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Local News 08 20 25 · KMUD News

• 0:15
  Good evening and welcome to the local news. Today is Wednesday, August 20th and I'm Nat Cardos reporting for KMUD. In tonight's news, attempted homicide arrest in McKinleyville weekend heat advisory Eureka DUI driver's license checkpoint on Friday, August 22nd county recommends Fortuna Nitrous oxide ban so stay tuned. Those stories and more coming up.
• 0:42
  Redwood Community Radio acknowledges that its transmitter sites are located on the unceded territory of the Sinkion, Huilaqui, Huiyot, Wilkat and Kato people. We honor ancestors past, present and emerging and acknowledge the ongoing cultural, spiritual and physical connection these tribes have to this region.
• 1:01
  Yesterday, August 19th at approximately 9:27pm Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 1900 block of Strawberry Court, McKinleyville for the report of an attempted homicide. The report came from a relative that was hiding in a closet with her nine year old sister and had texted for help stating that their mother was being assaulted. According to initial reports from the scanner, the caller stated that her 18 year old brother was armed with a pocket knife, had cut up the couch, started a fire and attempted to stab their mother. KMUN News spoke with Erin Inskip, Public Information Officer for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office for more information on the incident.
• 1:36
  On August 19, 2025 at about 9:27pm, Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 1900 block of Strawberry Court in McKinleyville for the report of an attempted homicide. The Humboldt County Emergency Communication center received a series of text messages to 911 stating a male subject inside the residence was physically assaulting and attempting stab his mother and had started a fire. When deputies arrived on scene, a young male adult was observed exiting the residence with his hands raised above his head and was immediately detained. Based on the witness and victim statements, 18 year old hunter Paola Sanson of Waianae, Hawaii was arrested. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked on charges of penal code section 664187 which is attempted homicide PC 245 a four assault with deadly weapon PC 422 a criminal threats PC 594 a two felony vandalism and 417 brandishing a deadly weapon and this case is still under investigation.
• 2:54
  Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff's Office Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539.
• 3:10
  This Friday, Aug. 22, a heat advisory will be issued for the Humble and Mendocino interior for Trinity County, Lake county and parts of Mendocino, this heat advisory will begin starting tomorrow. The 21st Cayman News spoke with Jacob Boomsma, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Eureka, for details about the upcoming heat advisory and weather.
• 3:31
  So we have a heat advisory out for Interior, Humboldt, Interior, Mendocino and Trinity and Lake counties for Friday.
• 3:43
  We have Trinity and Lake Interior, Mendocino starting a little earlier Thursday. But generally temperatures warming up pretty significantly. Like we had highs in the 80s most of the early week in the warmest valleys and we're going to be warming up into the high 90s. Areas like Willow Creek can go from 91 yesterday, 8991 yesterday into 101106 on Friday, maybe even hotter on Saturday.
• 4:15
  So a pretty dramatic warm up from where we were before. And another thing we're watching is the overnight loads. One thing that goes into our calculation for whether or not we issue a heat advisory or not is not necessarily just based on the daytime temperatures which are very hot standalone, but we also look into the overnight lows. So we have lows going from you know, the 50s into the 60s and maybe even the 70s in some of the warmest areas. This includes some parts of the highest higher elevations which might not necessarily get as warm during the day. They might not get as warm, but they will be warmer overnight. You know, maybe higher 60s, low 70s versus some of the cooler valleys still in the 60s.
• 5:04
  During heat advisories, it's important to remember to drink plenty of fluids and to stay out of the sun. If you can, take extra precaution when you are outside as well. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing and try to stay hydrated. If you are working outside, make sure to do it earlier in the morning or later on in the day to avoid the hottest conditions. Don't push yourself too hard and make sure to take plenty of breaks. The National Weather Service will post updates on their facebook@facebook.com NWS Eureka or you can find more information@weather.gov Eureka on Friday, August 22nd, Eureka Police Department will be conducting a DUI driver's license checkpoint within the city limitation of Eureka from 6pm to midnight. Kmun News spoke with Eureka Police Department's Public Information Officer Laura Montegna for more information.
• 5:52
  The Eureka Police Department will conduct a Driving under the Influence and Driver's License CheckPoint on Friday, August 22 from 6pm to midnight at a location within the city limits of Eureka. The exact location is not being disclosed in advance.
• 6:06
  The primary purpose of checkpoints is to promote public safety by deterring impaired driving, raising awareness and removing suspected impaired drivers from the road.
