Wildfires in California are becoming increasingly frequent, widespread and devastating. Since 2015, fifteen of the state’s most destructive fires in recorded history have occurred. Damaging or destroying over 55,000 homes and other buildings and claiming the lives of more than 200 people. But as we measure each new fire by acres burned, homes destroyed, and lives lost, we’re also beginning to comprehend the toll wildfires are having on the youngest who’ve survived these extreme disasters. Health screenings of some of the state’s most underserved families are revealing tens of thousands of children who’ve lived through these fires are experiencing potentially lasting psychological trauma and other chronic health issues. Heidi de Marco, a correspondent for Kaiser Health News, joined Insight to share how children in Northern California are learning to cope with wildfire trauma.   

We’ve had multiple conversations on Insight about the rise in gun violence and firearm purchases during the pandemic, with deadly examples in Sacramento that have made national news. A mass shooting in downtown Sacramento, followed by another deadly shooting a few months later, and in the county, a father killed his children and their chaperone during a supervised visit. But there are many more that happen on an intimate and individual level that don’t receive the same trajectory of attention. Genoa Barrow, a senior writer at the Sacramento Observer, went beyond gun violence and learned about the overlap of domestic violence plays, an intersection with deep roots in mental health, poverty, and socioeconomic inequality. But with little formal research beyond a troubling correlation. Genoa joined us on Insight along with Dr. Shani Buggs, a researcher with the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis.   

There is a big birthday being celebrated this year in Sacramento. Grant Union High School has been a community stronghold in Del Paso Heights - on Grand Avenue - since its establishment in 1932. It’s the third-oldest school in Sacramento, after Sac High and Christian Brothers High. In addition to the school’s famous championship football and basketball programs, there are a lot of other things Grant is known for, including a very special musical instrument, its unique aircraft engineering classes, an internationally-acclaimed drumline, and a community swimming pool. All of that history is carefully preserved in the alumni association’s museum, and as the school celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, alumni are reflecting on why they consider themselves “Pacers for life.” CapRadio’s Sacramento Communities Reporter, Janelle Salanga, joined Insight to talk about the school, its history, and the people keeping it alive.