Sacramento news roundup: climber death, hotel tax fraud, health bill, worker benefits

From a fatal fall in the Sierra Nevada to a seven-figure tax penalty in Woodland, California made headlines across public safety, government and health. Here’s a quick look at the top stories you may have missed.

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• A California climber who set a Yosemite speed record has died after a fall in the Sierra Nevada, park officials said. Jacob “Jake” Whisenant, 30, died from blunt force trauma injuries after a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness on Aug. 2, according to the National Park Service. Whisenant made headlines in 2024 when he and Brant Hysell climbed El Capitan’s 2,000-foot Lurking Fear route in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 32 seconds.

• A Woodland hotel was ordered to pay more than $1 million in back taxes and penalties after missing more than 30 monthly payments between May 2023 and June 2026. Shadow Oaks Hospitality Inc., which operates the Best Western Shadow Inn, collected hotel taxes from customers but made only three monthly payments during the nearly three-year period, with none since October 2023. The Woodland City Council voted 4-0 last week to uphold a 25% fraud penalty, agreeing the company knowingly withheld the collected taxes.

• A bill requiring California to consider adding preventative health instruction to public school curricula is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk after passing unanimously in the Senate and Assembly. Senate Bill 1133, the Ready to Learn, Ready for Health Act, would add materials on nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management and screen use to the Health Education Framework for grades 1-12. If signed, the new materials would be incorporated into the framework in 2027.

• California state workers will see faster access to mental health and other services under a new employee assistance program contract with Spring Health that took effect last month. Workers are now guaranteed healthcare access within two days, down from wait times that could reach six weeks under previous provider Magellan, said California Department of Human Resources spokesperson Angela Musallam in a statement. California signed a three-year deal capped at $16.7 million per fiscal year, up from the $4.3 million annual Magellan contract, though the new agreement includes broader services such as legal and financial assistance.