Border-crossing journalism from the Sacramento Valley
by Natalie Hanson & Leslie Layton
posted Feb. 21
Tom Covington curled up to sleep in a downtown Chico doorway on a January night near another unsheltered man. Both men were awakened around 2 a.m. by a flaming bag that was tossed on them and that burned Covington’s sleeping bag, hand and his right side.
by Natalie Hanson
posted Jan. 24
Educators and experts have joined California’s leaders in urging an appeals court to uphold a ruling that supports Chico Unified School District’s (CUSD’s) anti-discrimination policy.
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta filed Jan. 9 in support of the district, along with representatives of 15 other states, arguing that the policy is designed to be flexible on a case-by-case basis to support transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and to withhold parental notice when a student does not consent. The only exception for parental notification, against a student’s wishes, is if the student’s well-being is at risk.
by Natalie Hanson
posted Oct. 31
Schools across California see increasing rates of bullying, hate speech and discrimination, placing children from marginalized communities at risk. (See story on new NorCal Anti-Racism Coalition here.)
In an Oct. 27 Ethnic Media Services panel, several experts and California students said that many children face a “culture of hate” in schools where bullying can be inescapable. They pointed to social media’s role, as bullies can use these platforms to anonymously target and harass peers, perpetuating harmful, false stereotypes about others.
by Natalie Hanson
posted Oct. 31
Chico Unified parents who demand that their school district crafts stronger protections for students and faculty against hate speech say they are forming an anti-racism coalition.
Mele Benz is one of numerous parents in Chico who say they want children to have better protection from discrimination and hate speech. She is one of three parents who head the board of what is now the NorCal Anti-Racism Coalition, which represents about 100 family members and allies. It asks that Chico Unified School District (CUSD) demonstrate no tolerance for hate speech or discrimination on its campuses. (See sidebar on increased bullying in California schools here.)
by Natalie Hanson
posted Oct. 2
Scott and Paula Rushing have spent six years fighting the City of Chico over its role in the killing of their son, Tyler.
Now, the Rushings face yet another hurdle -— they’ve been denied police records about the 2017 shooting and tasering of Tyler.
Scott Rushing, a Ventura resident, has filed a lawsuit claiming the City of Chico violated California’s public transparency laws by refusing to provide Chico Police Department records.
by Natalie Hanson
posted Sept. 25
Chico’s City Council has adopted an eight-year housing plan after finally winning approval from the state with its fourth draft of the required document.
The Sept. 19 City Council unanimous vote sealed the eight-year plan, the Housing Element, that outlines the development strategy for long-term residential growth and includes an assessment of current housing stock and available funding.
