Latest news with #BuzzontheStreet
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You can't just throw out Patty Plumb's address': Shasta elections boss faces new storm
Shasta's new top elections official, Clint Curtis, registered to vote in the county using the address of a member of the controversial advisory Elections Commission. County elections records show Curtis registered as a Republican on May 8. The address on his registration is the same as Patty Plumb, a conservative activist and elections skeptic who was re-appointed to the Shasta County Elections Commission by District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon in late January. As of Wednesday, Curtis was also registered in Florida as a Democrat, who gave an address in Titusville, Florida, according to the Brevard County elections website. At least one public speaker at Tuesday's Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting, when Curtis was appointed, questioned his place of residence. 'One has to have a residence in Shasta County. You can't just say, 'Oh, I'm going to throw out Patty Plumb's address, the Shasta County elections commissioner and use hers.' Has anybody checked that?' Shasta County retired Public Defender Jeff Gorder said. Election rules in California say residents get to decide what address they want to use to register to vote, Shasta County Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut said Wednesday morning. She said voters sign an affidavit to confirm their place of residence. She said someone registering to vote could report their address as a street corner. The residency question also came up during District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye's campaign in 2022, when he defeated Erin Resner, who currently sits on the Redding City Council. There were allegations Crye did not live in the district. Former county Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen at the time said Crye submitted the appropriate documents and based on that information, his name was approved for the ballot. Supervisors approved Curtis' appointment as the county's new registrar of voters on Tuesday by a 3-2 vote. Crye, Harmon and Chris Kelstrom voted to appoint Curtis. Supervisors Allen Long and Matt Plummer voted no. Long and Plummer wanted Francescut to get the job. Curtis' first day on the job was Wednesday. Francescut said Curtis took a tour of the office and met the staff. Francescut has said that she wants to continue as assistant registrar of voters. She also has announced her intention to run for registrar of voters when the seat comes up in June 2026. Curtis' appointment goes through 2026. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Clint Curtis' voter registration in Shasta County mired in controversy
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avelo Airlines, once a carrier in Redding, to do charter deportation flights for ICE
Budget carrier Avelo Airlines, which served Redding before pulling out last year, will start deportation flights for the U.S. government next month. The company announced it has signed an agreement to provide charter flights for the U.S. Homeland Security's Immigration Control and Enforcement. The charters will be based at the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, and Avelo will use three 737-800s to operate the flights, the company said. The 737-800 can seat from 162 to 189 passengers depending on how it is configured. The twin-engine jet was the same aircraft Avelo flew out of Redding when it was here. Avelo spokeswoman Madison Jones said the flights are scheduled to start May 12. 'Flights will be both domestic and international to support the Department's deportation efforts,' she wrote in an email. 'With this, Avelo will open a base at AZA with Avelo pilots, flight attendants and aircraft technicians, as well as appropriate local leaders. We expect to begin hiring locally for these positions immediately. Current Avelo Crewmembers (employees) will have the first option to transfer to our new AZA base,' she added. In a statement, Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy said: 'We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.' At least one community where Avelo serves is concerned about the news. 'Avelo Airlines' decision to charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona is deeply disappointing and disturbing," New Haven (Connecticut) Mayor Justin Elicker stated in The Wilton Bulletin. Avelo arrived in Redding in May 2021 when it started flights to Hollywood Burbank. In January 2022, the carrier expanded here with flights to Las Vegas. But Avelo's Las Vegas service in Redding was short-lived as it discontinued the flights in late 2022. Last August, Avelo completely pulled out of Redding when it stopped its service to Hollywood Burbank. The airline left because Trego Dugan, which provided ground service for Avelo, decided to leave Redding. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Avelo Airlines to provide deportation flights for ICE in May
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who should lead Shasta County Elections Office? Readers who voted have a favorite
Record Searchlight/ readers have spoken on who they think should be Shasta County's next clerk and registrar of voters. Readers who took the unscientific poll picked overwhelmingly Joanna Francescut, who is the assistant clerk and registrar of voters. Of the 1,639 votes cast, nearly 90%, or 1,446, voted for Francescut. Coming in a distant second was former District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones, who had 91 votes. Clint Curtis came in third with 78 votes. Curtis was a finalist for the job last summer and the preferred candidate of Supervisor Chris Kelstrom and Jones. Both ended up joining Supervisor Kevin Crye in the 3-2 vote that gave Tom Toller the job. Curtis is a lawyer from Florida, former computer programmer and a self-described elections expert who has advocated returning to hand-counting ballots. Bob Holsinger came in fourth place with 13 votes, followed by other with 11 votes. He ran against former ROV Cathy Darling Allen in June 2022. Darling Allen received nearly 70% of the vote in defeating her challenger. Of those that chose other, two wrote in Laura Hobbs and one wrote in Richard Gallardo. Hobbs has twice sued the county registrar voters, alleging unverified evidence of fraud. In October 2020, Gallardo gained notoriety when during the board's public comment period he made a citizen's arrest on all five supervisors and then-County Counsel Rubin Cruse Jr. over COVID-19 restrictions. The poll was open from March 31 to April 6. Jones on Monday said he is considering applying for the job but will not decide until April 18, which is two days before the deadline to apply. 'I will look at the list (of applicants) and make my decision then,' Jones told the Record Searchlight in a text message. Francescut, a veteran of the election office after more than 16 years on the job, applied for the top position of her department after her boss, Cathy Darling Allen, retired. But the Board of Supervisors passed her over and picked Tom Toller, who at that time was in semi-retirement from his job as a former prosecutor. Nonetheless, Francescut stayed on in her role as Toller's assistant. Francescut has not said publicly if she will apply. Toller is endorsing Francescut to be his successor after he retires at the end of April. Supervisors will conduct interviews with job candidates during a public meeting tentatively scheduled for April 30. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Who should lead Shasta elections office? Joanna Francescut, poll says
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Winter weather brings snow to Redding, northern Sacramento Valley floor, and chains to I-5
The second round of winter weather this week brought snow to downtown Redding and chain restrictions to Interstate 5, mountain roads and highways Friday morning. While snow was falling downtown and north Redding, it was not sticking to the ground. Meanwhile, northbound traffic on I-5 is being screened for chains at the Fawndale exit about 10 miles north of Redding. Chains are required on I-5 north of Redding and through segments of the freeway to Mount Shasta. Chains are required about 20 miles west of Redding on Highway 299, according to Caltrans. Chains are also required in the area of Hatchet Mountain on Highway 299 east of Redding. Please refresh your browser for the latest radar loop. Due to the snow, Dunsmuir High School has announced classes won't start until 10 a.m. on Friday. According to the National Weather Service, the low snow levels will start to rise as the day progresses. By the afternoon snow levels will be hovering around 4,000 feet. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for parts of Shasta County through Friday afternoon. 'Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning and evening commutes,' the weather service states. Please refresh your browser for the latest radar loop. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Winter storm brings snow to far Northern California, chains to I-5
