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Quick reads — Why is Big Chico Creek brown? Officials say storm runoff — what do you want to know?
Storm runoff likely behind Big Chico Creek’s brown water — what are your questions?
Big Chico Creek looks like chocolate milk — brown and murky.
According to reporting by the Chico Enterprise-Record, Chico’s parks department says the cloudy water has been seen as far up as Forest Ranch. They believe it’s from storm runoff in the foothills and not from construction on the Iron Canyon Fish Passage project, a habitat effort in Upper Bidwell Park to help salmon and steelhead move upstream.
The creek has been closed to swimmers since July, after E. coli sickened five children. Rumors keep circulating that unhoused residents are to blame for the E. coli, but officials maintain that’s unlikely.
We want to hear from you: What questions do you have about the creek? Email news@mynspr.org
NSPR is continuing to cover water quality concerns in Big Chico Creek. Here’s more of our reporting:
- 5 reasons Chico’s E. coli outbreak likely isn’t linked to homeless people
- Dangerous E. coli strain confirmed in Big Chico Creek; matches outbreak that sickened children
- Families weigh legal action over E. coli cases tied to Sycamore Pool
- E. coli sickens children in Chico’s Bidwell Park — animals, not people, likely to blame
Historic Bidwell Bowl amphitheater near Chico State opens after extensive restoration
The historic Bidwell Bowl amphitheater is ready to be used again after extensive renovations from Chico State. According to reporting by Action News Now, the university replaced the benches, removed fallen trees and cleared graffiti from the site.
The amphitheater is nearly 90 years old and the restoration used the same materials as the 1938 original. The area is outdoors, tucked away along the bank of Big Chico Creek bordering the Chico State campus.
Editor’s note: NSPR’s broadcast licenses are owned by Chico State. The university does not oversee our news production or programming.
Law enforcement presence increased at Shasta elementary school after teacher’s social media posts
An elementary school in Redding will have heightened security from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, after a teacher was placed on administrative leave due to social media posts in the aftermath of the assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk.
A statement issued by the school and the sheriff’s office says there will be increased law enforcement presence at Pacheco School to “assure the Pacheco School community remains a positive and secure place for all students.” There will also be officers at the next school board meeting.
Kirk was shot and killed at a speaking event at a Utah university last week. The shooting, and social media response to it, have become a hotly debated topic across the country in the aftermath of Kirk’s death.
The school declined an interview. NSPR didn’t receive a comment from the sheriff’s office by deadline.
Butte County launches Chico flood prevention project ahead of winter storms
Butte County Public Works begins emergency flood protection for the Chico Five-Mile SAFE Project today.
It’ll focus on mitigating immediate flood risks in Chico and the surrounding areas through vegetation management and channel improvements. Its goal is to reduce flood risks, protect homes and infrastructure and improve public safety before the winter storm season.
Completion is expected before Oct. 15th in anticipation of heavy rains.
Another inmate dies at Shasta County Jail, investigation underway
Correctional officers in the Shasta County Jail found an unresponsive inmate in his cell yesterday during a routine inspection.
According to a press release from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and medical staff took life saving measures without success and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inmate’s name hasn’t yet been released. The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Redding Police Department’s Detectives Division are investigating.
According to reporting by the Redding Record Searchlight, there has been an unusually high number of in-custody deaths in the jail over the last decade and a half. As of this January, five people had died in custody at the Shasta County Jail over a 13-month span.
University warns copycats as ‘Chico State Pisser’ TikTok announces shutdown
The person behind a TikTok account showing someone urinating throughout Chico State's campus says they'll cease operations due to police and university involvement, asserting that all the posted videos depicted incidents that were conducted with water.
The announcement comes after Chico State has been working to find the identity of the person, known online as the "Chico State Pisser." The videos have reached more than 100,000 views. Peeing in public and posting it on TikTok is a trend at universities across the country.
University Public Relations Director, Andrew Staples, told NSPR the university has been analyzing hours of video footage and have requested assistance from both the campus community and the public to identify the person via their help hotline 530-898-5555 or on Chico State's website. He says they'll also be on the lookout for copycats and will investigate any new videos.
