PG&E

A heat advisory has been issued for the valley and surrounding foothills today. The advisory starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. tomorrow. Also, the city of Anderson has declared itself a "Parent Right to Know” city in support of its local school district's policies, and residents in Chico have a chance to bask in the city’s creativity this month during its ARTober Fest downtown.

Early this morning, PG&E began turning off power for about 1,200 customers in Butte and Shasta counties due to elevated fire weather concerns. Also, new security measures will go into effect at Chico City Council starting in mid-October, and a new California law says people carrying visible firearms during election related activities would be presumed to be engaging in voter intimidation. Shasta County supervisors sent a letter to the state saying the law is in violation of the Second Amendment.

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 new rate hike was approved last week and will start in October. Customers say they can no longer afford their electricity bills. PG&E says the rate hike is necessary for storm recovery and wildfire mitigation projects.

The city of Chico is looking into reports of potential contamination in water at its sanctioned alternative campsite for unhoused residents. Also, a fast-moving grassfire in Butte County yesterday prompted evacuations. Forward progress was quickly stopped, but Cal Fire says it’s another reminder to be ready to evacuate, and California has ordered insurance companies to keep policies in place for those affected by the Thompson Fire.

The city of Chico is being ordered to release information surrounding the 2017 police killing of Tyler Rushing. Also, health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated against the newest strains of COVID-19, and as a prolonged heat wave continues in the North State residents may struggle to pay their electricity bills.

Residents in hot communities come out ahead in a new rate structure, slated to take effect by 2026.

More than 40 zones in northeast Oroville were put under evacuation in a matter of hours. Also, amid another triple-digit heat wave Chico residents now have a dedicated place to cool off after local nonprofit Safe Space opened a cooling center, and unhoused residents can now stay longer at the Good News Rescue Mission in Redding.

As temperatures rise, there are few public places to escape the heat. The nonprofit Safe Space will be opening a cooling center, but it's only confirmed to last for the next two weeks. Also, PG&E may shut off power today in parts of the North State, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering two free fishing days this summer.

PG&E customers will see a rate reduction this summer, but the relief will be temporary. Also, evacuations have been lifted for the Apache Fire in Butte County and the Sites Fire in Colusa County.Officials offer some advice to residents on what to do after returning home, and a lawsuit against the Shasta County Elections Office has been dismissed by a superior court judge this week.