Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

EMPACT Sacramento | Sacramento County District 1 Race | Play ‘Godspell’ in Folsom

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

EMPACT Sacramento

The Natomas High School community is reeling following a deadly shooting last Friday. The victim has been identified as 16-year-old De’Jon Sledge, a sophomore at Discovery High School, and two more people have been arrested. The Sacramento County District Attorney says it will not file homicide charges, calling the shooting an act of self-defense during an attempted robbery. Leia Schenk is the founder of the grassroots organization EMPACT, which has been a major source of support since the shooting. She joins Insight to talk about how her organization helps families feel supported and heal during difficult times.

Sacramento County District 1 Race

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will have a new member after District 1 Supervisor Phil Serna announced he will not seek reelection after 16 years. The crowded field of candidates looking to replace him include City Councilmember Erica Guerra, epidemiologist and former mayoral candidate Dr. Flojaune Cofer, former State Senator Deborah Ortiz and computer programmer Tim Riley. CapRadio Local Government Reporter Tony Rodriguez breaks down the race, which covers much of the Sacramento city core.

Play ‘Godspell’ in Folsom

Folsom Lake College’s Falcon’s Eye Theatre is presenting “Godspell” at the Harris Center beginning this Friday, April 17. Isaiah Mendiola stars as Jesus and he joins us, along with Director Jennifer Provenza Wallace, to preview the musical.

Falcon's Eye Theatre is a financial supporter of CapRadio.

Esparto Explosion | Incorporate North Lake Tahoe | California Native Plant Society

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Esparto Explosion

Murder charges have been filed in relation to a deadly explosion that happened at a fireworks warehouse in Yolo County that killed seven people. CapRadio’s Greg Micek and Sarit Laschinsky join Insight to share the latest from court, where prosecutors accuse the companies of operating a criminal enterprise. We’ll also check in with Mike Vitiello, Distinguished Professor of Law at McGeorge School of Law.

Incorporate North Lake Tahoe

Could you soon find yourself visiting the town of North Lake Tahoe? A group of volunteers have banded together in eastern Placer County in an attempt to incorporate. Wally Auerbach and Sarah Coolidge are two local residents who are also members of the Eastern Placer Future Interim Executive Committee and they joined us today to explain what happens now that they’ve started the formal application process with LAFCO.

California Native Plant Society

Adding native plants to a garden has become a popular trend as of late. From people looking to add some regional flair to their existing landscaping or folks going all in, replacing their lawn with local species that need less water. For those curious to try something like that themselves, a local organization with over 60 years of experience is here to provide you with the inspiration you need to get started. Their 13th annual Gardens Got Natives tour is happening this weekend and will feature over forty native plant gardens in the Sacramento region. Lesley Hamamoto, is the President of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and joined the show to tell us more. Register for the tour here.

Eric Swalwell Drops Out of Governor’s Race | California GOP Convention | Gubernatorial Candidate Betty Yee | In a Nutshell: Bad Jobs

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Eric Swalwell Drops Out of Governor’s Race

The crowded field of Democratic candidates for governor saw a major shakeup over the weekend as Congressman Eric Swalwell, one of the frontrunners, dropped out following multiple accounts of sexual assault and misconduct reported by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. Blake Jones, co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook talks about the rapid collapse of Swalwell’s campaign and the ripple effects both in the governor’s race and Congress.

California GOP Convention

President Donald Trump has endorsed former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton over Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to be the Republican candidate for governor. But at the California Republican Party’s annual convention in San Diego over the weekend, delegates were unable to reach enough votes to endorse either candidate. CalMatters Politics Reporters Nadia Lathan and Maya C. Miller join Insight with details from the convention, and how the state GOP is juggling Trump’s unpopularity with a difficult political landscape heading into the midterms.

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

Gubernatorial Candidate Betty Yee

The California Primary is fast approaching. Mail-in voting begins in a couple weeks and Election Day is less than two months away. With Eric Swalwell ending his campaign over the weekend, nine candidates remain in the crowded race for Governor. We’re looking to interview all of them in the lead up to the election. We’re kicking off our series of interviews today with former State Controller Betty Yee. She was the state’s top financial officer during both Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom’s administrations from 2015 to 2023. The Democratic candidate joined to talk about why she’s running to be the next Governor of California.

