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Sacramento, California – Burlington is set to open a new store at The Promenade at Sacramento Gateway this week, with its grand opening scheduled for Friday, April 26. The new location is at 3611 North Freeway Boulevard in the Natomas area, moving from its previous location at 3671 North Freeway Boulevard.

Read also: Sacramento DA criticizes parole board’s decision to release dangerous offender

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO of Burlington Stores, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing low prices on brand-name items for families and homes.

“Our goal is to continue to offer area residents low prices on brand name merchandise for the entire family and home,” said CEO of Burlington Stores, Michael O’Sullivan, in a statement. “We’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Sacramento. We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products.”

Read also: Sacramento meeting focuses on boosting homeless assistance funds

The store launch will feature special promotions. On opening day, April 26, and the following day, April 27, the first 100 customers aged 18 and older will receive a $10 Bonus Card after a ribbon-cutting event. Additionally, on Sunday, April 28, Burlington will give away free umbrellas to customers while supplies last, with no purchase necessary.

Read also: Sacramento flood risk spurs renewed focus on infrastructure projects

Store hours will be from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Another Burlington location in the Sacramento area can be found at 1596 Ethan Way.

Sacramento, California – On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, together with leaders from the California Big City Mayors Coalition, is scheduled to meet with Governor Gavin Newsom and other key lawmakers in Sacramento. They will request additional funds for homeless services. Their focus will be on increasing support for California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

Read also: Sacramento DA criticizes parole board’s decision to release dangerous offender

Since 2018, California has given local governments direct funding to help combat homelessness. The mayors plan to share the progress their cities have made using these funds and discuss ongoing challenges, including managing encampments and reducing homelessness.

Mayors Farrah Khan of Irvine and Rex Richardson of Long Beach will also attend the meeting in Sacramento. Over the last five years, California has allocated $24 billion towards solving the homelessness crisis. A recent national report highlights a 6% increase in homelessness from 2022 to 2023. This meeting follows Mayor Bass’s proposal of a $12.8 billion budget for Los Angeles for the fiscal year 2024-25, which is less than the current year’s $242 million budget. Her budget plans to dedicate $185 million to the Inside Safe program, marking a $65 million reduction from the current year.

On Monday, the Supreme Court spent over two and a half hours deliberating whether ticketing homeless individuals constitutes “cruel and unusual” punishment, potentially violating the Eighth Amendment.

Of the proposed funding, approximately $70 million is designated for interim housing solutions such as motel rooms. An additional $60 million is intended to fund social services at these locations, including health care, meals, case management, housing navigation, and substance abuse programs. Around $28 million is set aside for permanent housing and temporary subsidies, with another $24 million earmarked for acquiring housing.

Mayor Bass also suggested allocating $2 million to enhance street medicine teams that provide healthcare services directly to homeless individuals. Her office reported that over 6,000 medical exams have been performed by these teams this fiscal year.

Furthermore, $3 million is proposed to bolster the Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA Rise) program, which offers job opportunities to unhoused individuals. An additional $4.1 million is planned for mobile hygiene centers. About $17 million is allocated to FamilySource Centers, which support families at risk of homelessness.

Read also: Sacramento flood risk spurs renewed focus on infrastructure projects

Efforts to create affordable housing are set to receive $4.4 million from state grants, aimed at accelerating the development of mixed-income housing projects that include affordable units. City officials plan to significantly increase funding for homelessness prevention, raising Measure ULA contributions from $150 million to over $400 million. Passed in 2022 by Los Angeles voters, Measure ULA, also known as the “Mansion Tax,” applies a special tax on property sales over $5 million.

Sacramento, California – The District Attorney’s Office of Sacramento County has voiced concerns after a dangerous criminal was released on parole. Kyle Frank, who was serving a 90-year sentence, was paroled after only 14 years. In 2011, Frank was found guilty of eight counts of attempted murder following a series of shootings on the highway during the summer of 2009. He targeted vehicles on four different occasions while intoxicated by alcohol and cocaine. However, on April 10, the parole board of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation decided to grant him parole.

Read also: Sacramento flood risk spurs renewed focus on infrastructure projects

Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho argued that considering the severe violence and the impact on the victims, it was inappropriate to release Frank after he had completed just 15% of his sentence.

