Quick reads — Trump administration considers immigration detention facility at Travis Air Force Base

Butte County Animal Control is offering a low-cost option for residents to get their pet up-to-date on their shots.

The department will host a low-cost rabies vaccine clinic at the Environmental Health building in Oroville from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on May 15. They’ll also offer distemper/parvo and FVRCP vaccines, along with microchipping and dog licensing.

Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier. Both types of pets must receive their first rabies vaccine at three months old, and a booster a year later.

Forest officials will be conducting prescribed burns in Trinity County this week.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest says burns are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday on about 89 acres of land near Weaverville. The operation is estimated to last two days, with up to five additional days for follow-up work and cleanup.

Areas near the planned burns may be temporarily closed for public safety. Warning signs will be posted on roads before and during the operation.

Cal Fire aircraft will be conducting flight training operations over the North State this week.

The agency says air tankers, helicopters and smokejumpers will be flying low over the Redding area through Thursday. The highest concentration of aircraft will be over the southeast area of Lake California.

It’s part of an interagency firefighting training between Cal Fire and Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service. Officials say precise coordination is required to fight fire from the air. The focus of the exercise will be for trainees to direct air traffic.

Safe Space Winter Shelter in Chico has released statistics about its services over the last four months. Shelter staff served a total of 188 people, around two-thirds who were over the age of 35.

About 70 percent of those who visited Safe Space since December were white. Around a third of visitors also reported having a chronic health condition, mental health and/or substance use disorder.

Safe Space Winter Shelter is a low-barrier program that provides housing and meals during the hottest and coldest months of the year.

The Trump administration is considering building an immigration detention facility at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, according to an internal memo obtained by KQED.

The project is part of a broader effort to expand immigration detention nationwide and use U.S. Department of Defense properties. Trump previously stated he aims to deport one million people by the end of his first year in office.

Emails between Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security officials show coordination to expedite plans for the facility. However, the emails do not include design details for the site or indicate how many people it might hold.

A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told KQED the agency is working to expand detention capacity but did not answer specific questions about Travis Air Force Base. Officials at both the base and the Department of Defense also did not respond to KQED’s requests for comment.

Butte County residents who dream of sailing the seven seas will have the chance learn how this summer.

The Chico Area Recreation and Park District is partnering with the Butte Sailing Club to host beginner sailing lessons on the Thermalito Forebay. Courses consist of four lessons taught on Thursday nights from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and cost $150 dollars.

They will cover knots, rigging, and on-the-water skills like docking and capsize recovery. Those enrolling will also get a year of membership with the Butte Sailing Club and access to its fleet of boats.

It’s spring, and that means Chico State is inviting the public to attend its annual plant sale.

The event will be held at the University Farm Greenhouse on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plants are grown and cultivated by students in the College of Agriculture. Featured items include vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials and tropical plants.

Note: NSPR’s broadcast licenses are owned by Chico State. It does not oversee our news production or programming.

Pleasant Valley High School is asking for the community’s help after the schools art program building caught on fire twice last week.

No one was injured since the building was unoccupied, but the facility sustained water damage.

The Pleasant Valley High School Foundation is asking for community support, saying they’re unsure how much the school’s insurance will cover in terms of damage. They are accepting classroom supply or monetary donations.

The building hosted art, digital arts, ceramics, photography and special education classes, all of which have been relocated. Officials say an investigation into the fires is ongoing.

Weather in the North State will stay a bit unpredictable over the next week. Light rain is expected this weekend in the valley, including around Chico, Red Bluff, and Redding. That will be followed by warmer, sunnier days next week in the 80s and possibly up to the low 90s.

Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said the pattern is typical for this time of year as the region transitions from the wet season to the dry season.

Parts of the Sierra and Southern Cascades, including Quincy, Chester, and Burney, could see some snow this weekend. A winter weather advisory is in effect for areas above 6,000 feet, where up to 8 inches of snow could fall. There’s also a slight chance of thunderstorms across the region Saturday, but that risk is decreasing.

If you see lightning or hear thunder, Purdue says to move indoors.

Another round of street repaving will begin next week throughout Paradise. Work on seven roads will begin Monday, April 28, mostly in the northwestern part of town. That includes Wagstaff Road and several residential drives.

Roadwork is expected to last through early summer, and drivers should expect minor delays.

The Chico Art Center wants to celebrate its 70th anniversary with an expansion, and is asking for the community’s help.

The center is located in the historic train depot on Orange Street, and recently leased four spaces in the building for arts, exhibitions, workshops and public events. But officials say the areas need to be fixed up before they can be used.

The “70 for 70” campaign is raising money to make the necessary renovations, with a goal of $70,000. Community members are encouraged to make donations that begin with the number “7.”

May is a good month for Butte County residents to prepare their homes for wildfires. County officials will start requiring permits for controlled burns next week, on May 1.

