By John Flynn and Raheem F. Hosseini
Trumpcare humiliated
On March 24, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan pulled his pet legislation, the American Health Care Act, due to disastrous estimates that 24 million people would lose their health coverage, rampant unpopularity and insufficient party support. California Rep. Ami Bera estimated this saved the coverage of 100,000 people in Sacramento County alone. Congresswoman Doris Matsui called the retreat “a victory for American families, whose health care was on the line if this Trumpcare bill had passed.” Never one to miss an opportunity for pettiness, America’s so-called dealmaker in chief is already planning to undercut and sabotage the Affordable Care Act rather than work with Congress to improve the flawed law. Donald Trump is sicker than we thought.
+ 100,000
Sacking Oakland
On March 27, NFL owners approved the Oakland Raiders’ move to Las Vegas in 2019. Led by Fresno State alum and rookie sensation Derek Carr, the iconic (yet frequently dysfunctional) team just had its first solid season since getting mollywhopped in the 2002 Super Bowl. Raider Nation deserved better after their unwavering, delirious devotion to this team. But the biggest losers are the Nevada taxpayers who will be forced to fork over $750 million on a stadium to house brain-rattling, costumed warplay to amuse drunk, gambling tourists.
– 750
Hats off
Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein recently designed two hats for the team store: a “crispy” white one and retro, red leather one. As far as flat-brimmed fitteds go, they’re fine. But what makes them more appealing is that up to $5,000 of their sales will go to the Art Beast studio to help young adults pursue their creative passions—an even better decision than Willie dying his dread-tips blonde and purple, of which Scorekeeper also approves. All athletic millionaires should have ridiculous hair.
+ 15,000
Gig gag
Continuing his comeback from his latest DUI run-in, Sacramento-famous broadcaster Mark S. Allen added yet another job to his gig-economy resume. On Monday, Allen was named the new morning show host at his old radio station, NOW 100.5 KZZO-FM, where he’ll hold down the 5:30-10 a.m. slot. Allen also appears on ABC10's Morning Blend, which picked him up after he was let go from CBS Local’s Good Day Sacramento, and hosts Extra Butter, a weekly show about movies for people who don’t care about movies. In a statement, CBS Radio’s vice president of programming, Chad Rufer, called his new employee “one of the hardest working people show business.” Is that necessarily a good thing?
– 100.5
Greek to us
March 25 marked the grand opening of the new Family Center attached to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation—hosts of the popular food and culture extravaganza, the Sacramento Greek Festival. Costing $13 million and boasting 43,000 square feet, the building will house a multitude of community events and bring the festival back to East Sacramento after 30 years at the Convention Center. Opa!
+ 13
Breath uneasy
On March 25, the California Air Resource Board unanimously voted to maintain the state’s lofty emissions standards, currently requiring automakers to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, which 12 other states also adopted. But on Sunday, EPA chief Scott Pruitt announced President Donald Trump will likely roll back the Obama administration’s “Clean Power Plan,” which regulates the emissions of coal power plants. Too bad we can’t build a wall to keep out the rest of the country’s air.
– CO2
