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America’s highly anticipated 250th birthday is very nearly here, and there are a whole lotta places here in Humboldt where you can express your patriotism by eating grilled meats and watching things explode with your friends. Totally understandable if you’re feeling a little less than patriotic. These are strange times!

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence comes at a particularly turbulent time in American history, one marked by fierce political division, yet another war in the Middle East, mid-term elections and sheer absurdity on the White House lawn. But despite it all, President Donald Trump is forging ahead with “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all” and promising Americans the “LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY,” one that, he says, will set a new Guinness World Record. 

The Philippines currently holds the global title for the largest fireworks display ever recorded, with 810,904 explosives set off during a New Year’s Eve celebration in Ciudad de Victoria Bocaue Bulacan in 2016. Naturally, Trump’s gotta top it with a gargantuan display over the National Mall consisting of 851,000 fireworks. That’s our taxpayers dollars at work, baby!

Odds are we won’t be breaking any records here in Humboldt, but there are a variety of community events planned this Fourth of July weekend for both lovers and haters of things that go “BOOM!”

Below, you will find a carefully curated list of this weekend’s star-spangled festivities, which kick off on Friday in Fortuna, continue in Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale and Southern Humboldt on Saturday, and wind down in the Mattole Valley on Sunday. A note for all events: Please leave your furry friends at home!

ARCATA

Fourth of July Jubilee on the Plaza

July 4 / 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. / Arcata Plaza 

Would you believe me if I told you they’ve been doin’ this thing for 150 years? (At least that’s what the Arcata Chamber of Commerce wrote on Facebook the other day.) This family-friendly event will feature a bubble parade, dunk tank, local vendors, an outdoor bar and live music by Jackie & the Jollies, Checkered Past, Full Moon Fever, KJ Cowboy and the local West African Dance and Drum class.

If sports are more your speed, you can pop on over to the Arcata Ballpark at 2:30 p.m. to see the Humboldt Crabs play the Solano Mudcats. Details here.

EUREKA

Old Town Fourth of July Celebration

July 4 / 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. / Old Town Eureka

This Independence Day marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, sure, but it also marks the 170th anniversary of our fair Eureka — the Queen City of the Ultimate West! 

Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with an opening ceremony and national anthem at Clarke Plaza featuring the Humboldt Bay Fire Honor Guard and a flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard. After that, you’ll want to head over to Second Street for the five-block street fair, which the city promises will be “bigger and more festive than ever.”

This year’s street fair will feature live music on two stages — the “Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate Stage” at the Old Town Gazebo and the “Phatsy Kline’s Parlor Lounge Stage” at Second and C streets — along with lots of local vendors, a petting zoo, bounce houses and a bunch of family-friendly games. If you’re feeling competitive and a little extra hungry, you can participate in the pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests. There are also best-dressed and arm-wrestling competitions.

The street fair will wrap up around 5 p.m. and give way to music at Madaket Plaza with DJ Rad. The big fireworks display over Humboldt Bay will begin at 10 p.m. More information here.

And don’t forget, there is no Friday Night Market this week!

FERNDALE

Ferndale Fourth of July Parade

July 4/ 12 p.m. / Ferndale Main Street

If you like honking and horses, you’ll want to check out Ferndale’s star-spangled parade. Floats, vehicles, tractors and critters will make their way down Main Street at noon. If you want to be in the parade, you still have a few hours to submit your entry forms to the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. Entries can be submitted at this link.

Fourth of July BBQ

July 4 / 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. / Ferndale Veterans Hall

If you get hungry before or after the parade, you can pop on over to the Ferndale Veterans Hall (1100 Main Street) for some grilled meats. The event benefits Wreaths Across America and other veteran causes.

FORTUNA

Fortuna Fireworks Festival

July 3 / 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. / Newburg Park

As usual, the City of Fortuna will hold its Fourth of July party a day early. Like Arcata and Eureka, the Friendly City’s festivities will feature lots of local vendors, live music, face painting and the like. What sets Fortuna’s celebration apart from its neighbors? Well, first off, Fortuna is the only city, as far as we can tell, that’s hosting a mechanical bull. More exciting still, there will be 12 — yes, a FULL DOZEN — bounce houses set up around Newburg Park for your kids to go absolutely crazy on. 

Fireworks start at dark. Be sure to bring your own lawn chairs and blankets, but please leave personal fireworks at home. Last year, some litter bugs left a bunch of trash for volunteers to pick up, so for the first time ever, personal fireworks are officially banned.

SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT

20th Annual Benbow Valley Fireworks Show

July 4 / 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. / Benbow State Recreation Area

The Benbow Inn is celebrating its centennial this year, and what better way to celebrate historic milestones than with ‘splosions by the South Fork Eel River?

It doesn’t look like there’s any schedule of events, just riverside hangin’ and barbecuin’. Be forewarned, the Southern Humboldt Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center says this is going to be the “biggest and most spectacular fireworks display in the county.” No personal fireworks, please.

Mattole Grange Independence Day Celebration

July 4 / 6 - 11 p.m. / Mattole Grange Hall

Where can you get your spaghetti on AND your dance on all in one place? The Mattole Grange, of course! The grange will host a spaghetti dinner and live music by The Breakers on the Fourth of July, but the main event — the Bean and Beef BBQ — is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The grange folks will be grillin’ up 1,400 pounds (!!!) of locally sourced beef and selling homemade pies. Please bring your own bowls, plates, silverware and side dishes. There will be an auction, raffle drawing and games for the kids. The BBQ starts at noon.

OTHER STUFF TO DO THAT DOESN’T GO KABOOM

If crowds and big booms aren’t really your thing, you can always go fishing! The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is suspending sport fishing license requirements for July 4, but all other fishing regulations (bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours, stream closures, etc.) still apply. Details here.

If you like eradicating invasive species and picking up trash — thank you, by the way — you can head over to the Eureka Waterfront on Saturday, July 4, for a workday with the Volunteer Trail Stewards. Meet on W. Waterfront Drive at Schmidbauer Lumber, across the street from Schneider Dock, at 9 a.m. They’ll have snacks! Details here.

Another way to volunteer this Fourth of July weekend: The Bureau of Land Management and Friends of the Lost Coast are looking for local folks to serve as trailhead hosts at Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove. Volunteers should be able to answer questions about the Lost Coast Trail and have at least a little bit of beach safety knowledge. Trailhead hosts are needed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday - Sunday. Details here.

A Reminder: No Illegal Fireworks!

There are already dozens of wildfires burning across California, so let’s take a little extra care this Fourth of July weekend to make sure we don’t spark any more. If you plan on igniting fireworks, pay attention to your surroundings and be mindful of dry vegetation, as well as people, animals and traffic.

Humboldt Sheriff William Honsal issued a statement earlier this week reminding residents that aerial fireworks are illegal in most parts of the county. If you’re gonna shoot off fireworks, let’s keep ‘em safe and sane, capiche? If you want to see the big ass aerial explosions, go to one of the events listed above. Please, don’t get yourself into trouble.

“There is no safe place to launch illegal aerial fireworks in Humboldt County,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement. “Individuals who ignite illegal fireworks may be held responsible for any resulting fire suppression costs, property damage, injuries, or loss of life. Violators may face criminal prosecution, civil liability, and significant financial penalties.”

OK! With all that out of the way, go enjoy your Fourth of July weekend, Humboldt! Let’s try not to blow off our fingers this weekend, yeah?

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Press release from CalFire:

What: Professionally controlled prescribed burn of invasive barb goatgrass on 15 acres of ranch land.

When: The prescribed burn will take place, as conditions allow, on July 2, 2026.

Where: Ettersburg, CA (Wilder Ridge Road x French Ranch Road).

Why: These burns are part of the prescribed fire program for vegetative management and hazardous fire fuels reduction. This treatment will help to enhance the health of the native plant communities, aid in the control of non-native plant species, protect and enhance prairie habitat for animal species, and aid in the reduction and control of uncontrolled willdfire.

Who: CAL FIRE and private stakeholders.

During prescribed fire operations, residents can expect increased fire apparatus and support vehicle traffic in the area. Smoke will be visible, and temporary traffic control measures may be in effect. Please use caution while traveling through the area to ensure your safety and the safety of personnel conducting the prescribed burn.

Learn more how you can prepare for wildfire by visiting: www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

PREVIOUSLY

• It Is Done: The Indianola Underpass (Now the Brad Mettam Memorial Interchange) Opened Today

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By this month’s end, the Highway 101 Safety Corridor will be a new beast. 

A half-signal being constructed where the highway intersects with Airport Road just north of Eureka will be finished near the end of July, according to Caltrans spokesman Myles Cochrane. The signal will stop northbound traffic to allow drivers coming from Airport Road smooth ingress to the flow of traffic. Southbound drivers won’t be affected.

“This safety improvement is aimed at addressing collision rates well above the statewide average for similar facilities,” Cochrane wrote.