Residents in unincorporated areas can get their permits for free online, while others need to check city regulations. Oroville and Paradise require permits year-round. Chico never allows controlled burning within city limits.

Controlled burns can only be conducted in the morning, on days where the conditions are deemed safe.

California license plates might look different a year from now, as the DMV is planning to introduce a new alphanumeric system.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the state is running out of numbers with their current 9-digit system, which has been used since 1980. The sequence includes one number, then three letters and a final three numbers. The last possible combination is 9-Z-Z-Z-9-9-9, which is expected to be issued sometime next year.

The new plate system will flip the order with three numbers, three letters and one number.

License plate numbers have been running out quickly mainly due to how fast new car sales have increased. Sales particularly went up in April in anticipation of incoming tariffs.

Democratic Assembly member Chris Rodgers has introduced a bill to extend emergency water regulations and protect Klamath River chinook salmon.

The existing regulations were enacted during the 2021 drought. The proposed bill would keep them in effect for five years.

Rodgers says the legislation is needed to protect water flows in the Klamath River Basin. He says it would save the state $5 million and would benefit sport fishers and provide certainty for farmers.

But farmers are concerned the regulations are inflexible and could affect their profitability.

The Karuk and Yurok tribes helped write the bill.

Shasta County's Registrar of Voters Thomas Toller will step down in five days due to health issues.

Supervisors will interview five new candidates for the position during a special meeting next Wednesday, April 30. It's the second time they've had to recruit for the role in a year.

All candidates will be required to have experience in elections this time. The list of applicants includes the current assistant registrar of voters for the county, Joanna Francescut.

Francescut has over 15 years of experience managing elections and had applied for the position in June 2024, but Toller was chosen despite having no election experience.

It’s the time of year when the Chico community chooses its favorite local places, people and events.

Nominations for Best of Chico 2025 opened today, and will remain open for the next month.

Chico residents can write in their personal choices for categories such as “Best Pizza,” “Best Museum,” or (ahem) “Best Radio Station.”

The top five in each category will move on to the finals in July. The winners will get awards to display.

AP Photo

Fire season comes fast and experts say now is the time to make sure you’ve taken all the necessary measures to protect your home.

Every year Cal Fire visits properties in unincorporated areas of Butte County.

Cal Fire Butte County Fire Captain Jacob Gilliam said residents can request an on-site defensible space inspection from the agency if they weren’t able to access your land.

“It’s free of charge, we have six inspectors that will make the time, come out and check your property and help get you pointed in the right direction before fire season,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam says most people make a sincere effort to comply with the county’s fire ordinances and the agency takes a cooperative approach to help if more needs to be done.

California schools are getting new electric buses.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced that $500 million will be awarded to schools to buy zero-emission buses and electric chargers.

Officials say this move will reduce about 18,000 metric tons worth of greenhouse gas emissions, about the same amount produced by four thousand cars annually.

More than 130 education agencies in the state are expected to receive the buses, many in rural and low-income school districts. Some districts in Butte, Glenn, Sutter, Lassen and Shasta counties will be awarded with the buses.

In Shasta County, Redding officials are recommending the city council make changes to rules surrounding short-term rentals in the city’s downtown.

The planning commission met this week and decided it would push to permit more vacation rentals downtown. That’s after feedback from property owners who want the city to allow more of these spaces.

Staff says more short-term rentals would improve lodging options for travelers in a vibrant, growing downtown region. The item will now head to the Redding City Council at a future date where staff will urge councilors to adopt the changes.

Stock photo

/

iStock

Spring is here, and while some people might search for wildflowers, others look for wild mushrooms. Those foragers can now search for fungi in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Forest Service officials announced the opening of the spring mushroom foraging season last week. People harvesting for personal use can gather up to a gallon of mushrooms per day. The seasonal limit is five gallons.

Commercial foraging requires a permit, which are priced based on the number of harvest days and the pounds of mushrooms collected. Officials recommend visitors familiarize themselves with different mushroom varieties and to bring a companion to decide whether or not one might be poisonous. The spring season ends July 31.

Sierra, Klamath and Plumas national forests also allow mushroom foraging with a permit.

Arts and cultural organizations in Chico have an opportunity to secure extra funding for the next year. The Chico arts commission is awarding nonprofits across the city with grants of $2,000 to $5,000. The funding must be used to create cultural works, performances or exhibitions that are accessible to the public.

Organizations must also have operated in Chico for the last two years to be eligible. Individual artists can apply if they’re sponsored by a nonprofit. The funds being requested must also be matched by another source. The deadline to apply is in late June.

One percent of Chico’s “Transient Occupancy Tax,” known as the hotel and motel tax, is used to fund the grant program for the arts.

Chico Area Recreation & Park District

A new moon is coming and that gives sky watchers a great opportunity to see sparkly stars and brighter planets.

