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Local News 02 03 25 · KMUD News

• 0:00
  Speaker A: Foreign Good evening and welcome to the local news. Today is Monday, February 3rd. I'm Lauren Schmidt reporting for KMUD. In tonight's news, severe weather alerts issued for the north coast. Humboldt county vouches for DEI and county conversations with Humboldt's 5th District supervisor. Stay tuned. News on those stories and more coming right up. Multiple weather advisories are in effect this Monday evening as hazardous conditions return to the north coast. These include a winter weather storm warning for Del Norte and northeastern Humboldt, as well as a flood warning for the Eel river at Fern Bridge. For more, we spoke with Doug Boucher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Eureka.
• 1:12
  Speaker B: Yeah, we've had a long stretch, you know, almost over three weeks of just really no, hardly any rain at all. And then all of a sudden, you know, the proverbial floodgates have opened. You know, we just got this long, long duration rain event that started on, I believe it was a late Thursday night or Friday morning. And it just continued on and off with mostly light amounts of rainfall rates, you know, but heavier amounts definitely in the, you know, on the higher elevations. And I guess it took two or three days for the, you know, for everything to saturate and for the runoff effects to start showing. And now we're dealing with flood warning on the Eel River.
• 1:52
  Speaker A: According to the National Water Prediction Service, the Eel river is forecast to crest at 21ft this evening, which could lead to flooding in the region. Their website states that at 21ft, the Western half of the Eel river delta may be completely flooded, especially if water remains at or above this level for an extended period. Areas northwest of Lolita and Cannibal Island Road are particularly at risk. A special action advisory has been issued for livestock owners in low lying areas urging them to take necessary precautions to protect their animals.
• 2:36
  Speaker B: Thankfully, it's only to reach a minor flood stage that's over 20ft and it should crest this evening and then start to recede tomorrow because the main band of precipitation is forecast to head southward and it still will impact our area with, you know, on and off shower activity. But the brunt of the heavier rainfall will be in Mendocino County, Lake county, and then into Trinity county as well. And we still are dealing with really low snow levels, at least in the northern portion of the forecast area through tonight and then evening through the day on Tuesday and Wednesday. And so we're looking at the potential for some snowfall at lower elevations. Let's say we're anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500ft. We could see some snowfall higher up as you go. Greater chances of accumulating Snowfall above about 2,000 to 2,500ft.
• 3:28
  Speaker A: Boucher also cautions that Tuesday and Wednesday could see an increased risk of hail.
• 3:36
  Speaker B: And the small hail can be really deceiving because you can be cruising along and it looks like it's a nice sunny day and you got some showers here and there, what I would call scattered showers, less than 50% of the air covered and then you have all of a sudden you just get a burst of hail and it just creates basically ice on the road. It accumulates so quickly and it accumulates on the road and the roads just.
• 4:01
  Speaker A: Become very very he continued by stating that rainy conditions are expected to remain through the week.
• 4:10
  Speaker B: Thursday and Friday. You know, it seems like but it does look colder and so there will be the potential for some more snow snow showers as we head into the latter portion of the week, that being Thursday and Friday. So the details are still a little sketchy on that one. But it certainly looks like we're we're in a much more active and rainy pattern compared to what we were in most of January and so be careful out there for the next week or so. Winter has returned.
• 4:40
  Speaker A: North coast motorists faced weather related impacts on roads this morning and afternoon with multiple major highways experiencing chain requirements, flooding and even slides. Highway 101 was closed for multiple hours after a major slide blocked the roadway and eventually affected the designated detour as well. Manny Machado, a Caltrans spokesperson, shared an overview of the incident.
• 5:10
  Speaker C: At around 9am this morning we closed us 101 south of Legate due to its active slide area. We were using Route 271 as a detour. However, at around 1pm today, an active slide there and we also had to close Route 271. Later this afternoon we were able to reopen US 101 to one way controlled traffic with a pilot car. Motorists can expect delays of up to 30 minutes or more. So this is a good day. If you don't have to travel, then don't travel and stay off the road. These are two active slide areas so the conditions can change at any time. So continue to follow us through Caltrans District 1 on our Facebook and Twitter pages for social media for further updates.
• 6:00
  Speaker A: North coast roads can be unpredictable with rocks, mud and other hazards capable of closing major routes at a moment's notice. Machado shared helpful tips for drivers navigating these unfavorable conditions.
• 6:17
  Speaker C: Yeah, motorists do have to travel. Bring food, food, water, blankets, batteries, flashlights. Just be prepared for the unexpected. You just never know what to expect when traveling on the roadways, especially in the wintertime. So best bet to carry food, water, blankets, flashlights, batteries, anything just to prepare yourself for the unknowns and if there is a traffic delay where the road is closed and that you are stranded, that you will be safe and you will have necessities for the time being.
• 6:53
  Speaker A: As of news time, Highway 101 in northern Mendocino county has reopened to one way controlled traffic. Chains are currently required in Del Norte county on Highway 199 to the Oregon border and in Trinity county on Highways 96 and Highway 3. In Humboldt County, a portion of Highway 254, the Avenue of the Giants, is closed due to flooding from Red Crest to Pepperwood. Hookden Road is also closed at Eel River Drive due to flooding. The Wiatte Tribe is advising its members trying to access their homes on the reservation to take an alternative route through Lolita. To check for the latest road conditions, you can visit quickmap.ca.gov an assessment of Humboldt County's DEI program finds there's been progress and the Board of Supervisors pledged further improvement. KMUD's Daniel Mintz reports With a change.
• 8:05
  Speaker D: In national leadership, workplace programs on diversity, equity and inclusion are targets of new policies and presidential executive orders. But Humboldt county is committed to its DEI program and finds it helpful. The benefits of the county's ever evolving DEI program were described to the Board of supervisors at its Jan. 28 meeting. The county launched what it calls the Great Workplace Culture Change Initiative in the summer of 2020. Since then, the program has expanded to include formation of staff, affinity groups and drafting of a DEI strategic plan. Dr. Isaac Carter, the consultant hired to assess the effectiveness of the county's program, detailed how the county's DEI effort has progressed and and how it can continue.
• 9:00
  Speaker E: To the long and short of it is that we have you all as a county have seen improvement. There's improvement in the increased perceptions of DEI's importance. There's improvement in terms of policy awareness and accountability improvements. There is improvements on how people feel about the supervisory support they're receiving as it relates to dei. And there have been some cultural and behavior shifts with the activities and educational opportunities that you have provided for your team over the past few years to try to build out your DEI efforts. Areas that continue to provide some opportunities for growth are questions around how supervisors may handle DEI matters. Also, looking in terms of career options and diversifying of different departments throughout the county, as well as having a clear career path for all employees so that they feel they have an opportunity for themselves to continue their growth and development in their chosen profession.
• 10:07
  Speaker D: Carter added that the program is a work in progress, saying, these results are promising, but I want to make sure we do not mistake improvement for achievement. Dr. Jeremy Michael Clark, the county's DEI manager, briefed supervisors on a series of recommendations. They include executive staff coaching, creating robust communication and training systems, and expanding professional development opportunities. Supervisors vouched for the program's necessity. Supervisor Natalie Arroyo related her experience hearing from community members A lot of times.
• 10:48
  Speaker A: I hear from community members who feel comfortable expressing to me that they're experiencing racism or sort of inexplicable actions that make them uncomfortable in our community. Sometimes they don't know that how to, how to name it or what is going on, but I hear about it a lot. I'm not sure if it's that people feel more comfortable reaching out to me for some reason or why that might be. And I think a lot of times when people think everything's fine, it's because they're not necessarily part of the group that's feeling like they're not having an inclusive and positive experience.
• 11:30
  Speaker D: Nationally, there's a trend of ridiculing and criticizing DEI programs, and some corporations have made news by ending theirs. One of the criticisms of DEI is that it discourages merit, but Supervisor Mike Wilson said one way to get more and better job applicants is to create a workplace that, quote, people interpret as welcoming to everybody. Supervisor Steve Madrone said Humboldt hasn't swung politically as the nation has, but can improve.
• 12:05
  Speaker F: There's a lot going on at the national level right now and like earlier with our legislative platform, you know, we're going to have to revisit this based on what may or may not be happening at the federal level and things like that. But regardless of what happens, just looking at the most recent election, Humboldt didn't make a big shift one way or the other. It stayed pretty much true to its, you know, diversity, equity and inclusion and the way we try to behave here. And it really is all of us with every action we take every day that makes this all work. So I'm very, I feel very honored to live here in Humboldt County. I know it isn't perfect, as was mentioned, but I think we're trying hard to try and move in the right direction and it is kind of a day to day effort, right? We got to keep at it. It's never going to be done. We're never going to achieve it, so to speak. But we can make progress.
• 12:57
  Speaker D: The DEI presentation included a quote from a county employee who said the county's formation of staff affinity groups has, quote, made all the difference for me with feeling more secure, grounded and comfortable at work in Eureka. For KMUD News, this is Daniel Mintz.
• 13:17
  Speaker A: KMUD News would like to acknowledge that February is Black Liberation Month, a preferred term over Black History Month, to emphasize the ongoing struggle for black freedom, justice and self determination rather than solely reflecting on past achievements. While Black History Month highlights historical figures and milestones, Black Liberation Month centers present day activism, systemic change, and the continuous fight against oppression. The shift in language underscores that black history is not just something to be remembered, but a movement that is still unfolding with liberation as the ultimate goal. This month, KMUD News will be highlighting community members who are making that positive impact in our region. Tune in tomorrow to hear from the Eureka chapter of the NAACP and later this week for interviews with other key organizations, including Black Humboldt and the Mendocino chapter of Black Lives Matter. In tonight's edition of County Conversations, we feature our monthly check in with Humboldt County's 5th District supervisor, Steve Madrone, who represents the unincorporated areas spanning Field Brook and Willow Creek to Trinidad, Hoopa to Orleans and McKinleyville to Oric. Supervisor Madrone, thank you for joining us once again for this check in. There's no shortage of topics to discuss today, but to start, I'd like to give you the floor to provide an overview of the recent legislative priorities that the Board of Supervisors has set for 2025.
• 15:02
  Speaker F: Yes, certainly. Lauren Good morning KMOD listeners. So yeah, you know, a lot of it's the same as what we've had for many years, but a lot of it's been refocused and reoriented. We did a lot of changes with the cannabis platform in particular to try and move legislation ultimately that will help our small craft cannabis farmers with direct sales or writing off your expenses once federal legalization occurs. Although right now that doesn't look like anytime soon. We also had a lot of priorities in there for our rivers, for the Eel, for the Russian, the Trinity, and Redwood Creek in particular, and, you know, trying to make sure that we can keep the waters of our watersheds in our rivers for our salmon populations and for our community. So just really kind of a refocusing, but doubling down on a lot of what we've had in there before.
• 16:00
  Speaker A: One of the major stories we covered last week was the temporary freeze on federal loans and grants. While that decision was quickly reversed, uncertainty remains about what could happen in the future. This of course, raises questions about Humboldt county's financial dependence on federal funding. How much of the county's budget relies on federal grants and loans, particularly given the ongoing efforts to secure earmarked funding?
• 16:32
  Speaker F: Yeah, well, it certainly is problematic. The little big man, he who shall go unnamed, thinks he has a lot more power than he does. And so he threw out an awful lot of executive orders, and many of those are being challenged in the courts. Some of them were rescinded right away. And it is problematic because every county, every state does rely on federal funding for much of what it does in many arenas, including social services, roads, and so much more. So it's problematic. But, you know, we're going to have to double down on our efforts at the local level to try and make a difference for our communities and stay focused locally as best we can to get good things done for our constituents. And that's going to take a lot of effort under the current regime, shall we call it?
• 17:30
  Speaker A: There have been increasing efforts at the national level to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Some policies even aim to remove the observances, such as black history month. However, Humboldt county has taken a different approach, committing to further improvements rather than rolling back DEI efforts. Can you provide an overview of the county's initiatives and explain why local leaders chose to reinforce these programs rather than follow the broader political trend?
• 18:05
  Speaker F: Yeah, Well, I am very proud of Humboldt county on many, many levels. You know, in the recent elections, Humboldt didn't really shift like so much of the rest of the country, nor did California in general. But Humboldt in particular really stayed the course. I mean, you look at the support for all the school bonds, the road measure, and the rest of it. Even under tough economic times, our community continues to support those things that are important for our children, for our economy, like taking care of our roads and things. And our DEI program is, you know, just so amazing. It has really provided a lot of support to our community. And, you know, this whole idea that somehow diversity, inclusion, equity makes us weaker is just a load of horse manure or some other animal. But any rate, bottom line is it actually makes us stronger. And I think we know that locally that when we protect everybody and we respect everybody, we're better for it. And so that's what we have in Humboldt. We have a great DEI program at the county. We've gotten a lot of positive feedback from our employees and from the community. And regardless of what happens at the federal level, we're going to continue to work on diversity, equity and inclusion and being respectful of each other. Everyone matters. And we show that every day in the way we behave, the way we listen to each other, the way we tolerate differences and instead focus on our common ground. And let's be honest, there is so much common ground between all of us to work on for the next hundred years. So no shortage of things to do and we're just going to keep doubling down on doing it.
• 19:52
  Speaker A: Humboldt county has been at the forefront of offshore wind development on the west coast and is expected to play a key role in shaping this industry. Can you share any updates and do you expect challenges as the project moves forward, particularly in light of shifting federal policies?
• 20:16
  Speaker F: Yeah, well, locally, you know, there's been some concern from the tribes in particular about wind long before he who shall go unnamed by me at any rate has, you know, thrown out his recent stuff to try and double down on fossil fuel development, redouble down on drilling in Alaska and other places. I think our coasts are safe because there just isn't that much to make it worthwhile. But frankly, if we could just tap his, his wind, the blowhard would produce a lot of power and energy, you know, from windmills, the way he behaves, frankly. So I don't know all the details. I know that for us to really develop the offshore wind, we're going to have to be sure that there is the community benefit that we make sure that we mitigate for various species to the best ability we have. We figure out how that energy is going to be distributed. There are a lot of challenges, but you know, we have to get off this frack natural gas that Humboldt county is running itself on with pipelines from the Dakotas. So we need to change. There's nothing perfect. There's no perfect green energy. Everything has its pluses and minuses. But I am hopeful that that will continue to move forward and that we will be able to support it along with a significant community benefit that needs to accrue from, from the effort.
• 21:42
  Speaker A: And finally, I'd like to ask you about the recent comments made by President Donald Trump regarding Northern California's water. Some of his statements have been misleading as he suggested that the water is being used for wildfire prevention and mitig. In reality, much of it is diverted to big agriculture in the Central Valley. For listeners who may be confused by the political rhetoric, can you break down this issue and explain how it affects Northern California?
• 22:16
  Speaker F: Well, that is a long standing issue, isn't it? The diversion of waters from the north to the south. And there is quite a plumbing system in place to accomplish all that. A lot of the northern water has to go through the delta in the aqueduct in order to make it south. And there are certainly a lot of concerns around issues in the delta. But we can't just use the trinity water diversions to solve all those problems at the expense of our local agriculture, our local fisheries. So Humboldt county has been working with Hoopa and Yurok and Trinity county to really protect Trinity to river waters, make sure that they stay in the system to provide beneficial uses downstream. And we're getting very close to being able to call upon the federal government for our contract for 50,000 acre feet of water, no less than on an annual basis. And we're going to be all working together to accomplish that. So that's a really important measure. Of course, the Klamath river has diversions that go into southern Oregon. And with the four dams coming out, we know that salmon are now making it home where they haven't been for over 100 years. So a lot of work to do in all of our watersheds. And we're going to be, you know, making every effort we can to protect those watersheds and to make sure that those waters stay here. Interestingly, right now the diversion tunnel over at Whiskeytown and down into the Sacramento is shot down for maintenance. And so there are tremendous releases coming out of Trinity Lake right now in order to make room for the oncoming atmospheric rivers and other projected rainfall through the winter and spring. So there's a lot of water being sent down the trinity right now because they can't send it the other way. But when we all work together, all the tribes and the counties to protect our watersheds and get this water and keep northern California, we have a much better chance if we fight over it and we get separated over it, Then it's Westlands and the ag users in the southern, southern San Joaquin that end up getting that water. So we're all doubling down on those efforts. And stay tuned. A lot of work to do still in that arena.
• 24:34
  Speaker A: And supervisor Madrone, before we wrap up, anything else you would like to share with our listeners?
• 24:40
  Speaker F: No, we have a short meeting tomorrow, but some important matters in regards to some permit issues with current and construction problems with operating outside of their permits and, you know, wanting to convert a lot of heavy equipment to squawkers rather than beepers. You know, there's a lot of conflict that happens when you have a lot of residential, commercial, industrial kind of mixed together, and it requires both sides to really be able to work on trying to, to live together. We need those jobs, but we can do better at trying to, to live together in those, those arenas. And there's a number of other things on the agenda, but given the time is up, I'll leave it at that. And thank you, KUD again.
• 25:22
  Speaker A: That was Humboldt County's 5th District Supervisor Steve Madrone. K News conducts our county conversation. Check in with Supervisor Madrone on the first Monday of each month. Listeners can submit their questions for elected representatives by emailing newsamed.org in national news, Medicaid faces Challenges under Trump Administration Changes could hurt patients KPFA's Teresa Wierzbianska reports.
• 25:58
  Speaker G: The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 blueprint calls for sweeping cuts to health care coverage for Americans. Last week, House Republic Republicans released this year's budget proposal, which includes around $5 trillion in spending cuts, much of that focused on health care programs. This week, states and health care providers lost access to the Medicaid federal funding portal after the Trump administration froze federal spending, throwing the country into chaos before a federal judge blocked the freeze.
• 26:28
  Speaker F: You know, we've seen time and time again that when Republicans take power, they immediately work to pass tax cuts for the rich and they try to pay for it by cutting health care for.
• 26:38
  Speaker A: The rest of us.
• 26:39
  Speaker G: That's Matt Herdman from Protect Our Care California. He says without essential Medicaid funding, working families, children and seniors won't be able to see a doctor when they're sick or receive preventative care. Medicaid covers around 72 million people, pays for 2 in 5 births births in the US and is the nation's largest payer for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. California Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu despite campaigning.
• 27:10
  Speaker A: For months on the promise of lowering costs for working families and making America, quote, unquote healthy again, it's clear that Republicans intend to do the exact opposite by enacting policies that'll make millions of Americans sicker, poorer and more likely to die from preventable illnesses.
• 27:28
  Speaker G: Chu says the proposals would hurt low income people by reducing federal funding, changing benefits and blocking Medicaid funds for providers who offer abortions. States would have to cover more costs, likely leading to cuts in eligibility, benefits and payments to providers, weakening key protections of Medicaid. Polling by health policy research organization KFF shows that almost 60% of Americans have at some point been covered by Medicaid. Most Americans have favorable views towards Medicaid and overwhelmingly oppose cuts to the program. Nada. Tushnet is a patient advocate. She says rural areas will be hit hardest by cuts to Medicaid and its local statewide program. Medi cal, which covers 14 million low income Californians.
• 28:17
  Speaker A: And without Medi Cal, hospitals are at risk of losing positions, losing all kinds of stuff, even in urban areas, but especially in rural areas.
• 28:30
  Speaker G: Representative Chu says she will be urging Republican colleagues in Congress to oppose draconian cuts to Medicaid and the Republican tax package proposal that would slash taxes for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
• 28:44
  Speaker A: We've stopped them before when they tried to cut the ACA and decimate it, and we can do it again. Every time Republicans have tried to rip away our health care, I've seen engagement from constituents unlike anything I've ever witnessed in Congress.
• 29:01
  Speaker G: I'm Teresa Wozbianska, Pacifica Radio, kpfa.
• 29:08
  Speaker A: That's all for tonight's broadcast. Thank you for listening. Thanks to our engineer, Javier Rodriguez, and thanks to our reporters, Daniel Mintz and Teresa WIRZBIANSKA. Reporting from RStudio in Redway. I'm Lauren Schmidt.