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Shasta Scout

@shastascout.bsky.social

1.9K followers 52 following 240 posts

News for the people of Shasta County and beyond. We scout out the truth, for you. www.shastascout.org

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Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 13h

“The board unanimously respects the right of the press to have free and unfettered access to public information. We condemn Mr. Curtis’ action of excluding the press and encourage him to maintain a high level of transparency and access to public information.”

Supervisors unanimously condemn Shasta election official's decision to restrict press access – Shasta Scout

Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis responded by saying county supervisors, including the three who voted to appoint him in May, are “confused.” Nevertheless, he’s agreed to post press releases on the co...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 21h

Thompson’s complaint file contains several alleged details that may shed light on why Shasta’s district attorney views the incident as a possible hate crime.

New details emerge in alleged Igo hate crime case – Shasta Scout

Timothy Ray Thompson is facing 17 charges, including assault with a firearm and special hate crime enhancement. In court last week a judge ruled that he will be held to answer on all charges. He has n...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 21h

Thompson’s complaint file contains several alleged details that may shed light on why Shasta’s district attorney views the incident as a possible hate crime.

New details emerge in alleged Igo hate crime case – Shasta Scout

Timothy Ray Thompson is facing 17 charges, including assault with a firearm and special hate crime enhancement. In court last week a judge ruled that he will be held to answer on all charges. He has n...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 1d

The Secretary of State’s office confirmed that holes in ballot envelopes are a standard feature.

Registrar of Voters calls public attention to hole in ballot envelopes. Here’s what you need to know. – Shasta Scout

ROV Clint Curtis is warning the public of an “issue” in the production of ballot envelopes, a hole that could reveal ballot markings. The Secretary of State's office confirmed that holes in ballot env...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 1d

“Beyond the threat to Shasta Scout’s press freedoms, your office’s actions exert a chilling effect on the journalism community as a whole. No publication should have to couch its news coverage for fear of losing basic rights guaranteed to the media.”

Board to discuss legal threat after Shasta election official withholds press release access – Shasta Scout

The nonprofit First Amendment Coalition agreed to represent Shasta Scout after newly-appointed election official Clint Curtis excluded the newsroom from receiving elections-related press releases. On ...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 4d

Both Yee and Plummer agreed that gerrymandering — or the practice of redrawing representational lines for political outcomes — is wrong and that the principles of democracy are sacred. They disagreed on the best strategy to preserve democracy.

Shasta politicians debates Prop. 50: Do the ends justify the means? – Shasta Scout

2026 congressional candidate Rose Penelope Yee debated Shasta County Supervisor Matt Plummer on the merits and pitfalls of Proposition 50 during a livestreamed event this week. Both feel that represen...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 4d

We are pushing back on behalf of the public we serve after being restricted by the local election office. A free press is central to a healthy and civically-engaged community.

First Amendment Coalition @facoalition.bsky.social · 4d

FAC is representing @shastascout.bsky.social in this letter to Shasta County's elections official after he said the outlet was not "legitimate" and illegally removed her from a media release distribution list.

FAC Represents Newsroom After Shasta Elections Official Illegally Excludes its Journalists from Media Release Distribution

firstamendmentcoalition.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 6d

The donation to a sales tax initiative that will benefit city coffers was made just months before successfully soliciting more than half a million in financial help from the city.

Advance Redding faces scrutiny after donation in support of Measure A – Shasta Scout

Advance Redding, the nonprofit currently operating the Civic Auditorium gave $49,500 to support a citizen-led sales tax initiative. The donation was made just a few months before Advance Redding succe...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 6d

McCain has pled not guilty on all charges, including murder. shastascout.org/tyler-mccain...

Tyler McCain’s jury trial is set to begin Nov. 18. He’s facing multiple charges, including murder. – Shasta Scout

Tyler McCain plead not guilty to all charges during a hearing Tuesday, Oct. 7. His wife Nikki Saelee McCain disappeared in May, 2024 shortly before she was scheduled to testify against him on felony d...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 7d

“They accused him of being a traitor to the Republican Party,” the lawsuit reads, “and to those who objected to the imposition of COVID-19 health orders.”

Bombshell lawsuit from former Shasta Assistant CEO Magrini alleges retaliation, harassment over ideological issues – Shasta Scout

Eric Magrini worked for the county for more than 15 years, rising to the rank of sheriff, then assistant CEO before being terminated in 2024. Last week, he filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 8d

The question of dissolving certain committees and commissions has been a recurring flashpoint issue during public meetings over recent months.

Shasta County has dozens of “possibly optional” committees and commissions, staff say. – Shasta Scout

At their Tuesday October 7 board meeting, supervisors will discuss the breadth of the county's commissions and committees. The board could vote to eliminate some, including the county’s Public Health ...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 12d

Poll workers are front line elections workers. Ensuring their competence and adherence to the law is central to protecting the right to vote, especially for those with specific access needs.

