Thomas Peele
Thomas Peele is an investigative reporter at EdSource. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter. His journalism career began in 1983 at a small weekly newspaper. He has a B.A. in journalism from Long Island University and an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco. In addition to his Pulitzer for stories on the tragic Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, he has won more that 70 journalism awards including the (Ralph) McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage, and the Tom Renner Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors for reporting on organized crime. He is also the author of Killing the Messenger, a book about the 2007 assassination of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey. Prior to joining EdSource in 2020, he was an investigative reporter for the Bay Area News Group for 20 years. He is also a continuing lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
All articles by Thomas Peele
Chico State lecturer details how she reported alleged gun threats by biology professor
The university is seeking a permanent workplace violence restraining order against biology professor David Stachura that would ban him from campus he allegedly planned to shoot up.
Thomas Peele
May 19, 2023
Chico State professor says she worries 'all the time' that colleague will carry out alleged threat
Superior Court hears testimony in bid by Chico State to obtain a permanent workplace violence restraining order against suspended professor David Stachura.
Thomas Peele
May 18, 2023
Chico State cuts ties with therapist who counseled professor who allegedly made gun threats and concerned faculty
Chico State has dropped a contract with a therapist hired to help faculty and staff deal with alleged gun threats by a faculty member after learning that the counselor was also treating the accused professor.
Thomas Peele
May 2, 2023
Chico State professor and his estranged wife each testify as university pushes for restraining order
The university is seeking to make a temporary restraining order against suspended biology professor David Stachura permanent.
Thomas Peele
April 21, 2023
California schools face 'deep trouble' as flooding danger looms
Heavy storms, a record Sierra snowpack and aging and weakened levees are putting communities across California at risk of serious flooding this spring including 1 in 5 schools.
Thomas Peele, Emma Gallegos, And Daniel J. Willis
April 5, 2023
Interim superintendent of Orange Unified quits after a month in the post
Orange Unified School District school board fired its superintendent; interim leader resigns saying district focus is no longer the students.
Thomas Peele
February 16, 2023
CSU seeks court order to protect faculty and others who complained about Chico professor
CSU seeks to keep professor away from campus and his former colleagues out of fear of violence
Thomas Peele
February 9, 2023
Chico State president supports call for CSU to investigate university's probe of professor's affair and alleged threats
Chico State president says she will do all she can to get CSU to review how the university has handled the David Stachura matter.
Thomas Peele
December 20, 2022
Chico State was told of professor's alleged threats before last week's disclosure that he threatened a campus 'shooting spree'
Chico State University got multiple reports of allegations that professor David Stachura had threatened to kill colleagues who had cooperated in an investigation of an affair with a student he supervised.
Thomas Peele
December 18, 2022
Chico State Provost Debra Larson resigns amid outcry over professor's alleged affair, threats
Larson, 66, Chico State’s second-ranking official, said she offered her resignation to campus President Gayle Hutchinson on Monday and Hutchinson accepted it Thursday.
Thomas Peele and Michael Weber
December 16, 2022
Chico State Academic Senate calls on CSU trustees to investigate handling of student affair, violent threats
Chico State University faculty said the case needed an independent investigation so students knew action was being taken.
Thomas Peele and Michael Weber
December 14, 2022
Chico State president apologizes for handling of professor's affair and alleged violent threats
Chico State's president issues statement of apology to campus community while Academic Senate calls special meeting for Wednesday amid calls for a no-confidence vote.
Thomas Peele
December 13, 2022
Chico State professor's colleague said he talked of mass shooting last year and buying a weapon
Revelation voiced at Chico State campuswide Zoom meeting attended by over 600 people.
Thomas Peele and Daniel Reidel
December 12, 2022
Chico State suspends professor after campus objects to settlement over his student affair
President suspends David Stachura following a day of uproar on campus "so we can finish the semester without further disruptions."
Thomas Peele, Andrew Reed and Michael Weber
December 9, 2022
Chico State professor disciplined for student affair allegedly threatened colleagues who complained
CSU is auditing the handling of Title IX cases at all 23 campuses. Investigators visited Chico State in September.