Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

Drive-Thru Emissions | ‘Best Pie Shop in America’ | Artist Raphael Delgado’s Solo Exhibition

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Drive-Thru Emissions

Fast food may be a convenience but what’s the cost of all those idling cars? Drive-thru exhaust is raising concerns about the impacts to our health and environment. Tim Sheehan is a senior reporter with The Intersection, a Health Equity Reporting Lab with the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. He took a look at the eight county region of the San Joaquin Valley, which is home to some of the nation’s worst air quality. He joins us today to share his reporting.

Sheehan’s reporting was produced by the Climate Solutions Studio, a project of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative and its partner newsrooms. CapRadio is a founding partner.

‘Best Pie Shop in America’

For decades people making the drive along I-80 between Sacramento and Tahoe have stopped at Ikeda’s California Country Market. Starting out as a small fruit stand, the store has grown into a cornucopia of fresh produce, specialty goods, sandwiches, and sweets. With two locations in Auburn and Davis, the three generation family business has become a beloved staple of the local area, famous for their delicious selection of homemade pies. Those pies are now gaining national attention after the shop was declared USA Today’s “Best Pie Shop in America.” Brothers Derek and Brendyn Ikeda join us today to share the family’s history.

Artist Raphael Delgado’s Solo Exhibition

If you’ve spent any time around Sacramento admiring the many murals that dress up our city, chances are good you’re familiar with the art of Raphael Delgado. From the giant California Bear that stalks the skyline above Jalapeno’s Restaurant on 21st street to the Mother and Child at 555 Capitol, offering comfort to all that pass below, Raphael’s bold work is hard to miss. And it’s being celebrated this month with a solo exhibition at Twisted Track Gallery in Sacramento. Raphael joins us to discuss the evolution of his work ahead of an opening reception planned from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.

Kalshi’s Influence on Elections | Stockton Symphony’s 100th Season | 25 Years of Women’s Empowerment

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Kalshi’s Influence on Elections

Polling has long been a way to get a picture of how candidates and campaigns are faring during election season, but new platforms are gaining traction and attracting controversy. Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have been increasingly used to wager money on election outcomes and odds, but it is raising concerns from experts about whether the use of these platforms constitutes gambling, and whether wagers are representative of voter behavior and could influence elections. CapRadio Local Government Reporter Tony Rodriguez joins Insight to talk about the impact of these markets, particularly in a high-profile Sacramento Congressional race between Representative Doris Matsui and City Councilmember Mai Vang.

Stockton Symphony’s 100th Season

The Stockton Symphony is celebrating 100 years of music in the Central Valley and they’re kicking off their Centennial Season with a world premiere by Chris Brubeck on Saturday, Sept. 12. Rhythms of the Range features the recorded voice of Brubeck’s father, the legendary Dave Brubeck, and focuses on Dave’s time growing up on a cattle ranch in Ione. Chris Brubeck joins Insight today, along with Conductor Peter Jaffe, to preview this weekend’s concert and talk about their long history of collaboration.

From the CapRadio Vault: Chris Brubeck Reflects on His Father’s 100-year Legacy

25 Years of Women’s Empowerment

On any given day, more than 7,000 people in Sacramento are experiencing homelessness. More than a third are women, many with children. A local nonprofit was created specifically to meet the unique needs of this group. Women’s Empowerment helps unhoused women gain the skills and confidence necessary to secure a job, create a healthy lifestyle, and regain a safe home for themselves and their children. And they are celebrating 25 years, having graduated thousands of women and children in that time. Founding Executive Director Lisa Culp and program graduate Robin Kelly Dunton join Insight ahead of their Silver Anniversary Gala on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento.

POLITICO’s California Playbook | Allison Aubrey’s Book ‘Your Turn’ | Farewell to CapRadio’s Mark Jones

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

POLITICO’s California Playbook

The 2026 midterm election is officially eight weeks away, and campaigns are in full swing. However, the gubernatorial race between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton has been marked by two different strategies to winning over voters. At the same time, several key congressional races across the Golden State are gaining attention, particularly in swing districts or those with Dem-on-Dem contests. Dustin Gardiner, co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook, joins Insight with a breakdown of the latest developments in state politics.

Allison Aubrey’s New Book ‘Your Turn’

Turning 50 is one of the big milestones in life. For many, it can be a time of uncertainty and crisis, as we ponder what comes next in life while navigating big changes hormonally. But NPR Health and Science correspondent Allison Aubrey sees it as an opportunity. Her new book, Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife you Love, is out today and she joins Insight to discuss what she’s learned about living your best life after 50.