• 6:16
  Officers will look for drivers who are impaired by alcohol, cannabis, illicit drugs or prescription medications that can affect driving ability.
• 6:26
  Our goal is simple prevent crashes and save lives, says Sgt. Omi. If you're planning to drink or use any substance that can impair your driving, Plan ahead for a sober ride. What drivers can expect Vehicles may be stopped in a neutral, predetermined sequence. Drivers will briefly be contacted by officers trained in DUI detection.
• 6:46
  Sobriety tests may be administered as appropriate.
• 6:49
  Delays to motorists will be minimal.
• 6:52
  Safety reminders Plan ahead Designate a sober driver. Use a public transit, rideshare or taxi. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911.
• 7:04
  Medications, including some over the counter and prescription drugs, can impair. Read labels and consult your doctor. Driving impaired is not worth the risk. A DUI arrest can lead to jail time, license suspension and significant fines and fees.
• 7:20
  This operation is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• 7:27
  For updates on the checkpoint, you can check the Eureka Police Department facebook page@facebook.com Eureka Police Department Humboldt county has a ban on sales of retail nitrous oxide and made a case for Fortuna having one as well, Daniel Mintz reports.
• 7:44
  Defined by its police chief as an issue in the community, Fortuna is moving toward a nitrous oxide ban, but at least one council member intends to vote against it.
• 7:56
  At the August 18th Fortuna City Council meeting, there was a show of support, albeit not unanimous, for an ordinance targeting nitrous oxide.
• 8:07
  A ban is in effect in the county's unincorporated areas, and Katie Jo Slaughter of Humboldt's Environmental Health Division detailed the results of a countywide nitrous oxide access study of 144 retail businesses visited by county staff between October 2024 and and April 2025, 24 had nitrous oxide products in plain sight. Fortuna Police Chief Matthew Eberhardt said the city needs a ban and he told of a recent arrest including a nitrous canister of epic proportions.
• 8:45
  Less than five days ago we had our most recent arrest related to this.
• 8:51
  Our officer arrested a 24 year old female in possession of a large canister of nitrous oxide. And when I talk about large canister, we've all seen Stanley cups.
• 9:01
  Imagine way bigger than that.
• 9:03
  We are seeing from the start of my career to where I'm at now, we saw a lot of small whippet containers, but it is more canisters. We're Dealing with the usage is getting worse. Nitrous oxide is a gas that's inhaled by users seeking recreational drug effects, including euphoria and sedation.
• 9:23
  The trouble is, its long term side effects include memory loss, vitamin B12 depletion, weakened immune system and neurological damage.
• 9:34
  Use of nitrous oxide has been linked to vehicle accident deaths and slaughter said a watershed moment for those of us who work in prevention occurred in May of 2024 when a nitrous affected driver killed a pedestrian in Eureka.
• 9:52
  Speaking during a public comment period, county supervisor Michelle Bushnell said nitrous use is very prominent in southern Humboldt and she knows, quote, many folks down there that have been paralyzed.
• 10:06
  She related some direct observations of nitrous impacts.
• 10:11
  I watch people out in front of my store in Garberville, my retail store, sit there in their cars and huff nitrous until they're flopping like a fish. It's pretty unbelievable.
• 10:24
  Also, around 10 years ago, my vehicle was stolen and a young woman, a young woman stole my vehicle and she had a crash down by the Highway 36 exit. She hit a man and killed him in my car and there was nitrous oxide. Found the little whippets found everywhere in the car. It's a very dangerous substance. I urge and plead and beg with your counsel to please consider this. It's very important for our youth, for the health of our community.
• 10:56
  Under the county's ban, selling nitrous oxide is a misdemeanor crime and can result in loss of a tobacco license.
• 11:05
  Eberhard recommended going a step further and also making it an administrative violation with an additional fine of up to $1,000.
• 11:15
  With two of its members absent, the council decided to hold off on giving any staff direction.
• 11:22
  But council member Abe Stephens, who owns Humboldt Distillery, likened responsible use of nitrous oxide to responsible alcohol use and said he doesn't support a ban.
• 11:35
  I'm planning on voting against it just because I'm kind of an advocate for personal liberties and, you know, trusting adults to make decisions in the privacy of their own home. As far as the sales to children and the littering, it seems like there are already laws against that.
