Erik Adams
ReporterErik began his role as NSPR's Butte County government reporter in September of 2023 as part of UC Berkeley's California Local News Fellowship. He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism from Cal State LA earlier that year.
Erik is a Southern California native who began his
journalism career while taking classes at a community college. Being undeclared for several semesters, he joined his school's newspaper staff and quickly realized the path he wanted to follow.
Since then, he has contributed to Cal State LA's student-run newspaper, The University Times, KnockLA, EdSource and several other Southern California media outlets. One reason Erik loves radio, especially public radio, is because he sees it as one of the last vessels of collective experience in the age of on-demand media.
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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. -
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.
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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.
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Councilor seats for Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 are now open to new candidates beginning this week. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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Cal Fire says fire suppression efforts will continue in the area today. -
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.
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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.
