EnvironmentWildfire risk rises as Western states dry out amid ongoing heat wave baking most of the USJuly 11, 2024Authorities in Western states are warning of the rising risk of wildfires as hot conditions and low humidity dry out the landscape amid a protracted heat wave baking much of the U.S.
EducationMeet the Sacramentan behind Music Science Group, a program teaching kids the robotics behind musicJuly 11, 2024 | Srishti PrabhaThe program has served over 3,000 Sacramento students at Sacramento City, Folsom-Cordova, and Natomas Unified School Districts. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State GovernmentCalifornia fast food workers now earn $20 per hour. Franchisees are responding by cutting hours.July 11, 2024When California’s minimum wage increase went into effect in April, fast food workers across the state went from making $16 to $20 overnight. It's already having an impact, according to local operators for major fast food chains.
Sacramento RegionConcerts, cookoffs and cannabis: California State Fair returns to Cal Expo starting FridayJuly 10, 2024 | Chris NicholsThis year’s iteration of the fair will include concerts, exhibits, competitions — and for the first time, a place to purchase and consume cannabis legally. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
EnvironmentTips on managing your air conditioner during Sacramento’s heat waveJuly 10, 2024 | Chris Nichols | Tony RodriguezFor those with access to air conditioning, keeping it running during a heat wave can be challenging and expensive. Here are some tips to keep your bills lower while still maintaining a safe temperature in your home. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State GovernmentCalifornia’s ‘weak’ job market propped up by public money as private sector sheds jobsJuly 10, 2024Private-sector jobs in California have declined since their post-pandemic peak, while public-sector employment has shown gains, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office says.
Sacramento RegionCleanStart’s Thomas Hall and Christina Granados on the importance of community outreach in clean-tech developmentJuly 10, 2024In its latest Inclusive Economy poll, Sacramentans identified community-driven, inclusive growth and green “climate-friendly” developments as the top two priorities from a list of regional economic concerns.
EnvironmentHigh temperatures and fire weather persist for Sacramento this weekJuly 9, 2024 | Steve Milne | Kristin Lam | Claire MorganTemperatures in the first half of the week will range around the upper 90s to low 100s, but will inch back up by Thursday with highs expected around 110 degrees. Gusty winds and low humidity are also increasing the possibility of wildfire.
EducationElk Grove school hosts Smithsonian exhibit to explore, counter biasJuly 9, 2024 | Srishti PrabhaThe exhibit, called The Bias Inside Us, is designed to help people understand and counter implicit bias. The Elk Grove stop is the only one at a school in the United States. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
EnvironmentHundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, billions of dollars: The cost of extreme heat in CaliforniaJuly 9, 2024Heat waves have killed hundreds of Californians and cost billions of dollars in the past decade, according to a new report from the state insurance department.
Sacramento RegionSacramento man’s past informs his work in sports youth violence prevention workJuly 9, 2024 | Kristin LamO’Shay Johnson draws on his past as a gang member to inform violence prevention work in Sacramento’s City Council District 2 area.
EnvironmentJune sizzles to 13th straight monthly heat record. String may end soon, but dangerous heat won'tJuly 8, 2024The European climate service Copernicus says Earth's more than year-long streak of record-shattering hot months kept on simmering through June. It was the 13th straight month of record warmth.
Sacramento RegionDemo carves out space on the grid for experimentationJuly 8, 2024The multipurpose gallery is also a bookstore, music venue and event space for pop-ups like local tattoo artist expos and vintage clothing, and offers a generally experimental outpost and gathering space Sacramento's creative community.
EnvironmentCalifornia now has mandatory water conservation in urban areas: How will the new rules affect your supplier?July 8, 2024The measures are substantially weaker than a previous proposal after an onslaught of criticism. But they will still save enough water through 2050 to supply the state’s entire population for a year, at a cost of $4.7 billion.
State GovernmentNewsom touts his support for President Joe Biden and sidesteps replacement talkJuly 5, 2024California Gov. Gavin Newsom has offered a forceful defense of embattled President Joe Biden. The governor told Democrats at an Independence Day picnic in Michigan Thursday that the president has the record and energy to win a second term.
EnvironmentAs heat waves intensify, more public housing residents may get help with AC billsJuly 5, 2024For decades, public housing providers could subsidize heating bills but not air-conditioning. New Biden administration guidance changes that, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough.
EnvironmentMost evacuation orders lifted as crews continue battling Northern California wildfireJuly 5, 2024Officials say thousands of people evacuated during a Northern California wildfire have been allowed to return home. The Thompson Fire near Oroville has stayed roughly the same size since Wednesday but containment increased to 29% Thursday.
State Government2024 California ballot measures: What you need to knowJuly 5, 2024Voters will decide 10 propositions on the California ballot in November. What you need to know about them and how they got on the ballot.
EnvironmentTo save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl speciesJuly 5, 2024U.S. wildlife officials are embracing a contentious plan to deploy trained shooters into dense West Coast forests to kill almost a half-million barred owls in coming decades.
EnvironmentWhy many illegal fireworks could be gone in California next July FourthJuly 4, 2024The biggest U.S. seller of legal fireworks wants the state to sign a deal with Nevada to stop illegal fireworks from crossing the border. The state fire marshal warns of fireworks danger this July Fourth during the heat wave.