You may think sign language is beautiful, but do you think it’s necessary? That’s the question artist and activist Valerie Rose is posing to the Chico community in her new “Sign Sign Mural Project” on Park Avenue. Also, Chico State will celebrate Halloween with a smash as it hosts its 34th annual pumpkin drop tomorrow, and California’s Democratic state lawmakers have largely resisted efforts to increase criminal punishments but as retail and car theft surges they’re looking for other ways to crack down.