Farewell to CapRadio’s Mark Jones

CapRadio has been around for nearly 50 years and there is one person who’s been here since the very beginning. Mark Jones has worn many hats during the past 47 years to help the station grow into what it is today. Insight’s Technical Director Mark Jones will join us for a bittersweet trip down memory lane, as he marks a big milestone – retirement.

Update on Sac City Unified School District’s Fiscal Solvency | Out of the Darkness Walk | September ‘Arts Talk’

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Update on Sac City Unified School District’s Fiscal Solvency

Disputes around an ongoing fiscal crisis at Sacramento City Unified continue to escalate, with the district and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) butting heads on how to stay solvent and overcome a structural deficit estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Sacramento Bee Education Reporter Chaewon Chung joins Insight with the latest updates on the fiscal crisis, from the district requesting millions of dollars in reimbursements from CalPERS to the threat of State Superintendent Tony Thurmond taking over fiscal oversight authority from SCOE.

Out of the Darkness Walk

Taking one’s life is a top leading cause of death among teens and young people, and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States. To raise awareness, September has been designated National Suicide Prevention Month. Today on Insight, we’re going to learn more about the Sacramento Chapter of the America Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which hosts an annual Out of the Darkness Walk Sept. 12 at the California State Capitol to provide resources and tools for anyone in need. We’ll talk with Area Director Lauren Pulido and volunteer board members Stephanie Linn and Jodie Chavious about the work they do in the community and hear why talking about mental health is so important.

Resources:

Call or Text 9-8-8: This is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network, where callers receive crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
Trevor Project's 24/7 Suicide Hotline for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish).
Veteran's Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or Crisis Chat, or text: 838255

September ‘Arts Talk’

Fall is starting to peak its head around the corner. But before we fully transition to sweater weather, there’s a ton of summer fun still planned for this Labor Day weekend and beyond. To help us parse the many events and activities, we turn to arts advocate Veronica Rodriguez. In this month’s Arts Talk, she highlights the openings of two new galleries in the city of Sacramento and takes us to Roseville for a Greek Food Festival.

Events:

Sept. 3 and 4 - Capital Dance Project’s Behind the Barre
Labor Day Weekend - The Official Opening of Apple Hill
Sept. 4 - Sac Made Market at First Friday Art Walk in Oak Park
Sept. 4 - Our Street Market in Midtown
Sept. 5 through 7 - Chalt It Up! At Fremont Park
Sept. 5 - CentroAmerica Independence Celebration
Sept. 5 - 2026 Roseville Greek Food Festival hosted by Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Sept. 12 and 13 - Sac Open Studios at Micah Crandall-Bear Studio and Gallery
Sept. 12 - Paint and Sip Night at Panoply Fine Art Gallery
Sept. 19 - Buccaneer Ball at The Sacramento Children's Museum in Rancho Cordova

End of CA’s Legislative Session | Homelessness and Drug Use Study | Visit Sacramento

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

End of CA’s Legislative Session

State lawmakers have wrapped up the end of a turbulent two-year session, sending hundreds of bills to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed or vetoed. But a controversial wildfire utility proposal that was heavily backed by Newsom will not be among them, after the Legislature rejected the bill on Tuesday. CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Laura Fitzgerald joins Insight with a breakdown of the final days at the Capitol, and whether Newsom might call a special session to get his proposal through.

Homelessness and Drug Use Study

Homelessness has skyrocketed in California over the past decade and there’s a lot of debate about what has driven this increase, with housing, cost of living, substance abuse and mental illness commonly being raised as root causes. A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California looked at whether reducing drug penalties in the state contributed to the unhoused population. Magnus Lohfstrom is the Policy Director and Senior Fellow at the PPIC and he’s one of the authors behind the new report “Homelessness and Drug Use in California.” He joins us today to discuss its findings. We’ll also learn about some of the skepticism surrounding the report from CalMatter’s Homelessness Reporter Marissa Kendall.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.

Visit Sacramento

Sacramento claims to be the Farm-to-Fork capitol of the world. Over the past decade, the city has showcased a series of events celebrating the region’s agricultural bounty, from the exclusive Tower Bridge Dinner to the free Farm-to-Fork Festival. But those events are evolving as the city embraces the Terra Madre Festival, which is scheduled to take place every other year. Mike Testa is the President and CEO of Visit Sacramento and he joins us today to explain what these changes mean.