That isn’t all. Caltrans is also closing all of the remaining median crossings, the sphincter-tightening east-west dashes across two lanes of oncoming traffic at the Bayside cutoff, Mid-City Motors, Bracut, and the old mill in Brainard. It’s a move calculated to force drivers to use the new Indianola Undercrossing, where the likelihood of getting broadsided at 55 miles an hour is a lot lower. 

“These changes are intended to…make Humboldt County’s most traveled stretch of roadway safer and more reliable for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, goods movement, emergency responders and local communities,” Cochrane wrote. “This project has been years in the making, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as crews work through these final stages. Please continue to slow down, stay alert and slow for the cone zone.”

It’s a new era. 

PREVIOUSLY

• ALLEGED ASSHOLE IN CUFFS! 31-Year-Old Oklahoma Resident Arrested on Multiple Felony Counts for Making ‘Terrorist Threats’ to Local Schools
• Officers Recount Threatening Phone Calls to Schools During Preliminary Hearing in Trial of Daryl Jones
• We’ll Have to Wait Until October to Finish the Prelim Hearing for Man Charged With Threatening Schools, Businesses
• In Daryl Jones Prelim Hearing, Cops Recount Graphic Threats to Harm and Kill Children at Local Schools
• Daryl Jones’s Middle School Girlfriend Testifies that He Harassed and Repeatedly Threatened to Kill Her in the Years Before His Arrest
• Can Questions be Threats? Closing Arguments Finish Preliminary Hearing in Daryl Ray Jones Trial

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Today, a hearing was set for a possible mental health diversion of school threats suspect Daryl Ray Jones.

His attorney is seeking a diversion from criminal proceedings against Jones, who faces 31 charges related to a deluge of phone threats that sparked terror across Humboldt County in early 2025.

Such diversions, when accepted, allow people with certain mental health disorders to receive treatment instead of jail time or a criminal conviction.

Jones | Booking photo courtesy Comanche County, Okla.

A key question in recent court appearances was which judge will oversee this hearing. His attorney argued today the District Attorney’s office had been “judge shopping” as part of a broader strategy to disqualify one particular official from hearing adult criminal cases.

The District Attorney’s office previously opposed the appointment of Judge Kelly Neel, arguing for her disqualification because Neel’s daughter attended one of the many local schools that received threatening phone calls.

But Jones’ attorney, Meagan O’Connell from the Humboldt County Conflict Counsel’s office, contested this move. Today, she argued this was part of a “bad faith blanket challenge,” of the judge.

She said the DA’s office has filed this type of motion (which allows attorneys to challenge the appointment of a judge) 131 times since 2018 against Neel, based on her preliminary research. This, she said, has effectively removed Neel from hearing adult criminal cases.

O’Connell further argued that since Neel initially had no recollection of the incident, she could be fair in overseeing the hearing.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees said there wasn’t proof that every case assigned to Neel had been disqualified by the People, and pointed out Neel currently hears juvenile cases and oversees the felony calendar when other judges are out.

He argued since the judge’s daughter attended a school that received threats, it would give the appearance she could be biased.

Ultimately, Judge Timothy Canning sided with the defense, and said Neel could oversee the diversion hearing.

He said the concern about biases would typically be something the defense would be concerned about, and found the explanation didn’t warrant the type of motion.

Multiple other judges have been disqualified from the case, according to court records.

The threats, in March and February 2025, prompted widespread school lockdowns. Calls included threats to kill and rape small children and threats to shoot up various spots. Local businesses and daycares received similar calls.

Previously, Jones was held to answer to over 30 charges levied against him. Jones is additionally charged with two counts of stalking in the case.

He remains incarcerated on a no-bail hold, and has pled not guilty to all charges.

Previously, Judge Neel declared a doubt to Jones’ competency during an early hearing. But in July 2025, the court found he was mentally competent based on a physician’s report and continued criminal proceedings against him.

In previous hearings, O’Connell pointed out Jones told police he was autistic and referenced his general state of mind, when cross examining police.

A bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Monday recently tightened up rules surrounding the diversion program, which started in 2018. Judges will have more discretion over diversions.

The next hearing related to the diversion was set for July 31.

PREVIOUSLY: 

• Eureka Police Department Launches New Initiative to Improve Safety, Reduce Blight Along Hwy. 101

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

We need the community’s help.

Despite a significant increase in traffic enforcement, up 300% since 2024, we are still seeing collisions in our city. In fact, while overall collisions have appeared to stabilize, injury collisions increased by 18% so far in 2026. Enforcement is only one part of the solution. Everyday driving behaviors play a critical role in keeping our streets safe.

Attached is a breakdown of total and injury collisions for 2025 and by day from January 1st to May 31st of 2026. As you will notice, Fridays are the most challenging.

