Best NSPR Podcasts (2024)

1
Parts of Upper Park to reopen today 5:14

4h ago5:14

5:14

Cal Fire is now doing work in Upper Park to repair damages from fighting the fire there. Also, a program in Redding helping those experiencing homelessness who are recovering from medical conditions is expanding its reach, and local animal shelters said pet owners had until today to pick up unclaimed animals before they adopt them out.…

1
City of Chico plans to remove three homeless encampments across the city 4:56

43m ago4:56

4:56

The City of Chico is planning enforcement actions in three unhoused encampments in parks across the city. It said it's still following the terms of the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement, but it's also looking into its legal options to get out of it. Also, the “Roots for Resilience” benefit event will take place Saturday and will include live mus…

1
Nancy's Bookshelf: A cemetery expert tackles the subject of romance 53:00

1h ago53:00

53:00

Chico author Douglas Keister’s 47th book is a romance mystery that draws on his experience as a cemetery expert.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Officials urge those returning to Park Fire burn scar to drive safely 6:43

2h ago6:43

6:43

As progress continues to be made on the Park Fire, officials are urging those returning to burn scar areas to drive safely. Also, Sutter County will benefit from a $13.8 million grant for Comcast to build infrastructure for low-cost, broadband internet, and residents can pick their own peaches at Chico State’s University Farm today.…

1
Officials warn fire crews on the Park Fire to stay alert 3:45

2h ago3:45

3:45

The Park Fire has been burning for nearly three weeks. Officials warn firefighters to keep their guard up as fatigue and stress set in. Also, the filing deadline for residents looking to fill city council seats has passed for most districts. Several Chico candidates will face off to represent four districts, and Momo’s Poke joins the Chico downtown…

1
Chico City Council disputes changes to Warren settlement proposal 7:10

19h ago7:10

7:10

Legal Services of Northern California offered proposed changes to the settlement agreement in Warren v. Chico. But the city of Chico has rejected them. Also, an assistance center offering resources, aid and information for residents affected by the Park Fire in Tehama County will open this week, and residents of Plumas County suffering from wildfir…

1
Blue Dot: Lessons to learn about fire on the landscape: a conversation with pyrogeographer Zeke Lunder 51:36

4d ago51:36

51:36

In a conversation recorded while the Park Fire was raging in the foothills and mountains of Northern California, Host Dave Schlom visits Zeke Lunder.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Cohasset residents begin the process of rebuilding after the Park Fire 6:07

4d ago6:07

6:07

The community of Cohasset was one of the first affected by the Park Fire. Now, residents are returning to their homes, and taking the steps to begin rebuilding. Also, two meetings will be held about the Park Fire this evening. One will be in Red Bluff, the other in Chester. Both start at 6:30 p.m. And construction on a new fire station in Chico is …

1
Pets can get lost during a disaster, some say microchipping can help 9:32

7d ago9:32

9:32

Butte Humane Society is offering to microchip residents’ pets for free to help them get back to their owners during disasters. They also have a Pet Food Pantry available for Park Fire survivors. Also, a biomass plant is set to be built in Yuba County later this year and will convert wood waste from wildland fuel reduction projects into electricity,…

1
Best of Nancy's Bookshelf: Wild raptors and the birds of Bidwell Park 53:00

6d ago53:00

53:00

Bruce Haak has spent 50 years studying wild raptors. Chico ornithologist Roger Lederer tells us about the birds of Bidwell Park.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Rapid rehousing program assists those facing homelessness due to Park Fire 5:49

6d ago5:49

5:49

The Park Fire continues to burn actively on its eastern perimeter in the Mill Creek drainage. Cal Fire said the fire was expected to remain active last night due to high temperatures, and no humidity recovery. Also, organizations in the North State are working to find housing for those experiencing homelessness. As the region now recovers from the …

1
City of Chico clears, reorganizes its alternative homeless camping site 7:50

7d ago7:50

7:50

Fifteen of about 60 people who’ve been staying at the city of Chico’s alternative campsite on Eaton and Cohasset roads will be able to return after an “encampment cleanup” conducted by the city. Also, the Park Fire is fairly calm in most areas, but is making a hard push in the Mill Creek drainage area of Tehama County, and the first human case of W…

1
Local assistance center opens today for those affected by Park Fire 4:46

8d ago4:46

4:46

An assistance center for survivors of the Park Fire is opening in Chico today. It’s located in the North Valley Plaza in the building that was formerly the 99 Cents Only store. Those affected by the fire can find resources at the center and talk to county and state officials. Also, the Park Fire has now reached more than 400,000 acres in size, and …

1
Park Fire: Hazards possible when you return after evacuating, how the Butte County Fire Safe Council is helping residents 12:40

11d ago12:40

12:40

Special coverage — Officials are warning those returning after being evacuated that hazards could be in the area. Also, the Butte County Fire Safe County’s mission is to help fire prone neighborhoods prepare for fire, and we continue to hear from evacuees about their experience and what they returned home to in the wake of the fire.…

1
Park Fire: What to expect this weekend, behavioral health resources at local assistance center 27:50

14d ago27:50

27:50

Special coverage — Right now the northeast side of the perimeter, near the Mill Creek area, is the main concern on the Park Fire as critical weather conditions are expected. Also, a local assistance center is being set up for Park Fire survivors. It opens Monday. And we hear from evacuees about their experience and what they returned home to in the…

1
Blue Dot: State of the oceans report with NASA oceanographer and climate scientist Josh Willis 51:38

11d ago51:38

51:38

Host Dave Schlom visits with his good friend, Josh Willis. Josh is an oceanographer and climate scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. \By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Some say prescribed burns could have prevented the Park Fire, but Chico’s fire chief says it’s not that simple 9:28

