Government/Politics

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office is muscling up against DUI offenders who kill and maim, thanks to a $1 million boost.

In Sacramento County's old animal shelter – the one built more than 40 years ago – sick kittens were placed in rows of cages, dogs were crammed into kennels and too many animals were put to sleep just because there wasn't space to keep them.

When Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson trumpeted a collaborative plan for sheltering homeless people this winter, he caught some key players by surprise.

In a move reminiscent of one of his political heroes, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Thursday that he was forming a task force in charge of getting a new sports and entertainment arena built in Sacramento.

Calling it "time for a change," Roseville Mayor Gina Garbolino said Thursday that W. Craig Robinson will not return to his city manager's post.

Changing seasons means tighter rules on landscape watering: Starting next week, watering will be banned on weekdays in the city of Sacramento.

The Governor's Mansion, the Stanford Mansion, the state Indian Museum and Sutter's Fort – all Sacramento landmarks – will be closed Mondays because of state budget cuts, California State Parks officials announced Wednesday.

This year's property tax bills are based on the assessed value of a property as of Jan. 1, 2009.

Sacramento will receive nearly $87 million for flood control projects under an energy and water bill signed Wednesday by President Barack Obama.

For three years, the city of Sacramento has allowed developers to start work on their projects before receiving formal permits.

Sacramento County's top administrator, Terry Schutten, is retiring at the end of the calendar year.

Nestlé Waters can resume building its water bottling plant in south Sacramento after City Attorney Eileen Teichert ruled Tuesday the project was exempt from special permits the City Council might pass regulating similar facilities.

After months of speculation that he would jump into the race, former mayoral candidate Shawn Eldredge is taking a run at the District 3 seat held by Councilman Steve Cohn.

The City Council on Tuesday urged a quick investigation into why new home permits were issued in the Natomas flood zone after a federal building ban was in effect.

There's a plan to provide shelter to more than 260 homeless people in Sacramento this winter. But there's still another barrier to cross: persuading local governments to cut a few checks.

Sacramento city auditors have proposed taking a look at the building department more than once in recent years.

Sacramento-area communities will share $52 million in federal recovery act funds to install water meters.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened a new Bay-Delta office in downtown Sacramento, a sign of the growing importance of Delta environmental issues in the region.

Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel has joined other chiefs in the nation in calling for an immigration overhaul that considers legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Capt. Jim Cooper formally announced his candidacy for sheriff Thursday, flanked by several dozen local politicos and law enforcement officials.

Until Wednesday, Michael Nalbandian had no idea his North Natomas house was at the center of a City Hall scandal involving building permits the city attorney says were issued in violation of city code, and possibly of a federal building ban.

On Nov. 3, Davis residents will exercise their unusual power to vote on housing growth – deciding the fate of a proposed subdivision called Wildhorse Ranch.

The city's top development official was placed on paid leave Tuesday along with an employee who, documents show, signed off on new home construction in the Natomas flood zone during a building moratorium.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday scrapped a controversial work-hour reduction plan that unions had vowed to fight in court.

The California Redevelopment Association filed suit Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court to block the state Finance Department from carrying out a $2.05 billion shift of tax increment funds from local redevelopment agencies over a two-year period.

The Sacramento Charter Review Committee, after months of town hall meetings, has voted to recommend only minimal changes to the city's existing charter.

Maintaining the flow of water and cash are top concerns for two El Dorado Irrigation District candidates.

Even before a site has been announced, architects for a new Sacramento criminal courthouse have been selected.

The city of Sacramento may have violated federal regulations by issuing building permits for new homes in the Natomas flood zone months after a building moratorium took effect.

Galt City Councilman Andrew Meredith on Wednesday will host a town hall meeting designed to help laid-off workers.

The repeat of a public hearing on a bid to store billions of cubic feet of natural gas beneath a south Sacramento neighborhood has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in Will C. Wood Middle School, 2601 Lemon Hill Ave.

Sacramento County has reached tentative agreements for contract concessions with several of its unions, the county's top labor negotiator said late Thursday.

Homeless men and women arrested last month for camping on private property will not be prosecuted, attorneys decided Thursday.