The U.S. Department of Agriculture has asked California to share information about people who use CalFresh as part of a nationwide effort to stop fraud. CalFresh helps low-income residents buy groceries with monthly food stamps. California and other Democratic states have challenged the federal government's efforts in court. The California Department of Social Services says it is reviewing the USDA's new subpoena. California is the top state for SNAP spending, helping about five and a half million residents and spending over 12-and-a-half-billion dollars last year. Michigan, Illinois, and New York also received subpoenas.

A new U.S. Census Bureau data shows big differences in home values, incomes and ownership costs across the North State. Tehama County had the lowest average home value at $314,900. Shasta County followed at $366,400, Butte County had the highest average home values, at $410,700. The census data also found homeowners in Tehama County generally faced the lowest monthly ownership costs, while Butte County residents paid the most. Tehama and Shasta counties also had the highest homeownership rates, suggesting more residents in those counties have been able to move from renting to owning.

A Chico man was arrested Monday in connection with a burglary at the Bidwell Park Golf Club, where tools and an electric utility vehicle were reported stolen. A golf course employee reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area with what appeared to be stolen property inside. The employee took photographs of the vehicle and provided them to responding officers. Police identified the vehicle's registered owner as Carl Derr, 41, of Chico. Officers arrested Derr at his apartment and recovered the stolen items .

New details have been released about the death of former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Aldon Smith, who died Saturday at the age of 36. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Smith and his friend Amir Shirazi showed up at a charity in San Jose that feeds the homeless, donated ten pizzas, then Smith died in Shirazi's car a little later. Shirazi says he doesn't know why Smith died, but believes it was natural causes. Smith holds the record for most sacks in a season by a 49er, and off the field he was arrested several times on domestic violence and DUI charges. He last played for Dallas in 2020.

The Tehama County District Attorney's Office (TCDA) announced that a Red Bluff man and woman were held to answer on three felony charges, including the murder of a 3-month-old child. Zaire Butler, 24, and Allie Power, 23, were arrested on April 29, 2026 by the Red Bluff Police Department (RBPD). The DA's Office said prosecutors presented evidence during a June 9 preliminary hearing alleging that Butler and Power abused the child. Both face charges of murder, assault on a child causing death and child abuse. Butler and Power are scheduled to return to court June 22 at 1:15 p.m. for arraignment No trial date has been set.

A 20-year-old man was arrested after a woman reported being sexually assaulted while sunbathing near the Bear Hole swimming area at Upper Park. According to the Chico Police Department, the woman called police in the early afternoon of June 9 and described being grabbed and held down while being subjected to unwanted sexual contact. The victim was able to film the suspect using her phone and he was id'd as Moses Dingao.. Chico PD was able to locate Dingao and arrested him Friday Morning.

An Oroville woman who appeared in Butte County Superior Court (BCSC) was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for allowing her two-year-old son to ingest fentanyl. Chelsea Whitfield, 30, of Oroville, had previously admitted to the child abuse charge and admitted an enhancement for causing great bodily injury to her child. Her two-year-old son, was found unresponsive at herOroville home in March 2025 and later pronounced dead. The father, Anthony Solansky, 29, was previously sentenced to four years in state prison on Dec. 18, 2025.

California Department of Water Resources scientists have begun their annual summer monitoring program for harmful algal blooms at Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay and the Thermalito Afterbay, with early results showing no toxins detected in monitored recreation areas. Environmental scientists began collecting weekly water samples in May from recreation areas throughout the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. The samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine whether toxin-producing cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are present. DWR scientists collect samples weekly during the recreation season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, to monitor potential health risks.

