This upcoming Monday, November 15, 2010 a very special guest will be visiting Sacramento State for Global Entrepreneurship Week, Sacramento. The Co-Founder of Sacramento Press Ben Ilfeld! If you don’t know much about Mr. Ilfeld or you’ve always wanted to know how Sacramento Press got started maybe you should come? It’s free and open to all! A little bit of Mr. Ben Ilfeld’s biography, Ben Ilfeld co-founded Sacramento Press and formed a hyperlocal media coalition called Sacramento Local Online Advertising Network. Ben focuses on operations and sets the vision and operational processes for the online media outlet. Ben defines the business and technology road map for the organization and w

1:11 a.m. update final results The ballot counting is far from over. The Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Department still has to count tens of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots that were turned in to the polls Election Day, said Brad Buyse, Sacramento County’s campaign services manager. And there are thousands of vote-by-mail ballots sent to the county in the last three days that still need to be counted, Buyse said. Still, the elections department posted results late into the night on Wednesday. Here is where the following local measures stand: Measure B: Utilities Rollback The “no” side had 68 percent of the vote, with 93 percent of precincts reporting. Support fo

Sacramento voters will decide Tuesday whether to set a business tax on local medical marijuana dispensaries. Under Measure C, medical marijuana dispensaries in Sacramento could pay as high as 4 percent of their gross receipts per year in business operations taxes. Meanwhile, most Sacramento businesses already pay $.40 for every $1,000 of gross receipts per year, according to Mark Prestwich, a special projects manager for the city. These businesses don’t pay any more than $5,000 total in business operations taxes. Measure C would not change the rates for non-marijuana businesses. But if Measure C passed, medical marijuana businesses would be assessed a higher rate of $40 for every $1,000

Two Sacramento County sheriff’s captains are in their final weekend of campaigning for sheriff. Voters will decide on Tuesday whether Sheriff Capt. Scott Jones or Sheriff Capt. Jim Cooper should replace outgoing Sheriff John McGinness. Jones sat down with The Sacramento Press on Friday morning in Carmichael to discuss his ideas and qualifications. Read The Sacramento Press’ interview with Cooper here. SP: In your view, what are a few of the most pressing public safety issues in the county? SJ: We have a lot of pressing problems. Of course, everything is overarched by the budget. It’s not just a question of what I would like to do, it’s a question of what we can do within our budgetary

Monday, Oct. 18, is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 2 general election. Citizens can find the voter registration form here. People who have moved, changed their names or selected a new political party must re-register to vote, according to the Sacramento County Register of Voters. Photo by Suzanne Hurt. Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

The second annual LAUNCH showcase hit the Artisan Building Saturday for a night full of music, design, art and fashion. Artists and designers from Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco flocked to LAUNCH to show off their stuff, and the turnout looks even more promising for next year. Designers of clothes and jewelry hung out in the outside venue, presenting handcrafted jewelry, buttons and clothing. Most vendors had mainly vintage jewelry and clothes, some more unique than others. The outdoors also contained several booths from locals who handcraft jewelry and trinkets and sold vintage clothing, as well as live music. “Launch really seemed like a good vibe,” jewelry artist

The final Sacramento City Council election results did not yield any last-minute statistical miracles. Furthermore, a Sacramento city clerk’s predictions about City Council runoffs proved true: The leading two candidates in Districts 5 and 7 will compete in a Nov. 2 runoff election. The county elections office finished counting ballots from the June 8 election on Wednesday. Candidates Jay Schenirer and Patrick Kennedy will run for the District 5 seat, while candidates Darrell Fong and Ryan Chin will square off in District 7. Incumbent District 1 City Councilman Ray Tretheway lost his battle against challenger Angelique Ashby — just barely. A City Council candidate needs at least 50 per

The City of Rancho Cordova has been named All-America City by a panel of judges from the National Civic League. This honor was in recognition of the City’s unusual level of community participation and pride in joining forces to improve the quality of life for its citizens. A contingent of representatives from the City, including residents, City and Community Council members and City staff gave a 10-minute presentation to the panel yesterday morning. The theme was “We Make the Magic” in a community where diverse groups pull together for the greater good of all residents and businesses. Three programs were identified in the initial application: * Project 680, a grassroots effort led by Co

Thirty-three votes divide the two local politicians fighting for a state Assembly seat in the Democratic primary. Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson currently has a tiny lead of 33 votes over City Councilman Kevin McCarty in the race for the District 9 Assembly seat. Dickinson has 35.05 percent of the vote, while McCarty has 34.93 percent. With all precincts reporting, McCarty had 9,634 votes to Dickinson’s 9,667. Jill LaVine, Sacramento County’s top election official, estimated that more than 86,000 remaining ballots still need to be counted. That total is comprised of unprocessed ballots that came to the elections office before Tuesday night, vote-by-mail ballots delivered t

There will likely be a runoff between two District 5 candidates with backgrounds in the education field, according to Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno. With all precincts counted, education policy consultant Jay Schenirer was narrowly ahead of local school board member and attorney Patrick Kennedy. Schenirer had 47 percent of the vote to Kennedy’s 34 percent. Schenirer, with 2,267 votes, doesn’t have a majority of the votes that were cast, Mizuno said. Kennedy’s vote count is 1,654. District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Oak Park and Curtis Park. The election results have not yet been certified, Brad Buyse, the county’s campaign services manager said. More than 20,000 vote-by-m

