Peggy Ann Iris, known to many as Ganasini Ananda Devi, passed away peacefully at home in Whitethorn, surrounded by loved ones on February 18, 2025. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and daughter to family, and a cherished friend, mentor, neighbor, and teacher to countless others. She is sorely missed and the impact of her loving presence in our lives is cause for celebration and gratitude.

Peggy was born a little sister in Port Washington, New York in 1954. After completing high school and attending some college in New Jersey, she moved to Eugene, Oregon where she completed her studies in early childhood education. During the late 1970s she followed a job listing for a teaching position at a rural school in California, becoming one of the first credentialed teachers at the Beginnings Inc. Skyfish School in Briceland.

In 1985 she and her husband Jan Iris welcomed their son Bryce into the world and their small homestead on Elk Ridge. She and Jan created and ran Wild Iris Forestry and inspired the foundation of the Institute for Sustainable Forestry.

Throughout Ganasini’s career she taught at Skyfish School, Whale Gulch School, independent study, and regularly taught parenting classes. She spent more than a decade devoted to learning, teaching, and practicing yoga with Standing Wave, through which she adopted the name Ganasini. Ganasini was a dyed-in-the-wool teacher, with a profound ability to listen and co-learn. She acknowledged and embraced everyone exactly as they are, and never missed a moment to connect and “share the love”. Later in life and long after Jan’s death, she married Mike Baker of Shelter Cove and created a home with him in Whitethorn, where she embraced flower growing and her deeply joyful role as Reiko Jean’s grandma. She was a proud camp host at the Needle Rock house for the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Needle Rock was a deep source of peace, and her favorite place in the world.

Ganasini is survived by her husband Michael Baker, brother Howard (Patrice) Golde, her son Bryce Iris (Leah), her stepdaughters Cybelle (Todd) and Jessi (Orion) Immitt, stepson Daven Schanche (Lisa), and her granddaughter and step-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her first husband Jan Iris, her Father and Mother, Bernard and Mildred Golde, and her chosen father, Manuel “Manny” Santanella.

A memorial celebration of life will take place at Beginnings, Inc. in Briceland on Saturday, April 26th at 1:00pm; all are welcome. If you’d like, bring a dish and something of honor (a picture, flowers, anything) for the altar. Beginnings was a place close to Ganasini’s heart; please consider making a donation in her honor. Donations can be made at this link or sent to Beginnings Inc.; Post Box 1090; Redway, California 95560.

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

Bob was born December 17, 1961 and unexpectedly passed on March 24, 2025.

Bob grew up in McKinleyville. He made it his stomping grounds from a young age and never let up. If you were from here as well or spent any good length of time here, I’m sure you knew him or at least knew of the guy they called “Rat.” He loved sports. He loved to talk about sports. He was a huge San Francisco Giants fan. So if you were a Dodgers fan, I’m sorry. If he was watching TV it was a sports game or a race of some sort. He was a big Dale Earnhardt fan. Three was his lucky number, hence why he picked the 3rd of the month for me to be born. Yeah, you could say he was a true fan.

He had many jobs in his lifetime. From installing garage doors to working in a wrecking yard, he could do almost anything. But out of all the jobs he had, being a dad was at the top of his list. If you knew Bob, you knew about me. I’ve been his sidekick since I was born. I could tell endless stories about going out on jobs with him as a kid, sitting in a dugout watching him play ball to being out at Redwood Acres watching the races from the grandstands, the pits or on the track racing each other as passengers in a Bomber. A memory I’ll never forget from the 2023 season is when dad got the opportunity to drive and I was his passenger. We did it all together. He was my best friend. My partner in crime.

Second to being a dad, becoming a Papaw was right up there on his list. It was like watching him and I all over again and he loved every single second of it. Don’t worry dad, we’re still going to that Giants game you promised Skarlet you’d take her to in May. She knows you’ll be there too, making sure the A’s don’t win.

Bob was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. And his buddy Grit.

He is survived by his parents, Jay and Peggy Ratzlaff. Brother, Tim Ratzlaff. Daughter, Morgan Mayr (husband Casey). Granddaughter, Skarlet Mayr. Nieces, Tanaua Levin (husband Cameron, children Rian, Eira, Aspen and Dustin), Joie Van Beers (husband Jon), and Tanisha Ratzlaff. Along with several cousins, too many to list, near and far. And Jo, his current buddy that is now lost without him.

