A non-partisan think tank examines how a series of winter storms exposed the shortfalls in California’s crisis communications. A preview of Dine Downtown in Sacramento.  A non-alcoholic bar offers a sober social space in Sacramento. UC Davis professors discuss the history and science behind tea.  


Crisis communication

The past three weeks of extraordinary weather have perhaps changed our perspective of comfortable or bearable while we long for sunshine. While some overdue dry and sunny conditions are forecasted this week there is still significant damage, cleanup, and loss. The series of atmospheric rivers forced the evacuations of tens of thousands of residents and claimed at least 20 lives throughout the state. Although our snowpack and overall precipitation totals are well above average for this time of year, there are learning lessons about getting current emergency information out to the public and shortcomings about the technology we rely on daily. Dr. Jeffrey Mount, a Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, joined Insight in his firsthand experience with these shortcomings and what can be done. 

Dine Downtown

It's been a wet and cold January, and going out to dinner may not have been a high priority for many these last few weeks, including the fact that everything seems to be getting more expensive. But over 30 restaurants are joining together to entice you back to downtown Sacramento with a deal that is hard to beat. Madelyn Smith, Communications Manager for Downtown Sacramento Partnership, joined Insight to give a preview of  Dine Downtown which runs until Jan. 22.  Amanda Brincat and Kathryn Altman with The Teetotalist, a non-alcoholic pop-up bar in Sacramento, also joined Insight to discuss their sober social space and specialty alcohol-free drinks.   

History and science of tea

The origins of tea date back millennia, the best estimate is nearly 5,000 years.  And as you can imagine the evolution of tea is vast and there are researchers devoted to learning about this powerful and lucrative beverage.  UC Davis Professors Jacquelyn Gervay Hague and Katharine Burnett discuss the history and science of tea ahead of The Global Tea Initiative Colloquium at UC Davis on Jan. 19.