Kqeds The California Report

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: Jac

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

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

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

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 appe

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 overdo

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 me

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 t

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 ca

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 i

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

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 For

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 Monkeypo

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 c

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 statew

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, K

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 weeken