California's criminal justice system has been ravaged by a decade of radical progressive reforms that prioritized leniency over public safety, leading to surging crime, strained resources, and a deliberate reduction in incarceration. Four prisons closed to date and a fifth is scheduled

Redding Police Chief Brian Barner was abruptly placed on paid administrative leave effective December 30, 2025, amid a vague "personnel matter," city officials announced. No further details have been provided by the City of Redding, which has declined to elaborate on the reasons behind the decision. Captain Brian Cole has been named acting chief during Barner's absence. Amid the official silence, unsubstantiated claims of departmental corruption have resurfaced online