NSPR Headlines: Recent Episodes
North State Public Radio
A daily podcast from NSPR featuring the news of the day from the North State and California in less than 10 minutes. Hosted by Sarah Bohannon and Andre Byik, and available at 8 a.m. every weekday morning. Read today’s stories at mynspr.org
A city-funded emergency homeless shelter in Chico is weighing its options after being told by the City of Chico that it would cost thousands of dollars to apply for a land-use permit. Also, NSPR has been speaking with those aiding in Camp Fire recovery. In today’s interview, Paradise Stronger Executive Director Aaron Singer talks about the importance of community and movement in recovery, and the Town of Paradise will move forward with fire hazard management requirements for property owners.
A city-funded emergency homeless shelter in Chico is weighing its options after being told by the City of Chico that it would cost thousands of dollars to apply for a land-use permit. Also, NSPR has been speaking with those aiding in Camp Fire recovery. In today’s interview, Paradise Stronger Executive Director Aaron Singer talks about the importance of community and movement in recovery, and the Town of Paradise will move forward with fire hazard management requirements for property owners.
Nov. 8 marked six years since the devastating Camp Fire. NSPR has been speaking with those working in recovery in the burn scar. Today, we hear from Scott Amick from Paradise Parks and Recreation District. Also, loose soils in the Park Fire burn scar are creating an ongoing flash flood risk during heavy rain, and artist Valerie Rose continues to promote the importance of Deaf culture in her public art with an upcoming mural at Show Love Thrift in Chico.
Friday marked six years since the Camp Fire devastated many communities in Butte County. NSPR has been speaking with those aiding in recovery. In today’s interview, community organizer Teri Rubiolo shares her experience living and working in Concow. Also, an unknown number of unhoused individuals are being relocated after Redding city officials filed a police report against No Boundaries Transitional Housing and ended its contract with the homeless aid organization, and Measure H is set to pass according to preliminary election results. If it does, more than $40 million will be generated for the general fund. Yesterday, county supervisors discussed where the funds will go.
This past week marked six years since the devastating Camp Fire. NSPR has been speaking with those working in recovery. Today, we hear from Amy Rohrer, Valley Contractors Exchange director. Also, Butte County is warning residents of increased flood risk due to the Park Fire, and an investigation of conditions that led to the Shoe Fire found a Shasta County landowner responsible.
Today marks six years since the devastating Camp Fire. NSPR has been speaking with those working in recovery. Today we hear from Bruce Yerman, Director of Operations for the Camp Fire Collaborative. Also, at 11:08 a.m. NSPR will be joining the community for a moment of silence for survivors of the fire and the 85 people who lost their lives. And, we get an update on where ballots are in being processed in Butte County.
With two of Chico’s four city council races unofficially showing progressive candidates with a wide lead, current sole progressive Councilmember Addison Winslow weighs in on the possible new future of the council. Also, SkyCave Arts hopes to foster a collaborative environment where budding artists can explore their creativity alongside experienced makers, and Chico State is offering support to students after the election.
Unofficial election results show two progressive Chico City Council candidates are leading their races. Watch parties for the Butte County Republican Party and Chico progressive candidates took place to celebrate their monthslong campaign efforts, and Butte County will likely implement a 1% sales tax.
From state and local measures to the presidential race, Butte County locals say they’re ready for change. Also, Pacific Gas and Electric Company says it could shut off power to up to 22,000 customers due to dangerous fire weather conditions, and even though Election Day is today, we might not know the local or national results for some time.
In Shasta County, signs encouraging residents to vote for local school board races have appeared in the area. The signs claim parents' rights are under attack, but nobody is quite sure who put the signs up in the first place. Also, Chico has received a $1 million federal grant to restore commercial air services to the Chico Regional Airport, and nine new voter assistance centers are now open in Butte County.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for the Chico Unified School District school board this fall. They spoke about the topics most important to them and how they would represent families and educators. Today we hear from Teisha Hase who is running for Trustee Area 3. Also, a student filmmaker from Chico details his opportunity to attend one of the biggest film festivals in the world, and Shasta County election officials say they discovered an error in the printing of some ballots.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for the Chico Unified School District school board this fall. They spoke about the topics most important to them and how they would represent families and educators. Today we hear from Michele Cooper who is running for Trustee Area 3. Also, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats in California has been detected in several North State counties, and Sherri Papini — the Redding area woman convicted of faking her own kidnapping — is being sued by her mother-in-law for $50,000.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for the Chico Unified School District school board this fall. They spoke about the topics most important to them and how they would represent families and educators. Today we hear from James Bishop who is running for Trustee Area 2. Also, a nonprofit will work with the Plumas Audubon Society next month to dispel harmful myths about bats, and three voter assistance centers across Butte County are now open.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for the Chico Unified School District school board this fall. They spoke about the topics most important to them and how they would represent families and educators. Today we hear from Gayle Olsen who is running for Trustee Area 2. Also, parking will be free in downtown Chico for the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Shasta-Trinity National Forest is hosting a paid training specifically for women interested in wildland firefighting.
The City of Chico announced plans to remove more encampments, but those camping there say they are not able to get in to open micro shelters at the city’s Genesis site. Also, California’s online voter registration deadline has passed, but that doesn’t mean those who aren’t yet registered can’t vote. Voters can still cast a provisional ballot in person on election day.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for Chico City Council this fall. Today we hear from Mike O’Brien who is running against Mike Johnson for District 1. Also, Chico City Council member Addison Winslow is criticizing the way the city handled homelessness policy negotiations. He claims the city has refused to negotiate in good faith or make changes to its policies, and ‘Bonfire’s Big Night Out: An Open Mic Story Slam’ takes over Chico State’s Laxson Auditorium today.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for Chico City Council this fall. Today we hear from Mike Johnson who is running against Mike O’Brien for District 1. Also, supervisors approved an updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which addresses disaster preparedness and recovery, and Chico will soon be getting an REI.
The nonprofit Safe Space had identified a potential new location for its intake center and cooling operations. But city officials say they'll need to go through a lengthy application process that will cost thousands of dollars. Also, a local art exhibit celebrates the beloved house cat as the ultimate artistic muse, and residents in Chico’s West East Avenue “island” will not be able to vote on city matters in November.
The city of Chico recently met with the local nonprofit North State Shelter Team to discuss a proposal for a managed campsite for unhoused residents. Also, True North Housing Alliance held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new center that aims to reduce homelessness in Butte County. And candidate Rose Penelope Yee shares her priorities in the race to represent California’s 1st Congressional District.
CARE Court is coming to Butte County in December. The county's Behavioral Health department is providing presentations for county and city leaders. Also, Medi-Cal will soon cover treatment provided by traditional healers, and the California Fish and Game Commission this week voted to consider adding the western burrowing owl to the endangered species list.
The Shoe Fire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is nearly 4,000 acres. Smoke from the fire has created unsafe air conditions across Shasta County. Also, the Trinity County Board of Supervisors voted to name the North Carolina town of Weaverville its sister city and is pledging aid to help the city recover from Hurricane Helene. And "The Screenprint Biennial," a New York City-based exhibition, celebrates a decade of showcasing innovative screenprinting designs at Chico State.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for Chico City Council this fall. Today we hear from Katie Hawley who is running against Melissa Lopez-Mora. Also, PG&E is warning of potential power shutoffs for around 30 counties later this week to prevent wildfires, and the U.S. Department of Education awarded Chico State with an $8.5 million grant to support placing aspiring teachers in residency programs across rural Northern California.
NSPR spoke with candidates running for Chico City Council this fall. Today we hear from Monica McDaniel who is running against Dale Bennett for District 3. Also, North State residents get a rare chance to see a naked eye comet this week, and if you see smoke in Magalia it’s likely a controlled burn.
After a previous contract with Safe Space lapsed in July, no cooling centers were provided in Chico over the past two months. Wednesday the city of Chico and Safe Space renewed the contract. Also, “‘Detention’ Definitely Not The Breakfast Club” hopes to bring new laughs and a new perspective on high school at the Blue Room Theatre, and California water officials warned state leadership that next year the state should expect to see more extreme weather conditions.
The inmate who escaped from the Plumas County Jail last week is still missing. A national search is now underway. Also, the city of Chico is asking the U.S. District Court to allow it to exit the Warren v. Settlement agreement. Councilors met in closed session about the issue last night, and Catalyst Domestic Violence Services is holding a commemorative event this afternoon to remember those who have lost their lives in the region this year to domestic violence.
A heat advisory has been issued for the valley and surrounding foothills today. The advisory starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. tomorrow. Also, the city of Anderson has declared itself a "Parent Right to Know” city in support of its local school district's policies, and residents in Chico have a chance to bask in the city’s creativity this month during its ARTober Fest downtown.
Early this morning, PG&E began turning off power for about 1,200 customers in Butte and Shasta counties due to elevated fire weather concerns. Also, new security measures will go into effect at Chico City Council starting in mid-October, and a new California law says people carrying visible firearms during election related activities would be presumed to be engaging in voter intimidation. Shasta County supervisors sent a letter to the state saying the law is in violation of the Second Amendment.
Temperatures are back in the upper 90s this week. Programs offered by the Community Action Agency of Butte County can help make homes more energy efficient and reduce energy costs. Also, Plumas County supervisors voted to fund two public electric vehicle charging stations at their last meeting, and fares will be waived for bus riders in Butte County next Wednesday.
Chico State’s School of Education received an $8.5 million grant for a teacher residency program. Also, a local author has debuted “Forgive the Animal,” an anthology of poetry, and more areas in Bidwell Park are set to open today.
The Butte County Office of Education is hosting community meetings for residents to share what they would like to see in the next Chico Unified School District superintendent. Also, the city of Chico announced they're planning to clear three homeless encampments, and Paradise town officials said the community has achieved 90% compliance with its defensible space requirements.
This year's general election could be monumental for Chico city politics, where do community members stand on local races? Also, the city of Chico is calling for volunteers to serve on a Citizen Advisory Committee, and yellow fever mosquitoes have been detected in Colusa County.
Temperatures are starting to heat up again in the North State after a brief respite last week. Also, crews will be doing a routine inspection of the Oroville Dam spillway, and Cal Fire has arrested one of its employees for setting several small wildfires in Northern California.
Chico’s city council will discuss regulations around massage parlors. Also, the Butte County Fire Department is asking for residents’ help to improve wildfire preparedness, and Butte County is working with state agencies to remove hazardous household materials following the Quincy, Thompson and Park fires.
A new modeling tool may help emergency officials better predict how wildland fires move through communities. Also, Shasta County reported its first human case of West Nile Virus this year, and an effort to preserve the historic El Rey Theater in Downtown Chico is in full swing.
Autumn is quickly approaching but that doesn’t mean the danger of wildfires has lessened. In fact, this is an especially risky time. Also, a motel in Redding may become transitional housing for homeless residents, and Park Fire survivors can learn more about fire cleanup assistance at a meeting today.
An upcoming hearing on the future of the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement may be rescheduled if the court determines a need to hear oral arguments in the case. This comes after the city of Chico filed a motion in federal court asking that it be excused from certain provisions under the agreement. Also, the EPA has officially added Afterthought Mine east of Redding to its list of Superfund sites. The mine has been leaking toxic amounts of pure acid into nearby streams for decades, and California’s Sustainable Ground Water Management Act was enacted 10 years ago.
The Chico City Council will review a draft of its response to the latest Grand Jury report at its meeting tomorrow. The report made recommendations on how the city could improve its response to homelessness. Also, the “Journey Home” program helps transport unhoused people in Redding back to friends or family elsewhere who can help support them, and CalMatters is coming to NSPR! Join us to learn about the statewide propositions on the ballot for the general election this November.
Mill Creek Resort was spared from the Park Fire. Still, its owner grieves some of the surrounding old growth forest that was likely lost. Also, Shasta County supervisors selected an interim resource management director at their meeting this week, and the cabaret "All is Fair in Love & War" is based on the director’s experiences with heartbreak.
The Shasta County Elections Commission voted to send a proposal to the board of supervisors that would severely limit the use of absentee ballots in the county. Also, a former Yuba City school counselor has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for threatening community members, and a community meeting will help inform local nonprofit Chico Velo on how to design its new bike park.
Measure H would implement a one-cent sales tax for Butte County residents that could lead to millions of dollars in the county’s coffers. Also, Plumas County is trying to attract people to live and visit the area by being featured in the PBS show “Viewpoint,” and Gov. Gavin Newsom yesterday released an optimistic progress report on efforts to reach an ambitious goal to conserve 30% of California’s land by 2030.
The city of Chico announced plans for several major road infrastructure projects. Also, the Paradise Town Council today will hear an update on its efforts to connect the town to Chico’s sewer infrastructure, and a panel of experts met Friday to weigh what the city of Marysville should do about the burned historic Marysville Hotel.
The city of Chico is again using goats to reduce fire risk. The project is funded in part by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Also, Shasta County’s former Health and Human Services Agency Chief Financial Officer alleges he found discrepancies and issues with the agency’s finances before he was terminated just a day later, and California's Health and Human Services Secretary is stepping down. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the departure of Dr. Mark Ghaly on Friday. He’ll leave at the end of the month.
California is the first state in the country to use retrofitted C-130H air tankers for firefighting, and the Chico Municipal Airport has been selected as a location to launch some of them. Also, a majority of Chico’s city council members are up for election this November, we’d like to know what questions you have for council candidates. And Chico has a Honky Tonk Saturday Night for all you country music lovers out there.
The city of Chico has no contract to provide cooling center services while the city is under a heat advisory due to triple-digit heat. Negotiations with the nonprofit Safe Space have been stalled. That's despite the city initially telling NSPR the contract had been finalized. Also, at it's latest meeting, the city council criticized this year's grand jury report that focused heavily on the city's response to the homelessness crisis and is planning its response, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added Afterthought Mine in Bella Vista to its Superfund National Priorities list yesterday.
The city of Chico is seeking judicial relief from Warren v. Chico. The case limits how the city can enforce its anti-camping laws in public spaces. Also, a heat advisory starts at 11 a.m. today due to triple-digit temperatures that will last through Friday, and Shasta County is participating in a pilot program aimed at increasing participation and diversity in jurors. It raises jurors pay from $15 to $100 per day.
