Jan 28, 2026
Garden art isn’t restricted to statuary, murals and fountains. Art in the garden has a botanical relative, the Japanese maple.
A powerful piece of art draws the eye and stirs the senses. It reaches out, lures you into its space and kindles dopamine. Elegant, spectacular in form, vibrant in color, the Japanese maple is worthy of crowds at the Louvre, the Met, the Crocker.
Favored for grace and beauty, these ornamental trees burst into spring colors, settle into muted summer tones and deliver a knockout punch of fall hues.
Jan 28, 2026
I got an email from someone who thinks I’m too critical of the Kings. A reader named Debbie Sharp writes, “You must thrive on negativity! Some of us are hardcore Kings fans! Apparently not you.”
I’ve heard these complaints since 1984 when I went to Kansas City to investigate Kings fans who were about to lose their basketball team.
I found a Missouri Kings fan club and talked to eight or nine people upset about the franchise moving to Sacramento.
Jan 28, 2026
When Kali Ruth Nerby says creativity runs in her blood, she means it.
Her great-great-great grandpa was a builder. Her great-great grandma was an artist. One of her grandmas was an artist. Her grandpa was a builder. Her dad was a builder and is a home designer. Nerby is married to a builder.
“I come from a long line of builders, designers, artists and doers,” she says.
Jan 28, 2026
Kevin McCarty had a good first year as mayor. I say this with confidence because McCarty didn’t spend the last 12 months telling everyone how great he’s doing.
By not broadcasting his every step and promoting alleged accomplishments, McCarty shattered a City Hall tradition.
The last two mayors, Kevin Johnson and Darrell Steinberg, spent much of their time at City Hall inundating residents with mayoral visions, goals and presumptive victories.
They held countless press conferences and updates about programs and policies to heighten the city’s (and their own) status.
Jan 6, 2026
The trees can breathe easier, for now.
A U.S. district court temporarily stopped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from clearing hundreds of trees and miles of vegetation along the lower American River to make way for erosion-control work.
In granting the temporary injunction, the court found the plaintiffs would likely suffer “irreparable harm,” including the ability to use the affected portion of the river for recreation, such as hiking, dog walking and observing wildlife.
Dec 28, 2025
Perched on the north side of the Woodlake neighborhood is a majestic brick Tudor Revival home. It was built in 1921 by Carl Edward Johnston, who lived on the property until he died in 1953. His wife stayed until 1972.
The house was owned by the North Sacramento Land Company, founded by Johnston and his brother D.W. in 1910. The firm controlled more than 4,000 acres from the Rancho Del Paso land grant and helped shape North Sac.
Grandson Bob Johnston Slobe manages the land company with his sister. Slobe bought the house from the estate in 2023. He was president of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy from 1990 to 1997, working on park, wildland and open space acquisitions.
