Al fresco dining in Sacramento, Cofer files complaint. Top Bee stories for May 15

From cockroach-infested kitchens to political ethics complaints, The Sacramento Bee covered a wide range of stories.

Here’s a rundown of the top stories on Friday, May 15.

• With Sacramento ranking as the sunniest place on earth for four consecutive months each year, The Sacramento Bee curated a guide to 30 spots for outdoor food and drink. The list spans casual breweries like Urban Roots and Der Biergarten to fine dining destinations such as Allora and Canon. Riverside options include Crawdads on the River and Scott’s Seafood, while downtown rooftop bars like Clayton Club and Darling Aviary offer skyline views.

• Sacramento County Board of Supervisors candidate Flojaune Cofer filed a State Bar complaint against attorney Brian T. Hildreth, alleging he made false statements in a Fair Political Practices Commission complaint about her income disclosure. Hildreth’s April 25 FPPC filing accused Cofer of underreporting income on a required disclosure form ahead of the June 2 primary. Cofer noted that Hildreth’s law firm has been paid by a political action committee supporting her opponent, Councilmember Eric Guerra.

• 58 Degrees & Holding Co., a midtown wine bar and restaurant at 1217 18th St., will close May 31 after more than 20 years in business. New owners who took over in 2017 expanded the wine collection to feature high-quality selections from around the world. General manager Cassie Kelsey said many staff members have worked there since the bar opened in 2004.

• The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer’s campaign and TikTok influencer Isaiah Washington over a $10,000 undisclosed payment for a since-deleted March video. A 2023 state law requires disclosure when individuals are paid to support or oppose candidates online. Steyer’s campaign initially paid creators $10 per unique video before raising the amount to $1,000 per month.

• Sacramento County health inspectors closed four restaurants this week, including Carmichael’s Royal Cuisine, where a live nymph cockroach was found crawling on the salt and pepper shakers. An additional 24 eateries received citations for violations ranging from contaminated ice machines to improperly cooled food.

This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 5:15 PM.