Pallet shelter site for unhoused residents set to open in Chico in two to three months

By Sarah Bohannon,

Published January 31, 2022 at 8:09 AM PST

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Monday, Jan. 31.

City-run unhoused shelter village hits construction milestone

The planned city-run shelter village for unhoused residents in Chico reached a new milestone Friday. City Manager Mark Orme said the structures — along with heating and cooling units — have been built.

"There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle," Orme said. "It's not just building the site. It needed proper connectivity as it relates to our sewer and electrical and so many aspects to a construction project."

The site has 177 shelters with two beds apiece, allowing couples and pairs of residents to stay together. The city has partnered with the Butte County Department of Behavioral Health and other county agencies to have on-site caseworkers help residents find aid.

The shelter village is one outcome of a settlement agreement between the city and a group of unhoused residents. As per the agreement, once the site is operational, the city can begin enforcing anti-camping laws on city land if certain criteria are met.

— Alec Stutson, NSPR

Right-of-Entry forms for properties burned in Fawn Fire due today

Property owners whose land was burned by the Fawn Fire have until the end of the day today to sign up for the government-sponsored debris removal program. Shasta County said in a press release Thursday that today’s deadline was an extension for residents to submit Right-of-Entry forms.

The forms are needed for state contractors to complete the removal of debris and toxic materials. Properties are required to be properly cleared and inspected before they can be re-occupied.

The program is administered by the state’s Office of Emergency Services. It’s voluntary and provided at no direct cost to property owners. However, the county advises that certain insurance debris removal benefits paid to property owners will be required to be paid back to the state or county.

— Ken Devol, NSPR

Shasta County District 2 supervisorial recall election takes place tomorrow

Tuesday is the final day of voting in the recall election of District 2 Shasta County Supervisor Leonard Moty. Recall proponents have said they feel Moty did not push back hard enough on state COVID-19 restrictions that shuttered businesses and required masks to protect the public’s health during the pandemic.

Eligible Shasta County voters can find more information on the upcoming election on Shasta County’s website.

Early voting for the election began on Jan. 3, with the special election set for Feb.1. Read the full story.

— Scott Shafer, The California Report and Adia White, NSPR

Climate change creates whiplash weather conditions in California

California is experiencing both extreme drought and also record rain and snow in the same year — sometimes in a matter of months.

Last year saw one record-breaking weather event after another. December was no different: there were 214 inches of snow at the UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, located an hour east of Sacramento. This intense snowfall made last month the snowiest December on record.

This new reality is forcing researchers and water agencies alike to adapt their planning and expectations. It’s a task that requires conserving water whenever possible. Sacramento benefited by conserving 22% of water in November, but January has been unusually dry.

Researchers throughout the state are concerned water levels won’t reach average without another storm like December’s. Read the full story.

— CapRadio Staff

Bill that would shift California to single-payer health care system faces crucial deadline

The single-payer bill was introduced last year, and today is the final day bills from 2021 can pass their house of origin. If not, it’s the end of the line until next year.

The legislation would shift payment for health care from customers to the state. A companion piece of legislation would raise taxes on businesses and higher earners to help cover the cost.

The single-payer bill needs a simple majority to pass the Assembly. Democrats have the numbers, but it’s unclear if enough moderates will get on board.