Assembly Bill 77 would change the way California allows residents to write their names on official documents in the state—such as birth certificates and marriage licenses. If passed, it would allow diacritical marks, like accents and tildes, to be used in names so that they reflect the correct pronunciation. Pablo Espinoza and Nancy Chaires Espinoza are the family behind the bill, and join Insight to explain why they felt it was time for California to evolve with a handful of other states and allow marks on names, as well as how their son was the main inspiration for the legislation.  

Mark Arax is a former LA Times journalist and author who has written extensively about the history of the Central Valley. His latest book “The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California” is a national bestseller. Mark joins Insight to discuss the history of what once was the largest fresh body of water west of the Mississippi, Tulare Lake in Kings County, and how certain growers were able to drain the lake for agriculture over the decades, with consequences that are still felt to this day. Following this winter’s historic wet season, Tulare Lake is reemerging for the first time in years. 

Over the weekend, the city of Sacramento hosted a kickoff event for National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world, which celebrates and highlights the importance of poetry in our culture and lives. Sacramento, in fact, has a deep history with poetry. Sacramento Poet Laureate Andru Defeye joins Insight to discuss honoring the spoken word of artists from all over the state, as well as how the Sacramento poetry scene has evolved over the years. Defeye will talk about several upcoming events in celebration of National Poetry Month, and what it means to him to be selected as Sacramento’s poet laureate.