Straight from the Source with Hayley Watts

The Shasta College president has local roots, and a background in English. We talk about what the community college has to offer, above and beyond what many might expect! Plus, the role of AI in higher education, expected state funding and why he loves long-distance running.

Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye is fighting colon cancer, and fighting to keep his seat for district 1. He addresses some of the claims against him by the two people also running for that seat in the June Primary. We talk about his plans for mental health, infrastructure, a medical school and a school he's starting for local teens.

This former Cal Fire EMT and law enforcement officer is running for Shasta County Supervisor District 1. He's calling for the county to push back against state mandates, and to do a better job of spending taxpayer dollars.

This Redding City Councilmember says she'll fight for mental health options and better public safety if elected to Shasta County District 1. Erin Resner breaks down what motivated her to run for office, as well as her plan for spending less money.

The appointed clerk & ROV says he believes changing the elections process through Measure B could set the stage for a nationwide change. He talks about increasing access for election observers and relying less on computers and more on real people to count ballots.

This contractor and Anderson City Councilmember now wants to represent district 5 in Shasta County. He discusses streamlining planning processes to help our region grow and thrive. Plus, how he plans to tackle the county's domestic violence problem.

Meet Matt & Lauren Thiede as well as Matt Johnston, the people behind Stoble Workplace. They're now taking their concept of "people-powered projects" across downtown and into the foothills. From bike trails, historical preservation to fancy donuts, this trio of friends is putting an inheritance to work in our community.

This Chico State sociology professor is focused on getting ahead of disasters like wildfires and flooding with better planning. We also talk with Marianne Paiva about her post-Camp Fire research, and why she thinks being a mom will make her a better public servant.

Butte County's clerk-recorder is in Primary Election-prep mode. We talk about everything that goes into getting the ballots out to the right people, including eligible inmates! Keaton Denlay walks us through how his team makes sure each ballot counted is valid, and shares his stance on the push for stricter voter ID processes.

This former Assistant Shasta County Clerk & Registrar of Voters is running for the elected office this June. We talk about her experiences over the past nearly 2 decades when it comes to election security, fraud concerns, the need for more poll volunteers, ink over-spray issues and being unexpectedly fired.

From campaign spending to checking dinner receipts, the FPPC works to make sure you know what your elected officials are spending money on, and Adam Silver is at the helm. We talk about new rules in the works, managing challenges brought on by cryptocurrency and AI, and what happens to bad actors who get caught.

This Shasta County native first pushed for the State of Jefferson and now as a supervisor, he's focused on keeping water running in the ACID canal, plus streamlining planning and permitting to benefit the local economy. We also cover wolf management, bear hunting and election security.

Chico's District 7 councilmember is a planner by profession, and she is fighting to keep Public Works needs front and center. She believes better roads and bike lanes are a key part of public safety. Plus, as a lifelong musician, Bryce Goldstein says she'll work to keep downtown venues thriving amid recent closures.

This Modoc County rancher went from emergency services to the state legislature, and hit the ground running. Hadwick says it's better to show than tell when it comes to getting her Democratic counterparts to understand the needs of her Assembly District 1, the largest by territory in the state. We talk about wolves and other predators, wildfire management, Second Amendment protections and the need for better healthcare.

The Red Bluff native rose to fame but never forgot his hometown roots. We talk about his growing family, working with AI in the music industry, his side gig shoeing horses, and why singing the national anthem still makes him sweat!

The Chico Housing Action Team Executive Director shares how she went from trying to build her own wealth in real estate, to helping others do the same. Young explains why “housing first” isn’t about handouts, and why local support for non-profits like CHAT can benefit the whole community.

Your favorite morning weatherman returns to the Action News Now studio to dish about what's keeping him busy these days: a new career with the CA Department of Fish & Wildlife. And now that he's no longer an employee here, he gets honest about past co-workers, working the early morning and late evening shifts, and all the other not-so-glamorous aspects of TV news.

Meet the new Northern Buttes District Superintendent for CA State Parks. Matthew Allen has always loved our great outdoors, and talks about the balance between preserving nature, and making sure people can live near it and safely interact with it. That means strategizing for wildfires, wolves, bears and lions, invasive plants and yes, even arsonists.

Many of you may feel like you know Tom Arnold after watching him for years on "Roseanne", or you saw him in the movie "True Lies". But the comedian might surprise you. He shares a few stories about stealing cake from Madonna & snubbing Hugh Grant, plus tells us what he really thinks about Californians. You can catch him live at Feather Falls Casino in Oroville on January 24th. 

