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Politics

Last Updated: May 06, 2026 11:38AM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

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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Council Approves Funds for Senior Housing Upgrades

Apr 15, 2026 09:16AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council approved the use of state housing funds for improvements at the Live Oak Senior Village, directing more than $71,000 toward upgrades aimed at safety and accessibility.

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Gridley Debates Planning Commission Residency Rules

Apr 15, 2026 09:09AM ● By Susan Meeker

City officials may consider a potential ordinance change that would expand eligibility rules for Planning Commission appointments, opening the door for more residents living just outside Gridley to serve.

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Fire Service Costs Expected to Rise in Gridley

Apr 15, 2026 09:05AM ● By Susan Meeker

Anticipated increases to fire service costs were outlined during an April 6 special meeting of the Gridley City Council, where CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Jason Dyer presented an update on staffing levels and contract projections ahead of the city’s July 1 renewal deadline.

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City Disputes Basis of CVRA Claim

Apr 15, 2026 08:50AM ● By Susan Meeker

The City of Live Oak is challenging the basis of a California Voting Rights Act complaint, arguing in a newly released letter that the city’s single precinct structure makes it impossible to prove racially polarized voting, a key element in CVRA litigation.

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Butte County Seeks Federal Help on Afterbay Project

Apr 08, 2026 08:46AM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors has asked President Donald Trump to help move forward a long-planned recreation project near the Thermalito Afterbay, saying a federal delay now threatens the project’s future.

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Parcel Mergers Approved Near Biggs

Apr 08, 2026 08:34AM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors approved two Williamson Act parcel mergers near Biggs on March 24, allowing agricultural land to be consolidated under updated contracts.

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Biggs Moves to Tighten Food Waste Compliance

Apr 07, 2026 04:29PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Biggs City Council approved a plan to bring the city into full compliance with California’s SB 1383 organic waste regulations, directing staff to formalize inspection, monitoring and enforcement procedures that remain outstanding despite the city’s rural waiver.

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Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey

Ramsey Outlines Concerns with Diversion Law

Apr 07, 2026 04:24PM ● By Lloyd Green Jr.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey spoke at the Gridley Rotary Club on April 2, outlining how recent changes in California law are shaping public safety and the local justice system.

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CVRA Complaint Filed Against Live Oak

Apr 07, 2026 04:07PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Live Oak City Council held a closed‑session discussion on April 1 about how to respond to a warning that its at‑large election system violates the California Voting Rights Act.

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Butte County Supports Tribe’s Recognition Effort

Mar 31, 2026 04:49PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a letter of support earlier this month for the Konkow Valley Band of Maidu Indians of Butte County as the tribe continues its effort to obtain federal recognition.

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Biggs Council Advances Lump Sum Payments

Mar 31, 2026 01:03PM ● By Susan Meeker

The City Council on March 24 approved agreements granting one‑time lump‑sum payments to both represented and unrepresented employees, extending labor terms through June while the city continues to work through a delayed budget review.

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Gridley Council Updates Committee Assignments

Mar 24, 2026 03:10PM ● By Susan Meeker

Gridley City Council members finalized committee assignments earlier this month, making only slight changes to representation on regional boards while leaving most appointments unchanged.

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Council Approves Raise for City Administrator

Mar 24, 2026 01:38PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Gridley City Council on March 16 approved a pay raise for City Manager Elisa Arteaga, adopting an amended employment agreement following a recent performance review.

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City Debates Sidewalk Safety Needs

Mar 24, 2026 01:07PM ● By Susan Meeker

Infrastructure improvement projects took center stage during both a special workshop and the Gridley City Council’s regular meeting on March 16, as city officials weighed priorities for sidewalks, safety upgrades and long-term grant funding opportunities.

