How Is California Fire-Proofing for the Future?
From flame-resistant building materials to increased defensible space, our future homes and neighborhoods may look vastly different
In an era of escalating fire disasters, with insurers fleeing large parts of the state and with builders desperate to find ways to construct houses that would better resist the flames, what can we do to defend our neighborhoods?
Google’s $125 Million Deal With California For Local News Is Already Shrinking
CalMatters: A controversial $125 million deal California struck with Google last year to prop up the state’s struggling journalism industry is already on track to shrink — before any of the money has been delivered to news outlets.
Stockton Mom Breathes New Life Into Literary Landmark
Mr. Otto's Bookstore is one of the last remaining children's bookstores in the San Joaquin Valley
Mr. Otto’s Bookstore is Stockton is one of the last independent children’s bookstores in San Joaquin County. Its new owner, Alex Long, wants the store to be a resource to children, parents and writers throughout the region.
Inside California’s Retro Video Game Modding Scene
Modchips and fan games can cross legal lines—but for some, it's a passion worth the risk
Selling modified video games and consoles is illegal but typically unenforced. The fear of a lawsuit from a big tech company is enough to scare away established retailers. A few side-hustlers in the Capital Region take that chance and operate in a gray market.
Beyond Fusion: Minh Phan’s Radical Hospitality Reimagines the Food Narrative
Marking 50 years since the Fall of Saigon, Phan’s performance at UC Davis transforms food into a sensory ritual of grief, healing and transcultural remembrance
At the UC Davis Manetti Shrem Museum, spring rolls, Meyer lemons and sculptural altars become vessels for stories of migration, loss and radical care.
The Industry Is Struggling, but Regional Vintners Think Wine Can Still Win
How lower demand, generational shifts in alcohol and potential Trump tariffs are affecting winemakers
After three decades of growth, the industry has seen three years of negative sales. Grape farmers are being severely undercut by cheaper bulk wine from abroad. Sudden, unpredictable tariff shock is knocking exports and profit margins off kilter. And there’s been studies of late suggesting that Gen Z, those born between 1997 to 2012, is abandoning the wine life and maybe even alcohol altogether. But local growers are optimistic nevertheless.
At 123 Years Old, McKinley Park Is the Still-Thriving Glory of East Sacramento
The park features the largest rose garden in the Capital Region
This isn’t just any park. The McKinley Park rose garden is the setting for countless al fresco weddings, confirmations, quinceañeras and private soirees. It also provided a stunning backdrop for the scene in Sacramento native and filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” in which the two young lovers own up to their emotions.
Can You Franchise the News? Media Entrepreneurs Say Yes
Franchise and license models like Edible and Coffee News offer turnkey options for would-be publishers
From McDonald’s to Ace Hardware, franchises permeate all sorts of industries, and media is no exception. The franchise model offers an onramp into the industry for entrepreneurs with the money but without the experience.
Startup of the Month: CREE8
A ‘studio in the cloud’ connects creatives worldwide
“I wanted to build a platform that removed those barriers,” says Lisa M. Watts, CEO and founder of CREE8, “enabling creators to work from anywhere with the same power as an enterprise-grade studio. Truly reinventing the future of work.”
Dilemma of the Month: Do I Have to Tell External Candidates I’m Considering Someone Internal?
I have received feedback from candidates asking me why I didn’t
tell them this upfront. They share that they feel defeated and
that the interview wastes time when they find out they weren’t
chosen. What is best practice?