A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California is asking the Biden administration to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. All of Nevada's elected federal lawmakers and four House members from California signed Monday's letter to the federal Transportation Department. They're on board with a Brightline West proposal to spend more than $10 billion for a system to whisk passengers along the traffic-clogged Interstate 15 corridor. The Florida-based company already operates a Miami-area fast train. It's seeking $3.75 billion under the Biden administration-backed infrastructure law for a Mojave Desert line.

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is running for governor. The Democrat announced her candidacy on Monday for the 2026 election. She's hoping to become the first woman elected governor in state history. Kounalakis is a former president of a real estate development company and served as ambassador to Hungary under President Barack Obama. It's somewhat rare for major candidates to announce their candidacies so early. But it gives Kounalakis a head start on raising the massive amount of cash it takes to run an effective statewide campaign in the nation's most populous state. Gov. Gavin Newsom is only four months into his second four-year term as governor.

A man was taken into custody on Saturday after authorities say he started three small fires that merged into one fire in Concow Saturday. Authorities say that during their investigation, officers were able to determine that the fire had been intentionally set. CAL FIRE reports that Luke Davidson was located nearby and was arrested by a CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Officer in connection to the fire. Davidson was charged with arson

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced increased water allocations for the State Water Project Thursday. With reservoirs nearing capacity and snowmelt runoff starting to occur, DWR now expects to deliver 100 percent of requested water supplies, up from 75 percent announced in March. This water will be delivered throughout the year to the SWP's 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. The last time the SWP allocated 100 percent was in 2006.

The man authorities say is responsible for the death of a Chico man and the attempted murder of a woman has been found to be competent to stand trial Thursday. According to the Butte County District Attorney's Office, the psychologist's report came back with the opinion that 48-year-old suspect Timothy Wiechert was found competent to stand trial. Wiechert will be back in court on May 18 for setting of a preliminary hearing.

The Oroville City Council just approved adding license plate cameras across the city. The system consists of 40 cameras at a cost of 333-thousand dollars for a two-year lease. Police Chief Bill Lagrone stated that the cameras scan for license plates to recover stolen cars or cars involved in crime, and also listen for gunshots. He addressed concerns saying "It's not listening for human voices," Lagrone also said the cameras do not use facial recognition technology. The council approved the cameras by a unanimous seven-nothing vote.

District Attorney Mike Ramsey says a Magalia man and two mothers pleaded no contest to physical and sexual abuse charges and felony child abuse charges, respectively, stemming from violence and alleged abuse that occurred inside their home for over a year. Robert Chavez, 41, pleaded no contest to counts of rape and molestation of the female children of the Magalia women, who were between four and 16 years old. Additionally, Chavez pleaded no contest to a torture charge against one boy. Ramsey says Chavez faces up to 80 years in state prison. Ramsey says the mothers face up to 10 years and eight months in prison each.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the body that was located by the Butte County Search and Rescue is that of 72-year-old Nancy Johnson of Concow. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, Johnson's remains were located north of where deputies had located her vehicle in the early morning hours of April 16 on the Skyway near Inskip. Butte County Sheriff's Office said a body was found Tuesday during the search for a missing woman.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is asking to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from a case of shingles. Her announcement Wednesday came after two House Democrats called on her to resign because of her extended absence from Washington. Feinstein said complications have delayed her recovery and she provided no date for her return to Washington. At 89, Feinstein is the oldest member of Congress. Her absence has complicated Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Biden's nominees for federal courts. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden is "deeply appreciative of her support" for his judicial nominees.

Paradise Town Council voted to approve the new emergency warning sirens locations Tuesday night. This will bring 21 siren towers around the town notifying people to evacuate. The town said construction has already started on this project and it plans to put the towers up between April and May to have them ready for the summer.

Chico Police are currently investigating a fatal collision at the intersection of Eaton Rd and the Esplanade. The collision occurred at about 3:35 a.m. and involved a sports car and a semi-truck. Chico Fire assisted by extinguishing a fire which resulted from the collision near the gas station at the location. There is currently no threat to members of the community. The Chico Police Major Accident Investigation Team has arrived on-scene and is beginning their detailed investigation. The intersection at Eaton Rd and Esplanade has limited traffic lanes open. We are unable to provide an estimate for how long until the intersection is fully open. The Chico Police Department recognizes this intersection as a major artery of vehicular traffic for our community while travelling to work and school. We will work to have the roadway fully opened as soon as possible. The CPD would ask that citizens please use alternate routes to avoid the intersection until the roadway is re-opened.

California is stocking up on abortion medication. Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the state has inked a deal to buy two-million Misoprostol [[mye-so PROS tul]] pills. This comes after a Texas court ruling blocked access to another abortion drug Mifepristone [[mif-uh PRIS tone ]]. The judge on Friday ordered the FDA to revoke its approval of the drug by the end of this week after a lawsuit claimed the approval process was rushed. California has also shared the negotiated terms of its Misoprostol purchase to help other states secure the drug at a low cost and protect access to abortion medication. Washington and Massachusetts are also hoarding the pills.

President Biden has signed a bill ending the national COVID emergency. The GOP-led resolution was opposed by most Democrats in the House, but the White House has said it would not veto the measure if it made it to Biden's desk. The White House wanted to wind down the national emergency on May 11th. The measure gives states the go-ahead to start winding it down now.

Oroville Police were called to a field in near Hwy 70 and Montgomery Street around 1230P Monday Afternoon over a non responsive man . The Man was found dead and officials don't believe foul play was involved. Police believe he was homeless. No ID was released pending an autopsy and the investigation into the death is ongoing.

The Chico school board met Wednesday night regarding student Privacy policy. This comes after a lawsuit claims a local elementary school forced a child to change genders without parental knowledge. Aurora Regino, who spoke during public comment, is suing Chico Unified School District. She claims her then eleven-year-old daughter told a Sierra View Elementary school counselor she "felt like a boy". Her daughter was then allegedly given a boy's name and identity the same day, without her knowledge. The Board decided to stay the course and continue with the existing privacy policy.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said that a Chico man accused of committing several hate crimes last year was committed to a state mental hospital Wednesday. Thomas Bona, will be housed at a locked mental hospital until he is deemed mentally competent to stand trial for the vandalism, arson and hate crime charges related to the burning and destruction of a sign at a Chico synagogue. Bona's public defender voiced uncertainty about Bona's ability to comprehend the severity and nature of the proceedings against him.

Saturday Chico POlice helped arrest 1 suspect following a high speed chase that started in Oroville and led to a car crashing near E. 8th and Linden Stree in teh Chapmantown area. The two suspects ran from the car and started jumping neighboring fences. They caught one suspect Johnny Maroney Jr., but the other one got away. Police are still looking for the other person involved. He was last seen wearing a red hoodie and blue jeans. Police believe the other suspect is white or a light-skinned Hispanic man. If you have any information regarding this incident, call the Butte County Sheriff's Office at (530) 538-7322.

The body of a missing logger has been recovered from Little Cow Creek on Friday, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office confirmed. The Shasta County Coroner's Office confirmed the identity of the body recovered from the creek as 59-year-old Alex Hays, Sr., the logger who went missing on March 13. According to officials, Hays's truck was located in this area on Monday. His body discovered by search teams.