Latest news with #WiltonRancheria
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Elk Grove to consider flying Wilton Rancheria tribal flag outside City Hall
Elk Grove City leaders on Wednesday will consider approving the raising of a new flag outside City Hall. The Wilton Rancheria, which owns Sky River Casino, is asking the city to begin flying its tribal flag outside Elk Grove City Hall. Currently, the only flags allowed there are the U.S. flag, the California state flag, and Elk Grove's city flag. The tribe recently purchased the majority ownership of the Sacramento Republic FC. "We are proud of the partnerships that we have built with Elk Grove," said Jesus Tarango, the chairman of Wilton Rancheria. Wilton Rancheria has worked closely with the city in the past and at the beginning of each city council meeting, a statement is read as a reminder that Elk Grove is located in the tribe's ancestral territory. "We honor, respect and acknowledge Elk Grove's first inhabitants, the Plain Miwoks," said Elk Grove Vice Mayor Sergio Robles.. "There is a flag code," said William Franco, a commander of the Veterans Affiliated Council. Franco said there's no rule against flying a sovereign nation's flag next to Old Glory, but certain conditions must be met. "There's nothing that prohibits that," Franco said. "It's just you want to make sure that ours is the uppermost." If approved, the tribal flag would be displayed on a new 25-foot-tall flagpole that would be lower than the U.S. flag and at the same level as the California flag. It would be flown year-round, 24 hours a day. "If that's something that the local community wants, then they should have that," Franco said. It's a new, unwavering effort to honor sacramento's only federally recognized Native American tribe. "We know that you are committed to not only our city but the entire region. These are your lands," Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said. Tribal flag supporters are hoping to raise it for the first time at City Hall during November's Native American Heritage Month.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sacramento Launches Task Force to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
( — Sacramento officials have announced the formation of the Sacramento Regional Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Task Force, marking a historic collaboration between local law enforcement and tribal leadership in California. 'Our communities have been calling for attention, awareness, and action for over 20 years, but today is where awareness meets action,' said Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango. The newly established task force will implement protocols for cold case reviews, improve data sharing, and conduct culturally informed investigations. 'Over 84% of American Indian and Alaska native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and they are murdered at 10 times the national average,' the Chairman adds. 'There are more than 4,200 unresolved cases of missing and murdered indigenous people in the U.S., with California ranking fifth in the nation for the most unresolved MMIP cases.' Triple A predicts record-breaking Memorial Day travel Only 9% of cases involving murdered indigenous women in California have been solved, compared to 60% of the non-native population. Local, state, and federal officials emphasized that these are not just statistics—they represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and sons. 'It's an obligation to our ancestors, who have endured unthinkable loss,' the Chairman says. Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho, a key organizer of the task force, underscored its significance: 'It is a promise to every Indigenous child growing up today that their lives will be valued.' Christina Kazhe, Attorney General of Wilton Rancheria, notes how widespread the crisis is. 'You could talk to any person here today, and they know somebody who has gone missing or been murdered.' That's especially true for Wilton Rancheria Tribal Councilwoman Annette Williams, whose niece, Angel Baby, was murdered in 2001. The case remains unsolved more than 20 years later. 'It's been like it was yesterday,' Williams told Fox40. 'We tried everything. We went to the police department, we put out flyers.' Two weeks ago, the family released a documentary highlighting Angel Baby's case. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said the task force will hit the ground running. 'We're reviewing some old cold cases right now, looking at things and figuring out where we can go — and really work with the tribe to address these issues.' At this time, officials have not disclosed the number of cases under active review. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Old Sacramento's Ferris wheel and replica historic schoolhouse to be removed
SACRAMENTO – Two prominent attractions in Old Sacramento will soon be going away to make room for a new children's play area, city officials say. The City of Sacramento confirmed on Tuesday that plans are in the works to remove the Ferris wheel and replica historic schoolhouse. "This transformative project is an opportunity to breathe new life into Old Sacramento, while telling a broader and more inclusive story about the people who have called this region home for generations," said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty in a statement. Efforts have been underway to rejuvenate Old Sacramento, including a recent infusion of $6 million in state and federal grants for waterfront repairs . Both the Ferris wheel and schoolhouse were meant to be temporary, officials say, although the schoolhouse ended up being somewhat of a fixture of Old Sacramento State History Park along Front Street for decades. "Contrary to popular belief, Sacramento never had a schoolhouse of this type in the historic district," said City Historian Marcia Eyman in a statement. The schoolhouse was originally built as an exhibit for U.S. bicentennial celebrations in 1976, city officials say. It's unclear what will become of the structure. The Ferris wheel arrived as part of the effort to get visitors back to Old Sacramento during the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials say the new children's play area is being designed in partnership with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and Wilton Rancheria. Construction is scheduled to start in June and is expected to run through December.
