POPULARITY
We've been here before, but this time feels different. President Donald Trump has rounded out 100 days in office, but getting a grasp of this moment in our country's history is a challenge. Whether what's unfolding is good or bad depends on where you look, and who you ask. This hour, we're getting a snapshot […] The post 100 Days, Two Americas: A Texas Standard / California Newsroom Special appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Today marks the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. In this special episode of The LA Report, we're sharing with you “100 Days: Two Americas” – from the California Newsroom and the Texas Standard. This hour-long special assesses the effects of Trump’s second term – on California and Texas – two economic powerhouses with diverse communities, but with very different politics. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com
In an hour-long special, the California Newsroom and the Texas Standard team up to examine how the Trump administration is changing life in two of the nation's largest states. To mark President Trump's 100 days in office, the California Newsroom and the Texas Standard teamed up to examine how life is changing in two of the nation's largest states - California and Texas - through the lens of politics, immigration, tariffs, agriculture, and education. The hour-long special is called 100 Days, 2 Americas and is hosted by CapRadio Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez alongside David Brown based in Austin. It includes reporting from Angela Korcherga of KTEP in El Paso, Michael Marks of the Texas Standard, Levi Sumagaysay and Carolyn Jones of CalMatters in Sacramento, Stella Chávez of the Texas Newsroom, Gustavo Solis of KPBS in San Diego, Tyche Hendricks of KQED in San Francisco, and Jessica Greenwell of KVCR in Riverside, Calif.Editor's note: The audio version of this story incorrectly identifies Arroyo Grande as a city in the Central Valley of California; it is actually located along the state's central coast. We apologize for this error.
More fires have sparked in Los Angeles as fire crews work tirelessly through the day and night to contain them. Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Thousands of homes and structures have been destroyed and five people have been killed in the fires. Guest: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Thousands of Los Angeles County residents at risk of losing their homes to fires are on the state's insurance plan of last resort. That's according to reporting from our California Newsroom partner, CalMatters. Reporter: Jeremia Kimelman, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Bridge Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest outside of L.A. has exploded in size growing to more than 47,000 acres with no containment. Evacuation orders are in place for small mountain communities and flames have consumed homes in Wrightwood and swept through the Mountain High Ski resort. The Airport Fire continues to burn across dry chaparral covered hills in Orange County. The wind-driven blaze had charred more than 22,000 acres, and jumped into Riverside County on Tuesday. The Line Fire has burned more than 34,000 acres in and around the San Bernardino National Forest. Smoke from the blaze– and others around the state— is making air quality unhealthy for more than 10 million people in Southern California, especially in inland areas. Some people are getting creative to protect themselves. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR California's unhoused population has grown by 8% to 186,000 people. That's according to a new analysis of state homelessness data from our California Newsroom partner, CalMatters. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters With the presidential race entering its final weeks, a new survey finds that economic issues are top of mind for California's 9 million Latino voters. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're nearing the deadline to file taxes. While the task may seem daunting, especially for people who can't afford an accountant, a group of high school students in Central California want to help fix that problem. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Fewer than one in five people in California could afford to buy the median priced home last year. That's according to a new report from the California Association of Realtors. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED The city of Stockton has settled a wrongful death suit with the family of a man who died after being held face down by police in 2020. Reporter: Emily Zentner, The California Newsroom
An update on the early results of school board races in the Sacramento region. Plus, an investigation into deadly police prone restraints across California. Finally, Sacramento's Jewish Film Festival kicks off this weekend. School Board Races School board elections may be down-ballot races, but these bodies have significant power to shape their students' educational experiences - and the community that surrounds these schools. CapRadio Education Reporter Srishti Prabha provides an update on the early results of school board races in the Sacramento region. Investigation into Deadly Police Restraints As far back as the 1990s, medical experts and law enforcement officials have been aware of the dangers of prone restraint - which is holding someone on their stomach face down. In California, a 2022 law banned any maneuvers that put people at risk of being unable to breathe due to the position of their body - a common cause of death in prone restraint cases. But an investigation found that despite decades of warnings, police continue to hold people facedown - with deadly consequences. Emily Zentner is Data Journalist at The California Newsroom, a collaboration between California public radio and nonprofit newsrooms. Lisa Pickoff-White is the Director of Research for the California Reporting Project. They join Insight with their investigation, which was published in partnership with the Guardian. Jewish Film Festival Sacramento's Jewish Film Festival kicks off this weekend celebrating 25 years of inspirational films that tell the Jewish story. The festival has both in-person live events and several online options as well. Festival Director Teven Laxer joins us today to talk about the 25th anniversary, how the festival has evolved, and how the current events in the Middle East will play an educational role in this year's event.
