Shasta County - CalMatters

Jim Scala at his ranch in Montague on Aug. 29, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Rural ranchers face $4,000 proposed fine for violating state drought order

by Rachel Becker November 7, 2022November 7, 2022

The penalty is the maximum the ranchers — who pumped Shasta River water for eight days — could face under state law. It amounts to about $50 per rancher, which is no deterrent, ranchers and officials agree.

A formerly homeless mother, Cassidy, holds her child in her apartment in Redding on Sept. 20, 2022. Like many mothers who contract syphilis, Cassidy struggled with meth and alcohol addiction. She was able to get treatment from the Shasta Community street medicine team and help to secure temporary housing during her pregnancy and manage her alcohol withdrawal. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local.

Community health workers hit the streets to battle the surge in congenital syphilis

by Kristen Hwang October 10, 2022October 12, 2022

Guillermo Hernandez sits in his van in Richmond on Jan. 28, 2021. Hernandez, who uses his van for his businesses buying and selling second hand goods, lost work after having his license suspended in 2013 for failure to pay a ticket. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

State lifts suspensions of half a million driver’s licenses

by Robert Lewis January 29, 2021January 29, 2021

Despite widespread and continuing national concerns about election integrity, it’s clear that county registrars of voters in California — the heroes of the 2020 election — made sure every vote was counted. Photos by Lew Griswold; courtesy of Jeannette Logue; Ron Holman, Visalia Times Delta

Elections, Politics

Covering elections showed me California votes were secure

by Lewis Griswold January 15, 2021May 24, 2023

Voters wait to cast their ballots outside the Shasta County Elections Department on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. Photo by Mike Chapman, Redding Record Searchlight

Elections, Politics

Subdued mood and happy moments at rural Shasta polls

by Lewis Griswold December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

Elections, Politics

A debunked theory fuels a Trump lawsuit

by Steven Rascón November 10, 2020November 10, 2020

Election worker Lindsey Jost collects sorted ballots at the Napa County clerk-recorder office on Nov. 3, 2020. Napa County purchased a specialized ballot sorting machine for this election in order to limit the number of workers and allow for social distancing in the office. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Elections, Politics

California’s counters still have millions of ballots to go

by Lewis Griswold November 5, 2020November 6, 2020

Special education instructor Liz Duffield sprays down the tables in her pre-k and kindergarten classroom at the end of the school day on Oct. 26, 2020. Duffield says that sanitizing and hand washing has become an important part of keeping herself and her students healthy and she intends to continue with them after the pandemic. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

What we know so far about school reopenings in California

by Ricardo Cano and James Bikales November 2, 2020November 4, 2020

Voting Centers opened across Los Angeles County, including Grand Central Market, on October 24, 2020. Voters can drop-off ballots or vote in person before Nov. 3rd. Photo Credit by Los Angeles County via Flickr

Elections, Politics

Counties, cops making sure you’re safe at the polls

by Lewis Griswold October 30, 2020May 24, 2023

Some elections departments are already putting returned ballots through a scanner now but officials are prohibited from compiling and releasing results until election day. Photo illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Elections, Politics

Here’s how California keeps early votes secret until election day

by Lewis Griswold October 26, 2020May 24, 2023