Proposition 1 would allow the state to issue more than $6 billion in bonds, for supportive housing and residential treatment facilities for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. But local governments are eyeing the measure through a different lens, and what may be impacted locally. Reporters: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU and Erik Adams, North State Public Radio Prop 1 isn't the first ballot measure that's tried to help Californians who live in that overlap between homelessness and mental illness. In 2018, voters passed No Place Like Home, a proposition that committed to building thousands of affordable housing units for homeless residents experiencing mental health issues. But a new investigation from CalMatters shows it delivered only a fraction of what proponents promised. Guest: Marisa Kendall, Reporter CalMatters 

The Rogue Festival in Fresno’s Tower District showcases local talent through improv, comedy and storytelling. This year the festival will host nearly 200 performances over the course of two weekends.  One of them is a performance of the novel Latehomecomer by Hmong American author Kao Kalia Yang. Guest: Jasmine Vang, Hmong American Actor  The Sierra is glittering white. Over the last week, recent storms have added up to four feet of snow to the mountain range. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

There’s a nasty virus spreading through the U.S.  We’re not talking about COVID and we’re not even talking about humans. Avian influenza or bird flu has affected millions of birds across the country, including here in California.  And in the Central Valley, farmers have been set back months due to the loss of flock and eggs. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR The push for California to provide reparations for Black Californians is taking shape at the state capitol. Members of the legislature's Black Caucus have chosen 14 reparations bills to prioritize this year. Those range from a formal apology on behalf of California lawmakers who supported slavery, to limits on solitary confinement in state prisons. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

In the heart of California’s oil country, Kern County, more than 16,000 people work in the petroleum industry. Many of their jobs will likely disappear over the next two decades, as the state phases out oil drilling. Slashing fossil fuel emissions is part of California’s plan to combat climate change. That plan also includes burying carbon deep beneath the ground. Kern County is betting on the carbon management industry to create thousands of jobs in the region. But it's unclear if that will actually come to fruition. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California’s budget deficit has grown to $73 billion. That’s larger than a previous projection of $68 billion. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio The Supreme Court has dealt a blow to California landlords when it declined to take up a pair of cases with implications for rent control and eviction moratoriums. The cases , from New York and Seattle,  argued the policies violate landlords’ property rights. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED

California landlords would be required to accept pets under first-of-its-kind legislation introduced this month. The bill by San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney would also ban property owners from asking about pets on applications, limit pet deposits, and prohibit “pet rent” — additional monthly fees for pets. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED A new UCSF study shows that midwives can face extra obstacles operating in California, especially when they’re trying to serve some of the state’s lowest-income families.  Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters 

Some Sacramento organizations prepare people from underrepresented communities to serve in public office. That includes Nueva Epoca, which is designed to empower Latinos. Reporter: Kristin Lam, CapRadio In Temecula Valley, teachers and parents who sued the school board over a ban on critical race theory and a transgender notification policy can move forward with their case. A Riverside County Superior Court judge denied the district’s request to dismiss it.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

Advocates for letting public universities in California hire undocumented students, who don’t have federal work authorization, have gotten a boost from Sacramento. A new proposal would let all students work, regardless of immigration status, in the UC, CSU and state community college systems. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED We’ve been exploring the crisis of loneliness among Californians and finding community. We turn to the topic of friendship as one all important remedy to social isolation. Guest: Rhaina Cohen, journalist and author of the book “The Other Significant Others” 

Roughly a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, including your home. That’s why the federal government wants to give homeowners money to replace gas appliances, install solar panels and replace your windows with more efficient ones. Some developers are taking low-carbon retrofits a step further, creating zero-carbon homes. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW It’s a challenge confronting some renters in California. They want to buy an electric vehicle, but they don’t have a place to plug it in where they live. In response, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty has introduced a bill aimed at increasing access to EV charging for people who live in multi-unit housing and without garage access.  Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED 

America's growing culture wars can be seen in local politics across the state. That includes in the Orange County city of Huntington Beach, where a conservative majority on the city council has rolled back several progressive initiatives. And in March, a highly contentious measure is on the ballot. It’s a city charter amendment titled Measure 1 that if passed, would require Huntington Beach residents to show official identification when voting in-person. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Fresno judge has approved a plan to reopen bankrupt Madera Community Hospital, which has been closed for more than a year. That’s despite a reopening bid from UC San Francisco announced last week. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

Prop 47 is a 2014 ballot measure that lowered the penalties for drug possession and shoplifting from felonies to misdemeanors. Retailers and prosecutors are collecting signatures for a November ballot measure that would roll back some portions of the law. And lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills to tweak it in some way or another. But what have the impacts of the measure been? Guest: Maris Lagos, KQED California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has promised sweeping changes to try to fix the state’s insurance market and convince companies to offer more coverage. Now, he’s released proposed rule updates.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

A new immigration court opens in the Bay Area Monday. It’s part of an effort by the Biden Administration to cope with a record number of asylum seekers – and a historic backlog of 3 million cases nationwide. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Cal State faculty members start voting Monday on a deal that could raise wages and add more paid parental leave. But some CSU employees say it falls short of what their union is demanding. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist

Fast food workers are officially launching a new statewide union on Friday. This comes weeks before a new law will raise the industry’s minimum wage to $20 an hour and create a statewide Fast Food Council. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Programs dedicated to the well-being of California’s youngest residents are facing major cutbacks. That’s because a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products sharply lowered revenue that’s supposed to fund First 5 California and the early childhood services it supports.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl this weekend in Las Vegas That means thousands of Niners fans are flocking to Sin City to celebrate, and one dedicated fan is hoping to welcome them all. She started a 49ers booster club in Las Vegas.  Guest: Susan Larson, North Vegas Faithfuls 

Decades ago, the homes in a Palm Springs neighborhood known as Section 14 were deemed eyesores and officials wanted to promote tourism. So they forced out the mostly black and brown families who lived there. Crews tore down everyone’s homes, and then burned them, sometimes with people’s personal possessions still inside. The city made a public apology in 2021, but survivors are still waiting for additional support. Guests: Pearl Devers, Section 14 Survivor and Areva Martin, Civil Rights Attorney A Popeyes Chicken franchisee is paying more than $200,000 for child labor and other violations at restaurants in East Oakland, Newark and Tracy. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 

COVID eviction protections have lapsed for renters in the city of Los Angeles. Now, city outreach workers are going door-to-door,  hoping to catch renters before they’re evicted. And they’re using new data to find those most in need of help. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist  Fresno is the latest city in California to find itself on the receiving end of a bus full of asylum seekers. They were sent from Texas, victims of Governor Greg Abbott’s immigration battle with the Biden administration. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

Rain continues to fall in Southern California, which has been drenched in this latest atmospheric river. Downtown Los Angeles has seen more than seven inches of rain the last 48 hours, one of the highest two day rain totals on record.   A California law that went into effect last January said public universities have to provide medication abortions. An LAist investigation has found a patchwork of approaches to communicating that abortion pills are now available. Advocates say that’s hurting access.  Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist

Much of the worst of the latest atmospheric river has passed through Northern California. But areas of Southern California continue to be hit with heavy rain and threats of flash flooding. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California’s public universities are required to provide abortion pills to students who want them. But LAist found few universities tell students the medication is available. The lack of information caused one student weeks of anguish. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist

There are more than 1.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S. And there are also a lot of mothers out there, living with the guilt, shame and loneliness that comes with having a child in prison. In Sacramento, one mom is turning that pain into support. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report A job fair was held this week for workers laid off by a Fresno-based agricultural company. Prima Wawona, which grows and packages peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots, filed for bankruptcy in October. A few weeks ago, it warned its employees they’d all be laid off in March. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR One of the mushroom farms where a mass shooting took place in Half Moon Bay a year ago has paid more than $126,000 to federal regulators. The U.S. Department of Labor says that California Terra Garden paid $84,000 in back wages for dozens of workers, and more than $42,000 in penalties. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  

Last year, the Biden administration introduced a mobile app called CBP One. The idea was that it would help streamline the asylum process for the government agencies and the asylum seekers. But the initial version of the app was riddled with errors. While things have improved, asylum seekers are still facing challenges with the app. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS California’s new oil industry watchdog is recommending reforms to prevent spikes in gas prices at the pump.  Tai Milder heads the watchdog agency. He says the state should publish a market price report and require refineries to store a minimum amount of reserve gas. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED 

On Thursday, the City of Los Angeles ends renter protections that were implemented during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. That means tenants need to start paying back the back rent they owe to their landlords. Also, the city will start allowing rent increases in units covered through its rent stabilization program. That means some tenants who live in rent-stabilized apartments will have their rents raised for the first time in four years. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A new report says state corrections officials have used inappropriate tactics to reduce a backlog of staff misconduct cases. When a person held in a state prison files a complaint alleging staff misconduct, it’s supposed to go to the Department of corrections’ s Office of Internal Affairs or trained investigators. But a report by the state inspector general says prison officials dealt with a backlog by reclassifying hundreds of complaints as routine grievances. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  A bill that would let state legislators shield their property holdings from disclosure forms is advancing in the Legislature this week.   Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters

For the past two years, undocumented students at the University of California have campaigned to be allowed to work on campus. They argued that they were missing out on opportunities to work with professors and in labs, which could further their academic careers. But last week, UC Regents voted to halt a plan that would have allowed the university to hire them. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report The federal government is awarding California $600 million to fight homelessness. The funding represents a 14% increase over last year’s allocation to the state. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  A 2023 law made it legal for DACA recipients to become police officers in California. But a new investigation from CalMatters shows, uptake has been slow across the state.  Reporter: Justo Robles, CalMatters

The San Francisco 49ers are NFC Champions and heading to the franchise’s 8th Super Bowl. They defeated the Detroit Lions 34-31, after trailing by double digits at halftime. Reporter: Christopher Alam, KQED Journalism in Los Angeles and the entire state of California was hit with a major blow this past week. The L.A. Times laid off more than 100 journalists in its newsroom. The cuts come at a time when journalism will play a vital role in informing the public about the upcoming 2024 election. Guest: Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Newmark Center for Journalism, Ethics and Society at Columbia University Mental health counselors gained some wins in the tentative agreement between the California Faculty Association and Cal State University management. CSU said they'll make an effort to boost the ratio of counselors to students. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist

We continue our series on social isolation and the search for community in California.  One place where it can be very difficult to find community is L.A.'s Skid Row neighborhood, where many people live on the streets in squalor, as they also battle mental health and addiction problems. But the Skid Row Running Club has been a place where people can find friendship while also getting healthier.  Guest: Jeremy Price, Skid Row Running Club University of California Regents voted to suspend work on a proposal that would have allowed the university to hire students who don't qualify for federal work authorizations like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.  Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report  According to the latest numbers, more than 350, 000 Californians now get their fire insurance through California’s FAIR Plan. The number of FAIR policyholders has nearly tripled over the last five years. So why the increase? Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters

Three years ago, the Creek Fire was finally contained.  It remains California’s fifth largest blaze, after destroying nearly 400,000 acres and hundreds of homes in the Sierra Nevada east of Fresno. The three years since have been a time of healing and recovery – especially for those involved in a high-stakes rescue the first weekend of the blaze. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR  California has been closing prisons to save money. But the state’s spending 90% more per year on each prisoner kept locked up than it was a decade ago. That’s according to a new analysis from CalMatters.  Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters

A corner store in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood, that’s a crossroads of community life, is being sold. But instead of letting it get snatched up by the highest bidder, the Korean American family that runs the market has worked out a deal with a Black-led nonprofit. The move serves as a small step toward healing historic racial tensions in LA. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  A big blow to journalism in Los Angeles, as the LA Times has cut about 20% of its newsroom. The paper's Washington bureau and sports and photography departments saw big cuts. And several journalists of color were also impacted. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist

Cal State faculty have called off a strike, after a tentative labor agreement was reached Monday night. Faculty had been scheduled to be off the job this entire week. The three Democrats vying to represent California in the U.S. Senate went after the only Republican on stage at Monday’s debate -- and clashed over the war between Israel and Hamas.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Many in Half Moon Bay are gathering Tuesday to commemorate the first anniversary of the mass shooting that killed seven farmworkers in the community south of San Francisco. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero A controversial school board president in the Riverside County community of Temecula will face a recall election this spring. A group opposed to his conservative agenda collected enough signatures to force a vote. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that required people to show a need for carrying a gun when applying for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. California’s law was similar to that one. Now to get a concealed carry weapons permit, students receive 16 hours of classroom instruction in gun rules and regulations and then time on the firing range. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Monday is the first day of the spring semester for most California State University campuses. But instead of teaching classes, tens of thousands of CSU faculty members from all 23 schools are on strike this week. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED

As we age, our social networks tend to shrink, leaving us feeling disconnected from the world around us. And that can take a toll on someone’s mental health. But recent studies have shown this feeling of loneliness is also linked to an increased risk for heart disease, dementia and early death in older adults. That’s why a coalition here in California is working to change the way we address aging, by bridging the gap between health and social care. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban investor-owned utilities from passing lobbying costs on to customers. The bill follows a Sacramento Bee investigation that found SoCalGas spent millions lobbying against the state’s clean energy policies, and had ratepayers pick up the tab. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED 

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has pulled down a public service announcement from its website warning residents about the painkiller fentanyl. This comes after the California Newsroom inquired about the accuracy of the events depicted. Reporter: Brian Krans, The California Newsroom A new poll finds most California voters do not feel that U.S. borders are effective at keeping people from entering the country illegally. Registered Republicans overwhelmingly say the border’s not secure, unauthorized immigrants are a major burden and asylum laws are too lenient. But California Democrats are deeply divided on those questions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

During the COVID pandemic, ridership on California’s public transit systems plummeted.  Now, ridership levels for one agency – Los Angeles Metro – are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, but there are still big concerns about quality of service, safety and how to deal with drug abuse and homelessness on subways, buses and light rail. The transportation agency is trying to deal with those concerns by putting a friendly face on mass transit. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Kern County in the rural San Joaquin Valley is facing what one leader calls an existential threat. The county is the largest oil producer in California, but the state wants to eliminate drilling by 2045. As a result, Kern is looking to a new industry – carbon capture and storage – to secure its future.  hopes the industry will provide jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue, while helping the state meet its climate goals. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Environmental groups have successfully pushed for a ‘green terminal’ strategy at the Port of Humboldt outside Eureka. The terminal is where giant offshore wind turbines will be built. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio 

Millions of Mexicans living in the United States are eligible to vote in Mexico’s upcoming presidential elections. Some experts are calling it the most important election in Mexican history. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Camp Fire survivors now have until April of 2025 to live in trailers full-time on their properties in the town of Paradise. That’s after the Town Council voted to allow RV living for another year. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio

Last year the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory, calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. So how did we get to this point?  Guest: Dr. Carla Perissinotto, Geriatrician, UCSF The Biden administration is awarding California $168 million for clean vehicle charging infrastructure. Grants will fund projects across the state, from truck charging stations along freight routes in the Inland Empire, to public vehicle charging facilities in low-income communities in Contra Costa County. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED 

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in an avalanche at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort on Wednesday as 66-year-old Kenneth Kidd. One other person was buried and injured; two other skiers were caught up in the avalanche but rescued. California is facing a nearly $38 billion budget shortfall, but to hear Governor Gavin Newsom tell it, things aren’t too dire. As he rolled out his proposed spending plan on Wednesday, Newsom framed the shortfall as a return to normal of sorts: After several years of unusual spikes in capital gains, sales and corporate tax revenues, driven by low interest rates and historic federal pandemic aid,  things are leveling off.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  As Senate negotiators struggle to hammer out a deal in Washington, trading tougher asylum rules for more aid to Ukraine and Israel, California Senator Alex Padilla says more border restrictions are not the best way to manage the migration crisis.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

If we're spending tens of billions of dollars fighting homelessness, why isn't the problem getting better? An investigation by KCRW and The California Newsroom looked at the massive failures of one major recipient of Governor Gavin Newsom's Homekey program. That's his administration's big effort to turn buildings like hotels and motels into low income housing, which has cost more than $3 billion since it launched in 2020. Guest: Anna Scott, Reporter KCRW Governor Newsom is expected to release the state’s spending plan on Wednesday morning. This comes as the state is dealing with a $68 billion shortfall. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report

Governor Newsom has officially ordered a special election on March 19 to fill the seat vacated by former Congressman Kevin McCarthy. The district will see up to four different ballots to determine who will serve the remainder of McCarthy’s term and who will succeed him in Congress. Meanwhile, California lawmakers want to clean up state election law after a judge ruled that a Republican candidate can run for both Congress and the Assembly this year.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio   A suite of options to allow psychedelic use in California could soon be on the table, including regulated therapies. As officials wrestle with what comes next, the state recently cleared advocates to collect signatures for a statewide decriminalization vote as a ballot measure in November. Reporter: Anna Marie Yanny, KQED

People are still struggling to find a place to live years after devastating wildfires ripped through Butte County.  In the remote town of Berry Creek, many are living in RVs on the lots where houses once stood. But they face deadlines to rebuild their homes or move. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio  Doctors are bracing for more COVID patients as people return to school and work after the holiday break. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist

In the 20th century, the last California gray wolf was observed in the 1920s, but that changed in 2011 with the sighting of a wolf who had crossed into California from Oregon.  Now, a small but growing population of wolves have reestablished themselves in the state. Reporter: Jordan Traverso, California Department of Fish and Wildlife A parents rights group says it plans to sue Attorney General Rob Bonta because of how his office titled and summarized an initiative the group hopes to get on the ballot. The proposal from the group Protect Kids California would prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, exclude trans girls from girls competitive sports, and require schools to disclose a students’ gender identity to their parents. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio

Passions over war in the Middle East have spilled into where many of us work. So as an employee, what rights do you have to share your opinions or protest on the job? Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED In Sacramento, state legislators ended their first session of the year early Wednesday, after hundreds of Israel-Hamas war protesters broke out into songs and chants in the Assembly chamber. Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters

Federal regulators are investigating Kaiser Permanente for how it treats women with postpartum depression. The health provider has twice revised its guidelines to make it easier for women to get a new drug that targets the condition. These developments are the result of a KQED investigation that first revealed Kaiser's restrictions on postpartum care. Guest: April Dembosky, KQED State surveyors have measured the snowpack near Lake Tahoe, and found only a small amount of snow compared to this time last year.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

Hundreds of new laws have gone into effect with the beginning of the new year. They affect everything from workplaces, to crime and health care. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

In our state, we see the effects of climate change around us seemingly every day - storms, flooding, wildfires, extreme heat waves. Such events are changing the landscape and feeling of California and making a lot of us worried. So how do we handle the anxiety and even the grief that stem from climate change?  Guest: Erica Hellerstein, Investigative Reporter  

The state of California has been experimenting with ways to make it easier for residents to enjoy our state parks and beaches. A pilot program that allows Californians to visit many state parks for free — after checking out a pass from their local library — is helping increase access for more people. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

A Polynesian voyaging canoe is on a four-year journey circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean, using only traditional methods of seafaring - so no GPS, no motor, no high tech sensors, but lots of sails and wind power. The canoe and its crew recently sailed down the California coast, meeting with indigenous communities along the way.  Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED

We spend a lot of time on this show talking about the grim effects of climate change, but not as much on the steps each of us can take to make a difference. That's the idea behind KCRW's new "Anti-Dread Climate Podcast" Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

The pandemic caused homeschool enrollment to boom across California. In the LA Unified School District, almost twice as many kids are homeschooled as before the pandemic – up 90% in 5 years. And many have stuck with it, even after schools fully opened. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW

Meadows can be a key to forest health. In the Sierra Nevada, however, most have been degraded or lost. But there are efforts underway to restore these habitats.  Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR  A unique holiday tradition here in the Bay Area. The Misfit Cabaret is a variety show that features eccentric performers, often performing burlesque and drag. Reporter: Rachel Martin, NPR

The town of Pescadero on the San Mateo County Coast was once known for fish. But a few decades ago salmon in Pescadero Creek went extinct. Now conservationists, with the help of farmers, scientists and federal money for combating climate change, are helping them come back.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED California could lose multiple seats in the US House of Representatives, if new population estimates from the Census Bureau bear out  Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters

In eastern Solano County, a group of Silicon Valley billionaires have a vision: an urban, walkable city filled with jobs, restaurants, sidewalks and bike paths. Their ambition is to put a dent in California’s gaping housing shortage. But for the farmers who currently own that land, that idea is upending their businesses and their future. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis is joining calls to remove former President Donald Trump from California's primary ballot. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

California will soon allow water agencies to heavily treat wastewater, converting it into drinking water. The State Water Resources Control Board approved regulations to extensively treat sewage water for human consumption.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Congressman Kevin McCarthy officially submitted his letter of resignation on Tuesday, announcing he will step down December 31. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Right now, people all over the world are sending friends and family Christmas cards and holiday gifts.  But often overlooked is the one delivering this mail, the mail carrier. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report

Not-for-profit credit unions have long billed themselves as community-based alternatives to big commercial banks. Yet, many California credit unions charged customers millions in overdraft fees last year. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS A new law protecting California workers who use marijuana goes into effect next year. Starting January 1, it will be illegal for employers in California to discriminate against an employee for their marijuana use off the job. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report

New numbers show that fentanyl continues to have a devastating effect on the general public in California. Law enforcement also says the drug poses a threat to officers. For example, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office says one of its deputies recently needed the overdose-reversing drug known as Narcan, after handling fentanyl. But experts say opioids were probably not the cause of his symptoms. Reporter: Brian Krans, The California Newsroom The conservative Christian majority that brought national attention to Temecula in Riverside County no longer runs that city’s school board, at least for now. A board member who was elected last year with the help of a Christian political action committee has resigned. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

Diamond Bakery, an institution for generations of Los Angeles Jews, closed this month after 77 years. But, in what could be considered a Hanukkah miracle, the bakery’s original recipes will live on. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW California workplace regulators have approved new emergency temporary protections to stall a surge in silicosis, an irreversible lung disease disabling and killing countertop fabrication workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Next month, a major PG&E rate hike goes into effect. It’s the latest cost increase driven by wildfire-related expenses, inflation, and the growing energy demands that come with extreme weather. But these soring utility bills are pushing low income Californians to the edge of homelessness. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Sacramento County has launched a first-of-its-kind mobile veterinary clinic, focused on caring for pets owned by homeless residents. It's a free, mobile clinic with medicine and equipment. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  

Migrant farmworkers used to make up a large portion of the agricultural workforce. In recent years, those numbers have decreased. The rules for living in migrant housing are still largely the same, and it's creating a difficult situation for those living in these centers across the state. Guest: Lindsey Holden, Reporter, Sacramento Bee A California law meant to ensure overtime pay for farmworkers may be leading growers to cut workers’ hours, and thus actually reduce their paychecks. That’s according to new research out of UC Berkeley.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

California’s solar industry is facing tough times after state utility regulators changed the rules for rooftop solar last spring. Sales are down and layoffs are up. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS   The Department of Water Resources has released a final environmental impact report for the Delta tunnel project. The project would pump more water from northern to southern California, but is not without its share of critics. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

California regulators are set to vote this week on new emergency rules to protect workers power cutting “engineered stone” to make kitchen countertops. The factory-made material is linked to an aggressive lung disease killing workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero Last week, the city of Fresno became one of the first in the nation to raise the Palestinian flag, in solidarity with those killed in the Gaza Strip. The flag raising comes two months after Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer publicly showed support for Israel and made insensitive comments about the ongoing conflict. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR 

More than 70, 000 Californians are still waiting on support from the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program. And now, that program could run out of money before it pays out the remaining eligible applicants. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Heavier than expected snow is falling this week in the Lake Tahoe area, with some places getting over a foot of "powder".  That, of course, is a good thing for ski resorts, who were worried this year's ski season was getting off to a slow start. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report It's the story of two California cities and two prisons.  One city is Blythe on the border of California and Arizona. It’s home to the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. Since the lock up first opened in 1988, Chuckwalla has become synonymous with Blythe, with the prison creating hundreds of local jobs and helping to pump lots of dollars into Blythe’s economy. But last year, the state decided to close Chuckawalla. Now, the city of Norco, hundreds of miles away, wants to make a switch, and instead close its prison. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Recently ousted Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced he’s stepping down from Congress by the end of the year. The news was met with disappointment from many of his constituents in his Central California district. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  Temecula’s Christian conservative school board president is one step closer to being recalled. A local PAC has turned in the signatures it hopes will force a recall election. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR State regulators announced the largest wage theft case in the home health care industry, a case that’s led to workers recovering $2 million so far. Nearly 150 caregivers who worked at Adat Shalom Board & Care are set to receive $5.5 million dollars total. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

The number of L.A. residents dying from fentanyl overdoses shot up 1600% over the past six years. A record 3,220 people died of drug overdoses in Los Angeles County in 2022. Fentanyl surpassed methamphetamine to become the most common drug in fatal overdoses.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist The state’s poorest children are having to wait for weeks, sometimes months, to receive urgent mental health care. When someone calls to make an urgent psychiatric appointment for a child, the state standard is for that appointment to be within four days. A new audit found that’s not happening for 40% of kids - some have to wait months to get an appointment. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio The often glaring health disparities between Black and white Americans are known, like African Americans having an average lifespan that’s six years shorter compared to white people. But now research points to another disparity, involving grief and bereavement.  Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

The border wall that separates the U.S. and Mexico has long been controversial, but the barrier also causes real physical injuries when people fall from it. And with the border wall nearly twice as tall as it used to be in many places, the injuries keep getting worse.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The state agency that lost billions to pandemic unemployment fraud has a new plan to pay out benefits. Employment Development Department officials hope the updates will help stop scammers from stealing peoples’ money.  Reporter: Lauren Hepler, CalMatters

Four decades ago, California went to war against an enemy that wasn't human. The adversary was the Mediterranean fruit fly, an invasive pest that threatened to destroy California's agricultural economy. To fight the fly, the state launched controversial aerial pesticide spraying campaigns and set up roadblocks and quarantine zones. Fast forward to today and the fruit fly threat to California is back. Guest: Bodil Cass, Professor on Entomology, UC Riverside Faculty members at four California State University campuses are staging a series of single day strikes starting Monday. It comes after months of bargaining. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED For the first time, the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife is returning land to an indigenous tribe. The Fort Independence Indian Community will get back 40 acres of sacred land in Inyo County. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report 

Merced County has the highest rate of homicide in the state. It’s also severely lacking deputies. Sheriff Vernon Warnke says the shortage is so bad, he's disassembling units, like for gang enforcement, just to cover everyday patrol. Reporter: Elizabeth Arakelian, KVPR The housing crisis in California can be felt in all parts of the state. That includes at colleges and universities, where more and more students are struggling to find on campus housing. At Cal Poly Humboldt, some students have turned to sleeping in their cars. And now they're being fined for doing so. Guest: Jillian Wells, Reporter, The Lumberjack 

Governor Gavin Newsom is not running for president, but for some reason, Thursday night in Georgia, he will face off in a debate with a man who is in the 2024 race: Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. What do both have to gain from the debate? Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED The California Public Utilities Commission will vote Thursday on whether to settle their enforcement against PG&E for the utility’s involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED More than 3,000 California pharmacies have stopped flavoring medication as of this month. That leaves just 50 statewide that will add flavors like bubble gum or strawberry to make it easier for some children to take medicine. Reporter: Shreya Agrawal, CalMatters

There is still hope that Madera Community Hospital will reopen. It shut down and filed for bankruptcy a year ago, leaving patients with virtually no other options.  Earlier this month, a deal to save the facility fell through. But two more suitors are eyeing the hospital. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR In the Bay Area, a unique childbirth education program for and by Black people is improving birth outcomes and patient experiences. That’s why the agency that oversees Medi-Cal is looking into how it can bring this program to other public hospitals in California. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED 

Imperial Valley residents are hoping to get their cut of the profit from the future lithium industry. For them that means well paid and sustainable jobs. Reporter: Philip Salata, inewsource

In one of the many low income rural communities struck by flooding earlier this year, residents and local officials are still wrangling over how to spend recovery money. At issue is $20 million in state funds for the Central Valley town of Planada. Reporter: Nicole Foy, CalMatters A few hundred hospice nurses, chaplains and grief counselors met in Los Angeles this month at the End Well gathering. Think of it as the TEDx conference for end of life issues. But this year, the organizers invited actors writers and producers from Hollywood to attend, too. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

It's the start of holiday season, and for some that means getting together with family or loved ones and sharing a nice meal together. But for many, the holidays can amplify feelings of loneliness. The COVID 19 pandemic has changed how we interact with each other and experience events, making this time even more challenging and feelings of loneliness more common. Guest: Kory Floyd, Professor of Interpersonal Communication, University of Arizona and the author of The Loneliness Cure Growing numbers of asylum seekers are arriving in San Diego County. And government resources are not keeping up. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS California K-12 students will soon be taught how to recognize fake news. That’s because of a new law that requires schools to teach media literacy skills starting in 2024.  Reporter: Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

The history of Native Americans fighting for their land is as old as attempts to take it. But efforts to reclaim ancestral lands have become more visible in recent years. In California more than a dozen efforts have already succeeded. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED

While many Americans feel like the COVID pandemic is in the past, countless others are still feeling symptoms months or years after they were infected. They're suffering from Long COVID. One such person is Bay Area writer and author Mary Ladd, who recruited more than 40 people from across the country to share essays and poetry in The Long COVID Reader, released earlier this month.  Guests: Mary Ladd and Lisa Carpentier, The Long COVID Reader   Construction on the Pajaro River levee that breached and flooded hundreds of homes in March will begin next summer. The upgrades will cost more than $500 million. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED 

A highly anticipated — and controversial — new program, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, will begin in LA County on December 1. CARE Court will allow family members to ask a judge to step in with a treatment plan for loved ones living with severe and untreated mental illness.  Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist A surprise inspection by a federal watchdog agency has found more than half of immigrants in border facilities in the San Diego area were detained for longer than the standard three-day limit. When the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general made unannounced visits to five San Diego locations in May, investigators found hundreds of migrants had been locked up for far longer, including a few held over a month.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED 

It’s the first morning since a stretch of the I-10 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles reopened. The freeway was damaged by a fire and had been completely shut down in both directions for just over a week. It was originally thought that repairs might take months. Guest: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The state Democratic Party convention this weekend in Sacramento was derailed by protesters demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. The demonstrations reveal a rift in the party heading into 2024 races.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Thousands of pediatric RSV shots are being shipped nationwide, including here in California. But some health experts say it's too little, too late. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist

Last month, Los Angeles County ended its money bail system for many crimes.  Now, most people who are arrested in the county for what’s classified as non-violent, non-serious misdemeanors and felonies -- which includes most thefts and vehicle violations -- can be released quickly and without paying a single cent of bail. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report State energy regulators have approved a plan that allows Pacific Gas and Electric to raise rates on its customers. That revenue is supposed to help the utility pay for burying power lines to prevent wildfires and for investments in clean energy.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

California’s largest utility wants to bury thousands of miles of power lines to prevent them from causing wildfires. That’s after Pacific Gas and Electric’s equipment caused the Camp Fire that killed 85 people in the community of Paradise.  But state regulators – who will vote on PG&E’s proposal on Thursday – say that will send rates through the roof for the company’s customers. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED   This week, leaders from around the world are meeting in San Francisco for the APEC conference. The gathering has also been a magnet for protesters. Nearly a thousand climate activists attempted to prevent attendees from entering the APEC conference on Wednesday. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Nearly 50 maternity wards in California have shut down in the last decade. That means some Californians have to drive hours to give birth at a hospital.  Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters 

A new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom will make it easier for low-income teens to access mental health treatment. But some parents are protesting, saying it infringes on their rights as parents. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED   California’s local governments are thinking about staffing up for climate change related challenges. A new report from the nonpartisan group Next 10 tried to gauge how ready the state’s local governments are when it comes to dealing with a warming planet. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

Officials say it was arson that caused an enormous fire that damaged a stretch of the I-10 Freeway near downtown L.A., shutting it down to traffic. The closure has made L.A.’s already terrible congestion even worse for commuters across much of the city. State transportation officials say they're working around the clock to speed the reopening of the 10 Freeway. But they acknowledge they face a difficult challenge and have no idea when the repairs will be finished. Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist The closure of the 10 Freeway is not only affecting people who drive to work each day. It’s also affecting some parents who drop off their kids at school, and teachers and staff at these schools.    Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist CalFire is downsizing its seasonal staff in the northern part of the Bay Area, following the end of fire season. The North Bay has been the site of some of the region's most devastating wildfires. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

How did the state’s unemployment insurance program get conned out of billions of dollars by scammers, all while millions of Californians who had lost their jobs were stuck waiting for money they badly needed? A year-long CalMatters investigation finds that the state was primed for disaster by years of missed red flags and failed reforms. Guest: Lauren Helper, CalMatters

The Biden administration promises a “worker-centered” trade policy that delivers shared prosperity for all Americans. But as San Francisco gets ready to host this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, labor advocates say worker interests are not sufficiently represented at the talks. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Scammers have been stealing millions of dollars a month from low-income Californians’ EBT cards. Yet the state still hasn’t put in needed protections to keep those cards secure.  Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

After months of picketing, SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative deal to end the strike with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In a letter to its members, the union said the new contract is valued at a billion dollars, and that the approval vote was unanimous. Guest: Robert Garrova, Reporter LAist Autonomous taxi operator Cruise says it's identified a software glitch that led one of its cars to drag a pedestrian in a downtown San Francisco crash. The company has now issued a safety recall. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED The owner of a Bay Area farm and its parent company are facing felony charges in the death of a farmworker.  Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED 

Wednesday marks exactly five years since the Camp Fire killed 85 people and leveled Paradise. Three years ago, PG&E created the Fire Victim Trust to pay out settlements to fire survivors. But some say they’ve lost hope they’ll ever get their full payments. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio A federal criminal trial is beginning Thursday for David DePape, the Bay Area man facing life in prison for attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, and attempting to kidnap former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco last year. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED Jewish members of the California Legislature are calling for public universities in California to take immediate action to protect Jewish students. The letter is signed by the 18 members of the Jewish Legislative Caucus and cites recent anti-semitic incidents, including physical abuse and threats against Jewish students. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

The city of Sacramento is among the many communities in California struggling to find answers for its growing homeless population. A shelter in the city serves hundreds of men and women, but is struggling to connect them with permanent housing. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Governor Gavin Newsom's prominent role in national politics could be costing him support in California. According to a new poll, Newsom's overall approval rating -- just 44%, is the lowest mark of his governorship. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Earth’s hottest summer ever recorded is behind us. Now, California is headed into another potentially drenching winter… while some communities are still recovering from last year’s winter storms. As climate change makes extreme weather more common, one group of Californians is living on the frontlines: those experiencing homelessness. Vanessa Rancaño/KQED News Thousands of protestors rallied in San Francisco on Saturday to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally was the biggest so far in the Bay Area since the war began on October 7th, and was held in conjunction with similar demonstrations across the US. Juan Carlos/KQED News

In recent years, indigenous Land Back movements have been gaining momentum across the country. However, the effort to make reparations for the past can come with a lot of strings attached. To understand the complicated reality of landback actions today, we head to an island near the town of Eureka in Humboldt County, where a landback movement succeeded far ahead of its time. Izzy Bloom/TCR A recent survey from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies shows who's one step closer to representing the Golden State in the U-S Senate, and whose chances are slim. Guy Marzorati/KQED News

California's Sierra Nevada had record-breaking snow levels earlier this year. The extreme weather created big problems for one endangered animal. Jill Replogle/LAist State Utility regulators will vote on a proposal that advocates say discriminates against schools, farms and apartment buildings. If approved, these multi-meter properties will be forced to sell the energy they produce to utilities... and then buy it back at a higher rate.   

The end of this year will mark the end of California’s historic program to pay reparations to survivors of state sponsored sterilization. There are an estimated 600 living survivors. But 70% of the applications for reparations that have been received, have been rejected. Guest: Cayla Mihalovich, Reporter with the Investigative Reporting Program at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism  In Fresno, the union representing teachers and the public school district have reached a deal for a new contract. That averts a strike that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR 

A growing number of California students are choosing to commute to college in Tijuana. They’re drawn by cheaper tuition and other advantages. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS   As California moves away from fossil fuel energy sources, officials are looking for ways to ease stress on the state’s electrical grid. Attention is now turning to systems powering swimming pools. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

The aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel is proving an especially tough time for Jewish progressives in California. While thousands of Californians take to the streets to support Palestine, many in the Jewish community say they feel abandoned. Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, LAist

Halloween is coming up. For many people it’s just one evening of trick or treating and frightening fun. But in one LA County neighborhood ,there’s a two-block stretch known as “horror row.” It draws people looking to keep things spine-tingling year round. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW As Fresno Unified teachers prepare to strike next week, they have support from an unlikely source - substitute teachers who are supposed to take their place. The union representing Fresno area substitute teachers voted not to cross the picket line.  Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR  

The Council of American-Islamic Relations is warning its Bay Area members to be alert, after hearing reports that the FBI is targeting Palestinians elsewhere in the country for questioning Reporter: Christopher Alam, KQED  A small rural town in Riverside County faces an unexpected danger -packs of aggressive stray dogs. In recent months, the dogs have killed dozens of livestock and terrorized many residents. Authorities say illegal marijuana farms are to blame. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR In Los Angeles, attorneys have finished opening statements in the trial for the captain of the Conception.  That's the diving boat that caught fire four years ago while anchored off the coast south of Santa Barbara, killing 34 people on board. Reporter: Julia Paskin, LAist

The Department of Motor Vehicles has suspended permits that allowed robo-taxi company Cruise to operate in San Francisco. That comes after an incident earlier this month, in which one of the company's fully driverless vehicles hit and dragged a pedestrian.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Teachers from the Fresno Unified School District, California’s third largest public school system, have voted to strike. It’s the first strike authorization by Fresno Unified teachers in more than 40 years.  Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR When Los Angeles-area landlords want to evict their tenants, they often hire attorney Dennis Block. Block’s law firm and has boasted about evicting more tenants than anyone else on earth. But a new investigation has found that a judge ruled that Block’s firm recently submitted fake cases in court and artificial intelligence might play a role.  Reporter: David Wagner, LAist 

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom authorized $30 million in new spending to increase security and police protection at mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship. It's an example of how war in the Middle East has increased fears about safety within California's Jewish and Muslim communities. Guest: Dr. Alex Lechtman, President of the Board at Congregation B'nai David in Visalia More than two dozen Stanford students are on the fourth day of a sit-in to demand university support for Palestinians. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED Have you ever wondered just how many mountain lions live in California? Well researchers have an estimate.  Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

Water is the lifeblood of agriculture But as climate change brings more extreme weather, farming towns in the Central Valley face increasing risks from both drought and flooding. But an innovative solution is scaling up with new state investments. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED  About 30% of Head Start programs in California aren’t within easy walking distance to a transit stop for families with young children. That’s a problem, according to a new report, because access to transit is one of the biggest barriers for families who qualify for the federal early education program. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

It’s been nearly two weeks since Hamas militants abducted nearly 200 people from Israel. Many foreign nationals, including at least 13 Americans, are among the hostages. Here in California, families of the hostages and supporters will be at the state Capitol early next week to demand the release of their loved ones. Guest: Ryan Pessah, Sacramento Resident, Family Abducted by Hamas California's U.S. Senate race took another surprise turn Thursday, as Senator Laphonza Butler says she will not run for a full-term next year.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  California invested billions to help children bounce back from learning loss that happened during the pandemic. But students are still struggling to catch up. That’s according to new test scores out from the state’s Department of Education. Reporter: Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

A fast growing humanitarian crisis has erupted in Gaza because of the war between Hamas and Israel. More than 5,000 people have been killed since the war began last week. Conflict in this region has been going on for decades, causing many Palestinians to relocate or seek political asylum in other parts of the world, including here in California. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Rampant disinformation about the Israeli/Hamas conflict has the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation calling on social media companies to do better. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

In more than a dozen California counties, a little-known rule in the Clean Air Act has forgiven air pollution – not from the sky, but from the record. After wildfires flourished across North America this year, more U.S. states east of the Mississippi may use this exceptional events rule to subtract smoke from the record, if not from the air we breathe. But these exceptional events are no longer exceptional, and the requests to obscure them from air-quality records are more common. Reporter: Molly Peterson, The California Newsroom

Thousands of migrant families who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump administration, will now get some benefits and a shot at asylum under a proposed settlement with the federal government. The agreement lets reunified families stay in the U.S. for three years and apply for permanent protection.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED It's clear that artificial intelligence is here to stay. For colleges, this means figuring out how to regulate the use of it, while still encouraging students to engage with the software that will only grow in popularity. Guest: Carolyn Jones, Education Reporter, CalMatters

For the first time in California history, all coastal cities are now required to plan for sea level rise, a looming climate impact yet to be fully experienced. A new law requires those cities to come up with strategies and recommend projects to address future sea level rise by 2034. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  Climate change is taking a toll on farmworker communities in the Central Valley, from extreme heat and deteriorating air quality to drought and sporadic flooding. New state funding and grass roots organizations are working to help those communities manage the most immediate impacts of the worsening climate crisis. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Hundreds of protesters in Los Angeles and San Francisco rallied against Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill that would have extended workplace safety protections to domestic workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The only public employees in California who can’t form a union are its legislative staffers. After four previous attempts failed, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed landmark legislation to allow them to unionize in 2026. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald A new law was designed to make prisons safer for transgender people. However, the well-meaning law created unwelcome consequences for many transgender women in California prisons. Reporter: Lee Romney

Attorneys representing people who reported being sexually assaulted during Uber rides are seeking safety improvements from the company, as part of a new consolidated lawsuit. Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill extending a state law that makes it easier to build affordable housing in cities that have failed to meet state housing goals. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED A bill passed in 2002 created a pilot program that allowed Mexican physicians to practice in disadvantaged communities across California. Now, legislators want to expand the program to more counties and include physicians who speak Mexican indigenous languages such as Mixtec and Zapotec.  Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

California regulators are poised to shake-up the solar market for apartments, schools and farms. An administrative law judge is proposing changes that make the economics of investing in solar projects unappealing.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are proposing significant changes to the use of solitary confinement in the state’s prisons. But advocates say the process is rushed, and the changes don’t go far enough. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Pacific Gas & Electric pledged to bury ten thousand miles of power lines in California to reduce the risk of them sparking wildfires. But now, state regulators are considering two proposals that would limit that plan, in favor of cheaper and faster alternatives. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report

Large-scale traffickers of fentanyl could soon face stiffer criminal penalties in California; that's the result of a law signed by Governor Newsom over the weekend. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Governor Newsom has signed a bill that delegitimizes a controversial medical diagnostic theory called "excited delirium," which has been used to defend law enforcement in cases where a person has died while in custody. Reporter: Stephanie O'Neill Patison, KFF Health News Environmentalists cheered when a ghost lake in California’s Central Valley refilled earlier this year, because it created new wetlands for birds; but now, avian botulism is brewing in Tulare Lake. It’s deadly to birds, and rescuers are in a mad dash to prevent a massive die-off. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR

As workers across industries walked off the job during this remarkable year of strikes, one union in California won big in its fight for child care providers. The organizers behind this movement were largely immigrants and women of color. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED  A pair of bills signed over the weekend by Governor Gavin Newsom will require large companies in California to be more transparent about their contributions to climate change, and the risks they face as a result. Reporter: Dana Cronin, KQED

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California political legend, was laid to rest in a private ceremony in San Francisco Thursday. Hours earlier, 1500 invited guests attended a memorial service on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall. Those who gathered there reflected on the long arc of Feinstein's life in San Francisco, where she served as a supervisor and then mayor before being elected to the Senate. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED At the US-Mexico border, immigrant rights activists say thousands of asylum seekers have been dropped off in San Diego by Customs and Border Protection over the last few weeks.  In response, the nonprofit Casa Familiar set up a makeshift aid center at San Ysidro Community Park. But it's now at risk of shutting down, over a lack of funding. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The Golden State Warriors have announced a new WNBA will be created and they’ll start playing in 2025. The team will practice at the Warriors facility in Oakland, and play its home games at Chase Center in san Francisco. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report   100 years ago, women mariachi bands didn’t exist. Even 50 years ago, women playing mariachi music was rare. Today though, women like Sacramento’s Dinorah Klingler are rewriting the story of male dominated mariachi culture. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, The California Report Magazine

A memorial service for Dianne Feinstein is scheduled for Thursday at San Francisco’s City Hall, where she’s been lying in state. President Joe Biden will deliver remarks by video. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to attend, as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.  Laphonza Butler, who was sworn in this week to replace Dianne Feinstein, is a longtime labor leader, political strategist and, most recently, the president of EMILY’s List, which fights to elect women to office who support abortion rights. One issue that's not on her resume: climate change. Reporter: Dana Cronin, KQED Sand dunes and native plants on beaches can help protect the California coast from the impacts of sea level rise – if and when they’re allowed to thrive. That's according to new research out of UC Santa Barbara. Reporter: Beth Thornton, KCBX

In an unprecedented move in American politics – Bakersfield Republican Kevin McCarthy was ousted as House speaker on Tuesday. Despite this, many of McCarthy's constituents still support the embattled Congressman.  Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in California have walked off the job, starting a three day strike. A coalition of unions representing the workers are demanding wage increases, protections against the outsourcing of jobs, and increased staffing. Laphonza Butler was sworn in Tuesday, filling the seat of Dianne Feinstein, who died last week. It's still unclear if Butler will enter the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED

When we think of cleaner and greener alternatives to gas-powered cars and trucks in California, electric vehicles come immediately to mind. But there is an alternative --hydrogen-powered cars. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom is defending his decision to appoint Emily’s List president Laphonza Butler to Dianne Feinstein’s open Senate seat –which potentially upends the on-going campaigns for that position in next year’s election. Butler is expected to be sworn-in on Tuesday.  Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED California water regulators have released support plans for the Bay-Delta watershed, which experts say is in an ecological crisis.  But this doesn’t mean final solutions are in sight. Reporter: Rachel Becker, CalMatters

