POLITICO’S “California Playbook” joins us with the latest in state politics. Plus, the number of evictions in California remains high across large counties. Finally, NPR’s 2023 “Books We Love” selections.
‘California Playbook’

, co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook, discusses the latest in state politics including California congressional retirements, how the Israel-Hamas war is creating divisions within the Democratic Party, as well as an upcoming debate this week between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
 
Evictions on the Rise
The number of Californians facing eviction was relatively low during a statewide moratorium put in place during the pandemic. In the year after it ended, Calmatters found that cases soared and still remain high in large counties, despite a nearly decade-long trend of declining evictions. Calmatters reporter Jeanne Kuang joins Insight to discuss the reasons underlying the spike, what the situation looks like in the greater Sacramento region, and the implications for both landlords and tenants.
NPR’s 2023 ‘Books We Love’
For those who enjoy a new book, there is help to relieve the choice paralysis while combing through a bookstore. For the past decade, NPR has curated its “Books We Love,” an interactive reading guide based on staff and critics’ selections of their top picks of the year. And the 2023 edition is now live. There are nearly 400 books to choose from, which can feel intimidating, but you can mix and match genre tags to find the right book. Andrew Limbong is NPR’s Arts Desk Reporter, and host of the “Book We Love” podcast, and talks about this year’s Books We Love selections.  

‘California Playbook’ | Evictions on the Rise | NPR’s 2023 ‘Books We Love’

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.

News & Politics

An update to Sacramento’s city-sanctioned homeless encampment Camp Resolution. Also, President Biden expands Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Finally, “Bike Fest” along the American River Parkway.
Camp Resolution Update
One year ago, the city of Sacramento signed a first-of-its-kind lease for those experiencing homelessness, providing city-owned trailers and allowing the camp to become a self-governing site called Camp Resolution. But for the past six months, the encampment has been at risk of closure. Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho has threatened legal action over public health concerns. And most recently, the city sent a letter ordering the approximately 50 camp residents to leave the Colfax Street property due to its contaminated soil - but then took a step back and said it would hold off if certain conditions were met. CapRadio Homelessness and Housing Affordability Reporter Chris Nichols provides the latest on this saga, culminating in camp residents and supporters marching to City Hall yesterday in protest of the potential closure of Camp Resolution.
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
President Biden recently announced the expansion of two national monuments in California. And one is a short drive away in Napa and Mendocino counties - with special cultural significance to tribes in the area. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Treasurer Leland Kinter discusses President Biden’s expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk - which means “Condor Ridge” in Patwin. The 13,969 acres of land is considered by environmental advocates to be a haven of biological diversity
American River Parkway’s ‘Bike Fest’
A celebration of cycling is returning to the American River Parkway this weekend. Bike Fest is celebrating its 21 years on Saturday May 18 - with cycling courses, live music and food, a raffle and more.  Ryan Drury, a board member from the American River Parkway Foundation and the event chair, talks about how the festival makes cycling approachable, as well as how the event helps all families connect with the parkway’s green space.

Camp Resolution Update | Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument | American River Parkway’s ‘Bike Fest’

Yolo and Solano counties issue a health advisory about bird flu present in raw milk and raw dairy products. Also, the push to bring back Oak Park’s public library. Finally, the Terra Madre Americas inaugural food festival is in Sacramento.
Bird Flu Warning in Raw Milk 
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) has been spreading across the United States since 2021 - jumping from wild birds to domestic poultry, and now to dairy cattle and humans as well. Health officials in Solano and Yolo counties recently issued a health advisory, cautioning residents to avoid consuming raw milk and raw dairy products, due to the detection of H5N1 in these goods. Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, and Solano County Public Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas, shed more light on this virus and the reasoning behind the advisory.
Bringing Back Oak Park’s Library
There is a push to bring back a public library in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood. The effort comes from the community grassroots movement Friends of the Oak Park Library and has the support of its councilmember, current Sacramento Vice Mayor Caity Maple, who is now working to find the funding to reestablish the public library. Michael Benjamin II is a longtime Oak Park resident and District Director for Vice Mayor Maple. He joins Insight with the history of the Oak Park public library, which closed decades ago.
Terra Madre Americas Food Festival
If you want good food, wine and coffee this weekend - in the spirit of health and the environment - an international food festival based in Italy is breaking ground in the U.S. for the first time - and Sacramento was selected as the inaugural host. The Terra Madre Salone del Gusto welcomes upwards of 350,000 people to Turin, Italy. Mike Testa is the President & CEO of Visit Sacramento and Darrell Corti is the owner of Corti Bros market. They join us about the Terra Madre Americas festival, a three-day event May 17-19 at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium that is free to the public, and connected to the Slow Food movement.

