Free concert, prison cost cuts? Find out what you missed on May 29 in Sacramento

From a surprise free concert downtown to a deep dive into prison spending, Sacramento Bee reporters covered a wide range of topics Friday.

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories from May 29:

• The All-American Rejects were announced as a last-minute headliner for tonight’s free Concerts in the Park show at Cesar Chavez Plaza, where the punk rock band will play an acoustic set starting at 6 p.m. alongside Tarnish, Say It Backwards, Nothing Special and NESSS.

• A city audit found that 37% of Sacramento EMS calls between July 2023 and June 2024 were low-acuity non-emergencies, tying up paramedics and adding nearly $5 million in costs. The Sacramento Fire Department responded to 98,157 calls during that period as service demand outpaced staffing growth.

• California paid Boston Consulting Group $20 million to find efficiencies in the state prison system, but projected savings have been slashed from $125 million to $42 million for fiscal year 2025-26. The Newsom administration is pursuing workforce and procurement changes rather than closing additional prisons.

• Day Tripper, a new vacation-themed bar in midtown from Irish Hospitality, aims to transport guests to a tropical destination with 33 cocktails priced mostly at or under $12. Co-owner Trevor Easter says customers have repeatedly told him the bar’s dirty margarita made with nopales and jalapeño brines is the best drink they’ve ever had.