Latest Stories
The $3.4 Billion Nose: San Joaquin County’s Bid for a Federal Detector-Dog Training Center
San Joaquin County is building a business case to host the West Coast’s first USDA detector-dog center
There is only one USDA detector dog in San Joaquin County,
and that scarcity is the problem the county is trying to solve.
Is Sacramento Reaching Peak Dumpling?
Several local chains are spreading across the Capital Region
Sacramento has long been a dumpling town, but lately there’s been
a bumper crop. What’s behind the rise of these homegrown
chains, and is Sacramento approaching its xiao long bao
saturation point? We made a round of the dumpling route, focusing
on spots that opened branches in the last three years, to find
out.
Why I Don’t Go to Coffee Shops for the Coffee | Essay
For the Last Word column, a cafe enthusiast shares why she loves these third spaces
I am not obsessed with coffee; I am obsessed with what
happens around it.
Canada’s Wine Ban Is Deepening California Wineries’ Troubles
The U.S.-Canadian trade war keeps turning Northern California’s wine world upside down
After the collapse of the trade talks, we checked in with
Northern California winemakers to see how they were dealing with
the whiplash.
A Historic Auburn Building Holds a Cozy Restaurant With Parisian Charm
The Seat at the Bar diner visits Restaurant Josephine, a French restaurant with James Beard-nominated chefs
This year, Josephine garnered national attention when the married
chefs and co-owners were both named as semifinalists for the
James Beard chef award.
Beloved Davis Bakery Celebrates 40 Years
Three generations of Upper Crust Baking look back on beginnings, baguettes and the future of the family business
Davis’ Upper Crust Baking celebrates its 40th anniversary this
year. The founders, New Yorkers who moved to Davis for graduate
school, credit their success to a supportive community (and a
friendship with Julia Child didn’t hurt).
Device Brewing’s Closure Gave These Sacramento Brewers a New Start
Balance Beerworks opening this summer illustrates how craft breweries are leaning into hyperlocal, neighborhood first operating models
Balance Beerworks opened this June at the location of a former
well-known Sacramento craft brewer, Device Brewing.
Downtown Sacramento’s Lunch Scene Is Changing. Will State Workers Fuel Its Comeback?
State workers are returning, but downtown restaurants say the lunchtime revival is uneven
New restaurants and longtime delis are courting returning office
workers with affordable lunches, but some owners say the
hoped-for boost hasn’t arrived.
Can a $597 Million Water Project Refill the Aquifer Beneath Sacramento County’s Farms?
Harvest Water aims to bring recycled water to local farms while easing pressure on groundwater
A nearly $597 million public project promises to help the
Sacramento Valley’s struggling aquifers to recover.
California Needs a Better Way to Pay for Water Infrastructure | Opinion
The new executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition shares thoughts on infrastructure funding models
Decades of growth are still being supported by water delivery
systems built for half the population. California needs more
water storage capacity but has not provided a clear or reliable
funding source to put plans into action.