Insight With Vicki Gonzalez CapRadio

A parent’s perspective on RydeFreeRT. KCRA3’s Mark Finan talks about his career and plans for retirement. Finally, the third annual All Nations Indigefest returns to West Sacramento.

RydeFreeRT Parent Perspective
The City of Sacramento approved its budget last week and managed to avoid completely cutting funding for a popular program for students. We’ll talk with a local parent, Vanessa Cudabac, about RydeFreeRT, which provides fare-free public transportation for kids in grades TK-12, and not just during the school year.

KCRA3’s Mark Finan Retires
It is the end of an era in Sacramento TV news. Mark Finan has been the chief meteorologist at KCRA3 for more than three decades. And in that time he has informed viewers of the biggest weather events in history - from snowfall, to flooding, heatwaves and devastating wildfires. After 33 years, he has entered a new and well-deserved chapter - retirement. Mark joins us with a look back at his career, and how he plans to spend his time after KCRA3.

Third Annual ‘All Nations Indigefest’
A multicultural community celebration is making its way back to the Sacramento region this weekend. The third annual All Nations Indigefest will take place on Saturday, June 22 at River City Farm in West Sacramento, featuring arts, music, food, and gardening, and more. Alfred Melbourne, founder and director of Three Sisters Gardens provides a preview of the festival, and how the event will benefit the nonprofit’s Urban Farm Youth Leadership Development Program.

The dangers posed by extreme heat. The publishing legacy of Outword Magazine. Finally, revisiting our conversation with James Beard Award finalist Billy Ngo.

Extreme Heat Dangers
Sacramento is facing another period of extreme heat. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region through Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s and even hitting the mid-100s in some areas. Dr. Kylie Abeson, a pediatrician with UC Davis Health talks about the dangers that high temperatures pose to our health. Also, Janna Haynes, public information officer for the Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing discusses how this extreme weather impacts unhoused people in the community, and what resources are available to help.

Outword Magazine’s Fred Palmer
For almost three decades Outword Magazine has been the source for Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ community. Publisher Fred Palmer talks about the magazine’s staying power and the changes he’s seen in both the world of publishing and gay rights.

Best Of: Kru’s Billy Ngo
This was a big week in the Sacramento dining scene. The James Beard Awards just wrapped up yesterday in Chicago, and a local chef was a finalist for Best California Chef - Billy Ngo, the founder of the Japanese restaurant Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine. Despite falling just short of the title, in honor of this recognition we’re revisiting our conversation with Billy when he was first nominated, and he took a look back at his nearly two decade career in Sacramento that has grown into becoming a full-fledged restaurateur.

The community responds to Sacramento’s reported drop in homelessness. Also, a new exhibit celebrates artists who are parents, caregivers and guardians. Finally, a personal message from Vicki Gonzalez, who will be going on leave.

Response to Sacramento’s Reported Drop in Homelessness
The 2024 Point In Time Count showed a 29% decrease in Sacramento’s unhoused population, from nearly 9,300 people during the peak in 2022 to an estimated 6,615 individuals today. But those numbers have drawn scrutiny. CapRadio Homelessness and Housing Affordability Reporter Chris Nichols joins Insight with the response from the city, to the business community and homelessness advocates.

New Exhibit ‘When I Can’
While life is in a state of flux, how can one find time to engage with art? A new exhibit in Sacramento seeks to answer that in an unlikely place - at City Hall. Curator and gallery manager Bridgett Rangel-Rexford discusses her exhibit When I Can showcasing the work of artist parents, caregivers and guardians. The exhibit is at the Robert T. Matsui Galley at Sacramento City Hall through September 9th.

Personal Message from Vicki Gonzalez
We have a personal message from Insight host Vicki Gonzalez, who will be taking a leave of absence. Vicki was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she’s going to share a little of what she’s been through so far. Vicki will be joined by Courtney Quinn, the Executive Director of the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation, a local nonprofit serving the greater Sacramento area by bringing awareness, support, resources, and comfort to anyone facing breast cancer. 

You can read Vicki’s personal message here.

The South Yuba River Citizens League discusses summer river safety. Also, what people can do to minimize interactions with urbanized black bears. Finally, a groundbreaking coffee research center opens at UC Davis.

River Dangers

, Executive Director at the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), discusses the dangers of the South Yuba River in Nevada County, what makes this year different than most years, and tips for visitors this summer.

Tahoe Bears
The Lake Tahoe basin is a prime habitat for black bears. They often make their presence known by rummaging through trash cans and breaking into homes and vehicles. Which means that bear encounters with people are pretty common - and in rare cases can be deadly. Last week, a young bear was shot and killed by a homeowner in South Lake Tahoe. Toogee Sielsch is an urbanized black bear expert and discusses what people can do to minimize these negative wildlife experiences. We’re also joined by Alexia Ronning and Eric Kleinfelter. Alexia is a Tahoe Bear Specialist and Eric is a Senior Environmental Scientist and Supervisor for CDFW North Central Region, which includes 17 counties - including San Joaquin, Calaveras, El Dorado, Plumas, Butte, Glenn and Yolo counties.

New UC Davis Coffee Center
A new center at UC Davis is the first academic research and teaching facility in the country dedicated to studying coffee. The Coffee Center opened last month, and offers a variety of research opportunities in roasting, brewing, bean storage and more. Bill Ristenpart, a professor of Chemical Engineering at UC Davis and the Director of the Coffee Center, talks about the science behind coffee, as well as the social and cultural aspects of this popular morning brew.

Sacramento County’s unhoused population drops 29%, bucking recent trends. Also, how this year’s Sacramento Pride is aiming to be the greenest celebration yet. Finally, a new production in Yuba City called “Salt of the Earth.”

Sacramento Homeless Population Drops
Sacramento County’s unhoused population plummeted 29% over the past two years to an estimated 6,615 people, according to a closely-watched survey conducted by Sacramento Steps Forward. The 2024 Point In Time Count shows a dramatic drop from the nearly 9,300 people counted in 2022, when the region’s unhoused population spiked 67% from the previous survey conducted in 2019. The surveys are typically conducted every two years and are mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to qualify for federal funding. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg discusses the strides made, as well as the ongoing challenges to overcome.

Eco-Friendly Sacramento Pride
The 2024 Sacramento Pride March & Festival is kicking off this weekend, June 8-9. And this year, the event also has made additional changes to make sure that the celebrations are environmentally friendly. Priya Kumar, Marketing and Communications Manager at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, talks about how this year’s Pride is aiming to be the greenest celebration yet.

Yuba City Play ‘Salt of the Earth’
A new play in Yuba City is adapting a famous 1954 film that was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for alleged ties to communism. Salt of the Earth will be performed at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts from June 6-8, coinciding with the film’s 70th anniversary. Creator Marc Flacks, director Lydia Crist, and lead actress Maria Ornelas talk about Salt of the Earth’s continued relevance today, and the democratic process that was used to create this adaptation.

Proposed bridge park over I-5 would reconnect downtown Sacramento and the riverfront. Checking up on the CARE Court pilot program in Stanislaus County. Finally, the SacramenKnow newsletter is rolling out audio “local legend” features.

Proposed Downtown Park Over I-5
A new plan seeks to connect Downtown Sacramento with the city’s riverfront - by building a deck park over a stretch of I-5 between Capitol Mall and O Street. The proposal, called the Sacramento Stitch Park Riverfront Reconnection Project, is supported by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Rep. Doris Matsui, who has requested $5 million in federal funding to help with planning efforts. Scott Ford, Deputy Director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership joins Insight to talk about the project’s vision, and how it plans to reconnect communities.

Stanislaus County CARE Court
In late 2023, Stanislaus County became one of seven California counties to pilot the state’s new CARE Court system - a new judicial division intended to handle serious mental health conditions and substance addiction, and address the homelessness crisis. Marijke Rowland, the Senior Health Equity Reporter for the nonprofit Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, provides a look at how the court has been working so far in its first six months.

SacramenKnow’s ‘Local Legend’
Throughout the month of June, you’ll hear sound-rich feature stories from CapRadio reporters that take you into some unique worlds and subcultures that make up this place we call home. SacramenKnow Newsletter editor Claire Morgan has the lowdown on local legends.