On August 22, 2009, Paul Adcock was the first person attacked by Frank. Adcock was shocked that someone would actually shoot at cars on the freeway. He remembered seeing Frank while driving; Frank was in the middle lane, making obscene gestures and shouting racial slurs at him. Adcock, who was in a sports car, thought he could easily outrun Frank, so he decided to speed away.

“Next thing I know, I hear bullets hitting my car,” he said.

Among the victims were families with young children, and all victims belonged to minority groups.

“I was thinking that this was an incredibly dangerous individual that harbored some type of racial animus towards people of African American or Hispanic descent,” said Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Rochelle Beardsley, who worked the case.

Beardsley recalled how the victims found some comfort knowing that the man who attempted to take their lives would be imprisoned and unable to harm them or anyone else, reflecting on the reassurance provided by Frank’s initial 90-year sentence.

Read also: Sacramento residents raise alarm over homeless camp’s proximity to railroad tracks

ABC10 attempted to contact the parole board for a statement regarding their decision to grant parole to Frank, but there has been no response from the department. In response to the parole decision, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has appealed to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to direct the full parole board to review and perhaps reverse the decision to release Frank.

Sacramento, California – Sacramento faces one of the highest flood risks in the country. With clear skies and lower river levels, flood management teams are resuming work on various projects designed to safeguard the area. Currently, there are twenty-four ongoing projects, including eight that started this year, aimed at protecting the Central Valley from severe weather that can quickly elevate lake and river levels.

“We’ve seen some pretty significant flooding in this region, and then we’ve seen the most recent set of winters where we’ve had atmospheric river conditions back to back and we see the extremes of climate change,” said Michael Conner, assistant secretary with the U.S. Army.

Read also: Pancake Paradise: Sacramento’s beloved circus-themed diner thrives amidst new ownership

Billions of dollars are being invested to reinforce levees and enhance flood management infrastructure. Congresswoman Doris Matsui emphasized that it is critical for legislators to safeguard homes, families, and businesses. Matsui is inspecting several construction sites, such as a new levee in West Sacramento designed to be set further from the river to minimize erosion and provide a natural area for wildlife and recreational activities.

“We started thinking about instead of fighting nature, why can’t we look to see how we can work with nature,” Matsui said.

At Folsom Lake, large new stop logs, each measuring 50 feet in width and 10 feet in height, are being installed to supplement the existing dam gates, which are being elevated by three feet to increase water retention during rainy seasons. Additionally, enhancements are being made to modernize the Sacramento weir, which will nearly double its capacity, allowing more floodwater to be rerouted to the Yolo Bypass, thus protecting downtown Sacramento.

“That weir was over 100 years old,” Matsui said. “That’s good progress.”

“We know whatever the risk has historically been, it’s going to be greater,” Conner said.

Read also: Sacramento residents raise alarm over homeless camp’s proximity to railroad tracks

If Sacramento does not achieve a 200-year level of flood protection by next year, all new residential and commercial construction projects could be suspended.

Sacramento, CA – People living in the Land Park and midtown sections of Sacramento are expressing worries about the safety risks posed by a homeless camp located very close to the railroad tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad Company. The situation has escalated to the point where train conductors have had to stop trains and ask the homeless to move away from the tracks.

In recent weeks, residents have noticed an increase in noise from the passing freight trains. Previously, the noise went largely unnoticed. However, the proximity of the encampment to the tracks means trains now have to slow down, use their horns more frequently, or even stop completely to avoid accidents.

Read also: April 22 is Earth Day and SacRT will provide free rides on fixed-route buses, light rail, and SacRT GO paratransit services

“Someone hops off with a flag and walks by to ensure the unhoused people’s safety, basically. Can’t have a train zooming by at normal speed with people 5 feet off the track,” said concerned resident David Philipp.

The noise from the Union Pacific trains is particularly intense near the intersection of W and 20th streets in the Land Park area. Trains there must sound their horns louder and come to a screeching halt to ensure they don’t hit any of the homeless individuals living dangerously close to the tracks.

“Every time the train has to stop, it’s blocking W, X and Broadway, and all the traffic that’s trying to traverse those routes,” said nearby resident and Land Park community advocate Stephanie Duncan. “And they’re being held up. The trains are idling. People are needing to get to where they need to go.”

“It stops ambulances. It stops fire engines. It stops police cars,” Philipp said.

Read also: The only Cracker Barrel restaurant in Sacramento has officially shut down

The noise issues extend beyond just the loud train horns. Residents also mention the sound of train cars clanking together when the freight trains are forced to stop abruptly. This creates a loud and disruptive noise, especially in the middle of the night.