To know him was to love him. His rough around the edges exterior might have been slightly misleading, but you wouldn’t have found a more kind hearted, “give the shirt off your back” kind of guy with a sarcastic sense of humor like no other. He was there for his people, always willing to help if you needed him.

Dad, love you more.

There will be a celebration of life at the Moose Lodge in McKinleyville on Saturday May 31, 2025 from 12-4 p.m. We’ll be having a BBQ style potluck, so bring a dish if you’d like or just bring yourself and a story to tell.

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

Kelly Sanders Jenkins was born on February 6, 1962 in the town of Mt. Shasta to Sharon and Harold Sanders. Kelly passed away peacefully on March 23, 2025 in her home in Eureka. She spent the last 40 years in Eureka. We were fortunate, as Kelly had been in the hospital for almost three weeks prior to coming home on this date. Doctors released her to come home with Hospice care. In doing this Kel was able to be at home when she passed, with family and her dog Daniel laying at her feet. She was where she wanted to be.

As said above, Kelly lived in Eureka, but she also lived in many other places. She also lived in Sacramento, Big Lagoon, Dinsmore, Orleans, North Carolina, Barstow and a short time in Arkansas. But Kelly lived most of her life in Eureka. Kelly graduated from Southern Trinity High School in 1980 where she met and made friends that she kept for a lifetime. It was in Eureka where Kelly met and married her great love and soulmate, Chris Jenkins. Kelly and Chris met at their work (Safeway) and were married on August 5, 1995 in South Lake Tahoe, California. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Ashley and Jordyn. Kelly was so proud of her daughters and loved watching them grow into the amazing independent young women they are today.

The world lost a bit of color when Kelly passed away. She had an amazing sense of humor that would leave you in stitches, no matter what the circumstances. She was especially known for her “Kellyisms”, which were amazingly accurate, insightful, quirky observations of life’s moments that would just put a smile on your face. Kelly also had a hidden talent that not too many people knew about. Kelly loved writing poetry and even had one published at one time. She was a very good writer.

One of Kelly’s favorite things to do was to go fishing. Kelly and Chris had a Cabin at Ruth Lake for a few years, and it was always fun watching Kelly fish. As anyone who has gone fishing knows, you have to have some patience. Well patience, fishing, and Kelly were usually things that did not go together well. We loved to watch Kelly fish, nobody ever stared at the tip of their fishing pole more intently than Kelly. Chris tells a story about the first time he met Kelly’s parents in Orleans. Dad Lance worked for the Forest Service and did some river guide work as well. Lance took Kelly and Chris fishing in his drift boat while they were there. As Lance was guiding the boat, Kelly gave her pole a mighty cast. The only problem was Lance’s ear got in the way of Kelly’s hook. Well Lance calmly removed the hook from his ear and we went on fishing. I don’t remember if any fish were caught, but I’ll never forget that.

Kelly endured much physical suffering in her life, from Leukemia in her 40’s with years of treatment and its side effects, to diabetes, heart conditions, lung cancer, kidney disease, and various other issues. But above all Kelly was a warrior who kept the faith, kept on fighting, and stayed here with us for as long as she possibly could. Chris has alway said that Kelly is the toughest person he has ever known. She was an amazing human being with the kindest heart and the gentlest soul. Those of us who were fortunate to know her are better versions of ourselves because she touched our lies. Heaven got an amazing angel when she arrived there.

Kelly was preceded in death by her mother Sharon Rieland and stepfather ‘Dad’ Lance Rieland, and father Harold Sanders. Kelly is survived by her beloved husband Chris, children Ashley and Jordyn, brother Mark Sanders (Brenda) and family, stepbrother Dan Rieland (Heather) and family, and step sister Sherrie White (Chris) and family,

There will be a celebration of life for Kelly where we can all get together in June where those who wish can come and celebrate Kelly and tell their best Kelly story. Sanders funeral home is taking care of Kelly at this time and there will be a viewing at 2:30 p.m. April 3, 2025, Kelly will be interned at Sunset Memorial Park on Friday, April 4, 2025.

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

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Jocelyn Ellen Schrum, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She passed away surrounded by her family on March 19, 2025 in Eureka at the age of 85.