Both President Biden and former President Trump overwhelmingly win their party's primary in California and most other Super Tuesday states. Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey will face off against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff for California's coveted U.S. Senate seat this November. Marisa Lagos, Scott Shafer and LAist's Austin Cross are joined by a slew of guests to analyze the Super Tuesday results so far. From our California Newsroom live special coverage of California's primary election, which aired at 9pm PST. Read more live updates: Primary Election 2024 Live Updates: Bay Area and California
The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office has pulled down a public service announcement from its website warning residents about the painkiller fentanyl. This comes after the California Newsroom inquired about the accuracy of the events depicted. Reporter: Brian Krans, The California Newsroom A new poll finds most California voters do not feel that U.S. borders are effective at keeping people from entering the country illegally. Registered Republicans overwhelmingly say the border's not secure, unauthorized immigrants are a major burden and asylum laws are too lenient. But California Democrats are deeply divided on those questions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED
If we're spending tens of billions of dollars fighting homelessness, why isn't the problem getting better? An investigation by KCRW and The California Newsroom looked at the massive failures of one major recipient of Governor Gavin Newsom's Homekey program. That's his administration's big effort to turn buildings like hotels and motels into low income housing, which has cost more than $3 billion since it launched in 2020. Guest: Anna Scott, Reporter KCRW Governor Newsom is expected to release the state's spending plan on Wednesday morning. This comes as the state is dealing with a $68 billion shortfall. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report
More than 21 million Americans are breathing air that's dirtier than official records indicate. That's according to a new investigation from the California Newsroom, MuckRock and the Guardian. An obscure rule in the Clean Air Act allows regions to strike so-called “natural” and “exceptional events,” like wildfires, from their pollution data on grounds that they are beyond the control of local air regulators. Since 2016, counties in California have had 166 days of pollution forgiven. And this past summer during the Canadian wildfires, more than 20 other states invoked it. As wildfires become more frequent amid worsening climate change, air regulators are expecting to use the “exceptional events” rule more often, and some lawmakers are even trying to make filing easier. We'll hear more about the investigation's findings and answer your questions. Related link(s): Smoke, Screened — The Clean Air Act's Dirty Secret: An Investigation From the California Newsroom, Muckrock and the Guardian Guests: Molly Peterson, editor, The California Newsroom; has covered science with a focus on climate change for KQED News; co-author, “Smoke, Screened: The Clean Air Act's Dirty Secret" Emily Zentner, data journalist, The California Newsroom; co-author, “Smoke, Screened: The Clean Air Act's Dirty Secret"
In more than a dozen California counties, a little-known rule in the Clean Air Act has forgiven air pollution – not from the sky, but from the record. After wildfires flourished across North America this year, more U.S. states east of the Mississippi may use this exceptional events rule to subtract smoke from the record, if not from the air we breathe. But these exceptional events are no longer exceptional, and the requests to obscure them from air-quality records are more common. Reporter: Molly Peterson, The California Newsroom
