Location of the 900 block of Glendale Drive

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office release:

On July 8, 2025, at approximately 7:23 p.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of a shooting in the 900 block of Glendale Drive, Glendale.

Upon arrival, deputies located a 37-year-old male victim suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Deputies and responding medical personnel performed lifesaving measures; however, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased while en route to a local hospital. The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time.

Detectives from the HCSO Major Crimes Division responded to the scene and are actively investigating the incident. Preliminary findings suggest the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a civil matter involving two individuals and is believed to be an isolated incident. Following an extensive search of the area, no suspects were located and HCSO is actively following up on leads.

The HCSO is continuing its investigation and will release additional information regarding the suspect(s) and any associated vehicles as it becomes available.

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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Stobaugh appearing via Zoom on Tuesday.

Serial rapist and clinically diagnosed sexually violent predator Richard Stobaugh will not be released back into the community, as previously planned.

This morning, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum ruled that Stobaugh possessed child pornography while held at Coalinga State Hospital, a mental institution, and that he concealed this fact from his treatment team.

Cockrum vacated his December 2023 decision, in which he ruled that Stobaugh was appropriate for conditional, supervised release following authorization from the California Department of State Hospitals. As a result of this reversal, Stobaugh will remain confined in the state hospital indefinitely, rather than being released to live on the outskirts of Manila. 

Cockrum read his full ruling aloud this morning, saying he was convinced by testimony given in court yesterday that Stobaugh not only possessed child pornography on a contraband hard drive but that he then lied about it to law enforcement investigators. Papers found in Stobaugh’s dorm room also suggested that he was running a bartering operation in which he may have used the child porn as currency, Cockrum said.

Stobaugh tried to convince investigators that the child porn actually belonged to a different patient and provided letters that were ostensibly written by that patient, claiming ownership of the device. But when investigators suggesting asking that patient directly, Stobaugh panicked and said something like, “I just killed myself,” which suggests that he had fabricated those letters, Cockrum said.

Stobaugh’s failure to make his treatment team aware of the child pornography and other contraband, including DVD players with the serial numbers filed off, suggests consciousness of guilt, according to Cockrum’s ruling.

Stobaugh’s actions to hide his misconduct are particularly concerning, Cockrum said, given his diagnosed tendency to deceive and manipulate, as recorded when he was subjected to a psychopathy checklist.

The judge also said the doctors who testified yesterday that Stobaugh was still fit for release never acknowledged that his lack of candor about possessing child pornography should be considered worthy of introspection and structured treatment, which “raises serious concerns about the integrity of his rehabilitative process.”

Both expert witnesses, Dr. Paul Murdock and Dr. Robert Cureton, testified in 2023 that they were unaware of Stobaugh’s possession of child pornography, yet once informed they failed to investigate the allegations, communicate with Stobaugh’s treatment team or reassess their conclusions.

“This admission suggests a degree of professional hubris that calls the reliability of their opinions into serious question,” Cockrum said.

Ultimately, Cockrum found that The People, as represented in court by Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm, had met the burden of proof. He vacated his previous order and encouraged Stobaugh to take responsibility for his actions. By state law, Stobaugh may petition the court for release once per year.

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PREVIOUSLY

• Sheriff William Honsal Pens Open Letter to Express Opposition to Release of Sexually Violent Predator Into Humboldt
• TODAY IN SUPES: Board Opposes Relocation of Sexually Violent Predator to Manila
• Placement Hearing for Sexually Violent Predator Delayed by Missed Filing Deadline; Prosecutor Alleges Stobaugh Possessed Child Pornography in State Hospital
• Witnesses Testify That Sexually Violent Predator Richard Stobaugh Possessed Child Porn While Confined in State Hospital

PREVIOUSLY:

• Eureka City Council Unanimously Adopts 518-Page Bike Plan, a Master Plan for Human-Powered Transportation Improvements Throughout the City
• Eureka City Council Approves Bid Award for C Street Bike Boulevard Project in Split Vote, Despite Concerns About Community Engagement

City of Eureka release:

The City of Eureka will be performing pedestrian improvements work on the C Street between 8th and 14th Streets beginning on Monday, July 14th, 2025.

This phase of construction is expected to take one to two weeks per intersection, and approximately three months to complete the entire project. Monthly press releases will be issued to update the status of the project. Road closures, traffic detours and parking restrictions may be in effect. This work will be performed between the hours of 7:30am and 6:00pm, WEATHER PERMITTING.

The patience and cooperation of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in the vicinity of the work zone is greatly appreciated.

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Also of interest to Eureka motorists:

The City of Eureka’s contractor is performing pavement marking and striping on Myrtle Avenue between 5th Street and Harrison Avenue continuing through Monday, July 14th through July 18th. The two intersections of West and Harrison Avenues will have periodical daily closures with detour routes in affect to safely navigate the closures. This work will be performed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Myrtle Avenue is a heavily-travelled route within the City and the safety of pedestrians, motorist and construction workers are important. Please use alternate routes if possible, slow down, and be careful. The patience and cooperation of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in the vicinity of the work zone is greatly appreciated

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

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California government agencies are going all-in on generative artificial intelligence tools under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2023 executive order to improve government efficiency with AI. One of the first to roll out is a chatbot from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the primary agency tasked with coordinating the state’s wildfire response.

The chatbot is meant to give Californians better access to “critical fire prevention resources and near-real-time emergency information,” according to a May release from Newsom’s office. But CalMatters found that it fails to accurately describe the containment of a given wildfire, doesn’t reliably provide information such as a list for evacuation supplies and can’t tell users about evacuation orders.

Newsom has announced AI applications for traffic, housing and customer service to be implemented in the coming months and years. But Cal Fire’s chatbot issues raise questions about whether agencies are following best practices.

“Evaluation is not an afterthought,” said Daniel Ho, law professor at Stanford University whose research focuses on government use of AI. “It should be part of the standard expectation when we pilot and roll out a system like this.”

The chatbot uses the Cal Fire website and the agency’s ReadyForWildfire.org to generate answers. It can tell users about topics such as active wildfires, the agency, fire preparedness tips and Cal Fire’s programs. It was built by Citibot, a South Carolina-based company that sells AI-powered chatbots for local government agencies across the country. Cal Fire plans to host the tool until at least 2027, according to procurement records.

“It really was started with the intent and the goal of having a better-informed public about Cal Fire,” said Issac Sanchez, deputy chief of communications for the agency.

When CalMatters asked Cal Fire’s bot questions about what fires were currently active and basic information about the agency, it returned accurate answers. But for other information, CalMatters found that the chatbot can give different answers when the wording of the query changes slightly, even if the meaning of the question remains the same.

For example, an important way Californians can prepare for fire season is assembling a bag of emergency supplies should they need to evacuate. Only “What should I have in my evacuation kit?” returned a specific list of items from Cal Fire’s chatbot. Variations of the question that included “go bag,” “wildfire ready kit” and “fire preparedness kit” instead returned either a prompt to visit Cal Fire’s “Ready for Wildfire” site, which has that information, or a message saying “I’m not sure about the specific items you should have” and the wildfire site link. Two of those terms are present on the site the chatbot referenced.

And while the chatbot didn’t generate incorrect answers in any of the queries CalMatters made, it doesn’t always pull the most up-to-date information.

When asked if the Ranch Fire, a 4,293-acre fire in San Bernardino County, was contained, the chatbot said that the “latest” update as of June 10 showed the fire was 50% contained. At the time CalMatters queried the chatbot, the information was six days out of date – the fire was 85% contained by then.

Similarly, when asked about current job openings at the agency, the chatbot said there weren’t any. A search on the state’s job site showed two positions at Cal Fire accepting applications at the time.

Mila Gascó-Hernandez is research director for the University at Albany’s Center for Technology in government and has studied how public agencies use AI-powered chatbots. Two key factors she uses to evaluate such chatbots are the accuracy of information they provide and how consistently they answer the same questions even if the question is asked in different ways.

“If a fire is coming and you need to know how to react to it, you do need both accuracy and consistency in the answer,” she said. “You’re not going to think about ‘what’s the nice way to ask the chatbot?’”

Currently, the chatbot is unable to provide information about evacuation orders associated with fires. When asked who issues evacuation orders, it sometimes correctly said law enforcement, while other times said it didn’t know. Cal Fire’s Sanchez said it’s reasonable to expect the chatbot to be able to answer questions about evacuations.

If there are no evacuation orders for a particular fire, he said, “the answer should be ‘there doesn’t appear to be any evacuations associated with this incident.’”

Sanchez said he and his team of about four people tested the chatbot before it went out by submitting questions they expected the public to ask. Cal Fire is currently making improvements to the bot’s answers by combing through the queries people make and ensuring that the chatbot correctly surfaces the needed answer.

When CalMatters asked the bot “What can you help me with?” in early May, it responded, “Sorry I don’t have the answer to that question right now” and asked if CalMatters had questions about information on the Cal Fire site. By mid-June, that answer was updated to being able to “provide answers to questions related to information located on this page such as details about current fires, CAL FIRE job classifications, examination requirements and CAL FIRE’s various programs.”

“The big message we want to get across,” Sanchez said, “is be patient.”

But experts said the process of kicking the tires on a chatbot should happen long before procurement begins.

