What organizers say was a peaceful protest brought local law enforcement to the Berry Creek Rancheria Offices Thursday morning. One eyewitness says the protest was over efforts to dis-enroll some 58 members of the Berry Creek Rancheria. Berry Creek Rancheria member Charlene Delagarza says dis-enromment can cost a tribal member.  Law enforcement reportedly arrested about a dozen people at the protest. The Tribal Offices are next to  Gold Country Casino in Oroville. Others involved in the protest or other Tribal Members were unavailable for comment.

The latest report on crime in Chico shows overall crime went up last year, after a decrease the previous three years. Overall, figures show crime was up 7 percent, including assaults, robbery and rape, but murders were down. Chico Police Captain Ford Porter says burglaries were up 9% from 2011. The report says the highest density of crime continues to be that with a student population in the South Campus and North Campus areas.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown's latest budget plan proposes a $17 billion bump for California's K-12 schools over the next four years, a dramatic turn-around from the teacher layoffs and program cuts that became common during the recession. He also wants to reshape the financial decision-making process by giving local districts more authority to spend state money as they choose. The question now is whether all the additional money and the freedom to decide how to spend it is enough to restore the luster of California's once-renowned public schools. The updated state budget Brown released this week would push per-pupil funding in California to an average of $8,475 for the remainder of the current school year. That figure is expected to rise significantly by the 2016 school year, to $9,929 per student.

A former Butte County school instructor is accused of sexually assaulting students at an Oroville school.  53 year old You Vang was arrested in Alaska in April, transported back to California, and booked into the Butte County Jail on charges including lewd acts on a child with force.  Vang worked at Poplar Avenue School for a decade as an English as a Second Language Instructor.   The Butte County Sheriff's Office says its Special Victims Unit has been investigating Vang since 2011 and found multiple victims.
 

Chico Police say a man was found with head injuries Tuesday after apparently being hit with a 2 x 4 piece of wood.    The assault happened on Magnolia Avenue at New Roads Sober Living.  Police say officers had to force their way into the residence after the suspect, identified as 36 year old David Swendeman, locked the door.   He was taken into custody for assault with a deadly weapon.
 

The Sigma Chi Fraternity has reportedly announced it will end its 20 year relationship with Chico State University. Sigma Chi was one fraternity suspended last week after an alcohol related incident. The two year suspension came amid charges of brewing beer at the frat house. A news release from Sigma Chi's headquarters reportedly admits the fraternity did indeed violate the alcohol free policy for Greek houses, but went on to say Chico State has rigid guidelines and wants perfection and that prevents the chapter learning from its mistakes.

A small fire in Chico Monday afternoon threatened a home.   The blaze on Dove Creek Court burned outdoor  landscaping and a fence and threatened a residence.   The cause of the fire is under investigation.
    
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers are locked in a disagreement over how to hand out $900 million by the voter-approved closure of a tax loophole. Half the money to be generated from November's Proposition 39 is to go toward energy projects in schools. The Democratic governor wants to distribute that money to school districts based on the number of students enrolled. Democratic lawmakers favor prioritizing poorer schools, those in more extreme climates and those with older, energy-wasting buildings. The governor is proposing to use the remaining $450 million for various state programs. Democratic Assembly Speaker John Perez, of Los Angeles, wants to use that money to resurrect his proposal to offer college scholarships to middle-class students.

SHINGLETOWN, Calif. (AP) - A sheriff's official says the Northern California search for an ex-convict suspected of fatally shooting his wife and two young daughters is akin to warfare. Shasta County Sheriff's Lt. Dave Kent says SWAT teams were proceeding extremely cautiously on Thursday in the area near the Humboldt County city of Petrolia where 45-year-old Shane Miller's truck was found the previous day.  Petrolia is about 200 miles west of the site of the slayings in the Shasta County community of Shingletown.  Kent says Miller has knowledge of the area and the ability to fortify himself, so deputies are very vulnerable. They also believe he is armed. Miller is suspected of killing his 34-year-old wife, Sandy, his 8-year-old daughter, Shelby, and his 4-year-old daughter, Shasta.
 

Cal-Fire says a blaze in Tehama County is now 100 percent contained.   The Panther Fire near Butte Meadows has burned more than 69 hundred acres since it broke out May 1st.   The fire resulted in 6 injuries.   The cause is still under investigation.

Butte County Search and Rescue coming to the aid of local campers.  The Sheriff's Office says Search and Rescue officials began looking for overdue campers Monday in the Last Chance Creek area.  Steve Vervilan, Connor Vervilan, and Ryan Wright were found by helicopter the next day.  The trio was reportedly stranded after their vehicle battery died.

 

Chico Police say a man was stabbed early this morning in a grocery store parking lot after refusing to give a man money.   The attack happened at the Winco parking lot on E. 20th Street just after midnight.   Police say the victim was able to drive himself to the hospital for treatment of a stab wound.   The suspect is described as a white man with brown or red hair wearing a plaid shirt.
  

Butte County authorities say two people were arrested after a brief car chase in the Chapmantown area.  The Sheriff's Office says its gang unit was following a stolen car Tuesday night.  The pursuit ended near Hemlock and 16th in Chico after the vehicle had a tire blow out.  Authorities arrested Rocky Shelton and Krista Melson on various charges.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California agency investigating the deadly 2010 gas pipeline explosion in a San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood says Pacific Gas & Electric Co. should pay a $2.25 billion fine for its negligence leading up to the blast. Officials say the penalty would be the largest ever assessed by a state regulator. The California Public Utilities Commission recommended the fine Monday and said the company's shareholders should shoulder it. The blast in San Bruno sparked a fireball that killed eight people, injured dozens and destroyed 38 homes. Commission investigators and consumer advocates filed a range of proposals for fines Monday. PG&E will file its proposal later this month. A judge from the utilities commission is expected to make a final decision about how much to fine PG&E later this year.

Cal-Fire says with favorable weather conditions, crews are expecting to contain a Tehama County blaze Thursday. The Panther Fire has been burning for a week near Butte Meadows.   The cause is under investigation.   At last report, that fire had burned more than 68 hundred acres and was 80 percent contained.  Cal-Fire says as containment improves, aircraft and fire equipment is being released.

A pressure cooker left near an Oroville church prompted a bomb squad response this weekend.  The Butte County Sheriff's Office says the device was located near Bird Street and Feather River Boulevard around 6 Sunday night.    Officials say the bomb squad was called out following recent vandalism in the area and the "suspicious circumstances" in which the item was left.    The Bomb Squad examined the pressure cooker, detonated it, and found it was empty.

A northstate fire agency hiring firefighters early as multiple blazes put a strain on resources.   Kevin Colburn with Tehama-Glenn Cal-Fire says the original plan was to hire 40 firefighters next week...15 were hired back Thursday.    More than 250 firefighters are battling the 306 Fire in Glenn County.      Colburn says as of Thursday night, that blaze has burned 217 acres and is 50 percent contained.
  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation expanding the ability of state agents to seize firearms from nearly 20,000 Californians who are not allowed to have them. They collectively own more than 39,000 handguns and 1,670 assault weapons. But they are prohibited from owning firearms because they have been convicted of crimes, ruled mentally unstable or are subject to domestic violence restraining orders. The bill the Democratic governor announced signing Wednesday authorizes $24 million for the state Department of Justice's Armed and Prohibited Persons program. The money will go to hire more agents to confiscate the weapons and reduce the backlog over the next three years. The program, which is unique to California, cross-checks five databases to find people who bought weapons they are no longer legally allowed to own.

A second day of battling flames near Butte Meadows.  Hundreds of firefighters continue to work to contain a pair of fires that began Wednesday.   As of this morning, the Panther Fire has grown to 1600 acres with no containment.  The Cedar Fire has burned 55 acres and is 40 percent contained.  Matt Damon with Cal-Fire says the agency is dealing with limited resources as they try to get a handle on the flames.  No word yet on the cause of the two fires.

Chico Police say a 22 year old student has been identified as the woman who died after apparently falling from a tree in Bidwell Park.  Police say the exact cause of death of Marissa Madrid is under investigation, but it appears to be a "tragic accident."   Madrid was found early Sunday morning injured at the One Mile Recreation Area and died at a local hospital.

Multiple fires across the northstate Tuesday.   Blazes were reported in Chico, Orland, Biggs, and Palermo.   Flames destroyed a house and garage on 7th Street in Biggs, with two other structures damaged.   Three vegetation fires reported in the Orland area, with one burning through brush on the north side of Stony Creek.   A grass fire broke out on Dustin Lane in Palermo. And crews were called to handle a fire in a pile of walnut hulls near Wilson Landing Road.

A Chico Police Officer injured while trying to make an arrest.  Chico Police say the officer tried to stop a man on a bike on East Avenue Monday following a strong arm robbery.  Officers say 41 year old Ethan Kelley was chased into a nearby apartment complex, where he allegedly struggled with the officer.  Police say Kelley had a knife under his clothing and the officer was cut during the struggle.   Kelley was taken into custody on charges including drug possession and possession of stolen property.
 

A man stabbed while at a Chico party.  Chico Police say the victim was at a home on W. 5th Street early Sunday morning, when he was assaulted by a group of Hispanic men.  The victim was stabbed multiple times.  Police describe his injuries as serious but not life threatening.  He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.  Details about the suspects are limited...police say they're looking for 3 Hispanic men wearing dark clothing.

