The AIDS epidemic thrust HIV awareness into the spotlight, but years after its peak, a local nonprofit is urging people to know their status. Today on Insight, we’ll learn why there is a greater need for women and heterosexual men to get tested from Jake Bradley-Rowe, the CEO of Sunburst Projects.

We’re almost two weeks past the primary election, and all eyes are set on the November general — an election that could determine control of the House of Representatives, and potentially even the U.S. Senate. It is also just over a year since the first No Kings protest took place, with millions of people taking to the streets across the country to protest the Trump Administration. But getting people involved in the political process for the long-haul can be difficult, as many voters may feel overwhelmed with information or apathetic about the choices they face. Environmental lawyer and progressive activist Gary Lucks is the author of a new book called We Are the Power, and talks with Insight about how he aims to make that activism easier to accomplish.

For more than 50 years now, the Sierra foothills have come alive with the sounds of bluegrass one weekend a year. For four days, people come together to enjoy live music, camping, workshops, family activities and what some say is “the best jamming west of the Rockies.” Hosted by the California Bluegrass Society, the 51st annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival is scheduled Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Pete Lude is the executive director of the California Bluegrass Society and he’s here to share some music and tell us more about what to expect.

California immigration advocates and legal experts are raising concerns about a new federal immigration court initiative designed to drastically expedite deportation order cases. Courts across the country started rolling out “mega masters” that bring as many as 100 immigrants into court proceedings at the same time, raising concerns about due process and access to legal representation. CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Gerardo Zavala went to a recent hearing inside Sacramento’s John Moss Federal Building and joins us with his reporting.

Thousands of California customers in the Lake Tahoe region will need a new power supplier next year. Liberty Utilities services approximately 50,000 customers across the Tahoe Basin. The California-based company sources its energy from Nevada - a majority purchased through NV Energy which announced it will stop supplying Liberty after May 2027. Both utilities maintain that customers will not be left in the dark during the transition to find a new supplier. But the announcement has sparked months of media coverage. CapRadio Senior Producer Sarit Laschinsky joins us with his reporting about the search for new energy across state lines, the concerns from residents over potential rate hikes, as well as the role of data centers in this transition.

California has the largest Native American population in the country with more than 700,000 people in the state and over 109 federally recognized tribes. In April Governor Gavin Newsom, in collaboration with tribes, broke ground on the California Indian Heritage Center. Located in West Sacramento, the new center will look to honor and preserve the history of indigenous people in the state / for future generations. Helping to coordinate these efforts and bring the center to life is the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs, led by Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari. She joined us to tell us more about it.

We are one week post Primary and the race for governor is set. Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance to the November runoff, capping off an unusual gubernatorial race. With the general set, we’re going to have a post mortem about the lingering themes of this election with Laurel Rosenhall, a New York Times reporter covering California politics and government.

The San Joaquin Valley has plenty to discover, much of which is hidden in the dirt. Scientists from the nonprofit River Partners fanned out across the region last year, collecting soil samples to learn more about what lives there and using a research tool known as environmental DNA (eDNA.) The nonprofit recently announced it has received the data from its samples, which are teeming with life. River Partners Senior Scientist Dr. Sarah Gaffney and Julie Stanford, CEO of eDNA Explorer talk about the science of eDNA and how it will guide future restoration efforts in the San Joaquin Valley.

June is here and those long summer days and breezy summer nights means it’s a great time to enjoy concerts in the park, art strolls, festivals and even a parade. Arts advocate Veronica Rodriguez is back for our monthly Arts Talk, where she highlights upcoming arts and culture events throughout our region. 

Homeless advocates are demanding answers after the city of Sacramento’s motel shelter program left vulnerable residents stranded on Sacramento streets. After the city transitioned their motel program to a voucher system, roughly two dozen families were reportedly displaced last week after their vouchers were rejected by motel owners. Sacramento Bee Regional Watchdog Reporter Theresa Clift and SacBee Photojournalist Renée C. Byer join us with their reporting on how the changes are designed to save the city $3.2 million.

