The Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says they've been able to arrest an Oroville man suspected of murder. Joseph Perkins was named the prime suspect in a homicide that happened Saturday, April 20, in the the 500 block of Lodgeview Drive in the Kelly Ridge area . Butte County Sherrifs Office says they eventually tracked Perkins to a home in Stockton on Friday, April 26. Saturday morning April 27 They reportedly found him at a gas station near the home and placed him under arrest. He's been transported back to Butte County Jail to face those murder charges

Sunday Morning Chico Fire and Police personnel responded to the One Mile Recreation Area of Bidwell Park for a welfare check. A passerby noticed a subject seated near the restrooms that appeared to be deceased. Medics also arrived on scene and confirmed the subject was deceased. No foul play is suspected. The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

A tax relief bill for California fire victims continues to languish in the Senate...Congressman Doug LaMalfa says he continues to hear from his constituents about the tax relief bill that would exempt fire victims from paying federal taxes on their PGE settlements. The bill has bi-partisan support and has passed the House but still sits in the Senate....LaMalfa says they tried to attach it to the Baltimore bridge collapse legislation. He says they will continue exploring avenues to get the bill passed. Fire victims from Sonoma County to Butte County have had to pay taxes on the awards and the bill would allow them to re-coup those federal taxes.

A group of blue states are coming to the defense of the Biden Administration's new clean car rules. Governor Gavin Newsom is throwing his support behind the federal zero emission clean car standards. Newsome says California won't sit back and watch red states put the profits of Big Oil over our health and our planet. A coalition of Republican-led states is asking a U.S. appeals court to toss the new rule, arguing it exceeds EPA authority. Newsom, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, the California Air Resources Board, along with 22 other state attorneys general and four cities, filed a motion this week to intervene.

Chico State wants to make it easier for community college students to transfer and earn their degrees through the university. Officials at Chico State say a that Students have issues transferring credits from Community Colleges. Chico State wants to get rid of the hurdle. April 29, Chico State and seven community colleges in our area will sign a memorandum of understanding. Offcials hope this will simplify the transfer process so students can continue their educational journeys toward a bachelor's degree.

A former female Gridley school teacher pleaded no-contest this morning to having sex with a 14-year-old male student in June 2021. Michelle Solis, 46, of Gridley, appeared in Butte County Superior Court this morning for her scheduled preliminary hearing on the sex charge and a charge of sending harmful photos to a minor. She instead changed her plea and admitted her guilt to the sex charge. Butte Co DA Mike ramsey says Solis faces 4 yrs in Prison and must register as a Sex Offender..Sentencing is June 6

State lawmakers are introducing a bill that would exempt low- and middle-income Californians from the state's solar panel building mandate which requires solar on new homes. Although it can result in energy savings, some lawmakers say it only acts as a barrier for people just looking to build back what they lost. The measure passed the Assembly Natural Resources committee, earlier this month. It now moves onto a vote in Appropriations. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar measure two years ago, highlighting the need to cut down on greenhouse gasses.

A Chico man was arraigned in Butte County Superior Court on Monday on multiple charges stemming from an officer-involved shooting on April 18. Travis McCarty, 39, of Chico, was charged by the Butte County District Attorney with attempted murder of peace officers, assault with a semi-automatic firearm on peace officers, Butte County DA Mike Ramsey said, McCarty could be sentenced to life in state prison. Because of his prior "strike" convictions, he will back in court April 25

Butte County Law Enforcement, Fire, and Emergency Managers will hold the first of 11 community meetings throughout Butte County to gather public input for the county's emergency evacuation map updates. The evacuation maps are used during fires, disasters, or other emergencies requiring evacuations. The meetings will provide community members with the opportunity to provide input on the evacuation routes and assembly points and meet with local law enforcement, fire, and emergency managers. Residents are encouraged to attend the community meeting in their area. this First meeting will take place Saturday, April 20 from 12:15-2:15 pm at Forest Ranch Charter School, 15815 Cedar Creek Road, Forest Ranch

The Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) said two deputies were in the area of Skyway and Lava Rock Road in Chico Early Thursday morning after a tip that a known felon, idnetified as Travis McCarty was en route to that location over a child custody dispute. McCarty, armed with a handgun began shooting at the two deputies . The deputies then exited the patrol car one of the deputies firing at McCarty hitting him in the leg. McCarty was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released to be booked into Butte County Jail on several charges including; attempted murder on a peace officer, being an ex-felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, shooting at an occupied vehicle and assault with a firearm on a peace officer.

Part of the $60 Million Road Work Projects in Chico Get Started Monday Apri l22nd with the start of the 1st stage work on the Bruce Road Expansion project.  Knife River Construction will be closing a Section of Bruce Rd (20th Street South to the Skyway) during the construction.. Officials say it will allow for a quicker time line to complet the project and also would allow for a cost savings.  

Chico Native Aaron Rogers has pledged 3 Million dollars to the New Enloe Health Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Jolene Frncis with Enloe says that 1 Million will be used for Construction and 2 Milliion for future Support therapies.  Francis says Ground Breaking is set for May 10th with Projected Date of Opening for the 1st Quarter of 2026 

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey reports a Butte County jury found enough evidence during a preliminary hearing to hold a Southern California man to answer for charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run and other related charges. 30-year-old Elpidio ArevaloBotello was accused in the crash that left two people seriously injured at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Ophir Road in Oroville. He faces a possible sentence of more than 20 years in state prison, Ramsey said. He is next due in court on April 24 for start of his jury trial

California spent $24 billion to tackle homelessness over the past five years but didn't consistently track whether the spending actually helped alleviate the problem, according to state audit released Tuesday. An estimated 171,000 people are homeless in California, which amounts to roughly 30% of all of the homeless people in the U.S. Despite the roughly $24 billion spent on homeless and housing programs during the 2018-2023 fiscal years, the problem didn't improve in many cities, according to state auditor's report that attempts to assess how effective the spending has been. the report found that the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, which is responsible for coordinating agencies and allocating resources for homelessness programs, stopped tracking spending on programs and their outcomes in 2021 despite the continuous funding from the state. It also failed to develop a collect and evaluate outcome data of these programs due to the lack of a consistent method.

Butte County Board of Supervisors authorized the Butte County Emergency Management, in coordination with Butte County Water and Resource Conservation and Butte County Public Health, to accept $5.6 million in grant funding for the Butte County Drought Resilience and Outreach Project. DROP is a multi-year project that'll provide short- and long-term solutions for the county to make sure Butte County property owners affected by dry wells have access to water. The DROP will allow Emergency Management to continue to assist Butte County property owners impacted by dry wells,

Two significant earthquakes were felt by Butte County residents Thursday at 6:34 p.m. according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter of the shake was in Belden, CA, Plumas County. Residents in Paradise and Chico are reporting that they felt the shaking. According to USGS one of the quakes was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 4.3 earthquake within the same minute. There have been no injuries or structure damage reports following the earthquake.

Local officials will be holding another Signature Petition Drive in support of Reforming Proposition 47 on Saturday from 11-a Known as teh Homelessness , Drug Addiction and theft reduction Act they will be at locations around butte county Saturday ACE hardware on West East Avenue iin Chico. The Better Exchange Ace hardware in Oroville on Mitchell Ave and The Ace Hardware on Hwy 99 in Gridley Butte Co Sherrif Kory Honea Assmemblyman James Gallagher Congressman Doug Lamalfa Butte Co DA Mike Ramsey along with Community Leaders will be gathering signatures at these locations as part of the statewide effort to quailfy the measure for the November Ballot.