Shooting suspect Ryan Hardy is sought by Antioch Police. Photo: Antioch PD
Say 23-year-old Ryan “Hardy should be considered armed and dangerous”
Share more details about girl still in stable but critical condition
By Lt. William Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
Today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Antioch Police Department detectives identified Ryan Hardy as the suspect in the shooting of an 11-year-old girl on January 5th through a combination of video surveillance, witness statements and forensic evidence.
Hardy should be considered armed and dangerous. Members of the public are advised not to confront him. Anyone who sees Hardy in public or has information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately. Hardy is also encouraged to peacefully surrender to the Antioch Police Department.
During the course of the investigation, detectives identified several individuals who assisted Hardy in evading law enforcement. Those individuals, as well as anyone who knowingly assists Hardy in the future, will be subject to arrest for accessory under Penal Code section 32.
As previously reported, on January 5, 2026, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the Delta View Apartment complex located at 3915 Delta Fair Boulevard.
While officers were responding, they learned that an 11-year-old girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head while inside a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot.
The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she was listed in stable condition.
Asked for an update on her condition, Lt. Whitaker shared, “It’s the same. She’s in stable but critical condition. The bullet is lodged in her head and they’re trying to monitor to her to decide if they’re going to remove it or leave it.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or via email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
Yellow evidence markers show locations of bullet casings as Antioch Police respond to the scene of the shooting of an 11-year-old girl in Antioch Monday afternoon, Jan. 5, 2025. Photos courtesy of ContraCosta.news.
In critical, but stable condition
By Acting Lt. Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On Monday January 5, 2026, at 12:38 PM, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the Delta View Apartment complex located at 3915 Delta Fair Boulevard.
While officers were responding, they learned that an 11-year-old girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head while inside a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot. After the shooting, the vehicle left the apartment complex and drove to a nearby shopping center parking lot. Multiple callers reported the vehicle’s location, allowing officers to respond directly to the shopping center.
Upon arrival, officers located the girl inside the vehicle and immediately rendered first aid until relieved by Contra Costa County Fire Department personnel. The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she is listed in critical, but stable condition.
Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting occurred in the parking lot of the apartment complex. At the time of the incident, the victim was seated in the passenger seat of her family’s vehicle as they were exiting the parking lot. At this stage of the investigation, the family does not appear to have been the intended targets.
“The suspect was on foot when the shooting occurred,” Lt. Bill Whitaker shared. “It’s unclear if he was shooting at someone nearby the vehicle or at the vehicle.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or via email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
All additional inquiries regarding this case should be directed to Investigations Lieutenant Whitaker at (925) 779-6876. Further updates will be provided by the Investigations Bureau as they become available.Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Baby Jett Jester born January 1, 2026, with mom, Taylor Lisa and dad, Ryan Jester at Kaiser Permanente Antioch. Photos: Kaiser
By Elissa Harrington, Sr. Media Relations & PR Rep., Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Kaiser Permanente Antioch welcomed its first baby of the New Year when Jett Jester arrived at 12:44 a.m. on January 1, 2026.
Jett was born five weeks early, but his parents Taylor Lisa and Ryan Jester said he doesn’t look premature. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces.
“It’s a New Year’s we will never forget,” said proud dad Ryan Jester. “We feel extremely blessed to have a healthy baby boy. We love him beyond words.”
Historic class-action victory permanently blocks gender secrecy, restores parental rights
“…the federal court found, no such right can constitutionally override the fundamental rights of parents or the protections afforded to teachers under the U.S. Constitution…School boards and administrators must revise their policies immediately to comply…” – California Family Council
By Thomas More Society
San Diego, CA- In a landmark class-action ruling, Thomas More Society achieved a historic victory in Mirabelli, et al. v. Olson, et al., ending California’s gender secrecy policies and restoring transparency and parental involvement in public education. The decision and federal court order issuing a class-wide permanent injunction—issued by U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez just days before Christmas—secures justice not only for teachers Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori West who began the lawsuit, but for all parents and teachers harmed by these policies statewide.
Elizabeth and Lori, faithful Christians with decades of teaching experience, loved their jobs and dedicated themselves to helping children thrive in the classroom. Under California’s Parental Exclusion Policies, children had an unqualified right to engage in a social transition to the opposite gender at school—forcing all teachers to use opposite-sex pronouns and a new name—and teachers were required to conceal that gender transition from the child’s parents absent the child’s affirmative consent.
