$1.2M settlement, firefighters flip home. The Sacramento Bee’s top stories July 7

The Sacramento Bee published three notable local stories on July 7, 2026, spanning law enforcement, education and public safety accountability.

Here’s a quick digest:

• Sacramento County paid a $1.2 million settlement to Ourania Thimmhardy, an elderly woman who suffered a fractured femur after Deputy Matthew Gurich shoved her onto the sidewalk outside the Main Jail in October 2024. Sheriff Jim Cooper fired Gurich, who now faces felony assault charges with a court date set for July 24.

• A Granite Oaks Middle School teacher caught on video urinating into a container in his classroom in February remains employed by the Rocklin Unified School District, public records show. Rocklin Police documented the incident but filed no criminal charges.

• Two Sacramento Fire Department captains, Douglas Muraki and Michael Mora, bought the home of a vulnerable elderly woman they met on a 911 call, then flipped it for a $260,000 gross profit while using city time and equipment on renovations. A city investigation found their actions met the definition of fraud and abuse, but both remain employed by the department.