Surprising news from Assemblymember Jim Wood’s Office:

Today Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024, which would have been for his sixth and final term in the Assembly.

“Deciding not to run for my final term was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in many years,” said Wood. “I can make a case to continue my work, but I believe now is the right time for me to change my focus.”

Wood was elected to the 2nd Assembly District in 2014, representing Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and northern Sonoma County, including the city of Santa Rosa. His final two-year term would have ended in December 2026.

“I practiced for nearly 30 years as a family dentist in Cloverdale and served on the Healdsburg city council, including a term as mayor, where I gained a tremendous sense of community and an in-depth understanding of the challenges that this mostly rural district faces,” said Wood. “The district is vast in geography, but smaller in population, and includes more than 300 miles of spectacular coastline. I have been an outspoken advocate for rural communities, regularly reminding my colleagues that in a state as large as California, solutions cannot be one-size-fits-all.”

During Wood’s tenure, he has served on many committees including Budget, Health, Natural Resources, Insurance, Agriculture and Water, Parks and Wildlife. These committees relate to some of the most pressing issues facing the district.

“As a member of these committees, I have been an advocate for broadband for all, clean water and air, agriculture, the cannabis industry, watershed protection, wildfire prevention and rebuilding, access to affordable insurance, and ensuring that our electrical grid provides the capacity when and where we need it in order to meet our housing and climate goals, including development of offshore wind,” said Wood.

Wood was named chair of the Assembly Health Committee in early 2016 and has remained chair since then.

“As chair of Assembly Health Committee, I’m proud that our state has taken a leadership role on so many of the most pressing issues,” said Wood. “I’ve taken on virtually every entity within the expansive health care industrial complex, and always with the end goal of improving the quality of health care and making it affordable and accessible for Californians. And although we have accomplished a lot, especially the creation of the Office of Health Care Affordability, there is still more work to be done and I plan to continue that work in 2024.” 

The 2nd Assembly District, historically, has not been considered competitive, with Wood taking nearly 70 percent of the vote in 2022.

“Many in public office say they are leaving for personal or family reasons, but that is very real for me,” said Wood. “My mother has been in declining health and now requires an increasingly higher level of care and I want to be a meaningful part of that. I look forward to finding different ways to support my district and the issues that are important to them, especially challenges faced by rural communities.”

“Jim Wood will go down as one of our most distinguished legislators,” said Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas (D-Salinas). “His love for this state knows no bounds, and he’s committed a lifetime to ensuring future generations can realize the California Dream. I thank Jim on behalf of the entire Caucus, for all his achievements and dedication, and I’m also proud to call him a dear friend and trusted colleague. I also look forward to working with him into 2024, in particular on health care priorities, as he completes a decade of service in the California State Assembly.”

“I’ve known for a very long time that our Speaker, Robert Rivas, would be a strong leader and the right person to lead our caucus and the entire Assembly into the future,” said Wood. “He is a true friend and someone who understands the common interest we have in supporting and protecting the people in our rural communities and how their needs are unique, oftentimes requiring unique policies and solutions. I’m so grateful to be working with Speaker Rivas and it makes me proud to serve and extremely optimistic for California’s future.”

Humboldt Paws Cause is a beloved local institution that Lost Coast Communications is proud to have shepherded these many years. When a person posts a lost or found pet on the Paws Cause, or on the Paws Cause Facebook page, local volunteers and our staff leap into action. The word spreads out online and on our four radio stations. We generate a flyer that people may post around the neighborhood.

We have helped reunite thousands of lost pets with their owners, and, with the help of our wonderful sponsors, we do it for free. Because it’s a nice thing we can do for our neighbors.

Check out this beautiful and wholesome song Caveman Dave wrote about the whole thing!

So of course, as with all good things, some scumbag is gonna come along and try to fuck it all up.

