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Graphic which spells out The Newsletter.

By Chris Neklason
Published Sep 25, 2023

It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock ’n’ roll (or do journalism). It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock ’n’ roll (or do journalism). Image credit: Elnur/Shutterstock   Standard

Progress Report

The theme for this issue of The Newsletter is incremental progress, told in two stories below.

The first is a blog post about new features we’ve recently rolled out on California Local—small improvements we hope enhance your experience. 

The second is a Q&A with the co-founder of a “tiny newsroom” (and member of the California Local Media Alliance) who is using new tools to do old-fashioned accountability journalism.

Santa Cruz Local (no relation) started in 2019, and co-founder Kara Meyberg Guzman describes here the experience of starting a newsroom, surviving the pandemic, and now expanding.

California Local New Features

Our motto is Discover > Connect > Act, but with thousands of articles and government and community group directory listings in our database, and more being added every day, discovery of information and resources can be difficult, and connection less than convenient.

The good news is, we’ve been working on that.

What’s New @CALocal: September 2023

The tricky part is putting it all together.
We’ve made it easier to find and track news and other information and connect with your local elected representatives.

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Sacramento County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://sacramento.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Sacramento County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

Q&A With a Local Tiny Newsroom Founder

We’re privileged to work with a lot of local newsrooms, and going forward, we’re going to be spotlighting some of our fellow local journalists and the amazing work they do in communities across the state.

I recently interviewed Kara Meyberg Guzman, co-founder of a tiny newsroom named Santa Cruz Local in my home town on the Central California Coast. I’ve gushed about them before, and the Q&A below illuminates the effort and commitment to public service required to, in their words, “hold public officials to account.”

Q&A: Kara Meyberg Guzman of Santa Cruz Local

Kara Meyberg Guzman is one of the hardest working journalists in the business.
Meet tiny newsroom co-founder Kara Meyberg Guzman, who has been honored by the Local Independent Online News Publishers Association.

Impact Report Image for decorative use

Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters logo Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The chapter serves Sacramento and Yolo counties, as well as southern Placer County.

→ Learn more

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From Our Media Allies

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Folsom Telegraph logo Gold Country Writers to Honor Short Story Contest Finalists

The first Gold Country Writers Short Story Contest attracted 56 writers from Placer, Sacramento Nevada, El Dorado, Solano, Yolo, San Joaquin and Yuba counties.
Sacramento News and Review logo Sacramento Arts Groups Gather to Discuss Challenges of Filling Venues

Many businesses were affected by the economic downturn spurred by COVID. Especially hard hit were local performing arts organizations.
Sacramento News and Review logo California’s Surgeon General Wants Schools to Combat Childhood Stress

Black and Latino children are more likely to be hurt by harmful experiences that can lead to lifelong suffering.
Sacramento News and Review logo How Officials, an Outside Group and Workers Losing Their Jobs Staved Off ‘a Human Catastrophe’

Sacramento Self-Help Housing imploded, but a cadre of individuals was determined that no one would become homeless over it.
Folsom Telegraph logo Snooks Celebrates 60 Years, Thanks Folsom Community

Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory has been in business since 1963. To celebrate, they hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the community.
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Recent Local News

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• Sacramento’s Creation District Uplifts Black, Brown and Queer Unhoused Youth

A piano sits in the middle of a room lined with posters welcoming visitors of the Creation District in Midtown.

 (09/25/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• California AAA Includes Elk Grove on List of Autumn Day Trips

Former Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis' long-sought dream of transforming the Sacramento suburb into a travel destination was at least partially fulfilled when Elk Grove made California AAA’s list of “7 Best Day Day Trips for Fall Fun.”

 (09/25/2023) → Read the full ElkGroveNews.Net report

• Tribes Designate Marine Stewardship Area in Northern California

Three tribal nations declared the designation of a marine stewardship area covering nearly 700 square miles of the tribes’ ancestral olands, stretching from the California-Oregon border to just south of Trinidad in Humboldt County.

 (09/24/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• Citrus Heights Denies Funding Request from Local Food Ministry

The Citrus Heights City Council voted to approve limited one-time funding to five local nonprofits, but declined to approve an application for funding from Sunrise Christian Food Ministry.

 (09/23/2023) → Citrus Heights Sentinel

• Gorman Museum of Native American Art Opens Expanded Gallery at UC Davis

A major new addition at UC Davis is unveiled to the public. 

 (09/22/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• Rancho Cordova Council Picks Map for District Elections

The council unanimously voted for the map creating five districts and is scheduled to officially adopt its new election system on Oct. 2. Three councilmembers will live in the same district; if they all decide to run in District 4 next fall, only one can win.

 (09/19/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• Local Arts Community Welcomes Reopening of Faith J. McKinnie Gallery

Faith J. McKinnie’s eponymous gallery celebrated its reopening in a new location with an inaugural group show titled “We’ll See You When We See Us,” highlighting Black artists.

 (09/19/2023) → The Sacramento Observer
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Recent Statewide News

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• Want a Piece of the Warriors? 10 Percent Ownership Stake Reportedly Up for Sale

The $700 million price tag sets a $7 billion mark that would make the Warriors one of the world’s most valuable sports teams.

 (09/22/2023) → Daily Democrat

• Construction Around California Capitol Can Finally Start

Work on a new annex, visitors center and underground parking garage can legally begin after the state issued a final, court-ordered review of the project. Plans have been on hold since early 2021.

 (09/21/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• Mayo Clinic Expert Answers Questions on COVID Tests, New Variants

Companies set the original test dates arbitrarily due to these diagnostic at-home tests being developed rapidly. So, check your boxes before you toss them.

 (09/21/2023) → Daily Democrat

• Why California Rivers Saw Fewer Harmful Algal Blooms This Year

Outbreaks have wreaked havoc on the state’s river ecosystems for years. But this year was different. Faster, colder river waters led to fewer outbreaks of the harmful algae.

 (09/20/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• California Tops FEMA’s New List of Areas Vulnerable to Weather Disasters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has identified nearly 500 “zones” that are ill-prepared to tolerate flooding, earthquakes, heat waves, wildfires, landslides and other natural hazards. California topped all states with 51 total zones, followed by 35 in Texas and 32 in Florida.

 (09/19/2023) → Read the full The Mercury News report