$1.2M assault payout, 2.3M mosquitoes to release. Your Sacramento week in review
Before you head into the weekend, catch up on the week’s biggest headlines from the Sacramento region, from a county settlement to the release of millions of sterile mosquitoes, public health alerts and other stories affecting your community.
Here's what you need to know:
- Sacramento County paid a $1.2 million settlement to Ourania Thimmhardy after Deputy Matthew Gurich shoved her outside the Main Jail in October 2024, causing a fractured femur. Gurich was fired by Sheriff Jim Cooper and faces pending felony assault charges with a court date set for July 24.
- The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District released 144,000 sterile male mosquitoes in Rosemont on Tuesday to combat the invasive Aedes aegypti population. A total of 2.3 million sterile mosquitoes will be released over 16 weeks in the 120-acre program.
- California State Parks warned visitors that elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were detected at Lake Natoma, with Black Miners Bar Day Use Beach, Nimbus Flats and Willow Creek Day Use Area deemed a health concern. Cautionary measures will remain in place until two consecutive weeks of testing show acceptable levels.
- Eleven California cities raised their local minimum wages effective July 1, with rates ranging from $17.76 to $20.34 per hour. Emeryville implemented the highest increase, going from $19.90 to $20.34 per hour.
- Service Employees International Union Local 1000 reported asbestos, bedbugs and Legionella bacteria in state government workplaces after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office mandate took effect July 1. Legionella was detected in June at the Department of Industrial Relations building in Lodi.
- Yada Thai Cuisine, a family-owned Thai restaurant, opened at 8116 Madison Ave. in Fair Oaks, run by longtime Sacramento resident Tami Sawangwan. Sawangwan opened the restaurant after her father recovered from a stroke and wanted to return to the business following the sale of Rum Thai Bistro in Lincoln.
- Elizabeth Williams lost her $12,000 small claims lawsuit against Sacramento after Judge Stephen Lau ruled that six or seven days’ notice for encampment sweeps gave the city license to destroy her personal property. Williams lost medication, ID, a tent and a laptop she used for GED classes and therapy appointments, causing her to drop out of the program.