Could a vacancy tax help housing affordability in Sacramento?
Councilmember Katie Valenzuela has asked city planning staff to look into how this tax could incentivize property managers to reduce rents By Alex Muegge This…
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Student loan debt: When refusing to pay is a solution
The best option for many overloaded borrowers may be to just say no, argues an organizer in the debt strike movement. By Angelika Albaladejo, Capital…
The Cold 52: Vicious Sacramento murder solved after half-a-century
A case that investigators never gave up on becomes the oldest homicide ever solved in Sacramento history Reflecting on the ominous nature of bloodshed, Nic…
The Watcher: smoke spotter at Sierra fire lookout is a safeguard for vulnerable mountain communities
By Howard Hardee Ken Jordan calls it “spotting smokes,” and it’s an easy job when the mountain air is clear: “Sometimes, it’s second nature to…
Senator Ben Allen, author of the legislation that drastically cuts plastic pollution in California, discusses how it came together—and what it means
At the end of June, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54, known as the plastics bill, which requires all packaging in the state to be…
As Feds dither, states and localities raise minimum wages
But where they don’t, millions of workers are stuck at the record-low federal floor. By Mark Kreidler, Capital & Main This story is produced by…
Bidding farewell to a hometown newspaper editor
Restaurant pathfinder Jerry Budrick realized a later life dream of becoming a one-of-a-kind journalist in the foothills. Now, that community mourns his passing. What is…
Winnemem Wintu Tribe keeps its culture of conservation strong through release of winter Chinook salmon eggs into the McCloud River
Tribe sees the survival of its heritage tied to plight of endangered fish By Dan Bacher For eight decades, winter-run Chinook salmon were absent from…
Kaiser mental health workers signal open-ended strike in Northern California
By Jocelyn Wiener for CalMatters A union representing 2,000 Kaiser Northern California mental health workers this morning announced plans for an open-ended strike beginning Aug….
Analysis: ‘We Own This City’ is the series that both sides of the police reform debate should be talking about
A real story of deep-rooted corruption, questionable incentives and the work of oversight investigators details how problems grow and are confronted in troubled departments …
A wine country filmmaker looked and found Roundup, the weedkiller tied to cancer, ‘everywhere’
Brian Lilla’s Children of the Vine examines the herbicide’s legacy on the state’s famous wine trails. By Evelyn Nieves, Capital & Main This story is produced by…
Sacramento city manager discusses why the city now seeks community input when selecting the police or fire chief, while activists call for more transparency
By Stephen Maganini, the Sacramento Observer This story is co-published with The Sacramento Observer, a newspaper with more than 58 years of bringing public service journalism…
Cornerstone of the future? Sacramento orgs and agencies team up for a new experimental housing model
Nonprofits work with SMUD for large, affordable and sustainable housing project in the south city By Ken Magri In an effort to accommodate 400 local…
What does Bill Hall think about his new role at SEIU Local 1000? Quite a bit.
Hear from Bill Hall, the newly selected president of the SEIU 1000, on his role with the union and its future.
In the face of federal inaction, local governments tackle labor issues
The L.A. City Council’s recent approval of a hotel worker protection measure is part of a growing trend. By Mark Kreidler, Capital & Main This…
Sacramento prosecutors get multiple human trafficking convictions, some tied to near-fatal attacks, ‘horrific’ dog abuse
It started when a woman rushed to a fire stationhouse, pleading for help as she bled from deep stab wounds to her stomach. The Sacramento…
Freed from San Quentin and facing deportation, a prison activist seeks Newsom pardon
After a lifetime in the U.S., a Cambodian-born parolee faces imminent expulsion unless California’s governor grants him clemency. By Frances Madeson, Capital & Main This…