In an effort to attract new police officers from out of state, the Arcata City Council recently amended a program that gives recruits a $50,000 bonus.

Snagging officers who have already passed California’s Peace Officer’s Standards and Training course (or putting out-of-state cops through requalification classes) is vastly more economical than starting with a totally green officer. According to the staff report shared at the meeting, it’s $15,000 cheaper than sponsoring a new recruit through a police academy. It also allows police officers to start working sooner. Many states have similar training programs to California’s, and getting them certified to work in California can take less than a month. 

APD has offered the bonuses since 2023, but the previous language of the policy didn’t include out-of-state lateral hires. Six officers have been hired through the program, although APD Lt. Chris Ortega told the Outpost in an interview today that not all of them are still with the department. 

New hires don’t get all $50,000 at once. They receive $10,000 five different times over two and a half years: when they get their first paycheck, on completion of a Field Training Program, and after being employed for nine months, 18 months, and two and a half years. 

“Arcata Police Department needs a continuous infusion of sworn personnel to maintain patrol and specialty positions,” reads the staff report. “…Like many Public Safety Departments throughout the state and nationwide, the Arcata Police Department (APD) has a shortage of sworn police officers.”

Ortega said APD was hovering around 27 officers, though they’d like to have around 30. Around four officers either have retired or plan to this year. 

The city council didn’t discuss the policy during the meeting, held on June 18, which was approved as part of the consent calendar.

“As far as our objective to put officers on the streets, this will have a huge impact to our community,” Ortega said. “This will allow us to provide the level of service our community expects.”

Matthews. | LinkedIn.

Meredith Matthews, a former Arcata mayor and current City Councilmember, has submitted her letter of resignation as executive director of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.

In a brief phone interview with the Outpost, Matthews described her chamber gig as “probably the best job I’ve ever had,” adding, “I love the staff, the board and the community.”

Matthews, who has served as the Arcata Chamber’s ED for a little over two years, plans to continue in the role through July 15.

“I’m committed get through the Fourth of July and make sure the chamber is set up for success,” she said. She also plans to help the organization hire her replacement. The chamber has already begun a search and has issued a press release with details. Click here to download that.

As for her own plans, Matthews has been hired as the next executive director of the Humboldt Lodging Alliance, a nonprofit focused on boosting local tourism. She’s scheduled to start that job on Aug. 4. 

Below is her letter of resignation from the Arcata Chamber:

Dear Chamber Members,

It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work alongside you over the past two years. Together, we have strengthened the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, not just as an organization, but as a true cornerstone of our community.

I am so proud of all we have accomplished to serve our members better. We have built a robust social media presence that tells the stories of our local businesses and shares the spirit of Arcata far beyond our city limits. We’ve expanded events on the Plaza and throughout the city, creating opportunities for connection, celebration, and economic vitality. We’ve broadened our outreach and deepened our partnerships, including our work with Cal Poly Humboldt, the City of Arcata, and countless local organizations to support business growth and build a stronger, more resilient local economy. Together, we’ve reimagined what the Chamber can be—a resource, an advocate, and a place where members feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

The love I have for our business community and the City of Arcata is immeasurable. I’m excited to continue serving this region as the new Executive Director of the Humboldt Lodging Alliance, where I will have the opportunity to work with partners across Humboldt County to promote sustainable tourism, support local businesses, and bring more overnight visitors to our community.

I am confident the Chamber will continue to thrive in the capable and dedicated hands of Gloria, Zach, and our incredible Board of Directors. I look forward to supporting their work as a Chamber member and as a continued advocate for our local business community.

Please feel free to reach out to me in the coming weeks if you have any questions, or simply to stay connected. I’ll look forward to seeing you at mixers, workshops, and community events around town.

Thank you for trusting me with this role. It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my career.

Warmly,

Meredith Matthews

Six Rivers National Forest release:

Yesterday, the Six Rivers National Forest received  lightning from thunderstorms that passed over Northern California.  

As of 7:30 a.m. PDT this morning, there were approximately 282 lightning strikes over the  North Coast. Firefighters are responding to lightning fires as they are discovered by both ground and aerial resources. At this time, there are five confirmed lightning fires on two Ranger districts.  

Gasquet Ranger District 

Myrtle Fire – Approximately .1 acre with ground resources on scene. The fire is located   northeast of Crescent City on Low Divide Road near Forest Route 17N21 near the top of the   ridge. Fire is controlled and in patrol status. 

Goose Fire – Approximately .25 acre located northeast of Klamath near Red Mountain Road   (forest road 15N13). Forest Service resources include three engines, one handcrew, one   watertender, an air attack and two helicopters responding. CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit  is providing two additional handcrews and two dozers to clear paths for access to the fire. 

Goose Two Fire – Approximately .1 acre located east of Rocky Saddle. Currently one Forest   Service engine onsite, and fire was detected using interagency aircraft. Fire is contained and   firefighters are working on mop up and control.  

Broken Fire – Currently the size is unknown, located northeast of Klamath near the east fork  of Goose Creek. Forest Service resources include three engines, two handcrews, and one   watertender responding. CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit is also assisting with two   handcrews and 2 dozers to clear paths for access to the fire. 
Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District  

Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District 

Wooley Fire – Currently unknown size, this fire reported in the Marble Mountain wilderness  near the Black Mountain Trailhead. Aircraft patrolled the area and were unable to locate,   however, aircraft will continue to patrol.  A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. tonight and more lightning is in the forecast  today over the Six Rivers National Forest. 

# # #

Holdover lightning fires can smolder for days and even weeks following a thunderstorm. It can  take several days of dry and warm weather for these fires to become visible. 

Firefighters will continue to monitor conditions and respond to lightning fires as they are  discovered in the coming days.  

“The Six Rivers National Forest has steep, challenging terrain where access can be a challenge,  especially with lightning fires burning in remote areas,” said Six Rivers National Forest Fire  Management Officer Josh Eichamer. “We are committed to swift suppression with public and  firefighter safety our top priority.” 

Firefighters will make appropriate risk-informed efforts to fully suppress small fires before they  become large, complex incidents to ensure protection of lives, property, valuable timber and  natural resources. This means suppressing fires as swiftly as possible to minimize fireline  exposure and readiness for the next ignition. 

“This is the annual week of remembrance honoring fallen wildland firefighters,” Eichamer said.  “It is a somber reminder of the risk wildland firefighters face and as we respond to lightning  fires our ultimate goal is for every firefighter to make it home safely to their family and friends at  the end of the incident.” 

To help firefighters focus on lightning fire response, area residents and visitors are asked to be  careful with anything that can spark a wildfire and to help prevent additional fires. The public  can also report suspected wildfires by calling 911. 

As a reminder, all fireworks are prohibited on National Forest System lands, including the Six  Rivers National Forest and developed recreation sites. This includes poppers, sparklers and  other fireworks. 

The Forest is not currently under fire restrictions, but preventing human-caused wildfires is  important, especially as firefighters are responding to lightning fires. Campfires should never be  left unattended and should be dead out and cold to the touch before leaving. 

Press release from U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman:

Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Senate passed President Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill:

“The Senate just jammed through a scorched-earth reconciliation bill so toxic that it is worse than the House version if you can believe it. It takes away healthcare from millions of Americans, rips food assistance from kids and seniors, and guts the very safeguards that protect our clean air and water — all to reward the same fossil fuel CEOs Trump asked for a billion-dollar campaign check. It props up the dirty energy of the past, suffocates clean energy, and sticks American families with higher costs, dirtier air and water, and growing floods, fires, and climate disasters.  

“Republicans tried to push through the biggest public lands sell-off in modern history — and got rejected so badly they had to yank it. But make no mistake: this bill still guts protections, opens millions of acres to drilling, mining and logging, and rewrites the rules into a pay-to-play scheme for Trump’s billionaire donors. And this just adds to what the Trump administration is already doing to sell out our public lands to polluters and developers.   

“This isn’t a beautiful bill; it’s a Big Betrayal. It slashes hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. It kneecaps investments that are finally flowing to rural towns, Tribal Nations, and working-class communities. And it would drive up costs across the board — electricity, healthcare, food — forcing families to pay more just so fossil fuel CEOs and already wealthy corporations can rake in record profits. No wonder nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose it.   

“Now it heads back to the House, where Republicans better be ready to explain why they’re ripping up healthcare and food assistance, selling out public lands, gutting clean air and water safeguards, and driving up energy bills, all so billionaires and Big Oil CEOs can get richer.”

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

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In summary

California’s excise tax on legal weed is increasing, despite efforts to keep it lower to help the struggling industry. Lawmakers left it out of the state budget they passed Monday.

A substantial tax hike for California’s faltering legal cannabis market is set to take effect today, despite an aggressive industry campaign to suspend the increase that won the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom and other political leaders.

The excise tax for weed is 19% as of July 1, up from 15% — the result of a political deal three years ago that was intended to buy more time for the legal market to stabilize but which cannabis business operators now warn could chase away customers and push them over the edge.

“I’ve never experienced collective malaise like this,” said Genine Coleman, founder of the Origins Council, which represents small farmers in the historic Northern California growing region known as the Emerald Triangle. “People are so concerned with their survival and so deflated. It’s a dangerous space.”

An excise tax is a levy imposed on a good by the state before sales taxes are applied. While a push to freeze the cannabis excise tax through the state budget failed last month, a bill that would lower the rate back to 15% for the next six years is still moving through the Legislature. Newsom has pledged to sign a proposal halting the tax increase if it reaches his desk.

“I’m intimately familiar with the conversations around that and have great confidence that we’ll achieve our stated goals,” Newsom said during a press conference Monday.

Cannabis growers, dispensary owners and consumer advocates rallied for months at the state Capitol to avert the tax increase, which they argue could deal a fatal blow to businesses already operating with slim margins.