What the Meta Settlement Means for CA | An End to the Roadless Rule? | Celebration Arts Presents ‘us & the rest of 'em’

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

What the Meta Settlement Means for CA

A years-long legal battle over social media addiction in children and teens has come to a close. In 2023, California and other state attorney generals sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging they deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to minors. Last week, Meta agreed to settle the case by paying more than $17 billion to 47 states and the District of Columbia. Vani Sanganeria is a reporter with EdSource and has been following the case and joins us with an update on what META’s settlement with State AGs means for the Golden State.

An End to the Roadless Rule?

The federal government has announced a proposed plan to rescind a decades-long forest protection policy known as the Roadless Rule, which covers millions of acres of federal land across the United States. The USDA and Forest Service say repealing the rule is "more important than ever" to improve wildland firefighting access and address public safety issues. But California officials, and others, have raised concerns that the move could open up land to construction, logging and even more wildfires. Susan Norman is the board chair of the Sierra Nevada Alliance and a retired Forest Service hydrologist. She joined Insight to talk about how the Roadless Rule has been used, and the potential impacts of its recission.

The Forest Service has released an environmental impact report on its proposed change, and is collecting public feedback until Sept. 21.

Celebration Arts Presents ‘us & the rest of 'em’

Playwright and Director Anthony D’Juan and Celebration Arts Executive Artistic Director Erinn Anova join us ahead of the premiere of us & the rest of ‘em, a warm and humorous family drama set over the course of a few days in Sacramento, Calif. The play centers on the Elem family as they navigate love, loyalty, and generational differences—seen largely through the eyes of 12-year-old Danté. "us & the rest of ‘em" runs Sept 11 – Sept 27 at Celebrations Arts in Midtown.

District 7 Debate Recap | How the West Fights Fire is Changing Under Trump Administration | Behind the Barre

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

District 7 Debate Recap

California’s Seventh Congressional District has become symbolic of the differences within the Democratic Party as they look to retake control of Congress in the November midterms. Longtime Congresswoman Doris Matsui is facing a stiff challenge from Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who came in first during the primary. Both candidates participated in a contentious debate last week, making the case to voters why they should be elected in November. CapRadio Local Government Reporter Tony Rodriguez breaks down this first meeting between the candidates since June.

How the West Fights Fire is Changing Under Trump Administration

California is having a relatively mild wildfire season so far. But that is far from the case when you zoom out beyond the Golden State. Nationally, this year is the most severe wildfire season in at least a decade - in both the number of fires and acres burned. The brunt of the devastation is happening across in states like Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and Montana. To get a better grasp of the scale, a collaboration of journalists across Western states joined forces for a deep dive into wildfire response and mitigation, as well as how fundamental shifts from the Trump Administration is upending how the West historically fights fires. CalMatters Water Reporter Rachel Becker and Robert Chaney, a senior contributor at Mountain Journal and Montana Free Press, join us with their reporting.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state. This reporting included collaborations with The Nevada Independent, WyoFile, The Salt Lake Tribune and The Colorado Sun.

Behind the Barre

Behind the Barre returns to the Clara Auditorium on Sept. 3 and 4. A testament to collaboration amongst the Sacramento arts scene, this annual showcase by the Capital Dance Project will include six world premieres, featuring dancers and choreographers performing alongside local artists and musicians. Today on Insight, we’ll hear how Behind the Barre came to be from Julia Feldman, co-founder and artistic director of Capital Dance Project. And we’ll talk with two of this year’s collaborating artists, Melissa Uroff and Taner Pasamehmetoglu, about their work for the festival.

CA Phases Out Paraquat | Tattoos and AI | Insight Studio Sessions: Jessica Malone

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

CA Phases Out Paraquat

California’s farmers rely on numerous chemicals to keep the state’s agricultural economy running, and keep pests and unwanted plants at bay. But some of these products are facing increasing scrutiny in the state and around the world for potential health issues and environmental consequences. Earlier this month, California's Department of Pesticide Regulations announced it will phase out the widely-used pesticide paraquat, which has been tied to conditions including Parkinson's disease and birth defects. But this decision has drawn criticisms from organizations including the California Farm Bureau, which argues that the herbicide is a critical tool for farmers. Dr. Olukayode Jegede from the UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology joins Insight to talk about paraquat's impact, and the decision to ban it.

