The Sacramento Press and The Sacramento Bee co-sponsored a panel discussion titled "Paying for Content" on June 22. The third floor of The Bee housed 37 people who gathered to listen to panelists discuss paywalls, online revenue and the relationship between consumer and organization. Independent journalist JT Long moderated. The panelists were Tim Foster, editor of Midtown Monthly; Michael Sanford, KVIE's vice president for content creation; Geoff Samek, co-founder of The Sacramento Press; Tom Negrete, Bee managing editor for the online edition and production; Ron Trujillo, editor of The Sacramento Business Journal; and Mike O'Brien, co-publisher and owner of Sacramento Magazines Corpor

As the 2010 NBA Draft approaches the Kings will have some decisions to make regarding who they will take with the fifth and the 33rd picks. The team hosted Duke's Jon Scheyer, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, USC's Mike Gerrity, Tulsa's Ben Uzoh, Arkansas' Michael Washington and Azusa Pacific's Dominique Johnson in this morning's workout. All of them were college seniors. Scheyer played for this year's Duke team that won the 2010 NCAA National Championship. Last season he averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. He missed his first workout with the Kings because he had strep throat but the 6-foot-six-inch 180 pound guard says that after his workout with the Phoenix Suns

The Sacramento City Council wants to start taxing pot dispensaries and possibly increase a business tax. Expecting California voters to legalize recreational marijuana in November and facing continued financial problems, the council discussed putting a measure on the general election ballot to ask Sacramentans to enact a tax on pot dispensaries and to increase the city's business operations tax (BOT) so bigger companies could pay a more proportionate share. At a public hearing Tuesday afternoon, several council members indicated they're leaning toward alternatives to a 5 percent, across-the-board pot tax after hearing from at least a dozen patients, operators and advocates for the indust

The primary election night results showed no clear winner in the heated District 7 City Council race, and now county officials are saying there will "likely be a runoff" between Chin and Fong. The two candidates will now face another four and a half months of campaigning to win the coveted council seat.   Chin and Fong both have strong ties to the community. Fong, a retired law enforcement officer, and Chin, the former county planning commissioner, feel it’s those ties that will show a diverse support network to fuel them both toward November.   “That’s what I’m most proud of," Chin said. "I got all types of different people, different communities.”     He said he is aware of naysa

No one aspires to be a foster child. No child wants to live in a stranger’s home. No brother or sister likes having their family torn apart; losing contact with siblings. No teen chooses an unknown future. Yet, every month, over 2,000 children statewide are placed into protective custody through the foster care system. Over 150 of these children are from Sacramento County. Foster care is designed to be a temporary safety net for children who are unable to live safely with their birth families. Children enter foster care because they have been abused or neglected or have experienced other family problems such as substance abuse, mental illness or a parent’s incarceration. A primary goal

 With the city budget and Mayor Kevin Johnson’s updated strong mayor proposal on the City Council’s agenda, the public is likely to see political fireworks at two meetings Tuesday. During the first meeting, at 915 I St. at 2 p.m. the City Council will discuss key issues related to the city’s budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The city must settle a $43 million budget gap. Council members will consider whether to scale back proposed cuts to the city’s fire, parks and police departments. Read the report on some of the planned budget cuts here.  Another issue on the council’s afternoon agenda is the Utilities Department budget. Find information on that budget here.  The City Council wi

  City of Sacramento Fire Department Press Release: A two alarm fire destroyed two mobile homes in the Acorn Village Park located at 5800 Stockton Blvd. The fire was reported at 1:07 P.M. and Sacramento Engine #10 was on scene in about 2 ½ minutes. A small propane tank had exploded and more propane tanks were threatened. A second alarm was requested.   Firefighters did a great job of preventing the fire from spreading to other homes and keeping the fire from exploding more propane tanks. Engine #6, which would have been the second due Engine Company, was browned out today.  The delay did slow down firefighting efforts. Luckily there were no reported injuries.   A Sacramento Fire Inve

Sandwiched between the Capitol and Tower Bridge, Capitol Mall was blocked off Saturday for the 26th annual Sacramento Pride Festival. About 12,000 people filled Third through Seventh streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate the event and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. The event was kicked off with a parade from Southside Park to Capitol Mall. A ribbon-cutting ceremony included Mayor Kevin Johnson, Senator Darrell Steinberg and Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez. "(The festival) is a celebration of equality for all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation," said Bonnie Osborn, Sacramento Pride's marketing committee chair. Attendees wandered amon

A roadie turned on the smoke machine, and a few moments later, Portland by way of Alaska band Portugal. The Man emerged from the dense fog to take the Harlow's stage.  The experimental indie rock four-piece visited Sacramento Thursday night, touring in support of their latest full-length American Ghetto. Portugal. The Man is John Gourley (Guitar/Vocals), Zachary Carothers (Bass/Vocals), Jason Sechrist (Drums), and Ryan Neighbors (Keys/Vocals).  Think psychedelic indie rock with synth and dashes of electronica and hip-hop beats thrown in for good measure.  It's a progressive and complex soundscape, and at the same time very much melodic and head-bobbingly accessible. Their show at Harlow'

Ska legends, The Skatalites performed at Harlow’s on Wednesday night. Keyser Soze, a ska band based in Reno,  opened the show. Ska is a unique blend of music incorporating calypso, jazz, blues and even rock. It is known as the precursor to reggae and rocksteady. Said to have originated in Jamaica in the 1950s, ska remains a primary source of inspiration for musicians of all sorts. Despite a below-capacity crowd that had some people concerned early, there was never any doubt the show would be amazing. Harlow’s staff said that only eight tickets were pre-sold through their online system. Asked whether the $20 ticket price at the door may have deterred some people, Harlow's staff agreeed tha

