The Sacramento Region's 2020 In Photos

Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the California National Guard in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the same week he declared a statewide stay-at-home order. 

As the pandemic wore on, demonstrations against the state's stay-at-home order began at the state Capitol. See more of the May 1 protest in photos here.

Eloisa Contreras, owner of Xochitl's Flowers on Fruitridge arranges a Mother's Day bouquet ordered for curbside pickup on Friday May 8, 2020 Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California began easing restrictions on businesses in May, allowing some businesses to start to reopen.

Demonstrators march down L Street in support of Black lives on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

People work on chalk art in support of Black lives outside Sacramento City Hall on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Demonstrators gathered in Sacramento for weeks of protests following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, leading city officials to call for a curfew. See more photos from the June 3 demonstrations here.

A CalFire crew rests to eat 48 hours into a shift fighting the Bear Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California experienced its largest wildfire season on record in 2020, with millions of acres burning across the state. In September, at least 20,000 residents in parts of Butte and Yuba counties near Oroville were given evacuation orders because of the Bear Fire, part of the North Complex fires that eventually killed 16 people.

President Donald Trump arrives at McClellan Park, Monday, Sept 14, 2020, meeting with Gov. Gavin Newsom to discuss recent wildfires in California. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

President Donald Trump maintained forest management is the key to preventing California’s deadly fires and predicted “it’ll start getting cooler” when presented with facts about climate change during his visit to Sacramento In September. 

Sara Rose Thibaut of Folsom adds to a memorial for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the California state Capitol Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September, inspiring memorials across the country, including at the state Capitol in Sacramento.

Firefighters defend a home along CA-29 near Robert Louis Stevenson State Park outside Calistoga, CA, Thursday. Oct. 1, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

As California's wildfire season continued into October, I encountered firefighters in Calistoga as they defended homes against the Glass Fire as it burned along the side of Mount St. Helena.

Kathleen Avalos deals blackjack cards to Vanessa Phelps at Limelight in Sacramento Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

After California introduced a tiered reopening system, some businesses started to reopen and move indoors. Some, like these Sacramento cardrooms, doubled down on outdoor operations.

Many in Sacramento’s Mexican community have experienced the loss of a loved one during the pandemic. But the mood was jovial at a drive-through Dia de Los Muertos display on Sacramento’s Front Street in October.

“It’s not a mournful or grieving event in Mexico,” Marie Acosta, executive director of the Latino Center of Art and Culture, said. “It really is celebrating a person’s life. However, this year the underlying tone will be of the devastation Covid-19 has caused.”

A voter uses a touchscreen at Golden1 Center in Sacramento, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. The arena was used as a voting center.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

County registrar employees check ballot surfaces and orient them to make sure they scan properly when counted, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

The pandemic also led to major changes in how we voted in 2020. That included opening the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento as the largest voting center in the county, and extra precautions as election workers counted the vote after the Nov. 3 election.

Greg Tarola, 64, is living unsheltered in Sacramento Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. He would be found dead on the streets of Sacramento three days later. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Though hundreds of Californians die each year while experiencing homelessness, most do so with little notice after living largely an invisible life on the streets. In November, CapRadio spoke to Greg Tarola about his experience living unhoused in Sacramento. He died days later, sparking a debate about how the city cares for homeless residents during cold weather.

Sister Libby Fernandez of the "Mercy Pedalers," pours hot chocolate for an unhoused person in downtown Sacramento on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Local charities say the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the demands for their services, and how they raise money. Here's a guide on how to donate this winter.