• 11:54
  So, you know, I, as a business owner, I make alcohol. So I have to wrestle with, you know, the social cost of, of it. You know, I would like to think people are going to use it just for responsibly, but I do recognize that it's going to be abused and potentially causing drunk and drive accidents and, you know, addiction and, you know, that's kind of something that we as a society kind of live with, with are kind of living in a free country, basically, you know, free to make your own choices. But Stevens joined a unanimous vote to revisit a ban when the full council is present.
• 12:30
  The meeting's general public comment period included follow up from residents of Royal Crest Mobile Home Estates urging development of a mobile home park rent control ordinance last month. They pleaded for protection from what they described as greedy rent increases, and the council agreed to hire an outside attorney to help review a potential ordinance and hold a workshop on it.
• 12:55
  Rural Crest residents asked for an agenda item on it at the next council meeting, but there was no comment from staff or council members about it.
• 13:04
  For KMED News, this is Daniel Mintz.
• 13:08
  In state news, California lawmakers moving California redistrict legislation in response to Trump's Texas Redistricting Move KPFA's Christopher Martinez reports.
• 13:21
  California lawmakers are moving quickly to advance governor Gavin Newsom's redistricting plan in response to Republican redistricting moves in Texas. Unlike Texas, California has an independent redistricting commission written into the state constitution by a vote of the public. So first lawmakers have to put the redistricting plan on the ballot. The Assembly Elections Committee held a hearing on Newsom's package. Assemblymember Mark Berman presented the Election Rigging response act. But ACA 8 and its companion bills are the culmination of a fight that we don't want, and it's a fight that we didn't choose.
• 13:56
  But with our democracy on the line, we cannot run away from this fight.
• 14:01
  ACA 8 is before you today because President Trump and Republicans in Texas and other states across the country are attempting to redraw congressional districts mid decade in an effort to rig the upcoming election.
• 14:13
  Americans and Californians deserve better, and aca8 is our response to this undemocratic and un American power grab. Republican David Tankipa spoke against the legislation, praising California's independent redistricting commission. California should lead the way. When other states decide to do something else, we shouldn't react to them. We should prove by example that we can do this better, that we create the foundations for the rest of the nation because it's supposed to go as California goes. The nation that's we've lost that. Democrat Steve Bennett fired back. Many of us prefer the old rules. We prefer the agreement. We all had to play by those rules, right? But when autocrats change the rules and the norms that we are using to decide who has power, we can either fight back or we can potentially permanently lose the ability ever to fight back again in the future. Republican assembly members brought up repeated amendments, at times drawing the ire of Democrats who pointed out that the first Republican motion was to adjourn. Republicans also criticized the cost of a special election, likely in the neighborhood of 250 to $300 million. Democrats replied that the but that's comparable to the cost of Republican recall elections targeting the governor and a lot less than President Trump's policies are costing the state. The committee finally approved the legislation on a party line vote in the other House. A Senate committee was also acting on the package. The plan is to put the measure up for a final vote Thursday with an eye to a November 4th special election.
• 15:55
  Reporting for Pacifica Radio News, KPFA, I'm Christopher Martinez.
• 16:02
  Bay Delta advocates blast legislation to fast track Delta Tunnel Construction KPFA's Vic Bodoyan reports.
• 16:11
  As the 2025 legislative season winds down, San Francisco Bay Delta advocates are trying to stop governor Gavin Newsom's drive to make it easier for the state to build a delta tunnel and divert more water to irrigators on valley farmland and developers in the South. State so called trailer bills will be attached to legislation in an attempt to pass the controversial measures with minimal oversight. A panel of opponents aimed to educate lawmakers and the media how damaging the tunnel and voluntary agreements would be to the future of the estuary. Ashley Overhouse from the Defenders of Wildlife summed up their case these proposals are aimed at furthering greedy water interests at the expense of delta communities and the wildlife that depend on delta waters.
• 16:58
  Moreover, the Newsom administration is also pushing voluntary agreements, negotiated deals between the state and water agencies that allow agencies to forego minimum flow requirements.
• 17:08
  These voluntary agreements, also known as the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program and the Delta Tunnel are inextricably linked.
• 17:15
  Legal processes for the water quality control plans cannot be bargained away for what is essentially water industry self regulation.
• 17:23
  The Department of Water Resources has already testified that the voluntary agreements will fill the delta tunnel with water.
• 17:30
  Melissa Tayaba, representing the Shingle Springs Miwok Tribe, stressed the importance of the Delta ecosystem to their culture and history, and she criticized the lack of engagement between state and tribal government over the Trental project.