Tattoos and AI

There are many forms of self expression and one that dates back millennia are tattoos. According to a recent Pew Research study, roughly a third of Americans have a tattoo. Tattooing has gone through many evolutions over the generations, as more tools become available. Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is also gaining presence in the industry and we’re going to learn more about its impacts from the co-owners of Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing, tattoo artist Bill Lorenz and Michelle Haunold Lorenz.

Insight Studio Sessions: Jessica Malone

Jessica Malone has been a staple of the Sacramento folk scene for years. Performing her lush melodies and poetic songs up and down Northern California with a large cast of collaborators. Her new EP “Indigo,” will be Friday, Aug. 28 and was recorded in Nashville. She’ll be performing with her 9-piece band on Saturday at the Sofia in Sacramento. She recently stopped by CapRadio to perform in this month’s Insight Studio Session, joined by her longtime violinist Giorgi Khokhovbashvili.

Hawk Fire Update | CalMatters Health Net Assisted Living | Mosquito Season

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Hawk Fire Update

Firefighters are gaining progress on the Hawk Fire, which ignited just outside Reno over the weekend. As of this morning, the fire which started late Saturday morning, has burned more than 15,000 acres and is now 85 percent contained. As evacuation orders begin to lift and people return home, we’ll hear how the community is faring from Bert Johnson, Senior Correspondent for KUNR in Reno.

CalMatters Health Net Assisted Living

One of the largest Medi-Cal insurers in the country is canceling assisted living benefits by the end of the year. Health Net’s termination puts the housing of thousands of residents in limbo, and the lack of transparency around the announcement is raising fears among families that their loved ones could be evicted or lose the level of care they need. CalMatters Health Reporter Kristen Hwang talks about Health Net’s decision, and how families are sifting through the confusion.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.

Mosquito Season

The soundtrack of summertime is often kids playing in the pool, bicycles whizzing down the trails and the sizzle of food hitting the grill. But one unwelcome noise is enough to put a damper on any outdoor party, the buzz of mosquitos. Public health officials are warning that West Nile Virus activity is at a five year high in California. While the risk of serious illness for most people is low this mosquito season has already seen dozens of cases and five deaths. Luz Maria Robles from the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District and joined us to tell us more about the virus and how to protect against it.

Fire and Forest Management 5 Years After Caldor | Company Fined After Deadly Avalanche | Epic Fails at 'In a Nutshell'

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Fire and Forest Management 5 Years After Caldor

Five years ago, the Caldor Fire consumed more than 200,000 acres across the Sierra Foothills and Echo Summit. The town of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, near the fire’s origin was nearly destroyed and for the second time that year, a wildfire crested the Sierra Nevada. As we continue to look back at lessons learned from this devastating wildfire, we’re going to turn our focus to forest management and what some considered a real win, the successful defense of the communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers near South Lake Tahoe. Hugh Safford is a vegetation and fire ecologist at UC Davis. He joins us today to explain which human efforts to reduce fuels and thin forests were the most successful when it came to reducing the severity of the impact of the Caldor Fire. We’ll also check in with Susie Kocher, a Forestry Advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension. Her region is the Central Sierra, which includes El Dorado, Calaveras, Amador and Tuolumne Counties and she joins us to discuss post fire resilience and how the region’s forests are recovering.

Company Fined After Deadly Avalanche

A state agency has fined the company involved in the deadliest avalanche in modern California history. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) confirmed to CapRadio it cited Blackbird Mountain Guides for seven alleged safety violations, totaling $151,300 in penalties. The Truckee-based company is appealing the fines. Senior Producer Sarit Laschinsky joins us with more about the first formal finding of fault since the February slide killed nine people.

Epic Fails at ‘In a Nutshell’

Failure. It’s a word that strikes fear in the hearts of most of us. Whether it’s trying something new and falling flat on your face or trying everything you can but a situation just keeps getting worse. Failures take many forms and are a fact of life, but that can also be an opportunity to learn, grow, and get better. “Epic Fails” is the topic of this month’s In a Nutshell storytelling series taking place this Friday, August 28th at the Sofia in Sacramento. Kari Kiernan and Silvana Clark are two of this month’s featured storytellers and join us today with a sneak peek.

POLITICO’s California Playbook | CalMatters Broken Trusts Investigation | The Caldor Fire and the Caples Project

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

POLITICO’s California Playbook

After a somewhat mild summer, politics around the Golden State are heating back up. The legislative session is coming to an end next week and one of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s last big effort in office is coming down to the wire. POLITICO California Playbook co-author Dustin Gardiner joins us today to break down what’s happening with Newsom’s push to limit utilities liabilities in wildfires. Plus, we’ll hear how midterm election races are beginning to escalate as the election approaches.

