Covid-19

The Chico City Council called an emergency meeting over the weekend regarding Safe Space winter shelter. The meeting comes after Safe Space moved its intake center to the city’s “Our Hands” sculpture on Friday night due to receiving a fine for using the former 7-Eleven downtown. Also, some residents have had close calls walking or biking through intersections in downtown Chico that don’t have crosswalk signals but Caltrans says more will be installed this summer, and the Butte County Board of Supervisors will vote on accepting grants that would be used to hire year-round defensible space inspectors.

An ongoing study is giving unhoused people $750 a month with no strings attached. A professor who helped create the trial told NSPR that so far the payments have helped many participants in Los Angeles meet their basic needs. Also, according to the CDC Wastewater Data Tracker cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Butte County, and the city of Chico is removing 28 trees to make way for construction on the Esplanade.

Over the next four years, a handful of school districts in Butte County will see more mental health professionals and support thanks to a federal grant.

A $4 million grant to fund mental health care in underserved school districts was received by the Butte County Office of Education. The funding will go toward more mental health professionals and support for students. Also, Safe Space’s low-barrier emergency shelter in Chico is about to start for the winter. The nonprofit has announced its new intake center will be at the former 7-Eleven building on Main Street, and if you’re wanting to get a note to Santa you might want to head to downtown Chico. Santa has received hundreds of letters from kids thanks to mailboxes located at six downtown businesses.

Amidst allegations that a member of the Chico City Council violated the Brown Act, an ACLU attorney explains the law and the rights it affords to the public. Also, snow and gusty winds have prompted a winter weather advisory for many mountainous areas of the North State through this afternoon, and Yuba City is looking for a local artist to create a ‘Welcome’ sign for the city that will be placed at key entry points and replace older signs.

This year PG&E made a case to utility regulators to raise its rates by 22% over the next four years. The company says the increase is necessary to meet undergrounding goals but fire survivors say they just can’t afford it. Also, a group of nonprofits have formally requested California’s Secretary of State to oversee upcoming elections in Shasta County, and California is preparing for what may be another very wet year.

California’s COVID-era rent relief program, long saddled with delays, criticisms and legal woes, appears to be running out of money. What does that mean for the more than 100,000 renters still awaiting help?

Health officials say getting your annual flu shot and the latest COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to prevent potentially serious respiratory illness.

It’s a confusing time in the COVID pandemic. A new booster is on the way, but cases are rising and you might want more protection now.

Readers are curious about the new variant, currently known a BA.2.86. Also: Lots of questions about boosters. Can you get it at the same time as a flu shot? And how long does protection last?