Federal Housing Bill and CA | San Joaquin Valley Seniors Living Alone | Fort Sutter Racing Pigeon Club
Seventh-graders Emily Dvorak (second from right) and Lily Wiechert (right) release a group of racing pigeons near Katherine L. Albiani Middle School Friday, April 17, 2026, in Elk Grove.
Sarit Laschinsky/CapRadio
Federal Housing Bill and CA
Congress recently passed federal housing legislation aimed at boosting construction across the country. But will this bi-partisan bill help put a dent in the nation’s housing shortage? The 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law over the weekend without much fanfare, even though it's the largest piece of housing legislation to come out of D.C. in a generation. CalMatters Housing Reporter Ben Christopher joins us today to explain how this bill will affect California and why it became law without President Trump’s signature.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.
San Joaquin Valley Seniors Living Alone
In 2023, the U.S census found that 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves. That number has been steadily increasing over the years as society has changed. In the 1950s census data showed only 1 in 10 adults of any age lived alone. Here in California, the number of seniors living alone in the Central Valley is one in five, a 30% increase since 2012. While many modern-day seniors appreciate their independence, doctors warn there are significant health risks when living alone becomes loneliness. Tim Sheehan is a senior reporter with The Intersection, a health equity reporting lab and part of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. He wrote about the rise of people over the age of 65 living alone and the possible negative health effects associated with it and he joins us today.
Fort Sutter Racing Pigeon Club
For decades, the Fort Sutter Racing Pigeon Club in Sacramento has been raising generations of potential feathered champions, putting their skills to the test with long-distance flights over the Eastern Sierra. Some of these competitors are also being raised by young caretakers within the Elk Grove Unified School District, preparing for their first races next month. Club President Jim Looper and club members Valeriy Khrystov and Sergio Perez talk about the sport of pigeon racing, and how their interest in the bird goes beyond just race results.
