Welcome to another edition of the "Wake-Up Call," a rundown of five items that we're working on, found interesting, or otherwise thought you might want to know about today. As is always the case here at Sac Press, suggestions are welcome. BEST DAY TO BE A KINGS FAN: It’s that time of year again, when basketball fans are filled with a special mix of hope and dread, and the sports blogshere and radio waves are dominated with enough rampant speculation and what-if scenarios to make your head spin: NBA Draft day. The Bee says the team will go for a small forward, allowing Tyreke Evans to go back to playing point guard. The paper hints that the choice will be between North Carolina's Harrison

Tonight the Governor and First Lady Anne Gust Brown joined Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson for the 80th Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the West Steps of the State Capitol. The  40-foot-tall white fir tree is decorated with 900 hand-crafted ornaments created by children and adults with developmental disabilities who receive services and support from the state’s development centers and 21 nonprofit regional centers. It's illuminated by 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights. Six-year-old Makayla Jones, of Visalia, assisted the Governor and First Lady in lighting the Capitol Christmas tree. Kitty O'Neal, of KFBK Radio, was emcee of the ceremony. There were performances by

Governor Jerry Brown c/o State Capital, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 Mr. Matthew James Fitzgerald Alameda, CA 94501 August 26, 2011 Dear Governor Brown, My name is Mr. Matthew James Fitzgerald. I had a job on the janitorial crew at Stepping Stones Center. The executive director at Stepping Stones is Mr. Jerry Joseph and the deputy director is Mr. Vic Entrikin. I found out from deputy director Entrikin that this janitorial work program was cut because of the budget crisis in California. I have Downs Syndrome, and it is very hard to compete for jobs. The work I did at Stepping Stones was a good opportunity to earn money and contribute to my family or even friends. I need to work an

Opening night of “The Known and Travel” gallery show took place during Beatnik Studios’ Final Friday. The opening for the P.R. Brown exhibit turned out to be a family affair that showcased the talents of the Brown family. The Known and Travel exhibit also included a silent auction and wine tasting with proceeds going towards transforming the lives of orphaned and poverty-stricken children. Several projects are supported by the nonprofit organization, 2Build 4Ward International. Friday’s event highlighted a major project, the building of an orphanage in Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico. The UN estimates that over 10 million orphans live in Mexico and 2x4 International, operated by state workers

Sacramento county jails will receive more than 400 new inmates over the next three months, as a result of new state legislation that goes into effect Saturday – but Sacramento County Sheriff representatives say there’s no room for them, and no money to make room. “It’s too soon to implement it,” Sheriff’s Department Spokesman Jason Ramos said Wednesday, referring to Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109), the new state realignment plan that shifts responsibilities for lower level offenders, adult parolees and juvenile offenders from state to local jurisdictions. “There hasn’t been enough discussion, and funding isn’t guaranteed,” Ramos said. California state prisons were designed to hold 79,858 pri

Mayor Kevin Johnson announced a care package will be sent to American troops stationed in Afghanistan Tuesday at his press conference. The care package was put together by the mayor’s office, public safety organizations and the community. The contents include American flags, letters from Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Gov. Jerry Brown, and various snacks, candy, and sporting equipment. U.S. Marine Sgt. Anthony Silva, currently deployed in Afghanistan, sent Johnson an e-mail requesting a care package. “(Silva) said, ‘We are out here fighting for our country, and if the mayor’s office could help facilitate a few things for us troops out here, it would be very meaningful,” Johnson said. Th

Major changes are in store for the city’s River District, as the Sacramento City Council approved a set of future development plans Tuesday night. The planning documents set a path for development of the area over the next 25 years, according to a report from city staff. The city’s plans for the River District, a 773-acre swath between the Sacramento Railyards and the American River, focus on ramping up residential, commercial, office and hotel development and moving away from industrial development. Council members approved the plans in a 8-0 vote. Mayor Kevin Johnson did not attend the City Council meeting because he was out of town, said Johnson spokesman Joaquin McPeek. The city wan

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to slash redevelopment agencies spurred a protest and press conference at the Convention Center Friday, bringing together Sacramento leaders and about 100 officials from cities throughout the state. Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, said that cities may consider suing the state if it disbands redevelopment agencies. Brown’s office contends that local services, such as schools and public safety, could receive the funding currently used by redevelopment agencies if the agencies shut down. But city leaders in Sacramento and throughout the state argue that ending redevelopment agencies would seriously harm jobs and local develo

During the Inauguration Reception across the street from us at the California Railroad Museum, we had many Jerry Brown insiders come check out Practical Cycle. We seized the opportunity to gain support for our proposal to present the Governor with a limited edition Styriette electric bicycle. Attorney Brian Oxman, counsel and longtime friend to Jerry Brown, was so intrigued and impressed with the idea that he took the time to send a letter to the Governor in support of our proposal. He was even so thoughtful as to send us a copy which can be seen in the images above. In the letter, he writes: Dear Jerry, It was so great to see you at the Inauguration and Reunion Party. After so many yea

"Noon-2 p.m.: A "people's party" with free hot dogs will be held at the Capitol Northwest lawn; (Jerry) Brown will speak." Steven Harmon, San Jose Mercury News, 1/3/11  As a political science major, a former intern at one of Washington D.C.'s most influential think tanks, and an all around amateur politico, I was very tempted to go to "The People's Inauguration Party 2011" to see Jerry Brown speak.  I'm tempted to do lots of things.  As a broke fat kid, I actually went to "The People's Inauguration Party 2011" to eat free hot dogs.  I kept a running diary of my experiences thereat:  11:50 AM- I arrived at the Capitol and immediately located the line for the free hot dogs. It was prob

