Student architects advance in green competition - Three Cosumnes River College students, mentored by personnel from local firm HMC Architects, have won the first round of the US Green Building Council's 2008 Natural Design Competition. Sacramento Bee article

Four of five Central Valley CSUs to get more solar power - An alternative financing method known as a power-purchase agreement is paying for the panels. The agreement allows CSU to buy renewable power at or below current retail rates while avoiding the cost of installing the system. Central Valley Business Times article

Burn rules go before air board - The Butte County Air Quality Management District board on Thursday will decide whether to extend a modified voluntary fireplace-use ban on high-pollution days this winter. Oroville Mercury Record article

TCRCD hosts grazing seminar and reception - This event, which is one of several events taking place as part of the Farm – City Week, is meant to encourage support of our ranching community and highlight the importance of grazing and valley floor agriculture. Corning Observer article

Chico City Council unanimously OKs Chico Volkswagen expansion - A controversial expansion of Chico Volkswagen gained the unanimous approval of the Chico City Council Tuesday night. Chico Enterprise Record article

Where to grow? Supervisors ponder choices -Two of Yuba County Supervisor Don Schrader's concerns with the county's attempts to plan for growth over the next 20 years are what to do with the foothills and how to develop the Highway 65 corridor around Beale Air Force Base. Redding Record Searchlight article

River parkway push is funded - A later part of an improvement package for which city council members approved accepting $757,800 in state grant money Oct. 14 is a remaining leg of cycle trail that currently nearly circles Lake Natoma. Folsom Telegraph article

Is Chico's Budget Balanced? - There are a few points that need to be made when discussing the problems facing Chico's money woes. Commission Impossible Blog

Budget urgency would reassure Redding's voters - Calm, cool and collected seems to be the winning political style this year, but it would be far more reassuring to see a sense of urgency from the city of Redding about the state of its finances amid the continuing economic slump. Redding Record Searchlight editorial

Shasta gets 'C' on child health - A children's advocacy group today awarded a "C" grade to Shasta County children's level of health, safety and readiness to learn. Redding Record Searchlight article

New Directions to Hope receives grant from Garth Brooks' Foundation - Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation has awarded a $2,400 grant to New Directions to Hope, a local, non-profit counseling center with offices in Redding and Red Bluff as well as a satellite office in Corning and a mobile counseling unit to provide services in various locations within the community. Red Bluff Daily News article