Cal Water is warning Chico residents about scammers. The California Water Service has received reports of scammers targeting customers through phone, mail, and email for personal information or to demand payment for bills. Cal Water officials say that the utility does NOT call customers and ask for payment using a specific method. They say if the utility does contact customers they will provide all available payment methods.

Cal Water Director of Corporate Communications Yvonne Kingman says if customers receive a call or letter related to their water bill and are unsure if it is legitimate, to please call the Chico Customer Center at (530) 893-6300 to verify.

The California Water Service has recently seen concerns from customers about the safety of tap water. Cal Water Director of Corporate Communications Yvonne Kingman says that the World Health Organization, the C-D-C, and the E-P-A all state that COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through drinking water. According to Cal Water, safeguards are already in place to protect water quality are effective in protecting against viruses, including COVID-19. They say that the E-P-A recommends the drinking of tap water as usual.

As of Thursday the total confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Butte County is at five people. Two of those cases have been confirmed to be travel related the other three are under investigation to how they acquired the virus.  
For the latest information about the coronavirus in Butte County you can visit: www.buttecounty.net/publichealth

As of today (Friday), Butte County offices at 25 County Center Drive in Oroville will be CLOSED to the public. That includes County Administration, the Assessor's Office, the Auditor Controller, the County Counsel, the District Attorney and the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. Property Tax Payments can be placed in the drop box outside the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. Butte County Chief Administrative Officer Shari McCracken says the closure will last for the foreseeable future.

For up to date information you can visit: www.buttecounty.net

https://kpay.com/pages/coronavirus-information

With the recent extensions of Federal and State income tax deadlines due to the COVID-19, the county Treasurer-Tax Collector office is receiving many questions surrounding local property tax deadlines. Butte County Treasurer-Tax Collector Troy Kidd says local county tax collectors do not have authority to change the deadline of April 10th due date property taxes which has been established by State law. The Treasurer-Tax Collectors Office is currently closed to the public. Property tax payments can be made online, by phone, or by mail with a timely postmark of April 10th. The office says there are waivers available for those who are either physically or financially impacted.

For a list of phone numbers, email and mail addresses go to www.buttecounty.net/treasurertaxcollector

Randall Stone was removed from his position as Mayor of Chico at last night's special meeting of the city council. The council voted 4 to 3 for an item of no confidence in the Mayor. Stone was removed as mayor and was replaced by councilor Ann Schwab. An item of censure of Stone did not pass which means he will still be on committees he is currently involved with. Stone will remain on the city council.

An early morning solo vehicle crash in south Chico leaves one person dead. The driver of a Honda Accord was eastbound on the Skyway at the intersection of Nortre Dame Blvd. around 1:15 this morning when for unknown reasons the Accord went off the road and hit a retaining wall. According to Police, the unidentified driver was found dead at the scene.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Chico Police Department 897-4970.

Health Officials have confirmed a forth case of COVID 19 in Butte County. The county's public health department posted the update on the county's website Tuesday. The first two cases are said to be travel related. The two latest cases are currently under investigation to how they contracted the virus.

For updates visit: www.buttecounty.net/publichealth

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In an unprecedented order, California’s chief justice has suspended all superior court jury trials for 60 days because of the coronavirus outbreak. All 58 courts are affected by Monday's order, although courts in several large counties already had suspended trials. In her order, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye calls the COVID-19 outbreak a life-threatening pandemic and says it's hard for litigants, employees, and jurors to maintain a safe social distance. The chief justice also says it's been hard to find jurors because with schools closed, many people can't make court because they are home with their children.  

Butte County has established a COVID 19 Call Center. The center was set up to answer questions regarding the virus. The call center will be staffed between 8 am and 5 pm, seven days a week. According to a press release from the county, the call center will be staffed with multiple call takers, allowing residents to reach a live person as quickly as possible.

The Call Center number is (530) 552-3050.

That announcement was posted on the Butte County website Monday. County health officials say they are continuing to test residents. 
Public health officials say the city and identity of those who contracted COVID-19 will not be provided in order to protect their identity. 
For updates you can visit: www.buttecounty.net/publichealth

PG&E has reached a plea agreement and will plead guilty to starting the Camp Fire. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey confirmed today that the utility plans to plead guilty as charged to 85 felony counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of unlawfully causing a fire. That count includes three special allegations, including causing multiple structures to burn.

