Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

By CapRadio

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, politi... more

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FAQs about Insight With Vicki Gonzalez:

How many episodes does Insight With Vicki Gonzalez have?

The podcast currently has 1,743 episodes available.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez episodes:

September 03, 2026Update on Sac City Unified School District’s Fiscal Solvency | Out of the Darkness Walk | September ‘Arts Talk’
Update on Sac City Unified School District’s Fiscal Solvency
Disputes around an ongoing fiscal crisis at Sacramento City Unified continue to escalate, with the district and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) butting heads on how to stay solvent and overcome a structural deficit estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Sacramento Bee Education Reporter Chaewon Chung joins Insight with the latest updates on the fiscal crisis, from the district requesting millions of dollars in reimbursements from CalPERS to the threat of State Superintendent Tony Thurmond taking over fiscal oversight authority from SCOE.
Out of the Darkness Walk
Taking one’s life is a top leading cause of death among teens and young people, and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States. To raise awareness, September has been designated National Suicide Prevention Month. Today on Insight, we’re going to learn more about the Sacramento Chapter of the America Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which hosts an annual Out of the Darkness Walk Sept. 12 at the California State Capitol to provide resources and tools for anyone in need. We’ll talk with Area Director Lauren Pulido and volunteer board members Stephanie Linn and Jodie Chavious about the work they do in the community and hear why talking about mental health is so important.
Resources:
Call or Text 9-8-8: This is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network, where callers receive crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
Trevor Project's 24/7 Suicide Hotline for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish).
Veteran's Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or Crisis Chat, or text: 838255
September ‘Arts Talk’
Fall is starting to peak its head around the corner. But before we fully transition to sweater weather, there’s a ton of summer fun still planned for this Labor Day weekend and beyond. To help us parse the many events and activities, we turn to arts advocate Veronica Rodriguez. In this month’s Arts Talk, she highlights the openings of two new galleries in the city of Sacramento and takes us to Roseville for a Greek Food Festival.
Events:
Sept. 3 and 4 - Capital Dance Project’s Behind the Barre
Labor Day Weekend - The Official Opening of Apple Hill
Sept. 4 - Sac Made Market at First Friday Art Walk in Oak Park
Sept. 4 - Our Street Market in Midtown
Sept. 5 through 7 - Chalt It Up! At Fremont Park
Sept. 5 - CentroAmerica Independence Celebration
Sept. 5 - 2026 Roseville Greek Food Festival hosted by Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Sept. 12 and 13 - Sac Open Studios at Micah Crandall-Bear Studio and Gallery
Sept. 12 - Paint and Sip Night at Panoply Fine Art Gallery
Sept. 19 - Buccaneer Ball at The Sacramento Children's Museum in Rancho Cordova
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51min
September 02, 2026 End of CA’s Legislative Session | Homelessness and Drug Use Study | Visit Sacramento
End of CA’s Legislative Session
State lawmakers have wrapped up the end of a turbulent two-year session, sending hundreds of bills to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed or vetoed. But a controversial wildfire utility proposal that was heavily backed by Newsom will not be among them, after the Legislature rejected the bill on Tuesday. CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Laura Fitzgerald joins Insight with a breakdown of the final days at the Capitol, and whether Newsom might call a special session to get his proposal through.
Homelessness and Drug Use Study
Homelessness has skyrocketed in California over the past decade and there’s a lot of debate about what has driven this increase, with housing, cost of living, substance abuse and mental illness commonly being raised as root causes. A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California looked at whether reducing drug penalties in the state contributed to the unhoused population. Magnus Lohfstrom is the Policy Director and Senior Fellow at the PPIC and he’s one of the authors behind the new report “Homelessness and Drug Use in California.” He joins us today to discuss its findings. We’ll also learn about some of the skepticism surrounding the report from CalMatter’s Homelessness Reporter Marissa Kendall.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.
Visit Sacramento
Sacramento claims to be the Farm-to-Fork capitol of the world. Over the past decade, the city has showcased a series of events celebrating the region’s agricultural bounty, from the exclusive Tower Bridge Dinner to the free Farm-to-Fork Festival. But those events are evolving as the city embraces the Terra Madre Festival, which is scheduled to take place every other year. Mike Testa is the President and CEO of Visit Sacramento and he joins us today to explain what these changes mean.
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51min
September 01, 2026 What the Meta Settlement Means for CA | An End to the Roadless Rule? | Celebration Arts Presents ‘us & the rest of 'em’
What the Meta Settlement Means for CA
