I’ve heard it said a number of times: The coronavirus didn’t cause the issues we see today, it only exacerbated them. It’s with this thought that I’ve been focusing my reporting lens as I’ve covered this pandemic and its impacts on underserved and immigrant communities. Many of the issues that have come up during this time, like accessibility to resources and access to government, have always been there, but the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shut down has just made them worse. 

Even in the best of times, underserved communities are typically the places that require the most on-the-ground, in-person reporting, because of unfamiliarity and sometimes a distrust of the media. Pre-coronavirus, I would go to community centers without hesitation and hold one-on-one meetings to build relationships. Now, that’s obviously much harder. 

I’m still trying to do as much of that in-person reporting as possible — with more concern and protection ahead of time — but covering this beat will always require some in-person interaction. I wear a face mask, and I carry a boom microphone, but I won’t lie and say it hasn’t still been scary to be inside a restaurant kitchen or in a source’s bedroom while watching the number of coronavirus cases go up. 

The simple truth is that sometimes, the story won’t get told unless you’re there in person, and I accept that fact and the risk it entails. I have always felt and continue to feel that telling the stories of immigrants and those in need is important and that having their voices heard matters — even if they aren’t always the voices that are easy to get by phone or email. 

I think now more than ever, we are going to see these underserved communities suffering, and with the added difficulty of quarantine, we will naturally hear less from them. I see it as my responsibility as a journalist, and CapRadio’s as a community-serving station, to keep an eye on them, and to make sure others don’t forget about them. 

Sarah Mizes-Tan
News Reporter

A Deeper Dive

Protest At Capitol Targets California’s Stay-At-Home Order, Demonstrators Ignore Social-Distancing Guidelines

Sacramento Deploying Wi-Fi Hotspot Buses To Provide Access In 'Digital Deserts' During Stay-At-Home

Here Are Some Ways To Help Californians Impacted By COVID-19

California Aims To Connect Farms Dumping Goods To Desperate Food Banks

Reporting on the outdoors from the indoors might seem a little oxymoronic, but that's (mostly) my reality during this pandemic. However, topics about the environment haven't stopped because of COVID-19, and in many cases, they've become more pronounced — think of all this good air because people aren't driving much, animals wandering streets and challenges for industries that better our world.

As an outdoorsy guy, I'm somewhat made for working alone. Usually, I report in fields and forests and on rivers and lakes with my recorder, microphone and hiking boots. But now I report from my apartment. Being solitary — with my cats, internet and phone — suits me and has allowed me to take a deep dive into the links between COVID-19 and the environment.

Since the pandemic began, I've looked into whether California's bats can catch COVID-19, how the state is preparing for a double whammy of sheltering in place and wildfire, and how some want to use this moment to roll back environmental rules. 

I have reported on the effects of climate change in California for almost a decade and it's a crisis that's been around for longer than COVID-19. It's affecting all types of species because it's altering the ecosystems they call home. With the impacts of the pandemic all around us, policies about climate change could slip through the cracks, but youth, politicians and citizens working hard — on social media, through legislation and with — on social media, through legislation and with chalk — to make sure it stays top of mind.

Even though I'm not out in the field much, for the time being, I'm happy to learn and tell you about the connections I find between COVID-19 and the natural world we live in.

Ezra David Romero
Environment Reporter

As the COVID-19 crisis touched all parts of our lives this spring, I focused my reporting on the pandemic’s economic toll. As millions of Californians lost jobs and income, worried about paying rent or being evicted, and struggled to navigate the state’s complex and overwhelmed unemployment system, our newsroom received scores of questions from workers who saw their livelihoods vanish and turned to us for answers and resources.

Recently, we published a Q&A offering guidance for unemployment seekers during the outbreak. This work marked a shift from my traditional role debunking politicians’ false claims as CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter. However, we produced several fact checks and explainer articles during this time and plan more in the future. Most notably, we found Gov. Gavin Newsom failed to offer key context in his claim that 56 percent of Californians would get infected with the virus. We also separated fact from fiction on bogus statements about the origin of the coronavirus and phony cures.

I now do most of my work in the busy confines of my home, which also serves as an elementary school for my son, Michael, and daughter, Abigail, as well as a job center for my wife, Jennifer, who teaches high school. I know CapRadio will continue as a vital resource during this time of crisis and beyond. I am proud to contribute to this service.

Chris Nichols
Politifact California Reporter

32 Arrests At Sacramento Protest Demanding End To California’s Stay-At-Home Order

California’s Road Map For Lifting Coronavirus Stay-Home Order Suggests Long-Term Changes To Everyday Life

Some California Businesses Could Reopen As Soon As Friday, Gov. Newsom Says

As COVID-19 has spread in California, we’ve heard from a lot of you about a need for accurate data about the disease in your community. We know that, while statewide numbers are interesting, they may not be the most useful as you try to make decisions about how to stay safe during this pandemic in your local area.

I’ve been working with data reporters at other stations, including KQED, KPCC and Louisville Public Media all the way out in Kentucky to gather accurate and relevant information for the communities we serve. That has included everything from tracking the confirmed cases in every California county, digging deep into how a COVID-19 surge would impact rural hospitals and investigating how small business loans were distributed across Sacramento.

The big thing to remember, and that I’ve been keeping in mind, is that there’s still a lot we don’t know about the spread of COVID-19 because of the lack of testing. Through this crisis, we’ll continue to bring you accurate data and context so you can keep up with how COVID-19 is impacting your life and community. Stay safe out there!

Emily Zentner
Data Reporter

The biggest change to my life as a reporter is the lack of face-to-face interaction. Though this is obviously safer for all concerned as we minimize the risk of spreading the virus, I really like interacting with people. In fact, I have always done my best to avoid interviews that weren't face to face because people's body language says a lot. But now, using Zoom and the voice memo or voice recorder apps on phones is vital to my ability to share stories from the capital region.

In the last few weeks the Sacramento region — like all regions — has seen a significant impact of the pandemic on small and local businesses. Much of my reporting has become focused on how COVID-19 is causing people to try to adapt to keep some income, even if it's a trickle.

Small business owners have no unemployment to draw on, and many I've spoken to don't know how to apply for small business loans or believe there is no money left. Employees in the bar/hospitality industry can apply for loans but, if granted, would only yield a couple of hundred dollars. In other cases, employees have been told not to wear masks because they might frighten customers. Finally, people who work outside of mainstream industries, in saddle-making and camping excursions, for instance, have been hurt by the pandemic in multiple ways.

Bob Moffitt
Sacramento Region Reporter

Video Shows White Sacramento County Deputy Punching, Slamming Head Of Black 14-Year-Old

New ‘America First,’ ‘Ronald Reagan’ Street Signs Stir Up Controversy In Sacramento's Crocker Village Neighborhood​

Sunrise Mall Owner Buys Macy's Property

Sacramento’s New Budget Says It Can Balance Nearly $90 Million Shortfall Without Cuts Or Layoffs

CapRadio is offering our very first virtual author interview event on Thursday, May 21. Join host Donna Apidone and New York Times best-selling author and journalist Julia Flynn Siler as they discuss her novel The White Devil's Daughters. Siler illuminates a little known part of American history and tells the story of both the women who dared to escape imprisonment and the women who defied authority to help them.

You can purchase your book or audiobook online here.

Local nonprofits are an essential part of our community, allowing for the needs of all to be better met and promoting cultural dialogue. But these organizations need support now to continue serving their community.

To help support local nonprofits in our community, CapRadio partners with Sacramento Region Community Foundation to  promote Big Day of Giving. With over 615 Sacramento region nonprofits participating, this official day of giving in an opportunity to help our community thrive. You can schedule a donation now on the Big Day of Giving website.

The COVID-19 crisis is currently leaving music in an ambiguous space. Leaving little to be known about how this time in our lives will shape current and future generations of musicians, only that it will leave a lasting impact. This month Classical Host Kevin Doherty selects pieces that illustrate the resilience of the human spirit and provide a beacon of hope.

Spring is a time for reflection and growth. As we near the end of the season and are dealing with isolation Jazz Host Avery Jeffry wants to take time to look back on reminders of the good times had and the good times to come. Including one that provides a perfect example of why slowing down might unexpectedly give you something incredible.

Don't forget to check out our Music Live Stream and our 24-Hour Jazz Stream!

CapRadio and NPR are accessible any time you want through your Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple Homepod smart speaker. To help you out, our digital products team put together a guide so you can easily stream the news and music you love.

In order to better serve our listeners, we now have a web page where you can check the status of our broadcast signals across our coverage areas. You can also report problems you're having and easily access other listening options through our online streaming, mobile app and more.