Home

Policing
Chico PD lost access to ALPR data

Chico PD lost access to ALPR data

City leaders say they’re unclear how much was lost and if all lost data can be recovered
The Chico Police Department lost access to data produced by its automated license plate reading cameras when it turned off sharing with federal and out-of-state agencies, ChicoSol has learned. Chico PD turned off data sharing that may have been in violation of state law on July 8 after a ChicoSol investigation, losing access to records, several City Council members have …

Sunny’s podcast: Sept. 16-17

Police Chief Billy Aldridge proposes that the seven-member City Council get ALPR (automated license plate reader) training. “We train you in the system, have you dig into it yourselves,” Aldridge tells the Council.

En Español

Guía de Recursos Locales

Subscribe to The Little Sun

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, The Little Sun, to get notified about new content and hear directly from our writers.

You can also sign up using this link.

Featured Video

Rising Latino populism rejects both parties

In this ACoM video, the Lincoln Project’s Mike Madrid discusses the populist rejection of both parties in the Latino electorate. (See story here.)

Latest News

Policing
Council delays action on proposed ad hoc oversight committee

Council delays action on proposed ad hoc oversight committee

Environment
Public meeting on solar farm plan set

Public meeting on solar farm plan set

Politics
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump’s mail-in voting limits as November election nears

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump’s mail-in voting limits as November election nears

Point of View
Gov. Newsom could make history for local news outlets nationwide

Gov. Newsom could make history for local news outlets nationwide

Point of View
Gloria Steinem: making it all count

Gloria Steinem: making it all count

En Español
Los votantes latinos se vuelven más independientes

Los votantes latinos se vuelven más independientes

Community Calendar

September 21, 6:00pm City Council meeting on red-light cameras
Location:
September 22, 9:00am Butte County Board of Supervisors
Location: 25 County Center Dr suite 205, Oroville, CA 95965, USA
September 22, 6:00pm Cenergy / North Chico Solar public meeting on solar farm
Location: Lakeside Pavilion, 2565 California Park Dr, Chico, CA 95928, USA
October 6, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA
October 20, 6:00pm Chico City Council
Location: 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928, USA

Special Projects

Point of View
What happened to free speech at Chico State?

What happened to free speech at Chico State?

ChicoSol runs guest commentary and analysis on Mondays. In early 2025, a social media post advertised a sit-in protest at …
Aquí Estamos – Here We Stand
Chico PD granted ICE, Border Patrol, access to its ALPR data

Chico PD granted ICE, Border Patrol, access to its ALPR data

The Chico Police Department says it has shut off license plate reader data sharing that, until July 8, appears to …

Support Our Work

Support fearless, independent community journalism by donating today.

ChicoSol depends on reader support for its in-depth and investigative reporting. Your support—at any level—keeps us free of paywalls and corporate sponsors. Thank you!

Give Now

Donations to ChicoSol are handled by the North Valley Community Foundation.

Reader Comments

Sep 18
“Great reporting folks.”
Adam Fedeli on Chico PD lost access to ALPR data
Sep 18
“It’s a scenic highway and determined to be low suitability by the County. Why did they buys this property instead of some valley grazing land with no trees. Right next to the…”
Allen on Solar farm tentatively planned for Skyway
Sep 18
“This newest revelation does not pass the smell test. Chief Billy needs to go, regardless of the story his underlings… likely weary of retaliation from their boss… will tell the council on…”
Scott Rushing on Chico PD lost access to ALPR data
Sep 18
“All the IT experts weighing in are saying there is no such thing as unrecoverable data anymore. So first we have the incompetence of illegally sharing our data with ICE, DHS and…”
Mary Kay Benson on Chico PD lost access to ALPR data

Our Partners

We would like to thank Bonfire Storytelling, KIXE and KZFR for their ongoing support. To become a ChicoSol Partner, please email ch**********@***il.com.

Our Memberships

ChicoSol is a member of

We are grateful for support from California Local News Fellowship and Report for America.