Shasta County

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.

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.

A group of landowners, government organizations and local conservation groups are coming together to begin healing and protecting land burned by the Park Fire at Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Also, a listener asked why NSPR reports on the number of structures damaged in wildfires rather than homes. We spoke with Cal Fire to explain why those statistics aren't easy to find, and Redding candidates for state assembly and city council will face off at a forum next month.

Hundreds of nurses gathered near Enloe Medical Center ahead of a bargaining meeting with management. Also, an updated Storm Water Master Plan westrives to improve how Chico manages flooding and storm water. The city is asking for public input to identify where adjustments are needed. And Shasta County has adopted an updated workplace harassment policy.

Students flocked back to Chico this week to start a new semester at Chico State. They told NSPR about some of their favorite things about the city and gave advice to incoming freshmen. Also, the grocer Chico Natural Foods Cooperative has seen a loss in revenue in recent years but was met with a spike in membership and sales over the weekend after concerned community members put a call out for help on social media, and a public commenter punched another member of the public during a recent Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors will consider several agenda items today related to Park Fire recovery efforts. Also, an Oroville man has been charged with multiple counts of arson after being arrested for starting the Thompson Fire in Butte County. The fire broke out in July near Oroville, and experts say California will likely see above-normal wildfire potential for the rest of peak fire season, which typically lasts through October.

Additional damage inspections were completed over the weekend for the Park Fire, increasing the number of buildings destroyed to 709. Also, a site that will contain 30 micro shelters for unhoused residents will open later this year in Oroville, and more on the origin story behind La Flor de Michoacán, the ice cream shop with the most locations in Chico.

Ronnie Dean Stout II pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to Park Fire arson charges. Also, at Chico State's Fall Convocation, faculty and community members addressed students. Chico State's President highlighted increased admissions at the school. Mayor Andrew Coolidge also spoke in a video about the city’s homeless settlement agreement. And moderate to heavy rainfall is possible over the Park Fire burn scar today and tomorrow.