Issue: December 12, 2013
Good morning, Chico News & Review readers!
I hope everyone is staying warm in this chilly weather (though I must say it feels more like the holidays now than it did about a week and a half ago, when it seemed more like Christmastime in Arizona--I mean, I still had peppers and tomatoes growing in my backyard until the Arctic cold front killed them).
With no risk at all of sounding like I am exaggerating, I am telling you that Staff Writer Ken Smith's cover story, "Cottonwood constitutionalists," rocks so hard that if you do not read it (or just skim over parts of it, like the excellent photographs), you will truly be missing out on one of the best feature stories we have run it quite some time. If you want to know what's up with militia folks in the North State, Smith's story will give you the proverbial lowdown as well as the proverbial inside poop. (And, as if laboring intensively and time-consumingly over a fabulous cover story weren't enough, Smith also weighs in with two other top-notch pieces in this issue of the CN&R: his Newslines story, "Protesters target Target"--gold for its headline alone!--and "Dames of the dead," in Arts & Culture, about the new Undead Beauties of Chico zombie-style calendar.)
Other Newslines stories: Contributor Alastair Bland leads off the section with "Feds kill baby salmon" ('nuff said--read it!); Assistant News Editor Howard Hardee covers the latest supes meeting and their wrangling of pot-related issues in "Chronic issues"; and yours truly penned "Out of the cold," about the newly formed Chico Homeless Action Team's efforts to shelter a particularly at-risk segment of Chico's homeless population inside and away from below-freezing temperatures.
Regular contributor Evan Tuchinsky's Healthlines feature, "Psychiatrist on safari," is about a local physician who practices psycho-oncology; he shared his thoughts with Tuchinsky about his recent trip to Africa. And I wrote the Greenways feature story, "New growth," about Prestige Landscape Services Nursery, which employs the developmentally disabled, and recently opened to the public as a retail nursery.
Also in A&C: Contributor Stacey Kennelly's useful and timely Chow piece on making gingerbread houses, "Tastes like home," and contributor Robert Speer's enlightening review of the very first show at The Rendezvous, "Road-testing The Rendezvous."
Go to Arts DEVO's column and my Greenhouse column for info on two festive holiday events at two different local nurseries this weekend...
And I'll say it again: Pick up the print version and peruse that Calendar section, which is packed full of great stuff to do this week!
Here's wishing you lovely holiday fun...
Christine G.K. LaPado-Breglia, associate editor
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Cottonwood constitutionalists
The small North State town of Cottonwood boasts a formidable militia group that derives its legitimacy from the Second Amendment.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Feds kill baby salmon
Strong salmon migration is diluted by poor water management.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Protesters target Target
Local pro-Palestinian rights demonstrators joined demonstrators around the country to protest Target’s relationship with home-carbonation system maker SodaStream.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Chronic issues
Butte County supervisors consider two pot-related items as tempers flare.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Out of the cold
The newly formed Chico Homeless Action Team is working with the Chico Peace and Justice Center to provide the homeless with a warm, safe sleeping environment during the cold snap.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Fracking reaction
An anti-fracking ordinance effort is launched in Butte County.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Fracking reaction
An anti-fracking ordinance effort is launched in Butte County.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Tunnel opposition
Tunnel opponents react to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan report.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Sheriff announces retirement
Butte County Sheriff Jerry Smith won’t seek re-election; supports Undersheriff Kory Honea as his successor.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Online versus brick-and-mortar shopping
Holiday shopping trends away from physical department stores.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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New growth
The Work Training Center’s Prestige Landscape Service Nursery recently opened itself up to the public.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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‘Hot, sour and breathless’
The world’s oceans are becoming increasingly acidic at an alarming rate.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Pine beetle invasion
New Jersey’s Pinelands region is being invaded by destructive southern pine beetles.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Cold streak a passing phase
Record-low temperatures in the U.S. are a fluctuation in the overall trend of global warming.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Poinsettias and spinach in winter
The Plant Barn’s Dec. 14 Sale-a-bration and other holiday wonderfulness.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Keep your best friend warm
Cold weather can be harmful to your pet's health.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Psychiatrist on safari
Local physician shares lessons he learned during a recent cancer conference in Africa.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Cold front approaching
WebMD’s Cold and Flu Map provides your sickness forecast.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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More doctors, please
State physician shortage is underscored by a Southern California university’s scholarship offer.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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‘Fat and healthy’ myth busted
Obesity raises health risks even when an individual is metabolically healthy.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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GOP’s schoolyard tactics
A misleading Covered California-related website is the work of state Republicans.
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Assessing realignment
It’s far too soon to know whether realignment is or isn’t working.
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Mindful holiday shopping
Make a commitment to purchase gifts at locally owned businesses this holiday season.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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A homeless encounter
A local canner offers her view of Chico’s homeless.
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Dressed to dance
New belly dance store opens in downtown Chico.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Dames of the dead
Chico artists and performers peel off their skin for a zombified pin-up calendar.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Soundgarden
Soundgarden’s debut EPs, re-released and remastered.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Road-testing The Rendezvous
The California Honeydrops break in a bright new venue.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Tastes like home
Make your own gingerbread house from scratch, just like mom did.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Another kind of blue
A ‘tender and frank’ approach to young love in this French coming-of-age story.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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Out of the Furnace
Christian Bale’s fine performance is at the heart of a violent tale set in decaying industrial America.
This article was published on 12.12.13
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