Longtime labor leader and Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler will be California's new U.S. Senator. News of Butler's appointment -- confirmed by Governor Gavin Newsom's office Sunday night -- comes days after the death of Dianne Feinstein, which left the Senate seat vacant. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED This week, seven California counties launch CARE Courts. They’re the new mental health courts required by the state that have the authority to mandate people with severe mental illness to receive treatment.  The implementation of CARE Court will be under particular scrutiny in San Francisco, as the city wrestles with both mental health and homelessness crises. Guest: Rafael Mandelman, San Francisco Supervisor When presidential candidates travel to places like Iowa and New Hampshire, they usually spend time praising the state they’re in. But that is not what Republicans making the pilgrimage to California are saying about the Golden State. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED 

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who spent more than three decades in the Senate, has passed away at the age of 90. Senator Feinstein had a long career in politics even before her time in Washington, as a supervisor and mayor in San Francisco. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

As of this summer, most incarcerated people across the country can apply for a Pell Grant to pay for a higher education. Criminal justice advocates say this is a key step in keeping people from returning to prison. But in California, the demand is already exceeding the supply. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Southern California communities are paying the cost of a rise in online shopping. More online stores, means more warehouses to store their products. And that's adding to the pollution and economic inequality in these areas.  Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

Tijuana has long been a refuge for priced-out Californians looking for affordable housing. But now, rents in Tijuana are rising twice as fast as in San Diego. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  A federal judge in San Francisco is ordering two former Trump administration officials to testify in a lawsuit, brought by migrant parents and children separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Fentanyl-related deaths are up in California. By a lot. And it's no different in Sacramento County, which jumped from 17 fentanyl related deaths in 2018, to 227 last year. One neighborhood nonprofit is trying to save lives, by getting drug users to recognize what might be causing their use in the first place. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio   The iconic Bob's Big Boy diner in Burbank has become the unofficial clubhouse for striking writers. And they're appreciative of the generosity of a Hollywood star, who's helping take care of the bill. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist

After nearly 150 days on strike, a tentative deal has been reached between Hollywood writers and studios. The proposed three year deal would boost pay rates and residuals from streaming shows, and also introduce new rules on the use of artificial intelligence. Shasta County is dealing with major staffing shortages across county departments. Those shortages have forced an entire floor of the county jail to remain closed for over a year. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

Governor Gavin Newsom has asked the state insurance commission to take emergency action to fix the troubled homeowner's insurance market. This comes after State Farm, Allstate and more than half of the top 12 insurance groups have paused or restricted new business in the state.   Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  More than 300,000 Californians have lost health insurance since the state resumed Medi-Cal eligibility checks it had suspended during the pandemic. The majority of Californians who lost Medi-Cal got kicked off because of paperwork. Some didn’t send in their renewal packets, while others had errors on their forms. Reporter: Shreya Agrawal, CalMatters A prestigious national laboratory is partnering with CSU Bakersfield to advance green energy research in the San Joaquin Valley. The partnership is seen by some as historic in nature. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  Jacob Rock is a non-verbal, autistic teenager from Los Angeles who wasn’t able to speak until 2020. That’s when he began to vividly type out his thoughts and feelings on an iPad. His parents were flabbergasted to realize that he could read and write and convey his emotions and creativity through text. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

Nursing homes typically help people recover after surgeries or provide round-the-clock care for people with physical disabilities. But a new LAist investigation finds that thousands of people with serious mental illness are living in California’s nursing homes. Experts call it “warehousing” and say the practice may violate federal law.  Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist Farmworker advocates pushing for safer working conditions during wildfires are blasting a decision by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors that could allow crops to be harvested in evacuation zones. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Indigenous tribes are pushing back against a new plan to create a federal marine sanctuary off the Central Coast. Several years ago, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council proposed a sanctuary that would include Morro Bay. But the new federal proposal leaves it out. Reporter: Amanda Wernick, KCBX

Sacramento County’s district attorney says he’s taking the city of Sacramento to court, for failing to enforce its own homelessness laws. County DA Tien Ho says Sacramento city officials “allowed, created and enabled” a public safety crisis, by not enforcing their own laws, including the city’s ban on blocking sidewalks and camping on public property.  Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  More water to replenish a natural spring in a California forest - less water for the company that bottles and sells it as Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water. That's the result of a decision by California's Water Resources Control Board.  Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR  California is suing oil and gas companies for deceiving the public for their role in climate change. The lawsuit could be a landmark for holding oil companies accountable.   Reporter: Dana Cronin, KQED  A federal judge this week temporarily blocked a California law meant to protect children when they use the internet. Known as the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, the law would require social media companies to take steps to protect minors’ privacy and would limit the use of their information. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report 

It’s been six months since the levee protecting the small Central Coast farming community of Pajaro burst, flooding the town and forcing thousands out of their homes. And while repairs are underway, a permanent fix is still years in the making. Reporter: Scott Cohn, KAZU A group of Democratic state lawmakers is asking California Attorney General Rob Bonta to take the lead on an effort to remove Donald Trump from the March primary ballot. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED     At its board meeting in Sacramento Tuesday morning, California’s Water Resources Control Board will consider issuing a ‘cease and desist’ order to end the pumping of millions of gallons of water out of the San Bernardino National Forest.   Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR 

This week marks six months since powerful storms flooded the small farming community of Pajaro in Santa Cruz County, after its aging levee system failed. The community is still facing major challenges with rebuilding. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU At the Climate Week NYC event, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his intention to sign a first-in-the nation climate bill awaiting his approval back in California. The measure would force U.S. corporations doing business in California that make more than $1 billion a year to publicly disclose their annual greenhouse gas emissions. Reporter: Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters

Nearly 60,000 Kaiser Permanente workers have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if there’s no agreement in contract negotiations by September 30. The healthcare workers -- most of them in California -- are pushing for a 7% wage increase in the first two years of this next contract, and 6.25% the following two years. A California appeals court has agreed to hear a challenge to the state’s recently adopted solar rules.  The groups argued the rules do not recognize all the benefits of solar, encourage solar adoption or expand solar in disadvantaged communities. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS    It’s the end of an era along the Klamath River. Labor Day weekend was the last time the whitewater rapids on the Upper Klamath could be rafted during the summer. A group of antiquated dams are coming down on the Klamath, meaning major changes for the river rafting community. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED 

On this final day of the legislative session, a lot of eyes in Sacramento are on one particular measure moving through the State Senate. It would allow workers who are on strike for more than two weeks, like the Hollywood writers and actors, to apply for unemployment insurance. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED In Sacramento, it’s the final day of the legislative session -- and that means the fate of dozens of bills must be decided as the hours and minutes tick down. The Assembly and Senate have until midnight to send bills to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED   A $25 minimum wage is in sight for tens of thousands of California’s lowest-paid health workers. The wage hike would be for people like nursing assistants, medical techs and janitorial workers. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters

When you think of a meadow, what comes to mind? Probably a peaceful expanse of grass and flowers straight out of a postcard. A perfect place to have a picnic or read a book. But meadows are also key to the health of forests And in the Sierra Nevada most meadows have been degraded or lost. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Meeting in Long Beach Wednesday morning, California State University’s Board of Trustees is expected to vote on whether to increase tuition at all 23 CSU campuses. The proposal would include a 6% tuition hike over the next five years. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED California currently bans state-funded travel to 26 states because of their anti-LGBTQ laws. But state lawmakers have voted to repeal the travel bans after acknowledging that they haven’t been successful. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report 

After months of bitter conflict, fast food companies and labor unions have reached a deal that could raise the minimum wage for 500,000 fast food workers in California. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  If you’re a parent or caregiver in the state, chances are you’ve seen billboards urging you to talk, read and sing to your baby. Now the agency behind those ads, First Five California, is pushing a new statewide campaign to raise awareness about toxic stress.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED As cities across California struggle with a lack of affordable housing, developers are thinking micro, as in micro apartments, some smaller than 300 square feet. That includes a new five-story building in downtown Sacramento, the city's third micro apartment community. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  

The popular social media app Instagram and its parent company, Meta, use artificial intelligence to moderate content. But there are growing concerns that the “training data” for AI is biased against women and people of color. A Los Angeles photographer thinks this “algorithmic bias” is part of the reason Instagram disabled his account. Reporter: Beth Tribolet, KQED The California legislature has passed a bill that would ban the hand-counting of ballots in most elections. The legislation was targeted specifically at Northern California’s Shasta County, where supervisors did away with Dominion voting machines earlier this year.  Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio  Much of the world’s highest quality cotton is grown in the San Joaquin Valley. But the return of Tulare Lake could have a devastating impact on the Central Valley's cotton industry. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. And according to some neighbors, it’s also one of the loudest. Homeowners in the San Diego region, and across the state, are increasingly taking legal action to resolve pickleball noise disputes. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS California is set to scale back its electric car rebate program to focus more on low-income car buyers.  Reporter: Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters

A judge has ruled that a San Bernardino County school district must hold off on enforcing a policy that requires school staff to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender. Chino Valley Unified is being sued by the state attorney general. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR  In San Diego, the Black Panther Party is recruiting new members. Decades ago, the U.S. government spread misinformation that caused the party to become mostly inactive. Now, the San Diego chapter is one of many reviving across the country.  Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS 

Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal is unveiling new legislation on Wednesday to help communities near regional airports that have long been facing toxic chemical contamination in their groundwater. The “Clean Airport Agenda” will make sure federal agencies phase out the use of these toxic chemicals in such communities.  Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX State lawmakers are voting on a resolution declaring August trans history month across California. Reporter: Lesley McClurg , KQED California is on its way to becoming the first state to explicitly ban discrimination based on caste. State lawmakers approved a bill to make it a protected class and sent it to the governor on Tuesday. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio 

People who live behind a vast number of aging levees in the United States are more likely to be people of color and have less education compared to those who don’t. And that leaves them more vulnerable to flooding and the impacts of climate change. Reporter: Emily Zentner, California Newsroom A state bill that would require many employers in all kinds of industries to take steps to protect workers from violence at their jobs, has cleared a key hurdle and is headed for a full vote of the State Assembly.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

When Joe Sanchez was 8 years old, his grandmother asked him to make a promise to never forget his California Indian heritage. She was determined to see the culture live on, after watching her brothers deny their Coast Miwok ancestry, a matter of economic survival in early 20th century California. Today, at 75, Sanchez is making good on that promise in a more ambitious way than he ever imagined: He’s bought back a piece of his ancestral homeland. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño 

By all accounts, this year's West Nile virus season has been particularly bad.  The state has reported five fatalities so far this summer. In Sacramento and Yolo Counties, the Mosquito & Vector Control District has been spraying a diluted insecticide throughout the region to kill the mosquitoes that carry the disease.  Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Kern County’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the state. Family members of people who died there during childbirth have now gotten the attention of the state medical board. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

The governor’s office is awarding nearly $760 million in grants for affordable housing projects statewide. The money is expected to help create 2,500 new affordable homes, but will pay for more than just new apartments. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio   Workers rights advocates are calling on Los Angeles to combat wage theft as one way to tackle the homelessness crisis in the city. New analysis by the Los Angeles Worker Center Network finds wage theft is so prevalent among the lowest-earning Angelenos, it’s contributing to the crisis. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  California is seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections. And although hospitalizations have also seen a big jump, it's a far cry from previous COVID waves. So what's behind the jump in cases? Guest: Monica Gandhi, Infectious Diseases Doctor, Professor, UC San Francisco

COVID cases are on the rise in California. According to the state public health department, hospitalizations have jumped more than 80% over the last month.   Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist California produces millions of tons of toxic waste each year, but the state’s relying on a shrinking network of aging sites to process it. Many of the older sites have a troubling history of safety violations and polluted soil and groundwater. Reporter: Robert Lewis, CalMatters 

State Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing Chino Valley Unified School District in San Bernardino County, over their policy of mandatory outing of trans students to family members. The policy requires teachers and staff to notify parents within three days if a student asks to use a different name or pronoun. A new political campaign to roll back several protections for transgender youth is happening across California. However transgender advocates say they’re dangerous. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Hundreds of house cleaners, nannies and home care aides are expected to descend on Sacramento on Tuesday, calling on the governor and lawmakers to pass a bill that would give domestic workers the right to health and safety protections other workers enjoy. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The recent death of an orca held in captivity in Florida for more than five decades has invigorated calls to release other marine mammals – including Corky – an orca at San Diego’s SeaWorld. At the same time, some California lawmakers are pushing federal regulators to demand better care for marine mammals in captivity.  Reporter: Greta Mart, KRCB

A growing number of California winemakers have seen their crop ruined in recent years by wildfire smoke. The impact is huge: After fires in 2020, the California Association of Wine Grape Growers estimated that up to 325,000 tons of grapes weren’t usable, leading to over $3 billion in losses. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio The three people who died in last week's shooting at an Orange County bar have been identified. Cook's Corner is often described as a biker bar in Trabuco Canyon. But the community ties run far deeper, stretching back to at least 1926. Reporter: Caitlin Hernandez, LAist

After a 17-month labor battle, a North Hollywood strip club has reopened as the only union strip club in the U.S. But it's not the end of the road. The dancers may have union representation, but they still don't have a contract. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW The world’s largest known octopus garden is in California coastal waters, just 80 miles south of Monterey. A new study confirms these deep-sea octopuses migrate to the area to reproduce. Reporter: Alexander Gonzalez, KQED Through her restaurant, Crystal Wahpepah reclaims and celebrates the traditions of indigenous people, while also nourishing and educating non-native people on the history of the land they occupy. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED

A gunman killed three people and wounded six in a mass shooting in Orange County last night. It happened around 7:00 p.m. at Cook’s Corner, a bar popular with motorcyclists located in Trabuco Canyon in east Orange County. The shooter also died at the scene, likely killed, law enforcement says, by responding deputies. West Coast cities, from Seattle to San Diego, have housing shortages that are driving up rents and pushing some people into homelessness. According to new data on apartment construction, that problem is getting even worse. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW In 2020, the Mineral Fire burned nearly 30,000 acres over two weeks. It also caused hundreds of rural western Fresno County residents to seek shelter from the blaze’s smoke indoors. But even inside their homes, many couldn't avoid the health effects of all that smoke. Now three years later, a team of researchers is testing a new way to improve indoor air quality. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

A state legislator wants to create a new state agency that might one day administer reparations to the descendants of slaves. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Southeast Asian refugees could get protection from deportation under a bill reintroduced in Congress this week by a Los Angeles area Democrat. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED When you visit the Los Angeles La Brea Tar Pits you see an enormous variety of fossils from mega-fauna that roamed the Southern California landscape thousands of years ago. But where did all those creatures go? And why did most go extinct so fast? A landmark new study aims to answer those questions. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED  

Tropical storm Hilary brought lots of rain to parts of Southern California. In San Diego County that will help ease the risk of wildfires in the short term. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS In the Northern California town of Paradise, many survivors of the devastating 2018 Camp Fire have been watching news of wildfires in Maui with a sense of disbelief. The blaze that destroyed Lahaina has now surpassed the Camp Fire for fatalities, with more than a hundred dead and hundreds more still missing. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio On Sunday, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled much of Southern California. It didn’t cause much damage or injury, but the quake was a reminder that a far more costly temblor can hit at any time. That got us thinking about earthquake insurance and we found out that the California Earthquake Authority, which administers quake coverage in the state, is making some big changes to earthquake policies. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department advised Catalina Island residents and visitors — especially the medically vulnerable — to leave the island as soon as they could as a precaution. A big and unusual tropical storm isn’t the only worry nature is throwing at Californians. On Sunday afternoon, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck near the Ventura County community of Ojai and was felt in Los Angeles. That temblor was followed by a series of smaller quakes. San Diego got soaked on Sunday as tropical storm Hilary raced through the county. The storm had wind speeds of over 100 miles per hour at its peak, but the system was significantly weaker when it arrived in San Diego. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

Hurricane Hilary, which is growing down around Baja right now, strengthened to a Category 4 storm this morning. The system had maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. In the coming days, the hurricane could head toward Southern California, bringing threats of major flooding. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, LAist San Francisco is calling on state regulators to temporarily suspend their approval of Cruise's and Waymo's unrestricted commercial expansion in the city. City Attorney David Chiu wants state regulators to first address the city's pending request for a hearing. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Wildfires have destroyed close to one-fifth of the Earth's giant sequoia trees, found only in California. The National Park Service wants to replant them, but others say that goes against the very definition of wilderness. What is natural? And how much should humans intervene? Reporter: Marissa Ortega-Welch, KQED

The largest is the Head Fire, which is estimated to have burned about 3,500 acres so far. Evacuation shelters have been set up for both people and animals who have been displaced by the fire. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, JPR Southern California’s Hawaiian community is leading local fundraising efforts for Maui after its deadly wildfires. Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist Kids across California are returning to school, but not all students are equally prepared. A study found that in Sonoma County, only 22% of children are ready for kindergarten when they start. Children of Latino, Black and Native American descent were less prepared than other racial groups. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED

The Newsom administration says crews made up of more than one hundred people from California will be in Maui to aid in the search and recovery efforts. That includes forensic anthropologists, specialists in urban search and rescue, wildfire debris removal and hazardous waste experts and K9 teams. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED In San Francisco, immigrants' rights lawyers are gearing up for a courtroom challenge to President Biden’s border policies, which they say are too restrictive and harm asylum seekers. In Los Angeles, migrants keep arriving on buses sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who says Biden’s policies are not restrictive enough.  Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

The Department of Energy has announced $100 million in funding for 19 carbon capture projects nationwide. One of those projects is destined for the Kern County foothills, near Taft.  Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR It’s been one year since a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed local farmworker, David Pelaez-Chavez. His family and community members are calling on the District Attorney to bring charges against the deputy involved. Reporter: Tash Kimmell

At the Aloha Festival in San Mateo over the weekend, members of the Bay Area's Asian American and Pacific Islander community came together to celebrate Polynesian culture and find ways to help people in Maui. Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED Thousands of low-income California workers shorted on their paychecks may never recover that money, even when they’ve won claims with state regulators. That's why one Bay Area county is giving some employers an ultimatum: pay what you owe or don’t do business here. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

At least 55 people are confirmed dead from the wildfires that devastated the historic Maui town of Lahaina. One resident from the Central Valley moved to the popular tourist town ten years ago to open a bar that's now completely demolished.  Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED  Drive-In theaters are a staple in American history. But over the years the number of these outdoor movie theaters has diminished. Despite the shift to indoor movies and a hit from the pandemic, the Madera Drive-In where Madi spent most of her summer nights as a child is up and running. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, KQED

The Murrieta Valley School Board will discuss a policy this evening to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender. This comes after the Chino Valley school board passed a similar policy last month.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR More than 100 unionized healthcare workers disrupted a Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday. The union is demanding higher wages and healthcare benefits. Reporter: Esthern Quintanilla, KVPR Homeowners in California have been reeling from the news that large insurance carriers will no longer offer new policies in the state. Nonprofits that provide affordable housing are also feeling the squeeze, and that's threatening to make the state's housing shortage even worse.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED

Standing water in Kings and Tulare Counties in the San Joaquin Valley has led to a proliferation of mosquitoes. As a result, big bucks are being spent on abatement. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR For a lot of parents, having no one to care for their children means they often just don’t go to work, which can be bad for their employers. One study found that businesses lose $23 billion every year due to child care challenges faced by their workers. So some companies are taking matters into their own hands through employer-sponsored care. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED 

Los Angeles city workers including sanitation workers, LAX employees, lifeguards at city pools and traffic officers are participating in a 24-hour strike today over unfair labor practices and bad-faith bargaining. California is one of the few states with heat standards aimed at protecting outdoor workers. But heat protections for indoor workers are limited, despite documented risks.  Reporter: Nicole Foy, CalMatters In Tijuana, a team of very young baseball players is getting ready to represent Mexico in the Little League World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS 

In Sacramento, a budget deficit limited what California state lawmakers could fund in this year’s budget. Now, lawmakers are looking to bonds as a different strategy to pay for things like climate infrastructure, mental health beds and affordable housing. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio A controversial Farmer John slaughterhouse in the L.A. County community of Vernon closed earlier this year after nearly a century of operations. More than 2,000 people, mostly immigrants, worked there. Months later, laid-off workers are still struggling to adjust. Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, LAist 

A Biden Administration program to monitor asylum-seeking families and subject them to a curfew is set to expand to several California cities next week. It’s part of an effort by the Biden Administration to signal a tough but humane approach to border enforcement. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED  Following the state’s record-breaking rainfall in the winter, and now its dry heat, public health officials are worried about an uptick in Valley fever infections.  Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report In the early 1900s, many young Americans of Japanese descent left the United States to escape discrimination and seek opportunity back in Japan. When war broke out, they experienced the violence of the U.S. offensive while trying to navigate complex, often contradictory feelings about identity and belonging. Reporter Kori Suzuki explores this period through a very personal story — that of his grandmother. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KQED

After days of triple-digit heat, areas of the San Joaquin Valley, flooded from winter storms, are drying up, little by little. That includes Tulare Lake, which is receding after peaking at more than 170 square miles in size. But for many, the return to dry land doesn’t mean a return to normalcy. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR A coalition of environmentalists and social justice groups have launched a statewide campaign to try to ban new oil and gas wells near schools, parks and other residential places. The group is gathering signatures to get the initiative on the 2024 ballot.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  Survivors of the 2021 Caldor Fire in the Sierra Foothills are pursuing legal action against the U.S. Forest Service. Many residents are still living in trailers, and few, if any have received direct federal assistance. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS

The York Fire, California’s largest wildfire this year, is currently burning in the Mojave National Preserve along the border of California and Nevada.  The fire is also the largest on record for the Mojave Desert, where wildfires are rare.  Guest: Jacob Margolis, Reporter, LAist Former President Donald Trump will campaign in California next month, speaking at the state Republican Party’s fall convention in Anaheim.  The announcement comes even as Trump faces new indictments, this time over his efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, and his role in the January 6th insurrection.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio This summer marks the 59th year that Northern California’s Yurok Tribe is holding its Klamath Salmon Festival. But this year, there won’t actually be any salmon served, because of historically low salmon stocks. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report 

In recent months we've seen an explosion of strikes and worker protests in California -- by hotel employees, Hollywood writers and actors, port workers, UC grad students in teaching positions, and health care professionals. But when you take them all together, what do these actions say about the state of organized labor in California?  Guest: Lorena Gonzalez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation Tens of thousands of family child care workers overwhelmingly approved a new contract with the state of California on Monday. The deal includes significant changes for a workforce made of mostly women of color.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED A grassroots group of writers and filmmakers have created a mutual aid fund. The goal is to help their production crew colleagues keep their health insurance during the Hollywood strikes. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist  

In Los Angeles, the strikes by film and television writers and actors continues, with no end in sight. That's brought production to a standstill. And with each passing day, the wider economic toll of the strikes continues to mount. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report In San Diego, police will begin enforcing a controversial new municipal ordinance banning outdoor camping. Under the ordinance, encampments are prohibited within two blocks of schools, homeless shelters and mass transit stations, as well as in parks, along waterways, freeways, and in canyons.

More than 250,000 Californians are still waiting on pandemic rental assistance they applied for through the state. As they wait, eviction protections are continuing to expire.  Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters   With inflation cooling, renters in Los Angeles and Orange counties are about to get a slight reprieve from large rent hikes. The statewide Tenant Protection Act uses inflation to determine how much landlords can raise rent each year. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist San Diego is home to a world-class public art scene.  Throughout the city you’ll find colorful murals stretching across entire buildings and soaring sculptures celebrating the city's heritage. You’ll also find public art sprinkled along the bowels of “America’s Finest City” — from public bathrooms to pump stations to sewage treatment plants. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS

California bans state-funded travel to other states that discriminate against LGBTQ people. That list has ballooned as legislation targeting trans people sweeps the country. Now Democratic lawmakers want to change tactics. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Residents in Orange County’s Anaheim Hills are voting on a self-imposed tax that would fund a groundwater pump system. That pump system has protected homes from landslides for 30 years, but funding will run out at the end of this year. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report

Legislative staff in California’s State Capitol have long been banned from unionizing.  In recent years, efforts to grant them that right have been shot down. But another bill to allow staff to unionize is making its way through the state legislature. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio Advocates rallied Tuesday in support of a bill California lawmakers are considering that would let workers take more paid sick days to care for themselves or family. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Operations at Diablo Canyon, California’s last nuclear power plant, were going to stop in a couple years. But Pacific Gas and Electric is applying to keep it open through 2045 to help the state meet its ambitious green energy goals. A new study says those extra years could result in significantly higher bills for PG&E's ratepayers Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

The Hollywood strikes this time are different from those of the past, and not just because the technology has changed. Silicon Valley has taken over Hollywood, and Big Tech has an established anti-union bent. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED New data shows California has taken 1 in 5 people off Medi-Cal in its first month of the renewal process. Medi-Cal is the state’s health insurance program for its poorest residents. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio California representatives in Washington D.C. have joined more than 100 lawmakers calling for new heat illness protections for workers. Lawmakers want these protections implemented right away.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

This year, there's no fresh, locally caught salmon. The season was closed. So few adult fish are now in the ocean off the California coast, fisheries managers decided they all were needed to return to their natal streams and spawn. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED Science Reporter Much of California continues to buckle under a sweltering heat wave with no end in sight. But the state’s epic snowpack isn’t going anywhere just yet. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR

The best surf spots in Santa Cruz are infamous for territorial locals and some occasionally aggressive confrontations.  But lately, not all of the offenders have been human. A five-year-old sea otter has become famous for stealing surfboards, and evading capture. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU California regulators are developing emergency rules to protect workers dying from inhaling silica dust, in shops making kitchen countertops. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Wednesday's winning Powerball ticket was bought in downtown Los Angeles' Garment District.  Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist 

The Grateful Dead’s offshoot band, Dead and Company, says this summer was their last tour. And their final stop on that tour was in San Francisco, where fans celebrated the end of an era.  Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report Doctors in California say a growing number of workers are getting really sick and dying from inhaling silica dust, while they sand and cut artificial stone to make kitchen countertops. State regulators are considering a petition Thursday for emergency rules.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

After months of fighting, the Temecula school board once again failed to approve a new elementary social studies textbook on Tuesday night. That sets up a showdown with the governor’s office. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR  California is dumping at least $100 million a year into its flagship rehabilitation program for former prisoners. Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming, also known as STOP, provides housing and other support for parolees.  But a new investigation from CalMatters has found the state has no idea if the program works.  Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters   The California State University system is failing to adequately protect its community from sexual harassment.  That's according to a new report from the state auditor released this week. Reporter: Amy Mayer, KQED 

Starting this fall, judges in 8 counties will be put in charge of ordering treatment for people with serious psychotic illness. Some politicians say these new CARE Courts will clean up the streets, while health advocates argue a courtroom is no place for vulnerable patients. In Orange County, officials are balancing this tension as they start to implement the controversial new plan. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

Central and Southern California are still not in the clear, with heat warnings in place for much of those regions. And for the state’s 115,000 unsheltered homeless residents, trying to keep cool is easier said than done. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Construction crews are ahead of schedule on the demolition of the first of four dams on the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio  Most small business owners in California support expanding benefits that help employees take care of their health and their family, like paid sick days. That’s according to the results of a new opinion poll. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  California’s latest effort to get college athletes paid is stalled in the legislature after pushback from universities. The bill would have allowed college athletes to get a share of the revenue that they create for their school.  Reporter: Ryan Loyola, CalMatters

SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents film and TV actors, announced that its 160,000 members are striking, with actors expected to form picket lines outside of studios on Friday. SAG -AFTRA members will join already striking Hollywood writers. Such a labor stoppage by both unions at the same time hasn't happened since 1960 and it basically shuts down Hollywood production. The heat wave that’s expected to blanket large swaths of the state is forecast to push temperatures in Palm Springs to more than 120 degrees this weekend. The city is struggling to keep its growing homeless population safe in the heat.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR What about the state’s power grid, which is always a concern during extended heat waves? California’s electric grid operator says it has more tools to make sure the power stays on. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report   With temperatures reaching triple digits in much of California, state regulators are once again fanning out to inspect high-risk worksites. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  

Temperatures are expected to climb well above 100, especially in the state’s valleys and away from the coast the rest of this week. Officials from half a dozen state and federal agencies are warning Californians to prepare for the heat wave. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED What’s it like to work and try to protect others in a place that’s sometimes the hottest spot on the planet, with temperatures upwards of 130 degrees? We're talking about California’s Death Valley National Park. Guest: Nichole Andler, Death Valley Park Ranger

LGBTQ Pride events have been taking place across the country amid growing threats of violence towards the community. Along with being frightening, these threats are also impacting Pride organizations' financial bottom lines. One example? Skyrocketing insurance costs. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS   With a strike threat imminent, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors, has agreed to last minute federal mediation to try to reach a deal with film and television producers. If a deal isn’t struck, the impact will be widespread, including for big pop culture events like Comic Con, which is set to kick off on July 20th in San Diego.

In April, California passed a first of its kind policy to accelerate the transition to electric big rig trucks. But how does it actually feel to be behind the wheel of one? Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist After raising tuition only once in the last decade, California State University Trustees will meet on Tuesday to consider a possible tuition hike for students in the 23 campus system. The proposal is for CSU to raise annual tuition by 6% through at least spring of 2029.  Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED Financed by Bay Area tech investors, a new professional cricket league debuts later this week. It’s part of the sport’s increased visibility in the Golden State and the rest of the country. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED

After not being seen for decades, a rare native plant was recently rediscovered on the Central Coast. Botanists say the tiny Santa Ynez groundstar grows in the city of Lompoc and nowhere else.  Reporter: Beth Thornton  Tent encampments on sidewalks are often the public face of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. But a new census of the homeless shows a big increase of the unhoused who live in parked vehicles.   Reporter: David Wagner, LAist 

After months of alarm, forecasters predict that Tulare Lake has peaked in size. That means the risk of flooding has likely subsided for the city of Corcoran. But questions still surround what could have happened if floodwaters had overtaken two state prisons on the outskirts of the city. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Ford, General Motors and several other truck manufacturers have agreed to abide by California’s ban on the sale of new diesel big rigs by 2036. The deal puts an industry stamp of approval on rules California solidified this year, to fight air pollution and climate change.  Reporter: Kevin Stark , KQED   From time to time this summer, we're talking to Californians about how they're spending their summer months. Today, we head to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. It's a place that's long been popular with street performers, and it's where we met musician Eric Gray, who's a fixture on the boardwalk. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s long-awaited ‘Kingdoms of Asia’ exhibit has opened. The exhibit's design was inspired by Cambodia's landmark Angkor Wat temple. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Hotel workers who had been on strike since Sunday in Los Angeles and Orange counties, have returned to work. But the union representing the workers says they could walk out at anytime, if their demands aren't met.

About 15,000 workers employed at dozens of hotels across Los Angeles and Orange counties have walked off the job, demanding better pay and benefits.  As summer temperatures start to hit triple digits, farmworkers in the Central Valley are especially vulnerable to the toll of excessive heat. And looking ahead it’s not going to get any easier because of climate change, Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

The California Air Resources Board, or CARB, which regulates car and truck pollution in the state, will soon fully open its new, very expensive state-of-the-art laboratory and testing center in Riverside. The hope is that it can be a key tool in the decades-long fight against air pollution and, more recently, climate change. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

This summer, the California Report will be taking you to places and talking to people from all walks of life about what they're doing in the months ahead. But first, we're looking at the dollars and cents of California’s tourism economy and how things are shaping up this summer travel season. Guest: Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California Many people enjoy spending the summer outdoors, and that can mean hiking in some of California's vast and diverse parks, trails and forests. But how can you enjoy it safely, and avoid the crowds? Guest: Chris Hazzard, Author, Professional Hiking Guide

Homelessness is up 9 percent In LA County. Results of Los Angeles' Annual Homeless Count Are Out ...And It's Not Good.   Anna Scott from KCRW has the details. The State Task Force Studying Reparations For African-Americans In California Has Submitted Its Final Report... And As KQED Politics Correspondent Guy Marzorati Tells Us -- State Legislators Now Face The Political Challenge Of Making Those Proposals A Reality. This Week, Governor Gavin Newsom And State Lawmakers Agreed On A State Budget That Includes $10 million for LGBTQ Services To Be Divided Among The State's Community Colleges. That Money Is Critical In Rural Communities Where LGBTQ Plus Services Are Typically Scarce. The Supreme Court's Decision To Do Away With Affirmative Action In College Admissions Will Likely Not Have As Deep An Impact In California Since Prop 209 Banned The Practice back In 1998. The City Of Arcata Will Be The Site Of A New Emergency Mental Health Care Facility With The Help Of A Recent $12 Million Grant. As JPR’s Jane Vaughan reports, The New Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center Will Hopefully Open In 2026. Here's A Preview Of Our Sister Show, The California Report’s Weekly Magazine. During The Pandemic, Rhea Patel And Marcel Michel Decided To Do Something Bold.... Despite Having NO Background In Food, The Couple Started A Food Business, Bringing Flavors From Their Indian And Mexican Backgrounds To Rotisserie Chicken Dishes. They Call It - SAUCY CHICK....And, KQED’s Sasha Khoka Caught Up With Them At A Sunday Food Market in Downtown Los Angeles.

People who live around several reservoirs in Siskiyou County are facing an uncertain future. Four dams on the Klamath River will be torn down over the next two years. Now, their lakefront properties will change as reservoirs turn into a free-flowing river again. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio   A new report shows California is performing almost 500 more abortions per month than in the period before Roe v. Wade was overturned. The “We Count” project has been collecting data from U.S. abortion providers, as more states implement bans and restrictions. The numbers include both medication abortion and in-clinic procedures. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio The California task force studying reparations for Black residents is submitting its final recommendations to the State legislature on Thursday. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED

New numbers out from California's Attorney General's office show a more than 20% increase in hate crimes in the state between 2021 and 2022, with more than 2,100 recorded incidents last year. Reported hate crimes targeting Black people had the sharpest rise. There were also big increases in crimes against members of the LGBTQ and Jewish communities. The majority of Californians live in places where the supply of licensed child care just does not meet the demand. And it could get worse. During the pandemic, additional federal funds helped many child care providers stay open, but that funding is coming to an end. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED In recent weeks, hundreds of sea lions and more than 100 dolphins have washed up sick or dead on the beaches of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. A toxic algae bloom off the coast is thought to be the cause. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, LAist

Have you been recycling your food scraps? A new report finds that California’s landmark compost law that went into effect last year isn’t close to reaching its organic recycling goals. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist What happens when an elected official essentially becomes homeless because of the cost of California housing? In the small Ventura County town of Ojai, a councilmember has fought to keep her seat, because she can’t find permanent housing she can afford that’s in her district. Guest: Alexei Koseff, Reporter, CalMatters 

By law, California's legislature and the governor must approve a budget by July 1st, the start of the state’s fiscal year. But with that deadline looming, lawmakers and Governor Newsom still haven't struck a budget agreement. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio A 2017 law to streamline new housing construction and override neighborhood opposition has been hailed as one of the most successful tools in the state to help solve California’s housing crisis. But this well-intentioned legislation is producing some unintended consequences for a small and underserved community in one of the richest counties in the state. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report

The U.S. is now the second country in the world to approve the sale of cultivated meat. The meat from Bay Area companies Upside Foods and Good Meat doesn’t come from slaughtered animals. Rather it’s made from animal cells.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  In honor of Juneteenth, The California Report Magazine. is celebrating with stories of creative, powerful Black women, and the house in Oakland that has become the center of their movement.  Reporters: The Kitchen Sisters, The California Report Magazine

California officials are pressuring textbook publishers to produce culturally diverse materials for California classrooms. This comes in light of book bans across the country. Reporter: Riley Palmer, KQED Last fall, Sacramento became one of the latest California cities to ban homeless encampments on public property, after voters approved a controversial law called Measure O. Enforcement of the measure is off to a sluggish start. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  

California’s sky high housing costs are the biggest contributor to homelessness, and older residents are feeling it the most. That’s according to a new study from the University of California, San Francisco. Reporter: Sydney Johnson, KQED  Hospitals and workers agree - California has a healthcare staffing shortage.  What they don’t agree on is how to fix it. Democrats in the state legislature are pushing to increase the minimum wage for health care workers to $25 an hour. But hospitals, counties, and business groups say now isn’t the right time. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio

When a levee burst in a January rainstorm in the Central Valley town of Planada, floodwaters wrecked the homes of hundreds of farmworker families. In March, the same thing happened again, a levee failed in the Salinas Valley and inundated the farmworker town of Pajaro. Those communities are now pushing to get some real help in the state budget. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Abortion access is a Constitutional right in California. Yet lawmakers here continue to struggle to regulate so-called crisis pregnancy centers – facilities that abortion advocates say mislead women seeking abortion care. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters 

Later this month, the statewide task force studying reparations for black Californians will submit its historic final report to the state legislature for consideration.  Most of the focus has been on monetary reparations, but some say the task force will take a bigger picture approach. Lawmakers in the state senate will consider a bill on Tuesday that aims to help low-income teens access mental health treatment. But some affluent parents say it would take away their rights. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED California lawmakers are now waiting for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign off on their proposed state budget. Among the countless line items – $10 million set aside for LGBTQ + services at California community colleges.  Reporter: Adam Echelman, CalMatters 

Mayors across California are feeling the pressure to reduce street homelessness and tent encampments. So, they’re increasingly turning to temporary housing as a solution. But investments in shelters could come at the expense of permanent housing. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED California prides itself on being a diverse state. But actually connecting people who have radically different life experiences can be a challenge. The Santa Monica public library is hosting events to encourage deep one-on-one conversations between people from different backgrounds. It’s called a “Human Library.”  Reporter: Claire Wiley

A busload of more than 40 migrants, sent by the state of Texas, arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon.  The group included at least eight children. Questions linger about how two groups of migrants ended up on flights to Sacramento earlier this month. Some asylum seekers now say the state of Florida hired contractors to push them to get on the flights.  Guest: Jack Herrera, L.A. Times national correspondent

Local and state officials are cracking down on the use of gas-powered gardening equipment, like leaf blowers. But not everyone is thrilled about these changes. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Tijuana’s migrant shelters are struggling to stay afloat. A few things threaten their long term future: declining donations and rising costs. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS

20 members of Congress from California sent a letter to the EPA. They're worried that a rule intended to improve air quality could make it harder to conduct prescribed burns. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED The rejection of a social studies textbook by three conservative Christian school board members in Temecula is causing more upheaval. While California's Attorney General awaits a response from the board to justify its decision, some community members in Temecula are pushing for a recall of the board members. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR  Residents are moving into an all-electric housing development in the sunny, arid city of Menifee in Riverside County. There are roughly 200 single-family homes, all designed to create zero harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

There are more than 300,000 licensed security guards in California - a number that’s been growing over the past decade.  But in the wake of a fatal shooting of an alleged shoplifter in San Francisco last month by a Walgreens drug store guard, the training required by state regulators is looking increasingly outdated.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Thousands of unionized hotel workers in Southern California have overwhelmingly voted for a strike authorization measure. If they do walk off the job, they say it will be the biggest hotel strike in U.S. history. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  

The southern San Andreas Fault hasn’t generated a major earthquake in 300 years. But why? Well, new research published in the scientific journal Nature explains that might be due to the shrinking of the nearby Salton Sea. Campaigns to ban books are on the rise in the U.S. That includes the Riverside County community of Temecula. There, the school board’s decision to reject a textbook has sparked a censorship battle. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Music legend Chris Strachwitz passed away last month in Marin County at the age of 91. He was the founder of Arhoolie Records. He also traveled the country making field recordings of music performed by cotton-pickers, janitors, and other working people. Reporter: The Kitchen Sisters

Should Californians have a right to housing enshrined in the state constitution? Well, a bill to do just that just passed its first legislative hurdle in Sacramento. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED   Many people living in wildfire-prone areas of California were already struggling with home insurance before the news that Allstate and State Farm would stop writing new policies. So for those who've lost homes to fire, how does this change their financial calculus? Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says it’s responsible for sending two chartered planes of asylum seekers to Sacramento over the past week. That comes after Governor Gavin Newsom suggested that DeSantis, who’s also running for president, might be guilty of kidnapping. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The return of a Tulare Lake in California’s Central Valley because of flooding has caused millions of dollars in agricultural damage. But the new lake is also giving members of a Native American tribe a rare chance to get back in touch with their roots and sacred traditions.    Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR

Eviction cases are piling up in Los Angeles County courtrooms, especially now that the county’s COVID protections have ended. Landlords almost always show up with attorneys, while tenants tend to represent themselves. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist  Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg says he's proud of the way community groups and local officials are stepping up, to aid the dozens of bewildered migrants who’ve arrived in his city by chartered jets in recent days. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

The CARE Court program is part of the state's big changes in how it treats the most severely mentally ill. A handful of counties are scheduled to begin the programs this year, including Los Angeles County. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report State authorities say they’ll investigate how a group of migrants, who were reportedly bused from Texas to New Mexico, before being flown to California, ended up at a church in Sacramento.  Reporter: Daphne Young, KQED 

State lawmakers are trying to make renting more affordable by capping how much landlords can charge for security deposits.  Reporter: Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, CalMatters There's been some very un-California weather in the southern part of our state. Cloudy skies have filled the skies the last few weeks. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Accessible health care is often a huge challenge in rural parts of California. That includes in Nevada County in the Sierra Foothills. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

By next year, every county in California will have to implement a new statewide program called CARE Court. It focuses on getting unhoused people with severe mental health disorders into treatment.  Eight counties have agreed to begin early, including San Francisco. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Catalytic converters are a part that all gas-powered vehicles in California are required to have in order to keep their exhaust up to our air quality standards. Thousands of cars across Los Angeles have had theirs stolen, because of the part’s valuable precious metals. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW California’s record snowpack is starting to melt, and it might impact peak wildfire season. For some higher-elevation parts of the state, excess snowpack from the winter might stick around longer than usual and help in reducing severe wildfire risks. But in lower-elevation areas that dry out sooner, it’s a different story.  Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio 

Fentanyl Deaths Up in California, New Data Show New Federal data show overdose deaths in California up slightly, and drug policy experts say lasting change requires lawmakers to examine and treat underlying causes of addiction. Meanwhile, a bill to create a task force is now advancing at the State Capitol. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill Patison, KFF Health News Carmel-by-the Sea Addresses Its Addresses The city of Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its quaint shops, movie star residents and bohemian quirkiness. It’s that bohemian quirkiness that's causing a controversy in the coastal village. Last fall a group of residents asked the city to change a one hundred year old tradition. Reporter: Doug McKnight, KAZU

Consider the beaver. Once thought of as a “nuisance rodent,” yes it’s a rodent, for flooding roads, farmland and other properties that we want to keep dry, the beaver is now embraced as a “climate solving hero” and an eco-engineer. Why? Well for its natural ability to help increase water storage and to create natural buffers against wildfires.  Guests: Laurie Wayburn, Co-Founder of Pacific Forest Trust and Leila Phillip, Author of the book "Beaver Land: How One Weird Rodent Made America"

The California State University system has some of the lowest tuition rates in the country. But a huge budget gap could force new tuition hikes.  Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Stanford University is conducting the first clinical trial in the world, looking at whether Paxlovid could be a possible treatment for Long COVID patients.   Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Kennedy High School is in Richmond, a town northeast of San Francisco. One retired teacher has shown extraordinary commitment to the school, where he’s dedicated his time and energy for more than 50 years.  Reporter: Richard Gonzales, The California Report Magazine

Every year for the past two decades, tribes along the Oregon-California border have come together for an event known as the Salmon Run. It’s a spiritual run and prayer for the health of the Klamath watershed.   Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio A new state legislative committee is digging into the fentanyl crisis in search of solutions. Over five hours of testimony on Wednesday, public health and law enforcement experts painted a grim picture of a complex crisis requiring multifaceted solutions. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED   

This year, the city of Los Angeles decided to turn one of its methane gas plants into a hydrogen plant. It's part of the city’s ambitious goal to run on 100% renewable energy by 2035. It might sound great, but it’s actually a controversial move. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A new state legislative committee focused on fentanyl and opioid addiction is holding its first meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The committee is hoping to address the ongoing opioid crisis.  Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

A historic agreement has been reached between seven Western states to cut the amount of water they take from the Colorado River. But what are California's responsibilities under the deal? And which part of the state will be most affected? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  California's lawmakers have been scrambling to address the state's fentanyl overdose crisis. The synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and it caused nearly 6,000 deaths in California in 2021, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. But the state legislature is split on the best approach to tackle this crisis -- treatment or punishment? Guest: Anita Chabria, Columnist, Los Angeles Times

California’s food banks are reporting alarming spikes in demand, that’s according to the state’s association of food banks, which says the end of pandemic-era food benefits and record high inflation is to blame.  In April, the Sacramento food bank and its partners fed 281,000 people – almost double the amount it served before the pandemic. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Fueled by California's record snowfall, rivers in the state are flowing fast and have swept away a number of people recently. That includes an 8-year-old girl, who drowned in the Kings River in Fresno County on Sunday.   Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Earlier this month, we brought you the story of Long COVID patients and their concerns about the lack of clinical trials for potential treatments. Now, a Bay Area lawmaker is looking for answers from the federal agency in charge of Long COVID research. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

It was once Northern California’s largest settlement of unhoused people. The city of Oakland recently cleared the last remaining portion of the community people called Wood Street.   Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED We're learning more about U.S Senator Dianne Feinstein's recent health struggles. They were worse and more complicated than her office first disclosed.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California workplace regulators have confirmed complaints of child labor and other violations at a Popeye’s fast food restaurant in East Oakland. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Rivers in California are flowing fast and wide this year as record snowpack in the mountains melt. All that water has created flood damage and worries about more to come, but one industry is thriving after years of drought and shrinking rivers -- whitewater rafting.    Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California workplace health and safety regulators are holding a public hearing on Thursday on a proposed rule to prevent heat-related illness in indoor spaces. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 