Jocelyn was born on January 16, 1940 in Chula Vista, California to parents James and Ellen West. She grew up in Winters with her brother, Jim West, and sister, Jackie West. Jocelyn attended Chico State University until she met her husband, Paul Schrum. They were married for 43 years until Paul passed away in 2001. They had two children, Laura, born in Chico, and Norman, born in Corning. They moved to Guam from 1965-1969, where she got her degree in teaching, before returning to live in Wheatland.

Jocelyn also received her Masters in Education from Humboldt State University later on. She dedicated her life to education, shaping countless young minds as a teacher in Wheatland for over 30 years. She is survived by her loving family, including her brother (Jim), son (Norm), daughter-in-law (Robin), grandkids (Joanna, David, Cara, Christopher, Stephanie, Daniel, Sami and Molly) and great-grandkids. Her love was endless, and her memory will remain a guiding light for all who knew her.

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

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After hearing an hour of impassioned and at times emotional public testimony at last night’s meeting, the Eureka City Council unanimously voted to approve the North Coast Substance Abuse Council’s plans for a short-term women’s residential treatment facility on Harris Street near Henderson Center. 

The council’s vote upheld the Eureka Planning Commission’s Feb. 12 decision to approve the project, which was appealed to the city council by a group of Henderson Center residents who argued that the rehabilitation facility was incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood and posed a danger to people living nearby. However, some of those folks had a change of heart after learning that the facility’s executive director, Wesley Harrison, decided to make it women-only.

“I attended the planning commission meeting when this came up and it was proposed as a men’s facility,” said Eureka resident Marilyn Field. “I came here to ask if you were aware of [Dr. Deepak] Stokes’ women’s center going in just across the street from this, and that it would be a very bad fit for a men’s facility to be catty-corner from the women’s health center. But after hearing that it’s going to be for women, I think it’s a great idea.”

The “non-medical” rehab facility is slated for a 0.3-acre site, located just down Harris Street from the old Spotlight Video, with three existing buildings that would be used for short-term housing (between 30 and 120 days) for women recovering from substance abuse, individual/group counseling sessions and offices for staff. The facility would host a live-in manager and up to 12 residents at a given time. Patients will be subject to a background check and drug test before being admitted to the program and will be drug tested regularly during their stay to ensure eligibility for the program. The program will not admit sex offenders and arsonists.

Aerial view. | Photo: City of Eureka

The proposed facility would be considered a “Level 3.1” under the California Department of Development Services’ service level system, which ranks community care facilities on a scale of 1-4 according to the types of resources provided. The facility will not provide detox services but will focus on behavioral health and personal care to help patients maintain sobriety.

The North Coast Substance Abuse Council currently operates Crossroads, a state-licensed rehab facility on Myrtle Avenue, with 15 beds on the men’s side and five on the women’s. Speaking at last night’s meeting, Harrison said his waitlist for the women’s side is “probably a mile long.”

“There are individuals that have been waiting on my waitlist for well over 90 days,” he said. “There are individuals that are literally desperately calling every day hoping that somebody got discharged in order to be moved up on the list. The need far outweighs what resources we have available.”

Harrison noted that there have been “a lot of assumptions” and concerns about the project, referring to the people who were “all very certain that it was going to be a men’s facility.” Those concerns, as well as the facility’s proximity to the forthcoming women’s health center, influenced the North Coast Substance Abuse Council to focus on women.

Harrison | Screenshot

“This will be our women’s project,” he said, adding that the facility will provide perinatal care for pregnant women. “We think it’s a wonderful opportunity to move the women over there because we understand that Dr. Stokes’ women’s health center is being built across the street. We know that Healthy Moms is two blocks away, which is an outpatient substance use treatment center that serves perinatal mothers. [We’ll be] right down the road from a domestic violence women’s shelter, and it’s a safe place for them to be.”

Responding to a question from Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach, Harrison said the three buildings will have to undergo extensive interior and exterior renovations before anyone can move in. 

“The paint jobs, the gutters, the cracked windows, the foundation, the wiring — I mean, there’s literally over $200,000 worth of work that needs to be done on it,” he said. “And then on top of that, there’s licensing and certification, and that process can take … up to six months. If everything were to go absolutely smoothly, I would hope for an [opening date] in July of 2026, but … I think January of 2027 is a much more realistic idea of when we’ll be opening our doors and putting our first lady over there.”

