KQED's The California Report

Hospitals across the state were hit hard during the pandemic, which disrupted their operations and chipped away at their finances. Maybe the most glaring example is Madera Community Hospital, which shuttered its doors over financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy in 2022. But one nearby hospital saw record profits, financial investments and executive compensation. Reporter: Omar Sheikh Rashad, Reporter Fresnoland Good news for visitors and residents of Big Sur. Caltrans has completed temporary repairs on Highway 1 over a week ahead of schedule. Storms in late March caused one lane of the highway to fall into the ocean. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, but a Democratic state lawmaker says there’s a big loophole for some people deemed mentally ill by a state court - and he wants to fix it. The loophole - while California law prohibits someone from possessing a gun if a court finds them mentally incompetent to face a felony charge, it doesn’t apply to people being prosecuted for a misdemeanor. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says the state could save up to a billion dollars a year by closing more prisons. This as California faces a budget deficit in the tens of billions. But Governor Gavin Newsom is taking a more cautious approach to trimming prison beds.  Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A multi-billion dollar budget deficit in California is putting organizations across the state at risk. One program facing an uncertain future is Market Match. It works with EBT, or food stamps, to give recipients vouchers they can use at local farmers markets. Reporter: Ava Norgrove, North State Public Radio Governor Gavin Newsom says he has a plan to deal with a staggering $27 billion state deficit next year --without cutting core services or raising taxes. Newsom says California is facing a $56 billion shortfall over the next two years. He wants lawmakers to approve a spending plan that spans those two years. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED An encampment to protest the war in Gaza was set up at the University of California Merced on Sunday. It came after the school held its commencement ceremony over the weekend. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State regulators have approved a controversial proposal that will add a monthly charge of $24 to many Californian's electricity bills. But in exchange, utility customers should see reductions in charges per kilowatt hour of electricity used.  As college campus protests continue over Israel's War in Gaza, students at UC Merced are asking the university to refrain from what they say is over-policing.  Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR It’s finally warming up in California. As more bugs come out in the heat, so do bats to feed on them. And one bat species is emerging from hibernation with a new distinction -- the pallid bat is now the official state bat of California. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on, American protesters are accusing Silicon Valley companies like Intel and Google of complicity in the violence, and urging them to divest. But US tech has been deeply involved with Israeli tech for half a century. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The California Public Utilities Commission votes Thursday on a controversial flat electricity rate. Regulators say the change would lower bills for many, but critics argue it could do the opposite. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years ago, the northern Imperial County town of Niland lost its only post office in a fire. It was supposed to be a temporary closure. But residents are still fighting to get it back. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS California prison officials say it will cost billions of dollars to enforce new indoor heat regulations that the state’s proposed for workers. But they have declined to share exact cost estimates. Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been over a month since California started requiring most fast food employers in the state to pay a minimum wage of $20 dollars an hour -- a big jump from the state’s general minimum wage of $16 dollars. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED News San Francisco State University’s top administrator is promising to provide more transparency about financial ties to Israel … and to explore school divestment. That’s in a public meeting Monday with pro-Palestinian student protesters... who’ve camped out on campus for the past week. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED News  The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is set to meet today to discuss next steps now that the longstanding County Registrar of Voters has retired, but it’s unclear exactly how her position will be filled. Reporter: Alec Stutson, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can solutions to California's housing crisis be found in how we used to design and build homes in the past, namely smaller multifamily dwellings in neighborhoods and cities with fewer zoning restrictions. That topic is explored by Los Angeles urban planner Max Podemski. In his new book, A Paradise of Small Houses. I met up with Podemski in the L.A. neighborhood of Eagle Rock. In California, tens of thousands of immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will soon be able to get health insurance. That’s after President Joe Biden on Friday announced that those with DACA can enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage. The union representing some 48 thousand academic workers in the UC system is planning to hold a strike authorization vote as early as this week over what they say is the university’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. The decision to consider striking gained momentum after police action at UCLA that led to more than 200 arrests early last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As pro-Palestinian student movements persist on college campuses up and down the state, the movement at UC Berkeley has drawn cross-generational support. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald  The Cal Poly Humboldt campus remains closed, even after the arrests of 30 Pro-Palestinian protesters, who took over two university buildings last week. But the student-run radio station is still up and running, thanks to some quick thinking. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of law enforcement officers descended on the UCLA campus on Wednesday night, eventually breaking up a large Pro-Palestinian encampment. Dozens of people were taken into custody. Guests: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report and Sergio Olmos, Investigative Reporter, CalMatters While we've been reporting this week about some of the chaotic scenes at UCLA, USC and Cal Poly Humboldt, for the most part, protests on campuses across the state have been peaceful. That includes at UC Santa Cruz, where hundreds of students and faculty gathered on Wednesday, Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large group of counter-protesters tried to tear down barricades that had been surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on Tuesday night. That led to several fights breaking out. The FAIR plan is known as California's home insurance of last resort. But the plan is now the only option for many homeowners, especially in rural communities. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Protests over the war in Gaza have increased at college campuses across the state. Encampments have now been set up at Sacramento State, San Francisco State, UC Irvine and UC Riverside, along with Occidental College, a liberal arts school in Los Angeles. Student journalists have been covering the events as they unfold on campus. Guests: Dezmond Remington, Reporter, The Lumberjack, Catherine Hamilton, Editor, The Daily Bruin, Aarya Mukherjee, Reporter, The Daily Californian  Members of congress have launched an investigation into a San Diego County-based credit union. This after a KPBS investigation revealed the credit union collects millions of dollars in overdraft fees from young marines every year.  Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS A federal program that has helped millions of Californians afford internet expires on Tuesday. The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program will affect a wide swath of Californians. Reporter: Khari Johnson, CalMatters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the climate crisis changes California’s landscape, the ecosystems in state parks are threatened. At one point, the people in charge of those parks were just preserving the land. But now they’re trying to save the land from climate-driven collapse. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  Worker advocates are applauding a new federal rule that will make millions more people eligible for overtime pay. But in California, those protections are already stronger. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel’s attacks on Gaza have lasted over 200 days and the devastation can be seen around the world. As the war continues, families in the U.S. with Palestinian roots are having to watch the destruction from afar. Many are leaning into their traditions. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR   A controversial California housing law is unconstitutional, according to a superior court judge who made the ruling this week. Senate Bill 9 lets homeowners in single family neighborhoods split their lot and build two new homes on each. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Battle lines are being drawn in what could be a huge fight over taxes in California this November. Those fights are playing out on the ballot and in court. The state could be headed for another “tax revolt” like the one that ushered in Proposition 13. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio California lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that would make workers on strike for more than two weeks eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Californians, the idea of High Speed Rail becoming a reality, is well just an idea. But in Fresno, where one of the first stations will be built, some residents see the rail system as a lifeline. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Cal Poly Humboldt has shut down its campus, after students occupied a building on campus. And a protest encampment continues to grow at UC Berkeley, as students voice their concerns about the war in Gaza, and universities investing in companies that benefit Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many young parents in Los Angeles, buying a home with enough space for kids is out of reach, and so is renting a family-sized apartment. The makes life challenging for those young couples. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist On Monday, a case about homelessness from Grants Pass in Southern Oregon was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court is expected to rule before the term ends in June. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio  A San Francisco lawmaker's bill to allow police to ticket scofflaw robotaxis has passed its first test in the state Legislature. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Monday in a case that could have major implications for how cities across the country approach homelessness. This case is called City of Grants Pass, Oregon versus Gloria Johnson. It hinges on whether a local government can issue fines and jail people for camping on public property when there isn't enough shelter available. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED A proposed state ballot measure to require schools to notify parents if their child is transgender will continue to go by a title supporters say is inaccurate and biased.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR State prison officials are increasing pay for tens of thousands of incarcerated workers. But most will still be earning less than one dollar an hour. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LA Woodshop is a woodworking school and maker space in Los Angeles. It offers classes, bench space, custom furniture, and an events space, for both novice and experienced woodworkers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to crack down on cities that don’t make progress towards reducing homelessness — this on the heels of a scathing audit that found the state doesn’t know where billions in spending is going. Newsom said he plans to establish a new team that will oversee how local communities use homelessness funding. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new study out that takes a demographic and socioeconomic snapshot of African-Americans in the Golden State. It's called the state of Black California. Despite gains in the quality of life for Black Californians over a 20-year period, the study found that racial inequality continues to persist compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Guest: Michael Stoll, Professor of Public Policy, UCLA A bill that would give California cities and counties the ability to regulate robotaxi services has passed its first test in the Legislature – despite doubts expressed by some lawmakers.