Kqeds The California Report

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 ther

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 be

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

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 hydroele

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 cont

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 Cambo

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.

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 acco

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 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 ap

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 fleei

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 live

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

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 wan

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 aft

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 ha