Q: how to permanently unlock  "local items" keychain

Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried, testing after each one. Back up all data before making any changes.

Step 1

Open the iCloud preference pane and uncheck the Keychain box. You'll be prompted to delete the local iCloud keychain. Confirm. Then re-check the box. Follow one of the procedures described in this support article to set up iCloud Keychain on an additional device.

Step 2

Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:

~/Library/Keychains

In the Finder, select

          Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return. A folder named "Keychains" should open. There should be a file in that folder with the name "login.keychain". If there is also a file iwith the name "login_renamed_1.keychain", then please do as follows:

☞ Rename login.keychain to "login-old.keychain".

☞ Rename login_renamed_1.keychain to "login.keychain".

You can then close the folder. 

Delete the login keychain from the keychain list in Keychain Access. Choose

           Delete References

when prompted, not Delete References & Files.

Select

          File ▹ Add Keychain...

from the menu bar. Add back the file now named "login.keychain". If any of your needed keychain items are missing from it, also add back the file now named "login-old.keychain". I suggest you transfer any needed items from that keychain to the login keychain, then delete it. The transfers are made by drag-and-drop in Keychain Access. You'll need to enter your password for each item transferred.

Quit Keychain Access.