The VIBE Foundation raised more than $22,000 for its upcoming VIBE teen lounge Monday at a fundraiser in The Verge art gallery. The lounge, which is planned to open in June, will be run by, and for, teens. It will be the first of its kind in the world, said VIBE Foundation President David Schenirer. Schenirer said the inspiration came two years ago when he realized that there is nothing for teenagers to do in Sacramento. "We decided to open a teen lounge - a place where teens can go have fun and get resources," said the 18-year-old. VIBE co-founder Julian Nagler, also 18, said the two of them visited many teen clubs in Sacramento and found a recurring problem. "Teens don't want to go

The annual Tet Festival was packed with more meaning than usual this year. This year's festival, which celebrates the Vietnamese new year with food, dance and carnival rides, among other festivities, also featured the official designation of Little Saigon. The two-mile stretch of Stockton Boulevard between Fruitridge and Florin roads is home to a large Vietnamese community. The official designation of the area came Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Stockton Boulevard and Fowler Avenue. The title is the result of a recently passed City Council resolution. More than 200 people attended the ceremony, including the Little Saigon Committee, City Councilman Kevin McCarty, and

Helping to save $20 million in local federal stimulus money, the state of California on Thursday ponied up $31 million in Prop. 1B funding for projects connected to Sacramento's future regional transportation center. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the city of Sacramento told the California Transportation Commission this week that the city would lose the federal stimulus funds unless the agency paid out the Prop. 1B money as promised, said Erik Johnson, SACOG spokesman. The bulk of the $31 million will be used for a $60 million railroad track relocation, the first phase of the train station and public transit center being built in the 244-acre historic railyards adjacent t

The California State Assembly stripped $10 million that had been earmarked for the future California Unity Center from an $11 billion state water bond proposal early Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento had requested the money for the center to be built on 16th Street. He defended the provision Tuesday, but agreed to its being slashed from the water bond early Wednesday after its inclusion was stalling the bond from passing in the Assembly, confirmed Nathan Barankin, a Steinberg spokesman. Minutes later, the bond passed. The session continued until nearly dawn. Later Wednesday, Steinberg told reporters he'd realized the $10-million earmark was threatening t

Wednesday, June 17 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Comcast will be holding a high school recognition ceremony on the north steps of the Capitol. Last year the company gave out an average of $1,000 to over 150 12th grade students for higher education. Noon-2 p.m. Ten people from the California Department of Public Health will be manning a public safety booth on the west steps of the Capitol. They will be passing out informational handouts. Thursday, June 18 11 a.m-2 p.m. California Department of Social Services' Multicultural Commission will be holding a World Fair event in the Department of Social Services' quad area. 150 participants are expected to attend. Friday, June 19 10:30 a.m.- Noon Hands in

Saturday, May 30 7 a.m.-1 p.m. The Kings of Queens motorcycle club will be holding a walk-a-thon fundraising event for breast cancer near the south steps of the Capitol. The event is expected to draw 500 participants. 10 a.m.- Noon Forty people will be participating in a prayer rally for California Department of Corrections prisoners, parolees and personnel. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Senator Darrell Steinberg's office will be holding a ceremony honoring graduates. 500 people are expected on the south steps of the Capitol. According to a press release from the Senator's office: "Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) will hold a special recognition ceremony this Saturday at 11

It may be the best kept secret in politics: there's a statewide special election on May 19th that could have a greater impact on Sacramento's schools, fire stations, and budget than anything they're doing down at City Hall. This special election is all about the state budget: the gaping $58 billion hole, and how the Governor and Legislature will go about fixing it. It includes new taxes, shifting of funds, the payback of funds to schools, and "modernizing" the state lottery so that it brings in more cash. Led by Sacramento's own State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the California Teachers Association (CTA), and the California Professional Firefighters Association, the pro-re

It was so packed at Social Night Club on Monday night that it was impossible not to rub elbows with a politician. 1,500 people showed up to celebrate and shake hands with one man, new Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. On December 1, inside the walls of the Capitol, a Sacramentan was sworn in as the Senate President pro Tem. The last time the state saw a Senate President pro Tem from Sacramento was in 1882. Caliph Assagai, who was a field crew chief for the Kevin Johnson for mayor campaign said, "I think people have a renewed sense of leadership in Sacramento, having the president pro tem of the Senate be from our city having a new mayor who's going to bring a lot of energy into