Starting January 1st, a set of new laws aim to enhance the well-being, health and safety of all Californians. One law will help residents recover art and belongings stolen during the Holocaust or through political persecution. Under another law, schools will now include Native American perspectives during key historical periods, such as colonization and the Gold Rush. In California, libraries will not be able to ban books based on race, religion, gender identity, or other identities, ensuring diverse stories are accessible. New legislation will also enhance civil rights by addressing various forms of discrimination and protecting characteristics like hair texture and styles.

Insurance companies that stopped providing home coverage to hundreds of thousands of Californians in recent years as wildfires became more destructive will have to again provide policies in fire-prone areas if they want to keep doing business in California under a state regulation announced Monday. The rule will require home insurers to offer coverage in high-risk areas, something the state has never done, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's office said in a statement. Insurers will have to start increasing their coverage by 5% every two years until they hit the equivalent of 85% of their market share. . In exchange for increasing coverage, the state will let insurance companies pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers. Opponents of the rule say that could hike premiums by 40% and doesn't require new policies to be written at a fast enough pace

An individual died at the Pallet Shelter in Chico on Monday morning. Chico Police confirmed the death at the pallet shelter occurred around 5:30 a.m. The cause of death is still under investigation but Offcials say that there was no sign of foul play.

A new report shows rumors of the Great California Exodus are exaggerated. New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau shows California's population rose by point-six percent from July 1st of last year to July 1st of this year. That's an addition of about 250-thousand residents to the Golden State. The number of residents in California are now close to pre-pandemic levels.

Officials with California State Parks says the burning down of the historic Bidwell Mansion was arson..... Aaron Wright is the District Chief for California State Parks. He says they have opened up an arson investigation into the loss of the 156 year-old Bidwell Mansion. Last Wednesday the centerpiece of downtown Chico burst into flames. Witnesses say they saw someone leaving the scene. Wright says all evidence collected from the site leads them to believe the mansion was intentionally set on fire. He says they are following all leads collected in the immediate aftermath of the fire. The Bidwell Mansion Fund has been set up by the North Valley Community Foundation to help in efforts to rebuild, memorialize and commemorate the Bidwell Mansion.

One of the kindergartners shot at the Feather River School in Palermo last week is not able to move his legs.... When five year-old Elias Wolford was rushed to the hospital after the shooting he had movement in all his extremities but authorities now say the young boy has lost feeling in his legs. The boys family tells CBSNews that Wolford suffered damage to his spinal cord and may not walk again. 6 year-old Roman Mendez was shot twice and suffered internal injuries and continues to recuperate. The North Valley Community Foundation has set up a fund for both boys to aid in their recovery. That fund can be found at NVCF dot-org

The search for the 2 Brothers who went missing Saturday Dec 14th at the Thermalito Afterbay stretches into Day 10 , The Butte County Sherrif reports that divers found one of the brothers jackets plus cell phone over the weekend but still no sign of teh Brothers who authorities belive probably drowned.  It is a recovery operation as the

Butte County Search and Rescue teams along with Multi Agency  teams continue their search.  

Thursday, President Biden signed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, into law which exempts wildfire relief payments from federal income taxes. The legislation also streamlines the process for deducting losses from various natural disasters and includes provisions to exempt taxation on legal fees, emotional distress, lost wages, and other expenses linked to wildfire losses. Taxpayers will now be able to claim refunds for any taxes paid on wildfire settlement funds since 2020 by filing an amended return or claiming the change in the next tax year.

The town of Paradise is making changes to the sewer project that the town has been working on since 2019. Town Engineer and Publbic Works Director Mark Mattox says the Town now has a new goal for the sewer project. Instead of making the connection to the Chico sewer system, they will build a water treatment plant of their own, at a smaller scale. Town officials say that the sewer system is vital to the growth of the community after the Camp Fire, especially for businesses in the downtown area.

 In response to the heartbreaking loss of Chico's Bidwell Mansion in an early-morning fire, the North Valley Community Foundation has launched a fund to support the rebuilding effort. Whether its a rebuild or some other project, the  Bidwell Mansion Fund was created in collaboration with Tri Counties Bank and California State University, Chico, to help restore this iconic historical landmark.
   Tri Counties Bank has made a generous contribution to the fund, seeding it with a $50,000 donation to jump-start the efforts.

to make a donation  go to  www.nvcf.org

iconic landmark in Chico has been destroyed by an early morning fire.... The historic Bidwell Mansion was fully engulfed in flames this morning and crews remain on scene. The Mansion which is designated a State Historic landmark was undergoing a restoration project which was going to be finished in early 2025. The mansion stands as a memorial to John and Annie Bidwell who were instrumental in the founding of Chico. The 26-room home was built in the 1860's. Fire officials received reports of a fire at the site just after 3am this morning. When crews arrived they found the structure fully engulfed. Firefighters are still on scene. They say it's too early to determine a cause of the fire the esplande is open but they ask you do not stop and look .... Early reports say there was a person of interest seen leaving the area at the time of the fire starting....... Crews are still on scene and will be for most of the day...

A new poll finds Californians aren't thrilled with Governor Newsom's handling of the economy. The Public Policy Institute poll found 50 percent of respondents said they did not approve of the way Newsom is handling jobs and the economy in California. Forty-eight percent said they approved while two percent didn't know. The same poll found 54 percent of respondents disapproved state lawmakers' performance in Sacramento when it came to the economy.

In light of the recent tragic Feather River Adventist School shooting, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is urging Butte County residents to be mindful of where their donations are going and to take extra precaution when offering up charitable contributions that are supposedly going to the victims and their families. Donating through mobile/internet can be dangerous. You are not just risking losing the money you intend to donate, but you might be unwittingly giving fraudsters personal identifying information that could be used to access other accounts or steal your identity

The North Valley Community Foundation has set a Fund for the Families of the 2 young boys shot at the Adventist School. Officials say that they are waiving all administrative fees so all money donated goes to help the families with expenses and future needs of the boys. Donate at NVCF.org

he Butte County Sheriff's Office is currently responding to a shooting at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, where two students were wounded. According to the Butte County Sheriff, the two students sustained gunshot wounds and have been transported to a local hospital for treatment. In the wake of the shooting, students are being relocated to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue, where parents can go to reunite with their children. Authorities confirmed that the suspected shooter is deceased. As a result of the ongoing police activity, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has issued a traffic alert. Northbound traffic on Highway 70 is closed at E Gridley Road, with vehicles being diverted west to Highway 99. Southbound traffic is also closed at Power House Hill Road, with drivers redirected east to Lone Tree Road.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers will return to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general's office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges.

Governor Newsom's CARE Court is kicking off in Butte County. The program puts people with mental health and substance abuse disorders into court-ordered treatment plans, if they're unwilling to get help voluntarily. Butte County Behavioral Health says it has hired a team to take on the new case load . Director Scott Kennelly says the county will start accepting petitions beginning Monday December 1st from people like family members, roommates, providers, hospital administrators, and EMT's. Governor Newsome signed the CARE court bill into law in 2022 .