Tuesday on Insight on Capital Public Radio, I spoke with host David Watts Barton and Think Big Sacramento Executive Director Chris Lehane about the tentative arena deal brokered in Orlando that will keep the Kings in Sacramento. The framework of the agreement was negotiated over the three-day NBA All-Star Weekend during numerous closed-door discussions between Mayor Kevin Johnson, a delegation from Sacramento, Kings’ owners and NBA officials. The exact terms of the deal will be revealed Thursday, but early reports from the mayor’s office indicated it includes an estimated $75 million contribution from Kings’ owners, the Maloof family, and an estimated $60 million from arena operator Ansc

In what has been called a David versus Goliath victory, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to disband redevelopment agencies in California, and opponents of redevelopment in Sacramento wasted no time to celebrate the success. “After years of opposition to redevelopment activities, the abuse of government power and confiscation of property for private use, our day finally came,” Moe Mohanna, a local real estate developer, said Tuesday. The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold the redevelopment “elimination” bill, but struck down the bill that would have allowed agencies to make “continuation payments” to stay in business. The two

The County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an urgency ordinance Tuesday placing a moratorium on permits for adult-related establishments – including escort services, bathhouses and modeling studios – until new zoning ordinances are developed. “There have been some interesting (business permit) uses popping up (in the county) in recent years,” County Executive Brad Hudson said Tuesday. Despite being an “urgency” ordinance, Hudson said the measure did not come about in response to any particular incident with an adult-related establishment. Hudson said county staff recently noticed a “spike” in the number of recycling centers cropping up throughout the county – business that were

Here are more photos from Saturday night's big celebration of The Big Build, the name of the Sacramento International Airport's new Terminal B project: For more info CLICK HERE>>>

More than 1,000 people attended a party Saturday that included Cirque du Soleil performers dancing with hoops, walking on stilts and performing acrobatics from 40-foot-long ribbons hanging from the rafters to celebrate the grand opening of the new Terminal B of the Sacramento International Airport. “We didn’t want to stand in the shadow of another city,” Hardy Acree, director of airports for Sacramento County Airport System, said Saturday. “We wanted to create our own identity here in Sacramento and with this, we certainly have.” The party – hosted by the architect and construction firms responsible for the terminal project, Corgan Associates and Turner Construction – was a grand spectac

The Grassroots Working Group (GWG) will be back before the County Board of Supervisors at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 9th, in the supervisor’s chambers at 700 H Street, Sacramento. For Grassroots, this will be the most important Board decision of the year.   The Board is considering whether to sponsor state legislation this year that would give the county the authority to place before the voters a 1/10 % sales tax for parks purposes (one penny for every $10 spent). The county is already authorized to place a sales tax before the voters, but not one this small.  Save the American River Association supports this.   The revenue from a sales tax must to go to a governmental agency. SARA believe

Two arts organizations – La Raza Galería Posada and California Musical Theatre – top a list of award winners announced by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Friday. In all, 14 arts organizations and artists were named winners in SMAC’s District Awards Program – a program in which Sacramento City Council members and Sacramento County supervisors honor and recognize artists’ and organizations’ contributions to the arts. Organizations were nominated by SMAC commissioners based on a process involving artistic quality and community engagement. “This award program represents an important opportunity to recognize our outstanding arts community in Sacramento,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson.

More than one month after Mayor Kevin Johnson asked city staffers to select three possible Safe Ground sites for consideration, it does not appear the city is any closer to discussing specifics. Johnson told reporters at his weekly press conference that he will discuss Safe Ground issues with the City Council, city staff and Sacramento County at the end of this month or in early October. He asked city staffers on Aug. 10 to pinpoint three possible sites. “No matter what we’re able to do with Safe Ground, that will not be in place in time for November,” Johnson said. In the upcoming discussions on Safe Ground, Johnson said the city and county will explore a possible timeline for establis

The Board Chambers were filled to capacity Tuesday afternoon with dozens more awaiting entry in the lobby as the County Board of Supervisors began their hearing for proposed budget cuts to the Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Human Assistance (DHA) for fiscal year 2010-11. As a primer for the impending bad news, Bruce Wagstaff, the Interim Administrator of the Countywide Services Agency, emphasized that though these proposed cuts were the result of hours and hours of hard work from department staff, they will most likely result in "tremendous negative impacts on county residents" and health services consumers in particular. The director of DHHS, Ann Edwards-Buckley, pr

While the June 8 election will arrive in just six weeks, there's no need to fret if you're not yet familiar with all the local candidates. Two organizations are offering a full day of candidate forums so residents can learn about the candidates and issues. The forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County and the Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission, will be held Saturday, May 1. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will end after 5 p.m. “It’s an educational opportunity that we like to provide to the voting public,” said Cheryll Moore, voter services director for the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County. The League and Metro Cable have invited all cand