With an iconic new location--Sacramento's scenic Capitol Mall, expanded marketing efforts and a growing roster of prestigious corporate sponsors and exhibitors, the 26-year-old Sacramento Pride Festival is expected to break attendance records on Saturday. The June 19 Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors and bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of economic benefit to Sacramento’s downtown area. Festival admission is $10. After a number of years at South Side Park, the Festival will move to Capitol Mall in 2010, where a street-festival layout sandwiched between the Tower Bridge and the State Capitol dome is expected to add novelty

The Sacramento County animal shelter is holding its inaugural “Flea” Market 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26 to raise funds in light of Thursday's budget cuts. The animal shelter is facing a $1.8 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year and a severe staff shortage, as reported by SacPress’ Lisa Palmer. “The big joke is that we're not going to be selling fleas, per se,” said Annie Parker, county communications and media officer. Donated items for sale include new and used household items, furniture, pet products, toys, garden items, electronics and clothing. A raffle, bake sale and craft sale will be held. The event was organized by shelter volunteers. They are still accepting donated items

The Sacramento City Council is scheduled next month to pick the developers who will take on the challenge of rebuilding two blighted blocks of K Street Mall. A selection committee created by the city has tapped two teams. D & S Development, Inc., and CFY Development, Inc. — led by Cyrus Youssefi — is being recommended to redevelop the 700 block. The group 700-800 K Street, LLC — led by Sacramento developer David Taylor and Z Gallerie owner Joe Zeiden — is being recommended to take on the 800 block, said Beth Tincher, a senior project manager with the city's Economic Development Department. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership endorsed those selections at a board meeting last week. The two

The Ninth Annual Sacramento French Film Festival launches Friday at the Crest Theatre, premiering a wide range of films from old classics to modern-day comedies. The festival celebrates French culture and history through various genres of cinema. Of the 14 films that are expected to play, four are famous classics, such as "Le Roman d'un tricheur (Story of a Cheat)" and "Le Clan des siciliens (The Sicilian Clan)." The remaining 10 others include "Fais moi plaisir! (Please, Please Me!)" and "Les Beaux Gosses (French Kissers)," along with various short films. Special guest director Stéphanie Vasseur will be presenting her latest short films "Le Petit Marin" and "3ème B, 4ème Gauche." Other

The Sacramento Kings have traded disgruntled forward Andres Nocioni and third-year center Spencer Hawes to the Philadelphia 76ers for center Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert, an athletic center known for his rebounding and shot blocking, made NBA headlines this season after his native country of Haiti was struck by a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January. He briefly left the Sixers to visit the country and donated $100,000 to UNICEF to aid relief efforts but he played all 82 games of the season as well as the previous three seasons There were only two games he didn't start in over 328 games the past four seasons. Those games were the 2009-10 season. Dalembert averaged 8.1 points,

The Secretions will be headlining Friday at Cesar Chavez Plaza for Concerts in the Park, playing alongside three other Sacramento local bands. Concerts in the Park is a free summer concert event for local bands that goes until Aug. 3, every Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The Secretions will be rocking the stage, along with The Shruggs, The Four Eyes and The Enlows. "I'm definitely excited to play with the other bands on Friday," said Danny Secretion, drummer and vocalist for the Secretions. "Each of the bands don't play shows that often, so to have all three of them playing in one place, it's going to be awesome." The Enlows, The Four Eyes and The Shruggs have all been around since the '90s an

Innocent Man found Guilty Housed at Tracy Prison Family Fights for Justice   NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE CLEARS DEFENDANT 23-Year-old Lester Russell Case # 09F04525 Lester Russell Jr. 23 year old Student at Sac City College. Sentenced 37-Years to Life May 17, 2010 by Sacramento Judge Ben Davidian. Charges: attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with gang enhancement. Russell was shipped to Tracy Prison just weeks after his sentence. Court Appointed defense Attorney Hillary Davisson refused to present to the Jury photographs, which clearly document Russell’s whereabouts on July 21, 2008.   Russell’s Family has turned over several pictures for the date of the alleged shooting clea

Photo courtesy of Julie Mietus When Cristo Rey High School opened its doors four years ago, it embarked on a unique program – and with a unique request to the community. Cristo Rey recruited students of limited financial means who had a goal of attending college. Beyond that goal, the students agreed to embrace an innovative work-study program that would help pay for private Catholic high school education that would have been difficult, if not impossible, for their families to afford. Among the key ingredients, of course, were the organizations that would partner with Cristo Rey and put the school’s students to work as part of the work-study program. On June 2, 53 of the school’s first

A large national real estate investment company took the first step toward foreclosing on Sacramento's railyards Tuesday. Inland American Real Estate Trust recorded a notice of default against S. Thomas Enterprises of Sacramento, LLC, after the developer missed its April 30 deadline to pay $185 million in loans used to buy the 244-acre property in 2006. The effort to redevelop the former Union Pacific railyards is the biggest infill project currently underway in the country. The city is considering plans to build a new arena there. With its parent company headquartered in a Chicago suburb, Inland is reported to be the nation's eighth largest real estate owner. "Inland American has made

The Folsom Fitness Extravaganza was held on Saturday in front of a full house inside the Folsom Middle School auditorium. The event was sponsored by the National Gym Association and Fitness in Mind Personal Training. Both organizations promote natural bodybuilding. The focal point of the event was the 2010 NGA Natural Mr. and Ms. California. The event has been held annually since 1993. This year’s show featured 40 competitors. Once known as the AAU Mr. California, and then the ABCC Mr. California, the NGA event is the official Mr. California tournament. Including that past history, the event has been in existence for over 60 years. Event Organizer Johnny “The Motivator” Carrero said, “Thi