Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

COVID-19 subvariant, recommendations for a fourth vaccine dose and evolving metrics of the pandemic. How Sacramento is becoming a hub for hydrogen vehicle demand. Sacramento French Film Festival “Winter Shorts Fest.” Today's Guests Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UCSF, discusses the COVID-19 subvariant, recommendations for a fourth vaccine dose, as well as the evolving metrics to measure the gravity of the pandemic. Teresa Cooke, Executive Director of the California Hydrogen Coalition, explains how Sacramento is becoming a hub for hydrogen vehicles and how demand is rising partly due to soaring gas prices.  Sacramento French Film Festival’s Winter Shorts Fest returns after a postponement earlier this year. Executive & Artistic Director of the festival, Cecile Mouette Downs, previews some of the films for us. Find tickets here.

$400 gas tax rebate proposal from Democratic state lawmakers. Sac City Unified teachers and staff prepare to go on strike. A preview of the Latinx Comic Arts Festival. Today's Guests CalMatters Newsletter Editor, Emily Hoeven, breaks down the competing proposals to provide relief at the gas pump for California drivers, including a $400 gas tax rebate.   Nikki Milevsky, 1st Vice President of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, teacher Ingrid Hutchins, and Karla Faucett with SEIU 1021 discuss plans to go on strike from Sacramento City Unified School District as early as March 23.  Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jorge Aguilar discusses how the district is preparing for a possible strike.   Professor Dr. Theresa Rojas and Comic Artist Amber Padilla discuss the Latinx Comic Arts Festival, a celebration of Latino comic art and culture at Modesto Junior College. 

Anniversary of the Sacramento Police shooting death of Stephon Clark. How Ukrainian churches in Sacramento are assisting Ukrainians under siege. Former Sacramento Kings head coach Jerry Reynolds and fans remember ARCO Arena ahead of its demolition. Today's Guests CapRadio Race and Equity Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan discusses the anniversary of the 2018 police shooting death of Stephon Clark, who was unarmed in his grandmother’s backyard when shot and killed by Sacramento Police.  CapRadio Editor Pauline Batolone shares her reporting on how Ukrainian churches in Sacramento are on the forefront of the war effort to assist Ukrainians under siege.   Former Sacramento Kings head coach and broadcaster, Jerry Reynolds and longtime Kings fans share their memories of ARCO Arena ahead of its upcoming demolition to make way for a new medical university in Sacramento’s Natomas area.  

Why California Highway Patrol does not provide body cameras for 97% of officers. Republicans push to suspend the gas tax. Legislative fix of UC Berkeley’s enrollment cap. Resolution to end the State of Emergency. Author John Lescroart’s latest book. Today's Guests CalMatters Justice Reporter Byrhonda Lyons gives us a deeper look into her reporting on why California Highway Patrol, one of the state’s largest police agencies, does not provide body cameras for 97% of its officers.  CapRadio Politics Report Nicole Nixon updates the latest from the State Capitol including a push to suspend the gas tax, undoing UC Berkeley’s enrollment cap, and a resolution to end the pandemic State of Emergency. UC Davis law professor Christopher S. Elmendorf discusses the environment law at the core of the court order for UC Berkeley to enact an enrollment cap, which would have cut its Fall 2022 enrollment by 2,600 students.  CapRadio Morning Edition Host, Donna Apidone, brings us her conversation with author John Lescroart about his latest book “The Missing Piece.”

Ending statewide indoor mask requirements at schools. Tahoe Basin residents “quality of life” community survey. New grant for HIV and STD testing in Sacramento County, which is one of 40 hot spots for new HIV infections in the United States. Today's Guests Dr. Hakeem Adeniyi, Medical Director of the Sacramento Native American Health Center, discusses ending statewide indoor masking requirements at schools.  Tahoe Prosperity Center CEO Heidi Hill Drum and Envision Tahoe Co-Chairman Chris McNamara share with us the key findings of a community survey from residents living and working in the Tahoe Basin.  Jacob Bradley-Rowe, Executive Director of the non-profit Sunburst Projects, discusses new grant funding for HIV and STD testing in Sacramento County, which is one of 40 hot spots for new HIV infections in the United States.