 Along the Yuba River on Tuesday, California officials announced a plan to give fish access to areas they haven't swam in for more than a century. Daguerre Point Dam has blocked migrating salmon, sturgeon and Pacific lamprey since it was built in 1910. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED After a wildfire destroyed his home a few years back, a young Latino man from Santa Rosa was inspired to become a firefighter. Now, he’s well on his way to achieving his goal -- thanks to a program designed to increase diversity in California’s fire departments. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

In 2015, the Berryessa Snow Mountain region became a national monument. The monument status brought protections to the area’s biologically diverse landscape.  But one large swath of land, nestled in the monument’s center, was excluded from protection. Now environmental groups and tribes are trying to fix that.   Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Governor Gavin Newsom warned of a more than $31 billion shortfall when he released his revised state spending plan last week. One sector that will feel the pinch of a tighter budget is child care. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

U.S. immigration officials are expressing confidence in the state of things at the U-S Mexico border. That after the Trump-era Title 42 program ended last week. It prevented migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. But there are still plenty of concerns from people trying to cross the border. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Now that the pandemic era border restrictions, known as Title 42, have been lifted., it’s estimated six thousand migrants are in shelters across the San Diego -Tijuana border waiting to apply for asylum. Many had been waiting for days without much food. They slept on the ground under bright lights. Governor Gavin Newsom will be announcing how big of a budget deficit the state is expecting next year – and how he plans to close that gap. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters  Fire season is fast approaching in California. As the climate warms, fires are expected to be more intense. This comes as California struggles to beef up its wildfire personnel. But a new program in the Bay Area aims to help build that workforce. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report

Title 42, the border policy that was put in place during the pandemic to turn asylum seekers away, ends Thursday night. Officials are expecting a surge of migrants at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is already keeping 400 migrants in a makeshift camp in San Ysidro, between the primary and secondary border walls.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  Thursday marks the end of the COVID 19 federal public health emergency.  But for people who are affected by Long COVID, it’s not the end of the pandemic.  Many have lost their jobs, have no means of income, and are relying on disability checks to try to survive. But getting approved for long-term disability is becoming a major roadblock. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

As we’re now in the fourth year of the pandemic, there is a growing sense of optimism that the worst is likely behind us. Vaccines and boosters have helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. But for millions of Americans who are suffering from Long COVID symptoms, there’s no end in sight for their day-to-day struggles. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to release his revised budget on Friday. He’s warned about a major deficit, but that isn’t stopping lawmakers from putting pressure on him to increase child care funding, to the tune of a billion dollars.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED   After the COVID-19 public health emergency ends on Thursday, some people who were receiving medications through telehealth will need to visit a doctor in person. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS 

California’s legislature has approved spending $150 million to help cash-strapped hospitals across the state. The money would fund a hospital loan program. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Menifee in Riverside County is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. As it's grown, the city made the decision to create its own police department from scratch. It launched in the summer of 2020 – just as policing was under intense scrutiny in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.   Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

This week will mark the end of a controversial border policy that started under President Donald Trump. Title 42 is part of the U.S. Public Health Code meant to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. But it's been used to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants from crossing the border. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED We’re nearing the end of the first week of the Hollywood writers strike, and studios and the union representing writers stand far apart on a number of key issues. But, the strike doesn’t only threaten the financial health of those who work on TV shows or movies. It has lots of other businesses worried as well.  Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist The California reparations task force has approved a statewide plan for descendants of American Slavery.  The sweeping recommendations include a method to calculate money denied to Black residents by racist policies and plans for a new state agency to manage repayment. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED

Hundreds of parents and teachers in Oakland are taking to the picket line on Friday morning for day two of the citywide teachers strike.  Reporter: Phoebe Quinton, KQED David “Mas” Masumoto has been growing peaches, nectarines and grapes on his family farm in Del Rey, just south of Fresno, for over 40 years. He thought he knew all about his family history in the area -- the racism, imprisonment during World War II, and eventually buying some land, establishing a home. But Masumoto got a big shock in 2012.  Reporter: Lisa Morehouse, The California Report Magazine

TV and film writers are taking to the picket lines for the third day, after failing to reach an agreement with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It' still unclear how long the strike will last, but both sides seem to be dug in. Guest: Michael Schneider, Senior TV Editor, Variety. Host of Screengrab, a podcast from KCRW   The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pass ambitious plans for new housing in Hollywood and Downtown L.A. The aim is to bring 135,000 new homes to the two neighborhoods. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist 

In Hollywood, film and television writers represented by the Writers Guild of America, or WGA, are on the second day of a strike. It’s the first such labor action in more than 15 years, and it could have a devastating economic impact on the industry if it continues.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Tuesday, we told you about the lack of affordable child care options, and how it’s keeping women from joining certain industries. A lot of that has to do with how little early educators are paid. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

The construction industry in California wants to hire more women to meet a shortage of skilled workers. But access to child care is keeping many of these women from joining the trades. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The state is suing the city of Elk Grove for allegedly using discriminatory housing practices to deny a proposed affordable housing project. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Did you know when California communities plan new housing, they don’t have to take the size of their unhoused populations into consideration? A new bill advancing through the state Legislature could change that. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters

Last July, San Bernardino police shot and killed a 23-year-old Black man as he ran from them while allegedly holding a gun. The police killing of Rob Adams drew protests and demands for accountability — and is the subject of a $100 million lawsuit filed on behalf of his family.  Now, nine months after Adams was killed, San Bernardino city officials confirmed the names of the involved officers. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Many are calling it environmental justice. California’s air board has passed an ambitious plan to phase out diesel truck fleets, from garbage trucks to Amazon delivery vehicles. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED    A recent state audit found the California Department of Public Health has missed opportunities to collect data about people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio

Criminal justice advocates and some incarcerated individuals have filed a lawsuit against the California prison system. What’s at issue? Policies, the plaintiffs argue, that illegally discriminate against inmates who prison officials believe are foreign-born. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The California Report Magazine is wrapping up their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” with a conversation with comedian W. Kamau Bell, and his wife, Melissa Hudson Bell. The couple have a new HBO film ‘1000 Percent Me’ - where Kamau Bell asks mixed race children about their experiences. Reporters: Sasha Khokha and Marisa Lagos, The California Report Magazine

California is set to see one of its first extended heat waves. That could mean major problems for parts of the state, where flooding is likely from a melting snowpack. Among the communities on edge is Corcoran in the Central Valley, which is already surrounded by rising water. Guest: Joshua Yeager, Reporter, KVPR As California wages its fight against smog and climate change, state regulators this week will vote on a plan to start phasing out diesel truck fleets -- from delivery vans, to garbage trucks, to 18-wheelers. The regulators want to see them replaced with zero emission vehicles. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

On Wednesday in Sacramento, lawmakers will hold a hearing on legislation aimed at creating buffer zones between homes and huge warehouses and logistic centers where companies, like Amazon, store and distribute mountains of goods that a lot of us might order online.  This is the latest development in an ongoing debate over warehouses and the health threats they might pose to people who live near them. The center of that debate is the Inland Empire, east of Los Angeles. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Buckle in for a long summer when it comes to the threat of flooding. That’s what Governor Gavin Newsom told people Tuesday in the San Joaquin Valley, while standing atop a dirt levee holding back millions of gallons of floodwater. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR

Weather forecasters expect an early-season heatwave this week in many parts of the state. The warmth may cause flooding as the snowpack melts in inland areas of California. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED On the best of days, agricultural work isn’t easy, but in recent years, California farmworkers, in places like the San Joaquin Valley, have also had to deal with record heat waves, wildfires and more recently storms and flooding. But because of chronic illnesses, agricultural laborers also face a growing health crisis. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR As another wildfire season looms, a federal judge will soon decide whether there should be limits on how firefighters drop chemical retardant onto large blazes. Environmentalists say the retardant pollutes rivers, streams and lakes. But some lawmakers and residents in areas of the state prone to wildfires say the retardant saves lives and properties. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio

The California Air Resources Board, which regulates car and truck pollution in the state, will soon fully open its new laboratory and emissions testing center in the Southern California city of Riverside. It's expected to play a crucial role in the state's fight against pollution and climate change. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A U.S. citizen from Imperial County, who was held in immigration detention for over a year, most of it in solitary confinement, is suing the private prison company that detained him. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

For decades U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has been one of the most popular politicians in California. Now 89-years-old and recovering in San Francisco from a bout of shingles, she’s facing calls to resign. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED As communities across the state grapple with the long-term impacts of recent floods, added challenges are coming to light. Storm water has flushed more fertilizer and manure into aquifers, which could pollute drinking water in much of the state. Reporter: Alastair Bland, CalMatters

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings face off in Game Three of their playoff series Thursday night. While the team's have a growing rivalry on the court, they share one thing in common off it. They have two of the most fervent fanbases in the NBA, that stretches across Northern California. Reporter: Andrew Saintsing, KALW A California bill that just passed the Senate Labor Committee would expand the paid sick leave most employers must offer from at least three days per year, to seven. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 

Many of the renter protections California set up during the pandemic have gone away. But in Los Angeles, one big one has stuck around: rent increases are still banned for most of the city’s tenants. However, some landlords don't know about LA’s rent freeze — and renter complaints are at a 10-year high.  Reporter: David Wagner, LAist The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide on Wednesday whether or not a common abortion drug will remain available. while a case challenging its safety makes its way through the court. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED  

For families whose loved ones are facing a mental health crisis, it can be hard to be optimistic, especially when resources are scarce. In Humboldt County, there's a proposal to create an emergency mental health care facility. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio During the pandemic, many people gained access to Medicaid, the low to no cost health insurance. But now, with pandemic protections ending, states are beginning to re-examine people’s eligibility. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio

Families who once lived in a Palm Springs neighborhood are seeking reparations. Decades ago, the city forcibly evicted the mostly Black and Latino residents from their homes — and leveled the area.  Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, LAist   The state’s Dream for All housing program aimed to give first-time home buyers a leg-up, especially those in communities often priced out of the market. As we reported last week, funding for the new program ran dry in less than two weeks. But it's unclear if the money actually went to buyers who needed it most. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters

There’s a beam of light bringing people together in Sacramento, where long suffering basketball fans finally have a reason to celebrate. And the Battle of Northern California kicks off on Saturday, as the Kings are facing off against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.  Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED  Senator Dianne Feinstein is asking Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on a key committee until she fully recovers from a bout of shingles. But it might not be that simple. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED   California is experiencing a rush of solar installations as residents and installers worked to get deals in place before new rules take effect on Friday.   Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

California prides itself on welcoming and including immigrants. The state is often at odds with the federal government over immigration enforcement. But there are exceptions – and a big one is that when the state prison system is releasing someone who’s not a citizen, they are allowed to turn them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they routinely do. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Demonstrators from around California are expected to converge in Sacramento on Thursday to support a state bill that would offer unemployment benefits to workers, who are excluded because they’re undocumented. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

It’s been 3 months since major flooding inundated the town of Planada in Merced County. Still, residents of this unincorporated community are struggling to stay afloat. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report State officials are preparing for major flooding as the snowpack begins to melt. Statewide, the snowpack sits at 249% of the average for this time of year. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

The Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and avoided millions of childhood illnesses. Even so, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to strengthen air standards. It's a move celebrated by many, but some fire experts worry that the new rules could unintentionally lead to larger wildfires and worse air. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED  Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill on Tuesday that would restrict California prison officials from transferring certain inmates to ICE. The HOME Act would protect non-citizens from being handed to ICE for deportation, if they’ve been granted clemency or released from prison under recent criminal justice reform laws. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The state launched a program recently to get more Californians into their first homes. The only problem? Maybe the program was too popular.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

More fallout from the reappearance of Tulare Lake. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. But it's been dry for years. Now, with massive amounts of rain, and more water coming from the state's melting snowpack, nearby communities are worried they could be flooded out.   Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Tens of thousands of people rely on salmon fishing to make a living. The season's closure could be devastating to coastal communities - from fishing to charter boats and restaurants.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

California child care providers are still waiting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic financial relief from Governor Newsom and the Department of Social Services. Providers were supposed to receive the one-time stipend payments around the holidays, or early 2023 at the latest. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report  Fast fashion trends have many Americans buying more clothes than ever. But when those clothes are discarded, thousands of tons of textiles end up in landfills each year.  Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX

The number of K-12 students experiencing homelessness in California has surged by the thousands. That’s according to new enrollment data from the state’s Department of Education. Reporter: Joe Hong, CalMatters   A new investigation finds that after police killings, many California law enforcement agencies are trained to keep news of people's deaths from family members. That way, according to the reporting, police can grill families for information that can be used to limit liability and protect departments’ reputations. Guest: Brian Howey, Investigative Reporting Program, UC Berkeley and LA Times

A parade of atmospheric rivers has delivered record-busting levels of rain and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada this year. But with all that snow poised to melt in the coming months, communities in the Central Valley floor, which are already grappling with flooding, are bracing for the worst.  Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand a guaranteed income program for an additional 200 former foster youth in the area. It’ll provide recipients with $1,000 a month for two years.  Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report 

The latest reading of California’s snowpack is in, and the amount of snow is huge - 220% of average. The last time California had this much snow in the Sierra Nevada was in 1952. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  How many of you have had this very California problem? You really want to buy your first home, but the down payment is just too high. And the monthly mortgage payments would kill you financially. Well, the state of California has just started taking applications for a new program, where it will put down a good chunk of money to help people buy their first home.  Guest: Eric Johnson, California Housing Finance Agency

When the food scraps we throw out from our kitchens get hauled to dumps, they release methane, a super-accelerant of climate change. So last year, a state law went into effect requiring California cities to slash the amount of food waste they send to landfills. But how is implementation of that law going? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Starting Monday, California Public Health officials will no longer require masking in healthcare and correctional facilities. Also, COVID-19 vaccinations won’t be required for healthcare workers.

The state says it's offering aid to communities that have been deeply impacted by this year's storms. But for many residents in the San Bernardino mountains, the challenges are mounting. Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist A group of hunger strikers at two California immigration detention centers say they're pausing their protest, after what they call violent tactics by ICE officials. The 35-day hunger strike began in mid-February – with dozens of men at the Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex facilities protesting substandard conditions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED   Continuing their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” The California Report Magazine spoke with Professor Reginald Daniel. He taught the nation’s longest running course on Mixed Race Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will replace voting equipment targeted by former President Trump and others, promoting the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. The county is now going to be hand counting ballots. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Housing advocates say landlords have been taking advantage of a loophole in California’s Tenant Protection Act to kick renters out. Lawmakers passed the landmark legislation in 2019 to keep tenants in their homes. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED 

The experience of climate-fueled storms since the turn of the year is lodged into the minds of Californians — levee failures displaced thousands, blizzard conditions trapped people in their homes, hundreds of thousands lost power and a vast inland California lake appeared. Climate scientists say the storms and flooding are just a fraction of what’s expected in a warmer world. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Governor Newsom is asking the Biden Administration to declare a major disaster for counties in California, that have been impacted by storms over the past month. That includes Monterey County, where residents in Pajaro have been asking for help from the state and federal government.   

State lawmakers have approved Governor Gavin Newsom's bill, which is attempting to increase transparency of the oil industry in the state. It would allow the California Energy Commission to impose penalties, through a regulatory process, if the agency believes oil companies are making excessive profits from gas prices. California's crisis support centers want to better serve Native Americans in need. But right now, less than one percent of calls to the 988 crisis line are from Native People. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio A state task force developing proposals to provide reparations for Black Californians is nearing the end of its work. The panel faces a June deadline to send recommendations to the legislature to compensate Black residents for the harms dating back to slavery. And the California state legislature -- well it has its own pro-slavery history.  Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Water is back on, but it's still not drinkable in the Monterey County community of Pajaro, which was hit by massive flooding a few weeks ago. Residents are being allowed back in their homes to assess the damage, and start the process of cleaning up their property. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KAZU Over 5 million people around California use CalFresh, the state's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as "food stamps." But starting in April, these folks will notice a steep drop in the amount of food benefit they’re receiving. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED

Oakland teachers at 14 middle and high schools are planning a walkout on Friday. But, the teachers union has not sanctioned a strike. Meanwhile, LA educators are back in the classroom today after reaching an agreement late Thursday. Communities in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles, are once again struggling to dig out of more snow following this week's latest atmospheric river. But, to assist residents with questions they may have about receiving possible aid, assistance centers are opening over the weekend. A levee that has protected the city of Corcoran for decades is at risk of filling up after the recent rains that have drenched California. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation. TCR Reporter, Kerry Klein in Fresno has the details. A father who was separated from his family by a Trump administration immigration policy is finally back home in California after nearly four years. EdSource Reporter, Zaidee Stavely, introduces us to Jose Luis Ruiz Arevalos, who's looking forward to getting back to life with his family.

It was a rare sight in the LA County city of Montebello on Wednesday after a tornado ripped through the city, damaging 11 buildings. One person was injured. As the latest atmospheric river ravaged the state this week, some communities are left with more mess to clean up. Farming communities have been especially impacted by this year's wet weather -- from Planada in Merced County to Pajaro in Monterey County. And this will likely have a major impact on farmworkers. Guest: Sarait Martinez, Executive Director, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indí-gena Oaxaqueño Bids are due on Friday to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for Silicon Valley Bank’s assets, and liabilities. But there’s no word yet as to whether purchasers will be required to honor the company's $11 billion community benefit agreement. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED 

Downed trees, widespread power outages, flooded roadways -- it was all part of the latest atmospheric river to hit California. At least two people died due to falling trees in the Bay Area on Tuesday. In Tulare County, where signs reading “pray for rain” line the highway, many communities are still underwater. And so are agricultural fields. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR We’re still waiting to hear whether the Service Employees International Union will appeal last week’s court ruling upholding most of Proposition 22. That's the voter approved measure that lets Uber, Lyft and the like classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

Los Angeles Unified School District workers have begun a three day strike on Tuesday, a labor action that will affect hundreds of thousands of students and families across the city.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The 12th atmospheric river this winter is set to once again pummel California. During past storms, washed out roads and fallen trees have isolated many residents in rural communities. But that hasn’t stopped emergency responders from rescuing people.  Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED 

Is this a possible solution to climate change? Capture the greenhouse gasses heating our planet and bury them deep underground? Well such a carbon storage facility has been proposed for part of Kern County. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The historic Black community of Allensworth in Tulare County is the latest to be placed under evacuation orders. This comes after a breach in some waterways over the weekend. All told, more than 11,000 people in Tulare County have been ordered to evacuate their homes.

Governor Newsom is taking a public policy road trip over the next few days. Instead of giving the usual State of the State address from inside the State Capitol building, he’s visiting several California cities to highlight policy proposals and to crow about successes. Newsom started yesterday in Sacramento and highlighted the state’s latest effort to combat homelessness. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED The California Reinvestment Coalition, which supports more investment in low-income communities, is calling on federal regulators to ensure whoever buys failed Silicon Valley Bank honors an $11 billion dollar community benefit agreement SVB signed on to. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED In Pajaro, on the Central Coast, thousands of people were evacuated after a nearby levee broke almost a week ago. Some of them are now starting to trickle back to assess the damage and start planning for what comes next. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Governor Newsom visits the flooded farm community of Pajaro in Monterey County and talks about how all the weather has been wearing people down. On the positive side, mandatory water restrictions were lifted for nearly 7 million people in Southern California. Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada sent water gushing into Valley communities last week. With a break in the storms, communities in the eastern San Joaquin Valley are assessing the damage. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KQED It's been a rough winter for California's mountain communities as storm after storm has struck the state. Truckee Mayor Lindsay Romack is telling her blizzard-stressed constituents to be kind to hard-working snow plow drivers and advising outsiders to stay away until conditions improve. A recently released study funded by the California Health Care Foundation finds Black patients have to work harder to deal with possible bias when seeking medical care. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill, Kaiser Health News

As the breached levee is nearly repaired in the Monterey County community of Pajaro, residents are being told it might take weeks before they can return to their homes. Reporter: Anna Marie Yanny, KQED The sudden failure of California’s Silicon Valley Bank, the second largest bank collapse in American history, has lawmakers in Sacramento calling for hearings into what happened. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A former San Diego resident is now suspected by police in an antisemitic incident that took place at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam last month. Reporter: Jill Castellano, inewsource

As another enormous storm front sweeps across the Golden State, authorities are warning Californians about the threat of flooding in already water-saturated regions. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, how did this one financial institution become so dominant in California's tech industry? Old-fashioned word of mouth, particularly by the venture capitalist class. Guest: Ben Bergman, Business Insider

The town of Pajaro in Monterey County is underwater after a levee broke on the Pajaro River during this weekend’s storms. Officials say they have evacuated more than 2000 people and rescues are ongoing. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED After three years of living in a drought, many Californians are celebrating rain and snowfall. But you might be feeling overwhelmed with the drastic change in weather. For those of us experiencing climate anxiety, what should we do? Guest: Laura Klivans, KQED

Throughout California, hospitals are being forced to reduce services and even shut down. For many, the pandemic created financial stressors that led hospitals to bankruptcy. But in Paradise, the company that runs the city's only hospital received millions in compensation from insurance after the 2018 Camp Fire destroyed much of the city. But Adventist Health doesn't plan to reopen its doors. Guest: Marisa Endicott, Reporter, Press Democrat This week, Madera County supervisors declined to hire a consulting group, which could have outlined options for reopening Madera Community Hospital. The hospital closed earlier this year, leaving many residents in the lurch. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR 

Desperation has turned into anger for many people in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. As residents continue to dig out from a rare blizzard, many are blasting the county for not helping them more quickly. Amid the criticism, a group of volunteers has hastily come together to deliver supplies. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Bay Area Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and other House Democrats are re-introducing a bill Thursday that could provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED  

At least 11 people have died since winter storms battered the San Bernardino Mountains. Meanwhile, in Nevada County in Northern California, the lights have been off for thousands of customers due to storms in the area. Public health officials in California are calling on the governor to reconsider a plan to slash funding to a training program for public health workers. Last year, California committed millions to train workers in specialties like epidemiology, microbiology, and public health nursing. Now, the Newsom administration is proposing significant reductions to the program.  Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio  With just four months left before California closes its state-run juvenile lockups for good, county officials are ringing alarm bells, saying they need more state support to make the historic transition successful. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED    

Desperation is growing as many people are still trapped in their homes in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. It’s been more than a week since a rare blizzard buried the region in snow. And authorities say it might take a few more days before they can reach everyone.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR 18 days into a hunger strike over living and working conditions in two Kern County immigration detention centers, more than 30 men are still going without food. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A growing number of undocumented workers are reaching retirement age in California, but have to keep working. But a new state bill might help them retire. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Although progress is being made, many people who have been stuck in communities in the San Bernardino Mountains due to the massive amount of snowfall might not receive assistance for several more days. Crews have been able to clear off many main roads, but the excess snow is piling up, trapping many people in their homes.    The closure of Madera Community Hospital in late December has left thousands of people without access to regular checkups, emergency services and specialized care. That includes one patient who is struggling to find a place nearby to get cancer treatment. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

California National Guard personnel have arrived in the San Bernardino Mountains. They’re there to help rescue residents who have been trapped in their homes for days by the recent heavy snowfall.  A hunger strike at two California immigration detention centers in Kern County is entering its third week. Advocacy groups say Immigration and Customs Enforcement is failing to properly consider the detainees’ requests to be released.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED  Have you ever heard someone calling your name, but then you look around and no one’s there? Or you feel your phone vibrate, but actually, it didn’t. Then you’ve technically experienced psychosis. For most of us, it will never go further. But for people who later develop schizophrenia, it often starts like this. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a state of emergency for 13 California counties in response to the winter storms. San Bernardino County is covered by the Governor’s declaration. There, residents in mountain communities are still trapped in their homes after more than seven feet of snow has fallen over the last few days. In the Central Valley, Madera Community Hospital closed at the end of last year – after struggling with low Medi-Cal insurance repayments and a shortage of nursing staff. But hospital leaders hope it’s not too late to restore services. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR

The federal government says people living in California counties hit hard by severe weather now have an extra six months to file their federal taxes. But a new deadline creates challenges for state budget writers. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED President Joe Biden has nominated California's former Labor Secretary to head the U.S. Department of Labor. The White House lauded Julie Su as a “champion for workers,” but she has plenty of detractors. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  A year after Russia invaded Ukraine, we’re checking back in with Silicon Valley people and companies affected by the war.  Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

Another monster frigid storm front is moving through California, creating dangerous conditions in the Sierra Nevada. A blizzard warning remains in effect through early Wednesday for the Greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County. And San Bernardino County has declared a local state of emergency, due to the amount of snow that's collected on it's mountains.   California spends more than $15 billion a year on its prison system and a new report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office says we’re continuing to pay for thousands of prison beds we’re not using. The state has closed two prisons under Governor Gavin Newsom and plans to close two more, but this new research says that’s not going far enough. Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters The prison closures are a big change from a generation ago, when California was in the midst of a prison construction boom. But with the recent decline in the state’s prison population, advocates of criminal justice reform want to see more penal facilities shut down.  Guest: Amber Rose-Howard, Executive Director, Californians United for a Responsible Budget.

Because of the pandemic and the large number of people who now work from home, California has an abundance of vacant office space, but the state also has a shortage of housing. Now, a state lawmaker wants to tackle both problems by making it far easier to turn empty offices into homes. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  The Central Coast city of Paso Robles is becoming increasingly prominent in the world of wine. But as its stature grows, the Paso Robles area is facing familiar California challenges – like expensive housing and water worries. And that’s creating problems for the local wine industry.   Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX

Although no officials numbers are in , there has been widespread snowfall across the state. That includes parts of California that normally see snow on only the rarest occasions. Cold temperatures and rain remain in the forecast as we head into the weekend. There’s widespread agreement that having books in jails and prisons benefits people behind bars. But in LA County jails, there’s no official library system, so a grassroots effort has started to get more books into the hands of the incarcerated.  Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, LAIst  

In a legislative hearing in Sacramento on Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration made its case for a controversial proposal aimed at reigning in high gas prices, by imposing a penalty on oil companies when gas prices, and profits, spike. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Huntington Beach in Orange County is the latest city vowing to fight Sacramento over state housing laws meant to encourage more housing. The city council voted 4-to-3 this week to allow its city attorney to pursue any legal actions, to challenge SB 9, SB 10 and any laws that allow for lot splits and the development of accessory dwelling units, or granny flats. During the winter months, researchers take to the American River in Northern California to survey steelhead salmon populations. The surveys play an important part in understanding the impacts of environmental changes, and how conservation efforts can help future generations of salmon thrive. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

A hearing on gasoline prices in the state is scheduled to take place Wednesday afternoon in Sacramento, more than two months after Governor Gavin Newsom called for oil companies to be penalized for price gouging. The hearing before the State Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee is the first during a special session on gas prices.    Last month, a lot of snow fell on California, which was good news for our drought-stricken state. But California’s snowpack is dwindling -- fast and that's creating uncertainty for the state’s water supply.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED   Officials are continuing to push for answers and solutions after the closure of Madera Community Hospital more than a month ago. The closure has already impacted neighboring communities. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County tried to stop landlords from evicting renters who have pets that aren’t allowed under their leases. Those protections were set to go away this month, but LA County leaders extended them two more months. Even so, some renters, and their beloved pets, are facing the threat of eviction.  Reporter: David Wagner, LAIst 

A man suspected of murdering Catholic Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell in Los Angeles over the weekend has been arrested. Meanwhile, friends of the Bishop are remembering him for his kindness to others. Did you know the last secondary lead smelter west of the Mississippi is here in California? It’s called Quemetco, and it recycles the lead in old car batteries about 25 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The company has been violating toxic substance regulations for years and has now reached a settlement with the state that allows it to stay open. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW 

Lake Tahoe, nestled high in the mountains between California and Nevada, is one of America’s great natural wonders. But the lake faces a variety of threats -- some old, some new -- that scientists have spent years studying. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Bay Area Assemblymember wants to increase access to California's public parks and beaches, by overhauling the state's reservation system. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

A new state-backed report gives the first-ever birds-eye view of California’s spending on homelessness programs. The state has shelled out more than $10 billion in the last few years to get people housed. But despite that spending, California still has a long way to go to get people into permanent housing. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Despite protests from many community members, construction has resumed to replace fences with two 30-foot walls at Friendship Park, which sits on the US-Mexico border in San Diego County. The historic park on the western-most end of the border has long been a place where families from both sides of the border can meet up. 75 years ago a plane crashed near the Central Valley town of Coalinga, killing everyone on board. The plane carried Mexican migrants on their way to be deported. After the crash, the government sent the bodies of the white pilot, flight attendants and immigration officer home to their families, but interred the Mexican passengers in a mass grave. Officials didn’t even release the migrants’ names, calling them only “Deportees.” Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

Who's had this problem? Your laptop or smartphone isn’t working, but the idea of repairing it yourself seems impossible because you can't get replacement parts and repair instructions from manufacturers, like, say, Apple. Well, after past attempts to pass it have failed, a Right to Repair bill has been re-introduced in Sacramento. If passed, it’s supposed to make it easier, and cheaper to get electronics you own fixed. Guest: Sander Kushen, Public Health Advocate, CALPIRG Slavery and involuntary servitude are illegal in California. But our state constitution has an exception to that rule involving the state’s prison system. Some state lawmakers are now looking to change that. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Dianne Feinstein has been a U.S. Senator from California for three decades. And before that she was already a powerful figure in San Francisco politics, including serving as mayor. So the announcement that Feinstein is retiring from office at the end of her current Senate term really does mark the end of an era in California politics and governance.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A new study out of Stanford University finds that enrollment in California public schools fell by about 270,000 during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, The California Report

Anti-semitism and hate crimes are on the rise in the United States. In California, some far-right groups are becoming even more extreme. A far-right extremist group connected to San Diego, called the Goyim Defense League, is fueling acts of vandalism, harassment and assault.  Reporter: Jill Castellano, inewsource A group of California lawmakers wants to prohibit police from pulling motorists over for minor traffic infractions. The legislators say those stops too often lead to violence against people of color.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED   

In response to stories about worker abuse in the fast food industry, last year the state legislature passed, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act. The FAST Act created a first of its kind 10 person independent council to improve labor conditions in the fast food industry. But it's already facing pushback from the industry, which has spent millions on a referendum for the 2024 ballot. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report It’s been a week since devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria. As the reported death toll mounts well past 30,000, Californians are looking for ways to help survivors. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, KQED

California’s Attorney General has petitioned federal regulators to issue an emergency rule to protect workers from extreme heat. Heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related workplace hazards, and the dangers for workers in jobs like agriculture are rising with climate change. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Frontline environmental advocates are gearing up for a new fight, now that a California law that would ban new oil drilling near homes, schools, and community sites is on hold. Industry groups have gathered enough signatures to qualify the issue for the 2024 ballot.  Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED A new housing project called Paul’s Place opened in Davis this week. Organizers say the unique 4-story design, which combines temporary shelter with permanent apartments, will help unhoused people achieve stability.  Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio

Half of California hospitals are losing money everyday. Madera Community Hospital is just the latest to close due to financial issues. And experts predict many more will follow across the state. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED In Fresno County, an emergency hospital declaration has just been lifted, despite area hospitals still dealing with an overcrowding crisis. That's in large part due to the recent closure of a hospital in neighboring Madera County. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR For the second year in a row, there’s an effort underway to reform and significantly reduce the use of solitary confinement in California. The Mandela Act would prohibit jails, prisons, and immigration detention facilities from holding people in solitary confinement for more than two weeks in a row. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio

Here in California, we've grown pretty accustomed to power outages. Sometimes it gets knocked out by storms. Other times, it gets turned off on purpose by the utility companies to avoid wildfires. But what if you could live in a community where your lights always stayed on, no matter what happened to the grid? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  California utility regulators are digging into reasons for this winter’s high natural gas prices. During a hearing on Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission pressed industry officials to explain the record setting price hikes for natural gas. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

Half Moon Bay farmworkers – and other vulnerable immigrants who speak up about workplace abuses – could get some protection under a new Biden administration policy. It would shield undocumented immigrants from deportation if they cooperate with labor investigations. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California’s governor is calling for a federal probe into the record high natural gas prices that have doubled and even tripled some customer bills.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Besides its canals, the city of Amsterdam is known for its pot cafes, where you can eat and hang out with friends while using marijuana. California law prevents that kind of establishment, but there’s a move to change that. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

When storms battered California last month, the streets of Planada became rivers. Hundreds of homes were flooded and the whole town was evacuated. Now people in this rural Central Valley community are trying to put their lives back together. But many undocumented residents are struggling to access assistance. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom says he expects to collaborate with lawmakers this year on reforms to the state’s environmental review law, which has been used repeatedly by opponents of development to block construction. The California Environmental Quality Act, which was signed into law in 1970, aimed to ensure that the environmental impact of a project is taken into account.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Guru Jagat, a Santa Monica-based yoga instructor, was known for being confident and relatable. She modernized the esoteric practice of Kundalini yoga. But in 2020, her followers started noticing a shift in her beliefs. Reporter: Emily Guerin, Producer, LAist

In the wake of two mass shootings that left 18 people dead, California leaders say they’ll pass new legislation to regulate concealed weapon permits. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  The funeral for 29-year-old Tyre Nichols was held Wednesday in Memphis, three weeks after he died following a beating by police. There are increased calls for police accountability across the nation, an issue that’s being taken on here in California by the Bay Area-based Anti Police-Terror Project. Guest: Cat Brooks, Executive Director, Anti Police-Terror Project 

As Californians continue to process the series of mass shootings up and down the state, the small community of Goshen in the Central Valley remains shaken by the brutal murders of six family members two weeks ago. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED California’s snowpack is at 208% of normal for this time of year. That's the highest level in decades. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Thieves have stolen more than $35 million from some of the state’s most vulnerable residents – because the debit cards California uses to send financial assistance are too easy to exploit. Now, the state is trying to make it easier for these theft victims to get their money back. Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

Friends and family of Tyre Nichols, the former Sacramento resident who was beaten and killed by Memphis police officers, held a candlelight vigil in his honor Monday night.   Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio  A new study out of Stanford University finds climate warming will likely reach a critical threshold in the early 2030s. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Cold temperatures are forecast through Wednesday, prompting The National Weather Service to issue frost advisories and freeze warnings for parts of the Bay Area and the Central Valley. The low temperatures could be dangerous for the unsheltered, and add to high utility bills for housed Californians. Natural gas and electricity prices are both up sharply compared to last year.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS 

Big Sur is cut off again thanks to landslides on Highway 1 caused by the rain storms earlier this month. Now supplies are being flown in, and residents along portions of the scenic highway may be stuck for at least another three weeks. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KAZU   The COVID-19 pandemic continues to heavily affect the lives of California’s 9 million children. Those impacts are particularly devastating for kids of color or kids living in poverty, according to new data tracking children’s well-being in each of the state’s 58 counties. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED This month, California issued first-in-the-nation safety guidelines for employers of domestic workers: people like cleaners, nannies and caregivers who have historically been excluded from occupational health and safety laws. But advocates say California is taking the first steps to right that wrong. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Authorities confirm they’re investigating possible wage theft and health and safety violations at the two farms in Half Moon Bay where seven farm workers were killed this week in a mass shooting.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Even as the community mourns in Half Moon Bay, people are looking for ways to heal and grasp for normalcy.  Reporter: Madi Bolaños This week, we've covered Monterey Park in the wake of the mass shooting there. But communities shouldn't just be defined by their worst days. So we're looking at one aspect of Monterey Park life not related to this week’s news -- its amazing Asian food scene that’s been created by immigrant communities there. Guest: Denny Mu, The Mandarin Noodle House

The man accused of gunning down eight people in Half Moon Bay, killing seven, was charged with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder on Wednesday.   Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Authorities investigating the mass shooting in Half Moon say the evidence points to it as an incident of “workplace violence.” Acts of violence are a leading cause of occupational death in the U.S. But mass shootings are still relatively rare on the job.   Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED In Monterey Park, vigils have been taking place nightly, to honor the victims of the dance studio shooting Saturday night. The Star Dance Studio was a hub for professional ballroom dancers, new immigrants and longtime community members of the Asian diaspora.  Reporter: Mariana Dale, KPCC

The man accused of fatally shooting seven farmworkers Monday in the city of Half Moon Bay is being arraigned on Wednesday. Chunli Zhao is being held on seven first degree murder charges and one charge of attempted murder for the shootings at two farms in Half Moon Bay. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Monterey Park on Wednesday to honor the 11 people killed in that mass shooting incident over the weekend. We’re also learning more about some of the people who lost their lives.  Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC   In the wake of the recent mass shootings in California, there’s more focus on gun violence restraining orders or Red Flag laws. These allow authorities to temporarily seize firearms and ammunition from people who’ve been reported as a danger by family members or co-workers.  Guest: Mara Elliott, City Attorney in San Diego

There has been another deadly mass shooting in the state, this time in the coastal Bay Area community of Half Moon Bay. Seven people were killed and one injured Monday in a pair of shootings at agricultural centers in the city. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED On Monday night, over 200 people gathered in Monterey Park for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Star Dance Studio. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW We're learning more about the victims of Saturday's massacre in Monterey Park. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC In Sacramento on Monday, Asian American legislators gathered at the state capitol to call for stricter gun laws and to honor the victims of the mass shootings in Monterey Park. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio  

10 people, five men and five women, are dead and seven people remain in the hospital after a 72-year-old man opened fire in a Monterey Park dance studio late Saturday night. The suspected gunman took his own life on Sunday. The Monterey Park shooting reminds us about just how seemingly random incidents of mass violence can be. That leaves many feeling scared and vulnerable.  Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC San Francisco kicked off Lunar New Year celebrations on Sunday, but the mass shooting in Southern California weighed heavily on those who were there. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED 

President Biden toured Capitola Village and Seacliff State Park in Santa Cruz County on Thursday. Both of the areas were two of the hardest hit by the recent winter storms. A new bill would give California college athletes more protections and require Division I schools to share revenue with athletes whose market value exceeds the amount of their scholarships. That money would be paid after an athlete graduates. There’s a beam of light bringing people together in Sacramento, where long suffering basketball fans finally have a reason to celebrate.  Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED 

For Madera County near Yosemite, the new year has brought more than just stormy weather. The county’s only hospital closed. That leaves 150,000 residents without specialty care, without an emergency room and many of the hospital’s 700 employees without a job. Guests: Omar Rashad and Dympna Ugwu-Oju, Reporters, Fresnoland Los Angeles City Council members are renewing calls for unarmed crisis response efforts by LAPD. This comes after the first week of the year saw two fatal police shootings, and the death of 31-year-old Keenan Anderson, who was repeatedly tased by officers. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC Pacific Gas and Electric is in criminal court again, this time to fight charges it killed four Shasta County residents in a 2020 wildfire. The company is facing four counts of manslaughter for its alleged role in starting the Zogg Fire near Redding. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED 

In the aftermath of a massacre that left six people dead in the small farming town of Goshen early Monday, details remain sparse. The victims include a teen mother and her infant son. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  California could soon have a new repository of electric power, capable of stabilizing the state’s power grid. A German company is building a virtual power plant brimming with potential.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

Six people were shot and killed in a small San Joaquin Valley community early Monday morning. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado, KVPR When the pandemic hit in early 2020, local governments across the country passed eviction moratoriums to protect tenants from becoming homeless if they couldn’t afford to pay their rents. As the pandemic has eased, many of those protections have been eliminated. One place they still exist is Los Angeles, but maybe not for long.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The storms that have battered much of California will finally start to subside this week. Rain is expected to die down on Monday, although parts of Northern California and the Bay Area could see more precipitation on Wednesday. Much of Southern California will likely start a dry spell starting Tuesday. As communities clean-up following the storms, President Biden has declared a major disaster in California. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED  The achievement gap between Black and Latino students and other groups is a long standing problem throughout California. Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, has appointed a task force to identify solutions. But on this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, we're checking in with a group that's working at the local level to close the achievement gap.  Guest: Lisa Mitchell, Executive Director of African American Academic Acceleration, or A4, Fresno Unified School District 

The Salinas River is still at risk of flooding, but authorities now say it may not be quite as bad as they had been predicting. Several low-lying communities near the river remain under evacuation orders and warnings. The intense rains so far this year have flooded farm fields across the state, forcing farmworkers to stay home -- which for most means no pay.  Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, KPCC Sam Anderson was surprised to hear a high school friend from New Jersey was accused of murder in connection with an illegal marijuana operation in Mendocino County. The California Report Magazine host Sasha Khokha spoke with Anderson about his wild experiences reporting on what really happened for his podcast "Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle." Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto is warning people to be prepared for the Monterey Peninsula to become an island because of flooding from the Salinas River. Nieto warned that flooding Thursday could eliminate all travel routes on or off the peninsula, leaving people stranded on either side.  As the winter storms move through the state, power outages and flooding can make it hard for families to get and preserve food. State officials say families who get CalFresh benefits can apply for replacement funds on their EBT card if their food was lost or destroyed due to misfortune or a disaster. Reporter: Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli, KQED Even in the midst of all this rain, wine makers and grape growers are worried about what wildfire smoke from next fire season will do to their wine. UC Vineyard advisor Chris Chen says the best time to think about preventing fires is when they’re still months away. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED The Merced County town of Planada remains evacuated this morning. About 200 people are sheltering at the Merced fairground and with more rain expected they’re worried about their homes and what happens next. Guest: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

Governor Gavin Newsom toured Capitola Village near Santa Cruz Tuesday, surveying the flood damage to small businesses there hit hard by storm surges. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED In Santa Barbara County, cleanup is underway now that evacuation orders have been lifted. Local leaders consider the evacuations a success. There are no reports of major injuries or deaths.  Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX

The entire town of Montecito has been evacuated. The order comes exactly five years to the day after a deadly mudslide destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes there after rain washed out a wildfire burn scar. Part of Santa Barbara and the nearby communities of Carpenteria and Summerland were also ordered to evacuate yesterday. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom is set to outline his spending priorities for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The new budget proposal comes at a time when the state is facing a projected $24 billion dollar deficit — a sharp contrast to last year when California had a record surplus. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters Bakersfield native Kevin McCarthy claimed the Speaker’s Gavel in the House of Representatives early Saturday after a historic 15 rounds of voting. To get there, the San Joaquin Valley Republican made many concessions to party hard-liners. But he didn’t miss a beat during his acceptance speech that made frequent references to his Central California upbringing. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  

Gov. Newsom Says 12 Californians Died in Extreme Weather The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for a large swath of Northern and Central California with 6 to 12 inches of rain expected through Wednesday in the already saturated Sacramento-area foothills. CalMatters Investigates $35 million in Leftover Campaign Cash A new investigation from CalMatters found there are nearly 100 politicians across California sitting on 35 million dollars in leftover campaign funds. CalMatters’ Ben Christopher explains why, and what’s happening to all this money. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters What Happens After Native American Tribes Get Their Land Back? Governor Gavin Newsom is setting aside $100 million dollars to support Native American tribes in buying back their ancestral lands. It’s part of his “30 by 30” pledge… to preserve one third of state lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. But once a tribe gets their land back… how do they restore and preserve it? An indigenous tribe in Humboldt County bought back 48 acres of land earlier this year. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED 

Historic Rainfall Is Especially Tough On The Unhoused California is assessing damage and cleaning up after a week of historic rains. The National Weather Service says San Francisco experienced its wettest ten day period in 150 years.  All that rainfall has been especially tough on the unhoused population. California Still In A Drought Despite Torrential Rains The past few big storms have eased drought conditions across the state, but not as much as you might think given the deluge. 98% of California is still in some state of drought.  KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero has the story. CA Governor Gets Sworn In Today Governor Gavin Newsom holds his inaugural celebration in Sacramento later this morning. As KQED Politics Editor Scott Shafer reports, it’s no accident that Newsom chose January 6th to do it. McCarthy Still Unable To Secure Speaker Vote Central Valley congressman Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the speaker’s gavel for a third day as the House of Representatives held an 11th round of voting in Washington on Thursday. McCarthy needs 218 votes to assume the speaker position but remains way short. Back home in Bakersfield, McCarthy constituents are watching closely – some in horror, others with glee. Bakersfield Prison Cited For Violating Workers Rights California’s workplace health and safety regulators have cited a for-profit prison company for violations affecting detained workers locked up at an immigration facility near Bakersfield. It's likely a first.  KQED’s Farida Jhabvala Romero reports.  

California Storm Packs A Punch Overnight California continues to be lashed by what’s called a “bomb cyclone” storm this morning, with forecasters warning about rain rates of up to one inch…per hour…in some places and winds of 70 and 80 miles per hour. Infant Killed In Storm When Tree Falls On House In Occidental One of two deaths reported in Wednesdays historic storm includes an infant from Sonoma County. Fire officials say the child died when a large tree fell on his family's home in Occidental. Police in Fairfield say a second death involved a woman who's car careened out of control and struck a light post.   San Francisco Mayor Pleads With Residents To Dial 3-1-1 Instead Of 9-1-1 For Storm Related "Non-Life Threatening" Incidents At a press conference on Wednesday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed warned her city’s residents about the dangerous conditions and she’s asking people to avoid tying up emergency lines with non-emergency calls. Heavy Rains Disturb Ancient Burial Sites Around Wilton Rancheria In South Sacramento Tribal leaders at the Rancheria are concerned that continued flooding from the Consumnes River could be disturbing sacred burial grounds nearby.  CapRadio’s Sarah Mizes-Tan has the story. Storms Are Creating Additional Misery For The Homeless Before heavy rains started failing in San Francisco, The California Report co-host Madi Bolanos spoke to some unhoused individuals to see how they were preparing to cope with the rain.

