Good morning, Chico.

A Concow man named Jeffrey Funkhouser—57—was charged with an extra count of child molestation on April 2 after he was arraigned for raping a nine-year-old neighbor girl; investigators said he had also molested another girl when she was 13 in 2013.

The North State Planning and Development Collective at Chico State University announced $9 million in pre-development Catalyst funding today for 23 awardees from ten counties to boost rural economic growth in the North State.

The projects — including a youth apprenticeship pilot and a regional cultural center — will begin implementation in early 2025.

Election Day at Chico State saw a surge of student engagement as candidates met with voters on campus to discuss key issues — like enrollment dropping from 19,000 to 13,500 and rising tuition costs — while students cast their votes online until 8:00 a.m. today.

The election results will be announced at noon.

Chico State was ranked among the nation’s top schools for animation degrees by Animation Career Review, which placed the program at #14 nationally and #19 in California out of nearly 200 schools and noted it has one of the largest Computer Animation and Game Development programs.

Alessandra Ramirez from the university earned the Region II Outstanding New Professional Award from the Association for Orientation, Transition & Retention in Higher Education.

Chico Police Chief recommended installing red-light cameras at five major intersections, and city officials will review the proposal for future action.

The Paradise Irrigation District announced it will replace an old water pipeline on Elliott Road between Clark Road and Skyway to stop leaks and save treated water for the future.

The project will take two to three months with work from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays — residents will be given detour routes and advance notice of brief water cuts.

On Wednesday, Believe in Chico, LLC filed a lawsuit against the City of Chico for allowing a March 2024 public referendum that rejected its Valley’s Edge housing project—alleging the vote violated SB 330.

The suit seeks to secure rights for developing over 2,700 new homes along with parks and retail space on the southeast side of Chico.

Chico Air Museum Run the Runway! 5K and One Mile Run/Walk

9-11 a.m. — Chico Air Museum — $32.80 entry — Experience a unique timed mile and 5K on an aircraft runway while supporting local aviation history.

Thursday Night Market

6-9 p.m. — Downtown Chico Business Association — Free entry — Enjoy a vibrant market with local vendors, art, and live entertainment every Thursday evening.

Abiding Men’s BBQ

6-9 p.m. — Watkins House — Free entry — Enjoy a community gathering with great food and fellowship.

Woofstock Chico 2025

11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Silver Dollar Fairgrounds — Enjoyable festival for all — A lively day of music and fun benefiting Butte Humane Society and welcoming well-behaved dogs on leash.

Chico Marketplace Spring Festival

11 AM – 3 PM — Chico Marketplace — Free entry — Celebrate spring with egg hunts, a petting zoo, and fun activities for the entire family.

Do The '80s Pub Crawl

4:30-9 p.m. — Bella's Sports Pub — 25% OFF code: RAD25 — Relive the '80s with contests, prizes, and neon vibes at this totally tubular pub crawl.

Thursday Night Market

6-9 p.m. — Downtown Chico Business Association — Free entry — Explore over 100 vendors featuring local produce, crafts, and live entertainment.

AMA Pro American Flat Track Race

8:30 p.m. — Silver Dollar Speedway — Affordable tickets available — Experience the thrill of American Flat Track racing on an exciting night at the speedway.