Willows student arrested after alleged threat to rival Orland High
A Willows High School student has been arrested for allegedly making threats ahead of a football game with rival Orland High.
According to reporting by KRCR, Orland police say they got a tip Sept. 4 and later identified a 14-year-old suspect. The student was arrested Wednesday and turned over to the county probation department.
Police say there’s no evidence of an ongoing threat. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Orland Police Department.
Nearly $1M in wildfire safety grants awarded across California
The California Fire Foundation and the PG&E Foundation have awarded nearly a million dollars in wildfire safety grants to fire departments and other agencies, mostly in northern and central California.
In the North Valley eight groups received funding. Those include Butte County Search and Rescue and the North Valley Animal Disaster Group. In Shasta County the Cottonwood Fire Protection District is also a grantee.
The funds will be used to buy personal protection and specialized equipment for firefighters, and for wildfire mitigation work.
Structural assessment of Bidwell Mansion complete nine months after fire
A structural assessment of the burned remains of Bidwell Mansion was completed this week. According to reporting by Action News Now, the full report will be released in a month.
The assessment comes nine months after the mansion was set ablaze by an arsonist. It looked at the conditions of the remaining brick and mortar, as well as which building codes would apply during rebuilding. The media outlet reports only the outside of the building was assessed, due to safety concerns.
California State Parks has launched a website where the community can submit feedback on their ideas for the future of the mansion and the park around it.
Butte County seeks input on rural land use and development
Butte County planning officials are asking for residents’ feedback on possible land use and development opportunities in unincorporated areas. Those might include home businesses, short-term rentals or recreational camping.
Information gathered by the survey will be used by planners in making zoning decisions. The aim is to create opportunities for home-based employment and to promote tourism.
Officials will also be on hand at the Salmon Festival later this month in downtown Oroville.
Invasive mussels suspected on pontoon boat stopped at Lake Oroville
Suspected golden mussels were spotted at Lake Oroville last week.
Boat inspectors found what they believed to be invasive mussels on a pontoon boat. The California Department of Water Resources says the boat was previously moored at the Pittsburgh Marina and had been power washed before getting to Oroville. It was prevented from launching and has been quarantined. It won’t be allowed to launch until the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms it’s free of mussels.
Boat inspections at the lake were launched after mussels were discovered in the Port of Stockton in October 2024. If the mussels got into the water, they could impact the state's water delivery system.
NSPR is continuing to cover the golden mussel threat. Here’s more of our reporting:
I-5 bridge repairs in Shasta County to cause delays through December
Bridge maintenance began today at 11 locations in Shasta County. It's expected to cause delays for highway commuters through the end of the year.
Caltrans says Interstate 5 will have lane, shoulder and ramp closures throughout the county. State Route 89 will be reduced to one-lane during weekdays, which will delay drivers around 6 minutes.
The bridge repairs are expected to last through December, weather permitting. Drivers are asked to slow down around road crews, and add extra travel time.
Night lane closures planned on Oro Dam and Feather River boulevards
PG&E contractors will perform night work on Oro Dam and Feather River boulevards to restore sidewalks and repave roads.
To avoid traffic congestion, work will be performed at night between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. This will involve lane closures on the outside westbound lane of Oro Dam Boulevard East.
The construction work is expected to be completed by next week.
Chico journalist chased, threatened while covering event
A Chico reporter was allegedly accosted and racially threatened. Nathan Espindula of Action News Now was covering an event at the Chico Elks Lodge yesterday when a man approached and verbally attacked him with racial slurs.
According to reporting by Action News Now, Espindula ran to his car, but the man followed. The confrontation escalated until police arrived. Espindula said he recorded the altercation on his cell phone and was also able to provide police with video from his news camera.
The assailant was later arrested. He’s in custody and being held on $15,000 bail. Under California law, the man could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined or serve up to a year in jail.