PG&E will pay around 4 billion dollars in fines. This includes 500 thousand dollars in expenses related to the Butte County District Attorney's Office investigation. According to the District Attorney's Office, the utility also agreed to pay for access to water for the next two years to residents impacted by the destruction of the Miocene Canal and to re-water the canal.

The Presiding Judge directed Sunday that Butte County Superior Courthouses will be closed today through Friday with limited exceptions. For a list of exceptions you can visit: www.buttecourt.ca.gov

According to Butte County officials, drop box will be available at each court location between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Documents can also be filed electronically at the courts website.

Public visitations of family members have been suspended at the Butte County Jail until further notice. This was announced Saturday after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, inmate visitations with attorneys and investigators will - however - continue.

Butte County health officials confirm a 2nd case of COVID-19 in the county. Butte County Public Health made that announcement Sunday. They say the individual is an adult, experiencing mild symptoms. According to Butte County Public Health officials, this case is travel related and that they went took a COVID-19 test after being notified that they were potentially exposed during recent travel outside of the country.

The first case was announced Saturday.

For updates you can go to www.buttecounty.net/publichealth Officials say the site will be updated Monday through Friday at noon and will be updated on weekends if additional cases are identified.

The Chico Chamber of Commerce has a list on its website of the status of their Member Restaurants & Bars. The list shows which restaurants are open for delivery & takeout and which ones have temporarily closed. The list is said to be updated daily. For that list and other coronavirus resources you can visit: https://www.chicochamber.com/business-resources.html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's governor has issued stay-at-home orders for 40 million people in the most sweeping move of any state yet to curb the spread of the coronavirus. With half the state already under local stay-home requirements, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued a statewide order, warning that unless the rise in cases of COVID-19 slows, it might overwhelm the state’s medical system. Newsom says people will be able to shop for food and seek medical care but should practice social distancing. In a letter to President Donald Trump, Newsom said the virus eventually could infect more than half the state’s population.

County officials made that announcement Thursday, they say the county is adjusting its public operations of various departments to allow for social distancing. Many departments have closed their lobbies to the public.

Check www.buttecounty.net for a list of department phone numbers and email addresses.

As of Thursday Butte County health officials say there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. The county is waiting for the test results for more than 30 residents. According to the Butte County Public Health Department, the test kits are sent to a public health lab outside of the county. 26 Butte County residents have so far tested negative for the virus.

Local health care providers are recommending you get tested - only - if you are showing severe symptoms.

This due to Coronavirus concerns.

Through an Emergency Order of the Chief Justice obtained Wednesday by Presiding Judge Clare Keithley, and through a local court order, all criminal jury trials scheduled between March 23 and April 22 will be vacated and reset. Officials say all locations of the Butte County Superior Court will remain open at this time as it provides essential public functions. In person access to the courthouses, however, will be limited.

For more information you can visit: www.buttecourt.ca.gov

The Butte Strong Fund has awarded $140,000 to several organizations serving Camp Fire survivors for corona virus impacts. $50,000 has gone to the Oroville Hope Center which is a distribution center for the Paradise Hope Center and other organizations. $10,000 has been awarded to the Magalia Community Church, the Paradise Alliance Church, Meals on Wheels, Passages, the Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council, Community Resource Coalition, First Baptist Church of Magalia and Paradise and the First Christian Church of Paradise.

The aim of these grants is to help with the distribution of food, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and other vital items.

For more information you can visit: www.buttestrongfund.org

A release from the Farm Bureau Wednesday states that farmers and ranchers are doing their utmost during these tough times. And they vow to continue working from the latest guidelines from local, state and federal sources. They said they've done it before during wars and 9 eleven.

Officials say there are signs at each public entry which includes a phone number of immediate assistance. Clinics will remain open with walk in traffic directed to call for assess to the building.

Deputies arrived to a home on Messina Avenue on Tuesday where they found a 10-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip. The unidentified juvenile was flown to UC Davis Medical Center and is currently listed in stable condition. Deputies learned that the victim's 7-year-old brother had reportedly found a handgun and accidentally discharged the weapon striking the older brother. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, deputies are interviewing family members to determine the owner of the firearm, and why it was accessible to a child.