A years-long legal battle over social media addiction in children and teens has come to a close. In 2023, California and other state attorney generals sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging they deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to minors. Last week, Meta agreed to settle the case by paying more than $17 billion to 47 states and the District of Columbia. Vani Sanganeria is a reporter with EdSource and has been following the case and joins us with an update on what META’s settlement with State AGs means for the Golden State.
An End to the Roadless Rule?
The federal government has announced a proposed plan to rescind a decades-long forest protection policy known as the Roadless Rule, which covers millions of acres of federal land across the United States. The USDA and Forest Service say repealing the rule is "more important than ever" to improve wildland firefighting access and address public safety issues. But California officials, and others, have raised concerns that the move could open up land to construction, logging and even more wildfires. Susan Norman is the board chair of the Sierra Nevada Alliance and a retired Forest Service hydrologist. She joined Insight to talk about how the Roadless Rule has been used, and the potential impacts of its recission.
The Forest Service has released an environmental impact report on its proposed change, and is collecting public feedback until Sept. 21.
Celebration Arts Presents ‘us & the rest of 'em’
Playwright and Director Anthony D’Juan and Celebration Arts Executive Artistic Director Erinn Anova join us ahead of the premiere of us & the rest of ‘em, a warm and humorous family drama set over the course of a few days in Sacramento, Calif. The play centers on the Elem family as they navigate love, loyalty, and generational differences—seen largely through the eyes of 12-year-old Danté. "us & the rest of ‘em" runs Sept 11 – Sept 27 at Celebrations Arts in Midtown.
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50min
August 31, 2026 District 7 Debate Recap | How the West Fights Fire is Changing Under Trump Administration | Behind the Barre
District 7 Debate Recap
California’s Seventh Congressional District has become symbolic of the differences within the Democratic Party as they look to retake control of Congress in the November midterms. Longtime Congresswoman Doris Matsui is facing a stiff challenge from Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who came in first during the primary. Both candidates participated in a contentious debate last week, making the case to voters why they should be elected in November. CapRadio Local Government Reporter Tony Rodriguez breaks down this first meeting between the candidates since June.
How the West Fights Fire is Changing Under Trump Administration
California is having a relatively mild wildfire season so far. But that is far from the case when you zoom out beyond the Golden State. Nationally, this year is the most severe wildfire season in at least a decade - in both the number of fires and acres burned. The brunt of the devastation is happening across in states like Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and Montana. To get a better grasp of the scale, a collaboration of journalists across Western states joined forces for a deep dive into wildfire response and mitigation, as well as how fundamental shifts from the Trump Administration is upending how the West historically fights fires. CalMatters Water Reporter Rachel Becker and Robert Chaney, a senior contributor at Mountain Journal and Montana Free Press, join us with their reporting.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state. This reporting included collaborations with The Nevada Independent, WyoFile, The Salt Lake Tribune and The Colorado Sun.
Behind the Barre
Behind the Barre returns to the Clara Auditorium on Sept. 3 and 4. A testament to collaboration amongst the Sacramento arts scene, this annual showcase by the Capital Dance Project will include six world premieres, featuring dancers and choreographers performing alongside local artists and musicians. Today on Insight, we’ll hear how Behind the Barre came to be from Julia Feldman, co-founder and artistic director of Capital Dance Project. And we’ll talk with two of this year’s collaborating artists, Melissa Uroff and Taner Pasamehmetoglu, about their work for the festival.
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51min
August 27, 2026 CA Phases Out Paraquat | Tattoos and AI | Insight Studio Sessions: Jessica Malone
CA Phases Out Paraquat
California’s farmers rely on numerous chemicals to keep the state’s agricultural economy running, and keep pests and unwanted plants at bay. But some of these products are facing increasing scrutiny in the state and around the world for potential health issues and environmental consequences. Earlier this month, California's Department of Pesticide Regulations announced it will phase out the widely-used pesticide paraquat, which has been tied to conditions including Parkinson's disease and birth defects. But this decision has drawn criticisms from organizations including the California Farm Bureau, which argues that the herbicide is a critical tool for farmers. Dr. Olukayode Jegede from the UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology joins Insight to talk about paraquat's impact, and the decision to ban it.
Tattoos and AI
There are many forms of self expression and one that dates back millennia are tattoos. According to a recent Pew Research study, roughly a third of Americans have a tattoo. Tattooing has gone through many evolutions over the generations, as more tools become available. Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is also gaining presence in the industry and we’re going to learn more about its impacts from the co-owners of Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing, tattoo artist Bill Lorenz and Michelle Haunold Lorenz.
