Insight With Vicki Gonzalez CapRadio

Pro-Palestinian campus protests at universities across the country - including Sac State and Cal Poly Humboldt. Also, Loaves and Fishes responds to a landmark Supreme Court case on homelessness. Finally, Nevada County holds a “Dark Sky Photo Contest.”

Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests
Hundreds of students have been arrested following pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the country. The demonstrations and encampments are in support of the people of Gaza, and come with demands that universities divest from companies that do business with Israel. The organization behind the national movement is Students for Justice in Palestine, which says it’s supporting over 350 solidarity organizations across the U.S., including California state universities like Sacramento State. Cal Poly Humboldt demonstrations escalated over the past week. The university says 25 people were arrested Tuesday morning after protesters occupied two campus buildings and defied orders to disperse last Friday. Cal Poly Humboldt put a hard closure to campus over the weekend that extends through May 10 — the end of the semester. Kianna Znika is a student journalist and the station manager for KRFH, the student-run radio station at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sage Alexander is a reporter with the Times-Standard. Keith David Watenpaugh is a Professor and Director of Human Rights Studies at UC Davis.

Sacramento State and Cal Poly Humboldt were both invited to the show but declined. The Cal State Office of the Chancellor declined an interview, but in a statement responded to how CSU campuses are responding to demonstrations, “While the CSU operates as a system, it consists of 23 universities, each with unique sets of circumstances and local jurisdictions. As such, campuses are best qualified to make real-time decisions through a local lens, while understanding they have the support of the Chancellor’s Office.”

Loaves & Fishes
The Supreme Court is still considering the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which has been described as the most important case about homelessness in decades. The legal question revolves around whether unhoused people can be criminally punished for sleeping or camping outside, even if adequate shelter is not available. Loaves & Fishes Executive Director Angela Hassell joins Insight to talk about the services her organization provides, and what a Supreme Court decision could mean for the unhoused community here in Sacramento, which faces both a homelessness and affordable housing crisis.

Dark Sky Photo Contest
There has been a growing “dark skies” push from cities and counties that want to maintain an unadulterated night sky in rural spaces and protected wildlands. In an effort to raise awareness about light pollution, Nevada County launched Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a photo contest capturing the naturally dark sky and its beauty - as well as the impact bright city lights can have on the landscape. Nevada County District 1 Supervisor Heidi Hall and Project Administrator Ariel Lovett join Insight with more on the contest and overall mission.

California wants to welcome Arizona doctors following the state's potential abortion ban. Also, Placerville restaurants compete on Guy Fieri’s “Best Bite in Town” on Food Network. Finally, American River Raft Rentals celebrates 50 years. 

CA’s Response to Arizona’s Abortion Ban
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers announced legislation aimed at helping Arizonans access abortions after the Arizona Supreme Court allowed a near total-ban to move forward. CapRadio Healthcare Reporter Kate Wolffe explains how California could soon allow Arizona doctors to give their patients abortions in the Golden State.

Placerville Restaurants Compete on Food Network
The latest episode of the Food Network’s new competition show Best Bite in Town headed to Placerville in El Dorado County, pitting six local restaurants against one another for the coveted title. Mary Fulmer is the owner of Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, Brandon Guenther is the chef and owner of Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen + Saloon, and Simona Salvatori is the owner of Amore Mio Italian Bistro, and they join Insight to talk about their experience, as well as the dishes they prepared.

50 Years at American River Raft Rentals
This month kicked off a popular time on the lower American River. Each year from late spring through summer, rafts fill the scenic American River Parkway - just 15 miles east of downtown Sacramento. American River Raft Rentals is the largest rafting company, offering self-guided floats on beginner stretches of the river since 1974. Kent Hansen is the co-owner of American River Raft Rentals and joins us about celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The annual Capitol-to-Capitol program in D.C. to promote business development in the Sacramento region. Also, how Tuolumne County is adapting its wildfire resiliency. Finally, the Sacramento Regional Youth Career Fest at Cosumnes River College.

2024 ‘Cap-to-Cap’ Recap
Every year, Sacramento area businesses, as well as community and non-profit organizations, band together for a common cause. They team up and attend the annual Capitol-to-Capitol (“Cap-to-Cap”) program in Washington, DC to promote business development in the Sacramento region. This year marked the program’s 52nd year and Robert Heidt, President & CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, joins us to report on how this year’s advocacy trip went and some of the key issues facing our area.

 

Tuolumne County’s Environmental Resilience

Jaron Brandon represents Columbia and Jamestown and Caitlin Henry is the Administrative Analyst of the county’s Master Stewardship Agreement. They join Insight to explain how this rural community is approaching recovery and resiliency by adapting to the needs of today - from forest health, to the unforgiving fire insurance landscape, as well as working to streamline affordable housing. Here is a look at their Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) project

 

Inaugural ‘Sacramento Regional Youth Career Fest’
A new career fair aims to provide hundreds of local high school students the opportunity to explore job opportunities in a variety of high-need sectors. The inaugural Sacramento Regional Youth Career Fest will take place on Friday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cosumnes River College. Mitchell Leach II, President and Founder of Interns 2 Pros, discusses how the event was organized, as well as how it seeks to close career awareness and access gaps for students from historically underserved backgrounds.

California’s newest state park is named Dos Rios in Stanislaus County. Also, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a pivotal case about homelessness. Finally, an exhibit about the unique history of women and tattoos in Old Sacramento.

New State Park ‘Dos Rios’ in Stanislaus County
California's newest state park Dos Rios will open on June 12 in Stanislaus County.  Located along the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers about eight miles west of Modesto in the Central Valley, it's the first state park acquired since 2014. California State Parks Director Armando Quintero joins Insight with more about what the public can expect to see, what is still being developed, the input from tribal communities, as well as how this floodplain restoration project will restore habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife.

Supreme Court Hears Landmark Homelessness Case
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments Monday on what some are calling the most important case about homelessness in decades: Johnson v. Grants Pass. The case comes from a 2018 lawsuit challenging an ordinance approved by the small city in Southern Oregon that made it illegal for unhoused residents to camp on public property in the city. A ruling is not expected until June, but the case could have wide-ranging implications. Leslie Gielow Jacobs is an Anthony Kennedy Professor at McGeorge School of Law and joins us with a breakdown of Monday’s oral arguments.  Marisa Kendall is a Homelessness Reporter for CalMatters and explains the arguments on both sides. Marisa also provides a breakdown of a recent state audit which found that California fails to track its homelessness spending or results.

Women Tattoo Exhibit at Sac History Museum
An ongoing exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum called Tattooed & Tenacious chronicles the stories of tattooed women throughout California’s history. The museum’s Executive Director Delta Pick Mello and Experience Manager Alexandra Kowalski talk about the exhibit - which continues until July 28 - as well as how it coincides with Photography Month Sacramento.

Sac State offers guaranteed admission to graduating seniors at Elk Grove Unified. Also, the UC Davis Veterinary school has an animal blood bank for pets and livestock. Finally, U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Juan Felipe Herrera at Sac City College.

Sac State Guaranteed Admission Program for EGUSD
Sacramento State University is reaching out to over 2,000 eligible students in the Elk Grove Unified School District to let them know that they can attend Sac State next year, they just need to apply.  The university has launched a guaranteed admission pilot program to encourage EGUSD graduating seniors to go to Sac State. Brian Henley, Director of Admissions and Outreach for Sacramento State, and Lori Gerber, Communications Manager for Elk Grove Unified School District, join us to discuss this new initiative.

UC Davis Pet Blood Bank
The UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is meeting the growing need for animal blood donations, providing hundreds of transfusions every year through its Transfusion Medicine Service. It also gives dog owners a chance to give back through its Canine Community Blood Donor Program. UC Davis professor Dr. Kate Farrell is the Assistant Director of the Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine Service, and explains how both programs operate - as well as how interested canine donors can get involved.

Sac City College Poetry Event
The Sacramento Poetry Center has been celebrating National Poetry Month. This weekend, Sacramento City College will feature U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Juan Felipe Herrera for an event titled Power of the Word - An Intergenerational Conversation. Event organizer Juan Manuel Carrillo and Patrick Grizzell, the President of the Sacramento Poetry Center, join Insight to preview the free event on Sunday April 28 at the Performing Arts Center at Sac City College from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

“Forever chemicals” in California’s drinking water are raising concerns. Also, the CapRadio Endowment Board discusses its dispute with the public radio station and Sac State. Finally, helping the planet with “Climate Country Radio.”

Forever Chemicals 
“Forever chemicals" in California’s drinking water have raised critical questions about the implications for our communities. CalMatters’ Water Policy reporter, Rachel Becker, sheds light on the complex challenges faced by water agencies and the potential impacts on consumers following the EPA’s new limits on these chemicals in drinking water.  We’ll learn more about the urgency of addressing contamination issues, regulatory standards, and financial burdens.

CapRadio Endowment
CapRadio and an independent financial backer of the NPR member station are at odds over the recent donation of one of its broadcasting towers. The Capital Public Radio Endowment Board - which shares the station’s name but is a separate philanthropic organization - donated the tower to PBS affiliate KVIE earlier this month, without CapRadio or Sacramento State’s knowledge. Sac State holds the station’s news and music licenses. At Wednesday’s public board meeting, CapRadio management said it can definitively show the public radio station owns the tower. The tower is a symptom of a larger back and forth that has played out publicly over the past month with the endowment board. Dan Brunner is the chair and Buzz Wiesenfeld is the treasurer of the Capital Public Radio Endowment Board and join us with their perspective. CapRadio and Sacramento State were invited to discuss this issue, but canceled a planned interview. KVIE declined to be on the show. 

Disclosure: This story was produced by Vicki Gonzalez and edited by Digital Editor Claire Morgan and Chris Hagan. Following NPR’s protocol for reporting on itself, no CapRadio corporate official or news executive reviewed this conversation beforehand.

You can keep up to date with CapRadio’s finances, here.

Climate Country Radio
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.