Jerry Brown was sworn in Monday morning as California's 39th governor, saying he has the opportunity to follow in his father's footsteps again. He also joked he was following in his own footsteps, referring to his return to the governor's office after 28 years. Brown served two terms between 1975 and 1983. Memorial Auditorium hosted the ceremony, which featured a cappella performances by the Oakland School of the Arts Choir. The choir opened the ceremony with a rendition of "This Land is Your Land" and sang the National Anthem as the Oakland Military Institute and California Cadet Corps Honor Guard presented the colors. Brown's wife, Anne Gust Brown, spoke first, describing the day as a

Governor Elect Jerry Brown hosted a state budget forum at Memorial Auditorium Wednesday morning. Over 1200 state and local government officials were invited to the invitation-only event. About 200 attended. Joining Brown on the stage for the panel-style presentation were newly re-appointed Finance Director Ana Matosantos, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, State Controller John Chiang, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Speaker John A. Perez and Assembly GOP leader Connie Conway. Senate GOP leader Bob Dutton did not take his place on the stage but was spotted in the audience. Jerry Brown opened the meeting by saying the budget problem "goes ba

Anyone looking for a clean kill in tonight’s gubernatorial debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman probably walked away a little disappointed. If you were hoping for another Jan Brewer moment in which a candidate seems to simply and completely lose it on camera, again, disappointment reigns. But if you were looking for a reasonably thoughtful discussion of many of the real issues facing California, there was much to appreciate in the debate staged at the Mondavi Center at University of California, Davis. Three local journalists – Amy Chance of the Sacramento Bee, Marianne Russ of Capital Public Radio and Kevin Riggs of KCRA Channel 3 – led the candidates through ten questions ranging f

The race for Governor won’t be decided until November, but River Cats fans will have a chance to cast their votes early at the Bobblehead Election this Friday. Bobbleheads of Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown will be handed out to the first 2,500 fans. The bobblehead that is given away first will be declared the winner of the River Cats Bobblehead Election. Fans will also get the opportunity to watch democrats and republicans battle it out in a friendly, but competitive, precinct relay race and in other on-field promotions during the game. Sit on the left side if you are a democrat or the right if you are a republican to cheer on your team. Republicans can order their disco

A local energy efficiency program led by Sacramento City Councilman Kevin McCarty is caught in the middle of a giant bureaucratic tug-of-war. McCarty’s program would give residents and businesses a lengthy period of time to pay for energy-efficient upgrades at their homes and workplaces. Assessments on residents’ property taxes would fund the upgrades. The local program garnered $740,000 in federal stimulus funds in November. But McCarty’s planned program — one of many similar energy-saving programs throughout the country — was squashed in July by the federal agency in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Sacramento City Council passed a resolution Thursday that backs a bill in Cong

California's Democratic and Republican chairmen addressed how their parties' candidates will overcome the budget crisis if elected in November at the Capital Plaza Halls Tuesday afternoon. The lunch was hosted by the Sacramento Press Club and was attended by members of the working press, state politics, and public. Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring and Democratic Party Chairman John Burton spoke mainly on the gubernatorial and senate elections, claiming that in the coming months it will become increasingly clear why either party has the better candidate. Among the issues addressed was that of campaign financing. With Meg Whitman's campaign likely to spend hundreds of millions of doll

Looking for a way to hold history in your hand? Former presidents Bush, Carter and Clinton, as well as President Obama, will appear at the Sierra 2 Center on Sunday -- on buttons, badges and posters. They are all part of a political collectible show and sale put on by the Northern California Chapter of American Political Items Collectors. The APIC, a nonprofit that began in 1945, has more than 2,000 members and 19 regional chapters. Northern California's chapter has about 300 members, said Adam Gottlieb, the chapter's president. Gottlieb has been collecting political memorabilia since he was 11, starting with a Teddy Roosevelt button from 1904. Gottlieb, 45, said Roosevelt memorabilia m

  Save Our Water Sacramento filed an administrative appeal involving the Nestlé water-bottling plant on Monday.   Davis attorney Don Mooney has agreed to take the case if the issue goes to court. Mooney represented McCloud residents in their six-year fight against a Nestlé Waters North America water-bottling plant near Mt. Shasta. The company abandoned plans for the plant in September. Save Our Water Sacramento is appealing the city's designation of the Swiss company's $14 million construction project as ministerial, rather than discretionary, in an effort to win an environmental assessment of the plant. The group e-filed an appeal with the city clerk's office and sent a paper copy thr

If you're not Facebook friends with Attorney General Jerry Brown - and actually, you can't be, the AG does't have friends, he has "supporters" - you probably haven't seen his foray into the pasttime many of us have been burning up hours with in the last few weeks: Posting "25 Random Things About Me."  So, as a public service, we'll save you the surfing and post the link, as well as the text of the list right here. Brown is, after all, local. 25 Random Things About Me Yesterday at 4:43pm I’ve seen lists of “25 Random Things About Me” that people are sending around Facebook. I thought I would share my own list with you. 1. I got my first dog 13 years ago, a black Lab named Dharma. 2. At