This interview was recorded on Friday, April 10th.

In a Nutshell: Bad Jobs

Terrible jobs are a rite of passage when entering the workforce. From gross situations to bad bosses, there is no shortage of stories out there of workplaces that have gone amuck. “Take This Job and &%@!” is the theme of this month’s In a Nutshell storytelling series, taking place this Friday, April 17 at the Sofia in Sacramento. Two of the featured performers, Jessica Robinson and Claire Hennessey, join us today to discuss bringing bad job stories to the stage.

Sacramento Company Aids Artemis II Mission | Recent ADA Lawsuits | Planet Money Releases Book

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Sacramento Company Aids Artemis II Mission

Artemis II has captivated the world, as astronauts witness parts of the moon no human has seen before. As the crew makes its return to Earth, we’ll meet a small Sacramento company doing big things to bring manned space exploration out of hibernation, with a history that dates back to the Apollo missions - and now includes the recent Artemis launch. TECMA owner and president Sonia Susac joins us about their history producing parts for aerospace programs.

Recent ADA Lawsuits

The Americans with Disabilities Act has been law for more than 30 years. Passed in 1990, it aims to make public life more accessible for the estimated 70 million U.S adults who report having a disability. Under its regulations, employers can’t discriminate based on disability, schools must provide accommodations to those who need them and businesses open to the public must be accessible. And one of the key ways this legislation is enforced is through litigation. People with disabilities can sue businesses they feel aren’t accessible, in violation of the ADA. In California, these lawsuits originate from a relatively small number of disabled people and law firms. Recently, a number of ADA suits have been filed against Sacramento-area restaurants drawing attention to this issue. Business owners say the litigation is a significant financial challenge while disability rights groups say this is the law working as intended. This debate has sparked a number of California legislators to introduce bills aimed at striking a balance and combating lawsuits that have been called predatory in nature. Kate Wolffe is a Legislative Reporter for the Sacramento Bee and joins us with her reporting.

Planet Money Releases Book

For the better part of two decades, NPR’s Planet Money has been going out over the airwaves and gracing the podcast feeds of millions of listeners, bringing to light the hidden economic forces that shape our day to day lives in digestible and often rather funny hour long episodes. They take their dedicated audience along with them on outlandish adventures like launching their own satellite or the time they crowdfunded a t-shirt so they could follow it around the global supply chain. All in the pursuit of answering one question: How do we make the economy fun? Now they’ve turned their sights on the publishing world. Earlier this week they released a book called, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life. Insight Producer Andrew Garcia interviewed the author of the book Alex Mayyasi and fellow Planet Money reporter Kenny Malone.

7th Congressional District Race Heats Up | Small Business Loans Dry Up for Non-Citizens | Sierra Poetry Festival

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

7th Congressional District Race Heats Up

We’re less than eight weeks to the California Primary and a longtime Sacramento politician is being challenged for reelection. Rep. Doris Matsui has represented the 7th Congressional District for the past two decades, and prior to that, her late husband Rep. Robert Matsui represented Sacramento for more than 25 years. This Midterm, Congresswoman Matsui is facing a prominent challenger in fellow Democrat and Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang. CapRadio Reporter Tony Rodriguez breaks down the race and a recent forum with all the candidates for District 7.

Small Business Loans Dry Up for Non-Citizens

The Small Business Administration has restricted access to its loans, meaning green-card holders and other non-citizen entrepreneurs no longer qualify. This move could have major impacts in California, which is home to the most small businesses and immigrants in the country. CalMatters Economy Reporter Levi Sumagaysay joins Insight to talk about the potential impacts to the state’s economy.

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

Sierra Poetry Festival

A full day of poetry readings, workshops and presentations from an acclaimed array of international poets and performers is planned in the Sierra foothills next weekend. The Sierra Poetry Festival takes place Saturday, April 18 in Grass Valley. Eliza Tudor is President of the Nevada County Arts Council and directs the poetry festival. She joins us today to discuss the festival, along with presenter Marcelo Hernandez Castillo. He’s the co-founder of UnDocupoets and will be leading a conversation during the event.

