We pay tribute to the Opportunity Rover mission, which was supposed to last for three months but wound up tooling around Meridiani Planum on Mars for nearly 15 years. A major dust storm finally knocked the plucky Mars Exploration Rover (nicknamed Oppy) out of commission when NASA lost contact with it on June 10, 2018.

Tonight on After Paradise, it’s been 17 weeks since the Camp Fire started. In this episode we hear from those determined to return to Paradise that hold the first building permits that have been issued in the town, and we hear from a veterinarian who was on the front lines helping save animals after the Camp Fire erupted. We also talk to Meredith Cooper, managing editor at the Chico News & Review about her recent story on the widespread contamination in Paradise’s water system.  

On Cultivating Place this week – we’re joined by Pam Penick of the Garden Blog Digging and founder of the Garden Bloggers Fling, together with Judy Seaborn co-owner of Botanical Interest Seeds in Denver, Co and organizer of this year’s Fling – we explore the intimacy and generosity of Gardeners - specifically garden bloggers - when they gather. The Garden Bloggers Fling has been gathering since 2008 and this year it meets to share knowledge and joy in Denver, Colorado in June. Join us.

This year’s Book in Common is the account of a plane crash in 1948 that claimed the lives of 28 Mexican farmworkers who were being deported by the US government. The documentary novel is by poet and performer Tim Z. Hernandez.

There’s finally a fast alternative to the arduous drive to Southern California. 

That long straight shot down I-5’s blacktop can get monotonous quick. By car, it’s a nine hour slog. On Amtrak, it takes about double that, if it is on time. Starting Friday, the travel time from Redding to Los Angeles will be down to just two hours. 

American Indian storyteller Liz Lara-O’Rourke headlined an evening of cultural connection and understanding at the Chico State campus Friday. North State Public Radio’s Marc Albert caught up with her as the evening began.

Cannabis will loom large in both Redding and Chico this evening, where among other issues, councils are considering post-decriminalization regulation. 

In Chico, officials are again expected to take another small step toward allowing marijuana sales. The council will consider the size and makeup of a committee tasked with refining a possible cannabis ordinance.  

Ahead of significant upgrades getting underway later this year, Caltrans on Wednesday initiates safety improvements along State route 70 between Marysville and Oroville.