“I put in 311 complaints. Several of us did. That’s what we’re told in Sacramento is put in 311 complaints and we’ll solve it. But I haven’t even got a call back,” Philipp said.

Union Pacific stated that they were not aware of any encampments in that specific area. However, the City of Sacramento has acknowledged the issue and is collaborating with Union Pacific and Sacramento Regional Transit to ensure public safety and address the concerns.

“We just want to get back to normal. Let the trains flow. Let the traffic flow. Get people to a safe place,” Duncan said.

Read also: Several streets to be closed in Sacramento during the weekend

Residents in the neighborhood want to clarify that their concerns are about safety and are not directed against the homeless population.

Sacramento, CA – The first celebration of Earth Day took place in 1970, sparking a global movement where around 20 million individuals actively protested against environmental neglect by participating in rallies across their communities. By 2024, Earth Day has grown to become the most significant yearly civic event worldwide. On this internationally acknowledged day, Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) promotes environmental care by providing free transportation across all its services.

Read also: The only Cracker Barrel restaurant in Sacramento has officially shut down

“To do our part and encourage residents to go green, SacRT is offering free rides on fixed-route buses, light rail, and SacRT GO paratransit services. No flyer is needed, just board and enjoy your trip!” the agency said on its website.

Additionally, SacRT mentioned that the Environmental Council of Sacramento is organizing its yearly Build Green event at Southside Park, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday. Free transportation to this event is available through SacRT, though participants need to show a flyer to receive free entry.

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What is Earth Day?

Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, promotes the protection of the environment globally. The first Earth Day was organized by EarthDay.org in 1970. The nonprofit emphasizes that Earth Day serves as a call to action for the conservation and sustainability of the environment. For Earth Day 2024, the focus is on combating plastic pollution with the theme “Planet vs. Plastics.”

“For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040,” the nonprofit said. “Let’s unite in our efforts to protect the Earth today and for generations to come…together, we can make a meaningful impact and create a more sustainable world.”

In California, efforts to reduce plastic usage have been ongoing. The most recent initiative was on February 8, when Senator Catherine Blakespear introduced a legislation aimed at banning plastic shopping bags by 2026.

Read also: Several streets to be closed in Sacramento during the weekend

“We are literally choking our planet with plastic waste,” Blakespear said on Feb. 8 during a news conference at California’s Capitol.

The economic toll of plastic pollution is also significant. As per the California Ocean Protection Council, since 2015, communities in California have been spending over $428 million a year on managing and mitigating plastic pollution. This illustrates the financial benefits that could arise from addressing this environmental issue.

Sacramento, CA – The only Cracker Barrel restaurant in Sacramento has officially shut down, as confirmed by the company on Tuesday. Reports began emerging on social media on Monday, showing the Howe Avenue location boarded up. Cracker Barrel then informed us that this closure was permanent.

Cracker Barrel revealed that the Sacramento outlet was one of two in California that they decided to shut down, the other located in Santa Maria.

In a statement, Cracker Barrel expressed that closing a store is a serious decision and mentioned that their current priority is to support the employees affected by this closure.

Read also: Several streets to be closed in Sacramento during the weekend

The Sacramento location opened in 2018, marking the first Cracker Barrel in Northern California, followed by another opening in Rocklin the next year. While Cracker Barrel did not provide a specific reason for closing the Sacramento store, they noted that they regularly assess their stores’ performance based on various factors to meet both customer needs and business objectives.

Cracker Barrel, recognized for its Southern-style meals and traditional country store atmosphere, operates over 660 locations in 44 states. According to the company, five other locations continue to operate in California, including the one in Rocklin.

Sacramento, CA – The city of Sacramento has announced that multiple streets in the downtown area will be closed as workers install sewer systems and carry out road paving. The closures will start this Saturday, affecting S Street between 20th and 22nd Streets, and 21st Street from R to T Streets, near the Michelin-starred restaurant Localis in the Midtown vicinity.

The Sacramento Police Department took to social media on Thursday to urge locals to pay attention to traffic signs and directions from traffic control personnel as they move through downtown. Carlos Eliason, a representative for the Department of Utilities, advised drivers to be cautious and follow the posted detour and traffic control signs, noting that there could be delays due to the roadwork.

The Department of Utilities in Sacramento, as detailed on their website, provides essential services such as drinking water, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment to the city’s residents and businesses.

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