A vital source of news for Northern California’s Slavic community has been banned in Russia. Dr. Daisy Gonzales shares her journey from a foster youth navigating the system to becoming second in command of the state’s community college system. The Honey Agency, Inc. shares their SXSW Presentation “Passion Economy”.  Today's guests Ruslan Gurzhiy, Editor-in-Chief of Slavic Sacramento, discusses how his website, which serves over 150,000 monthly readers in the greater Sacramento area, has been banned in Russia.  Deputy Chancellor Dr. Daisy Gonzales of California Community Colleges, shares her story as a foster youth navigating higher education and goals to increase equity and representation across its 116 campuses.  Meghan Phillips, Founder and CEO of the Sacramento creative studio The Honey Agency, Inc., shares her presentation about the “Passion Economy” at SXSW. 

Residents in rural communities are embracing a century-old technology to respond to natural disasters: two-way radios. Author and journalist Mark Arax explores how racism shaped the Central Valley. Sacramento folk trio “Dear Darling.” Today's Guests CapRadio State Government Reporter Scott Rodd shares his reporting on the El Dorado County Neighborhood Radio Watch, an amateur radio network helping broadcast emergency messages, a growing movement in rural California amid more extreme wildfires and natural disasters.  Author and journalist Mark Arax explores how the city of Fresno became one of the most racially segregated areas in the country and why the examination and discovery of the city’s racist history led to a controversial renaming of a local elementary school. Arax will speak on genocide, memory, racism and the human landscape of the Great Central Valley at UC Davis on March 12.  Casey Lipka, Hannah Kile, and Natalie Hagwood, with the Sacramento folk trio Dear Darling join us ahead of the release of their debut album “Believe.” You can buy tickets to their virtual concert on March 12 here.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s main points from his State of the State, as well as a Republican perspective. How progressives in California’s Democratic party are struggling for influence. Missing indigenous women crisis in Northern California’s Lost Coast. Today's Guests CapRadio Politics Reporter Nicole Nixon gives us Governor Gavin Newsom’s main points from his State of the State address Tuesday evening. Republican political strategist Luis Alvarado discusses the State of the State address and what was missing from the speech. Cal Matters state government reporter Alexi Kossef shares his reporting on how progressives in California’s Democratic party are struggling for influence within the party. Dr. Blythe George, Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Merced, member of the Yurok Tribe and research partner for the “I will see you again in a good way” project on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit peoples, discusses a missing women crisis in Northern California’s Lost Coast.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his annual State of the State address Tuesday evening, touting his administration’s pandemic response and highlighting his push to get unhoused people into homes and shelters. Newsom gave his speech in front of lawmakers and reporters for the first time since 2020, when he stood in the Assembly chambers just weeks before the start of the pandemic.  Listen back to the full broadcast, including Newsom's address, Republican response and analysis from reporters around the state.

Updated at 10:34 a.m. We learn how the State of the State has changed over the years. Congressman John Garamendi shares his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Plus, a look at the ICE PAC Exhibition. Today's Guests LA Times Editorial Writer, Laurel Rosenhall, breaks down how the State of the State has changed, and what we might expect from Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address later this evening. Congressman John Garamendi joins us to share his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the challenges the U.S. and NATO faces in supporting Ukraine without provoking a wider conflict with Russia.  Experimental and display artist Keia Kodama, artist Joha Harrison and curator and gallerist Faith J. Mckinnie discuss the Coordinates: ICE PAC Exhibition, which features immersive installations from the region’s most influential and celebrated artists. Runs until March 26. Buy tickets here.

A California immigration attorney explains “temporary status” for Ukrainian refugees and the latest on the crisis. A conversation with Nevada’s newly appointed Lieutenant Governor. The President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce explains how the Inclusivity Project will help struggling small businesses. Today's Guests Immigration Attorney Alex Tovarian joins us with the latest on the international refugee crisis, as well as the largest Ukrainian fund here in Sacramento. He explains what “temporary status” means as over a million Ukrainians flee their homeland in search of safety. Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead shares her story of a first-generation American with a 25-year career in education recently appointed to the state’s second-highest office. She also addresses the challenges Nevada faces in improving its K-12 public education system as well as hiring and retaining educators.  President and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, Jay King, explains the struggles of starting a small business and how the Inclusivity Project can help.

