Kqeds The California Report

An investigation is underway after an SUV carrying more than two dozen people, some of whom were citizens of Mexico, collided with a big rig Tuesday in a rural area about ten miles from the US-Mexico border. 13 people died in the crash. Guest: Faith Pinho, Reporter, LA Times The volunteers in Southern California are helping seniors and other eligible people find coveted COVID-19 vaccine appointments. One started out by helping her parents and is now helping others navigate the system. Reporter: Carla Javier, KPCC  Seven California counties, including San Francisco, have moved to a less restrictive coronavirus tier. While that means restaurants and movie theaters can reopen for indoor service, not every owner is jumping to do so. Guest: Yuka Ioroi, Owner of Cassava restaurant in San Francisco California was the first state in the nation to require gender diversity in corporate boardrooms. And according to a new report from the Secretary of State, compliance with the law is on the rise. Reporter: Tara Atrian, K

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have reached an agreement that could restart in-person learning for the state's youngest students. The hope is to reopen by April 1. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  District Attorney George Gascon won last year promising to upend the tough on crime policies of his predecessor. But prosecutors both in and outside his office are fighting to stop those same reforms he campaigned on.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Many older Californians looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine are feeling frustrated and left-out by the appointment process. That's because they don't have broadband at home, and access in their community is limited. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio A new study from the California Policy Lab looks at unemployment benefits Californians are receiving at a county level. It shows that regions with populations who need the most support, and who’ve already been harder-hit by COVID-19, are less likely to get help. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report

Lawmakers Reach Deal on Reopening Schools Under the deal, schools that reopen by the end of March stand to get a cut of money earmarked by the state legislature. The deal would not mandate students and staff to get vaccinated before returning to the classroom, nor does it require districts to get approval from teachers unions before returning. California Farmworkers Now Eligible for Vaccines Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced an initiative to get more Central Valley farmworkers vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of his plan to make distribution more equitable. Farmworkers are showing interest in getting the vaccine, but it's not always clear how to do so. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio Three Fresno Janitors Win Settlement Against Nation's Largest Cleaning Company One of the plaintiffs in the case, Araceli Sanchez, says she endured 14 years of harassment, including sexual assault and attempted rape, from her supervisor while working the night shift. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Repor

Millions of people marched to support the Black Lives Matter Movement following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. With that came a call to support Black-owned businesses, which saw an initial surge of new customers, but many are now struggling to stay afloat. Guest: Hank Jenkins, Owner of Plant Provocateur in Los Angeles Governor Newsom said he hopes to inoculate 75,000 teachers a week.  Priority would go to educators currently working at schools or those who are about to head back to their classrooms.  Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Psychiatric experts are warning Bay Area obstetricians to be on the lookout for higher rates of postpartum psychosis. They believe the condition, characterized by paranoia and confusion, is being exacerbated by the pandemic. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Horse racing on tracks in California has continued throughout the pandemic. While live spectators have not been allowed, that hasn't stopped people from placing their wagers. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio

Southern California’s Inland Empire has been transformed in recent years by the growth of the warehouse and logistics industry. While many argue it's a job creator, those living in the region have major environmental concerns.  Guest: Orlando Mayorquin, Journalism Student, Report for CalMatters The L.A. City Council voted 14 to 1 to approve a hazard pay ordinance requiring workers at supermarkets and drug stores to be paid an extra $5 an hour. Several other cities and counties have passed similar legislation. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Officials with the San Diego Unified School District have unveiled a plan to reopen schools for classroom instruction starting in April. But not all parents are impressed. Reporter: Joe Hong, KPBS Kaiser Permanente is using the mountains of health data it has on millions of Californians to help figure out who’s at higher risk of getting COVID-19. It's also helping the health provider pinpoint who should get vaccinated first. Reporter: Polly Stryker, KQED Many have been targ

Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris was sworn in as California's first Surgeon General back in 2019. She's been helping lead the response to the coronavirus pandemic and has been especially concerned about the toll it's taking on communities of color and children. Guest: Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris, California Surgeon General The vaccine code system that was designed to help people in hard-hit communities across California get access to vaccinations may need a makeover. The codes are being shared and people who don't qualify are taking up spaces reserved for those communities. A national environmental group is suing the Newsom Administration. The Center for Biological Diversity claims thousands of oil and gas drilling permits have been illegally approved. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED A new report has found that regulators overstated reductions in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. A key problem is that emissions from the transportation sector have increased in recent years. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A report by the

California Attorney General Xavier Becerrra begins the Congressional confirmation process to become the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on Tuesday. He's expected to face lots of questions from Senate Republicans, who have pushed to block his confirmation. Guest: Ryan Levi, Journalist and Producer of the Tradeoffs podcast State lawmakers have passed a $7.6 billion COVID relief plan. Among the items in the package, direct payments to the state's lowest earners. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The "tougher" test was seen by some as an unnecessary barrier to becoming an American citizen. Now, the Biden administration is going back to the 2008 version that they argue was carefully developed. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Governor Newsom said the San Joaquin Valley will get a big boost to its COVID-19 vaccine allocation. It's in part due to the region’s farm workers, who are now eligible for the vaccine. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio The facility in Santa Barbara County was the site of

