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Politics

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026 02:24PM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

Biggs Council Adopts Surplus Budget

Jun 30, 2026 02:24PM ● By Susan Meeker

The City Council adopted a $7.6 million budget for the 2026‑27 fiscal year, approving a spending plan effective July 1 that maintains essential services and increases the citywide fund balance to $17.4 million.

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Supervisors Approve Gridley Parcel Agreements

Jun 30, 2026 02:07PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Board of Supervisors on June 23 approved a series of compensation agreements with the City of Gridley, clearing the way for the city to retain several former redevelopment agency parcels for future municipal development.

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Butte County Budget Facing Deep Cuts

Jun 30, 2026 01:20PM ● By Susan Meeker

Butte County’s $1.08 billion recommended budget for 2026‑27 shows shrinking revenue, deep staffing cuts, and rising pressure on health and safety services.

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Biggs Council Approves New Employee Agreements

Jun 30, 2026 01:17PM ● By Susan Meeker

The City Council approved two employee agreements last month for the 2026‑27 fiscal year, adopting identical wage and benefit changes for both represented and unrepresented staff. The new agreements took effect July 1.

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Local Agencies Align on Tort Reform Plan

Jun 30, 2026 08:52AM ● By Susan Meeker

Cities and counties across the region, including Butte County, Biggs, Live Oak and Sutter County, are joining a statewide push for tort reform as public‑entity liability costs continue to climb and strain local budgets.

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Gridley Eyes Tougher Fireworks Rules

Jun 24, 2026 08:48AM ● By Susan Meeker

Gridley officials are considering stricter regulations on the use of legal "safe and sane" fireworks, including limits on when they can be used, $1,000 administrative fines for violations and expanded liability for parents and social hosts.

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Council Votes to End Future Health Benefits for Members

Jun 24, 2026 08:45AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

At the June 17 meeting of the Live Oak City Council, Mayor Jeramy Chapdelaine proposed eliminating city-paid health, dental, vision, life insurance and related benefits for councilmembers as their current terms expire.

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Gridley Adopts Budget Amid Revenue Gap

Jun 24, 2026 08:16AM ● By Susan Meeker

The Gridley City Council adopted a $27.5 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27 on June 15, approving a spending plan that maintains city services, funds major infrastructure projects and continues to address a projected gap between General Fund revenues and expenditures.

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Healthcare Access in Rural Counties Is Already at Risk — H.R. 1 Makes It Worse

Jun 18, 2026 06:31PM ● By Kent Boes, California State Association of Counties

Colusa County Supervisor Kent Boes warns proposed federal healthcare changes could jeopardize Medi-Cal coverage, strain Colusa Medical Center, and threaten access to rural healthcare.

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Butte Backs State Mandate Reimbursement Reform

Jun 16, 2026 03:24PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors unanimously support state legislation aimed at changing how California reimburses local governments for state-mandated programs, backing a proposal county officials said would provide greater fiscal flexibility for counties.

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Butte County Defends Williamson Act Charge

Jun 16, 2026 11:10AM ● By Susan Meeker

Butte County officials are recommending no changes to the county's Williamson Act direct charge, saying the revenue remains an important part of the county's budget as officials work to maintain public safety and library services.

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Live Oak Reviews Budget Cuts, Warns of Public Safety Impacts

Jun 16, 2026 10:54AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council reviewed updates to the city's Housing Element and discussed a proposed budget that includes significant reductions to public safety contracts during its June 3 meeting.

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Sutter County Streamlines Records Requests

Jun 15, 2026 04:23PM ● By MPG Staff

The Sutter County Clerk-Recorder's Office has launched a new online identity verification system designed to make obtaining certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates faster and less expensive for residents.

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James Gallagher takes the oath of office

Gallagher Sworn into Congress

Jun 15, 2026 03:47PM ● By MPG Staff

Congressman James Gallagher was sworn in today as the representative for California's 1st Congressional District following his victory in last week's special election.

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Measure P to Reshape Butte Public Works

Jun 09, 2026 12:32PM ● By Susan Meeker

Butte County voters appeared headed toward approving Measure P, a proposed charter amendment allowing the county to separate the duties of Road Commissioner and Public Works Director.

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North State Sends Gallagher to Congress

Jun 08, 2026 04:44PM ● By Susan Meeker

Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher appears headed to Congress after unofficial election results showed him winning the special election to fill the vacant 1st Congressional District seat left by the death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa.

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Biggs Reviewing Utility System Costs

Jun 02, 2026 01:03PM ● By Susan Meeker

Biggs officials are reviewing long-term costs tied to the city’s water and sewer systems as infrastructure maintenance, utility expenses and future capital improvement needs continue growing.