This placed Elizabeth and Lori in an impossible position: lie to parents in violation of their faith and ethics, or risk retaliation and ultimately, their jobs. Believing it violated their sacred duty to protect students’ health, safety, and trust, they turned to Thomas More Society and filed suit. Now, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California has agreed, noting that “California’s education policymakers may be experts on primary and secondary education but they would not receive top grades as students of Constitutional Law.”
“Today’s incredible victory finally, and permanently, ends California’s dangerous and unconstitutional regime of gender secrecy policies in schools,” said Paul M. Jonna, Special Counsel at Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP. “The Court’s comprehensive ruling—granting summary judgment on all claims—protects all California parents, students, and teachers, and it restores sanity and common sense. With this decisive ruling from Judge Benitez, all state and local school officials that mandate gender secrecy policies should cease all enforcement or face severe legal consequences.”
“Elizabeth, Lori, and the parents who stepped forward as class representatives to fight for families everywhere are true heroes,” Jonna added. “Whether facing professional retaliation or protecting their own children, they never wavered in their commitment to faith, family, and the truth. They challenged a system that forced deception and put children at risk. Thanks to their courage, truth and justice prevailed and these unconstitutional policies can now finally be placed in the dustbin of history.”
“We are profoundly grateful for today’s ruling,” said Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori West in a joint statement. “This has been a long and difficult journey, and we are humbled by the support we’ve received along the way. We want to extend our deepest thanks to Thomas More Society and to everyone who stood by us, prayed for us, and encouraged us from the very beginning.”
“We loved our jobs, our students, and the school communities we served,” Mirabelli and West continued. “But we were forced into an impossible position when school officials demanded that we lie to parents—violating not only our faith, but also the trust that must exist between teachers and families. No educator should ever be placed in that situation. This victory is not just ours. It is a win for honesty, transparency, and the fundamental rights of teachers and parents. We are so thankful that this chapter is finally closed and that justice has prevailed.”
“The State knew this was a losing legal battle and tried to pull out every lawyer’s trick in the book to avoid responsibility,” added Jeffrey M. Trissell, Special Counsel at Thomas More Society and attorney at LiMandri & Jonna LLP. “The Court saw right through this blatant gamesmanship. It’s an absurdity that California elected officials went out of their way to deceive parents and punish honest and faithful educators who dared to challenge their twisted political agenda.”
As the case progressed, numerous parents who had been directly harmed by these policies approached Thomas More Society. One family who joined the lawsuit only learned that their child was being addressed by a different name at school after a tragic suicide attempt. Recognizing the sweeping nature of the constitutional violations, the Court certified the lawsuit as a class action, meaning that every California parent and teacher who objects to these policies now receives justice.
“This case exposed a troubling pattern of agenda-driven adults injecting political ideology into schools, undermining trust between educators and parents, and ultimately harming children,” said Peter Breen, Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation at Thomas More Society. “Most reasonable people agree: schools should be about teaching the basics—reading, writing, arithmetic—not confusing students about gender identity. This ruling restores focus to real education and honoring the centuries-long belief that parents alone have the right to direct their child’s moral and religious upbringing, as reaffirmed by the Supreme Court this year.”
The case also revealed the extreme lengths California education officials went to evade responsibility. They misled the court by claiming these policies were no longer enforced, only to be caught red-handed enforcing them in mandatory teacher training a week before the summary judgment hearing on November 17. As a result, the Court’s order specifically directs California to add the following statement “in a prominent place” in that training:
“Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence. Teachers and school staff have a federal constitutional right to accurately inform the parent or guardian of their student when the student expresses gender incongruence. These federal constitutional rights are superior to any state or local laws, state or local regulations, or state or local policies to the contrary.”
“Thomas More Society is proud to have represented Elizabeth, Lori, and the anonymous plaintiffs: Teacher Jane Roe, Teacher Jane Boe, the Poe Family and the Doe Family,” said Breen. “They never sought to be the face of this fight, yet their courage has transformed the lives of families and educators not only in California but perhaps the entire country. We will always defend the religious freedom of teachers and families and ensure that parents retain their constitutional right to raise their children in alignment with their families’ values.”
California Family Council Applauds Ruling
In response to the ruling, the California Family Council (CFC) wrote: State Officials Promoted Secrecy – For years, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state leaders have insisted that schools must conceal information about a student’s gender identity or expression from their parents. On the Attorney General’s own website, the state asserts a sweeping individual “right” to conceal gender identity, including from parents:
“You have the right to disclose – or not disclose – your gender identity on your own terms, regardless of your age. Your school, whether public or private, doesn’t have the right to ‘out’ you as LGBTQ+ to anyone without your permission, including your parents.” California DOJ
This statement was widely disseminated and used to justify secrecy policies and trainings across districts.
Yet, as the federal court found, no such right can constitutionally override the fundamental rights of parents or the protections afforded to teachers under the U.S. Constitution.
Greg Burt, CFC Vice President, hailed the ruling as justice finally upheld in the face of longstanding statewide resistance: “This ruling vindicates what parents’ rights advocates have been saying all along. The state told schools they had to keep secrets from moms and dads, and that was never true. A federal judge has now made it unmistakably clear: children do not belong to the government, parents have the right to know what’s happening with their own kids, and teachers should never be forced to lie or stay silent to keep their jobs.”
The Constitutional Holding
Judge Benitez’s ruling is comprehensive and unequivocal. The court held that California’s gender-secrecy regime, as applied in public schools, violates:
Parents’ fundamental rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children
Teachers’ First Amendment rights to free speech and religious exercise
And core constitutional principles protecting family autonomy
According to the court, forcing teachers to actively hide critical information from parents is not a neutral policy but affirmative state interference in the parent-child relationship, something the Constitution forbids.
Impact on Schools and Parents
This decision forces a dramatic policy shift across California’s public education system:
District secrecy policies can no longer be enforced.
Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence.
Teachers may now freely disclose to parents when a student expresses gender incongruence or assumes a different gender identity at school.
State officials can no longer legally claim that schools are “required” to conceal such information.
School boards and administrators must revise their policies immediately to comply with the constitutional rights affirmed by the court or risk legal consequences.
According to the organization’s website, “Since 1998, Thomas More Society has steadfastly preserved the rich heritage of American liberty. Our distinguished track record showcases an unwavering commitment to defending your fundamental rights to life, family, and freedom. For decades, we’ve passionately championed the causes of everyday individuals confronting remarkable injustices, from the sidewalks and town squares to the Supreme Court.” For more information visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
More than 60% of public-school students in grades 2-12 eligible for up to $1,500
By Vanessa Vizard, Vizard Marketing & PR
Sacramento, CA — As the year comes to a close and families begin setting goals for the year ahead, California is reaffirming its commitment to young people through CalKIDS, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program. Backed by a $2 billion statewide investment for more than five million children, CalKIDS is the largest education-focused asset-building effort in the nation, providing automatic scholarship accounts to millions of California children and students to help pay for college or career training after high school.
As families think about meaningful gifts this holiday season and prepare for the opportunities a new year brings, claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship Account is a simple step with a lasting impact. Eligible children and students can receive between $175 and $1,500 in free scholarship funds, with no application, no essays, and no income verification required. These funds are already set aside for children and students and can be used for qualified higher education expenses, making CalKIDS one of the most accessible scholarships available to California families.
“CalKIDS has been an amazing success, with nearly 1 million scholarship accounts already claimed by California families,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, Chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board, which administers CalKIDS. “As we look ahead to the new year, families across the state still have a tremendous opportunity to claim scholarship dollars already set aside for their children and students, funds that can help lower the cost of college or career training and expand what’s possible for their future.”
More than 60% of public-school students in grades 2 through 12 are eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship Account worth up to $1,500. When CalKIDS launched in 2022, the program awarded scholarship accounts to students from elementary school to high school, meaning current college students may also be able to claim and use their CalKIDS Scholarship funds today. Awardees can use their funds until age 26.
Additionally, 100% of newborns born on or after July 1, 2022 in California automatically receive a CalKIDS Scholarship Account worth up to $175. This includes an initial scholarship awarded at birth, with additional incentives available when families claim the account and link it to a ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan where they can continue saving on their own.
CalKIDS Scholarships can be used for tuition and fees, required books and supplies, computer equipment, and other qualified education expenses at accredited institutions nationwide making CalKIDS one of the simplest and most flexible scholarships students can claim this holiday season and in the year ahead.
To date, CalKIDS scholarship funds have been used by nearly 150,000 students towards their academic success at a college or career training program. For one awardee, Bryan a student at California State University, Fullerton, CalKIDS was described as: “A financial ease into pursuing a degree.”
Photo: CalKIDS
How Students and Families Can Claim a CalKIDS Scholarship:
Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship takes only a few minutes at CalKIDS.org.