Special interest groups for and against Sacramento City Council candidate Angelique Ashby have spent large sums on mailers blasting or lauding her campaign. While business interests poured about $36,000 into campaign mailers backing Ashby, a major local union paid $23,577 on mailers attacking her.  The Sacramento Building Trades Council Political Action Committee spent $23,577 on anti-Ashby mailers, according to statements filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office and the Sacramento city clerk’s office.    Mailers from the committee depicted Mayor Kevin Johnson as a king with a crown and Ashby as a puppet. In response to questions about the attack mailers, Matt Kelly, an of

A flood of money from interest groups is being used to support City Council candidate Angelique Ashby. A committee that is separate from Ashby’s campaign contributed about $36,000 for mailers that advocate for her candidacy, according to election statements. That amount legally surpasses the contribution totals that citizens and most groups can make to candidate’s campaigns, according to Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno. The sum comes from a group with a lengthy name: Independent Expenditure Committee for Jobs and Prosperity / Sponsored by Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee. Ashby is running for the District 1 City Council seat against incumbent

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has gone from endorsing City Council candidates to asking the public to help fund their campaigns. In his May 18 blog, Johnson endorsed Angelique Ashby, Robbie Waters, Jay Schenirer and Steve Cohn. Now, he's asking the public to contribute to Ashby and Waters’ campaigns. The mayor said in his May 25 blog entry that “the opportunity to support reform candidate Angelique Ashby must not be missed.” Ashby is in a tense competition with incumbent Ray Tretheway. Efren Guttierrez also is running for the District 1 City Council seat. Tretheway did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Thursday. Johnson reached out to people outside of Ashby’s Nato

Darrell Fong, a retired Sacramento Police Department captain who is running for City Council, said he could provide a better perspective to the city and his district because he does not intend to make politics his career. The Sacramento Press is interviewing City Council candidates in advance of the June 8 election. Fong, a third-generation Sacramento resident, is running for the District 7 seat on the City Council. His opponents are incumbent Robbie Waters, and Ryan Chin and Diedre Hobart. “My goal is just to focus on the city alone and the district,” Fong said. District 7 neighborhoods include Greenhaven, Pocket and Valley Hi. Fong, 53, noted that he has lived in the Pocket neighborh

What better way to spend a sunny afternoon than on the steps of the State Capitol.  On Sunday, May 2d, the Jewish Heritage Festival drew large crowds to experience the food, culture, and arts.  The headliner, internationally known musical performer Matisyahu, shared his blend of reggae, urban beats, and flavorful world music with the crowd that not only embraced him, but also each other, thus demonstrating how, on this day at the Capitol, music was indeed the best policy.  A variety of cultural dance performers, speakers, and even the Sacramento Kings' mascot, Slamson, were on hand.

On Sunday, April 25th, the Harlem Globetrotters entered Arco Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings, and dazzled the crowd with a variety of high flying dunks and entertaining antics.  The Globetrotters are on their 2010 "Magical Memories" world tour.  For the past 84 years, they have been entertaining everyone from Presidents to Popes.  They've played over 25,000 games, and currently play an incredible 400 games per year.  In addition to playing exciting basketball, the Globetrotters interact with the audience in order to create a family-friendly event that everyone can enjoy.  Images from the game tell the story.

Democrats will carry some momentum into the 2010 elections, thanks in part to the party’s central committee, the Democratic Party of Sacramento County. The number of registered Democrats in Sacramento County has increased by 23,000 since 2008, while Republican registration has dropped by 3,000. “It was going up before 2008, too,” said Devin Lavelle, communications chair for the Democratic Party of Sacramento County. “It’s been pretty clear over the past decade that the Democratic Party lines up with most Californians’ values.” Lavelle’s group serves as a central committee for the party as well as an umbrella organization for other affiliated clubs in the area, including the Young Democr

De Vere's Irish Pub held its inaugural St. Baldrick's event Monday, raising more than $81,000 for cancer research, $10,000 of which came from De Vere's. The pub's roped-off sidewalk was packed with spectators trying to get a glimpse of local participants shaving their locks to conquer kids' cancer. De Vere's had 221 shavees lined up for their turn to get snipped. Publicly displayed on the patio, shavees winced when they felt the cold steel clippers reach deep down to the scalp. The participants' reactions caused perpetual laughter, since there was a four-barber-rotation, and each head took only a minute to shave. The crowd stirred when Shawn Eldredge, a City Council candidate for Distri

Free Videos by Ustream.TV Live Streaming by Ustream.TV Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to help make St. Baldrick's Day a success! Especially to those who shaved their locks off for the cause. 100% of the money raised will go to fund research to help end childhood cancer. Wednesday the pub will be open at 8am, and we're offering free admission until 10am. L St. will be blocked off all day long between 15th and 16th streets. There will be live music, Irish dancers, corned beef, brats, 26 beer taps, an incredible whiskey selection, and the list goes on. We'll also be interviewing local business and community leaders all day. If you can't make it to the block party,

New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and Sacramento is full of places to eat and celebrate the coming of 2010 in a romantic setting or among friends. Several restaurants in the area have specials to entice your palate on New Year's Eve. Brew It Up, 801 14th St., is offering a four-course pre-fixed menu for only $30. This includes your choice of appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert. The menu includes some regular favorites as well as new items to satisfy your hunger. Mulligatawny is an excellent soup that warms you from the inside. A live band, Dane Drewis, will perform at 9 p.m. There is a $10 cover past 9 p.m., so be sure to be there early. 58 Degrees and Holding Company, 1217 18