KZYX Inside Education Host, Michelle Hutchins

10/10/2025

Had the opportunity to see The Lost Bus last night at the Noyo Theater. The audience was full of folks from CAL FIRE. Very moving evening as the movie is excellent and a true story close to home. I highly recommend it. The Noyo Theater will be bringing it back in early November to honor of the anniversary of the Camp Fire. Here is Daniel Essman's take. THE LOST BUS
The Story: A true story that's scary and suspenseful, and thrilling. Kevin (Matthew McConaughey) drives a school bus in the Paradise California school district. He's new to the job. All you readers probably remember the horrendous wild fire in 2018, where the town of Paradise doesn't exist anymore. All that's left are memories of lost lives and lost homes. In the hearts of all the former residents is the fully justified anger at PG&E for failing to properly maintain their wires and transformers.
As the wild fire was rapidly approaching the Paradise elementary school, Kevin volunteers to take a busload of 5th graders and their teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera) to a safe place well-outside the rapidly encircling inferno. What seems to be a possibly difficult, but relatively straight forward task, soon devolves into a race against whirling wind-driven fires that that threaten to burn them all to death. Through all the
wild flames, the dry broken trees burning like torches, and all the noise, and fiery crackling chaos, Kevin stays focused. He keeps his head. He ignores his own fear and fights like hell to save the lives of everyone in his charge, all the terrified school children, and brave Mary their dedicated teacher.
My Thoughts: Despite its reliance on good (though somewhat dizzying) hand held camera work, it's a darn good movie. It is a gripping and heart-stopping tale of heroism. It thrills and inspires about an actual event. “The Lost Bus” has an especial warning resonance for us folks in Willits, where this kind of wild fire is often a possibility.
Parents: You know your own children, but I think the flick is too scary and too real for children.

09/10/2025

Love this from our PTO.

No one really warns you about middle school.

They talk about toddler tantrums and sleepless nights.
They prepare you for first steps and kindergarten drop-off.
But no one tells you how strange and tender it is to parent a middle schooler.

It’s like watching your child shift between versions of themselves
one moment, goofy and carefree,
the next, quiet and distant, lost in their own head.

They start pulling away, but not all at once.
They still ask you to tuck them in some nights… but lock their bedroom door the next.
They roll their eyes at your jokes… but still want your approval.
They say they don’t care… but feel everything so deeply it shows in the slump of their shoulders.

Middle school is weird.
It’s emotional whiplash, for them and for you.
And it’s hard not to take it personal when they need space, or don’t say much, or slam the door.

But I’m learning this:
They may not say it, but they still need us
as a landing place, as a guide, as a reminder that even when everything feels like it’s shifting…
some things, like the love of their parent, are steady. Unchanging. Always there.

So I’ll be here.
In the hallway. On the bleachers. Outside the door.
Loving them through the weird, wonderful middle.

07/24/2025

The backpacks are packed, the pencils are sharpened, and it’s almost time for that first-day bell!

Join me, Michelle Hutchins, tonight at 7 p.m. on Inside Education for our Back-to-School Special — a full hour dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and school staff start the year off strong.

We’ll cover simple but powerful tips to build routines, strengthen school-home communication, and create a classroom culture where students thrive. Whether it’s how to support your child’s transition into kindergarten — or how to set the tone as a teacher in the first week — we’ve got you covered.

Plus, I’ll share new updates from Sacramento and Washington D.C. that could affect your local school’s budget this year.

That’s Inside Education, live on www.KZYX.org and 90.7 FM — Thursday at 7 p.m.
Let’s kick off the school year together — informed, inspired, and ready to make a difference.

Public and community radio for Mendocino County and beyond.

03/26/2025

This month on Inside Education—big changes, big questions.
🚨 The Trump administration wants to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. What would that mean for Mendocino County schools?
We’ll break it down—with help from former U.S. Secretary of Education John King, local science fair champions, and new leadership on your County Board of Education.
Plus: A major court ruling could change the future of charter schools in California.
📻 Don’t miss Inside Education—where policy meets the classroom.
Only on KZYX, Thursday, March 27, 7 pm.
Live Stream at www.kzyx.org
Mendocino County Office of Education Inland Mendocino Democratic Club Mendocino County Democratic Central Committee KZYX - Mendocino County Public Broadcasting

Public and community radio for Mendocino County and beyond.

03/07/2025

https://calmatters.org/health/2025/02/medicaid-medi-cal-trump-cuts/?_cldee=mhO4SkpK7JihFsrAdpb-AEwRs_To5eIqDWWXepLC7fhJZqvt2-tcxvY7I2PzUPA8&recipientid=contact-40865d4ae4e4e41180e2005056b02a09-ed67eba99d924bc8a33c4c7539b740cf&esid=86726bcc-46f8-ef11-8163-005056b02a09

Almost 15 million Californians have health care coverage through Medi-Cal, a program that would lose billions if President Trump cuts Medicaid.