We want to hear from you. Based on your experience, what do you think would help reduce collisions? How can we work together to improve driving habits in our community?

Please comment and share your input by clicking on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H6T9SCN, by phone (707-441-4300), email (epdmedia@eurekaca.gov), in person (604 C Street), by commenting on our associated social media posts, or by clicking the QR code attached to associated images.

Your input matters. Help us help you.

Safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you are a motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian, we all play a role in sharing the road, traveling safely, and making sure everyone arrives at their destination safely.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 30, 2026, at approximately 9:58 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2600 block of Pigeon Point Road in Eureka after a resident clearing brush on his property discovered two ammunition boxes containing suspected smoke grenades and other suspected live military ordnance.

Deputies arrived on scene, contacted the resident, and established a safety perimeter to secure the immediate area. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Detail responded, conducted an initial assessment, and determined the items appeared to be military ordnance. Due to the nature and condition of the materials, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the United States Air Force 9th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team from Beale Air Force Base.

The United States Air Force 9th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team arrived at approximately 6:30 p.m. and worked alongside the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office EOD Team to identify and safely remove the military ordnance. The items were transported to a remote location, where they were safely detonated.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to the United States Air Force 9th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team for its prompt response, expertise, and assistance in ensuring the safe resolution of this incident.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that if suspicious military ordnance or explosive devices are discovered, they should not be handled or moved. Leave the area immediately and contact local law enforcement.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.

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

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$3.3 million.

That’s how much May Sung estimates it’ll cost to rebuild her Pacific Palisades home.

With her two-bedroom house atop a hillside abutting the Pacific Ocean, she had what she considered a quaint dwelling since 2005.

She doesn’t know if she’ll rebuild it on the empty lot there now.

“Because of all the expenses with building on the hillsides, on the coast, I don’t know if I’m going to rebuild or not,” she said. “I may have to sell.”

More than a year after wildfires tore through Los Angeles, state lawmakers are weighing a new proposal that would give the powerful California Coastal Commission more oversight over homes destroyed by future natural disasters. New buyers would need approval from the commission to rebuild, a reversal from current state law that allows homes ruined by fires or other catastrophes to sidestep the controlling state agency.

Buyers today can rebuild homes without commission review as long as they are largely the same as before the disaster and are no more than 10% larger than the original home.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last year broadened these exemptions to include rebuilds that aren’t similar to their original design when he suspended the commission’s authority over rebuilding efforts in L.A. to speed up what so far has been a grueling slog for the city.

In Malibu and the Pacific Palisades, where many homes hug the Pacific Coast, dozens of parcels of land have been purchased by developers from owners who can’t afford to pay what could be millions of dollars to remake their houses from scratch.

More than 40% of homes sold in the Palisades last summer were bought by investors, according to real estate company Redfin, which defined investors as buyers with “LLC,” “Inc,” “Corp” or “Homes” in their names.

Some residents have questioned what expanses of investor-owned lots could mean for the character of fire-torn communities, said Sen. Ben Allen, who authored Senate Bill 1229 and represents the Palisades area.

The legislation is one of few bills this session that would broaden the authority of the commission rather than weaken it, bucking a trend of longstanding disdain among top state and federal leaders about how the agency has controlled development along California’s invaluable coastline.

The potential law would not apply to homes destroyed by last year’s fires.

Senate Democrats overwhelmingly supported the bill when it passed the chamber last month. San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener was the sole Democrat to join Republicans in voting against it in a 29-9 vote.

“It could set a troubling precedent that we’re more focused on only empowering the original owner to build,” Wiener said. “I thought it was a very, very dangerous precedent and that’s why I felt the need to vote ‘no.’”

A long road ahead

Rebuilding after disaster has never been easy in California.

Fewer than 40% of homes destroyed in the state’s most destructive fires from 2017 to 2020 have been rebuilt, according to a 2025 Los Angeles Times investigation. Low insurance payouts, rising construction costs and permitting requirements are some of the reasons.

For many in L.A., the decision not to rebuild comes down to affordability and practicality, between skyrocketing mortgage rates and a lack of stamina to endure what could be a monthslong, byzantine permitting process.

Before the fire, Sung’s property was valued at $2.5 million. She said she received $700,000 in Mercury insurance payments after the home was destroyed on Jan. 7, 2025. Although her land isn’t up for sale, nearby lots go for around $1 million. She’s considering selling it to a developer.

“There’s already so much burden for these properties,” Sung said of rebuilds. “People can’t afford to build because of all these requirements,” such as the higher fire safety and fire codes common in wildfire-prone areas, she said.