CalMatters Broken Trusts Investigation

Professional fiduciaries provide critical services for those unable to independently manage their life and finances. 20 years ago, California created the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau for oversight, in response to abuses taking place across the state. But a new investigation found that the agency has failed to fulfill its promise to protect vulnerable residents, even as the state’s population ages. Byrhonda Lyons is an Investigative Reporter with CalMatters. She joins us about her latest investigative series Broken Trusts: California Fails to Stop Fiduciary Abuses.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.

The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau released the following statement to CapRadio: “The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau is committed to protecting California consumers and holding professional fiduciaries to the highest standards and accountable when they break the law and consumer trust. The factors that affect conservatorships are complex, as they often involve different agencies and authorities outside of the Bureau’s jurisdiction. The Bureau recognizes there are always opportunities to improve processes and will continue its work to protect consumers.”

The Caldor Fire and the Caples Project

What is “good fire” and how can we use it to combat the devastation of a wildfire? Today on Insight, we’ll learn about the Caples Project, a joint effort by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the El Dorado Irrigation District and the El Dorado National Forest to reduce wildfire severity and protect the community’s drinking water. Sarah Campe is a Regional Scientist with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Brittany Covich is their Policy & Outreach Division Chief. They explain how the project happened and what lessons they’ve learned from it five years later.

Caldor Fire Rebuild Program | Sacramento International Black Film Festival | ‘Coordinates: Dispatch’ Exhibit

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Caldor Fire Rebuild Program

Five years ago, the Caldor Fire ripped through the tiny town of Grizzly Flats. Home to just over 1,000 residents at the time, the fire destroyed nearly two-thirds of the El Dorado County community and some residents are still living in temporary housing as they try to rebuild. That effort to rebuild got a boost this year when the county partnered up with a national nonprofit to build six new homes for residents in need. Today on Insight, we’re going to learn more about the Caldor Fire Grizzly Flats Homeowner Rebuild Program, from Karen Garner, the Planning and Building Director for El Dorado County, and Amber Clemer, Executive Director of HomeAid Sacramento.

Sacramento International Black Film Festival

Empowering, unapologetic and visionary, those words describe the movies being screened at Cine Soul: Sacramento’s International Black Film Festival. The long-running tradition is coming back this weekend for its 21st year, showcasing a variety of talented filmmakers. Martin Anaya, Executive Director of the California Film Foundation joins Insight to talk about Cine Soul was organized, and the process of selecting and screening its films. Also, Emmy Award-winning producer and filmmaker Susheel Bibbs talks about her film being screened at the festival, "O Freedom, The Musical Saga of Mary Ellen Pleasant."

‘Coordinates: Dispatch’ Exhibit

Faith J. McKinnie is a Cultural Critic and Independent Curator. She joins us about the project Sites of Vacancy, which transforms vacant spaces into art. Her latest exhibit is Coordinates: Dispatch is a large-scale contemporary art exhibition featuring the work of nearly 30 Sacramento artists inside the long-vacant historic Albert Winn Park Fire Alarm Dispatch Station and runs through Oct. 10 in Midtown at 1616 28th Street.

Rocklin High’s 12-Minute Lunch | Hedgerow Farms | New Exhibit on Cycles of Mass Deportations

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Rocklin High’s 12-Minute Lunch

Lunch might be the best part of the school day for many students, giving them a chance to grab some food and socialize. But at Rocklin High School, students now only have 12 minutes for lunch on Mondays due to a shorter "articulation day." CapRadio Producer Greg Micek went “back to school” to learn more about how Rocklin High created this unusual lunch period, and what the response has been from students.

Hedgerow Farms

For close to 40 years, Hedgerow Farms has been collecting California native plant seeds and researching how to grow them at scale. Those seeds are then harvested for use in restoration projects around the state, including revegetating wildfire burn scars to revitalizing wetlands. Julia Michaels is Hedgerow’s Restoration Ecologist and Jeff Quiter is the farm’s manager. They join us today to talk about the importance of saving and sustaining native seeds.

