Two months and four days? That's how long it's been since I last posted to KFBK.com? And three months before that?
Well, that's not gonna do.
Here's the problem. When I get to the iHeartMedia Sacramento building and get to work on The KFBK Afternoon News with Kitty O'Neal, it's five hours to airtime. And every minute of that time is spent writing and researching and interviewing and editing and meeting to discuss the show. There's no time to sit down and write something for the web (yes, I know Kitty manages to do three or four web posts a day, but Kitty's Superwoman---I'm in awe of her ability to be everywhere, do everything and be gracious and lovely all at the same time).
So---what if I do it earlier? See, Kitty and I pretty much begin our days at our homes early in the morning. We're texting each other the things we think are interesting before we get to work. So, what if I share those things with you, too? Some of these things you'll hear fleshed out between 4:00 and 7:00 this afternoon. Some won't make air but are worth knowing or interesting or kinda cool or might come in handy in conversation during the day.
So welcome to my office. On nice mornings, anyway, I'll do my prep work in my back yard---a mug of coffee, a laptop, Cristina Mendonsa and Sam Shane on The KFBK Morning News streaming on the iHeartRadio app and a full inbox from overnight. Let's see what's new in our state and our world today:
- The power is back on in the Sierra Foothills, where PG&E pulled the plug during the winds Saturday night to avoid a repeat of wildfires caused by downed power lines.
- In Yolo County, fire crews now have 30% containment of the Sand Fire near Guinda, which started Saturday afternoon and has burned 2,200 acres. Updates are here. No known cause yet. Here's CAL Fire's statewide fire map.
- The court-ordered tour of the devastation in Paradise happened on Friday, and the San Francisco Chronicle says PG&E did everything it could to make sure very few people knew it was happening. In a related note, the state has until July 12 to meet a deadline imposed by Governor Newsom to settle wildfire liability issues. Here's a reminder of the possible options from the New York Times' story of April 12, when Newsom set the 90-day clock ticking.
- Meantime, we'll have a mini-heat wave the next couple of days. Sacramento's forecast high today is 103. The National Weather Service is predicting 104 tomorrow. These are temperatures where heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks. Limit your time outdoors, seek shade and air conditioning at every opportunity and drink plenty of water.
- Speaking of which, if you're concerned about that recent report that says sunscreen seeps into your bloodstream, a doctor has written this piece for The New York Times on why skin cancer is a way bigger threat. Having just endured two sessions of photo-dynamic therapy to remove precancerous cells from my face, and having been ordered to wear SPF 100 sunscreen (yes, it's a thing) daily, that's a relief.
- There's a search underway in the Sierra Foothills for automotive journalist Davey G. Johnson, who was riding a motorcycle along Highway 49. The motorcycle has been found in good condition at a rest stop near Mokelumne Hill. His clothing, backpack, cellphone and laptop were found by the north fork of the Mokelumne River...but not his wallet. If you have information, please call the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 754-6500.
- The State Budget Conference Committee has settled on a $213-billion spending plan. Governor Newsom says it's "balanced, creates historic reserves and expands budget resiliency. It also invests in emergency preparedness and response, provides sustainable funding for safe drinking water, and includes important funding augmentations to address the cost crisis in our state – tax cuts for small businesses and working families, expanded health care subsidies, historic funding for our schools and funding to serve more students at UC and CSU." It also gives 90,000 undocumented immigrants between the ages of 19 and 25 Medi-Cal eligibility---and allows for financial assistance for middle class families.
- It's a complicated world and one size rarely fits all. Case in point, State Senator Dr. Richard Pan's Senate Bill 276, which would close loopholes in California's vaccination laws---loopholes that have led to a measles epidemic 20 years after measles was thought to have been eradicated in this country. The Sacramento Bee talked to parents who say the exemptions in Pan's bill wouldn't cover their children---who could die if the bill becomes law and they have to follow it.
- California's junior U.S. Senator, Kamala Harris, is trying to get traction in the polls in her quest for the Democratic nomination for president. The New York Times has a piece on how she's emphasizing her record as a prosecutor. It's also published a fact-check of what she's been saying about that part of her career.
- Despite staggering new numbers of homeless in our cities (America's and California's), the people who want to be president in 2020 aren't talking about it. This L.A. Times story may have the answer as to why.
- Another horse died Sunday at Santa Anita Racetrack in Southern California. That's 29 since December, six in the past month and two this weekend. The California Horse Racing Board wants Santa Anita to close. The track is refusing.
- Esquire Magazine is out with its list of the 27 Best Bars in America. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland and Palm Springs, yes....Sacramento no. Maybe they should make it 30.
- Congratulations to George Noory, who's been nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame. Public voting is next month. You can hear George's show, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. on News 93.1, KFBK.
Let me hear from you on these stories or others. There's a "comment" button at the bottom.
I hope you'll join Kitty and me today from 4:00 to 7:00 on The KFBK Afternoon News at 93.1 FM, 1530 AM and on the iHeartRadio app.