Elisa Ballard

Sheriff Johnson honored the many volunteers assisting his department Johnson spoke about the six chaplains who went out on 28 calls during the year, the Citizen Volunteer Patrol who assists in many areas including conducting proactive patrols, traffic control and meetings with business owners, the Explorer Program for youth 14 - 21 years old, the Reserve Unit who help on patrols, the Asphalt Cowboys organization who assist with special needs and fundraising.

President Donald Trump on Monday issued his “COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT” for Steve Hilton in the race for California governor, posting on Truth Social that he has "known and respected" the former Fox News host for many years. “Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job,” Trump wrote, criticizing high taxes, rising crime and the exodus of residents and businesses. “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!

California lawmakers are on the verge of reviving one of the state’s most dangerous predators — and the rest of us will pay the price with our safety, our livestock, and potentially our lives. Senate Bill 1305, the so-called “California Grizzly Restoration Act,” was quietly introduced in February by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood). It doesn’t dump grizzly bears into the wild tomorrow, but it does something almost as reckless: it declares it official state policy to bring back the grizzly.

In November of 2025, a comprehensive, peer-reviewed study was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that delivered a scathing indictment of “gender-affirming care” for minors, concluding that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries.  These interventions expose children and adolescents to significant, often irreversible harms with virtually no reliable evidence of long-term benefit. Commissioned in response to President Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order

Since Lorenzo Leone Pasini made his dramatic entrance into the world on February 5, 2026, at just 26 weeks and 5 days of gestation, weighing a tiny 2 pounds 2 ounces, his parents Jessi and Alessio have continued to share their raw, heartfelt NICU journey with their online community.

Homeowners near the River Ranch community have filed a lawsuit against the City of Redding and Shasta County, challenging the approval of a land lease for a proposed alternative custody campus that could eventually include a large new jail. The River Ranch Neighborhood Association filed the lawsuit on February 27, 2026, in Shasta County Superior Court. The suit claims the City of Redding improperly bypassed required environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Shasta County Board of Supervisors District 1 candidates Rich Gallardo, Erin Resner, and incumbent Kevin Crye addressed members of the Shasta County Republican Assembly (SCRA) on Thursday evening, April 2, at Shasta Bible College. Following their speeches and a question-and-answer session with an audience of approximately 40 people, SCRA members voted to endorse Kevin Crye for the June 2 primary election.

As Easter draws near, many American families sit at kitchen tables wondering how to stretch one more grocery dollar or keep children safe amid headlines of division and unrest. The cost of living climbs, polarization deepens, and worry feels like a constant companion. Yet in the very heart of these struggles, the Easter story offers something the world cannot: unshakable hope rooted in God’s love and the victory of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John records Jesus’ own words just before His...

The Redding City Council has approved spending up to $300,000 to hire an out-of-state consulting firm to examine every city department for waste and inefficiencies. The contract with Circle 6 Consulting, Inc., based in Texas, was approved in mid-March 2026 at the request of new City Manager William Tarbox. Work is scheduled to begin immediately and wrap up by September 30, 2026.

In a decisive written ruling issued today, Shasta County Superior Court Judge Benjamin L. Hanna dismissed Jennifer Katske’s petition seeking to block the “Shasta County Voter ID, Hand-Counted Ballots, and Absentee Voting Limits Initiative” from the June 2, 2026, ballot. The court sustained a demurrer filed by the measure’s proponents (Intervenors), finding that Katske’s First Amended Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate failed to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors took several significant actions during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, including streamlining electric vehicle charging station permits, and allocating nearly $2 million in opioid settlement funds for youth behavioral health services. The board also held a public hearing on a contested solar energy project and faced protests from home health care workers over stalled contract negotiations.

In a packed courtroom, Shasta County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Hanna heard arguments from petitioner Jennifer Katske, who is representing herself in pro per. Katske seeks a writ of mandate to prevent Measure B—a 14-point election integrity initiative—from appearing on the June 2, 2026, ballot. The judge stated that he would issue a written ruling by March 27, 2026.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a leading Republican candidate for California governor in 2026, has seized approximately 650,000–657,000 ballots from the November 2025 statewide special election on Proposition 50, launching an investigation into alleged discrepancies in vote counts. The action has sparked a high-profile clash with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and local election officials, who say the probe lacks credible evidence of fraud and could undermine public confidence.

LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California and KABC-TV abruptly canceled a high-profile 2026 California gubernatorial debate scheduled for Tuesday evening, March 24, after days of intense criticism that its invitation criteria unfairly excluded prominent candidates of color. The event, titled “Your Voice, Your Vote: Race for Governor 2026,” had been set to air live from USC’s Bovard Auditorium and stream statewide.

Hundreds gathered at the Shasta District Fairgrounds in Anderson, California, on Saturday, March 21, 2026, to honor Nora McNeill, RN and licensed midwife, who has dedicated 50 years to serving families in Redding and across Northern California. The free, family-friendly event celebrated her remarkable career, during which she has attended more than 1,185 births—many in home settings—while mentoring future midwives and advocating for low-risk pregnancies outside traditional hospital environments.

The Hawaiian Islands have experienced an exceptionally wet and disruptive week in mid-March 2026, driven by a powerful and rare Kona low—a stalled subtropical cyclone northwest of the state that funneled deep tropical moisture directly over the islands. This slow-moving system, which intensified from early March and peaked in intensity around March 11–15, has produced torrential rainfall, flash flooding, landslides, strong winds, power outages, school closures, and widespread impacts.

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, approximately 40 community members gathered at Faith Community Church in Redding for a town hall event focused on election integrity in Shasta County. Since taking office, appointed Registrar of Voters, Clint Curtis, has implemented significant, low-cost improvements to the Registrar of Voters’ Office, earning praise for enhancing transparency and security.

The City of Redding’s new City Manager, William Tarbox is only three weeks into his role and has already taken the bold step of calling for an all-department review of City government, putting a pause on the REU (Redding Electric Utility) rate hike request that was set for a hearing on March 17th.  A press conference was announced on March 12th and conducted at Redding City Hall Chambers this morning, March 13th.  The March 17th hearing for the rate hike has been canceled.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors convened its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the County Administration Center in Redding, addressing a range of local issues from jail healthcare upgrades to community recognitions and ongoing county operations.

In a bold bid to combat climate change, California is accelerating its transition to zero-emission technologies across buildings, appliances, and vehicles. However, critics argue this regulatory overreach is proceeding without adequate planning for the state's aging electric grid, potentially leading to blackouts, skyrocketing utility bills, and undue financial burdens on consumers. As mandates pile up—from phasing out gas appliances to mandating electric vehicles—questions mount.

"100 Hours" of Operation Epic Fury - Video on YouTube National News US and Israel Escalate Strikes on Iran in Operation Epic Fury  - The United States and Israel have intensified military operations against Iran, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," following the reported death of Iran's Ayatollah and amid escalating tensions. Strikes have targeted key infrastructure, including Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, with reports of Russian intelligence aiding Iran in potential counterattacks on US positions....

After hearing arguments from Attorney Haberbush and Petitioner Katzke, and reviewing briefs and a declaration from the ROV detailing the ballot printing timeline, Judge Hanna modified the TRO. The modified order now permits the County and ROV to continue preparations to place Measure B (the Election Integrity Initiative) on the ballot. Additionally, the judge advanced the hearing on the merits of the petition to Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

At the Redding City Council’s regular meeting, Redding Electric Utility (REU) Director Nicholas Zettel presented on the proposed multi-year rate increases. He noted that the two public workshops held on February 26 had low attendance. Zettel recommended postponing the vote until the next council meeting on March 17 to allow for additional workshops at varied times and locations. Councilmember Tenessa Audette was the only member actively pushing back on the rate hikes.

The Shasta County Republican Central Committee (Shasta GOP) hosted a candidate reception at the Gaia Hotel last Friday evening, February 27, 2026.  There were several hundred people in attendance and the atmosphere was electric.   Three candidates and a surprise guest speaker each brought amazing clarity and revelations to issues that all Californians are facing.