Stories from the cops beat

I had an incredibly challenging week working the cops shift. I wrote about a 14-year-old kid who died, which was hard emotionally, and covered my first fire, which was hard physically and mentally. But overall, it was a pretty awesome week. I really enjoyed the challenges.

Palo Cedro boy identified in car wreck

Evacuation orders remain in effect

Former Montgomery Creek teacher arrested in drug bust

Blaze grows to at least 1,200 acres

Evacuations lifted for Fawn Lodge Road in Coffin Fire

County officials say juvenile hall replacement long overdue

Redding police sergeant injured in crash

Coffin Fire suspect charged with two felonies

Resting up before working the cops beat

I'm on the cops beat this next week. The fire season has really picked up so I expect to be busy. Read my story below published on today's front page about the forest fires:

Residents express relief as fires near containment

Another story from today, watch the video these kids are cute:

Sister, brother duo help animals with lemonade stand

Other stories from last week:

Redding faces almost $4 million in cuts; county uncertain

Domestic violence shelters slammed by budget cuts

For first time, voters will chose Anderson fire board

More disabled Shasta County Residents will lose home helpers

Mountain Gate board outlines plans for new manager

Jesus Culture wants to heal Redding residents

Still writing...

I know it's been a bit since I last posted so here are some catch-up links:

From today:
County supervisors cut tourism funding

Redding firm wins $1.5 million design contract for juvenile hall

From Tuesday:
Anderson/Corning city attorney retirement will be discussed tonight

From Saturday
Central Valley student sues over chemical burns

From last Friday:
Mountain Gate services district seeks to replace fired manager

Last Monday:
Budget cuts could eliminate vital services for elderly and disabled

Study: Sierra Pacific's power plant would have 'significant effects'

Other stories:
Kitten thrown from pickup window still without a home

Mountain Gate Community Services District manager fired

Playing catch-up

I've been really busy since I got back from a long Fourth of July weekend in Washington. Here are my most recent stories:

New program proposed to advocate for Shasta County foster children

State cuts could eliminate north state drug agents

Choosing site for new courthouse could be years away

Gymnasts bounce, spin and finish with medals

40 attend Shasta College event to start medical careers

Shasta County property values down more than $1 billion

This week's articles

Biggest stories:

County contractor ordered to repay state almost $200,000

Victim says homophobia still a major problem in the north state

IOUs could force shutdown of some county program within weeks

And:

Shasta County hoping for more stimulus dollars

Cottonwood family devastated by fire

Milestone

I got my first Sunday spread this past weekend! Read the articles that graced the front page below:

Shasta County teen birth rate hits four year high


Redding teen mother tells her story

Also, on today's front page:

Cottonwood family devastated by fire

New site

Redding.com launched its new Web site on Wednesday. There's been some mixed feedback but I like the new layout.

Here are a few stories:

Clinics await results of suit to save Medi-Cal

Supervisors balk at cost increases

Parolee arrested after CHP chase

One arrested, two at large in pot raid near Shingletown

Some of today's stories from the cops beat

I'm doing the cops beat this week which means I'm the one who runs out on the scene when something interesting comes across the scanner, updates the Web, receives faxes from law enforcement, etc. Some interesting items came through today:

Vehicle theft suspect found hiding in fountain

Whiskey, camping with minors doesn't mix well for Weed man

Suspected stick-wielding assailant at large

Man lifted to Mercy Medical after bee causes accident

Some of last week's articles

Expanded clinic opens in face of state budget cuts

Viral meningitis breaks out in Shasta County

This article was interesting to write. I got to look up the offender's court files and piece together details about the crime we hadn't covered during the trial.
Previous offender bilked nutrition program

The only non-AP stories on the front page...

Were mine :-)

Shasta District Fair ready to roll Wednesday

Kids ready for fair's junior livestock auction

I went to a media luncheon today for the district fair and won a $75 spa gift certificate...which I gave to advertising to raffle out to the office. Darn journalistic ethics lol

Stories, stories, stories

Host families sought for exchange students

Revamped MLK Canter and programs approved

Knighton Road retail center moves forward

Stories:

The Web site's top story right now:

Supervisors refuse to yield on sheriff's budget cuts

And the update to the kitten story:

Rescued kitten now in foster home

Some of this week's stories

This story so far has gotten me a phone call about every 15 minutes all day:

No room at north state shelters for rescued kitten

Shasta County Public Defender, assistant district attorney appointed

More cuts expected in seniors' programs

Relay for Life brings in less cash but participation stays strong

Finally a happy story

Redding cancer survivor will join others in Relay for Life

And bad news from yesterday's paper:

Governor's proposal would eliminate health care for thousands of north state children

Challenges

I had to tell a caller today that it is not my job to write a story on what the definition of marriage should be, but that it is my job to present both sides objectively. I hope I did.

Gay marriage issue isn't settled, both sides claim

I also got to meet Meg Whitman yesterday, which was neat. I remember John McCain tossing her name around during the presidential election.

Candidate for governor visits Redding

Interesting story

Tehama County man summoned to serve on Shasta County jury

More bad news, written by me

We got a press release from the sheriff's office at 4:56 p.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and I scrambled to find people to talk to. Luckily the seventh person I called answered the phone. :-)

Shasta County sheriff lays off 25 employees

Two articles from today

Following election, sheriff plans more layoffs

Open campsites may be scarce this holiday weekend

Special election coverage

Voters reject five out of six measures

Dog shooting

Neighbors upset after dog shot near bus stop

I did a lot of research for this story and talked to many neighbors, police and the man who owned the goat that was killed. I also made efforts to locate the gunman. I wish there had been more room for me to keep the many details that were cut during final edits.

Two more front-pagers

But what I'm really excited about is an article coming out this weekend!

Lone Stranger, Sidekick revealed

Cuts will reduce oversight of nursing homes, assisted living facilities

I wish that as journalists we could educate the public about the news process. So many people don't realize that news articles are, as Brad Howard put it, the words that fill the space around ads. Reporters don't get very much say in how long an article will run, unless it's a special project and editors are given advanced notice. Our articles have to fit within the space leftover once the ads are placed. Along with that -- news articles are not advertisements and should not be treated or intended as such in my opinion.

Also, with the staff cuts at newsrooms across the nation, the manpower simply isn't there to cover every event, meeting, band performance etc. I got yelled at today over the phone by a woman because I wrote the story about the Lone Stranger being identified and not about the kiddie parade, which her daughter's band was in.

I'm getting used to writing two to three stories a day and am feeling much more confident about my work performance.

Two front page articles today!

Shasta County sheriff may have to cut a fifth of staff

Spring rains may boost north state water allocations

Yesterday I wrote this article and took video for one of the Rodeo Week events. It was really fun: Lone Stranger and Sidekick strike again

Property tax woes

No help available for north state homeowners struggling to pay property taxes

My story on Medi-Cal cuts is the second most e-mailed and second most commented story on www.redding.com, the Record Searchlight site.

Top article in today's issue

Poor prognosis

I have another article coming out tomorrow.

First county meeting, first feature

County supervisors cut vacation buy-backs

Redding ALS patient hopes new machine will help

Two articles on two of California's special election initiatives

Prop 1D would tap First 5 Funds

Prop 1E would reallocate mental health money

My first trial story!

The courts reporter had the day off so I got to step in and try my hand at court reporting. It was really interesting and I'd like to do it more often!

Former Haven CEO takes witness stand in his own defense

Petrified stump stirs up sadness for donor

Turtle Bay stumped

New story

This one was interesting to write. It was fun to run around to all the different agencies and piece together the puzzle, though the topic was disturbing.

Sex offender charged with possession of buckets of porn

Front page story

Lassen park will get $15.7 million in stimulus money

First Record-Searchlight article published today

Fair board rolls back new parking fee

My first A-1 story gets published tomorrow! So far I'm really enjoying Redding and working at the Record-Searchlight. I hope I catch on quickly but there is so much to learn in a new city.

Most recent BBJ article

Local Authors

I was offered a reporting job at the Record-Searchlight in Redding, Calif. and start on April 20! I'm very excited and honored to have this opportunity to get out there and put my skills to the test.

Links to articles I have written since my internship

From The Bellingham Business Journal where I interned from January until March 2009:

February Business Births

To Change a Village

March Business Births

From Klipsun Magazine, a Western Washington University publication:

Fighting H8