Month: January 2026

Immigrant detentions continue in Butte & Tehama

ICE protests begin today and continue throughout weekend
by Leslie Layton | Posted January 30, 2026
Maya DeHoyos at today’s Chico State protest. Photo courtesy of Karen Laslo

In the wake of recent Butte and Tehama immigrant detentions and intensified enforcement nationwide, North State residents are organizing communities and discussing protest safety.

In Chico, a weekend of protests has been planned in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis, as well as to tactics in use by Immigration, Customs & Enforcement (ICE). (See protest schedule at end of article.)

ChicoSol learned this morning that many Chico High School students walked out early in the day. read more

Strong Towns: Auto-dependent city design produces “liabilities”

Analysis: As Chico re-thinks its downtown future, message resonates
by Richard Roth | Posted January 27, 2026
Petersman at the podium. Photo by Richard Roth.

A national voice in urban resilience, during a recent local presentation, warned Chicoans that cities don’t fail because of a lack of vision — they fail because they double down on fragile systems instead of fixing what’s right in front of them.

Norm Van Eeden Petersman, membership director at Strong Towns, spoke Jan. 22 at Chico State as part of the ongoing conversation about the Downtown Chico Revitalization Project as the city weighs the future of its downtown, parking, and public space. read more

Why TV news won’t cover my lawsuit against DA Mike Ramsey

Commentary: Local news stations beholden to the district attorney
by Dave Waddell | Posted January 25, 2026
Writer Dave Waddell says KRCR “invented excuses” to kill a story. Photo courtesy of Waddell.

This is my story of a disheartening experience that sheds light on the sorry state of local television “journalism” in the North State.

I sued Butte County’s forever district attorney,Mike Ramsey, his equally non-transparent protégé, Sheriff Kory Honea, and, of course, the Chico Police Department for a pattern of unlawfully concealing records that belong, not to them, but to the public. These records would allow the public finally to learn about a handful of officer-involved shootings, including multiple killings – the most powerful use of government authority. read more

Appeals court upholds right to non-disclosure

Judge says schools aren't required to out LGBTQ students
by Natalie Hanson | Posted January 23, 2026

An appeals court this month upheld state law and policy that protect student rights to privacy — even when that privacy pertains to gender identity.

A panel of judges with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted a stay in favor of law and policy that allow schools to protect the confidentiality of LGBTQ+ students who may discuss gender identity or other issues with school staff.

The three-judge panel acted to place a temporary block on a federal court ruling issued in December in the case of Mirabelli v. Olson by Judge Roger Benitez. That ruling had found that California policy violates the constitutional rights of educators and parents. read more

Two days in review: Protesting in Chico as Sacramento churns

by Sunny | Posted January 22, 2026

In this week’s podcast, Sunny looks at what the changes underway in state funding for homelessness mean, as well as the Jan. 20 Chico Free America Pop-up Protest.

“Personally, I think it’s important for people to come to protests to feel like they’re not alone in these scary times,” Michael Brennock from Chico Indivisible tells ChicoSol. “Together we can make our communities and our country a better place.”

Butte Defense Equity Project will hold a Know Your Rights & Risks training for protesters at 5 p.m. Jan. 25. More information and an RSVP link is here. read more