A former evidence technician enters a plea in court. 48-year-old Kathleen Acosta pleaded guilty Tuesday in Butte County Superior Court to the felony charges of Grand Theft and Falsification of Public Records. Acosta worked as a Butte County Sheriff's evidence technician and is accused of taking items from the evidence locker including 20 firearms and drugs. According to a Butte County D-A's Office press release, Acosta covered up her actions by falsifying records used to track the property. Acosta was reportedly discovered when an officer pulled her over for a traffic stop after a domestic dispute back in January and allegedly found a gun, prescription drugs, and a small amount of meth. The other stolen items including the 19 other guns were reportedly found at Acosta's residence. 
Acosta's sentencing is set for June.

Authorities are investigating a stabbing this morning. Chico Police Officers were called to the area of Miller and Pomona avenues around 1:30 this morning after a report of a stabbing. Officers arrived and reportedly found a person with stab wounds. According to a Butte County Sheriff's Office press release, the victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of those wounds. Two suspects have been identified as Daniel Hensley and Corey Crews. A third suspect has not been identified yet. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. The Butte County Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation.

Slightly more people were on the job in Butte County in February than a month ago. The latest figures from the Employment Development Department show Butte had a 6 point 8 percent rate in February. That's down from the 7 point 1 percent rate in January and below the 7 point 3 percent rate of a year ago. The figures reflect a workforce of more than 96 thousand out of a labor pool of more than 103 thousand. Figures show the state rate was 5 point 2 percent for the month and the national unemployment rate was at 4 point 9 percent.

Chico Fire reported flames breaking out at an apartment complex in south Chico this morning. The fire was reported at the Oak Meadow apartments on Spring Field Drive and Forests Avenue around 4:45 am. Multiple fire engines arrived to find the front of the apartment fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews said the blaze was spreading through the upper levels of the complex. 
Witness reported that people were jumping out of windows after the fire started. According to Chico Fire, two people have been transported to the hospital for treatment for burns.

The Fire was reported fully contained around 5:20 am. Eight apartments were reported affected by the fire. 

A former State Parks Sergeant is Charged for reckless driving and hit and run. 43-year-old Daniel Kenney of Chico was charged in a Butte County court room Wednesday with hit and run, evading police officers while driving recklessly, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.  
On October of 2016 Oroville Police found Kenney unconscious in the driver's seat of his State Parks' patrol vehicle at the intersection of Oro Dam Boulevard and Oro Quincy Highway. This after his vehicle had struck a parked car and a power pole. Kenney then regained consciousness and drove off leading officers on a pursuit. Kenney was forced to stop by traffic at the intersection of Veatch Street allowing officers to surround his vehicle and safely detain him, this according to a press release from the Butte County District Attorney's Office.
Kenney's arraignment is set for April 5th.

“Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster,” said SBA’s acting Regional Administrator Robert Blaney.

http://www.oesnews.com/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-to-california-businesses-and-residents-affected-by-severe-storms-and-flooding/

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hardâ€'ofâ€'hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit https://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is May 19, 2017. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 20, 2017.

- source Cal OES Newsroom

Here's a link to the Butte County's website where you can sign up for the Emergency Mass Notification sign up page - just scroll down the homepage to find it: 
http://www.buttecounty.net


 

Deputies respond to a fatal accident in Oroville involving construction vehicle. The truck was on Highway 70 near Power House Road and was reportedly hauling cement to the Oroville Dam site around 7:30 Sunday morning when it rolled over. The driver, identified as 51-year-old Peter Anderson of Marysville, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office press release, the cement truck was the only vehicle involved in the accident.

Chico Police are on the lookout for a robbery suspect. Police received a report of a robbery and assault at the Target store on East 20th Street around 9:30 Thursday evening. Officers learned that a man was in the electronics section and asked an employee to open a case in order to look at an item. When the employee did that the suspect allegedly pepper sprayed her and grabbed some items from the case and took off towards the back exit. The suspect allegedly pepper sprayed a customer and another employee on the way out, that according to a Chico Police press release. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4900.
A photo of the suspect has been posted the KPAY News Facebook page.  

A former Chico State student charged with manslaughter gets 180 days in county jail for drunk driving.  23-year-old Juan Campos was sentenced Wednesday to 180 days in jail for the felony conviction of vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence. The charge stems from an incident in 2015 when Campos struck and killed 21-year-old Nickolas Klein as he crossed the intersection of West 7th and Chestnut streets. According to a press release from the Butte County D.A.'s Office, Campos was driving 45 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone.

The Chico Enterprise Record twitter page is reporting a gas pipe that is broken on Normal Avenue in Chico before 8:30 am this morning. According to authorites, this was caused by construction work on the street. Normal Avenue will be closed while the fire department works on the issue.

A multiple vehicle collision in Glenn County leaves two people dead. A driver of a Acura sedan was driving southbound on I-5 south of Willows when he allegedly lost control and crossed over into the northbound lanes before 9 am Sunday. The Acura reportedly collided with a Honda Odyssey and a Toyota S-U-V. According to authorities, a man and a toddler both died at the scene. Four other people were sent to the hospital with major injuries. Authorities believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision.