About once a month the moon and sun are aligned. When that happens the moon’s far side is bathed in sunlight, but its front is dark — and a dark moon means a bright sky.

This week, the Chico Area Recreation and Parks District is offering a guided hike in Upper Bidwell Park to give stargazers a more illuminating experience.

Hike information

• Time: 8:30 p.m.
• Date: Sunday, April 27
• Location: Upper Bidwell Park, meet at the observatory parking lot near Horseshoe Lake
• Link to register

More restrictions are being placed on fishing in the state — though not for the reason you might think. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced it'll close Dungeness crab fishing on the central coast beginning next month.

The closure affects commercial and recreational crab fishing, and is being done to protect humpback whales in the area. Whales often forage off the coast and can get tangled in crab fishing equipment.

Restrictions were also put in place for the southern coast earlier this month, but crab fishing will still be allowed in the north.

Several of Shasta County’s search and rescue teams spent Easter weekend rehearsing emergency scenarios on private land.

They focused on “over the edge" rescues, which uses a rope and anchor system called an "Arizona vortex" and made specifically for cliff rescues. Each team member had to repeatedly navigate steep terrain to gain experience for a similar real-life scenario.

Shasta County Search and Rescue is made up primarily of volunteers.

USDA Forest Service

/

Facebook

People may see smoke today in the area of Highway 89 near the community of McCloud. The U.S. Forest Service is conducting a prescribed burn on more than 600 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It's part of a wildfire fuel management effort to reduce debris on the forest floor.

The Forest Service says prescribed fire managers work closely with local officials to ensure conditions are appropriate and regulations are met. As spring arrives, the focus has moved from pile burning to larger-scale broadcast burning.

Xavier Mascareñas

/

California Department of Water Resources

Right now is around the time a small unwanted species of shellfish could be spreading in North State lakes and rivers.

At Lake Oroville, officials are taking precautions against highly invasive golden mussels.

The Department of Water Resources says the mussels pose a threat to the ecological health of the state’s water by potentially feeding on algae and changing the habitat structure of the lake. They can also clog pipes and damage infrastructure.

Golden mussels haven’t been found in Lake Oroville yet, but they have been detected in Stockton, the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley. Inspections at Lake Oroville should start by next month.

There are also concerns about the mussels at Whiskeytown Lake. Boaters are being asked to rinse and dry their equipment before launching if the equipment has been in other waters. Park staff will also inspect watercraft before they enter the lake.

All California residents can now receive overdose prevention medication at a discounted price. It’s part of a new state initiative aimed at preventing drug-related deaths.

Naloxone — better known by the brand name Narcan — is a medication that can stop an opioid overdose from happening.

According to reporting by The Associated Press, two doses of naloxone can cost between $45 to $70 at a pharmacy. Last year, California made its own generic version of the drug and sold two doses at less than half that price.

The discount previously applied to businesses and local governments, but the state announced today that anyone can now buy naloxone at that rate through the CalRx website.

Why naloxone access matters in Butte County

Drug overdose rates are nearly double the state average in Butte County with nearly 41 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to the county’s most recent Community Health Improvement Plan.

That plan highlights overdose prevention as a goal for the county with distributions of naloxone and fentanyl testing strips as part of that effort.

In Butte County residents can get naloxone for free through several distribution locations.

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors is finalizing the spending guidelines for the $7.8 million Dixie Fire settlement from PG&E.

The county says it's planning to spend the funds strategically to serve the community. The fund has already been used twice: $10,000 was spent in 2023 to spay feral cats, and about $440,000 was used to create a three-year position for a disaster coordinator.

The board will hear the spending proposals at its meeting on May 6th.

Downtown Oroville

/

Facebook

Oroville residents will soon be able to give feedback to the city’s police department with a new program.

The Oroville City Council recently approved the purchase of a software subscription for the Specialized Police Intelligence and Data Resource suite. Officials say the software can alert residents of police arrival times, give updates on cases and send out non-emergency alerts for things like road closures. It also gives residents the opportunity to rate and review different police officers.

Officials say the information can be used to improve services and inform officer evaluations.

Chico's Thursday Night Market returns to downtown tonight.

Shoppers and strollers will again be treated to an abundance of wares provided by local farmers, crafters and artists. Visitors can also vibe to the beats of local musicians, eat at food trucks and downtown businesses and restaurants will also stay open late. (Here's a map of vendors.)

This year, there are some other things people will see — young entrepreneurs. Grade schoolers to college students will be showcasing their products. There's also a new event this year, "Movement in the Plaza," which will give folks a chance to join in for some Zumba or belly-dancing.

The market will happen every Thursday from 6-9 p.m., rain-or-shine. Broadway will be closed between 2nd and 4th Streets a half-hour before the event.

Separately, this weekend, two other new markets are also happening in Chico.

