Capital Public Radio: Insight Podcast

First 5 California’s new “Raise CA Strong” awareness campaign. ABC10’s John Bartell talks about dam removals on the Klamath River. Finally, revisiting the work of Sacramento’s Food Literacy Center. Raise CA Strong Childcare Campaign A new awareness campaign is drawing attention to California’s ongoing affordable childcare crisis, specifically its economic and social impacts. Called “Raise CA Strong,” the campaign was launched by the California Children and Families Commission, also known as First 5 California. Executive Director Jackie Thu-Huong Wong talks about the scale of this crisis, and how their “solution agnostic” initiative hopes to educate community members and businesses to push for more funding. Klamath Dam Removals Last week, a controversial dam removal project along the Klamath River was completed, restoring hundreds of miles of river habitats for California salmon and other native species for the first time in a century. The project is the culmination of decades-worth of work, but it also create

Discussing all things school-related on “Chalk Talk.” Occupational segregation in California’s workforce. Finally, the Sac Halloween Show performs this weekend at the Red Museum. Educational ‘Chalk Talk’ It is back to school season here in the Sacramento region. On the first edition of the recurring segment “Chalk Talk,” CapRadio Sacramento Education Reporter Srishti Prabha joins Insight to talk about our local schools, and the policies and developments that affect students. Organizational Segregation in CA Jobs California is one of the most diverse states in the country, and its overall workforce largely reflects this demographic variety. However, many of the state’s most common professions are significantly less diverse, with divisions across gender, race/ethnicity, and place of birth.  Researcher Tess Thorman from the Public Policy Institute of California talks about this “occupational segregation,” the negative impacts it can have on wages and job opportunities, and how policy might be able to provide som

California’s bad Valley fever season this year. Capital Stage’s season kicks off with “Fairview.” The Hot Jazz Jubilee returns over Labor Day weekend. Finally, Insight host Vicki Gonzalez shares an update on her breast cancer treatment. Valley Fever Season in CA Earlier this year, five people at a music festival in Kern County contracted a fungal infection known as Valley fever. Cases of the disease have tripled in California over the last decade, and more than 5,300 cases have been reported this year through June - 63% higher than last year. Dr. George Thompson, co-director of the Center for Valley Fever at UC Davis Health joins Insight to discuss the risks associated with this infection, and the role climate change plays in spreading Valley fever to more areas. ‘Fairview’ Premieres at CapStage  is presenting the Sacramento premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning play “Fairview.” Directed by Sacramento’s Anthony D’Juan, “Fairview” used the standard family dramedy for a sharp examination of race in America. Antho

How a new deal between lawmakers and Google impacts journalism in California. The controversial city plan from California Forever is off this year’s election ballot. Finally, the Chalk It Up! Festival returns to Fremont Park over Labor Day weekend. California, Google, and Funding Journalism California lawmakers and tech giant Google have reached a deal to provide almost $250 million over five years to support journalism in California, as well as an artificial intelligence accelerator. However, the deal replaced Assembly Bill 886 - which sought to use tech revenues to fund newsrooms every year across the state, but drew significant opposition from companies like Google and Meta. Executive Director Alma Martinez and Executive Editor Joe Kieta from the nonprofit Central Valley Journalism Collaborative join Insight to discuss how the deal compares to AB 886, how to ensure the funds are being distributed equitably, and the importance of having a well-funded newsroom. CapRadio is a partner of the Central Valley Jou

Kamala Harris’s importance for Black women in power. The legal challenges to California’s child social media law. Finally, Sacramento photographer and music director Raul Gonzo’s first major exhibit. Kamala Harris at the DNC The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago, and the opening night featured a number of prominent appearances including President Joe Biden, former nominee Hillary Clinton, and the presumptive nominee - Vice President Kamala Harris. Jamilah King, editorial director at Mother Jones joins Insight to talk about Harris’ political journey from the state to the national level, and what her candidacy means for Black women in power.  CA’s Social Media Law and the 1st Amendment A federal appeals court ruled last week that parts of California’s social media law, which was intended to protect children, might violate the First Amendment. Leslie Gielow Jacobs, Anthony Kennedy Professor of Law at University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law provides a breakdown of the law’s componen

