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Opinion Sundial bridge, Redding, CA - Credit: California.com "Why Redding, CA is the Perfect Place to Call Home" As the Shasta County Board of Supervisors wraps up hearings on the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget, the numbers paint a familiar but troubling picture. The proposed $658 million budget reflects a roughly $27 million (4%) decrease from the prior year, with discretionary revenues projected to drop nearly 9%. Personnel costs, retiree health obligations, courthouse demo

Mosquito Serenade (Summer!) 2026 just wrapped up its first concert of the summer, with Ashley Black performing for one hour and firing up thousands of attendees before one of Shasta County’s own, Chad Bushnell, took over the Sierra Pacific Industries Amphitheater Stage, at Anderson River Park…….and wowed everyone until nine o’clock. Sketch of Chad Bushnell by Robert Exter Watch how Robert Exter creates his amazing sketches by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/wat

REDDING — The Shasta County Board of Supervisors continued reviewing the recommended $658 million FY 2026-27 budget this week. This plan reflects a roughly $27 million reduction from last year. Wednesday’s session (June 10) focused on Support Services and the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Thursday (June 11) covered public safety departments facing some of the deepest cuts. As covered in our June 9 recap, the budget includes increases for some offices — such as the

In a decisive move against years of alleged waste, fraud, and mismanagement, the Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended federal funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). This action marks the first major wave of the White House’s broader fraud task force targeting California’s notoriously ineffective homelessness programs. LAHSA, the primary coordinator of billions in taxpayer dollars aimed at addressing ho

Redding, CA — The Shasta County Board of Supervisors this week launched its FY 2026-27 budget hearings, where department heads are delivering detailed presentations on operations, major challenges, and funding requests. Tuesday’s session on June 9 provided the public with a rare and valuable look behind the curtain at county government. Department leaders laid out budgets, goals, performance data, and pressing concerns — offering taxpayers a clear window into how their money

dailyvoice.com Brookline's Dr. Pankaj Merchia Guilty In Medical Fraud Case In another stark example of why Americans must demand accountability in our bloated healthcare and tax systems, Dr. Pankaj Merchia, a 52-year-old former Brookline, Massachusetts sleep medicine physician with ties to Harvard training and multiple medical businesses, was sentenced on June 5, 2026, to 58 months (nearly 5 years) in federal prison. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton also o

Federal authorities arrested Mahender Makhijani, a 44-year-old lawful permanent resident from India living in the affluent Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, on charges of bank fraud involving nearly $100 million. The case highlights ongoing concerns about financial crimes, document forgery, and the integrity of lending practices in California's high-end real estate markets. Indian-origin businessman arrested over $100 million bank fraud scheme in California; thre

Ex-First Energy executives, Ohio utility regulator charged by state in bailout and bribery scandal • Ohio Capital Journal - Credit: ohiocapitaljournal.com One of the largest public corruption cases in modern U.S. history unfolded in Ohio, where electric utility giant FirstEnergy allegedly funneled tens of millions of dollars in bribes to secure a billion-dollar bailout for its nuclear plants at the expense of ratepayers. The scandal, centered on House Bill 6 (HB6), exposed a

Pictures posted by @FreddyLA7, a German football fan touring America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across the United States, a heartwarming phenomenon is unfolding on social media: European fans arriving for the matches are discovering the real America — and they can't stop raving about it. From massive college football stadiums and endless portions at Buc-ee's to Southern hospitality, BBQ, and the sheer scale of our landscapes, these visitors

No Change in the Relative Position of any Candidates in this Update Shasta County voters participated in the Statewide Direct Primary Election and a special primary for Congressional District 1 on Tuesday, June 2. These are preliminary, unofficial results. Shasta County has processed 55,298 ballots out of 116,380 registered voters (47.52% turnout). There are approximately 97 ballots that remain to be counted. Statewide results are based on approximately 94% of votes counted (

Photo Credits: (L) localnewsmatters.org and (R) ktvu.com In a major development that should alarm every California property owner, the FBI executed three federal search warrants on Tuesday, June 9, targeting the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office in Martinez, the home of longtime Assessor Gus Kramer, and the home of Assistant Assessor Vince Robb — who had just won election to succeed Kramer. The raids are part of an ongoing federal investigation reportedly centered on wir

Across America, and right here in California, hyperscale data centers — the massive facilities powering the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure — are proliferating at breakneck speed. Tech giants are racing to build them, promising economic benefits and technological dominance. But local communities, already grappling with high energy costs, water scarcity, and strained infrastructure, are raising legitimate alarms. These c

Deputy Sheriff Austin Nelson, Employee of the Month The Monday, June 8, 2026, regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held in the Shasta County Board Chambers at 1450 Court St., Redding, where lively discussions took place surrounding several topics. As usual, the meeting began with the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Austin Nelson, Deputy Sheriff, was named Employee of the Month for his outstanding professionalism and commitment to duty. Nelson, who joined

Karmelo Anthony booking photo has been convicted of murder. - Credit: abcnews.com In a case that captured national attention and sparked heated debate over self-defense, race, youth violence, and accountability, a Collin County jury in Texas found 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. The jury rejected Anthony’s claim of self-defense and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. The incident occurred on Apri

Shasta County voters participated in the Statewide Direct Primary Election and a special primary for Congressional District 1 on Tuesday, June 2. No Change in the Relative Position of any Candidates in this Update These are preliminary, unofficial results. Shasta County has processed nearly all ballots (54,171 ballots cast out of 116,380 registered voters — 46.55% turnout). The estimated number of ballots that remain to be counted ~1600. Statewide results are based on approx

The San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage of Shasta County’s Measure B reads more like activist opposition research than balanced journalism. It frames a voter-approved charter amendment as an extremist assault on “voting rights,” repeatedly deploys “MAGA” and “election denier” labels, and dwells on personal controversies while downplaying the core issues: widespread public distrust in mail-heavy, machine-dependent elections and the right of local voters to demand basic safeguar

A heightened level of tyranny has surfaced at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings. Chair Kelstrom, and by omission, the remainder of the Board, showed their personal disdain and contempt for the people who want transparency and desire to participate in local government affairs. The meeting was eerily reminiscent of the last two months of Leonard Moty's term in office as Chair before his removal by recall.

Toxic Empathy by Allie Beth Stuckey: | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Recently, Elisa and I had the great fortune to interview Dr. David Thompson and his wife, Becki, about their 35 years in Africa doing medical missionary work. In his concluding remarks, he offered inspiration and said that it is so important to maintain true Godly love for people in their hearts. He was quick to point out that sometimes this love can turn toward "Toxic Empathy". These words are the basis for to

In her book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion, Allie Beth Stuckey identifies a dangerous distortion: empathy becomes toxic when it encourages us to affirm falsehoods, ignore consequences, or support policies that ultimately harm the very people they claim to help. This concept finds a clear and troubling application in American education today. Across the country—and acutely here in California—policymakers and institutions have relaxed or eliminated

"Conservative Republicans especially value property rights, individual freedoms, and the beauty of being left alone. They don’t want government to handle everything." Seth Ketshel