Three days in review: Feds cut state’s public health funding, Southside Oroville a campaign stop

Sunny's podcast: Catch up with ChicoSol
by Sunny | Posted February 18, 2026

“We need the minimum wage to go up, we need job security” — Ife Sainte in Sunny’s podcast.

Oroville residents tell candidate they want jobs, affordable housing

Democrats warn that the November election needs vigilance
by Leslie Layton and Yucheng Tang | Posted February 15, 2026
Sen. Mike McGuire, who is running for U.S. Congress to represent District 1, listens to an Oroville resident. Photo by Yucheng Tang

The Southside Oroville Community Center gave District 1 voters the chance to voice concerns in a Feb. 12 town hall featuring state Sen. Mike McGuire.

McGuire, a candidate for California’s 1st Congressional District seat under the Proposition 50 redrawn map, spoke to an audience of about 70 people. Whoever wins the Nov. 3 race will take the seat that was occupied for a dozen years by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, the Richvale rice farmer who represented District 1 and passed away earlier this year. read more

Clinic’s abrupt closure leaves North State patients without care

Healthcare advocates: Federal health care cuts ripple through rural Northern California
by Yucheng Tang | Posted February 2, 2026
Tarichi Primary Care in Corning abruptly closed with a notice that mentions federal policy and last year’s government shutdown. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

Corning resident Glenna Secreto was scheduled to have a post-surgery check-up at Tarichi Primary Care in Corning last month. However, on Jan. 14, she found the clinic had been shut down a week earlier.

Secreto’s 95-year-old mother, Ada Boatman, had an appointment at the same clinic that morning. When Boatman reached the clinic, she saw the door locked, people pulling up for appointments, and a posted notice.

Secreto later found a new clinic for herself and her mom, but neither of them could get an appointment until the end of February when her mom will be able to get needed medications. Secreto, though, had to make a drive of more than two hours to St. Helena for her post-surgery check-up. read more

Congressman Doug LaMalfa dies in 7th term

Longtime Rep. LaMalfa was controversial in Chico
by Leslie Layton | Posted January 6, 2026
Congressman LaMalfa at the Chico town hall in August 2025. Photo courtesy of Karen Laslo.

District 1’s congressman, 65-year-old rice farmer Doug LaMalfa, died early today after suffering an aneurysm and heart attack, according to media reports.

The Richvale Republican was serving his seventh term in the House in a district that has a conservative voter majority and includes rural North State counties like Butte, Yuba, Shasta and Siskiyou. LaMalfa had served on  the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Transportation committees and was a steadfast Trump loyalist. read more

Should Mental Health Diversion expand?

Fewer than a third of defendants seeking Mental Health Diversion were admitted in Butte County
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 27, 2025
Deputy District Attorney Mark Murphy represents the DA’s office in the monthly Mental Health Diversion hearings. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

This story is second in a series on the Mental Health Diversion program and is supported by a USC fellowship.

Seven years ago, a 48-year-old Paradise area man was charged with misdemeanor assault with a vehicle. A medical report issued a few days after the incident stated that he was diagnosed with “bipolar disorder, mixed episode, with psychotic features.”

A year later, his attorney told him about the newly launched Mental Health Diversion program (MHD), which allows some mentally ill defendants to receive court-ordered mental health treatment instead of serving jail time. Successful completion of the program can lead to dismissal of charges. The man, who identified only as “John” in order to protect his privacy, applied. read more

Butte County needs a Public Defender Office

Attorney Ron Reed: A Public Defender Office would save taxpayer money
by Ronald Reed | Posted December 1, 2025

Attorney Ron Reed has worked as a public defender in Butte County since 1986. This guest commentary was extracted, with Reed’s permission, from a report he prepared and mailed to about 150 interested parties.

In 1989, a group of 10 local lawyers formed a consortium in Butte County to handle indigent defense. They operated independently, kept private practices, and renewed contracts every three years as caseloads grew. Today, 18 attorneys each receive $14,000 per month to cover a share of indigent defense. read more