New Exhibit on Cycles of Mass Deportations

As immigration reform and enforcement dominates coverage during President Trump’s second term, a new exhibit in Sacramento is reminding us of the importance of remembering history. We want to warn you, the exhibit uses a derogatory name in its title that is widely considered a slur today. Help Wanted/Leave Now: ‘Operation Wetback’ and the Revolving Door of Mass Deportation details America’s largest-ever deportation campaign during the Eisenhower administration following WWII, that targeted Mexican workers recruited during the Bracero Program to bolster the U.S. during the war. Pablo Espinoza is a board member with the California Museum and helped influence this exhibit, on display through Jan. 10, 2027.

Caldor Fire Anniversary: Grizzly Flats Five Years Later | Covering the Initial Destruction and Its Fallout | Lessons Learned from 'The Lookout'

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Caldor Fire Anniversary: Grizzly Flats Five Years Later

Five years ago, the Caldor Fire consumed more than 200,000 acres across the Sierra Foothills and Echo Summit, with much of the devastation in the town of Grizzly Flats. CapRadio Local Government Reporter Riley Palmer traveled to Grizzly Flats recently to speak with community members about the rebuilding process and how residents are faring five years after a wildfire consumed their town.

Fire crews manage a back fire in Sly Park, Calif., fighting the Caldor Fire on Monday, Aug, 23, 2021.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Covering the Initial Destruction and Its Fallout

The Caldor Fire ignited the evening of Aug. 14, 2021. In the initial days, the wildfire exploded across the Sierra foothills and headed towards South Lake Tahoe with mass evacuation orders along the Highway 50 corridor. What started as straightforward “breaking news” coverage in our newsroom eventually evolved into a years-long investigation into stalled US Forest Service projects that might have prevented the devastation to Grizzly Flats. We’ll hear reflections from former CapRadio journalists who covered the story, including Scott Rodd, who is now an investigative reporter for KPBS in San Diego; photojournalist Andrew Nixon, who covered many wildfires, including the Caldor; and Emily Zentner, Data Journalist for the California Newsroom and worked on the Burned investigation.

Firefighters protect homes in Christmas Valley from the Caldor Fire Monday, Aug. 30, 2021.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Lessons Learned from 'The Lookout'

The lessons learned from the Dixie Fire and Caldor Fire continue to resurface, as California’s wildfire years become longer and more devastating. Making sure residents have the right information is critical, but the amount — and quality — of sources can be overwhelming. Zeke Lunder is a pyrogeographer and founder of the wildfire information website The Lookout, which he started during the Dixie Fire. He joins Insight to talk about how these wildfires served as a pivotal moment to change the information landscape, and how the public can take action when disaster strikes.

CA Utilities and Wildfire Bills | Sacramento Immigration Seminar | Early Wine Harvests

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

CA Utilities and Wildfire Bills

One of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final political fights in California is a revival of an old one. As wildfire costs threaten utilities’ financial models, the governor wants to help them pay less for fires. CalMatters Economy Reporter Levi Sumagaysay joins Insight to break down the package of bills to address the spiraling costs of wildfires that has made a slew of different interests unhappy.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.

Sacramento Immigration Seminar

President Donald Trump's second administration has been marked by escalating immigration enforcement, from mass deportations and raids to major changes in the immigration court system. These are having ripple effects across the Sacramento region, which has seen its own share of enforcement action. An event this week aims to shed more light on the current situation on the ground, as well as local organizations helping immigrant, refugee and other communities. The Sacramento Immigration Seminar will be held Thursday, Aug. 20 at Sacramento State, and will feature groups including Opening Doors, Norcal Resist and the California Immigration Project. Opening Doors CEO Jessie Mabry joins Insight to break down the event, as well as the current immigration landscape across Sacramento.

Early Wine Harvests

Throughout California, and in much of Europe, wine harvest is historically early this year. On average, harvest is happening three weeks earlier than last year – which was also early. Is that a good or bad thing as we head into peak fire season? Rick Kushman has worked in the wine industry and written and reported on it for years. He’s here today to give us the lowdown on the early wine harvest and how area vineyards are faring as fires begin to flare up in the foothills and along the coastal wine-growing region.

Fiscal Crisis and Management at Sac City Unified | SacBee OVP Investigation | Advance Peace | Celebration Arts

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Fiscal Crisis and Management at Sac City Unified

Tensions over Sacramento City Unified’s budget crisis are continuing to rise. The county overturned an agreement between the district and the teacher’s union and California’s highest education officer has even gotten involved. Michael Fine is the CEO of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), an independent state agency that provides assistance to local education agencies in times of crisis. He joins us today to explain the district’s latest budget numbers and what decisions could lie ahead.