The project description notes that residents will be “contractually required to abide to strict rules” and will only be allowed to leave the facility with pre-approval from the live-in manager. Harrison added that residents can leave to attend AA or NA meetings, which, in the case of Crossroads, is just two blocks away.

“If anybody doesn’t return on time, there are consequences, and people can be removed [from the program] if they don’t return,” he continued. “Most of the time, these things happen without a hitch because they are cherished privileges by our population. … There’s this level of group accountability osmosis that happens where 90 percent of the population really, really doesn’t want to mess up, and … the one individual that maybe doesn’t have the best of intentions immediately gets weeded out.”

Councilmember G. Mario Fernandez also asked how patients are referred to the program and if they take in people who were recently incarcerated. Many Crossroads residents are referred by medical providers, but some people are referred by the county jail, Harrison said.

“I can’t discriminate based upon someone’s probationary status,” he said. “A lot of people will try to classify the population we serve as criminal. Whether we disagree on it or not, drug use is still a crime, and until it’s not a crime I will always be serving criminals no matter what their probationary status is.”

Asked about the frequency of 9-1-1 calls at Crossroads, Eureka Police Chief Brian Stephens said his department received nine calls for service at 1205 Myrtle Avenue in 2024.

“Three were medical aids, two were missing persons reports concerning the same person, one found animal, one absconder resident, and then two verbal arguments. They’ve only produced two to three case numbers a year since 2020 and about 11 calls for service on average from 2020. There’s more calls to service that happen at City Hall than do it these residential sites,” Stephens said, prompting laughter from meeting attendees. “Not trying to be funny, but I’m trying to put it in perspective that they’re not a problem with the police. … We don’t have the stats to show that there’s any increase in any type of criminal activity associated with these locations.”

Councilmember Scott Bauer added that he didn’t even know Crossroads was located on Myrtle Avenue. “I take that as a good sign [if] you don’t even know they’re there.”

Two dozen residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, with the vast majority speaking in favor of the project. Several former Crossroads patients shared emotional recovery stories and praised Harrison and his staff for helping them to get their lives back on track.

“I was homeless, struggling with addiction, living in a homeless camp behind the mall, and I walked into Crossroads and met with Wes, the director, who took me in as a client that day,” said one woman who only identified herself as Chelsea. “This would not have been an option if there wasn’t a bed available [that day]. If I had been turned away, the chances are I wouldn’t have made it back to the program. The program has helped me to become [the] productive member of society that I am today.”

Several medical and child care providers, substance use counselors and social workers spoke as well, all of whom urged the council to approve the proposed plans and underscored the urgent need for more local rehabilitation services.

“I have seen firsthand the impact that facilities like these have had on people’s lives, and it is astronomical,” said Patricia, a local substance use counselor. “I see people who have gone successfully through these programs; they are re-entering the workforce, they are reuniting with their children and their families, getting their own places, furthering their educations, all kinds of really positive impacts on people. … This is so important, especially for mothers and pregnant women who need this help.”

Shepherd | Screenshot

Other residents said they were supportive of the project but felt it should be moved to another location. Henderson Center resident Jean Shepherd expressed particular concern for the woman-owned jewelry store next to the proposed facility, noting that the owner saved her money and opened her store “only to find out the city is moving ahead with a drug abuse recovery house and program located right next to her shop.”

“I want to make it clear that I have no problem with people going into recovery,” Shepherd said. “I have sympathy for people who struggle with drug abuse and need help. The problem here is the location. … I’ve heard the term NIMBY — not in my backyard — tossed around, and I will say I guess I’m a NIMBY. I think any homeowner would worry about trying to sell his or her home if a recovery house was next door.”

Following public comment, Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach made a motion to deny the appeal and uphold the planning commission’s approval of the project. Councilmember Leslie Castellano seconded the action, thanking Harrison and his team for being willing to engage with the community and address concerns about the project.

Castellano | Screenshot

“I think that bodes really well for the work you’re doing, and the fact that addiction is a systemic problem, part of a community problem,” she said. “I appreciate the respect and sense of care that [the audience has] in being here … and in listening to one another and being willing to engage with the questions and change your minds, or reflect on your position.”

