Noyo Harbor’s summer surge has shifted again — from tuna to squid. Big boats have been unloading nonstop at Caito Fisheries, and tractor‑trailers have been hauling frozen squid south for processing. Squid have shown up this far north before, but never at this scale, and never alongside record bluefin and bigeye tuna landings. Most of the fleet is now off Fort Bragg instead of Monterey.
Thirteen trailers have been cycling through South Noyo Harbor, but this week the boom stalled. Choppy seas and suddenly elusive squid left the trailers empty and the boats tied up along North Harbor. Albacore peaked weeks ago, then moved farther offshore, feeding heavily on squid and anchovies.
On Tuesday, KOZT reported a CHP officer and a State Parks ranger trying to move two red bulls off Highway 1 near Elk. What seemed like a quirky roadside moment turned out to be part of a long‑running problem. South Coast residents say loose cattle have been a hazard for years, and a Stornetta Dairy worker even wrecked his truck after hitting one. The red cows have been spotted along the road since at least 2023, with close calls at night. Some say they’re feral; others say they belong to the Beacon Ranch. Their brands suggest they’re not feral.
Supervisor Ted Williams says the cattle have damaged private property and created a real public‑safety risk. Mendocino County Animal Care Services Director Amy Campbell and Brand Inspector Gerald Beeson are working on containment and removal — a process that can involve hauling, holding periods, and liens. County staff are tracking where the cattle roam and where damage is occurring. Williams thanked Campbell’s team for pushing the issue toward resolution, but for now the animals remain at large.
South Coast residents also say they’re relieved Caltrans has finally launched a public‑engagement process on the Garcia River overtopping Highway 1 — a winter problem that often strands commuters. The easiest way to find the new engagement page is a web search for Garcia River engagement Caltrans.
Another frustration: daily papers. Residents say they can no longer get the New York Times or the Santa Rosa Press Democrat delivered, and many stores have stopped carrying them. Retailers tell us the Press Democrat changed its policy last year, requiring stores to pay for every paper they receive, sold or not. Several said newspapers became a money‑losing item, so they dropped them. We were already reporting on this — and more readers are now adding their voices.
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, county leaders heard a blunt health‑care briefing from local providers, who warned of severe impacts for Medi‑Cal patients. Many residents are expected to lose coverage, and federal cuts planned after the election could push thousands back onto California’s older CMSP program. CMSP has strict asset limits, no dental or vision care, and high shares of cost. Providers said rural clinics and hospitals will be hit hard because payment rates are low and collections unlikely. They described a looming catastrophe for both patients and rural health systems. California is better positioned than most states, but the local impact will still be significant.
The state budget includes $420 million in one‑time county eligibility funding, a CalFresh match waiver through 2028, and hospital‑support funding — but no dedicated solution for county indigent care.