Your Local Marketplace is hosting a market of art, treats and activities from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday at Chico Chaihouse. It's also the second weekend of Your Local Marketplace's new Saturday Market , which runs 12-4 p.m. each Saturday in the Oregrown parking lot.

More from the people behind Chico's growing market scene:

• You Local Marketplace offers new opportunities for small business owners
• Lucia Mercado brings Chico together one event at a time
• Chico Chai opens chai house to offer residents a place to enjoy tea

Two candlelight vigils will be held this week for the woman who died in Chico last week in a murder-suicide.

Community members in Chico and Redding are invited to gather in memory of Athena Marie Passidakas, 21, who was shot and killed in a potential domestic violence incident on April 3.

The Chico State student was kidnapped by a man at gunpoint who she had previously dated, according to the Chico Police Department. The man, identified as Alvin Almontelasha Wilson, 25, then led police on a vehicle chase before shooting and killing Passidakas, and later turning the gun on himself.

Passidakas’ family is asking residents to join them for a vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Kendall Hall lawn at Chico State.

Another vigil is also taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Diestelhorst Bridge in Redding.

Fire season is on its way and the City of Chico is using four-legged wildfire prevention methods.

Hundreds of goats will begin grazing Lindo Channel between Manzanita Avenue and Highway 99 Thursday. It’s part of the Lindo Channel Defensible Space Project funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The goal is to reduce fire fuel loads and provide defensible space to nearby properties.

City officials say the goats could graze about an acre a day. The project is expected to finish in two to three weeks, though the goats will return in the fall.

Most paths and trails will stay open to the public. Visitors are asked not to enter closed areas, to stay away from electric fencing around the grazing area, and not to disturb the goats.

Jamie Jiang

/

NSPR

The federal government has rolled back environmental protections on national forest land, and will allow logging.

A memo released by the Secretary of Agriculture says the change is in response to high wildfire risk in forests, and the desire to boost the timber industry.

The memo calls the previous environmental protections "heavy-handed." Almost 60% of national forest land will have protections removed and will be open to be cleared.

The City of Chico may be looking to make the streets brighter soon.

City staff have been looking into which streets are most in need of streetlights, and where funding might come from. They presented their findings to the Internal Affairs Committee Tuesday.

The biggest hurdle is cost. It can be up to $20,000 to install a single streetlight.

Council member Addison Winslow told NSPR the city will rely on community feedback for where new lights should go up as it would be cost prohibitive to invest in lighting throughout the entire city.

"We can take these particular places where we hear from people that this would improve safety,” he said, “and I think we're willing to invest in making sure that we're filling in those gaps."

Older neighborhoods and the area south of Chico State are known to be in need of extra lighting, Winslow said.

A key part of the effort is going to be balancing the need for light without creating light pollution, he said.

"We're not trying to light up the night sky,” Winslow said. “It's really important for migratory birds, but also just for our experience of the city that we don't just blast it like [the] Las Vegas Strip everywhere."

Funding could come from Chico’s Measure H sales tax increase, not to be confused with Butte County’s recently passed sales tax measure. It also could be a collaboration with PG&E infrastructure, which would reduce costs.

The committee moved to present the findings to the Chico City Council in the near future.

Internal Affairs Committee Agenda

The largest three-day rodeo in the country is entering its 104th year next week — and there will be some changes to its arena.

The Red Bluff Round-Up says the arena will have a fresh coat of paint on seating boxes and walls. There are also new bucking chutes, which are now lined with a foot of dirt for animals to stand on rather than cement. The old chutes were installed in the 1970s, and the rodeo says the new ones are safer for the animals, competitors and rodeo staff.

The Red Bluff Round-Up will take place April 18, 19 and 20.

Beavers transported back to their native watersheds are working on restoring wetlands in the state.

About a year ago, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) started Beaver Restoration Pilot Projects. These are aimed at having beavers help create wetlands that protect landscapes and prevent climate change like drought and wildfire."

The things they can do are amazing," said Chuck Bonham, Director of CDFW in a video about the project. "They create habitat complexity by creating dams and slowing down the rate of water so it recharges our aquifers."

Yesterday CDFW released an update on the project. It said almost 30 beavers were placed in the Sierra Nevada at five release sites in partnership with the Tule River Tribe and the Maidu Summit Consortium. The department says those beavers have since built dams at three of the release sites and produced two litters of kits.

At one site beavers have built a network of canals that has reconnected nearby areas that used to flood back to a stream, increasing the surface water area by about 23 percent.

Cal Fire has launched its first wildfire detection satellite as part of the FireSat Constellation project.

The initiative aims to make it easier to detect and track global wildfires in real time. It's supported by a partnership between Google, Muon Space, Earth Fire Alliance and Cal Fire.

When completed, the project will consist of more than 50 satellites. The first three satellites are expected to overserve every point on Earth at least twice a day, with wildfire-prone areas being surveilled more frequently.

Butte County may deepen its collaboration with the county’s fire safe council on fire prevention.

