KMUD News

07/23/2025

From SFGATE: In California's Emerald Triangle, KMUD's rebel radio signal faces its greatest threat yet

Deep in the California redwoods, one radio station is fighting to stay on the air.

07/14/2025

At the mouth of the Klamath River, a new chapter in environmental justice and Indigenous resilience was written Friday, as dozens of Native youth completed a 310-mile, source-to-sea paddle, the first full descent in over a century. The journey was made possible by the removal of four major dams along the Klamath River, the largest dam removal project in history.

The “First Descent” was led by youth from the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, Modoc, and Klamath tribes. Many trained for years through the Paddle Tribal Waters program before embarking on the month-long journey from the river’s headwaters in southern Oregon to the Pacific Ocean.

As their brightly colored kayaks emerged through the coastal fog, the paddlers were met with cheers and tears from families, elders, and supporters gathered at the river’s mouth.

This stretch of the Klamath, once the site of the infamous Salmon Wars, is now witnessing a different kind of history. With the river flowing freely, sediment cleared, and salmon already returning, Indigenous youth carved their own path through ancestral water

Tune into KPFA News and KMUD News this week as our reporter Lauren Schmitt was on the ground at the event and will be sharing highlights and interviews on the local news.

07/07/2025

07/07/2025

The latest update from CAL FIRE estimates the Bridge Fire to be approximately 190 acres in size. (Update: FIRIS mapped the fire at 347.8 acres)

The west side of the fire that originated from two roadside starts and grew together was staying within its footprint of approximately 40 acres late last night into the early morning hours of Monday, July 7. Crews continue to strengthen containment lines.

The east side of the fire, east of the Trevor Earley Memorial Bridge was burning uncontrolled.around midnight last night. The east side fire retardent and dozer lines were holding at that point but the fire continued to push south, southeast from the roadside starts along Alderpoiint Road just east of the bridge, in grass, brush and timber.

Additional resources continued to arrive throughout the night and air resources will provide aid once again this morning once conditions allow.

Temperatures are anticipated to reach the mid to high nineties today.

Evacuation warnings remina in effect for zones E204-A E204-B, E205-A, & E205-B. Visit www.protect.genasys.com for the most current evacuation details.

Alderpoint Road was closedsed 1 mile west of Alderpoint, just west of McCreary Lane, east to the intersection of Alderpoint Road and the Zenia Bluff Road (AKA Fire Camp).

An 8 am meeting will take place at the Alderpoint CAL FIRE station, afterwhich, we will provide an update.

[Photo of the east side of the Bridge Fire as it burned dowm to the Main Stem Eel River around 11pm last night. Image by Lisa Music taken from the Trevor Earley Memorial Bridge]

06/25/2025

Authorities in Fort Bragg are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect who allegedly broke into a home and sexually assaulted a resident in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 21. The Fort Bragg Police Department says the incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. in the 400 block of South Harrison Street.

According to Sergeant McLaughlin, the suspect reportedly knocked on the victim’s window before forcing entry into the home and committing the assault. Surveillance footage in the area captured a man matching the suspect’s description walking near South Harrison and Hazel Streets between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m.

The suspect remains at large and is described as a white male adult between 5’7″ and 6 feet tall, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a beige sweatshirt, shorts, and leggings. At the time of the assault, he was reportedly wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a neck gaiter-style mask.

When asked whether the victim and suspect knew each other, Sergeant McLaughlin said there is no indication they had any prior connection. He added that, aside from the sexual assault itself, no other motive is currently known.

Police canvassed the surrounding neighborhood and collected video footage from nearby homes but are now asking for additional help from the public. The department has set up a digital evidence portal where community members can upload surveillance footage, photographs, audio recordings, or other relevant digital media. Submissions are immediately flagged for review by the investigating officers.

While Sergeant McLaughlin stopped short of declaring an ongoing public safety threat, he emphasized the importance of vigilance, warning that the suspect could potentially offend again. He urged residents to report any suspicious activity, including knocks at windows or doors in the middle of the night.

“It takes everyone to solve these kinds of crimes,” he said. “Even if you think something is minor—like a strange sound or someone walking down your street who doesn’t seem to belong—please report it. Officers are on duty 24/7.”

The department’s non-emergency line is 707-964-0200, and emergencies should be reported by calling 911.

06/24/2025

A controversial Senate proposal could force the sale of more than 250 million acres of public land across the West — including over 14 million acres in California. That includes parcels right here on the North Coast: Samoa Dunes, the South Jetty, Gillam Butte, and parts of the Six Rivers, Mendocino, and Klamath National Forests.

The bill fast-tracks land sales with no public hearings, no Tribal consultation, and no community input, clearing the way for energy corporations, developers, and billionaire-backed interests to buy up land meant to be protected for future generations.

Critics like The Wilderness Society and Friends of the Lost Coast are calling it an unprecedented giveaway to industry, with major implications for conservation, public access, Tribal sovereignty, and rural economies.

The legislation — officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) — passed the House on May 22 by a narrow 215–214 vote. It also includes sweeping tax changes and deep cuts to education, healthcare, and other public services. The Senate began considering its version on June 23, with a floor vote expected by the end of this week.

Lawmakers are aiming to send a final version to the President before the July 4 recess.

🔗 Link to the story in the comments.

06/18/2025

🌈 Southern Humboldt PRIDE is just around the corner — and we need YOU! 🌈

We’re still looking for fabulous volunteers to help make this celebration unforgettable. Sign up for just a 2-hour shift and score some sweet perks as a thank you! ✨

💪 Show your PRIDE. Support your community.
📅 Less than two weeks to go!

🔗 Sign up now through the live link in our story or copy this URL:
https://forms.gle/UMc4f2haRR8sh2CC8

Let’s make SoHum PRIDE 2025 shine together! 💖🖤🤎❤️💛🧡💚💙💜

06/13/2025

The House of Representatives has passed a bill Thursday that would rescind all federal funding for public media, putting nonprofit broadcasters across the nation—including Humboldt County’s KEET-TV and KMUD Radio at serious risk.

Although Congress had previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through 2027, Trump and his allies are now seeking to claw back those funds through a narrowly passed rescission bill. The legislation passed 214-212, largely along party lines, and now heads to the Senate for a vote expected in July. Lauren Schmitt reports...

The House of Representatives has passed a bill Thursday that would rescind all federal funding for public media, putting nonprofit broadcasters across the nation—including Humboldt County’s KEET-TV and KMUD Radio—at serious risk. Although Congress had previously approved funding for the Corpor...