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Council Frustrated Over Traffic Studies

Jun 02, 2026 12:58PM ● By Susan Meeker

The City of Gridley is pursuing federal traffic safety funding for dangerous intersections, school congestion and railroad access concerns, but several council members questioned whether the city is spending too much time studying problems instead of fixing them.

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Supervisors Back Sutter Buttes Event Venue

Jun 02, 2026 12:50PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to overturn a Planning Commission denial and approve a scaled event venue project near the base of the Sutter Buttes, siding with a local farmer seeking to diversify his agricultural operation despite opposition from nearby residents concerned about preserving the rural area.

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Gridley Advocate Presses County for Mental Health Support

Jun 02, 2026 12:30PM ● By Susan Meeker

A Gridley councilmember urged Butte County supervisors to protect behavioral health services for south county residents as the board approved several mental health contracts and funding increases May 26.

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What’s Wrong with the Legislature Can be Explained in these Two Bills

Jun 02, 2026 10:25AM ● By National Federation of Independent Business News Release

How Can Measures Passing 78-0, 34-2 in One House Never Get a Hearing in the Other Chamber?

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Rural Counties Back State Split Resolution

Jun 01, 2026 05:08PM ● By Susan Meeker

Rural frustration over water policy, state mandates, shrinking local control and what county leaders described as a widening political divide between urban and inland California is fueling new support across Northern California for Assembly Joint Resolution 23, a proposal signaling interest in forming a new state from California’s existing boundaries.

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Live Oak Approves Phased Planning Fee Increases

May 27, 2026 04:14PM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council approved phased increases to planning department fees during a public hearing on May 20, citing the need to better recover the city’s costs for development-related services.

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City Facing Major Infrastructure Pressures

May 27, 2026 03:54PM ● By Susan Meeker

Officials in Gridley said infrastructure demands are outpacing staffing and maintenance capacity as aging utilities, deteriorating streets and future development place increasing pressure on city operations.

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Butte County Moves Ahead on Dump Overhaul

May 27, 2026 03:49PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors has approved the next phase of a long-term overhaul of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility aimed at modernizing the county landfill and expanding recycling operations near Oroville.

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Biggs Targets Traffic, Road Safety

May 27, 2026 03:42PM ● By Susan Meeker

Concerns over speeding traffic, scooters and pedestrian safety dominated discussion at the Biggs City Council meeting May 12 as city officials outlined several road and infrastructure projects aimed at improving safety throughout the community.

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Live Oak Approves Road Funding Claim

May 13, 2026 08:09AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council on May 6 approved the submission of a Transportation Development Act claim for fiscal year 2021-22 funding to support local road improvement projects.

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County Backs Tribe’s Foreign-Trade Zone Effort

May 12, 2026 04:14PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors has approved a letter of support backing Enterprise Rancheria’s application to establish a federal Foreign-Trade Zone in Butte County, a designation county leaders said could help attract business investment and reduce operating costs for manufacturers and exporters.

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Local Taxpayer Protection Act Eligible for November 2026 Ballot

May 12, 2026 09:31AM ● By California Business Roundtable News Release

Voters to Decide on Critical Measure to Restore Their Rights on Taxes

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Statewide Ballot Measure Targets Local Revenue Rules

May 06, 2026 12:07PM ● By Susan Meeker

A statewide initiative headed for the November 2026 ballot could change how counties like Butte raise money for local services.

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Butte County Names New Public Works Director

May 06, 2026 11:38AM ● By Susan Meeker

Butte County supervisors has tapped Colusa County Public Works Director Daniel “Colt” Esenwein to head its department, pulling him from a position he has held for less than a year.

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Biggs Council Updates Payment, Voting and Travel Policies

May 06, 2026 10:43AM ● By Susan Meeker

The Biggs City Council approved three policy updates during its April 28 meeting, including a shift to electronic bill payments, a clarification on how council votes are recorded and changes to the city’s travel reimbursement rules.

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Butte Supervisors Retain Friends of the Arts

Apr 28, 2026 03:23PM ● By Susan Meeker

In a split 3-2 vote, the Butte County Board of Supervisors on April 14 designated the Upstate Community Enhancement Foundation, known as Friends of the Arts, as the county’s Local Arts Agency after a competing motion to select the State Theater Arts Guild failed.

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City Cuts Administrator Salary Amid Backlash

Apr 28, 2026 12:37PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Gridley City Council on April 20 approved a revised employment agreement for City Administrator Elisa Arteaga, setting her salary at a lower amount after she declined a previously approved pay raise.

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Live Oak Advances Fee Increases, Eyes Land Sales

Apr 22, 2026 09:20AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

At the April 15 meeting of the Live Oak City Council, City Manager Ben Moody presented a list of unused city-owned properties that could potentially be sold.

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