Yuba County Food Insecurity | ICE Deports Natomas DACA Recipient | Sactown Movie Buffs Film Festival

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Yuba County Food Insecurity

According to a recent study from the UC Davis Labor and Community Center, CalFresh enrollment across the Sacramento region has grown since the pandemic. Researchers looked at the effects on the seven county region - Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Yuba and Sutter - sparked by the Trump Administration’s seismic H.R.1 spending plan which restricts food assistance funding to certain recipients. On today’s Insight, we’ll check in with Yuba County, where CalFresh enrollment for adults aged 18-59 is nearly double the statewide average. A higher rate not driven by unemployment, but low-wages - the median household income is nearly 20% lower than the statewide median. Chaya Galicia is the Program Director at the Yuba County Department of Health and Human Services and Maria Ball is the Executive Director of the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. They join us to discuss how the changes at the federal level will impact food security in the communities they serve.

ICE Deports Natomas DACA Recipient

A Natomas woman has been thrust into the Trump Administration’s hardlined immigration enforcement. Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez immigrated to the U.S. as a minor and is protected under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The 42-year-old was deported in February after attending a scheduled hearing for a green card, only to return to the U.S. last week, after a federal judge ruled the deportation unlawful. But that isn’t where the story ends, as Estrada Juárez is due back in court. Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes organized a press conference following her return and joins us with more on the city’s role and next steps.

Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez was unable for an interview today, but spoke with NPR Weekend Edition on April 4.

We reached out to the Department of Homeland Security which said, in part, “This is yet another ruling from a Biden-appointed activist judge… DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country.”

Sactown Movie Buffs Film Festival

What started as two friends debating movies has become a showcase for local filmmakers. Kierre Stowes and Jason Alley have been best friends since childhood, but they haven’t always seen eye to eye when it comes to movies. They channeled their love of film and debate with each other into the Sactown Movie Buffs TV show and podcast, where they review films and discuss the movie industry with professionals from the Sacramento scene. They joined us today to talk about their upcoming Sactown Movie Buffs Film Festival taking place this weekend.

New Restrictions Impacting CalFresh Eligibility | AI Usage in CA Schools and Universities | Sacramento Orchid Society’s Annual Show

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

New Restrictions Impacting CalFresh Eligibility

Hundreds of thousands of people across the Sacramento region rely on SNAP benefits, known as CalFresh in California, and the rate of enrollment has increased over the past half-decade. But new changes enacted last week under H.R.1 now exclude many lawfully-present immigrants including refugees, asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. Marcos Lopez, Director of Research at the UC Davis Labor and Community Center joins Insight to talk about what the impact of these new restrictions could look like across the region, and whether resources are available to help these communities.

AI Usage in CA Schools and Universities

From social media to the workplace, artificial intelligence or AI is becoming more widely used in our day to day lives. Including in the classroom. But a new survey shows students and faculty remain weary about its use. We spoke to a pair of education reporters about how AI is being integrated in both college and middle school classrooms. Kate Rix covers higher education for EdSource and Amelia Angeles, is a journalism major at UC Irvine and a member of the EdSource California Student Journalism Corps.

Sacramento Orchid Society’s Annual Show

Is there a secret to success when it comes to growing orchids? If you’re a fan of the flowering plant and thinking about learning to grow them yourself, the Sacramento Orchid Society is the place to go. They host their annual Orchid Show and Exotic Plant Sale April 17 through 19 in Carmichael. Dave Veach is the Outreach Coordinator for the Sacramento Orchid Society and he joins us today to explain what it takes to care for these plants.

California’s Immigration History | San Joaquin Valley Housing Plans Get a ‘Final Warning’ | ‘The Tallest Dwarf’ Documentary

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

California’s Immigration History

The Supreme Court is weighing whether President Trump can limit birthright citizenship to children born to U.S. citizens or legal residents. But the question of who gets to be an American has deep roots. Jane Hong is an Associate Professor of History at Occidental College and is a historian of U.S. immigration. She joins us with the history of U.S. immigration laws, and why California is a prime case study.

