The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Friday, Feb. 18.
State unveils shift in its pandemic response strategy
Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday laid out his plan to move into the next phase of the pandemic — which is learning to live with COVID-19 in daily life.
Newsom said that the state is moving out of the pandemic phase and into “a phase which should allow you confidence that we are not walking away. That we’re taking the lessons learned and we’re leaning into the future.”
The plan outlines how the state will use wastewater surveillance and testing to detect changes in virus transmission. It incorporates masks, vaccines and other treatments to respond to future surges.
But it does not end the remaining mask requirements for schools, medical clinics or other settings. The state plans to reevaluate mask requirements in schools at the end of the month.
California remains in a state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Legislature will hear a resolution to terminate that emergency next month. Read the full story.
— CapRadio Staff
CSU chancellor resigns amid allegations he mishandled sexual misconduct complaints
California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro late Thursday resigned amid allegations that he mishandled sexual harassment complaints against a university official while he was president of Fresno State.
Castro’s announcement followed a closed daylong meeting of CSU’s board of trustees. Calling the resignation decision “the most difficult of my professional life,” Castro said he was leaving his job as chancellor to preserve the goals of CSU.
“While I disagree with many aspects of recent media reports and the ensuing commentary, it has become clear to me that resigning at this time is necessary so that the CSU can maintain its focus squarely on its educational mission and the impactful work yet to be done,” Castro said in a statement.
The resignation is effective immediately, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Steve Relyea will serve as acting chancellor. Read the full story.
— Emma Gallegos, EdSource
Chico State investigates racist graffiti on campus
California State University, Chico is investigating two incidents of racist graffiti on its campus. The university reported that last Friday, the car of a Chico State staff member was vandalized with a racist slur. On Monday, a student’s car was also vandalized with racist graffiti.
On Tuesday Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson issued a statement condemning the acts and called on the campus community to work together to stop such activity. Michelle Morris, interim chief diversity officer with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, said the graffiti goes against what the campus community should stand for.
“It’s gutting, it’s gut-wrenching,” Morris said. “It flies in the face of all our values, it’s directly opposed to our strategic priorities around equity, diversity, and inclusion and how we strive to be an equitable institution and an inclusive and welcoming campus.”
The University Police Department is investigating and asks that anyone with information report it.
There have been other recent occurrences of hate speech in Chico. In January, a Chico neighborhood was blanketed with antisemitic flyers.
— Ken Devol, NSPR
Bill would deny pensions for members of Congress convicted of felony sexual misconduct
Bay Area representative Jackie Speier is introducing a bill that would take federal pensions away from members of Congress who are convicted of sexual abuse.
Speier said the bill was inspired by disciplinary standards in the U.S. military. Service members accused of misconduct get a court-martial and are dishonorably discharged if they're convicted. That means they lose their military retirement pay and other privileges.
In a statement, Speier said federal elected representatives convicted of felony sexual abuse, “must not profit off the taxpayer’s dime with a pension.”
This bill would make the consequences of a sexual misconduct conviction for senators and representatives the same as those of a bribery or perjury conviction, forfeiting their pension.
— Raquel Maria Dillon (KQED), The California Report
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.
In other news
- Effort to recall Sean Morgan dropped: “Just short of a month before the final due date, the Committee to Recall Councilor Sean Morgan announced Thursday that it would be dropping its recall effort.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Shasta doctors objecting to vaccine mandates get mixed reaction: “A group of physicians who signed a 10-point COVID-19 declaration outlining some points that run counter to numerous medical experts, as well as guidance from the U.S. government, addressed the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and Redding City Council … .” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Lassen Fire Safe Council closes in on Janesville fuel break pile burning: “A contractor for the Lassen Fire Safe Council has completed more than 400 acres of pile-burning operations as part of its Thompson Peak Initiative and the burning may continue for the next two weeks.” — Lassen County Times
- CPUD hires new law firm; seeks interim general manager: “The Feb. 15 meeting of the Chester Public Utility District/Chester Fire Department had very limited public representation in attendance as the board discussed some of the upcoming challenges.” — Plumas News
- What if California’s women on boards law is overturned?: “Under the law, publicly traded companies with headquarters in California needed to add at least one woman to their board of directors by the end of 2019. By the end of 2021, companies with a five-member board needed to have at least two women, and companies with six or more directors needed to have at least three.” — CalMatters
- World’s first-ever 3-D printed church to be built in Tehama County: “Redding’s Don Ajamian Construction, in conjunction with partner Emergent 3D, is overseeing the project, which will include 3-D printing the exterior and interior walls of the building.” — Red Bluff Daily News
In case you missed it
- New plan aims to keep fire-prone properties insured — NSPR, Headlines (Feb. 18)
- Garden Tract residents speak out against downtown development — NSPR, Headlines (Feb. 18)
- Cal Fire sues PG&E to recover costs of fighting Shasta County’s Zogg Fire — Redding Record Searchlight
- No end in sight: California drought on course to break another record — CalMatters
- More virus rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead — The Associated Press
- Cities, county support effort to bring state crime bill to ballot — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Red Bluff council approves commercial cannabis — Red Bluff Daily News
- Six elected officials granted first pay increase since 2007 — Plumas News
- Planning Commission gets philosophical on variances, their purpose — The Trinity Journal
- Yosemite National Park will require reservations again this summer — SierraNewsOnline
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