Chico PD leaves unresolved questions Chasing truth in turbulent times

photo by Karen Laslo
Colleen Evans leaves the protest on a stretcher.

by Leslie Layton
posted March 1

When Colleen Evans stopped by the Feb. 17 “Not my Presidents Day” protest at City Plaza, she hoped to voice her opposition to the Trump Administration and find camaraderie with like-minded people.

Instead, the Chico woman, who was wearing a knee brace to protect a broken kneecap, ended up at the Enloe Medical Center emergency room with new injuries. She arrived at Enloe bloodied, sore and dazed after a disastrous fall off the sidewalk on the east side of the plaza. read more

Protesters chant while job fair is underway; CSUC notches up security ICE representatives participate in CSUC student recruitment

photo by Yucheng Tang
“Fuera ICE” (Out with ICE) reads a protester’s sign at the BMU today.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Feb. 26

About 40 protesters gathered in front of the Bell Memorial Union (BMU) today to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Chico State job fair.

Two recruiters from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a law enforcement agency within ICE, were recruiting at the fair. “No justice, no peace, until ICE leaves,” protesters chanted in the plaza outside the BMU as other students waited in line to check in so that they could attend the fair. read more

Chico State students protest plans to include ICE at job fair Homeland Security Investigations has job and volunteer openings

photo by Yucheng Tang
Students protested at Chico State today.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Feb. 24

A group of protesters circled the Chico State campus today, then gathered on the lawn near the Bell Memorial Union to protest the participation of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at a job fair that will be held Feb. 26.

“No ICE on campus!” chanted marching protesters. “We do not need people who are choosing to dehumanize our fellow humans, our friends and our family and the members of our community on our campus, threatening their safety,” said an organizer, Anna Krause. read more

Redistricting issue may come back to Chico City Council City attorney rethinks his position

photo by Karen Laslo
Councilmember Addison Winslow

by Yucheng Tang
posted Feb. 24

Councilmember Addison Winslow complained at the Feb. 18 City Council meeting that there were “cockamamie” procedural objections that blocked his effort earlier this year to ensure there will be future discussion on redistricting and how it’s done.

“I wanna believe that this is the last time that we have an issue like that,” Winslow said from the dais during the public comments section of the meeting. “I think the least that we can do is maintain a legitimate public decision-making process.” read more

Chico protesters decry Trump-Musk “power grab” Administration's actions fit definition of a coup, or "autogolpe"

photo by Leslie Layton
Crowds gathered at a corner of City Plaza to protest Trump Administration policies and actions.

by Leslie Layton
posted Feb. 17

Several hundred people showed up today at City Plaza to protest the Trump presidency and the consolidation of power that is now being termed a coup by reputable political commentators.

Turnout was surprising given that the event was announced only days ago on social media by local groups that wanted to support the “We The People” nationwide protest.

Toward the end of the 12 p.m. protest, tempers flared when a Chico man, Danny Peters, planted himself about a hundred yards down the sidewalk on the east side of the plaza and waved a flag that said, “Trump won” and “Get over it.” A woman was interviewed by police and taken off by paramedics after onlookers said she was pushed off a curb and onto the pavement face down. read more

Tuscan Water District to levy fee that will finance operations Large landowners who favored fee had more voting clout

photo courtesy of Tuscan Water District
Approved TWD map

by Leslie Layton
posted Feb. 13

The recently-formed Tuscan Water District (TWD) is now in the budget planning stage after winning the right to levy a special assessment fee on landowners within district boundaries.

In an election held last month, TWD won the support it sought for a fee of up to $6.46/acre to be paid by landowners whose votes were weighted based on the number of acres owned. That was in accordance with California law that allows weighted voting in special districts, said TWD General Manager Tovey Giezentanner. read more