Red flag warning goes into effect | Salmon trucked to cooler waters | Bull escapes Redding Rodeo

By Angel Huracha,

Published May 23, 2022 at 8:43 AM PDT

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Monday, May 23.

Red flag warning issued through Wednesday morning

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the Sacramento Valley and parts of the foothills, indicating critical fire weather conditions. The warning goes into effect at 11 a.m. Monday and will remain through Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Yuba County spokesperson Russ Brown said their office of emergency services has advice for those looking to be prepared throughout fire season.

“Clearing property to make sure that there's no brush … have that defensible space around your home. And a really big one is signing up the Code Red alerts,” he said.

Code Red, and other emergency alert systems, help residents stay up to date with the latest emergency information. Sign up for your county's alert system HERE.

— NSPR Staff

Wildlife officials truck salmon to Shasta Dam to save species

A species of California salmon is at risk of extinction due to climate change. As a short-term remedy, wildlife officials are trucking the salmon to cooler waters.

Federal and state wildlife officials are linking rising water temperatures with only 3% of chinook salmon eggs hatching last year. Now they are working to move over 300 fish to cooler waters above the Shasta Dam.

But the government's plan is raising concerns among members of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, whose ancestors were displaced by the dam. The salmon are central to the tribe's cultural and spiritual traditions. Some tribal members would like to see the original salmon species reintroduced to the Sacramento River and to develop a way for the fish to move naturally up river above the dam to Shasta Lake.

— Megan Jamerson (KCRW), The California Report

Bull injures six in escape from Redding Rodeo

Six people were injured Friday after a bull escaped from the Redding Rodeo’s bull riding event. According to a press release from the Redding Rodeo Association, the bull jumped the arena fence and ran toward the parking lot. It was caught near the Sun Dial Bridge and secured in a trailer.

In a statement the Redding Rodeo Association wished the best to those injured, “the safety of our fans is our highest priority and we appreciate their support.”

The association said all of the reported injuries were minor.

— Adia White, NSPR

State senators request investigation into possible water rights abuses

State senators Melissa Hurtado and Dave Cortese have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting that the Department of Justice investigate possible drought profiteering and water rights abuses in California, as well as other western states.

Hurtado said she's concerned about the increasing amount of water rights being purchased by hedge funds.

“You're seeing corporations and sometimes multinational corporations, investing in agricultural land across states where we know there is a drought, where there's going to be less water. And there's an opportunity, it's not really regulated,” she said.

Hurtado said she worries this could lead to more water shortages and skyrocketing water rates. She said the federal government can help investigate these things and that with another summer of drought, the federal government needs to see this as an urgent matter.

— Keith Mizuguchi (KQED), The California Report

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

In other news

Controlled burns to be conducted in Shasta County this week: “Multiple small training burns will be conducted Monday and Tuesday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.” — Redding Record Searchlight

Parents and professors: Reinstate vice principal, commit to equity: “Following the suspension of a Rosedale Elementary assistant vice principal, families around Chico are calling on Chico Unified School District (CUSD) and the school board to not only reverse the decision, but to also take action on equity.” — ChicoSol

City reports Community Clean Up program is underway at council meeting: “Councilmember Stan Peiler reported that Interim City Manager Jon Kennedy had initiated the community clean-up program, stating that he was eager to see what role he can play moving forward.” — Plumas News

Two people stabbed, two arrested: “The Chico Police Department said officers arrested two people who are suspected of being involved in a stabbing that sent two people to the hospital early Sunday morning. Police said in a press release that at about 12:38 a.m., an officer tried stopping a vehicle in the area of West Fourth and Magnolia avenues but the car did not stop until it reached Enloe Medical Center.” — Chico Enterprise-Record

Red Bluff police investigate shooting near Applebee’s parking lot: “The Red Bluff Police Department is searching for those involved in a shooting near Applebee's parking lot Friday afternoon.” — Red Bluff Daily News

Cal Fire to suspend burn permits in Yuba County: “The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) announced that it will suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Yuba, Nevada and Placer counties starting Monday due to an increased danger posed by dead grass and hot and dry conditions in the region.” — The Appeal-Democrat