Audrey Denney comes from a grape farming family and since then she's done it all! Bartending, consulting, teaching agriculture... she even spent a year volunteering in El Salvador. Hear why she believes as a Democrat she can meet the needs and values of rural Northern Californians in the U.S. House of Representatives District 1.

This local non-profit founder started Veterans Flags & Flowers when he was just 10 years old. A decade later, and he says there's more work to be done. He's both humble and humorous as he talks about meeting President Trump and the First Lady, and shares stories about traveling across the U.S. and overseas to honor those who served our country.

This week on Straight from the Source we hear from Colleen Cecil, Executive Director of the Butte County Farm Bureau about pesticides, wolf management and the impact of tariffs. This local dairy farmer advocates for seeking truth and checking our sources when it comes to where we get our information about the food we eat.

This local developer started with a t-shirt company and expanded into developing cities within the city. We talk about his vision and progress at Meriam Park, including water intrusion issues involving more than one contractor. We also discuss medical care expansion there, and what's in store at Barber Yard.

Tod Kimmelshue is from a family of farmers, but taking on the post-retirement job as Butte County Supervisor has taught him a lot about public health, public safety and everything else that matters to his community. We talk about getting through the pandemic, why groundwater management matters for all of us, and what could come next for the Oroville Hospital after the bankruptcy filing. Plus, why he and his fellow supervisors have so much respect for one another.

This bay area native comes from a family of farmers, and argues that the Democratic Party can represent the needs of rural District 1. He's looking to replace Rep. Doug Lamalfa in the next election cycle. We talk about why he believes he can bring better jobs, health care and education to Northern California. Plus, you'll learn a little bit about his family, background and pop culture preferences.

Chico's long-time Director of Public Works-Operations & Maintenance just promoted to a new role: Assistant City Manager. It's a job that Erik Gustafson's former role prepared him for well, as he oversaw homeless camp clearouts and management under the Warren Settlement, efforts to bring commercial flights to the Chico Regional Airport, constant road repair projects and of course the ever-important management of Chico's trees, which cover 36% of the city.

This Butte County leader does it all! The 90-hour-or-so work week includes cracking down on crime as a Lieutenant with the Chico Police Department, representing the interests of District 2, and of course being a husband and father. Public safety, affordable housing for the average family and flood control are key issues he wants to keep working on. But he still carries fond memories of his time as a School Resource Officer at Chico Unified, and let's not forget his prior career as a Major League Baseball umpire.

This former Lieutenant & homicide detective for the Redding Police Department came out of retirement to fight for change in his community. The self-described conservative says he's still in the minority on a lot of local issues, but says that won't stop him from standing up for what he believes to be truth, facts and common sense. We talk about efforts to build new behavioral health and correctional facilities, chemtrails(!) and reducing the risk of devastating wildfires.

Shelly Rogers is not retired, yet she finds the time to help out at 4 different Butte County animal organizations. We talk about coyotes in neighborhoods, whether or not to feed feral cats, what happened to the animals taken from Kirshner, and what motivates her to foster now 173 dogs and cats, and counting.

This Northern California native wants to set a good example for her kids, and create a safe community. She discusses what she thinks the sales tax proposal could do for the city when it comes to public safety and services like the Civic Auditorium. We also talk about the challenges of being a mom, endurance athlete and small business owner.

This former Fire Chief turned politician says Oroville is an amazing community to be a part of, but also says they need to work harder to let the rest of the world know that. We discuss how technology is improving public safety, steps forward in the homeless crisis (plus continuing challenges, like dumping trash in the Feather River). We also discuss FERC stalling on the Oroville Dam licensing agreement, and what it would mean for the city if the deal is renewed.

This District 1 Butte County supervisor says the job's taught him a lot. Also a veteran, he initially ran for office on a mission to build the now nearly-complete Veteran's Memorial. Since then, he's taken on the task of fighting to get the FERC to renew the Oroville Dam license. He says the state should be doing a lot more for the community that's hosting the massive reservoir. We also talk about AI, social media, milking cows and what it will take for people to be a little kinder to one another.

This town councilmember and Camp Fire survivor rebuilt her home, and is spending her free time making sure others can do the same. From new rules for chicken ownership, to building a sewer for the business district, Lange shares what local leaders are working on. She also answers *some of our questions about what instigated the investigation into the town's building division.

