, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. She later traveled within the U.S. to states including Alaska, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee.

She was an avid sports fan, rarely missing a game. GO GIANTS! GO WARRIORS!

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Caroline McGauhey; her husband of 51 years, Bill Mohorovich; her middle son, Dean Mohorovich; Bill’s parents, Louis and Josephine Mohorovich; Bill’s brother Louis and his wife Ione Mohorovich; Bill’s sister, Marilyn Mohorovich; Diane’s sister, Katie McFarland; Katie’s daughter, Teresa; and grandson Bill McLearn.

Diane is survived by her sons Rick (Nancy) and Jimmy (Liz), and daughter-in-law Jill. Grandchildren: Janelle (Joe), Nathan (Jenn), Travis (Macie), Dallas (Geena), Matt (best friend Monica), and Kris (Heather). Great-grandchildren: Finley, Harper, Beau, Reece, Ella, Broc, Abby, Quinn, Avery, and Ryder.

Please join us on July 19, 2025, to share memories of Diane:

Eureka Woman’s Club 1531 J Street 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Special thanks to the Timber Ridge staff, Providence St. Joseph Hospital for their care, and the very kind staff at Ayers Family Cremation.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Diane Mohorovich’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Surrounded by the immense love of family and best friends, Karen Lynn Hill peacefully passed away on June 3, 2025. Karen embraced life with an adventurous spirit, turning every moment into a vibrant and unforgettable experience. Her boundless curiosity and fearless enthusiasm inspired those around her, leaving a legacy of joy, exploration, and love. She truly lived life to the fullest.

Born June 30, 1948, in Eureka to Harold and Virginia “Ruth” Hill, she was the youngest of four. She adored her older siblings and never stopped celebrating them throughout her life. After attending local schools, Karen graduated from College of the Redwoods with her AA degree. She worked as a teacher’s aide at Freshwater Elementary School, where she enjoyed all the students and kept up with their lives as they continued beyond grade school.

Karen eventually became a phlebotomist and loyally worked for General Hospital for 30-plus years. Everyone who had their blood drawn knew Karen, and she made sure to make friends with all her patients. Karen loved her toys—her beloved horse Jerobe, her motorcycles, kayaks, the “Dolphin” (a small RV which she used to teach her great-nephew Jack to drive stick).

Karen also committed herself to adopt a highway cleanup stretch on 101 for many years. If Karen wanted to do something, she made it happen, and for that, she is such a role model for all of us! Along with her best friend, Colleen, they couldn’t help but get themselves in fun trouble. The stories of their escapades are legend. Camping at “The Cove” and Reggae on the River were annual pilgrimages. Her lasting legacy is her absolute loyalty and commitment to the ones she loved. Friends and family were the center of her life. She never missed a graduation, a recital, or a birthday. Not only did she show up, but she took care of everyone.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Harold Hill; brothers, Pete and Tom; sister, Linda Macdonald; brother-in-law, Jack Macdonald; and nephew, Shane Hill. She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Jackie Hill and Diane Bonomini; nieces, Jill Macdonald, Polly Endert, Sally Macdonald, Heidi Hill, Molly Hill, and Shannon Fulton; and her very best friend, Colleen Murrish, and Colleen’s daughters, Carmen Sargent and Heidi McDermott, along with their families. She is also survived by many great (and great-great) nieces and nephews, who all affectionately called her “AK.”

Please join us for a celebration of life Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the Benbow Historic Inn from 2–5 p.m. If you would like to donate, Main Stage Humboldt is an organization close to Karen’s heart (mainstagehumboldt.org), or any charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Karen Hill’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal wants to remind the public that aerial fireworks are illegal in most parts of Humboldt County.

“Fourth of July is a special time in our community. We are asking citizens to please be responsible. If you set off illegal fireworks, there are many things that could go wrong, including harm to yourself or others, fires, and stress for sensitive people and pets,” said Sheriff Honsal.