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California Announces $23M for Fresh Food Access

Mar 17, 2026 04:59PM ● By Lloyd Green Jr.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $23 million investment to expand access to fresh California-grown fruits and vegetables for residents who receive food assistance through CalFresh, the Women, Infants and Children program and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

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Biggs To Begin Municipal Code Review

Mar 17, 2026 02:59PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Biggs City Council on March 10 approved a contract to begin a comprehensive review and recodification of the city’s municipal code, a process city officials said is needed to bring local laws up to date.

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Gallagher Enters First District Race

Mar 10, 2026 08:35AM ● By MPG Staff

California Assemblyman James Gallagher filed official paperwork to run for Congress in California’s First Congressional District following the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

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Biggs Shifts Grant to Sidewalk Repair

Mar 03, 2026 03:33PM ● By Susan Meeker

With a deadline looming, the Biggs City Council on Feb. 24 voted to redirect about $110,000 in remaining state grant funds to complete a stretch of missing sidewalk along Fifth Street. T

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Planning Commission Approves Gridley Cell Tower

Mar 03, 2026 03:30PM ● By Susan Meeker

Nearly everyone carries a cellphone. But in rural Butte County, some residents fear the towering infrastructure behind the technology could become “the asbestos of this generation.”

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Live Oak Faces Ongoing Deficit

Feb 24, 2026 12:35PM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council reviewed a midyear budget report Feb. 18 for fiscal year 2025-2026, which ends in June, as city leaders continued to confront a structural deficit across multiple funds.

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Filing Opens for June Primary

Feb 17, 2026 02:24PM ● By MPG Staff

The candidate filing period for the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary Election opened Feb. 9 and runs through March 6, according to Butte County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters Keaton Denley.

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Biggs Council Hires New City Administrator

Feb 10, 2026 03:19PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Biggs City Council on Jan. 27 approved a three-year employment agreement appointing Nicolas Gauthier as the city’s new city administrator.

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Live Oak Council Approves Safety, Housing Measures

Feb 10, 2026 03:16PM ● By Shaunna Boyd

The Live Oak City Council approved two plans at its Feb. 4 meeting aimed at improving traffic safety and securing state housing funds.

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Sutter Supervisors Urge Newsom to Accelerate LaMalfa Election

Feb 10, 2026 01:06PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved a letter at a Feb. 2 special meeting urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to accelerate the special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

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High Court Declines Redistricting Case

Feb 10, 2026 12:55PM ● By Lloyd Green

The U.S. Supreme Court declined this week to hear a Republican backed challenge to California’s new congressional map, leaving in place district lines adopted under Proposition 50 and clearing the way for the 2026 election cycle to proceed under the voter approved system.

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Gridley Council Backs Master Fee Overhaul

Feb 04, 2026 08:20AM ● By Lloyd Green

he Gridley City Council has awarded a $34,000 contract to Matrix Consulting Group to complete a comprehensive cost allocation and master fee study, a long-needed review of the city’s fee structure that officials said has not been updated in years.

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Butte Supervisors Oppose Colby Lookout Closure

Feb 03, 2026 04:52PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Butte County Board of Supervisors has formally opposed the closure of the Colby Mountain Fire Lookout and is urging the U.S. Forest Service to keep the long serving wildfire detection site in operation.

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Council Approves Used Tractor Purchase

Jan 28, 2026 08:24AM ● By Shaunna Boyd

At the Jan. 21 meeting of the Live Oak City Council, resident Cruz Mora spoke during public comment, stating that his microphone had been cut during his public comments given over Zoom at two prior meetings.

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Gridley OKs New HVAC for Vierra Park

Jan 28, 2026 08:19AM ● By Susan Meeker

The Gridley City Council on Jan. 20 approved the replacement of the HVAC system at the Vierra Park snack bar building, selecting Dake Bros Heating and Air for the work at a cost of $8,240.

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City Approves Shared Emergency Response System

Jan 20, 2026 04:48PM ● By Susan Meeker

The Biggs City Council on Jan. 13 backed an agreement with Butte County that would bring the city into a shared emergency management software system. The meeting marked the council's first session of 2026 with Mayor James "Bo" Sheppard presiding.

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