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Quick reads — Suspect in Chico library shooting set to enter plea
Suspect in Chico library shooting set to enter plea
The 18-year-old suspect in the deadly shooting at Chico’s public library is due back in court on Thursday.
Bradley Scott Sayer previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing in September and is scheduled to be arraigned again on Thursday.
Prosecutors previously told NSPR a trial date could also be set during the hearing.
Measure B ruled unconstitutional by Shasta County judge
A measure that would have changed election rules in Shasta County has been shot down. According to a county press release, a Superior Court judge on Tuesday ruled that Measure B conflicts with California’s laws and constitution.
The proposal was passed by voters in June. It would have required ID verification while limiting vote by mail and early voting, changes that experts had warned were illegal.
North State communities get federal recognition meant to boost development
About a dozen areas in the North State have received a special federal designation meant to boost business development. These federally recognized opportunity zones include four in Butte County, two of which are in Paradise.
Leaders there say the next phase in the town’s recovery eight years after the Camp Fire is building back its commercial base. Under the program, certain investments, like new construction and infrastructure projects, will be tax-free.
Butte County OK’s new RV rules for wildfire survivors rebuilding
Butte County has approved new rules for people living in RVs or trailers while they rebuild their homes after a wildfire.
On Tuesday, supervisors passed an ordinance which allows residents waiting for a building permit to move into temporary housing earlier. The new rules also lay out clear benchmarks in the first six months of construction.
Two news outlets sue Shasta County registrar of voters
Two news outlets are suing Shasta County for failing to share a subpoena issued to registrar of voters Clint Curtis. The subpoena is related to a grand jury investigation into ballots in the June primary that Curtis called suspicious.
Shasta Scout and CalMatters say they brought the lawsuit after the county — which cited secrecy laws — denied their request. The First Amendment Coalition, who is representing both outlets, says the information will help the public decide if the grand jury investigation was valid in the first place.
Magalia man accused of sexual and physical violence against 3 women convicted by Butte County jury
A Butte County jury has convicted a Magalia man on numerous counts of serial sexual and physical abuse.
Twenty-five-year-old Lawerence Killion was found guilty of abusing three separate women he had relationships with between 2021 and 2023. The jury reached its decision in only two hours following a two-week trial.
Killion will return to court on Dec. 9, when he’ll be sentenced under California’s three strikes law. He faces 98 years to life in prison.
DOJ finds Mount Shasta officer who fatally shot Amtrak passenger in 2023 innocent
The state’s justice department has ruled that a Mount Shasta police officer who shot and killed an Amtrak passenger three years ago was acting in self-defense, and should not be charged with a crime.
An investigation released by Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office last week found that the officer fatally fired a gun at Nicholas Detweiler after Debtweiler threatened the officer and a train conductor with brass knuckles.
Anderson Union High School District adopts stricter library book review policy
The Anderson Union High School District has adopted stricter rules for reviewing books in its school libraries. The new policy follows complaints from parents about books with adult content.
The controversy began with the book “Icebreaker,” a popular romance novel by Hannah Grace that the author warns contains sexual content. Parents went on to flag roughly 300 books they considered inappropriate for students.
CSUEU to vote on tentative deal that could bring some employees pay raises, bonus checks
About 500 Chico State staffers are a step closer to pay raises and bonus checks. Members of the California State University Employees Union are voting on a tentative deal over the next two weeks covering about 15,000 workers statewide.
It includes a $3,600 bonus in December for certain full-time staff like custodians, IT workers and clerks. If approved, pay raises would also be seen next year.
James Gallagher concedes CD1 race and congratulates Mike McGuire
North State Republican Congressman James Gallagher conceded the race for the 1st Congressional District on Wednesday.
Gallagher said in a social media post that he congratulated his challenger Mike McGuire. The district will now be represented by a Democrat for the first time in over a decade.
This likely came as a result of Prop 50, which redrew lines to favor democrats. Gallagher says he remains committed to the North State and will make his last days in Congress count.
Paradise mayor says Gallagher’s defeat is ‘huge loss’ but will support McGuire
The mayor of Paradise said this week that he laments the electoral defeat of James Gallagher, but hopes newly elected District 1 Representative Mike McGuire will continue to support the town’s rebuilding efforts.
In a social media post, Mayor Steve Crowder said he called McGuire’s Sonoma office to congratulate him and expressed his commitment to working with him on behalf of the Ridge community.
Crowder and Gallagher have a close working relationship. As a congressman, Gallagher worked to raise federal funds to rebuild Paradise Elementary lost in the Camp Fire, and helped North State taxpayers recover money owed them by the federal government.
The mayor said he received a “very warm reception” from McGuire’s staff.