Health CareDeadly restraint: Despite decades of warnings, police continue holding people facedown.February 28, 2024Since the 1990s, law enforcement officials and medical experts have cautioned about the dangers of police-prone restraint, especially when people are high on stimulants or experiencing a mental health crisis.
Sacramento RegionSacramento mayoral candidate profile: Former state Senator Dr. Richard PanFebruary 28, 2024 | Chris NicholsPan said there’s no shortage of ideas for how to solve Sacramento’s homelessness crisis. Instead, he argues there’s a lack of follow through. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Health CareThe rate of antidepressants prescribed to young people surged during the pandemicFebruary 27, 2024Researchers analyzed a sample of about 221 million prescriptions from 2016 to 2022, in Americans between the ages of 12 and 25. The increase was prominent among young women and girls.
EnvironmentWildfires are killing California's ancient giants. Can seedlings save the species?February 27, 2024Extreme wildfires have destroyed about one-fifth of all giant sequoia trees. To safeguard their future, the National Park Service is planting seedlings that could better survive a hotter climate.
Sacramento RegionSacramento mayoral candidate profile: Assembly member Kevin McCartyFebruary 27, 2024 | Chris NicholsMcCarty served on the Sacramento City Council from 2004 until he was elected to the state Assembly in 2014. He said finding housing for the hundreds who camp along the American River Parkway would be among his top priorities as mayor. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State GovernmentAnother Newsom recall attempt is ramping up. Here’s a refresher on the California recall process.February 26, 2024 | Nicole NixonThere have been many attempts to recall elected officials in California over the years but few actually make it to the ballot. Here’s what needs to happen.
Education$50,000 given to Del Paso Heights high school to change the future of Black and brown youthFebruary 26, 2024 | Srishti PrabhaThe Associated Student Body at Grant Union High School is receiving $50,000 from Golden 1 Credit Union, thanks to two students — Leah Nelson and Andrea Chaparro.
Arts and LifestyleWhy do we leap day? We remind you (so you can forget for another 4 years)February 26, 2024Why do we have leap years, and what are we supposed to do — or not do — with our rare extra day? NPR's Morning Edition spoke with experts in astronomy, history and economics to find out.
Sacramento RegionSacramento mayoral candidate profile: Former city council member Steve HansenFebruary 26, 2024 | Chris NicholsHansen is the only major candidate for mayor who said they’ve experienced homelessness. He has arguably the most conservative plans for how to deal with the problem. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Sacramento RegionSacramento Measure C: What you need to know about the business tax on the March 2024 ballotFebruary 26, 2024 | Kristin LamCity of Sacramento voters in the March 2024 election will decide whether to pass a controversial update to the business operations tax.
EnvironmentNASA is looking for people to test out its Mars simulator for a yearFebruary 23, 2024The agency is accepting applicants for the second cohort of its Mars simulator mission. Participants will live and work from a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot facility at NASA's Houston space center.
State GovernmentCalifornia lawmakers say reparations bills, which exclude widespread payments, are a starting pointFebruary 23, 2024California's Legislative Black Caucus is pushing for lawmakers to pass more than a dozen reparations proposals. The proposals include banning forced prison labor and paying Black families whose property was unfairly seized by the government.
Sacramento RegionCapRadio adds 9 new members to station’s board of directorsFebruary 22, 2024 | Chris NicholsThe move comes after the majority of the board resigned last fall in the wake of a critical financial audit of the Sacramento-based NPR station.
State GovernmentWaiting and sweltering: Why are California’s indoor heat protections for workers five years late?February 22, 2024In March, the state is finally set to approve rules to protect workers from excessive heat indoors. Officials busted a 2019 deadline — a delay that demonstrates California’s byzantine rulemaking process.
EducationLiving history and legacies: Teaching Black history in Sacramento classroomsFebruary 22, 2024 | Srishti PrabhaFebruary is Black History Month and schools like Sacramento Charter High School are shaping their curriculum to include the rich Black history of Sacramento.
State GovernmentCalifornia's Proposition 1 is complicated. Here's how it could affect the people most in need.February 22, 2024 | Kate WolffeAmong other things, the proposition would change the terms of the Mental Health Services Act, a law passed by voters in 2004 that uses a 1% tax on high earners to help pay for mental health services.
State GovernmentU.S. Senate contenders make their final debate argumentsFebruary 21, 2024Democrats Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey face off in their third and final televised debate in the U.S. Senate primary. California voters have two more weeks to turn in their ballots.
State Government10 years after promise, California still hasn’t included undocumented immigrants in cell phone subsidiesFebruary 21, 2024California in 2014 decided undocumented people could qualify for LifeLine, a program that helps low income families afford internet and cell service. A decade later undocumented people still can’t get it.
EnvironmentSaturated California gets more rain and snow, but so far escapes severe damage it saw only weeks agoFebruary 20, 2024Much of saturated California remains under threat of floods as the latest winter storm blows through, but so far the state has escaped the severity of damage spawned by a recent atmospheric river.
Housing and HomelessnessHow far can cities go to clear homeless camps? The U.S. Supreme Court will decideFebruary 20, 2024Lower courts have said it's unconstitutional to punish people for sleeping outside if no shelter is available. Cities say these rulings have paralyzed their efforts to manage growing tent encampments.
Up First NewsletterHousing costs keep inflation stubborn; New report on Maui wildfires releasedApril 18, 2024Inflation is proving stubborn this year, and the cost of rent may be to blame. Hawaii's attorney general has released the first report into last year's Maui fires.
NationalAmid concerns about kids and guns, some say training is the answer April 18, 2024The number of U.S. children dying from gunshot wounds has climbed in recent years. Keeping guns out of reach is one way to curb the trend — others argue to teach kids to handle guns responsibly.
WUSF-FM | Shots - Health NewsGuns are killing more U.S. children. Shooting survivors can face lifelong challengesApril 18, 2024Guns are now the leading cause of death among American children. And many more children are injured in shootings, putting them at risk for life-altering disability, pain, and mental trauma.
WorldA portrait of Haitians trying to survive without a governmentApril 18, 2024Haiti is on the verge of collapse, with little to no government. But many Haitians have already learned to live without the support of the state, as NPR discovered traveling to Cap-Haïtien.
EconomyMany baby boomers own homes that are too big. Can they be enticed to sell them?April 18, 2024Lots of older Americans say they'd love to downsize, but it doesn't make financial sense. The housing roadblock has left some would-be buyers stuck. We asked experts what policies could change that.
HechRep | EducationCollege is hard enough — try doing it while raising kidsApril 18, 2024More than 5 million college students are also parents. But many colleges do little to support them. Most don't even offer child care.
SpaceCOMIC: Our sun was born with thousands of other stars. Where did they all go?April 18, 2024Our sun was born in a cosmic cradle with thousands of other stars. Astrophysicists say they want to find these siblings in order to help answer the question: Are we alone out there?
InvestigationsStates botched more executions of Black prisoners. Experts think they know why April 18, 2024A study showed states made more mistakes when executing Black prisoners by lethal injection than they did with prisoners of other races. Execution workers and race experts said they're not surprised.