News

Still a college town

When Chancellor Timothy White announced May 12 that all 23 campuses of the California State University system would teach classes predominantly online in the fall, political and business leaders in Chico went into a tailspin. […]

News

Backlash to masks

The Bookstore has been closed since March 19, as have most other “nonessential” businesses in Chico due to the coronavirus pandemic. In early April, the shop partially re-opened—for contactless curbside sales—and since then owners Muir […]

News

Breaking points

Lindsay Briggs has grown accustomed to criticism. She’s a particular bugaboo for Chicoans who, in a clique of Facebook groups, take umbrage with her social activism. Called “Professor Voldemort” in reference to her position in […]

News

Premature opening?

When Butte County became one of the first two California counties permitted to advance further in reopening businesses, Tami Ritter had a muted reaction. Ritter, a county supervisor representing Chico, served on a committee of […]

News

Holding pattern

The city of Chico will be appointing an interim police chief in the coming weeks, an outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruitment for the position—held for the past five years by Chief Mike O’Brien—is on […]

News

Better together

Like many of his fellow Chico restaurant owners, Jason “JC” Colabove of Crush had to lay off his staff in mid-March as COVID-19 mandates spread to dine-in establishments. As his staff waited for unemployment to […]

News

Under pressure

Kandy Comfort reopened her Chico barbershop last week. A day later, she closed it. A day after that, she reopened it again. Such has been the wrenching roller coaster she—and so many others—have ridden amid […]

Local Government

Economic Armageddon?

Members of Chico’s City Council sounded alarms about an oncoming recession Tuesday evening (April 7), hitting the brakes on several initiatives and questioning whether to pause or reduce the sales tax measure slated for November’s […]