Yuba County

Almost a month after the general election, Butte County’s election results are now official. Also, Redding’s more than 200 mile trail system provides a great opportunity for winter recreation, and the band Scowl will perform in Chico ahead of their North American tour.

Yuba City is home to thousands of uncontrolled feral chickens. They're loved and hated by the community, and experts say they could spread infectious diseases to nearby residents.

NSPR spoke with candidates running for Chico City Council this fall. Today we hear from Mike Johnson who is running against Mike O’Brien for District 1. Also, supervisors approved an updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which addresses disaster preparedness and recovery, and Chico will soon be getting an REI.

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.

Butte Humane Society is offering to microchip residents’ pets for free to help them get back to their owners during disasters. They also have a Pet Food Pantry available for Park Fire survivors. Also, a biomass plant is set to be built in Yuba County later this year and will convert wood waste from wildland fuel reduction projects into electricity, and PG&E is expanding programs to help residents pay past due energy bills.

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.

Several weeks of community meetings are giving the Butte County residents a say in how new evacuation plans might be improved. Also, bus riders in Yuba and Sutter counties who use an app to track when the bus arrives will no longer have access to that service, and Shakespeare in the Park returns to Chico this week.

Experts say it’s critical that local governments use the same, standardized messaging during disasters. Yuba County officials recently changed evacuation messaging saying previous messaging was confusing.

How we talk about homelessness can alter the lives of the people behind the terms we use. Also, experts say it’s critical that local governments use the same standardized messaging during disasters, and Oroville is launching a series of classes to educate residents about local government.

Local emergency management and law enforcement officials say landline connections are crucial during wildfires.