The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, March 31.
Bill would create fund for risks associated with prescribed fire
Prescribed fires continue to gain traction in California as one method of reducing fuel loads that frequently lead to large wildfires.
A new bill moving through the state Legislature would set up a $20 million fund that would cover the cost if a planned fire gets out of hand and causes damage to neighboring properties.
Lenya Quinn-Davidson, a fire advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension, said more California communities are embracing the idea of prescribed fires.
"People are so eager to be part of a solution,” she said. “The fire situation in California is not unlike the larger discussion around climate change — or even COVID — where there's this feeling of helplessness, and so prescribed fires really come into focus because it's a place where people can have some control over their local landscape."
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill changing liability laws around setting prescribed burns.
— CapRadio Staff
Whiskeytown trails and campgrounds to reopen after the Carr Fire
Parts of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area are set to reopen for the first time Friday since the 2018 Carr Fire. According to a press release from the National Park Service, some of the areas to reopen include the trails to Boulder Creek and Brandy Creek Falls Trailhead and the campgrounds at Brandy Creek and Sheep Camp.
The National Park Service is reminding visitors that many post-fire hazards still exist, including burned trees that are especially risky on windy days.
— Adia White, NSPR
*Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the trail to Brandy Creek Falls Trailhead has reopened, but the trail to Brandy Creek Falls is still closed
State authorities seize more illegally-owned weapons last year
State Attorney General Rob Bonta Wednesday released the annual Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS) report, saying agents took away 15% more firearms than the previous year.
“We seized almost 1,500 firearms, including 602 guns that were previously unknown to us,” Bonta said.
APPS cross-checks several databases to find people who legally purchased weapons but are not banned from ownership because they’ve been convicted of felonies or have a history of domestic violence or mental illness.
California is the only state to set up a system for tracking firearm owners who fall into a prohibited status.
— CapRadio Staff
Bill to mandate COVID vaccine for California employees put on hold
A proposal to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for California workers will not move forward this year in the state Legislature. For a second straight year, the idea of a COVID vaccine mandate has been dropped without a vote.
Legislation from Oakland Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks would have required employers to collect proof of vaccination from their employees.
Many public safety employee unions oppose the idea, arguing the vaccine policy should be set in local collective bargaining.
In a statement, Wicks said California's low COVID case rate “provides us the opportunity to work more collaboratively with labor and employers to address concerns.”
— Guy Marzorati (KQED), The California Report
Interview: State report shows rampant fraud in hospice industry
A new investigation from the state of California shows rampant fraud within the hospice industry. The state audit comes more than a year after a report in the Los Angeles Times uncovered very similar problems with end-of-life care facilities.
Ben Poston is an award-winning investigative reporter for the LA Times and worked on that story with his colleague Kim Christensen.
He spoke with CapRadio’s Randol White to discuss what they found in the industry and how it matches with the new report. 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
- Joe Deal, Ray Stott removed from University Police Department: “Joe Deal and Ray Stott, two of the men referenced in a public complaint against the Oroville Police Department, have been let go from the Chico State University Police Department.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Rancheria Health Care Campus opens: “The large lobby of the brand-new Redding Rancheria Trinity Health and Wellness Campus hosted a standing room only crowd for its grand opening ceremony Monday.” — The Trinity Journal
- Sheriff and county executives announce plan for $120 million jail facility; critical details are still scarce: “The ‘hub and spoke’ style facility would include rehabilitation services integrated within a large county detention facility. The plan is designed to provide increased accountability for those who are unhoused or facing mental health or substance use issues within the county, top leaders said. Supervisors were divided on the approach but expressed interest in learning more at future meetings.” — Shasta Scout
- Yuba City confronts homeless issue: “For any local leader, one of the top questions they receive is: What are you going to do about the homelessness problem? On Tuesday night, the Yuba City City Council took its first steps to try and solve the many layers and complexities of dealing with the homeless population in the city.” — The Appeal Democrat
- Police report new twist in Anderson preschool crash that hurt 19 kids: “The woman who crashed into an Anderson preschool was driving over to help her brother who was being chased by some of the same teens who were recognized for helping rescue children injured in the crash, police said Wednesday.” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Garner seeks to unseat Engel for District 5 Supervisor: “District 5 Supervisor Jeff Engel is seeking to retain his seat on the Plumas County Board of Supervisors. He is being challenged by businesswoman and Realtor Mimi Garner, and voters from Mohawk Valley to East Quincy will see their two names on the June 7 Primary ballot.” — Plumas News
- Red Bluff police complete final phase of Honda Hills clean up: “The day-long cleanup filled 14 medium sized dumpsters containing 55,000 pounds of debris and waste, in addition to phase one’s haul.” — Red Bluff Daily News
- Colusa power outage planned Sunday as PG&E works to update power lines: “Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced on Monday that the utility will be upgrading utility poles and power lines in downtown Colusa to provide greater electric reliability and increased capacity.” — Colusa Sun Herald
In case you missed it
- California plan would pay farmers to let fields go fallow — NSPR (Headlines, March 30)
- Climate education journalist to speak at Chico State — NSPR (Headlines, March 30)
- Three election maps move forward in special redistricting meeting — Chico Enterprise-Record
- In lower-income Shasta County, high gas prices likely to have deeper impact — Shasta Scout
- Former Crystal Geyser building in Mt. Shasta sells — Redding Record Searchlight
- Reminder: Free bus rides every Friday in April — Plumas News
- Fight at Feather Falls Casino turns fatal — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Red Bluff ceremony honors Vietnam veterans — Red Bluff Daily News
- Dunsmuir eyes protection of California Theatre as historic landmark — Siskiyou Daily News
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.
