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ChicoSol a finalist in five award categories

photo by Leslie Layton

Several rows in the Marigold Elementary gym were occupied by protesting parents during a school board discussion on gender identity.

ChicoSol has been named a finalist in five categories in the prestigious annual journalism competition run by the California News Publishers Association (CNPA) for its 2023 coverage.

CNPA announced today that ChicoSol’s Natalie Hanson and Leslie Layton are finalists in the special Community Focus category across all divisions, placing this publication in competition with the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter, Santa Barbara Independent, and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Contributors Dave Waddell and Julian Mendoza are finalists in the California Journalism Awards investigative reporting category for the coverage provided by the video report, “The checkered history of police Sgt. Mark Bass.” read more

Chico PD holds its first town hall

photo by Leslie Layton

Chief Billy Aldridge at Chico PD’s first town hall.

In the first of two town halls to be held this year, Chico police addressed topics that emerged from the recent Community Survey as concerns, including homelessness and the department’s use of de-escalation techniques.

The May 1 town hall followed the recent release of results from the department’s Community Survey that received 797 responses from Chico-area residents. Most of the respondents were over 50 years old and a disproportionate number white. Almost 60 percent said the unhoused community was a major concern.

The new Police Community Advisory Board and Chief Billy Aldridge sat in a row facing an audience of about 20 people. Both the chief and board Chair Roger Efremsky said the public needs to better understand that officers can only remove pop-up homeless encampments under the parameters set by the Warren v. Chico lawsuit settlement. read more

Chico PD works to improve image, community relations

photo by Karen Laslo

Chicoans at a protest several years ago.

The Chico Police Department, after facing years of scrutiny over transparency and accountability concerns, has launched an effort to improve its community image.

Chico PD’s administration has within the last six months jump-started several efforts to improve its public image, announcing today the results of its Community Survey, which can be found here.

Chief Billy Aldridge, who assumed leadership in December 2022, has re-organized the department’s Police Community Advisory Board (PCAB) that the City says is “working to enhance communication and transparency.” The board’s formation follows years of pressure from community members who want improvement in the public’s ability to air concerns and grievances. read more

Projects, awards, honors & media coverage

Special interest issues

Tracking Hate: We worked for several years as a media partner with ProPublica on its Documenting Hate database and reporting project. We’ve continued to produce reporting on hate crimes, hate incidents and discrimination and harassment and to produce cross-cultural features as an Ethnic Media Services (EMS) partner. That reporting is directed by Editor Layton and funded in part by an EMS fellowship.

Police conduct: We’ve been recognized for contributor Dave Waddell’s investigative reporting into killings by law enforcement agencies. See some of those honors below.

Housing & homelessness: These are crucial issues in a city that has been profoundly affected by the 2018 Camp Fire, one of the most destructive fires in history. Contributing Editor Natalie Hanson began her reporting on these issues for the daily newspaper and has continued this work for ChicoSol. read more

Chico residents again plea for a ceasefire resolution

A group of Chico residents again have called on city leaders — in a third effort — to pass a ceasefire resolution that would show support for the Palestinian community amid Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

At the meeting earlier this week (March 19), activist Rain Scher stepped to the podium to present a revised ceasefire resolution to the City Council. Scher, a member of Chico Jews in Solidarity with Palestine, pointed out that the new resolution calls for declaring that all human life is “precious.” Scher told ChicoSol that the resolution “explicity names both the Palestinian and Israeli casualties.”

“For the City Council to pass this resolution would be to make a statement of valuing Jewish and Palestinian/Muslim community members,” they added. read more

Chico voters rejecting planned community Valley’s Edge

photo by Leslie Layton

The Valley’s Edge houses would be built on lava cap.

Editor’s note: The Butte County Clerk-Recorder’s office released official election results on March 28 that show that almost 63% voted NO on Measure O and 62% opposed Measure P.

Preliminary results in the primary election show Chico voters rejecting the controversial Valley’s Edge project that would produce a planned community east of City limits.

As of March 8, the preliminary count showed the number of “NO” votes on measures O and P at 62% of some 19,000 ballots that had been counted. Those measures would amend the General Plan and the Valley’s Edge Specific Plan to allow the development.

The project on 1,448 acres between Stilson Canyon Road and Honey Run Road has generated considerable pushback for years. Opponents have questioned whether it will create enough homes for people who earn Chico wages and whether it will cause irreparable ecological damage. read more