The California Highway Patrol arrested a big rig driver for suspected DUI following a crash on Highway 99 just south of Chico on Thursday morning. .The crash happened at 5:37 a.m. Thursday. The CHP said the driver was traveling south on Highway 99 when he allowed the truck and trailer to go onto the shoulder. The truck rolled onto its side and ran off the road south of Neal Road. The driver suffered major injuries in the rollover

Senate Republicans have given the greenlight to a 70-billion-dollar bill to fund ICE through the rest of President Trump's term. The Senate voted through the night on multiple amendments to the bill in an 18-hour-long "vote-a-rama." The new bill includes about 38-billion dollars for ICE, about 22-billion dollars for the Border Patrol and five-billion dollars for the Department of Homeland Security. It does not include security funding for the White House ballroom, nor does it restrict Trump's one-point-eight-billion-dollar "anti-weaponization" fund for his political allies.

After a nine year search Paradise Police have arrested a local man wanted on possession of obscene images involving children.... Authorities say they never stopped looking for suspect Royce Davenport. He is charged with possessing hundreds of images of minors in sexual acts. The warrant remained active for nearly a decade and Paradise Police were able to locate him early Thursday morning. Davenport will appear in a Butte County courtroom to answer the charges.

Governor Gavin Newsom has reissued $50,000 rewards in unsolved cold cases to generate new leads and deliver justice for victims. The announcement highlights several unsolved crimes across California, including two in Butte County: the cases of Marc Thompson and Tyler Dickson. According to the Governor's Office, Marc Thompson was fatally shot while parked in a remote wooded area back in 2014. Tyler Dickson was also fatally shot while sleeping in a tent at a campsite back in 2021. Under the state program, local law enforcement agencies can request these rewards after exhausting all investigative leads and believe that a financial incentive will help get people to come forward.

A New rule for CalFresh or SNAP Benefits could impact over two-and-a-half million people in California. The change affects those between the ages of 18 and 64, unless they have a child younger than 14. That group will now have to work an average of 20 hours per week (80/mth) , with some exceptions. And if they don't, they can only get benefits for three months every three years. The change was supposed to go into effect in 2020, but California has been exempting residents. Under President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, exemptions are no longer allowed. Critics say the changes will hurt people that are already struggling.

The Company operating the Redding Civic Center announced it has canceled all events scheduled after July 4 as the organization prepares to step away from managing the Auditorium. Advanced Redding General Manager tells KRCR-TV they were unable to reach an agreement with the City on how the facility would be operated during the transition to a new management team. The Redding City Council rejected a request from the company for additional funding to keep the auditorium operating during the transition period. Ticket holders will receive refunds .

Butte County Election Offcials have added Voter Assistance centers thru Election Day. Voters can drop off ballots, get replacements, receive assistance, update registration, or vote in person at any center. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Today. On Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In Chico, 5 locations will be available. Chico First Baptist Church at 850 Palmetto Avenue, Chico State BMU Auditorium at West Second and Chestnut Street, Elks Lodge at 1705 Manzanita Avenue, Sol Mexican Grill Luna Room at 3269 Esplanade, Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Harvest Hall at 2357 Fair Street. Durham will have one center at Durham Veterans Memorial Hall, located at 9319 Midway. Gridley's center will be at Butte County Fairgrounds, Butte Hall at 199 East Hazel Street. Oroville will host 2 locations. Voters can visit Lake Oroville Golf & Event Center at 5131 Royal Oaks Drive or Oroville Convention Center Municipal Auditorium at 1200 Myers Street.

Governor Newsome says the state will impose a 100-percent tax on payments from President Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund. Last week the Trump administration announced a one-point-eight-billion-dollar fund for victims of alleged political "weaponization," including possibly for those who were charged for the January 6th Capitol riot. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom called it a "slush fund," and said "anyone from California who receives any of those funds, we want to tax 100-percent of those proceeds." He added, "it's an action we look forward to taking." Meanwhile, New York Assemblyman Alex Bores wants to see the same tax requirement in his state.