Get ready. Another powerful rain and wind storm is set to pummel parts of California on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service said parts of Northern California and the Bay Area should expect widespread flooding. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED     In San Francisco, small business owners are still dealing with damages from the last big storm. Now, they have to prepare for more rain and wind.   Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report A state report out Tuesday reveals major racial disparities in policing in California in 2021. According to the data, black drivers and pedestrians were searched and subjected to use of force at more than twice the rate of white drivers and pedestrians, despite police stopping more white individuals.  Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED 

Much of California is still trying to clean up from stormy weather that has hit much of the state over the past week. But forecasters said the worst could be on the way, as an atmospheric river forms off the coast. A new year is bringing a bumper crop of new state laws, which are now officially on the books. They cover everything from abortion to housing and gun rights. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

After having a baby, mothers are often barraged with pressure to return to their pre-pregnancy lives and bodies. And that can take a toll on both mental and physical health during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC   For many people, the New Year means setting resolutions and goals for 2023. But for one immigrant, who’s now living in the Bay Area, it means rehabbing his life, following a long stint in prison. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report 

With New Year's Eve around the corner, that means millions of Californians will be out celebrating the end of 2022 and start of a new year. And that could entail a night of drinking. But is there a way to stop from having a nasty hangover the next day? Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED

On the tops of the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California lies plants that exist nowhere else in the world. The Pebble Plains ecosystem is more than a million years old. It’s an old expert at adapting to a changing climate, and yet, it’s dying out faster than ever before. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW During the holidays, many people spend time with their loved one, but also enjoy food that is celebrated in their cultures. Think tamales for Latin American families, or the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Japanese American families often celebrate the New Year in their own way – with mochi. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Most Californians are feeling the effects of the drought. But in big areas of the state, where people rely on groundwater, the pain of this drought is especially severe. Wells are going dry and there’s intense competition to find more water that’s underground. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California’s bighorn sheep population will soon be getting some help in dealing with the state’s drought.   A project is underway to build nearly a hundred artificial watering holes for bighorn sheep in San Bernardino, Riverside and Inyo counties. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

This has been a big year for space exploration. There was the deployment of a powerful new space space telescope. It's peering billions of years back through time and bringing us stunning images of our universe when it was in its infancy. And a rocket was launched to the moon in preparation for humankind's return to the lunar surface.  Guests: Danielle Venton, KQED and Benjamin Burress, Astronomer at the Chabot Space and Science Center

After years of construction delays, and tens of billions of dollars in cost overruns, California’s high-speed rail project has become one of the most controversial infrastructure projects in the country. We go to the Central Valley, to check in on the first phase of high speed rail’s construction and get local reactions to the project’s problems. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The cold weather has hit California and for many Californians, that means the smell of warm tamales wafting through the house. We wanted to learn more about this iconic dish, and it's evolution in California, and why it's so popular during the Christmas holiday. Guest: Bill Esparza, Author of the book L.A. Mexicano

Residents are assessing the damage after Tuesday's 6.4 magnitude earthquake on California's North Coast. Fire departments in Humboldt County have already been out surveying homes and businesses to find out the extent of the damage. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Thursday is the fifth night of Hanukkah. All over the world, for many centuries, Jewish people have marked the holiday by eating foods fried in oil. In a city as diverse as Los Angeles, Hanukkah is celebrated with fried foods from Europe, Asia and Africa. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW

Two people are dead as a result of Tuesday's 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Humboldt County. At least a dozen were injured.  Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio Most of the damage from Tuesday’s quake happened in the small Humboldt County town of Rio Dell. Much of the town is still without power or water. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED This month's first-of-its-kind offshore wind lease auction along California’s coast generated a healthy $750 million in combined sales. The state is charging ahead with plans for floating wind turbines miles off its coastline, preparing for a novel source of clean energy, enough power for 1.5 million homes.   Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

Across California and the nation, governments are looking at new ways to address the crisis of growing unhoused communities. In Sacramento, the city and county have agreed to take a new approach -- bringing shelter and health care services directly to homeless encampments.  Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  The Biden Administration has announced a big goal of reducing homelessness 25% nationwide by 2025. Housing advocates in California are lauding the plan, but they’re wondering who’s going to pay for it.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED 

Survivors of September's Mill Fire, which devastated parts of Siskiyou County, are continuing to put the pieces of their lives back together. Now, residents’ access to state and federal assistance will determine whether the historically Black neighborhood of Lincoln Heights in Weed will be able to stay together. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio The Trump-era immigration policy known as Title 42 is scheduled to end this week. Title 42 allowed border patrol agents to turn away migrants at the border. And they don't get a chance to pursue an asylum case in immigration court. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS

State utility regulators have approved a controversial proposal that will change how future owners of rooftop solar systems will be compensated for the excess power they produce that’s fed into the grid.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED After years of promising to do so, CalFire has released new, updated hazard maps to help Californians determine if they live in places that face increased wildfire risk. The interactive map was more than a decade in the making and comes after groups voiced criticism of CalFire, calling the department’s maps antiquated and “inexcusable.”   Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Sea level rise poses a threat to California’s coastline. But we don’t often think about how rising water could push contaminants into neighborhoods, especially places near former military or industrial sites. Around half of those sites in California are located in the Bay Area.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

Bakersfield is now home to the Central Valley’s first Holocaust Memorial. The tranquil garden is a monument against hate and rising anti-Semitism.  Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  Study after study shows an alarming increase in hate crimes and racist incidents in California targeting a variety of groups, including Jews. Worries about rising anti-Semitism have gotten more attention recently after the bigoted comments of artist Kanye West who now goes by the name Ye. How is California's Jewish community reacting? Guest: Heidi Gantwork, President and CEO of the Jewish Foundation of San Diego The State Task Force studying reparations for Black residents with enslaved ancestors is meeting this week in Oakland. One item on the agenda? Discussing how reparations might help overcome negative stereotypes about Black families.  Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED  

California’s desert lands have long been used for everything from mining to military training to rest and relaxation. Think Palm Springs. Now, the state’s deserts have a growing role in helping to create a green energy revolution. And that's sparked a backlash among some who argue that desert wilderness is being sacrificed for renewable power goals. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The oil industry says it has enough signatures to get a measure on the state ballot to overturn California's recently enacted buffer zone law. It restricts new oil wells, keeping them away from homes and schools. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED 

The recent sale of five leases off the coast of California for offshore wind turbine projects is seen as a victory for renewable energy advocates. But it’s also raising safety concerns about one of California’s treasures -- the whales that migrate off the coast every year. Reporter: Amanda Wernik, KCBX Most of the estimated 270, 000 janitors in California work in the private sector. A new study finds their median wages are well below what state law requires. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED With COVID-19 rates rising, California’s Director of Public Health is urging anyone over 50 years old to have a treatment plan in place in case they get infected. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio California’s COVID sick pay law offers up to 2 weeks of paid leave for reasons related to COVID – but it’s expiring at the end of this month. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management just sold five leases for wind turbine projects off the coast of California. Three are located in Morro Bay off the Central Coast. Now, local indigenous tribes are speaking up about the projects.  Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Every year in the three weeks around Thanksgiving, the official count of monarch butterflies takes place. Over the last few decades, the monarch butterfly population has been in decline. But this year, volunteers counted 129,000 butterflies in San Luis Obispo County alone. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report 

A Bay Area member of Congress says federal immigration authorities plan to end their contract with a Northern California county jail, the last public facility in the state to hold immigrants fighting deportation. It comes after years of outcry over substandard conditions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A tiny local election in the Central Valley could have big ripple effects for farming, and water. The Westlands Water District produces crops like tomatoes, garlic, and almonds – and it’s historically fought with environmentalists, who accuse the wealthy farmers there of hogging water. Westlands has just elected a slate of board members promising a new strategy - a recognition that large-scale farming will have to shrink. Reporter: Dan Charles in collaboration with the Food and Environment Reporting Network

A new bill introduced this week would make it illegal for unhoused residents in California to sit or sleep in certain public spaces. The proposal is already drawing ire from advocates, who say it does little to solve homelessness.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED   California is home to the largest population of Cambodians in the U.S.. Most Cambodians who first arrived in the country came as refugees in the 1980s. They were fleeing the communist Khmer Rouge regime where an estimated two million Cambodians were killed through starvation, torture, executions and much more. 40 years later, Cambodians in California are still grappling with mental health issues caused by this genocide.  Guest: Soreath Hok, Reporter, KVPR   The Interior Department finalized the sale of offshore wind leases along California’s coast on Wednesday. Combined bids totaled more than $750 million.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED 

If you've ever thought twice about jaywalking because of fear getting a ticket that will soon change. Starting on January 1, California's "Freedom to Walk Act" becomes law. It will prohibit police from writing jaywalking tickets, unless people are caught trying to cross the street in clearly dangerous traffic conditions. Guest: John Yi, Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks State Senator Scott Wiener is yet again introducing a bill to make it easier to build affordable housing on land owned by religious groups and nonprofit colleges. This is his third attempt in getting similar legislation passed. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED

Sky-high gas prices this year prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to propose a new law limiting how much oil companies can charge at the pump. Newsom’s proposal would put a cap on how much companies can charge for a gallon of gas and penalize those that charge more. But it doesn’t include specific profit ceilings yet.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio  Popular countertops made from synthetic stone are making the people who cut and process them sick. Some of these workers – most of whom are immigrants – are dying. The problem is particularly bad in Los Angeles. Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, KPCC in collaboration with Public Health Watch

Oil companies spent big in California’s election this year and for good reason: Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on lawmakers to take action to drive down gas prices in a state where drivers pay far more than anywhere else.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  California is seeing a surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. But there is some good news. California’s top health official says more people are picking up the pace when it comes to getting the updated COVID booster.  Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio  Moderate weather and well-timed rainstorms helped ensure a mild 2022 fire season in California. But officials remain cautious, even into December. Reporter: Julie Cart, CalMatters

A new report out this week says a data breach at the California Department of Justice last summer was the result of poor training and a lack of professional rigor at the agency. The leak included the personal information of hundreds of thousands of concealed carry firearm license applicants. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Award-winning poet Deborah Miranda, an enrolled member of the Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation, is the author of "Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir." The book explores the history of Central Coast tribes through the records of her ancestors, including wax-cylinder recordings dating back more than a century. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, KQED

The University of California has reached a tentative agreement with postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers to increase their pay and other benefits. Those UC workers are staying on the picket lines in solidarity with their United Auto Worker union members who still have not reached a deal. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, KQED Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, held her annual year-end media briefing yesterday. Cantil-Sakauye used her final media conversation before she leaves the court at the end of December to urge California to address the so-called “justice gap,” the lack of financial resources to help lower-income people address their legal needs. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Nearly two-thirds of California voters upheld a ban on flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, in November. Tobacco companies are now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop California from enforcing the ban. Reporter: Tara Siler, KQED

Postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers in the University of California system have reached a tentative five-year deal. But the strike continues, as two groups — graduate student researchers and academic student employees — still have not come to an agreement. New reporting from CalMatters finds that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo enrolls the smallest percentage of Black undergraduates at any CSU or UC school. Just 146 Black students enrolled this fall out of 21,000 undergraduates. Students describe experiencing overt racism. Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

In late September, passenger rail service from San Diego to places north of San Clemente halted. An unstable slope above the track in San Clemente posed the threat of a landslide. Bluff stabilization is ongoing, but rail service is expected to resume next month. Reporter: Thomas Fudge, KPBS After wildfire season ends in the Western U.S., those who lost their homes begin sifting through what’s left to recover as much as they can. After the McKinney Fire this past summer, a team of trained dogs and archeologists helped recover cremated remains left in urns that were lost in the fire. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

During labor disputes, employers sometimes freeze health insurance benefits for workers. But a law to take effect next summer will provide striking private-sector workers with fully subsidized coverage. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill, Kaiser Health News New reporting shows that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation moves prisoners with serious mental illnesses three times more often than other prisoners. Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters The California Fish and Game Commission has struggled to decide whether to list the western Joshua tree as an endangered species. If it is listed, it would be the first species to earn protection in the state because of climate change. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

Just like animals, the world’s trees, flowers, grasses and succulents are under threat, especially as our world heats up because of climate change. About a third of California’s native plant species and populations are now endangered or threatened by development, drought, competition from invasive species and of course wildfires. In California, botanists are trying to protect the state’s native flora for future generations. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED

For more than 20 years, the African American Theater Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz has provides a sense of community for Black students on campus while also celebrating Black playwrights. Often, it’s the first time Black students see plays that explore life experiences they can relate to. Reporter: Doug McKnight, KAZU If you look out west from San Francisco, when the fog clears and the light is just right, you might be able to see a cluster of islands jutting out of the ocean, like sharp, misshapen teeth. The Farallon Islands, 27 miles west of San Francisco, are a national wildlife refuge, and home to the largest seabird breeding colony in the contiguous United States. The islands — and the waters around them — are also brimming with a variety of wildlife, including thousands of seals and sea lions, gray and humpback whales, sharks and even orcas. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED

As Thanksgiving approaches, food pantries across the state are seeing an increase in need. Some students face a difficult choice: eating or education. A recent state law requires college campuses to direct students to CalFresh and other benefits. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR For the second time this year, state officials are delaying the start of commercial Dungeness crab fishing, after several humpback whales were spotted off California's coast. The delay will allow time for the whales to migrate south. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Millions of Californians will sit down to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. And all of that food preparation will create a lot of potential food waste, from turkey bones to vegetable peelings. But the gases that are released from food waste that's trucked to landfills are a big contributor to climate change. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED

Scientists at Stanford are starting a new medical trial to test if the drug Paxlovid can ease the symptoms of long COVID, like brain fog, shortness of breath and body aches. It's the first medical trial in the U.S. involving an antiviral to treat long COVID. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom is releasing a billion dollars in funding to fight homelessness. That comes just two weeks after he put a halt on the funds and scolded cities and counties for not having ambitious plans to solve homelessness. Cities must submit their next proposal to the state by next Tuesday to access more funding. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED California's last remaining nuclear power plant just received more than a billion dollars in conditional funding to keep it up and running for five extra years. Local supporters of the plant’s continued operation celebrated the news for helping keep the plant’s carbon-free energy on the grid, as the state faces an ongoing energy crisis. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX

Last night, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club hosted a vigil to honor the victims of the shooting in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs. The vigil took place at Harvey Milk Plaza, one week before the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. A recent investigation from CapRadio and the California Newsroom revealed the U.S. Forest Service predicted that a wildfire could wipe out the town of Grizzly Flats. But the agency failed to deliver on plans to protect the rural Northern California town.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio California is one of the nation’s most linguistically diverse states. An estimated 3.4 million workers don’t speak English well, or at all. Many of them work low-wage, high-risk jobs. But the state agency tasked with protecting workers’ health and safety, is woefully understaffed in terms of bilingual inspectors. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Hundreds of California farmworkers and growers are rallying in Washington this week. They're supporting a bipartisan bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for the nation’s undocumented farmworkers. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR The University of California academic workers' strike continues today and could stretch into the Thanksgiving holiday and beyond. Hear from one striking researcher who's been on the picket line all week. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald In a preview of our sister show, The California Report Magazine this week checks in on immigrant detainees who say they were retaliated against for waging a labor strike at the two facilities where they’re held. One man says he faced 40 days in solitary confinement for supporting the strike.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Bass, a community activist turned Congress member, defeated developer Rick Caruso in a race marked by his record spending. In a statement on her win, she pledged to solve homelessness and respond urgently to crime. California’s nonpartisan budget analyst is warning of rocky financial times ahead. California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office is projecting a $25 billion budget deficit for the next fiscal year.  California released its latest ambitious climate change plan yesterday that would reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels. The plan calls for slashing emissions by 48% by 2030, based on 1990 levels

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has lost his reelection bid to his opponent, Robert Luna, who continued to hold a commanding lead as the vote count continued. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED As votes continue to be tallied, it’s looking like Californians are on track to elect the most diverse legislature in state history. As many as 52 female candidates could take office once all the votes are counted. Eight LGBTQ candidates are also on track for election. Reporter: Ariel Gans, CalMatters Activists in Los Angeles say they’ve noticed a pattern. When a restaurant offering, say, $30 entrees, opens in a working class neighborhood, rents start to rise faster, there are more evictions, and long-time locals are forced to leave. Some restaurants are now trying hard to limit their impact on gentrification. But is it enough? Or will their presence always be problematic? Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

Thousands of Employees of the University of California Remain on Strike At U.C. Merced, the system’s newest campus, employees are calling on the UC Regents to raise wages so they can afford housing. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR A U.C. Berkeley Ph.D Candidate Studying Reptiles Decides to Strike Strikers, represented by the United Auto Workers are disrupting business on UC campuses at a pivotal time in the semester. Isaac Krone is a PHD candidate who studies reptiles, but he says he hasn't been able to focus on his research because he must teach every semester. Reporter: Jean Zamora, The California Report Border Rule Changes Could Speed Up Crossings, Impact Aslyum Seekers Change is coming to the U.S-Mexico border in our region. Mexican immigration officers on that side of the border at San Ysidro will check US-bound travelers’ documents. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A Week Since Election Day, Multiple Statewide and Municipal Races Still in Limbo California, like a handful of states across the West, mostly sends every voter a ballot in the mail, and it just takes longer to count mail in ballots. You have to take it out and compare the signature on the blue to the one on file to make sure that it matches. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters politics reporter

Nearly a week after the final day of voting, several key races in California could help determine which party will control the House of Representatives. Of the remaining House contests too close to call, more than half are in California. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED After several days of narrowly trailing in the mayoral vote count, Congressmember Karen Bass opened up a narrow lead against her opponent, shopping mall mogul, Rick Caruso, as ballots continued to be counted over the weekend. As of the most recently announced totals, Bass is nearly 9,500 votes ahead. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Last week Alex Padilla became the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate from California. Patricia Guerrero is poised to become the first Latina California Supreme Court Justice. The outcome of these 2022 midterm elections is a product of "immense anger" that started in 1994 with the Anti-Immigration Proposition 187, according to an expert. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, KQED

The California Public Utilities Commission has released a proposal that would gradually reduce the price utilities pay for power from rooftop solar systems. The proposal has been met with widespread criticism.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED This week, an episode from the new season of "Uncuffed," a podcast from KALW focused on intimate stories made by people incarcerated in California prisons. Edmond Richardson talks about marriage on the day before his wedding day inside San Quentin State prison. Reporter: Edmond Richardson, KALW

Republicans will likely be in the majority in the House of Representatives come January. Bakersfield Republican Kevin McCarthy is expected to become Speaker, but his path forward is far from clear. One expert says the challenge for McCarthy, especially with a small majority, is that he lacks trust from the far right wing of his caucus. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED The largely Republican Shasta County in northern California has been the subject of national attention since the takeover of the county board of supervisors by a far-right majority earlier this year. But on election night, heightened security measures and support for poll workers seem to have contributed to a more relaxed atmosphere. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

There was a sweep by Democrats in statewide races for Governor, U.S. Senate, Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor and State Treasurer. The high-profile Los Angeles mayoral race is looking tight, with Rick Caruso at a slight lead over Karen Bass as of this morning. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is losing in his bid to stay in office against his rival, former Long Beach police chief Robert Luna. Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivered a short speech at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, promising that by the time people wake up, Republicans would be in the majority. But as of right now, Republicans haven’t taken control of the House and the Red Wave hasn’t materialized.

CARE Courts, a county-based initiative, will combine teams of outreach workers and therapists with civil courts. Seven California counties have already volunteered to implement the CARE Court system first. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Thousands of low-income families could miss out on a child tax credit that became available during the pandemic. Californians have until November 17th to file for these tax credits. Reporter: Wendy Fry, CalMatters In August, dancers at a strip club in Los Angeles filed a petition to unionize, vying to become the only unionized strip club in the country. On Monday afternoon, the dancers had their union election.  Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW

Last year, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified’s two most conservative board members eventually supported adopting an ethnic studies class. But around the same time, the school board banned the teaching of critical race theory. This tug-of-war over values is coming to a head this election, as the long-time incumbents face political newbies who are promising to keep race and gender identity issues out of schools. Reporter: Jill Replogle, KPCC A new poll from UC Berkeley finds that Californians of all political stripes are worried that American democracy is in crisis and is at risk of failing. And they're overwhelmingly pessimistic about the chances that people with different political views can work out their differences together.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Less than a month before finals are meant to start, University of California student workers have voted to authorize a strike. The strike could arrive as early as November 14. Reporter: E. Okobi, KQED According to new numbers from the election tracking site Ballotpedia, nationally a little more than a billion dollars have been spent on state ballot measures this election cycle. And California accounts for about 70% of the cumulative spending. Most of that has been spent fighting over Propositions 26 and 27. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Many potential young voters that college student Kennedy McIntyre talks to are concerned about a host of issues: affordable housing, gun control, abortion rights. But they aren't convinced that voting will make much of a difference. Reporter: Jessica Kariisa, The California Report Magazine

In several of California's most competitive races, Latino voters could be decisive, which isn’t so surprising. But more than half of Latino voters who were recently polled say no campaign has asked for their vote. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The Central Valley has been synonymous with conservative, small-government politics for a long time. But there’s a new state Assembly district in the Central Valley and the two candidates vying for the seat are both women, Democrats and people of color. Reporter: Ariel Gans, CalMatters      

Prosecutors say David DePape, the man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, claimed he was on a suicide mission, with plans to kidnap Speaker Pelosi. DePape entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday and is due back in court on Friday. "Voter integrity" groups claim they're looking to root out fraud. But the targeted door-knocking in Shasta County amounts to voter intimidation and could be illegal under California election laws, according to election officials. It's also part of a broader national trend motivated by election conspiracy theorists. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio William Curry, who reportedly graduated from high school in Alabama last year, was finally escorted off campus last week. Despite multiple removals from campus since December 2021, Curry continued to return. Campus officials caught Curry on Thursday morning after he allegedly stole a TV from a dorm basement.

Man Accused of Attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Will Be Arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court Today 42-year-old David De Pape is making his first appearance in court since his arrest on Friday at Pelosi’s house.  DePape faces both local and federal charges after the attack, which left Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull. Bay Area Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier Warns Her Colleagues In Congress That There Needs To Be A Change In The Radicalized American Political Culture Representative Speier knows about violence wielded by extremists. In 1978 on a trip to the South American country of Guyana to investigate Jim Jones and his People’s Temple cult, the then 28-year-old was shot five times in an ambush by followers of Jones. At the time, Speier worked for congressman Leo Ryan. Ryan and four other people were killed in the attack. This Election Season Voters In San Bernardino Will Vote To Consider Breaking Away From California San Bernardino County is just east of Los Angeles and is home to more than 2 million people. By area, it’s the largest county in the USA… and, is bigger than nine states.  But despite its size, some local officials say they’re not getting the state support— or resources – they deserve.  That’s partly why secession came up in the first place… and, it’s not a new idea. Powerball Soars To $1.2 Billion for Wednesday night's top prize No one has hit all six numbers since Aug. 3rd.  Including California, Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Prosecutors are expected to announce charges against the man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi. The suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, is facing attempted murder charges as well as assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary. Just like in the 2020 election, there are claims of fraud this election cycle, particularly in northern California's Shasta County. While some call for a full independent review of the ballots to eliminate cheating, others worry these fraud worries are making it hard to build trust in the election system, no matter how safe it actually is. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Nearly a third of Black Californians questioned in a statewide survey say they feel they have been treated unfairly while trying to get health care because of their race. Most respondents change how they act at doctor's offices to minimize negative experiences. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Paul Pelosi Assaulted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office says someone broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco this morning and violently assaulted the speaker's husband. The Congresswoman's spokesman says the person who assaulted Paul Pelosi is in custody. Paul Pelosi was taken to a hospital and is recovering. Oil Companies Just Sold Thousands of Old Wells, Concerning Environmentalists Shell and ExxonMobile recently sold thousands of aging oil wells in California to smaller players in the industry. This has environmentalists worried that those smaller firms won't be able to pay what it will cost to close them down when the time comes, and that taxpayers will be left to foot the bill. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW The Man of Science and The Ouija Board This week, as part of a collaboration with the podcast ‘Bay Curious,’ a ghost story for Halloween. It comes from reporter and former KQED science editor Jon Brooks, who usually lives in the world of evidence, facts and data. But many years ago, Jon and his longtime friend Mark witnessed something inexplicable, even supernatural, that just can’t be squared with reality. Reporter: Jon Brooks

In response to a massive housing shortage, new rules require California cities to locate affordable housing in single-family neighborhoods as a way to combat decades of racial segregation. Residents in some California cities are pushing back and hope to rely on a time-tested tradition: using the local ballot box to restrict growth.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Settlement talks have broken down in a case from San Francisco seeking to preserve federal humanitarian protections. More than 260,000 immigrants nationwide face a risk of deportation.   Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

One of the most competitive House races in California pits a Republican incumbent who opposed certifying the presidential election against a Democratic challenger who helped prosecute January 6th rioters.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED State utility regulators have recommended fining PG&E more than $150 million for alleged safety infractions they connected to a deadly fire two years ago in Shasta County. The Zogg Fire started in September 2020 after a pine tree fell on a PG&E line near the town of Redding. Four people were killed in the fire. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED California voters will weigh in on high profile political offices, like Governor and Congress this fall. But they’ll also be voting on four California Supreme Court justices.  Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters

Most of the California tribes who have weighed in on Proposition 27 are against it. They’re worried about language tucked away in the measure that could potentially undermine tribal sovereignty. But at least one tribal chair says it's a way to support financially disadvantaged tribes that don't own big casinos. Reporters: Guy Marzorati, KQED and Nicole Nixon, CapRadio California K-12 students’ academic progress has plunged during the pandemic. Math is the worst decline, with the percentage of students who are proficient or better dropping seven percentage points statewide.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senator Brian Dahle sparred over the economy, climate and more in a debate at KQED on Sunday. It was the first and only debate the two have had. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Voters will be deciding on Proposition 30 in November. It's the plan to tax the wealthy to pay for electric vehicle incentives, and the measure has split Governor Gavin Newsom from his fellow Democrats. Reporter; Kevin Stark, KQED

New research is showing the potential dangers from indoor gas appliances in California homes. The study from PSE Healthy Energy, a nonprofit research institute, found that leaking gas stoves are emitting benzene, and other dangerous pollutants. Reporter Jessica Kariisa has spent years writing about and dancing to African music in cities up and down the East Coast. When she moved to the Bay Area, she wasn’t sure what she’d find by way of African music, but she soon discovered a club scene that’s thriving and rich with history. Reporter: Jessica Kariisa, The California Report Magazine 

In his first sit down interviews since a racist audio recording was released of Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon, and two other councilmembers , speaking with a local labor leader, de Leon was apologetic, but said he does not plan on resigning.   For the midterm election, California voters will once again be asked to decide on a ballot measure dealing with dialysis clinics. Similar measures have failed to pass in 2018 and 2020. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Striking mental health care workers are voting on a new contract, after reaching a tentative deal with Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday. Over 2,000 therapists, psychologists, social workers and counselors took to the picket lines at Northern California Kaiser facilities in mid-August to demand increased staffing and more support for workers. Reporter: Nimah Gobir, KQED  Following a tumultuous last few week, the L.A. City Council has a new president. During a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Councilmember Paul Krekorian was unanimously selected to lead the council. He'll replace Nury Martinez, who resigned last week after she was caught on an audio recording making racist comments and discussing how to manipulate the redistricting process in the city. Latino voters could make the difference this midterm, between Democrats maintaining control of Congress or Republicans seizing the gavel. While the GOP has made inroads with some Latino voters, especially in states like Texas, California Latinos have not swung as far to the right in recent years. But concerns about inflation and gas prices are playing big in California’s Latino-majority 22nd congressional district, where both candidates are running to the center. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

This year California voters will take up two propositions that would legalize sports betting. One of them would expand gambling in tribal casinos. But opponents say if it passes, it could also put card rooms out of business, and hit cities that rely on them for their bottom line. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end this coming February, nearly three years after the order first went into effect. The state has logged more than 10 million COVID cases since the start of the pandemic. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED 

Next month, voters will decide whether or not to increase arts funding to public schools across the state. We look at what it could mean for one school in the Bay Area.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED  The racist conversation between three members of the Los Angeles City Council and a labor executive have struck a familiar chord with Black and Afro Latinos struggling to gain political representation. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC

Today's regularly scheduled Los Angeles city council meeting has been canceled because two council members who are at the center of a scandal over a leaked racist conversation have not yet resigned. Both Gil Cedillo and Kevin De León have issued apologies, but nothing more. They haven’t been seen in the City Council chambers since Monday, when they were shouted at by an outraged crowd who demanded their resignations. Reporter: Jackie Fortier  Every day, children across the country – some as young as two and three years old – are forced out of their preschools and daycares. And more often than not, it’s children of color who are expelled. A law signed late last month by Governor Gavin Newsom aims to reduce the number of expulsions in state-funded preschool settings. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED In a preview of The California Report Magazine, we hear from the first episode of “Imperfect Paradise: The Sheriff,” a new podcast from LAIST studios. In it, KPCC’s Frank Stolze takes a deep dive into the tenure of controversial LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva. Reporter: Frank Stolze, KPCC

The former president of the Los Angeles City Council, Nury Martinez, has resigned. This comes days after a recording surfaced of her making racist remarks in a closed-door meeting. State Attorney General Rob Bonta is now investigating the redistricting process in LA, following the release of the conversation. One of the most competitive House races in California is taking place in the northern part of Los Angeles County, where Republican Congressman Mike Garcia is facing off for the third time against Democrat Christy Smith. The issues of abortion and Latino identity have been central to the campaign. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED 

During a contentious city council meeting, LA residents voiced their displeasure with three councilmembers, who were caught on a recording using racist language. The calls continue to grow for Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon to resign, although none have done so. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Dozens of workers at Amazon’s largest air hub on the West Coast announced they’ll go on a one-day strike later this week . The workers at the facility in San Bernardino are upset over low wages and unsafe working conditions. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Three members of the Los Angeles City Council are facing a barrage of calls to resign, after an audio recording of them making racist comments was made public.  This comes as the council is meeting for the first time on Tuesday, since the recording was released. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Local governments should consider wildfire risk, when evaluating proposals for new housing. That's according to new recommendations from California Attorney General Rob Bonta. 

Janitors who work at the facilities of Facebook and its parent company Meta have been on strike since last Wednesday. Late last week, the strikers received support from two major groups advocating for workers, Silicon Valley Rising and the South Bay Labor Council.  The National Labor Relations Board has approved a union recognition election for dancers at a topless bar in North Hollywood. If the performers at Star Garden organize, they would become the only unionized strippers in the nation. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW A teacher shortage has forced dozens of preschools in California to close classrooms since the start of the school year. Low wages were driving away early childhood educators -- most of them women of color -- long before the pandemic. But the emotional and financial stress, plus the health risks of working during the crisis drove them to quit faster. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED We’re celebrating Indigenous People’s Day with a focus on Nikole Aanapou Mann, who became the first native woman to reach space last week as commander for the NASA Space X Crew 5 mission to the International Space Station. Mann is enrolled with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California.

If you’ve been struggling with inflation-fueled high prices, from groceries to gasoline, some help is on the way. Starting Friday, the state will start sending out about nine and a half billion dollars worth of tax rebates to Californians to help people with their bills. The one time payments will range from $400 to $1,050 dollars for joint tax filers and between $200 and $700 dollars for those who filed individually. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED   In Sacramento, Black residents are three times as likely to say they can't afford their rent or mortgage compared with the area’s overall population. A poll published this week by Valley Vision, a civic leadership organization in the Sacramento area, found nearly nine of every 10 Black residents are concerned about the cost of housing in the Sacramento region. That's higher than any other racial or ethnic group. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio In a preview of our sister show, the California Report’s weekly Magazine, we hop on a bus many in the Vietnamese American community informally call the “Bánh Mì Bus” because of the importance of food to many of the passengers on the trip. Reporter Christine Nguyen takes us on a mouthwatering journey from San Jose to little Saigon in Orange County, a route that connects the two largest Vietnamese communities outside Vietnam. Host: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

During the first months of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. It authorized the U.S. government to relocate and incarcerate more than 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry. Now more than seven decades later, a group led by a USC professor has taken on the challenge of creating a list of every single person forced into camps and jails. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC  A family of four, that was kidnapped from their business in Merced this week, has been found dead. The bodies were discovered near where the kidnapping took place.

For years ago, then Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that unsealed internal official investigations into serious use of force, dishonesty and sexual misconduct by peace officers. But California prison officials are not complying. That’s according to a lawsuit filed by KQED. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Gas prices remain sky-high in California. $6.42 on average for a regular gallon of gasoline as of Wednesday, that according to AAA. Production issues at refineries are being blamed for the skyrocketing price. But some relief could be on the way. Reporter: Andrea Bautista, KCRW Tijuana gas stations are capitalizing on California’s soaring gas prices. Several stations in Mexico are advertising cheaper gas to commuters heading to San Diego. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS

The mid-term elections are a little more than a month away, and officials here in California and across the country are working to make sure the election process is safe and secure. But there are also concerns about threats levied against election workers and voters at the polls. Guest: Neal Kelley, Chairman, Committee for Safe and Secure Elections As the weather cools, the U.S. could be headed into a severe flu season. Experts say small children who haven’t been exposed due to pandemic restrictions and masking may be most at risk.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

When the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade first leaked in April, state lawmakers in California went to work. They moved forward to place a measure on the November ballot, Proposition 1, that, if passed, will enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. But such a constitutional amendment raises questions about fetal viability and whether abortion rights would actually be expanded. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED On Friday, the deadline passed for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto hundreds of bills sent to his desk by the legislature. One of the bills he signed will increase cash benefits for hundreds of thousands of working Californians who take time off to care for an ill relative or to bond with a new child. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 

The trust representing 70,000 PG&E wildfire victims reached a nine-figure settlement this week with a group of the utility's former executives and directors. The settlement will come from liability insurance the company held for its officers and directors. Reporter: Dan Brekke Imperial County currently holds one of the world's largest lithium reserves. A recent surge in demand for the mineral, a key component in electric car batteries, is now leading investors from Bolivia, Chile and South Korea to the southeastern corner of California.  Guest: Janet Wilson, Desert Sun reporter California is not expanding unemployment benefits to an estimated 1 million undocumented workers in the state any time soon. The bill Governor Gavin Newsom just vetoed would have created a one-year pilot program offering $300 a week, up to 20 weeks to unemployed, undocumented Californians. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero Flag football already is a sanctioned high school girls sport in states including Alabama and Nevada… but California could soon be on that list, too. Yesterday the southern section of the California Interscholastic Federation — which governs high school sports in the state —voted overwhelmingly to recognize flag football as a sport for high school girls.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi As the regular season comes to an end, the longest tenured broadcaster in Major League baseball is getting ready to hang up his mic. Beloved Jaime Jarrin has been the voice for Spanish-language radio for the Dodgers for more than six decades. Reporter: Madi Bolaños On this week's The California Report Magazine, writer Caroline Hatano talks about her beloved grandfather, a Japanese-American flower farmer in Southern California for 70 years. This summer, the city of Palos Verdes terminated the lease, closing the last Japanese-American farm on a peninsula that was once home to hundreds of them. Host: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

Ensenada is the birthplace of Mexican surfing. It has a rich history, but many people don’t know about it. Now, two surfers from Ensenada have set out to change that.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  Los Angeles is receiving millions in state funding to help launch a program to combat homelessness among the formerly incarcerated. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi

Gas prices remain stubbornly high in California. In fact, over the last week, the average price of a regular gallon of gasoline has jumped more than 40 cents. But some help is on the way in the form of a one-time state refund payment.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report In San Diego, some Black residents talk about how the city used to be known as “Harlem of the West.” Now, the city is attempting to pay homage and respect to that era – before the community was devastated by redlining and other racist policies. One way the city is doing that is by empowering one neighborhood as the newly-formed “San Diego Black Arts & Culture District. Reporter: Jacob Aere, KPBS 

Pacific Gas and Electric says it's facing a criminal investigation, for possibly starting the state's largest wildfire so far this year. The company says in a new filing with federal securities regulators that the US Forest Service has reached an "initial assessment" that the fire started near a PG&E line. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED   Affordable housing is hard to come by for most Californians. In Sacramento, there’s also a severe lack of affordable housing for low-income seniors. But construction is underway to help ease that shortage. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  When we hear about homeowners in trouble or losing their homes, it’s usually a story about foreclosure. But there’s another process that can penalize homeowners – and sometimes result in people losing their homes. That process is called receivership. A new investigation from The Sacramento Bee found a company called the Bay Area Receivership Group has left some homeowners staring at massively excessive fees and forced them out of their homes. Guest: Theresa Clift, Reporter, Sacramento Bee A new study shows that a fault system running through coastal LA and Orange counties has the potential to produce a far more powerful earthquake than was previously known. Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW Some advocates, who backed a bill that would have required children to attend kindergarten in California, say they're surprised the legislation was recently vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, The California Report

Protests have erupted across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely, and later died in custody. Demonstrations here in California took place over the weekend. Reporter: Kyana Moghadam, KQED After a summer break, the State Task Force studying Reparations for Black Californians has resumed its groundbreaking work. Over the weekend the panel met in Los Angeles to move the conversation forward -- and talk about lessons they can draw from historical reparations work -- plus the actual economics of the plan. Guest: Annelise Finney, KQED reporter This month marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of Paid Family Leave in California -- the first state to offer this benefit to workers taking time off to bond with a new child or care for an ill relative. Newsom is deciding now whether to sign or veto a bill that would increase payments to 90% of a person’s wages if they are low-income, or 70% for all other eligible workers. Now, it’s just 60 percent.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that eliminates the state's decades-old parking requirements for new developments near public transit stops. Environmentalists and housing advocates say this will drive down California's dependence on cars, improving the state's chances of meeting its climate goals. We're nearing the end of banned book week, an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International. And at the top of the most challenged books list in the United States is "Gender Queer: A Memoir." Guest: Maia Kobabe, Author of the book "Gender Queer: A Memoir"  A bill is sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk that would allow people who receive an unsolicited sexually explicit image on their phone or electronic device, to sue the person who sent it. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, The California Report 

Orange skies choked with soot from wildfires have become more common in the Western U.S. In a new paper, a team based at Stanford University estimates that millions of people now live where this smoke has made breathing unhealthy. Guest: Molly Peterson, The California Newsroom Changes are coming to California's masking policies. Effective on Friday, the state will be further easing its recommendations and leaving more to personal choice. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Attorney General Rob Bonta is creating an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The attorney general said the new initiative will use data and public health measures to implement measures aimed at reducing gun violence. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A new bill sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk could help street vendors get permits and comply with the state's food code system, essentially making it easier for them to conduct business.  Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report

County supervisors in Fresno, Kern and Riverside counties will no longer have a hand in drawing district maps. That’s after Governor Newsom signed three bills transferring the power to citizen-led commissions. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California is one of 10 states that doesn’t require schools to screen students for dyslexia. Educators say leaving learning disabilities unaddressed can overwhelm and often frustrate students, sometimes leading to behavioral problems down the road. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC In California, we’re used to home prices going one direction -- up. But in recent months, the residential real estate market has cooled, with home prices falling and properties staying on the market longer.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report This week, the Newsom administration identified five state-owned properties that it hopes can be used for affordable housing. The administration is looking for developers to build what it believes will be hundreds of new units of affordable housing on the properties.  Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio 

Millions of L.A. County residents and businesses can resume outdoor watering, after news that urgent repairs to a pipeline that brings water from the Colorado River to Southern California have wrapped up early. Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW    Open agricultural burning is a useful tool for farmers, but its high particulate emissions are harmful to San Joaquin Valley residents. Air regulators plan to phase out the practice by 2025, but air quality advocates have doubts after years of inaction.  Reporters: Kerry Klein and Monica Vaughan, KVPR Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills aimed at reforming the state’s cannabis regulations. This comes as the governor is directing state officials to study the health impacts of high-potency cannabis. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED  Experts at UC San Diego studying extortion in Tijuana are saying that crime is much more rampant than previously believed. Researcher Romain Le Cour spent a year walking the streets of Tijuana, talking to business owners about what he calls, an ‘invisible crime.' Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS In an interview with "60 Minutes," President Joe Biden declared that the pandemic was over. Many health experts say that's just not the case, but do agree that we may be moving to a new phase of the pandemic. Guest: Dr. Bob Wachter, Chair of Medicine, UC San Francisco  

With the start of the work week, many state workers who are unvaccinated will not have to undergo regular testing for COVID-19. Since July of 2021, unvaccinated state employees have had to submit to weekly testing. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Open agricultural burning is due to be phased out in California by 2025, in an effort to reduce harmful emissions. But many farmers are apprehensive of a future without burning. Reporters: Monica Vaughan and Kerry Klein, KVPR  The San Francisco Police Department may have collaborated with a federal surveillance center that uses facial recognition and social media monitoring – without a contract or oversight. That’s according to public documents obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED The mother of a man who died in a jail in Los Angeles last year is suing LA County and its Sheriff, Alex Villanueva. An official report says Jalani Lovett died from a drug overdose, but his family claims that he was beaten to death. Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW     As California grapples with its homelessness crisis, some local governments are fighting with each other over the details of housing and shelter programs and who gets most of the burden. One of the most recent examples is the ongoing battle between El Cajon and San Diego County officials over using hotels as shelters for the homeless. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Some 2,000 Kaiser Permanente mental health care professionals are a month into a strike. This week, negotiations between labor and management have broken down.  Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED  Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have significantly lowered what California families pay for state subsidized childcare. The legislation would have capped the amount low income families pay at 1% of their monthly income. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED  An energetic new rhino calf at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park represents another step in the effort to save a related rhino species that’s nearly extinct. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Because of a new state law, San Francisco’s Superior Court has eliminated about $50 million in debt due to late fees for things like traffic tickets. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  With a nationwide rail strike averted, the Port of Los Angeles is shifting its attention to the movement of cargo ahead of the fall and winter holiday shopping season.  Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing Amazon, alleging the online retail giant engages in anticompetitive contracting, in violation of state laws. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Across the country, many families and dyslexia advocates are pushing for something called “structured literacy,” a type of early reading instruction that’s attuned to how the brain learns to read, with an emphasis on phonics. Experts say this type of reading instruction can benefit all students, especially those with dyslexia. But it’s not the norm in most California classrooms, or in teacher prep programs.   Reporter: Julia Barajas, KPCC/LAist  Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated a major legislative accomplishment on Wednesday. He signed his CARE Court bill into law, which seeks to improve mental health care in California, especially for people who are homeless with severe mental illnesses. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED In November, California voters will vote on Proposition 30. It’s a “clean air initiative” that would tax California’s wealthiest residents to pay for electric car rebates and infrastructure. Governor Gavin Newsom does not support the measure, but most fellow Democrats do.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A majority of likely California voters say they plan to reject a ballot measure this fall that would legalize online sports betting. That's according to the latest poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  

A shift in wind led to increased activity on Tuesday, as firefighters continue to battle the Mosquito Fire in Placer and El Dorado counties. The fire jumped the Middle Fork of the American River, threatening the community of Foresthill.  State health officials are advising Californians to get a flu shot, in addition to the COVID-19 vaccination or booster. Reporter: Nimah Gobir, KQED  If you lost your job during the pandemic and you still aren't making as much as you used to, there's a new state grant that could help boost your professional skills. And -- hopefully -- your earning potential. Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Like other big California ports, L.A., Oakland, San Diego, the Port of Long Beach is filled with fleets of big, loud diesel trucks. They’re vehicles that carry cargo containers from the docks to warehouses and logistical centers inland. But there's a new type of vehicle that's supposed to become much more common at California ports in the coming years: battery-powered big rig trucks.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report More than a dozen California Democratic Congressmembers are calling on the federal government to investigate complaints by immigrant detainees, who say they've been held in solitary confinement for supporting a labor strike.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Strawberries are one of California’s biggest and most delicious agricultural moneymakers, but they are also vulnerable to diseases that can be devastating for growers. But now, California researchers have made a key discovery to help fight one of strawberries’ biggest threats. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX 

Most Californians are feeling the effects of the drought.. But in big areas of the state, where people rely on groundwater, the pain of this drought is especially severe. Wells are going dry and there’s intense competition to find more water that’s underground. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Federal and Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed the first death of a person with monkeypox in California. The L.A. County resident was severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalized with the virus. Unlike the rest of the country, gas prices in California have been on the rise. That's after they dropped from record highs earlier this summer. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED 

In Placer and El Dorado counties, fire crews are making progress fighting the Mosquito Fire, which has burned more than 46,000 acres. Meanwhile, in Southern California, firefighters took advantage of wet conditions to help in the fight against the Fairview Fire. One of the bills that’s passed through the legislature on Governor Newsom’s desk would offer cash benefits to unemployed undocumented workers, currently excluded from the state’s unemployment insurance program. It’s an idea that not so many years ago would have been considered out of the question. Today? It’s a different story. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED San Francisco's representatives in the State Assembly say they’ll be keeping an eye on Pacific Gas & Electric’s possible role in the Mosquito Fire, burning in the Sierra Nevada foothills in El Dorado and Placer counties. PG&E filed notice with state regulators last week, saying that electrical activity occurred on one of its lines close to the time the Mosquito Fire was reported. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Governor Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Riverside County due to the Fairview Fire and for El Dorado and Placer counties due to the Mosquito Fire. Firefighters have been struggling to control both fires, which have grown explosively and forced extensive evacuations. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KVCR  LA County health officials are investigating the death of a person with monkeypox. Few details are being released about the case. What we do know is that this person died in LA and had monkeypox but it’s unclear if the virus caused the death.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC The Biden Administration has rolled back a Trump-era rule that penalized immigrants who used a wide range of government benefits – and led to fear in many California immigrant communities.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

