Why are former Toys R Us workers planning to protest CalSTRS’ investments of private equity?

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 18, 2018

Toys R Us may no longer be the place where kids refuse to grow up, but its former California employees are refusing to walk away without compensation.

On Thursday, former employees of the defunct toy retailer plan to speak at a CalSTRS board meeting in West Sacramento to present their case and “call on the pension fund to halt new investments in KKR and Bain Capital until there has been a thorough review of their investment in Toys R Us,” according to a news release.

Supporting the workers are Rise Up Retail, the Center for Popular Democracy and the Organization United for Respect.

“Three Wall Street giants – Bain, KKR, and Vornado – took ownership of the retailer in 2005 and saddled it with debt, accelerating its spiral into bankruptcy,” the press release said. “Laid-off workers have been calling on pension boards across the country to stop new investments in the private equity firms.”

The group says that shortly after a pension board in Minnesota responded to an investment freeze request from the state’s governor, KKR, which is described as an investment firm based in New York, announced it was willing to speak with the group.

Following the board meeting, the groups plan to protest at noon Friday at a building located at 555 California St. in San Francisco that is co-owned by Vornado, which the group says is one of the investment firms behind the demise of Toys R Us.

At the rally, “the Toys R Us workers, who were laid off without severance pay, will demand that Vornado pay its share of the compensation they are owed,” the release said. “Vornado has stayed silent amid mounting pressure on the company to contribute funds to Toys R Us families, many of whom are facing hardship.”

Toys R Us closed its last stores at the end of June, leaving many former shoppers upset over the loss of the retailer. After filing for bankruptcy last year, the company shuttered more than 700 stores in the U.S. and more than 30,000 employees lost their jobs.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Rise Up Retail, the Center for Popular Democracy and the Organization United for Respect do not represent former Toys R Us employees.

An updated version of this story can be read here.

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West Sacramento to make ‘quick action’ improvements to transportation with grant from AARP

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 18, 2018

The AARP has named West Sacramento one of 129 cities to be awarded grant money in the second-annual AARP Community Challenge for its innovations in transportation.

The competition included more than 1,600 applications from nonprofit organizations and government officials, AARP said. Winners will receive a portion of $1.3 million. The exact dollar amount awarded to each city was not announced.

Applicants had to detail “quick action” projects that would help communities “make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages.” Work must be completed by Nov. 5.

Four other California cities were among the winners: Long Beach, Chula Vista, San Diego and San Francisco.

“The city of West Sacramento will develop various forms of education and programming to encourage older adults to use the city’s on-demand car and bicycle transportation system,” AARP’s description of the city’s project said.

“West Sacramento will be using the small award in conjunction with other grants to make it even easier for people of all ages to connect to and use the West Sacramento On-Demand with VIA rideshare service and Jump Bikes,” West Sacramento’s mayor Christopher Cabaldon wrote on Facebook.

“Making mobility universally convenient, customized, personal, reliable, and affordable is one of the top strategies in our AARP-supported Age-Friendly Action Plan, and transit-rideshare and electric-assist bikeshare are two key innovations where West Sacramento is leading the way.”

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s Livable Communities program, which “supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages.”

West Sacramento launched its local VIA ride share program this spring and the Jump Bikes project launched in Sacramento, West Sacramento and Davis in May.

West Sacramento was one of last year’s winners, which also included San Diego, Fontana and Santa Cruz. In 2017, the city won grant money to help “improve pedestrian safety by adjusting signal timing and installing pedestrian-controlled crosswalk buttons near a housing development occupied by older adults.”

This story was also published in the print edition of the Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 2B July 21, 2018.

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What’s new at the California State Fair? Here’s everything you need to know

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com and as the cover story of the print Sacramento Bee’s Ticket section on July 13, 2018

download (1)It’s time once again for the California State Fair.

That means thousands of kids running around and screaming with joy, mom and dad viewing the exhibits, plenty of deep-fried and oversized foods, thrilling rides and lots of sights and sounds for the entire family.

The fair runs from July 13 through July 29 and features several free and discounted days, limited-time attractions and quite a few brand-new experiences.

It can be quite overwhelming when planning a full day, so we’ve put together a guide to help.

What’s new?

