New plan aims to keep fire-prone properties insured

By Sarah Bohannon,

Published February 17, 2022 at 8:21 AM PST

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, Feb. 17.

State officials release plan to help keep fire-prone properties insured

State officials have released some details of a plan to help keep California property owners in wildfire-prone areas insured. California's State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he spent the last year working with the insurance industry, Cal Fire, the Office of Emergency Services and other state agencies to come up with a list of ways people can help reduce wildfire risk.

“We were able to do this quickly as we are now living through what's going to be one of the most longstanding droughts, which is going to only lead to potential fire danger," Lara said.

Dubbed "Safer from Wildfires," the new standards that insurance companies will consider for homes and businesses include fire-resistant roofs, at least 5 feet of defensible space around properties, clearly defined evacuation routes in neighborhoods and the removal of vegetation overgrowth in a community.

— CapRadio Staff

Gov. Gavin Newsom to unveil shift in the state’s response to COVID-19

Gov. Gavin Newsom today plans to unveil the state’s next steps in its pandemic response. State officials said in a press release Wednesday that the new plan will focus on continued readiness for living with COVID-19. Newsom plans to unveil the new approach in San Bernardino County at 3:15 p.m. NSPR will carry live analysis of the announcement from 3-4 p.m.

The shift in response indicates the state will enter an endemic stage; where residents adapt to living with the virus for the foreseeable future, according to The Associated Press. The announcement comes a day after the state’s indoor mask mandate ended in most settings. State officials have not yet said when they will lift the mask mandate in schools.

— Adia White, NSPR

Garden Tract residents speak out against downtown development

Some residents of Redding’s Garden Tract neighborhood are unhappy about zoning changes approved by the Redding City Council Tuesday night. Residents told the council they were concerned the plan could bring more traffic and dramatically change their historic neighborhood.

The changes will expand the downtown district to include areas along Butte and South streets, which border the Garden Tract neighborhood.

Some restrictions, however, will be in place for new development in the area. New construction of commercial and multi-family dwellings will be limited to 35 feet in height if adjacent to an existing residence. Otherwise, the new zoning changes will allow buildings at a height of 75 feet.

The changes passed by a 3-0 vote, with Vice Mayor Michael Dacquisto and Councilor Erin Resner recusing themselves because they own property downtown.

— Kelly Frost, NSPR

California lawmakers target online retail packaging

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would limit the types of packaging online retailers can use.

When online shopping grew during the pandemic, packaging waste did as well. A report last year from the wildlife advocacy group Oceana said Amazon's plastic waste spiked nearly 30% in 2020. Amazon disputes that claim.

The new bill would require big online retailers to stop using common plastic packaging by 2024. Small businesses would have more time to transition — until 2026. If this measure passes, retailers would have to use packaging that's reusable, recyclable or biodegradable.

A similar bill died last year when a business coalition, which included plastic companies, said eliminating the packaging could lead to more damaged items and spoiled food. This time, the proposal excluded some perishable foods.

— Caleigh Wells (KCRW), The California Report

Prosecutors in Placer County file murder charges in fentanyl-related death

Prosecutors in Northern California’s Placer County have taken the unusual step of filing a murder charge in a fentanyl-related death. A 20-year-old Roseville resident is accused of selling the drug to a person in December who later died.

Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said this is the first time his office has prosecuted someone for murder for selling fentanyl that ultimately led to death.

Filing murder charges in fentanyl-related death cases is unusual because it's difficult to prove a suspect intended to kill someone. Only a handful of California counties have filed similar charges: Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Stanislaus.

The move is controversial. The Drug Policy Alliance argues that an overdose death is not murder and that drug-induced homicide prosecutions are similar to drug war policies that historically target Black and Latino communities.

The accused is being held without bail at the Placer County jail, with their arraignment set for Tuesday, Feb. 22.

— CapRadio Staff

Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.

In other news

Cal Fire sues PG&E to recover costs of fighting Shasta County’s Zogg Fire: “State officials have filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., seeking reimbursement for nearly $33 million in costs to fight the 2020 Zogg Fire, which in 2020 killed four people and destroyed 207 buildings in Shasta and Tehama counties.” — Redding Record Searchlight

No end in sight: California drought on course to break another record: “The first two months of 2022 are shaping up to be the driest January and February in California history, prompting state officials to warn of dire water conditions ahead.” — CalMatters

More virus rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead: “The nation’s leading health officials said Wednesday that the U.S. is moving closer to the point that COVID-19 is no longer a ‘constant crisis’ as more cities, businesses and sports venues began lifting pandemic restrictions around the country.” — The Associated Press

Cities, county support effort to bring state crime bill to ballot: “The cities of Oroville and Chico joined Butte County in sending a letter of support for California Assembly Bill 1599 which, if passed, would repeal the controversial Proposition 47.” — Chico Enterprise-Record

Red Bluff council approves commercial cannabis: “Commercial cannabis is coming to Red Bluff as the City Council waived the second reading of two ordinances Tuesday night to regulate cannabis activities and approved both.” — Red Bluff Daily News

Six elected officials granted first pay increase since 2007: “It’s been 15 years since six elected officials in Plumas County received a pay increase: the assessor, auditor, clerk-recorder, district attorney, treasurer-tax collector and sheriff.” — Plumas News

Planning Commission gets philosophical on variances, their purpose: “After two canceled meetings the Planning Commission met for the first time since November, on Thursday, Feb. 10, and got back to the usual business: discussing cannabis appeals and requested variances.” — The Trinity Journal

Yosemite National Park will require reservations again this summer: “Park visitors will need a reservation to enter the park between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors entering the park outside of the peak hours are not required to have a reservation.” — SierraNewsOnline