Government

The California Air Resources Board voted Thursday to ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters beginning in 2030. Homes will be required to install zero-emissions alternatives, like electric heaters.

Shasta County has one of the highest incarceration rates in the state. Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will allow judges to order treatment for people suffering from addiction and mental illness, and the names of those killed in the Mill Fire have been released by officials.

Schools in the North State are struggling to hire teachers with specialized subject credentials. Also, gas prices rose in California over the last week, and state public health officials say it's safe to get the COVID-19 booster and the flu shot at the same time.

California and New York would be the first states to require anyone under 18 to obtain prescriptions to purchase over-the-counter weight loss products, which some research has linked to eating disorders.

A doctor at Enloe Medical Center’s emergency department discusses how to identify heatstroke, which can be deadly. Also, the Indian Valley Community Services District (IVCSD) reports $7 million in state funding will help it rebuild crucial infrastructure in Greenville, and new state legislation would be the first in the nation to establish a heat warning system.

The plan still has gaps — for example, only federal loans qualify for forgiveness. But many hope it amplifies conversations about reforming financial aid systems and increasing college access.

Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s court system for people with severe mental illness cleared the state Legislature, counties face a series of practical questions critical to turning the fuzzy concept into a reality.

Chico’s cooling center moved this week to accommodate more people. Also, auto club AAA expects an increase in roadside service calls as travelers hit the road for the holiday weekend, and a controversial vaccination-consent bill was pulled before a vote in the California Legislature.

Proposition 1, the constitutional amendment that would enshrine abortion in California’s constitution, would also lock in a right that has gotten less attention: the right to “choose or refuse” contraception.

The city of Orland is extending its water system to supply some households outside the city limits amid California’s drought. Also, at least four people have been confirmed dead in the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County, and state lawmakers approved a bill to set up sites where people can use illegal drugs without fear of prosecution.