The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, March 24.
State of emergency declared in several North State counties
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency in 16 counties following a series of severe storms that hit Northern California in late October and caused widespread damage to roads and other infrastructure.
Several North State counties are affected, including Butte, Glenn, Plumas and Trinity counties.
According to a news release, the proclamation directs Caltrans to request immediate federal assistance for highway repairs or reconstruction, among other provisions.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
Butte County continues shift to ‘endemic mode’ for COVID-19
Gone Tuesday were the Plexiglas barriers in the Butte County Board of Supervisors chamber. The board’s meeting agenda also no longer included a COVID-19 update from the county’s public health director.
“This is what it looks like to shift from pandemic to endemic mode — to learning to live with this virus,” said Andy Pickett, the county’s chief administrative officer. “So, we’re rolling back a lot of the things that we put into place for the pandemic.”
Pickett added that Butte County will end its COVID-19 emergency proclamations once the state’s declaration ends, which he said may happen next week.
As of last update Monday, the county reports 380 residents have died from COVID-19. Seventeen people were reportedly hospitalized with the disease.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
Newsom unveils plan to send direct payments to offset cost of gas
Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday unveiled his plan to give California drivers direct payments to help offset costs of rising gas prices. If approved, the state would send $400 payments to drivers for each registered vehicle. The money would be capped at two cars.
Newsom’s plan would also give public transit agencies grant funding to allow people to ride for free for three months.
Newsom’s plan comes a week after nearly two-dozen state lawmakers unveiled a $400 tax rebate proposal to offset spiking gas prices and inflation.
The state legislature would have to approve the governor’s proposal. If it does, payments could go out as early as July. Read the full story.
— CapRadio Staff
California State University to pause payments to former executives
California State University trustees have voted to pause the controversial practice of continuing to pay executives of the system even after they resign.
A Los Angeles Times investigation earlier this month revealed 11 former CSU executives continued to receive money from the university system — a total of more than $4 million in the last seven years.
Two of those eleven include former Fresno State Chancellor Joseph Castro and former San Jose State President Mary Papazian, both resigned after being accused of mishandling sexual assault allegations.
The board voted to halt those payments while it reviews a task force recommendation on the executive transition program, which has paid salaries, housing, car allowances and other expenses for CSU executives since 1981. The task force report is due in May.
— CapRadio Staff
Interview: How will water regulators address California’s drought?
Hope is all but gone for a “miracle March” to help ease the state’s drought, indicating a challenging summer ahead. Now, both state and federal water regulators are starting to spell out how they plan to deal with it.
Ryan Sabalow, environment reporter for The Sacramento Bee, has been covering the issue and spoke with CapRadio’s Randol White. Listen to the interview in today’s Headlines.
— CapRadio Staff
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.
In other news
- School leaders in Chico work to reduce ‘unfinished learning’: “As the pandemic disrupted Chico’s Chapman neighborhood, Chapman Elementary School Principal Mike Allen was one of several local school leaders known to knock on students’ doors and check on them, often with food in hand.” — ChicoSol
- Coronavirus in Shasta County: COVID-19 cases fall to lowest levels since July 2021: “The county's seven-day test positivity rate from March 16 to Tuesday dropped to 1%, according to the California Department of Public Health data. That's down from 3.8% a month ago on Feb. 21-27.” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Orchard farmers assess crop damage from February frost: “An early almond bloom in February exposed fragile almond buds making them susceptible to freezing temperatures.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- State reps follow up on promises made following the Dixie Fire; return to Taylorsville: “Students, staff, administrators, and the local governing board member from Plumas County Office of Education and Plumas Unified School District gathered with representatives from the California Department of Education (CDE) to celebrate the arrival of a new playground structure with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 18.” — Plumas News
- Tehama County Board of Supervisors discusses budget health, AB 443 funds: “Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick approached the board on Tuesday with the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Mid–Year Budget report, raising concerns over the budget’s health and the use of AB 443 funds, which come from the sale of forfeited assets tied to crimes.” — Red Bluff Daily News
- The ‘Bee’ is back for area students: “Continuing the trend of a return to normalcy, the Sutter County Spelling Bee was back Wednesday at Boyd Hall on the Feather River Academy campus in Yuba City after its last champion was crowned in March 2020.” — The Appeal Democrat
- More Black and Latino Californians face out-of-reach home prices: “Homeownership has long been considered a path to the middle class. But just 17% of Black and Latino households could afford a median-priced home in California last year, down from the prior two years, according to a new report.” — CalMatters
- Former CSU Northridge president appointed interim chancellor: “Jolene Koester will become just the second woman in California State University history to lead the 23-campus system.” — EdSource
- Patricia Guerrero Confirmed As First Latina on California Supreme Court: “With none of the partisan rancor or political point-scoring on display in this week's Senate confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, a three-member panel in San Francisco on Tuesday quickly and enthusiastically confirmed Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court as its first Latina justice.” — KQED
In case you missed it
- Community march held to honor Desmond Phillips — NSPR (Headlines, March 23)
- Dixie Fire: Organizers explore ‘pop-up’ businesses in Greenville — NSPR (Headlines, March 23)
- Department of Water Resources tests putting solar panels over parts of the California Aqueduct — NSPR (Headlines, March 23)
- Vitalant says blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Just 2 COVID cases reported in Plumas over the past seven days — Plumas News
- Sites Reservoir to pursue $2.2B loan through WIFIA — Colusa Sun-Herald
- Yuba County moves forward with film commission — The Appeal Democrat
- Tehama County Genealogical and Historical Society releases annual ‘Memories’ book — Red Bluff Daily News
- In wake of Castro resignation, Cal State launches investigations of system’s handling of sexual harassment complaints — CapRadio
- Key California COVID relief program about to expire — CalMatters
Headlines is published every weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and NPR One. Theme song Borough is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions.