For those who find the mid-July fair too hot to handle, organizers have added several “Cool Spots” throughout Cal Expo, which recently got a new acting police chief, where fairgoers can stop and cool down. In these locations, full-body misters squirt a cool mist of water from head to toe at the touch of a button. They even include charging stations for your phone and free Wi-Fi.

Speaking of phones, for those who are attached to theirs, the fair has added selfie spots throughout, where photogenic fairgoers can stop and snap a pic and post those grinning faces to social media for a chance to win a prize.

A new exhibition, “The Future of Good,” will examine “how we will grow and eat in the future to meet the needs of an expanding population,” according to information provided by fair organizers. The exhibit, featuring 50 images from 27 photographers, also highlights California’s role in food production on a global scale.

In addition, new at this year’s event is a “Silent Disco” at the Expo Center, where music lovers can don headphones and jam out to kid-friendly tunes provided by disc jockeys. DJ battles will take place in the evening.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a tiny house, you can tour about a half a dozen of them from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the first weekend of the fair at the Miller Lite Racktrack Grandstand.

A life-size board game that educates players about agriculture, called “Life’s Big Ag-venture,” will be featured and aims to encourage interest in agricultural careers and ag support organizations.

The fair will newly feature a Navy Week, the ability to follow the fair on social media and earn a special beverage with a secret code, and a “Lady Bird” experience where fairgoers can buy a special ticket to get unlimited use of the Log Ride and watch a screening of the film.

New rides

Perhaps the most popular of the State Fair’s attractions — at least among kids and kids-at-heart — is the fair’s carnival area, which offers everything from spooky houses to the giant Ferris wheel.

This year, there are a few new rides to check out. According to the State Fair’s official ride guide, the one new ride in the Kids Park is called Puppy Love. The Main Carnival features four new rides — Mega Flip, Turbo, Cyclone and Wind Surfer.

The rides from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch will be returning this year as well. Those include Balloon Samba, Bumper Cars and Dragon Wagon. For more information on rides, including carnival hours, pricing and restrictions, take a look at the official ride section of the State Fair website.

Concert series

The State Fair’s concert series lineup was announced in March and you can see which artists will be taking the stage this summer below.

  • July 13 – War
  • July 14 – Berlin featuring Terri Nunn
  • July 15 – Trace Adkins – How Did We Get Here Tour 2018
  • July 16 – Kool & The Gang
  • July 17 – Queen Nation
  • July 18 – Happy Together Tour 2018
  • July 19 – Easton Corbin
  • July 20 – Con Funk Shun
  • July 21 – Night Ranger
  • July 23 – Sugar Ray
  • July 24 – Tenth Avenue North
  • July 25 – Paperback Writer – The Beatles Experience
  • July 26 – Los Lonely Boys
  • July 27 – The Greg Kihn Band
  • July 28 – The Spinners
  • July 29 – UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey

Concerts are free with admission to the fair, and seats are first-come, first-served. However, tickets can be purchased for reserved seating. For more information about the concert series, head over to the official State Fair concerts page.

New this year are Kids Bopp and ZZ Top concerts at Papa Murphy’s Park, which is the home of the Sacramento Republic FC and is located on the grounds of Cal Expo. Kids Bopp will play on July 16 and ZZ Top with George Thorogood and The Destroyers will rock out on Thursday, July 26. Keep in mind, these shows require a separate admission fee.

New foods

Of course, the fair wouldn’t be the fair without unique and – depending on whom you ask – delicious things to eat and drink. Fair organizers have provided The Bee with a list of new and unique edibles for this year’s event and some are shown below (vendor in parentheses).

  • World’s most sour ice cream & world’s hottest ice cream (Cardinali Sweet Treats)
  • Sweet & savory crepes (Planet Crepes)
  • Elote fries, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fries and lobster fries (Sharky’s Fry King)
  • Jalapeno popper burger (Stuffie’s Char-Broiler)
  • Fresh pressed juices and Acai bowls (Good Roots Café)
  • Bison ribs, Grizzly MAC attack (macaroni & cheese, pulled pork, coleslaw, barbecue sauce) (Montana Q)
  • Flamin’ Hot Cheetos corn on the cob (The Corn Shack)
  • Pretzel dog on a stick (Grandma Herzberg’s Pretzel and Lemonade)
  • Deep fried cannoli (Sweet Cheeks)
  • Pasta (William Henry’s Hammertime)

Free and discounted days

If you’re looking to save a little green, there are several free days and discounts for this year’s State Fair.

