Tom Philp

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Tom Philp

In the California Assembly, rookie Democrats Maggy Krell of Sacramento and Nick Schultz of Burbank have uncannily common careers: Both were prosecutors for the California attorney general, both specialized in human trafficking and both decided to run for state office in the same election. Yet, thanks to Sacramento politics, Schultz and Krell came to define the fault line within the cause of Assembly Democrats on law and order issues.

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Tom Philp |LeBron Hill

A third of Sacramento City Council members abandoned their own meeting on homelessness because they collectively talked too much. Some important substance on how Sacramento is shifting its homeless strategy nearly got lost in the council’s non-deliberative style. Relief may be on the way for some of Sacramento’s senior citizens who are now on the streets: Some living in motel units may have to pay, and big institutional shelters may someday be a thing of the past.

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Tom Philp

For 170 years of California state fairs, there has always been horse racing. This summer will break the streak, as a dying industry has retreated to a handful of Southern California tracks, leaving no horses available for Sacramento racing. With horse facilities comprising more than a quarter of the footprint at the 360-acre Cal Expo, that’s a lot of dormant space for the coming fair.

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Tom Philp

Shaquille O’Neal could be the most heavyweight volunteer in the history of the California State University system, both literally and figuratively. Sacramento State’s announcement that O’Neal is the new general manager for the men’s basketball team is a star-studded addition to a team that plays in the most humble of gymnasiums. A son who recently joined the team, Shaqir, is obviously the draw.

2 weeks ago | mercurynews.com | Tom Philp

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to cut down lots of little trees for fire protection. President Donald Trump wants loggers to cut down bigger California trees for lumber. Between these two oft-warring leaders, is there a policy marriage of sorts in the woods? At first blush, the answer appears to be yes. The governor wants to reduce the fire dangers on a million California acres a year. The president wants to increase timber harvests by 25% on the state’s national forests.