Tuesday supervisors will consider a nonbinding agreement to expand their partnership with the Butte County Fire Safe Council.

The goal is to reduce wildfire risk by clearing roadside vegetation across 215 acres.

Under the agreement, the fire safe council would work with landowners and contractors to carry out the project. The county would ensure permits, reimbursement and track progress.

It’s part of a nearly $3 million federal grant program to support vegetation management and brush removal. The funding was supported by Senator Alex Padilla, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who represent most of the North State.

Chico State student Athena Marie Passidakis, 21, was killed last Thursday in a shooting that police believe may be related to intimate partner violence. The suspect, Alvin Almontelasha Wilson, 25, was someone she had previously dated. He died by suicide after the shooting.

Anastacia Snyder, executive director of Catalyst Domestic Violence Services, says two-thirds of murder-suicides involve intimate partner violence — and the risk often increases when someone tries to leave an abusive relationship.

Catalyst’s 24/7 hotline is 800-895-8476. In an emergency, call 911.

[Read the full story here]

The opening for Oroville Hospital’s expansion has been held up once more.

According to reporting by the Chico Enterprise-Record, hospital officials had expected the five-story tower expansion to open last month. They said construction was complete and they were waiting for approvals.

The hospital was originally slated to be completed in April 2022, but that date has been pushed back multiple times. There is no new official opening date at this time.

The Chico Police Department has released the identities of the two deceased following a shooting on E. 5th Avenue Thursday.

The victim has been identified as Athena Marie Passidakis, 21, and the suspect was Alvin Almontelasha Wilson, 25.

Police were initially called when a woman allegedly called for help as she was being forced into a car. She was then shot by the suspect, who later shot himself when confronted by police.

The police department had no contact with Wilson before the shooting, and said that he and the victim had previously been in a romantic relationship.

Chico State has ranked in the top 25 U.S. schools for animation degrees, and the second best in the California.

The university was ranked No. 14 out of nearly 200 schools across the nation and was listed as No. 1 within the CSU system.

Graduates from Chico State’s animation program have gone on to major studios such as Sony, Disney and Pixar.

Transparency note: NSPR's broadcast licenses are owned by Chico State. The university does not oversee our news production or programming.

Attorney General Rob Bonta and 18 other U.S. attorneys general are challenging President Donald Trump's executive order that requires proof of citizenship be provided before a person to register to vote.

Bonta said in a press release that the order violates the separation of powers and that regulation of elections is the responsibility of the states and congress, not the president.

Shasta County’s Board of Supervisors voted last month to send a letter asking Trump to support these kinds of voter identification requirements.

A Tehama County hospital has received two new ambulances to increase emergency responses.

The St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff said the vehicles will allow for faster responses in smaller towns in the southern part of the county, like Corning, especially after hours and on weekends.

The hospital is responsible for emergencies throughout the entire county.

The ambulances were funded through a partnership between the Corning Healthcare District and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

A shooting that left two dead in Chico occurred just outside Laura's Preschool and Daycare on East 5th Avenue. For parents of children there, the day has been hectic.

Rachel Jester saw news of the shooting on Facebook and initially didn't think much of it, until she saw where it occurred.

"Then another mom had commented and said that it happened right in front of the preschool,” Jester said. “And I was like 'Oh my gosh, I gotta go!'"

Jester then headed to the center to pick up her daughter. The street had been blocked off by police, so she had to go through a nearby alley to get to the building.

Everyone at the daycare, including her daughter, were safe. Jester said she wished there had been a better system in place to let parents know something had happened near the daycare.

"I really wish I didn't have to find out from a Facebook page 30 minutes after it had happened," she said. "In the future, if things like this happen again, I would just appreciate if somebody sent something out explaining that they went into lockdown."

As Jester was leaving, her young daughter asked if her mom was OK.

"I'm okay baby, are you OK?" Jester asked. Her daughter nodded and Jester held her close, her little head resting on mom's shoulder.

While she was happy to be reunited with her daughter, Jester said the fear from the morning's events still hung over her.

"I was scared because reality hit," she said. "At any time, someone could walk in there and just open fire, no question. It really only takes a second. It's just really scary."

The Chico Police Department has released more information about the two people who died after a shooting on East 5th and Palm avenues this morning.

Chico PD said in a press release they received a report around 8:45 a.m. of a woman screaming that she’d been taken against her will.

There were also reports of a possible gunshot and car leaving the scene. Officers located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the car fled, leading to a pursuit. The car stopped on East 5th Avenue.

The release said the Chico PD, alongside the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and Chico State Police, found two occupants in the vehicle with gunshot wounds. They were taken to medics on the scene, but were pronounced deceased.

Officials say one of the occupants is believed to be the woman calling for help and the other was the driver.