Chico city staff will be looking for direction from the city council today to draft a response to this year’s Grand Jury report. Also, with Chico State’s fall semester in full swing, local campaigners are reminding students how impactful their vote is in local elections. They say local municipal elections are where students will see changes in their daily lives. Also, student filmmakers can now enter their films for a chance to be screened at this year’s Butte Film Festival.
A group of landowners, government organizations and local conservation groups are coming together to begin healing and protecting land burned by the Park Fire at Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Also, a listener asked why NSPR reports on the number of structures damaged in wildfires rather than homes. We spoke with Cal Fire to explain why those statistics aren't easy to find, and Redding candidates for state assembly and city council will face off at a forum next month.
Hundreds of nurses gathered near Enloe Medical Center ahead of a bargaining meeting with management. Also, an updated Storm Water Master Plan westrives to improve how Chico manages flooding and storm water. The city is asking for public input to identify where adjustments are needed. And Shasta County has adopted an updated workplace harassment policy.
Students flocked back to Chico this week to start a new semester at Chico State. They told NSPR about some of their favorite things about the city and gave advice to incoming freshmen. Also, the grocer Chico Natural Foods Cooperative has seen a loss in revenue in recent years but was met with a spike in membership and sales over the weekend after concerned community members put a call out for help on social media, and a public commenter punched another member of the public during a recent Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider several agenda items today related to Park Fire recovery efforts. Also, an Oroville man has been charged with multiple counts of arson after being arrested for starting the Thompson Fire in Butte County. The fire broke out in July near Oroville, and experts say California will likely see above-normal wildfire potential for the rest of peak fire season, which typically lasts through October.
Ronnie Dean Stout II pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to Park Fire arson charges. Also, at Chico State's Fall Convocation, faculty and community members addressed students. Chico State's President highlighted increased admissions at the school. Mayor Andrew Coolidge also spoke in a video about the city’s homeless settlement agreement. And moderate to heavy rainfall is possible over the Park Fire burn scar today and tomorrow.
The man accused of starting the Park Fire by pushing a burning car into an embankment in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico is set to enter his plea in court today. Also, the Redding Area Bus Authority has added new routes to Red Bluff and Chico, and “8-bit August” pays tribute to the golden era of video games when pixel art was necessary at the 1078 Gallery.
City staff and council members decided to form a committee to further address homelessness in Oroville. Also, Shasta County’s Resource Management Director has resigned from his position, and a U.S. Forest Service fire station lost in the 2020 North Complex in Plumas County is being replaced by a new facility in Chico.
The Park Fire has grown very little over the past few days. Firefighters are making progress on increasing containment. Also, visitors are now allowed back into parts of Lassen Volcanic National Park, and more than 1.5 million salmon were released into California’s reservoirs this spring.
A large DWR funded project to upgrade Orland’s water system is behind schedule and a vote by the city council tomorrow may determine whether the grant will cover all the costs. Also, Enloe Medical Center gave staff, caregivers and donors a chance to be part of the construction of an upcoming cancer treatment center in Chico’s Merriam Park neighborhood, and the Corning City Council voted to increase water and sewer rates for residents.
Cal Fire is now doing work in Upper Park to repair damages from fighting the fire there. Also, a program in Redding helping those experiencing homelessness who are recovering from medical conditions is expanding its reach, and local animal shelters said pet owners had until today to pick up unclaimed animals before they adopt them out.
The City of Chico is planning enforcement actions in three unhoused encampments in parks across the city. It said it's still following the terms of the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement, but it's also looking into its legal options to get out of it. Also, the “Roots for Resilience” benefit event will take place Saturday and will include live music and resource information for Park Fire survivors, and Butte County supervisors voted to consolidate five recent wildland fires into a single emergency resolution Tuesday.
As progress continues to be made on the Park Fire, officials are urging those returning to burn scar areas to drive safely. Also, Sutter County will benefit from a $13.8 million grant for Comcast to build infrastructure for low-cost, broadband internet, and residents can pick their own peaches at Chico State’s University Farm today.
The Park Fire has been burning for nearly three weeks. Officials warn firefighters to keep their guard up as fatigue and stress set in. Also, the filing deadline for residents looking to fill city council seats has passed for most districts. Several Chico candidates will face off to represent four districts, and Momo’s Poke joins the Chico downtown food scene, offering fresh poke, small bites and comfort dishes.
Legal Services of Northern California offered proposed changes to the settlement agreement in Warren v. Chico. But the city of Chico has rejected them. Also, an assistance center offering resources, aid and information for residents affected by the Park Fire in Tehama County will open this week, and residents of Plumas County suffering from wildfire smoke pollution may be eligible to borrow air purifiers.
The community of Cohasset was one of the first affected by the Park Fire. Now, residents are returning to their homes, and taking the steps to begin rebuilding. Also, two meetings will be held about the Park Fire this evening. One will be in Red Bluff, the other in Chester. Both start at 6:30 p.m. And construction on a new fire station in Chico is slated to begin next week.
Butte Humane Society is offering to microchip residents’ pets for free to help them get back to their owners during disasters. They also have a Pet Food Pantry available for Park Fire survivors. Also, a biomass plant is set to be built in Yuba County later this year and will convert wood waste from wildland fuel reduction projects into electricity, and PG&E is expanding programs to help residents pay past due energy bills.
The Park Fire continues to burn actively on its eastern perimeter in the Mill Creek drainage. Cal Fire said the fire was expected to remain active last night due to high temperatures, and no humidity recovery. Also, organizations in the North State are working to find housing for those experiencing homelessness. As the region now recovers from the Park Fire, True North Housing Alliance is trying to help, and residents impacted by the fire visit North Valley Plaza in Chico to connect with county services and nonprofits.
Fifteen of about 60 people who’ve been staying at the city of Chico’s alternative campsite on Eaton and Cohasset roads will be able to return after an “encampment cleanup” conducted by the city. Also, the Park Fire is fairly calm in most areas, but is making a hard push in the Mill Creek drainage area of Tehama County, and the first human case of West Nile Virus this season has been detected in Butte County.
An assistance center for survivors of the Park Fire is opening in Chico today. It’s located in the North Valley Plaza in the building that was formerly the 99 Cents Only store. Those affected by the fire can find resources at the center and talk to county and state officials. Also, the Park Fire has now reached more than 400,000 acres in size, and Cal Fire says the damage assessment for the fire is 100% complete.
Special coverage — Officials are warning those returning after being evacuated that hazards could be in the area. Also, the Butte County Fire Safe County’s mission is to help fire prone neighborhoods prepare for fire, and we continue to hear from evacuees about their experience and what they returned home to in the wake of the fire.
Special coverage — Right now the northeast side of the perimeter, near the Mill Creek area, is the main concern on the Park Fire as critical weather conditions are expected. Also, a local assistance center is being set up for Park Fire survivors. It opens Monday. And we hear from evacuees about their experience and what they returned home to in the wake of the fire.
The City of Chico has a prescribed burning plan that includes parts of Bidwell Park. Some question whether the Park Fire might not have grown so intense or spread as far if there’d been a prescribed burn near the gully where it started. Also, evacuees have been telling NSPR about their experiences leaving and what they returned home to in the wake of the fire. And a changing weather pattern near the fire is concerning officials. As dry winds and triple digits return to the North State, experts are cautioning the region to be prepared for new growth.
Special coverage — Today we hear from Zeke Lunder, fire analyst and founder of the-lookout.org, about the parallels of the Park Fire and Dixie Fire that hit the North State three years ago. Both took off quickly, then went somewhat dormant. But the Dixie Fire ended up flaring up again, going on a “rampage” about two weeks later. The Park Fire has been less active the past few days, but a changing weather pattern has officials concerned for tomorrow and the weekend.
Firefighters are working to mop up hotspots in communities, but Butte County’s fire chief says they don’t always get them all. He’s warning residents to be cautious when repopulating areas the fire burned through. Also, Tehama County’s sheriff says he’s taking a ‘no nonsense stance’ on anyone going behind fire lines, and when a wildfire superheats PVC pipes they can release the carcinogenic chemical benzine into the water supply. Following the Park Fire, many in Forest Ranch have had their water disconnected so officials can test the water for the chemical.
Special coverage — Many residents in Forest Ranch don’t have access to drinkable water following the Park Fire. Some have had their water shut off entirely, while others are under a boil advisory. That’s because the water could be contaminated by benzine, a carcinogen released from superheated pipes. Also, many residents in the North State are worried about air quality in the region due to smoke from the fire. We hear from public health. And we speak with Paradise resident Beth Spellman about her experience of recently moving to the area and now being close to wildfire.
Special coverage — Officials have been responding to the Park Fire for a week now. We bring you the latest update. Also, many residents in the North State are worried about air quality in the region due to smoke from the fire. And we’ve been speaking with those evacuated from the fire. In this episode we hear from Paradise resident Natalie Hurst about her experience choosing to leave the town when it was under an evacuation warning.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced insurance protections for those impacted by the Park Fire. He also reminded residents about common aid available through their insurance policies. Also, we get an update on Forest Ranch where residents have been returning home after being evacuated, and officials say they’re opening a local assistance center next week for those impacted by the fire.
Special coverage — Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter, whose district covers both Cohasset and Forest Ranch, says the county is working to support the community with a local assistance center similar to the one created for the 2018 Camp Fire. Also, the man suspected of starting the Park Fire was charged with arson yesterday, and the North Valley Animal Disaster Group has helped rescue and shelter more than 150 animals from the Park Fire.
Special coverage — The California Department of Insurance said if those affected by the Park Fire have insurance it may help with evacuation and relocation costs. Also, we head to Forest Ranch, where residents there were able to return home yesterday after an evacuation order for the area was downgraded. And we hear from NSPR staff about how the station’s KCHO transmitter was almost burned in the fire.
The Butte County Grand Jury has released its annual report, which includes investigations into Chico's homelessness policies. It found the city responsible for neglect and unsanitary conditions at its sanctioned encampment for unhoused residents. The report also found over the past decade the city has not addressed the homelessness crisis properly and instead took an “adversarial” stance to try and encourage unhoused residents to leave the city. Separately, the jury found inadequate funding has caused morale issues among library staff and patrons.
Jackie LaBarbera, board president of the Anderson Union School District, announced that the district would continue its current policy requiring school officials to inform parents when a student requests a change to their records, including requests to change their gender identity or sexual orientation. Also, tribal and conservation groups are advocating for national monument status for the Medicine Lake Highlands in Siskiyou County, and there are now more restrictions on fires in Lassen National Forest. *Editor’s note: An earlier version of Headlines incorrectly identified the North State school district that has policies that are not in line with California’s SAFETY Act.
We’re continuing to cover the city of Chico’s announcement this week that it hopes to change the terms of Warren v. Chico — a settlement agreement that outlines its homelessness policy for clearing encampments. In a letter responding to the city, the law firm representing the unhoused plaintiffs in the 2021 case pushes back. Also, Councilmember Tom van Overbeek says he supports the city’s move to challenge the settlement and says Councilmember Addison Winslow is incorrect about the details. And members of Tehama County’s largest employee union have declared no confidence in the Chief Administrative Officer and Personnel Director.
The city of Chico wants to change the conditions of Warren v. Chico, a major settlement agreement that outlines its policies on removing homeless encampments in the city. We hear from Mayor Andrew Coolidge and Councilmember Addison Winslow.
The Butte County Public Health Department says lab tests of water at the city of Chico’s sanctioned encampment have come back clear of contamination. Also, the majority of council seats are close to the end of their four-year terms. New candidates can begin the candidacy process this week, and the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District announced that West Nile Virus is now active in Butte County.
Widespread cases of diarrhea have been reported at the city of Chico’s alternative campsite on Eaton and Cohasset Roads. The illness has caused advocates to push for better conditions at the city-sanctioned encampment for unhoused residents. Also, as the nation reacts to the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump, North State residents are speculating about what it means for the upcoming election, and the Oroville City Council is revisiting a program that could reduce electricity costs for residents.
After an attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday, California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Doug LaMalfa flocked to social media to voice their reflections about the shooting. Also, numerous people at Chico’s alternative campsite off Easton and Cohasset roads have reported being sick with diarrhea for weeks. NSPR visited the site and found unsanitary conditions, and researchers at Chico State worry a recent Supreme Court ruling that municipalities may enforce anti-camping ordinances may halt Chico’s progress.
The city of Chico is looking into reports of potential contamination in water at its sanctioned alternative campsite for unhoused residents. Also, a fast-moving grassfire in Butte County yesterday prompted evacuations. Forward progress was quickly stopped, but Cal Fire says it’s another reminder to be ready to evacuate, and California has ordered insurance companies to keep policies in place for those affected by the Thompson Fire.
The city of Chico is being ordered to release information surrounding the 2017 police killing of Tyler Rushing. Also, health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated against the newest strains of COVID-19, and as a prolonged heat wave continues in the North State residents may struggle to pay their electricity bills.
With record-breaking temperatures scorching the North State this summer, residents are being warned to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. But it's more than just heat, UV radiation can also be dangerous. Also, Chico residents addressed Warren v. Chico before the city council went into a closed session meeting, and the Chico branch of the Butte County Library will now be open on Wednesdays for the next six months.
Officials announced full containment of the Thompson Fire yesterday and said residents should stay ready to evacuate possible future fires. Also, Butte County fire survivors now have a hotline they can call to get information about resources, and California voters will face 10 state-wide propositions in this fall’s general election.
Cal Fire released its completed damage assessment of the Thompson Fire yesterday. The report says 26 structures were destroyed — 13 were homes and 13 other "minor" structures. Also, Redding hit a record-breaking 119 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, and Chico’s city council will gather for a special meeting about Warren v. Chico tomorrow.
More than 40 zones in northeast Oroville were put under evacuation in a matter of hours. Also, amid another triple-digit heat wave Chico residents now have a dedicated place to cool off after local nonprofit Safe Space opened a cooling center, and unhoused residents can now stay longer at the Good News Rescue Mission in Redding.