Chico to remove eucalyptus trees in Bidwell Park starting Monday
The City of Chico will start removing of nonnative eucalyptus trees in Bidwell Park on Monday.
The work will be between South Park Drive and East 8th Street. To reduce fire risk and ensure visitor safety, South Park Drive will temporarily restrict public access during the removal.
The work aligns with Chico's Vegetative Fuels Management Plan, which stresses thinning dense vegetation to reduce fire risks.
Chico State plans to invest $1.3 M in rural farm projects
Chico State will invest in new agricultural tools to fight drought, improve grazing and boost sustainability. That’s thanks to $1.27 million dollars in funding awarded by the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative.
The money was given to the university’s North State Planning and Development Collective, and will go toward projects in remote regions of the state.
The projects include the Siskiyou Mobile Irrigation Lab, which will deploy trained technicians across the county to help local farmers reduce water and energy usage. Another project includes the Hopland Rangeland Virtual Fencing Demonstration, which uses “virtual fencing” for livestock management.
Editor’s note: NSPR’s broadcast licenses are owned by Chico State. The university does not oversee our news production or programming.
UC Berkeley study finds wildfire defenses can cut home losses in half
Wildfire mitigation strategies like home hardening and creating defensible space buffers are paying dividends. A new UC Berkeley study looked at five of California’s most destructive wildfires between 2017 and 2020 — including the 2018 Camp Fire — and found those efforts made a difference.
The study determined that using things like fire-resistant siding, ember-proof attic vents and double-pane windows significantly increases a home’s survivability. Creating buffer zones around structures provides even more protection.
Researchers using Cal Fire data and advanced simulation tools found mitigation strategies can reduce a fire’s destructive potential by as much as 50%. Just creating a five-foot buffer around homes reduced losses by 17%.
California has adopted strict defensible space requirements, and some local ordinances are even stricter. Now there’s quantifiable evidence that those efforts are paying off.
Chico Parade of Lights returns after two-year hiatus
The annual Chico Parade of Lights is back next month after a two-year break.
The theme this time is “celebrating our town.” The parade was canceled the last two years due to a low number of volunteers.
Applications to be in the parade are open. Sixty slots are available and applications will be accepted over email. The parade will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Goats deployed to reduce fire risk along Chico’s Lindo Channel
Prepare to spot goats grazing in Chico between the Lindo Channel and Manzanita Avenue and Highway 99.
They’re part of the Lindo Channel Defensible Space Project that’s funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The goats should reduce fire hazards and establish a safety zone for grazed areas, though the goats won’t be in the channel itself because of environmental rules.
The project is expected to last two to three weeks.
LaMalfa calls Gallagher’s two-state proposal a ‘distraction’ from Prop. 50 fight
U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa has come out against Assemblymember James Gallagher’s proposal to divide California into two states.
Gallagher floated the idea last week in response to a Democratic led effort to create new California congressional districts.
According to reporting by KRCR, LaMalfa called the idea a distraction and said Republicans should instead keep their focus on defeating Proposition 50, which will come before voters in November. Prop. 50 would allow California’s Democratically controlled legislature to temporarily redraw the district maps to favor Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm election. That’s normally done by an independent nonpartisan commission every ten years.
LaMalfa is one of five Republican candidates who would likely be affected if Prop. 50 passes.
Listen: Gallagher on dividing California
- NPR spoke directly with Gallagher about his proposal to split California into two states. Listen to the interview.
Catch up on our redistricting coverage
State lawmakers strike down bills aiming to restrict AI-manipulated pricing
California lawmakers determined the fate of hundreds of bills last week — more than 30 of them focused on technology and artificial intelligence.
According to reporting by CalMatters, legislators voted down a bill that would have barred AI from setting apartment rental prices. Another bill aimed at stopping software from using personal data to set prices was amended to only apply to grocery stores. One scrapped proposal would have protected utility customers from paying for the high energy use of AI data centers.
Some decisions were delayed until next year, including a bill that would require human oversight on AI used for critical infrastructure like dams.
And some measures survived, such as one outlawing the use of pricing software algorithms in any contract.