Six dead in Sacramento shooting | Butte College enrollment bucks statewide trend | April snowpack 4% of average

By Sarah Bohannon,

Published April 4, 2022 at 8:39 AM PDT

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Monday, April 4.

Six dead in shooting in downtown Sacramento, police still search for suspects

Six people are dead and the number of wounded has been revised to 12 after a shooting outside a nightclub near the State Capitol in Sacramento over the weekend.

Social media video from the scene shows a physical altercation, with several people trying to break it up and then the sound of rapid gunfire. Police said they recovered one firearm at the scene.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is out of the country on a family vacation, released a statement saying, in part, "the scourge of gun violence continues to be a crisis in our country and we must resolve to bring an end to this carnage."

— CapRadio Staff

Junior college enrollment is plummeting across the state, but not at Butte College

According to a memo from the California Community College Chancellor's Office, the fall 2021 headcount is down 7% since fall 2020, and down 20% since fall 2019. Butte College Vice President for Student Services Peter Gitau said Butte College had been seeing a similar issue.

"Because of a succession of tragedies and unfortunate events from 2016 up to last year, enrollment ... declined by an average of 31%,” he said.

But this year, Gitau said they saw increasing enrollment numbers for the first time since 2016. He said that's due in part to expanding capacity for high-demand classes, reworking parts of the application process, and community outreach programs.

— Alec Stutson, NSPR

Results of monthly snowpack survey shows depth is less than average

State water managers Friday reported the results of their monthly Sierra snowpack survey. In years past, the April snowpack has been at its deepest, but not this year. From Phillips Station near Lake Tahoe, the depth is just 4% of the average at this time of year.

Wade Crowfoot, California’s natural resources secretary, said this is yet another reminder the state needs to adapt quickly.

“Californians get it. Climate change is here and it's changing our state,” Crowfoot said. "The question is what are we going to do about it? We are not bystanders to the topic. To the climate crisis, we are protagonists.”

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order calling on local water agencies to put conservation measures in place. The order also encourages the State Water Resources Control Board to ban irrigation of grass on non-residential property.

— CapRadio Staff

Lawmakers propose putting health warnings on commercial cannabis

State lawmakers want legal cannabis producers to put health warnings on their products similar to the ones on tobacco products. The primary goal of a new bill is to warn young people of the mental health risks of smoking pot.

The proposed bill would require cannabis products to carry rotating warnings about health risks, and they would have to be set against a bright yellow background and take up a third of the front of the package. Business owners called the new rule excessive, expensive and ineffective.

Lindsay Robinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, said: “We're not allowed to sell to children. We're not allowed to advertise to children. We have clear warnings on the labels, whereas the illicit industry has none of that.”

Robinson said lawmakers should be focusing on curbing the unregulated market instead of putting more burdens on legal businesses. The bill faces its first legislative hearing today.

— April Dembosky (KQED), The California Report

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

In other news

‘We must do more than mourn’: President Joe Biden’s statement on mass shooting in Sacramento: “In his statement, the president called on Congress to strengthen gun laws at the federal level, thanked first responders who rushed to the chaotic scene in wake of the gunfire and offered his condolences to the victims and their families.” — The Sacramento Bee

Northern California could face dire wildfire danger in 2022. How high is the risk?: “Most of California is bone dry. Climate change is growing demonstrably more extreme by the year. And even though some significant rain fell earlier this week, it’s well short of a 'March miracle.'” — The Sacramento Bee

Friends on the Street, confined to a corner, keeps rolling: “Chico’s Patrick Newman and a small cadre of volunteers continue to serve unhoused community members coffee and donuts every Sunday — seven years after the project began — gathering quietly on the southeast corner of the fenced-off City Plaza in downtown Chico.” — ChicoSol

PHS alum lives in Czech town helping Ukrainians – you can help: “When the crisis in the Ukraine broke out, many Plumas County residents, including some local students, looked for ways to help. Crystal Stone, is a 1997 Portola High School graduate living in Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, in a town where refugees were arriving, often with only the clothing on their backs.” — Plumas News

Chico man, boss bring aid to employees in Ukraine: “It is not often that people are presented with opportunities to help others in need halfway across the world. Still, Chico’s Mark Barish had the opportunity to help his fellow employees in Ukraine and took it.” — Chico Enterprise-Record

As poppies bloom, locals celebrate the Wildflower & Nature festival: “Locals and families gathered Saturday for the 2022 Wildflower & Nature festival at Riverbend Park in Oroville, participating in family-friendly activities, listening to music and shopping with local artists.” — Chico Enterprise-Record

Redding police investigating death of man found under North Market Street bridge: “Redding police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found under the North Market Street Bridge on Friday afternoon.” — Redding Record Searchlight

Transients, other volunteers help clean up graffiti in Red Bluff’s River Park: “Transients helped the city and a group of volunteers Friday morning to clean up graffiti at River Park.” — Red Bluff Daily News

‘It is willful neglect’: A look at North Yuba Water District and alleged mismanagement: “Amid California’s current years-long drought that is directly affecting farmers, ranchers and everyday residents, one would think that any amount of water waste or mismanagement should be taken seriously.” — The Appeal Democrat