Kqeds The California Report

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 

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 C

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 Univ

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 Valle

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:

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 stat

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 i

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

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 ke

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 i

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, Reporte

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 Valle

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 Sant

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