The shooting is believed to have taken place in front of Laura’s Daycare, but it’s unclear if the daycare or anyone associated with it was involved. A person working at Laura’s Daycare told NSPR over the phone that everyone at the daycare was safe and they were leaving their phone line open for parents.

The department asks the public to stay out of the area and alert them if they have information related to the incident.

City Councilmember Addison Winslow said the incident began as a domestic dispute in a social media statement. The Chico PD had stopped a car with the victim and shooter inside it.

Winslow said “the scene ended tragically.” However, there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding area.

Enloe Health was put on lockdown this morning for a possible active shooter nearby. An employee told NSPR the lockdown has since been lifted.

Nearby schools were also alerted to the incident.

The Chico State University Police Department sent a message at 10:45 a.m. which confirmed there is no threat to campus, and all lockdowns have been lifted.

A message posted to Chico Unified School District's website said the district was informed of a vehicle pursuit within city limits. All schools were put on a caution alert as a result around 9:30 a.m. The message was posted shortly before 10 a.m. The district said the pursuit had ended and all caution alerts were lifted

Alec Stutson

Two people have died in a shooting on East 5th and Palm avenues in Chico this morning. That's according to reporting from the Chico Enterprise-Record. Officers on the scene said they responded to loud bangs in the area where they found the vehicle.

The shooting took place in front of a daycare, but it is unclear if the daycare or anyone associated with it was involved.

City Councilmember Addison Winslow said the incident began as a domestic dispute in a social media statement. The Chico Police Department had stopped a car with the victim and shooter inside it.

Winslow said “the scene ended tragically.” However, there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding area.

Enloe Health was put on lockdown this morning for a possible active shooter nearby. An employee told NSPR the lockdown has since been lifted.

Nearby schools were also alerted to the incident.

The Chico State University Police Department sent a message at 10:45 a.m. which confirmed there is no threat to campus, and all lockdowns have been lifted.

A message posted to Chico Unified School District's website said the district was informed of a vehicle pursuit within city limits. All schools were put on a caution alert as a result around 9:30 a.m. The message was posted shortly before 10:00 a.m. The district said the pursuit had ended and all caution alerts were lifted.

Erik Adams

/

NSPR

Police are responding to an incident on East 5th and Palm avenues in Chico.

The Enloe Health Medical Center was put on lockdown for a possible active shooter nearby. An employee told NSPR the lockdown has since been lifted.

According to reporting from Action News Now, witnesses said police had guns drawn on the scene. The Chico Police Department told NSPR that the situation is active, and they could not currently provide information.

The Chico Police Department is asking people to avoid the area.

A message posted to Chico Unified School District's website said the district was informed of a vehicle pursuit within city limits. All schools were put on a caution alert as a result around 9:30 a.m.

The message was posted shortly before 10:00 a.m. The district said the pursuit had ended and all caution alerts were lifted.

Jamie Jiang

/

NSPR

The fight over Valley’s Edge in Chico isn’t over.

The City of Chico Wednesday received official notice that a lawsuit was filed against the City by the legal team representing the LLC of the developer of Valley’s Edge — Believe in Chico LLC. The lawsuit accuses the City of violating housing laws. It hopes to overturn a referendum voters passed last March that halted the project.

The lawsuit leans on S.B. 330, also known as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019. The law keeps cities from getting in the way of new housing construction projects.

In a previous interview with NSPR, an attorney for Believe in Chico LLC said they didn't want an "adversarial process with the city" and were open to options. The City has 30 days to respond.

Xavier Becerra has announced he’s running for governor in 2026.

According to reporting by KQED, Becerra has spent more than three decades in public life, including serving in congress and acting as California’s attorney general and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.

He joins a field with several other prominent Democrats. But says he'll stay in the race, even if former Vice President Kamala Harris puts her hat into the ring.

If Becerra wins, KQED reports he would be California's first Latino governor.

State lawmakers this week rejected bills that targeted transgender student athletes.

According to reporting by The Associated Press, lawmakers on the state Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism rejected two bills proposed by Republican lawmakers. One would have required a state sports federation to ban athletes whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on girls school sports teams. The other would have reversed a law allowing K-12 and college students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, and use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

The hearing rejecting the bills was held the day after Transgender Day of Visibility and featured hours of debate.

Two calves were recently found dead in Lassen County and officials are saying wolves are likely responsible.

In a Facebook post Tuesday about the incident, the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office shows what look like paw prints from wolves found near the bodies of the calves. The sheriff's office also says investigators collected DNA from the scene and are expecting to get results in the coming weeks.

There have been at least 15 attacks, or probable attacks, by wolves in the North State this year.

Gray wolves are an endangered species, which means they are protected from being killed, trapped or even harassed. But an official with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told NSPR that as wolf populations grow, restrictions will likely change to allow ranchers to have nonlethal methods to keep wolves away.

A district court judge denied the City of Chico’s motion to exit the Warren v. Chico homeless settlement agreement Monday. This means the City must abide by the settlement’s terms until 2027.