The price of weed has plummeted since voters legalized recreational cannabis through Proposition 64 in 2016, the result of a rush to overproduction even as most cities and counties in the state remain closed off to retail sales. Meanwhile, California is struggling to bring its market out of the shadows; the state Department of Cannabis Control estimates that legal sales still comprise less than 40% of weed consumption in California, which the industry attributes to state and local excise and sales taxes that can increase prices for consumers by a third.

Taxable cannabis sales in California dropped to $1.09 billion for the first quarter of 2025, down 30% from their peak in early 2021 and the lowest quarterly sales in five years.

Tax was intended to offset cannabis harms

It’s a crisis for the industry — communities that traditionally relied on cannabis production have collapsed economically — but also a problem for the state’s finances. Tax revenues from weed sales provide guaranteed funding for child care slots, environmental cleanup, substance abuse education and impaired driving prevention efforts as California faces a growing budget deficit.

“This was a poor time to say, ‘let’s starve the state even more,’” said Tom Wheeler, the executive director of the Humboldt County-based Environmental Protection Information Center, which joined a coalition of child care, environmental and tribal advocacy groups to lobby against a tax freeze.

He said it was important to uphold the promise of Proposition 64, which includes using cannabis tax revenue for programs that offset the harms caused by the cannabis industry, and expressed skepticism that the tax increase would hurt sales.

“I think the average consumer would not notice that,” Wheeler said. “At what point do we stop cutting taxes to benefit the industry?”

The 2022 agreement offered relief to growers by eliminating a cultivation tax, but it allowed state regulators, after a three-year pause, to raise the excise tax to make up for the lost revenue.

During budget negotiations last month, Newsom — who also wants to begin using cannabis tax revenue for enforcement against illegal cultivation — and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, a Democrat from Salinas, supported extending the pause on the excise tax. They could not reach a compromise with Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, a Healdsburg Democrat who notably represents the Emerald Triangle.

In a statement, McGuire said “taxes on California’s overregulated cannabis industry have been a train wreck for years,” but he raised concerns about the fiscal implications of freezing the tax. State analysts estimate that increasing it to 19% could yield about $180 million per year for the state.

“It’s important to acknowledge that any freeze will create a budget shortfall which would impact critical community programs funded by cannabis tax dollars,” he said.

California could ‘forfeit a huge opportunity’

Industry representatives warn that further raising taxes will push price-sensitive customers back into the illicit market, hurting businesses teetering on the edge and actually lowering cannabis tax revenue in the long run.

“The math isn’t there,” said Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, executive director and lobbyist for the California Cannabis Operators Association. “We have no objections to how cannabis tax revenues are being spent. All we’re maintaining is that you can’t squeeze blood from a stone.”

They haven’t given up, though repealing the tax increase now that it’s taken effect will be even more challenging.

Assembly Bill 564, which would set the cannabis excise tax at 15% through the end of June 2031, passed the Assembly unanimously in May and now awaits consideration in the Senate.

Assemblymember Matt Haney, the San Francisco Democrat who introduced the measure, said he will keep fighting to get it to the governor. But he was furious that the Senate allowed the tax hike to take effect, which he said sent a message to legal cannabis operators that there is no incentive to follow the rules.

“This tax could kill this industry and there’s still not enough being done,” he said. “California is going to forfeit what should have been a huge opportunity for our state.”

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Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

On June 30th 2025 at approximately 2:30 pm Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a significant residential structure fire involving a single-story home with detached garage. The fire, which caused extensive damage, resulted in a total loss of both structures, with estimated damages exceeding $200,000.

Upon arrival, the first engine company encountered heavy fire involvement and immediately deployed a deck gun to combat the blaze before transitioning to an offensive fire attack. Rapidly deteriorating fire conditions forced the four units on scene to shift to a defensive strategy, prioritizing the protection of neighboring homes. Despite significant challenges due to Humboldt Bay Fire Station 2 being unstaffed for the day due to staffing shortages, the responding units successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the involved residence and garage.

One firefighter sustained an eye injury during the operation and was transported to the emergency room for treatment. Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank neighboring agencies for providing critical coverage for multiple additional calls for service during the incident, enabling the department to focus on fire suppression efforts.

Following a thorough investigation, the cause and origin of the fire remain undetermined due to the extensive damage to the structures. Humboldt Bay Fire remains committed to serving and protecting the community and appreciates the support of our mutual aid partners during this challenging incident.

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to also remind the community of the importance of maintaining good clearance of any vegetation around structures especially as we move into the wildland fire season.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 30, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of a gunshot victim in the 8000 block of Kneeland Road, Kneeland.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered that Ashley Nicole Bartles, age 37, had discharged a firearm while at an unpermitted marijuana cultivation site in the area. The victim, who sustained serious injuries, was promptly transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Following a thorough investigation, deputies established probable cause to believe that Bartles discharged the firearm in a willful and grossly negligent manner. She was subsequently arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• California Penal Code 245(a)(2): Assault with a Firearm

• California Penal Code 246.3(a): Negligent Discharge of a Firearm

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.