Elk Grove News Podcasts

By Dan Schmitt | I believe the incident occurred in the summer of my 12th year.  Like most teenage boys growing up in north-central Wisconsin during the early 1960’s, we six Schmitt boys lived a quasi-Huck Finn existence, or perhaps more exact, a quasi-Tom Sawyer existence. So, we were all boys, if you know what I mean?

Two Republican members of the Elk Grove City Council have failed a basic test of leadership and courage. The leader of their party – Donald Trump – has perpetrated The Big Lie about the 2020 presidential election.

This week's attempted coup d'etat incited by President Donald J. Trump was unlike any other event in American history save the Civil War and, beyond the impending impeachment and possibly invoking the 25th Amendment,  should not go unaddressed.

On January 6th, 2021 we will witness an attempted coup d'etat in America live and on TV. Donald Trump’s coup attempt is not surprising as he has openly expressed these intentions for months.

People of a certain age will recognize the introductory music as the Birds Turn Turn Turn. The mid-60s hit was written by folk musician Pete Seger who adopted it from the Old Testament’s book of Ecclesiastes.

The quiet of a Christmas morning in Nashville was shattered by an explosion making it the latest site of terrorism in America. Details about the bombing are scant and no group has claimed credit.

Thank you for listening to this special edition of Elk Grove News Minute. Two years ago today, the proposed California Northstate University hospital project was unleashed on the public.

California Assemblymember Jim Cooper’s announcement this week that he is exploring a run for Sacramento Sheriff came as no surprise.

By John Hull | The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs prep sports in the state, came out with updated COVID-19 modifications for education-based athletics on Tuesday, Dec. 15. It is a bit voluminous, so allow me to give you the highlights of the latest directive.

By Dan Schmitt |  Cal died six years ago from diabetes complications.  We first met while bartending at the Reubens Restaurant in La Mesa, California in 1973.  No one would have predicted that our initial encounter as bartenders would grow into a lifelong friendship that lasted until his death.

Former Elk Grove City Councilmember Steve Detrick attended his last meeting on Wednesday, December 9 after 12 years of representing District 3.

Listeners may recall the movie The Big Short about how so-called short-sellers made boatloads of money during the great recession housing collapse. A short seller bets that something of value will decline.

Donald Trump lost his reelection bid and in about 52 days, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th American President. In spite of this, the 45th president of these great United States continues to insist the election was rigged and he is not a loser as confirmed by American voters.

In a year dominated by a worldwide pandemic and politics, it has been difficult to find things to be thankful for in 2020 but there are some.

With the recent uptick of Coronavirus cases in Sacramento County and most of Northern California, the chance that high school sports will have a season is looking bleaker. In this edition of Elk Grove Sports Minute,  I talk with long-time Sacramento Bee sportswriter Joe Davidson who is very knowledgeable take on the subject. Plus, Davidson talks about the big local sports story of 2020 locall...

If you were to believe the Elk Grove City Council, there was a bogeyman that would haunt city council elections in 2020 and for years to come.

By John Hull | We’re about a week old on announcing this one, but former Elk Grove High School football player Kenny Wiggins was signed by the New York Giants on Nov. 3. Also, The California Community College Athletic Association’s Board of Directors voted on Friday morning to continue forward with the Contingency Plan.

Notwithstanding recounts or judicial rulings favoring Donald Trump, it looks as though we can add the prefix, President-elect, to Joe Biden’s name. Like every President-elect before him, Biden will seek unity but there is already one obstacle he faces.

This Halloween could be the scariest ever. First, there is the COVID19 that has taken 229 thousand Americans because of Trump’s do-nothing, cavalier attitude toward the worldwide pandemic, but November could be more frightening.

Brian Pastor discusses his candidacy for Elk Grove Mayor. 

Bobbie Singh-Allen discusses her candidacy for Elk Grove Mayor. 

Did you know the Trump kowtowing Congressman Devin Nunes is tied to a Democratic Elk Grove elected official?

By John Hull | Dr. Brittany Vacura, a dentist with Elica Health, was the pitcher on the Franklin High School softball team from 2007-2009 and pitched collegiately at Occidental. She now treats homeless and low-income individuals in Sacramento. Also, Kyle Larson reinstated to NASCAR.

With the backdrop of a hotly contested mayoral race, the COVID19 pandemic has deprived Elk Grove voters of the opportunity to hear all three candidates together in a public forum.

This week we learned of the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The plot by so-called Michigan militia members – and let's be straight here – this was a terrorist plot – so let's quit calling them a militia.