Eureka Ca

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked the Northern California city of Eureka on Saturday, snapping power lines, toppling chimneys, knocking down traffic signals, shattering windows and prompting the evacuation of at least one apartment building. There were no reports of major injuries, but the temblor, which struck at 4:27 p.m. about 33 miles southwest of the coastal city of 26,000, was powerful enough to send people running into the streets, some fearing a tsunami. Centered offshore about 13 miles deep, the quake was felt as far north as central Oregon, as far south as Santa Cruz and as far east as Reno, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Eureka Police Capt. Murl Harpham was at his desk Thursday afternoon when the room began to shake from a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck off the Northern California coast. The quake, which hit about 12:20 p.m., was felt over a wide region of Humboldt County, but no injuries or damage were reported,, authorities said. "It was a good little jolt," Harpham said. The temblor was in the same area as last month's 6.5 earthquake that damaged hundreds of buildings in Eureka, a quiet town on Humboldt Bay. Harpham and others said Thursday's shaking was weak in comparison to the rumble caused by the Jan. 9 quake.

Old Town Eureka lies off the serene waterfront of Humboldt Bay across from Woodley Island and is filled with antique stores, art galleries, coffee shops and fine seafood restaurants. But every so often, as all Eurekans know, the ground shakes and the historic buildings in Old Town -- many of which have posted red signs warning of "unreinforced masonry" on their storefronts -- take a hit. It happened in Eureka in 1980. And in 1992. And in 1994. And again Saturday afternoon, when a 6.5 temblor hit. Windows and ceilings cracked.

Old Town Eureka lies off the serene waterfront of Humboldt Bay across from Woodley Island and is filled with antique stores, art galleries, coffee shops and fine seafood restaurants. But every so often, as all Eurekans know, the ground shakes and the historic buildings in Old Town -- many of which have posted red signs warning of "unreinforced masonry" on their storefronts -- take a hit. It happened in Eureka in 1980. And in 1992. And in 1994. And again Saturday afternoon, when a 6.5 temblor hit. Windows and ceilings cracked.

Humboldt County sheriff's deputies continued to search Saturday for an 8-year-old boy swept out to sea a day earlier near Freshwater Spit. The boy's uncle died trying to save him. The boy's family was traveling home to Washington state Friday after visiting relatives in Southern California. They stopped at Freshwater Spit for lunch and several children went to the water's edge to play.

There won't be Las Vegas-style gambling in Eureka any time soon. An initiative to legalize casino gambling here didn't get enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 5 ballot. The initiative would have amended the state Constitution to legalize gambling in this North Coast city for 28 years. Robert Wilson, the Studio City man leading the initiative drive, has tried several times in the past to legalize gambling in various cities in Northern California. The initiatives have all failed.

A bad outbreak of the flu has hit Northern California, keeping as many as a third of Siskiyou County students out of school. The county's public health department said significant numbers of children have tested positive for influenza A, which can cause fever, chills, headache, sore throat, congestion and cough, severe weakness and muscle aches. Health officials said none of those children had received the recommended flu immunization, which is still available.

A city block in downtown Eureka was shut down for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon after scores of forest activists spilled onto city streets. The protesters, who included activists from Earth First and Mattole Forest Defenders, had initially planned to stage a protest over logging in the region in front of the Humboldt County courthouse. But the protest moved onto Eureka's 5th Street when the protesters spotted several logging trucks on their way up the street.

If owning a home is the American Dream come true, three out of every four residents are still dreaming. Only 25% of them can afford to purchase one. At a recent Eureka City Council meeting, Richard Dorn of the Humboldt Assn. of Realtors said the number of residents who can afford to buy a home in town has dropped from 49% in 1999 to 25% today. Home prices in Eureka have skyrocketed because the county's 1984 General Plan has not been enforced, he said.

Seven logging protesters will face trial in Humboldt County on trespassing charges after some of them last week locked themselves to a 55-gallon drum full of concrete, blocking a road in Carlotta and holding up logging trucks. The trials are set for Dec. 6.

The day after a powerful earthquake rocked the Northern California city of Eureka, minor aftershocks continued to rattle windows Sunday, and officials surveyed an estimated $12.5 million in damage. Nevertheless, residents were relieved that the 6.5 magnitude temblor did not cause more serious damage when it struck offshore Saturday about 33 miles southwest of the coastal city of 26,000. "It appears we dodged a bullet. It could have been far, far worse," said Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata)

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked the Northern California city of Eureka on Saturday, snapping power lines, toppling chimneys, knocking down traffic signals, shattering windows and prompting the evacuation of at least one apartment building. There were no reports of major injuries, but the temblor, which struck at 4:27 p.m. about 33 miles southwest of the coastal city of 26,000, was powerful enough to send people running into the streets, some fearing a tsunami. Centered offshore about 13 miles deep, the quake was felt as far north as central Oregon, as far south as Santa Cruz and as far east as Reno, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

A bad outbreak of the flu has hit Northern California, keeping as many as a third of Siskiyou County students out of school. The county's public health department said significant numbers of children have tested positive for influenza A, which can cause fever, chills, headache, sore throat, congestion and cough, severe weakness and muscle aches. Health officials said none of those children had received the recommended flu immunization, which is still available.

Police shot and killed a child molestation suspect who brandished a gun as he emerged from a downtown motel after a 34-hour standoff Saturday, authorities said. Jonni Kiyoshi Honda, 51, of Big Bar in Trinity County was cornered by police about 3 p.m. Thursday. He refused to surrender when officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant on the molestation charges, said Suzie Owsley, a spokeswoman for the Eureka Police Department.

Two police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave after the fatal shooting of a man who authorities say stabbed an officer last week. Gabriel Cuevas Maldonado, 33, of Eureka died at a hospital after the shooting last Thursday. Police responded to a call and found Maldonado holding two children hostage. Authorities said Maldonado ran up a flight of stairs holding a knife to one child's throat. The child escaped.

Seven logging protesters will face trial in Humboldt County on trespassing charges after some of them last week locked themselves to a 55-gallon drum full of concrete, blocking a road in Carlotta and holding up logging trucks. The trials are set for Dec. 6.

Eureka has a new budget, but it didn't come easy. The City Council approved the spending plan Tuesday after cutting a number of projects, including $25,000 set aside for Fourth of July fireworks. The operating budget rose to $35.6 million, a small increase over last year's plan. Budget casualties include the city's fireboat and a skate park project.

The City Council advised caution over a plan to sell Mad River water to a company that wants to haul it south in huge plastic bags. Aqueous Corp. has presented a plan to buy the water from the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and sell it in Southern California. The district serves about 80,000 people. It has 36 million gallons available daily. Ric Davidge of Aqueous proposed buying 13.2 million gallons a day. The water would be towed down the coast.

Authorities are still trying to locate 4 pounds of radioactive nuclear fuel that disappeared in June from a nuclear power plant shuttered in 1976 near Eureka. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission met with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials this week to discuss the status of the investigation. The commission and PG&E representatives said they believed there's no public danger and there's no chance the material was in the wrong hands.

A city block in downtown Eureka was shut down for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon after scores of forest activists spilled onto city streets. The protesters, who included activists from Earth First and Mattole Forest Defenders, had initially planned to stage a protest over logging in the region in front of the Humboldt County courthouse. But the protest moved onto Eureka's 5th Street when the protesters spotted several logging trucks on their way up the street.