San Joaquin Valley Housing Plans Get a ‘Final Warning’

Governor Gavin Newsom is warning more than a dozen municipalities in the San Joaquin Valley that their housing plans are out of compliance with state requirements, and potential lawsuits could be on the horizon. But many of these jurisdictions say they are diligently working to get their plans in order. Alma Villegas from the Merced Focus and Garth Stapley from the Modesto Focus talk about the local responses to Newsom’s order, and the help some of these communities say they need to get it done.

‘The Tallest Dwarf’ Documentary

Sparked by a desire to explore the possibility of dwarfism in her family history, filmmaker Julie Forrest Wyman turned to her camera. The film she ended up making is an exploration of her own dwarfism that leads her to learn more about where she fits into dwarf culture and the little people community. Teaming up with others to confront the troubled history of how dwarfs have been viewed in society and forge a new vision of beauty and power for their community. Julie joins us to talk about her new film, The Tallest Dwarf, premiering on PBS Independent Lens on Monday April 6th and streaming on the PBS app.

Reserve your spot for the local in-person screening in Davis, here.

April Snowpack Among Lowest on Record | Sac City Unified Budget Update | Jazz Harpist Motoshi Kosako

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

April Snowpack Among Lowest on Record

April 1 is historically the time of peak snowpack - but not this year. Much of California’s winter snow has been reduced to runoff, as early season heat melted the state’s frozen reservoir. And this critical measurement looks to be one of the lowest snowpacks recorded in state history. Dr. Andrew Schwartz is the Director of UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab at Donner Summit. Jeffrey Mount is a Senior Fellow of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California. We’ll learn what this means for our water supply, as we approach the drier months.

Sac City Unified Budget Update

We are getting a clearer picture of the Sacramento City Unified’s dire budget issues. The district is navigating poor financial waters for the second time in less than a decade. Once again, at risk of fiscal insolvency and facing the threat of state receivership. The latest financial report revealed a current budget deficit of $170 million. As the school board is making difficult decisions about where to cut costs, it came under fire after approving up to $400,000 to hire consultants to help untangle the budget - when the county and the state are already providing oversight. Jennah Pendleton is the Education Reporter for the Sacramento Bee and joined us to provide an update on where things stand with SCUSD’s budget saga.

Jazz Harpist Motoshi Kosako

As a young man in his native Japan, Mostoshi Kosako walked away from a lucrative promising medical career to become a jazz guitarist. He now divides his time between music and tending to his ranch in Oregon House. CapRadio Music Program Director Gary Vercelli interviewed jazz harpist Motoshi Kosako ahead of his April 3 show at Twin Lotus Thai in Sacramento. On April 16, he’ll participate in the World Harp Competition in the Netherlands.

POLITICO's California Playbook | ‘The Path of Least Regret’ | ‘Shakespeare Anyone?’ Podcast

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

POLITICO's California Playbook

It’s a busy time in California politics. State lawmakers are taking steps to rename tomorrow’s holiday from Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day, following a damning investigation by the New York Times. Also, thousands of people turned out across the state this weekend in the latest round of No Kings protests. And, the crowded race for California’s next governor has everyone guessing. Dustin Gardiner is the co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook and he joins us today to break this all down.

‘The Path of Least Regret’

Debut author Parul Somani joins us with her book The Path of Least Regret, a roadmap for making hard decisions in the face of uncertainty and change. Somani developed this framework out of her own experience navigating cancer shortly after childbirth, faced with life-altering decisions when there was no clear “right” answer.

‘Shakespeare Anyone?’ Podcast

The study of Shakespeare can often be intimidating. Two Sacramento actors are on a quest to make The Bard more accessible and relatable to our modern lives and they’re doing it through a podcast. Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp are the creators and hosts behind Shakespeare Anyone? They join us today to discuss their efforts to foster Shakespeare appreciation and understanding.

Elyse Sharp will present Why Shakespeare Still Matters April 20 in East Sacramento.

‘No Kings’ Protests Return to the Region | River City Waterway Alliance | Sacramento Piano Day

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

‘No Kings’ Protests Return to the Region

A variety of rallies are scheduled throughout Northern California this weekend, part of a series of nationwide demonstrations voicing opposition to the Trump Administration’s policies. Today on Insight, we’ll hear from organizers of events happening Saturday, March 28, including Greg Bergantz and Gina Abrams from Indivisible El Dorado and Ellen Chapman from Indivisible Sacramento.

River City Waterway Alliance

During the pandemic a group of neighbors came together looking to clean up the local areas they lived near. These efforts soon expanded to removing the trash and debris that end up in Sacramento area rivers and waterways. In 2023, the three founded the River City Waterway Alliance. The founders of the group - David Ingram, Kathleen Farren Ford, and Lisa Sanchez - join us to explain what the volunteer organization does and how it’s growing.

Sacramento Piano Day

This Sunday is the 88th day of the year and a piano has 88 keys, so that means it's time for Sacramento Piano Day. Celebrated internationally, Piano Day honors the instrument and its performers, builders and listeners through public performances. Philip Howard founded the local event and he joins us today, along with pianist Quinn Vance, who will debut a brand new commissioned piece of music at this weekend’s concert.

Insight Senior Producer Andrew Garcia is today's guest host.

Heat Impacts on Farmworkers | Author Craig Harwood and ‘Bridget’s Gambit’ | In a Nutshell: All You Can Eat

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Heat Impacts on Farmworkers

It’s been unusually warm for this time of year. The early heat can take a toll on anyone who has to work outside, including some of the state’s most critical workforces like the hundreds of thousands of farmworkers in California. Last week, Cal/OSHA put out a reminder to employers to protect their workers from heat illness amid the temperature spikes. California was the first state in the country to pass regulations to protect the agricultural workforce more than two decades ago, but how well are these protections being implemented? Edward Flores is the Faculty Director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center and he joins us today with some perspective.

Author Craig Harwood and ‘Bridget’s Gambit’

The history of the California gold rush is a story the state takes pride in sharing. From the San Francisco 49ers to the variety of former gold rush towns that dot our roadways to the gold rush history that is often taught in public schools. But the story of one of the era’s most influential entrepreneurs, Bridget Miranda Evoy, has long gone unheard. Until now. Craig S. Harwood is a geologist and the author of “Bridget’s Gambit: A Saga of Family Enterprise in Gold Rush California.” He joins us today to explain why he wrote this book.

In a Nutshell: All You Can Eat

Food often shapes the rhythm of our days, from breakfast to lunch to dinner. But it also plays a role in how we view a variety of issues from culture to health to community. “All You Can Eat” is the theme of this month’s In a Nutshell storytelling series at The Sophia. Storytellers Anne Rutherford and Keith Staten join host and co-producer Keith Lowell Jensen for a preview of this Friday’s show.

Media Company Merger Sparks Controversy | YoloFest Debuts | Latinx Comic Arts Festival

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Media Company Merger Sparks Controversy

A major shakeup is set to impact the television news landscape across the country. Federal agencies have approved a merger between media companies Nexstar and TEGNA, which would give the joint business the ability to reach up to 80% of U.S. households. This could have big impacts in the Sacramento region, where Nexstar owns FOX40 and TEGNA owns ABC10. The deal is also facing significant criticism from officials like Governor Gavin Newsom, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed a lawsuit trying to block the merger and argues it could raise prices, harm local news and decrease competition. Professor Frank Gevurtz from University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law joins Insight to talk about how federal antitrust laws could shape this multi-billion-dollar merger deal.

YoloFest Debuts

Probably best known as the home of UC Davis and for supplying the region with produce, Yolo County has become a destination for more than just students and foodies. To highlight the growing number of activities cropping up in the area from wineries to farm tours, the region has come together for YoloFest, which debuts this weekend. Terry Selk is the executive director for Visit Yolo and joins us today to explain more about it.

Latinx Comic Arts Festival

The medium of comic books has often been a place where artists imagine what the distant future could look like. And that tradition continues at this year’s Latinx Comic Arts Festival in Modesto as they explore a theme of Latino-futurism. The festival takes place next week at Modesto Junior College’s West Campus, on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4. The two-day event will showcase talented Latinx cartoonists, writers, artists, animators, and educators from across the country. Dr. Theresa Rojas tells us more about the family friendly event that is open to the public. She is a professor of Ethnic Studies and English at Modesto Junior College and is the Director of the Latinx Comic Arts Festival.

Politics Editor Chris Nichols is today's guest host.

Impact of California’s Extreme Heat Conditions | How are CA Ballot Initiatives Polling? | Too Hot for Superbloom?

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Impact of California’s Extreme Heat Conditions

California has been baking under a heat wave that has shattered temperature records across the state. Unseasonably warm conditions have also raised concerns about the state’s snowpack, which officials say has melted at a rate of 1% a day, as well as the forecast for fire season. KCRA Meteorologist Tamara Berg and California State Climatologist Dr. Michael Anderson join Insight to break down what impact this will have on the state heading into summer.

How are CA Ballot Initiatives Polling?

Two major ballot measures could go before California voters this November, asking them to decide the fate of a billionaire’s wealth tax and voter ID mandates. A recent Berkeley IGS poll shows voters are split heavily down political and ideological lines on these two initiatives. LA Times political reporter Nicole Nixon breaks down the results.

Too Hot for Superbloom?

Spring has sprung! Officially starting last Friday, Spring tends to mark the time when people look for ways to get more time outdoors. Taking advantage of the longer days and warmer weather to spend some time taking in our state’s natural beauty. One such gem of the region is wildflowers and the often talked about phenomenon of the superbloom. But as we heard earlier in the show all this heat has a downside too. Warm temperatures this early in the season could mean this year’s blooms, while still beautiful, might not quite be “super”. Kate Mawdsley tells us more about where and when you should go see the wildflowers. She’s a volunteer docent at the 16-hundred acre Jepson Prairie Preserve and self-described enthusiastic wildflower seeker.

Statehouse Politics Reporter Laura Fitzgerald is today's guest host.

Sac Considers Renaming Cesar Chavez Plaza | Cesar Chavez Biographer | KVMR Community Radio | Sacramento Kavanagh’s Hurling Team

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Sac Considers Renaming Cesar Chavez Plaza

A New York Times investigation has unraveled the heroic reputation of Cesar Chavez, accusing the late labor leader of sexually assaulting underage girls. Dolores Huerta, who cofounded the United Farm Workers with Chavez, also revealed that he raped and sexually assaulted her - and that she had two children from those encounters. This morning, she gave her first interview since the investigation was published with Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa. In the immediate hours since the investigation went public, an increasing number of officials have been grappling with what to do with the holiday - and many public places - named in his honor. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty joins us about how the city is considering renaming Cesar Chavez Plaza.

Cesar Chavez Biographer

We are also joined by an acclaimed biographer who explains why Cesar Chavez the man is more complicated than his legacy as a labor icon. Miriam Pawel is a journalist, and author of The Crusades of Cesar Chavez and The Union of Their Dreams.

KVMR Community Radio

For close to 50 years, KVMR has been offering eclectic music programming and news coverage to the listeners of Nevada County. First broadcast in 1978, KVMR prides itself as a radio station “by the community and for the community.” And they continue to share original programming despite losing a major source of funding from the federal government with the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Today on Insight, we’ll meet the station’s new General Manager Luis Estrada and hear his vision for the foothills station.

Sacramento Kavanagh’s Hurling Team

Hurling is the national sport of Ireland, with a history dating back thousands of years. For the past year a new club called the Sacramento Kavanagh’s has been introducing players in the Sacramento region to hurling, which has been described as a mix of field hockey, baseball and lacrosse. The club’s Chairperson David Neligan and players Kai Uchio and Connor Gorry join Insight to talk about “the fastest game on grass.”

