Month: April 2018

Butte County supervisors oppose sanctuary

County takes sides in fight between state and Trump administration
by Leslie Layton | Posted April 26, 2018

photo by Leslie Layton

Dave Garcia, Chris Nelson and Julie Garza-Withers protested the board’s vote.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose California’s sanctuary law, passing a resolution that opposes state policy on immigration and recognizes federal government authority.

Supervisors voted 5-0 in favor of a political statement, a resolution that contends that the sanctuary law places “restrictions and limitations” on the Butte County Sheriff’s Office that could have a “potentially negative impact on public safety.”

The resolution, which escaped the notice of most media outlets and the public, acknowledges the Trump administration’s lawsuit against the state of California and says the administration could attempt to withhold federal grants from “jurisdictions that violate federal law” by prohibiting collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). read more

Chicoan recounts journey on the “Delaine Train”

Restoring the "Golden State" a goal, Keehn says
by Robin Keehn | Posted April 21, 2018
Robin Keehn

Like so many Americans, I was mystified and depressed when Donald Trump was elected. But the first Chico Women’s March got me motivated to do something, and in early February 2017, I went to see a dear friend in Sonoma. She warned me that we “just gotta do this thing in Napa.” Would I go too?

The “thing” was Delaine Eastin’s “Meet & Greet” to announce her campaign for California governor. We walked in saying to each other, “No one can beat Gavin, but the tea, cookies and champagne will be fun.”

I walked out saying, “I’m dedicating my next year and a half to getting Delaine elected.” Activism was ignited. Delaine Eastin had become my HERo. read more

Scores of stolen guns found in Chico annually

Most are pistols, but AR-15-style rifles are also recovered
by Gabriel Sandoval and Dave Waddell | Posted April 20, 2018
ChicoSol and Tehama Group Communications infographic

Against a backdrop of rising gun thefts nationally, a stolen gun is recovered by authorities in Chico an average of once every eight days. And while nearly three-fourths of all stolen guns in the city are pistols, multiple stolen assault rifles are recovered each year.

That’s based on data from an 18-month investigation by The Trace, a nonprofit news organization, and more than a dozen NBC-owned television stations, which collected information on stolen guns from hundreds of law enforcement agencies and collaborated on a series of reports last year.

“American gun owners, preoccupied with self-defense, are inadvertently arming the very criminals they fear,” says The Trace’s Nov. 20, 2017, story. read more

Council candidate spends rainy weekend on street

Scott Huber learns about homelessness through experience
by ChicoSol staff | Posted April 9, 2018

Chico City Council candidate Scott Huber shares his experience of being without a roof the weekend of April 6-8 in this video. Huber touches on a handful of topics, including rain gear, a one-night stay at the Torres Shelter, stereotypes and surprises in this ChicoSol segment recorded prior to Chico Friends on the Street’s Sunday meal and survival-gear giveaway at Chico City Plaza.

“I respect the durability of these people because this is not easy. I can’t imagine that it is the first choice in anyone’s life, and it certainly wouldn’t be mine.”-– Scott Huber read more

Gun laws vigorously discussed at forum

NeverAgain Chico students question leaders
by Dave Waddell | Posted April 9, 2018

photo by Dave Waddell

There were two Republicans on the El Rey Theater stage for Saturday’s Chico forum on school gun violence — and only one was made of cardboard.

At center-stage throughout the program was a life-size cutout of a microphone-holding Rep. Doug LaMalfa, so real-looking that many in the audience at first thought the Richvale Republican was in attendance. Students organizing the event say LaMalfa was invited.

The one breathing Republican on stage for the Town Hall for Our Lives was congressional candidate Gregory Cheadle. He gained national notoriety when, in June 2016, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump pointed him out at a campaign rally crowd in Redding and said: “Oh, look at my African-American over here. Look at him. Are you the greatest?” read more

Chico observes killing of MLK 50 years ago

March, songs, passionate words mark anniversary
by Dave Waddell | Posted April 5, 2018

photo by Dave Waddell

Frances Mann led the singing

There were, appropriately, many passionate words Wednesday around peace and justice at Chico’s 50th anniversary observance of the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. – the soulful singing of Frances Mann quite notably among them.

A Mann-led rendition of Joan Baez’s “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” started off a march of about 50 people, who sang their way from the Dorothy Johnson Center on 16th Street several blocks to the statue of MLK at Community Park on 20th Street. There, a ceremony sponsored by the Chico Peace & Justice Center was led by Emily Alma.

Alma told the crowd she was surprised she hadn’t met Mann, an Oroville resident for four years, until recently, calling her “my new best friend.” read more