KQED's The California Report

Minor league baseball has a rich history in California, going back more than a century.  But minor league baseball is changing. Like other professional sports, it has become a big-money game, attracting owners looking to cash in on rising team values. One Central Valley city is witnessing what that big-money game looks like firsthand, as its longtime team plays its last few home games, before moving to Southern California.  Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Governor Gavin Newsom is making national waves as he takes on President Donald Trump -- on social media and, soon, at the ballot box, with an initiative that would redraw congressional districts to give Democrats more seats in the House of Representatives. What does all this mean for the famously ambitious politician? Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED In a hearing in Sacramento on Wednesday, state lawmakers grilled officials tasked with protecting the health and safety of workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In rural Northern California, voters represented by Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa are bracing for big changes. A proposed congressional map on the November ballot would shift them into a more Democratic-leaning territory. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED Some foreign dissidents in California say they need law enforcement help when the governments they fled threaten them here on U.S. soil. A bill moving through the legislature would train police on how to respond. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tubbs Fire that struck the North Bay in 2017 shed light on an unseen threat that wildfires pose to clean water supplies; and a civil engineering professor out of Indiana has devised the playbook that utilities rely on to address the contamination. As the redistricting battle heats up between California and Texas, Republican legislators in the Golden State are suing to block the plan spearheaded by Governor Newsom to gerrymander California in favor of House Democrats. The move aims to offset congressional gains that Texas would get with their own redistricting plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Lawmakers have paved the way for Governor Newsom's redistricting plan to go before voters on a November ballot, but not all voters are sold on the idea of taking a partisan approach to draw up California's district map--even if Texas plans to do the same in an attempt to tip the mid-term elections in the GOP's favor. Some worry the move would take California into murky political waters down the line.  Wildfire victims in Los Angeles County are starting to rebuild their lives. A bill is making its way through Sacramento to make sure that renters are not excluded from help that is extended to home owners--however, it's facing mounting criticism from both landlords and tenants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A stunning national monument just opened to the public in Santa Cruz County. It's called Cotoni-Coast Dairies. It's opening was delayed due to the pandemic, neighbors' fears over traffic, and figuring out how to keep a herd of nearly 100 cows that graze there away from hikers and bikers. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting California voters will decide this November whether to redraw the state's congressional lines to help Democrats pick up seats in the House of Representatives. Reporter: Guy Marzorati , KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Diego County's jail system is facing new scrutiny in a class action lawsuit that challenges nearly every aspect of daily operations. The case centers on years of reported neglect inside the jails, where at least 250 people have died since 2006. A hearing had been set for Thursday, on whether evidence from two recent jailhouse deaths can be used in the case,   but the judge canceled it, saying he already has enough information to make a ruling. Guest: Kelly Davis, Reporter, San Diego Union Tribune The California Supreme Court has ruled against state Republicans, who were attempting to slow down Governor Newsom's redistricting efforts. The state legislature is expected to approve the proposal on Thursday, after which Newsom will call for a special election on November 4. That gives local election offices less than three months to prepare. Reporter: Maya Miller, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's heating up here in California! From the deserts of Southern California to the foothills of the Sierra and parts of the Bay Area, we're looking at triple-digit temperatures and dangerous fire weather through the weekend. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report It's the first few weeks of school and for some families, the usual back-to-school stress, like packing lunches and making the morning bus is now mixed with more serious concern: immigration enforcement near campuses. A group of volunteers in San Diego are trying to ease some of the stress. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS In the Inland Empire, two nurses accused of trying to stop immigration agents from arresting a man at a surgery center have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR A new report is highlighting how often fast food workers are subjected to dangerously high temperatures in the workplace. Reporter: Brian Krans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Sonoma County, leaders in the wine industry are floating the idea of a Wine Improvement District. Under the proposed plan, consumers would pay 1 to 2 percent more for tasting room visits, wine club memberships within California, and every bottle purchased at a local winery. Supporters say the plan would provide much-needed collective marketing dollars to boost the industry, but many Sonoma County winery owners are not thrilled with the idea. Reporter: Tina Caputo In Sacramento, Democrats are moving quickly on a sweeping redistricting plan. And Republicans are pushing back. California Democrats formally introduced legislation on Monday to establish a new congressional map and bypass the state's independent redistricting rules. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Imperial Valley has been growing sugar beets for more than a century. But this summer's harvest could be the region's last. The valley's only sugar beet factory is shutting down, threatening hundreds of jobs and one of its staple crops. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS San Diego Unified School District officials are condemning the recent arrest of a parent near an elementary school by immigration agents. Valley Fever is on the rise in California. State health officials say there were more than 5,500 provisional cases from January through June, continuing an upward trend after last year's record high. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Congress passed a budget bill that clawed back more than a billion dollars in federal funding for public media, radio stations across the country were put on notice. With the lack of funding, many have already laid off staff, and many smaller stations in rural areas are at risk of closing for good. That includes stations in the western United States that serve indigenous communities. Guest: Peggy Berryhill, General Manager, KGUA School is back in session for thousands of students across the state. In Los Angeles County, the start of the school year looks a bit different after a summer colored by aggressive, federal immigration enforcement. Teachers and staff are on high alert, patrolling neighborhoods around their campuses looking for ICE agents and preparing for what to do if there's a raid. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month marks 20 years since California implemented rules meant to protect workers from the heat amid a series of farm worker deaths. But two decades later, many employers still don't provide workers with the protections they're owed, enforcement is generally lax, climate change has brought more severe heat waves, and workers continue to die. Guest: Jessica Garrison, LA Times A federal judge in San Francisco heard final arguments Wednesday on whether President Donald Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles this summer violated the law. Reporter: Julie Small, KQED Ventura County supervisors are considering a package of proposals aimed at helping undocumented residents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When California lawmakers return from summer recess on Monday, the legislature is expected to debate the future of the state's program to fight climate change. And some residents in heavily polluted communities want state leaders to focus on local air quality too. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED One of the candidates running to be California's next governor faces potential conflicts of interest related to her spouse's business dealings. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters If you call the Redding Fire Department for help with anything but a life-threatening medical emergency, you may now get a bill. Reporter: Justin Higginbottom, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in eight years, Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa held an in-person town hall for his constituents in Chico on Monday. Reporter: Erik Adams, North State Public Radio The second day of testimony begins Tuesday morning in California's challenge to President Donald Trump's deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and US Marines to Los Angeles earlier this summer.  Reporter: Brian Krans, KQED A former Orange County supervisor has been ordered to pay the county back, for his role in illegally redirecting millions of dollars in contracts for bribes. Reporter: Nick Gerda, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local healthcare providers are bracing for Medicaid cuts under a new federal spending law. They say the cuts will impact their ability to care for low-income patients. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU The Trump administration is holding children in facilities along the U.S. -Mexico border– for longer than ever before.  That's according to a federal judge in LA, who suggested that could threaten the government's push to end a decades-long agreement protecting children in immigration custody.  Reporter: Julie Small, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration is asking the US Supreme Court to lift a temporary restraining order that restricts indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests across much of Southern California. The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has launched a new interfaith ministry, to accompany refugees and asylum seekers at immigration court. Reporter: Alexander Nguyen, KPBS San Luis Obispo County Supervisors voted this week to accept more than $300,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That's despite criticism of the agency's immigration enforcement policies. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX At Google's San Francisco offices Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new joint effort with four top tech giants to better prepare California's students for the future of work. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The 29th annual Tahoe Summit brought together lawmakers, tribal leaders, and environmentalist to discuss the future of the basin. Reporter: Maria Palma, KUNR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yosemite National Park welcomes millions of visitors per year, according to the National Parks Service. The massive figure means that seasonal workers are integral for all of the park's services to function smoothly. But an NPR investigation revealed that dozens of seasonal workers at Yosemite were on the job for weeks, without getting paid for it. More than 2,000 DACA recipients in California are on track to lose their health insurance at the end of August, after the Trump Administration axed a rule that allowed them to obtain health coverage through Covered California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal housing cuts could leave thousands of California families without a place to live. And in Fresno County, where more than half of residents rent, the impact could be devastating. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report The Marine Corps has changed its longstanding agreement with an Oceanside-based credit union, following a KPBS investigation last year. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Geneva, world leaders are back at the table for the latest round of UN negotiations aimed at drafting a first-of-its-kind treaty to tackle plastic pollution. The goal? A legally binding agreement that addresses the entire plastic life cycle, from how it's produced to how it's disposed of. But one California group is calling on negotiators not to leave front line communities behind. Guest: Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder & Executive Director, Azul State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require police officers to disclose when they use generative AI for report writing. Departments across California have started testing or using these tools. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED California Democrats are considering new political maps that could help them pick up as many as five additional House seats in the 2026 mid-term elections. It's their answer to redistricting moves in Texas that are expected to favor Republicans. But a California Republican congressman wants to put a stop to it all, by banning states from redrawing their maps mid-decade entirely. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday is a milestone for police accountability in California. Anyone can now look up incidents of serious use of force and police misconduct in the state in a new free database. It makes once confidential records from about 12,000 cases gathered from the state's nearly 700 law enforcement and oversight agencies publicly available. It was seven years in the making and brought together teams of journalists, data scientists, and advocates from across California. Guests: Sukey Lewis, KQED and Lisa Pickoff-White, the project's Director of Research out of Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program A federal appeals court has rejected efforts by the Trump administration to halt a temporary restraining order limiting some immigration-related stops and arrests in Southern California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend, San Francisco will once again become the center of the deadhead universe. That's because it's the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Dead & Co., the band's latest iteration, will be playing three shows in Golden Gate Park, starting Friday. Kamala Harris' decision not to run for California governor has opened up the field ahead of next year's election. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Duplexes will no longer be an option for homeowners starting to rebuild in L.A.'s Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist California lawmakers are poised to ban the sale of new Glock handguns. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's tenant protection laws are among some of the strongest in the nation. But the recent increase in immigration enforcement is impacting the dynamic between landlords and undocumented tenants. That's according to a story from our California newsroom partner, Cal Matters. Guest: Ben Christopher, CalMatters California politicos are reacting to a decision by former Vice President Kamala Harris not to run for governor of California. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More older adults in Los Angeles are falling into homelessness. That's according to recently released data from the region's annual point in time count. Meanwhile, organizations that serve vulnerable seniors are being forced to cut back in the face of funding cuts. Reporter: Makenna Sievertson, LAist California's coastal areas are on alert after a massive earthquake Tuesday off the eastern coast of Russia. Much of the coast remains under a tsunami advisory and there's a portion of northern California under a tsunami warning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a recent night in the town of Kerman in Fresno County, hundreds of people gathered at the local football field. They were there for an event that has happened in Kerman only twice before. And it left the community star-struck. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR California will deploy almost $2 million to prevent thousands of people from losing their health insurance, as White House cuts hit the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine growing up in the U.S., going to high school, starting a career, having a family - only to learn that you're not an American citizen. That's exactly what happened to thousands of children born in other countries and adopted by American parents in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. And now, with the increased immigration crackdown from the Trump administration, many fear possible deportation. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The battle over immigration raids across much of Southern California will have another day in court Monday afternoon. The Trump administration is looking to end a temporary restraining order that's in place, barring indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi , The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The kennels at the Riverside County Animal Shelter are packed with dogs and cats. So last week, Riverside County waived adoption fees and stayed open until midnight to help more furry friends find a forever home. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, which is the largest affiliate in the country, is closing five of its clinics in California. Comic-Con is taking over San Diego this week. And yeah, it's got all the usual stuff: celebrities, superheroes, and lots of cosplay. But there's more to it than just fanfare. Reporter Katie Anastas, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent ICE arrest in Southern California is raising more questions about how immigration enforcement is being carried out and who gets caught in the crossfire. The man taken into custody is a DACA recipient. He's deaf and primarily communicates through sign language. His ordeal, for the most part, left his friends and family in the dark, until he was finally able to return home. Guest: Brittny Mejia, LA Times California Attorney General Rob Bonta is asking a judge to bring LA County's juvenile halls under state control. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist The new federal budget signed into law by President Donald Trump is expected to negatively impact many people enrolled in Covered California, the state's marketplace for subsidized health plans.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past 30 years, Children's Hospital Los Angeles has provided gender affirming care to trans children and young adults. But for nearly 3,000 patients, that ended on Tuesday, under pressure from the Trump administration. Families are struggling to find new doctors, and a way forward. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Immigrants in Los Angeles have been losing income because of federal immigration raids. Cities want to help, but they've been dealing with budget cuts. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist California Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in the state, lost its federal funding this week under a court order that allows that money to be withheld while a larger legal dispute plays out. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could the Trump administration's aggressive – and some would argue illegal – immigration raids spark the beginnings of a new political movement that unites Latinos? Reporter: Aisha Wallace-Palomares A group of Democratic state senators are proposing a bill aimed at stabilizing gas prices, but environmental groups are pushing back. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 people died in January's unprecedented fires in Los Angeles County– most of them older, and many with disabilities. LAist recently obtained 911 calls from two disabled Eaton Fire victims through a public records request. The calls shed light on why, and how emergency planning continues to leave people with disabilities behind. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating an apartment complex in Santa Monica. It may be connected with an explosion Friday morning at one of the department's training facilities, which left three deputies dead. Siskiyou County has declared a local emergency over the use of dangerous pesticides at illegal cannabis grows. Reporter: Justin Higginbottom, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the Central Valley, the agriculture industry is ramping up for harvest season. But for some farmworkers, this year's job search is different. It comes with a shadow– the threat of immigration enforcement. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Border Patrol agents descended on a Home Depot in South Sacramento Thursday morning, the latest immigration enforcement action in California. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some homeless services providers in L.A. County are offering an innovative treatment option to help unhoused Angelenos quit using stimulants, like methamphetamine. It involves rewarding people with small gift cards when they pass a drug test. The simple approach has been around awhile, but is now making headway in LA's homeless services sector. Reporter: Aaron Schrank, LAist In what it's calling a final decision, the Trump administration has killed $4 billion in federal funding for California's troubled high-speed rail project. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED New details are emerging from the recent immigration raid at a cannabis farm on the Central Coast. A US Army veteran says he was wrongfully detained and violently arrested by federal immigration agents, even though he's an American citizen. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pregnancy should be a time of hope and care. But for many farmworkers in California's Pajaro Valley, it's a time of dangerous exposure to toxic pesticides. A new investigation by Santa Cruz Local reveals how people working in the fields are being put at serious risk. Guest: Nik Altenberg, Santa Cruz Local Half of the 4,000 National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles last month are being released from duty. Reporter: Destiny Torres, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has taken on a grand experiment when it comes to its CARE Courts--a judicial approach to getting people struggling with severe mental health issues into treatment programs. The law, which went into effect statewide last December, empowers judges to mandate that a person with mounting mental health problems undergo treatment, whether the person consents or not. Orange County is taking a different approach, however--with something called "relentless outreach" in getting mental health treatment to those that need it the most. Lawmakers in Sacramento have proposed a bill that would prohibit online video streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon, from making their advertisements louder than the programs their viewers have subscribed to watch--and it has bipartisan support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration's decision to cancel a federal food assistance program is hitting California's tribal communities hard. For the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the funds help them provide fresh, local food for their elders and creates reliable income for their farmers. With funding set to expire this year, the tribe is scrambling to fill the void. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED The Trump administration is appealing a federal judge's order limiting immigration agents from stopping or detaining people based on their race, ethnicity or occupation. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a week since President Donald Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill into law, and California officials are still reviewing how this legislation will impact Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program for low-income residents, which covers 15 million Californians. Governor Gavin Newsom's office estimates that Medi-Cal could lose billions of federal dollars over the next few years, and on social media, folks on Medi-Cal are worried that they could lose their coverage soon. Guest: Carlos Cabrera Lomeli, KQED Federal authorities conducting an immigration raid at a legal cannabis farm in Ventura County clashed with demonstrators on Thursday. Reporter: Susana Canales Barron, Calo News An immigration sweep also took place at a cannabis farm in the Santa Barbara County community of Carpinteria. Reporter: Lance Orozco, KCLU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's small farmers are used to tough seasons. But this year, they're not just battling drought or the rising costs of maintaining their farms. Small farmers say President Trump's reconciliation bill could make it even harder to stay in business. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report More dads in California are taking paid leave to care for a new child. Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist Transgender rights advocates are pushing back against a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday, contesting a California law that protects trans athletes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration continues immigration enforcement efforts across California. There's growing concern among the state's immigrant population about possible deportation. Many are not showing up to work. Some are even fearful of leaving the house at all. But one Central Valley resident made the difficult decision to leave the country on her own. Guest: Patricia Vázquez Topete U.S. Senator Alex Padilla is introducing a bill to require federal immigration officers to display ID.  Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Eaton Fire burned through Altadena, not only did it erase homes, but also family photos, heirlooms, and history. A group of volunteers is aiming to restore some of that history, through the voices of fire survivors. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is denouncing the actions of the Trump administration, after federal immigration officers swept through MacArthur Park on Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Santa Barbara Channel is a busy gateway-- for tourists heading to island parks, fishermen chasing the day's catch, and massive cargo ships ferrying goods along the coast. It's also home to some of California's oldest marine protected areas and a critical migratory path for endangered whales. But with as many as 20 ships passing through daily, those whales are at constant risk. Scientists estimate more than 80 are fatally struck by vessels off the West Coast each year. So what's being done to protect whales? Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Authorities have found the bodies of all seven people who went missing after an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Yolo County last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Klamath River flows some 268 miles from inland Southern Oregon to coastal Northern California before emptying into the Pacific, crossing high deserts, mountain ranges, and forests. The Klamath watershed is also the ancestral homeland of the Yurok, Hupa, Karuk, Shasta and Klamath tribes. And it's an area prime for recreation, especially in the summer months. And the Klamath River is once again free flowing after being held back by four dams for the better part of a century. Guests: Danielle Venton, KQED and Gabrielle Canon, The Guardian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sequoia National Park is known for its iconic trees - the giant sequoias. They tower hundreds of feet above the Sierra Nevada. But another draw to this park is hidden thousands of feet below. It's called Crystal Cave, and it recently reopened to the public after a parade of natural disasters left it inaccessible for years. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Recent immigration raids in Southern California have been unconstitutional. That's according to a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles against the federal government. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Organizers of one of Northern California's best-loved and longest-running music festivals are scrambling to save the July 4th weekend event, amid slow ticket sales. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices