10 episodes

Award-winning journalist Vicki Gonzalez hosts daily interviews with community leaders, advocates, experts, artists and more to provide background and understanding on breaking news, big events, politics and culture in the Sacramento region and beyond.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez CapRadio

    • News
    • 4.7 • 26 Ratings

Award-winning journalist Vicki Gonzalez hosts daily interviews with community leaders, advocates, experts, artists and more to provide background and understanding on breaking news, big events, politics and culture in the Sacramento region and beyond.

    Sacramento City Council District 4 Race | ‘Landing Spot’ for LGBTQ+ Youth | Sacramento Piano Day

    Sacramento City Council District 4 Race | ‘Landing Spot’ for LGBTQ+ Youth | Sacramento Piano Day

    Sacramento City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela concedes the race to Phil Pluckebaum. Also, events for Placer County LGBTQ+ youth, family and allies. Finally, Sacramento Piano Day concert at American River College.

    Sacramento City Council District 4 Race
    Sacramento County has less than 100 ballots left to be counted. Which means election results are largely finalized. Today we are going to focus on a change of leadership in Sacramento City Council District 4 - which includes downtown, midtown and East Sacramento. On Tuesday, Councilmember Katie Valenzuela officially conceded the race for her seat to UC Davis Health project manager Phil Pluckebaum. Valenzuela received 46.17% of the vote (8,542) versus Pluckebaum’s 50.63% votes (9,366). Today, Councilmember Valenzuela joins us about how she will round out her term. We’re also joined by Pluckebaum about how he plans to lead District 4 once he is sworn-in in December.

     

    ‘Landing Spot’ for LGBTQ+ Youth

    Loomis Basin UCC is an open and affirming congregation - which is an official designation for churches committed to welcoming the LGBTQ+ community. Pastor Casey Tinnin joins us about the candle lighting event to show solidarity for LGBTQ+ people, youth and their families. Pastor Tinnin also shares an update about The Landing Spot, a non-religious support group for LGBTQ+ youth in Placer County that has grown into its own separate nonprofit with Camp Fruit Loop this summer expanding to six days.

     

    Sacramento Piano Day
    It’s the 88th day of the year and a piano has 88 keys, so today must be Sacramento Piano Day! CapRadio Music’s Classical Host Jennifer Reason and Pianist and Composer Philip Howard join us to talk about tonight’s celebration at American River College. We will learn more about Piano Day’s special performances and why music education is vital in our community.

    CapRadio Update | Isleton Community Flood Insurance Program | Climate Change Public Service Announcements

    CapRadio Update | Isleton Community Flood Insurance Program | Climate Change Public Service Announcements

    A financial backer of CapRadio wants the public media station to merge with KVIE. Also, the delta city of Isleton creates a community flood insurance pilot program. Finally, take a listen to public service announcements about climate change.

    CapRadio Update
    Should Sacramento’s two largest public media organizations join as one? In an open letter last week, the Capital Public Radio Endowment urged CapRadio’s license holder - Sacramento State - to merge with the PBS television affiliate KVIE. The endowment is an independent nonprofit, separate from CapRadio, but has been a longtime financial backer of the public media station. In response, both CapRadio and Sac State officials say they have no plans for such a merger. This latest development follows months of public financial instability - including a CSU audit, layoffs and continued staff attrition. CapRadio Reporter Chris Nichols shares his conversations with the endowment, CapRadio and Sac State.

    Following NPR’s protocol for reporting on itself, no CapRadio corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly or broadcasted. You can follow the latest on CapRadio’s finances here.

    Isleton Community Flood Insurance Program
    UC Davis and the Sacramento Delta city of Isleton are working together to launch the state’s first community-based flood insurance program - a fast, low-cost option to help residents after a flood, while also building resilience. Project founder Kathleen Schaefer is a UC Davis Ph.D. candidate of civil and environmental engineering, and discusses how this insurance program would work. Isleton Mayor Pam Bulahan describes the importance of having affordable flood insurance, based on her own experiences.

