Another Quake Rocks Northern California

An earthquake that registered 6.0 on the Richter scale struck just off the Pacific Coast at 12:20 p.m. Thursday. Some folks in Redding felt the quake, but no reports of damage so far.

The 6.5-magnitude quake that hit the same area on Jan. 9 did millions of dollars of damage along the coast, but initial reports say Thursday’s was much les…

Food Film to be Debated

The obesity epidemic behind so many of the nation’s health problems can be traced to the food we eat and the way we eat it. Processed foods, fast food, salt, corn syrup, trans fats: We’re making ourselves sick, bite after bite.

A 2009 documentary, “Food, Inc.,” was widely acclaimed for its exploration of where fo…

Deep in the Heart of Stupid

Nothing they love down in Texas more than a good book-banning, but the state Board of Education got carried away.

In their haste to eliminate all pinko/commie/leftist leanings from the state’s social studies curriculum, board members banned the children’s classic “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”…

Laughs, Limbaugh and More

The world can always use more laughs, and we’ve been missing a few in Northern California since comedians/political satirists Liz Merry and Aaron Standish took a “burnout” break a couple of years ago.

We got a missive from the Merry Standish duo the other day that says they’re gearing up to perform again. In th…

Corning Woman Whips Taliban

The Los Angeles Times has a vivid story about a Taliban attack on a convoy of California Army National Guard troops in Afghanistan, and a soldier from Corning is singled out for her heroism.

Spc. Kathy Tanson, 20, raked an enemy position with fire from a .50-caliber machine gun as the convoy fought back during an ambush by two groups of Taliban…

Cure Your Inner Grinch

Need an injection of Christmas spirit? Nothing works better than holiday music, and you can get a big dose for FREE on Tuesday when an octet called Wednesday Nights @ Our House sings carols at the Redding Library.

The a capella group will perform at 6 p.m. in the library’s community room for the monthly “Musical Tuesdays at the Li…

Thanksgiving Cheaper This Year

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings should cost a little less this year because prices for turkey and cranberries are down.

That’s the word from Purdue University, which tracks commodity prices and calculates the annual cost of holiday meals. Agriculture economist Corrine Alexander says retail grocery p…

Pay Off Your Library Fines With Food

The Shasta County Libraries offer a three-week amnesty period for people who have outstanding fines. Through the new Food for Fines program, they can get a deal on paying off the debt while also helping out the needy.

Starting Nov. 1, people with fines can bring canned food to the library and trade it in — $1 off the library debt for…

Rain on Halloween? Boo!

Got your Halloween costume picked out yet? Does it include a poncho?

Long-range forecasts call for rain in the Redding area on Oct. 31, which would be too damned bad because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Conditions could change between now and then. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime, Northern California will enjoy beaut…

Best Deal in Town

What if I told you there was a store where you could buy lightly used hardcover books in all genres, from best-sellers to obscure how-to texts, for 50 cents each? And paperbacks for 25 cents? Why, you’d jump right on your scooter and roar over there and stock up for the coming rainy season.

Well, there is such a store. Only catch is that it…