The following is the March 4 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Yolo County email newsletter, by reporter Daniel Hennessy and the team at Yolo Local. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
Sign Up for the Yolo County Newsletter
Stay in-the-know on all things Yolo! Weekly email with stories and insights from Yolo County reporter Daniel Hennessy.
Hey, it’s Daniel! Let’s dive in.
In today’s Yolo County newsletter, we head to the upper reaches of Putah Creek, where local fly fishing guides and anglers return to a beloved resource after laying down their rods for the winter.
We also hear how the Winters City Council is moving toward the establishment of an “entertainment zone” that would allow customers of downtown businesses to walk on streets and sidewalks with alcoholic drinks.
We’ll also feature Tuesday’s PBS KVIE News Minute, which covers the deadly e-bike crash in Davis this week.
We’ve teamed up with Yolo Local, a civic media initiative of Davis Media Access, to bring you this weekly newsletter. Here’s what you need to know today:
STORY OF THE WEEK
Upper Putah Creek’s native strain of rainbow trout has reached near mythical status in the world of fly fishing.
BY DANIEL HENNESSY | dhennessy@kvie.org
In short: A contingent of local guides and anglers observe a voluntary fishing closure on Putah Creek between December and March to allow the fish to spawn undisturbed. Now, they’ve returned to the far southwestern edge of Yolo County to fish the 8-mile stretch upstream from Lake Solano.
A bit more: Catching a fish on the upper section of Putah Creek requires commitment, knowledge and a willingness to get skunked — repeatedly.
IN THE NEWS
Winters considers a downtown ‘entertainment zone’ for to-go alcoholic drinks
PBS KVIE News Minute: 1 bicyclist dead, e-bike rider injured after collision on Davis trail
Abridged partners with Yolo Local to serve residents with community-powered journalism
Thank you for reading Abridged. We are here and our stories are free because people like you donate to PBS KVIE to keep our Yolo County strong. Join in — start donating at $10/month to keep it coming.
DISPATCHES FROM THE FARM
Agriculture is a central part of life in Yolo County, so I’ll be checking in each week with a farmer or rancher for the latest ag updates. What are the people who produce our food thinking about?
This week, David Christler, a farm manager in Yolo County, is keeping us in the loop:
- The soil in much of the county is still wet, so a lot of local farmers are holding off on working it too hard until it dries out. Working the wet ground can be tricky, as the dirt tends to come up in big, heavy slabs instead of fine soil.
- Those paying attention are likely to see more John Deere-style tractors out and about as farmers prepare to cultivate the soil for crops like safflower, corn and sunflowers.
- The sunflower market, which all but disappeared over the last few years in Yolo County, is showing some signs of improvement moving into the 2026 season.
- Some tomato farmers are making their first cultivation passes on their fields ahead of planting.
- On David’s farm, asparagus is about ready for its first cutting, with harvest still about six weeks away.
HEARING FROM YOU
The best way to learn about a place is to listen to the people who know and love it. Each week, we’ll feature a quote or tip from a community member that captures a slice of life in our county. Write to me with something interesting or ask a question about Yolo County!
Thanks to Daniel Halbach for this week’s community highlight:
“I love the fact that Woodland has an in-house coffee roaster at Gallery Coffee Roasters. I enjoy their coffee almost daily but really love being there when Ben or Diago are doing the roasting. Also love their blogs on trips to producers of green beans when they hunt for the next coffees. Just back from a trip to Guatemala. A real farm to cup place that is a unicorn.”
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
It can be hard to keep up with local government and community events, so we’ll continuously feature a few below. Have something you think we should highlight? Email me.
- UC Davis and the city of Davis will co-host a free forum with Javier Zamora, author of Solito: A Memoir, to discuss belonging in the public education system. The event is at Veterans Memorial Theatre on March 10 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- The West Sacramento City Council meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. Here’s the link to the livestream and agenda.
- Yolo CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is accepting applications for its volunteer training that starts on April 25. The organization currently has 33 children on their waitlist waiting to be matched with a volunteer. More information can be found here. The deadline to apply is April 10.
BEFORE I GO,
Thanks for coming back (and signing up) for this newsletter. Remember: I’m accountable to you. If you read a story and think there’s an angle I’m missing, I want to hear about it! Please reach out with your feedback and know that I take it seriously.
I’ll be back in your inbox next week!
Daniel Hennessy joins Abridged from the California Local News Fellowship. He’s a reporter covering Yolo County.Â