Search Results for: natalie hanson

Appeals court upholds right to non-disclosure

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

Legal immigrants face threats, live with fear

Hiroshi Motomura, co-director, UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy. Photo courtesy of American Community Media.

For students like Andrea who identify as Dreamers – young people who came to this country as children — the increasing pressure to self-deport has created an uncertain future. And like Andrea, hundreds of thousands of people now face uncertainty as the Trump administration takes steps that threaten their ability to remain in the country.

Andrea did not give her last name when she addressed a Dec. 5 panel convened by American Community Media (ACoM), but she said that she has lived in the United States since she was 5 years old. read more

Chico State student remembered for her generosity, work with the unhoused

Alexandra Wynter’s photo on her social media.

Chicoans are honoring the memory of a 28-year-old university student and community volunteer who died Dec. 3 in what police are investigating as a murder-suicide.

Biological sciences major Alexandra Wynter, 28, was reported dead Dec. 3 in what the Chico Police Department has said was a fatal shooting on Warner Street. President Steve Perez said in a campuswide announcement Dec. 5 that she was on track to graduate in spring 2026, completing her degree while working at Enloe Health.  read more

White nationalist speech becomes mainstream, say researchers

stop racist hate speech
Chico State English instructor Anna Moore says elected leaders should speak out about what immigrant communities are facing. Photo courtesy of Jason Halley at Chico State.

White nationalist rhetoric has become common in U.S. mainstream politics – and some educators point out that it also has a long history of prevalence in the North State.

Chico State University professor Shawn Schwaller said such language is now common in this “extreme political climate,” and its use has been increasing since 2016. Extremist language often affects, in particular, marginalized communities.

“When you hear Trump and his cronies talk about immigration, they sound a lot like the nativist supporters of the State of Jefferson movement in the North State, who have sought for years to break a portion of Northern California off from the rest of the state to create a white ethno state,” Schwaller said. read more

ChicoSol recognized for culture reporting at ACoM

Writer/editor Anthony Advincula presents Yucheng Tang with the top award for culture reporting at the Nov. 7 ACoM Expo in Oakland.

Shortly after Yucheng Tang moved to Chico a year ago to report for ChicoSol, he connected the traditional Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day with Mexico’s Day of the Dead tradition. On. Nov. 7, his story of cultural rediscovery that showcased those traditions side-by-side won a first place at American Community Media’s (ACoM’s) annual award ceremony.

In his acceptance speech, Tang noted he was able to bring two different cultures together through “good storytelling … sincerity and curiosity.” He also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to introduce people in “a small town like Chico” to Asian culture and heritage. read more

Local groups plan for upcoming No Kings events

Butte County groups are planning a day of peaceful protesting Oct. 18 on what will be the second national No Kings day. Protests are planned across the country to oppose assaults on free speech, civil rights and democratic norms in general.

A No Kings march will begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Chico, organized by the Defenders of Democracy Coalition. Those interested in marching should meet at the Our Hands sculpture at 160 East Fourth St. The march will also end at this location at 11:30 a.m.  read more