Bird Flu Warning in Raw Milk | Bringing Back Oak Park’s Library | Terra Madre Americas Food Festival

How Gov. Newsom wants to close the state’s budget shortfall. Also, upcoming updates to Sacramento International Airport. Finally, the Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley.
Unpacking California’s May Revise
The State Legislature has until June 15 to pass a balanced budget. On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom put forward his revised budget - commonly known as the May Revise. Joining us to discuss the governor’s fiscal priorities and strategy to close an estimated $56 billion over the next two fiscal years is Scott Graves, the Budget Director at the California Budget & Policy Center. We are also joined by Wayne Winegarden, a Senior Fellow of Business and Economics at the Pacific Research Institute.
Updates to Sacramento International Airport

 is preparing for a busy travel future, recently announcing new destinations and working on a number of new infrastructure upgrades - from a new parking garage to updated local dining options. Stephen Clark is the Deputy Director of Airport Commercial Development at SMF and joins Insight with an update on the airport’s push to increase its nonstop flights, as well as the new projects meant to improve the traveling experience.
Strawberry Music Festival
One of the jammiest music festivals in the country returns to Grass Valley over Memorial Day Weekend. All-female bluegrass band Big Richard is one of the headliners at the 72nd Strawberry Music Festival and they join emcee Rita Hosking to talk about what makes playing this family-friendly campout so special.

Unpacking California’s May Revise | Updates to Sacramento International Airport | Strawberry Music Festival

An investigation into the private security forces patrolling California’s unhoused residents. Also, a new trail guide for the Lower American River. Finally, “Music at Noon” to celebrate its 1,000th performance.
Investigation into Homeless Private Security
California’s homeless population has spiked nearly 40% in the past five years. With that surge, has come a boom in private security guards patrolling shelters, encampments, and the streets. Advocates and unhoused people argue these guards, who don’t have the same training or oversight as law enforcement, can compound already difficult situations. CalMatters' Investigative Reporter Lauren Hepler reviewed more than a dozen lawsuits and public contract disputes and found that public agencies are funding private security guards, opening a new front in the state’s housing crisis - one ripe for violence and civil rights issues, but thin on oversight.
Trail Guide for Lower American River
The Lower American River spans 23 miles from downtown Sacramento to Folsom Lake and is a federally designated wild and scenic river - from the confluence with the Sacramento River to Nimbus Dam. The Lower American River is the most heavily used recreation river in California. But with many entry points across Sacramento County it can take time to know which ones best suit your needs. Someone has made that journey easier and more accessible, creating a trail guide to the Lower American river. Ashley Langdon is the author of Mildly Scenic: A Trail Guide to Sacramento's Lower American Trails.
‘Music at Noon’ Celebrates 1,000th performance
CapRadio Midday Classical Host Jennifer Reason and CapRadio Classical Coordinator Mike Nelson will be performing at the concert series Music At Noon on Wednesday May 15 at Westminster Presbyterian across from the state Capitol. The series is free and has been an institution in the musical culture of Sacramento for over 20 years. On May 15, the series will celebrate its 1,000th lunchtime performance. 

Investigation into Homeless Private Security | Trail Guide for Lower American River | ‘Music at Noon’ Celebrates 1,000th performance

Elk Grove moves forward on relocating the Sacramento Zoo. Also, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack speaks in Folsom. Finally, Sacramento musician The Philharmonik’s “Tiny Desk” submission.
Elk Grove’s Vote on Sacramento Zoo
The Sacramento Zoo’s highly-anticipated move to Elk Grove has officially received the green light. Last night, the Elk Grove City Council voted to approve the zoo’s move from Land Park, where it first opened in 1927. Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and Jason Jacobs, Executive Director of the Sacramento Zoo, join Insight about the years-long process behind the relocation, and what the next steps might bring.
Oct. 7 Hamas Attack Survivor Speaks in Folsom
Tonight the Chabad Jewish Community Center is welcoming a survivor from the Oct. 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Ilya Tarshansky lived in Kibbutz Be’eri. On October 7th, Hamas militants burnt down his home, murdered his son, and kidnapped his daughter. Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum and Ilya join insight ahead of their event at the Folsom Community Center at 7 p.m.
The Philharmonik’s ‘Tiny Desk’
NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest grows in popularity every year, but this is the first time the audience has gotten a chance to vote for their favorites. Forty-five were chosen from 7,000 entries for this honor and one of them is Sacramento’s own The Philharmonik. He joins us to explain What’s It All Mean?

‘California Playbook’ | Evictions on the Rise | NPR’s 2023 ‘Books We Love’

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