Elisa Ballard

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.

Elementary school, middle school, and high school students in Shasta County are invited to submit artwork to the Shasta County American Story Art Contest offered by the Shasta County Administrative Office. Overall winners will be selected by grade group, and their artwork will be displayed at the Shasta County Administrative Center in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of America’s independence.  Winners will be recognized during the June 30th Board of Supervisors meeting. Prizes too!

The Pasinis (Jessi and Alessio) have continued sharing heartfelt updates on their son Lorenzo Leone Pasini  (born February 5, 2026, at 26 weeks + 5 days gestation, weighing 2 lb 2 oz) since his premature birth. Their content across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok focuses on the NICU journey, with raw, emotional vlogs and short posts emphasizing progress, challenges, gratitude, and community support.  Their followers are grateful for Jessi and Alessio’s posts and are praying for...

Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically on February 28, 2026, as the United States and Israel launched a joint military attack on Iran, targeting its leadership including strikes near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's residence in Tehran, prompting President Trump to describe the operation as "massive and ongoing" and urge Iranians to overthrow their government. Iran retaliated with missile barrages against Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf.

Plaintiff Jane Doe (pro se, via phone) sought a TRO to block the Voter ID/hand-count/absentee-limits initiative (Measure B) from the June 2 ballot, arguing preemption by state Elections Code (citing Huntington Beach precedent). The judge partially denied anonymity (ordered name disclosure in 5 days but protected address/phone/employment). He declined to allow late-filed intervenor attorney Alexander Haberbush to participate today, deferring that issue. County Counsel stated no position per Board

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Chambers. Supervisor Kevin Crye was absent due to being admitted to Mercy Medical Center after experiencing chest pain that morning.  On Wednesday morning, a press release went out on Crye’s Facebook page indicating that he had suffered a cardiac episode but is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery.

A Shasta County jury has convicted local criminal defense attorney Lisa Marie Jensen of two felony charges stemming from a November 2023 incident in which she struck and seriously injured an elderly pedestrian while operating an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol. The verdict, delivered on February 18, 2026, marks a dramatic turn for Jensen, whose legal practice has long focused on defending clients facing similar DUI and felony accusations.

On February 22, 2026, Mexican security forces killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The operation sparked immediate retaliatory violence, with cartel members torching vehicles, setting fires to stores, blocking highways, and clashing with authorities across multiple states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima. U.S. tourists are being told to shelter in place.

Downtown Redding just got a whole lot sweeter with the grand arrival of Spencer James Confectioners and Gift Shop at 1409 Market Street! They've brought renewed energy to the beloved artisan chocolate tradition, building directly on Nancy Matthews' decades-old recipes from her original Chocolat de Nannette days. This vibrant new spot isn't just another store—it's a delicious celebration of local legacy, innovative entrepreneurship, and community spirit.

Sarah, a former intern at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM), courageously came forward after 16 years of silence in a powerful interview on the Wake Up and Win podcast, hosted by Blaise Foret and Christina Foret. The episode, titled "Bethel Survivor Sarah Shares Her Experience of Clergy SA by Ben Armstrong", was released in mid-February 2026 and has since prompted significant fallout, including Bethel Church placing pastor Armstrong on administrative leave pending an investigation.

This report provides a detailed synthesis of information from unsealed court documents and federal investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network. The primary sources include documents from the 2015 civil defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, which were unsealed in batches beginning in January 2024, and the extensive January 30, 2026, release by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group is being redeployed from other operations to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln to bolster presence amid escalating pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. This extension could set deployment records and signals stronger U.S. military posture in the region. The move comes as the Trump administration seeks to curb Iranian ambitions.

Public Health Officer Dr. James Mu presented a report on 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities, highlighting the county's ongoing physician shortage crisis. Recruitment efforts in 2025 yielded good results across local medical centers, however, smaller clinics and outlying clinics have lost physicians in 2025.  Retention of physicians remains a challenge. Dr. Mu outlined plans to improve communication with healthcare providers through a new newsletter on current healthcare topics.

Health officials in Shasta County report that the ongoing measles outbreak, first identified on January 30, 2026, has resulted in eight confirmed cases, but remains contained due to effective public health measures and community cooperation.The additional cases did not lead to further community spread because patients isolated promptly upon identification as contacts. Public Health continues to monitor and notify potentially exposed individuals from the original patient's contagious period.

What started as one young boy's heartfelt determination has blossomed into a nationwide movement that reminds us all of the profound respect our veterans deserve. At just 10 years old, Preston Sharp changed the world—one flag and one flower at a time—and now, you have the chance to support his incredible mission at the upcoming Veterans Flags and Flowers Fundraiser on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the beautiful Win River Resort & Casino in Redding, California.

On Friday, February 6, the Dow Jones Industrial Average led a market rebound by surging about 2.5%, climbing to more than 50,000 points for the first time.  Investors cited easing inflation data, a resilient economy and optimism around artificial intelligence investments as key drivers, though analysts cautioned about potential volatility ahead of upcoming Federal Reserve comments.

Positive, transformational messages of faith in Jesus Christ were shared Saturday evening at the Redding Civic Center at the event hosted by Turning Point USA Shasta County chapters to a crowd of approximately 400 attendees. Turning Point USA is the legacy organization of founder Charlie Kirk who was assassinated in Utah on September 9, 2025, while speaking to students on a college campus.