{"id":158265,"date":"2026-01-31T18:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T18:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/158265\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T18:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T18:56:11","slug":"the-observer-weekly-roundup-jan-25-31-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/158265\/","title":{"rendered":"The OBSERVER Weekly Roundup (Jan. 25-31, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>THIS WEEK\u2019S FEATURE STORIES<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/downtown-sacramento-redevelopment-project\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"603\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/EVENT_02192024_EC_-BLACK-HONORS-COLLEGE_DR-LUKE-WOOD21-e1769819814420-603x490.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120414\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/downtown-sacramento-redevelopment-project\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Meta Invest $50 Million To Expand Sacramento State Campus And Redevelop Downtown Sacramento<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/williamena-kwapo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Williamena Kwapo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Governor Gavin Newsom and Meta are joining forces to give downtown Sacramento a big makeover. They\u2019re planning to turn some old state buildings into a lively new district with housing, a hotel, and even an AI Center. Sacramento State is set to lead this exciting project, aiming to boost the local economy and community.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlk-legacy-awards-honors-leaders-advancing-dr-kings-dream\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Event_01162026_RA_MLKJR_LegacyAwards-08762.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120039\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlk-legacy-awards-honors-leaders-advancing-dr-kings-dream\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLK Legacy Awards Honors Leaders Advancing Dr. King\u2019s Dream<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/neenma-ebeledike\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Neenma Ebeledike<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Over the weekend, folks came together at a special luncheon to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s birthday. They celebrated the amazing work of leaders like Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang and youth advocate Greg King. It was all about remembering Dr. King\u2019s dream and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/longtime-sacramento-activist-helen-rainwater-passes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-at-11.33.08-AM-e1769543851154-610x395.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120202\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/longtime-sacramento-activist-helen-rainwater-passes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Longtime Sacramento Activist Helen Rainwater Passes<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/sacobserver\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Observer Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Helen Rainwater, who passed away at 80, was an incredible woman who spent her life fighting for social justice and serving her community. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and her dedication to civil rights and women\u2019s equality left a lasting impact. Her life, from her early days in Seattle to her work in Sacramento, is a true inspiration.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlk-365-march-urges-year-round-action-through-campaign365\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769885769_742_Event_01192026_RA_MLK365_MarchfortheDream-09245.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120217\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlk-365-march-urges-year-round-action-through-campaign365\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLK 365 March Urges Year-Round Action Through Campaign365<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/williamena-kwapo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Williamena Kwapo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Every year, Sacramento comes together for the MLK 365 March for the Dream, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year\u2019s march was all about continuing his work with year-round efforts. It was a heartfelt event with people from all walks of life, showing that his message of unity and justice is still going strong.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/covered-california-californians-encouraged-to-enroll-in-health-insurance-by-jan-31-deadline\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Terri-Littleton.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120254\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/covered-california-californians-encouraged-to-enroll-in-health-insurance-by-jan-31-deadline\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Covered California: Californians Encouraged To Enroll In Health Insurance By Jan. 31 Deadline<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/sacobserver\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Observer Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With the open-enrollment period ending soon, Covered California and Rep. Doris Matsui are making sure everyone in California knows how to get affordable health insurance. They met with the Sacramento community to talk about the importance of having coverage, especially with all the changes and debates going on. This is a big deal for folks who need to sign up or renew their plans by the January 31 deadline.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlks-unfinished-fight-for-global-economic-justice\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Clayborne-Carson.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120260\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/mlks-unfinished-fight-for-global-economic-justice\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLK\u2019s Unfinished Fight For Global Economic Justice<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/williamena-kwapo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Williamena Kwapo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Clayborne Carson, a top historian and close friend of Coretta Scott King, shares some eye-opening insights about Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s final years. He talks about how King\u2019s work went beyond civil rights to focus on global poverty and economic justice. Carson\u2019s thoughts give us a fresh take on King\u2019s legacy and what he was really aiming for before his untimely death.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/elk-grove-community-breakfast-honors-dr-kings-legacy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MLK-BREAKFAST-RS-01172026-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120232\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/elk-grove-community-breakfast-honors-dr-kings-legacy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Elk Grove Community Breakfast Honors Dr. King\u2019s Legacy<\/a>By <a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/author\/neenma-ebeledike\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Neenma Ebeledike<\/a><\/p>\n<p>People came together at Elk Grove\u2019s Center at District 56 for a special Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast. Hosted by the National Action Network and the City of Elk Grove, the event had some powerful speakers like Rev. Dr. Tecoy Porter and California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber. It was all about honoring Dr. King\u2019s legacy and thinking about how we can make our communities better.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/this-weeks-observer-audio-edition-jan-25-31-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/audio-edition-jan-31.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120426\"  \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/this-weeks-observer-audio-edition-jan-25-31-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This Week\u2019s OBSERVER \u2013 Audio Edition (Jan. 25-31, 2026)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here we bring you a curated selection of the week\u2019s most compelling news narratives, delivered in a convenient audio format. Dive into the headlines that matter, from gripping local stories to events that shape our world and our community.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sacobserver.com\/2026\/01\/weekly-outings-with-the-observer-151\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"286\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769885771_616_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-120279\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THIS WEEK\u2019S FEATURE STORIES Meta Invest $50 Million To Expand Sacramento State Campus And Redevelop Downtown SacramentoBy Williamena&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[121,123,122],"class_list":{"0":"post-158265","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sacramento","8":"tag-sacramento","9":"tag-sacramento-headlines","10":"tag-sacramento-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}