11d ago9:28

9:28

The City of Chico has a prescribed burning plan that includes parts of Bidwell Park. Some question whether the Park Fire might not have grown so intense or spread as far if there’d been a prescribed burn near the gully where it started. Also, evacuees have been telling NSPR about their experiences leaving and what they returned home to in the wake …

1
Park Fire: What can the 2021 Dixie Fire tell us about this fire? 27:48

12d ago27:48

27:48

Special coverage — Today we hear from Zeke Lunder, fire analyst and founder of the-lookout.org, about the parallels of the Park Fire and Dixie Fire that hit the North State three years ago. Both took off quickly, then went somewhat dormant. But the Dixie Fire ended up flaring up again, going on a “rampage” about two weeks later. The Park Fire has b…

1
Residents returning after Park Fire are being warned about possible active hotspots 8:09

12d ago8:09

8:09

Firefighters are working to mop up hotspots in communities, but Butte County’s fire chief says they don’t always get them all. He’s warning residents to be cautious when repopulating areas the fire burned through. Also, Tehama County’s sheriff says he’s taking a ‘no nonsense stance’ on anyone going behind fire lines, and when a wildfire superheats …

1
Park Fire: Forest Ranch water shut off in preparation for benzine testing, more on protecting yourself from wildfire smoke 8:49

12d ago8:49

8:49

Special coverage — Many residents in Forest Ranch don’t have access to drinkable water following the Park Fire. Some have had their water shut off entirely, while others are under a boil advisory. That’s because the water could be contaminated by benzine, a carcinogen released from superheated pipes. Also, many residents in the North State are worr…

1
Park Fire: Officials say upcoming weather could pose challenges, concern about air quality due to smoke 27:28

12d ago27:28

27:28

Special coverage — Officials have been responding to the Park Fire for a week now. We bring you the latest update. Also, many residents in the North State are worried about air quality in the region due to smoke from the fire. And we’ve been speaking with those evacuated from the fire. In this episode we hear from Paradise resident Natalie Hurst ab…

1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Country and religion with Gayle Kimball 53:00

14d ago53:00

53:00

Retired professor Gayle Kimball taught courses in world religions at California State University Chico. Her 26th book explores religious issues by interviewing people from 13 countries.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Residents impacted by Park Fire may be eligible for insurance aid 5:11

13d ago5:11

5:11

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced insurance protections for those impacted by the Park Fire. He also reminded residents about common aid available through their insurance policies. Also, we get an update on Forest Ranch where residents have been returning home after being evacuated, and officials say they’re opening a local assistance c…

1
Park Fire: Local assistance center being created, arson suspect appears in court 22:21

14d ago22:21

22:21

Special coverage — Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter, whose district covers both Cohasset and Forest Ranch, says the county is working to support the community with a local assistance center similar to the one created for the 2018 Camp Fire. Also, the man suspected of starting the Park Fire was charged with arson yesterday, and the North Valley A…

1
Park Fire: Insurance help, returning to Forest Ranch 21:45

19d ago21:45

21:45

Special coverage — The California Department of Insurance said if those affected by the Park Fire have insurance it may help with evacuation and relocation costs. Also, we head to Forest Ranch, where residents there were able to return home yesterday after an evacuation order for the area was downgraded. And we hear from NSPR staff about how the st…

1
Best of Blue Dot: The amazing undersea world of sharks with Dave Ebert, aka "The Lost Shark Guy" 51:36

18d ago51:36

51:36

Host Dave Schlom visits with Dr. David Ebert, one of the world's foremost experts on sharks. Dave is the Director of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Mother and son travel to Ukraine for a newborn 53:00

22d ago53:00

53:00

Chico author Emily Gallo used her own experiences traveling to Ukraine with her son to pick up his baby, who was born to a surrogate, to fashion a suspenseful story about a mother and son who traveled to war-torn Ukraine.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Blue Dot: Meet the Beetles! A conversation with Caltech entomologist Joseph Parker 51:38

26d ago51:38

51:38

Host Dave Schlom visits with Dr. Joseph Parker, entomologist and beetle expert and head of the Parker Lab at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Two guests offer advice based on their own life experiences 53:00

1M ago53:00

53:00

A retired literature professor and occupational therapist offer life advice based on their respective work.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Blue Dot: The greatest photograph of all: Earthrise and the man who took it, William Anders 51:37

1M ago51:37

51:37

Blue Dot pays tribute to one of the most iconic photographs ever taken, Earthrise, taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on Christmas Eve, 1968.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Blue Dot: State of the lake: a conversation with UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center scientists 51:36

1M ago51:36

51:36

Host Dave Schlom is joined by two scientists from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) to discuss the state of one of the crown jewels of the Sierra, Lake Tahoe.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler

1
Best of Nancy's Bookshelf: Jennifer Jewell takes us on a journey that mirrors the life cycle of seeds 53:00

2M ago53:00

53:00

Cultivating Place Host Jennifer Jewell's book "What We Sow" brings readers on a year-long journey exploring the impact of one of nature's most miniature manifestations—the simple seed.By Nancy Wiegman, Matt Fidler

1
Blue Dot: In memoriam: Blue Dot's 2022 tribute to Ed Stone 51:37

2M ago51:37

51:37

Blue Dot revisits an episode in which we profiled the amazing career of one of America's greatest space scientists, Ed Stone. Stone passed away on June 9 at the age of 88.By Dave Schlom, Matt Fidler