The preferred process, Stanford’s Ho said, is to establish criteria for how the chatbot should perform before a vendor is selected so there are clear benchmarks to evaluate the tool. Ideally, those benchmarks are created by an independent third party. There should also be an evaluation of the benefits and risks before the chatbot is released.

And in a best-case scenario, the public would be involved before launch, Albany’s Gascó-Hernandez said. Agencies interested in using chatbots should identify the questions the public is likely to ask the AI tool ahead of time, ensure those are representative of the expected population the agency serves and refine the chatbot by having members of the public pilot the system to ensure it provides the kind of information they seek.

“These user engagement and user experiences are very important so the citizen ends up using the chabot,” she said.

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

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Three years after CalMatters’ reporting revealed that only 3% of California Highway Patrol officers wore body cameras, one of the state’s largest police forces plans to equip all its officers with the technology by next year.

In 2015, now-retired Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer pitched a $10 million plan to give all CHP officers body cameras. Lawmakers landed on a one-year, $1 million pilot program. Officers recorded nearly 93,000 videos within that year, but the program was never expanded.

In 2022, CalMatters’ story noted that the pilot project had only led to 237 body cameras agency-wide, putting the CHP far behind local law enforcement agencies. At the time, the agency said it was focused on upgrading its dash cam system. Five months later, CHP sought funding for body cameras for all its officers, and state lawmakers approved the budget request.

So far about 2,400 body-worn cameras have been handed out to officers in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Sacramento area, according to CHP spokesperson Jaime Coffee. In total, all 7,600 officers are expected to receive their cameras by March 2026, she said.

“This is the perfect example of it moving too slow,” Jones-Sawyer said. “I always knew this needed to happen. I was just 10 years ahead of my time.”

Highway patrol officers make around 2 million stops a year, according to data from the state Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board. Officers have also been used for work outside of state highways. They’ve been deployed during the federal government’s immigration raids in LA, used to fight crime in Oakland and police drag races, among other things.

There’s little research on whether body-worn cameras reduce police violence. However, a 2022 study found some evidence that, after three years, agencies with body cameras saw a decrease in police killings compared with agencies that did not.

Since 2023, state lawmakers have given CHP nearly $20 million for the new cameras and have planned $5 million in ongoing funding to support the new system.

David Eugene Albee
November 9, 1948 - June 24, 2025

David Eugene Albee went to be with the Lord at the age of 76 on June 24th, 2025. He passed away at his longtime home in Ruth, with his family at his side. He was preceded in death by his wife Ginger, father Jack, mother Emma, brother Joe, and sister Mary. He is survived by his brother Jack Albee (Cindy), sister-in-law Fran Albee, sister-in-law Sherry Brown, brother-in-law Craig Brown, son David (Lyndee) Albee, son Dan (Terra) Albee, daughter Kristin (Phil) Berti, 11 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Dave was born in Scotia on November 9, 1948, to Jack and Emma Albee. He grew up on a sheep and cattle ranch in southern Humboldt County. His love for ranching and the outdoors was ingrained in him during those early years on the ranch. Hunting deer, trout fishing, running hounds, working stock dogs, and handling livestock were powerful influences on him. Simply put, cowboy life was in his blood.

Dave attended Miranda Elementary School and South Fork High School, graduating in 1966. While at South Fork High School, Dave met the love of his life, Ginger Brown, whom he would later marry. Dave also became an outstanding football and basketball player during his high school years. After high school, he went on to Humboldt State to study history and play football. While at Humboldt, Dave was fortunate to play on one of Humboldt’s best football teams. During his junior year, the Lumberjacks went 10-1 and won the Camellia Bowl. He was always very proud of that. Dave completed a bachelor’s degree in history and earned his teaching credential from Humboldt.

In December 1969, Dave married Ginger Brown, his high school sweetheart. Dave and Ginger moved to Ruth in 1972, where they started a family, and Dave took a job at Van Duzen Elementary School as the 8th grade teacher. Dave thoroughly enjoyed this job. He had many challenging students, but nothing that a sturdy yardstick couldn’t cure. Dave started basketball and football teams for the kids during those years, and they had a lot of fun and quite a bit of success.

In 1975, Dave’s father-in-law, Larry Brown, bought the Travis Ranch located just to the south of Ruth. Dave left the school business and went to work on the ranch. Dave poured his heart and soul into working on the ranch. He loved it. He and Ginger raised their family during those years. Dave gave the kids all the opportunities he had growing up, and Ginger took care of everybody.

