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Criminal Justice
A DA's long battle against marijuana

A DA’s long battle against marijuana

How Butte County became a cannabis battleground
This two-part series is an analysis of three decades of Butte County’s opposition to cannabis. Part I On June 30, 2010, Rick Tognoli was tending what he thought was a legal indoor medical-marijuana garden at his residence. Tognoli, who ran a collective called Scripts Only Service, spotted a Butte County sheriff’s patrol vehicle, followed ominously by four unmarked SUVs. Deputies …

Sunny’s podcast: May 14-19, 2026

Patrice reports on ChicoSol’s Butte College reporting, the Chico Seed Orchard, and on a judge’s tentative and final rulings in a Public Records Act lawsuit.

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Featured Video

In mixed-status families, citizen children lose benefits

Dr. Giridhar Mallya, senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, discusses the dangers mixed-status families now face when they try to access public benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. Watch the full briefing here.

Latest News

Education
Students, staff decry Butte College decision-making

Students, staff decry Butte College decision-making

Environment
Questions persist about the future of Forest Service research sites 

Questions persist about the future of Forest Service research sites 

Education
Sexual assault case closed against former Chico State math professor, CSU Board of Trustees

Sexual assault case closed against former Chico State math professor, CSU Board of Trustees

Criminal Justice
Judge issues final order in public records dispute

Judge issues final order in public records dispute

Politics
In District 1 candidates' debate, topics include wildfire response, the national debt

In District 1 candidates’ debate, topics include wildfire response, the national debt

Politics
Gubernatorial candidate Mahan promises affordability

Gubernatorial candidate Mahan promises affordability

Community Calendar

May 26, 9:00am Butte County Board of Supervisors
Location: 25 County Center Dr suite 205, Oroville, CA 95965, USA
June 2, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA
June 16, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA
June 23, 9:00am Butte County Board of Supervisors
Location: 25 County Center Dr suite 205, Oroville, CA 95965, USA
July 7, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA

Special Projects

Mental Health Diversion
Butte County DA calls for tighter Mental Health Diversion rules

Butte County DA calls for tighter Mental Health Diversion rules

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is urging the California Legislature to amend the Mental Health Diversion (MHD) law to …
Immigration
Classic Chinese dish serves as community connection

Classic Chinese dish serves as community connection

Chico residents Ashley Liu and Tom Zhang met online in 2022 after each left a difficult marriage. Two years later, …

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Reader Comments

May 19
“Another well researched and thoughtful article by Natalie. So good to see in depth stories that cover all the bases.”
Brooks Thorlaksson on Students, staff decry Butte College decision-making
May 18
“Excellent story… appreciate the depth of the discussion and information. I think is would be a major mistake to close these research stations and hope this adm will walk it back as…”
Brooks Thorlaksson on Questions persist about the future of Forest Service research sites 
May 17
“An impressive piece of reporting on an important subject. Congratulations to all who did the work and to Chicosol for expanding its reach.”
Carole Craig on Former Ag dean sues Chico State president and CSU for alleged discrimination and retaliation
May 16
“Incredible reporting.”
Chris Hutton on Sexual assault case closed against former Chico State math professor, CSU Board of Trustees

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