The Times-Standard is reporting that the Eureka City Schools Board of Trustees has voted to shift entirely to distance learning for the remainder of the year following a recommendation from the Humboldt County Office of Education and the public health officer in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report quotes Superintendent Fred Van Vleck calling the shift an “absolute tragedy” that will be “felt for generations to come.” Read Andrew Butler’s full report here.

The Times-Standard’s Shomik Mukherjee, meanwhile, reports that St. Joseph Hospital is confident it has enough beds in its birthing center for expecting mothers, but will be limiting their visitors in the coming weeks. Read his full report here.

And the paper’s Sonia Waraich confirms that it’s not just your imagination, our internet is moving slower as providers deal with what used to be peak usage levels becoming the new normal. Read her report here.