• 17:45
  I want my children, their children and the generations that come after to have the opportunity to learn, practice, preserve and ultimately teach our cultural traditions.
• 17:55
  Our ability to pass down our indigenous knowledge necessary to sustain our culture and traditions require healthy rivers that support our cultural landscapes, waterways and fish and plant relatives.
• 18:09
  I want them to live in a society where their voice and their knowledge as indigenous people is valued in governmental decisions about land and water management.
• 18:19
  Another tribal perspective was brought by Gary Mulcahy, government liaison for the Winnemem Wintu tribe. He said the state and federal governments have ignored long standing Native American water rights.
• 18:32
  Federally reserved water rights on Indian reservations are governed by the Winters doctrine, which has evolved over more than a century in federal courts and since 1955 in state courts as well.
• 18:44
  Two landmark U.S. supreme Court cases, Winters vs. U.S. and U.S. vs. Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company established several key principles.
• 18:54
  Federally reserved lands have a right to use sufficient water to fulfill the primary purpose of the reservation and 2 these water rights cannot be destroyed by state water law or by water uses acting in accordance with state law. Restore the Delta is an expansive coalition bringing together Delta residents, tribes, farmers, fishing businesses and municipal governments. Executive Director Barbara Barragan Perea illustrated the declining health of the estuary due to the lack of fresh flowing water, which is decimating wildlife and causing toxic blooms of algae. Ultimately, what is being done to the Delta, we fear, will also be replicated over water resources throughout the state.
• 19:39
  So who is impacted by Delta water quality in the tunnel trailer bills and how are they impacted?
• 19:45
  Over 40% of the entire Delta region, both urban and rural areas, are environmental justice communities with impaired waterways and significant air pollution challenges.
• 19:56
  She also pointed out that Saukton, the region's major city, is suffering from the distressed ecology and poverty, but was not taken into consideration in the environmental impact report for the tunnel project. Max Gomberg was a climate and conservation official with the state Water Board and until he resigned and discussed overstate policy. Now he's an analyst with the California Water Impact Network. He said the tunnel project would benefit a narrow group of farms and developers but would be a financial burden to most of the state's residents.
• 20:28
  Most of the state that already receives water from the system, including coastal Southern California, Louisiana, Orange County, San Diego.
• 20:38
  With the conservation that's been accomplished with other investments in local supply, they don't need this water and they would be paying for water that would effectively be subsidizing others. Fishing is a California legacy industry, supporting thousands of families and communities throughout the state.
• 20:58
  With the decline of salmon populations, especially in the Sacramento river and Delta, commercial and sport fishing is in danger.
• 21:06
  Barry Nelson of the Golden State Salmon association warned that the industry could collapse because of the tunnel project. He focused on the voluntary agreements. That's a plan for farms and water districts to moderate water diversions from rivers and create more spawning habitat for salmon. Nelson said the voluntary agreements would do just the opposite the voluntary agreements are designed to strip protections from existing environmental flows.
• 21:35
  So the voluntary agreements are designed to allow the Delta Tunnel and other projects to grab enormous amounts of existing environmental flows from a system that is already starved for fresh water. And as a result, the voluntary agreements would literally cost the public billions of dollars and the public would be paying to make the ecosystem less healthy than it is today. The governor's pack of trailer bills to remove obstacles to the tunnel project failed to pass earlier in the session. It remains to be seen if he has convinced a sufficient number of his own political party to push it through despite the numerous drawbacks that have been exposed. Vic Bedoyan, reporting for Pacifica Evening News and KFCF Radio.
• 22:21
  EPA changes endanger plans to lower emissions in California national Parks Mark Richardson reports A new study shows vehicle emissions in the Los Angeles area are degrading air quality in nearby national parks. Plans to scuttle EPA regulations to reduce carbon emissions could make the air quality even worse. Called driving dirty air, a study identifies the LA and Southern California metro region as the nation's worst vehicle pollution hotspot affecting national parks. Ula Reeves with the National Parks Conservation association says LA was only one of a dozen metro areas that are sending noxious emissions into parks and nature preserves. These hotspot areas are counties with high vehicle emissions, and they are also home or nearby to national parks, and those counties are typically either located in or around urban centers with high population densities. The study found that the LA region is sending more than 76,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions into Southern California national parks such as Joshua Tree, Channel Islands and Death Valley, as well as the Mojave Preserve and Santa Monica Recreation Area. The Trump administration says it wants to cut excessive federal regulations and shift regulatory power to the states. Conservative leaders want to repeal a 2009 endangerment finding that is the foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA is also reconsidering its regional haze program that is designed to protect visibility and air quality in the national parks. Mark Rose with the association says when urban pollution isn't controlled, national parks and rural areas can suffer from the same bad air pollution from vehicle tailpipes doesn't follow park boundaries. So much of the pollution that we see is coming from these urban areas that can be hundreds of miles away from a park but is traveling and then impacting air quality in the national park, rose says. If the federal government relaxes regulations, dozens of America's natural wonders could have little or no protection from billions of tons of noxious gases every year. For California News Service, I'm Mark Richardson. Find our trust indicators@publicnewservice.org in National Native News, Antonia Gonzalez reads today's headlines.
