The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Tuesday, March 15.
Sheriff Honea unveils evacuation zones for Butte County
Major disasters in Butte County over the last five years — including the Oroville Dam spillway crisis in 2017 and the 2018 Camp Fire — prompted law enforcement and fire officials to develop a new evacuation map for the county.
“We have had to just deal with so much, and we have had to issue so many evacuation warnings and orders over the last couple years,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Monday. “But we try to learn, and we try to evolve.”
Part of that evolution is the release of newly developed evacuation zones for the entire county, with the exception of the city of Oroville, which Honea said is still in progress.
The sheriff said it’s his hope the zones will eliminate the use of confusing geographical boundaries for evacuation areas during emergencies and cut down on time identifying areas under threat.
County residents can find their zone by entering their address on the evacuation map located on the Sheriff’s Office homepage.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
New bill would require California oil refineries to disclose profit margin
A new bill in the state Legislature would let Californians see how much money the state's oil companies are making from each gallon of gas they sell.
The bill's author is Ben Allen, a Democratic state senator who represents communities in the greater Los Angeles area.
"Senate Bill 1322 will require state oil refineries to publicly disclose the average monthly price that they pay for crude oil,” Allen said. “And the profit margins that they're making on the gasoline that they refine and sell."
Under the bill, those reports would be posted on the California Energy Commission website. The measure has the backing of the group Consumer Watchdog. It will get its first hearing in the Senate Energy Committee.
— CapRadio Staff
California lawmakers undo court order to cap UC Berkeley enrollment
State lawmakers passed legislation Monday to undo a court order that UC Berkeley must cap its student population this year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation Monday evening.
The bill passed unanimously and means more than 2,600 students will be admitted to UC Berkeley for in-person classes this fall.
The dust-up came after the California Supreme Court upheld an Alameda County judge’s ruling requiring the school to keep its enrollment at 2020 levels. The ruling cited the state’s environmental law and the impacts a growing student population has on pollution.
The school originally said it would ask some students to attend classes online to avoid cutting enrollment.
The bill gives colleges and universities 18 months to address environmental concerns before making decisions that will affect enrollment growth. It will apply retroactively to the UC Berkeley decision.
— CapRadio Staff
California Tax Foundation says various proposals in state legislature would raise taxes and fees by more than $190B
State lawmakers have introduced proposals during the first two months of their session that would raise taxes and fees by more than $190 billion, according to the California Tax Foundation. David Klein, vice president of communication and research at the foundation, said $190 billion isn't that out of the ordinary, but the myriad ways of bringing money in is.
“There’s a carbon tax, a wealth tax, a gross receipts tax, payroll tax on employees, payroll tax on employers, fees on summer school, fees on mobile gas fill up,” Klein said. “If you have a truck that fills up your fleet of vehicles, there will be a new fee on that.”
Several of those taxes are included in the largest proposal, totaling $163 billion. It would fund a single-payer healthcare system. But passing legislation to tax Californians to pay for single-payer would require the approval of two-thirds of the legislature, the governor’s signature, and approval from voters.
Klein doubts voters will be receptive to any new state tax or fee increase when inflation is soaring.
— CapRadio Staff
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.
In other news
- How Shasta County Health Officer Karen Ramstrom's job came under attack during the pandemic: “Critics of Shasta County's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic have directed much of their frustration at local health officials, particularly Dr. Karen Ramstrom, the county's health officer, and Health and Human Services Director Donnell Ewert.” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Xavier Becerra speaks at Enloe Medical Center: “The Unites States Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke Monday at Enloe Medical Center in Chico about the importance of getting children vaccinated against COVID-19.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Hospital board takes next step to build skilled nursing facility in Quincy: “Quincy lost its skilled nursing facility in 2015, but if all goes as planned a new one will open its doors in 2025.” — Plumas News
- New acting warden at HDSP: “According to a statement from the California Department of Corrections, CDCR, current California Correctional Center Acting Chief Deputy Warden Rob St. Andre [is] the acting warden of High Desert State Prison, effective … Monday, March 14.” — Lassen County Times
- Oroville council to consider employment agreements: “Oroville City Council will consider employment agreements and an amended agreement for positions for the city of Oroville.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Red Bluff High School students, staff react to end of mask requirement: “As California drops its masking policy at schools, some students and staff at Red Bluff High School took the time Monday to share their thoughts on the recent changes.” — Red Bluff Daily News
- City of Chico takes case to Supreme Court: “The City of Chico has escalated its increasingly expensive legal fight with the family of Tyler Rushing by petitioning the highest court in the land.” — ChicoSol
In case you missed it
- Interview: LaMalfa’s wildfire suppression legislation would be ‘impossible’ to implement, bad for forests, wildfire scientist says — NSPR (Headlines, March 14)
- If you’re driving to Table Mountain, watch where you park your car — NSPR (Headlines, March 14)
- Pumping groundwater now could lead to less for farmers in the future — NSPR (Headlines, March 14)
- UPDATE: Evergreen Fire northeast of Weed 50% contained; evacuation orders lifted — Redding Record Searchlight
- Konkow Valley Band of Maidu granted land in traditional homeland — Chico Enterprise-Record
- One person dead in Siskiyou County officer-involved shooting — Redding Record Searchlight
- COS, Shasta College fire instructor inspired generation of firefighters — Redding Record Searchlight
- Local politicians support bill to redefine mental health conservatorship criteria — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Shelter in the spotlight — Chico News & Review
- LaMalfa visits southern border — Lassen County Times
- Sutter County GOP endorses candidates for June 7 primary — The Appeal Democrat