A muddy reputation on housing

Critics, including Newsom, accuse the commission of not permitting enough affordable housing or doing so too slowly for years, as lawmakers have gutted numerous housing laws to make it easier to build more apartments quickly.

In the Palisades, where affordable housing was already scant, affordability critiques carried a sharper edge. Just a few hundred units in a town of roughly 28,000 were deemed affordable and local mandates post-fire to build more have become their own flashpoint, separate from the coastal commission.

The 12 voting-member commission is governed by the California Coastal Act, a 50-year-old statute created in the wake of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill to protect the coast and its natural habitats.

It is one of California’s most scrutinized state agencies, as federal and local officials have questioned how it has used its authority over nearly 900 miles of coastline to block certain projects, such as rejecting billionaire Elon Musk’s request to increase the number of Space X rocket launches off the Santa Barbara coast.

Newsom and other top Democrats appointed three pro-development officials to the commission last year to help get more housing approved along the coast.

Wealthy Los Angeles real estate developer Jaime Lee was appointed by Newsom last October to replace Effie Turnbull Sanders, an attorney lauded by environmentalists for championing environmental justice issues at the agency.

Last May, Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas selected Chris Lopez, a Monterey County supervisor, and Chula Vista Councilmember Jose Preciado to the commission, both of whom are seen as pro-development.

Newsom and President Donald Trump have found common cause in attacking the commission. The governor has publicly chided the agency and issued a sharply worded mandate when suspending its authority over rebuilding efforts in the Palisades.

“The scope of destruction of these fires has created a need for immediate shelter and temporary housing that will require unlocking every available strategy to house displaced individuals,” he wrote.

Both Democrats and Republicans in the state Legislature have pushed to curb the commission’s authority, including an attempt to exempt the entire city of Santa Monica from the commission’s purview.

Last week, Newsom’s office briefly considered a proposal that would have exempted mixed-use and multi-family housing projects along Santa Monica’s coast from the Coastal Act.

The proposal would have assumed all those projects complied with the act unless the commission could prove otherwise within just 30 days, according to a copy of the plan obtained by CalMatters.

Trump has also repeatedly scolded the commission for blocking projects it views as environmentally dangerous. Longstanding tensions between the president and the commission have accelerated in the president’s pursuit to extract more oil from the coast. Those tensions accelerated last week when the federal government announced it was investigating the agency.

‘People are already stuck’

Allen, the bill’s author, said the governor’s orders created an opening that investors can misuse to circumvent coastal rules and build projects harmful to the environment.

“We just want to make sure that we’re not rolling back these important protections too far,” Allen, who is running for insurance commissioner, said about his legislation, and that it would not apply to homes destroyed by last year’s fires, but to future natural disasters.

The bill aims to filter out investors by only allowing the owner of a property before disaster struck to skirt the coastal commission approval.

Environmentalists who support the bill have said the governor’s actions put key issues the commission works to protect — natural habitats and public access to the beach — in jeopardy by allowing developers to take advantage of fewer rules.

“An outside developer who buys, say, a burned lot for the low market value, they get the same fast-tracking as a displaced family,” said Jennifer Savage, associate policy director at Surfrider Foundation. “And that’s not what the law was designed for.”

The commission, which had briefly contested Newsom’s orders, supports the bill for similar reasons.

“It closes a loophole that could be misconstrued as allowing larger replacement structures to be located in hazardous or environmentally sensitive areas when rebuilding after disaster,” spokesperson Joshua Smith said in an emailed statement.

Neither the coastal commission nor Allen could provide examples of investor-owned projects that have misused the law.

“We don’t have any record or knowledge of this having happened, although since most disaster rebuilds are handled by local governments, we don’t know for certain the extent to which this has been going on,” Smith said.

California YIMBY, a pro-housing group, said legislation focused on rebuilding should address why so many fire survivors are opting to sell their land in the first place.

“I’m not sure the emphasis on the Coastal Act makes a ton of sense,” spokesperson Matthew Lewis said, saying the problem lies with insurance, construction and permitting costs that make it too expensive for most people to rebuild.

The group, which has endorsed Allen for commissioner, doesn’t have an official stance on the bill. Lewis said he doesn’t know enough about the issues Allen is trying to address to say if the legislation could make it harder for owners to rebuild.

Sung worries such changes would intimidate developers worried about falling under the commission’s authority, making it harder for her and her neighbors to sell.

“If anything, it just makes the landowner stuck. Because you can’t afford to sell, and you can’t afford to build. And so you’re stuck with this property that has absolutely no use to anybody.”

CalMatters reporter Yue Stella Yu contributed reporting.