Insight Studio Sessions: Jessica Malone
Jessica Malone has been a staple of the Sacramento folk scene for years. Performing her lush melodies and poetic songs up and down Northern California with a large cast of collaborators. Her new EP “Indigo,” will be Friday, Aug. 28 and was recorded in Nashville. She’ll be performing with her 9-piece band on Saturday at the Sofia in Sacramento. She recently stopped by CapRadio to perform in this month’s Insight Studio Session, joined by her longtime violinist Giorgi Khokhovbashvili.
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0min
August 26, 2026 Hawk Fire Update | CalMatters Health Net Assisted Living | Mosquito Season
Hawk Fire Update
Firefighters are gaining progress on the Hawk Fire, which ignited just outside Reno over the weekend. As of this morning, the fire which started late Saturday morning, has burned more than 15,000 acres and is now 85 percent contained. As evacuation orders begin to lift and people return home, we’ll hear how the community is faring from Bert Johnson, Senior Correspondent for KUNR in Reno.
CalMatters Health Net Assisted Living
One of the largest Medi-Cal insurers in the country is canceling assisted living benefits by the end of the year. Health Net’s termination puts the housing of thousands of residents in limbo, and the lack of transparency around the announcement is raising fears among families that their loved ones could be evicted or lose the level of care they need. CalMatters Health Reporter Kristen Hwang talks about Health Net’s decision, and how families are sifting through the confusion.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.
Mosquito Season
The soundtrack of summertime is often kids playing in the pool, bicycles whizzing down the trails and the sizzle of food hitting the grill. But one unwelcome noise is enough to put a damper on any outdoor party, the buzz of mosquitos. Public health officials are warning that West Nile Virus activity is at a five year high in California. While the risk of serious illness for most people is low this mosquito season has already seen dozens of cases and five deaths. Luz Maria Robles from the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District and joined us to tell us more about the virus and how to protect against it.
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August 25, 2026 Fire and Forest Management 5 Years After Caldor | Company Fined After Deadly Avalanche | Epic Fails at 'In a Nutshell'
Fire and Forest Management 5 Years After Caldor
Five years ago, the Caldor Fire consumed more than 200,000 acres across the Sierra Foothills and Echo Summit. The town of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, near the fire’s origin was nearly destroyed and for the second time that year, a wildfire crested the Sierra Nevada. As we continue to look back at lessons learned from this devastating wildfire, we’re going to turn our focus to forest management and what some considered a real win, the successful defense of the communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers near South Lake Tahoe. Hugh Safford is a vegetation and fire ecologist at UC Davis. He joins us today to explain which human efforts to reduce fuels and thin forests were the most successful when it came to reducing the severity of the impact of the Caldor Fire. We’ll also check in with Susie Kocher, a Forestry Advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension. Her region is the Central Sierra, which includes El Dorado, Calaveras, Amador and Tuolumne Counties and she joins us to discuss post fire resilience and how the region’s forests are recovering.
Company Fined After Deadly Avalanche
A state agency has fined the company involved in the deadliest avalanche in modern California history. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) confirmed to CapRadio it cited Blackbird Mountain Guides for seven alleged safety violations, totaling $151,300 in penalties. The Truckee-based company is appealing the fines. Senior Producer Sarit Laschinsky joins us with more about the first formal finding of fault since the February slide killed nine people.
Epic Fails at ‘In a Nutshell’
Failure. It’s a word that strikes fear in the hearts of most of us. Whether it’s trying something new and falling flat on your face or trying everything you can but a situation just keeps getting worse. Failures take many forms and are a fact of life, but that can also be an opportunity to learn, grow, and get better. “Epic Fails” is the topic of this month’s In a Nutshell storytelling series taking place this Friday, August 28th at the Sofia in Sacramento. Kari Kiernan and Silvana Clark are two of this month’s featured storytellers and join us today with a sneak peek.
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51min
August 24, 2026 POLITICO’s California Playbook | CalMatters Broken Trusts Investigation | The Caldor Fire and the Caples Project
POLITICO’s California Playbook
After a somewhat mild summer, politics around the Golden State are heating back up. The legislative session is coming to an end next week and one of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s last big effort in office is coming down to the wire. POLITICO California Playbook co-author Dustin Gardiner joins us today to break down what’s happening with Newsom’s push to limit utilities liabilities in wildfires. Plus, we’ll hear how midterm election races are beginning to escalate as the election approaches.
CalMatters Broken Trusts Investigation