This local business owner and current Chico councilmember is committed to improving the city he calls home. He sought out Chico for it's unique blend of culture, community-oriented living and relief from big-city problems. Now, he's laser focused on key goals like preventing flooding at 5-mile, mitigating the impacts of homelessness and the continuing Warren Agreement, plus revamping the downtown area. The local gym owner also shares his secret to living a long and healthy life.

This local business owner is known for his many fundraisers that benefit our community, specifically kids and families in need. Farshad Azad shares more about why he came to the U.S. in the first place, driven by a desire to study political science and to have the right to free speech. We talk about how martial arts isn't really about fighting, but about bettering yourself on all levels.

He hails from the East Coast but now calls Butte County home. We talk to Public Health Officer Dr. Jarett Beaudoin about everything from the E. Coli detection in Big Chico Creek, to vaccine safety, the "MAHA" movement, Lyme Disease, and what's driving the mental health crisis. And you might be surprised to learn that this health expert's favorite local restaurant is found inside a gas station!

This city councilmember is not afraid to tell you what he believes to be right and wrong. Chuck Reynolds talks about his battle to keep pot shops out of the Oroville, waging a war against the "MJ Five", his work to secure the transition from a city fire department to a contract with Cal Fire, and why he believes regular people make better leaders than career politicians.

The former Marysville city councilmember says he’s ready to take his public service to the state level. We hear from him about public education, affordable housing, his relationship with the current District 3 Assemblyman who endorsed him, his faith and even his take on Santa Claus.

This former Chico police chief, current city councilmember and head of the Butter Interagency Narcotics Task Force says he's committed to finding actual solutions to the problems our community faces. We discuss cartels, guns on school campuses and the relentless homelessness dilemma.

Tehama County Supervisor Matt Hansen opens up about the quasi-criminal investigation into Supervisor Pati Nolen and the claims she's made against him. He also gets us up to speed on where the ground is sinking in the county due to over-pumping, and why he's worried about public safety. 

Former Chico Mayor Andrew Coolidge opens up about the homeless camp clearout lawsuit, losing his father in the Cascade Fire, the "ice rink controversy" and why he's now running for state assembly, district 3.

Our guest this week is the Editor-in-Chief of the Chico Enterprise-Record & Oroville Mercury-Register. Mike Wolcott talks about his long history in our area, from his childhood roots in Tehama County, to pursuing his big-city dreams of becoming a sports reporter. We talk about the role of journalism in democracy and how his team combats the "fake news" narrative.

Gaddie is a real-deal firefighter who the Action News Now team has gotten to know pretty well through his work as a public information office with Butte County Cal Fire. We talk about PFAs in firefighting gear, rescuing cats from trees, and why he stays in "business mode" to stay sane in this challenging profession.

This former California Farm Bureau President is also making a run for the state assembly, district 3. We talk about his background as a first-generation olive and citrus farmer, water management, GMOs and pesticides, and what he thinks about the reintroduction of wolves that started in Yellowstone, his favorite place to visit.

Tehama County's District 3 Supervisor is at the center of a criminal investigation after a recent Grand Jury report detailed concern about possible misconduct, alcohol use and secret recordings. She opens up about where she believes the claims against her stem from. Plus, we talk about her roots in the construction industry and her goals for her constituents.

Red Bluff's Police Chief Quintan Ortega worked his way up the ranks in the community he calls home. He's up against illegal drugs, mental health issues, homelessness and funding challenges, but seems to be brimming with compassion, humor and positivity. You just might find the man behind the badge to be truly inspiring.

Chico Unified School District's first-ever female superintendent has retired after 18 years. We talked about navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic, complicated gender issues and how to serve a school lunch that's both healthy and edible.

The House of Representatives just approved President Trump's spending plan. We caught up with Northern California Congressman Doug Lamalfa right after the vote. He explains what it means for water storage in our area, Medicaid's future, public lands and rural hospitals.

In her first and only interview with local media, Sherri Papini talks about why pleading guilty to lying to a federal agent and to mail fraud doesn't mean she lied about everything. We asked her all the questions we've heard from community members over the years about her disappearance and why she's speaking out for the first time in almost a decade.

Redding City Councilmember Tenessa Audette brings up serious concerns regarding the city's finances. She argues that massive pay bumps have hurt public safety. She also opens up about raising teenagers, playing pickleball and CrossFit. We also discuss the influence of Bethel Church Redding on local politics.