Ken Devol
Host, All Things ConsideredKen came to NSPR through the back door as a volunteer, doing all the things that volunteers do. Almost nothing – nothing -- in his previous work experience suggests that he would ever be on public radio.
His resume is nearly Frankensteinian with one disparate job sutured to another: California Department of Parks and Recreation, marina employee, archaeological field technician, electrician, woodworker, furniture import, and 20 years in manufacturing management. He was an English major.
He’s traveled some. He likes to sail and writes fraudulent poetry. And now he’s in radio -- another unlikely part is sewn into the whole. And he loves it.
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A Butte County resident diagnosed with monkeypox shares their experience. Also, the likelihood of seeing a megaflood in California has doubled due to climate change, and health officials say trauma due to wildfire is affecting more children in the state. -
The Pakistani diaspora in Yuba City is raising disaster relief funds for devastating flooding in Pakistan. Also, millions in relief will go to Greenville to help rebuild infrastructure destroyed in the Dixie Fire, and elevated fire weather conditions are forecast in the North State today.
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Cal Fire has released its damage assessment map showing buildings destroyed in the Mill and the Mountain fires burning in Siskiyou County. Also, overnight temperatures have remained high during this week’s heat wave, and ecologists say extreme heat can accelerate tree death.
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Five people were shot early Saturday morning at a house on West 5th Street in Chico, according to the Chico Police Department.
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PG&E’s CEO says she’s focused on gaining back the public’s trust after catastrophic and deadly wildfires. Also, experts say California is likely to endure more frequent droughts, and farmworkers marched to the state Capitol in support of a union-voting bill.
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Drought in the West is causing many cattle ranchers to reduce their herds. Also, affordable housing is a problem in Butte County following disasters, and the mother of Tyler Rushing — shot by Chico police in 2017 — honors her son’s memory.
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People ages 65 and older are the fastest growing homeless population in the United States — a Chico nonprofit is trying to help. Also, monkeypox cases have tripled in California over the past month and communities without vaccines feel forgotten, and a state program gives college savings accounts to California kids.
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Isolated mountain thunderstorms aren’t uncommon in the North State this time of year. When they do occur, they can produce hazardous dry lightning that can spark fires. In fact, lightning has caused several massive fires in the region.
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Tehama County’s director of environmental health says many residents don’t have the option of drilling new wells or deepening existing ones. Also, widespread haze and smoke is drifting into Chico from the Six Rivers Lightning Complex, and Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the state to up the ante on fighting climate change.
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City of Chico prepares to clear Comanche Creek homeless encampment, some don’t know where they’ll goUnhoused people camping at Comanche Creek Greenway were given notice last week that the city of Chico will soon begin clearing the area.
