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Cop killer Marco Topete sentenced to death in Yolo

By Hudson Sangree - Published: 12:00 am

A Yolo County judge sent convicted cop killer Marco Antonio Topete to death row Tuesday, after rejecting a defense motion for a new trial and hearing how the murder of Deputy Jose Antonio Diaz traumatized relatives and a co-worker.

Marco Topete Sentenced to Death

Council narrowly rejects placing parking lease plan on ballot

By Ryan Lillis - Updated: 11:40 pm

In a vote that was closer than many expected, the Sacramento City Council narrowly rejected a request by Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy for a June ballot measure to ask voters if they want to lease public parking assets to help finance a new downtown sports arena.

Strong mayor bid fails again; citizens review gets ballot nod

Wine arsonist sentenced to 27 years by Sacramento federal judge

By Denny Walsh - Published: 12:00 am

Mark C. Anderson burned up hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of fine wine and then burned his bridges with the Sacramento federal judge who would sentence him for arson and other crimes.

John McCain criticizes Thunder Valley's Sacramento attorney's contract

By Dale Kasler - Published: 12:00 am

Sacramento attorney Howard Dickstein is catching heat from U.S. Sen. John McCain over the millions of dollars Dickstein has earned representing Thunder Valley Casino and the Indian tribe that owns it.

Strong mayor bid fails again; citizens review gets ballot nod

By Ryan Lillis - Updated: 11:40 pm

The Sacramento City Council prefers a 15-person commission to suggest overhauling the city constitution over anything Mayor Kevin Johnson has proposed.

Council narrowly rejects placing parking lease plan on ballot

After fatal Highway 50 crash, relatives greive, try to regroup

By Cathy Locke - Published: 12:00 am

Maggi Moreno lost two aunts and an uncle in an early Monday crash on Highway 50 caused by a wrong-way motorist suspected of drunken driving.

Supervisors ask SCERS to reconsider double-digit executive pay raises

By Brad Branan - Published: 12:00 am

Sacramento County supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution asking the county's retirement association to reconsider double-digit raises for its executives.

Sacramento loses clean-tech jobs in 2010, for first time since 1999

By Rick Daysog - Published: 12:00 am

Sacramento's green economy employed 200 fewer people in 2010, the first industrywide job decline since 1995, according to a new report.

Manny Crisostomo / mcrisostomo@sacbee.com

Luda Ivanyuk gives Elisa Romandia a hand massage at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Ivanyukis a social worker at the San Juan School District volunteers evenings after work giving hand massages to patients at Kaiser. "I think for myself I always love to make a difference in people's lives and that is probably why I am in the teaching and social work field. I enjoy working with the patients because I like to make a difference in people's lives," Ivanyuk said.
Manny Crisostomo / mcrisostomo@sacbee.com

Luda Ivanyuk massages Kathleen Stringer who just had surgery at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Ivanyuka works for the San Juan School District social worker volunteers evenings after work giving hand massages to patients at Kaiser. I addition to her full time job at the school district Ivanyuk is also working on getting a master degree. "Sometimes after I get off work, I don't want to go. But I put on my uniform and once I go in there and start my first patient I am happy that I came," she said. "It always changes my mood."
Manny Crisostomo / mcrisostomo@sacbee.com

Luda Ivanyuk massages Kathleen Stringer who just had surgery at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Ivanyuka works for the San Juan School District social worker volunteers evenings after work giving hand massages to patients at Kaiser.
Manny Crisostomo / mcrisostomo@sacbee.com

Seventy-year-old Jim Utz, a retired animal health technician has been spending his Mondays the last eight years at Grace House a respite for homeless like Robert Orozco who receives a free lunch.
Manny Crisostomo / mcrisostomo@sacbee.com

Seventy-year-old Jim Utz, passes out refreshment to Gina Carmichael, 52, of Davis at Grace House. Utz, a retired UC Davis animal health technician has been spending his Mondays the last eight years volunteering at Grace House.

Indianapolis has been super, Sacramento in a stupor

The Super Bowl was a bitter experience for me in ways having nothing to do with the absence of the 49ers.

Interactive: 1,000 highest-paid local government employees in the Sacramento region
Interactive: Sacramento County's $100,000 pensioners

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Back-Seat Driver

Tragedies still haunt former train crews

Three people died last week in south Sacramento when a car cut past guard gates and was broadsided by a light-rail train. But there was a hidden victim too: the train operator.

Editorial: Would twin crossing arms prevent deaths?

• More columns
• Back-Seat Driver Q&A

Courts/Legal News

Prop. 8 decision cheers gay marriage supporters as Supreme Court awaits - 12:11 am
Sacramento sued for withholding emails about redistricting - 12:00 am
Federal appellate court rejects Forest Service plan for Sierra - Feb 5

• Bee Investigations Center

Communities

Folsom-Eldorado

Soon-to-depart Waste Connections reports record 2011 revenue

Waste Connections Inc. is leaving town on a high note, as it reported record revenue of $1.51 billion in 2011 in its final annual report that will include earnings amassed from its Folsom headquarters.