Dani Woodward moved to Arcata from Oregon in 2015, drawn by Humboldt's community energy and the promise that a small place could feel like a big life. She worked at KHUM community radio before turning to print journalism, and her voice still carries that warmth. Dani covers schools, community events, local arts, tribal news, food, and the human stories behind the headlines. When the Humboldt Independent closed in 2024, she took its absence personally. She writes the pieces that remind readers why they live here: the farmers market profiles, the school board fights, the festival previews, and the quiet moments of resilience that define small-town Northern California. She lives in Arcata with her cat and an unreasonable number of houseplants.