Torey Van Oot is a national news editor based in New York. She previously worked as a political reporter for The Sacramento Bee.
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Boom From the Bay
The influx of high-skilled workers is boosting Sacramento’s economic prospects
Leaders in business and development say the trend could alter the trajectory of the region’s economy for years to come.
Do You Need a Coach?
Most family businesses could benefit from one — but finding the right fit is key
No longer relegated to sidelines and dugouts, professional coaches are available to help people conquer a wide variety of goals and tasks.
Making #MeToo Matter
A number of significant changes to employment law were slated to take effect this year, but the impact is hard to measure
The #MeToo movement sent shock waves through the nation in late 2017, forcing a reckoning over the extent to which sexual harassment and discrimination had pervaded the workplace and society at large. Now, more than two years later, it’s changing the law.
Rural Transplants Find Simpler Life — and Unique Challenges
Many dream of life in the country, but wildfires and economic barriers are making the transition harder than ever
For many, an understanding of rural living is less about population numbers and topography and more about a sense of being.
Part of this month’s Rural Living series.
Silver Stoners
Local dispensaries and senior living facilities respond to increased cannabis use among older generations
From senior discounts to Weed 101 workshops, dispensaries, delivery services and assisted living facilities in the Capital Region are navigating business and policy implications of the spike in interest among seniors.
Can Women Save California’s GOP?
Soon after beginning her career in California politics, Cassandra Walker-Pye issued a warning for her fellow Republicans: The GOP needed to be doing more to elect women into office, stat.
5 Tips for LinkedIn Success
Looking to give your LinkedIn profile a face-lift without hiring a pro? Here are five tips experts say anyone can follow to improve their presence on the platform.
Linkedin Makeover Services Are The Next Big Thing For Job-seekers (and Businesses)
LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for job-hunting professionals and the businesses looking to employ them. Enter the LinkedIn Makeover, and a burgeoning industry of consultants who want to help maximize the impact of your profile.
Leadership Gene
It’s not just budding entrepreneurs benefitting from early exposure to the world of business.
Born to Run
Youth entrepreneurship programs expand in the Capital Region
Education in entrepreneurialism grooms mini moguls and prepares students for the modern workforce. As demand rises, local programs are expanding to reach more youth and instill the lessons of smart business.
The Creative Divide
New branding initiatives in Sacramento offer a lesson in balancing business directives with artistic freedom
The success of the film Lady Bird brought Sacramento into the national limelight and local leaders want to incorporate the creative community into its branding efforts. But artists and business leaders can be strange bedfellows.
Tesla’s Microgrid
A fleet of Teslas are headed to Squaw — and not just to the parking lot.
As part of its ongoing renewable energy efforts, the resort is partnering with Liberty Utilities and the electric car (and rocket) company on a proposal to install battery units for storing power generated by solar and other sources.
Squaw Goes Green
Former head of Squaw Valley leaves behind a mission to be the first ski resort in the country fully powered by renewable energy.
Squaw Valley is on a quest to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve 100 percent renewable energy by as soon as the end of this year. In doing so, the company is undertaking one of the most aggressive eco-friendly efforts by the ski industry across the nation.
A Seat at the Table
UC Davis’ Women in Leadership Club helps MBA students get corporate training through placement on nonprofit boards
Nonprofits through the region are finding themselves in need of new, young members to bring fresh perspectives to their organizations — and a group of savvy young UC Davis women are offering a fix. The Women in Leadership Club has created a program that offers MBA students invaluable experience while giving nonprofits the youthful jolt they need.
Tahoe Resorts Respond to Bleak Forecast
Can the ski destination buck national trends and woo millennials to the slopes?
It’s not just Tahoe resorts struggling to sell tickets to members of the country’s largest generation. While millennials make up about 37 percent of all U.S. snowsport participants, older skiers and snowboarders head to the mountain twice as often.
Are Attorneys the Rx For Obamacare?
Changes in healthcare shift law agencies into high gear
Hospitals, law firms and state agencies involved in implementing the Affordable Care Act have seen a sizable bump in workload — and in some cases, staff sizes — as they prepare for the major overhaul mandated by the 2010 law and to adjust to other industry changes.
Head above water
Jobs, water and general plan keep Woodland’s plate full
Paul Navazio stepped into his role as Woodland city manager at a busy time for Yolo County.
GOP on Deck
Can the Republican contenders overcome Brown in 2014?
With just over a year until the midterm elections, California’s next gubernatorial race is starting to take shape.
Think Anywhere
Is telecommuting the the wave of workforce future?
Pilot and Arba see those offices and the traditional 8-hour workday as inefficient and outdated relics of the industrial age, when a set shift and common location were vital for communicating and performing work.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Overdraft fees could be the subject of more wrangling between small banks and regulators
A 2010 Federal Reserve rule requires banks to ask customers if they want to sign up for overdraft protection programs, which often come with steep penalties for making purchases that exceed the account balance. A Consumer Finance Protection Board report released in June suggests the change may not be enough to protect consumers.
Merge or Purge
Community banks contemplate consolidation as regulatory costs grow
Banks throughout the country are putting new practices in place to comply with an onset of new federal regulations prompted by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and other post-meltdown rule changes. Those expensive efforts are sparking major changes and concerns for some of the Capital Region’s smaller lenders.