"We are in this together is not a slogan to throw around to get points. If you are about Humboldt and local business, show it in action. "

There are 11 cases on tomorrow that I need to cover, 12 if the Antone Aubrey jury trial concludes and there is a verdict.

10 cases on in the morning in three different courtrooms. This is how it is in the localcourts  It is not easy to do with cases being called out of order, delays and I cover them all live and post the same day. Having access to court minutes and records helps and that isn't easy with two computers and several people using them.

The courts have been closed and even with some access for defendants recently, the second floor is closed to the media and public.

With the pandemic, I have made several requests and suggestions to have some sort of access to court records (and I asked this be available to all media). I have been pointing out the numerous challenges to cover court via Zoom with the technical audio and livestream issues for months. The media and public have no access to calendar add ons and changes done last minute. I always have to raise these issues and the rest of the media with more resources sits back and reaps the benefits.

This makes accurate reporting hard. I am still posting live and doing daily updates on cases but with hearings on trial confirmations, settings, further trial confirmations being continued three or four times unnecessarily at the whim of the Court, I am going to manage my time, and certain cases and details will be posted as time allows.

This blog has original, live, breaking news and working on it takes time that you may not see. I am able to do my job because of the personal relationships I have built in this community. I don't sit behind a desk reporting via email and most of my content isn't press releases.

Everyone's life and income is affected by the pandemic and that includes reporters, people at the Courthouse, restaurants, businesses and any one interacting with the public.

What you also don't see is the local businesses and community members who cannot get answers any where else or need to know about resources that I provide information to because this is more than a blog, a news source. I have always invested in the community and businesses.

I am grateful to my advertisers, the people who have supported me with news tips, loyalty and the few readers who have sent in donations. The rest of you benefit daily from this blog and there is a financial and social benefit in your lives. Yet, you take and demand for years without giving anything back.

Most people are respectful but there are some demanding people who are not even my regular readers or supporters and think I am here to answer multiple questions and provide them answers they are too cheap to pay for or lazy to get themselves.

When you see something on my blog or support my advertisers tell them.

I am going to do this blog. However, my time is not free. I have bills. I am not going to be taken advantage of by anyone. My advertisers make it possible for you to get information. They support independent reporting.

If you want additional information other than what is on this blog, if you want research done, if you are demanding my time, you better be prepared to pay for it. Or pick up the phone, make a trip to the Courthouse or any other place yourself.

The other media and the entrenched interests in Humboldt have made it very difficult for me to do my job and have harassed and tried to intimidate me. There are good people here but  the negative,corrupt, vocal, petty minority are an ongoing epidemic and drain the positive.

When people stand up to try and change, they get bullied and silenced. And if you continue to speak up, you will be blacklisted. Most of you just stand by silently and still expect a few to fight your battles.

I have stood up and fought for you. Yet, very few have have done that for me. I interact with my readers. I have been very frank about my life on the blog. However it doesn't even give you 1 /100th of an idea about the challenges I have faced since I came to Humboldt and still do.

My priority is me, my advertisers and those that treat me with respect and show appreciation in words and action.

There are many ways to support independent reporting and someone you thank in words but not in action. My blog is a service to this community but it is also the only local news source people know will report on anyone and news that others ignore. It is cutting edge media and I saw the future and value of it years ago.

This pandemic is going to be around for a while and the economic devastation hasn't even begun. I am not just writing this for me. Many self employed and  small, local businesses have supported this community through their generosity and by staying open despite their own challenges right now.  Are you supporting them now, during this pandemic?

We are in this together is not a slogan to throw around to get points. If you are about Humboldt and local business, show it in action.