Discussing public trust and CapRadio’s latest reporting on its financial examination. Caltrans improvements along I-80 in Sacramento and Yolo counties. Finally, how excessive heat and wildfire smoke affect wine grapes. CapRadio Examination and Public Trust Last week Sacramento State released the findings of a highly-anticipated forensic examination of Capital Public Radio’s finances, The redacted summary focused heavily on prior leadership and found several instances of misuse of funds and conflicts of interests at the public media station, which is an auxiliary of Sac State. On Tuesday the CapRadio newsroom revealed that the station’s former general manager –  Jun Reina – received nearly $500,000 in unsupported payments and reimbursements, as outlined in the exam summary. CapRadio Digital Editor Claire Morgan talks more about what the reporting team discovered. Additionally, Kelly McBride, Senior Vice President and Chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at The Poynter Institute talks abo

How Kamala Harris is boosting enthusiasm among young voters. Revisiting a conversation about California’s newest city. Finally, a new documentary “Loving Lionheart” captures a local family’s medical journey. Young Voter Enthusiasm in California Vice President Kamala Harris has attracted a lot of enthusiasm - particularly on social media - after being endorsed to become the Democratic presidential nominee in July. And polling says that there has been a boost for one voting bloc in particular - young voters. California DNC Delegate and Stanford University student Christian Figueroa and Matthew Reagan, Assistant Editor with the CalMatters College Journalism Network join Insight to talk about whether online enthusiasm among this historically lower-participating group could translate to success in November, and what it could mean for races up and down the ballot. CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state. Best Of: Mountain House San Joaquin County is now the home

Lake Tahoe’s latest “State of the Lake” report looks at long-term trends. Revisiting a new podcast about 1976 Republican primary and connections to today. Finally, Sacramento Turn Verein Soccer Club heads to the Veterans Football World Cup in Wales. 2024 Lake Tahoe ‘State of the Lake’ Lake Tahoe is one of Northern California’s natural jewels, but its deep-blue waters aren’t immune to the effects of climate change. For years, researchers and scientists have been collecting data and information on the lake’s conditions, and compiled it in the annual “State of the Lake” report. Professor Alexander Forrest, interim director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center joins Insight to talk about the latest report that was released last week, and about some of the trends affecting Lake Tahoe from invasive species, to water clarity and wildfires. Best Of: Historical Podcast ‘Landslide’ The Republican National Convention of 1976 was personal, cutthroat, and ultimately reshaped a party that was headed for self

How wildfires like the Park Fire are threatening California salmon. Two housing measures, Prop 5 and Prop 33, will be on the ballot in November. Finally, the local website “The Lookout” offers context and clarity to wildfire coverage in the region. Park Fire Threatening Spring-Run Salmon The Park Fire is California’s fourth-largest wildfire, and has burned over 420,000 acres across Northern California in more than two weeks. The fire is now threatening some of the last refuges of California’s iconic spring-run salmon in the Central Valley - a population that has already faced devastating declines in recent years. Carson Jeffres, Senior Research Ecologist at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences joins Insight to talk about the dangers the fire poses to these fish, and whether they can still bounce back. Breaking Down Housing Propositions 5 and 33 California’s shortage of affordable housing is an ongoing and well-documented crisis. Now, a pair of measures on the November ballot aim to ease this problem. Pr

How has Sacramento’s record-breaking hot summer compared to historical averages. Analyzing the recently-released forensic examination into CapRadio’s finances. Finally, taking stock of the Sacramento Kings’ offseason. Unusually High Summer Heat Sacramento has seen a record-breaking stretch of heat this summer, with multiple days soaring into the triple digits. KCRA Meteorologist and Climate Reporter Heather Waldman talks about why the days (and nights) have been so warm, how this summer compares to historical averages and records, and if any relief is on the horizon. CapRadio Forensic Examination Analysis A highly-anticipated forensic examination into Capital Public Radio’s finances was released on Monday by Sacramento State. The redacted summary focused heavily on prior leadership at the public media station, and found several instances of misuse of funds and conflicts of interest at CapRadio, which is an auxiliary of the university. Insight producer Jen Picard joins host Chris Nichols to break the exam’s fi