A Chico man arrested in Florida for transporting marijuana is now in Butte County Jail. Late last month agents served a search warrant at a hangar at an airport in Tampa Bay, Florida where they allegedly found 200 pounds of marijuana in a twin prop airplane allegedly flown by Joshua Overton of Florida and Aaron Andrus of Chico from the Chico Airport. Both men later turned themselves in. Andrus was released and returned to Chico. Butte County authorities searched a hanger at the Chico airport and reportedly found items related to drug trafficking. Authorities then searched Andrus' home and allegedly found a lab used in the manufacturing of marijuana hash oil. The lab had processing equipment worth over one hundred thousand dollars. 88 pot plants were also found on the property, that according to a press release from the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

An accidental shooting sends one person to the hospital this morning in Chico. 27-year-old Daniel Slack had a group of friends in his apartment on Pomona Avenue to show them his pistol when he reportedly fired the weapon striking one of his friends after 2 am this morning. Police say the design of Slack's pistol requires the trigger to be pulled to disassemble the firearm and that's what he was allegedly doing when the gun was fired. The firearm was negligently discharged and they are completing a criminal investigation which they will forward to the Butte County DA's Office, this according to a Chico Police Department press release.

Chico Fire is reporting a collision on Highway 99 north of the Highway 32 off Ramp. The collision happened in the northbound lanes before 9 am this morning. At least two vehicles were involved. One of those vehicles crashed into the center guard rail. Authorities say there were injuries, but there is no word on the extent of those injuries.

A water rescue happend in Chico this morning. The Butte County Sheriff's Water Rescue and other emergency crews arrived at Big Chico Creek near Cherry Street not far from the Chico State Campus after reports of a person in the water before 6:30 am this morning. According to Chico Fire, one person was unconscious in the water, but the victim was recovered from the creek and was transported to the hospital.

The latest unemployment rate for Butte County shows it had a 7 point 1 percent rate. That's for January, which saw more than 95 thousand people employed. The Employment Development Department says the latest numbers were up from December of 2016, but lower than January of a year ago. The total Butte County workforce is more than 102 thousand people. 

Chico Police are searching for a shooting suspect. Officers were called out to the area of West 5th and Hickory streets around 3:30 am Sunday where they found a man with a gunshot wound. The victim stated that he was walking along 5th Street when he was reportedly attacked by a man who was trying to rob him. The unidentified victim was allegedly shot as he tried to fight off the suspect. He was taken to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition. The suspect reportedly fled the scene. He is described as a tall - thin black male, and is around 19 to 24 years old. Anyone with information is asked to contact Chico Police at (530) 897-4900

The Oroville Exchange Club will have its Search for Talent event later this month. The 47th Annual Search for Talent will happen on March 25th at the historic Oroville State Theater. The event is co-sponsored by the Butte County Office of Education and the State Theatre Arts Guild or S.T.A.G.E. All Southern Butte County students are invited to participate at the March 18th rehearsal and the contest will be at 6 pm on Saturday March 25th. 
Applications must be submitted by March 18th.
Applications can be submitted the the Exchange Club Attn: Search for Talent; PO BOX 1046, Oroville, CA 95965

Or you can email it to exchangeoroville@gmail.com.

 
For more information you can check out the Exchange Club of Oroville, CA Facebook group page.

PHILLIPS STATION, Calif. (AP) — California surveyors say the Sierra Nevada snowpack is close to setting records after five years of punishing drought.

Officials said Wednesday the snowpack's water content measured at 185 percent of normal. A year ago, it was 84 percent of normal.

The snowpack is vital because it provides one-third of the state's water to homes and farms when it melts in the spring and summer.

Frank Gehrke, the state's chief snow surveyor, said the snowpack in some places is nearing levels last seen in 1983.

State climatologist Michael Anderson calls the current levels historic, especially in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, where double the normal amount of snow has fallen.

Butte County officials announce the end of the Check Before You Light Program for this year. As of Today there will be no restrictions on indoor residential wood burning within Butte County. Check Before You Light is an annual wintertime air quality program that aims to reduce levels of dangerous airborne particulate matter. The Butte County Air Quality District issues advisories requesting residents to voluntarily refrain from using their wood stoves and fireplaces during poor air quality day. The program goes from November through February.
If you have any questions you can contact the Butte County Air Quality District at 332-9400. 

Chico Police Detectives find a wanted felon. Detectives received information on the possible location of 32-year-old Daniel Maines who was on felony probation and had three warrants for his arrest. While detectives conducted surveillance in the area they reportedly spotted Maines walking along Manzanita Court. Maines was taken into custody without incident. Detectives searched his property and allegedly found over 14 ounces of meth, about 9 grams of heroin, and other items used for the sale of narcotics. According to a Chico Police press release, over three thousand dollars in cash were also found.