KHSU Staff

Arcata City Attorney Nancy Diamond has delivered a cease and desist letter to former FBI special agent Tom Parker, claiming his comments on the David Josiah Lawson homicide investigation could harm the prosecution of the case.  

Diamond's letter accused Parker of intentionally breaching the confidentiality clause of his contract in media comments he made in the past two weeks.

Humboldt State University President Lisa Rossbacher wrote to the Arcata City Council and City Manager Karen Diemer on Wednesday, expressing concern over recent media reports about the David Josiah Lawson homicide investigation.  A copy of the letter was released by HSU this afternoon.

April 18, 2018

Dear Arcata City Council and City Manager:

On behalf of Humboldt State University, I wish to express concern regarding the investigation into the murder of student David Josiah Lawson.

Responding to KHSU's offer of an interview to allow her office to answer criticisms over how the David Josiah Lawson homicide case has been handled, Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming noted "all of our efforts on the case have been of high-quality and well-justified."  

According to Centro del Pueblo's Facebook page, some sort of immigration enforcement is underway in the Humboldt Bay area. A call was received on the Humboldt RRN Hotline Wednesday morning that ICE is in our area. 

We will update this post when more information becomes available. 

Via Facebook: 

Comunicado URGENTE de la línea de atención telefónica. SI VES A LA MIGRA, REPORTA

Recibimos una llamada en la linea caliente esta mañana que ICE está en nuestra área.

KHSU has obtained a copy of the civil claim filed Friday with the city of Arcata by civil rights attorney Shelley Mack. 

The claim asks for $500,000 damages for Charmaine Lawson in the death of her son, David Josiah Lawson, who was stabbed to death on April 15, 2017. 

Arcata police say the investigation is still active, but the claim filed Friday alleges the APD has failed to actively pursue the investigation. 

The city of Arcata issued a news release about the David Josiah Lawson homicide investigation late Monday. KHSU had offered a one-hour interview to city officials to respond to KHSU's and the North Coast Journal's interviews with former FBI agent Tom Parker and Arcata civil rights attorney Shelley Mack.

HSU President Lisa Rossbacher has issued a statement calling on Arcata city officials to ensure that justice is pursued in the David Josiah Lawson homicide investigation.

Her call comes after two resignations last week.  First, a a former FBI special agent who was a consultant to the Arcata Police Department's investigation resigned. Hours later, the Arcata police chief resigned.  

After today's announcement about the Arcata Police Chief's resignation, Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer sent an email to local media to answer frequently-asked questions.

Diemer also released Chapman's brief letter of resignation. 

 [This article and headline have been updated to reflect new information from The California Report regarding former FBI special agent Thomas Parker.] 

Chief Tom Chapman is resigning after 24 years with Arcata Police, according to a press release from the City of Arcata. 

A former FBI agent hired by Arcata to consult on the David Josiah Lawson homicide case also resigned fewer than 24 hours before the APD chief. 

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying on Capitol Hill to answer questions about protecting user data.

  According to Winship Middle School's Facebook page: 

As promised in November 2017, North Coast Senator Mike McGuire and Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass are set to host another town hall meeting on the Opioid Crisis that plagues Humboldt County and much of the United States. 

 https://www.democracynow.org/

Lawmakers are holding a hearing on Capitol Hill, a day after issuing security recommendations for the 2018 midterm elections. Homeland Security and state election officials are testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee about the Russian cyberattacks on the 2016 election and protective measures going forward. Watch the hearing live below.

A multi-agency investigation found dozens of violations and hundreds of dead cows on properties owned by or associated with rancher Raymond Christie, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

Violations range widely, from causing an animal to be cruelly killed, to dogs not having adequate water. Almost 200 cattle have been confiscated and other animals placed in the care of a responsible party. 

Christie's ranch has been in the spotlight before. 

Press release Via HSCO:

The Washington Post shared various perspectives on Humboldt County's dynamic cannabis economy.

The 3,000-word piece gathers perspectives from several voices you may recognize from KHSU programs.