As temperatures rise, there are few public places to escape the heat. The nonprofit Safe Space will be opening a cooling center, but it's only confirmed to last for the next two weeks. Also, PG&E may shut off power today in parts of the North State, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering two free fishing days this summer.
The Supreme Court has sided with the city of Grants Pass in a landmark case on homelessness. The decision reverses a previous ban on criminalizing people for sleeping outside if they have no other options. In Chico, some say the decision could affect how the city responds to homelessness in the long term. Also, the Pit River Tribe is getting more than 1,500 acres of its land back in Shasta County, and the City of Redding is making it easier for utility customers to pay their bills online.
Independence Day is right around the corner. While many will celebrate the holiday with family gatherings and food, Chico officials are reminding residents that setting off fireworks is illegal. Also, nearly six years after the Camp Fire destroyed the Honey Run Covered Bridge reconstruction is now underway, and Avelo Airlines is leaving Redding and passengers without direct flights to Southern California.
Independence Day is right around the corner. While many will celebrate the holiday with family gatherings and food, Chico officials are reminding residents that setting off fireworks is illegal. Also, nearly six years after the Camp Fire destroyed the Honey Run Covered Bridge reconstruction is now underway, and Avelo Airlines is leaving Redding and passengers without direct flights to Southern California.
PG&E customers will see a rate reduction this summer, but the relief will be temporary. Also, evacuations have been lifted for the Apache Fire in Butte County and the Sites Fire in Colusa County.Officials offer some advice to residents on what to do after returning home, and a lawsuit against the Shasta County Elections Office has been dismissed by a superior court judge this week.
Gov. Gavin Newsom gave his annual State of the State Address yesterday. He mainly focused on policy accomplishments over the last year. He did mention some challenges, but wildfire wasn't one of them. Also, the Chico Police Department is working on encrypting its radio communications, and the town of Paradise’s water supply meets or exceeds state and federal public health standards.
People facing felony charges who are deemed incompetent to stand trial could stay in Butte County for rehabilitation services and housing. Also, a group of Shasta County residents wants to review the Board of Supervisors’ conduct in appointing the new Registrar of Voters to see if it was legal, and the Chico City Council took a step last week to ease conflict over development proposals.
Shasta County’s Assistant Registrar of Voters says she will remain in her role to help ensure a smooth election. Also, a draft report of Butte County's annual tally of unhoused residents was presented at a meeting this month, and Butte County's board of supervisors will meet on Tuesday to decide on next year's billion-dollar budget.
Senior mobile home park residents led a long fight for rent stabilization in Chico but were shot down by a 2-4 council vote. Also, Shasta County supervisors have selected a former deputy district attorney with no experience managing elections as the new Registrar of Voters, and a new report found that the historic Hotel Marysville is at risk of collapse and may need to be demolished after a fire.
A report from the Shasta County Grand Jury found that inmates at the local jail were not properly screened or treated for MRSA, a staph infection that is contagious and prevalent in jails, prisons and hospitals. Also, the city of Oroville is looking to overhaul the way citizens report non-emergency needs, and Butte County will hold two more community meetings about a new program to provide no-cost building plans that are suitable for disaster recovery housing.
Paradise residents who have questions about their electric service will be able to get answers from PG&E today. Also, some of California’s dams were built a century ago and dozens are in serious need of repair. A grant program was created last year to begin the repairs, but Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed cutting that funding, and this week the Shasta County’s Board of Supervisors will interview nine candidates for the county’s recently vacated Registrar of Voters position.
Chico City Council will decide whether to approve this fiscal year’s budget. Staff will also come back with rent stabilization research per the council’s requests months back. Also, the council eased parking restrictions that have long impeded residential development in the downtown area, and Shasta County has requested a superior court judge dismiss a lawsuit brought against the county’s elections office.
Tehama County is already seeing some homeless services enhanced with state grant money. But the arrival time remains unknown for $14 million the county was awarded unknown. Also, a new sobering center will soon be open in Chico, and the 1078 Gallery is hosting a fundraising event called “Bowls for Gaza” that aims to raise funds for Palestinians in need.
Chico’s newest downtown arcade and bar is closing its doors this month after only one year of being in business. Also, officials are warning Shasta County residents of the dangers of fast flowing, cold rivers amidst a scorching heat wave hitting the North State this week, and Pheasant Club is to perform at Argus Bar tonight.
The Torres Community Shelter helped more than 200 unhoused people get into permanent housing in 2023. Also, the Butte County Board of Supervisors OK’d staff to initiate the process of putting a one-cent sales tax on the November ballot, and a new 66-unit housing complex for disabled unhoused residents is moving forward in Chico.
The North State is bracing for a second week of temperatures nearing 110 degrees Fahrenheit in some places. A lack of state mandated cooling centers means differing protocols in cities across the region. Also, the city of Chico is looking for a local organization to provide heating and cooling services during extreme weather, and the Plumas County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting to take public comments on its proposed budget.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted to create a panel to review applicants for its vacant registrar of voters position. Also, Butte County Board of Supervisors are to receive the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and Chico residents will see more road closures this week as the city continues making improvements along the Esplanade.
Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones withheld a letter from California’s attorney general’s office that cleared the district attorney of misconduct. His colleagues voted this week to investigate whether Jones broke any laws by not sharing the letter. Also, the Chico City Council approved the 2024-25 city budget, and a new report found that only a small percentage of UC and community college students eligible for CalFresh actually receive the benefits. At Chico State, staff hope to reduce the stigma around the program and increase enrollment.
Smoke may be seen near Oroville today and later this month as officials conduct prescribed burns at Thermalito’s forebay and afterbay. They are intended to reduce invasive plants and dry brush. Also, it’s Invasive Species Action Week in California, and during this week’s hot weather conditions we take a look at the North State’s hottest recorded temperatures.
A Chico parent is appealing a 2023 decision barring schools from forcibly outing trans and gender questioning students to parents. An appeals panel heard the parent’s updated case in May. Also, Asaahdi Coleman was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2022 shooting of four people on a Greyhound bus in Oroville and killed one, and the popular streaming service Hulu is taking on the Sherri Papini case this summer.
Whether to close roads around Lower Bidwell Park to vehicles on certain days will be considered by the Chico City Council tomorrow. Also, June 1 officially kicks off Pride Month. Chico will join the celebration with many events, and California is having difficulty finding enough firefighters this year.
During emergencies, power and internet outages can make it hard for rural residents to receive emergency alerts. Butte County is distributing free Alert FM devices that receive alerts via radio. Also, Bidwell Mansion in Chico remains closed this week as it undergoes renovations, and Sutter County is facing a serious budget shortfall and has issued a hiring freeze.
Several weeks of community meetings are giving the Butte County residents a say in how new evacuation plans might be improved. Also, bus riders in Yuba and Sutter counties who use an app to track when the bus arrives will no longer have access to that service, and Shakespeare in the Park returns to Chico this week.
North State residents will have an additional area code starting in 2025. The California Public Utilities Commission will assign 837 as another area code in the region for some new numbers. Also, the Trinity County Animal Shelter is urgently asking for help finding new homes for its dogs, and Butte County supervisors discussed a more than 45 percent increase on dumping fees at the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility.
Butte County supervisors will consider a new master plan for the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility. They will also consider a fee increase to fund and maintain it. Also, members of the Karuk Tribe are bringing back the ancient tradition of crafting dugout canoes, and North State recreators are being advised to be cautious about swimming in rivers, as spring snowmelt means streams are frigid and swift.
Shasta County has repealed an ordinance charging for staff time spent fulfilling public records requests. Also, Chico residents can celebrate Memorial Day weekend with live music, funnel cakes and pig races at the Silver Dollar Fair, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in schools may soon be a thing of the past.
Tehama County just opened its first homeless shelter. But advocates say not enough is being done in Red Bluff to fight homelessness, so community members are stepping up to fill the gaps. Also, a bill to retroactively exempt wildfire settlement money from federal income tax that was co-authored by Congressman Doug LaMalfa passed in the House this week, and chronic wasting disease has been discovered for the first time in California. The fatal neurological disease affects deer, elk, moose and reindeer.
Butte County is investigating the Shigella outbreak in Oroville. Also, the Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is warning residents to be cautious of an increasing amount of snakes in the area, and Redding will ask Shasta County for financial help to get direct flights to Denver.
Artist and Chico State lecturer Brian McNamara presents "Local Citrus," an exhibit that showcases luchador art and transports you to the artist's upbringing. Also, Chico City Council will discuss the proposed 2024-25 budget ahead of its regular meeting today, and now is the time to prepare for a possible evacuation when faced with a fast-moving wildlfire.
Gov. Gavin Newsom made funds from Proposition 1 available last week. Now, counties are preparing to apply for competitive grants for mental health facilities. Also, Butte County’s next community meeting about updating its emergency evacuation maps will be held in Concow tomorrow evening, and California’s long debated and controversial plan to move water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the south has a new $20 billion price tag.
With a “cessation of conflict” resolution passed by Chico State’s Academic Senate, supporters explain what it means for wider protest efforts. Also, the Redding Police Department has released body camera footage of an officer-involved shooting that took place in early April, and Diontanae Jerome Tillman was sentenced this week for the 2021 murder of local DJ Kevin Murillo during an armed robbery in Chico.
Shasta County Supervisors voted to increase their compensation by around $30,000 this week. Also, counties, cities, tribes and private developers will soon have funds to build more behavioral health treatment centers in California, and the 50th anniversary of Red Bluff’s car show will take place over the weekend.
A feature film about the 2018 Camp Fire is in production in New Mexico. It stars Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrara and relates the story of a school bus driver’s desperate struggle to navigate the fire. Also, a historic fire tower in Plumas County has been the site of an annual artists residency program for nearly eight years. Plumas Arts and the Plumas National Forest are now looking for a 2024 resident, and Highway 70 has finally reopened to one-way traffic controls after months of ongoing rockslides and weather damage left it closed.
The Shasta County Grand Jury investigated a board of supervisors member following allegations of a conflict of interest. Its findings say there was no misconduct. Also, Paradise councilors will vote tomorrow to potentially halt permitting new residential buildings downtown, and a popular road for bicycling in southeast Chico that was previously filled with potholes and cracks has reopened to the public.
As fire weather nears now is the time to begin preparing. Cal Fire recommends a few simple actions. Also, Butte County’s next community meeting about updating its emergency evacuation maps will be held at Butte College this evening, and North State residents will have a chance to ask questions of PG&E representatives at an upcoming virtual town hall this week.
PATH Plaza — the first and only homeless shelter in Tehama County —officially opened its doors this week. However, advocates say it’s not enough to address homelessness in the area fully. Also, more roadwork is set to begin in Chico next week as the city breaks ground on a project improving the Esplanade corridor, and unofficial results from a special election showed Chester voters said no to a tax for fire and ambulance services.
Enloe Behavioral Health — which is the only voluntary in-patient mental health facility in the region — has announced it plans to shut down this August. The move comes amid shortages of mental health professionals in the area and a lack of resources. Also, the group Students for Justice in Palestine, Chico staged a "Study in Solidarity" on Chico State’s campus yesterday, and more housing units may soon be available in Plumas County.
California energy regulators will decide on a proposal tomorrow that would restructure how utility companies bill for electricity. If approved, the price of electricity would drop, but residents would see a fixed charge for infrastructure costs. Also, Orland grew by nearly five percent last year, making it the fourth fastest-growing city in California, and Butte County will hold a community meeting in Bangor tomorrow about updating evacuation maps.
A walkout at Chico State organized by Students for Justice in Palestine brought dozens of students together on campus. Also, the city of Chico may formalize a deal with Butte County to fund a new sobering center, and Shasta County is saying goodbye to its former Clerk and Registrar of Voters, Cathy Darling Allen, as she retires this week after nearly 20 years in office.
As California faces a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall this year, one program on the chopping block is Market Match that provides extra money to use on produce at farmers markets. Also, assistance is now available to help Dixie Fire survivors rebuild homes or rental properties, and Butte County wants to know how you think your tax dollars should be spent.
Shasta County's long-serving registrar of voters is retiring tomorrow. Nobody in the county is quite sure how the vacant seat will be filled. Also, an education center for Native American youth is opening in Greenville soon, and residents in Red Bluff struggling with homelessness now have somewhere to go for support.
After protesters were arrested Tuesday following a days-long protest at Cal Poly Humboldt against the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, one professor is concerned about law enforcement involvement. Also, voters in Chester will soon decide whether or not to fund fire and ambulance services, and California is now recovering from an unprecedented three-year population decline.
The Supreme Court heard arguments about a major homelessness case last week. Here's what to expect going forward and how it could affect unhoused residents in Chico. Also, Lassen, Modoc and Plumas County residents will need to carry permits before doing any residential burning starting tomorrow, and Caltrans officials say they’re making progress toward reopening Highway 70 through the Feather River Canyon.
A community fridge in south Chico faces closure if not adopted by another operator. Also, plans to expand Chico’s passenger train routes to the Bay Area, high speed rail and the San Joaquin Valley are in the final stage, and Redding is among the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. according to livability.com that looked at small and mid-sized communities across the country with scores based on economic variables and factors that influence quality of life, including affordability.
A panel discussion on affordable housing drew large attendance in Chico. Local affordable housing advocates and experts were joined by a state assemblyman who has a plan for “social housing.” Also, one scientist says climate change is taking its toll on the glacier atop Mt. Shasta as well as others in the state, and California increases water supply allocation again this year.
A panel discussion on affordable housing drew large attendance in Chico. Local affordable housing advocates and experts were joined by a state assemblyman who has a plan for “social housing.” Also, one scientist says climate change is taking its toll on the glacier atop Mt. Shasta as well as others in the state, and California increases water supply allocation again this year.
Butte County residents are being asked to weigh in on Butte County’s evacuation maps. Also, incentives for Butte County Behavioral Health employees are on today’s board of supervisors meeting agenda, and Chico State warns some students that they may have been exposed to meningitis.
Chico community activists reflect on memorial in Children’s Park they created for children killed in Gaza. Also, Chico State is awaiting lab confirmation about a potential tuberculosis case on campus, and two North State jurisdictions are set to receive millions of dollars in aid as part of a large scale initiative by Gov. Gavin Newsom to get people experiencing homelessness into housing.