• 24:41
  This is National Native News. I'm Antonia Gonzalez. On St. Lawrence island in the Bering Sea, the remote village of Savunga has long struggled with limited jobs and food security. A new reindeer processing facility hopes to help change that. KN's Wally Rana visited the site to learn more about how the development could benefit the community while also connecting Sivunga with its history.
• 25:07
  Just steps away from the crashing waves of the Bering Sea, a new structure rises beside the sandy beach. Workers from Finnish construction company Comatose hammer and drill away on the rooftop of the facility. The company specializes in modular food processing facilities and is working alongside local hires from Sevunga. The workers are putting the finishing touches on a large white facility destined to become the village's new reindeer processing.
• 25:30
  Benjamin Pingawi is the president of the Savunga Tribal Council. He says the new facility will kick off a number of opportunities for the village of 800, making hope that if we expand over the decades, we would hopefully bring in some employment from the Nome area and some of the villages, that some of the funds that if they accumulate, we could start a little youth camp. The facility would be run by the Sivunga Reindeer Commercial Company, or srcc. The history of reindeer and Sivunga goes back over a century when a Presbyterian missionary brought a small herd to the island. The herd grew and eventually migrated east to what would become Sivunga. The herd wanted to linger on the east side because of the food abundance, and the initial herders thought that they should send four apprentices to watch the reindeer, and those four men looked at Sibunga. From there, they start getting their relatives to move in. Over a century later, Pungawi says the facility aims to carry the legacy forward by creating jobs, supporting food security, and keeping reindeer at the heart of Sivunga's identity. So we're hoping to bring up a little island employment. Both villages, you know, the younger generation could continually benefit from that.
• 26:53
  Once operational, the US Department of Agriculture will inspect the facility. If approved, reindeer produced in Savunga could earn the coveted USDA certified label. The designation lets customers know that animals were raised appropriately and are safe to eat in Savunga. I'm Wally Rano. For over a century, the Santa Fe Indian market has been a spotlight for some of Indian country's most talented artists to shine from crafts to fashion. As KJZ's Gabriel Pietrazio reports a thousand juried artists from more than 200 tribes descended upon New Mexico over the weekend.
• 27:29
  What's so great about Santa Fe and Neon Market is that you can meet the artists and that supports so many livelihoods. Among them was Naomi Glasses and her brother Tyler. It's a good time to just go out and find pieces that speak to you. They're both dinette and just released a new collection this week with Polo Ralph Lauren. I'm over the moon about it, doing cartwheels and flips inside. I'm excited for it to get out there in the world and for everyone just to see what this whole collection is about. His sister Naomi was named the company's first artist residence in 2023. I'm fortunate enough to be able to collaborate with companies that I'm able to design something and they're able to manufacture it. I also still do my beautiful hand woven goods that I sell at markets like Santa Fe, she says. If you love wearing native art, buy directly from indigenous designers. Authenticity is what really matters and I really hope that more companies learn from the model that we did with Polo Ralph Lauren. I really want to see more of that. For National Native News, I'm Gabriel Pieterrazio. And I'm Antonia Gonzalez. Foreign the Native American Radio Network.
• 28:53
  That's all for tonight's broadcast. Thanks for listening. Thanks to our engineer Larry Lashley, and thanks to our reporters Daniel Mintz, Mark Richardson, Vic Padoyan, Christopher Martinez and Antonia Gonzalez. Cayman News is online and you can find us on on kmud.org and now streaming on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, where you can download our stories and newscasts for offline listening during your rural commutes. You can also follow us on social media. If you have questions or suggestions, you can give us a call at 707-923-2605 or send an email to newsema.org Redwood Community Radio, Inc. Is funded by Press Forward, the national movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at PressForward News. Reporting for KMUD, I'm Matt Card.