For public school students, including those who are now college-aged, families will need the Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), a 10-digit number found on school portals, report cards, or by contacting the public school the student attended during the 2021–22, 2022–23, or 2023–24 academic years.
For children born in California on or after July 1, 2022, families will need the child’s date of birth and the Local Registration Number, a 13-digit number found on the birth certificate.
Once an account is claimed, families can log in at any time to view their scholarship balance, link it to a ScholarShare 529 account, learn how the funds can be used, and request a disbursement once the student is enrolled in higher education or career training.
CalKIDS reflects California’s long-term commitment to expanding opportunity, reducing education costs, and investing early in the success of its young people.
Families are encouraged to check if they have a CalKIDS Scholarship Account available to claim this holiday season by visiting CalKIDS.org.
Photo: CalKIDS
About CalKIDS: The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships for higher education. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, and Chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, the program is designed to promote the pursuit of higher education statewide by empowering families to build assets, nurture savings habits, and raise their educational aspirations. Eligible public school students can receive CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500 and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, is awarded a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175, ensuring more families have the resources needed to support their children’s education. To learn more, visit CalKIDS.org.
In partnership with Showers of Blessings Prayer and Outreach Ministries
By Allen D. Payton
Najee Harris, L.A. Chargers running back. Photo source: Da Bigger Picture Foundation
Join NFL football running back and Antioch High School standout, Najee Harris on Saturday, Dec. 20 for Da Bigger Picture Foundation’s Christmas Toy Drive in partnership with Showers of Blessings Prayer and Outreach Ministries.
“Come join us this holiday as we will be partnering up and passing out toys,” Harris said. “Limited toys so come early.”
In college, Najee played for the national champions Alabama Crimson Tide then was drafted by and played for the Pittsburg Steelers in the NFL. He is currently a running back for the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year contract but has been out for the season since September due to a torn Achilles.
About Da Bigger Picture Foundation
Formed in 2021, according to greaterthanthegame.org, Da Bigger Picture Foundation is “a non-profit that focuses on assisting underserved families in reaching their potential and goals. The foundation’s hope is to provide tools and assistance to families facing challenging times. Some of the key areas of focus will be education, homelessness, addressing hunger, and utilizing sports as a platform to develop life skills.”
About Showers of Blessings Prayer and Outreach Ministries
We are an outreach ministry that feeds those in need. We give out free groceries on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Learn more at www.facebook.com/thereshallbeshowers.
Students participated in the 1-mile and 3-mile runs and race with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. All photos courtesy of Antioch Unified School District unless noted.
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Antioch Unified School District, “despite chilly conditions, hundreds turned out for the 49th annual Holiday Run & Walk for Health.
“Founded by Tom Torlakson, former State Superintendent of Schools, the event was held on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Contra Loma with many of our students running the race, including several high school cross country runners.
“Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch and the Rotary Club of the Delta, proceeds benefit our schools and community.”
Race Director Mike Green shared the following results of two races:
Male 3-Mile Race Winners
Giancarlo Olmedo – 15 years old – 19:31.5
Jailen Johnson-Truitt – 18 – 20:09.3
Dennis Gavrilenko – 22 – 20:26.3
Female 3-Mile Race Winners
Valeria Espinoza – 20 – 19:43.0
Kylie Wisely – 17 – 21:27.8
Jaelyn Wilkins – 17 – 22:53.8
Santa (Joe Goralka) with runners from the Antioch Police Department. Photo by Tom McNell
Green offered “Special thanks to East Bay Regional Parks District / Contra Loma for helping us host this event. Thank you to the Race Directors from Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs of the Delta, and to our event sponsor, Dr. Ali Shirani.”
Tiffany Stewart performs during the 2025 Brentwood Christmas parade. Photo courtesy of Virtuous Voices
By Allen D. Payton
During the Brentwood Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Tiffany Stewart, founder of Antioch-based Virtuous Voices Music Academy, was a featured singer, delighting audiences at one of the community’s most beloved holiday events.
“Coach Tea”, as she’s referred to, performed Jesus is the Reason.
Her performance highlighted the growth of Virtuous Voices, a music program serving diverse students locally and nationwide through online and in-person voice training, group classes and the academy’s signature, Sing Theory program.
“Sharing my voice at the parade is a celebration of what music brings to our communities,” said Stewart. “I hope young singers feel inspired to step into their own musical journey.”
For more information about Coach Tea and Virtuous Voices Music Academy visit www.virtuousvoices.com or see their ad on the right side of this page.
