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.

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.

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.