Trump Launches Fraud Investigation | Cracking Down on Kratom | CapLit Season Opener

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Trump Launches Fraud Investigation

President Trump declared a “war on fraud” this week as he signed an executive order Monday, formally creating a benefits fraud task force. It will be led by Vice President J.D. Vance, and targets states such as Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Maine, Colorado and California. Alexei Koseff is the Washington D.C. correspondent for The San Francisco Chronicle and joins us today to explain what programs may come under scrutiny in the state.

Cracking Down on Kratom

Advocates for the herbal supplement Kratom tout its benefits as an energy booster and an alternative pain reliever to opioids. However, the evidence of its benefits remains largely anecdotal and the FDA cautions the public about the use of kratom for medical treatment. Meanwhile, authorities in California are working to end the sale of kratom products in the state. Today on Insight, we’re going to learn more from Dr. Rita Nguyen, the State of California’s Assistant Health Officer, and Michael Needham, who serves as the Chief of Emergency Response for the California Department of Public Health, and Dr. Rais Vohra, a Medical Director for California Poison Control.

CapLit Season Opener

CapLit returns to the CLARA Auditorium stage for another season Saturday, March 21, with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Adam Johnson’s new novel, The Wayfinder. Today on Insight, we’ll meet Johnson and hear about the inspiration behind his epic, historical novel set in Polynesia centuries ago. We’ll also meet actress Fetalaiga Faga, who will read excerpts from Johnson’s book.

Sacramento County Superintendent | CapRadio, KVIE Settle Tower Dispute | California’s Grape Crops are Down

webmaster@capradio.org — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Sacramento County Superintendent

Tens of thousands of students in Sacramento County are in the middle of labor disputes between teachers and their school districts. Strikes continue at Twin Rivers and Natomas unified as teachers demand higher salaries and better benefits. Something that districts say would lead to cuts in other programs and cause long-term financial challenges. This comes as Sacramento City Unified faces a budget crisis to the tune of a $134 million dollar deficit. We speak with Dave Gordon, the Superintendent of Sacramento County Office of Education which provides financial oversight and support to 13 school districts including Twin Rivers, Natomas and Sac City.

CapRadio, KVIE Settle Tower Dispute

A long running dispute between Sacramento’s public media stations over a broadcasting tower has ended. CapRadio, PBS affiliate KVIE and the Capital Public Radio Endowment, a separate nonprofit founded decades ago to support the radio station, released a joint statement announcing a “comprehensive settlement agreement” had been reached following successful mediation. CapRadio Producer Sarit Laschinsky joins us to break down the history of the nearly two-year legal fight.

Editor’s note: Shortly after this segment aired at noon CapRadio fulfilled a public records request and revealed more details about the settlement. This has been included in this updated segment, and you can read more about it here.

Following NPR’s protocol for reporting on itself, no CapRadio corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted or broadcast. You can read our independent ongoing coverage of financial issues at Capital Public Radio here.

Editor’s note: CapRadio is licensed to Sacramento State, which is also an underwriter.

California’s Grape Crops are Down

It’s been a rough few years for California’s wine industry. Sales have shrunk globally as drinking habits have changed across the generations and that’s led to one of the smallest crushes in the state in the last 20 years, according to a new report released last week. Wine expert Rick Kushman joins us today to explain what’s going on in the industry and how this week’s heat wave may affect vines.

State Worker Negotiations | Full Belly Farm’s New Book | Sac History Museum Wants You To ‘Meet Mary Pleasant’

webmaster@capradio.org — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

State Worker Negotiations

Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on state employees to return to the office four days a week starting in July. But his order is facing pushback from labor groups including SEIU Local 1000, which represents the largest share of state workers. It’s also become subject of tense contract negotiations with the union demanding 100% telework and stipends for employees that have to return in-person. The CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Laura Fitzgerald and SEIU Local 1000 job steward Gina Garcia-Smith join Insight to talk about where things stand.

The California Department of Human Resources sent CapRadio the following statement: “CalHR respects the confidentiality of the bargaining process and does not speak on ongoing negotiations. CalHR looks forward to bargaining in good faith with SEIU in the weeks ahead.”