The City filed the motion for relief in September, after the Supreme Court overturned City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. That ruling established that cities could enforce anti-camping ordinances.

According to the order, the City had requested the settlement agreement be modified to allow Chico to enforce all of the City’s anti-camping policies complying with local, state and federal law. The City also requested to be relieved of all of the settlement’s terms except for their obligation to keep the City’s “Genesis” micro-shelter open until the end of 2027. However, the judge ruled that the change in law does not warrant the City’s relief request.

The initial case, which alleged the City committed multiple civil rights violations, had reached a joint dismissal. That led to the settlement agreement, which would be enforced for a five-year period.

Mobilize

A march and rally in downtown Chico on Saturday will urge the government to safeguard citizens’ personal liberties.

It’s part of the “Hands Off!” protest happening across the U.S. this Saturday, April 5. The nationwide movement also demands officials at all levels of government protect essential services and local communities.

In Chico, the event will feature speakers at the rally, including Audrey Denney, a Democrat who ran U.S. congress twice against current representative Doug LaMalfa.

LaMalfa’s district represents most of the North State, and the Republican congressman has frequently voiced support of President Donald Trump.

Denney said the rally is for people of all political affiliations who believe the government should be run by “people for people” not by and for billionaires.“

It’s a national day of action to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history,” she said. “The billionaire economy President Trump and Elon Musk and their friends are orchestrating an all out assault on the institution of democracy and the economy.”

Denney says more than 600 similar events are happening nationwide. That includes several other events in the North State.

North State “Hands Off!” events (Saturday, April 5):

• Chico - Children’s Park - 1:30 p.m. (rally), 2:30 p.m (march)
• Marysville - Highway 20 - 11 a.m.
• Mt. Shasta - city hall - 11:30 a.m.
• Redding - city hall - 12 p.m.
• Quincy - Plumas County Courthouse - 1 p.m.
• Susanville - Main and Ash streets - 2 p.m.

Chick-fil-A may be coming to Chico.

The agenda for the city’s planning commission meeting Thursday lists a review of building plans for the fast food restaurant.

It’d be located north of Baney Lane and west of Forest Avenue in what’s currently a field between Walmart, Oxford Suites, Target and Sinclair Gas Station.

The building would be almost 4,700 square feet with two drive-thru lanes. The site would also have 82 parking spaces and some electric vehicle charging stations.

If the planning commission approves the use permit and architectural review, additional building permits would be needed to move forward with construction.

California is investing one billion dollars for street and highway improvement projects, including in Tehama County.

The California Transportation Commission has allocated almost $41 million to enhance Highway 99 by upgrading drainage and safety features around the Los Molinos Creek Bridge.

Another almost $20 million will go to strengthen safety and drainage systems along Highway 101 in Humboldt County.

About a third of the total statewide allocations come from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

An additional $300 million comes from the state's Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

A K-8 school in Chico has been honored by the state superintendent for its academic performance. The 2025 California Distinguished Schools program recognizes schools that have demonstrated academic excellence in the past year.

Students at Nord Country School scored green or higher in multiple accountability measures tracked by the state. That included English and mathematics scores, and rates of absenteeism.

Nord Country School is a charter school with just over 200 students, and it was the only school in Butte County to receive this designation.

Three schools in Shasta County also received the recognition. They were Redding School of the Arts, Boulder Creek Elementary School and Lassen View Elementary School.

In Sutter County, Franklin Elementary School, Encinal Elementary School and Twin Rivers Charter School were also recognized.

Schools keep the recognition for two years, as elementary schools are recognized on odd-number years and middle and high schools on even-number years.

A six-page report from Chico city staff highlights several reasons why an hour of free parking is likely to cause issues downtown.

The report was requested by staff after a previous council discussion about free parking in February.

Staff found the free parking would reduce revenue from the Parking Enterprise Fund by half. As a result, there could be more enforcement difficulties and congestion in the downtown area.

City staff also spoke to people who handle parking programs in other California cities. They found implementing free parking resulted in a variety of unintended challenges in Santa Rosa, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles.

The report will be discussed by the city council at their next meeting on Tuesday, April 1.

A member of the Chico City Council is requesting a plan for making improvements at Bidwell Park.

Council member Tom van Overbeek says the area is suffering from neglect. He wants to discuss creating a 20-year plan the council's next meeting on Tuesday, April 1.

Overbeek praised recent actions taken by the City, such as repaving streets and making plans to rebuild the pool. But he says there’s still more that needs to be done.

He’s asking the city council to direct the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission to develop a future plan for the park. The city council would then review the completed plan and decide whether to proceed.

The Trump administration announced a new investigation into the California Department of Education Thursday.

It’s over a state law that bars school districts from forcing teachers and staff to disclose students’ gender identity to parents.

