Rex Ballard

In a stunning one-two punch over the last 48 hours, East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his bid for California governor and says he will resign his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The moves come amid a rapidly escalating scandal involving multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from women, including former staffers.

A 62-year-old Eureka man wanted in an active Humboldt County child sex abuse investigation died early Saturday morning after leading Redding police on a high-speed pursuit through Shasta County that ended with him taking his own life. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Adam James Bean IV, also known locally as Joe Bean. He was associated with Z&J’s Asian Subs in Eureka.

Spring in the North State is packed with chrome, cowboys, music, mushrooms, and small-town vibes. Here’s the straight-shooting rundown of the biggest public events left in April and all of May 2026. Events are grouped by county, with the earliest ones listed first inside each section. Dates current as of April 13—always confirm on official sites for tickets, weather, or changes.

Red Bluff, California — With just days until the chutes open, the historic Red Bluff Round-Up is gearing up for its 105th annual celebration, cementing its reputation as the largest three-day professional rodeo in the country. Held at the Frank Moore Arena on the Tehama District Fairgrounds (670 Antelope Blvd.), the event draws thousands of fans, top PRCA competitors, and world-class livestock for three days of heart-pounding action from April 17-19, 2026.

The weather at Augusta National Golf Club was postcard perfect all week for the 2026 Masters Tournament: bright sunny skies, mild temperatures in the 70s, light winds, and not a drop of rain. Yet despite those ideal scoring conditions, the legendary course — with its lightning-fast greens, treacherous bunkers, and strategic demands — proved as punishing as ever.

In the days since our report on Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and Flock Safety cameras in Redding and Shasta County, an overwhelming majority of readers have voiced strong opposition. Emails, comments, and messages poured in: many describe the systems as “passive surveillance monitors” that quietly track every vehicle on public roads, creating digital records of daily life without consent or probable cause.

In a blaze of American engineering and unapologetic ambition, NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on April 10, 2026, capping a flawless 10-day journey that marked humanity’s first crewed voyage beyond low-Earth orbit in more than half a century. The four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen—touched down at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) .

The wheels are coming off Eric Swalwell’s once-dominant campaign for California governor. Just days after unverified social media rumors began circulating, the San Francisco Chronicle dropped a bombshell investigative report featuring the first on-the-record accuser: a former Swalwell staffer who says the longtime Democratic congressman sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions — once while she worked for him in 2019 and again in 2024 after she had left his office.

A cement plant just north of Redding (CalPortland Redding Cement Plant in the Mountain Gate area) suddenly laid off 53 employees this morning (April 10). Many of those affected were longtime members of the local United Steelworkers union.

The 19-hole, par-60 PDGA-style layout was designed by professional course designer Leonard Muise. Expect dramatic elevation changes, technical wooded fairways, dual tee pads (short and long), and stunning panoramic views of Shasta Lake and the surrounding mountains. Funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and supported by Flightpath Disc Golf, the course is built to be challenging for experts while remaining fun and accessible for families and beginners alike.

In the shadow of Mount Shasta, local law enforcement agencies are embracing Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to combat crime. While officials highlight significant successes, privacy advocates raise concerns that the systems enable warrantless mass surveillance of ordinary citizens.

America’s states face chronic budget shortfalls from ballooning pensions, entitlements, infrastructure promises, and post-pandemic spending. Politicians’ go-to fix? Target the rich with new wealth taxes on net worth, steep “millionaire” income surtaxes, capital-gains levies, or revived intangible property taxes.

Federal prosecutors in California are intensifying their efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in state-administered public programs, with the high-profile guilty plea of career fraudster Paul Richard Randall serving as a stark example. In a Fox Business interview aired this week, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California directly linked the case to broader ongoing investigations.

New US Census Bureau and state data confirm that California’s long-running population outflow showed little sign of slowing in 2025, with Los Angeles County recording the nation’s largest numeric population decline and the Bay Area continuing to shed residents through domestic migration. While some stabilization appeared in U-Haul one-way moves, the broader trend—driven by high housing costs, taxes, and quality-of-life concerns—persists.

In today’s fast-paced world, finding trustworthy news sources can feel like navigating a maze. Mainstream outlets often dominate the headlines, but many of us crave fresh perspectives that challenge the status quo. That’s where alternative media outlets come in. These platforms offer unique viewpoints, often focusing on local issues, conservative commentary, or underreported stories. If you’re looking to diversify your news diet, I’ve gathered some of the best options worth exploring.

In a stunning front-office overhaul, the Chicago Bulls fired Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and General Manager Marc Eversley on April 6, 2026 — just eight days after the controversial waiver of guard Jaden Ivey. Ownership’s decision comes as the team sits at a dismal 29-49 record, 12th in the Eastern Conference, and long eliminated from playoff contention. Under Karnišovas and Eversley’s six-year tenure, the Bulls managed just one playoff appearance, 

Oh, dear friend, in a world that rewards silence and punishes courage, 24-year-old NBA guard Jaden Ivey stepped boldly into the light on March 30, 2026. Just hours after his heartfelt Instagram live, the Chicago Bulls waived him. With tender conviction, he declared that the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month lifts up what Scripture calls sin, and same-sex relationships stand against God’s beautiful design for holiness.

A federal judge has denied former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan’s request for a new trial or acquittal, upholding her felony conviction for obstructing federal immigration agents. The ruling, issued April 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, means Dugan’s December 2025 guilty verdict remains intact as she prepares for sentencing and vows to appeal further.

A heartbreaking incident at one of Northern California’s most popular recreational spots has claimed the life of a young child and prompted urgent warnings from authorities about water safety. On Monday, April 6, 2026, a 5-year-old boy drowned at Turntable Bay on Lake Shasta after entering the water without a life jacket. According to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 11:22 a.m. following reports of a missing child in the water. The boy had gone into the lake...

In a move that has sent ripples through the sports world and reignited debates about religious freedom in professional athletics, the Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on March 30, 2026, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” The timing was no coincidence. Hours earlier, the 24-year-old former No. 5 overall pick had gone live on Instagram, delivering an unapologetic, hour-long testimony rooted in his Christian beliefs.

In the midst of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, First Lady Melania Trump has spearheaded a targeted humanitarian diplomacy effort widely referenced in public discourse and social media as the “Bring Them Home” project. Though not formally titled as such in official White House statements, the initiative focuses on reuniting Ukrainian children forcibly displaced or taken to Russia (and Russian-controlled territories) with their families in Ukraine.

Just five months after Abigail Spanberger made history as Virginia’s first female governor, a wave of high-profile murders allegedly committed by illegal immigrants has triggered sharp criticism of her immigration policies—and early signs of buyer’s remorse among the voters who handed her a landslide victory in November 2025.

In just 14 months as U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi oversaw one of the most sweeping and contentious overhauls of the Department of Justice in its 155-year history. Sworn in on February 5, 2025, after a 54-46 Senate confirmation, the former Florida attorney general and Trump loyalist moved quickly to align the DOJ with President Donald Trump’s priorities.