Kathryn was born on April 6, 1952, in Muncie, Indiana to Carolyn and Charles Meredith Hubbard. Her family moved six years later from the Midwest to Southern California. Her father had accepted a teaching position with the music department of Cal State LA.
Kathryn was married to Chuck Stotler for 45 years. Many of those years they resided in Monterey, where Kathryn taught special education classes for 8 years before shifting to real estate sales. They moved to Arcata in 1990 after the birth of their son, Thomas. Soon after that, their daughter, Haley, was born.
Kathy loved the arts and was very involved in the local arts community. For several years she wove colorful blankets and sold them in various cities nationally, before shifting to abstract painting. She captured an aliveness of the coastal elements in abstract form.
Kathy is predeceased by her parents and is survived by her brother Richard Hubbard, as well as her sister Cindy, her sister-in-law Diane Turner and husband Larry Turner, niece Elizabeth, husband Rob Faus, and their son Reo. She is also survived by her husband, Chuck Stotler, son Thomas Stotler, daughter Haley Grimm, son-in-law Colin Grimm and grandson Austin Grimm.
Kathy will be missed most for her cheerfulness, engaging personality, and intelligence. Pancreatic cancer may have stopped her from creating works of art, but her beauty, intelligence, and kindness will live on for those who were lucky enough to have known her.
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Kathy Stotler’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
The aurora borealis, AKA northern lights, seen here over Eureka from Table Bluff
The largest geomagnetic storm in nearly two decades is sure fun to point your camera at.
People from across Humboldt are sharing their photos of the aurora borealis on the Outpost’s Facebook page. (Also here.) You might want to add yours to the pile.
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:
Individuals who visited the Days Inn in Eureka or the Providence St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Department during the following days may have been exposed to measles:
The Days Inn by Wyndham, 270 Fifth St. in Eureka from Thursday, May 9, at 2 p.m. through Friday, May 10, at 3 a.m.
Providence St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Department, 2700 Dolbeer St. in Eureka Friday, May 10, between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Anyone who was inside these locations during these times should contact the Public Health Branch of the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services at 707-268-2182, whether or not you are experiencing symptoms. Phones will be answered this evening until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A Public Health nurse will evaluate your possible exposure and provide information. For unvaccinated individuals, vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can greatly reduce the risk of serious illness.
Earlier today, Public Health was notified that a family traveling through the area included an individual who was seen at St. Joseph Hospital’s Emergency Department with a confirmed case of measles. According to the California Department of Public Health, measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. The virus can live for up to one hour in an airspace after the infected person leaves the area, and other people who breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses or mouths can become infected.
It can take anywhere from 7 to 21 days to develop symptoms after exposure to measles, and symptoms usually begin with a fever that lasts for a couple of days, followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and a rash. The rash typically appears first on the face, along the hairline and behind the ears and then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about four days before their rash starts to four days afterward. Children under 5 years old and people who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems are at highest risk for severe disease and complications from measles.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable illness. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing illness. For more information about the vaccine, contact your primary care provider and visit https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html.
Most children and young adults’ digital vaccination records are available through the California Department of Public Health’s Digital Vaccine Record: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/.
Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines proposed spending cuts during a press conference unveiling his revised 2024-25 budget proposal at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento on May 10, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves, CalMatters.
Faced with ongoing weaknesses in state finances, Gov. Gavin Newsom put forward a revised budget plan today that he said aims to stabilize California in the longer term by addressing a “sizable deficit” estimated at $56 billion over the next two fiscal years.
Looking beyond the typical annual budget cycle, Newsom proposed more than $30 billion in ongoing and one-time spending cuts, including to education and climate objectives that have been among the governor’s own priorities, though he promised that “core programs” providing social services to needy Californians would be mostly untouched.
“These are propositions that I’ve long advanced, many of them. These are things that I’ve supported,” Newsom said during a press conference in Sacramento. “But you’ve got to do it. We have to be responsible. We have to be accountable. We have to balance the budget.”
The governor’s proposal is an opening offer to the Legislature, which faces a June 15 deadline to pass a balanced budget or forgo its pay. That leaves a little more than a month for members to sort through Newsom’s solutions and negotiate a compromise that reflects their own concerns amid what is certain to be a fever pitch of lobbying from outside groups hoping to stave off cuts to their preferred programs.
The immediate reaction from Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate, who will negotiate a deal with the governor, was cautious and addressed few specifics.
“We are encouraged that the Governor’s May Revision improves budget prospects for future years and saves rainy-day reserves,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas of Salinas and Budget Committee chairperson Jesse Gabriel of Encino, said in a joint statement, but they added they “will continue to fight to protect core programs for California’s most vulnerable residents and essential classroom funding.”
