Seth Henderson

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (MPG) - Business owners, employees, family and friends of two businesses are asking for the community’s help after a suspected Molotov cocktail was thrown at a commercial building in the North Highlands Town Center on Oct. 2.

Battalion Chief Brian Gonsalves of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said he was one of two responding battalion chiefs to the incident when a call came into dispatch for a commercial fire at the center around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2, resulting in a total response of five fire engines, three trucks, an ambulance and two chiefs in under two minutes.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Sierra Northern Railway (SNR), California’s short-line freight leader known for providing efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions, made history by launching the nation’s first hydrogen-fueled, zero-emission locomotive during a Sept. 4 ribbon cutting ceremony at its West Sacramento facility.

According to Sierra Northern Railway, the prototype locomotive is a four-axle switcher that was designed, built and tested in West Sacramento, running on a sustainable hydrogen fuel source that was converted from waste by Sierra Northern Railway’s sister company, Sierra Energy.

The locomotive was constructed out of a diesel switcher locomotive, removing the diesel engine and replacing it with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell and battery hybrid system.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Hundreds gathered from the Greater Sacramento Area for the annual Fentanyl Awareness and Action Summit at the Citrus Heights Event Center on Sept. 4, featuring resources and discussion panels regarding harm reduction, enforcement efforts, prevention and treatment.

According to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office, a 32% reduction in fentanyl-related deaths was recorded between 2023 and 2024, signaling a decline in fentanyl-related deaths for the second consecutive year, which is a critical milestone.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and herbs are some of the locally-grown items available at the Center for Land Based Learning’s Riverfront Farm, across from Franquette in West Sacramento. It is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday until the season ends on Nov. 20.

Khristine Pintor, community food program coordinator and lead farmer at Riverfront Farm, said that the farm is about one-third of an acre, divided into five blocks with 10 beds each, growing spring and summer crops. She said certain skills such as seed saving and transplanting are practiced on the farm as well as organic weed or pest management.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Sex offenders are registered into a government database after they’ve been convicted in a court of law. Some of them were once trusted employees in area schools.

Parents are also urged to be aware of what their children are doing online, who they’re interacting with and how they’re behaving.

ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Major League Baseball, a custom happy hour menu and the Sutter Health Park gameday atmosphere took over the 32 Brews Street restaurant at Sky River Casino in Elk Grove on July 24 for the A’s watch party against the Houston Astros.

More than 150 fans came out to watch the A’s put on a clinic against Houston, holding the Astros to zero runs until the bottom of the seventh inning and winning the game 5-2. Participants had three chances to win prizes, including Sky River Salon tickets, an A’s straw hat and bobbleheads.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - More than 120,000 apartment units fill the Sacramento region, with a vacancy rate of about 4.2%, compared to just 0.6% for conventional homes and 1% or less for manufactured home parks, according to data from Apartments.com, the U.S. Census Bureau, and state housing reports.

This contrast raises a pressing question: Why have apartment developments surged while single-family and manufactured homes, which have far tighter occupancy and potentially greater long-term value, remain underbuilt?

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - More than 80 West Sacramento Little Leaguers participated in a three-day baseball camp, hosted by Nike and in partnership with the Athletics baseball club at Cosumnes River College on July 8 through July 10. 

Little leaguers of all ages and divisions received free apparel such as a Nike hat and t-shirt for participating...