California's extended heat wave will continue on Thursday, with temperatures topping out over 100 in many inland areas. The state's power agency is also issuing another call for power conservation, for the ninth straight day. As the heat wave drags on, broken cooling systems are disrupting the school day in many parts of California. That’s forced many school districts to bring in fans and portable AC units to lower classroom temperatures.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED A new report out from the Prison Policy Initiative reveals unexpected data about incarceration rates among rural Californians. Per capita, the highest rate of incarcerated people comes from small, rural counties in the state. Guest: Nigel Duara, Reporter CalMatters Opponents of a first-of-its-kind state law that could raise wages for fast food workers have officially started an effort to delay and potentially block it. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Parents fighting against school closures in Oakland and several California school districts got a win this week. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring certain districts make time for an equity impact analysis before closing schools.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency budget package Tuesday authorizing $41 million to fight the spread of the monkeypox virus. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC A bill that could make California a refuge for transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care is on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Advocates and lawmakers who support the legislation say it provides life-saving care. But opponents say it interferes with a parent’s authority over their child’s health decisions. Reporter: Ariel Gans, CalMatters

The statewide heat wave continued on Tuesday as records were broken across California, with much of the state once again facing triple digit temperatures. But the state did not have to order rolling blackouts, despite a deeply stressed power grid. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED While cities across the state continue to break heat records this week, there are a few places that are still comfortable, if not downright cool. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED  The hot weather across the state has brought added concerns about wildfires sparking. And a pair of fires that are burning in the Inland Empire in Southern California are now forcing residents to flee their homes. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW President Joe Biden has come out in favor of a California bill that Governor Gavin Newsom has said he’s not ready to sign. The bill aims to make it easier for farmworkers to choose whether to unionize, including by mail-in ballots -- without fear of reprisal. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Starting this week, millions of people in Southern California are dealing with big new water restrictions. The Metropolitan Water District says that's necessary so that a broken pipeline that carries water from the Colorado River to the region can be repaired. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report   California's eviction moratorium ended earlier this summer, but some cities in L.A. County have also banned rent hikes. But tenants are still getting demands to pay more. In many cases, whether they can fight those rent hikes depends on where they live.  Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC 

The brutal heat wave taking over the state is expected to last longer and reach higher temperatures than forecasters had anticipated. And that's putting a lot of stress on California's power grid, with state officials asking Californians to conserve as much as possible. Guest: Jan Null, Meteorologist, Golden Gate Weather Services and Adjunct Professor at San Jose State University  Two people have died and hundreds of residents around Weed remain under evacuation orders because of the Mill Fire burning in Siskiyou County.  Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio Last week, state lawmakers approved a plan to extend the life of the state’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon. Many are applauding the legislature’s decision to keep its carbon-free energy on the grid — but it’s had mixed reactions in San Luis Obispo County, where the plant sits. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX  On Friday, Frank Drake, the radio astronomer who dreamed of finding life on other planets, passed away at his home near Santa Cruz. He was 92. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

As California’s housing crisis becomes more dire and cities feel mounting pressure to build more housing, many are eyeing church-owned real estate as a potential solution. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED

California's State of Emergency Continues Amid Massive Heat Wave For the third day in a row officials, have issued a so-called Flex Alert, which is a call to reduce energy consumption between the hours of 4-9pm when the power grid is most stressed and solar declines. Voters to Weigh in on a Constitutional Amendment That Could End Barrier to Building Public Housing Since 1950, Article 34 of the state constitution has required local officials to get voters’ approval to build public housing. The rule was rooted in racist fears about integrating neighborhoods and it’s hindered low-income home construction for decades. Now, California voters will get a chance to repeal it. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Blistering Heat Has the Central Valley's Only Children's Hospital Busy Young kids have more trouble regulating their body temperature than adults do, and they’re more susceptible to dehydration because a larger percentage of their weight is water. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Californians Could Receive First Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Next Week The unique booster is different from any COVID shot you’ve gotten before. One half is the original shot and the other half is designed specifically for omicron sub-variants that are still infecting thousands of people every day. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Bill That Aimed to End Prison-to-ICE Transfers in California Fails The last days of California’s two-year legislative session ended with a flurry of votes this week. One of the bills that did NOT make it would have ended the practice of transferring non-citizens to immigration custody when they’re released from jail or prison. Tyche Hendricks, KQED Immigration Editor 

California Awaits Excessive Heat and Potential Blackouts Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for California as a heat wave takes hold of the state. Elliot Mainzer, president of the state’s power grid operator, says Californians need to reduce electricity use throughout the holiday weekend, especially during late afternoon and early evening. New Test Project in a Central Valley Town Could Bring Partially Solution to Shortages The idea behind solar canals is to build canopies over miles of aqueducts and place solar panels on top of those canopies. The shade from the canopies limits water evaporation and the solar panels produce renewable energy. Research out of U.C. Merced found that canopies lower evaporation in aqueducts by as much as 82%. Amanda Stupi, The California Report Kaiser Nurses Join Mental Health Workers Nearing 3rd Week of Strike 22,000 Kaiser nurses are protesting, calling for improved safety conditions and increased staffing. Lesley McClurg, KQED health correspondent On Overdose Awareness Day, Advocates for People Who Use Drugs Remain Defiant More than a week after Governor Newsom vetoed a bill that would provide safe consumption sites for people who use drugs, advocates used Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday to reaffirm their commitment to continue the fight. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED How Nonprofits Use a Legal Loophole to Flip California Homes — for a Profit The state legislature approved dozens of bills this week. If history is any guide, some of those laws will have unintended consequences. That’s the story of a law passed in 2020, which was meant to keep foreclosed homes out of the hands of corporate investors, and increase the chance they would be used for affordable housing. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED 

A controversial bill to overhaul California’s mental healthcare system cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night. The governor’s CARE Court proposal would allow judges to oversee treatment for people diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders who are not receiving care.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by crime and gun violence -- but historically say they’ve been left out of many conversations and programs meant to help victims of crime in California. But that's starting to change. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Millions of residents in Los Angeles County will need to suspend outdoor watering in September. That’s the message from the Metropolitan Water District, which is set to repair a leak in a critical pipeline. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill designed to protect more homes from wildfire by bolstering the State’s defensible space inspections.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED A bill that would restrict solitary confinement for all incarcerated people in California, including at federal immigration detention centers, is headed to the Governor’s desk after clearing the state Senate Tuesday.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED A bill establishing tough new privacy rules for children under 18 is headed to the governor's desk, after it passed the state Assembly unanimously on Tuesday. Reporter: Rachael Myrow , KQED

The California legislature has passed what supporters call a first-of-its kind bill that could benefit half a million fast food workers. AB 257 would bring fast food worker and employer representatives together on a council that could boost wages to up to $22 an hour next year at large chains. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  The Biden administration will pause its program to send Americans free at-home COVID-19 tests this week, blaming Congress for failing to fund another round of shipments. People who have yet to request all of their free rapid tests through the Department of Health and Human Services federal portal have until Friday to place their orders. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Small theaters with less than 100 seats were hit particularly hard during the pandemic. In Los Angeles, the highest concentration of these venues was in North Hollywood, but half of its 22 theaters have now closed permanently. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  The state senate passed a bill Monday that will make it easier for farmworkers to vote in union elections, but getting the governor’s signature is far from a done deal. During a march to Sacramento in support of the bill, farmworkers picked up some allies on the way. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report The Biden administration is looking for new ways to shield DACA recipients, in case the courts overturn the program that protects these undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED More and more dead fish are piling up on beaches around the Bay Area, spanning from Vallejo to San Jose. Scientists fear a giant toxic algae bloom could lead to permanent impacts. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED  

Over the past two decades California has completely reimagined its approach to dealing with young people who commit crimes. That remaking of juvenile justice will culminate next summer in the closure of California’s troubled state youth prisons, known as the Department of Juvenile Justice or DJJ. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Two years after Governor Gavin Newsom mandated it, the California Air Resources Board has approved a plan requiring 100% of new vehicle sales in California beginning in 2035 be zero emission. Automakers say they support California, but have encouraged the state to build out car charging infrastructure and incentives. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED According to the United Nations, solitary confinement beyond 15 days can amount to torture and should be banned. But it's still happening right here in California. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED\ In what’s believed to be a first in this country, Anaheim has formally recognized part of the city as an Arab American district. In a nearly unanimous vote this week, the Anaheim City Council has designated an area of Brookhurst Street as Little Arabia – a name that many locals have already used for years. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Think college athletics and likely football, basketball and volleyball come to mind. But Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, on the Central Coast, is home to one of the most successful collegiate rodeo programs in the country. It holds 45 national titles. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX

The California Air Resources Board is set to approve a plan on Thursday to phase out the sale of new gasoline cars by the year 2035. Reporter: Daphne Young, KQED   Last week, we brought you an investigation into the U.S. Forest Service that found a stalled project could have helped protect the town of Grizzly Flats in Northern California from the Caldor Fire. Now, we head to Big Bear, a Southern California mountain vacation destination, where officials are hoping to avoid that same fate. But are they moving fast enough? Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

There’s a new poll out that shows Californians overwhelmingly support abortion access and that the issue will impact how they vote in the elections this fall.   Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED   A little over a week ago, normal life in the border city of Tijuana came to a halt as a drug cartel launched a campaign of terror in the city. Vehicles were set ablaze and gunmen blocked major thoroughfares. That’s raised new questions about the power of Mexico’s criminal underworld. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  In recent years, the Sacramento region has debated plans for creating thousands of new affordable housing units and shelter spaces for the homeless. But opposition from neighborhood groups has made carrying out those plans a difficult challenge. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio With a week left in this year’s legislative session in Sacramento, California immigrant advocates are pushing hard for a bill to end the transfer of non-citizens to immigration custody after they’re released from jail or prison.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Proponents are calling Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill that would have allowed supervised drug injection sites in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles a tragic, “missed opportunity” to prevent overdose deaths.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A new report finds that most early childcare workers in California make far less than a living wage and that many earn less than they did before the pandemic. The report from UC Berkeley found that providers running small, daycare centers out of their homes make between $16- 30 thousand a year. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED  Once a reliable stronghold for Republicans, Orange County has become a contested battleground for congressional races in recent election cycles -- and this year is no different.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED California voters think the state is headed in the wrong direction -- according to a new poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. 52% of voters say California is on the wrong track, but Governor Gavin Newsom's approval ratings are on the rise.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED A judge has sentenced a Bay Area man to more than a decade in prison for obstructing a probe into the 2020 murder of a federal officer in Oakland, and child pornography charges. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  

The California Department of Public Health is issuing new home isolation guidance for people with confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox. State public health director Dr. Tomás Aragón says the state’s guidelines are more detailed than the CDC’s national recommendations. California is adding Georgia to its already lengthy list of states where publicly-funded travel is banned because of anti-LGBTQ legislation. The travel restrictions come in response to a bill passed by Georgia lawmakers earlier this year that allows the state's athletic association to ban transgender girls from competing in girls' sports. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED  Both the Biden Administration and California have big goals when it comes to getting more people to drive electric vehicles as a way to fight climate change. There is one big challenge that may not be getting as much attention -- it’s the kind of housing millions of people live in and whether they can find or install electric vehicle charging stations there. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Bay Area man involved with a violent anti-government militia is set to be sentenced Monday for exchanging sexual photos with a minor and destroying records in a federal investigation. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Estimates say as many as one out of every five students have dyslexia — the learning disorder that affects reading and writing. But if diagnosed, does your child’s school know what to do about it?  In California, answers to that question are all over the map. Reporter, Kyle Stokes, KPCC

Residents of a Siskiyou County community, ravaged by wildfire last month, are suing the Oregon-based electrical utility they say is to blame. The McKinney Fire started the afternoon of July 29th just outside the hamlet of Klamath River, near power lines owned by Portland's Pacificorp.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Starting next year, Californians will be able to sue people who distribute ghost guns and assault weapons illegally. The law is modeled on Texas abortion legislation and both of the laws offer private citizens a chance at financial rewards for reporting other peoples’ activities. Guest: Nigel Duara, Justice Reporter with CalMatters Democrats in California are split on whether President Joe Biden should run again in 2024 and if he doesn’t, Governor Gavin Newsom has a strong base of support for a presidential run. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Monkeypox cases in L.A. County continue to climb. New cases have jumped 33% since last week, and more than a thousand people have tested positive. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Monkeypox cases have tripled in California over the past month. Most vaccine doses have been sent to larger cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. But other communities across the state say they're feeling left out. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters LA County will get far fewer monkeypox vaccine doses than it expected. The county's monkeypox vaccine shipment is being slashed to just 40% of the doses public health officials requested from the federal government. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC It’s been one year since a family from Afghanistan escaped their war torn country and landed in the United States. They fled last August, leaving behind their belongings, their careers and their hopes and dreams. The kindness of strangers on California’s Central Coast helped make their journey to the U.S. possible. Reporter: Doug McKnight, KAZU  The Port of Oakland says a protest by truck drivers that shut it down for several days in July had a significant impact on its business. There was a 28% decline in total loaded container volume in July compared to a year ago. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED   A group of dancers at a North Hollywood topless bar have taken the first step towards forming a union. If their bid is successful, they would become the only unionized strippers in the U.S.  Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Some state lawmakers are backing the demands of striking mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente. More than 2000 clinicians are picketing this week in the Bay Area and Fresno. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED More California students are returning to their schools this week as the new academic year begins. But many students won't need to be in class until later in the morning.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The state’s power grid operator is calling on Californians to conserve energy on Wednesday. The California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state's electrical grid, says it expects above average temperatures to increase demand for electricity. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report Former Central Valley Congressman TJ Cox pleaded not guilty Tuesday to more than two dozen federal counts including wire fraud, money laundering and campaign contribution fraud. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR  California has begun a big push to get more 4-year-olds enrolled in transitional kindergarten, or “TK.” But not every parent of an eligible child is ready to sign up. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The oil industry has dropped its opposition to a bill that would increase fines on California refineries that violate air quality rules. That's after lawmakers watered down the legislation behind closed doors. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED  Sidewalks in front of Kaiser facilities in Northern California and the Central Valley are packed with striking mental health care providers again on Wednesday. State regulators are monitoring the situation closely to ensure patient care is not impacted.  Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon will not face a recall election, county officials announced on Monday. Critics of Gascon, led by prosecutors in his own office, have once again failed to get the more than 560,000 signatures necessary to place a recall before voters. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED   New research suggests climate change is increasing the likelihood of California-wide megafloods. Warming temperatures have already doubled the risk of this type of inundation brought on by a succession of storms, lasting for as long as a month. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  A year ago, the Caldor Fire burned through the small town of Grizzly Flats in Northern California. The fire destroyed more than 400 homes. A new investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found that the U.S. Forest Service predicted — for decades — a wildfire could devastate Grizzly Flats. But its plan to protect the town didn’t get done.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio There's no end in sight for a strike which saw almost 2,000 Kaiser mental health care workers walk off the job on Monday in Northern California and the Central Valley. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED  The number of people hospitalized after falling from the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border is on pace to surpass last year’s record.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS

Governor Gavin Newsom has a plan to extend the operation of California’s last nuclear power plant. Diablo Canyon on the Central Coast is scheduled for closure by 2025. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX  For several years now, undocumented immigrants in California have been able to get a driver’s license, which doubles as a critical piece of ID. But what about immigrants who don’t drive? Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC  A year ago today, the Taliban entered Kabul and the U.S. military began a frenzied airlift to evacuate tens of thousands of people out of Afghanistan. Now, many of those Afghans are trying to build new lives in California. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California is one of ten states that doesn’t screen all students for the most common learning disability. Advocates have pushed for mandatory dyslexia assessments for years. Reporter: Mariana Dale, KPCC  Mexican cities, just across the border from California, were rocked by a wave of violent incidents over the weekend. This string of attacks appears to be in response to Mexican officials' attempt to capture gang members.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

One of the most closely watched housing bills has cleared a key legislative hurdle and is now headed to the state senate for a vote. Supporters say it could help developers build millions of housing units across the state. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Roses are red, violets are blue. Most flowers smell nice, but not all of them do. And that’s especially true for a rare tropical flower at the UC Santa Cruz arboretum.  Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU Pepper spray was supposed to be phased out of L.A. County’s juvenile halls nearly two years ago. But probation department staff are still using the spray. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC  A former Los Angeles County assistant sheriff is suing Sheriff Alex Villanueva for alleged retaliation, and is seeking at least $3 million in damages. She was among the whistleblowers who accused Villanueva of trying to cover up an incident where a deputy knelt on an inmate's head.  Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

San Francisco has won a landmark lawsuit against Walgreens pharmacy over its role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the city. A federal judge found that Walgreens filled hundreds of thousands of suspicious prescriptions for powerful painkillers over 15 years, without taking steps to prevent their misuse. California’s Supreme Court may soon get its first Latina Chief Justice. Patricia Guerrero currently sits on the state’s supreme court as an associate justice and she’s held that role since March. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED This year, potentially tens of thousands of Californians who couldn’t work because of health reasons, including pregnancy, have been forced to wait weeks -- or even months -- to get their “State Disability Insurance” payments. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   Supporters of a bill to create safe injection sites are urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 57. The idea behind SB 57 is to address the growing toll on city streets, where people are dying in record numbers from overdoses of drugs like fentanyl. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED The backers of dueling ballot campaigns to legalize sports betting in California sparred during a hearing at the Capitol Wednesday. Proposition 27 is backed by gambling companies like DraftKings and unlike Prop 26, would allow bets to be made on phones and computers. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED   California has adopted the nation’s most ambitious offshore wind targets. The new goals put the state on course to meet a quarter of its electricity needs — enough to power about 25 million homes — from offshore wind by midcentury.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED On Thursday, California lawmakers will advance – or quietly kill – hundreds of bills in rapid-fire succession. The bills have been stuck in a legislative limbo known as “the suspense file.”   Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters In recent years, lots of California mountain lions have been struck and killed by California drivers. But collisions have also killed many other kinds of animals, from deer to bobcats to desert tortoises. Legislation aimed at making roads safer for wildlife is being heard in Sacramento on Thursday. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

An L.A. City Council meeting turned chaotic Tuesday when members of the public started shouting at council members and one person made an attempt to lunge at the dais. The council was preparing to vote on an ordinance that would ban homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  More than 4,250 COVID-19 deaths in California could have been prevented in one year if the entire state met National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. That’s according to a new study by the Public Health Institute. Guest: Dr. Paul English, Director of the Public Health Institute’s Tracking California program The Inflation Reduction Act could bring billions of dollars in drought relief to California. At $4 billion, the largest pot of drought funds would help watersheds like the Colorado River, which Southern California relies on. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED With lackluster resources and rising costs, supportive homes for people living with a serious mental illness are continuing to dwindle in Los Angeles and across the state. At one home that’s been around for 40 years though, residents keep their spirits high and celebrate. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC 

California’s Employment Development Department was too slow delivering unemployment insurance payments to roughly 5 million workers during the pandemic. That’s from a new report by the Legislative Analyst's Office.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED More than 22,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border from Mexico into California since the Russian invasion in February. Many have come to the Sacramento area, which already has a large and tight-knit Slavic community.  Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio A State Senate committee focused on California’s response to monkeypox will hold its first hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The committee is chaired by State Senator Scott Wiener, who’s been a vocal critic of the government's failure to act quickly when the monkeypox outbreak first occurred. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Hate crimes are up for the fourth straight year in a row across the U.S. That’s according to new data from Cal State San Bernardino, which found that in California, hate crimes jumped more than 32% last year. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  Gun rights groups are suing the state of California over a bill signed into law in June, that bans the marketing of guns to minors. Firearm advocates say the law is a direct assault on the Second Amendment. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED California’s fast food and franchising industries could change drastically under a bill moving through the state Legislature. The bill would give fast food workers the power to collectively bargain through a state-run council. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio 

Los Angeles voters will decide whether they want to require hotels across the city to provide vacant rooms to unhoused people. The City Council voted Friday to put the contentious hotel voucher program on the 2024 ballot. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  Farmworkers from across the state have joined the “March for the Governor’s Signature,” a 335 mile trek from Kern County to Sacramento, to show support for a voting rights bill. Although farmworkers say the bill is critical for unionization, some argue that it will not accomplish what it’s intended to do. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR  California women are more likely than men to be rent burdened, meaning they spend a third or more of their income on rent and other housing costs. That’s according to a new study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED The California Air Resources Board held a series of public listening sessions across the state last week. Its part of the board's latest plan to help the state achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR A federal lawsuit has been filed against the sheriff in Siskiyou County and other county officials, alleging that Asian American residents have been unfairly discriminated against. The lawsuit claims that Asian Americans have been harrassed and discriminated against. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Federal health officials are considering breaking single doses of monkeypox vaccine into smaller doses to stretch the current supply. The Food and Drug Administration may allow healthcare providers to split a one-dose vial of the monkeypox vaccine into five doses. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Throughout history, struggling Americans have looked for greener pastures, with many striking out for California. But some powerful people in the state have actively tried to keep the migrants out by setting up border checkpoints.  Guest: Bill Lascher, Author of the book "The Golden Fortress: California's Border War on Dust Bowl Refugees" California is offering $20,000 stipends to recruit and train more mental health clinicians to work in public schools. The program is a response to the student mental health crisis.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED A bill that provides some protection for immigrants in court is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The measure said if an attorney wants to ask a witness about their immigration status in court, the judge must first decide if it’s relevant to the case. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Voters in San Bernardino County will have the chance to vote in November on whether the county could potentially secede from California. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  A Fresno high school has issued an apology for painting over a student mural completed for the campus. Artists questioned the decision and the message it sends to the arts community. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR

Long waitlists. Parents lining up overnight in hopes of landing an open spot in daycare or preschool. These are some of the stories that have emerged since the pandemic, highlighting the nation’s childcare crisis. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

He was the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for decades. On Tuesday, Vin Scully died at the age of 94. Guest: Bill Shaikin, Reporter, L.A. Times California faces increased wildfire danger across much of the state into the fall months. This comes as crews continue to battle the biggest fire of the year in Siskiyou County. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED   Farmworkers from across California are beginning a march up the Central Valley on Wednesday morning. It’s all to support a voting rights bill.  Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR Some state courts appear to be dragging their feet following a new law, that’s intended to give relief to people piling up late fees for infractions like traffic tickets.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   It’s an election year, with control of Congress in play. In one of Orange County’s most competitive congressional districts, the sitting Republican Congresswoman and her Democratic challenger don’t agree on much. But they do see eye-to-eye on one thing -- U.S. policy toward Taiwan. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as part of California's ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak. Meanwhile in San Francisco, the city’s main public hospital plans to distribute more monkeypox vaccine on Tuesday. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED State lawmakers have reconvened in Sacramento after a month-long summer recess for the final, frenzied month of the legislative session. There are a number of bills that will be voted on, from abortion to gun rights. Guest: Emily Hoeven, Author of the WhatMatters newsletter for CalMatters Crews saw much calmer weather on Monday as they continue to battle the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County. But there's still no containment on the fire, which has burned more than 55,000 acres. Guest Erik Neumann, Interim News Director, Jefferson Public Radio A bill to allow so-called “safe injection sites” where addicts can use drugs with supervision is on its way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  Visitors to Redwood National Forest on the North Coast could be fined and even face jail time if they’re caught trying to get too close to the world’s tallest tree. Reporter: Anaïs-Ophelia Lino, KQED

Authorities say two bodies have been found inside a burned vehicle in the path of a raging California wildfire that is one of several major blazes burning across Northern California. Hundreds of millions of dollars are headed to the Golden State for Climate Change and infrastructure. The mix of fires, drought, and even record rainfall in some parts of California are taking a toll on the state's infrastructure. But, a new federal program unveiled last week, could funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to the Golden State to help safeguard its roads and bridges. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW California Health officials are not ready to declare a statewide emergency for Monkeypox. The State of California has reported nearly eight hundred cases of Monkeypox - the majority in San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Eleven people in California have been hospitalized - but, no one has died. So, health officials in California say they don't see the need - at least not yet - to declare a statewide emergency over the Monkeypox virus....similar to the local one declared by the city of San Francisco last week. A new Kaiser study says adults with young kids could provide some protection against severe COVID illnesses. Researchers compared more than half million adults - and found that those without children were 49 percent more likely to be hospitalized-and 76 percent more likely to be admitted to an ICU - than those with young kids at home. A School in the Inland Empire plans to move because of influx of new warehouses. Another large warehouse complex is slated for Southern California’s Inland Empire… which is east of Los Angeles.  The region is home to over a billion square feet of warehouses.  One of the latest proposed warehouses would be next door to an elementary school in the small community of Bloomington in San Bernardino County. Reporter Jonathan Linden, KVCR A new public housing project in Southern California is unlike many others. It's called Jordan Downs and it's located in L.A.'s Watts community. Even in a state where millions struggle to find…and keep… an affordable place to live, building more public housing hasn’t been a popular solution. That’s because over the decades public housing has become synonymous with segregation of Blacks and Latinos, warehousing of the poor, and terrible living conditions. But in L.A.’s Watts neighborhood, one big public housing project called Jordan Downs is in the midst of a decades-long, one billion dollar transformation. When done, it will more than double the number of people living there. Its also supposed to show the potential of public housing….if done right.. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

L.A. County health officials have pushed the pause button on reinstituting an indoor public mask mandate. The data show that LA is right on the cusp of dropping into the CDC’s medium COVID risk level. That’s due to hospitalizations dipping slightly.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Farming in California has not been a friendly place to Black people, let alone Black women. Only one percent of farmland in the state is Black owned. Reporter: Ariana Proehl, KQED In San Jose, a program that sent 1500 kids to day camp for free is wrapping up on Friday. It’s paid for with COVID-19 relief money.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

L.A. County health officials closed the online waiting list for the monkeypox vaccine Thursday, just one day after it went live. Some qualified people are being turned away at vaccine sites and given conflicting advice.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  Truckers at the Port of Oakland continue to protest for the second straight week over AB5, the state law that reclassifies many independent contractors as employees. But truckers have agreed not to block access to terminals and plan instead to rally in designated "free speech" zones set up by the port.   Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED  The Oakland City Council is expected to vote Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to put a measure on the ballot that would officially repeal Prop 8. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  Customs and Border Protection say a record number of migrants have been injured while trying to cross the border illegally into San Diego County.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Nevada’s Lake Mead, which is fed by the Colorado River, has long played a critical role in supplying much of California’s water. While it’s no secret all of the West is gripped by drought, new images of Lake Mead released by NASA are providing the clearest picture yet of the dire situation.  Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW

As firefighters make gains on the Oak Fire burning near Yosemite National Park, families are beginning to reckon with the devastation. California’s largest fire of the year so far, has consumed nearly 19, 000 acres and forced thousands to flee. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR  The chief justice of California's Supreme Court says she will not seek a second term in November. Tani Cantil-Sakauye says she will retire at the end of her term on January 1. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Organizers rallied outside the Glendale offices of State Senator Anthony Portantino on Wednesday to call for support of a bill that would put restrictions on the use of solitary confinement. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC  Seven of the ten most expensive areas for housing in the nation are in California, with San Francisco being the most expensive and out of reach metropolitan area in the country. That’s according to a newly released report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED A new statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California reveals where Californians stand on a host of issues from gas prices to climate policy. Reporter: Janaya Williams, KCRW  More and more Californians are following water restrictions as the state’s drought drags on. Or at least, they’re supposed to be. There’s actually a satellite orbiting the Earth that can reveal the rule breakers. And one Californian knows who you are. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

A state audit report shows hundreds of thousands of Californians are drinking water that is unsafe, and many live in disadvantaged communities in the Central Valley.  The state auditor’s report found nearly a million people in California face possible long-term health problems, like liver or kidney damage, or cancer, because their water comes from a failing system with some sort of contaminant, like nitrates or arsenic.  Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED As the drought persists, many farmers are making the decision to fallow or set aside land that isn't being used to grow crops. But what does that actually mean and how does that impact residents living near these fields?   Guest: Andrew Ayers, a research fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Teachers Association are opposing Proposition 30, a “clean air initiative” on the November ballot that would tax the wealthiest Californians to pay for electric car rebates.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  Officials say more than 6 million passengers passed through Los Angeles International Airport last month for the first time since January 2020. Reporter: Janaya Williams, KCRW 

The U.S. monkeypox outbreak is swiftly expanding. The CDC reports over 3400 known cases concentrated mainly among men who have sex with men. And in these early days of its spread, people can spend days in search of the right diagnosis. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC San Francisco Supervisors on Tuesday are expected to urge U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to suspend plans to shut down Laguna Honda Hospital. It’s the largest skilled nursing facility in California.  Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva refused to testify before the Civilian Oversight Commission on Monday. The county’s top cop says he’ll speak with the watchdog group about alleged deputy cliques only if certain conditions are met. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW As the city of Pasadena struggles with an increase in gun violence, it's turning to gang interventionists for help. The latest effort to stem the violence was a three on three basketball tournament at Robinson Park on a recent weekend. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of Bills on Thursday aimed at reducing gun violence across the state. Of the 8 bills Newsom signed, one targets the sale of gun parts made from 3D printers, another prevents those convicted of child abuse or elder abuse from having a gun for 10 years … a third requires schools to report student threats or perceived threats of violence. Politics Editor Scott Shafer, KQED Radio This week's protests by truckers at the Port of Oakland follows a U-S Supreme Court decision that rejected an industry bid to exclude truckers... who often own their own vehicles.  Truckers are demanding either a repeal of AB5, or clarification as to how it will be enforced.  Governor Gavin Newsom says truckers should work to implement the transition to AB5. Mexican-American lowrider cruising enthusiasts are working to roll back a decades old cruising ban. If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the 1973 George Lucas film “American Graffiti” which celebrated California car cruising culture. But in a lot of cities, cruising has been illegal for years. The California Reports' Mary Franklin Harvin reports from San Jose…which recently scrapped its decades-old cruising ban. Reporter Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report   California’s Fair Political Practices Commission voted unanimously this week to allow people to use crypto currency for political campaign donations. Cryptocurrency donations have been allowed at the federal level since 2014. But California banned the practice four years ago, largely due to concerns about transparency.  The new state rule incorporates safeguards. Donors must be identified — and the donation must be converted to cash immediately. Reporter Rachael Myrow, KQED Radio The University of California Regents has decided to investigate UCLA’s decision to leave the PAC-12 Athletic Conference for the Big Ten. The move comes after Governor Gavin Newsom expressed anger and confusion about the sudden move and after he spoke during a closed door meeting of the regents.  Newsom wants UCLA to explain how the move will help student-athletes.  The California State Fair is back for the first time since 2019. The familiar sights, smells and sounds are back, too... such as livestock, games, funnel cakes, corn dogs and so much more.  You and the family can take in some of the attractions at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento. The fair runs through the 31st and children 4 and younger get in for free.  Reporter Chris Nichols, CapRadio Check out a preview of our Sister Show, The California Report’s Weekly Magazine. For their Hidden Gems road trip series, reporter Amanda Font takes us to Big Bear Lake, in San Bernardino County.  That’s where she set sail on a quirky boat ride bringing together 80s movie history and pirate adventure.    Reporter Amanda Font, KQED Radio

At a press conference in Los Angeles yesterday, State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon called on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, to declare a public health emergency. As of yesterday, San Francisco has 141 cases of Monkeypox more than any other county, followed by LA County with 132. UCLA’s departure will leave just UC Berkeley as the only UC campus in the Pac 12. In a statement, Newsom says he wants to know from UCLA how moving to the Big Ten will benefit its student-athletes and preserve college sports rivalries and traditions along the Pacific Coast? Rob Adams was fatally shot by police in a San Bernardino parking lot on Saturday while running away from officers. Police say Adams was carrying a gun and was displaying the weapon when officers drove up. But family members dispute that story and say he was holding his cell phone, not a firearm.  The San Bernardino police department reported to the state Department of Justice that officers shot and killed 13 men from 2016 to 2020. Reporter Jonathan Linden, KVCR Radio This week Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that would require the use of GPS devices to monitor so called “sexually violent predators” when they're granted conditional release from a state mental hospital in Fresno County. Supporters of the law say it's necessary to protect California communities.  But some critics say the GPS tracking of offenders would be an invasion of their right to privacy. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report It was just four years ago that the commission voted to prohibit campaigns from receiving any crypto donations. But as we know- things change fast in the digital world.  So far, 12 states and Washington, DC now allow Crypto donations. California has been among nine states banning these digital contributions because they’re tough to regulate and trace.  If the change is approved, crypto donations must be processed using a service that collects the donor’s name, address, occupation, and employer. Reporter Tara Siler, KQED Radio House Democrats Want To Update A Law From The 1920s That Lets The Government Grant Legal Residence To Long-Time Immigrants Who Lack Documentation. The Registry Act Bill was introduced on Wednesday and has been updated over the years, but the current version only offers green cards to people who’ve lived here since at least 1972.  Under the new bill, with a rolling cutoff date, immigrants could apply on a case-by-case basis if they’ve lived in the U.S. for seven years. Opponents say it would reward illegal immigration. Reporter Tyche Hendricks, The California Report How Far Should Society Go In Trying To Help The Most Severely Mentally Ill? There's a bill moving through the state legislature seeking to create a new kind of court system in California with the authority to compel some people to receive mental health treatment even if they don’t want it.  The proposal has sparked an intense debate about personal freedom and how best to protect people from the toll of mental illness.  Reporter Robert Garrova, The California Report

Health Officials Expand Access for Monkeypox Vaccine In Los Angeles, some high-risk people can now sign up for shots to combat Monkeypox online. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California Trees Dying at An Alarming Rate The loss of California trees is posing a direct threat to one of the state’s climate solutions. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW The Aftermath of the Creek Fire As we warily prepare for what might be another devastating wildfire season in California, many communities are dealing with the aftermath of past blazes. It’s been almost two years since the state’s massive Creek Fire destroyed nearly half of the homes in one tight-knit mountain community in Fresno County. Alice Daniel, KVPR New Report Documents Harassment and Discrimination in Asian American and Pacific Island Communities More than 11,000 incidents of harassment, discrimination, and hate crimes against members of the nation’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities were reported in the last two years. That’s according to a new report out by a California- based research and advocacy group. Nina Thorsen, KQED House Speaker Nanci Pelosi Urges Feds to Step Up Response to Monkeypox In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Beccera, Pelosi said the slow federal response to monkeypox is leaving health care providers with massive waitlists and telephone hotlines overrun by desperate callers. Scott Shafer, KQED Apple Is Abusing Its Market Power with Apple Pay, Lawsuit Says This lawsuit accuses Apple of ensuring its devices exclusively use its mobile wallet to make contactless payments. That’s a monopoly, the complaint says, allowing Apple to charge card issuers for a service they get free on Android devices. Rachael Myrow, KQED Community College Students Continue to Wait for Promised Free Textbooks State lawmakers announced last year that they were carving out money to provide relief, community college students are still waiting to receive promised free textbooks. But a bureaucratic logjam is holding up the state funding. Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW    

With summer in full swing, vacationers are heading to places like Lake Tahoe. But seasonal workers at vacation spots around the lake are feeling the effects of the rising cost of living. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio Inflation has been hitting Californians at the gas pump and the grocery store. Now many are facing another new expense - double digit rent increases. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC   

With highly infectious subvariants of Omicron, like BA.5, increasing the spread of COVID-19, mask mandates continue to be re-introduced in the state. Starting Monday, the San Diego Unified School District will require indoor masking for thousands of students and staff involved with summer school activities. A ballot initiative that would’ve taxed the wealthy to fund public health programs won’t make it to the ballot this year. But that doesn’t mean the idea is dead. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A group of foster youth gave a presentaton to the state public health director last week about why it's important to include young people in COVID-19 vaccination efforts.  Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED New sales numbers are out showing Americans are buying EVs at record levels, and they'd actually be buying a lot more if it weren’t for supply chain problems affecting the availability of vehicles. California, perhaps not surprisingly, is leading the electric vehicle buying spree.  Guest: Loren McDonald, Electric Vehicle Industry Analyst In an effort to boost sagging recycling rates, the state has looked to local pilot programs to make it easier for consumers to get that nickel or dime deposit back on bottles and cans they return. But rather than helping people keep items out of landfills, an investigation by the LA nonprofit Consumer Watchdog found the pilot programs aren't taking off. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW As more states pass restrictions on abortions, California wants to be a sanctuary state for people seeking to end their pregnancies, But thousands arriving annually from out of state for reproductive services could put a strain on California abortion providers. Some have brought up the possibility of opening clinics on land owned by Native American tribes, but that’s not an easy solution. Guest: Lauren van Schilfgaarde, Legal Clinic Director at the UCLA School of Law

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state. And now, federal health officials say L.A. County’s COVID community risk is high.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Housing is an issue across the state and it's been aggravated by the pandemic. A new podcast, Undocumented and Unhoused, released in partnership with El Timpano and Latino USA, looks at how COVID-19 and rising rent prices has led to an increase of undocumented and unhoused people in the Bay Area. Guests: Madeleine Bair, Founder of El Timpano, and Marta Martinez, Senior Editor, Latino USA Lawyers for five women suing Uber over its response to sexual assaults by drivers, say they plan to file similar claims on behalf of more than 500 people. The complaint alleges women were stalked, harassed, kidnapped, and raped during their rides. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

One in seven California tenants are behind on their rent. So, Attorney General Rob Bonta is issuing instructions to sheriff and police departments across the state on how to respond when someone reports an illegal eviction.  Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED  Overall, 91 percent of jobs at daycare centers in California have come back.  That might sound good, but the state lags behind the rest of the U.S. economy.  Reporter Daisy Nguyen, KQED  Starting January 1, the University of California and Cal State school systems will offer *all* students medication abortions through their student health centers. Thanks to a law that passed in 2019, the new policy will connect more than 62-hundred students statewide with those services. And for some, including those in the UC system, student insurance plans will cover all associated costs. Reporter Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Big money donors supporting Proposition 30 include San Francisco venture capitalist Ron Conway and former Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer. But Lyft has contributed by far the most -- more than seven million dollars.  Last year California approved a mandate for ride hailing companies: 90 percent of their miles logged must be with electric cars by 2030.  Climate Editor Kevin Stark, KQED The statue of Frank Bogert was removed from the front of Palm Springs' City Hall this week. The former actor and rodeo announcer was Mayor of Palm Springs in the 1950s and 60s and oversaw much of the desert city's growth. What's raising controversy is that he also authorized the bulldozing of homes of poor Native American, Black and Latino families from an area of the city called Section 14, back in the 1960s.  Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Around 1,600 people in the community of Wawona have been evacuated, and that includes kids from the summer camp, Adventure Risk Challenge. About 10 high schoolers from rural Fresno and Merced Counties were in the middle of a month-long expedition when the evacuation orders came in. Reporter Kerry Klein, KVPR  For years, Chief Caleen Sisk has fought to bring salmon back to the river where the Winnenmem Wintu tribe has lived for thousands of years.  Because of Shasta Dam the salmon are forced to spawn in waters that can grow quite warm, especially during drought. This past Monday, a truck carrying a small, orange cooler that had 20,000 winter-run eggs came to the remote campground on the McCloud River, now owned by the Forest Service.  Chief Sisk says if the salmon can come back, maybe the tribe can bounce back as well. Reporter Judy Silber, The California Report  

BA.5 is now the most dominant variant showing up in wastewater in the South Bay, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sacramento and elsewhere.  The latest data from researchers who study sewage shows clues into how COVID-19 is spreading across the Bay Area.  Science Editor Kevin Stark, KQED There's a 25% increase in COVID hospitalizations in Los Angeles County. Health officials say on Thursday LA County could move into the CDC’s high risk category for COVID community spread due to high hospitalizations. Reporter Jackie Fortier, The California Report The FDA has revised its Emergency Use Authorization to let licensed pharmacists prescribe Paxlovid, the treatment given to those at risk of serious illness from COVID. Reporter Carly Severn, The California Report City attorney David Chiu announced that Allergan and Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $34 million-dollars in cash, and another $20 million dollars worth of Narcan, a treatment for opioid overdose.  Walgreens is the only remaining defendant in the case; their lawyers are set to give closing arguments today.  Californians who are in mental distress and thinking about suicide will be able to call, or text, a new three digit number (9-8-8) to get help.  But if they call, will someone pick-up the line?  Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report   Starting on Saturday, Californians who are in mental distress and thinking about suicide will be able to call, or text, a new three digit number to get help. But if they call, will someone pick-up the line? Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report AB 1594 allows state and local governments, and private individuals, to sue gun-makers and sellers for damage caused by their products. Newsom signed legislation last month – adding restrictions on hard to trace ghost guns, and restricting ads for firearms aimed at minors. Politics Editor Scott Shafer, KQED Next week, Dodger Stadium will host the Major League Baseball... All Star Game. But, unions representing the stadium’s 15-hundred food and beverage workers say they’ve got enough votes to authorize a strike. All Star festivities kick off this weekend with MLB's Futures Game. The union is hoping to hear from Levy Restaurants before the start of the game.

At a community meeting on Monday night, fire officials remained hopeful that they could protect trees in the Mariposa Grove like the Giant Grizzly. Reporter Soreath Hok, The California Report New heat maps show how hot weather is harming out health. On the hottest days in California, there are around 8,000 more daily ER visits than on typical days.  In LA County alone, there are more than 1,500. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW City Officials in San Diego start the firing process for about 10 employees who refuse COVID vaccinations and tests. San Diego requires all employees to be vaccinated for COVID, they but let about 1,000 employees skip the vaccine for religious reasons. Those employees then have to get tested weekly, but a small group refused that, too. Investigative Reporter Claire Trageser, KPBS  New report on new cyber-social threat for regions with large Hindu communities, like the San Francisco Bay Area, reveal real world security concerns. Rutgers University report finds white nationalists and other extremists on social media are bubbling with genocidal hate memes against Hindus. Reporter Rachael Myrow, KQED's Silicon Valley Desk The Tulare County Fairgrounds served as one of the country’s ten assembly centers for many Japanese Americans who were sent to concentration camps during World War II.  Fresno and other fairgrounds that served as assembly centers have memorials, but Tulare does not. Mission Oak HS students are looking to change that. Reporter Joshua Yeager, KVPR If just one drone enters an area where firefighters are using aircraft to battle a blaze, the whole aerial operation has to grind to a halt.  A new partnership between LA County Fire and the FBI looks to deter drone flights that could hamper fire suppression efforts. Reporter Matt Guilhem, KCRW Last weekend the Bill Pickett Rodeo made a stop in the Bay Area. Next it heads to Los Angeles. Black cowboy culture runs deep in California. Meet a Bay Area Black cowboy who's joining the rodeo for the first time. Reporter Annelise Finney, KQED

Los Angeles County's approach to Monkeypox vaccines is different from other parts of the country. L.A. County is taking a more targeted approach by giving out doses only to people who have the disease and their close contacts. Reporter Jackie Fortier, The California Report A judge in Alameda County has ordered the state to temporarily stop issuing denials to rental relief applicants... and to hold off on finalizing many others. Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED More than 2,000 acres have burned and residents and campers near the Washburn fire have been evacuated.  The wildfire, which started on July 7th, threatens at least 500 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove. Last week's order from a Federal Judge came after an environmental organization, The Earth Island Institute, sued the National Park Service. The organization says the Park Service failed to provide proper public notice or assess environmental risks.  Reporter Felicia Alvarez, LA Times  Over the weekend, the new Sixth Street Viaduct opened in Los Angeles, and California's newest bridge is the largest and most expensive bridge project in the history of L.A. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Researchers looked at moving patterns over the last several years, including during the pandemic. They found the outflow of Californians remained consistent....and many are moving out.  Reporter Matt Guilhem, KCRW   Drought restrictions that began last month in Southern California target water districts that rely heavily on water imported from Northern California. Santa Monica used to be among them. But now, less than half of their water is imported. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW

The number of COVID-19 positive hospital patients continues to climb in L.A. County. So, the county could be headed for another public mask mandate.   Reporter Jackie Fortier, KPCC More than a third of Monkeypox cases are in San Francisco, where vaccine supply isn’t. But, health officials have just received over 2,000 new vaccine doses this week. Reporter Vanessa Rancano, KQED New tax breaks from the State could help stabilize California's struggling Cannabis industry. Plenty of people in the industry are still not convinced the shifts will make enough of a dent for small businesses in the cannabis market. We talk to David Downs, Senior Editor at Leafly… who covers cannabis policy and legalization. Reporter Madi Bolanos, KQED Friendship Park on the US-Mexico border is a place where families separated by the border can see and talk to each other through the fence.  But, a new plan by the Biden Administration may change all that and activists are angered by the new developments. Border Reporter Gustavo Solis, KPBS Check out our sister show, The California Report's Weekly Magazine, as Lisa Morehouse's series, “California Foodways,” takes her to every one of California’s 58 counties to bring us a story about food. Reporter Lisa Morehouse, California Foodways

A military rocket test launch on California’s Central Coast ends in failure Wednesday night, with the rocket blowing up seconds after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Reporter Lance Orozco, KCLU Evacuation orders have been lifted in parts of Amador County as fire crews begin to get a handle on the Electra Fire, which is now 40-percent contained. Wildfire smoke is likely one reason Lake Tahoe was a little murkier last year. The head of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center says the lake has not fully recovered from a spike of fine particles that flowed into its waters after the extremely wet year of 2017. Reporter Steve Milne, CapRadio The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District serves many communities like Calabasas and Hidden Hills , home to celebrities. And, it’s also home to some of the state’s top water wasters. Reporter Keith Mizuguchi, KQED Damages that led to a power outage and the release of 5- thousand gallons of oil at an unmanned substation northwest of Bakersfield on Saturday has the California Public Utilities Commission investigating. Reporter Ted Goldberg, KQED A new report from the California Institute for Rural Studies says agriculture employees were four times more likely than any other industry, not to follow COVID-19 protocols, like enforcing face masks and physical distancing. On Wednesday opponents submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for a recall election against District Attorney George Gascon, who some say is soft on crime.  A spokesperson with the recall campaign said they spent about $8 million-dollars to gather over 700-thousand signatures.  If certified, the election would be the latest in a string of recalls in California. Two men tell KQED they have been held for about a week at a for-profit, private facility in Central California in retaliation for supporting a peaceful labor strike. Reporter Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  

The Electra Fire which broke out on Monday is now 10-percent contained, according to Cal Fire officials. Nearly 1000 residents in Amador and Calaveras Counties are under mandatory evacuation as 4,000 acres have burned and another 1200 structures are threatened.  Dr. Bob Wachter, UCSF Chair of Medicine says people should continue to vaccinate and get boosters because it’s easy to get the newest variant. Wachter also recommends people continue to wear masks in an effort to avoid getting the B-A 5 Omicron subvariant.    University of California researchers found thousands of prisoners and prison workers were infected with COVID-19, despite the high number of those vaccinated at prison facilities across the state. Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Advance Notice of Termination letters have gone out to at least three dozen employees, half of them in the San Diego Police Department, for failing to take COVID tests and/or get vaccinated, for religious reasons. Claire Trageser, KPBS Investigative Reporter In just a couple weeks, people with mental health emergencies should be able to call 9-8-8 for help. KQED checks in to see how preparations are going ahead of the new number’s launch.  Robert Garrova, KQED In South Los Angeles every Sunday hundreds of people show up for a free yoga class. But this class isn’t just for fitness. It started as a protest against Black lives lost to violence.  Megan Jamerson, KCRW The Coachella Valley Firebirds make history by hiring the first full-time female assistant coach in the American Hockey League. Jessica Campbell says she's looking forward to working with the players and helping them get to a level where they can play for the National Hockey League.

