Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why Chico State’s new national rankings matter for local students and families

Be sure to catch Founder's Friday Event on the Chico Patch calendar

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What's up Chico! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

Need to get the word out about a local event in Chico? Posting to Patch's local calendar is free and gets your event in front of Patch newsletter readers and quickly found by search engines and AI platforms. You can also share your event to nearby communities for as little at 25 cents per day. Click here to get started.

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Chico State's new national rankings matter for local students and families
  • How booming walnut and rice harvests are reshaping Butte County's economy
  • How much wildfire safety funding is coming directly into Chico?

Also on today's calendar: Annual Car Show at the 79th Corning Olive Festival! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Do you know what the two sides of a circle are? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Chico Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Chico Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Partly sunny and warm, with a high of 94 and low of 64 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 86, low: 59.
  • Saturday: Sunshine and some clouds, with a high of 84 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Chico State Earns Top Marks in 2027 US News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings (csuchico.edu) — Chico State just climbed in the 2027 U.S. News rankings, now #8 among Western public universities and #8 for Best Value in the West, reinforcing its strong reputation right in Chico. The university also earned national recognition for engineering, social mobility, veterans' support, and overall value. These rankings can influence local enrollment, jobs, and community pride.
   

2. Butte County agriculture reported $702.7 million production value in 2025 (krcrtv.com) — Butte County agriculture generated $702.7 million in 2025, with big gains in walnuts, rice, and almonds that help drive the Chico-area economy. Higher yields, more acreage, and better prices fueled the jump, even as farmers faced rising costs. Local readers can see how dominant tree nuts and rice remain in supporting jobs and regional stability.
   

3. PG&E Corporation Foundation awards $1 million in wildfire safety grants (actionnewsnow.com) — Chico Fire-Rescue and local nonprofit From the Ground Up Farms are receiving tens of thousands of dollars in wildfire safety grants, boosting equipment and preparedness close to home. They're among several Butte and neighboring county agencies sharing $1 million from the PG&E Corporation Foundation and California Fire Foundation to fund gear, vegetation work, and fire-safety education across high-risk communities.
   

4. Silver Dollar Fair and Junior Livestock Show to reunite in 2027 (actionnewsnow.com) — Chico-area families can look forward to the Silver Dollar Fair and Junior Livestock Show reuniting in May 2027, restoring the traditional all-in-one fair experience. Organizers say the change follows community concerns after construction forced separate events, and they're already planning entries and livestock details that will again showcase work by Chico 4H and Butte County youth.
   

5. Upset community members clash with solar farm developer (chicosol.org) — A proposed 300-megawatt solar farm off Skyway is drawing intense pushback from nearby residents even as Cenergy Power prepares to seek fast-track state approval. With Butte County and Chico set to be auto-enrolled in Pioneer Community Energy by 2027, locals are weighing clean-energy benefits against concerns over tree removal, wildlife impacts, and a process many feel came too late to the public.
   

📸 Around Chico

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Chico

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📣 Chico Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Dylan and his team were amazing to work with.
    They showed up on time and were very detailed painters. They did an amazing house painting job with zero messes to clean up behind them. He was an… (Nextdoor 4th Ave and Warner)
  • Had an absolutely wonderful dinner at the soft opening of Lili's Brazilian Steakhouse.
    The venue is very elegant and posh, and the flavors reminded me so much of my time in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Best wishes for long term success,… (Nextdoor Cussick Bell)
  • The Retail Outsource Group posted a job opening for Retail Assembly Tech in Chico. Apply here.
  • Enloe Health posted a job opening for Distribution Clk (Driver) - Central Services (Full Time, Nights) in Chico. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Chico here.

Ok Chico! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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