Councilmember Kati Moulton, her voice wavering with emotion, acknowledged people who have lost their battle with addiction and underscored the importance of getting people into treatment as soon as they are willing. “When that spark happens and somebody says, ‘I want to get my life right,’ that’s when you need to take advantage of that and give them that opportunity because any delay can cause … that demon to get right back on top of them,” she said.

Moulton also asked if the proposed project would be exempt from CEQA even though it involves renovations of a historic building. City Attorney Autumn Luna simply said, “Yes.”

Fernandez also spoke in favor of the project and called its opponents “disingenuous.”

“How is this not community-oriented care for the neighborhood? How is this reduc[ing] the unique characteristics of Henderson Center?” he asked. “For anyone to say that they support this type of program or facility, but not in a particular area or zone [is] being disingenuous. I’m sorry, where then, if not in my backyard or in our neighborhood? The transient nature of the population cycling in and out of the facility, the clientele doesn’t differ any than if it were a bed and breakfast.”

Councilmember Bauer thanked the group of speakers who spoke in favor of the project. “Your stories, I think, made our jobs a lot easier.”

“I talked to a doctor friend of mine today … and [asked] ‘Shouldn’t this be in a medical district or something?’ and he’s like, ‘Where? … I mean, it’s part of the community. You got to do it.’” Bauer said. “But realistically, you all made this decision so much easier. Just to hear these great stories, and then to see people change their minds based off of your real life situation.” 

After a bit of additional discussion, the council approved the project in a 5-0 vote.

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At the outset of last night’s meeting, Mayor Kim Bergel read a statement into the record aimed at addressing “misinformation” espoused during recent city council meetings regarding alleged police sweeps at local homeless encampments. Speaking in an uncharacteristically curt tone, Bergel attempted to dispel rumors that EPD officers are “harassing and stealing from our community members” and outlined the city’s protocols for clearing encampments.

“The procedures for ensuring public spaces are accessible to all of our community members is a very well-balanced process ensuring compassion and accountability,” she read from a prepared statement. “If the owner is present, EPD staff will provide the notice to vacate form, answer any questions and inform the owner of available local resources. … If the owner is not present, the notice to vacate form is left in a conspicuous area where it can be easily found upon the owner’s return.”

The tagged property is then photographed and stored, Bergel continued. EPD will not store items that are considered to be hazardous or trash, including perishable food items, soiled materials and drug paraphernalia. 

“EPD uses sound judgment when determining an appropriate time frame, considering factors as the owner’s physical and mental condition, the amount of property, location and weather conditions,” she said. “I really felt compelled to bring that forward after our last meeting because there’s a lot of misinformation about what’s really happening. And so. just to clarify, our staff is doing a great job out there.”

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Update, April 3: This story was updated last night to include the amount of students in the affected programs and information from university provost Jenn Capps.

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PREVIOUSLY

• Cal Poly Humboldt Plans to Discontinue Several Majors, a Minor, and the Economics Program for this Fall

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Cal Poly Humboldt is discontinuing several degrees, programs, and a minor starting this fall semester because of low enrollment numbers.

CPH notified the California Faculty Association that they “wish to discontinue” the religious studies major, the German minor, the economics program and the educational leadership program in January and February of 2025.

The economic department will be absorbed into the department of business, which will offer a minor and an emphasis in economics. 

They also plan to “suspend” the international studies major. 

University provost Jenn Capps told the Outpost there would be no layoffs. 56 students are enrolled in these programs, though she said they would “have a path to completion.”

CFA faculty rights chair and philosophy professor Loren Cannon attributed the program cuts to attempts at lowering expenses. All of those programs are pretty small — “under enrolled,” in university speak, and don’t generate tons of revenue. By absorbing some departments into others, CPH will only have to pay only one department chair instead of two.

However, the CFA doesn’t necessarily believe that small departments are worse than larger ones. Students get more face-to-face time with instructors, and many learn better than they would in a department with hundreds of students. 

Cannon also said that it’s not entirely on the departments for underperforming; perhaps CPH hadn’t marketed or supported them properly. 

“The union does have a very different way of looking at this, in the way [that we] look at opportunities,” Cannon said. “We don’t think it’s a bad thing at all for faculty members to have close relationships and accessibility. But I’m also critical of the way that the CSU spends money.”

According to a recently released CFA study, the CSU spent almost 20 percent more on management salaries during the 2022-23 school year than it did during 2018-19. It also spent 69 percent more on investments. 

