The media was kicked out of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting when a woman was arrested

REDDING, California – Media rules at Shasta County Board of Supervisor meetings are in flux this year.

At the most recent meeting on Thursday, reporters were removed as the boardrooms were cleared after Jenny O’Connell Nowain protested for a second time.

O’Connell Nowain went to the slides with a sign that read “Patrick Jones resigns.” District 4 Supervisor Jones will be replaced by Matt Plummer in the new year after losing his re-election bid in the March primary.

O’Connell Nowain then approached the supervisors, sitting on the ground. The province’s administrative manual states: “All persons in the audience must remain seated in the designated seats or stand along the back wall of the boardroom.”

The Sheriff’s Office said she was arrested after refusing several orders to leave the rooms. This was the second time O’Connell Nowain was removed. At the end of July she sat down again and refused to get up. During this event, the public had to leave the rooms, but the media could remain inside.

On July 29, the Board of Supervisors issued a policy stating that media must remain in a designated area or they would be removed along with the rest of the public. Chairman Kevin Crye claimed this was because the Sheriff’s Office requested this protocol. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office refuted this claim, saying they had nothing to do with this decision.

A few days later, on August 1, the province revoked access to the media room and normal business was restored.

The County’s Administrative Policy Manual only states that: “Media representatives may use equipment to record procedures in certain areas designated by the County Executive Officer that does not block ingress or egress or disrupt the orderly conduct of people , disrupt or otherwise impede the proceedings.”

There were no reports of media members being disruptive or violating protocols before being asked to leave the rooms. It is still unclear why media members were also removed on Thursday. District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman said he thinks this violates the First Amendment and clouds the transparency of the public’s ability to view O’Connell-Nowain’s arrest, where she was arrested in the dark and away from the public and the press.

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