Shasta County

After a previous contract with Safe Space lapsed in July, no cooling centers were provided in Chico over the past two months. Wednesday the city of Chico and Safe Space renewed the contract. Also, “‘Detention’ Definitely Not The Breakfast Club” hopes to bring new laughs and a new perspective on high school at the Blue Room Theatre, and California water officials warned state leadership that next year the state should expect to see more extreme weather conditions.

The inmate who escaped from the Plumas County Jail last week is still missing. A national search is now underway. Also, the city of Chico is asking the U.S. District Court to allow it to exit the Warren v. Settlement agreement. Councilors met in closed session about the issue last night, and Catalyst Domestic Violence Services is holding a commemorative event this afternoon to remember those who have lost their lives in the region this year to domestic violence.

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.

Chico’s city council will discuss regulations around massage parlors. Also, the Butte County Fire Department is asking for residents’ help to improve wildfire preparedness, and Butte County is working with state agencies to remove hazardous household materials following the Quincy, Thompson and Park fires.

A new modeling tool may help emergency officials better predict how wildland fires move through communities. Also, Shasta County reported its first human case of West Nile Virus this year, and an effort to preserve the historic El Rey Theater in Downtown Chico is in full swing.

Autumn is quickly approaching but that doesn’t mean the danger of wildfires has lessened. In fact, this is an especially risky time. Also, a motel in Redding may become transitional housing for homeless residents, and Park Fire survivors can learn more about fire cleanup assistance at a meeting today.

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 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.