The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Wednesday, April 6.
Recovery just beginning years later for many North State fire survivors
Fire officials are starting to gear up for another potentially dangerous fire season. This comes as many in the North State are just starting to recover from past wildfires.
John Mitchell is the program coordinator for the Tiny Pine Foundation, a nonprofit that’s been building tiny houses for survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire and 2020 Bear Fire or North Complex. He said while progress is being made in both burn scars, many survivors — especially those in rural communities like Concow and Berry Creek — are just beginning to get into more stable situations.
“It’s so difficult,” Mitchell said. “There are so many barriers, so many hurdles to go through. Not just in the clean-up process, but now it’s trying to get power out there, trying to get their wells up and running, trying to get their septic systems working and then many of them are living in trailers and fifth wheels and stuff on their properties.”
Mitchell said those who didn’t experience the fires may feel like a lot of time has passed, but for many who lost everything, the rebuilding process has just begun.
He added that volunteering with a fire recovery organization is a great way to stay informed and there are many ways to get involved.
— Sarah Bohannon, NSPR
Highly contagious omicron subvariant found in Shasta County
The BA.2 subvariant of omicron is the dominant strain worldwide and is on the rise in California. Now, it’s also been detected in Shasta County. County health officials report the variant has been detected in seven positive COVID-19 tests in the county since February.
Kimberly Ross, a community education specialist for the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, said while the variant is “slightly” more contagious, the county is not seeing “quite as big a jump in contagion as from delta to omicron, as with this omicron to BA.2 subvariant of omicron.”
Ross said it's important for residents to keep up with their COVID vaccines and booster shots. There were 42 active COVID-19 cases in the county and eight hospitalizations, as ofthe latest available data.
— Alec Stutson, NSPR
Second booster shot recommended for those 50 and older
A second COVID booster shot is now recommended for people 50 and older and those with immune deficiencies.
While the average number of new COVID cases in California is dropping by the week — and now at levels not seen since last June — some doctors say a booster shot might still be needed.
The dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S. is now BA.2, which is a subvariant of omicron and more contagious.
Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Medical Center, said people with underlying health conditions should consider getting a second booster shot.
“Certainly if you do have comorbidities or if you’re going to be at increased risk for exposure and infections,” he said. “If you’re traveling to somewhere where there’s increased rates of transmission, then it’s a good idea to consider that booster.”
Regarding a vaccine for children 5 and younger, Blumberg said more data will be available for federal health officials to review in the coming weeks.
— CapRadio Staff
Interview: Climate education often lacks in preparing students for the future
The way students are taught about human-caused climate change can vary wildly from school to school — and some may be failing to prepare students for the future.
NSPR's Alec Stutson spoke with Katie Worth, an investigative journalist who has reported on climate change education in schools, including some in the North State. Listen to the interview in today’s Headlines.
— Alec Stutson, NSPR
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.
In other news
- Report to California Legislature: Prepare for sweeping effects of climate change: “The typically reserved, nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined dire consequences for Californians as climate change continues to alter most aspects of daily life.” — CalMatters
- Final steps underway for pallet shelter site: “The city’s court-ordered pallet shelter project is close to completion, and advocates for unhoused people are hopeful but cautious about its chance for success.” — ChicoSol
- Jesus Center begins Renewal Center construction: “The Renewal Center, a project by the Jesus Center, broke ground Monday across the street from their Fair Street location in Chico to add more beds, services and flexible space to its existing programs.” — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Shasta supervisors take no action on mystery personnel item, receive warning about legal feud: “After nearly three hours in closed session, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors took no action Tuesday on the ‘public employee discipline/dismissal/release’ agenda item that many who came to the meeting suspected referred to Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom.” — Redding Record Searchlight
- Forest Service halts Butterfly Valley prescribed burn due to weather conditions: “Prescribed burning in the Butterfly Valley area on the Mount Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest has stopped due to weather and fuel conditions.” — Plumas News
- BOE appoints Yvette Stowers as its next executive director: “The California State Board of Equalization appointed Yvette Stowers as its next executive director at the March 2022 board meeting, effective upon the completion of review by the California Department of Human Resources. She will replace Brenda Fleming who announced her retirement earlier this year and has served as Executive Director since January 2019.” — Lassen County Times
- Red Bluff trail ride event raises thousands to fight breast cancer: “Each participant brought their own horse and chose between a two-hour river trail ride, a three-hour plateau trail ride or a four-hour trail ride to Jed's Overlook at the Sacramento River Bend Area. — Red Bluff Daily News
- Symphony in Siskiyou? ‘It’s been two years. We’ve been so isolated’: “This winter, Locke and her fellow music artists formed a Siskiyou County-wide volunteer symphony — a project made sweeter by the group’s ability to meet in person after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.” — The Siskiyou Daily News
- Repairs completed on Pass Road: “During its December 2021 meeting, the Sutter County Board of Supervisors discussed damage that occurred on a portion of Pass Road as a result of severe storms in October.” — The Appeal-Democrat
- Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates: “The investigation continues into the weekend mass shooting in downtown Sacramento. Three people have been arrested, two in connection with the shooting, but none have been charged with murder.” — CapRadio
In case you missed it
- ‘The time to act is yesterday’: California Fire Safe Council says be ready for wildfire — NSPR (Headlines, April 5)
- Shasta County health officer's future could be decided at supervisors meeting — Redding Record Searchlight
- Prescribed burning planned for Butterfly Valley this week — Plumas News
- Human-caused fire burns Riverside Drive structure — Lassen County Times
- Man arrested after Chico shooting — Chico Enterprise-Record
- Men arrested in Tehama County in connection with sex trafficking — Red Bluff Daily News
- Yreka city clerk arrested on suspicion of possession of child pornography — The Siskiyou Daily News
- Yuba County program to help with fire season preparation — The Appeal-Democrat
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