The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, Jan. 27.
Annual Point-in-Time count resumes in Butte County after COVID-19 hiatus
Butte County carried out the first count of unhoused residents since 2020 Wednesday after last year's count was postponed due to COVID-19.
The county’s Continuum of Care (CoC) conducted the annual count to gather data on residents experiencing homelessness. The count is required by the federal government, and the data will determine how much funding the area will receive to address homelessness.
Butte County CoC will submit its findings to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this spring and will release its findings at that time.
— Alec Stutson, NSPR
Shasta County postpones jury trials due to COVID-19
Jury trials in Shasta County have been suspended due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. According to a press release from the Shasta County Superior Court, trials currently in progress will proceed until completion. Any trials that were scheduled to start Jan. 25 or later have been postponed. Jury trials are anticipated to resume March 1.
As of Tuesday, the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency was reporting 89 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and 10 people in intensive care.
— Adia White, NSPR
Butte County extends contract for interim public health officer
Butte County’s temporary public health officer has received a contract extension. Dr. David Canton will remain the county’s interim health officer through Sept. 29. His contract had been set to expire in March.
The Board of Supervisors approved the agreement this week, raising Canton’s bi-weekly pay from about $2,000 to about $3,800. Butte County Public Health Director Danette York said recruitment for a permanent health officer is underway.
“The increase covers a significant increase in the amount of time that Dr. Canton has had to spend helping us due to increased workload, and it will cover some reimbursement for travel,” York said.
Canton took on the role last October. At the time, he said the COVID-19 pandemic would be his focus. His revised contract is worth up to about $85,000. County staff say contract costs will be covered by salary savings from the vacant health officer position.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
COVID-19 will eventually be endemic, but what does that mean and when will it happen? Butte County Public Health weighs in
Last week, top White House medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said COVID-19 is not going to be eradicated. Instead, it will eventually become endemic.
It’s a classification public health officials in Plumas and Butte counties have said they’re hoping to move toward, but what exactly does the word endemic mean? NSPR’s Sarah Bohannon recently posed that question to Lisa Almaguer, communications manager for the Butte County Public Health Department.
*Read the story or listen in today's Headlines.
— Sarah Bohannon, NSPR
In other news
- Tehama County hits all-time high for new COVID cases: “Within the past seven days, Tehama County has recorded the highest single-day new coronavirus cases since the pandemic’s beginning.” — Red Bluff Daily News
- Interview: Law professor Leslie Jacobs on Supreme Court contender Justice Leondra Kruger: “Experts say Kruger, appointed to California's top court by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014, is a top contender for President Joe Biden’s nomination to replace Justice Stephen Breyer.” — CapRadio
- Proposed ballot measure to build more California dams could be withdrawn: “Despite California’s drought, a proposed statewide November ballot measure to speed up the construction of new dams and other large water projects — and provide billions of dollars to fund them — has fallen short in its fundraising goals and is likely to be withdrawn by early next week.” — The Mercury News
- Student housing is tight. A California plan wants $5 billion for affordable beds: “The University of California housed more students than the system officially had room for last fall. Yet UC leaders, lawmakers and the governor all want to dramatically expand student enrollment.” — CalMatters
- Prescribed fire planned Friday near Galeppi Ranch off Quincy Junction Road: “To reduce hazards around Quincy, and to increase forest health, a prescribed fire is planned … in Quincy.” — Plumas News
In case you missed it
- ButteCounty sees spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations; changes to response in store — NSPR
- Hospital counts in Shasta County on the rise again — Redding Record Searchlight
- Colusa transit agency extends suspended services due to COVID-19 — The Appeal Democrat
- Alfredo Ruvalcaba found guilty of first-degree murder — Chico Enterprise-Record
- What’s in the California paid sick leave deal for workers and businesses? — CalMatters
- Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones announces run for Congress — CapRadio
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