The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, Dec. 8.
Chico City Council approves increase to police officer signing bonuses
The Chico City Council Tuesday adopted an agreement raising a signing bonus for newly hired lateral police officers from $10,000 to $40,000. Lateral officers are those with prior experience. The move comes as the city and the Chico Police Officers Association acknowledge difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified officers.
— Andre Byik, NSPR
State moves forward with closing more prisons
California is moving forward on closing two more prisons to cut costs. State corrections officials announced Tuesday that they will shut down the privately run California City Correctional Facility in Kern County in March 2024, and Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Riverside County a year later. This comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration pushed to close a state prison in Susanville and shut down another prison in Tracy.
— Keith Mizuguchi (KQED), The California Report
Health care workers turn to dating apps to trace infectious diseases
Contact tracing is a key public health tool for controlling disease outbreaks, including sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and gonorrhea that are surging nationwide. Traditional methods of tracing are no longer working as well, leading some public health workers to turn to dating apps for help.
— Stephanie O’Neill, Kaiser Health News
New bill aims to make it easier to build affordable housing
State Sen. Scott Wiener is again introducing a bill to make it easier to build affordable housing on land owned by religious groups and nonprofit colleges. The legislation would require cities to grant permits within a short period of time if projects meet certain criteria.
— Adhiti Bandlamudi (KQED), The California Report
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.In case you missed it
- Newly elected Chico City Council members seated; Coolidge appointed as mayor — NSPR
- Winter storm expected to hit the North State Thursday — NSPR
- States falling short in budgeting for fire suppression, researchers find — NSPR
- Rates of COVID, flu increase in California — CapRadio
- Chico City Council considers raising police officer signing bonuses — NSPR
- Gray wolves stage comeback in California — NSPR
- REAL ID enforcement is delayed again to 2025 — NPR
- Valley’s Edge proposal passes Chico Planning Commission — NSPR
- Some PG&E trust recipients eligible for refund on taxes paid on settlement money — NSPR