On Mondays, there will be free admission until 3 p.m. for anyone who donates three canned or dried food items, which will be given to the Elk Grove Food Bank. On Tuesdays, kids under 12 are free and rides are just $2 for everyone. Wednesdays and Thursdays offer $2 food item sales by fair vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Fridays, attendees aged 62 or over will receive a $2 discount on admission.

Those who purchase a ticket to the Sacramento Republic FC match on Saturday, July 21 will also receive free fair admission for that night. Additionally, the Republic FC will host a “Kick On Goal” event at Papa Murphy’s Park from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17 where a player from the team will sign autographs and take photos with fans from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

On Thursday, July 19, active duty military and veterans will be able to enter the fair for free. On Thursday, July 26, admission is free for first responders. Both of these free days are sponsored by BloodSource.

State Fair favorites

Several fan-favorite attractions, exhibits, competitions and more are returning this year. Some of those include the Best of California Brewfest, National Wiener Dog Races, cornhole competition, horse racing, local musicians and artists, photography and Steampunk competitions, olive oil tasting events and fireworks every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m.

For more on admission pricing, dates and times and other details, visit the official State Fair website at castatefair.org.

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Six people injured after woman drives through south Sacramento storefront

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 12, 2018 as breaking news

The updated online (below) and print versions of this story shared a byline with Claire Morgan

Six people, including a child, have suffered minor injuries after a car crashed through a Dollar Tree storefront Thursday in south Sacramento.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said the accident happened around 2:40 p.m. at the Dollar Tree store at 7020 Stockton Blvd. when a woman thought to be in her 70s accidentally accelerated through the store’s glass window.

Only three of the six people injured were transported to the hospital, according to Fire Department spokesman Chris Vestal. He also said that he believed none of the injuries to be life-threatening.

Angela Kerr, 51, was outside of the Dollar Tree talking with a security guard when the crashed occurred.

“The woman came through, and the next thing I know it was like a train, everything splattered everywhere,” Kerr said.

Kerr said that a young boy and his grandfather were two of the people injured in the crash. Injuries were sustained by people both inside the vehicle and in the store.

Vestal said that the California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 1B July 13, 2018.

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KCRA reporter Kathy Park leaving to become national correspondent at NBC News

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 12, 2018

General assignment reporter for Sacramento TV news station KCRA 3 Kathy Park will take her career national when she joins NBC News as a correspondent.

NBC announced Wednesday that Park and a meteorologist from an ABC affiliate in Chicago, Janessa Webb, will be joining its team.

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According to a report from Adweek, Park has worked for several local news stations throughout her career, including her most recent position at KCRA, where she began working in the summer of 2014.

An internal note sent to the NBC newsroom staff by David Verdi, senior vice president of worldwide newsgathering for NBC News, announced the hiring of Park, saying, “We are thrilled to have her.”

According to the note, as reported by Adweek’s TV Newser, Park, who graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in journalism and began her career at a news station in Tennessee, formerly worked as a reporter in Washington, D.C. Park also interned with Chris Matthews of NBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” and is a participant in the Korea-United States Journalism Exchange.

Some of Park’s colleagues have tweeted support since the announcement:

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This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 3B July 13, 2018.

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Sacramento drivers are among worst in U.S., study says. Why ‘things are looking up’

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 12, 2018

There is some bad news and some good news for Sacramento drivers.

The good news is that the city’s drivers are no longer ranked as the worst in the country, according to Insurance news site Quote Wizard. The bad news is Sacramento’s drivers still ranked as third worst over Riverside and Omaha, Neb.

The study, released Thursday, ranked cities based on traffic incidents, including accidents, speeding tickets and DUIs, and citations, including tickets for behaviors like distracted driving.

The study suggests drivers could have been inspired by last year’s rank, as well as a decrease in some of the categories tracked.

“Things are looking up in Sactown,” the report said. “Last year’s worst-driving city is now only a distant third! A drop in speeding and accidents improved Sacramento’s overall driving score, even though they stayed relatively static in terms of DUIs and violations.”

