Sacramento headlines this week: HeroRats, SCUSD budget crisis and more

Here’s a quick look at the stories that shaped the past several days in the capital region, including the Sacramento Zoo’s debut for rats that sniff out landmines to a downtown Woodland pharmacy hit with anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism.

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• The Sacramento Zoo welcomed three African giant pouched rats — known as “HeroRats” — trained by Belgian nonprofit APOPO to sniff out explosives, tuberculosis and trafficked wildlife products, with a public debut party Thursday morning. Zookeepers plan to showcase the rats’ abilities at the zoo’s amphitheater, and the first 500 guests at the new interactive habitat will receive a limited-edition sticker honoring the rodents.

• Corner Drug Co., a 129-year-old family-owned pharmacy in downtown Woodland that displayed LGBTQ+ support signs, had its storefront glass shattered and an anti-LGBTQ+ slur spray-painted across it Saturday night, prompting a Woodland Police Department investigation into bias-motivated vandalism.

• Sacramento City Unified School District is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, with a projected $510 million deficit for 2027-28 and a required $150 million in cash solutions by June 2027 to avoid state receivership and an emergency loan.

• Despite the Sacramento County Office of Education’s July 31 rescission of a labor agreement between the district and its teachers union, the district’s $20.6 million reimbursement request from its retiree health trust has been finalized by CalPERS, though the check has not yet been sent.

• Looking ahead to fall Friday nights, The Sacramento Bee spotlighted 25 top returning defensive playmakers for the 2026 high school football season, including Golden Sierra’s Mason Towne with 149 tackles in 2025 and Franklin’s Dunedin Tupou with 145 tackles.