Chico performance artist Dana Moore creates room for those who are looking to leave their comfort zone with her latest improv class starting in May. Also, tomorrow Butte County will hold the first of 11 meetings scheduled throughout the county regarding updating its evacuation maps, and the Chico City Council recently decided to keep a restriction on liquor licenses downtown.
President Biden has issued a disaster declaration following a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom. It will reimburse 10 California counties, including Butte, Glenn, and Sutter, for disaster response and recovery costs. Also, the Redding Police Department is preparing to release footage after the first officer-involved shooting in Shasta County since its adoption of body cameras last year, and bus commuters in Redding this month can get a free bike ride pass.
Butte County will hold 11 community meetings to get public input about updating evacuation maps for numerous communities. Also, the Feather River Nature Center in Oroville has been recognized as a ‘monarch waystation’ or a suitable pit stop for the butterfly’s migration, and next week a host of new improvements are slated to get underway for Bruce Road.
Chico State is co-hosting an event with housing experts and local and state politicians to discuss where Chico fits in with statewide housing efforts. Also, the Chico Peace Alliance set up an information table in front of the downtown post office yesterday to ask Chico residents to consider where their tax dollars go, and a California congressman has introduced a bill to prevent PG&E and other major utility companies from raising rates more than once per year.
Nearly 30 wells in Chico are among hundreds in the state that would exceed new safety regulations for forever chemicals in drinking water. Cal Water says it’s working the university is co-hosting an event with local and state politicians as well as housing experts to discuss where Chico fits into statewide housing efforts to bring these wells into compliance. Also, a bill to incorporate “the science of reading” in California’s public schools died without a hearing in the state legislature, and California lawmakers are eyeing a bill that specifically targets private equity and hedge fund investments.
Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye narrowly avoided a recall. Now, he’s pushing for unity. Also, a group of North State bird enthusiasts is spying on a family of bald eagles and they invite you to join them, and Chico begins pavement upgrades across the city.
The Environmental Protection Agency is rolling out the first federal standards for forever chemicals in drinking water. According to an analysis by CalMatters some wells in the North State would exceed the new safety regulations. Also, the California Dream Act Application has been opened to students with mixed citizenship status and non-U.S. citizenships, and free waste disposal will be available at Oroville’s Recology Transfer Facility next Sunday.
Eleven inmates at the Butte County Jail were flagged for possible detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year. But, Sheriff Kory Honea told supervisors at this week’s meeting that ICE did not pick up any of them. Also, the runner-up for a seat on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors asked election officials for a recount. Now she’s backtracked, and Chico’s Thursday Night Market is back tomorrow and it will be bigger than ever.
The city of Chico is continuing to clear homeless encampments throughout the city. In its most recent enforcement, three encampments were cleared forcing 23 residents to relocate. Also, the Paradise Town Council is expected to vote on a plan for acquiring easements along the route of a proposed sewer line connection with Chico’s water treatment facility, and the Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider approving a 5.2 million dollar grant from the state to help the behavioral health department expand its services.
The city of Chico is set to remove three homeless encampments today. In total, 23 unsheltered residents will be forced to relocate. Also, most business coming before the Butte County Board of Supervisors at its meeting tomorrow pertains to routine budget adjustments and contract approvals but some agenda items stand out, and North State residents won’t see the full solar eclipse today but even a partial eclipse is a remarkable event.
Chico voters approved a 1% sales tax increase. Now the city is detailing where that money went. Also, two minor temblors shook the North State yesterday evening, and the nonprofit Butte County Local Food Network helps individuals grow their own food in community gardens, at schools and in their own backyards.
Some 125 acres of forest land in California's Redwood National and State Parks will return to the Yurok Tribe in a first-of-its-kind arrangement. Also, Chico’s historic El Rey Theater is up for sale for just under $2 million, and the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 this week to approve the county's election results.
Chico has established fees for its shopping cart ordinance aimed at retailers who don’t collect abandoned carts taken off their properties. Also, Chico Housing Action Team has been selected to receive more than $15 million in grant funding, and California’s snowpack is above average for this time of the year.
The Hmong Cultural Center in Oroville is one of several groups facing possible future funding cuts due to Proposition 1, but the center’s concerns are lessened thanks to a nearly $900,000 grant it recently received. Also, Chico State is rebranding its School of Communication. The newly named “School of Media Entertainment, Technology and Immersive Experiences” aims to prepare students for changes in the media and technology industries, and California lawmakers are promoting a series of bills that aim to prevent sexual discrimination and harassment at California’s public colleges and universities.
Shasta County has certified election results and Supervisor Kevin Crye has survived the recall. Also, the Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County was awarded nearly $900,000 in funding for a youth-led campaign to decrease mental health stigma, and Chico State is inviting students and community members to volunteer in honor of César Chávez this weekend.
A nonprofit in Greenville hopes to repair the landscape lost in the Dixie Fire by replanting trees and shrubs in the burn scar. The Dixie Fire Canopy Project will host its first planting and seedling giveaway in April. Also, election results have been certified in Butte County. Voter turnout was nearly 47% and higher than the state average which was also true for other North State counties, and a new tiny home community for unhoused residents could soon open in Redding.
A month after forcibly removing unhoused people from a large encampment at Depot Park, the city of Chico issued notices of enforcement to those camping along sections of Big Chico Creek and the Lindo Channel. Also, a major sweep of 24 unlicensed grows in Siskiyou County netted more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana with a street value exceeding $68 million earlier this summer, and Cal Fire will conduct a controlled burn today in Redding, Igo and Cottonwood.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has found four new gray wolf packs in California in addition to three existing packs in Lassen, Plumas and Siskiyou counties. Also, a disaster summit will be held by Cal OES this Friday in Chico to increase community understanding of emergency response systems, and local public health departments are starting to schedule flu vaccine clinics as flu season nears.
Research out of the University of Colorado suggests that forcibly removing unhoused people from encampments could cause them serious harm. Also, the California Legislature passed a bill Friday that was targeted at Shasta County and would ban hand-counting ballots in most elections, and the federal government is meeting with small business owners to create standards to protect workers from extreme heat, but federal rulemaking can take years and requires bipartisan support.
Three years after the Bear Fire, Feather Falls is scheduled to hold its first commemoration this evening at the Goldflake Saloon and Cafe. Also, California State University students may see a tuition hike next year, and PG&E has started undergrounding power lines on part of Highway 70 in Plumas County.
Rebuilding in Berry Creek is painfully slow after the 2020 Bear Fire devastated the community nearly three years ago. Also, lawmakers in California are considering legislation to allow insurers to pass on the higher cost of living in a fire-prone state to consumers, and West Nile Virus cases increase to 10 in Butte County.
We continue to focus on the 2020 Bear Fire, later known as the North Complex, which destroyed much of Berry Creek and Feather Falls nearly three years ago. Today we look at the elementary school’s road to recovery. Also, the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office announced that charges will not be filed against a man who used a racial slur during a previous supervisors meeting, and Chico’s Thursday Night Market will close for the season on Sept. 14.
A Butte County ordinance that allows Bear Fire survivors to camp on their properties expires at the end of the year leaving some living in RVs on their land worried they’ll be evicted soon. Also, the Chico City Council is sick of abandoned shopping carts so they’ve proposed a new city ordinance declaring them a nuisance, and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing in Butte and Shasta counties.
CapRadio announced a layoff of 12% of its workforce Wednesday citing financial strains amid a slowing in donor support. Also, a new study has found that our warming climate has increased the frequency of extreme daily fire growth in California by an average of 25%, and thunderstorms are predicted north of Yuba City today.
Winds have pushed smoke from northern wildfires into the valley and officials say it’s important to check air quality. Also, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors saw another disorderly meeting this week, and the city of Chico has announced an unexpected vacancy on its Climate Action Commission.
PG&E customers in parts of the Sacramento Valley had their power shut off last night due to high fire danger. Also, the number of mosquitoes has exploded this year following record precipitation and officials are reporting that’s led to an unprecedented level of West Nile virus activity, and animal advocates are urging California to pay for spay and neuter programs to help with the state’s pet overpopulation crisis.
A new early warning siren system in Paradise to help people evacuate during wildfires is scheduled to be completed next month. It was one of the town’s top priorities following the 2018 Camp Fire. But after officials in Hawaii decided not to sound their sirens during recent wildfires there, NSPR’s Jamie Jiang wondered how Paradise’s siren system will work in a future emergency.
Shasta County announced its first case of West Nile Virus this year; there are now at least 55 confirmed cases of the virus in California so far. Also, Oroville’s recent rebranding effort isn’t going as well as council members had planned, and more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion, state lawmakers are working to expand reproductive access in California.
A Shasta County Board of Education meeting earlier this month became heated during a discussion of whether to censure one of its members. NSPR spoke with Annelise Pierce, managing editor of the nonprofit news outlet Shasta Scout. Also, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to help identify a suspect who reportedly brandished a gun at Palermo Middle School last Friday prompting a lockdown, and a flash flood warning for the Monument Burn scar yesterday was a reminder of how quickly rain can cause flooding in areas that have recently experienced wildfire.
Drug overdose deaths have increased 150% percent in Butte County in the past five years, Director of Butte County Behavioral Health Scott Kennelly shares advice on how people who use drugs can do them a little safer. Also, two more homeowners insurance companies — AmGUARD and Falls Lake — made the announcement they’re leaving California earlier this summer with little fanfare, and the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to write a letter of opposition to a state bill known as the Water Ratepayers Protections Act of 2023.
Unhoused individuals camping on the southeast side of Depot Park received enforcement notices from the City of Chico Monday, that’s after the northwest half of the park was cleared earlier this month. Also, the Shasta Beloved Community will host a program in Redding to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s ‘Dream’ speech that he gave on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington, and NSPR visits Oak Way Garden a place for Chico gardeners without garden space to grow their own vegetables.
Show Love Thrift was forced to relocate Friday after the Chico City Council approved a new cannabis dispensary earlier this year. Also, many survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire have been watching the news of wildfires in Maui with a sense of disbelief, and Chico State says for $20 you can pick as many peaches as you want Wednesday at the University Farm.
Health officials are warning that the concerning veterinary tranquilizer xylazine is being used to lace street drugs in Butte County. Also, the U.S. Forest Service says lightning strikes over the weekend led to at least two new fire starts in the Klamath National Forest, and northern California is expected to see limited impacts from Hurricane Hilary.
Chico State’s new president Stephen Perez discusses his goals for the university with NSPR ahead of his Fall Convocation speech yesterday. Also, concerns of a bomb threat at Paradise High put the school on lockdown on the first day back, and the Yurok Tribe’s 59th annual Klamath Salmon Festival takes place tomorrow.
The Head Fire continues to prompt evacuations around Seiad Valley. Also, a health advisory was issued in Siskiyou County due to unhealthy air quality from the fires, and two years after the Dixie Fire six new homes are under construction in Plumas County.
Concern for salmon in Butte Creek continues following a rupture of a PG&E canal which washed a huge amount of debris into the stream. Also, Yuba County has confirmed a human case of West Nile Virus, and PG&E started work on undergrounding power lines in Magalia this week.
Nearly 1 in 4 Californians lack basic literacy skills, how libraries in the North State are trying to help. Also, the Oroville City Council will discuss adding new cameras to police cars at tonight’s meeting, and salmon in Butte Creek are threatened from sediment after a PG&E canal failed last week.
Sycamore Pool in lower Bidwell Park has no lifeguards this summer despite widespread recruitment efforts. Also, a Chico State sorority and fraternity have been penalized for hazing and for violating the college’s alcohol policy, and Redding is asking residents to give input today about redesigning the city’s riverfront.
The city of Chico removed unhoused residents and cleaned up trash from half of Depot Park yesterday with plans to clear the other half soon. Also, a month ago the rate of positive COVID-19 cases in Butte County was about 6%, now it’s 19%, and the Butte County Board of Supervisors approved using funding from an opioid settlement for a sobering center.
Butte County announced its first case of West Nile Virus this year, which is one of eight cases of the virus in the state so far. Also, this morning the city of Chico is scheduled to clear half of a large homeless encampment at Depot Park, and kids are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat days, which are expected to increase in many North State communities.
A new shelter for unhoused individuals in Red Bluff is underway with hopes that construction will be completed by the end of the year. Also, the number of overdoses and deaths from illicit opioid use has increased dramatically in the U.S. over the last few years, and nearly 1 in 3 Californians say they wouldn’t get another COVID vaccine.
The Torres Community Shelter says it's working on ways to be more accessible to those in Chico who are unhoused. Also, Shasta County officials have agreed to pay $1.5M to the family of a man who was struck and killed by a sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle, and Stanford researchers who mapped overhead power lines across California found that lines that pose a wildfire hazard are most likely in low-income communities.
PG&E’s move to quietly end a program to clear dangerous trees around its power lines has caused alarm for North State prosecutors. Also, Tuesday is the last day to submit public comments on the state’s plan to spend federal funds on housing for Dixie Fire survivors, and the Chico Police Department is warning residents of a new scam hitting the community involving cryptocurrency ATMs and bitcoin.
The city of Chico issued enforcement notices to residents of a large unhoused encampment at Depot Park, informing them that they'll be removed along with their belongings if they're still there on Aug. 10. Also, the Oroville City Council approved a $2.1 million contract with Butte Construction to begin work on a Pallet shelter in the city, and the only regional juvenile hall center in the state is scheduled to open in Marysville this fall.
The Chico City Council voted to approve another year of ice skating in the city’s downtown plaza. Also, property owners in Paradise now have one less bill to worry about after Cal Fire awarded the town nearly $2.5 million to help remove hazardous trees after the Camp Fire, and a Caldor Fire survivor is helping others in the burn scar file claims for damages against the federal government.
The California Department of Justice is investigating Butte County for potentially violating state voting laws. Also, Plumas County will use juvenile detention centers in Butte County after California turned responsibility to detaining youths over to local governments, and this summer marks the 59th year the Yurok Tribe is holding its Klamath Salmon Festival. But this year, there won’t be any salmon served because of low salmon stocks.
The Chico ice rink operated at a loss its first two years, losing over $140,000 in 2021 and nearly $190,000 thousand dollars in 2022. Also, beginning this week some of Chico’s roadways will see a major facelift, and the deadline is approaching for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other toxic substances to apply for backdated benefits.
Saturday marked one year since the McKinney Fire killed four people and destroyed more than 200 homes in the small community of Klamath River in Siskiyou County. Also, Saturday and Sunday marked two years since the Monument and McFarland fires, and officials at the state’s health insurance marketplace — Covered California — will begin using penalties levied against uninsured people to reduce out-of-pocket spending for enrollees.
Shasta County officials are yet again seeking delays in releasing reports and documents to the Redding Record Searchlight. Also, this week marked five years since the Carr Fire and numbers show survivors in rural Shasta County are rebuilding more slowly than those in Redding, and goats are back in Chico grazing on invasive plants in Middle Bidwell Park.
Covered California yesterday announced rate hikes, signaling that runaway health care costs are back after five years of low premium increases. Also, yesterday marked five years since the Carr Fire entered the city of Redding, and a San Francisco company is hoping to install a solar farm on more than 20 acres northeast of Bangor in Butte County.
Adventist Health held a community meeting this week to apologize to Paradise residents but said the economics of rebuilding the Feather River Hospital don’t add up. Also, the Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a special election in December where voters will decide on the creation of the Tuscan Water District, and Cal Fire says the Wonder Fire north of Redding is 40% contained and 150 acres.
The controversial Tuscan Water District is up for vote at today’s Butte County Board of Supervisors meeting; it will determine if a special election to create the district will be put to voters in December. Also, Lassen College has the lowest student transfer rate of any community college in the state, and Burney has been under a boil water advisory for nearly two weeks after E. coli was found in the community’s drinking water distribution system.
Youth offenders convicted of serious crimes will now be housed in the counties where they were convicted rather than state facilities, but do counties have the resources they need? Also, Adventist Health will hold a meeting in Paradise tonight about plans the company has for healthcare in the area, and Mildred Garcia discusses her goals as the new chancellor of the California State University system.
A new political group of concerned residents called Groundwater for Butte is protesting the Tuscan Water District which would encompass about 100,000 acres between Chico and Durham. Also, new data shows that 225,000 Californians assessed in June were dropped from MediCal, and temperatures will soar to 110 in Chico today and 113 in Redding.
Some North State residents are getting nervous about wildfires now that daily highs are regularly in the triple digits. We turn to Zeke Lunder — wildfire scientist and founder of The Lookout — for more on this year’s peak wildfire season. Also, the Redding City Council weighs in on a controversial and costly decision by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors to have all elections counted by hand, and if you’re headed to see Taylor Swift perform in Santa Clara this month the city will actually be called “Swiftie Clara” while you’re there.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to spend nearly half a million dollars on telehealth psychiatry for Dixie Fire survivors but some say the money would be wasted since internet connection is hard to come by in the area. Also, you wouldn’t think Californians smoking less could be a bad thing for kids here but the state’s key early childhood services get a big chunk of their funding from taxes on tobacco, and we turn to a sports medicine expert for how to stay cool and active in this week’s recent extreme heat.
Where do all the leaves and grass clippings in your green bin go once it’s hauled off by garbage trucks? Also, we look into a federal judge’s reasoning for dismissing a lawsuit against Chico Unified School District that contended school staff failed to notify a parent about a student wanting to change their gender pronouns, and a new report says a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom could yank more than $700 million from county mental health services.
Many in Chico turned to the city’s public freshwater pool to stay cool during triple-digit temperatures over the weekend. Also, California’s power grid is always a concern during major heat waves but new tools should help it stay online during high heat days, and alcohol-related deaths have climbed since 2006 with a dramatic increase during the pandemic.
Paradise homeowners struggle to keep and get home insurance policies despite having defensible space and living in a fire safe community. Also, West Nile Virus has been detected near Chico and Richvale, and Democrats in the California Legislature blocked a bill to crack down on child sex traffickers, but reversed course after public backlash and pressure from the governor.
Paradise residents pleaded with California officials this week to get major insurance carriers that have stopped or put caps on selling new insurance policies in the state to reconsider. Also, PG&E looks to microgrids as one solution to try to reduce the likelihood of wildfires caused by its equipment, and the state’s energy grid is expected to hold up during this week’s heat wave.
Butte County officials recently voiced skepticism on a project that would bring more than 70 early warning sirens to the county. Also, California State University students could see yearly tuition increases of 6% for the next five years, and artificial intelligence is being used to spot fire ignitions.
Extreme heat is expected once again in the North State starting Friday. Also, Farmers Insurance has stopped offering some types of policies altogether and placed caps on them, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a handful of bills he says will help the state meet its ambitious climate goals.
Communities are being confronted with protecting the vulnerable during increasing extreme heat events, but a Chico State professor says cooling centers might not be the best option for those most at risk — the elderly poor. Also, Shasta County has a new evacuation zone system, and Butte County Library's "Access to Technology" program aims to help seniors and adults with disabilities learn how to use computers and navigate the web more comfortably.
Scout the Wise on his music, identity and how the banjo keeps him connected to his roots. Also, an intensive cultural and prescribed fire training program will take place in the North State this fall, and syringe exchange programs will receive more than $60 million over four years in opioid settlement funds.
A Chico musician and skateboarder is in the quarter finals to win the chance at $10,000 and an opportunity to skate with Tony Hawk. Also, Safe Space’s cooling center is open and shuttling people from encampments that are far from the site, and advocates showed their support for a trio of bills they say would make the state’s water rights system more equitable and transparent.
Shasta County’s attempt to hand count ballots could be thwarted by a bill moving through the California legislature. Also, Shasta County Child Support Services is holding a backpack and school supply drive through July, and the nation’s first federally-authorized low-nicotine cigarettes are going on sale in California, Florida and Texas this month after a year of test-marketing.
Cold temperatures in the North State’s rivers and creeks could pose a safety risk during triple-digit temperatures this week. Also, California’s Democratic leaders are criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision to block affirmative action to college admissions, and Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines how the state is preparing for wildfires this year.
Triple-digit temperatures start today in the North State’s valley and foothills that tomorrow will become a major risk for heat-related illness through the weekend. Also, a new report shows that California is performing 500 more abortions per month than the period before Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the Cans ‘n’ Cones watercolor exhibition at Chico’s 1078 Gallery is a candy-colored kickoff to summer.
After public protest yesterday, the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to reopen three fire stations that were closed last winter and to allow libraries to keep current hours. Also, Chico officials warn residents ahead of the July Fourth holiday that even “Safe and Sane” fireworks aren’t allowed in the city, and a bill intended to protect people trying to rebuild their home after a disaster has passed the California Assembly.
Butte County’s annual budget hearing is scheduled to take place today; libraries and Cal Fire stations in Berry Creek, Stirling City and Jarbo Gap could take a hit. Also, officials say time is running out to prepare for wildfire, and Lassen Volcanic National Park may be open for the Fourth of July weekend.
A new firescaping book written by two Chico State lecturers argues that clearing hundreds of feet of space around homes may actually increase wildfire risk. Also, a lot goes into conducting a prescribed burn, NSPR takes a look at one completed in Bidwell Park last week, and California lawmakers struggle to reach an agreement as the state budget deadline approaches.
What's the current state of COVID in Butte County? Also, a new report finds California mothers are more likely to survive childbirth than mothers in states that ban abortion, and child care providers say they need support from the state or they'll have to shut down.
A 'Renewal Center' for unhoused residents is set to open soon in Chico. Also, the Siskiyou County District Attorney is beginning to decide whether to hold a local company criminally liable for a wildfire last fall, and a bill aims to protect LGBTQ foster youth.
Cal Fire investigators have determined the cause of the deadly Mill Fire. Also, the City of Chico has announced a controlled burn in Bidwell Park, and two bills hope to reform the state's mental healthcare system.
A new support group for Camp Fire survivors met last week as mental health counseling resources remain scarce in the burn scar. Also, Chico starts a ‘kiosk concierge’ program after complaints from downtown businesses and visitors about new smart meters, and lawmakers in California continue to struggle to regulate so-called crisis pregnancy centers that abortion advocates say mislead women seeking abortion care.
The town of Paradise conducted the first test of its new emergency evacuation siren system Thursday. NSPR sent reporters to different locations throughout the Ridge to gauge who heard the siren test and who didn’t.
Paradise’s early warning sirens will be tested at 10 a.m. today for the first time in the town. Also, a bill moving through the legislature would raise the minimum wage for people who work in healthcare facilities to $25 per hour but some hospitals and counties are against the proposal, and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has said his administration relocated more than 40 migrants to California.
The first-ever siren test in Paradise will be conducted at 10 a.m. tomorrow, while some residents welcome the drill others question its value. Also, officials say they may not need to increase water releases as Lake Oroville nears capacity, and the Butte County Board of Supervisors scheduled a hearing on June 27 to look more thoroughly at the county's budget.
Paradise officials and residents are concerned that the town’s first test of its early warning sirens Thursday could scare people and cause difficult emotions to resurface. Also, 20 members of Congress from California are sending a letter to the EPA today — they’re worried that a rule intended to improve air quality could make it harder to conduct prescribed burns, and more than 1,200 people in Butte County were counted as experiencing homelessness in the 2023 Point-In-Time report released yesterday.
California public schools may soon be required to teach kids about the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to its effects. Also, the nonprofit Camp Fire Restoration Project has built bioreactors for composting in Bille Park to help restore topsoil after the fire, and Chico State is working to help hundreds of students find off-campus housing by next fall due to Whitney Hall being under construction.
Six affordable tiny homes are now open for unhoused residents in Chico who are referred by community organizations. Also, a new study shows wildfire risk disclosures reduce home prices but only some homeowners have to divulge, and El Niño has officially arrived in California potentially bringing wet weather and record breaking high temperatures.
Lake Oroville is full for the first time in spring in over 20 years. Also, this morning Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed adding an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban the civilian purchase of assault weapons among other gun access restrictions, and a new study shows that more than 30% of California families are struggling to cover their basic living expenses.
As more homes in California are built in areas at high risk for wildfire, new research shows that disclosing wildfire risk potential to homebuyers lowers home sale prices. Also, the Chico City Council voted to approve the city budget including a 20% raise for the city’s police department, and a building was vandalized with homophobic hate speech in Susanville on the first day of Pride Month, now the community is coming together to fight hate.
Members of the Chico Police Department may get a 20% raise as the city council prepares to vote on a new budget today. Also, the town of Paradise will coordinate an emergency exercise on June 15 to simulate response actions during a wildfire or other disaster, and officials are investigating whether Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis was behind a flight that picked up asylum-seekers on the Texas border and flew them to California’s capital.
Allstate has announced it will no longer sell new home insurance policies in California following State Farm as the latest company to deem the state “uninsurable.” Also, health officials urge individuals to get the mpox vaccine ahead of Pride festivities, and Chico State renames Sutter Hall after an examination showed the building’s namesake mistreated Indigenous people.
CalMatter’s housing reporter Ben Christopher discusses what’s behind State Farm’s decision to halt new home insurance policies in California. Also, Dave Rickert starts as Shasta County’s new CEO and a state bill aims to limit renter security deposits to one month’s rent rather than three.
All criminal charges have been dropped against PG&E for its role in the deadly 2020 Zogg Fire. Also, it’s Pride Month, where to celebrate in Chico, and California’s gas tax will increase on July 1.
A new channel has been dug off the Sacramento River south of Redding to create a year-round spawning habitat for critically endangered chinook salmon. Also, State Farm has announced it will no longer accept new applications for home insurance in California due to wildfires, and Cal Fire will perform prescribed burns in Oroville and Thermalito as early as this week.
A Shasta County Superior Court judge has ruled the county must turn over documents requested by the Redding Record Searchlight in 2021. Also, excess snowpack from the winter might stick around longer than usual and help reduce severe wildfire risks in higher elevations, but not lower ones, and the Susanville Indian Rancheria received funding last week to clean up contaminated land.
Officials warn that the recent wet winter has made rivers dangerous. Also, California State University may raise tuition to cover the budget gap, and the state hospital industry is asking for a bailout.
A new report shows more frequent fire weather days in the North State. Also, Chico State will soon have a new president, and Oroville may soon be designated a 'rural city.'
How California will be affected by new Colorado River agreement. Also, Walmart will pay $500,000 to the state over brass knuckle sales, and a proposed bill to provide devices in bars to test for spiked drinks.
PG&E begins undergrounding power lines in Plumas. Also, the University of California is moving to allow the hiring of undocumented students, and a proposed deal to reduce water use from the Colorado River.
Chico police identify a third suspect in mass shooting. Also, Governor Gavin Newsom wants to speed up construction with a permit reform package, and what this month's earthquake means for the North State.
Chico sees rise in 'risky heat days.' Also, residents of a Sacramento encampment are struggling with the heat, and a bill that would require anti-overdose medicine in public spaces died in the California Legislature.
A new report says California will have a smaller almond crop this year. Also, dozens of bills are in limbo, and California is experimenting with guaranteed income pilot programs.
Defensible space inspections began taking place in Butte County’s Upper Ridge and in other parts of the North State this month. Also, environmental groups and tribes push for protecting Northern California’s Molok Luyuk, and California officials plan to spend $60 million to help threatened fish species in the Yuba River.
Organizers of a petition to recall Shasta County District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye can begin gathering signatures today. Also, California lawmakers are debating extending a law to make it easier for more law enforcement officers and firefighters to receive workers’ compensation for job-related PTSD, and a new bill would require California cities to provide shelter for unhoused residents.
Beginning this year, California’s homeowners have a new wildfire safety standard to meet. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom is currently presenting his $306.5 billion spending plan which includes filling the deficit, and that plan includes cuts to the state's climate commitments.
Chico State is offering mental health support to students in the wake of this weekend’s deadly shooting. Also, a recent study done in conjunction with the town of Paradise sheds light on reducing wildfire risk, and seventeen-year-olds in California would get the right to vote under a proposal making its way through the state Legislature.
