Quick reads — Redding Civic Auditorium gets closer to new operator

The Redding Civic Auditorium is one step closer to getting a new operator. This month, the city will begin a final round of interviews with five possible candidates.

Some operators have ties to Redding but others hail from Nashville, Beverly Hills and Iowa. The bidders come from a mix of backgrounds, including venue management, event promotion and music production.

The auditorium was previously operated by nonprofit Advance Redding for 14 years, but gave control of the venue back to the city earlier this year.

Rep. Jared Huffman said one of his district offices received a suspicious letter containing an unknown white powder on Monday.

Huffman, a Democrat running for reelection, would represent Shasta and Siskiyou counties beginning next year if he wins in November.

Reuters reports that the FBI and U.S. Postal Service are investigating similar letters sent to congressional offices and election officials across the country.

Huffman condemned the incident, saying political intimidation has no place in the United States.

California's September unemployment rate remained unchanged from August's, remaining at 5.1%, according to new data from the California Employment Development Department.

Shasta County closely tracked the state average at 5.2% unemployment, but Butte County was higher at 5.9%.

Unemployment levels in the state have fallen for the last 10 months, with agriculture seeing some of the biggest gains. In September, California saw 1,100 more farm jobs than the month before. And there were over 14,500 more farm jobs in September 2026 compared to September 2025.

Damian Dovarganes

/

AP Photo

We're learning more about California's new lawsuit against ICE, which is trying to stop immigration arrests at state courthouses.

The lawsuit details several incidents in the North State. It says at least 34 courthouse arrests have been made in Shasta County since January 2025. Multiple arrests were also reported in Butte County.

The suit alleges a federal agent asked a court officer in Glenn County to hide an arrest from a judge. The Department of Homeland Security has said courthouse arrests are safer for officers because of security screenings.

Several North State dams appear to be among dozens flagged for safety concerns in a report released last week by the California State Auditor.

A map in the audit shows three dams in the region are in poor condition and classified as a high hazard, meaning a failure could result in the loss of at least one life. The dams aren't named.

Following the 2017 Oroville Dam spillway crisis, the state gained new powers to penalize dam owners for safety violations. Auditors say those powers haven't been fully used and are calling for stronger enforcement.

Monday is the last day to register to vote online for the November election.

Voters have until midnight to complete their registration on the California Secretary of State's website.

Missing Monday's deadline doesn't mean you can't cast a ballot on Nov. 3. Eligible voters can still register and vote in person at county election offices and vote centers through Election Day.