There is no safe place to launch illegal fireworks in Humboldt County. If someone’s fireworks cause a fire, they will be responsible for the cost and damage. If there is an injury or death, they may face fines, penalties, or criminal prosecution.

The goal of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is to encourage our community to celebrate our Independence Day responsibility and to keep families and structures safe this holiday weekend. Please think about our community before you launch illegal fireworks.

‘Safe and sane’ fireworks

Residents can celebrate Fourth of July weekend with “safe and sane” fireworks purchased from vendors, including sparklers, fountains, and firecrackers. Before igniting them, please pay attention to your surroundings and be mindful of people, animals, traffic, and dry vegetation. It’s also important to lock up your pets and give them a quiet place to retreat, as fireworks can cause stress for animals.

Professional fireworks

To safely view aerial fireworks, there will be shows in Fortuna, Eureka, and Benbow. These professional events are produced by trained staff with safety gear and the fire department on standby. The 2025 lineup includes Newburg Park in Fortuna on July 3, the Fourth of July festival in Old Town Eureka on July 4, and the Fourth of July festival at Benbow State Recreation Area on July 4. 

If you see any dangerous and reckless activity related to fireworks, please contact your local law enforcement agency. “It is everyone’s responsibility to help keep our community safe,” said Sheriff Honsal. Due to the call volume on the Fourth of July, law enforcement will be prioritizing life safety calls for service. On the Fourth of July, please only call 911 when there is an immediate danger to life or property.  
For more information about fireworks safety visit the CALFIRE webpage here: https://readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/fireworks-safety/.

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Caltrans is seeking public input on an ambitious plan to rebuild and replace the aging Eureka Slough Bridges on Highway 101 with a pair of modern, earthquake-resilient structures.

Last week, Caltrans released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Eureka Slough Bridges Project, kicking off a 45-day public review period. The 502-page document includes two design proposals for “mirrored” bridges — a set of identical bridges that run parallel to each other, carrying traffic in opposite directions — as well as a “no-build alternative,” which isn’t recommended by the agency. Construction is slated to begin in 2029 and is expected to last for four to five years. 

One proposed design (Alternative 2A) is projected to cost $321 million, while another (Alternative 2B) is estimated at $293 million. The construction process would look different for each design, but the key difference in the finished product would be the distance between the northbound and southbound lanes, as seen in the renderings below. 

“Build Alternative 2A would construct a temporary bridge to manage traffic during construction, whereas Build Alternative 2B would construct a new southbound bridge adjacent to the existing southbound bridge to manage traffic during construction,” according to the DEIR. “The use of a temporary bridge would allow the new bridges to be rebuilt on nearly the same location as the existing bridges, while constructing the new southbound bridge adjacent to the existing would allow traffic to use the existing bridges throughout most of the construction phases.”

I know what you’re thinking: C’mon, the bridges are fine! Why can’t Caltrans just fix what needs to be fixed instead of tearing the bridges down and starting from scratch?

Caltrans Public Information Officer Myles Cochrane told the Outpost that engineers looked at various options to retrofit the structures but determined that “replacement is the only viable option to bring the bridges up to modern standards and enhance multimodal safety and access.”

The bridges — built in 1943 and 1956 — are approaching “the end of their design life,” meaning they were built so long ago that they no longer adhere to modern safety standards.

“The southbound bridge is considered fracture-critical, which means it lacks backup supports,” Cochrane said. “So if one key part fails, the bridge would need to be closed in the interest of safety. It also has a non-standard profile, meaning the shape and slope of the road as you drive on and off the bridge don’t match modern guidelines. This outdated design makes it more challenging for drivers to see clearly and react in time, which has led to a collision rate that’s twice as high as similar bridges across California.”

Folks interested in learning more about the bridge replacement project can attend a virtual public meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23. Written comments on the DEIR can be sent to eurekasloughbridges@dot.ca.gov or via snail mail to: Steve Croteau, Branch Chief, Caltrans North Region Environmental, 1656 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Comments must be submitted by Saturday, August 9.

More information on the project can be found here.

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