“Why does it have to be that the money is siphoned off to investments and other projects?” Cannon asked. “Some of those may be necessary, but the money is not going towards students…The whole point of the CSU is that it’s supposed to be affordable. It’s supposed to be a place to discuss some of the most important questions of our time.”

Asked for comment, the university highlighted the new majors and programs added to the curriculum during the polytechnic transformation, such as mechanical engineering and marine biology, as well as other study abroad programs Humboldt offers:

Cal Poly Humboldt academic offerings continue to be robust, responding to student and workforce demand, contributing to the public good, continuing to build out our polytechnic identity and doing so within constrained resources.

It’s common for academic institutions to streamline programs by adding, modifying and discontinuing academic offerings. In our case, discussions of discontinuing or suspending certain programs have been ongoing in the Integrated Curriculum Committee (ICC), a faculty-lead committee of the University Senate, for quite some time and well before our current budget challenges. In accordance with our collective bargaining agreements, the University notified California Faculty Association (CFA) in January and February that the University is discontinuing the Economics Major, Education Leadership Credential, Religious Studies Major, and the German Minor. Additionally, we are in the early stages of suspending, not discontinuing, the International Studies major. These majors have had low enrollment for a period of several years.

We recognize the value of these disciplines and have been intentional in preserving some of the coursework by incorporating them into new or existing programming. For example, we made the decision to discontinue Religious Studies as a major due to low enrollment numbers, but are sustaining much of the content and important work of the discipline of Religious Studies by making it a concentration within the History Department. The Economics concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major and the Minor in Economics are being retained. Additionally, the Economics department and School of Business are in the process of merging, which will create additional opportunities for students and faculty.

There are also a number of options available for international study and global engagement. Some examples include: the International Studies Minor, the Global Studies Concentration in Politics, the International Service Learning Program, study abroad options available in summer and winter breaks, and Anthropology field schools which provide valuable learning and study abroad opportunities.

Since 2023 and the University’s transition to a polytechnic, we have launched 12 new degree programs in a broad range of disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Applied Anthropology and Marine Biology. We will be launching a number of new programs in 2026 including Applied Humanities, Media Arts, and Health Sciences.

UPDATE: Very shortly after this post was published, Providence provided a statement, which has been appended to the end of this post.

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Five months after California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office filed a lawsuit against Providence-St. Joseph Hospital for refusing to provide emergency abortion care, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) has filed a related suit on behalf of Dr. Anna Nusslock, the Eureka chiropractor at the center of the state’s case.

The complaint seeks monetary damages for the harm Nusslock suffered after St. Joseph Hospital staff allegedly refused to treat her in the midst of a life-threatening miscarriage of her twin daughters, just 15 weeks into her pregnancy. 

The complaint also requests an injunction to prohibit St. Joseph Health of Northern California, LLC, and its parent company, the Catholic not-for-profit Providence Health and Services, from denying treatment under similar circumstances. 

“My life was at risk when I went to Providence, but they refused to provide care due to their religious policies,” Nusslock is quoted as saying in a press release. “Since that experience, my health has continued to deteriorate. Still, I’m fighting for myself and others who could face this nightmare. No one should be denied life-saving medical care.”

K.M. Bell, senior counsel at the NWLC, added, “Hospitals cannot be allowed to pick and choose which emergencies they treat based on ideology. Our goal is to ensure that every pregnant patient can access the emergency care they need and to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”

Below is a press release from the NWLC. Scroll down to find a link to download the complaint.

Every person in need of emergency medical care—including abortion care—deserves to get it without exceptions and without delays.  Hospitals should not determine a patient’s care based on their religious or personal beliefs; rather, care should be determined by what is best for the patient’s health and circumstances. This lawsuit seeks to hold a hospital system accountable for violating California laws requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortion care without discrimination.

Our Lawsuit

On April 1, 2025, the National Women’s Law Center filed a lawsuit against the Providence hospital system challenging their discriminatory refusal to provide emergency abortion care.

Dr. Anna Nusslock went to the emergency room in Humboldt County, California, in the middle of the night with heavy bleeding, after her “water broke” just 15 weeks into her pregnancy. She was diagnosed with previable, preterm, premature rupture of membranes (previable PPROM). Even though Anna’s doctor determined that she needed an abortion to prevent an imminent risk to her life and health, Providence’s religious policies prevented the doctor from providing the necessary care. Instead of treating Dr. Nusslock’s emergency medical condition, Providence St. Joseph Hospital staff sent her away with a bucket and towels.