Out of the more than seven million vaccine doses that have been administered thus far, more than 32 percent have gone to white Californians. Governor Newsom said the state is not doing enough to help the hardest-hit communities, when it comes to vaccinations. State legislators will begin a busy session in Sacramento on Monday. Among the agenda items -- a possible plan to reopen schools, that has already received pushback Governor Newsom. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Improving coronavirus reached the threshold on Friday to allow for schools to reopen. In addition to public elementary schools, private ones like those within the San Bernardino Catholic Diocese can now reopen as well. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR One of the Trump administration’s most controversial changes to U.S. immigration policies was its so called “Remain in Mexico” program, but it's being rolled back by the Biden administration. A group of asylum-seekers was processed at the San Ysidro Port of Entry late last week. Reporter: Max Rivlin N

The proposal would get California school kids back in classrooms by mid-April. But Governor Newsom said it doesn't go far enough or fast enough. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED  The biography of the Marvel Comics icon sheds light not only on Stan Lee's immense success, but also his failures. While Lee had a lasting impact on the world of comics, his influence also extends to the global entertainment industry. Guest: Abraham Reisman, Author of "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee" California Republicans will gather for a virtual convention this weekend. It comes following a strong election year and renewed enthusiasm surrounding the recall effort. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED U.S Senator Alex Padilla and other California members of Congress introduced the bill on Thursday. It's backed by President Biden and would offer a path to citizenship for more than 2 million immigrants in California.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Journalist Brandon Rittiman with ABC10 in Sacramento reviewed an internal report

The $9.6 billion relief package includes nearly $3.7 billion for the state's lowest earners and another $2 billion for small business grants. Lawmakers are expected to vote on it next week. Reporter: Katie Orrr, KQED The Sacramento City Unified School District said almost a thousand of its students are connecting with school just two days a week or less. There's growing concern it will affect their ability to graduate. Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio  Earlier this month, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and his counterparts in dozens of other states announced a major opioid settlement against the influential consulting firm McKinsey. But lawyers for Native American tribes say they're not part of the agreement, even though the community has been among the hardest hit by opioids.  Guest: Lloyd Miller, Attorney representing tribes in the litigation A new bill in the California legislature would give victims of online sex trafficking a new tool to fight back against their exploitation. They would be given

California voters will get a ballot in the mail for any election this year under a bill heading to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk.  Voters were mailed ballots last year over safety concerns due to the pandemic. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Some contributors to Governor Gavin Newsom also happen to be corporations that have secured valuable no-bid contracts with the state. It's raising questions about possible favoritism for big donors. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez's legislation would protect workers in warehouses from unsafe quotas and productivity standards. Right now, workers for companies like Amazon can be fired for failing to collect, box, and ship enough orders fast enough. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Two new mass vaccination sites opened Tuesday in California, with help from the federal government. The Biden administration's goal is to open 100 vaccinations sites in 100 days nationwide. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Millions of Texans remain without power as rolling bla

The tech industry is infamous for making prospective and departing employees sign agreements designed to prevent them from speaking out on just about everything. But social movements have exposed the way non-disclosure agreements have served as a cover for illegal behavior.  Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED For the first time since the pandemic, the average cost of gas in the state is going up.  Demand is rising faster than production, as more people return to commuting and traveling long distances by car. Reporter: Emily Hung, KQED It's one of two sites that opened on Tuesday, with the other in Los Angeles. The goal is to eventually vaccinate 6,000 people a day at each location. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED Communities of color have been hit especially hard during the pandemic. For queer Latinos, there's an extra cost - the loss of places to gather, like LGBTQ bars. Guest, Andrea Castillo, L.A. Times Reporter The state is investing more than $200 million in the Salton Sea project that will create flooded pond

At the end of 2020, the state’s unemployment agency froze almost a million and a half accounts in an attempt to prevent fraud. Now, many of those account holders could have their claims disqualified, even if there applications are legitimate. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report The campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom has another month to collect the million and a half valid signatures needed to trigger an election. While big business has had gripes with the governor's handling of the pandemic, for the most part, they've steered clear of the recall effort. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Governor Newsom has yet to unveil the location of a new vaccination site in the Central Valley. But leaders in the region say there should also be added focus on rural areas, where access to vaccines is extremely limited. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report  

The City of Los Angeles has temporarily closed five of its COVID-19 vaccination super-centers, including the one at Dodger Stadium, because of a shortage of vaccine supplies. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is urging state and federal officials to fix the problem. A professional vocalist is doing her part to help people during the pandemic. Nova Jimenez is serenading the elderly at a retirement home, just in time for Valentine's Day. Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom is currently negotiating with legislators over a deal that could be reached as early as Friday. The $6.6 billion deal could send students back this year, starting with the youngest, perhaps up through elementary school. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Dozens of community and business leaders have sent a letter to Governor Newsom and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, demanding that school staff get COVID vaccines before they can reopen. But there could be a delay in getting the doses to teachers. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Although

