Elections

Clint Curtis, Registrar of Voters, Holding a Press Conference Redding, CA — Clint Curtis, Shasta County’s Registrar of Voters and County Clerk, held a press conference on Thursday evening, May 21, 2026, to push back against recent accusations of workplace harassment and a hostile work environment in the elections office. Curtis and several current employees defended his leadership and character, claiming the allegations are politically motivated and one-sided. The event, held

Redding, CA - May 21, 2026 Jennifer Katske Jennifer Katske is making a name for herself in Shasta County, even though she initially wished to remain anonymous, filing her first complaint in Superior Court as Jane Doe (filed February 17, 2026, as Katske v. Shasta County Board of Supervisors, et al., Case No. 26CV-0209919). The original case was filed against the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and Clint Curtis, Shasta County Registrar of Voters and County Clerk, to preve

LAO Warns of Reckless Reliance on Volatile Revenues, Reserve Depletion, and Painful Cuts Governor Gavin Newsom hailed his May Revision to the 2026-27 state budget as a triumph of fiscal discipline, announcing on May 14 that California has eliminated its deficit for the current and next budget years, with the structural gap closed through July 2028. "No deficit this year. No deficit next year," Newsom proclaimed, framing the plan as protecting investments in healthcare, educat

A longtime California petition signature gatherer has been federally charged—and has agreed to plead guilty—for paying homeless individuals on Los Angeles’ Skid Row to register to vote, a scheme first captured on undercover video by independent journalist James O’Keefe and his team. Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong, 64, also known as “Anika,” of Marina del Rey, faces one felony count of paying another person to register to vote. - Credit: foxcarolina.com Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong,

Redding, CA — A Shasta County Superior Court ruling delivered a clear message on May 18, 2026: citizens who successfully defend the integrity of the election process are entitled to basic protections under the law — just like everyone else. In Katske v. Shasta County Board of Supervisors, et al. (Case No. 26CV-0209919), Judge Benjamin Hanna upheld his tentative ruling, ordering Petitioner Jennifer Katske to pay $3,084.25 in court costs to the five citizen intervenors who step

In a revealing moment during Thursday’s budget press conference, Governor Gavin Newsom admitted Democrats have a contingency plan — what he called a “break the glass scenario” — to prevent two Republicans from advancing in California’s June 2 top-two primary for governor. When asked about accountability for his refusal to endorse any Democrat amid growing concerns that a fragmented Democratic field could allow Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco to take the top two spots

For several days in October and November 2024, I served as a citizen observer at the Shasta County Elections Office located at 1643 Market Street in Redding. The processing of mail-in ballots for the November 5, 2024, election was overseen by Registrar of Voters Thomas Toller and Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut. In my observations, Mr. Toller was never present in the office areas where the work was being conducted. He seemed to remain inside his own office, w

In a race that has captivated national attention, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt is mounting a serious—and increasingly viable—challenge for Mayor of Los Angeles. The nonpartisan primary on June 2, 2026, features incumbent Karen Bass and other challengers, but Pratt has surged in the polls through sharp messaging, unfiltered debate performances, and a groundbreaking embrace of AI-generated campaign content.

Shasta County voters head to the polls every election cycle thinking they’re making informed choices on big statewide issues. But too often, what shows up on the ballot is a carefully worded trap. California’s ballot propositions—sold with sunny titles and summaries cooked up by the Attorney General’s office—frequently hide the real costs, tax hikes, or policy shifts until after the votes are counted. It’s not accidental. It’s a feature of a system that lets politicians and s

The panel stated that during the March 2024 election, Shasta County experienced over 20 different time changes many of which occurred in 60-second increments and many occurred in the middle of the night (which indicates possible remote access.) In this same election, a thumb drive containing 100 votes disappeared and did not make it into the Cast Vote Record data, in a race that was decided by just 14 votes

As a new board member of YOS in 2024, Crye took his oversight responsibilities seriously. He began examining the organization’s daily operations and structure and asked why Executive Director (ED) Susan Wilson was not involved in operational activities. YOS staff informed him that Wilson had not been in the office for months, yet was still receiving full pay while on medical leave. Crye’s review of documents revealed inappropriate payments of medical benefits, sick leave, and

Joseph Larmour at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. Credit: anewscafe.com Shasta County taxpayers are once again footing the bill for County Counsel Joseph Larmour’s questionable legal maneuvers — and this time, fresh allegations in a high-profile wrongful termination lawsuit paint an even darker picture of what’s happening inside the County Counsel’s office. It started with a citizen-led push for basic election integrity. In early 2025, a group of Shasta County residen

Anderson City Councilmember Darin Hale delivered a powerful, no-holds-barred address yesterday at the Shasta County Republican Assembly (SCRA) candidate forum in what became a one-sided showcase of conservative principles. Invited opponents, including incumbent Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, declined to attend. Following Hale’s remarks, the SCRA—a volunteer member organization recognized by the California Republican Party that empowers its members to vote on endorsements—off

The Shasta County Republican Assembly is hosting a Measure B Forum at the Redding Library at 5:00 pm on Monday, May 11, 2026. Please attend and hear the facts. The proponents of the measure claim that several outlets have disseminated misinformation about this initiative. Please come hear the facts.

Photo: Darin Hale for Assembly District 1 Source: votedarinhale.com Palo Cedro, CA – On Saturday evening, May 2, Anderson City Councilmember Darin Hale welcomed a strong turnout for his fundraiser dinner in the heart of the Northstate. The event featured a lively chili cookout under clear skies on a beautiful spring evening, drawing conservative values supporters who enjoyed good food, patriotic camaraderie, and a shared commitment to restoring principled leader

Former Shasta County Supervisor, Redding City Councilmember, and Mayor Patrick Jones made a startling disclosure during a Sunday morning appearance on KQMS radio’s “Poke the Hornet’s Nest” with host Nick Gardner. Jones detailed what he described as illegal harassment directed at Assistant Registrar of Voters Brent Turner by county personnel. According to Jones, Turner recently received a phone call from someone in Shasta County’s Support Services Department—believed to be an

Redding, CA – May 3, 2026 — Shasta County Board of Supervisors candidate for District 1, Richard Gallardo, appeared on the KCNR (1460 AM/ 96.5 FM) radio show “The Jefferson State of Mine” this morning and highlighted what he described as a troubling item on Tuesday’s Board agenda. Item C7 under the Consent Calendar is a proposed Personal Services Agreement with Runbeck Election Services, LLC for ballot printing and mailing services for an amount not to exceed $3.5 Million. Th

Shasta County’s election integrity battles keep delivering wins for We the People. After another round of lawfare aimed at blocking Measure B, private citizens stepped up, defended the qualified ballot measure in court, and won decisively. With the June 2, 2026, election approaching, it’s time for Shasta County to reimburse those proponents for the legal fees they never should have had to pay out of their own pockets. Vote on Measure B campaign sign - Image shastascout.org Me

Happily sweeping a huge pile of dirt under a rug, versus dramatically hyperfocusing on a small dirt spot OPINION I guess it’s perfectly acceptable for the prior Assistant Registrar of Voters (ROV) on the last day of ballot tabulation to tell election observers that ballot counting was finished, escort them out the door at 5 p.m., and then continue counting newly discovered ballots until 9:30 p.m. with no citizen observers present. I guess it’s fine for that same Assistant ROV

Heather Hadwick, Darin Hale, and Dianna James answer questions posed by Susan Wilson REDDING, Calif. — Incumbent Assemblymember Heather Hadwick (R) and challengers Darin Hale (R) and Dianna James (D) faced off in a spirited League of Women Voters candidate forum Friday evening, May 1, 2026, as they vie to represent California’s sprawling Assembly District 1. The event, held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Riverfront Playhouse in Redding, was moderated by Susan Wilson, who read aud