Professional fiduciaries provide critical services for those unable to independently manage their life and finances. 20 years ago, California created the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau for oversight, in response to abuses taking place across the state. But a new investigation found that the agency has failed to fulfill its promise to protect vulnerable residents, even as the state’s population ages. Byrhonda Lyons is an Investigative Reporter with CalMatters. She joins us about her latest investigative series Broken Trusts: California Fails to Stop Fiduciary Abuses.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.
The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau released the following statement to CapRadio: “The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau is committed to protecting California consumers and holding professional fiduciaries to the highest standards and accountable when they break the law and consumer trust. The factors that affect conservatorships are complex, as they often involve different agencies and authorities outside of the Bureau’s jurisdiction. The Bureau recognizes there are always opportunities to improve processes and will continue its work to protect consumers.”
The Caldor Fire and the Caples Project
What is “good fire” and how can we use it to combat the devastation of a wildfire? Today on Insight, we’ll learn about the Caples Project, a joint effort by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the El Dorado Irrigation District and the El Dorado National Forest to reduce wildfire severity and protect the community’s drinking water. Sarah Campe is a Regional Scientist with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Brittany Covich is their Policy & Outreach Division Chief. They explain how the project happened and what lessons they’ve learned from it five years later.
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August 20, 2026 Caldor Fire Rebuild Program | Sacramento International Black Film Festival | ‘Coordinates: Dispatch’ Exhibit
Caldor Fire Rebuild Program
Five years ago, the Caldor Fire ripped through the tiny town of Grizzly Flats. Home to just over 1,000 residents at the time, the fire destroyed nearly two-thirds of the El Dorado County community and some residents are still living in temporary housing as they try to rebuild. That effort to rebuild got a boost this year when the county partnered up with a national nonprofit to build six new homes for residents in need. Today on Insight, we’re going to learn more about the Caldor Fire Grizzly Flats Homeowner Rebuild Program, from Karen Garner, the Planning and Building Director for El Dorado County, and Amber Clemer, Executive Director of HomeAid Sacramento.
Sacramento International Black Film Festival
Empowering, unapologetic and visionary, those words describe the movies being screened at Cine Soul: Sacramento’s International Black Film Festival. The long-running tradition is coming back this weekend for its 21st year, showcasing a variety of talented filmmakers. Martin Anaya, Executive Director of the California Film Foundation joins Insight to talk about Cine Soul was organized, and the process of selecting and screening its films. Also, Emmy Award-winning producer and filmmaker Susheel Bibbs talks about her film being screened at the festival, "O Freedom, The Musical Saga of Mary Ellen Pleasant."
‘Coordinates: Dispatch’ Exhibit
Faith J. McKinnie is a Cultural Critic and Independent Curator. She joins us about the project Sites of Vacancy, which transforms vacant spaces into art. Her latest exhibit is Coordinates: Dispatch is a large-scale contemporary art exhibition featuring the work of nearly 30 Sacramento artists inside the long-vacant historic Albert Winn Park Fire Alarm Dispatch Station and runs through Oct. 10 in Midtown at 1616 28th Street.
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51min
August 19, 2026 Rocklin High’s 12-Minute Lunch | Hedgerow Farms | New Exhibit on Cycles of Mass Deportations
Rocklin High’s 12-Minute Lunch
Lunch might be the best part of the school day for many students, giving them a chance to grab some food and socialize. But at Rocklin High School, students now only have 12 minutes for lunch on Mondays due to a shorter "articulation day." CapRadio Producer Greg Micek went “back to school” to learn more about how Rocklin High created this unusual lunch period, and what the response has been from students.
Hedgerow Farms
For close to 40 years, Hedgerow Farms has been collecting California native plant seeds and researching how to grow them at scale. Those seeds are then harvested for use in restoration projects around the state, including revegetating wildfire burn scars to revitalizing wetlands. Julia Michaels is Hedgerow’s Restoration Ecologist and Jeff Quiter is the farm’s manager. They join us today to talk about the importance of saving and sustaining native seeds.
New Exhibit on Cycles of Mass Deportations
As immigration reform and enforcement dominates coverage during President Trump’s second term, a new exhibit in Sacramento is reminding us of the importance of remembering history. We want to warn you, the exhibit uses a derogatory name in its title that is widely considered a slur today. Help Wanted/Leave Now: ‘Operation Wetback’ and the Revolving Door of Mass Deportation details America’s largest-ever deportation campaign during the Eisenhower administration following WWII, that targeted Mexican workers recruited during the Bracero Program to bolster the U.S. during the war. Pablo Espinoza is a board member with the California Museum and helped influence this exhibit, on display through Jan. 10, 2027.
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How many episodes does Insight With Vicki Gonzalez have?

The podcast currently has 1,743 episodes available.

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