Here is the real Humboldt Paws Cause Facebook page, which is the most active interface the Paws Cause has with people who have losts pets, or found them. People chat us with our findings here, and we try to get back to them as quickly as we can. The URL is facebook.com/humboldtpawscause, as you’d expect it to be, and it has some 21,000 followers as of this writing.

It never, ever asks you for money.

The problem we address today is the fake Humboldt Paws Cause Facebook page that some lowlife put together to scam desperate people. I won’t bother to link it here, but it looks like the real Humboldt Paws Cause Facebook page in almost every respect — except that it only has 454 followers, it lists some weird Washington-area phone number, and its URL is not facebook.com/humboldtpawscause.

This site, should you or a loved one be unlucky enough to stumble upon it, absolutely will ask you for money. Demand it, even.

Here is the kind of shit it pulls:

Like I said: Total scumbag.

We’ve reported this fake page to Facebook a billion times; Facebook does not care.

All we have left is to try to raise a little awareness. Please let your friends and family and pet lovers all over Humboldt know that there exists a scam page, and the sign of that scam page is that it has basically no followers and it will ask you for money. The real Paws Cause has tens of thousands of followers and will never ask you for money.

Thank you!

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Press release from LRE & Companies:

EUREKA,  Calif. – LRE & Companies, a full spectrum real estate development, asset manager, construction, and hotel management company, announces the addition of The Habit Burger Grill to Eureka Gateway, its highly anticipated project located at 1905 5th Street. Known for its signature Charburgers and unparalleled fast-casual dining experience, the restaurant will be located off Highway 101, with access and visibility from 4th and 5th streets, and T and U streets.

“One of the greatest things about this project has been our partnerships,” says Akki Patel, CEO of LRE & Companies. “Our partnership with the City of Eureka and of course our partnership with Habit Burger. As a loyal consumer myself, I’m especially excited about the addition of this restaurant.”

The Habit Burger Grill will occupy the 2,400-square-foot space with a drive-thru. LRE & Companies is currently working in partnership with the City of Eureka on the design phase of the project. 

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PREVIOUSLY: Father and Daughter Robbed in Bayshore Mall Parking Lot; Eureka Police Seeking Suspects

Eureka Police Department press release: 

On November 9, 2023, around 3:30 pm, the Eureka Police Department was contacted by an off-duty law enforcement officer reporting a possible sighting of the robbery suspects at a business in the 2800 block of Broadway. Patrol officers responded and detained three adult suspects. Two of the individuals were confirmed to be suspects in the robbery. They were identified as 33-year-old Lorenzo Davis and 31-year-old Ashley Barker, both of Stockton, CA. Davis and Barker were taken into custody for Robbery and Criminal Conspiracy and were booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This remains an active investigation and no additional details are available at this time.

The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the community for their help in identifying the suspects. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Cory Crnich at 707-441-4318.

Pushing back against the surge of misinformation online, California will now require all K-12 students to learn media literacy skills — such as recognizing fake news and thinking critically about what they encounter on the internet.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed Assembly Bill 873, which requires the state to add media literacy to curriculum frameworks for English language arts, science, math and history-social studies, rolling out gradually beginning next year. Instead of a stand-alone class, the topic will be woven into existing classes and lessons throughout the school year.

“I’ve seen the impact that misinformation has had in the real world — how it affects the way people vote, whether they accept the outcomes of elections, try to overthrow our democracy,” said the bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat from Menlo Park. “This is about making sure our young people have the skills they need to navigate this landscape.”

The new law comes amid rising public distrust in the media, especially among young people. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that adults under age 30 are nearly as likely to believe information on social media as they are from national news outlets. Overall, only 7% of adults have “a great deal” of trust in the media, according to a Gallup poll conducted last year.

Media literacy can help change that, advocates believe, by teaching students how to recognize reliable news sources and the crucial role that media plays in a democracy.

“The increase in Holocaust denial, climate change denial, conspiracy theories getting a foothold, and now AI … all this shows how important media literacy is for our democracy right now,” said Jennifer Ormsby, library services manager for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. “The 2016 election was a real eye-opener for everyone on the potential harms and dangers of fake news.”

“Media literacy is a basic part of being literate. If we’re just teaching kids how to read, and not think critically about what they’re reading, we’re doing them a disservice.”
— Ricardo Elizalde, teacher on special assignment at San Francisco Unified

AB 873 passed nearly unanimously in the Legislature, underscoring the nonpartisan nature of the topic. Nationwide, Texas, New Jersey and Delaware have also passed strong media literacy laws, and more than a dozen other states are moving in that direction, according to Media Literacy Now, a nonprofit research organization that advocates for media literacy in K-12 schools.

Still, California’s law falls short of Media Literacy Now’s recommendations. California’s approach doesn’t include funding to train teachers, an advisory committee, input from librarians, surveys or a way to monitor the law’s effectiveness.

Keeping the bill simple, though, was a way to help ensure its passage, Berman said. Those features can be implemented later, and he felt it was urgent to pass the law quickly so students can start receiving media literacy education as soon as possible. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024, as the state begins updating its curriculum frameworks, although teachers are encouraged to teach media literacy now.

Berman’s law builds on a previous effort in California to bring media literacy to K-12 classrooms. In 2018, Senate Bill 830 required the California Department of Education to provide media literacy resources — lesson plans, project ideas, background — to the state’s K-12 teachers. But it didn’t make media literacy mandatory.

The new law also overlaps somewhat with California’s effort to bring computer science education to all students. The state hopes to expand computer science, which can include aspects of media literacy, to all students, possibly even requiring it to graduate from high school. Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1251, which creates a commission to look at ways to recruit more computer science teachers to California classrooms. Berman is also sponsoring Assembly Bill 1054, which would require high schools to offer computer science classes. That bill is currently stalled in the Senate.

Understanding media, and creating it

Teachers don’t need a state law to show students how to be smart media consumers, and some have been doing it for years. Merek Chang, a high school science teacher at Hacienda La Puente Unified in the City of Industry east of Los Angeles, said the pandemic was a wake-up call for him.

During remote learning, he gave students two articles on the origins of the coronavirus. One was an opinion piece from the New York Post, a tabloid, and the other was from a scientific journal. He asked students which they thought was accurate. More than 90% chose the Post piece.

“It made me realize that we need to focus on the skills to understand content, as much as we focus on the content itself,” Chang said.

He now incorporates media literacy in all aspects of his lesson plans. He relies on the Stanford History Education Group, which offers free media literacy resources for teachers, and took part in a KQED media literacy program for teachers.

In addition to teaching students how to evaluate online information, he shows them how to create their own media. Homework assignments include making TikTok-style videos on protein synthesis for mRNA vaccines, for example. Students then present their projects at home or at lunchtime events for families and the community.

“The biggest impact, I’ve noticed, is that students feel like their voice matters,” Chang said. “The work isn’t just for a grade. They feel like they’re making a difference.”

Ormsby, the Los Angeles County librarian, has also been promoting media literacy for years. Librarians generally have been on the forefront of media literacy education, and California’s new law refers to the Modern School Library Standards for media literacy guidelines.

Ormsby teaches concepts like “lateral reading” (comparing an online article with other sources to check for accuracy) and reverse imaging (searching online to trace a photo to its original source or checking if it’s been altered). She also provides lesson plans, resources and book recommendations such as “True or False: A CIA analyst’s guide to spotting fake news” and, for elementary students, “Killer Underwear Invasion! How to spot fake news, disinformation & conspiracy theories.”

She’s happy that the law passed, but would like to see librarians included in the rollout and the curriculum implemented immediately, not waiting until the frameworks are updated.