SacBee Investigation: Office of Violence Prevention

For the better part of a decade, the Sacramento Office of Violence Prevention has worked to address youth and gang violence in the city. A key piece is contracting with community organizations to work directly with young people at a high risk of falling into gangs or those who are gang associated. A recent investigation found that some of those organizations have received millions with little and sometimes no oversight. Sacramento Bee Investigative Reporter Joe Rubin joins us with his investigation.

The City of Sacramento provided a statement to CapRadio following the SacBee’s investigation: The City Manager has met with Councilmembers and is working with the Office of Violence Prevention to develop a comprehensive Community Violence Prevention Strategy. The City remains focused on moving this work forward and developing a coordinated approach to violence prevention that best serves the community.

Advance Peace

Khaalid Muttaqi is the former Director of the Sacramento Office and Violence Prevention. He is now the Chief Operating Officer for Advance Peace, a national gun violence reduction agency that establishes formal partnerships with communities. The program uses previously incarcerated street outreach workers to support young people at the center of urban gun violence. The program was part of the city of Sacramento from 2017 and 2020. During that period, youth homicides fell to zero over an 18-month period. Muttaqi joins Insight with more on the work and challenges facing youth violence prevention.

Celebration Arts

Celebration Arts, Sacramento’s premier Black theater, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. They’ve spent the last four decades as a central hub for arts that celebrate and explore the Black experience. In order to celebrate their long history of plays, performances and concerts over the years, the organization is going back to their roots - dance. After 50 years, they have brought back dance classes from Afro-modern to jazz to polynesian. Taught by one of the original founders, Elaine Gosine, and longtime fixture in the Sacramento dance scene, Elvin Nathan Jones. They join Executive Artistic Director Erinn Anova on today’s show to preview the company’s anniversary year, which includes a Coltrane-inspired dance concert on Oct. 10 called Moving Trane.

Sacramento Valley Groundwater Damage | Finding a Path to Forgiveness | Fantasy Author Sarah Gailey

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Sacramento Valley Groundwater Damage

California's water system is complicated, ranging from reservoirs to the snowpack, to a significant amount of groundwater. Those underground aquifers are critical for the Golden State's agricultural communities to tap into when conditions get dry, but overpumping is causing communities to significantly sink over the years. A new study shows that irreparable sinking is now happening in parts of the northern Sacramento Valley, from Woodland up to Redding, caused by major droughts from 2020-2022. J.T. Reager heads the Water and Ecosystems group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, and spoke with Insight about the study's findings and what can be done to prevent future damage.

Finding a Path to Forgiveness

A 2023 deadly stabbing spree in Davis is approaching the end of a lengthy legal process that put mental illness front-and-center in a debate about justice. Carlos Reales Dominguez, a former UC Davis student, was arrested shortly after the stabbing deaths of 50-year-old David Breaux and 20-year-old Karim Abou Najm, as well as the stabbing of 64-year-old Kimberlee Guillory, who is the lone survivor. However the case had a long journey through the court system, as Dominguez was initially found incompetent to stand trial after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Last month, a jury found Dominguez guilty of involuntary manslaughter, a lesser charge of what was being sought by prosecutors, and not guilty of the attempted murder of Guillory. Following the verdict, the judge declared Dominguez legally insane, citing his schizophrenia making him incapable of understanding the nature and quality of his actions. Dominguez is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. While the trial is over, the impact on the victim’s families is profound and ongoing. Before his death, David Breaux earned the nickname "Compassion Guy” from the people of Davis who stopped by to talk with him on the corner of 3rd and C streets. His sister Maria Breaux has been processing her grief over the past three years. She joins Insight about an article she published titled, How I Practiced Forgiveness When It Hurt the Most.

You can find more of Maria’s work in restorative justice here. Maria will be delivering a victim impact statement on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m., click here for more details on how to view it.

Fantasy Author Sarah Gailey

Sarah Gailey is an award-winning author who spins tales in many forms, from comic books that star some of your favorite fantasy characters to novels that explore themes of belonging, community and how an environment can shape our identities. They’re appearing this Saturday, Aug. 15 at A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove in support of two new novels, Make Me Better and Spread Me.

California’s Port Economy | Science Cafe: The Next Big One? | Sac Bee Photographer Paul Kitagaki Jr.

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

California’s Port Economy

California is home to the fourth-largest economy in the world, with a GDP of more than $4 trillion. A significant portion of its economy is driven by trade, with billions of dollars worth of goods passing through the Golden State’s ports. Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the President of the California Association of Port Authorities, and the CEO of the Port of Long Beach. He joins Insight to provide an update on how these centers of commerce are faring, and navigating challenges from international conflict to environmental protections.

