Kqeds The California Report

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 d

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.  Report

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 l

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 leadi

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 Cali

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 Immi

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 t

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 wi

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 elephan

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

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

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: Rach

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 spo

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