Some Shasta poll workers uncertain ahead of November 4 special election – Shasta Scout

Just four weeks before November’s special election, former poll workers in Shasta County say they’re waiting to hear when they’ll be trained and where they'll be assigned. Some have reservations about...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 13d

The Stillwater Pow Wow is free and open to all. It's a celebration of Native culture, including ceremonial dance.

Stillwater Pow Wow will come to Redding Rodeo grounds this weekend – Shasta Scout

From October 3–5, the Redding Rancheria will host a pow wow to celebrate Tribal ceremonial dances, food, art, and music.

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 14d

For millennia, indigenous people have intentionally set controlled fires, something research shows has been an extremely effective means to nourishing the Klamath Mountains’ biomass.

U.S. Forest Service announces fall 2025 schedule for “prescribed burns” within the Shasta-Trinity forest – Shasta Scout

Throughout this fall, winter, and spring, teams of fire experts will be starting and maintaining controlled burns in areas of forest across Shasta County. The burns are part of land management practic...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 14d

“Fair, accurate, and secure elections are the foundation of our democracy... let’s show Shasta County, and the country, what it looks like when a community chooses trust, truth, and democracy.”

Francescut holds campaign kickoff. She hopes to win Shasta's top election role in 2026. – Shasta Scout

Almost 200 people showed up to a campaign event hosted by former Assistant Registrar of Voters (ROV) Francescut. A majority of the vocal public wanted her to be appointed to the ROV role earlier this ...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 15d

Published in collaboration with American Community Media. bsky.app/profile/amco...

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 15d

The Ghulam family has found stability in their new life through the help of the Redding Refugee Circle, but only after a long and precarious process that began the moment Hamid first learned he had won the lottery.

From the Hindu Kush to the Cascade Range: Hamid’s journey to America – Shasta Scout

Through remarkable circumstances and the assistance of a few local community members, the Ghulam family left Afghanistan to settle in Redding, California. They’re one of only three local Afghan famili...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 18d

Neither Maher nor Shasta Scout has been able to obtain body camera footage of his arrest, despite his claim that two of his ribs were broken during the incident.

Redding implemented body cameras for police transparency. So why can’t Daniel Maher get video of his own arrest? – Shasta Scout

Body worn cameras are often seen as the gold standard for ensuring police transparency. But as this community member’s story shows, police departments sometimes stonewall public access by withholding ...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 19d

A Shasta College spokesperson said the college respects that some staff and students may have had issues with the thoughts expressed during the event encouraging them to “engage in civil constructive dialogue."

A Charlie Kirk vigil was held at Shasta College last week. Here’s what we know. – Shasta Scout

An estimated 2,000 people attended a vigil held last Thursday, September 18, for Charlie Kirk. The event was held on Shasta College’s campus by the evangelical nonprofit 1Hope4America, which is run by...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 20d

“Let the evidence speak for itself and let Cheng’s spirit be in the courtroom."

Judge holds Tyler McCain to answer on all charges including murder, felony domestic violence – Shasta Scout

Tyler McCain is accused of having killed his wife Nikki Cheng Saelee-Mccain last year to prevent her from testifying against him on felony domestic violence charges. Tuesday a judge maintained that mu...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 22d

Pairing people with opposing ideological views to work together in the election process is one theme for Curtis’ approach to administering elections.

Reorganization of Market Street Election Office creates new space for ballot filming – Shasta Scout

An open house to show off the new set up at the Shasta Election Office revealed more of what ballot processing will look like under Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis. November 2025 will be his first ti...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 24d

During the last testimony of the day, an interview with Shasta’s lead detective in the case, Kilee Holroyd, the prosecution presented footage from a Ring camera mounted at the front door of the home of Saelee-McCain’s sister, Chloe Saelee.

Ring camera video evidence caps second week of McCain hearing – Shasta Scout

A video recording depicting a man alleged to be Tyler McCain pounding on a door and repeatedly screaming “open the door or I’ll kill you," brought some to tears. The camera footage came at the end of ...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 25d

The policy how allows elected officials to censor the public based on subjective opinions that a remark is “slanderous” or “profane”, something that could be used to silence political dissent.

City of Shasta Lake says public commenters deemed “boisterous,” “profane” or “slanderous" can be banned – Shasta Scout

The city’s new regulation empowers elected council members to remove public commenters based on subjective criteria regulating the content of speech, something that legal experts say curtails the comm...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 28d

During an interview with a Shasta Scout reporter, Shasta County's election official mused on his hopes for the indictment of his campaign opponent and former Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut. We're sharing highlights from that interview.

In conversation with Shasta Election official Clint Curtis – Shasta Scout

A July interview with Shasta’s newly appointed election official Clint Curtis revealed his hope for the indictment of his campaign opponent, former Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut. We'...

shastascout.org

Shasta Scout @shastascout.bsky.social · 29d

“This designation strengthens our ability to shape a brighter future for Shasta County while preserving our values and priorities," Board Chair Kevin Crye said.

Shasta, California's 15th charter county, finally confirms its new status – Shasta Scout

Shasta County board chair Kevin Crye is celebrating an accomplishment he helped spearhead over the past few years, the county’s new charter status. It was delayed for more than a year by an administra...

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