Living in Shasta County or Redding is getting more expensive for regular taxpayers — and a big reason is the growing cost of public employees. Top government workers are earning compensation packages that most local families can only dream of. But that’s only part of the story. These high salaries come with very expensive lifetime pensions that taxpayers are still paying for years after these employees retire.

California, already home to some of the nation’s toughest firearm regulations, just rolled out a fresh wave of restrictions on gun storage, purchases, and parts — even as federal courts are chipping away at others. From locked safes in every home to a new three-gun-per-month limit, the changes come from bills signed last year and took effect or will soon. At the same time, recent court decisions are creating confusion: some rules are on pause, others are locked in, and big fights are still headed to higher courts.

Living in Shasta County or Redding is getting more expensive for regular taxpayers — and a big reason is the growing cost of public employees. Top government workers are earning compensation packages that most local families can only dream of. But that’s only part of the story. These high salaries come with very expensive lifetime pensions that taxpayers are still paying for years after these employees retire.

In March 2026, California became a billion-dollar ground zero for a bold new wave of citizen journalism. Independent reporters, armed with hidden cameras, public records, and street-level grit, are exposing what they call rampant waste, abuse, and outright fraud in taxpayer-funded programs. While legacy media often glosses over these stories, platforms like X and YouTube are amplifying raw footage that’s forcing official responses—from the governor’s office to federal prosecutors.