    Climate Change Public Service Announcements
    Climate change and how it can impact our daily lives is the theme behind new public service announcements by the California Council of the Arts. The state agency provided a grant to come up with a creative way to get the word out about the environment, public health and disaster preparedness by teaming up with Davis songwriter and performer Rita Hosking. She joins us to talk about the vision behind the so-called “public service songs” called Climate Country Radio and how she hopes to make a difference.

    Supreme Court Abortion Pill Case | California’s Salmon Strategy | Best Way to See Upcoming Eclipse

    Supreme Court Abortion Pill Case | California’s Salmon Strategy | Best Way to See Upcoming Eclipse

    How a Supreme Court case on the abortion medication mifepristone could impact California. Also, California’s strategy to recover long declining salmon populations. Finally, the best way to view the upcoming April eclipse. 

    Supreme Court Abortion Pill Case
    This morning, the Supreme Court heard arguments for another case challenging the right to abortion. FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine challenges the use of mifepristone, a medication typically used in a two-combination dose to terminate a pregnancy (the other medication used is misoprostol). Medication abortions account for roughly two thirds of all abortions in the country - and this ruling can affect all states, regardless of what protections are in place. But there is more at stake than abortion - this case could impact the FDA’s regulatory power to approve all drugs and evaluate their safety. Leslie Gielow Jacobs is an Anthony Kennedy Professor of Law at McGeorge School of Law and joins us with a breakdown of today’s oral arguments. 

    California’s Salmon Strategy
    California’s salmon population has been in decline for decades, largely due to human activity and climate change. To help reverse these trends, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the “California “Salmon Strategy” earlier this year - bringing together governments, conservation groups and tribal communities to revive the salmon numbers by removing dams, restoring habitats, and modernizing hatcheries, among other strategies. Carson Jeffres is a Senior Researcher at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and discusses the current salmon population counts, as well as why there is still hope for a strong future for this iconic species.

    Best Way to See Upcoming Eclipse
    On April 8, Californians can view a partial solar eclipse. To get the obvious out of the way, at no point is it safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse. However, with special glasses or telescopes fitted with the right equipment, we can experience this firsthand. Vinita Domier is a coordinator of the Davis Astronomy Club - and calls herself an eclipse chaser. Vinita joins us with more on this celestial phenomena. 

    CA Minimum Wage Report | Women in Manufacturing | Refugee Student Organization ‘ReDressed’

    CA Minimum Wage Report | Women in Manufacturing | Refugee Student Organization ‘ReDressed’

    New report says state’s minimum wage isn’t enough to keep up with cost of living. Also, La Tourangelle artisan oils and Siemens Mobility highlight women in manufacturing. Finally, a student charitable organization “ReDressed” for refugee students.

    CA Minimum Wage Report
    California’s minimum wage of $16 is over double the federal minimum. But a new report published by California's Legislative Analyst’s Office says that while this amount appears high by comparison, it is still not enough to keep up with the state’s high cost of living. CalMatters California Divide reporter Alejandra Reyes-Velarde breaks down the LAO’s findings.

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

    Women in Manufacturing
    California leads the country in manufacturing. From aerospace, transportation, food and beverage, motor and zero emission vehicles, as well as electronics - this industry touches many parts of our lives. But many sectors lack representation of women - especially in leadership positions. Today we are going to highlight women in manufacturing. Christine Polycarpe is co-owner of La Tourangelle artisan cooking oils and founder of La Tourangelle Foundation based in Woodland. Jacquelyne Colvis is the Project Management Team Lead at Siemens Mobility, Inc which transforms passenger and freight rail across the state - with projects that include SacRT and is on the short list for California’s High Speed Rail.

    Refugee Student Organization ‘ReDressed’
    A Sacramento high school sophomore has launched a new charitable organization to provide teen refugees with dresses and dance tickets to enjoy their high school experience - free of charge. Kendall Carey, founder of ReDressed, joins Insight to talk about how her organization at Rio Americano High School came to be, and how she’s spreading the word to help these students settle into their new schools.

    MOSAC Keffiyeh Controversy | California Wine Industry Challenges | Latinx Comic Arts Festival

    MOSAC Keffiyeh Controversy | California Wine Industry Challenges | Latinx Comic Arts Festival

    A dispute over keffiyehs at Sacramento’s Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC). Also, the challenges facing California’s wine industry. Finally, the fifth annual Latinx Comic Arts Festival.

    MOSAC Keffiyeh Controversy
    Controversy has erupted at Sacramento’s Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) after some employees alleged they were treated poorly by management after wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh, a traditional Arab headdress that has become synonymous with Palestinians. Now, they say, management has changed the workplace policy banning certain types of clothes that MOSAC says “makes a political statement.” CapRadio’s Kate Wolffe joins us on Insight with more background on the story, reaction from MOSAC management, and why employees took action by voting to unionize.

    California Wine Industry Challenges
    California is one of the top wine producers in the world. But the industry is facing some hard realities. Younger generations aren’t turning to wine like their elders. Inflation isn’t really helping. There is an overabundance of grapevines. And there’s some competition from the cannabis industry. Our resident wine expert Rick Kushman joins us with more on the “why?” and “what can be done?” He’ll also explain why spring is the best time to show tasting rooms a little love.

    Latinx Comic Arts Festival
    The Latinx Comic Arts Festival is an annual Central Valley celebration of Latinx cartoonists, animators, artists, and other creators. Now in its fifth year, the event returns to Modesto Junior College on March 22-23. Festival director Dr. Theresa Rojas provides a preview of this year’s festival, which will feature dozens of workshops, panel discussions, and even a lowrider exhibition.

    Sacramento Votes on Bilateral Ceasefire | California Testing AI for Efficiency | ‘A River Called Home’

    Sacramento Votes on Bilateral Ceasefire | California Testing AI for Efficiency | ‘A River Called Home’

    Sacramento City Council approves a bilateral ceasefire resolution. Also, how California is harnessing artificial intelligence. Finally, El Dorado County author and illustrator of “A River Called Home: A River Fable.”

    Sacramento Votes on Bilateral Ceasefire
    The Sacramento City Council passed a Gaza ceasefire resolution just before midnight on Tuesday, after hearing from dozens of public comment testimonies. Officials approved the resolution in a 6 to 1 vote, with only Councilmember Lisa Kaplan opposing it. Councilmember Mai Vang was absent, due to a previously scheduled commitment. The resolution was crafted by Jewish and Muslim leaders in the community, and formally calls for Israel to stop bombing Gaza and the West Bank, as well as for Hamas to end attacks against Israel. The proposal also urges the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinians who are held without charge - as well as denouncing antisemitism and Islamophobia. Joining us is Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Basim Elkarra, Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), to discuss last night’s city council vote.

    California Testing AI for Efficiency
    California is harnessing artificial intelligence - using generative AI to ease traffic congestion, improve emissions goals, and increase safety on roadways. But there are questions about security, privacy and reliability. California’s Department of Technology CIO and Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins joins us about how the state is investing in the future - while ensuring guardrails and protections are in place.

    ‘A River Called Home’
    An El Dorado County author and artist have put over 50 years of river adventure into a new book. Artist Robin Center and author Moira Magneson have boated 27 rivers across four continents, which inspired their novella A River Called Home: A River Fable, a love letter to the American River as well as a testament to the power of friendship.

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
26 Ratings

26 Ratings

Goodyness ,

Capital Insights

We need a radio show like Capital Insights giving us a very close insight of issues in Sacramento, the region, our nation, topics that affect people everyday. California stories and political forethought are important!

PConVox ,

Consistently informative, entertaining and surprising

Spend an hour with Beth Ruyak and the Insight team each day and you are guaranteed to come away with something new... be it information, awareness or perspective about the people and topics important to our community today. You're likely also to be entertained by the parade of musicians, authors, actors and other creatives who pass through the CapRadio studios to perform live and share ideas. And no matter how many Insight shows you've heard, chances are you'll be surprised every so often with a segment that really caught your fancy, like Beth's report from the Sochi Olympics or live, on-air beer tastings and cooking demonstrations. Listening to Insight, live or via podcast, is definitely an hour well spent.

Bumadinga ,

Good NorCal News

As KQED can't get their podcasting $h!t together, this is my go-to podcast for state level political news. Ms Ruyak isn't the greatest host but I've heard worse and I like the music that is included in many episodes.

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