The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, Feb. 3.
Investigators say officers responded to Oroville shooting taking place in Greyhound bus
Multiple people were shot and one person was killed in a shooting Wednesday in Oroville.
According to a press release, Oroville police responded about 7:30 p.m. to reports of a shooting that was taking place inside a Greyhound bus at Oroville-Dam and Feather River boulevards.
Officers and deputies found several people suffering from gunshot wounds. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured people were taken to local hospitals.
A suspect was arrested at the Walmart in Oroville and taken to Butte County Jail.
The names of the suspect and victims were not released, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
New bill aims to improve FEMA’s response to wildfires
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill Wednesday intended to speed up the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to wildfires in California and the rest of the country.
California Democratic U.S. Senator Alex Padilla authored the bill, which is called the Fire Act. Padilla told the committee it will close gaps in FEMA's current abilities and requirements.
"The Fire Act will allow FEMA to pre-deploy resources during times of extreme high risk such as red flag warnings that we're all too familiar with in California — pre-position resources much like we do already during hurricane warnings," he said.
The bill would also require FEMA to provide culturally-competent crisis counselors so that underserved and disadvantaged communities are served equitably when accessing federal disaster assistance.
The Fire Act now moves to the full U.S. Senate for consideration.
— CapRadio Staff
Man accused of shooting at Oroville CHP officer enters plea
The Oroville man accused of trying to kill a CHP officer in a shootout last month appeared in Yuba County Superior Court.
Aaron Tobias Quinn pleaded not guilty last week to multiple charges — including attempted murder of a peace officer — in connection with a car chase and shooting that happened Jan. 16 in Yuba County.
Quinn is accused of shooting at Oroville-area CHP officer Ryan Lambert after crashing his car into a power pole. Lambert returned fire and wasn’t injured. The authorities have said Quinn suffered serious injuries.
Quinn’s court-appointed attorney, Amy Lee, declined to comment on the case.
Quinn is scheduled to appear in court for an evidentiary hearing later this month. He remained in custody without bail. Read the full story.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
Lawmakers discuss changing California’s recall process
State lawmakers wrapped up a series of hearings Tuesday looking at potential changes to California’s recall process.
They’ve discussed raising the signature threshold to qualify an election and whether to split a recall and a replacement race into two separate elections, among other things.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber said if a recall election focuses only on whether to boot an official from office, it would simplify things for voters. Then a second election could be held if needed.
Polls have shown most California voters like having the option to recall elected officials. Lawmakers may propose some reforms this year, which would require voter approval.
— CapRadio Staff
Poll shows solid approval ratings for Newsom, Biden in California
Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden are still enjoying solid approval ratings in the state. A newly released Public Policy Institute of California survey showed Newsom at 56% and Biden at 53%.
But PPIC President and CEO Mark Baldassare said when the question turns to optimism about the direction of the state and nation, the picture changes.
“Most Californians believe that the governor and the Legislature can work together and get things done this next year,” he said. “And most Californians do not believe that the president and the Congress can work together to get things done.”
In fact, 40% of Californians surveyed said they believe political violence will increase in the next few years.
— CapRadio Staff
Correction: In a previous version of this story, Mark Baldassare's name was misspelled.In other news
- COVID updates: Virus deaths rising in California weeks after peak in omicron cases: “California’s COVID-19 case numbers continue a trend of improvement from the peak of the omicron surge about three weeks ago, though hospitalizations remain elevated across most of the state and the death rate has begun to creep up in recent weeks.” — SacBee
- LaMalfa focuses on drought and wildfire in review of Farm Bill programs: “Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, Congressman Doug LaMalfa, participated in a hearing on a review of Farm Bill Conservation Programs.” — Lassen County Times
- Sen. Nielsen bill seeks to help Sites Reservoir project: “State Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Red Bluff, and Sen. Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, introduced a bill Tuesday that would have a significant impact on the Sites Reservoir project in Colusa County. The bill, Senate Bill 890, is meant to ensure millions of acre-feet of water is stored during wet years instead of being flushed out to sea …” — The Appeal Democrat
- Redding Chamber pivots to dissolve political action committee amidst tense political climate: “As the county votes on whether to recall a local supervisor, Redding’s Chamber announced a decision to end all endorsements and donations to political candidates. They’ve faced scrutiny for funding a group opposing the supervisor recall after being chosen by the county to distribute $4 million in federal COVID-relief funding to local county businesses.” — Shasta Scout
- COVID-19 in Shasta County: Lab opens free PCR testing clinic near Mercy Medical Center: “Lab24 is hosting a drive-up, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing clinic along Rosaline Avenue in Redding. The PCR test is considered more precise than rapid tests in detecting COVID infection.” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Red Bluff cannabis ordinances closer to becoming law: “There was applause Tuesday night when the City Council waived the first reading of proposed cannabis ordinances and moved them one step forward to becoming law.” — Red Bluff Daily News
In case you missed it
- Shasta County Supervisor Moty may lose seat, unofficial recall tally shows — NSPR Headlines (Feb. 2)
- Differing opinions from Shasta County voters on tense recall election — NSPR
- Patrick Jones claims victory in effort to recall fellow Shasta County Supervisor Leonard Moty — Redding Record Searchlight
- Wildfire survivors, advocates say PG&E safety certificate renewal gives utility ‘license to burn — The Mercury News
- California snowpack dwindles after a dry January — Los Angeles Times
- Gavin Newsom was the face of legal cannabis. Can he fix its problems? — CalMatters
- Siskiyou County is planning for new ‘Compost Law.’ What does it mean for local food banks — Siskiyou Daily News
- Affordable housing development ‘Park Avenue’ set to open in 15 months — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Sutter County reports COVID-19 death as hospitalizations rise — The Appeal Democrat
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