$1.2M settlement, firefighters flip home. The Sacramento Bee’s top stories July 7

The Sacramento Bee published three notable local stories on July 7, 2026, spanning law enforcement, education and public safety accountability.

Read more District attorneys, lawmakers celebrate changes to mental health diversion law

Here’s a quick digest:

• Sacramento County paid a $1.2 million settlement to Ourania Thimmhardy, an elderly woman who suffered a fractured femur after Deputy Matthew Gurich shoved her onto the sidewalk outside the Main Jail in October 2024. Sheriff Jim Cooper fired Gurich, who now faces felony assault charges with a court date set for July 24.

• A Granite Oaks Middle School teacher caught on video urinating into a container in his classroom in February remains employed by the Rocklin Unified School District, public records show. Rocklin Police documented the incident but filed no criminal charges.

• Two Sacramento Fire Department captains, Douglas Muraki and Michael Mora, bought the home of a vulnerable elderly woman they met on a 911 call, then flipped it for a $260,000 gross profit while using city time and equipment on renovations. A city investigation found their actions met the definition of fraud and abuse, but both remain employed by the department.