Investigation into a little-known pollution rule that keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans. What roadkill can tell us about California's deer and mountain lion populations. Where to see fall colors across the Sierra Nevada. Loophole Lets Air Regulators Wipe Pollution From Records The Clean Air Act is a more than 50-year-old federal law that allows the EPA to set standards to protect public health by regulating emissions of hazardous air pollutants. But an investigation by the California Newsroom found that a little-known provision forgives pollution caused by “natural” or “uncontrollable” events – like wildfires. And this “exceptional events rule” is being used more and more by local air regulators, alongside extreme weather events associated with climate change. Which means the air on paper might be cleaner than it actually is. And that has significant consequences to public health. Molly Peterson is an investigative reporter at the California Newsroom, a collaboration of public radio stations around the state and CalMatters, and joins Insight with more behind the findings, as well as solutions. What Roadkill Can Tell Us About Native Species Roadkill. It's an unfortunate sight on roads. But these fallen wild animals do have a great deal to tell us. CapRadio Environment Reporter Manola Secaira spoke to researchers at UC Davis about what they have learned from roadkill, why certain areas are more susceptible, as well as what the state of California is doing to better track and conserve native species. Fall Colors Across Sierra Nevada With Fall in full swing, it's time for nature lovers to go out and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. From Lake Tahoe and Big Bear Lake, to Yosemite National Park, there are many places throughout California to take in the autumn beauty. But when is the best time to go, and how do you capture those scenes in a photo? Professional photographer Kial James joins Insight to talk about Fall foliage in the Northern California foothills, as well as tips for capturing good nature photography.
Today on AirTalk, Nightmare fire potential in Topanga Canyon. Also on the show, R.I.P Dodgers 2023 Season; California Newsroom finds a major loophole in the Clean Air Act; the history of SoCal organized labor and more. The Ever-Present Risk Of Wind-Driven Wildfire In Topanga Canyon, And How Local Experts Are Working To Mitigate It (00:17) Triple Play: Remembering The 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers (23:22) New Investigation Reveals Loophole In The ‘Clean Air Act' (33:05) Exploring The History Of Organized Labor In Southern California (44:06)
Voters to decide on Proposition 1 mental health funding. Investigation looks into nursing homes across the state. CapRadio's new podcast “This is What it Feels Like.” Voters to Decide on Mental Health Funding California's decades-long struggle to find a solution to the mental health and homelessness crisis is taking a new turn. Governor Gavin Newsom is banking on a new, two-pronged approach to funding critical infrastructure to help people with serious and chronic mental health issues that can lead to or exacerbate homelessness. CalMatters Health reporter, Kristen Hwang joins us to examine the Governor's proposal, Proposition 1, which California residents will vote on in the March primary. Investigation into California Nursing Homes Elly Yu, Investigative reporter at LAist, shares her investigation which found that across the state, people with serious mental illness are living in nursing homes that experts say weren't meant to care for them. Some call it "warehousing" and say the practice might violate federal laws, with deadly consequences. Yu's investigation was a partnership with APM Research Lab, as well as The California Newsroom– which is a collaboration among public radio stations across the state. CapRadio's New Podcast ‘This is What it Feels Like' Terra Lopez is the host of CapRadio's new podcast This Is What It Feels Like. In a world that feels more divided than ever, put yourself in the shoes of everyday people at the center of issues often overlooked or politicized by society. It's not simple. It's not black and white. This Is What It Feels Like. New episodes drop on Thursday.
Last night, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club hosted a vigil to honor the victims of the shooting in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs. The vigil took place at Harvey Milk Plaza, one week before the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. A recent investigation from CapRadio and the California Newsroom revealed the U.S. Forest Service predicted that a wildfire could wipe out the town of Grizzly Flats. But the agency failed to deliver on plans to protect the rural Northern California town. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio California is one of the nation's most linguistically diverse states. An estimated 3.4 million workers don't speak English well, or at all. Many of them work low-wage, high-risk jobs. But the state agency tasked with protecting workers' health and safety, is woefully understaffed in terms of bilingual inspectors. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED
Wildfires in California have grown increasingly extreme and devastating in the last decade. BURNED, a yearlong investigation from the California Newsroom, reveals how the U.S. Forest Service is struggling to complete the work it knows it must do to keep Californians safe from wildfires. For decades, the agency has developed projects to thin and manage overgrown forests in an effort to reduce wildfire intensity. But those plans routinely stall out, and sometimes are abandoned completely. The 2021 Caldor Fire destroyed most of Grizzly Flats, a foothills community in Northern California that borders Forest Service land. CapRadio's Scott Rodd investigated how the Forest Service took years to develop a large forest management project around Grizzly Flats, and only finished a small portion by the time the Caldor Fire ignited in 2021. The agency originally committed to finishing the 15,000-acre project by 2020. Towns up and down California fear they could be next. KCRW's Caleigh Wells uncovered how the Forest Service tackles only a fraction of the prescribed burning work it needs to get done to protect communities in Southern California. The agency delayed or canceled multiple projects around Big Bear Lake, a popular tourist town surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. The town narrowly avoided disaster this year when the Radford Fire ignited. CapRadio's Scott Rodd and KCRW's Caleigh Wells reported this special investigation. Additional reporting by George LeVines and Emily Zentner. It was edited by Adriene Hill and Mike Kessler of the California Newsroom, a collaboration of the state's public radio stations.
“BURNED,” a yearlong investigation from the California Newsroom, reveals how the U.S. Forest Service is struggling to complete the work it knows it must do to keep Californians safe from wildfires. For decades, the agency has developed projects to thin and manage overgrown forests in an effort to reduce wildfire intensity. But those plans routinely stall out, and sometimes are abandoned completely.
Wildfires in California have grown increasingly extreme and devastating in the last decade. BURNED, a yearlong investigation from the California Newsroom, reveals how the U.S. Forest Service is struggling to complete the work it knows it must do to keep Californians safe from wildfires. For decades, the agency has developed projects to thin and manage overgrown forests in an effort to reduce wildfire intensity. But those plans routinely stall out, and sometimes are abandoned completely. The 2021 Caldor Fire destroyed most of Grizzly Flats, a foothills community in Northern California that borders Forest Service land. CapRadio's Scott Rodd investigated how the Forest Service took years to develop a large forest management project around Grizzly Flats, and only finished a small portion by the time the Caldor Fire ignited in 2021. The agency originally committed to finishing the 15,000-acre project by 2020. Towns up and down California fear they could be next. KCRW's Caleigh Wells uncovered how the Forest Service tackles only a fraction of the prescribed burning work it needs to get done to protect communities in Southern California. The agency delayed or canceled multiple projects around Big Bear Lake, a popular tourist town surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. The town narrowly avoided disaster this year when the Radford Fire ignited. CapRadio's Scott Rodd and KCRW's Caleigh Wells reported this special investigation. Additional reporting by George LeVines and Emily Zentner. It was edited by Adriene Hill and Mike Kessler of the California Newsroom, a collaboration of the state's public radio stations.
After a prescribed burn became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service put a ninety day ban on controlled burns.But while these kinds of burns do carry risk, very few escape, and they are a crucial tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Forest ecologists are worried the ban added to the wildfire risk in areas that desperately need maintenance.An investigation by CapRadio and the California Newsroom found that proper fire mitigation could have protected the Northern California town of Grizzly Flats from the Caldor Fire last year. CapRadio's Scott Rodd reports on how the U.S. Forest Service failed to execute its own mitigation plan in time, despite recognizing the danger decades ago.KCRW's Caleigh Wells looked into all of the obstacles that stand in the way of prescribed burns and fire preparation in California's Big Bear Valley, which could be the next disaster.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
The California Report highlights a new investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom that found that the U.S. Forest Service knew for decades that a wildfire could devastate Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County. Paul Emery and Steve Baker talk about robbing Powell to pay Mead. Marc Cuniberti urges those who must bite to nibble rather than gorge.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon will not face a recall election, county officials announced on Monday. Critics of Gascon, led by prosecutors in his own office, have once again failed to get the more than 560,000 signatures necessary to place a recall before voters. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED New research suggests climate change is increasing the likelihood of California-wide megafloods. Warming temperatures have already doubled the risk of this type of inundation brought on by a succession of storms, lasting for as long as a month. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED A year ago, the Caldor Fire burned through the small town of Grizzly Flats in Northern California. The fire destroyed more than 400 homes. A new investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found that the U.S. Forest Service predicted — for decades — a wildfire could devastate Grizzly Flats. But its plan to protect the town didn't get done. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio
Tijuana continues to recover from a traumatic weekend which saw many businesses close and residents shelter in place from threats of violence from drug cartels. Then, UC San Diego is cutting admission offers for the next school year by more than 9,000 students. Next, the U.S. Forest Service predicted for decades a wildfire could devastate Grizzly Flats. A Cap Radio and California Newsroom investigation looks at why its plan to protect the town fell short. Then, one of San Diego's most car-dependent neighborhoods could one day become a beacon of pedestrian-friendly urban design. Next, travel guru Rick Steves talks about travel in the age of COVID-19. Finally, San Diego author Jesse Leon tells a story of resilience in his new memoir, “I'm Not Broken.”
California allocated a record $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention and forest health in 2021. Yet Cal Fire, the agency largely in charge of prevention efforts, is struggling to track and implement projects and took years to authorize to establish a prescribed-burn workforce certification program, as required by state law. At the same time, its firefighting staff has increased substantially — demonstrating what experts have characterized as an internal prioritization of suppression over mitigation. That's all according to a monthslong investigation by California Newsroom reporters, who join us to talk about their findings.
State lawmakers are taking action to protect abortion access in California. Meanwhile, a California Newsroom investigation reveals Cal Fire is fumbling key aspects of its fire prevention and forest management responsibilities. Plus, scientists at UC San Diego are leading what they call the biggest community science project ever, on animal communication.
California has the highest gasoline prices in the country. Now, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is investigating whether price gouging by energy companies is the biggest factor. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Cal Fire responds to thousands of fires every year, often at great risk to firefighters. That's earned the agency a heroic image in the public's eye. But Cal Fire is also responsible for work that helps prevent catastrophic fire damage, and an investigation by the California Newsroom has found that the agency has failed to meet many of those responsibilities. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED
New drought restrictions limit millions of Southern Californians to watering their yards once or twice weekly. Cemeteries are looking for ways to avoid turning brown. The state committed $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention and forest health in 2021. The California Newsroom investigated how Cal Fire has been spending that money. It finds the department wanting in key areas. Before the U.S. Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, John Eastman was a respectable conservative voice in Orange County. What happened?
California Newsroom investigation about Cal Fire fumbles responsibilities in wildfire prevention despite a historic budget. Plus a CalMatters series on how firefighters are facing a mental health crisis following years of intensifying wildfires. Today's Guests CapRadio State Government Reporter Scott Rodd and KQED Science Reporter Danielle Venton share their investigation about how Cal Fire fumbles key responsibilities to prevent catastrophic wildfires despite a historic budget. Julie Cart, Environment Reporter with CalMatters, and Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Burrow discuss how Cal Fire firefighters are overworked and facing a mental health crisis following years of intensifying wildfires.
Today, we're bringing you another excerpt from the one-hour special that explores the high price of climate change for California communities. It was produced by the California Newsroom, a collaboration between public radio stations throughout the state - and it's called “Climate Costs.” We visit California's coastline and meet crab fishermen in Monterey, a scientist in Santa Barbara trying to find a path forward and a community that has made the uncommon choice to pull back as the oceans rise. Plus, the sounds of late spring at Sequoia National Park.
Today, we're bringing you an excerpt from a one-hour special that explores the high price of climate change for California communities. It was produced by the California Newsroom, a collaboration between public radio stations throughout the state - and it's called “Climate Costs.”
