Top 50 CBS Sacramento Stories Of 2014: 40-31
40. Big Brother, Small City: River Islands Will Feature Heavy Surveillance
A new, scenic development surrounded by winding waterways is billed as a safe haven.
Only four bridges lead in and out of the area with security checkpoints and a fiberoptic video surveillance program. Every license plate scanned on those roads will be cross-checked with a DMV database for stolen cars.
The first homes are already going up at River Islands, and the people who move in can expect to be part of a new era in policing.
Cops could also surprise suspicious individuals through remote one-way speakers—the same shown in a video of a Southern California city where cameras are set up at a park with high crime. In that video, teens scrambled after the video operator warns them the park is closed.
It's Big Brother in a small city.
The vehicle, worth nearly $700,000 didn't cost the Davis Police Department a dime, as it was acquired through a federal government surplus program. The MRAP was developed by the military for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After Pentagon budget cuts, the vehicle has been making its way to local law enforcement.
A big concern for protesters is the vehicle could be used to quash peaceful protests and demonstrations, especially in light of clashes between heavily-armored police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting death of Michael Brown.
38. DWR Cuts Allocations To Organizations Buying Water From The State
In order to protect the state's available water, the California Department of Water Resources says it has dropped the number of state water allocations to zero.
"The harsh weather leaves us little choice," said DWR Director Mark Cowin in January. "If we are to have any hope of coping with continued dry weather and balancing multiple needs, we must act now to preserve what water remains in our reservoirs."
37. Brown Vetoes Bill Limiting Drone Surveillance
Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have placed strict limits on law enforcement agencies using unmanned aerial drones for surveillance.
The governor's office announced that the bill was one of more than a dozen pieces of legislation he vetoed.
36. Dating On Duty: Officers Accused Of Screening Dates Using Police System
Court documents show that Fairfield Police Officers Stephen Ruiz and Jacob Glashoff used company time and equipment to search for women on internet dating sites.
35. State Health Department A No-Show At Yuba County Mobile Home Park With Flammable Water
Water from the hose at the Castlewood Mobile Home Park doesn't look much different from one from any old tap, but after a closer look, you'll think twice before taking a sip. Rhonda Little demonstrated the methane levels in her water by pouring a glass and setting it on fire.
34. Behaviorists: Dogs Feel No Shame Despite The Look
The next time you start shaking your finger and shouting "Shame on you!" because your dog chewed up your favorite fuzzy slippers, just remember that no matter how guilty your dog looks, it doesn't know what your rant is about.
33. Actor, Comedian Robin Williams Found Dead Inside California Home
The 63-year-old actor and comedian was found dead inside his home where he resides with his wife by Marin County Sheriff's deputies.
His personal life was often short on laughter. He had acknowledged drug and alcohol problems in the 1970s and '80s and was among the last to see John Belushi before the "Saturday Night Live" star died of a drug overdose in 1982.
"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken," said Williams' wife, Susan Schneider. "On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."
32. New Regulations Bring English-Only Requirement To Sacramento Taxicabs
Raheem doesn't speak much English, but he says he's good at his job driving a cab in Sacramento for years. He fears he may soon be out of a job.
The City Council passed new rules requiring drivers have proof of basic English skills, as well as making sure cars are eight years old or newer and that drivers wear professional clothing. The last requirement is a change from the proposed ordinance that required them to be hygienically clean.
31. Mr. G and Jellybean: A Burro And Goat Love Story Taking The Internet By Storm
It's the story of an unbreakable bond between two unlikely best friends whose equally unlikely reunion has gone viral.
Mr. G the Goat and his female friend Jellybean the Burro are truly inseparable.
Where one goes, the other is sure to follow.
"He does not let her more than 10 feet," said Jan Galeazzi at Animal Place. "His eyes are glued on her at all times."
The unlikely pair spent a decade in a 12-by-12 dirt plot with little food and water with no shade, shed or barn. They were rescued from a life of neglect in Southern California, but they were split up and sent to different sanctuaries.