The law was enacted at the beginning of this year. It does not stop teachers from consensually sharing the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of a student with their parents.

According to reporting by The Associated Press, the federal Department of Education said that law could violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. That legislation allows parents to access their child's school records.

If the U.S. department finds that the California law violates federal rules, they can take away federal funding.

Earlier this week Shasta County’s Registrar of Voters, Thomas Toller, announced he’s stepping down at the end of April due to health concerns.

This leaves supervisors again with the task of finding a new person to manage elections.

A special meeting was held Thursday to discuss how Toller’s replacement will be chosen. Supervisors can either direct staff to directly appoint a new registrar, or they can do a competitive interview process similar to the one that recruited Toller just last summer.

If they redid that process, several of the candidates would likely be the same.

One of them could be Joanna Francescut, the county’s current assistant registrar. She became the main focus of public comment. Many asked for her to be directly appointed.

That’s because last year Toller was chosen over Francescut even though he didn’t have any experience running elections. Francescut had 16 years of elections experience and had been endorsed by the previous registrar.

At the end of the meeting, supervisors decided to go with direct appointment and skip the interview process. They hope to have someone appointed in the role by May 13, as Toller is leaving in late April.

The median home price in California is over $800,000. That’s about double what it is nationwide.

According to reporting by CapRadio, a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers announced over 20 new bills Thursday to make building homes easier — and eventually more affordable.

Many of the bills roll back regulations so builders can move quicker and deal with less red tape.

Several make changes to the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires the state to consider the environmental impact of a project.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has provided an update on how the state's initiative to restore salmon is advancing. Its 2024 Salmon Strategy lays out plans to rebuild salmon populations. They include things like improving habitat and preparing for the impacts of climate change, drought and human-caused challenges.

The progress report says around 67% of projects outlined in the state's plan are in development. Another 26% have been fully completed.

The California Department of Water Resources says major items addressed over the past year include removing outdated dams along the Klamath River, improving statewide migration, and using new fish tracking technology.

After several wet winters in the Northern California, the region is no longer in drought. That’s according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a data service that measures drought conditions nationwide.

A solid period of rain and snow this winter has reversed the effects of several dry years in the area.

However, counties in Southern California are still in varying degrees of drought. Areas around San Diego and the Nevada border are listed as extremely dry, increasing the risk of wildfires later this year.

The Chico Police Department will hold a public meeting next week about the use of surplus military equipment, according to a press release from the City.

The meeting is part of the department's disclosure obligation. Officials will review the "Military Equipment Annual Use Report," which describes the equipment the department has and the policies governing its use.

Meeting information

• Time: 6 p.m.
• Date: Monday, March 31
• Place: Old Municipal building

The man suspected of igniting the Park Fire last year was seen by a judge for his continued arraignment this afternoon.

Ronnie Dean Stout II was arrested shortly after the Park Fire started in July 2024. He is accused of pushing a burning vehicle into a gully in Upper Bidwell Park — igniting the fire.

The Park Fire burned more than 400,000 acres in Butte and Tehama counties, making it the fourth-largest wildfire in state history. It destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings.

Erik Adams

/

NSPR

The student who was stabbed at Gridley High yesterday is in stable condition after undergoing two surgeries. The student will remain in the ICU for now so their condition can continue to be monitored.

That’s according to a press release issued by the Gridley Police Department.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been booked into Butte County Juvenile Hall on four felony counts. The suspect has been charged with:

• Premeditated attempted murder
• Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
• Possession of a weapon on school grounds
• Concealed carry of a dirk or dagger

The identities of the victim and the suspect will not be released since they are minors.

Gridley Police have issued a press release with additional details about the stabbing at Gridley High School this morning.

Ashley Carson, a school resource officer, was alerted of an injury in the boys’ locker room around 9:40 a.m. Within seconds, Carson found the victim and called for help.

After assessing the victim, it was found that he had been stabbed.

The school was immediately placed in lockdown.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and is receiving medical care.

The suspect was detained and taken to the Gridley Police Department for questioning.

The names of the victim and the suspect have not been released.

Gridley Unified School District, the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, Cal Fire and the Gridley Police Department are working together on the case.

A student was stabbed around 9:40 a.m. at Gridley High School.

Their identity has not been released, but they were reported to be awake during transport to Adventist Health and Rideout in Marysville, according to reporting by Action News Now.

Details surrounding the incident are still unclear.

At 9:42 a.m., Cal Fire’s Butte Unit was dispatched to the school for criminal violence. They then requested medical support.

Justin Kern, superintendent of Gridley Unified School District, sent an email to parents at 10:30 a.m. The message cited an “isolated safety incident” in which “one student assaulted another.” Kern wrote that the situation “has been contained” and acknowledged the emotional impact the incident would have on the community. He issued an early dismissal of 10:45 a.m.

No further information is available at this time.

This is a breaking story and will be updated with additional information as it becomes known.