Butte County Ag officials are putting out an urgent call to people who bought citrus or grape trees from Costco. Ag Commissioner Katherine Quist says the glassy-winged sharp shooter and it's eggs have been found in trees shipped from Southern California. The trees were specifically shipped to Costco stores in Chico and surrounding areas. Quist says people should notify the Ag Department.... Quist says there is no cure for Pierce's disease so it can be devastating to crops. She says if you did buy a tree from Costco since April 21st you should call the Butte County Ag department so they can inspect the tree. She says people should double-bag the tree preventing eggs are larvae from moving to another tree

One person was killed and others were transported to the hospital with injuries after a major traffic accident resulted in the shutdown of a portion of the Esplanade. The Chico Police Department says that at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, officers were dispatched to the intersection of E. Lassen Avenue and the Esplanade in Chico after receiving reports of a multiple vehicle collision. Officers have determined the driver of a vehicle run a red light at a high rate of speed and slammed into the rear of a vehicle stopped at the light. The intersection of the Esplanade and E. Lassen Avenue was closed to traffic by the crash for more than seven hours, reopening at around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.

The Redding Civic Auditorium is closing its doors after the Redding City Council voted to begin the search for a new operator. Council members said the city is not in a financial position to subsidize the venue at this time. there are 17 shows booked at the Civic Auditorium between now and the end of the year, but as of now, it's unclear which of those will be cancelled.

A 21 year-old Chico woman was sentenced to 14 years in state prison for the sex trafficking of a 15 year-old runaway... The Butte County D.A.'s office says Destini Ferrini made contact with a 15 year-old girl and introduced her to a pimp. Authorities say the girl was then subjected to repeated sexual assaults by three men over a period to two days. Investigators found pictures and videos of the girl being assaulted on Ferrini's phone and police say she took the pictures. Kyle Grinnell and Tycoryean James have pled no contest to the charges and await their sentences. Zachary Johnson will have a trial date set on May 27th. He is charged with forcible rape, possession of cocaine and giving drugs to a minor.

The Chico City Council approved a proposed $198.5 million budget for the upcoming 2026–2027 fiscal year. Department heads presented their funding requests citing rising service and training costs across municipal services. The budget must return to the council one more time for final approval in June before taking effect when the new fiscal year begins on July 1

Butte County Public Health (BCPH) announced Friday that water and sediment samples collected May 4 from several locations along Big Chico Creek did not detect E. coli O157 following laboratory testing by the State Water Board's laboratory. The testing was conducted as part of BCPH's ongoing investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O157 illness linked to recreational water exposure in the creek during summer 2025. Officials say they will continue consulting with the State Water Board in the coming weeks to determine whether additional sampling and testing for E. coli O157 will be conducted.

California State Parks has released The draft structural assessment for the fire-damaged Bidwell Mansion that outlines four rebuilding outcomes: historical restoration, exterior-only historical rebuilding, preservation of the remaining structure, or partial reconstruction. The wood framing is a total loss, and extensive seismic stabilization and hazardous material management as Lead from historical paint has leached into the surrounding soil, requiring protective measures around the landscape. California State Parks has filed a civil lawsuit seeking approximately $38 million in damages against the alarm system contractors for the failure of the fire alarm systems during the incident.

Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds has retained legal counsel to fight a lawsuit led by former Mayor Ann Schwab with the Fair Political Practices Commision saying she didnt recuse herself on votes for the Donwtown Revitilazation Project with her Ownership in Shuberts Ice Cream. Reynolds argues her business isn't directly affected and plans to let the process play out legally. Her attorneys argue that Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) advice letters support this. She has stated that if the FPPC or court ultimately concludes she must recuse herself, she will comply with the decision.

CAL FIRE announced up to $70 million in new funding is available to help California communities strengthen wildfire resilience and reduce fire risk. The grants support locally led projects that reduce wildfire risk, strengthen preparedness and help protect lives, property and critical infrastructure. Grant applications are now open and must be submitted by 3 p.m. on July 8. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK BELOW 

https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants