Kqeds The California Report

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 deat

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 Eng

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

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:

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

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 De

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 th

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

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

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 C

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 law

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 spre

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