College Republicans Held Public Event Calling for Chico State to Dismiss Tenured Professor
Kimberly Morales, News Editor
September 20, 2020
Chico State Republicans held a public event outside Trinity Hall on Thursday morning to call for the termination of Dr. Lindsay Briggs, a tenured associate professor in the Department of Public Health & Health Services Administration. The Orion did not attempt to verify or dismiss the allegations mad...
Chico businesses hit with triple-whammy: state restrictions, COVID-19 and fire smoke
Dylan Griffith, Reporter
September 20, 2020
Butte County Public Health held a meeting Thursday, Sept. 17 where some Chico business owners and other community members expressed outrage over state- and county-mandated restrictions. Recent fires, an uptick in COVID-19 deaths and strict reopening guidelines have increased tensions in the politic...
North Complex Fire reaches over 60% containment; officials warn residents to monitor fire conditions
Chloe Curtis and Matthew Wreden
September 19, 2020
The North Complex Zone has burned nearly 290,000 acres and surpassed 60% containment since Friday’s community briefing. The West Zone of the fire, which is in Butte County, has burned nearly 80,000 acres at 50% containment. Although fire conditions have subsided significantly, Butte County...
Last missing person found safely as North Complex Fire containment passes 50%
Matthew Wreden and Chloe Curtis
September 18, 2020
The North Complex Fire has burned more than 287,000 acres at 54% containment. The West Zone of fire has burned nearly 80,000 acres at 45% containment. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed that the last person missing from the fire has been found since Thursday night. “There are no more una...
North Complex Fire reaches 40% containment; now one of California’s Top 5 deadliest and largest wildfires
Matthew Wreden and Chloe Curtis
September 18, 2020
The North Complex Fire has burned more than 10,000 acres since Wednesday’s community briefing—although weather conditions have been favorable in its gradual containment. “Between pandemics, other fires, civil unrest, I just want to make sure that people don’t forget this incident,” sai...
1 person remains missing in North Complex Fire; more than 600 structures destroyed
Matthew Wreden and Chloe Curtis
September 16, 2020
Cal Fire officials confirmed Wednesday that at least 3.3 million acres have burned in California at a community briefing in Chico. This estimate is up from the 2.8 million acres that was reported on Tuesday. Areas of risk for continued fire activity include areas south of Bucks Lake and Little Grass Valley. W...
Firefighters gain ground on North Complex Fire; nearly 500 structures destroyed, 2 remain missing
Chloe Curtis, Editor-in-Chief
September 15, 2020
The North Complex Fire continues to blaze throughout Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties, engulfing over 273,000 acres at 34% containment. News items from Tuesday’s community briefing included: More than 2.8 million acres have burned throughout California since Aug. 15, up from Monday’s ...
1 new death, 2 remain missing in North Complex Fire; favorable weather conditions impeding fire’s spread
Matthew Wreden and Chloe Curtis
September 14, 2020
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed one new death on Monday, bringing the North Complex Fire death toll to 15. News items from Monday’s community briefing included: Butte County has received 182 welfare calls; 165 people have been located, 2 are unaccounted for and 15 are confirmed dead2 new a...
2 additional deaths confirmed; unhealthy air to linger for weeks
Chloe Curtis and Matthew Wreden
September 13, 2020
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed two additional deaths Sunday, raising the North Complex Fire death toll to 14. The fire has burned more than 261,000 acres and containment is 26%. The West Zone of the fire in Butte County has burned 74,000 acres and is 18% contained. “A critical period of weath...
Chico State says off-campus housing prices decreased for 2020/2021 school year
Joel Moret, Reporter
September 13, 2020
Chico State’s estimated cost of attendance decreased by roughly $3,000 for the 2020-2021 school year, based in part, on responses from Chico State students in a statewide survey. Off-campus student costs decreased from $25,788 to $22,924 a year. A decline in off-campus room and board prices ...
3 more deaths from North Complex Fire; task force preparing for harsher weather conditions
Matthew Wreden and Chloe Curtis
September 12, 2020
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed 3 more deaths Saturday, raising the North Complex Fire death toll to 12. The fire has burned more than 250,000 acres but remains at 21% containment. In the West Zone, 73,000 acres have burned and containment is only 10%. An additional 3,000 acres have b...
Gov. Newsom signs inmate firefighter legislation in Butte as historic blaze rages on the ridge
Chloe Curtis, Kimberly Morales, and Matthew Wreden
September 11, 2020
California Gov. Gavin Newsom arrived in Butte County on Friday amid the raging North Complex Fire and signed legislation, AB-2147, striking down barriers for inmate firefighters to become licensed after serving their sentences. "Inmates who have stood on the frontlines, battling historic fires...