Some of the last businesses that are expected to open during the pandemic are performing arts venues. But many argue they're a lifeline of the community and driver of local economies, and can reopen safely with help. Guest: Rachel S. Moore, President and CEO, L.A. Music Center A new poll shows that Senator Dianne Feinstein's approval rating has sunk to the lowest level of her career. Her approval rating among California voters has always been a net positive, but that's not the case anymore, according to the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED A state lawmaker is trying to reconcile the competing values of public and secular university hospitals and Catholic hospitals when the institutions collaborate on patient care. It could open the door to abortions at Catholic hospitals. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Julie Su, who leads the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, has been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor. But she may face tough questions about the s

Governor Gavin Newsom says he's close to a deal with state legislators on a reopening plan for elementary schools. He says he's committed to balancing safety with the importance of getting kids back in classrooms. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED A 28-year-old-man has been arrested in Oakland in connection with a series of attacks on the elderly in the city's Chinatown. The assaults have gained national attention with growing concerns about hate crimes against the Asian American community.  A lawsuit has been filed to end in-person traffic and eviction hearings in Los Angeles Superior Court. The legal aid groups claim that during the pandemic, courtrooms are unsafe for court staff and defendants alike. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW Chevron said a mixture of gasoline and oil leaked from a pipeline on the "Long Wharf" at the Richmond facility on Tuesday. The incident is now being investigated by local, state and federal officials. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Many Californians continue to struggle through the process o

California’s newest coronavirus testing lab remains far short of its goal for processing COVID tests. The Valencia facility was hailed as a game-changer when it opened in November, with the goal of turning around 150,000 tests per day by March.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio The Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District is floating a proposal to reopen elementary school campuses under some conditions. To reopen campuses he says 25,000 elementary school teachers and staff would need to be vaccinated. Reporter: Caroline Champlin, KPCC San Diego County continues to administer thousands of vaccines a day, and county officials aren't concerned with the citizenship of those getting vaccinated. Some of the shots are going to Mexican citizens who cross the border frequently for work. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler KPBS The Employment Development Department, the state agency responsible for sending out unemployment benefits is facing more scrutiny. State lawmakers say they are so busy fielding constit

U.S Supreme Court Rules Against Parts of California's Ban on Indoor WorshipOver the weekend, some parishioners gathered in houses of worship across the state after the U.S Supreme Court ruled against parts of California’s ban on indoor worship services put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Collapse of Highway 1 Means Big Economic Consequences for Big Sur CommunitiesHighway 1 along the coast of Big Sur is one of the most scenic stretches of pavement in the country, but it can also be fragile. A big chunk of Highway One collapsed in heavy rains last month, and that has big economic consequences for the tourism-dependent communities in Big Sur. Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU Campaign to Recall Newsom from Office Appears to be Gaining SteamA recent poll by UC Berkeley shows support for Governor Gavin Newsom falling. And the campaign to recall him from office, once a fringe idea, appears to be gaining steam. Recall organizers have until March 17th to turn in a million and half verified voter petition

Bay Area Congressional Representatives Condemn Enduring Trauma from Family Separation PolicyCongressional representatives from the Bay Area condemned the enduring trauma caused by the Trump administration’s family separation policy. That policy has drawn shock and anger since coming to light in 2018. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Scientists Still Unsure How to Treat COVID-19 Related Brain FogA new study out this week suggests long-term cognitive issues may be more common than we thought, especially in people who had mild COVID-19 cases. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Berkeley Considers Upending Rules Around Single Family ZoningBerkeley was the first city in the country to adopt single-family zoning. Or rules that restrict housing development to one home on one lot. That was back in 1916. Now Berkeley is one of a handful of California cities considering upending those rules. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED New Labor Laws Reveal Glaring Inequities in State's Art SectorSmall arts groups are struggling to

California Grocery Association Sues Over 'Hero Pay' for Essential Workers The California Grocers Association sued Oakland on Wednesday, a day after the city council mandated an additional $5 an hour in pay for workers at supermarkets there. Disputes have escalated as more California cities consider ordinances aimed at compensating grocery workers during the pandemic. Workers protested in Long Beach, where Krogers has announced two store closures in response to a similar mandate. Guest: Howard Simmons, Ralphs Employee KQED's Digital Team Takes on Listener Questions about Vaccinations California’s COVID vaccine rollout has been among the slowest in the nation. Those eligible have found it hard to know where to get the vaccine. So people are looking for information where they can, including from KQED. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED San Francisco Files Lawsuit Against District to Force Classrooms Open San Francisco’s school board president is calling a lawsuit filed .. against the district by the city petty and embar