Seven Students Injured in Yuba City School Bus Collision
(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – Follow up to the three vehicle collision involving a school bus on the surface streets of Yuba City we reported on yesterday morning.
CHP reports officers responded just before 8:00 yesterday morning to a Yuba City school bus, “carrying approximately 10 special needs children” was unable to stop for northbound traffic on South Walton, which had stopped for a vehicle waiting to turn left on Cherry Street, rear-ending the vehicle in front of it. That vehicle then rear-ended the vehicle turning left.
There were no visible injuries to any of the students, but seven reportedly hit their heads on the seat-backs in front of them. “Out of an abundance of caution” they were taken to Adventist Health & Rideout for treatment.
None of the adults involved were injured.
The California Highway Patrol investigates all traffic crashes involving school busses with pupils on board, regardless of the jurisdiction, within California.
Storm Warnings from the Yuba County Office of Emergency Services
(YCOES release) – Several storms are rolling through starting today, bringing with them heavy amounts of rain and high gusts of wind.
Expect over an inch of rain over the next two days, and over 5 inches the rest of the week, so be on the lookout for some roadway flooding. Gusty winds could bring downed tree limbs and power outages. Please be sure you and your home are prepared for the weather to come: Have candles and flashlights ready, be sure your phones and medical equipment are charged, have plenty of blankets and warm clothes ready to go.
Oh, and there’s a freeze warning in Yuba County for tonight due to near-freezing overnight temperatures in the valley & foothills, and below-freezing temperatures in the mountains.
OES is in communication with other Yuba County departments and agencies, and will communicate any updates to you all as we receive them. Our Public Works team has been working to keep storm drains clear each day, and get our sandbagging station ready to go In the meantime, you can keep an eye on the various resources linked on our website BePreparedYuba.org like river levels and sandbag locations.
Wheatland Man Sentenced in COVID Fraud Scheme
(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – In Federal Court in Sacramento yesterday, 44-year-old Jason Toland of Wheatland was sentenced to 2 years and 11 months in prison for submitting false tax-credit claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Toland is ordered to pay $2,078,462 in restitution to the IRS and Small Business Administration.
According to court documents, Toland attempted to get $13,400,000 by filing multiple false tax returns, claiming refunds for the Employee Retention and Sick & Family Leave credits, by using made-up companies. Overall, he was able to obtain $1,950,000.
Sutter County Fire Department Announces End to Fire Season Today
(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – From the County of Sutter Administrator’s Office of Emergency Services, a notification that the Sutter County Fire Department will officially end the fire season at 5:00 pm today.
This will again, permit “open burning” in the Sutter Buttes for anyone with a valid fire permit issued by the Feather River Air Quality Management District. However, you’re asked to “please call” them to verify burn days.
Atmospheric River Set To Pound Yuba-Sutter
(Sacramento, CA) — A powerful storm is on its way to Northern California, including the Yuba-Sutter area, and many meteorologists say it’s undergoing a process called bombogenesis. This means the storm is rapidly gaining strength and dropping pressure very quickly, which can lead to more severe weather conditions compared to a milder storm.
Along with it comes an atmospheric river.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento says the storm is expected to last 48 to 72 hours. The storm is bringing a lot of rain and mountain snow, especially in Northern California and parts of Oregon.
The most significant impacts are expected through Friday, with some lingering effects into the weekend.
Study Reveals Wildfire Smoke Stunted California Nut Harvest
(Davis, CA) — A study out of UC Davis reveals that smoke from large wildfires in 2020 and 2021 harmed the nut harvest in California’s Central Valley, potentially indicating broader environmental issues and issues with production.
Researchers examined data from over 400 farms to see if wildfire smoke affected crops like pistachios, walnuts, and almonds. They found that smoke and ash blocked about 20-percent of sunlight needed by the trees, while harmful ozone from the fires made photosynthesis harder, significantly impacting nut production.
Experts suggest that smoke could impact not only nut trees but also forests and crops like grapevines, which bear fruit during fire season.
Sutter County Awarded Grant for Special Prosecution
The Sutter County District Attorney’s office will hire a designated deputy district attorney to prosecute driving under the influence cases, officials tell the media.
The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded Sutter County a
$223,000 dollar grant to support a specialized prosecution team that
handles alcohol and drug-impaired driving. The grant program runs
through September, 2025.
Bracing for an Atmospheric River
(NORTHERN CALIFORNIA) – The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Chico and much of Northern California, including Paradise, Redding, Red Bluff, Oroville and Marysville/Yuba City.
The watch is in effect from 10 p.m. tonight through 4 a.m. Saturday.
Heavy rain is expected to hit the region, with three to six inches of
rainfall is forecasted, and up to eight inches possible in the foothill
areas. The prolonged period of moderate to heavy rain could lead to
flooding due to excessive runoff.
The Flood Watch includes the Northern and Central Sacramento Valley, as well as the foothills of Shasta Lake, northern Shasta County, and western Colusa County. Flooding could occur, particularly in low-lying areas, along roads, and near rivers, creeks, and streams. Excessive runoff may cause sharp rises in water levels, with potential for ponding on roadways and localized flooding.
Yuba City School Bus Crashes Tuesday Morning
CHP Yuba Sutter reports that a school bus carrying students crashed into another vehicle near the intersection of S. Walton and Cherry St in Yuba City.
Though there were no serious injuries reported, seven students were transported as a precautionary measure. CHP Yuba Sutter did not list the cause of the accident.