Colorectal cancer was once considered a disease of older people but is now the top cancer killer in people under age 50. Colon cancer rates for adults aged 30 to 49 have doubled over the last three decades, with little concrete evidence as to why. As researchers try to discover reasons behind this surge in cases, the way doctors treat it is adapting. University of San Francisco, Health launched a first-of-its-kind program on the West Coast dedicated to understanding and treating the colon cancer epidemic in young adults. Dr. Katherine Van Loon is a Gastrointestinal Oncologist with UC San Francisco Health and she joins us today to explain more.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a pivotal moment in U.S. history. But the history of the land, and the Native people that call it home, dates back long before the arrival of European settlers. But often these indigenous stories and experiences are overshadowed or left out of the historical record. A new podcast called Reclaiming Our Stories: Voices of Indigenous Peoples of California debuted last month, and aims to highlight the diverse range of perspectives, cultures and experiences across the Golden State, which is home to hundreds of tribal communities. Host and Story Weaver Victorio L. Shaw talks about how the series adds critical context and color to the state’s Native history.

Election results continue to roll in from last week’s statewide primary, including for a local ballot measure in Shasta County — which has been for years been in the national spotlight for conspiracy theories of voter fraud. The initiative, known as Measure B, would overhaul how the county's election system is run, but may be in violation of state and federal law. Measure B is on track to be approved by voters, but at the same time one of its major advocates — Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis — is also losing his seat. Annelise Pierce, Director and Managing Editor for the Shasta Scout joins Insight to break down the latest developments in Shasta County.

Artists play a vital role in California helping to shape culture and build bridges across generations, but public funding for the arts is often the first thing on the chopping block. The Golden State ranks around 35th nationally in per-capita arts funding. As lawmakers work to finalize the state’s budget, we’ll hear from an artist and advocate about the impact of funding on the work and the economy. Janine Mapurunga is a Social Practice Artist and Julie Baker is the CEO of California For the Arts, which advocates on behalf of the California Arts Council.

There’s just something about summer that makes it prime time to pick up a new book. Whether you’re looking for some company on your next vacation or something truly meaty that will transport you to another time and place, you can find it in a book. To help you get a head start on your reading list, Sactown Magazine has a handy guide that includes 10 new books from homegrown authors. Hillary Louise Johnson is the Editor-at-Large and she joined us today to talk books.

Election results continue to trickle in and will for the coming weeks. We’re still waiting to see the top-two for many races, including governor. But some of the most talked about contests have been set and there are already some lessons we can take away from the primary. Blake Jones is the co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook and he joined us to break down the latest election updates.

Sacramento Kings fans are remembering legendary head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Adelman, who passed away this week at the age of 79. Adelman came to Sacramento in 1999 and led the Kings to the playoffs during all eight of his seasons, and holds the franchise win record. ESPN 1320 Kings Insider James Ham, host of the Locked On Kings Podcast talks about Adelman’s legacy in the capital city, at the head of a team Sports Illustrated dubbed “The Greatest Show on Court.”

America’s bees are dying in record numbers. And according to some researchers, the way we grow our food is to blame. In 2025, beekeepers lost more than 60 percent of their colonies across the United States, and wild bees are also in steep decline. But there is some good news. Author and science journalist Jennie Durant has been researching the topic and recently released a new book about it, “Bitter Honey.” She has an event tonight at Wild Sisters Book Company in Sacramento.

After months of campaigning, curveballs and uncertainty, we are starting to get a look at which candidates are advancing to the general. Many are still too early to be called. County elections offices have until July 2nd to count all the ballots. The Secretary of State will certify primary results on July 10th. Statehouse Politics Reporters Laura Fitzgerald and Gerardo Zavala join us with an update about races they’ve been tracking. We’ll also hear the latest on Sacramento city and county races from Government Reporters Tony Rodriguez and Riley Palmer. 

Voter Data and Republican Analysis

With the primary less than 24 hours behind us, momentum is already picking up for the Midterm. The once congested governor’s race will soon be whittled down to two candidates, and we’ll see if California Democrats’ attempt to flip Republican congressional seats via Prop. 50 came to fruition. Paul Mitchell is the Vice President of Political Data Inc., which tracks ballots across the state. He was also the architect of the new congressional maps under Prop 50 and joined us with post-primary analysis. Also Rob Stutzman, a Republican political consultant and former deputy chief of staff for communications to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, discusses what the California GOP will take to the November general election.