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire of Healdsburg and Budget Committee chairperson Scott Wiener of San Francisco, in a joint statement, said their past budgets “have uplifted communities and Californians — this year will be no different.”
With tax revenues coming in below expectations — about $7 billion lower than even the governor’s January projections — this revised budget proposal is substantially smaller than the $310.8 billion spending plan for the current fiscal year. Including the general fund, special funds and bonds, Newsom is proposing to spend $288.1 billion on state programs next year, down about 7.3%.
$27.6 billion
This is the remaining deficit that the Newsom administration projects for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials have known since last fall that the fiscal picture was bad, but estimates of just how deep the hole would be varied widely — from a more optimistic $38 billion by Newsom’s Department of Finance in January to a dire $73 billion by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
That prompted Newsom and the Legislature to take “early action” last month to reduce the deficit by more than $17 billion ahead of the regular budget process. Their plan included some program cuts, but mostly relied on new revenue, internal borrowing and funding delays and shifts for savings, earning criticism from Republican lawmakers for being “gimmicky” and “balanced on hopes and prayers.”
In addition to closing the remaining $27.6 billion shortfall for 2024-25, Newsom wants to get a jump start on addressing another projected $28.4 billion deficit in 2025-26.
Why does California have such a financial problem? The reasons go back two years. A downturn in the stock market in 2022 hit capital gains, while high inflation pinched the housing market and the tech industry pulled back on initial public offerings as investments dropped. Those blows have continued as wealthy taxpayers carried forward their losses.
But the drops in revenue were not fully reflected in the spending plan that Newsom and legislators adopted last summer. Severe winter storms prompted the federal government to delay the income tax filing deadline for most Californians from April until November, and the state followed suit, giving an incomplete picture during the budget process. The state committed to funding programs that it subsequently realized it cannot afford.
$21.5 billion
The governor’s budget proposal relies on dipping into state reserve accounts, including $12.2 billion from the rainy-day fund and $900 million from a safety net reserve, spread out over two years. Separately, Newsom wants to use $8.4 billion from a schools reserve account next year to stabilize funding for K-12 education that would otherwise drop.
Newsom also announced that he will ask the Legislature to create another new budget reserve account to help balance California’s volatile revenue picture from year-to-year. Under this plan, the state would set aside projected revenue above historical trends and hold off on spending it until it actually materializes. Newsom said this is easier than amending the existing rainy-day fund to capture more money, which would require approval from the voters.
$19.1 billion
A large part of how Newsom wants to solve California’s deficit involves clawing back $19.1 billion in unspent funding that was promised just a few years ago, during brighter days when the state had a record surplus. Substantial cuts to one-time spending include $2 billion for expanding broadband internet, $820 million for health care workforce development, more than $700 million for housing development, $550 million for early education facilities, $500 million for water storage, $450 million for behavioral health infrastructure and $136 million for cleaning up toxic substances in vulnerable communities.
$13.7 billion
Even more painful may be $13.7 billion in proposed cuts to ongoing programs, including shrinking the Middle Class Scholarship program for college students by $510 million annually and eliminating $300 million for state and local public health programs. Newsom wants to take an additional 4,600 prison beds out of commission, which could save nearly $81 million per year.
The governor proposed an overall reduction of nearly 8% to state operations, which he estimated would save $2.2 billion in 2024-25 and more in the years ahead, though exactly how government agencies would absorb those cuts is still to be determined. Newsom is pushing to eliminate 10,000 vacant state government positions on top of that, which could save $763 million annually.
Social services programs such as supplemental income for elderly and disabled Californians, welfare and the earned income tax credit will be untouched, Newsom emphasized. That includes the recent expansion of health coverage to low-income undocumented immigrants of all ages.
“I just think that’s foundational,” Newsom said. “It’s something I believe in. It’s a core of, I think, who we are as a state.”
Other programs will — for now — merely be delayed. The governor proposed to pause an expansion of tens of thousands of subsidized child care slots until fiscal conditions improve, in part so that the state can instead continue to increase pay for child care workers.
$0
As he has several times in recent years, Newsom reiterated that he will not rely on tax hikes to close California’s budget gap, despite calls from many liberal lawmakers and interest groups.
“There are no new taxes. I’ve not been one of those promoting taxes,” the governor said, adding later, “No, I’m not prepared to increase taxes.”
But he did concede once again that he believes a broader overhaul of California’s volatile tax system is necessary, even if he was not willing to publicly share any of his ideas for the best way to do that.
