Crime · Elk Grove, CA
A Sacramento County jury found Elk Grove resident Mark Andre Tomas Navarrete guilty on Oct. 16 of two counts of first-degree murder for the June 28, 2024 killings of his parents. Prosecutors said Navarrete used a kick scooter, mask, and gloves to enter his parents' home through a side gate, struck them in the head, and strangled them before sending fake text messages to conceal his involvement. The motive was financial: Navarrete had been defrauding relatives through fake investments, his parents had repaid his debts, and he stood to inherit half their estate. DNA evidence and the recovered scooter supported the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman, with a maximum penalty of life without parole.
Local Politics · Sacramento County
Monday, Oct. 19, was California's deadline to register to vote online or by mail for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, but residents who missed it can still register in person through conditional voter registration at county elections offices or vote centers. Under California's Voter's Choice Act, participating counties open early voting centers on Oct. 24, with other locations opening by Oct. 31. Sacramento County spokesperson Ken Casparis confirmed same-day registration and voting are available at vote centers statewide. Election officials had mailed more than 23 million ballots as of Monday, with over 1.3 million returned; concerns about USPS evening-pickup eliminations have prompted Sacramento County to encourage voters to return ballots early or use official drop boxes.
Housing & Development · Sacramento County
Environmental and recreation groups have reached a settlement with developer D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments over the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch Project, approved by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in November 2025 on roughly 2,700 acres along Scott Road near White Rock Road. The agreement reduces potential blue oak tree destruction from an initial estimate of 3,500 to 4,000 trees to a maximum of 200, and adds 1,369 acres of on-site conservation, wildlife corridors, a rodenticide ban, and habitat funding. However, the project still faces hurdles: SMUD withdrew from its power purchase agreement in January citing costs and environmental concerns, and a separate lawsuit by a local tribe remains pending.
Transportation · Elk Grove, CA
All southbound lanes of Highway 99 were closed in Elk Grove near Laguna Boulevard shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, due to a jackknifed big rig blocking all lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol South Sacramento. Caltrans diverted all vehicles off the highway at Laguna Boulevard and advised drivers to use alternate routes. The cause of the crash and any injuries were not immediately known, and no estimated reopening time was provided.
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Local Politics · Elk Grove, CA
Michael Vargas, seeking the Elk Grove Unified School District Area 2 Board of Education seat, reported raising $18,975 between July 1 and Sept. 19, with $39,610 in cash on hand as of the Sept. 24 filing. Major contributors include IBEW Local 340 PAC ($5,000), Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen ($1,000), and several Sacramento-area labor and Democratic organizations. Republican opponent Kirk Thomson faced withdrawn endorsements after Elk Grove News reported on social media posts considered offensive to people with disabilities. Voting is underway ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Local Politics · Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove has named Andrea Cortez, previously the Police Department's Real-Time Information Center manager overseeing the city's automatic license plate reader program, as its new deputy city manager. Cortez joined the city in 2011 and also worked in the Finance Department and Police Department records division. In her new role, effective Monday, Oct. 19, she will oversee public affairs, District 56, civic innovation and sustainability teams, lead special projects, and advise City Manager Jason Behrmann. Her base salary is $191,000. The position became vacant when former deputy city manager Kara Reddig left in May to become Lodi's city manager.
Local Politics · Elk Grove, CA
The Omochumne-Hartnell Water District is seeking Sacramento LAFCO approval to annex approximately 33,000 acres of agricultural land west of Highway 99 and south of Elk Grove's sphere of influence. Separately, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Vice Mayor Darren Suen, and Councilmembers Rod Brewer and Sergio Robles have endorsed John Moua for a seat on the Florin Resource Conservation District board, which oversees the Elk Grove Water District. The Sacramento Area Sewer District's Harvest Water project, estimated at $597 million, aims to deliver up to 50,000 acre-feet of recycled water annually to agricultural lands and habitats in southern Sacramento County. The article raises questions about governance transparency and future water supply as Elk Grove approaches 200,000 residents.
Local Politics · Sacramento, CA
Rep. Doris Matsui and political newcomer Eric Jones reported millions of dollars in personal campaign funding in federal filings released Thursday. Jones, a former venture capitalist running for the 4th Congressional District against Rep. Mike Thompson, has contributed roughly $10 million to his race, with about $4.7 million coming between July 1 and Sept. 30. Matsui, who has held her Sacramento-area seat since 2005, has spent $2.9 million of personal money—including three loans—on her race against progressive challenger Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang in the 7th Congressional District. The 7th district covers downtown Sacramento, Elk Grove, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills; the 4th spans parts of nine Northern California counties.
Community News · Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove residents have a packed week ahead with multiple city commission meetings, cultural festivals, and community events from October 19 through October 30. Highlights include the City Council Meeting on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m., Diwali – Festival of Lights on Oct. 22, The Dia de los Muertos Experience on Oct. 23, and Hallopalooza and Trunk-or-Treat alongside a Fall Festival on Oct. 30. Advisory committees covering trails, diversity and inclusion, disability services, and arts and creative economy also meet during the week.
Nearby · Transportation · Sacramento County
The Freeport Bridge, connecting South River Road near Clarksburg in Yolo County to Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento County, will be closed weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Nov. 2 through Nov. 30 for structural steel weld repairs on the bridge deck. Sacramento County crews will perform the work, contracted through Accelerated Construction and Metal LLC, with costs shared between Sacramento and Yolo counties. Travelers heading to or from Clarksburg will be detoured through West Sacramento to the north or via Highway 160 and the Paintersville Bridge to the south. The repairs were moved from overnight hours to daytime because colder temperatures and higher moisture at night could compromise weld quality. Work remains weather-dependent, and motorists should expect delays and follow flagger instructions.
Nearby · Local Politics · Sacramento, CA
Affordable California 2026, a Texas-based super PAC registered with the FEC on Aug. 25, has spent $485,800 in independent expenditures targeting Sacramento City Council member Mai Vang in the Nov. 3 congressional race against 10-term Rep. Doris Matsui in California's 7th Congressional District. The committee raised $500,000 through Sept. 30 and aired a television ad stating "Mai Vang can't deliver here. Won't deliver in Congress," while its website criticizes Vang's board-meeting attendance, budget votes, and prior role as a Sacramento City Unified School District trustee. The PAC's quarterly financial report was due Oct. 15, but the identities of contributors funding the Texas-based operation could not be independently established from publicly accessible records.
