Shelter crisis, good food awards. Top Sacramento stories for June 3

Central Valley producers took home awards while families scrambled after a sudden change to Sacramento’s motel shelter program. In other news, what does the future hold for California’s state workers?

Here is a quick digest of today’s top stories:

• Eight Central Valley producers took home honors at the 2026 Good Food Awards, including first-time winners Real Mojo Foods and Pasta Therapy. Repeat honorees included La Tourangelle, Grumpy Goats Farm, Calivirgin, Enzo Olive Oil and Tsar Nicoulai Caviar.

• The three gubernatorial front-runners for California governor offer sharply different futures for state workforce. Democrat Xavier Becerra pledges to honor collective bargaining agreements, Republican Steve Hilton wants a “Cal DOGE” program to drastically shrink the state workforce, and Democrat Tom Steyer has the backing of SEIU and the state attorneys union.

• Four Sacramento mothers with young children fear they will sleep outdoors starting Wednesday after the city’s homeless motel shelter program transitioned Monday to the Emergency Shelter Voucher program. The families, living at the Arden Acres motel, were turned away from their assigned new motels and are invoking tenant rights to stay put while at least 20 families remain without confirmed placements.

This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 6:03 PM.