The study’s findings about DUIs show that a crackdown by the California Highway Patrol may not have helped as much as officers had hoped, at least in Sacramento.

Other California cities in the top 10 include the San Francisco (listed as Bay Area) at No. 5, San Diego at No. 6 and Los Angeles at No. 9. Bakersfield and Fresno also made the list of 75 cities, ranking No. 12 and No. 24, respectively.

Omaha, which went from No. 8 to No. 1 this year, was said to have the worst drivers because of “sizeable increases in accidents, speeding, and driving violations.” Riverside moved from No. 3 to No. 2 thanks to “a higher DUI rate than any other city,” the report said.

In contrast, the cities that ranked as the five best were Orlando, Fla., Miami, El Paso, Texas, Detroit and Little Rock, Ark. The report attributed “rock-bottom DUI and speeding rates” to Orlando’s top spot.

According to Quote Wizard, the study is released in the summer months because July and August are the deadliest of the year due to an increase in drivers on the road as people tend to travel more. Quote Wizard’s study is also conducted because, according to the site, bad drivers can drive up the costs of insurance in the state.

Quote Wizard is not the only group studying good and bad drivers in Sacramento and California, and has quite different opinions on the matter in some cases.

In a similar study, Wallet Hub listed Sacramento at No. 53 in its ranking of the best large U.S. cities to drive in for 2018.

This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 2B July 15, 2018.

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West Sacramento’s Barn to host fresh, local produce sales through September

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 12, 2018

Residents of West Sacramento and its surroundings areas will soon have another option for buying farm-to-fork products.

Beginning Thursday, The Barn event center in West Sacramento will begin hosting a farm stand with products sourced from the Riverfront Urban Farm, which is next to The Barn at 985 Riverfront St.

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Courtesy Center for Land-Based Learning

The sale will be held every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. through the end of September. It is open to the public, and bringing the entire family is encouraged.

Additional items for sale include basil, summer squash, flowers and possibly melons and lettuce, according to the Center for Land-Based Learning, the group that runs the Urban Farms program.

“We hope to see you this Thursday,” the center said on Facebook.

“The Riverfront Farm [at The Barn] is open for business this Thursday, July 12th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM!” the City of West Sacramento tweeted. “Tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, basil, flowers, and more are available for purchase. The Farm Stand is open every Thurs. through 9/27/18.”

The Center for Land-Based Learning is a nonprofit organization based in Winters. It says its mission is “to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards.”

The Urban Farms program recently partnered with Nugget Markets in West Sacramento to sell products at its Town Center Plaza location, according to a Facebook post.

The group operates several urban farms in Yolo County and runs several other programs like its “Dinner on the Farm” and Urban Farms bike tour events.

For several years, West Sacramento held a summer farmers market on West Capitol Avenue, but moved it to the Barn in the city’s Bridge District last year.

This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 2B July 19, 2018.

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Sacramento Make-A-Wish teen ‘touched and grateful’ to be honorary Kings dancer

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 11, 2018

A Sacramento teen with an autoimmune disorder is fulfilling her dream of joining the Kings’ dance team.

Yani, a 14-year-old from Sacramento, can now call herself an honorary member of the Sacramento Kings Dancers for the 2018-19 season, through a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The team announced its roster of dancers Wednesday. Yani danced competitively for two years before becoming ill last October. Her blood pressure spiked to extreme levels and she experienced sudden kidney failure, according to a Kings news release.

After 53 days in the hospital and multiple complications, including pneumonia and blood clots, doctors diagnosed Yani with lupus, an autoimmune disorder. Through “loving support from her family and friends,” Yani’s health is improving, the release said.

As a member of the dance team, Yani can join the Kings throughout the season for selected events like team building, practice sessions and appearances in the community. Yani will also be included in on-court dance performances during Kings games.

“I am so touched and grateful to have this opportunity,” Yani said in the release. “The way the Kings Dancers make me feel says a lot about their team and makes me want to be a part of it even more. They make me feel like myself again.”

Yani can be seen in a behind-the-scenes video (below) produced during the dance team’s media day on June 27.

The Kings have teamed with Make-A-Wish in the past with wishes granted for kids like Ethan, who dreamed of being a garbage man and held a news conference with the Kings at the state Capitol, as well as Bryant, who became a Sacramento ninja and saved Kings mascot Slamson.

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Video game ‘Overwatch’ airing live on cable TV this July

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 11, 2018

CapturePopular multiplayer and esports video game “Overwatch” will begin broadcasting live on cable networks Disney XD and ESPN starting July 11 as part of a two-year television deal announced Wednesday by Disney and the game’s developer, Blizzard Entertainment.

“Beginning with Overwatch League playoff coverage across both networks, the 2017–2018 Overwatch League inaugural season concludes with the Grand Finals live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, July 27-28,” stated a press release.

In addition, a recap show “highlighting the biggest moments” will be shown July 29 on ABC, the release said. Other network branches airing the esport include ESPN2, ESPNEWS and online on ESPN3. The league can also be watched on streaming site Twitch, the Overwatch League’s app and Major League Gaming’s website and MLG app.

“The Overwatch League Grand Finals is by far our most comprehensive television distribution for an esports event over a single weekend: 10 total hours over four networks and three days,” Justin Connolly, an executive vice president for the company, said in the press release.

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“This overall collaboration with Disney/ABC, ESPN and Blizzard represents our continued commitment to esports, and we look forward to providing marquee Overwatch League coverage across our television platforms for fans.”

“Overwatch,” released in 2016, is a shooting game for Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One and Windows 10 in which players compete on teams with the goal of taking out the other team to gain control of territory and features cartoon-style graphics and zany characters.

Blizzard’s parent company Activision sold Overwatch League franchises for $20 million apiece to 12 cities, include Boston, Phildelphia, Los Angeles. Owners include the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke along with his son, Bloomberg reported. That team, the Los Angeles Gladiators, is in first place.

The finals will include the top six teams of six players, according to PC Gamer. The winning team will receive $1 million and the Overwatch League championship trophy, the official website of the league states.

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As reported by Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs has predicted that esports will top 276 million viewers and $3 billion in revenue by 2022.

According to Engadget, the quarterfinals will begin airing Wednesday, July 11 at 5 p.m. on Disney XD and ESPN3.

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Panda Express to hire thousands: Here’s when and where Sacramentans can apply

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 11, 2018

Panda Career Event 2

Courtesy Havas Formula/Panda Express

Love American Chinese food and in the market for a new job?

Panda Express is holding its second-annual Panda Career Hiring Event from July 18 to July 24.

The company is looking to fill about 500 positions at all levels, including cooks and managers, in the Central and Northern California region and that includes 10 locations in the capital region, according to a news release.

“At Panda Express, we’re seeking candidates that are values-driven and team-oriented, as well as interested in growing, both personally and professionally,” Xin Yan Pek, regional director of operations for Panda Express, said in a statement to The Bee. “An associate who possesses a positive attitude and is energized by problem solving and learning from their experiences can prove to be invaluable.”

The hiring event is part of a larger effort to fill more than 4,000 positions at 400 locations nationwide.

Interested job seekers will need to schedule an interview on the Panda Express careers website. Locations and dates for the six restaurants holding local interviews are listed below, as written by the company’s public relations team.

  • Del Paso Road at Interstate 5 – July 18
  • Watt Avenue at Roseville Road, North Highlands – July 18
  • Cosumnes River Boulevard at I-5 – July 19
  • Madison Avenue at Hazel Road, Fair Oaks – July 20
  • Missouri Flat and Forni roads, Placerville – July 21
  • Foothills Boulevard & Main Street, Roseville – July 23

Note that these are the locations where interviews will be held, but positions are open for 10 of the region’s restaurants.

Panda Express was founded in 1983 in Glendale, Calif., and operates more than 2,000 stores worldwide. It currently employs more than 35,000 people.

According to information provided by the company, Panda Express offers a full benefits package that includes health care, pay bonuses, stock and retirement options, scholarship opportunities and employee perks like discounts on mobile phones, theme parks and more.

“We offer an environment that harbors continuous learning, a healthy lifestyle and a people-first culture, and want to ensure that our Associates’ core values align nicely with that of the company’s,” Pek said. “We encourage anyone who is looking for a pathway to success to join us at their local Panda Career Event.”

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