In 1990, Dave returned to the school business. He went back to work at Southern Trinity as a teacher, but eventually he completed his master’s degree in education and became the superintendent. During his school days, he made business decisions, taught classes, disciplined kids, and did a lot of basketball coaching. He enjoyed most of his school duties; however, he really loved the basketball coaching. He was good at it. His teams took on the character of their coach, disciplined and tough as nails. Over the many years he coached on the Northcoast, Dave was regarded as one of the best coaches in the area.

In 2006, Dave retired from the school business for good. He went back to work full time on the Travis Ranch with his boys, David and Dan. Things were good for a couple of years. He was enjoying the cowboy life, and he and Ginger were being blessed with some grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Ginger had a massive stroke in 2009, and she became completely incapacitated. This would prove to be the biggest challenge of Dave’s life. For nearly ten years, Dave cared for Ginger’s every need until she finally passed in 2019. It was the most extraordinary act of love and commitment one could give.

In the fall of 2020, the August Complex Fire burned the entire Travis Ranch. The fire devastated the land and killed a large portion of the cow herd. Dave had a strong connection to the land, having worked on it for nearly 50 years. He wrote a story about his experience during the fire called “A Fire Story.” His story is very interesting, and I encourage all to read it if you get a chance.

Sometime in 2022, while logging and working to clean up the mess in the aftermath of the August Fire, Dave began to have health issues. Fatigue and weight loss were the primary symptoms. He trudged on. Getting up at 3 a.m. and working long days. Finally, he went to the doctor. Throughout 2023, he had several visits and blood tests. A couple of vitamin deficiencies were found, but something else was wrong. In February 2024, he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. He battled for a year and a half. Finally, he said enough. Dave Albee didn’t fear death. He led a good life, and he was a good man. He was hard-working, honest, giving, and a servant of God. Dave gave his life to the Lord in 1990. He is in heaven now with his love, Ginger.There will be a memorial service for Dave at Ruth Community Church on July 19 at 10 a.m.

Anyone is welcome to attend and celebrate this wonderful man. A lunch and time of fellowship will follow the service.

Rebecca Ruth Wilcox Laloli passed away peacefully at her home on April 15, 2025.

Rebecca was born to Glenn Wilcox and Ethel Brinker Wilcox on August 26, 1954 in Twin Falls, Idaho.

She came to Humboldt County on a Greyhound bus with her mother and uncle when she was two months old. Her father had come ahead to start a new job in Scotia at the Pacific Lumber Company.

Becky grew up in Scotia attending Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary. She had a large close family with many cousins who lived nearby, and a church where she loved to play the piano and sing with her sisters.

She graduated from Fortuna High School in 1973. Shortly after high school, a friend introduced her to a Ferndale boy, Dale Laloli, and they were married in May of 1975.

They lived in Humboldt County until 2009 when they relocated to Rice Valley, Oregon. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a little early in March of this year with their family.

Becky worked at Crown Redwood Lumber Mill until she had their first child, a daughter, Autumn.

She settled in as a homemaker and four years later had a son, Travis.

She loved supporting her kids (and grandkids) in all their activities: carpooling, counseling at summer camp and attending sporting events of all kinds. One of her favorite things to do was watch her kids, grandkids and friends’ kids play sports.

When the kids were a little older, she began working in the cafeteria at Rio Dell School which offered a great schedule for having kids at home. Over the years she moved on and had many jobs: gardening work at Doebel’s flower farm, clerical work at various offices, janitorial work at Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, Oregon, and lastly housekeeping for some special clients that she loved like family.

Becky was a quiet and kind person with a deep faith. She loved reading, and being in nature, working in her yard, and going for long walks with her dogs.

She also enjoyed being active and had a natural athletic ability, excelling at anything she tried: snow skiing, water skiing, bike riding, swimming, throwing horseshoes (a Wilcox family tradition) and horseback riding. In her late 40s she decided to start competing with her horse Orie in gymkhana. She did well, winning many buckles, pieces of tack and even a saddle.

She was known for her apple pie and had won a few pie baking contests over the years.

Becky and Dale enjoyed taking their RV trailer on little weekends away to the coast and hunting for agates on the beach.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Wilcox.

She is survived by her loving husband Dale Laloli, daughter Autumn (Brian) Ogden, son Travis (Janet) Laloli, grandchildren Bridget and John, mother Ethel Wilcox, siblings Mort (Tina) Thompson, Esther (Steve) Smith, Julia (Gary) Davis, Sarah Sheldon, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Home Health, especially Nurse Matt Pennington, Bristol Hospice of Eugene and all of the wonderful friends and family who have checked in, brought meals, flowers, cards and a helping hand during this difficult time. It has all meant so much.

There will be a memorial on July 13 at 2 p.m. at the Turf Room in Ferndale. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory to Wild Souls Ranch in Fortuna or your local hospice.

Becky will be interred at the Ferndale Cemetery in a private service.

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