CalFire is reviewing public comments to make changes to its fire hazard severity zones map. Also, California Senator Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate, and lawmakers are putting pressure on Gov. Newsom to increase childcare funding to the tune of a billion dollars.
The Redding City Council approved an updated fire mitigation plan. Also, a year after spending a $100 billion surplus, California lawmakers must fill a deficit, and a new bill would end involuntary prison labor.
Officials identify 17-year-old killed in Chico shooting. Also, Chico’s Pallet Shelter for unhoused residents celebrates one year since opening, and Northern California white water rafting companies say snowmelt will lead to an epic season.
A teenager was killed in a shooting in Chico over the weekend. Also, the former UC Davis student accused of a string of stabbings pleads not guilty to charges, and a new ordinance in Berkeley would help support contractors.
A spokesperson for the Department of Water Resources explains how it will manage water from Spring snowmelt. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new hotline for reporting hate acts, and California legislators propose offering loans to head off hospital closures.
Nationwide some students are discovering that some of the coursework they take at their community college isn’t transferable to a four-year institution, we check in with one North State institution. Also, abortion rights groups in California say they’re navigating uncharted territory, and the state reparations task force is recommending down payments for racial harm.
It’s been about a year since the city of Chico’s Pallet shelter for unhoused residents opened, we checked in with one resident. Also, the state of California sued Elk Grove over the city’s denial of an affordable housing project last summer, and a new bill would require tech companies to pay for news content.
CalFire officials say fire seasons are a thing of the past: we now have fire years. Also, extreme weather will get more expensive to recover from as climate change increases, plus a survey shows football is the most popular sport for high school boys in many North State counties.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is monitoring the state's nascent wolf population after severe winter weather. Also, a university training program wants to increase diversity among medical students, plus California is the first in the world to begin phasing out diesel trucks.
A new rule bans outdated diesel trains. Plus a bill to give California a state bat, and auditors say the state needs to collect more data on LGBTQ healthcare patients.
Chico State speaker celebrates neurodiversity. Plus a bill allowing state lawmakers to unionize and proposed legislation increasing penalties for human trafficking.
Proposed legislation aims to limit the cost of ambulance rides. Plus, a bill intended to make higher education more accessible to undocumented immigrants, and proposed legislation increasing penalties for fentanyl dealers failed in the state Senate.
A federal judge will soon decide whether to limit the use of aerial drops of fire retardant to fight wildfires. Also, The Plumas County Board of Supervisors plans to visit Greenville today to see how the town is recovering after the Dixie Fire, and the New York Jets have agreed to a deal to acquire Chico native Aaron Rodgers.
Chico Unified Schools District’s youth fair showcases the importance of extracurricular activities. Also, research shows the mental health impacts of wildfire smoke, and a legal dispute could limit the use of aerial fire retardants in fighting wildfires.
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is blanketed with wildflowers following exceptional rain. Also, California announced it will meet 100% of water requests for the first time in decades, and water contamination is being detected as communities across the state grapple with the long-term impacts of recent floods.
The Chico City Council Tuesday voted to let the public decide the fate of the controversial Valley’s Edge development. Also, Chico Unified School District is hosting a community youth fair tonight, and today is 4/20: West Coast cannabis growers say the industry is struggling with oversupply.
This year’s stormy weather could mean lower yields for California’s almond crop. Also, the rate of homeless students this school year in counties including Butte, Plumas, Tehama and Trinity is higher than the state average, and the Redding City Council Tuesday agreed to purchase 1.3 acres to build a new fire station.
For all but one county in the North State, federal and state taxes don’t have to be filed until October. Also, the Chico City Council will continue its consideration of two Valley’s Edge referenda this evening, and thousands of student workers throughout the California State University system filed a petition requesting a union election.
Authorities have arrested a suspect linked to threats made against the state capitol. Also, many Californians may lose access to Medicaid, and a proposed bill would ban five chemicals used in processed foods.
A new study finds schools with frequently absent students also score worse on standardized tests. Also, officials say California is mostly out of its years-long drought, and new legislation would improve access to preventative HIV medication.
A Greenville woman is caring for stray cats left behind after the Dixie Fire. Also, Pacific Gas & Electric says it will begin undergrounding power lines in Magalia this week, and after a winter of record-breaking snowpack, California officials are preparing for possible springtime flooding.
A Chico clinic is working to create a peer support group for unhoused residents. Also, the water in Lake Tahoe is deeper and clearer than it has been in a long time, and the state's new “Dream For All” housing program ran out of funds less than two weeks after it opened.
Cal Fire officials expect record-breaking precipitation to delay the start of peak fire season. Also, California officials are pledging to push for the Biden administration to act quickly on the state's request for disaster relief for the salmon fishing industry, and proposed legislation in California would require college students at public institutions to show proof of HPV vaccination.
At the Chico Unified School District meeting last week, the board reassessed its policy on protecting students’ privacy if they identify as transgender or nonbinary. Also, the Biden administration has announced more than half a billion dollars in new federal spending to repair aging water infrastructure, and California child care providers are still waiting on pandemic financial relief.
April was declared child abuse prevention month in the city of Redding. Also, an event celebrating the storytelling traditions of Northern California tribal communities is happening at Chico State tonight, and the director of the new documentary, “ELEMENTAL: Reimagine Wildfire” shares his hopes for the film.
Butte College hosted its inaugural “Big Time” event last week to celebrate Native students. Also, the Chico City Council Tuesday discussed how to proceed with a referendum opposing the Valley’s Edge development project, and a documentary called “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” is premiering at Chico’s Pagent Theatre tonight.
A consortium of environmental groups and the Mechoopda Tribe received a federal grant in March to restore Big Chico Creek. Also, The National Weather Service is forecasting dry, clear weather before another round of rain returns at the end of the week, and California and other states are cracking down on the use of forever chemicals.
The Chico City Council will revisit the plan for the Valley’s Edge development tonight. Also, A new survey finds that statewide snowpack levels are more than double the average for April, and the state is continuing to loosen COVID-19 mandates.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors last week formally adopted the Upper Ridge Community Plan. Also, California’s fourth snow survey of the season will take place today, and the Yurok Tribe and other organizations filed a preliminary injunction in late March to halt water deliveries to farmers in the North State and parts of Oregon.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) proposed a transfer of water rights for the Miocene Canal to Butte County. Also, California Gov. Gavin Newsom added four counties, including Shasta, to a previous storm state of emergency declaration, and the nearest international airport for most North State residents will be getting some improvements.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted 3-2 to hand-count ballots to tally election results. Also, the Butte County Board of Supervisors heard a request yesterday from the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association for a loan to rebuild the iconic bridge, and community organizers are pushing for change six years after Desmond Phillips' death.
The second annual Paradise Grazing Festival returned over the weekend. Also, California lawmakers approved a bill to require new pricing transparency from oil companies, and a study by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California found that more than 70% of California prison inmates are serving added years behind bars for sentence enhancements.
After a remarkably wet winter, California officials have announced a rollback of some state drought restrictions. Also, efforts to slow the Valley’s Edge development project in Chico are making headway, and an alignment of five planets will be visible in the North State skies this week.
A lawsuit filed against Chico Unified School District has sparked new legislation that opponents say would harm transgender youth. Also, a new bill approved by a senate committee this week requires California agencies to assess the need for electric vehicle charging stations in low-income and underserved communities, and concealed carry applications are skyrocketing across some of California’s most liberal counties.
An attempt to appeal the Redding Planning Commission’s approval of Bethel Church’s expansion plans didn’t pass at Tuesday night’s council meeting, also a new group for Muslim moms had its first get-together in Chico this month, and the Shasta County Board of Supervisors extended a conditional job officer to former Orange County treasurer Chriss Street.
A man accused of homicide and leaving the body at Food Maxx is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. Also, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab is recording a season total of 56.4 feet of snow on Donner Summit, and a pandemic-era rule that loosened restrictions on which students qualify for CalFresh is set to end in June.
The city of Chico began enforcing its anti-camping ordinances at its sanctioned encampment in north Chico. Also, state school officials with the California Department of Education say some districts have been covering up their expulsion rates, and a new bill would require training for referendum petition circulators.
The Paradise Town Council Friday voted to extend an ordinance that allows people to keep RVs and other temporary structures on their land. Also, the deadline to give public comment on Cal Fire’s map of fire hazard severity zones is approaching, and another series of atmospheric river storms is predicted to bring rain and snow to the North State.
The California Department of Water Resources will increase releases from the main spillway at the Oroville Dam today. Also, Wall Street Journal reporter Katherine Blunt shares the details of her latest book about utility infrastructure in the North State, and California is purchasing and delivering 1,200 tiny homes.
Recent storms have hampered an already slow rebuilding process in the town of Greenville. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday said $600 United Way checks are on their way to flood-affected farmworkers regardless of their immigration status, and the eleventh atmospheric river to hit California this winter left the Golden State reeling.
A day or two of dry weather is expected before another storm is forecast to hit the North State. Also, Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson declared a local state of emergency in the county due to flooding, and heavy snow has also exacerbated mental health challenges in the Dixie Fire burn scar.
The Chico Police Department is investigating a suspected homicide after a body was found near Food Maxx off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Also, state officials say the latest atmospheric river storm to hit California will pose new flood threats, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is providing millions in funding to restore salmon habitat throughout the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom Sunday expanded a state of emergency to include six additional counties. Also, Chico nonprofit Safe Space ended their seasonal operations last week, and officials who manage reservoirs in California are working to strike a balance between holding water in storage and maintaining room in reservoirs for more stormwater.
Gov. Gavin Newsom requests a presidential emergency declaration to aid in winter storm recovery. Also, a flood watch remains in effect through Sunday morning for areas below 4000 feet, and Sipho’s Restaurant and Cafe is holding its monthly ‘Tempo’ party this Saturday.
The city of Chico issued seven-day notices of intent to enforce anti-camping ordinances at an encampment in North Chico Tuesday. Also, another winter storm is forecast to hit the North State tonight and last through the weekend, and an administrator with the Butte County Office of Education has been recognized for developing a curriculum that brings Hmong culture to California students.
Several Berry Creek residents are suing the Butte County Board of Supervisors for allegedly violating the Brown Act. Also, a bill in Washington D.C. would add more acreage to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, and experts are concerned that a warm storm forecast for later this week could melt snow prematurely and lead to flooding.
This week’s wet weather is raising flooding concerns in the North State. Also, health workers are fanning out across California to persuade older adults without legal residency to enroll in Medi-Cal, and California state lawmakers are targeting the hidden fees that can lead to sticker shock for hotel stays and concert tickets.
The March snow survey at Phillips Station shows snowpack is nearly double the average for the area. Also, less than half of the state remains in a drought, and public health officials in California say they’re disappointed by the governor’s plan to slash funding for a program that would bring people into epidemiology, microbiology, and lab technician roles.
The city of Chico says it will open additional campsites for unhoused residents who are not eligible to stay in local shelters. Also, the Butte County Board of Supervisors discussed clearing vegetation alongside evacuation routes in the Camp Fire burn scar, and Chico is getting a new late-night, soul food restaurant.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted to pursue creating a pilot program voting system that uses hand-counted ballot tallies. Also, the federal government has granted people living in California counties hit hard by severe weather an extra six months to file their federal taxes, and organizations that provide health care to underserved communities worry about cuts to funding now that California’s COVID-19 emergency has ended.
Clear and icy weather is forecast in the North State until another round of storms arrives Saturday. Also, a Magalia pizza restaurant stayed open despite inclement weather to continue deliveries to snowed-in customers, and the state Department of Water Resources will conduct its third snow survey of the season Friday.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is set to consider how to tabulate election results after moving to cancel its contract with Dominion Voting Systems. Also, the Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider a plan to clear some evacuation routes of brush and vegetation, and California’s COVID-19 emergency declaration ends today.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for parts of the northern Sierra through Wednesday morning. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is moving to shut down more correctional institutions, and a study from researchers at the University of California, Davis found Sierra Nevada forests are facing more extreme wildfires.
A powerful storm is expected to bring rain, snow and high winds to the North State through Saturday. Also, Marysville will celebrate the 143rd annual Bok Kai Festival this weekend, and a new karaoke spot in downtown Chico is looking to bring out hidden talent.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors last week narrowly approved moving forward with a proposal to loan funds to rebuild the Honey Run Covered Bridge. Also, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the northern Sacramento Valley through noon Friday, and Tesla's global engineering headquarters will be established in Palo Alto.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the PG&E Fire Victim Trust to ask for lower attorney fees for vulnerable Camp Fire survivors. Also, politicians in the North State are lobbying for a federal bill that would provide tax relief for victims of wildfires, and the National Weather Service is forecasting possible snow in lower elevations in the northern Sacramento Valley.
A bobcat found dead in Butte County was found to have died from avian flu. Also, a bill introduced in the California Legislature could prohibit law enforcement from asking tech companies to hand over large amounts of location or search data, and a state lawmaker wants to further restrict so-called “ghost guns.”
Some Native community members say their voices are being ignored in plans to develop riverfront land in Redding. Also, PG&E pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from the 2020 Zogg Fire, and a California bill would set the minimum wage for health care workers at $25 per hour. NSPR Headlines will be off Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents Day.
Police in Chico and Redding are investigating hate speech flyers distributed over the last week. Also, dozens of Butte County residents are having water hauled to them due to dry wells, and a new report found that areas experiencing frequent wildfires tend to be low-income.
Patients of Chico Immediate Care say they received calls from the clinic informing them of its pending closure. Also, a Paradise Town Council member speaks with NSPR about advocating for tax relief for fire survivors, and the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office announces an update in a 2005 killing.
The Chico City Council last week voted to develop right-of-way alternatives for the downtown core. Also, several affordable housing projects in the North State were awarded grants from the state’s Department of Housing and Development, and a California bill aims to reduce anti-Asian attacks in public spaces.
California’s COVID-19 state of emergency is being phased out at the end of this month. Also, the state-run OptumServe COVID-19 test site in Chico will close on Feb. 24, and Chico State has broken ground on its first net-zero building.
