First-hand look at ongoing flooding in the Central Valley’s Tulare Basin. How the winter storms were some of the costliest in Sacramento history, and why future storms may become more expensive. A Sacramento Kings broadcast analyst shares her perspective on the team’s playoff series loss to the Golden State Warriors and reflect on the team’s remarkable season.

Tulare Basin flooding

With each week as temperatures warm the Tulare Basin– from Fresno to Bakersfield– becomes an increasing hazard. Record snowmelt in the southern Sierra Nevada is flooding agricultural communities in the Central Valley, with some at risk of being completely submerged. Nicole Foy is a California Divide CalMatters reporter based in the southern San Joaquin Valley, and provides a first hand look at how this slow moving natural disaster is unfolding. 

Sacramento winter flood costs

The atmospheric rivers that pounded California in the first weeks of the year cut a wide swath of destruction and claimed the lives of at least 22 people across the state. In Sacramento alone, the January storms toppled nearly a thousand trees, a number of them crushing homes and cars. A few months later, we’re learning the wave of storms in January alone cost Sacramento millions of dollars making it one of the most expensive storm stretches for the city in decades. And Sacramento is a snapshot of the economic impact and challenges the rest of California faces as some experts believe these powerful storms will become even more expensive in the years to come. CapRadio Sacramento Government Reporter Kristin Lam and Environmental Reporter Manola Secaira joined Insight to share their reporting on the financial impact of the January storms and the bigger picture.

Sacramento Kings

What a run for the Sacramento Kings. After the team got off to a slow start to the season many were questioning if the team was going to miss the playoffs for yet another season. But then, the team roared into the postseason, securing the third seed. Then came a first-round heavyweight fight against our Northern California neighbors, the defending champs the Golden State Warriors. And what a playoff series it was, a seven-game battle until the end. For Kings fans, certainly, the playoff loss was a disappointing way to close out the playoffs. But in totality, it was an amazing and long-overdue season. Kings TV color analyst Kayte Christensen joined Insight to share her thoughts on the King's season.