Homelessness

Chico residents have endured several days of dangerous temperatures this summer. Wednesday the city of Chico renewed its contract with the nonprofit Safe Space to provide emergency cooling and warming shelter services.

The Butte County Office of Education is hosting community meetings for residents to share what they would like to see in the next Chico Unified School District superintendent. Also, the city of Chico announced they're planning to clear three homeless encampments, and Paradise town officials said the community has achieved 90% compliance with its defensible space requirements.

An upcoming hearing on the future of the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement may be rescheduled if the court determines a need to hear oral arguments in the case. This comes after the city of Chico filed a motion in federal court asking that it be excused from certain provisions under the agreement. Also, the EPA has officially added Afterthought Mine east of Redding to its list of Superfund sites. The mine has been leaking toxic amounts of pure acid into nearby streams for decades, and California’s Sustainable Ground Water Management Act was enacted 10 years ago.

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.

The site will include 30 double-occupancy micro shelters by the company Pallet and open by winter.

City staff and council members decided to form a committee to further address homelessness in Oroville.

The Park Fire has been burning for nearly three weeks. Officials warn firefighters to keep their guard up as fatigue and stress set in. Also, the filing deadline for residents looking to fill city council seats has passed for most districts. Several Chico candidates will face off to represent four districts, and Momo’s Poke joins the Chico downtown food scene, offering fresh poke, small bites and comfort dishes.

Legal Services of Northern California offered proposed changes to the settlement agreement in Warren v. Chico. But the city of Chico has rejected them. Also, an assistance center offering resources, aid and information for residents affected by the Park Fire in Tehama County will open this week, and residents of Plumas County suffering from wildfire smoke pollution may be eligible to borrow air purifiers.

The community of Cohasset was one of the first affected by the Park Fire. Now, residents are returning to their homes, and taking the steps to begin rebuilding. Also, two meetings will be held about the Park Fire this evening. One will be in Red Bluff, the other in Chester. Both start at 6:30 p.m. And construction on a new fire station in Chico is slated to begin next week.