Tuesday night, the Eureka city council passed a resolution calling for something to be done about nitrous oxide. Legally sold in smoke shops and known as "whip-its," the recreational use of the inhalant has increased in recent decades nationally.
Christian Hill, the media contact for St. Joseph's Hospital, said in an email that the hospital is adding extra resources to the emergency department over the weekend for people who might need airborne isolation.
In 2023, three restaurants in total were shut down by Humboldt County public health for health violations. The closures, which were all businesses in Eureka, involve violations considered major by public health, with two surrounding water issues and one for a clogged toilet. Two reopened quickly, but one has since shut down.