On this week's Valley Edition, a bonus episode – a collaboration from the California Newsroom entitled Climate Costs: A public radio special exploring the high price of climate change for California communities. Hosted by KVPR's Kerry Klein, with contributions from eight public radio newsrooms in California, we bring you stories of the challenges brought on by climate change. We'll visit the Northern hemisphere's largest geothermal field, a Native American reservation in the Eastern Sierra, a Central Coast city grappling with the loss of its coastline, and a region where acres and acres of orange groves are being replaced with warehouses.
California has millions of acres of overgrown forestland. It's raw fuel for potentially catastrophic wildfires. In late 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new program to dramatically speed up the state's wildfire prevention work. But an investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found the program hasn't resulted in a single completed project. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio California's push for green energy could inadvertently harm one of its most famous species. As more and more wind turbines go up in the state, the companies behind them are looking to prevent unintended deaths of critically endangered California condors. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Where oh where have California's school kids gone? The state's K-12 public school enrollment is down again this year by 110,000 students. That's on top of a drop of 161,000 last year. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED San Francisco tenants now have the right to organize, under legislation that took effect this week. The Board of Supervisors approved the protections for tenants to form associations like labor unions. Reporter: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED
In late 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new program to dramatically speed up the state's wildfire prevention work. But an investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found the program hasn't resulted in a single completed project.
Farmworkers in California work outside even during wildfires that fill the air with toxic smoke. California law requires employers to provide mask and safety guidance during those periods of dangerous air. But, an investigation by KQED and The California Newsroom found that state officials rarely enforce those rules putting roughly 4 million outdoor workers at risk. Despite those failures, Douglas Parker, the former head of California Division of Occupational Health and Safety responsible for enforcing the regulations, was recently appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the nation's worker health and safety efforts. We talk about the investigation's findings and whether California regulators are falling short in protecting workers.
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 Valley. Guest: Lori Pesante, Director of Civic Engagemnt & Government Relations, Dolores Huerta Foundation
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
In the last 10 years, nearly four dozen California workers have died from heat related-illnesses, according to an investigation by Columbia Journalism Investigations, NPR, KPCC and The California Newsroom. Public health experts say heat-related deaths are 100% preventable. But the investigation finds they still occur because of the chronic underfunding and understaffing of California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health — Cal/OSHA, which is charged with enforcing heat standards and protocols. Without proper inspections, employers can skirt regulations, placing farmworkers, construction workers, landscapers and others who work outdoors at a higher risk for heat-related deaths. With climate change only making California's temperatures hotter, we'll talk to the story's reporters about the breadth of the issue and what's being done to address it.
Social media polarizes us. Political propaganda deluges us. And misinformation and disinformation seem to spread as quickly as COVID-19. So where can we go to find stories, analysis, and messengers we can trust? Scholars say that high-quality, fact-based local news organizations—based in our own communities and staffed by diverse and responsible journalists who are also our neighbors—can inoculate us against the toxicity that inundates us via screen, airwave, and print. But such local media are dying; more than a quarter of the country’s newspapers have closed in this century, and thousands of communities no longer have their own news outlets. So how can local, community-based information messengers be made viable again—and how do we know that they are committed to being part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem? What strategies and institutions are already working to restore the trust in information, and in one another, that provides the foundation of a healthy civil society? American Journalism Project chief executive Sarabeth Berman, Voice Media Ventures founder and “Black Voice News” publisher Paulette Brown-Hinds, and UC Berkeley law professor and former Federal Election Commission chair Ann Ravel visited Zócalo to explore how local media might help bring Americans together. This Zócalo/Center for Social Innovation online event was moderated by Joanne Griffith, managing editor of California Newsroom. Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway: https://zps.la/2Y58qL4 Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepublicsquare Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublicsquare/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zocalopublicsquare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/z-calo-public-square