Local Government
Two hot seats
A total of 21 applicants—including a retired police chief and two former council members—have tossed their hats in the ring to fill two vacant positions on the Chico City Council. The majority of hopefuls, 14, […]
Articles by Ken Smith
News
Court order: Stay
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to the plaintiffs in the ongoing Warren v. Chico civil case late Thursday (July 8), barring the city of Chico from enforcing ordinances aimed at the homeless population. […]
News
Judgment coming soon
Those watching the lawsuit between eight unhoused individuals and the city of Chico over camping enforcement and lack of suitable shelter options will have to wait at least a little longer for a federal judge’s […]
News
Will this fly?
The day before the city of Chico opened its “resting site” for the local unhoused population at the Chico Municipal Airport last Friday (June 25), John Howlett stood in sweltering heat, peering through the fence […]
News
Shelter on the edge of town
Legal documents filed by the city of Chico on Monday (June 21) claim a temporary shelter facility at the Chico Municipal Airport is set up and ready to begin providing tent and parking space for […]
News
Solutions elusive
After enduring almost a year of shifting City Council directions, intense public criticism and unrealized attempts to help create new shelter options, Suzi Kochems is leaving her role as the city of Chico’s homeless solutions […]
Arts & Culture
Return of nightlife?
This feature is part of the CN&R’s June 2021 Business Issue. Archer Lombardi kicked off 2020 ready for big changes. After nearly a decade dedicated to establishing The Maltese as one of Chico’s cornerstone bars […]
COVID-19
Shot lottery
In an effort to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the state of California is offering big cash prizes and $50 vouchers. The $116.5 million “Vax for the Win” campaign was announced May 27. […]
Local Government
Delayed progress
As the clock struck 6 p.m. Tuesday (June 1), the dais in Chico City Council chambers remained empty. Due to a late-running closed session, the meeting finally got underway shortly after 6:30 p.m. That delay—as […]
Arts & Culture
The one that got away
The Chico History Museum re-opened to the public last Saturday (May 1) after being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the current exhibits is a piece of recently resurfaced […]
News
Don’t tread on them
As temperatures rise, so does the prevalence of rattlesnakes in Bidwell Park. A press release from the City of Chico’s Public Works Department – Parks Division notes that rattlesnakes are a beneficial, natural part of […]
Local Government
Sweep relief
On Monday (April 12) at 9 a.m., a man named Lance sat in a camping chair a few hundred feet from Comanche Creek, sharing a piece of chicken with his dog, Chloe. An air of […]
News
Closed to the public
A select group of Chico City Council members, Butte County supervisors and city and county staff have been meeting behind closed doors to discuss homeless issues for the past three months. While such collaboration could […]
Local Government
More protests at chambers
Two distinctly different protests took place outside of the Chico City Council chambers Tuesday (March 16), where about 100 people gathered to support the city’s unhoused population, and a much smaller group demanded the council […]
News
Arresting developments
As Chico police officers and city staff readied to evict homeless campers from The Triangle on Feb. 4, City Councilman Scott Huber said he couldn’t just stand by and watch as people’s belongings were bulldozed. […]