Science Cafe: The Next Big One?

A magnitude 7.9-earthquake struck San Francisco in 1906, leading to a fire that lasted several days and destroyed over 80 percent of the city. Often referred to as the “Big One,” the 1906 earthquake left an indelible mark in the minds of Californians and the surrounding terrain and left many wondering about the next one. UC Davis Geology Professor Mike Oskin will be giving a presentation on the topic at the next Science Cafe. He joins us today with a preview of “Earthquakes in California: What might the next ‘Big One’ be like?”

Sac Bee Photographer Paul Kitagaki Jr.

The biggest moments in history often share something in common. They likely were captured with a photograph. Visual journalists document the vast range of the human experience. For more than two decades, Paul Kitagaki Jr.'s images have graced the Sacramento Bee. The Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer’s byline has appeared more than 5,000 times in the newspaper. But his career spans nearly 50 years. Paul’s images have appeared in National Geographic, Time, Smithsonian Magazine and the cover of Sports Illustrated. His work also includes a long-term documentary project Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit about survivors and descendants of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, inspired in part by his own family’s forced removal. Paul joins us today after a huge milestone, retiring from the Sac Bee.

End of the Legislative Session | Sacramento School Roundup | Haus of Comedy

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

End of the Legislative Session

California's two-year legislative session is coming to an end. Lawmakers have just three weeks to sort through hundreds of bills, and tackle major issues, before the Legislature adjourns on Aug. 31. Governor Gavin Newsom then has until the end of September to act on all the legislation that makes it to his desk. Chris Micheli is a professor at McGeorge School of Law, a lobbyist and a longtime Capitol observer, who authors Capitol Week's Micheli Minute. He joins Insight to break down the big issues that state lawmakers will be tackling.

Sacramento School Roundup

The Sacramento City Unified School District has been in crisis for almost a year, as it tried to avoid a state takeover. The district is now asking California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction to step in. Diana Lambert is a reporter for EdSource and joins us today to explain what’s going on, as well as give some updates on Highlands Community Charter School, which is starting its school year under Twin Rivers Unified School District despite looking for a new home in Sutter County.

Haus of Comedy

Have there ever been times you’ve looked back on your life and thought, ‘I should have said yes?’ Well, it’s never too late to learn how. Jessilee Windhaus is an improviser, actor, instructor and entrepreneur. Her latest endeavor is the Haus of Comedy, where she serves as founder and executive director. In addition to offering a wide variety of improv and sketch comedy shows to enjoy as spectators, there are also a bunch of classes and workshops for people to learn and hone their skills. We’ll hear why the skills used in improv are useful off the stage as well.

Waymos and Old Sac | Capital College and Career Academy | August ‘Arts Talk’

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Waymos and Old Sac

Waymos have become an increasingly common sight on Sacramento's streets after arriving in the Capital City earlier this year. The robotaxis have been learning the city's streets as part of a testing program, but could soon be carrying passengers as soon as this month. This comes as other major changes are going into effect, from new traffic restrictions around Old Sacramento to the opening — or reopening — of businesses along the Waterfront and in the Railyards. Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum joins Insight to provide an update on these developments around the city center.

Capital College and Career Academy

For some high school students, the traditional way of learning can be challenging. At a time when they are trying to figure out what they want to do with their future. A new school in Sacramento is pioneering a different way of teaching to unlock potential and help bridge the gap between school and the real world. Providing students with hands-on learning, internships, and dual enrollment at local colleges. With the explicit goal that, “all students will be enrolled in a postsecondary institution or employed within six months of graduation.” Kevin Dobson, Founder and Executive Director of Capital College and Career Academy, joins Insight to tell us more about the school. And he was joined by two of his students Ivan Bernardino and Angelina Zdor.

August ‘Arts Talk’

Despite the heat, it probably feels like the start to fall for all the parents and kids out there, as schools get underway across the region. But there’s still plenty of time to soak up all the summer fun we can. Veronica Rodriguez is back to highlight a variety of arts and culture events taking place in this month’s Arts Talk.

Japanese Food and Cultural Bazaar
First Friday at Twisted Track
Herbie Hancock at the Mondavi Center
Around the World in 80 Days at the B Street Theatre
The Fair Oaks Performing Art Center
Hot August Days at El Dorado Town Center
Celebrate Natomas