Government

Although fine particle pollution has decreased statewide, researchers say historically disadvantaged communities still face disproportionate impacts.

Mill Creek Resort was spared from the Park Fire. Still, its owner grieves some of the surrounding old growth forest that was likely lost. Also, Shasta County supervisors selected an interim resource management director at their meeting this week, and the cabaret "All is Fair in Love & War" is based on the director’s experiences with heartbreak.

The Shasta County Elections Commission voted to send a proposal to the board of supervisors that would severely limit the use of absentee ballots in the county. Also, a former Yuba City school counselor has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for threatening community members, and a community meeting will help inform local nonprofit Chico Velo on how to design its new bike park.

Measure H would implement a one-cent sales tax for Butte County residents that could lead to millions of dollars in the county’s coffers. Also, Plumas County is trying to attract people to live and visit the area by being featured in the PBS show “Viewpoint,” and Gov. Gavin Newsom yesterday released an optimistic progress report on efforts to reach an ambitious goal to conserve 30% of California’s land by 2030.

The city of Chico announced plans for several major road infrastructure projects. Also, the Paradise Town Council today will hear an update on its efforts to connect the town to Chico’s sewer infrastructure, and a panel of experts met Friday to weigh what the city of Marysville should do about the burned historic Marysville Hotel.

The city of Chico is again using goats to reduce fire risk. The project is funded in part by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Also, Shasta County’s former Health and Human Services Agency Chief Financial Officer alleges he found discrepancies and issues with the agency’s finances before he was terminated just a day later, and California's Health and Human Services Secretary is stepping down. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the departure of Dr. Mark Ghaly on Friday. He’ll leave at the end of the month.

California is the first state in the country to use retrofitted C-130H air tankers for firefighting, and the Chico Municipal Airport has been selected as a location to launch some of them. Also, a majority of Chico’s city council members are up for election this November, we’d like to know what questions you have for council candidates. And Chico has a Honky Tonk Saturday Night for all you country music lovers out there.

The city of Chico has no contract to provide cooling center services while the city is under a heat advisory due to triple-digit heat. Negotiations with the nonprofit Safe Space have been stalled. That's despite the city initially telling NSPR the contract had been finalized. Also, at it's latest meeting, the city council criticized this year's grand jury report that focused heavily on the city's response to the homelessness crisis and is planning its response, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added Afterthought Mine in Bella Vista to its Superfund National Priorities list yesterday.

The city of Chico is seeking judicial relief from Warren v. Chico. The case limits how the city can enforce its anti-camping laws in public spaces. Also, a heat advisory starts at 11 a.m. today due to triple-digit temperatures that will last through Friday, and Shasta County is participating in a pilot program aimed at increasing participation and diversity in jurors. It raises jurors pay from $15 to $100 per day.

State lawmakers passed hundreds of bills, including some that would safeguard jobs from AI, strengthen penalties for drug crimes and retail theft and others that call for insurance companies to cover more health services.