California has entered the hottest and driest months of the year, and the Bay Area faces a treacherous fire season. According to the latest wildfire forecast, the potential for wildfire is above normal across Northern and Central California. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  As of July 1, millions of renters in Los Angeles received stronger protections against eviction. The new rules will provide a stronger defense for many L.A. renters who’ve been vulnerable to eviction since April, when a last-minute change in state law temporarily revoked the county’s protections. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC  With the Supreme Court decision last month overturning Roe v. Wade, California has pegged itself as a sanctuary for abortion services. But in many parts of the state, including the Central Valley, those services are hard to come by. Guest: Lauren Jennings, Reporter, Visalia Times-Delta The state budget approved by Governor Gavin Newsom last week includes $100 million to help children whose parents died from COVID-19. The HOPE for Children Act, will create savings accounts, with $4,000 deposited for kids younger than 9 and $8,000 for those ages 10 to 17.  Reporter: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED It's July, which means the hottest and smoggiest days are ahead of us. And that dangerous mix of higher temperatures and air pollution in California also means a higher spike in deaths. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  Climate change is leading to more extreme weather conditions across California. And during the summer months, extreme heat can be more than just an annoyance, it’s downright dangerous. That's why the city of Los Angeles has launched a campaign to warn people about the dangers of extreme heat. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Masten Space Systems is helping develop a line of rockets that could be used for spaceflights without a crew and eventually, the next mission to the moon. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

A Supreme Court ruling out this week sharply limits the Biden administration’s ability to limit carbon pollution from power plants. But it will not affect California’s aggressive climate laws.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED California is adding four new states to the list of places to which state-funded travel is banned due to anti-LGBTQ laws. Attorney General Rob Bonta has added Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana and Utah to California’s do-not-travel list. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Governor Newsom and the state legislature have agreed to eliminate more than $500 million in late payment fees on traffic violations for Californians. The penalties are known as civil assessments. They get tacked on as fines when someone doesn’t pay off things like speeding tickets on time.  Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report  More people are getting infected with COVID-19 at work in Los Angeles County. With more than 300 workplaces reporting clusters of COVID-19 cases in the past week, L.A. County health officials are urging people to wear masks indoors. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California immigration advocates have applauded a Supreme Court ruling that gives the Biden administration a greenlight to end a Trump-era immigration policy known as “Remain in Mexico.” Under the policy, the Trump administration expelled about 70,000 asylum seekers to often dangerous conditions in Mexico, to wait for U.S. immigration courts to resolve their claims.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Mental health workers say Kaiser Permanente is not ready to comply with a new law that went into effect Friday. It requires insurers to shorten wait times between therapy appointments. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED 

This fall, California voters will decide on two different proposals to legalize and tax betting on sports. Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court made it possible, voters will decide whether to legalize the multi-billion dollar industry here. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  A controversial state bill that would make it easier to build housing in office spaces or strip malls has passed out of a Senate Committee. The bill has split the state’s construction trade unions.   Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Sacramento County’s homeless population hit a new record high this winter at nearly 9300 people.  That’s according to the Homeless Point-In-Time-Count, which was released earlier this week. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio California officials urged the federal EPA to let the state enforce its own ambitious clean truck standards at a hearing on Wednesday. The EPA is considering a waiver allowing California to impose strict regulations, forcing manufacturers to limit diesel pollution and increase production of electric trucks.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  California nonprofits that help women access abortion care are reeling from changes to the state budget that lawmakers passed on Wednesday night. Some expenses that they thought would be covered for women traveling from out of state, won’t be. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED  The University of California has committed to hosting a voting center or ballot drop box at each of its campuses. The plan was announced as part of a partnership with the Secretary of State’s Office to encourage students to vote.  Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED  

The last of California’s eviction protections expires on Friday. Lawmakers extended the deadline back in March, to give the state more time to pay out emergency rental assistance. But thousands of people who applied are still waiting, and could soon face eviction. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  Reported hate crimes in California rose significantly last year, according to a report issued Tuesday by Attorney General Rob Bonta. Overall reports of hate crimes rose nearly 33% last year – to the highest level since right after the 9/11 attacks. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  As California's craft liquor scene grows, some of the state's smaller distillers say their growth is limited by laws preventing them from shipping direct to consumers. Now, a new bill, headed back to a state assembly committee, could change that. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX 

In November, California voters will decide whether to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution, after the state Assembly voted on Monday to place the question on the November ballot. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED While abortion in California will remain legal, and the state says it will champion reproductive freedoms, Arizona is looking to enact some of the most draconian abortion laws in the country. What does this mean for both states? Guest: Howard Fischer, Reporter Capitol Media Services in Arizona Los Angeles County has allocated $50 million to start making purchases for 5,000 affordable housing units to help families reduce two big expenses - housing and transportation. Reporter: Janaya Williams/KCRW  Undocumented immigrants, ages 26 to 49, will get health coverage beginning in 2024. Roughly 700-thousand people are expected to sign up – at a cost of about 2 billion dollars a year. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Advocates are hopeful that Gov. Newsom's budget proposal will consider an increase wage replacement for workers who take time off to care for an ill relative, or bond with a new child. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  

California, which has positioned itself as a bastion of reproductive rights, plans to welcome people from states where abortion services are now restricted or banned altogether, following last week's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The state may even help them cover the costs of traveling here. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED This is an election year with control of Congress at stake. And progresssive political activists say in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion and reproductive freedoms will be the biggest issue shaping the political landscape. Guest: Emiliana Guereca, CEO of the Women’s March Foundation  Legal scholars say it’s unsettled whether Californians could be held legally liable for helping people from out of state get abortions. At issue is whether states have authority to criminalize behavior outside of their borders.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Next week state lawmakers are expected to pass a bill that will make carrying a concealed weapon her even harder. Reporter: Kris Hooks, CapRadio Nathan Hochman, a former prosecutor and defense lawyer, has won enough votes to face California's Democratic Attorney General, Rob Bonta, in the November general election in California. Hochman won 18% of the vote in the June 7th primary, while Bonta garnered 54.8%, according to the latest figures released on Thursday by the California Secretary of State's Office. Prosecutors say the accused gunman who attacked a Taiwanese congregation in Laguna Woods was motivated by hate. The shooting shows a painful and complex past for Taiwanese immigrants and their American children. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC

A Paradise homeowner is one of the first to get her home fire proofed. It's part of a program that helps residents who lost homes during the 2018 Camp Fire pay for safety improvements. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED The trustee for a more than $13-billion-dollar fund set up to compensate Pacific Gas and Electric wildfire victims is stepping down. Retired Judge John K. Trotter has overseen the "Fire Victim Trust" for the past two years, but next week he leaves the post. Reporter:  Dan Brekke, KQED California’s public pension systems won’t have to divest their funds from fossil fuels anytime soon. A bill that would have forced the state's public pension systems to sell their oil and gas holdings by the end of the decade died in the state assembly this week. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Los Angeles renters may have to start paying back payments owed for rent during the pandemic now that the LA City Council is considering reversing measures that protected renters for the past two years. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC As the LGBTQ community continues to celebrate Pride Month here in California, an event that’s scheduled to feature drag queens at Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo has sparked controversy in the city. Opposing rallies were held near Fresno City Hall on Wednesday. The pandemic is having a brutal impact on many school closures, especially for Catholic schools. We take a look at what the closure of one Catholic School in L.A.’s Boyle Heights neighborhood means for an immigrant community.  Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW

Cal Fire is not only dealing with an increasing amount of wildfires across California, but many of its firefighters are facing their own mental health crisis. An investigation by CalMatters looked at the trauma these firefighters are facing and how it's affecting fire crews across the state. Guest: Julie Cart, Reporter, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to compel severely mentally ill Californians into treatment has cleared its latest legislative hurdle, despite concerns from civil liberties advocates. The CARE Court proposal is now headed to its next committee hearing in Sacramento. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED   Los Angeles County health officials are being urged to be more aggressive in their efforts to help stop the spread of Monkeypox. Currently, there are at least a dozen confirmed, or suspected, Monkeypox cases in LA County, and 37 total cases across the state. California health authorities are being asked to work harder on getting the word out about the disease, and the Aids Health Foundation wants to remind more people to use condoms.

California has the highest gasoline prices in the country. Now, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is investigating whether price gouging by energy companies is the biggest factor. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Cal Fire responds to thousands of fires every year, often at great risk to firefighters. That’s earned the agency a heroic image in the public’s eye. But Cal Fire is also responsible for work that helps prevent catastrophic fire damage, and an investigation by the California Newsroom has found that the agency has failed to meet many of those responsibilities. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED

Thousands of people will line the streets of downtown San Francisco on Monday to celebrate the Golden State Warriors NBA Championship. This is the team's fourth title in the last eight years. At least one bill that would legalize sports betting in California will go before voters in November. And while California could join more than two dozen states with some form of legalized wagering on sports, some are concerned it could have a negative effect on those struggling to kick the habit of sports betting and gambling addiction. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The Golden State Warriors went on the road and defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 103-90, to clinch their fourth NBA title in the last eight seasons. Guard Stephen Curry was named Finals MVP, after leading the team with 34 points in the finale. A Bay Area state senator is introducing a bill that would require California gun owners to have liability insurance. The bill from Senator Nancy Skinner of Berkeley would make gun owners take out policies similar to car insurance, that would make them financially responsible for injuries, damages, or deaths caused by the negligent or accidental use of their weapons.  Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED Immigrant detainees who work at two privately run detention facilities around Bakersfield have confirmed they are on strike. This comes as California’s workplace health and safety regulators have opened an investigation into their working conditions at one of the detention centers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Glenn Burke is not a household name for most baseball fans, even though he played for both the L.A. Dodgers and Oakland A’s in the late 70's. But Burke’s legacy off the field resonates today, especially during Pride month. That's because Burke was the first Major League Baseball player to come out publicly as gay.  Guest: Andrew Maraniss, Author of the book "Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke" 

For nearly a decade, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant has been the only active nuclear plant in California -- and the state’s single largest source of electricity. It's been set for decommissioning over the next three years, but recently Governor Gavin Newsom has discussed delaying its closure, to help offset possible energy shortages predicted in the next few years. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX  The city of Sacramento has adopted an emergency ordinance aimed at better protecting patients and staff at reproductive health care clinics from harassment. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report   In a win for California employers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday placed limits on a state law that lets workers sue over certain labor law violations, even if they agreed to arbitration. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for young children under the age of 5. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have been the last age group here in the U.S. without access to the COVID vaccines. If all regulatory steps are cleared, the shots could be available as soon as next week. Guest: Dr. Bob Wachter, Chair, UC San Francisco Department of Medicine

More California homeowners could get mortgage relief, as the state expands access to a program designed to help those who have struggled to make payments during the pandemic. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Southern California’s sizzling real estate market may finally be getting a little cooler. As mortgage rates and inflation rise, some sellers now find themselves slashing asking prices to make a sale. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Despite the cooling market in parts of Southern California, rent and property prices still remain out of reach for some Californians. Among them -- many child care providers in San Diego. Reporter: Claire Trageser, KPBS 

Legislators in Sacramento have passed a new state budget, just in time for Wednesday's constitutional deadline. The $300 billion package is the largest spending plan ever. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Richmond have all adopted rules to stop landlords from harassing their tenants. Now, the city of Concord is the latest to take up these protections for renters. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  This past weekend, there were multiple incidents across the country involving right wing groups targeting Pride Month events. And we had at least two notable examples of LGBTQ hate here in California. It's something that many say is happening far more frequently. Guest: Ari Drennen, LGBTQ Director for Media Matters for America

The Supreme Court’s ruling on a Mississippi case that could alter the future of abortions in this country could come any day now. With the decision likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, states across the country are already looking to severely restrict or outright ban access to abortions. That includes California’s next door neighbor, Arizona. Guest: Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest

On Thursday, the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will start sharing its findings, in the first of six public hearings. Dozens of people, here in California, have been criminally charged for their alleged involvement in the insurrection. Guest: Brian Levin, Director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino A far right militia led the charge to recall a supervisor in Shasta County earlier this year. Far right activists started an organization meant to back candidates that shared their views in the primary election. But all six lost their races this week. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The town of Susanville, about 200 miles northeast of Sacramento in Lassen County, is a former mining and logging area best known for the two state prisons it’s home to. The facilities are a driving force for Susanville’s economy, even with a third of the town’s population being incarcerated. But one of those facilities could close soon under an order from the state. Guest: Piper French, Independent Reporter who wrote about Susanville for the digital magazine Bolts The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors has approved a tiny home community for unhoused people in South Sacramento. The goal is to build 100 shed-sized homes at the site. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio

During Tuesday's primary election, incumbents had strong showings in statewide races, as they head to runoffs in November. And several closely contested congressional seats will also be up for grabs in the general election. Guests: Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos, KQED Congressman David Valadao, who represents the 22nd District in the Central Valley is locked in a tight battle for his seat, with Democratic State Assemblyman Rudy Salas. Guest: Sorreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Attorney General Rob Bonta is headed to a November election date with one of his Republican challengers, although that race is still too close to call. Guest: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio The 45th Congressional District race covers much of Orange County. It's expected to be a close battle in November, with Republican incumbent Michelle Steel taking on Democrat Jay Chen. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC Developer Rick Caruso and longtime politician Karen Bass are heading for a November faceoff to see who will be the next mayor of the city of Los Angeles. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The primary election is being held Tuesday in California. While a number of statewide offices are up for grabs, there are also several key Congressional races across the state. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED California tenants rights groups have sued the state, claiming its process for denying emergency rental assistance isn’t fair. The lawsuit comes as pandemic-related eviction protections are set to expire at the end of the month. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED A bill in the House of Representatives would help non-citizen military veterans who are being threatened with deportation stay in this country. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED  It’s been nearly a year since thousands of Afghan nationals fled their home country, as the Taliban seized power, following the U.S. withdrawal. Many have made California their new home. But in one Central Valley community, it's been an everyday struggle for these refugees. Guest: Deepa Fernandes, Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle

Recently a few dozen Black Californians gathered in Oakland to discuss their visions for reparations. It was the first "listening session" hosted by the State Task Force studying reparations for descendants of enslaved Americans. To vote in Tuesday’s primary election, Californians must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. But you don’t need to have a permanent address to cast a ballot. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  

Due to rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Alameda County is now requiring masks in most indoor public settings. With more California counties entering the CDC's highest community level for COVID-19 danger, it's unclear if more counties will do the same in the weeks ahead. The Summit of the Americas convenes in Los Angeles next week. It's a gathering of heads of state from across the Western Hemisphere. But this year, it's unclear how recent tensions between the U.S.and Mexico could affect the gathering. Guest: Arturo Sarukhán, Mexico's Former Ambassador to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Education is canceling student loan debt for some 500,000 students who attended Corinthian Colleges. Corinthian was accused of targeting low income students, leaving them with a mountain of debt and too often without the jobs promised with the degrees offered. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Dancers at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood could be the first strip club workers to successfully unionize since performers at a club in San Francisco’s did the same thing. The dancers say the owners and security guards at the North Hollywood business haven’t been keeping them safe when customers violate boundaries, and ongoing picketing hasn’t been enough to motivate changes. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW 

As California's drought conditions worsen, the state is looking for more answers beyond just asking residents to conserve.  There's now renewed debate about whether or not to build the Sites Reservoir, a massive reservoir project in the western Sacramento River Valley. Guest: Ann Willis, Senior Staff Researcher, Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis California’s Reparations Task Force released its first report on Wednesday. The report has preliminary recommendations including the establishment of an Office of African American/Freedmen Affairs to address past and potential future harms, and to assist people in filing eligibility claims. Reporter: Lakshmi Sarah, KQED  State officials are warning people seeking abortion services about potential misleading information offered by so-called crisis pregnancy centers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert about these facilities. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report UCLA researchers have analyzed the autopsies of people who died in L.A. County jails over ten years. They found that more than half of deaths classified as natural had evidence of physical harm on the bodies. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC

The Los Angeles City Council has voted in favor of drafting new municipal ordinances that will ban homeless encampments within 500 feet of all schools and daycare centers in the city. A new state audit has found major problems with the state's Child Abuse Central Index. The audit only reviewed six of California’s 58 counties, but found information gaps in tens of thousands of cases. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED  Our sister station KVPR in Fresno has launched a new podcast series called “The Other California.” It profiles small towns around the San Joaquin Valley. One recent episode focuses on the expansion of the cannabis industry in the community of Woodlake in Tulare County.  Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR  After a very long meeting Tuesday, Democrats in the State Assembly have settled on a new Speaker to succeed Anthony Rendon. But it's still unclear when Robert Rivas will actually become the next Assembly Speaker. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  This week the Biden Administration has launched a new system for hearing migrants’ asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border. Rather than sending asylum seekers into the overburdened immigration courts, cases will be decided by asylum officer in six cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

There’s growing concern about the potential health and safety risks from more than a dozen leaking oil wells in Bakersfield. At least five of the wells were found to be emitting methane at high enough levels that could either be explosive or cause serious health risks. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report With the primary election coming up next month in California, many voters will be casting their ballot for the candidates they feel best represent their interests and needs. But is there equal representation in the state? Guest: Joe Mathews, Policital Columnist and President of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy During the worst months of the pandemic, many childcare providers had to temporarily close their doors. That pushed some providers over the edge, especially in low income communities.  Reporter: Claire Trageser, KPBS  

The Hollywood Bowl has been hosting musicians from far and wide for years. This year is something special as the Los Angeles venue celebrates 100 years with another summer of concerts and performances. Guest: Chad Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Workers in the California Legislature are not allowed to unionize, and often work long and grueling hours, without overtime. But a new bill would change that. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Immigrant advocates and the U.S. government have reached an agreement on standards for the treatment of children in Border Patrol facilities. It comes two years after advocates raised alarms over shocking conditions at the Texas border during the Trump administration. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED  Hundreds of unionized workers, who've been on strike against Chevron's Bay Area refinery, are set to start voting on a deal that could end what's been a bitter two month long walk-out. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED A strike by thousands of nurses has been averted at four Los Angeles County-run hospitals and multiple clinics. It happened after an all-night bargaining session led to a tentative agreement. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

In the wake of Tuesday’s mass murder at a Texas elementary school, Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders are calling for fast action aimed at reducing gun violence. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  Governor Newsom’s ambitious plan to overhaul California’s mental healthcare system cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday.  The state Senate voted to approve CARE Court. The program would allow judges to order people with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders into treatment, with a particular focus on people who are also experiencing homelessness. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  California’s commision on POST, which stands for peace officer standards and training, has reached a key milestone in its implementation of the new police decertification law, Senate Bill 2. The commission has approved a definition of what constitutes misconduct serious enough to revoke an officer’s badge.   Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED The Anaheim City Council has voted to cancel the troubled Angels Stadium sale deal. The deal has been mired in controversy as an FBI affidavit has shown the city's former mayor was under investigation for public corruption and other offenses. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  A KPCC investigation has found the state corrections department moved people known as medical parolees to a nursing home in Los Angeles that was recently stripped of its federal certification. The move and decision behind it has been shrouded in secrecy. Reporter: Elly Yu, KPCC

Details are still unfolding around the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. 21 people are dead -- 19 students and two teachers. For young people, the tragedy will likely resonate for years. But there are support mechanisms to help them cope with the shooting. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Preschool students are expelled and suspended at rates three times higher than kids in K-12 schools. It’s a problem California lawmakers are trying to address with a new bill – a bill that would ban the practice, which disproportionately impacts Black children.  Reporter: Deepa Fernandes, Early Childhood Reporting Fellow, Pacific Oaks College which is funded in part by First 5 LA An investigation by KPCC in Los Angeles has found that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has moved people known as medical parolees to an institution that the federal government has stripped of its certification. That’s after the facility consistently violated standards of patient care.  Reporter: Aaron Mendelson, KPCC  

Governor Gavin Newsom is warning there could be statewide mandatory water restrictions if Californians don’t start conserving more water, as the drought worsens.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Starting in June, 6 million Southern Californians will face new water restrictions. For many people, that’ll mean watering their yards twice or even just once a week, per regulations. Some residents are ready. Others, not so much.  Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  There's a widening federal corruption investigation in the city of Anaheim, centered on its $320 milllion deal to sell the Angels baseball stadium to the owner of the team. Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu resigned Monday amid allegations that the city is tightly controlled by a “cabal” of business and political power brokers. Guest: Gabriel San Roman, Reporter, LA Times A survivor of the 2017 North Bay wildfires is asking a federal bankruptcy judge to order managers of a fund for wildfire victims to account for millions of dollars that have been spent over the last two years. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

The Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, Salvator Cordileone, has directed priests under his jurisdiction not to give House Speaker Nancy Pelosi communion.  Cordileone says it's because of Pelosi's support for abortion rights. State officials have confirmed that two idle oil wells in Bakersfield were leaking methane gas near a residential community, but say they were sealed late last week. Environmental groups have called out regulators for not acting with more urgency once the leaks were first reported, but the state says it wasn’t an emergency. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED  Five months ago, California unveiled a program to help low income Californians eliminate asthma triggers in their homes. But some families are still struggling to get these services. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority or LAHSA has unveiled plans to reduce the number of unsheltered homeless in L.A. County over the next three years. Reporter: Ethan Ward, KPCC There are two leading candidates in the race for Mayor of Los Angeles, according to the polls. One is Democratic Congresswoman and former speaker of the California State Assembly, Karen Bass. Her chief opponent is Rick Caruso, a billionaire property developer and Republican turned Democrat. Guest: Fernando Guerra, Director of Loyola Marymount University’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles

At more than $6 a gallon, California has the highest gasoline prices in the country. So what’s Sacramento doing? State lawmakers want to use part of a $97 billion budget surplus to send out rebate checks. But legislators are in a stalemate over the details.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio When it comes to COVID-19 infection rates, the Bay Area continues to lead the state, but the numbers are rising across California, driven largely by subvariants of the coronavirus. With cases also rising in Southern California, the CDC has now moved L.A. County’s COVID risk level from low to medium. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC State Senators Melissa Hurtado and Dave Cortese have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting that the Department of Justice investigate possible drought profiteering and water rights abuses in California, and other western states. Hurtado says she’s concerned about the increasing amount of water rights being purchased by hedge funds. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  A species of California salmon is at risk of extinction due to climate change. As a short term remedy wildlife officials are trucking the salmon to cooler waters. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

Sunday’s shooting at a gathering of Taiwanese American Presbyterians in Orange County has shaken that community in Southern California. It's upsetting the older generation the most. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC This week, more than 40 so-called “Documented Dreamers” are in Washington D.C. They’re lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation that would protect young people who’ve aged out of their families’ immigration applications. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Immigrant advocates are pleased with Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal that would make California the first state in the nation to extend safety net health coverage to all residents, regardless of immigration status. But with a massive surplus, advocates say it's time for the state to go even further. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California has some of the most stringent privacy laws in the country, including protecting the personal data of immigrants. But a two-year investigation by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology has found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used a range of surveillance tactics to circumvent state privacy laws, including California’s. Guest: Dan Bateyko, Research Coordinator, Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology In response to national shortages of baby formula, President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production and has authorized the Defense Department to use commercial planes to import formula from overseas that meet U.S. standards. The shortage is also prompting warnings from California health officials. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC 

The man accused of opening fire this past Sunday at a church in Laguna Woods in Orange County, killing one man and wounding five others, is facing one count of murder, along with several other charges. The murder charge against David Chou also comes with the special circumstance of using a gun and lying in wait. Reporters: Robert Garrova and Josie Huang, KPCC The average price for a gallon of gas in California hit a new record on Tuesday. According to AAA, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is now $6.02. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED  New Starbucks unions are rapidly forming across California, with workers voting to unionize the first four locations in just the past week. Employees at more than 20 Starbucks locations in the state have petitioned for a chance to unionize since the start of the year. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED  In this third year of the drought, state leaders touted investments in water recycling on Tuesday while visiting a facility in Southern California. By early June the entire state will be under either a local or state mandate to conserve water. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED   Despite California’s strong gun laws, ghost guns, which are assembled by their purchasers at home, and difficult to trace because they lack serial numbers, have become increasingly linked to crime in the state. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The FBI has opened a federal hate crime investigation into a shooting Sunday at a church in Orange County that left one man dead and five others wounded. Law enforcement officials say they believe the suspect in the case was motivated by political tensions between Taiwan and China. Reporters: Robert Garrova and Josie Huang, KPCC A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that California cannot legally require corporations to have women members of their boards of directors. The ruling invalidates a law passed in 2018, which said by this year, companies had to have at least two women on boards of five members, and at least three women on boards or six or more.  Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED California is hoping to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, and the state is looking to diversify and expand renewable energy projects to meet that goal. One major source of carbon-free energy could come from floating offshore wind turbines. The California Energy Commission earlier this month released a draft target for the amount of wind energy the state would need to help reach its goals. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX California's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says the state could be headed toward a fiscal cliff, despite a record-breaking budget surplus. The LAO says the new proposed state budget would leave California more than $3 billion over a constitutional limit on spending this year, and more than $20 million over that limit next year.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Last month, two Fresno council members announced a new pilot program that would equip street vendors’ carts with cameras. This effort comes a year after the murder of street vendor Lorenzo Perez. But it's still uncler if these vendors feel safe. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, KVPR

Last year, two Bay Area men were arrested and charged with plotting to blow up the headquarters of the California Democratic Party. Prosecutors say the men planned to launch their attack on or after inauguration day.   Reporters: Julie Small and Alex Hall, KQED   One person, an adult male, was killed and five others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at a lunch banquet at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods in Orange County. The banquet was held by a largely Taiwanese-American congregation. On Saturday, thousands of people showed up in cities across California, in support of reproductive rights. This comes as the U.S. Supreme Court could vote to overturn Roe v. Wade in the coming months.

There’s a nationwide baby formula shortage, driven by supply chain issues and recalls. You can’t buy formula in many stores and in California, that's left many parents are scrambling.  Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS A federal appeals court has ruled that California’s ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to people under the age of 21 is unconstitutional. A panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the law violates the Second Amendment and the right of young adults to bear arms. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  COVID-19 cases rose 20% last week in L.A. County. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said mask mandates could return if the pace of new cases doesn't slow down. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  With roughly 66,000 people across L.A. experiencing homelessness on any given night, there’s renewed interest in the role of corporate social responsibility and charity.  Reporter: Ethan Ward, KPCC  Seal pup season is coming to a close in California. When adult elephant seals leave the beach, pups are on their own as they prepare to live out at sea for months at a time. This means pups must learn to sleep underwater. Reporter: Guananí Gómez-Van Cortright, KQED  

Two Starbucks stores in Santa Cruz have voted to become the first in the state to unionize. Since January, more than 20 Starbucks stores in California have started the process to unionize – joining hundreds of others across the U.S.  Resident doctors gathered in front of LA County-USC Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday to protest low pay. It's just the latest in a string of healthcare-related protests across the state in recent months.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC The June primary is just weeks away, and we have our third story in a series examining the field of candidates running to be California Attorney General. No-party-preference candidate Anne Marie Schubert is a lifelong prosecutor and current Sacarmento County District Attorney. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would get rid of a rule in the state’s constitution that has stymied affordable housing developments in California for decades. It’s called Article 34 and it’s embedded in California’s constitution. It forces cities to get voter approval to build public housing. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Giant Sequoias are now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Endangered Species Red List due to the threat of drought and wildfires in their natural habitat in the U.S., particularly in California. Now, a group in the UK is planting and nurturing thousands of Giant Sequoias to offer a more secure future for the species. Guest: Henry Emson, Founder One Life One Tree

According to new numbers out, California's water usage jumped nearly 19% in March, despite pleas for conservation from the governor and local water agencies. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles has announced new mandatory water restrictions. Starting June 1st, the city's four million residents will have to cut outdoor water use to two-days a week. California has a whopping state budget surplus, an estimated $68 billion. But it’s doubtful any of that money will go to fixing the state agency in charge of investigating wage theft. It’s struggling with a backlog of more than 36, 000 cases that stretches back years. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED U.S. Senator Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice, in separate but related contests. He's running in one contest to finish out former U.S. Senator Kamala Harris' term, and also competing for a new 6-year term.   Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio California’s Fair Political Practices Commission could soon open the door for campaigns to accept cryptocurrency donations. California is currently one of nine states that bars campaign contributions in crypto because they’re so hard to regulate and trace.  Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED  Equality isn’t perceived equally. According to a new study from UC Berkeley, historically privileged groups can see opening up pathways of opportunities for some less privileged people as harming their own access to resources. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW The opulent Hearst Castle atop a commanding hilltop on California’s Central Coast draws in about 750,000 visitors every year. But the popular tourist destination has been closed for more than two years because of the pandemic. It's finally reopening on Wednesday Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX

A survey released on Tuesday reveals wage theft is still a big problem for more than half a million fast food workers in California. More than 8 in 10 workers surveyed said employers have shorted them on their paychecks.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Contract negotiations affecting workers at 29 West Coast ports begin on Tuesday. The talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association are happening amid pandemic safety issues and growing imports that created long queues of ships waiting to offload cargo. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report San Francisco’s NAACP chapter is calling on the city to take action in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities who’ve faced an increase in hate crimes Reporter: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED 

Later this week, Governor Gavin Newsom will issue what’s called a "May Revise," updating the governor’s budget proposal for the coming fiscal year. Financial justice advocates in the state hope part of that proposal will include the elimination of court fees known as "civil assessments." These are penalties that courts impose when traffic tickets and other citations aren't paid on time.  Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report  The nation’s largest student-run powwow gathered in-person at Stanford University over the weekend, the first time since the pandemic hit. The theme was intergenerational resilience. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED  Bay Area counties are in the midst of an increase in COVID-19 cases. How long will it last? Well, experts say it depends. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED 

A bill to protect abortion services for people traveling to California from states where abortion is banned is now on a fast track in Sacramento. Assembly Bill 1666 was introduced after Texas enacted a law to punish women who receive an abortion or anyone who assists her. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  The Facing Life project investigates “life after life” in California’s prisons. The lives of eight people are documented. They were released from life sentences in California prisons, following policy changes in the state. But the project sheds light on mass incarceration and its systemic issues. Guest: Pendarvis Harshaw, KQED, Host of Rightnowish Podcast The state Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to advance a bill that would let teens get vaccinated for COVID-19 without their parents’ consent. The bill is from San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED  Cable, phone, and wireless companies have dropped their legal bid to block the state’s net neutrality law. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  

Hate incidents are on the rise in San Diego, but they continue to be difficult to prosecute. Now, 911 dispatchers could play a key role in gathering evidence for these types of cases. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS Governor Gavin Newsom says the Supreme Court's anticipated roll-back of abortion rights is part of a larger attack on freedoms and privacy. The governor has reaffirmed California's support for access to reproductive services, after a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion showed a majority of justices supported overturning Roe v. Wade. As COVID-19 cases increase across the state, Los Angeles is seeing more outbreaks at workplaces and schools.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC   The Mountain View-based company behind TurboTax, Intuit, has agreed to pay more than $140 million to customers. $11 million will go to Californians, who were tricked into paying for services that should have been free. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED California voters could decide between two different approaches to legalizing sports gambling this November, after supporters of legalizing online wagers say they've collected enough signatures to make it on the ballot. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The neat rows of grapevines in California’s wine country are just beginning to bud, as the wine industry faces another season of drought and almost certainly, wildfire. But it’s not just the flames they’re worried about. It’s the smoke too. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU

Top Democrats in the California Legislative Women’s Caucus are pushing more than a dozen bills that they say will bolster abortion services in the state. Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in rallies across the state, following news that Roe v. Wade could be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The contents of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would likely strike down Roe v. Wade are still sinking in – both across the country and here in California. Guest: Radhika Rao, Law Professor, UC Hastings   Los Angeles County’s Office of Diversion and Reentry houses thousands of people with mental health challenges, who would otherwise end up incarcerated. But its biggest initiative maxed out its budget last year and can’t add any new clients.  Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC  San Diego county has launched a first-in-the-nation program to provide free legal aid to detained immigrants. Reporter: Kitty Alvarado, KPBS

A draft majority opinion obtained by Politico appears to show that the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. If that does occur, the effects will be felt nationwide, including in California, which is already preparing for the possibility of an influx of people looking to get an abortion. Guest: Shannon Olivieri Hovis, Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California In a recent op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle, former legislative staffer Ruth Ferguson details her experiences working in the office of Bay Area Assemblymember Marc Berman. She says her experience included harassment from her direct supervisor and retaliation for reporting incidents that concerned her. Now, she's looking to help lead change in the ways these claims are investigated. Guest: Ruth Ferguson, former staffer for Bay Area Assemblymemebr Marc Berman

California’s last remaining nuclear energy facility, Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County, produces enough carbon-free energy to power three million homes each year. It’s scheduled to shut down by 2025, but now, Governor Gavin Newsom may consider delaying the closure. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX Change is coming to California’s rooftop solar market, but what that change looks like remains a mystery. The state is still waiting for a reboot of efforts to overhaul its solar power system, three months after Governor Gavin Newsom essentially shut the process down. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS   This upcoming June primary is the first chance to see the effects of new local campaign finance limits in California. In Shasta County, it will likely test the limits of how much influence a wealthy donor can have on races. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio A new study from the Stanford School of Medicine sheds some light on why it is that teens tune mom out. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED  

This week marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most painful and bloodiest chapters in LA's history. The civil unrest of 1992, also known as the riots, the rebellion and the uprising, began in response to the acquittal of four white LA police officers for the beating of a black man named Rodney King. By the time it was over, dozens were dead and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage was done. Guest: Joel Anderson, Podcast Host of Slow Burn: The LA Riots

California’s Labor Commissioner has fined poultry giant Foster Farms and three staffing agencies nearly $4 million for failing to tell thousands of workers about COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave assistance. The failure was discovered during an audit of Foster Farms’ payroll records in 2020. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED   Researchers in San Diego County are working to stave off the worst impacts of global warming. They say cattails found in wetlands could be part of the answer. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Stockton city leaders have found a new chief to lead the police department. Stanley McFadden, who is currently a deputy chief in San Jose, will be the first African American to lead the department.  Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED  To help protect it and give people more control over what companies do with their data, the state has enacted new privacy laws and created the country's very first privacy protection agency to enforce them. It's only six months old, and director Ashkan Soltani says he knows there are big challenges ahead. Guest: Ashkan Soltani, Executive Director, California Privacy Protection Agency An effort to shut down three oil platforms off the Orange County coast has cleared its first legislative hurdle. But there are concerns about the potential costs, even from some Democrats who oppose offshore drilling.  Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW 

In Southern California, the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies water to millions of people in several counties, has declared a first of its kind water shortage emergency. Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, the East Bay Municipal Water District has approved a mandatory 10% reduction in water usage compared to 2020 levels.  What little is known about long-COVID in children and teenagers suggests that it can be just as disabling for them as it is for older adults. One family in Los Angeles connected the dots before the doctors. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC A proposal by Governor Gavin Newsom to impose a new form of court-ordered treatment for people with severe mental illness got approval in its first state senate hearing on Tuesday. The CARE Court idea is receiving opposition from civil rights and homeless advocacy groups.   Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Nurses at University of California medical centers will protest UC management on Wednesday, in response to staffing issues that the nurses say have been ongoing through the pandemic. Reporter: Shehreen Karim, KQED A state audit of five law enforcement agencies has found racist or other biased conduct by police officers at all of them-- and inadequate investigations into that conduct.  Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED 

The mayors of California’s largest cities are calling on Governor Newsom to continue funding critical homelessness services. The state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Grants have only been available for three years. But mayors from all over California say their cities rely on their unique flexibility to pay for a wide range of services. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED A study from the L.A. County Department of Public Health comparing unhoused mortality one year before, and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that deaths among young unhoused people, aged 18 to 29, more than doubled. Reporter: Ethan Ward, KPCC We're continuing our series examining the field of candidates running to be California Attorney General. The current AG, Democrat Rob Bonta is facing three serious challengers, including Republican hopeful Eric Early, who says the state is headed in the wrong direction. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom has promised that California will halt all in-state oil and gas production by the year 2045. But the state is the country’s 7th largest oil producer. So what might that transition look like, specifically in the San Joaquin Valley towns literally built on oil? Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio 

Starting on Friday, masks will again be required inside L.A. County’s airports and on public transportation. The new health order comes after a Florida federal judge threw out a mask mandate on public transportation and airplanes nationwide. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California could sanction places to do illegal drugs under the watchful gaze of a healthcare worker. The so-called “safe consumption” sites are an effort to save lives, as overdoses skyrocket across the country. But the prospect of opening them remains controversial. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED    California will close its main COVID-19 testing lab next month. The facility in Los Angeles County has faced scrutiny since it opened. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  A new poll finds that 80% of Gen Z youth in California have experienced anxiety, stress or feelings of being overwhelmed as a result of learning about climate change. Reporter: Anaïs-Ophelia Lino, KQED 

California’s red hot housing market is showing some early signs of cooling. The reason for that is both good and bad news for would-be homebuyers. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED In Los Angeles County, in the city of Inglewood, an elementary school is facing permanent closure this summer. Locals have started a petition to stop the closure, but the school district says low enrollment makes it too expensive to keep open. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Officials from the Biden Administration are sounding the alarm about global shortages of semiconductor chips. They're urging Congress to fast track a bill with incentives for companies to expand domestic chip production in places like Silicon Valley. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Almonds are harvested every year in August. But this year, many growers and processors in California are still holding onto last year’s product. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio

A bill to hold gun manufacturers responsible for death and destruction caused by their products cleared a key Assembly committee on Tuesday. It's part of a larger package of legislation addressing gun violence in the state. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  While health officials are hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is over, hospitals are still reeling from financial losses. One hospital in the San Joaquin Valley is warning of disaster for many facilities. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio The Kern County town of McFarland is facing the possible closure of its only public library, so the space can be used by the McFarland Police Department. While city leaders have rallied around the proposal, many in the community oppose the plan. Guest: Emma Gallegos, Central Valley Journalism Resident for EdSource Governor Gavin Newsom visited the Oroville Dam on Tuesday to talk about the ongoing drought and the state's plans to address it. He said California might need to shut down one of its largest hydroelectirc plants. Reporter: Alec Stutson, North State Public Radio   With drier winters, hotter summers, and year-round potential for wildfires, Southern California is experiencing the effects of climate change. And the grab-bag of wild weather isn’t lost on voters, according to a new poll. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Across California, law enforcement agencies are under increasing scrutiny over using the DNA of sexual assault surivors in unrelated criminal investigations. Santa Clara County supervisors heard testimony on the topic on Tuesday. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Los Angeles County’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes new investments in mental health. The plan is to use federal funds to assist with outreach, engagement and crisis response. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC

Landlords in Los Angeles have failed in their legal quest to overturn the city’s eviction moratorium. The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear a case challenging the city’s protections.  Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC  A San Francisco judge has ordered the release of a man who's been incarcerated for over 30 years, for a murder he's maintained he didn't commit. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED  It’s been 16 years since Californians elected anyone but a Democrat to statewide office. But this year, Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta is facing challenges from three serious contenders in the June primary -- two Republicans and one independent.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED During a visit to California’s Central Coast Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the U.S. will no longer conduct anti-satellite missile tests in space. She called it a reckless and dangerous practice. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX  More than half of California voters would be willing to pay more for items that don’t contain single-use plastics, according to a new poll. The poll by the environmental group Oceana reveals more than 90% of California voters are concerned by the damage wrought by plastic pollution.  Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW The Salinas River is home to many beavers, who are helping the area better adapt to the impacts of climate chnage. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX

More than three million Californians could get a break on their tax bill with a proposal to boost benefits for renters. The proposal from state Senator Steve Glazer would increase the renter tax credit from $60 to $500 for single filers and from $120 to $1000 for couples and single parents. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED A new survey of more than 700 crime survivors finds that California needs to do far more to support victims -- especially those in marginalized communities. It found that more than a third of victims are never offered the resources they’re entitled to under state law, including help with funeral or housing costs Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Within the next two decades, all of California’s electricity needs to come from renewable sources. That makes geothermal energy, energy from heat in the earth, more appealing. Reporter: Greta Mart, Northern California Public Media Every year, California prisons hand over hundreds of people to immigration authorities. But in a rare exception, one Cambodian national was released on parole late last week and reunited with family without being re-detained. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC Millions of dollars PG&E agreed to pay in its Kincade Fire settlement with the Sonoma County district attorney will go directly to local groups.   Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED 

Does California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who’s 88 and a giant of American politics, still have the mental fitness to do her job? According to reporting by San Francisco Chronicle Washington Correspondent Tal Kopan, there are many instances of the Senator’s memory failing. Guest: Tal Kopan, Washington Correspondent, San Francisco Chronicle A bill to tighten COVID-19 vaccination requirements for California school children has stalled in the state legislature. Legislation from Sacramento State Senator Richard Pan would have closed the personal beliefs exemption, like the state has done for the measles vaccine. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED   Now that many COVID restrictions have eased in California, and all of us are trying to figure out how to live our lives going forward, The California Report wanted to check in with someone we first met at the very beginning of the pandemic. San Francisco resident Hinda Gilbert was on a cruise ship that had to be redirected to Oakland, following an outbreak on board. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report  The California Task Force studying reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans has approved its report on why reparations are necessary. The report will be the first government-issued document to examine anti-black racism in more than 50 years.  Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED State regulators are recommending that the western Joshua tree not be designated as a threatened species. It was given interim protection back in 2020 under the California Endangered Species Act. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  It can be hard to imagine anything living in the deepest and darkest depths of the world’s oceans. But the seafloor can teem with life. That ecosystem, though, is under threat from climate change and plastic pollution, and a new threat now looms – deep sea mining. Reporter: Erika Mahoney

A draft of California’s first-in-the-nation roadmap for ending the sale of all new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035 has been released. The new plan requires an increase in the sales of electric vehicles starting in 2024. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED If you’re in the market for a new electric vehicle here in California right now, you’re definitely not alone. With gas prices soaring to record levels, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many prospective car buyers say an EV is the way to go. But are there anywhere near enough electric vehicles at California car dealerships? Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW California’s Reparations Task Force studying reparations for Black Californians continues meeting on Thursday at San Francisco’s historic Third Baptist Church. During Wednesday's meeting, the topic was discrimination in education. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED California voters say housing affordability and homelessness are the most important issues for the state to address this year. That’s according to a new survey from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  People who have experienced homelessness need to be given a seat at the table when it comes to making policy decisions about Los Angeles’ homeless crisis. That's one of the recommendations to come out of a new report commissioned by the Committee for a Greater LA. Reporter: Ethan Ward, KPCC   People with certain psychiatric disorders face a heightened risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infections. That’s according to a new study from UC San Francisco. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

A bill in the state legislature aims to cut some Californians' workweek down to 32 hours from the usual 40. The proposed legislation would apply to companies in the state with more than 500 employees. At the national level, similar legislation has been introduced by Riverside County Congressman Mark Takano.  Guest: Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Writer and Head of Global Programs for 4 Day Week Global The California Chamber of Commerce has called the proposal to shorten the workweek in California a job killer, arguing it will drastically increase labor costs for businesses. The chamber says it could also result in major job cuts and larger companies deciding not to expand in the state. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Amazon’s warehouse workers are getting injured twice as often as workers at other warehouses across the country. And in California, the rates are even higher. That’s according to a new study out from a labor union coalition based in the Inland Empire.  Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED  California has tough new penalties on the books regarding wage theft. That’s when employers don’t pay workers what they’re actually owed. And, a state hearing on alleged wage theft at six Burger King franchises in San Francisco has started this week. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED With the rise in anti-Asian violence across the country has come a push to fight racism, through education. Many Asian American teachers in Southern California are using the moment to get their history into more schools. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC 

California has millions of acres of overgrown forestland. It’s raw fuel for potentially catastrophic wildfires. In late 2019, Governor 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. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio California’s push for green energy could inadvertently harm one of its most famous species. As more and more wind turbines go up in the state, the companies behind them are looking to prevent unintended deaths of critically endangered California condors.  Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW  Where oh where have California’s school kids gone? The state’s K-12 public school enrollment is down again this year by 110,000 students. That’s on top of a drop of 161,000 last year.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED San Francisco tenants now have the right to organize, under legislation that took effect this week. The Board of Supervisors approved the protections for tenants to form associations like labor unions. Reporter: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED

Even as the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant spreads across the globe, California has not yet seen a sharp uptick in new coronavirus cases or hospitalizations. But in Los Angeles, more people who do test positive for COVID will now have access to treatment.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC For over two years now, the closure of the US-Mexico border to most asylum-seekers has left many migrants in limbo. For young people especially, that means months without school or anyway to fill their days. One organization in Tijuana is trying to do something about that by giving young migrants a place to learn, where they can also deal with the mental toll their journeys have taken on them.  Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler  As thousands of Ukrainians seeking asylum flock to the US-Mexico border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has conditionally opened an entry south of San Diego that has been shuttered for two years. The PedWest border crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry has become a welcoming area for people fleeing the war.  Reporter: Kitty Alvarado, KPBS For many transgender and nonbinary people who are dealing with medical conditions, the path to permanent housing is often met with barriers. In Los Angeles, some organizations are working to change that. Reporter: Ethan Ward, KPCC

Schools in the Los Angeles area are reporting more coronavirus outbreaks. Outbreaks have more than tripled in the past 10 days in Los Angeles schools. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Thieves have been stealing catalytic converters from cars and trucks at a much greater rate here in California, in large part because the metals in those converters, like palladium and platinum, have become so valuable to resell. But a recent event in Los Angeles aimed to help drivers who might become victims of those crimes. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Over the past couple of years, the pandemic has highlighted big problems with the state’s often deteriorating stock of rental housing has more people have stayed home. Now, Los Angeles County is planning to crack down on landlords who neglect their buildings. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC   The city of Fresno is launching a pilot program to help protect its street vendors, one year after a vendor was murdered while selling corn. The city will be installing livestream cameras on 20 vendor carts, hoping that they'll serve as a deterrent to harassment and violence. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report California had already announced that crab fisheries from the Sonoma-Mendocino County border on south would close on Friday. Now the Department of Fish and Wildlife is shutting down the northern parts of the state on April 20. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED 

Sacramento police now believe at least five individuals fired guns in the downtown shooting that left six dead and 12 injured early Sunday morning. Investigators say they believe gangs played a role in the shooting. Guest: Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee Since 1959, California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, has set rules of conduct for law enforcement in the state. The commission will hold a special meeting on Thursday to work on defining what kind of police misconduct is serious enough to revoke an officer’s badge. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED There are more than a million unfilled tech jobs in the United States. That’s a problem for tech companies but an opportunity for IT professionals in Mexico.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS This week, San Diego’s City Council approved a new municipal board that will oversee surveillance related issues in the city. The new board will give advice and recommendations on the city's use of surveillance technologies and personal data, as well as review how they are currently being used. Reporter: Christina Kim, KPBS  A poll out this week from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies gives new insight into concerns Californians have for farmworkers employed in wildfire evacuation zones. More than 80% of California voters polled think that farmworkers should both get hazard pay for this work – and be given safety training in their own native language. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report

The first suspect arrested in connection to Sunday's mass shooting in Sacramento, Dandrae Martin, made his first brief appearance in court on Tuesday. His brother has also been arrested and a third person was taken into custody, but police say as of now, he's not facing any charges related to the mass shooting. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg is joining victim and criminal justice reform advocates to demand that the state do more to stem violence. 19 community groups are calling on state leaders to invest $3 billion in local programs to support crime survivors and help interrupt cycles of violence.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  One month ago, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled an ambitious proposal to create mental health courts in California. These so-called "CARE Courts” would be places where homeless people with severe mental health disorders could get connected to the treatment they need. But more controversially, the courts would also have the authority to force some people into care if they didn't want to go, raising concerns about abuse and civil liberties. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report State senators voted on Tuesday to advance a gun control bill that would use the threat of lawsuits to fight the sale and manufacture of illegal firearms. Senate Bill 1327 would allow any California citizen to sue those who pay for, manufacture or distribute ghost guns. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED   In recent years, a lot of people have become rideshare and delivery drivers to make some extra cash. But those drivers face a number of threats while on the road. A new report out Wednesday claims that the gig companies the drivers work for aren't doing enough to compensate the drivers when bad things do happen. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED 

Last night in downtown Sacramento people gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims’ memories after a mass shooting there early Sunday morning. A variety of community leaders spoke, from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg to community activist Barry Accius. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED 57-year-old Melinda Davis was one of the victims of the shooting. She was unhoused and had lived on the streets of downtown Sacramento for much of the past decade. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Sacramento public school teachers have announced they are calling off a more than week-long strike. The pivot point might have been the aftermath of this weekend’s shootings.  Reporter: Janelle Salanga, CapRadio At the same time, teachers with Summit Charter School Network are threatening a strike if leadership doesn’t agree to a contract after more than a year of stalled negotiations. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED San Diego City is proposing a moratorium on “No Fault” evictions until September 30th 2022 or 60 days after the end of the local state of emergency, whichever comes first. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS Malibu's City Council has voted to move its homeless population outside of the city limits. The city’s homeless task force believes its solution will meet the needs of people willing to accept services while also making it easier for the sheriff’s department to enforce the city’s no camping policy. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW In Los Angeles County, Sheriff Alex Villanueva will be forced to testify in court over long-running allegations that deputy gangs exist in his department. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

A mass shooting happened in Sacramento around two a.m. Sunday morning in a crowded downtown business district, not far from the state capitol building, a district filled with bars and restaurants which were closing for the night. Host Saul Gonzalez spoke with Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, State Assemblymember Kevin McCarty and Sacramento residents in the aftermath of the shooting.  Now that pandemic rental relief has been extended thanks to a bill signed late last week the state Attorney General’s Office is putting some landlord attorneys on notice after receiving reports that their clients are using false claims in order to evict tenants. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED For weeks new COVID cases in LA County had been steadily falling, but they have now plateaued. KPCC Senior Health Reporter Jackie Fortier says lifting mandatory mask rules and the spread of another highly transmissible variant are to blame. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

The FTC is suing Intuit over its TurboTax software. The agency says the California-based company is misleading consumers by marketing the product as free. Guest: Justin Elliot, ProPublica A new push for mental health warnings on legal cannabis products. Reporter: April Dembosky 

California’s private homecare industry is in bad shape, with overwhelmed employers and underpaid workers. That’s from a new report out of UCLA’s Labor Center. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED California lawmakers are expected to vote today on a bill to extend eviction protections for tenants still waiting on rent relief. More than 500-thousand have applied for that assistance. Guest: Erin Baldassari, Housing Reporter, KQED A six month-long investigation commissioned by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has found that LA county’s homelessness services are “under tremendous strain” and in need of sweeping reform.   Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Soon you’ll no longer have to show proof of Covid vaccination to get inside many businesses in Los Angeles. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  Exotic dancers at a North Hollywood bar have been on a strike for more than a week to demand safer working conditions. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW More than seven years after its passage, Proposition 47 has saved California 600 million dollars in prison costs according to a new report by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice.  

After hours of debate on Tuesday, California’s Reparations Task Force cast a historic vote deciding who will be eligible to receive compensation. . Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS  COVID-19 numbers in California have improved drastically since the beginning of the omicron wave here in the state. But there are some concerns that a highly transmissable variant could bring more cases in the coming weeks and months. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED Health Correspondent A proposal to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for California workers will not move forward this year in the state legislature. It was dropped without a vote. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Wastewater data in the South Bay Area this week hints at the first signs of a sustained rise in COVID-19 because of the BA.2 omicron subvariant. But it’s nothing compared to the last surge.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A California congressman is introducing a new bill aimed at helping provide some relief for drivers from rising gas prices. It would send relief checks to taxpayers. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report A new report on safety inspections at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County has found failures by inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to appropriately identify several issues at the facility. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX

Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered water districts to increase water restrictions. But are statewide mandatory water cutbacks coming? Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A new report out of UCLA shows that a year after a sweep of homeless camps around Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, most of the unhoused who were uprooted have not found permanent housing. Even more concerning, many have fallen off the map of the city's homeless department, and are no longer being tracked.  Guest: Ananya Roy, Professor of Urban Planning and Chair of UCLA's Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy The state Assembly has voted to extend pandemic eviction protections for tenants still waiting on rent relief. How big is the problem? Well fewer than half of the nearly 500,000 people who’ve applied for rental assistance have yet to receive a payout.  Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 10,000 nursing home residents and staff in California. To honor them, and to press for better working conditions, several dozen unionized long-term care workers held a vigil Monday in Sacramento. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED A federal judge in Santa Ana is ordering a controversial Southern California legal scholar to turn over documents to the House Committee investigating the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Despite bargaining this weekend, there’s no new deal as a teacher’s strike continues in the Sacramento City Unified School District. That means campuses will remain closed, and that's taking a toll on families. Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio Student debt is a crushing financial burden for millions of people, including health professionals who’ve worked hard treating COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. Now, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California has introduced a bill to help get rid of student loans for frontline healthcare workers.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Talks aimed at ending a strike by hundreds of unionized workers at Chevron's refinery in the city of Richmond are restarting Monday morning.  It's the first bargaining session since the workers walked off the job a week ago over pay, health benefits and worker safety concerns.  Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED  After years of scrutiny and criticism of how the Bakersfield Police Department does its job, an agreement between the department and the California Department of Justice may force the department to make changes. That includes how Bakersfield PD officers respond to calls involving people with mental health issues. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR  If you’re looking for a house to buy in California, this won’t surprise you. Home ownership became even more unreachable for the great majority of Californians last year. And housing affordability was worse for prospective Black and Latino buyers. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED

State lawmakers have introduced a bill to extend protections for tenants waiting on rent relief from the state. But it won't extend the deadline to apply for rent relief, which expires at the end of March. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED The race to be Los Angeles' next mayor has kicked off, and the leading candidates are all promising to tackle one major issue if elected -- homelessness. But many are questioning whether their proposed solutions will actually help with the issue. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Yet another guard at the federal women's prison in the city of Dublin has been charged with sexual abuse. The lockup has been nicknamed "the Rape Club" by people incarcerated there. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED Three Muslim Americans are suing the Department of Homeland Security, over what they say is unconstitutional treatment at Los Angeles International Airport. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW A new rule just published by the Biden administration will overhaul the way asylum claims made at the border are decided. It could speed up the process for tens of thousands of asylum seekers. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing to spend $9 billion on tax refunds, to help California motorists at the pump. Newsom wants to use the state's windfall of tax revenue to send drivers a $400 debit card -- one each for up to two vehicles.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Hundreds of Eastern European migrants are arriving in Tijuana, fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive governments in Russia itself and its ally Belarus. The migrants coming to Tijuana dream of crossing the border and getting asylum in the U.S.  Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler  In Sacramento, classes are canceled again on Thursday, after thousands of teachers and staff at the Sacramento City Unified School District walked off the job. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Navigating through the pandemic and drought conditions has been a major challenge for California's farming industry. With more dry conditions ahead, and costs increasing and the global supply chain still an issue, it could be another tough year. Guest: Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau As many as half of the people serving life in prison without possibility of parole in California were convicted under a law critics say perpetuates gender and racial disparities. That’s according to a national report out this week by advocacy organizations calling for an end to the practice. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED 

As the US Senate considers the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black female justice on the US Supreme Court, a panel in San Francisco has voted to confirm Appeal Court Justice Patricia Guererro to become the first Latina member on the California Supreme Court. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Two major California bail bond service providers are set to be hit with proposed class action lawsuits. The lawsuit names two of the largest bail bond agents in California – Aladdin Bail Bonds and All-Pro Bail Bonds – and seeks repayment for people who’ve co-signed bail bond payments without getting notices that make clear what that obligation entails. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has many of us here in the United States asking what we can do to help. A couple in Los Angeles are now hosting a Ukrainian woman who fled her home in Kyiv.  Reporter: Caroline Feraday, KCLU

A strike by workers at the Chevron refinery in the Bay Area city of Richmond could mean more bad news for already sky-high California gas prices. Chevron says it plans to continue normal operations at the plant despite the walkout, but any disruptions could lead to even higher prices. A California inmate originally from Cambodia is awaiting final approval for parole. But he fears that rather than be released to his family, he could get locked up again by immigration authorities, and even deported. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Efforts are ramping up to recall Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon from office. A similar effort failed last year, but supporters of the recall say public safety could play a big role this time around. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  WNBA star Brittney Griner is currently jailed in Russia after being accused of smuggling hashish oil into the country, something that could carry up to a 10 year prison sentence. Her arrest has called into question LGBTQ rights and the possible political motivation behind her detainment. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

A new bill aims to protect transgender youth and their families from legal action if they come to California for medical care. This comes after a number of Republican-controlled states considered legislation targeting gender-affirming medical care. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW In 1966, at the height of the civil rights movement, a live call-in radio show premiered on San Diego’s airwaves. The show washosted and created by local civil rights leaders Harold K. Brown and Reverend R. Major Shavers. Brown now reflects on what has and hasn't been done in the fight for racial equality. Reporter: Christina Kim, KPBS At least three proposals to address the high cost of gasoline are floating around in Sacramento. One that seems to have widespread support is a $400 rebate plan for California taxpayers.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles are falling, and fewer people are in the hospital. But an omicron subvariant is putting the county health department on alert.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

A new proposal from a group of mostly Democratic state lawmakers would send a $400 rebate to California taxpayers to help with the massive surge in gas prices. The group has sent a letter to Governor Newsom, arguing that a rebate would cover the current 51-cents per gallon state gas tax for a full year. For two years now, Los Angeles tenants have been protected from eviction over non-payment of rent. Now, county leaders are giving landlords some relief on their taxes. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC California Attorney General Rob Bonta is calling out the city of Pasadena for trying to avoid the implementation of SB 9. That's the new state law that allows for the construction of up to four housing units on parcels of land previously zoned for single family homes.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  A California Assembly bill with bi-partisan support aims to hold social media platforms liable with financial consequences for knowingly addicting children to their services. The bill – known as the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act – is the first of its kind in the nation. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Scientists monitoring Bay Area wastewater for signs of another coronavirus wave, driven by an omicron subvariant, have not detected any sustained rise in the region.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED   Minor League baseball players have been pushing for better pay for years. Now, a California state senator is hoping his legislation can lead to a national movement to help them. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Tuesday marks the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings in which eight people were killed – six of them Asian women. In Los Angeles, rememberances will be deliberatley muted. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC In the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing, the California Department of Corrections disciplined two officers for making racist statements on social media. Thanks to a new law, we now can see what those officers, both white, posted and how they were disciplined. Guest: Sukey Lewis, Criminal Justice Correspondent, KQED From racial disparities in arrests, to the percentage of crimes solved and the cost of policing, San Francisco is performing worse than other major cities across the state. That's according to a new report from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED The family of a man who died in California Highway Patrol custody says a video proves that CHP officers killed him. The video was released as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of 38-year-old Edward Bronstein, who died after a DUI stop in Los Angeles in 2020. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC   Public records reveal that, between 2014 and 2019, more than 40% of people seriously injured or killed by Bakersfield police displayed signs of a mental health condition or intoxication. That’s according to a new analysis done by Valley Public Radio and the California Reporting Project.   Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR 

Ukrainians seeking asylum at U.S. southern border may be turned away because of a Trump-era policy relating to the pandemic. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Alleged sexual assault of incarcerated women at a Dublin prison is so rampant some inmates and staff refer to it as “the rape club." California lawmakers personally visited to hear from incarcerated people firsthand. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Gov. Newsom signed emergency legislation yesterday to nullify a court order freezing enrollment at UC Berkeley after it passed unanimously in the state legislature. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED Two California lawmakers want the state's fire agency, CAL Fire, to respond more quickly to forest fires, but fire experts say fire intense suppression is already CAL Fire policy, and that it's to blame for increasingly severe fires. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED 

Community health clinics have vaccinated hundreds of thousands of low income Californians for more than a year, but due to a federal funding glitch the clinics have been absorbing the cost. And now, Los Angeles’ largest community health center may have to close vaccination sites in some of LA’s poorest areas. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California voters passed a ballot measure in 2018 to do away with changing our clocks twice a year. But almost four years later, we’re still springing forward. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio High school students across the state have been walking out of class to call for change in how administrators handle sexual assault claims. In Humboldt County last fall, students protested for three straight days. Months later, some students in the rural town of Fortuna say they’re still grappling with the fallout of speaking out. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED You, of course, go to the library for books and information. But in Los Angeles, the public library system might soon be a place people go for help with mental health issues. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC

The state’s top conservation official says that California is "very clearly" headed into a third year of drought. He encouraged Californians to save water, but the state is not yet mandating it. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED According to the United Nations, more than two million people have fled Ukraine since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of the country late last month. Two of them are a 94-year-old mother and her 70-year-old son with family in San Francisco. They made it safely to Germany this week, with the help of two of Ukraine's most famous athletes. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report The Senate and House have approved a massive $1.5 trillion spending plan that will keep the federal government funded through September. It awaits President Biden's signature. But many restaurant and bar owners feel like they're being left out in the cold. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Advocates for immigrants in California are rallying around an Orange County man, who is suing the federal government over repeated attempts to deport him. An Nguyen committed several robberies in California, for which he served 26 years, before he was released in 2019.   Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC 

California officials are cheering a Biden administration move to restore the state’s power in setting its own smog control rules. The decision reverses a Trump-era policy.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED California Republican Congressman and House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy is calling on Governor Newsom to reverse the state’s restrictions on oil and gas production, now that Russian oil imports have been banned. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Californians have rushed to aid people from the embattled country, no matter if they had ties to it or not. Those relief efforts continue on the ground in Europe. Guest: Kerri Murray, President, ShelterBox USA Starting Friday, San Francisco will no longer require proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter restaurants, bars and gyms. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED In Los Angeles, the city council on Wednesday took a step toward rolling back L.A.’s indoor vaccine mandate. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  As tax time approaches, new data shows that the poorest taxpayers are audited at five times the rate of everyone else. And California has more of those tax filers than any other state.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A new national survey has found 166 publicly disclosed cyberattacks affecting schools last year. Just nine school breaches were reported to the California Attorney General’s office in 2021, but those numbers are likely underreported. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

As we continue to see and hear the harrowing stories coming out of Ukraine, we’re talking to Californians with connections to the region who are trying to help . One of them is Patrick Kolasinski, an immigration attorney now based in Modesto, but originally from Poland. He and other attorneys are helping Ukrainians with legal issues they might have. Guest: Patrick Kolasinski, Immigrant Attorney based out of Modesto Governor Gavin Newsom gave his annual State of the State address on Tuesday night and used the speech to push back against critics who say California is careening out of control under his leadership. He's also proposing to help Californians who are struggling with record-high gas prices. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED With gasoline prices at record levels in California and President Biden announcing a ban on the importation of Russian oil to the U.S. in response to the invasion of Ukraine, many Californians are wondering how high gas prices will go, and whether the state can do anything to help alleviate the pain at the pump for consumers. Guest: Severin Borenstein, Professor, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business  Starting next Monday, L.A. County will align with the state to allow K-12 students to go maskless when they’re inside classrooms. A new survey shows some parents are ready to see the nation’s second largest school district’s mask requirement loosened. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW 

Governor Gavin Newsom will deliver his annual State of the State address from Sacramento on Tuesday. The state of the state speech is typically a chance for governors to lay out their big plans for the year ahead, but it could be a little different this year. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  California’s seas are rising and for the first time, all 17 of the state’s agencies have come together to plan for the impact. But some long-discounted communities are yet again feeling left out of these conversations. Guest: Ezra David Romero, Reporter, KQED A bill introduced in the state legislature would prohibit police from matching DNA from rape survivors to unrelated crimes. It comes following a scandal involving the San Francisco Police Department, which misused a rape victims' DNA to arrest her for burglary. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED A San Francisco supervisor is introducing a resolution supporting a campaign to allow young immigrants to legally work while they apply for humanitarian protections known as Special Immigrant Juvenile, or SIJ status.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  California is investing billions of dollars in high-tech solutions to predict and respond to natural disasters. But residents in rural communities, facing fires, floods and winter storms, are increasingly embracing an old school technology: two-way radios. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio 

On Sunday, volunteers at Los Angeles’ Ukrainian Cultural Center filled big plastic bags full of supplies dropped off by people, to help Ukraine.  Ukrainian advocates in the Bay Area are welcoming news that federal authorities will offer humanitarian protections to thousands of Ukrainians already in the U.S. An estimated 75,000 Ukrainians could receive Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, if they arrived in the U.S. before March 1. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   Many school districts across the state are trying to figure out how to deal with budgetary issues, along with declining enrollment numbers. Some are proposing closing campuses, which has led to protests from students and their families. Guest: Michael Fine, Executive Director of California’s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team California State Parks is considering a new name for part of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area east of Sacramento. Some residents say, the current name has caused harm for decades.  Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio

Los Angeles County is lifting its universal mask mandate on Friday. That means face coverings will no longer be required in public indoor settings -- whether or not you're vaccinated. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC A new podcast -- “Idolo: the Ballad of Chalino Sanchez” -- follows the remarkable story of a Mexican singer, whose career was cut short at its peak when he was murdered in the early 1990s. Both Sanchez and the creators of the podcast have deep roots in Southern California. Reporter: Blanca Torres, KQED A recently released report shows that California is way behind in helping people with COVID-related hardships pay their back rent. The study from PolicyLink finds that in a year of operation, only 16 percent of applicants have received aid.  Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Immigrant and worker rights advocates gathered in Sacramento on Thursday in support of the first-ever bill to give unemployment benefits to undocumented immigrants. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Bars and restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic -- in fact, more than 90,000 have closed across the country. And many are now seeking some type of federal funding to help keep them afloat, as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report 

Poor people and people of color have been largely kept out of neighborhoods with single family homes in Los Angeles. And a new study from UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute confirms that LA’s single family zoning laws are to blame.  Guest: David Wagner, Reporter, KPCC and LAist The Los Angeles police commission has approved a new policy that requires officers to explain on camera why they’re making a traffic or pedestrian stop. The commission cracked down specifically on pretextual stops – that’s when an officer makes a traffic or pedestrian stop for a minor issue and uses it to search for a more serious crime.  Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC  California Attorney General Rob Bonta is joining a bipartisan coalition of state Attorneys General, investigating how TikTok promotes itself to children and young adults. He's looking itno whether TikTok possibly violated state consumer protection laws. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED California’s courts, police and other services are partially funded through fines and fees. But for low income Californians, those fines and fees could mean a push deeper into poverty, according to new research. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Back in 2020, when then-candidate Joe Biden was debating then-president Donald Trump, he came out strongly against one particular practice: separating migrant families at the border. So it was surprising when, in December, news broke that the Biden administration had suddenly dropped out of negotiations to compensate families for the harm they suffered. Advocates believe money and politics are to blame. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED 

Californians who are not vaccinated do not have to wear a mask in many indoor setting, like bars, restaurants and stores. This week's announcement is welcome news to many, but also concerning for some who have tried their best to not get infected during the pandemic. Guest: Abraar Karan, Infectious Disease Expert, Stanford School of Medicine Californians can expect more water conservation measures this summer after another disappointing snow survey. The latest numbers show California's snowpack at 63-percent of average. Reporter: Katrina Schwartz, KQED  People with ties to Ukraine here in California are busy organizing to help provide humanitarian aid. Some are even relying on their business ties back home to help. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  California could become the first state in the country to expand health coverage to all low-income immigrants. Right now, most undocumented adults still aren’t eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, and that's forcing some families to make life and death decisions. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio 

A gunman killed his three daughters and another person before turning the gun on himself at a church in the Sacramento area on Monday night. Law enforcement officials say there was a temporary restraining order against him, which meant he shouldn't have had access to a gun. Crime has become a key concern for many California voters ahead of this year’s election season. Earlier in the pandemic, the country saw an unprecedented spike in murders, but the story has become a little more complicated, and the political debate doesn’t necessarily reflect the data.  Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED Political Correspondent  From March 12th onwards, California students can go to school without their masks, if local districts allow it. The state announced Monday it’s shifting from requiring masks, to recommending them.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED The state’s Employment Development Department has announced it’s going to drastically expand language support for the at least 7 million Californians whose first language isn’t English. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report  The gap in voter turnout between white and Black Californians continues to grow, according to new research published Monday by the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC. This after a historic year for voter turnout in 2020. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

Last month, we reported that delays for state hearings in wage theft cases are hurting low-wage workers hoping to recover the money they’re owed. Now, new data obtained by KQED shows how much those wait times have ballooned in recent years. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Anti-war rallies continue across California, in support of Ukraine. Many Ukrainians living in California are worried about friends and family who are either staying to fight or struggling to get out of the country.

As Russian forces continue their assault on Ukraine, Californians who are from the region or who have friends and family there are trying to comprehend everything that has happened over the last two days. Guest: Laryssa Reifel, President of Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles California’s reparations task force continued meeting Thursday, but many task force members were left disappointed. That's because no decision was made on who would qualify for California's reparations program. Reporter: Lakshmi Sarah, KQED

With Russia launching attacks on Ukraine on multiple fronts, these are very frightening times for anyone with family, friends and colleagues in that country. That includes thousands of people in the Bay Area with personal and business ties to Ukraine.  Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  Federal officials are predicting a third consecutive dry year for California. And that’s led them to dramatically cut back on water allocations from a huge federal irrigation project that provides water to much of the state. Reporter: Katrina Schwartz, KQED  During the pandemic, the state’s Employment Development Department has grappled with how to effectively combat fraud, while still doing right by Californians who need its services. Earlier this week, the agency once again faced this conundrum at a state Assembly hearing. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report 

California public schools could be required to have COVID-19 testing and management plans under new legislation introduced Tuesday in the state senate.  The bill by State Senator Richard Pan of Sacramento, would also provide state resources to carry out the plans. The Rancho Santa Fe School District is making indoor masking optional for students. This comes as the state has not issued additional guidance on when it might loosen mask rules. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report On Tuesday, truck drivers, opposed to COVID-19 mandates, are supposed to set off on what they’re calling “The People’s Convoy” from the city of Adelanto in San Bernardino County. Their destination? Washington D.C. Guest: Ryan Broderick, Journalist with the tech website The Verge There’s been an ongoing dispute between UC Berkeley and a neighborhood group over building more student housing to accommodate growing enrollment at Cal. But new legislation could allow public universities and other state schools to build on-campus housing without an environmental review. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED    The California Democratic Party says it will no longer accept donations from the fossil fuel industry. The state Democratic party is trying to align its financial sources with its rhetoric on the need for climate action. Reporter: Katrina Schwartz, KQED 

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize two regions of Ukraine as independent states and send in Russian troops has led to greater global concerns that things could escalate quickly in the region. And many with ties to the Ukraine in the Bay Area are worried about the safety of friends and family. Reporter: Cesar Saldaña, KQED California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger is said to be on President Biden’s short list to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED In 2021, the murder rate went up in several California cities, including Oakland, which saw homicides reach a 15 year high. At the same time, there are continuing calls to cut the police budget, with many in the community arguing the money could be spent on other programs they think could better deal with the roots of crime. Guest: LeRonne Armstrong, Oakland Chief of Police

Alberto Carvalho faces many challenges as he takes over the Los Angeles Unified School District. One of his main goals is dealing with some of the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to both students and teachers, Guest: Alberto Carvalho, LA Unified Superintendent Millions of Americans with disabilities face barriers to getting married. Tying the knot can mean losing the federal benefits they rely on. Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU Governor Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats say they’ll use the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning on the Texas anti-abortion law to advance gun more control measures in California. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED A few years ago, Stephanie Foo was working as a successful radio journalist, producing stories for the show, This American Life. Then, it all started to unravel. The pain from Foo’s past – she suffered terrible child abuse – was catching up with her, and she's written a memoir about it. Guest: Stephanie Foo, Journalist and Author of the book “What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma”

Former Chancellor Joseph Castro’s departure was announced Thursday after the Fresno State Academic Senate - which represents the schools’ faculty - issued a declaration of no confidence in the chancellor earlier this week. Isolation, fear, and remote learning because of the pandemic have been changing how teenagers think about school. Reporter: Caroline Smith, KQED  As California is on track to have the driest February on record, the tool is designed to help residents make better decisions about how they use water. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED In a press conference yesterday Governor Newsom said Californians should move away from a reactive mindset and learn to live with the virus. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Clinics that have been vaccinating people who use MediCal say the debt is affecting their operations. A new senate bill aims to shore up funding. Reporter: Jackie Fortiér, KPCC The first season of "Imperfect Paradise" is about the struggle to get unhoused people in Orange County into stable housing. The problem isn't always finding land, or money. It's convincing the neighbors. Former Vice-President Mike Pence was invited to speak at Stanford University by the Stanford College Republicans. Pence discussed topics such as the January 6th insurrection and the 2020 presidential election, to a mix of applause and heckling.

The first records released to KQED under an expanded police transparency law signed by Governor Newsom last year give the public a glimpse into how police departments investigate officer discrimination. The police department of Avenal, a small town in the Central Valley, cut the pay of a sergeant for using a racial slur while on-duty.  Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Bay Area Representative Jackie Speier is introducing a bill that would take federal pensions away from congressmembers who are convicted of sexual abuse. She said the bill was inspired by disciplinary standards in the U.S. military.  Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED  Cal State University’s Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a closed door meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to launch an investigation into the actions of Chancellor Jospeh Castro. Castro is accused of mishandling sexual harrassment claims while he served as president of Fresno State University. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report   

Sea levels along the U.S. coastline are projected to rise by a foot or more by 2050, according to new federal data. But the projections are lower for the West Coast than for the rest of the country. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED Climate Reporter  California’s battle against single-use plastic waste continues this week. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would limit the types of packaging online retailers can use. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  State lawmakers have announced two bills to tackle COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation online. One specifically asks for help from social media platforms, to better recognize what's being done to counter COVID-19 confusion. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  The revelation this week that San Francisco police used DNA provided by a sexual assault victim, to identify and arrest her years later for an unrelated crime is generating national outrage. Many are now calling for legislation to ban the practice. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED  The Kern County Sheriff’s Department says it’s received 1,500 inquiries, after releasing a recruitment video targeting Los Angeles County deputies who are at risk of losing their jobs if they don’t get vaccinated for COVID-19. Masks are no longer required in most indoor settings across the state, although some counties are keeping those guidelines in place. Many businesses are continuing to require employees to wear masks, as a way to better protect them from COVID-19. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

While masking requirements will be lifted for most settings in California starting February 16th, schools aren't one of them – yet. This has school staff, healthcare officials, and others debating when the time is right to unmask Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED The Roseville Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees voted last week to make face coverings optional. According to a new Berkeley IGS poll, Governor Newsom's response to crime and homelessness got especially poor reviews, but it wasn't all bad news. Two-thirds of voters thought the pandemic is improving. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin says San Francisco Police store DNA evidence of victims of sexual assaults, and routinely check that DNA for links to other crimes. Sexual violence prevention advocates are calling for an immediate end to the practice. Over a dozen bills primarily targeting Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta are being discussed in Washington D.C. One big issue is how the companies use their users' personal data. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED A new report by the Gender Equity Policy Institute says that undocumented women in California earn 49 cents to every dollar made by white men. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED  

Mask mandates are soon disappearing for most people in California, but they’ll remain in place at congregate settings like immigrant detention centers. In many of these facilities, COVID-19 is spreading, but detained people say it’s been tough to get a booster shot to protect themselves. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Immigrant rights advocates are warning Cambodian communities in California about deportations in the coming weeks. During the pandemic, deportations were paused, but some warn they're starting back up again. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC  The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 at SoFi Stadium. Fans celebrated across Los Angeles, causing some damage, particularly in the downtown area. The filing deadline has passed for people who want to run in this year's mayoral election in Los Angeles. But before it did, one final candidate got in under the wire. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The Port of Los Angeles has gotten the green light to open a new dock-worker training center later this year. The goal is to prepare workers for a future with more automation at one of the nation's largest ports. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  In a new proposal, the CDC could loosen some of the restrictions on opioid prescribing that some doctors have said harm patients dealing with chronic pain.  Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED  

Nearly two years into the pandemic, California is still under a state of emergency. And Republican state lawmakers are trying to change that. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Super Bowl 56 takes place this weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. And while the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals do battle on the field, another battle is taking place in the community -- over rising homes prices, rent and gentrification. Guest: Erin Aubry Kaplan, Journalist and Writer With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations falling fast in L.A. County, some outdoor mask restrictions may be lifted as soon as next week. But it may take awhile longer to lift restrictions on indoor masking. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  The state of California is suing electric car maker Tesla, alleging widespread racial discrimination and harassment at the company’s auto plant in Fremont. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The California Board of State and Community Corrections met on Thursday to discuss programs funded by Prop 47, a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014, that may have reduced recidivism. In addition to reducing penalties for certain crimes, Prop 47 also funded mental health services, substance abuse treatment and other programs. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is facing a recall election in June and another effort is underway to push Los Angeles DA George Gascon out of office. Both are seen as progressive when it comes to crime, and have butted heads with law enforcement agencies. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED Political Correspondent Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Wednesday that would extend supplemental paid sick leave. He also said state health officials will be releasing more information in the coming days on masking in schools. Almost 60% of young people aged 16 to 25 feel worried or extremely worried about climate change, according to a survey released late last year that polled people in 10 countries. Some younger people in California are channeling that anxiety into action.   Reporter: Gabriella Frenes, The California Report

Fresno State University is creating a new task force to assess its policies and procedures on harassment and discrimination. This comes after a recent investigation by USA Today revealed that the school’s former president and current Cal State University Chancellor Joseph Castro badly mishandled claims of sexual harassment against a top administrator. Traditionally, it’s been easy to become an auto mechanic and never touch an electric car or truck. That may be changing as the state prepares for the year 2035, when all new vehicles sold are supposed to be electric. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  Officials in San Diego County are asking the state Department of Public Health to issue new guidelines on when it’s safe to phase out the COVID-19 mask mandate for schools. This comes as indoor mask rules are set to expire for fully vaccinated Californians next week. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  The town of Paradise continues the slow, painstaking and painful process of rebuilding from 2018’s Camp Fire. Part of that process involves confronting the history of why the tragedy happened. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

California is easing some of the pandemic restrictions put in place during the omicron surge, including the statewide indoor mask requirement. That mandate will expire on February 15. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  A new California law will require schools to expand their mental health instruction. Educators say it would have been a welcome mandate before the pandemic, and it’s even more so now. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC A recall campaign led by extreme conservative groups to remove a Shasta County Supervisor has succeeded. The target of the recall was himself a Republican. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED There are growing calls for a full investigation of California State University Chancellor Joseph Castro, after an investigation found that in a previous job, he failed to discipline a senior administrator following a series of workplace harassment complaints. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio The city of Los Angeles has put a pause on impounding cars for unpaid parking tickets. The directive follows a lawsuit that could shake up how L.A. enforces parking. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW  Officials in Woodside, in San Mateo County, have backed down from their plan to sidestep Senate Bill 9, the state’s new housing law, over concern for local mountain lions. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

When the omicron surge first swept through California, nursing homes implemented more stringent testing requirements for visitors. It was right about the same time that California started allowing COVID positive nurses who aren’t showing symptoms to keep showing up to work. That has many visitors feeling confused, and frustrated. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Fewer and fewer students in California are taking the bus to school. As the numbers continue to decline, Bay Area State Senator Nancy Skinner is hoping legislation will help give families more options. But even if Skinner’s legislation is passed, can enough school bus drivers be found? Many districts are already reporting problems hiring and keeping drivers because of the job market and COVID-19. That includes in Sacramento. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  Wildfires are a greater threat during periods of drought, which should surprise no one. But new research from Stanford University shows that the wildfire threat during times of scant rainfall is not spread evenly.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED  

Los Angeles’ lowest paid workers will get a pay bump this summer. Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced that the city's minimum wage will rise to more than $16 an hour on July 1. Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW The 2022 Winter Olympic Games open in Beijing Friday. And that sporting spectacle has some people remembering the one and only time the Winter Games were held here in California. It was 1960 at the then named Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe. Guest: David Antonucci, Author of the book "Snowball’s Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games" LA County health officials have announced their new criteria for when that county indoor mask mandate can be lifted.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC In response to the omicron surge, the Newsom administration is increasing its reliance on a border wall company to provide medical staffing around the state. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  

Safety is one of the major concerns for Southern California officials, with the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium a little more than a week away. But there’s also the pandemic. Even though infection rates in Los Angeles County have steadily declined, the county is still averaging thousands of new cases a day over the past week. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC In recent weeks, Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested that state health officials are working on an endemic plan for California, which would outline how the state will live with COVID-19. But with the omicron wave and possible other variants down the line, should the state ease some of its restrictions? Guest: Dr. Abraar Karan, Infectious Disease Expert, Stanford University School of Medicine A new poll shows the COVID-19 pandemic still tops the list of concerns for Californians. Nearly one-fifth of those polled by the Public Policy Institute of California say COVID-19 is the most important issue for state leaders to tackle in 2022. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED A state lawmaker is introducing legislation that would require school officials to collect information from parents about guns they store at home. The bill from State Senator Anthony Portantino was inspired by a school shooting in Michigan last year. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED   The nation’s troubled immigration courts would get an overhaul under a bill being introduced Thursday by San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. They've been plagued by a backlog of 1.6 million cases, and lack due process protections. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A state appeals court has rejected a bid by a group of 22 PG&E employee, to black out their names from evidence gathered during the criminal investigation into the 2018 Camp Fire. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  2022 is an election year. And more California counties will be making the switch from polling places to larger vote centers, where people can cast their ballots over several days. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

The water contained in California’s mountain snow is now lower than the historical average, after a January without significant rain or snow. That could mean another difficult drought year for Californians. Guest: Ezra David Romero, Climate Reporter, KQED With the extremely dry January, preceded by a very wet December, state officials say it's part of the volatile shifts in weather brought about by climate change. But as we head into another year of drought, some cities are trying to get ahead on conservation efforts. Guest: Laura Bliss, Bloomberg CityLab Reporter  In rural Shasta County, an effort to recall a county supervisor who his critics said was too deferential to Sacramento’s COVID-19 restrictions is too close to call.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED   The fallout from California's failed attempt to pass single-payer healthcare legislation continues. Assemblyman Ash Kalra is defending his decision to not bring the bill up for a vote. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED California has been a national leader in the movement to get residents healthcare coverage. But a recent analysis out of UCLA finds disparities in access to care persist.  Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

After a big spike, COVID-19 cases are now falling in California. And hospitalizations are also declining. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Starting Tuesday, people who are vaccinated and boosted can take off their masks in certain indoor spaces in San Francisco. The new rule says anyone who’s fully vaccinated can go maskless in places like gyms, offices, college classes and religious services.  Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED   While San Francisco is relaxing its mask rules, LA County’s mask mandate remains in place. The mandate will only be lifted if cases, hospitalizations and transmission hit a low benchmark, under county criteria put in place last fall.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  California lawmakers’ most recent attempt to create a single-payer health system, that would have provided coverage to all Californians, is now dead. The proposal didn't even come up for a vote in the state legislature on Monday.   Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED New traffic fatality numbers are out for California cities and they show that last year, our streets got more dangerous even though cities, like Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, have launched ambitious programs to reduce traffic deaths. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A new director will be sworn in Tuesday to head the state’s Employment Development Department, or EDD. That’s the agency that’s faced a barrage of criticism for paying out billions in fraudulent unemployment claims while legitimate applicants struggled to get the help they were due.  Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report A bill that would create a new commission to set pay and working conditions in California's fast food industry won approval in the state Assembly on Monday. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  

The Rams and 49ers renewed their rivalry on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. And after falling behind early, Los Angeles got a late field goal and interception to seal the win. They're now headed to the Super Bowl in two weeks, which will be played on their home field, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. SB9, a new law in California, allows some homeowners to divide and redevelop their properties, with the hope of producing more homes and apartments. But many are divided on the law and what it will mean for their community and the neighborhoods they live in. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A bill that would create a government-run, single-payer health care system in California goes before the full state Assembly on Monday for a vote.  Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED  State investigators found a company with Burger King franchises in San Francisco owes nearly $2 million for wage theft. But that was a year and a half ago. And workers are still waiting for their money, as the state has not scheduled a hearing to finalize their case. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

The Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday in the NFC Championship at SoFi Stadium. Ticketing for the game has been controversial, as the Rams have tried to make it more difficult for Niners fans to grab seats. Guest: Tony Knopp, CEO of Ticketmanager  Even though Los Angeles County appears to be past the omicron peak, health officials say residents can’t get complacent. LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrer estimates that the peak was January 8th, but said the virus is still circulating. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  In rural Shasta County, about 3 hours north of Sacramento, a Republican county supervisor is the target of a recall. A recall initiated by a local militia leader. The election is next week and the outcome could determine how far to the right this local government will move, in an already deeply conservative county.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Oil drilling in Los Angeles is on the way out. The city council has voted unanimously to ban new oil and gas wells and to phase out existing ones over the next 20 years. Gas stoves have greater health and climate impacts than scientists previously thought. That's according to a new study out of Stanford University. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Nearly half of Californians have postponed addressing a health issue in the past 12 months because of cost. That’s according to the latest annual poll by the California Health Care Foundation. Reporter: Tara Siler, KQED  California is the first state in the nation to examine how to compensate Black residents for centuries of racial injustice. The state's Reparations Task Force meets this week to further study how the impacts of slavery are felt today and to ask several daunting questions about how to remedy the harm. Guest: Christina Kim, Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter, KPBS

A lot of people have had to call out sick from work this winter. Either they had COVID-19, or their kid had it. Now, under a new deal brokered with Governor Gavin Newsom, California workers may get retroactive sick leave for the time they had to take off.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  20 states started this year off with a new increase in their minimum wage, including California. A new study finds those wage hikes can help low-income renters avoid eviction.  Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC In downtown Sacramento the restored Sutter Fort is a hot spot for elementary school field trips. People in pioneer costumes. Exhibits of colonial era tools. The fort helped shape California as we know it - but at great cost to Indigenous people.  Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio  Along the rugged coast of Mendocino County, groves of towering old growth redwoods were once the hunting and fishing grounds of indigenous tribes. Until European settlers and loggers arrived. Now, one of those forests is being returned to its Native inhabitants. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED  Renters in Los Angeles County are getting extra protections to stay in their homes. The county is extending its moratorium on evictions for tenants who can’t pay their rent because of the pandemic.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s running for reelection. The announcement ends speculation Pelosi might retire. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

In the next week, legislation that would help create a single-payer health plan in California will face a key test. The bill must pass out of the Assembly by January 31 or it’s dead. The effort is being led by the state’s nurses union, but opposed by the largest association of doctors. Guest: Dr. Micah Johnson, co-author of the book Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide Legislation introduced by State Senator Richard Pan would eliminate a personal belief exemption in school-based COVID-19 vaccination requirements. The proposal is expected to face strong pushback from those who have fought vaccine mandates. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will renew their rivalry Sunday at SoFi Stadium, with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line. The Rams are hoping their fans show up more than they did in the regular season finale between the two teams.

California regulators are taking more time to consider changing the state’s solar marketplace. This comes after a proposal released in mid-December roiled the solar industry.  Reporter Erik Anderson, KPBS  Both the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams have advanced to the NFC Championship this weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The winner will head to the Super Bowl, which is also being held at SoFi.

Kamala Harris Visits San Bernardino To Announce Wildfire Prevention Funds Harris will announce 1.3 Billion Dollars in disaster relief funding for the U.S. Forest Service. Nearly half of that will go to California. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KVCR U.S Senator Alex Padilla on Voting Rights Setback California’s junior U.S. Senator, Democrat Alex Padilla, has just marked his first year in office. A progressive who’s an ardent supporter of much of the Biden Administration’ policy goals, Padilla has participated in some victories, like the passage of the big infrastructure bill. But he’s also seen a lot of what he went to Washington to do, like immigration reform and more social spending, blocked by both Republicans and his fellow Democrats.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report New Study Shows How Generations of Race Based Prescribing Guidelines Were Wrong For generations, doctors have been taught to prescribe certain medications to Black patients with high blood pressure. A new study out this week from UCSF finds those guidelines showed no benefits. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED 

There’s been a lot of debate lately in California over whether efforts to roll back tough on crime laws have gone too far. Often, those conversations pit law enforcement officials against those who support the reforms. But a a California program to lower prison sentences is being embraced by prosecutors in both red and blue counties. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  The mad scramble for at-home COVID tests has been frustrating for Californians since omicron hit. And for people who have friends and loved ones in skilled nursing facilities, the search is becoming even more of an urgent issue. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report A new bill introduced in Sacramento would increase fines health insurers have to pay when they break the law. The goal is to make sure patients get the care they’re entitled to. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED The federal judge who has overseen Pacific Gas & Electric's probation for the last five years says the company continues to be a wildfire menace to Californians. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  California's forests will need to look a lot different if they’re going to survive the challenges of a warming world. New research out of the University of California and the US Forest Service, provides a roadmap. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED  San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s new proposal to loosen surveillance camera rules, as part of her plan to crack down on crime, is facing competition from another measure on the June ballot. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

The new federal program that allows people to order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the mail launched Tuesday, one day early. The order form looks pretty simple, but wasn’t easy for everyone who tried to submit orders. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED Senior Engagement Editor The omicron surge has jammed hospital emergency rooms with patients. Many of them arrive by ambulance, creating long waits. But officials in Los Angeles County say ambulance response times are improving.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  With the omicron wave of COVID-19 spreading fast, immigration courts in San Francisco are postponing many hearings. But that pause could be a ray of hope for people in an expedited asylum process. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

The surge in the omicron variant has left hospitals across California struggling with staffing and in many cases, a rapid increase in COVID-positive patients. But can the state, and U.S. in general learn from some of the successes other countries are having in managing COVID right now? Guest: Eric Topol, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research  For the first time starting this year, agricultural employers in California –- like farmers and farm labor contractors with 26 or more employees -- have to pay their workers overtime after an eight-hour day or 40-hour week. While farmworker advocates are celebrating this change, it’s also created some unintended consequences.  Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio The San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles has one of the highest concentrations of Asian residents in the country. But a new survey indicates a pandemic’s worth of racist incidents has many there feeling shaken. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC

Many in-person celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been canceled Monday due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant in California. Despite that, his legacy lives on, particularly in the work being done by California's Legislative Black Caucus, led by State Senator Steven Bradford. Guest: Steven Bradford, State Senator, 35th District First it was new cases and hospitalizations. Now, COVID-19 deaths have jumped significantly in Los Angeles County.