“Should we reform the tax system? The answer is ‘yes,’” Newsom said. “How we do that is a more difficult and challenging conversation.”
Ixodes pacificus, the Western black-legged tick — the only local carrier of Lyme disease. Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia.
###
Press release from the Department of Heath and Human Services, a division of the County of Humboldt:
Tick
season is here, and the Humboldt County Department of Health &
Human Services (DHHS) is reminding people to protect themselves and
their animals.
The
tiny, spider-like bugs attach themselves onto the skin of people and
animals and feed on their blood. While many ticks are not harmful,
there are some that can transmit disease.
Only
one tick found locally can transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme
disease — the Western blacklegged tick.
DHHS
Supervising Environmental Health Specialist Ben Dolf said, “The
most important way to avoid tick-borne diseases is to avoid being
bitten by ticks. Wearing long sleeves and pants alongside appropriate
use of EPA registered insect repellents such as DEET and oil of lemon
eucalyptus, can act as a barrier against ticks, while light colored
clothing allows for easier spotting of ticks that may be crawling on
you. Pets are also susceptible to Lyme disease and can carry ticks
into the home. Pet owners should talk to their veterinarians about
available tick preventatives and check their pets for ticks after
outdoor activities.”
If
you find a tick attached to you or your pet, use fine-tipped tweezers
to grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not jerk or twist it. Make
sure the entire tick has been removed, including the head. Once the
tick has been removed, clean the area and your hands with rubbing
alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.
According
to California Department of Public Health (CDPH), an infected Western
blacklegged tick must be attached to a person and feed for at least
24 hours before it can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
The
Public Health Laboratory offers free tick identification. After
removing a tick, if you want to know what type it is, place it in a
sealed container or zip-close bag with a paper towel moistened with
water.
If
the tick is identified by lab staff as a Western blacklegged tick,
they can test it for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes
Lyme disease, for a $45 fee.
The
Public Health Lab is located at 529 I St. in Eureka. For more
information about tick testing, call 707-268-2179.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips
to stay tick-free this season:
Avoid
wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Ticks are
also common locally in our grassy beach dunes.
When
out on the trails, stick to the center of trails.
Use
repellents that contains 20% or greater DEET, picaridin or IR3535
directly on to exposed skin. Children may have increased sensitivity
or elevated risks with some types of repellants. Always follow
product label instructions. When appropriate, parents should apply
products to their children, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth. Do not
use repellents on babies younger than 2 months old.
Treat
clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with
products containing 0.5 percent permethrin. It remains protective
through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may
be protective longer.
Remove
ticks found on your body immediately.
Bathe
or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably
within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are
crawling on you.
Conduct
a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to
view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas.
Parents should check their children for ticks under the
arms,
in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees,
between the legs, around the waist and especially in their hair.
Examine
gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets,
then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and
day packs.
For
more information on ticks and Lyme disease please visit the CDPH
website at this link.
Gee golly, it’s nice out today. LoCO hopes you are enjoying your “sick day” out in this offensive sunshine more than the Caltrans and City of Eureka workers called to Broadway to address the mass loss of soup on the roadway, there. Details are scant as to what led to today’s tomato-flavored pavement incident, but if you plan to pass that way soon, bring some bread.
(Before you ask, yes, it is a slow news day, thank Jah. More of these, please.)
More than 1 in 10 Californians between the ages of 16 and 24 were not in school, working, or looking for a job in 2022, the Institute found. That’s lower than at the height of the 2009 recession, but higher than just before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The gender balance among these so-called “disconnected youth” has flipped, the study says: 20 years ago young women made up the majority of Californians neither working nor studying; today young men are the majority of the disconnected. Young women also outnumber men in high school Advanced Placement classes and on college campuses.
“What are we going to do with these young males that are just not completing their high school or higher education and are not working? Are we OK with that?” asked Daniel Payares-Montoya, who authored the analysis. “That seems like a lost opportunity for them and for society in general.”
About 20% of young Black men are disconnected from school and employment, researchers found, the highest of all demographic groups studied.
Young people “might say ‘I’m not going to be able to access higher education, so why am I going to be concerned now about even finishing high school?’ ” Payares-Montoya said.
The state is expanding some dual-enrollment programs, which enable high school students to take community college classes. That could serve a more diverse pool of young people and help college feel more attainable, he said.
But as long as some young people lack opportunities to study or work, “we are going to keep seeing these situations related to inequity and social unrest that we have been seeing for decades,” Payares-Montoya said.
###
Financial support for this story was provided by the Smidt Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation.