As alleged in the lawsuit, Providence’s policy violates California’s Emergency Services Law and the state’s Unruh Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex—including pregnancy and pregnancy-related medical conditions. Anna Nusslock filed her lawsuit in Humboldt County Superior Court against St. Joseph Health of Northern California, LLC, which runs Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, California, and its parent companies that manage the larger Providence hospital system. 

This case highlights the severe limitations patients face in emergency situations, particularly in rural areas or remote regions, like Humboldt County, where religious hospitals dominate the health care system. Hospitals cannot be allowed to pick and choose which emergencies they treat based on ideology.   

The lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting Providence from denying other pregnant patients emergency treatment under similar circumstances. It also seeks monetary damages in order to hold Providence accountable for the harm Dr. Nusslock suffered when she was terrified that she was going to bleed to death. 

Dr. Nusslock’s horrifying story is one of many where patients have been denied potentially lifesaving care—and the problem has gotten even worse since Roe v. Wade was overturned. These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of a dangerous trend. Our lawsuit exposes a growing national crisis as hospitals increasingly defy state and federal laws requiring them to provide emergency care, like California’s Emergency Services law and the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). 

NWLC, and our client Dr. Nusslock, will keep fighting to ensure that every pregnant patient can access the emergency care they need and to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.

Related Lawsuit Brought by the Attorney General of California on Behalf of the State

Dr. Nusslock’s private lawsuit comes after the California Attorney General’s office brought an action on behalf of the State of California against St. Joseph Health of Northern California, LLC, which manages the hospital that denied her care, for failing to provide Dr. Nusslock with emergency abortion care. (NWLC also represents Dr. Nusslock in the California Attorney General’s lawsuit, but does not represent the State of California.) 

California’s lawsuit highlights the danger that the hospital’s policy poses, particularly to Humbolt County residents now that St. Joseph Hospital has the only Labor & Delivery ward in the area, leaving pregnant patients unable to get the emergency care they need. 

The State of California seeks a permanent injunction ordering the hospital to follow the law. (Unlike the private lawsuit, the Attorney General does not seek monetary damages on Dr. Nusslock’s behalf, and the state’s case was brought against the local hospital, not the larger hospital system.) 

The hospital agreed in a court order to comply with state law by permitting doctors to provide emergency abortion care when necessary. Then, it sought to dismiss the state’s case and is now arguing it can avoid following the law whenever the law conflicts with its interpretation of religious doctrine. Before the hearing on the hospital’s motion to dismiss the case, the community held a rally in support of Dr. Nusslock. Scores of people turned out on a cold and drizzly morning, and every seat in the hearing room was full of community members showing up to support protecting pregnant patients.  

If you or a loved one has experienced a denial of emergency abortion care at any hospital in California, you can reach out to the Attorney General’s office. You can also reach out to our Legal Network for Gender Equity if you would like to be connected to local attorneys regarding a denial of reproductive health care.

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Serving the residents of Humboldt County is a privilege we, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka, don’t take for granted. That’s why we are wholeheartedly committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care, just as we have been for more than 100 years.

The experience described in this lawsuit is deeply saddening and troubling. We are fully committed to delivering care in accordance with federal and state law, as well as our mission as a faith-based organization. This includes providing emergency life-saving medical interventions that may result in indirect fetal death.

As a Catholic health care organization, we are transparent that we do not perform elective abortions. However, in emergencies, our care teams provide medically necessary interventions to protect pregnant patients who are miscarrying or facing serious life- threatening conditions.

This is consistent with the California Emergency Services Law and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It is also consistent with the Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives, which include discussion of the importance of the physician-patient relationship as well as the circumstances in which certain medical procedures that could result in indirect fetal death may be allowed in a Catholic hospital.

As part of this commitment, we recently enhanced our training, education and escalation protocols to further ensure the best possible care. We take our responsibility as a vital safety net incredibly seriously and are committed to continuing to meet the needs of our community, just as we have for more than a century.

DOCUMENT: Anna Nusslock v. St. Joseph Health of Northern California, et al.

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