The city’s Planning Commission approved the use of 5.38 acres of land on the edge of the Sacramento River for the development of the Powerhouse Science Center – a project that will transform the historic Pacific Gas & Electric power station into a high-tech, hands-on, science museum. The $50 million project was unanimously approved at the Planning Commission meeting Thursday. The Powerhouse project, a design-build project by local firms Dreyfus & Blackford Architects and Otto Construction, will be a relocation and expansion of the existing Sacramento Discovery Museum Science and Space Center located on Auburn Boulevard. “The new (science) center will provide clear ways for us to explore

  Gas rises from a hole where construction crews accidentally damaged two gas lines at T & 6th Streets this afternoon just south of Downtown Sacramento while digging to install storm drain lines. Sacramento Fire Department  responded as a level Two Hazmat  and up to fifteen homes and one business were evacuated.  Evacuations and street closures extended up to one block in all directions of the gas leak while PG & E worked to turn off the leaking gas.  Once PG & E arrived on scene, it took over two hours for the leak to be stopped and residents allowed back into their homes.   There were no firefighter or civilian injuries and all evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes

Sacramento's Discovery Museum and its partners could use the community's help as they vie for $7 million in state grants to build the Powerhouse Science Center, supporters said Wednesday. Fundraisers working on behalf of the museum and Carson Development Co. are asking Sacramentans to write letters to California State Parks supporting an application for the single biggest chunk of public money being sought for the $50 million project. The city of Sacramento and PG&E are partnering on the project. The $7 million would be used to build an earth, science and space center with a planetarium dome, which may be the first phase of construction. The money was applied for under California Propos

On Wednesday, April 7 at 5:30 PM, Sacramento's Preservation Commission will meet at City Hall, 915 I Street, in the main council chambers. In addition to other agenda items, they will hear staff reports and provide direction regarding the four projects proposed for the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street. Due to changes in the way the Preservation Commission reviews projects, and due to the relatively low number of hearings in recent months, the Preservation Commission does not meet every month. The April 7 meeting will be the first held in 2010; the others were canceled because there were no scheduled hearings. The general public first viewed the projects proposed for the 700/800 blocks of K

As someone who enjoys fun and festive community events, I am more than happy to report on one of the best events in the area that took place over the weekend, the Black Expo. This was my second visit to the annual expo, which is held during Black History Month and provides a means of networking and showcasing the best of black business and culture. I was eager to see what had changed between last year and this. I heard from some who can remember the expo's past, and it is heartening to learn that it has come a long way since it began 14 years ago. No longer an obscure event with little fanfare or sponsorship, the Black Expo welcomed thousands of people over the weekend. More than 100 spo

An unoccupied South Oak Park home explodes Sunday morning and the cause is under investigation. An unoccupied home in the South Oak Park area exploded early Sunday morning. Debris from the home blew all the way out to the street. The home was a total loss and while the cause is under investigation, natural gas has not been ruled out. Per Sac City Fire, the home was a total loss and no one was injured. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SCENE VIDEO Visit us at Maverick Photography and SacMav for the action news the News misses  

The Powerhouse Science Center is looking for a few good founding partners. The Discovery Museum is trying to recruit private investors who can provide seed money to help build a $50 million "iconic" riverfront science and space museum hoped to rival some of the nation's biggest science museums. The new, expanded museum is being developed to provide adventurous, hands-on science and math education to boost kids' interest in the subjects and to help draw high-tech companies — while launching the kind of serious waterfront development that's been talked about for at least three decades, museum supporters said Tuesday. The four-acre campus would contain a museum built in the long-vacant Pac

Saturday, August 29, at 10 a.m. Sacramento Habitat for Humanity and Sacramento community members will gather to dedicate the Thor family home at 2954 Connie Drive in Sacramento. The Thor family has put in 500 hours of sweat equity alongside community volunteers and other Habitat families. The Thor family home was made possible by a $75,000 sponsorship from the California State Employees Charitable Campaign. This simple, decent home includes environmentally friendly, money saving solar panels thanks to a grant from PG&E. Habitat for Humanity serves families earning 30 percent – 50 percent of the Sacramento County area median income. According to the 2000 US Census Bureau, in Sacramento Cou

Random hanging pairs of shoes on power lines has always been a source of confusion for me. I attempted to solve this mystery by calling the Sacramento Police Department, PG&E and SMUD. According to Sgt. Darrell Martin, the hanging shoes are not a sign of gang activity, at least not from local gangs. Brian Swanson, spokesperson for PG&E, told me that the hanging shoes could cause two major problems: 1. The shoes can weigh the wires down which can impact traffic. Tall trucks such as garbage trucks may snag the wires and cause power outages. 2. The shoes can also bring the two wires together which can short circuit the wires and cause damage to the electrical equipment on power poles, suc