02/28/2025

🎙️Tonight at 7 PM on Inside Education:
Join us tonight at 7pm for a crucial discussion on how new Executive Orders are threatening to withhold federal funds for schools refusing to eliminate protections for transgender athletes. During the second half of the show, we will cover how to talk with your children about politics.
Live stream at https://www.kzyx.org

Public and community radio for Mendocino County and beyond.

01/31/2025

Most recent news on what our legislators are doing in response to the Executive Orders removing schools as a safe place.

“The Trump administration has made clear that no place is safe from mass deportations,” Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez said.

01/24/2025

🎙️Tonight at 7 PM on Inside Education:

Join us tonight at 7pm for a crucial discussion on how new Executive Orders on immigration policies are set to impact our local schools and sanctuary districts. Featuring insights from CSBA experts Kristin Lingren-Buzzo, Erika Hoffman, and Joshua Daniels, we’ll cover what’s changing, how schools are responding, and what it means for students and families. Plus, hear an EdSource report on predictions for schools in 2025.

Tune in tonight at 7 PM on KZYX - Mendocino County Public Broadcasting to stay informed and learn how we can support our neighbors during this pivotal time—only on Inside Education.

Mendocino County Office of Education
Inland Mendocino Democratic ClubMendocino Women's Political Coalition (MWPC)Mendocino County Democratic Central CommitteeKZYX - Mendocino County Public Broadcasting

11/19/2024

Please help us meet our goal by this Friday!

Hello Friends!
Blue Zones Project Mendocino County needs your help! We’re coming to the end of our RealAge Test campaign, with just a week to go! The RealAge Test is a health and wellness survey that we use to measure wellbeing in Mendocino County. All the information collected in the surveys is completely HIPAA complaint as we only receive the data in a collective form. Please help us reach our goal of 1,200 surveys! Together we can make Mendocino County a healthier, happier place to live, learn, work and play!

Take the RealAge Test here! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://bzpmendocinocounty.sharecare.com/



Mendocino College
Adventist Health Howard Memorial
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast
Flourish & Flow Mendo
Savings Bank of Mendocino County
Taste Buds
Cafe 1
City of Ukiah Recreation
City of Fort Bragg California
City of Willits

11/05/2024

The United Stated Gender Reveal party is tomorrow. I hope it’s a girl.

10/08/2024

Hey Mendocino County! The annual Real Age Test is live!
https://mendocinocounty.bluezonesproject.com/realage-test/

Blue Zones Project Mendocino County’s annual community health metrics survey, The Real Age Test (RAT), is back until November 23, and we ask and invite you to complete the survey. Responses help our local team understand the strengths and weaknesses of well-being in Mendocino County so we can adapt our programming to best serve our community’s needs.

The RAT is arguable even more valuable for the survey taker because if you respond through the portal (link here) you’ll learn your Real Age™, which reflects your likely longevity as compared to your chronological age. You’ll also get insights and recommendations on your health habits and gain access to free resources and health challenges to enroll in to earn prizes for healthy behaviors. If you’ve taken the RAT online before, your previous responses are saved, so completing the survey is quicker and you can compare your test results year-to-year.

More than 1000 people in Mendocino County complete the RAT every year and your survey responses are anonymous and secure. After the survey campaign closes, survey data from Mendocino County are aggregated and our team receives a report on local trends. We will not see your Real Age™ or find out who among us indulges their late-night sweet tooth (guilty).

The RAT takes about 15 minutes to complete and examines all dimensions of well-being (emotional, physical, social, financial, etc.) and all social determinants of health (the nonmedical factors that influence our health such as our environment, surrounding culture, access to resources, policies and systems, etc.).

BONUS! Make sure to snap a screenshot to show that you took the RAT this year. Throughout the campaign, we offer many pop-up incentive events where RAT respondents either receive a $5 gift card to a local business or are entered to win a drawing for a high-value prize. Follow us on Facebook Zones Project – Mendocino County, on Instagram , or by signing up for our newsletter here (NL subscription fields are about 2/3rds of the way down the webpage).

Register for a free account. It’s easy! Go to bzpmendocinocounty.sharecare.com.
Finish the RealAge Test in about 15 minutes.
Use the Sharecare app to set goals and track your health progress.
Join the Live Longer, Better® Rewards program.
Feel healthier, happier, and better than ever!

Discover how old you really are based on factors like what you eat, your activity level, your health history, and how you sleep. Then set goals to lower or maintain your RealAge®.