News

People Priced Out Of Salinas, California, Look To The Ballot

October 20, 2018

Salinas is one of the least affordable places in America, reflecting a housing crisis in California's rural and urban areas alike.

California Rolling Forward With Pot Delivery Regulations

October 19, 2018

The proposal is a major issue that could ultimately end up in court as the state continues to set myriad rules for how pot is grown, tested, packaged and delivered since recreational sales became legal Jan. 1.

Environment

Trump Wants To Cut Red Tape, Hasten Water Projects In California, Pacific Northwest

October 19, 2018

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the government to speed up environmental reviews and streamline regulations on major water projects, a boost for endangered Republican lawmakers in California's Central Valley facing reelection challenges.

Business Journal: Cannabis Production Campus, Lincoln Annexation Plans, Flako's Takos Expansion

October 19, 2018

In southeast Sacramento, construction is expected to begin within weeks on a $50 million cannabis production facility. Scott Rodd from the Sacramento Business Journal has that story, plus news about Flako's Takos and the city of Lincoln.

Drake's Brewery Set To Open In West Sacramento Barn Building

October 18, 2018 | Bob Moffitt

The Barn is a giant wooden building that's part structure and part sculpture in West Sacramento. It has not had a full-time use since its creation in 2016, but will soon open as a full-time brewery and restaurant.

State Government

California Revisits Three-Strike Life Sentences

October 18, 2018

Up to 4,000 California inmates serving life sentences for nonviolent convictions could be paroled following the state's decision to let stand a judge's ruling saying those prisoners are eligible for freedom under a voter-approved law.

Health Care

Proposition 4 Could Boost Funding For California Children’s Hospitals

October 18, 2018 | Sammy Caiola

If Proposition 4 passes, $1.5 billion in state bonds would help hospitals make beds seismically compliant, redesign neonatal units and purchase new equipment.

PolitiFact California

PolitiFact California: Fact-Checking Claims In California’s U.S. Senate Race

October 18, 2018

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her challenger in California’s U.S. Senate race Kevin de León made several claims that caught our attention during their only scheduled campaign forum this week in San Francisco.

State Government

Proposition 2: At Issue Is Housing For 20,000 Mentally Ill Homeless People in California

October 18, 2018 | Randol White

The money would come from existing “Millionaire Tax,” which opponents says hurts ongoing mental health programs.

Insight With Beth Ruyak

Humanizing Homelessness Through Fiction

October 18, 2018

Before he retired, Timothy Brown was Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes, Inc. and an advocate for people experiencing homelessness in Sacramento. Now a writer, he just published his first novel, a historical mystery called “Squatter’s Gold.”

West Coast Quake Warning System Now Operational, With Limits

October 17, 2018

The system detects that an earthquake is occurring, quickly analyzes the data and sends out alerts that may give warnings before strong shaking arrives at locations away from the epicenter.

California Agency, Gas Tax Backers Worked Closely Together

October 17, 2018

As the battle to overturn California's gas tax increase intensified, the state transportation agency coordinated frequently with the public affairs firm working to block the repeal on behalf of unions, construction companies and local governments.

State Government

What’s Behind All Those DMV Voter-Registration Snafus? ‘Motor Voter’ May Have Launched With Makeshift Computer System

October 17, 2018

The DMV launched California’s new “motor voter” system in April without the proper computer program in place, advocates say, likely contributing to recent snafus and errors on more than 100,000 voter registrations.

Food and Sustainability

When Does Smoke Actually Result In Tainted Wine Grapes? It’s Complicated.

October 17, 2018 | Julia Mitric

In the wake of 2017’s devastating wildfires, California’s growers and winemakers are worried about grapes exposed to smoke. The industry is funding a UC Davis researcher to study “smoke taint” to find out what can be done.

Sacramento Roadways Ranked Among Worst In Nation In TRIP Report

October 17, 2018 | Drew Sandsor

Sacramento’s roads and highways placed among the worst in the nation in a new report by TRIP, a national nonprofit that rates road conditions. The Bay Area’s roads and highways were ranked the worst in the U.S.

Senate Candidates Dianne Feinstein And Kevin De Leon Share The Stage In San Francisco

October 17, 2018 | Nadine Sebai

California's candidates for U.S. Senate spoke on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in a conversation organized by the Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco.

County Supervisors Reject Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones’ Plan To Change Oversight Of His Department

October 17, 2018 | Bob Moffitt

An effort by Jones to obstruct and remove investigative authority went before the county on Tuesday — and a majority of supervisors were not pleased.

Insight With Beth Ruyak

PolitiFact CA: Proposition 10

October 17, 2018

There are many claims being made about Proposition 10 on both sides. PolitiFact CA Reporter Christ Nichols does some fact checking.

Insight With Beth Ruyak

Work Equity President Surveys Changes A Year Into #MeToo Movement

October 17, 2018

After a year of public discussion and legislative reforms in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Work Equity President Pamela Lopez reflects on how much has and has not changed for women in the workforce.

Citations Increase Along American River Parkway Even Though Sacramento County Rangers Stopped Enforcing Illegal Camping Ordinance

October 17, 2018 | Bob Moffitt

A recent court decision prompted the county to stop ticketing for camping near the river. Instead, rangers are charging people with infractions such as littering, having dogs off leash and other crimes.