“The increase in Holocaust denial, climate change denial, conspiracy theories getting a foothold, and now AI. All this shows how important media literacy is for our democracy right now.”
— Jennifer Ormsby, library services manager for the Los Angeles County Office of Education

The gradual implementation of the law was deliberate, since schools are already grappling with so many other state mandates, said Alvin Lee, executive director of Generation Up, a student-led advocacy group that was among the bill’s sponsors. He’s hoping that local school boards decide to prioritize the issue on their own by funding training for teachers and moving immediately to get media literacy into classrooms.

“Disinformation contributes to polarization, which we’re seeing happen all over the world,” said Lee, a junior at Stanford who said it’s a top issue among his classmates. “Media literacy can address that.”

In San Francisco Unified, Ricardo Elizalde is a teacher on special assignment who trains elementary teachers in media literacy. His staff gave out 50 copies of “Killer Underwear!” for teachers to build activities around, and encourages students to make their own media, as well.

Elementary school is the perfect time to introduce the topic, he said.

“We get all these media thrown at us from a young age, we have to learn to defend ourselves,” Elizalde said. “Media literacy is a basic part of being literate. If we’re just teaching kids how to read, and not think critically about what they’re reading, we’re doing them a disservice.”

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Terrance Michael Brill, known as Terry Brill, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Terry was born May 11, 1951, to Thomas J. and Margaret Brill. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his 5 siblings. After graduating from Thomas Edison High School, he joined the Navy and served for two years. Soon after, he moved to the West Coast, and settled in Humboldt County.

Terry was known as the Blue Grass Barber in Arcata for many years. He enjoyed his profession and the relationships he developed. Terry loved spending time on the local rivers and streams, waiting for the next big bite. He spent many days on the beautiful beaches of Trinidad, soaking up the sun. He spent hours strumming and picking his guitar, mandolin, and banjo. He loved to sing and perform for anyone willing to listen. Music was such a big part of his life. You could always see him at the local music events. Terry was an avid motorcyclist. He spent many hours on the road, on his Harley Davidson.

Terry leaves behind his wife, Lisa Denny-Brill, his daughter Michelle Holland (H Josh) of Anchorage, Alaska, Grandchildren, Faith, Caleb, and Jordan, his parents, the late Thomas J. and Margaret Brill, sister, the late Kathi Lentz, brothers, Thomas Brill Jr., John Brill, the late Kevin brill, Brian Brill, and numerous nephews and nieces.

A special thank you to his brother Brian and daughter Michelle for making the long trip to lighten Terry’s last days. To Sally Degmetich and her husband Joel, thank you for your constant love, support, and caregiving until the very end. Many thanks to family and friends for your love and kindness. A huge thanks to Hospice of Humboldt for everything. A special thank you to Terry’s nurse, Scotty for your kindness, compassion and caring.

There will be a “Celebration of Life” for Terry at the home of Terry and Lisa on December 2, 2023, from 1-3 pm at 2423 S Street, Eureka. Friends and family are welcome to join and share stories and memories.

PREVIOUSLY: 

• Gunshot Victim Dies After Being Dropped Off by Unknown Party at Cal Fire Station Near Orick
• Orick Homicide Victim Identified
• Orick Homicide Suspect Turns Self In

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Press release from the District Attorney’s Office:

On November 9, 2023, a Humboldt County jury found Shawn Patrick McMahon, age 51, guilty of first degree murder for killing Benjamin Thomas, age 41. The jury also found that Mr. McMahon personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, causing Mr. Thomas’s death.

The murder occurred in June of 2021, on Bald Hills Road in a remote part of Humboldt County.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees prosecuted the case at trial, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Martin Morris and Victim Advocates Caitlyn LaHaie and Morgan Polasek. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, led by Investigator Destry Henderson. Mr. McMahon was represented by local attorney RJ Leohner. The Honorable Timothy Canning, Judge, presided over the three-week jury trial.

Mr. McMahon is scheduled for sentencing on December 6, 2023. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

District Attorney Stacey Eads commends the community members that are willing to come forward and serve as jurors, and the willingness of witnesses to come forward to notify law enforcement and ultimately testify in court.