Category: News

Loretto High School Closing

According to an official press release, Loretto High School is closing at the end of the semester. I have to tell you, I’m blown away.  I had no idea that schools could just disappear after being a part of the community for half a century.  My aunts went Loretto, my friends went to Loretto, people I’ve never met before went to Loretto.  In a few short months, the place will be shuttered up like so many businesses in the surrounding streets. I’m starting to worry for the health of my neighborhood, honestly.  With schools, businesses, and houses standing empty, what could be next in the greater Del Paso Manor/Arden Oaks area shuttering?  Will we lose our post office?  Our grocery stores?  Let me tell you this: if the Hof Brau closes, we’re leaving.

In all honesty, I am really upset by this. And I’m having difficulty explaining why.  Anyone else a bit shocked?

Ben Underwood, RIP

On this very historic day there is sad news out of Elk Grove, as the Bee reports that the Ben Underwood lost his battle with cancer yesterday. This was the young man who, after losing his eyes to cancer as a boy, taught himself echolocation — basically he could navigate the world by emitting sound waves. If you haven’t heard of this story it was the most amazing thing you’ll ever see. This is really tough news and I wish his family the best.

KJ, Poof Daddy and Seal tonight on Larry King Live!

Larry King continued his non-stop Obamamania tonight by replacing his entire LarryKingLive operation with African-American men. D.L. Hughley gave sporadic play by play from the Huffington Post party while Larry chatted about history with Mayor KJ, Seal, and Puffy P. Diddy Daddy. Puffy being interviewed cracks me up since he always looks like he has just been kicked in the nuts. The best question was when Larry turned to Puffy and asked, “Sean, does it seem like Obama has two balls and no strikes?” Thankfully, Larry quickly explained, like when Seacrest offered a high five to a blind guy on American Idol this week.

Mayor KJ talked about Obama’s charisma, his organizational skills in his campaign, and that the glass ceiling has now been shattered by “a guy with a funny name”. He scored points by not referring to himself as “Little Barack” on national television and had the best necktie of the night, but was not as compelling as Seal was in capturing the importance of this presidency on a global perspective.

CBS13 on meth

From the intro to this CBS13 video about a large “Smurf” bust.

Seven people are under arrest in what investigators call an elaborate scheme to make meth.

They can MAKE meth??? Oh boy, now we’re really screwed. What will they think of next?!

I’ll leave it up to y’all to make Smurf jokes. Plus: you may use “smurf” in place of other words that might get you banned.

Library cash story brings out good comments on SacBee

cold hard cashI expend a lot of hot air trashing the Bee’s comment feature, but today I have to eat my words. (It appears I must also attend mixed metaphor college.) From today’s Bee story about two library branches no longer accepting cash after the branches have experienced thefts.

Commenter “kevinakin1950” smartly questions the legality of refusing to accept American currency, and goes on to point out that a no-cash policy would discriminate against the poor, who presumably don’t have credit cards. (Let’s not get started on all the people out there who are poor because of their credit cards…)

Continue reading “Library cash story brings out good comments on SacBee”

Berkeley woman fights off armed carjacker

Harmony Bates
from CBS13.com

With a small pair of scissors and the jacker’s own gun, threatening to “shoot his balls off” if he didn’t walk away.

“I grabbed [the scissors] and I started stabbing him in the shoulder, I started stabbing him in the neck,” Harmony said, unimpressed by his fighting ability. “I thought, ‘That’s all he has for a punch?'”

Right AWN, Harmony Bates!

Stayin’ classy in the New Year

KCRA’s report on a shooting death early in the New Year includes one of those “can’t be serious” quotes:

“I was just chillin’ at the party and then all of a sudden I hear that my friend’s been like shot down pretty much.”

“Pretty much” in this case being 100%. Every element of that sentence is classic! This guy reminds me of the Upright Citizens Brigade character “Bong Boy” who smokes so much pot he can’t tell reality from reality television–when he’s being arrested he thinks he is watching “COPS,” etc. It’s possible that’s what’s going on here…

Sacramento rallies around Grant High

By now, you’ve heard that Grant High won the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division State Football Championship Bowl Game on Saturday night in Carson, CA. Fox 40 took the lead with their extensive coverage of the game. Watch the kids arrive in Northern California from cbs13.com. Ah, to be young again…

What’s really exciting here is how quickly the community gathered around to schedule a parade to celebrate the victory.

Twin Rivers School District officials, and city officials, are scrambling to lock down speakers, publicize the event, and make other preparations. “We got a permit rushed right though and every one is very excited to celebrate some good news,” said school district spokeswoman Trinette Marquis…Marquis said the Sacramento police and fire departments have chipped in by handing out fliers in addition to their normal crowd control and safety duties. The district’s automated phone system will be making more than 25,000 phone calls to invite district students, parents and staff to the parade and rally.

That’s good stuff right there. *rant* Seriously, how many more news stories about how things haven’t begun to suck yet can we all take? We get it! */rant*

The parade (great use of umapper.com, btw) is set to start at 1 p.m. at Grant High School and end with a 3:30 p.m. rally at the City Hall at 9th and I streets.

“Cable’s Comment” makes a comeback!

In case you missed this last week, CBS13’s Chris Burrous invited legendary News10 anchor Dick Cable to co-anchor the 9am edition of GDS. Cable reprises his “Cable’s Comment” feature, talking about his life in retirement, living with diabetes, and revealing that he listens to Amy Winehouse on his iPod while running with his dogs. If you’re a Sac nostalgia freak this is the coolest video of the day!

We’re not the only ones who report old news

“When coming here today someone hit a pole on Marconi. On Marconi, people just don’t pay attention and it’s foggy. They don’t care if it’s 50 mph in a 30. People don’t care,”

…so is quoted in a story from KCRA on CalTrans’ newly released 2008 California Highway Safety Improvement Program 5 Percent Report (don’t read that title while driving).

According to the study, Sacramento ranks number two (behind Los Angeles) in the number of traffic accident hot spots in the state. The worst spot in Sac? It probably won’t surprise anyone:

Over the past 10 years, Watt Avenue has been the site of 7,800 crashes, according to the California Highway Patrol, while Highway 99 near 12th Avenue hosts three accidents a month. Also, the link between Interstate 5 and 50 averages a crash almost every other day.

Who could have guessed?