State Government

An independent investigation defends Chico State’s actions when investigating a former professor who had been tenured, despite sexual relations with a student and threats of gun violence. Also, residents have been left in the dark as to why Oroville Union High School’s District Superintendent was suspended unexpectedly from his position, and the city of Chico has sent letters notifying businesses of their new responsibilities regarding stolen or misplaced shopping carts.

Safe Space Winter Shelter in Chico will begin sheltering unhoused individuals from the cold starting Dec. 17. The nonprofit recently secured an intake center location for the season. Also, as winter begins, hundreds of Butte County residents whose homes were damaged in last year’s storms are not back in them, and new walk-in clinics are now available in Yuba City that offer assessments to receive mental health or addiction treatment.

There are around 300 short-term rentals in Chico, which generated more than half a million dollars in taxes last year. Also a recent report found that Chico State did not violate any policies or mishandle the case of a Chico State professor who had a sexual relationship with a student and allegedly threatened gun violence on campus, and the California Energy Commission held an informational meeting in Anderson yesterday to discuss the Fountain Wind Project that would be the site of 48 turbines in eastern Shasta County.

This month the Sites Reservoir Project Authority approved the reservoir plan. Located just west of Maxwell in Colusa County, the reservoir will be part of an ongoing effort to increase California’s resiliency in the face of climate change. Also, Starbucks employees in Yuba City have voted to unionize, citing issues with understaffing and reduced hours during busy seasons, and there are just two more Saturdays left before the Redding Farmers Market closes for the season on Dec. 9th.

Last week, California officials greenlit construction on the Sites Reservoir project, which would store excess surface water to release during drier years ahead.

Butte County libraries are challenging parents and children to read a thousand books together before kindergarten. Also, a massive raise due to a new California law may be coming soon for members of the Chico City Council, and a free Thanksgiving meal for up to 300 people was hosted by the Chico Salvation Army last week.

The expected rent increase for residents of a senior mobile home park in Chico won’t be as much as they initially expected, but the proposed spike has motivated some seniors to speak up. Also, the city of Chico has announced its intention to forcibly remove more unhoused people camping along the bike path, and a North State teenager who was reported missing over the weekend has been reunited with her family.

A ballot proposition would require voters to sign off on any new state tax or tax increase. The governor and Democratic lawmakers are trying to remove it from the ballot.

There are payment plans for electricity, phone and healthcare bills, but not for rebuilding permits if you’re a wildfire survivor. Butte County is looking into changing that, maybe by the start of the year. Also, some landowners in Butte County are currently voting on the formation of the controversial Tuscan Water District, and the Chico City Council meets tonight to discuss whether sewer assessments for new connections should be collected on the tax roll and the effects of a new bill that increases the limits for city councilors’ compensation.

Chico enforced anti-camping laws in three places across the city last week; campers say they have nowhere else to go. Also, the California Public Utilities Commission recently approved a massive rate hike for PG&E customers, and a person in their 30s has been announced as the first person to die from complications of the flu in Butte County.