Crime · Yolo County
Kanwal Sahil, 29, of West Sacramento, has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and drunken driving causing injury in the Jan. 25, 2026 crash that killed 32-year-old Davis artist and associate therapist Chloe "Charlie" Borders. Yolo County prosecutors conceded incompetency Wednesday based on a psychiatrist's evaluation, and Judge Clara Levers ordered the case back to court Nov. 12 to determine placement for restoration of competency. Prosecutors allege Sahil was speeding on West Capitol Avenue in West Sacramento with a blood-alcohol level of 0.3 when he ran a red light and struck Borders' vehicle, killing her on impact. Sahil has pleaded not guilty and remains on $1 million bail at Yolo County Jail.
Education · Davis, CA
Davis Joint Unified School District presented two potential new math curriculums to its school board at an Oct. 1 meeting, both of which will be piloted for six months before a recommendation is brought back in early 2027. Executive Director of Secondary Education and Leadership Matt Duffy stated the materials are not a departure from California's Common Core framework but aim to give teachers more guidance with real-life examples. The district plans full implementation by fall 2027, targeting improved seventh- and eighth-grade math scores and smoother grade-level transitions. Feedback will be gathered from parents, students, and educators during the pilot period.
Education · Davis, CA
UC Davis will launch a four-quarter Master of Education degree and teaching credential program in July 2027, replacing its existing six-quarter MA pathway to make graduate teacher preparation more affordable amid California's ongoing teacher shortages. The program combines coursework with hands-on placements in urban, suburban, and rural K-12 districts across the Sacramento region, offering multiple-subject credentials, single-subject credentials in agriculture, English, math, science, and social science, plus bilingual authorizations in Spanish and Mandarin. Approved by the University of California in August, the program's first cohort applications are now open, with a Jan. 15 priority deadline for scholarships, a March 1 general deadline, and rolling acceptance through June 1 if space remains.
Public Safety · Yolo County
Yolo County has activated its "Ready Before It Rains" campaign to help residents prepare for the 2026–27 winter season, particularly in light of the developing El Niño pattern. County Public Works crews have cleaned roadside ditches, and the Office of Emergency Services held a preseason flood coordination workshop on September 29 with local, state, and federal partners. Residents are urged to clear gutters and culverts, create household emergency plans, stock supplies, and sign up for Alert Yolo notifications at AlertYolo.org. Governor Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency to accelerate California's flood-preparation work ahead of potential El Niño effects.
Education · Davis, CA
UC Davis received $953 million in external research awards for 2025-2026, down from over $1 billion in 2024, according to data released by the university Tuesday. Federal funding grew 10% for UC Davis while state funding fell from $209 million to $105 million, a drop attributed partly to multi-year awards being allocated as lump sums. Industry partners added $53 million in new awards. The School of Medicine received a record $439 million, and research projects span healthcare, food supply, energy, and AI education.
