KQED's The California Report

A significant El Niño will continue warming California coastal waters into fall and winter, and likely bring new marine visitors to Monterey Bay. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Republican lawmakers are pushing new measures with the goal of making California's top elections office nonpartisan. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dinosaur bones and taxidermied animals get most of the attention at the Natural History Museum in LA County. But researchers are excited about a new collection that could have big implications for monitoring climate change.  Reporter: Lucas Brady Woods, LAist The U.S. Department of Justice says California is failing to protect incarcerated women from sexual abuse and harassment by prison staff. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Central Coast leaders are saying the threat of offshore drilling could extend beyond the environment to the region's economy. Reporter: Jillian Smith/KAZU Since the pandemic, Californians have been able to get craft liquor delivered to their doorstep. But it could be last call for deliveries from small distilleries, unless lawmakers intervene soon. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow/CalMatters For many young people the default blueprint for life after high school is clear: go to college, and then get a job. But with soaring tuition, and an uncertain job market, that calculus isn't adding up like it used to. Today, more young people are considering the skilled trades. Reporter: Megan Jamerson/KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demand for pistachios is booming worldwide – from Dubai-inspired chocolate bars to pistachio cookies and lattes. But in the Central Valley, growers are worried that this year's harvest could be smaller than anticipated. That's after some unexpected weather earlier this spring. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR People in five Monterey County zones have been evacuated due to the Timber Fire in Big Sur. It's burned more than 3,000 acres and hundreds of homes are currently threatened. A portion of Highway One is now closed, due to the spread of the fire. The limited access to the area has also threatened the lives of two captive birds. Reporter: Amy Mayer, KAZU A bill advancing in the state Legislature would limit how long law enforcement agencies can retain data from license plate readers. The proposal caps that retention period at 30 days. And it comes amid growing concern that license plate reader data is being shared and used inappropriately. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles is a city. But it's also an urban oilfield. About a third of L.A. County residents live less than a mile from an active oil drilling site. Now one of those sites in South L.A. could be shut down. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist A federal agency is conducting an unusual review of California's Coastal Management Program. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, did a review of the program just two years ago. But Trump administration officials asked for a new one because they say the current version doesn't reflect "national priorities." Governor Gavin Newsom says he won't oversee an extension for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, California's last functioning nuclear plant. Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jury selection begins Wednesday in Oakland in a federal trial pitting four state attorneys general, including California's, against Meta. The AGs argue the company deliberately engineered addiction into Facebook and Instagram, aimed them at children, and lied to the public about the risks. Guest: Rachael Myrow, KQED Cases of the foodborne cyclospora parasite have risen sharply in California. But officials say the rise is still not linked to the major national outbreak. The parasite has not been detected on produce grown in California. But local farmers here are still feeling the effects of the outbreak. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU A Shasta County judge has blocked a number of controversial changes to the elections system that voters approved earlier this year. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goats have become a critical tool for wildfire mitigation in California. But grazing companies warn their businesses are at risk now that wage requirements for herders have increased. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio A federal judge in Oakland has given the Trump administration until today, August 7th, to reimburse legal non-profits representing more than 20,000 immigrant children. That's after it stopped paying them in December. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The Salinas City Council has unanimously approved extending a moratorium on new tobacco retailer licenses into 2027. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before he jumped into the governor's race, Steve Hilton wasn't exactly a household name here in California. If you had heard of him, it was probably because of his long-running Fox News show, The Next Revolution. But the Republican gubernatorial candidate has a long history of political consulting in England, and much of the messaging there can be seen in his current campaign. Guest: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters California's Latino Legislative Caucus is rolling out a set of bills to boost state oversight of federal immigration detention centers. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's oil and gas industry is shrinking as the state transitions away from fossil fuels. A state fund is helping displaced workers land well-paying jobs in other industries, but that lifeline could soon disappear. Reporter: Julie Small, KQED A Los Angeles County jury has awarded a $47 million verdict to the family of a stoneworker who died of silicosis. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED A new report has determined the cause of the deadly and destructive Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A California bill meant to keep problematic teachers out of the classroom has collapsed. It would have created a database to allow schools to see if teachers applying to work there had previously been fired or resigned over claims of misconduct. But that proposal was dropped after pushback from the state's teachers licensing agency and unions. They warned it would violate privacy and due process. Guest: Holly McDede, KQED California is suing the Trump administration in an effort to protect the private information of people on a federal cash assistance program. Reporter: Julie Small, KQED Washington state is in its most destructive wildfire season on record. It's been a rough fire summer around the West, but not necessarily in California. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California lawmakers are returning to Sacramento from summer recess on Monday -- and a fight is already brewing over the future of the state's climate fund. Governor Gavin Newsom's administration has changed environmental rules to prevent higher gas prices. And that could lead to less money for affordable housing, transit and other projects to reduce carbon emissions. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The executive board of the California Democratic Party threw its support behind Proposition 40, the so-called billionaire's tax on the November ballot. If approved, the measure would impose a 5%, one-time tax on billionaires' assets to pay for healthcare. The CARE court mental health program has seen an increase in participation, according to officials in Los Angeles County. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tariffs, inflation, difficulty in finding buyers for grapes. It's all been a challenge for local winemakers on the Central Coast. Many wineries are now looking at alternative business models to try to satisfy a fragmented consumer base. Reporter: Mira Honeycutt Much of California is preparing for more hot weather this weekend. Temperatures could reach triple digits for many inland areas. And that means people near the coast will likely be looking for a way to cool off, at local beaches. But the combination of heat waves and rough water conditions is resulting in lifeguards across the state becoming that much more important. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valley fever cases continue to climb across California. The fungal disease is showing up in places where doctors may not expect it. And now a new study suggests an experimental drug could offer hope for people with the most severe form of the illness. Guest: Fariba Donovan, University of Arizona College of Medicine Valley Fever Center for Excellence A Southern California lawmaker has introduced a bill to end what she calls medical neglect in ICE detention facilities. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove says she was inspired by the treatment of one of her constituents. At this week's LA Police Commissioners meeting, a report documented potential misconduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating in the city. Reporter: Jared Bennett, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you get free air conditioning to California homeowners who need it the most? One Los Angeles contractor is using state incentives creatively, and it's not just a win for residents - it helps the climate too. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED International students in Southern California say new visa limits coming in September are adding to the uncertainty they already experience. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist A new court filing reveals federal agents used slurs to identify people they were targeting during immigration sweeps in Los Angeles last year. Guest: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A healthcare company that brands itself as a modern, women-centered alternative to traditional doctor's offices is facing scrutiny about the quality of care it provides. A new investigation from LA Public Press found some patients at Tia clinics, including locations here in California, say they were misdiagnosed, hit with surprise medical bills, and in some cases, incorrectly told they were not pregnant. Guest: Madhri Yehiya, LA Public Press Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the small, quiet Kings County community of Avenal, there's a war waging over political power. Voters recently recalled four council members, but the city is disputing the election results, and the only member who wasn't recalled now claims he is the mayor. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR Healthcare advocates are calling for stronger state oversight over rising hospital costs in Santa Barbara County. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX A team leading the closure of L.A. County's aging Men's Central Jail says people will have to be held there for at least five more years even though the facility was supposed to close in 2021. Reporter: Jordan Rynning, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Western snowy plovers are tiny, shy shorebirds that are slowly making a recovery along the West Coast. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Doctors are announcing an effort to unionize nearly 10,000 senior physicians at the University of California. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the last decade, a 24-7 livestream of an eagle's nest in Big Bear has captivated people around the world, and made its occupants Jackie and Shadow internet celebrities. Eagle advocates worry that plans to develop the lakeshore and forest near the nest will harm Jackie and Shadow. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR In the year since large-scale ICE raids began in Los Angeles County, the fallout for families and people's livelihoods has been profound. Now, a new study by UCLA finds that 95% of local Latino small business owners are struggling financially. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW In Los Angeles County, a new soil cleanup program is launching this year for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire. Reporter: Cato Hernandez, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup has come and gone, and for cities like Los Angeles, it was mostly a success. Officials saw the event as a test run for what's to come, the 2028 Summer Olympics, which is also set to take place in LA. Guest: Libby Rainey, LAist Californians who haven't paid their utility bills will be protected from power shut offs if temperatures reach 90 degrees or above. The California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve the new standard late last week. Reporter: Molly Peterson, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Eighty years after its closure, a group of pilgrims recently paid tribute to the people who died there. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Federal fire investigators are looking into a possible link between PG&E equipment and a fire in Plumas County that started earlier this month. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED As a new school year approaches, some Los Angeles special education teachers and parents are worried the LA Unified School District won't bring ballooning class sizes down this fall. That's despite an agreement reached last spring between the district and UTLA, the union representing teachers. Reporter: Maya Mukherjee, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April, the House of Representatives passed their 2026 Farm Bill. Now the US Senate is working on their iteration of the massive legislation package, the first since 2018. But while Congress debates, many small farmers are still reeling from the second Trump administration's blitz of the federal bureaucracy in early 2025. Reporter: Noah Abrams, Northern California Public Media A federal judge has ordered major changes at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. It comes as part of a lawsuit in which detainees have claimed that conditions at the facility violate their Fifth Amendment protections. Reporter: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters A new federal law seeks to regulate college programs that offer poor returns on investment. The policy requires that colleges and universities nationwide prove their graduates earn at least the median wage of workers with only a high school diploma. Reporter: Alex Echelman, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup games have attracted thousands to stadiums across the country, as fans gathered to attend matches in person. That includes in Inglewood, which hosted eight games. It's the latest global event to come to the city's revitalized sports and entertainment district. But the extra foot traffic hasn't been a boon for everyone. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report One Salinas teen will represent Monterey County, and the Boys and Girls Club, at the World Cup Final, representing her home town on one of the world's largest stages. Reporter: Jillian Smith, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A law enforcement practice that's being used in California jails is coming under increasing scrutiny. In what's known as a “Perkins operation,” undercover agents attempt to elicit confessions from people booked at county jails. The tactic has helped secure hundreds of murder convictions. But critics say they are coercive, can produce false confessions and disproportionately target people of color. Reporter Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters Scorching heat has hit much of California this week. In Southern California, triple digit temperatures were recorded in cities across the region on Wednesday. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much of the Central Valley is under a heat advisory Wednesday, as temperatures could reach triple digits. Many of the region's unincorporated communities don't have public swimming pools where they can cool off. That also means residents don't have a place to learn how to swim which could have tragic consequences. Reporter: Alice Daniel California health officials say an outbreak of a foodborne stomach parasite -- that's generated nearly 7,000 suspected cases nationwide -- has not reached the state. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED Riverside County's Board of Supervisors has agreed to create a committee to study recommendations that call for oversight of its sheriff's department. A grand jury recently made the recommendations after investigating concerns about jail deaths and a lack of oversight. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peach farmers in the Central Valley have had to pull their crops and are facing financial hardship. They're hoping a new farm bill will help keep them going. Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio A bill to cut red tape and make affordable housing easier and cheaper to build just became law Monday. It focuses on a controversial mechanism. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED The Los Angeles Police Department will not be renewing its contract with the surveillance company Flock Safety. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Close to two hundred years ago, people from all over the world flocked to California's rivers in search of gold. This year, they're back at it, hoping that with the price of gold trending upward in the last year or so, they might just get lucky. But is it really that easy? Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED A bill advancing in the state Legislature would let insurance companies track how you drive, in exchange for a possible discount on your premium. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At colleges across California, many campus police departments have AR-15s, stun grenades and sonic weapons. This military-grade gear is supposed to be catalogued and open to public scrutiny. But according to recent reporting from CalMatters' College Journalism Network, the law meant to sunshine that information isn't really being followed. Guest: Phoebe Huss, CalMatters College Journalism Network New research from UC Davis shows California gray wolves are eating cattle more than anything else, and their presence is causing significant stress among livestock. Reporter: Chris Felts, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July has officially started, and if you haven't gone hiking or camping yet, you're probably thinking about it. But California, the great state that it is, is brimming with possibilities, especially when it comes to outdoor adventures. Do you go to Yosemite and deal with the big crowds that park has seen after it dropped its reservation system this year? Or maybe you stay local. Or what about hike intensity? What about the heat, crowds, gear? Guest: Sarah Wright, KQED As California state employees begin to follow Governor Gavin Newsom's return to office mandate, some workers in Sacramento are raising alarms about the conditions they're facing, including bed bugs. Reporter: Chris Felts, CapRadio For years, tribal casinos in California have claimed they have exclusive rights to host blackjack and other Las-Vegas style gambling. But tribes are facing yet another defeat, in the wake of a new court ruling last week. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of a catastrophic wildfire we often ask, how do we stop this from happening again? Fire experts and the insurance industry have an answer to this. But there's a tradeoff. It calls for getting rid of something we often love very much - our plants. Officials are now slowly phasing in this step called “Zone Zero,” but the strongest push may come from insurance companies themselves. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED A federal judge has rejected a Trump administration effort to shift how states spend federal homelessness money. It's a win for California in what's been an ongoing legal battle. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Three satellites launched this week are the start of a global fire detection network that California helped shape. Reporter: Desmond Meagley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black English is older than America herself. The language is rooted in African American history and has become ubiquitous on social media and pop culture, yet it hasn't been embraced in the classroom. But one Bay Area woman wants to legitimize Black English starting in the early years. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Salinas is temporarily putting the brakes on new tobacco retailers. The move comes as city leaders consider stricter rules to prevent children from accessing tobacco products. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life in California has become more expensive, and people are trying to find ways to survive. Among the Latino diaspora – from the Bay Area to the Central Valley – more people are turning to tandas: an old tool, now with a modern twist. It's a way to get out of a tight spot, save money and build credit. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR A Bay Area carpenter who was rushed to the emergency room during an immigration arrest last year is suing the Trump administration, saying violent treatment and months of medical neglect in immigration detention left him seriously disabled. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly half the nation's vegetables and more than three quarters of the country's fruits are grown right here in California? That means Californians have a big stake in what happens with the farm bill, which is overdue for renewal and in front of the Senate now. Reporters: Amy Mayer, KAZU and Samantha Rangel, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fourth of July weekend is almost here and many of us are pulling out the grills and the barbecue sauce. But across the state, fire crews are bracing for a very different kind of heat. California's weather has become more unpredictable, drier in some places and potentially wetter in others, and that's due to the El Nino weather pattern. But what does that mean for potential wildfires? Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED California's Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver's license data with a national database. The plan is moving forward despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation. Reporter: Khari Johnson, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Workers' compensation benefits are intended to help people injured on the job. But sometimes, they fall through the cracks. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED California civil rights leaders are expressing relief and gratitude. That's after the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that all children born on US soil are US citizens, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court upheld equal citizenship for all born on American soil Tuesday, in a landmark victory for the country's immigrant communities. Guest: Kevin Johnson, UC Davis Law Professor The Humboldt County Sheriff says the rescue at the center of a multiagency investigation into potential fraud and animal abuse will stay open for now, even though the remains of more than 117 dogs were found on the property. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Search and rescue crews from Los Angeles have arrived in Venezuela to help after two massive earthquakes devastated large swaths of the Northern part of the country last week. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, KQED Dilapidated mobile home parks across the state are getting revamped…thanks to a state program that launched a few years ago. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters President Trump's second term in office has been marked by a crackdown on immigration. Now, the government has ended a program that protected some kids from deportation. Including many who arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors, without a parent, and without legal status. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although “students” are typically thought of as young people enrolled in K through 12 schools or college…many people over 64 also make up the student population in the San Joaquin Valley. And they're still reaping the benefits of learning…physically and emotionally. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR California voters will decide on 14 state ballot measures this November. That includes a controversial wealth tax on California billionaires that remains on the ballot after yesterday's deadline despite a flurry of negotiations. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Senator Alex Padilla is launching a first of its kind initiative to help protect against interference in the November midterm election. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, KQED The FIFA World Cup continues. The U.S. saw its first defeat Thursday night against Turkey, in a 3-2 loss, but the Americans will still advance to the knockout stage … along with fellow hosts Mexico and Canada. Over in Watsonville, one group of kids got to experience the World Cup real close. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new investigation reveals how California law enforcement agencies disciplined about 150 officers, who used racial slurs and acted in other prejudiced ways, and in many cases, officers kept their jobs. Guests: Emily Zentner, California Newsroom and Lisa Pickoff-White, UC Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program The Trump Administration is taking another step toward restarting oil and gas development on federal lands in California. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX The Los Angeles Unified School Board voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Andrés Chait as superintendent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its highly anticipated ruling on birthright citizenship in the coming days. The decision arrives as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. And it highlights a legacy of Chinese immigrants, and the role they played in building American democracy. Reporter: Cecilia Lei, KQED A federal judge in San Jose has ruled that it's illegal for immigration officers to arrest people at courthouses. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A major earthquake in Southern California is more likely than ever, a new study has found. Reporter: Sena Chang, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are drinking less wine, but growers say there's another reason demand is down for California grapes. It's a law that allows U.S. wineries to include cheaper imported wines in products labeled as American. On Tuesday, the State Senate will vote on a bill sponsored by California grape growers that aims to close that international blending loophole. Reporter: Tina Caputo California is suing the Trump administration over its latest attempt to undo Clean Air Act waivers, which govern many of the state's auto emission standards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Monterey Park, which is east of Los Angeles, the city made history when it became the first to ban data centers earlier this month. But it's likely not the last, as data center fights are erupting across California. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Firefighters have made significant progress in the warehouse fire that has been burning for several days in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Juneteenth holiday, we're taking a closer look at the reparations movement here in California. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to atone for state-inflicted harms from slavery to the present day. But some of that momentum stalled last year after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a handful of reparations-related bills. Guest: Kristin Nimmers, California Black Power Network California lawmakers included one year of funding in the state budget to keep alive a federal program many small farmers and food banks rely on. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program helps food banks buy fresh food directly from local and underserved producers. But the program lost future federal funding earlier this year. Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices