Scott Rodd
State Government Reporter

Scott Rodd previously covered government and legal affairs for the Sacramento Business Journal. Prior to the Business Journal, Scott worked as a freelance reporter in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., contributing to the Washington Post, New York Times, Stateline, the New York Observer and Next City. Scott grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and studied English literature at Susquehanna University.
Cal Fire fumbles key responsibilities to prevent catastrophic wildfires despite historic budget
June 21, 2022
A months-long investigation from The California Newsroom examined Cal Fire’s efforts to prevent catastrophic wildfires, ahead of what could be another devastating fire season.
Here's what we know about California primary election results
June 7, 2022
Governor Gavin Newsom will face Republican state Senator Brain Dahle in November, among other results in statewide contests throughout California. In most of these races, the top two vote-getters will move on to the general election in November.
Three Democrats square off to represent Sacramento in the state Senate
May 23, 2022
The district includes the city of Sacramento and its surrounding neighborhoods, stretching north to Elverta and south to Elk Grove.
California will close its central COVID-19 lab, cancel $1.7 billion contract with PerkinElmer
April 20, 2022
The Valencia Branch Laboratory struggled with “significant deficiencies” since opening in late 2020.
Newsom hailed this 'critical' wildfire-prevention program. Two years on, it hasn't completed a single project
April 12, 2022
In late 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new program to dramatically speed up the state’s wildfire prevention work. But an investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found the program hasn’t resulted in a single completed project.
Resources available for families of victims and the Sacramento community after downtown mass shooting
April 4, 2022
Resources are available for the families of those killed or injured, as well as people in the community affected by this weekend's mass shooting in downtown Sacramento.
Sacramento police search for multiple shooters after 6 killed, 12 injured downtown
April 3, 2022
Sacramento Police are searching for multiple shooters from an early Sunday morning shooting in downtown Sacramento that left six people dead.
In the face of natural disasters, amateur radio groups fill communications void in rural California
March 10, 2022
As California spends big on high-tech disaster solutions, rural communities are embracing the century-old technology of two-way radios as a failsafe.
Amid omicron surge, Newsom administration again taps border wall company for COVID-19 staffing
February 2, 2022
The company SLSCO pivoted to medical staffing during the pandemic, after building stretches of border wall between California and Mexico under the Trump administration.
COVID tests, exposures complicate California Legislature’s first week
January 6, 2022
Less than a week into the new year and the start of California’s legislative session, COVID-19 has sidelined a handful of lawmakers, including the Assembly speaker.