February is Black History Month, and colleges across the North State are holding events and workshops to celebrate. Also, low-income Californians will soon have their grocery budgets slashed due to the end of a pandemic assistance program, and a government survey found that more than 36 million trees died in California last year.
As California continues to recover from multiple atmospheric rivers this winter, officials in Butte County estimate local damages in the millions of dollars. Also, the Redding City Council voted to hire a contractor to create a plan for developing its Sacramento riverfront property, and Black educators and students protested Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed education budget.
A delegation from California is in Washington D.C. this week lobbying for a bill that would provide federal tax exemptions for wildfire survivors. Also, the Jesus Center plans to open a new building that will house unhoused families and seniors in June, and Native American tribes from across the state gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Day of Action.
Construction has begun in Redding on a micro-shelter community for unhoused residents. Also, the Chico City Council is set to discuss a diagonal-parking proposal for the downtown area, and recovery continues following January’s powerful winter storms.
A group of Redding residents gathered outside city hall Thursday in support of equipping police officers with body cameras. Also, North State Assemblywoman Megan Dahle announced her run for California State Senate, and up to 3 million low-income Californians are at risk of losing their Medi-Cal coverage.
Chico State held an open forum Thursday for community members to give their feedback on the search for a new university president. Also, some businesses in Shasta County affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are now eligible for grant funding to relieve financial hardship, and a group of state lawmakers and advocacy organizations are trying to limit solitary confinement in California jails, prisons, and immigrant detention facilities.
PG&E faces 11 felony and misdemeanor charges over its role in the Zogg Fire in 2020. Also, Chico State is holding an open forum today to allow community members to weigh in on the search for a new university president, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing a bill that would restrict concealed carry weapons.
The city of Chico began enforcing its anti-camping ordinance at the homeless camp at Teichert Ponds yesterday. Also, the Shasta County Housing Authority is now accepting applications for the wait list of its housing choice voucher program, and the much-anticipated monthly Sierra Snowpack Survey happens later today.
Holiday Market in Paradise closes its doors. Also, former Sacramento resident Tyre Nichols was remembered on Monday evening by family and friends, and thieves steal more than $35 million from some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
Disability rights advocates are taking Gov. Gavin Newsom to court over his signature policy to address untreated mental illness and homelessness. Also, more details have been shared on the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, and a steady rise in the percentage of Californians choosing to die at home climbed during the pandemic.
Volunteers for the “Point-in-Time” count set out in Butte County this week to collect demographic information on people experiencing homelessness. Also, members of one town in Shasta County met this month to discuss wildfire resiliency, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla has called for more federal action on gun safety.
The suspect in Monday’s deadly mass shooting in Half Moon Bay has been charged with seven counts of murder. Also, Republican state lawmakers have introduced bills that would ban homeless encampments near schools, daycare centers and libraries across the state, and new bills have been brought forward aimed at reducing fentanyl deaths in California.
Berry Creek residents living in the burn scar of the 2020 North Complex are repairing damages caused by recent winter storms. Also, applications for scholarships through the North Valley Community Foundation are open, and local and national groups are coming together to address the mental health needs of victims of recent mass shootings.
The Butte County Department of Public Health reported the first two flu-related deaths of the 2023 flu season Thursday. Also, a Chico nonprofit drops off aid to unhoused residents during winter storms, and the Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus said it will be introducing resolutions to impact gun safety laws in California.
Local agencies in Chico don’t track the deaths of unhoused residents, making it difficult to know how deadly this year’s winter storms have been. Also, California will close nearly 100 COVID-19 testing and treatment sites more than a month earlier than expected, and a new bill would give California college athletes more protections.
Pacific Gas & Electric faces four counts of manslaughter for its alleged role in starting the Zogg Fire in Shasta County. Also, President Joe Biden toured storm-damaged areas of California’s Central Coast, and the federal government announced an investment of $930 million to address wildfire concerns in the West.
Ten public entities in the North State announced a settlement agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric for damages incurred in the 2021 Dixie Fire. Also, FEMA has added more counties to its major disaster declaration in the wake of recent winter storms, and experts are skeptical California’s electric grid can handle the planned phaseout of gas cars.
The Paradise Town Council will send a council member to Washington, D.C., to express support for tax relief on PG&E settlement money. Also, ongoing winter storms have hit agriculture hard in the Sacramento Valley, and President Joe Biden is expected to visit California to assess the damage from the storms.
Recent storms have reignited a debate over managing water and drought. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Californians to document flood damages to be eligible for federal aid, and Shasta County is addressing a shortage in substitute teachers.
The Federal Communications Commission has released a new broadband map that will inform how the government awards billions of dollars in infrastructure improvement funding. Also, winter storm warnings and flood watches have been issued as a new round of storms arrives in California, and much of the state is still in a severe drought despite torrential rainfall.
Officials say Butte County has been relatively lucky during recent winter storms, but a recent local emergency declaration could help the county qualify for federal aid. Also, a new report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office suggests that California could make its parole hearing process more equitable, and a new law allows Californians to have records of most criminal convictions sealed if certain conditions are met.
The White House announced an expanded emergency declaration due to ongoing storms, including several North State counties. Also, recent storms are expected to provide some drought relief to California, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget plan includes billions of dollars in spending cuts.
Residents in the Butte County community of Berry Creek say they weren’t properly notified about a proposal to temporarily close a fire station in the community. Also, opponents of the Valley’s Edge development plan in Chico announced the launch of a referendum campaign, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to unveil his proposed state budget today.
Another potent and moisture-laden Pacific storm fueled by an atmospheric river will affect Northern California today into Tuesday. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom says more people have died in recent winter storms than in California’s past two wildfire seasons, and new state laws are addressing noise pollution.
Unhoused residents in Chico are calling for more aid to protect campgrounds from flooding. Also, some Butte County residents remained without power following this week’s storm, and Gov. Gavin Newsom will take the oath of office for his second term as governor today in Sacramento.
Chico's unhoused residents are left with few options to get out of the rain during this week’s winter storms. Also, state officials are urging Californians to stay off the roads for non-essential trips, and deadly flooding highlights California’s aging network of flood control projects.
Another potent storm will impact Northern California today. Also, snowpack in California’s mountains is off to one of its best starts in 40 years, and residents should prepare for the possibility of losing power for several days due to the incoming storm.
A winter storm is bringing weather watches and warnings to the North State beginning tomorrow. Plus, more than twenty apartments were damaged in an aftershock earthquake near Rio Dell on New Year’s Day. And a new law in California requires data collection on people who leave prison only to become homeless.
Some Butte County residents fear that several temporary fire station closures could affect their insurance rates. Also, a winter storm is bringing rain and snow to the North State, and a new California law aims to dismantle the “school-to-prison pipeline.”
The Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to temporarily close three fire stations for the winter season. Also, a series of winter storms are set to hit the North State this week through the weekend, and an investigation from CalMatters found there are nearly 100 politicians across California sitting on $35 million in leftover campaign funds.
A lawsuit alleges the federal government needs to do more to protect gray wolves. Also, a law going into effect in 2023 equalizes the penalty on hate symbols, and the earthquake warning system known as ShakeAlert was tested in last week’s 6.4-magnitude quake that hit the North Coast.
EdSource reporter Thomas Peele speaks with NSPR about his recent reporting on Chico State. Also, minimum-wage workers in California will get a small pay increase in 2023, and a new law aims to increase access to abortions in the state.
A new police chief has been confirmed for the city of Chico. Also, the Redding City Council is again opposing a proposed casino relocation plan, and the small Humboldt County town of Rio Dell grapples with the aftermath of Tuesday’s 6.4-magnitude earthquake.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Humboldt County following Tuesday’s deadly 6.4-magnitude earthquake. Also, an answer to why the North Coast is so seismically active, and a benefit supported survivors of the Mill Fire in Siskiyou County.
A strong earthquake today off the coast of Humboldt County left residents without power and brought reports of widespread damage. Also, California’s state firefighters will have to wait years for the shorter workweeks they’d asked for, and a state bill would decriminalize the possession of psychedelic drugs.
Chico State’s Academic Senate calls for an independent investigation connected to the school’s handling of a professor’s sex case. Also, community organizers in Oroville say the city needs more services and housing for unhoused residents, and California's organic dairy farms say they are struggling to stay in business due to the drought.
Chico State’s Academic Senate is considering a resolution calling for an independent investigation connected to the school’s handling of a professor’s sex case. Also, flu cases are on the rise in the North State, and the California Air Resources Board adopted a plan mapping out the state’s approach to climate action.
Butte County is exploring the viability of outdoor warning sirens to notify foothill communities of wildfire danger. Also, survivors of the Mill Fire have reached a settlement agreement with the company that’s been connected to the fire, and Cal Fire is seeking public comment on a new Fire Hazard Severity Zones map.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors heard from Camp Fire survivors about their experience with the PG&E Fire Victim Trust. Also, the city of Chico announced the appointment of Billy Aldridge as police chief, and furniture fires are on the rise in Chico.
Members of the Chico State campus are blasting the university for not doing more to protect students and staff following a professor’s alleged threats of violence reported by EdSource. Also, Camp Fire survivors answer a survey about their experience with PG&E’s Fire Victim Trust, and older Californians are being urged to have a treatment plan in place for COVID-19.
A California congresswoman reported federal immigration authorities plan to end their contract with the Yuba County Jail. Also, a man was killed in Millville Saturday amid a winter storm, and tribal, state and federal leaders celebrated plans to remove dams on the Klamath River.
Doug LaMalfa and Mike Thompson addressed the House Wednesday urging their colleagues to pass a bill relieving Fire Victim Trust payees of federal taxes. Also, new Redding City councilmembers Tenessa Audette and Jack Munns were sworn into office Tuesday, and Butte County Public Health in partnership with the Feather River Recreation and Park District has installed a new Fit-Trail at Riverbend Park in Oroville.
The Chico City Council has sweetened an incentive to attract experienced officers to the Police Department. Also, California is moving forward on closing two more prisons, and health care workers are turning to dating apps to trace infectious diseases.
Newly elected Chico City Council members were seated Tuesday. Also, a winter storm is expected to arrive in the North State this week, and researchers find the approaches states have been using to budget for fire suppression are falling short.
The Chico City Council is set to consider raising signing bonuses for certain police officer candidates. Also, gray wolves are staging a comeback in California, and the state has seen a relatively mild 2022 fire season.
The Chico Planning Commission voted Thursday to certify the environmental impact report for the Valley’s Edge development. Also, some fire survivors may be eligible for a refund on state taxes they’ve paid on PG&E settlement money, and state lawmakers are scheduled to address high gas prices.
Correctional officers fatally shot two inmates at High Desert State Prison in Lassen County. Also, the newly elected members of the Chico City Council are scheduled to be sworn in next week, and California examines a rise in reported hate crimes in the state.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento is predicting a winter storm will last through tonight. Also, some North State fire survivors are concerned they would lose access to emergency information if Twitter goes dark, and the California Energy Commission held a hearing this week to uncover the reason for high gas prices in the state.
Elections results show voters in Chico approved a ballot measure raising the city sales tax rate by 1%. Also, a project to bring relief to some households with dry wells in Glenn County is moving forward, and the California Air Resources Board is considering phasing out diesel trucks.
Election officials in Butte County have posted final results from this month’s midterms. Also, health experts warn of increases in instances of respiratory illnesses this holiday season, and a law to go into effect next year will provide health coverage to California workers during labor disputes.
Local tribes and environmentalists are commending a historic decision to tear down four dams along the Klamath River. Also, research shows power outages are related to adverse health outcomes, and California prepares to launch the nation’s first state-funded guaranteed income program.
Shasta County election officials say they’re on track to certify results by deadline. Also, a Chico homeless aid group has been providing showers and clothes to unhoused residents, and a shop in Paradise seeks to help fire survivors reconnect with their roots.
Gov. Gavin Newsom backtracks on his threat to withhold $1 billion in homelessness funding for local governments. Also, members of Congress are demanding answers from the U.S. Forest Service following a CapRadio/California Newsroom wildfire investigation, and the Biden administration is moving to keep California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is marking the end of “peak” fire season in the state. Also, certain nurse practitioners will be allowed to treat patients without physician supervision starting next year, and hundreds of farmworkers rallied in Washington in support of a bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers.
Safe Space is preparing to open its doors for the upcoming winter season. Also, the Chico City Council votes to rename the Chico Municipal Airport to Chico Regional Airport, and a state audit finds the UC system is moving too slowly in returning Native American cultural items to tribes.
School officials in Paradise are focusing on the mental health of students as the town continues its recovery four years after the Camp Fire. Also, statistics point to an increase in hate crimes in Chico this year, and Democratic leaders are pushing for permanent protections for DACA recipients.
California Republican Kevin Kiley is declaring victory in his race for U.S. House District 3. Also, organizers say this year’s Nagar Kirtan in Yuba City drew a record number of visitors, and AAA reports more people are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday this year compared to 2021.
In the second story of NSPR’s Sounding the Alarm series, we explore Butte County communities that are turning to sirens for wildfire evacuations. Also, a state report examines how wildfire smoke affects Californians, and the state Legislature is on track to become the most diverse in state history.
The clerk’s office in Shasta County was calm on election night. Also, California is poised to join several western states working to guarantee continuous Medicaid coverage for children, and research from Stanford University found beavers play an important role in improving water quality.
Yuba City residents held the annual Nagar Kirtan over the weekend. Also, it may take days or weeks to know final election results in California, and health experts are raising concerns about the common respiratory infection known as RSV.
Officials release preliminary election results for North State races and measures. Also, Camp Fire survivors share the reasons they came out to vote, and Democrats are poised to sweep statewide offices yet again.
Today marks four years since the Camp Fire devastated Paradise, Magalia, Concow and Butte Creek Canyon in Butte County. Also, more than 20,000 ballots have been cast in Shasta County ahead of Election Day today, and millions of dollars have been spent on last-minute campaigning in California.
In the first story of NSPR’s Sounding the Alarm series, fire survivors who’ve lived through recent deadly and destructive wildfires in Butte County share how emergency communication has fallen short.
