The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, Jan. 12.
Butte County weathers storm, but emergency declaration could bring aid if needed
Officials say Butte County has been relatively lucky during recent winter storms. Some roads and guardrails in the county will need repairs, but the major flooding that was anticipated did not occur. A recent local emergency declaration could help the county qualify for federal aid if damages during ongoing storms become more severe.
— Jamie Jiang, NSPR
Report suggests equity improvements for parole hearings
A new report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office suggests that California could make its parole hearing process more equitable. The report states that the current parole process is vulnerable to a number of biases that keep people from disadvantaged groups in prison longer.
— CapRadio Staff
New law allows Californians to seal criminal records
SB 731 allows Californians to have records of most convictions sealed as long as they serve their time, are no longer on parole or probation, and haven't had contact with the justice system in the past four years. The law does not apply to registered sex offenders. School districts will still have access to records for hiring decisions.
— Alex Hall (KQED), The California Report
Microplastics library helps researchers better understand oceanic pollution
Scientists and public health experts have been raising alarms for years about water pollution in the form of tiny plastic fragments, or microplastics. But they’ve lacked a way to determine the origins of those fragments — until now. A newly built reference library now includes 24 such molecular fingerprints from microplastic samples pulled from Monterey Bay. Researchers can now use this library to trace the origin of microplastics they find.
— Mary Catherine O’Connor, KALW
Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.
In case you missed it
- North State counties added to federal emergency declaration — NSPR
- State budget proposal includes billions in spending cuts — CapRadio
- Rainfall to help relieve statewide drought — NSPR
- Berry Creek residents say they weren’t notified about decision to close fire station — NSPR
- Opponents of Valley’s Edge development launch referendum campaign — NSPR
- California gas prices remain steady amid storms — CapRadio
- Newsom says winter storms deadlier than recent wildfire seasons — CapRadio
- California workplace safety regulators cite for-profit prison company — The California Report
- Noise control experts push for laws to address public health concerns — Kaiser Health News
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