Full Belly Farm’s New Book

Even if you have never heard of Full Belly Farm, chances are you’ve eaten their food before. Nestled in the Capay Valley, they work year-round to supply produce to restaurants like Chez Panisse in Berkeley and food co-ops here locally in Sacramento and Davis. In 2011, they built the Full Belly Farm Kitchen to showcase their produce. And they’ve just released a new book to help tell the story of the farm’s history and share some recipes. We’ll meet two of the farms’ owners, Amon and Jenna Muller, who also happen to be the married couple behind the new book, Full Belly Farm and Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from a Family Farm.

There will be a book release celebration at Full Belly Farm this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Reserve a spot here.

Sac History Museum Wants You To ‘Meet Mary Pleasant’

Have you ever heard of Mary Ellen Pleasant? Born a slave in Georgia in 1817, she eventually made her way to California, becoming an entrepreneur and abolitionist. Her story was mostly lost to history until a Sacramento filmmaker, scholar and singer stepped in. Today on Insight, we’ll meet Susheel Bibbs, who has spent decades researching and sharing Pleasant’s story on stage and through film. She’s joined by Delta Pick Mello, executive director of the Sacramento History Museum, which is presenting this performance as a Chautauqua at Celebration Arts Theatre on Wednesday, March 18.

Gas Prices in California | New Book ‘Follow the Water’ | March ‘Arts Talk’

webmaster@capradio.org — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Gas Prices in California

A gallon of regular gas costs $5.36 on average in California - the highest in the country. And if that feels unusually high, it’s because prices have been on a steep upward trajectory in recent weeks, and spiked even more following the start of the Iran War. Crude oil prices have surpassed $100 a barrel. AAA Northern California spokesperson Doug Johnson tracks gas prices and travel trends and he joins us today with more about what’s going on at the pump. We’re also joined by Severin Bornstein, Faculty Director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He’ll discuss the state of California’s refineries. The Golden State is a top 10 oil producer in the country, but has scaled back significantly in recent decades.

New Book ‘Follow the Water’

In 1971, 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke was stranded in the Amazon rainforest for 11 days after being the sole survivor of a plane crash. A Sacramento educator, nature conservationist and author Ellen Cochrane felt a personal connection to Juliane’s story of survival, which inspired her latest book Follow the Water. She joins us to talk about how science isn’t just confined to textbooks ahead of the book’s launch party on March 21 at Beers Books in Sacramento.

March ‘Arts Talk’

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, the area’s many art walks from 2nd Friday ArtAbout in Davis to 2nd Saturday Art Walk in Sacramento become even more appealing. On this month’s Arts Talk with Veronica Rodriguez, we’ll learn about a variety of walks and events happening throughout the Sacramento region.

Twin Rivers, Natomas Teachers’ Strikes | Gas Tax Study Controversy | LabRats Hip Hop Opera

webmaster@capradio.org — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Twin Rivers, Natomas Teachers’ Strikes

Teachers unions across California are going on strike in a coordinated effort from the California Teachers Association to call for increased salaries and benefits. Two of those districts are in the Sacramento region, impacting more than 40,000 students. CapRadio Newsroom Producer Greg Micek reports on teachers’ strikes and negotiations at Twin Rivers and Natomas Unified.

Gas Tax Study Controversy

The effort to find an alternative to the gas tax in California has received bipartisan support, especially from the state's more rural areas, where roads are most in need of repair. But a recent bill to study all research related to the issue has received pushback from Republican lawmakers, both in California and across the country. Yue Stella Yu is a Politics and Campaign Reporter with CalMatters and she recently wrote about the new bill and reaction to it.

LabRats Hip Hop Opera

Who is Jef Costello? That enigmatic question is the name of a new musical written by Jacob Swedlow, the drummer of Sacramento’s experimental jazz band LabRats. We’ll talk with Swedlow and bandmate Joey Archie about the origins of this hip hop opera that blends jazz, rap, dance, and film noir.

LabRats presents Who is Jef Costello at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Sac Dance Lab.