Events commemorating the 2018 Camp Fire are scheduled this weekend in Paradise. Also, Redding’s Megan Rapinoe will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is withholding $1 billion in funding for homelessness to re-evaluate shelter goals.
Some North State school districts fared better than others on standardized test scores. Also, public health officials warn of a surge in COVID-19 cases this holiday season, and advocates say the state should do more to protect workers from retaliation.
California health officials are raising the alarm due to spreading virus infections. Also, state scientists report the impacts of climate change are speeding up, and winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of the North State.
Election officials in Shasta County are facing unsubstantiated claims of election interference. Also, the Hoopa Valley Tribe is suing the federal government for habitat restoration money it’s allegedly owed, and nearly one-third of Black Californians recently surveyed feel they’ve been treated unfairly while trying to obtain health care.
Candidates for U.S. House District 3 squared off in a debate Thursday. Also, an exhibit at the Museum of Northern California Art in Chico centers Black history and resilience, and parking prices at Sacramento International Airport are set to increase starting next year.
A program in Shasta County is targeting rising rates of congenital syphilis. Also, a report found 90% of children in the U.S. experienced frequent heat waves in 2020, and Proposition 31 on the November ballot asks voters if they want a flavored tobacco ban to go into effect.
Some North State counties fared better than others in newly released student test scores. Also, the Paradise Town Council heard an update on the draft of the town’s long-term recovery plan, and more than 1 million California households are estimated to be late on their water bills.
State regulators propose fining PG&E more than $155 million for the 2020 Zogg Fire in Shasta County. Also, a Chico State virologist spoke with NSPR about the potential for a severe flu season this year, and California voters this fall are deciding whether to retain several state Supreme Court justices.
PG&E is burying power lines in Plumas County in the aftermath of the Dixie Fire. Also, the town of Paradise plans to reopen a portion of Honey Run Road that was damaged in the Camp Fire, and California student test scores provide further evidence of how the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt learning.
State Sen. Brian Dahle and Gov. Gavin Newsom sparred Sunday in a gubernatorial debate. Also, Rep. Doug LaMalfa and Democratic challenger Max Steiner faced off in a forum Thursday, and Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson discussed her planned retirement in an interview with NSPR.
Some survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire who left the state after losing their homes say that’s left them far from support available in California. Also, charges have been filed in a recent shooting at Teichert Ponds in Chico, and residents in rural areas like the North State face challenges in accessing health care.
Chico voters are weighing a proposed sales tax increase. Also, health officials in the North State are encouraging vaccination against flu and COVID-19, and California’s community colleges won’t meet its goals to close the gaps in graduation rates between racial and ethnic groups in the next few years.
Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley is running to represent California’s newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District. Also, two candidate forums for races in the North State are scheduled for Thursday, and the Paradise Genealogical Society is celebrating its reopening.
Democratic House candidate Kermit Jones is challenging Kevin Kiley on the November ballot for District 3. Also, Chico’s Measure L would hold the city to the same public nuisance standards as property owners, and Gov. Gavin Newsom says he intends to end California's COVID-19 state of emergency in February.
Democratic House candidate Max Steiner is challenging Rep. Doug LaMalfa on the November ballot. Also, forest in Lassen Volcanic National Park is recovering after the Dixie Fire, and unity was the theme at the Chico Parade of Lights.
Stop AAPI Hate is calling out the dangers of language that scapegoats Asians and Asian Americans ahead of the midterm election. Also, California’s attorney general gives an update on fentanyl enforcement, and polls show two sports betting measures could be headed toward electoral defeat.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors threw its support behind a project addressing food insecurity. Also, California has passed a parking reform law supported by environmental advocates, and Proposition 29 on the November ballot would add new rules for the state’s dialysis clinics.
Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson says she’s retiring in June 2023. Also, about 100 people rallied for reproductive rights in Chico, and California is escalating its fight against illegal marijuana operations.
A new law gives a state tax exemption to survivors of the Camp Fire and other wildfires. Also, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has unveiled guidance for evaluating proposed housing developments in fire-prone areas, and Proposition 28 on the November ballot would increase funding for arts education.
The price of hay used to feed livestock across the state continues to rise. Also, the governors of California, Oregon, Washington and the premier of British Columbia signed a new climate partnership agreement. And a former security expert at Uber was found guilty of actively concealing a felony.
More than 1,200 wells have run dry this year in California. Also, another lawsuit has been filed against the wood products company under investigation for the Mill Fire, and restoration efforts after the 2021 Dixie Fire are still underway at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The Yurok Tribe hosted the first ever state summit tackling unsolved cases of missing or murdered Indigenous people Tuesday in Arcata. Also, a recently formed burlesque and drag group in Chico aims to enliven downtown while providing an inclusive space, and experts say flu season could be severe.
The Paradise Recreation and Park District is working to help students cope with trauma. Also, California is preparing for a possible fourth year of drought, and a proposition on the November ballot asks voters whether the right to an abortion should be enshrined in the state constitution.
North State organizations are teaching children about wildfire safety. Also, millions of the state’s poorest residents may be forced to switch health insurers, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will boost paid family leave benefits for workers in the coming years.
A trial has been scheduled for the man charged in a deadly Oroville bus shooting. Also, former PG&E executives have agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit filed over 2017 and 2018 wildfires, and tenants of a Chico apartment complex fear they will become homeless after being given eviction notices.
The certification of votes for an election to form a controversial water district in Butte County has been postponed. Also, the city of Mt. Shasta is nearing completion of a plan that will reduce its carbon footprint, and gas rebates are on the way for Californians.
The family of a man killed by Chico police in 2015 is suing the city. Also, election officials in Shasta County are warning residents about reports of voter intimidation, and a lumber mill in Siskiyou County is being investigated in the deadly Mill Fire.
Chico State Enterprises is transferring ownership of the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve back to the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. Also, a man was arrested in Chico Sunday for reportedly making threats to travel to Las Vegas and carry out a mass shooting. And a photographer captures Dixie Fire survivors through portraiture for the Dixie Fire Stories Project.
The Yurok Tribe’s fisheries will receive federal disaster funding for the abysmally small fish harvests that closed commercial fisheries every year since 2017. Also, while COVID-19 continues to kill Californians, the demographics are shifting. And a showing of “Dracula” at Theatre on the Ridge finished its run to a sold-out show over the weekend.
A Stanford University team estimates millions live in areas where wildfire smoke has made breathing unhealthy. Also, a lawsuit alleges a Northern California utility helped police target Asians in illicit marijuana grows, and California is changing its COVID-19 masking recommendations.
The search for a new police chief is underway in Chico. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an emergency declaration for fire-stricken Siskiyou County, and California has the highest number of people who could receive student loan debt forgiveness under President Joe Biden’s plan.
An expert explains how to take care of your mental health following disasters such as wildfires. Also, human composting will be legal in California starting in 2027, and the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending all new vehicles in the U.S. be equipped with alcohol-monitoring systems.
Ballots are due today for landowners voting on whether to form a controversial proposed water district in Butte County. Also, a Shasta County woman who faked her own kidnapping has been sentenced, and California saw the onset of an atmospheric river on the heels of a record-breaking heat wave.
Community colleges in Butte and Shasta counties are deploying new strategies to attract students amid declines in enrollment. Also, a Shasta County woman who faked her own kidnapping is scheduled to be sentenced today, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills to phase out fossil fuels and ramp up clean energy development.
More than 100 people are suing a wood products company over the devastating Mill Fire. Also, the community of Berry Creek commemorated two years since the Bear Fire, and a new state grant program aims to provide training to those who lost jobs during the pandemic.
Shasta County has one of the highest incarceration rates in the state. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will allow judges to order treatment for people suffering from addiction and mental illness, and the names of those killed in the Mill Fire have been released by officials.
Schools in the North State are struggling to hire teachers with specialized subject credentials. Also, gas prices rose in California over the last week, and state public health officials say it's safe to get the COVID-19 booster and the flu shot at the same time.
A doctor at Enloe Medical Center’s emergency department discusses how to identify heatstroke, which can be deadly. Also, the Indian Valley Community Services District (IVCSD) reports $7 million in state funding will help it rebuild crucial infrastructure in Greenville, and new state legislation would be the first in the nation to establish a heat warning system.
A Butte County resident diagnosed with monkeypox shares their experience. Also, the likelihood of seeing a megaflood in California has doubled due to climate change, and health officials say trauma due to wildfire is affecting more children in the state.
The Pakistani diaspora in Yuba City is raising disaster relief funds for devastating flooding in Pakistan. Also, millions in relief will go to Greenville to help rebuild infrastructure destroyed in the Dixie Fire, and elevated fire weather conditions are forecast in the North State today.
Chico’s cooling center moved this week to accommodate more people. Also, auto club AAA expects an increase in roadside service calls as travelers hit the road for the holiday weekend, and a controversial vaccination-consent bill was pulled before a vote in the California Legislature.
Sheriff’s officials say a search is underway for a man who escaped Wednesday from the Butte County Jail. Also, the suspect in a deadly February bus shooting in Oroville has been held to answer charges, and a prolonged heat wave over the holiday weekend has prompted energy concerns.
Plumas Charter School is on the road to recovery after the Dixie Fire destroyed its school in Greenville last August. Also, a recent report indicates smoke from prescribed burns likely doesn’t pose as many health risks as smoke from wildfires, and California lawmakers are using their last week in session to address the state’s housing crisis.
The city of Chico has named a temporary replacement for the city’s outgoing police chief. Also, small and rural schools in the North State are facing staffing challenges, and California is facing a prolonged late-summer heat wave this week.
PG&E’s CEO says she’s focused on gaining back the public’s trust after catastrophic and deadly wildfires. Also, experts say California is likely to endure more frequent droughts, and farmworkers marched to the state Capitol in support of a union-voting bill.
Drought in the West is causing many cattle ranchers to reduce their herds. Also, affordable housing is a problem in Butte County following disasters, and the mother of Tyler Rushing — shot by Chico police in 2017 — honors her son’s memory.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated to governments in Butte County for wildfire recovery projects. Also, a journalist in Chico resolves a lawsuit filed over Chico police records, and California plans to adopt regulations that would ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
An investigative journalist in Chico has won access to hundreds of records in Chico police shootings. Also, officials say cost is a barrier to recovery for survivors in the North Complex burn scar, and a PG&E power outage is planned for today in parts of Yuba, Butte and Plumas counties.
Five years ago, Tyler Rushing was fatally shot by a security guard and Chico police. His parents, Scott and Paula Rushing, sat down with NSPR to talk about Tyler’s case, police shootings in Butte County and what they’re seeking in a lawsuit against the city of Chico.
Butte County Supervisor Tami Ritter recently apologized to surviving family members of people killed by local law enforcement. Also, the city of Chico has reached an agreement with the nonprofit Safe Space Winter Shelter to open a cooling center for the remainder of the summer, and California’s public health director says the state is actually in better shape for battling monkeypox because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glenn County is rolling out a new evacuation zone system for emergencies. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a $4.7 billion effort to address children’s mental health, and state lawmakers advance a COVID-19 bill for school testing plans.
People ages 65 and older are the fastest growing homeless population in the United States — a Chico nonprofit is trying to help. Also, monkeypox cases have tripled in California over the past month and communities without vaccines feel forgotten, and a state program gives college savings accounts to California kids.
Officials in Tehama County say they don’t have the resources to notify every resident in the event of an emergency such as a wildfire. Also, an investigation found a stalled U.S. Forest Service project could have protected Grizzly Flats from the destructive Caldor Fire, and research suggests climate change is increasing the likelihood of megafloods in California.
Tehama County’s director of environmental health says many residents don’t have the option of drilling new wells or deepening existing ones. Also, widespread haze and smoke is drifting into Chico from the Six Rivers Lightning Complex, and Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the state to up the ante on fighting climate change.
Recovery is happening slower than expected for many residents in the Dixie Fire burn scar. Also, isolated mountain thunderstorms could return to the North State this week, and California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye reflects on her time leading the state’s highest court.
State officials are undertaking bold moves to try to save threatened winter-run Chinook salmon. Also, it’s important to know the difference between fire-weather terms like “fire weather watch” and “red flag warning,” and activists rally at the California Capitol for access to clean water.
The man accused in the deadly February Oroville bus shooting was found competent to stand trial. Also, Chico’s 6th Street Center for Youth says it will soon have another housing location for homeless teens and young adults, and the Inflation Reduction Act could bring billions of dollars in drought relief to the state.
A year after the Dixie Fire, survivors are working to aid victims of another devastating blaze. Also, the city of Chico’s Pallet shelter site has served about 175 people since its opening, and the McKinney Fire has burned more than 60,000 acres and was 60% contained.
Siskiyou County’s sheriff is investigating the media’s conduct in the McKinney Fire zone. Also, a new state Senate committee on the monkeypox virus will hold its first meeting today, and a report from the Legislative Analyst's Office says the California Employment Development Department is too focused on fraud.
Officials say about a quarter of the buildings destroyed in the Carr Fire that were located in unincorporated areas of Shasta County have been rebuilt. Also, an exhibit of the Dixie Fire Stories Project is featured in Quincy, and federal health officials are considering breaking single doses of the monkeypox vaccine into smaller doses to stretch the current supply.
A Plumas County author shares her experience writing a poetry collection about the Dixie Fire. Also, Butte County’s air quality has improved over time despite recent wildfires, and the California Department of Education plans to recruit 10,000 new mental health clinicians to public schools.
A local author reflects on the one-year mark since the Dixie Fire devastated Greenville. Also, isolated thunderstorms are posing a threat for new fire starts in the North State, and the Redding City Council places a pause on new short-term rental applications.
The city of Orland is extending its water system to supply some households outside the city limits amid California’s drought. Also, at least four people have been confirmed dead in the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County, and state lawmakers approved a bill to set up sites where people can use illegal drugs without fear of prosecution.
Favorable weather has helped firefighters battling the deadly McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County. Also, tips on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says at least two people have died in the destructive McKinney Fire near the Oregon border. Also, more than 100 families in Glenn County are relying on water deliveries because their wells have gone dry, and California lawmakers will consider hundreds of bills before the end of the legislative session.