Rex Ballard

In a story that perfectly captures the hypocrisy of corporate "diversity" in 2026, the San Francisco Giants hosted their annual Pride Night on June 12 against the Chicago Cubs. Players were expected to don special rainbow-themed caps featuring the team's logo in Pride colors. Several pitchers—Landen Roupp (the starter), JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker—complied but added a personal touch: they wrote "Gen 9:12-16" (or similar) on their caps with a marker. Genesis 9:12-16 recounts God's covenant...

UFC Freedom 250 transformed the White House South Lawn into a massive celebration of American freedom on June 14, 2026 — the target of a foiled terror plot. Credit: i.abcnewsfe.com On June 14, 2026, the White House South Lawn hosted one of the most spectacular events in modern American history: UFC Freedom 250. Part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations and coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, the event drew thousands of spectators, fighters, and dignitaries for a...

OPINION In a stunning act of cowardice, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors has made their allegiance crystal clear with a 4-0 vote: they stand with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and the one-party Sacramento machine rather than with the citizens who overwhelmingly passed Measure B. Measure B was approved by a clear majority of Shasta voters in the June primary. The passage of Measure B was a straightforward exercise in local self-governance. It...

Opinion On June 2, 2026, the voters of Shasta County delivered a resounding message: We demand honest, verifiable elections. Measure B passed by a clear majority—55.59% Yes (29,170 votes) to 44.41% No—amending our County Charter to require in-person Election Day voting with limited absentee exceptions, photo ID at the polls, precinct-level hand counts, and independent local management of voter rolls. This wasn’t a close call or a partisan stunt. It was the democratic will of our community,...

All these empty office spaces belong to someone. - Credit: nytimes.com As Margaret Thatcher famously observed, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” In 2026, New York City and Seattle provide textbook examples. Decades of progressive policies—sky-high taxes, heavy regulations, and expansive social spending—have strained budgets, prompting more tax hikes on businesses and high earners. The result? Major employers, founders, and workers are fleeing...

Texas politician and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico proudly identifies as a Presbyterian, a seminarian at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and an active member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin—a congregation aligned with the progressive wing of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PC(USA)). Talarico frequently invokes his faith to advocate for positions on abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive social causes, reflecting the denomination’s embrace of evolving...

Is This the Best Democrats Can Offer Texas? As Texas Democrats pick state Rep. James Talarico as their 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, many voters are asking: Is this the best they have? Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, presents himself as a defender of real Christianity, but he often uses selected Bible verses to push progressive ideas on gender, life, borders, and faith. His words show more left-wing politics than solid biblical teaching. James Talarico - Credit: texastribune.org Twisting...

31st Annual River & Rail Brewfest Saturday, August 1st, 5-9pm in downtown Dunsmuir Featuring Live Music by The Gnarly Pints & Beso Negro! Set in historic downtown Dunsmuir, the River & Rail Brewfest is one of the West Coast’s longest-running and most beloved beer festivals! Join us for an unforgettable day filled with ice-cold craft brews and bold homebrews from some of the best breweries around. 🍻 Sip & Savor: Enjoy a handpicked selection of craft beers from top West Coast breweries &...

Opinion by Rex Ballard, Shasta Unfiltered As the Shasta County Board of Supervisors wraps up budget hearings for the FY 2026-27 recommended $658 million spending plan, county officials are patting themselves on the back for "balancing" another budget. All while assuring everyone that major cuts to critical departments can be absorbed with little pain. Just delete some vacant positions, they say. No layoffs, just some furloughs. Minimal impact on services. Sorry, but the whole thing smells...

American Patriot Series “Give me liberty, or give me death!” The words thundered through St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775. A fiery young orator named Patrick Henry stood before the Second Virginia Convention, his voice rising like a storm. With clenched fists and blazing eyes, he painted a vivid picture of British chains closing around the colonies. The hall fell silent as he delivered one of the most electrifying speeches in American history — a call to arms that...

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 demolition, and the...

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 District Attorney...

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 homelessness in Los...

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 ordered three...

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; threatened to 'kill'...

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 web of dark...

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 are experiencing...

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 (per CalMatters/AP...

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 wire fraud and other...

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 concerns are not...

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 April 2, 2025, at a...

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 approximately 91% of...

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 safeguards. California...