How well candidates are able to harness the media is one aspect of political campaigning that can lead to success. From million dollar ad buys on traditional media to big spending on social media, where a candidate places their money can say a lot about what they are and who they hope to reach. Mindy Romero is the founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy and she joined us to discuss the growing role of social media in election campaigns.

Election Day is upon us. The California Primary will narrow down pivotal races across the state. From governor to congress as well as city and county races. Californians have been turning in their mail in votes for the past month but if you’ve been waiting for election day, you have until 8 p.m. tonight to vote. For some last minute voting tips Vicki spoke with Kim Alexander on Monday, President of the California Voter Foundation.

The governor’s race has been largely a crowded field of indecision. What started as 10 leading candidates, narrowed slightly to 8. Six of which are Democrats, none of which received their party's endorsement for the primary. Chair of the California Democratic Party Rusty Hicks, joined us to talk about the governor’s race and the rest of the primary election.

This Midterm has come with its share of quirks in California. Many people are finding themselves in a different congressional district following voter-approved Prop 50. The Governor’s race has seen two Republicans regularly polling in the double digits. Despite one receiving an endorsement from President Trump, neither received an endorsement from the California GOP. Chairwoman of the California Republican Party Corrin Rankin joined us to talk about the election and look ahead to the general.

Did you know that there are more than 1,400 varieties of olives in the world and most of them can be turned into oil? There’s a small, organic farm in Fairfield making the most of it. IL Fiorello began as a boutique olive oil business in 2007 and has grown steadily ever since. This weekend, they will highlight the diversity of their spring harvest through Lavender and Strawberry days. Ann Sievers is the owner and she joins us today to talk about how the business got started.

University of the Pacific has announced a historic expansion, with plans to open a new school of medicine at its Stockton campus. The program is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in 2030, and will be the first M.D.-granting institution outside of the Bay Area, Sacramento region and Southern California. It also aims to address a chronic shortage of medical professionals in the Central Valley. Pacific President Christopher Callahan and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom join Insight to talk about what the impact of this new school will be for the Central Valley and beyond.

A crowded field of candidates is still vying for the chance to become California’s next governor, with the primary election looming. One Democratic candidate has poured in a record-breaking amount of money for broadcast advertisements to try and secure a spot in the top-two primary, billionaire Tom Steyer. A former hedge fund manager and 2020 presidential candidate, Steyer’s political experience has largely been as a fundraiser for Democratic campaigns as well as liberal or progressive causes. And he is one of the Democratic frontrunners in the 2026 California gubernatorial race, touting a progressive platform. Vicki spoke with Steyer about his plans to address California’s issues and how he interprets the “billionaire” label differently from his critics.

Emma Vauxdevil is a performer and producer of Cobweb Cabaret. The show is debuting in Sacramento at the Crest Theatre on Sat. June 6 at 8pm. Performers Qu’in de la Noche and Edie Eve give us a taste of the eclectic burlesque show. 

The Athletics are playing in Sacramento - for now - but the city is telling Major League Baseball, “Put me in coach!” We’ll hear about the capital region’s bid to get an MLB team of its own and how their chances stack up against other cities across the country. CapRadio Communities Reporter Keyshawn Davis and Forbes Senior Contributor and National Baseball Reporter Maury Brown joined us to break down the “Sacramento Pitch.”

The 1920s are remembered as a time of great change in America, but it was also one of the deadliest non-war years in history. Today on Insight, we’ll meet David Kulczyk, the Sacramento author behind the new book “1926 - Murder in America.”

What does it take to keep a music project fresh and relevant? How do you maintain creativity and continue to evolve? The folks behind the Northern California band Misner & Smith know a thing or two about it. For nearly two decades, Sam Misner and Megan Smith have been recording and performing beautifully crafted songs with soaring harmonies. They will make their first appearance at the Sofia in Sacramento this Saturday, May 30.