On Thursday, nurses across the state held rallies to demand safe staffing levels and stronger workplace protections. It comes as more and more hospital staff across the state are testing positive for COVID-19. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Starting this week, some people with weakened immune systems are eligible for a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine. There are an estimated seven million people in the U.S. who are immunocompromised, many of whom don’t produce the necessary antibodies to respond to an infection. That leaves them more susceptible to a virus like COVID-19. Guest: Dr. Lindsay Ryan, an internist at UC San Francisco who is herself immunocompromised Governor Gavin Newsom will not allow Robert Kennedy’s killer to be freed from prison, announcing Thursday that he has reversed a decision made by the state’s parole board last summer Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED     As the Omicron variant continues to surge throughout the country, here’s one bit of welcome news. New data based on Southern California patients shows they’re not getting as sick as those infected by the Delta strain.   Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW  Worker advocates are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to again require that employers provide two weeks of COVID-19 paid sick leave. The last round expired in September. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero  

Starting this weekend, the costs of at-home COVID-19 tests will be covered for people with private insurance or a group health plan. That means, if you have this kind of coverage and you go online or into a drugstore to purchase a test, the cost should be covered up front or via reimbursement. Guest: Krutika Amin, a Kaiser Family Foundation expert on the Affordable Care Act State prison officials are grappling with a surge in COVID-19 cases in their facilities as the omicron variant spreads. It's impacting both those who are incarcerated and prison staff. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED   A state bill that would limit so-called Ellis Act evictions will move forward in the legislature after it passed out of an assembly committee on Wednesday. It would require people who purchase a building to wait at least 5 years before invoking the Ellis Act. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED 

A single payer healthcare bill passed its first legislative hurdle in Sacramento Tuesday night. It’s one of two new proposals that would dramatically increase access to healthcare for Californians. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio  Hundreds of thousands of Californians might lack access to safe drinking water. That’s according to recent study from UCLA and UC Berkeley. And the drinking water problem disproportionately affects communities of color. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Agriculture is one of the industries hit hardest by supply chain snarls. New research shows that losses from so-called “containergeddon” have reached the billions here in California. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio COVID-19 has affected our mental health in ways we’re only just beginning to understand. For some, the stressors of the pandemic created an added layer of anxiety on top of an already deeply uncertain world.  Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC

Governor Gavin Newsom has released his proposed $286 billion state budget for the coming fiscal year. It includes an expansion of healthcare access to all California residents, regardless of immigration status. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Hospitals in the U.S. are seeing a record number of children hospitalized with COVID-19, and California is no exception. In San Diego, the numbers are especially high, but most of the children are testing positive after being admitted to the hospital. Reporter: Kitty Alvarado, KPBS  The unprecedented surge in new COVID-19 cases has led to a test shortage at retail stores. Over the weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that gives consumers price-gouging protections. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  Grocery stores have been some of the few retailers that have stayed consistently open during the pandemic. Now, a new report highlights how workers at one chain, Kroger’s, which owns Ralph’s and Food 4 Less, are faring and how the virus has impacted their work.  Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Governor Newsom is expected to issue an executive order this week that could help schools get substitute teachers into classrooms. The executive order would do three things, according to a source in the Newsom administration: extend the time long-term subs can stay in schools, shorten the time retired teachers must wait before they become eligible to return as subs, and make it easier to credential new substitutes.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Dr. Bob Wachter with UC San Francisco has been tracking COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. He recently shared a personal story about the virus, after his son tested positive. Guest: Bob Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine at UC San Francisco 

Statewide, some hospitals are buckling under the pressure of Omicron. As the highly contagious variant continues to sweep through the state, a growing number of hospital staffers are testing positive. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  When Governor Gavin Newsom releases his new state budget on Monday, it will include $2.7 billion to expand the state’s COVID-19 response. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  Over the weekend, Los Angeles Unified teachers and students lined up at schools across L.A. to get a COVID test. They’re trying to beat a deadline to get a now required test before school starts on Tuesday. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW In an era of mounting student debt, a community college in Stockton is offering a little help. Administrators at San Joaquin Delta College have announced that COVID-19 relief dollars will be used to erase more than $3.5 million of student debt. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED For months, the state of California has been working to help renters hurt by the pandemic. Now it’s launching a program to assist homeowners.  Reporter: David Wagner , KPCC

California has extended its indoor mask mandate through at least February 15. State health officials sid the move reflects increasing pressure on hospitals, as roughly 8,000 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 statewide. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Thursday marks the one year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, when a mob of pro-Trump supporters violently stormed Congress to try to overturn the lawful 2020 presidential election results. There were many Californians who participated in the insurrection, and some of their cases are still in limbo. Guest: Tom Dreisbach, NPR Investigative Correspondent On the anniversary of the Capitol insurrection, State Senator Scott Wiener is proposing to punish groups that support undermining elections in the future.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED 

An Overwhelmed Testing Site in Richmond The spread of omicron has people scrambling to get tested for COVID-19. But the lines are long, appointments get scooped up fast, and rapid antigen tests are really really hard to find. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Surge of COVID-19 Cases Among City of Los Angeles Emergency Responders Amid the “unprecedented” wave of Covid infections, nearly 1,000 police officers, firefighters and paramedics in the city of Los Angeles aren’t on the job. But Mayor Eric Garcetti says both the police and fire departments have enough staffing to keep the city safe. Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW Federal Prosecutors Opt Not to Extend PG&E Criminal Probation Federal prosecutors have announced they will not try to extend Pacific Gas and Electric’s criminal probation beyond its scheduled end later this month. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED 

California has shattered previous records for new daily coronavirus cases this week and the state’s test positivity rate is higher than its been. In most places around the state, hospitalizations remain much lower than earlier surges, thanks to vaccinations and a milder variant.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED With the state legislature back in session in Sacramento, Republicans are aiming to get some of their agenda items passed this year, even if they're in the clear minority in both the Assembly and Senate. Guest: Scott Wilk, California State Senate Minority Leader State water officials are asking Californians to cut back on unnecessary water use, or face fines. Water regulators have asked for 15% water cutbacks, but Californians are saving less than half of that.   Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  CalFire investigators have determined that a Pacific Gas & Electric power line sparked last summer's destructive Dixie Fire in the northern Sierra. A tree came into contact with the line in the Feather River Canyon.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Hotel workers in the city of West Hollywood now earn the highest minimum wages in the country. That’s thanks to a new local law.   Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW

COVID-19 cases are surging among both adults and children in Los Angeles County, as kids hospitalized with COVID-19 jumped nearly 190% last month. Despite the spike in infections, school is back in session next week for students who attend the L.A. Unified School District. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW  California's Senate and Assembly are back in session in Sacramento. There are a number of issues on the table, with everything from housing and homelessness, to the pandemic. Guest: Anthony Rendon, California Assembly Speaker One of the most powerful labor advocates in the California Legislature has announced a surprise departure. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez is leaving to work with the California Labor Federation. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Central Valley Republican Congressman Devin Nunes has officially retired, after nearly two decades in Congress. It's still unclear when a special election will be held to decide who serves the rest of his term. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED A state lawmaker wants to change how schools are funded. He says the proposal would lead to an additional $3 billion a year for school districts.  Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED   A judge in San Francisco has signaled he may be willing to extend Pacific Gas and Electric’s federal court probation, beyond its scheduled end later this month.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  Thousands of residents in Nevada, Placer and El Dorado counties are still without power, more than a week after massive snow storms pounded the region.  Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED

COVID-19 cases continue to surge in California. And while hospitalizations are also on the rise, it's not the same surge as the state saw during the summer and last winter. Guest: Dr. Monica Gandhi, Infectious Disease Expert, UC San Francisco Scientists and volunteers from San Diego to the Oregon border are flocking to shorelines on Monday, to document king tides. Researchers say these king tides are increasingly important to record because they offer a look into growing threats from climate change. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  Hospitals and blood donation centers are asking healthy Californians to give blood, amid a nationwide shortage. The pandemic closed many traditional blood drive locations for months, just as the need for blood has increased as more people undergo delayed surgeries. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC 

2021 proved to be an exciting year in the world of space exploration. From successful missions to Mars to private companies launching their own rockets, it all bodes well for the expansion of space exploration in the coming years. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED

Sherman Indian High School in Riverside is a boarding school, where Native American students from across the country can come and earn a high school diploma while also maintaining their tribal traditions and language. They also have a museum for the school’s 100 year history, that has brought healing to many in the indigenous community. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW 

California is often a place where people resettle to live out their dreams. But following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, it's been a refuge for Afghans, who have often times struggled with the culture shift of living in California and the United States. Guest: Mustafa, Former Interpreter for American organizations in Afghanistan

Groundwater is an important part of the puzzle in the state's outlook for water supplies, especially during drought years. And the state is now reviewing sustainability plans that have been put together by local agencies. Guest: Kerry Klein, Reporter KVPR

The holidays often highlight the need for kindness. There are many ways people can be kind or learn to do so. Guest: Daniel Fessler, Director, UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute 

The small city of Sanger, which is about a twenty-minute drive east of Fresno, is recognized as “The Nation’s Christmas Tree City.” But where did the name come from?  Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio 

All healthcare workers and nursing home staff in California will be required to get a COVID-19 booster shot by February 1. The announcement comes as cases and hospitalizations continue to surge, in large part due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED There are a lot of scary threats Meta — aka Facebook — is trying to counter with a combination of artificial intelligence and human content moderators. But innocents are still getting deleted from the platform. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Hollywood is still reeling from the devastating shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. And according to a new report, the lull in production hit California especially hard. Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW It’s almost Christmas, but even if you don’t celebrate, you can still savor the holiday delicacies that abound across the state, whether in bakery shop fronts or family kitchens. In the Bay Area, the sheer variety of holiday treats says a lot about the cultural richness of the region.  Guest: Luke Tsai, KQED Food Editor

California will require all healthcare workers to get the COVID vaccine booster. Healthcare workers in California are already mandated to be vaccinated. Every mile or so along Highway 101 in Central California, you can find a cast iron bell supported by a shepherd’s hook hanging next to the roadway. The bells follow a network of roads called the El Camino Real, between the 21 Spanish missions from Sonoma to San Diego. But to many Native Americans, the history of California’s missions is a painful one.  Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU If you’re a student or staffer on a University of California campus, you’re gonna need to get a COVID-19 booster shot. The UC system announced the new booster requirement this week, citing the fast-spreading omicron variant.  Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Did you know there’s a good chance your child's personal info is on the dark web? That’s because hackers target schools, along with everything else. But there are ways you can protect your child's information. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED 

Public school students are on break this week, and with the omicron variant rapidly on the rise, many California districts sent students home with school-issued rapid COVID-19 testing kits. The state’s department of public health is providing the kits to districts. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED California Governor Gavin Newsom thinks he’s found a way to crack down on illegal guns in a way that will avoid being struck down by the federal courts. As his model, he’s using a Texas law empowering ordinary people to sue anyone who helps a woman get an abortion. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Walmart operates more than 300 stores across California. And according to a lawsuit from the attorney general’s office and a dozen DAs, the retail giant has been knowingly dumping hazardous waste at local landfills, despite being sued before over the very same issue. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The removal of invasive species from the Lake Tahoe basin is underway. It’s the largest effort to date. Reporter: Ed Fletcher, CapRadio 

More rain is on the way, first to Northern California, and then moving down to Southern California later this week. But how much will it impact the state's water resources? Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  State maps may soon show even more homes and buildings are at risk for wildfire. After years of delay, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention says it’s almost ready to release new fire hazard severity maps. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio  Health officials across the state continue to raise concerns about rising hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 cases. This comes as friends and family gather for the holidays. Street food vendors and food trucks are a way of life in Los Angeles and have been for decades. But recent shutdowns of longtime established sites in East Los Angeles have many wondering if these businesses are facing too many restrictions to operate legally. Guest: Janette Villafana, Reporter, LA Taco

This time of year, monarch butterflies from all over the U.S. migrate to coastal California, especially to the small town of Pacific Grove in Monterey County. Last year, for the most part, butterflies stayed away. But they've returned, to the delight of locals and visitors in 2021. Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU  There are growing concerns about the number of people hospitalized in Southern California with COVID-19 symptoms. The numbers have spiked since the Thanksgiving holiday across multiple counties. The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case that could sweep aside efforts to allow California workers to sue their employers, even after signing arbitration agreements.  Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  While many of us were able to stay inside during this week’s storms, people living outside were struggling to stay warm and dry. In Santa Cruz, an encampment along the San Lorenzo River flooded.  Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU 

A federal grand jury has charged a Houston-based oil company in connection with October's Southern California oil spill. Federal prosecutors say Amplify Energy and two of its subsidiaries were negligent by failing to respond to a series of alarms that should have alerted them to the spill, hours before a ruptured pipeline was shut off. California is expanding its program aimed at creating more housing for unhoused people. The state has announced funding for four new projects, with more to come in the weeks ahead, as it plans to distribute almost $2.8 billion.  Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Many Californians who work in offices haven’t been to their workplaces in nearly two years because of the pandemic. Now, with many cities like Los Angeles in the midst of a severe housing crisis, some people want to turn those vacant buildings into housing. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC   California and neighboring states have agreed to take less water from the dwindling Colorado River. Roughly a quarter of the water used in areas serviced by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California comes from the Colorado River, through the country’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report In Los Angeles County, there’s still a wide gap in vaccination rates between Black and Latino residents – compared to whites, Asians and Native Americans. That despite aggressive vaccine outreach.  Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Protesters gathered in San Francisco Wednesday to urge the Biden administration to stop detaining immigrants at a Yuba County jail. This is the last public facility in California to keep a detention contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Interest in cycling has boomed since the beginning of the pandemic, with sales of both regular bicycles e-bikes soaring over the past two years. While many transportation planners and environmentalists are embracing the increase in biking, advocates say there are still not enough safeguards to protect them from cars.  Guest: Dave Snyder, Executive Director, California Bicycling Coalition

Alberto Carvalho is officially the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country. Carvalho was the superintendent of Florida’s Miami-Dade schools, a position he held for 14 years. The California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s energy regulator, is contemplating changes to the relationship between rooftop solar owners and utilities. But critics say the changes could be disastrous for the solar industry’s future in the state.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS For the first time, a spacecraft has touched the sun. Researchers from U.C. Berkeley and NASA announced new findings Tuesday. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED There’s been a lot of talk and analysis about how so many people are fleeing California to find greener pastures somewhere else. But a new report shows that since the start of the pandemic, there hasn’t been a huge exodus out of California. However, significantly fewer people have moved here.  Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED California’s Employment Development Department, or EDD, has been plagued with problems that have left hundreds of thousands of unemployed people furious. Now, Modesto Congressman Josh Harder wants legislation to hold the EDD accountable. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Preparations are well underway for the 2028 Summer Games and Paralympics in Los Angeles. And while it's still years away, the International Olympic Committee is already discussing which sports will and won't be involved.  Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

Starting on Wednesday, Californians will once again have to wear masks indoors at all public places, regardless of their vaccination status. It’s a response to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and public health officials trying to get a handle on the fast-moving omicron variant. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Online gaming companies, Native American casinos, card rooms -- they're all jumping in at the opportunity to be involved in the push to legalize sports betting in the state of California. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California is reducing its emissions that contribute to climate change. But it’s happening too slowly, as the state isn’t on track to meet its goal of reducing those emissions by 40% by the year 2030. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED California would no longer be allowed to expand freeways in underserved communities that are already suffering from the negative health effects of freeways. That's the goal of State Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia's legislation, which she plans to introduce early next year.  Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW  The leading cause of death for Black Californians is homicide, and they tend to live seven fewer years than the average state resident. That’s according to a new report from Measure of America, a non-profit focused on social science research.  Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Prosecutors allege a father and son started this past summer’s devastating Caldor Fire, with a firearm. The blaze destroyed more than 1,000 structures. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  People who have a pet dog will probably agree that animals can really help with your mental health. A nonprofit in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles goes a little bigger with that idea.  Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC 

Hundreds of criminal cases could be in jeopardy following an investigation by the Los Angeles Times into racist and homophobic text messages sent by several officers who at one time worked for the Torrance Police Department. Guest: James Queally, LA Times Reporter A landmark California law aimed at lowering prescription drug prices has been put on hold by a federal judge. The law was meant to prevent drug companies from doing so-called “pay for delay” deals.  Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED  In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act, a more than $2 trillion aid package meant to provide an economic lifeline to the many Americans whose worlds got turned inside out by the pandemic. This legislation led to the sending out of stimulus payments, which have since been expanded, and add up to on average $3200 a person. But one group of Californians is still struggling to get what they’re due nearly two years later. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report 

The coronavirus is spreading fast in Los Angeles County. The region is now back in the CDC’s highest category of transmission. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Prosecutors have announced charges against the father and son suspected of starting the Caldor Fire, which destroyed nearly 800 homes last summer. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio   Many Mexican immigrants in California are transported back home when they hear the music of Los Ángeles Azules. The cumbia band has a devoted following that can be seen at concerts across the country. Guest: Kate Linthicum, Latin America Correspondent, Los Angeles Times In the face of a tough election Devin Nunes announced he is stepping down this week. He’s a Republican Congressman in the Central Valley. He’s not the only one giving up his seat. He joins at least two other California representatives – Democrats Karen Bass in Los Angeles and Jackie Speier in the Bay Area. But what will the loss of seniority mean for California’s clout in Washington? Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

The District Attorney in El Dorado County announced the arrest of a father and son for allegedly starting the Caldor Fire. Both are accused of "reckless arson." Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  California’s Future of Abortion Council is issuing 45 recommendations on how the state can make accessing an abortion easier. The council is making its recommendation as the US Supreme Court considers the fate of Roe v. Wade. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Housing prices continue to skyrocket across much of California, although there has been some leveling off in recent months. Vacation home areas have seen a big rise in sales. Guest: Oscar Wei, Deputy Chief Economist, California Association of Realtors History will be made in the city of Palm Springs on Thursday night because a new mayor is on tap. When Lisa Middleton is sworn in, she will be the first transgender person to serve as mayor in the state of California.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Some vape companies are promising their products help you focus, sleep and relax. But the Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers those claims are not true. Guest: Pamela Ling, Director of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

California continues to struggle through the ongoing drought, and that's left many ski resorts wondering about how much snow they'll actually have this winter. But a storm next week is expected to help. Guest: Bryan Allegretto, Forecaster with OpenSnow Lawmakers discussed how California is going to prevent catastrophic wildfires during an oversight hearing on Tuesday. The hearing comes after a CapRadio investigation found that Governor Gavin Newsom significantly overstated his administration's accomplishments on wildfire prevention.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio In L.A. County, residents are avoiding going outside because they don’t want to breathe dirty air. That’s one of the most recent findings from a USC Dornsife survey. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A lawsuit filed this week in a California court asks for more than $150 billion in compensation from Meta, aka Facebook, for failing to stop the spread of hate speech on its platform against the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED  While much of the attention has been on the COVID-19 vaccine, doctors are also advising everyone to get their flu shot. Cases were down significantly last year, in large part due to health orders from the pandemic. Guest: Maria Raven, chief of emergency medicine at UCSF Health

Central Valley Republican Congressman Devin Nunes has announced he’s leaving Congress at the end of the year, before he finishes his current term. Nunes is taking a new job as CEO of Trump Media and Technology Group, a company that’s set to launch a new social media platform next year. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  As more cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus are reported in California, many people have questions about what this means for transmission of the virus. There's also another question in play -- what does this all mean for booster shots? Guest: Dr. Bob Wachter, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF Californians could vote on a pretty substantial increase to the statewide minimum wage next November. That’s if a new effort can gather enough signatures to qualify as a ballot initiative.  Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Scientists say they’ve found possible evidence of the Omicron variant in wastewater in Sacramento and Merced. That suggests the COVID variant could be spreading in those communities.  Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED More than two months after they were ordered to close, following an oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, fishing businesses in Orange County are finally able to get back to some sense of normalcy. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  

California, the state with arguably the toughest gun control laws in the country, often struggles to enforce those laws. A new investigation from CalMatters finds that the state has failed to take guns away from thousands of domestic abusers, and those failures can have deadly consequences. Reporter: Robert Lewis, CalMatters  California has distributed rent relief to less than a third of the 400,000 thousand people who have applied to its assistance program. As the eviction moratorium came to a close this fall, the state encouraged anyone who had outstanding rent payments to apply for rental assistance to stave off eviction. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED The Biden administration has announced plans to reinstate the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program along the border this week, which was first implemented by the Trump administration.  Under the program, asylum seekers must wait in Mexico, sometimes for months, before they can cross into the U.S. for their day in court.  Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler University of California scientists have found that sea level rise could flood over 400 hazardous sites across the state by the end of the century. Scientists identified power plants, refineries, and hazardous waste sites in shoreline cities like Oakland and East Palo Alto, and across the state. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

Another confirmed case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected – this time, in Los Angeles County. According to public health officials, the infected person is an L.A. resident who had traveled to South Africa, returning to Southern California late last month. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  An investigation by KQED and the California Newsroom has been looking into the state’s failure to enforce regulations meant to protect farm workers and others exposed to wildfire smoke. Earlier this year, lawmakers tried to boost enforcement, but Governor Newsom’s administration stepped in and blocked their efforts. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  The redistricting process is coming to a close soon, as the commission tasked with drawing new district lines gets ready to submit its final maps. One of the commission’s biggest challenges has been to draw the lines in a way that preserves the voting power of California’s growing Latino population. And a lot of those voters are in the Central Valley. Guest: Lori Pesante, Director of Civic Engagemnt & Government Relations, Dolores Huerta Foundation

The experts said it was coming, and they were right. Scientists have found the first case of the Omicron variant in the country in a San Francisco resident. Guest: Dr. Monica Gandhi, Infectious Disease Doctor, UC San Francisco California rules meant to protect outdoor workers from the dangers of wildfire smoke are almost never enforced. That’s the finding of an investigation by KQED and The California Newsroom.  Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED & California Newsroom The state Department of Water Resources is promising no water next year for rural and urban areas, unless they need it for basic necessities. This comes as the state is dealing with another year of drought. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, which guarantees a woman’s right to an abortion. Here in California, abortion laws are among the most progressive in the country. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get an abortion here, especially if you live in a rural area.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED California’s Sierra Nevada region has been known for being a winter wonderland in the coldest months. But a new study shows the Sierra snowpack could all but disappear in just 25 years. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this week in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s the 1973 ruling that affirms a woman’s Consitutional right to receive an abortion. If it's overturned, abortion advocates are preparing for a surge in out-of-state patients travelling to California for the procedure.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  A temporary injunction stopping the San Diego Unified School district's vaccine mandate for students 16 and older could be lifted as early as Tuesday. The district is being sued by a student who claims the mandate is a form of religious discrimination. Reporter: MG Perez, KPBS It's still not too late to apply to a U.C. or Cal State school next fall. The university systems are asking most seniors to upload their final documents by November 30. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is visiting the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday. He’ll update local officials on the Biden Administration’s efforts to ease supply chain problems. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Yosemite National Park is digging into its past to tell a more inclusive story of the people who helped contribute to its history. That includes the story of a neglected building near the Wawona Hotel in the park Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio

In February, the Biden administration began winding down former President Donald Trump’s controversial “Remain-in-Mexico” program. It sent people seeking asylum in this country back to Mexico to wait months for their day in immigration court in the U.S. But over the summer, a Texas judge ordered government officials to restart the program, and the Biden administration plans to roll it back out soon. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a mandate for all prison staff in California to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or provide proof of a religious or medical exemption. Prison officials and the union representing correctional officers have argued the mandate would lead to staffing shortages. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED

The breakdown in the global supply chain has sent food prices soaring. That’s hurting local restaurants still struggling to get out from under the pandemic. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC  A new report from CalMatters shows the global supply chain issues are impacting California hospitals. Many medical facilities are waiting on medical devices that are critical for patient care. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

As many people celebrate Thanksgiving in California, some Native Americans have a different perspective on this day and what it means. Among the challenges indigenous people face is keeping their cultures alive. Reporter: Alice Daniel, Valley Public Radio Many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, but chefs may also be busy preparing a meal for family and friends at home. Guests: Mark Dommen, One Market in San Francisco, Mica Talmor, Pomella in Oakland, Suzanne Tracht, Jar in Los Angeles  

NASA has launched a first-of-its-kind mission from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base called DART, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test. Guest: Jason Davis, Editorial Director, The Planetary Society A year-long study on a part of the Mojave Desert has found that the night sky there is really, really dark. So much so, it might earn the rare distinction as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Winters across the U.S. are getting warmer because of climate change. And in California, an increase of even a few degrees has serious implications for water supplies.  Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Many of us will soon be preparing our Thanksgiving meals this week. But some of the food that will be cooked and served won’t actually be eaten, it will end up in the garbage. And that kind of food waste is a significant contributor to climate change, so much so the state of California is trying to crack down on it with big changes coming up.  Guest: Rachel Wagoner, the director of the state’s recycling agency, Cal-Recycle Last year, Congress passed a law requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to disclose how many veterans got sick and died of the coronavirus in VA nursing homes. The department has finally released some data, but it’s incomplete.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  

With many younger children finally getting their first COVID-19 vaccine shot, and adults getting their booster, many see this holiday season as a bit of a return to normalcy. But health experts say families should still take precautions during gatherings. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  Diablo Canyon, California’s last remaining commercial nuclear power plant located on the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo County is slated to fully close in 2025. While there's been questions raised about what this will mean for energy output and the environment, a former state lawmaker says it's the right time. Guest: Former State Senator Bill Monning Los Angeles County is being sued for making its poorest families endure long waits for food aid. The suit claims the county routinely fails to provide assistance to desperate families within three days, as required by state law.   Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC   Back in April, privacy advocates hailed Apple’s decision to let customers opt out of apps tracking you. But, Apple is still tracking its own customers and serving them up to advertisers. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED 

1,000 acres of sacred land could be restored to the Karuk tribe living along the Klamath River in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. That’s if legislation introduced in Congress is passed. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED  Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County is the state's last commercial nuclear power plant and is set to close in the coming years. But the planned closure is not without controversy. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The DMV is expanding its capacity to administer commercial driving tests, by extending weekend hours and shifting examiners from other parts of the state to Southern California. The hope is that it can clear some of the backlog at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Universal preschool is coming to California in 2025. Yet not everyone is celebrating. In fact, some believe universal preschool could have disastrous consequences for child care centers and families seeking early care, with the impact falling hardest on communities of color.  Reporter: Deepa Fernandes, early childhood reporting fellow at Pacific Oaks College, which is funded in part by First 5 LA

As of Thursday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California was $4.69. According to AAA, that’s a record high and more than $1.50 higher than this time last year. That's led many Californians to rethink their Thanksgiving travel plans. Reporter, Alex Hall, KQED Last week, the state updated its guidance to urge pretty much all Californians to get a COVID booster shot. Now, over a week later and after much confusion online, the state’s My Turn vaccine scheduling site has finally caught up. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and other advocacy groups are suing Sacramento County’s Sheriff, claiming his office illegally transferred immigrants from county jails to federal immigration authorities. The lawsuit alleges Sheriff Scott Jones violated state law by contacting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials about the release of inmates. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report 

Media reports this week are painting a picture of dysfunction, disappointment, and confusion surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris and her role in the Biden administration. Sources inside the White House told CNN that Harris is struggling, and low approval numbers are adding to alleged problems.     Guest: Marisa Lagos, Political Correspondent, KQED The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission is hearing feedback on its proposed district lines for Congress and the state legislature -- and that has major implications for the state's big and growing Latino population.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  One in five Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. has experienced a hate incident in the last year. That’s according to a new report out from the California-based coalition Stop AAPI Hate. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report One of the problems that’s causing disruptions in the global supply chain is a severe shortage of truckers. In San Diego, one driving school is working to keep up with demand. Reporter: Alexandra Rangel, KPBS

In the Central Valley on Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom was promoting COVID-19 booster shots in a community that’s seeing a higher rate of hospitalizations compared to the rest of the state. He also warned about possibly rough pandemic weeks ahead for California. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report  The first in a series of public input meetings is scheduled for Wednesday, on California’s proposed redrawn electoral maps. The state's independent redistricting commission released its preliminary maps last week, based on the most recent census, and suffice it to say, not everyone is happy. Guest: Sameena Kamal, Reporter with CalMatters Bay Area Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier has announced that she will not run for reelection after serving in the House of Representatives since 2008. Speier has been an especially powerful force when it comes to gun control and violence prevention, with her views shaped by a near death incident in her own life.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED   Los Angeles County is looking to help small businesses that have fallen behind on their rent during the pandemic. The Small Business Rent Relief Program would provide grants of up to $40,000 for small businesses in unincorporated areas of the county.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Last week, the California Department of Public Health updated its guidance on booster shots, telling providers to let people judge their own needs for a shot and not turn anyone away. But many are finding that online appointment systems aren’t making getting a booster vaccination easy. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, is looking for thousands of workers. A recent job fair painted a clearer picture of who is looking for jobs in the state, and what employers are looking for. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report In the 1950s and 60s the United States created it’s modern freeway and highway system. It was an engineering marvel, but it also brought pain and injustice like when poorer communities of color literally saw their neighborhoods paved over, forcing residents to move. A new investigation by the Los Angeles Times finds that kind of displacement still happening today when new infrastructure is built. Guest: Liam Dillon, Reporter LA Times After leading the state through two of its worst wildfire seasons on record, CalFire Chief Thom Porter has announced he will retire before the end of this year. Porter says he's retiring to focus on family, his aging parents, and himself. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio

Kaiser Permanente has reached a tentative deal with thousands of healthcare workers in Northern and Southern California, who were prepared to go on strike on Monday. They are still negotiating with a group of engineers, who have been off the job for two months. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC President Biden will sign his administration’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law on Monday. California will get tens of billions of dollars in new federal spending, but will it come quick enough to fix roads, bridges and other transit issues facing the state? Guest: David Kim, Secretary of California's State Transportation Agency While much of the focus has been on the massive backlog at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, residents in nearby communities are also expressing major concerns about pollution from those cargo ships. But a new queuing system being launched this week at the ports could help improve air quality and safety. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  The San Joaquin Valley ranks worst in the nation when it comes to particulate air pollution, and environmental organizations say the Environmental Protection Agency is failing to do something about it. The groups have filed a lawsuit hoping to force the EPA to act. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Some 6,000 lecturers across the University of California system are planning to strike this week. The union representing lecturers has been in negotiations for more than two years and says the UC is refusing to negotiate issues like paid family leave and reimbursement for remote teaching expenses.  Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED  The public comment period will close Monday on proposed new regulations requiring passenger sportfishing and whale watching boats to upgrade to cleaner engines. California’s charter boat operators say the proposed new rules will jeopardize their livelihoods. Reporter: Greta Mart, KRCB

The United Nations climate change conference wraps up Friday in Scotland. And while an agreement hasn't been reached, the summit could have varying impacts on California. Guests: Violet Saena, Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities and Mark Hertsgaard, Executive Director of Covering Climate Now and Environment Correspondent for The Nation Magazine Kaiser Permanente could be hit by multiple statewide labor strikes beginning on Monday. Thousands of the company's healthcare workers in California are threatening to walk off the job over contract talks.  Reporter: Tara Siler, KQED  There was a significant increase in hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 2020, mainly fueled by racially-motivated attacks. That's according to the annual crime report released this week by the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Workers in practically every sector seem to be in short supply these days, and with Christmas season around the corner, you can add Santa to that list. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW 

State health officials are advising adults who want to get a COVID-19 booster shot to do so before the holiday season. This comes as the state is warning about a possible surge in COVID-19 cases this winter. Fossil fuels are the biggest driver of human-made climate change. So why has an analysis by environmental group Global Witness tallied more than 500 gas and oil lobbyists at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow? Guest: Kassie Siegel, Director for the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute California’s state delegation to the United Nations climate conference is packed with Latino power players. Latinos in California are not of the same mind when it comes to climate policy. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED

The United Nations has released a draft of a climate accord that urges nations to “revisit and strengthen” their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. That’s not just carbon dioxide, it’s methane too. And earlier at COP26, countries committed to slash methane emissions.   Guest: Rachel Becker, Environmental Reporter, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom broke his silence around his absence from the United Nations climate change conference in Scotland, saying he skipped the trip to spend Halloween with his kids.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED When oceans and climate change are in the same sentence, it’s usually negative. But at the international climate conference COP26, a Bay Area ecologist pointed to marine sanctuaries as a climate change solution. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Researchers at the Public Health Institute followed more than 18,000 women who were pregnant in Oakland in the early ‘60s, and received injections of a synthetic hormone intended to prevent miscarriages. Fast forward six decades and their offspring may face a greater cancer risk.  Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Many people in California are concerned about the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the state. A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California finds an overwhelming majority say the gap between the haves and have-nots is getting bigger. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Fast food workers across California walked off the job Tuesday, to advocate for better working conditions. The workers are calling for the passage of an Assembly bill which would help set standards for industry wages and working conditions.  Reporter: Shehreen Karim, KQED Former California Governor Jerry Brown has convened a group of experts and ex-government officials to tackle one of the state's biggest problems: wildfires.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio

The massive infrastructure package that's awaiting President Biden's signature is expected to have a longstanding impact on California. And it won't just be fixing roads and modernizing transit projects. Guest: Serena Alexander, Associate Professor with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University At the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, state senators from California and their counterparts in Washington state discussed merging part of their cap-and-trade markets, as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Fast food workers across California are walking out on Tuesday to advocate for better working conditions. The workers are calling for the passage of Assembly Bill 257, which would establish a fast food council to set standards for industry wages and working conditions.  Reporter: Shehreen Karim, KQED  After burning nearly a million acres, the Dixie Fire, which started in July northwest of Lake Tahoe, was fully contained late last month. But for many communities in Northern California, the recovery process is just beginning. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The tri-colored blackbird, which is native to much of the Central Valley, gained protection under California’s Endangered Species Act in 2018. Since then, populations of the tri-colored blackbird appear to have stopped declining. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio

Southern Californians who live near oil refineries may soon be able to breathe easier. The South Coast Air Quality Management District unanimously passed its biggest emissions rule in decades on Friday. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  The United Nations climate change conference continues this week in Glasgow, Scotland. And one longtime observer says what happens outside of the negotiations is an important aspect of this event. Guest: Chris Field, Director, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Democratic lawmakers in California once wanted to ban state contracts with border wall companies. But after the Newsom administration hired one of those firms for pandemic response, lawmakers are mostly silent on the issue.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  Access to banking is often an indicator of a community’s health. In Imperial County, a shortage of bank branches plus rising temperatures can lead to dangerous outcomes.  Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS

Thousands of unionized Kaiser Permanente nurses and other healthcare workers in Southern California are preparing to go on strike. This comes after months of talks and negotiations have stalled. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  An investigation from the Los Angeles Times has found that thousands of times a year, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pull over bicyclists for minor violations, and then search them even though they often have no reason to suspect they’ll find something illegal. This is particularly impacting the Latino community. Guests: Alene Tchekmedvian and Ben Poston, Reporters, LA Times California just received the last chunk of federal COVID-19 relief dollars, aimed at helping the state’s students recover from the pandemic. The $5 billion being released is money schools are already expecting and brings the total the state has recieved to $15 billion.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED  The Self Parking Program at Long Beach City College will allow students who are living out of their cars to park overnight in one of the college’s parking structures. They'll have access to wi-fi, showers and electrical outlets. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

Many California children, ages 5 to 11, have started getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In Los Angeles alone, more than 900, 000 school-aged children are now eligible for the shot.  Reporter: Jackie Fortiér, KPCC  As the United Nations Climate Change Conference continues in Scotland, many Californians can see the effects right here along the California coast. For instance, look out the window on a trip on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, which connects downtown Los Angeles and downtown San Diego, and the effects of climate change are right in front of you. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California Attorney General Rob Bonta says his office will take a larger role in enforcing California's housing laws. He's launching a 12 member strike force to step up enforcement. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED As the United Nations climate summit continues in Scotland, a majority of Californians are making it clear they support the state’s climate change mitigation goals. And they see the damage caused by global warming. That’s according to new findings from the Public Policy Institute of California.  Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW  Levels of carbon emissions have almost returned to where they were before the pandemic, according to Stanford research. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all children ages 5 through 11 get a low-dose COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. In California, counties across the state are preparing to deliver the shots to children. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva continues to attack his county’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. He claims the sheriff's department could lose thousands of employees because of the mandate, although he hasn't provided evidence that that will actually happen. It’s important to have health insurance, especially during a pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, some insurers chose not to charge COVID-19 patients for expensive hospital stays and therapies. A few have continued that policy as long as the public health emergency is in place, but most are quietly going back to business as usual.  Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California has sent a contingent of officials to attend the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow. The delegation includes state Senator Josh Becker, a Democrat who represents San Mateo County and part of Santa Clara County.  Guest: Josh Becker, Bay Area State Senator State utility regulators have reached proposed settlements with California's two biggest power companies, over allegations they violated safety rules before a string of destructive fires. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric are alleged to have violated a wide range of safety regulations before the blazes, which include the Thomas and Woolsey fires in Southern California and the Kincade Fire north of San Francisco. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  Pacific Gas & Electric ratepayers could be stuck footing at least some of the bill for the Dixie fire. It's just the latest scandal for the troubled utility. Now, a Silicon Valley congressman says he hopes this will be the tipping point that pushes PG&E towards a public takeover. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report

A new report finds that climate change is chiefly responsible for the growing frequency and severity of California's wildfires. The team of researchers from UCLA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory based that estimate on how quickly dry air sucks up moisture.  Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Pacific Gas and Electric says it's received a subpoena from federal prosecutors, in connection with this summer's catastrophic Dixie Fire. The fire burned nearly a million acres and has led to investigations by CalFire and by prosecutors in several counties.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  Like so many other places in the country, California is grappling with its racist past. It’s also looking at the idea of reparations for African Americans and Black descendents of slaves. A new task force is studying this issue, and families are coming forward to share their experiences. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio In the wake of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, Sacramento is struggling with an influx of refugees from the country. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Beccerra visited the region Monday, and heard from refugees about the struggles of finding affordable housing, getting around without a car and enrolling children in school.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Using fresh Census data, state, local and federal political maps are redrawn every ten years to account for population changes over the past decade and to even out representation. The maps by the nonpartisan commission are by no means final. But they show some potentially big shakeups in Northern California’s congressional districts. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio  Geneticists at the San Diego Zoo have found the first ever case of condor reproduction by just a single parent. Testing revealed two young condors, reared by two separate mothers, had only one parent. Their eggs were not fertilized by male sperm.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

The United Nations Climate Change Conference kicks off this week in Scotland. And while Governor Gavin Newsom canceled his trip at the last minute, the state will be well represented, as officials hope to showcase California's ambitious climate goals. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED Climate Reporter Over the weekend, employees of healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente staged worker solidarity rallies. Tens of thousands of Kaiser workers, like nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists are threatening to strike across the state. This past weekend, activists and supporters gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco to celebrate the release of the last remaining person detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Yuba County Jail. Now the “Free The Yuba 11 Coalition” is advocating that federal officials end ICE’s contract with the jail.  Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED A new organization in California hopes to help people who have been released from prison re-integrate back into their communities. The Re-Entry Providers Association of California – or REPAC -- is the nation’s first statewide coordinated effort to help formerly incarcerated people succeed on the outside. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The White House says it's committed to immigration reform, ultimately creating a pathway to citizenship for the 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants who live in this country. A key figure in that effort is California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, who is himself the child of immigrants from Mexico. Guest: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla from California

The state Natural Resources and Water Committee held its first hearing Thursday on the massive oil spill off the coast of Orange County. The cause of the spill remains under investigation. Central Valley farmworkers and their families are calling on state and local officials to restrict the use of 13 pesticides that have been linked to childhood cancers. They also want to be warned ahead of time when these pesticides are used. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Facebook has changed its company name to Meta. The social media company has been under fire for spreading misinformation and other things. And the new name led to plenty of snarky Twitter comments.

The state has pre-ordered 1.4 million doses of Pfizer's pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, so medical providers can start putting shots in arms as soon as federal health officials sign off. Staffing levels for federal wildland firefighters have dipped dramatically in recent years, impacting efforts to contain massive wildfires across the country, particularly in California. At a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, advocates argued for two pieces of legislation aimed at helping hire more firefighters. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  President Joe Biden has presented a trimmed down reconciliation bill to Congress on Thursday morning. California Senator Alex Padilla joined the California Report to talk about the proposal and some of the reasons it's been so heavily debated by his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. Guest: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California The Beverly Hills Police Department has been accused of racially profiling Black shoppers on Rodeo Drive. New records from a class action lawsuit show that out of 90 people who were arrested along the shopping corridor, 80 were Black.  Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW The coronavirus pandemic led to record drug use across the country. Fatal overdoses rose almost 30% percent last year, driven mainly by fentanyl and other opioids. But the stimulant methamphetamine is also a huge part of the problem. It doesn’t get as much attention, though, in part because it doesn’t cause the impressive death counts that make for good headlines. Guest: Sam Quinones, Journalist and Author of the book "The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth"

With Tuesday’s FDA committee vote endorsing the use of Pfizer's Covid vaccine in kids over the age of 4, public health officials in California are getting ready to distribute the kid-size doses. It’s looking like children will be able to get their shots in the next couple weeks, as soon as the review process is completed. Guests: Jessica Nicholson and Maura Fallon McKnight, Parents in Richmond and Humboldt County In Los Angeles, city employees who don’t get vaccinated by December 18 could lose their jobs. A plan approved Tuesday by the L.A. City Council would also require people who are not vaccinated to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, on their own dime. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

California's embattled Employment Development Department says it's taking steps to fix some of what's broken there, from clogged phone lines to fraud. State lawmakers grilled agency officials at an oversight hearing in Sacramento on Monday.  Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Rising rents and limited affordable housing continue to put pressure on many Californians. And new research shows the housing market is particularly challenging for Black renters in San Diego. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS The atmospheric river has effectively put an end to California’s wildfire season. And there's more evidence in the Sequoia National Forest. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Wildfire prevention is one of the key goals of President Biden’s trillion dollar infrastructure bill. Democrats are pushing for a vote on it in Congress this week. One of them is Josh Harder who represents California’s Central Valley. He’s been especially focused on measures that would address the health impacts from wildfire smoke. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Immigration advocates are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to cancel a no-bid, $350 million contract. It was awarded to a border wall company to help with the state’s COVID-19 response.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio

Rain and wind wreaked havoc across Northern California and the Bay Area on Sunday, causing power outages, flooding and downed trees in several areas. Several cities saw rainfall records broken. This weekend's record-breaking rainfall is still not nearly enough to curb the state’s drought. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for all 58 counties in California last week. Farmers in Fresno County, like Joe Del Bosque, have been struggling for months.   Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Hundreds of Hollywood artisans held a candlelight vigil in Burbank Sunday night for Halyna Hutchins. She's the 42-year-old cinematographer who was accidentally killed by actor Alec Baldwin last week on a film set in New Mexico.  An investigation is ongoing in New Mexico, but in California, it's prompted legislative action. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Two dozen Congressional Democrats from California are calling on the Biden Administration to shut down three immigration detention centers in the state. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, 23 members of Congress, plus Senator Alex Padilla, note that conditions in the facilities violate health and safety standards set by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED 

Governor Gavin Newsom wants to ban new oil drilling near schools, homes and many businesses, proposing a rule aimed at improving the health of millions of Californians. The rule would bar new drilling within 3,200 feet of houses, schools and businesses open to the public. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED   The Bay Conservation and Development Commission has adopted a Bay Area-wide plan for adapting to rising seas. Scientists project the bay could rise by several feet by the end of the century, a result of warming temperatures.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  In response to its homelessness crisis, the city of Los Angeles has opened the country's largest so-called tiny home village. It's located in northeast Los Angeles and more than 200 people will be able to live there. Guest: Amy King, CEO of Pallet, a company building many of these homes  A new state audit has found that California’s Board of State and Community Corrections, which helps run the state’s adult and juvenile justice and penal systems, mismanaged nearly $60 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  The recall attempt targeting Governor Newsom is over, but there are other efforts across the state to remove elected officials from office. In Shasta County, a conservative member of the Board of Supervisors is facing a recall election promoted by members of a local militia and things have gotten ugly. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

L.A City Employees Must Get Vaccinated by December City of L.A. workers who remain unvaccinated may be getting a reprieve from a vaccine mandate that took effect Wednesday. ..but it won’t last forever. Mayor Eric Garcetti says municipal employees who aren’t fully vaccinated by December 18th should be “prepared to lose their jobs.” Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW  Rainfall Arrives, And the Drought Continues Rain has been falling in Northern California, and the National Weather Service’s Bay Area division predicts more rain later this week. That’s really good news for reducing wildfire risks, but what does it mean for the drought? Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED California Partners with Company that Built Border Wall for COVID-19 Response California has turned to an unusual partner for part of its COVID-19 response. It’s the same company that built former president Donald Trump’s border wall along the California-Mexico border. The no-bid, $350 million contract has frustrated immigration advocates and community health care leaders. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio