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Cattle ranchers weather drought | Butte County affordable housing | Remembering Tyler Rushing

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Friday, Aug. 26. 

Cattle ranchers reducing herds due to drought in the western U.S.

Cattle ranchers throughout the West are suffering the effects of a third year of severe drought. Rancher and Chico State professor of agriculture Dave Daley says it’s a challenging time, as most agricultural water goes to crop production. He says when rangelands dry up, ranchers have little choice but to reduce their herds.

Ken Devol, NSPR  

Official says preference for single-family homes is a problem for affordable housing

The loss of nearly 19,000 buildings in the 2018 Camp Fire seriously depleted Butte County’s housing stock. One solution is to build more multifamily dwellings and other kinds of affordable housing. But Ed Mayer, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Butte, says it’s not easy. He says that’s because most people have a strong cultural preference for single-family dwellings, which zoning laws generally favor.

Ken Devol, NSPR

California legislators, labor unions reach agreement on housing bills

State lawmakers and labor unions reached an agreement on a pair of bills to convert unused shopping centers into housing. They say it could pave the way for millions of new units.

CapRadio Staff

Remembering Tyler Rushing, shot by Chico police in 2017

NSPR covered several stories this week connected to the 2017 death of Tyler Rushing, the 34-year-old Ventura man who was shot by Chico police and a security guard. His mother, Paula Rushing, honors her son’s memory.

— Andre Byik, NSPR

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

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Sarah has worked at North State Public Radio since 2015 and is currently the station’s Director of Operations. She’s responsible for the sound of the station and works to create the richest public radio experience possible for NSPR listeners.
A graduate of California State University, Chico, Andre Byik is an award-winning journalist who has reported in Northern California since 2012. He joined North State Public Radio in 2020, following roles at the Chico Enterprise-Record and Chico News & Review.
Ken came to NSPR through the back door as a volunteer, doing all the things that volunteers do. Almost nothing – nothing -- in his previous work experience suggests that he would ever be on public radio.
Angel Huracha has been a part of the journalism field since 2006 and has covered a range of topics. He is a graduate of Chico State with a Bachelor's degree in news-editorial and public relations with a minor in English.