Chico Police say a woman injured after apparently falling from a tree near One Mile has died.  Police received a report about the injured victim just after 1:30 AM Sunday.  The woman was taken to Enloe Hospital, where she died. The cause of death is still under investigation.   Police say anyone with information is asked to contact officers.
 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Officials say two California Department of Transportation workers have been killed while removing rocks from a hillside above a rural Northern California highway. Caltrans spokeswoman Denise Yergenson says 40-year-old Joseph "Robert" Jones, of Montague, and 50-year-old Shawn Baker, of Weed, were killed around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday while removing loose rocks above Highway 96 near Happy Camp, in remote Siskiyou County.
A third worker, 50-year-old Kevin Skillen, was injured in the incident and flown to a hospital in Medford, Ore., where he was listed in stable condition. Yergenson says Jones and Baker were both hooked to ropes and harnesses and working on removing loose rocks off the hillside at the time of the incident.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The number of California homes entering the foreclosure process has plunged to a more-than-seven-year low as the state housing market continues to improve. Real estate research firm DataQuick says Tuesday that 18,567 notices of default were recorded by lenders from January to March — down more than 50 percent from the previous three months and 67 percent from the first quarter of 2012. DataQuick President John Walsh says rising home prices, improving economy and new government laws to protect homeowners are having an impact but he says default notices could edge up later in the year. DataQuick says the median sales price for a California home last quarter was $297,000, up 22.7 percent from a year ago.

A fire north of Butte Meadows has been contained.  The Onion Fire burned 27 acres.  Cal-Fire says the blaze began around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon near last year's Mill Fire.  Authorities say strong winds contributed to spotting and torching conditions. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The homeless in California would legally be allowed to sit, sleep and ask for donations in public without facing criminal citations under an Assembly bill receiving its first hearing. The bill from Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco says every person has a right to use public spaces, regardless of housing status. Ammiano's so-called "Homeless Bill of Rights" prohibits police from enforcing local ordinances regarding resting in public places unless a county has provided sufficient support to the homeless. AB5 also requires state government to pay for creating local "hygiene centers" with restrooms and showers open 24 hours a day. The Assembly Judiciary Committee will hear the bill Tuesday morning. Local governments and business groups oppose the legislation, saying it would lead to costly mandates and lawsuits.


 

Red Bluff Police say they called in the bomb squad after a pressure cooker was left in front of a local business.   The pressure cooker was found by store employees outside Food Maxx on Belle Mill Road Monday.  Police say they treated the incident as a potential explosive device and closed off the area.  The Bomb Squad x-rayed the device and found it was empty.
    
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A second round of fighting has begun over the dismantling of California's community redevelopment agencies. Nearly 70 lawsuits filed by local governments, developers and affordable housing advocates remain active. A hearing in one of the most far-reaching lawsuits was held Friday with no decision from the bench. That lawsuit, led by the League of California Cities, focuses on whether the state finance department can withhold tax revenue from cities if the parties disagree over the amount of redevelopment money owed to the state.
Gov. Jerry Brown led the push in 2011 to dismantle redevelopment agencies to relieve pressure on the state's general fund. Since then, the state has had a hard time redirecting tax revenue to local entities because cities say the money is already committed to various projects.

Chico Police say an officer on patrol found a teenage boy with multiple stab wounds Sunday.  The 17 year old victim was found walking near West 1st Avenue and Warner just before 1 PM.  He was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.   Police say the victim could provide little detail about how he was injured.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A fund that is distributing money from a national settlement with mortgage lenders is giving 21 California organizations a total of $9.4 million to help borrowers who face the loss of their homes to foreclosure. The money comes from a settlement announced last year. California secured more than $20 billion, the largest share of any state. The distributions from the California National Mortgage Settlement Grant Program were announced Thursday. Programs that provide free legal assistance and foreclosure-intervention services will benefit. Clinics teaching homeowners about financial matters and how to avoid fraud also will receive money. Organizations receiving the grants include those primarily serving minorities, immigrants, farm workers, the disabled, elderly, veterans and rural areas. The California State Bar is working with the state attorney general's office to administer the grants.

A reward is being offered for information in the disappearance of a Chico man. The Butte County Sheriff's Office says the family of Neal King is offering a 20-thousand dollar reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible for his disappearance. He was last seen in late March.

Two fires in south Chico less than an hour apart Tuesday night.  One blaze caused minor damage at the Work Training Center on Fair Street.  The 2nd fire happened at Wilbur's Feed and Seed on Meyers Street and caused about 22 thousand dollars in damage.  No word yet on the cause.