Sacramento pastors who serve the Slavic community discuss what the greatest needs are for Ukrainians. A discussion about reports of racism and segregation taking place during the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Sacramento’s Jewish Film Festival is underway. Today's Guests Eduard Kislyanka, the senior pastor at House of Bread Church in Sacramento County which serves the Slavic community, discusses what the greatest needs are for Ukrainians.  Kevin Johnson, Dean of UC Davis Law School, discusses reports of racism taking place during the Ukrainian refugee crisis.  Sacramento’s Jewish Film Festival is underway. Insight will profile three of the feature films, including a Jewish-Ukrainian film, and we’ll learn how to participate in the festival and special events.

Parallels to the displacement of Ukrainian women in war following Russian invasion. Support and resources following a Sacramento church murder-suicide claiming three children and chaperone. UC Davis museum receives a rare architectural recognition. Today's Guests Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs at UC Davis discusses caring for international students as well as the displacement of Ukrainian women as men are forced to stay and fight a Russian invasion.  Captain Richard Alamo with Sacramento City Fire Department discusses the behavioral health unit for first responders when responding to traumatic crises.  Mindi Russell with the Sacramento Law Enforcement Chaplaincy explains the support offered to the community and schools in times of crisis.   Beth Hassett, CEO of WEAVE, the primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County. Rachel Teagle, Founding Director of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, and Florian Idenburg, founder of the architectural firm SO-IL, discuss the museum being recognized as one of the 25 best museum buildings in the past 100 years.   If you or someone you know needs support around domestic violence, here are some local resources in the Sacramento area:  My Sister’s House serves Asian and Pacific Islander and other underserved women and children impacted by domestic violence. They have a 24-hour multilingual hotline: 916-428-3271 WEAVE, Inc. supports survivors of domestic violence. Their 24/7 crisis support line: 916-920-2952 La Familia Counseling Center offers multilingual mental health crisis support. Their emergency after-hours number: 916-227-2600 

Fact checks surrounding Russian invasion of Ukraine and how to spot misinformation. Changes to the mask mandate for public school students. Sacramento County’s first homelessness count in three years. The importance of Underground Books in Oak Park. Today's Guests PolitiFact Senior Correspondent, Jon Greenberg, brings us his latest fact checks surrounding the Ukraine crisis. Senior Director of Professional Learning at the News Literacy Project, John Silva, breaks down how to spot misinformation and disinformation surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. CapRadio State Politics Reporter Nicole Nixon updates the latest changes to the mask mandate, which includes California public school students. CapRadio Reporter Chris Nichols shares his reporting on Sacramento County’s first Point In Time (PIT) count of homelessness in three years. Chris followed organizers with Sacramento Steps Forward on their accounting of the sheltered and unsheltered population as a requirement to receive federal funding to help address the crisis locally.  Cassandra Jennings, President and CEO of St. Hope, explains the importance of the organization and Underground Books in Oak Park.

Today marks five years since the Oroville Dam Spillway crisis. The Butte County Sheriff shares the lessons learned. A citizen’s advisory commissioner discusses the push to rebuild trust and oversight. And dam safety engineers explain what went wrong. Today's Guests Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea discusses his decision-making during the 2017 Oroville Dam Spillway Crisis and the lessons learned.  Genoa Northern, commissioner on the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, shares her experience during the Oroville Dam Spillway Crisis, her involvement in citizen oversight, and where things stand 5 years later.  John France, civil engineering consultant who shares findings from an Independent Forensic Team Report on the Oroville Dam Spillway Incident.  Mark Ogden, with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, discusses a national perspective on the state of dams, if the Oroville crisis has shaped state and federal safety procedures, and how the public can prepare for a dam emergency.