State Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks says in the first poll from the California Democratic Party since Swalwell dropped out of the race , it appears almost all of Swalwell's support went to former HHS Secretary Becerra. Conservative commentator Steve Hilton leads all candidates with 17 percent, and three points behind him is Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. the top 6 polling candidates debate tonight in San Francisco

A 17-year-old Red Bluff bull rider is recovering from a broken back after being trampled by a bull April 15. Giovanni Kent was competing when his spur became caught on a strap, causing him to be dragged and stepped on by the bull. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was treated for a broken back. Kent underwent two surgeries in which rods were inserted to stabilize his spine, leaving him in a back brace. Family members say he is up and walking but has a long road of recovery ahead. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with medical expenses.

California's tourism industry grew last year, with visitors spending nearly 160 billion dollars. That's nearly a two-percent increase from the year before, or just under one percent adjusted for inflation. This comes as fewer international tourists came to the Golden State. According to a report released by Visit California, there was a one-billion-dollar decline statewide from international visitors likely due to federal immigration policies. California still remains the top tourist destination in the U.S., though spending is still lower than before the pandemic when adjusted for inflation. The travel industry also added more than four-thousand jobs statewide.

The Chico City Council deadlocked in a 3-to-3 tie vote on a proposed downtown revitalization plan that would bring protected bike lanes to downtown's busiest streets. Mayor Kasey Reynolds ended the 4 hour meeting after the deadlocked vote Due to the length of the meeting and abrupt ending, the Sewer rate hike discussion had to be tabled.

The Recent spring storm dropped more than three and a half feet of snow in hte eastern Sierra Nevada. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab says the storm helped the late-season snowpack, but warm winter temperatures mean snow levels are still low. On April 1st, the Sierra snowpack was just 18 percent of average. Officials warn the low snow levels could make drought and water shortages worse unless heavy rain or snow arrives. According to the US Drought Monitor, much of the state is already abnormally dry. Several Northeastern counties are already experiencing moderate drought conditions, including portions of Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Placer and El Dorado Counties.

The Aaron Rodgers NorCal Fire Recovery Grant Program has awarded 29 grants totaling $200,000 for projects largely focused on the health and wellness of young people in Butte County. Nonprofit and youth-serving organizations, including local governments and public schools, were eligible to apply to the annual grant program at North Valley Community Foundation. Seventy-five applications were received. The 29 grants awarded ranged from $2,500 to $15,000. Rodgers opened up the fire recovery fund at NVCF after the Camp Fire in 2018 and also started a fund benefiting locally owned small businesses during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

A religious cult leader in Oroville was supposed to be sentenced in a Butte County courtroom on Tuesday, but the date was delayed. Sansue Vang was found guilty in February by a jury of eight counts of child molestation and three counts of rape after a seven-day trial. the prosecution informed the court that numerous victims wish to speak, with some providing written statements for the judge to consider during sentencing. Vang will return to court on June 9. He is facing a potential sentence of life in prison.

The Chico Police Department arrested a Magalia man charges with soilicitation of a minor . During the operation, they gathered evidence documenting illicit conversations between a man later identified as Brandon Wheeler and two victims believed to be 13-year-old girls. In the conversations, Wheeler used an alias, asked the girls to send explicit photos and attempted to meet them in person. CPD officers arrested Wheeler during a planned traffic stop on Highway 70 at Cox Lane on April 8, 2026.

the Chico Police Department along with Butte County EMS responded to Petersen Memorial Drive in Lower Bidwell Park in Chico at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday after receiving a report of a unresponsive person. Authorities say that a passing bystander contacted 9-1-1 and had begun performing CPR on the person. first responders continued performing life-saving measures However, despite the best efforts of emergency responders, the subject passed away. Authorities say at this time, there are no signs of foul play and the public is not believed to be at any risk.

California's high-speed rail project between Los Angeles and San Francisco has faced repeated delays and continues to see soaring costs. According to Anthony Williams from the California High Speed Rail Authority, who spoke with CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, the project's price tag is now at 126-billion dollars -- almost four times the original budget. The project also faces a 90-billion-dollar funding shortfall. In nearly 20 years, only a section in the Central Valley has seen any construction. The project is now slated to be finished far later than initially thought with an estimated opening date of 2033.

UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS ANNOUNCED THEY WILL BE DOWNSIZING THEIR OPERATIONS . WITH THE RECENT COMPLETION OF THEIR MICRO SHELTER SITE AND OPERATION . THEY ARE FOCUSING AWAY FROM DIRECT SERVICES TO A BROADER REGIONAL STRATEGY. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THAT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ARE DRIVING THE SHIFT INCLUDING REDUCTION IN STAFFING AND THE CLOSURE OF ITS REDDING OFFICE. OFFCIALS SAY THAT THEIR FOCUS STILL REMAINS ON SERVING THE 9 COUNTIES AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH VITAL RESOURCES.

President Trump has ousted U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump announced that Bondi will be leaving the administration and moving to a private sector job. The move comes after Bondi faced criticism over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bondi was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee over the issue with her scheduled to be deposed on April 14th. This marks the second cabinet member Trump has fired in his second term. Trump said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will now serve as Acting Attorney General.

An Oroville Mother pleaded no contest Thursday in Butte County Superior Court to felony child abuse and causing great bodily harm in connection with her child's death. Chelsea Whitfield admitted to the child abuse charge and admitted an enhancement for causing great bodily injury to her child. The charges stem from the fentanyl-related death of her two-year-old son, who was found unresponsive at their Oroville home in March 2025 and later pronounced dead. She'll be in court April 30 for sentencing

An elementary school teacher from Shasta County is under arrest for allegedly abusing several children. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office says Jandee Marie Smart was arrested yesterday for assault with a deadly weapon, corporal punishment of a child, assault resulting in great bodily injury, and several counts of child abuse. The 43-year-old teacher worked at the North Cottonwood Elementary School. Any other victims should call the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments today in a high-profile case involving President Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship. Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents in the U.S. illegally or temporarily. Opponents to Trump's plan have argued that goes against the Constitution's 14th Amendment. The Trump administration claims the 14th Amendment was only intended to ensure former slaves and their children were recognized as U.S. citizens after the Civil War.

Cynthia Daley with the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems at the Chico State Farm says we haven't felt the price crunch yet because the crops are still in the ground. But, she says the closing of the Straight of Hormuz is affecting agriculutural inputs like fertilizer which could see 40 percent price increases... Daley tsaysthat the Straight of Hormuz handles about one-third of the world's fertilizer supply. She says when that route is disrupted it tightens global supply. She says this tightening comes as farmers ready for the spring planting season

The Rebuild Paradise Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding residents following the destruction of the 2018 Camp Fire, has announced its decision to sunset, effectively ending its operations after years of impactful service. Notable initiatives included a Master Floor Plan Library, the Missing Middle, Gravel, and Septic grants, which collectively provided over $2.7 million in grants directly to homeowners. A Community-Wide Sunset celebration is scheduled on June 27 at 6 p.m. at Paradise Community Park.