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In most California counties, the sheriff also oversees the coroner’s office. But in Riverside County, families whose loved ones have died in local jails say that's a conflict of interest — and they want to change the system. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR This week, US Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler announced legislation to create a new national monument on the north edge of the Salton Sea, east of Palm Springs. Supporters say the land is especially important to communities of color. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California requires student health centers at public universities to offer the abortion pill. But how much students pay for the medication differs dramatically campus by campus, from nothing to several hundred dollars. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Democratic state lawmakers are pushing to put a $10 billion affordable housing bond on California’s November ballot. Supporters say it could lead to thousands of affordable housing units being finished. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suspending or expelling children from preschool for challenging behavior is surprisingly common. And it happens way more often to Black children, boys, and kids with learning differences than others. A California law restricts the practice at state-funded early education programs, but implementing the law has been hard because of long-lasting impacts of the pandemic – like staffing shortages and learning loss. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Two San Diego environmental groups are suing the federal government in an effort to stop cross border sewage flows that endanger the environment and public health.  Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year was one of the deadliest on record for migrants. Tougher enforcement is pushing some to try swimming around the wall along the southern border. And that's prompted lifeguards on both sides of the border to respond. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The pollutants from venting and flaring at oil and gas facilities in California are leading to 13 deaths a year, and worsen asthma in 1,800 children. A new study shows Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern counties suffer the worst outcomes, and low income communities are disproportionately affected. Reporter: Kristel Jandra, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The warnings go back nearly 30 years. As soon as a person is handcuffed, get them off their stomach. So says a Department of Justice bulletin from 1995. Yet, people in California continue to die after being held face down by law enforcement. Reporter: Emily Zentner, California Newsroom California doesn’t know if its efforts to address homelessness are working — despite billions of dollars spent to address the crisis. That’s according to a state audit released Tuesday. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National parks have been called “America’s best idea.” But a recent study says these parks are increasingly threatened by human-caused air pollution. The parks with the biggest risk are all here in California. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Shuttered Madera Community Hospital has cleared yet another hurdle in the path to reopening. It’s been approved for a $57 million interest-free loan. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR A community in Red Bluff was recently notified that their water had high concentrations of chemicals called PFAS. Data shows that the site has had high levels of contamination for several years. Reporter: Justin Higginbottom, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 47, a criminal justice reform passed by California voters in 2014, has been controversial from the beginning, and now critics of the law are pushing a ballot measure that would roll back some of its key provisions. Guest: Marisa Largos, KQED A state agency wants to spend millions of dollars to tell students abortion pills are available on campus, this after an LAist investigation found many public universities are failing to do so. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge has ruled that the U-S government is responsible for the safety and welfare of young people who’ve gathered in encampments on the California side of the US-Mexico border. Uprooted from Oakland, the Athletics are headed to Sacramento starting next season. The team will share a 10,000 seat minor-league ballpark with its primary tenant, the Sacramento River Cats, for at least three seasons, while their permanent stadium in Las Vegas is under construction. In Kern County, wildflower season is in full swing. Permitted volunteers are spreading out across the Indian Wells Valley to pick as many flower species as possible. Those will be displayed all in one room for the nearby Maturango Museum’s annual wildflower exhibit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has a new specimen on display. A fossilized bone from a giant creature never before found along the Central Coast. The fossil is at least 11,000 years old and was discovered by some very early career scientists. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU  California is home to the western drywood termite. Fumigation is the most common method to kill this pest. That’s when a home is wrapped in a brightly colored tent and pumped full of the pesticide, SO2F2. But the chemical is a far more potent greenhouse gas than previously known. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State water officials say the last snow survey of the season on Tuesday revealed good news for the millions of Californians and farms who rely on snowmelt. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED LA County authorities have a new strategy to help curb gun violence. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist A parcel of land along the Northern California coast is being restored by the Yurok tribe, who is returning the property to nature. The land has been returned to the tribe in a first of its kind deal – in partnership with the National Park Service and California State Parks. Reporter: Alec Stutson, North State Public Radio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ongoing construction of a new border wall threatened to destroy hundreds of murals that decorate the Tijuana side.  But now, a group of activists has found a way to save some of them.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS After promising to put 200 Black workers in government jobs by this June, the city of Los Angeles has found jobs for fewer than 50 workers. Participants of the program say the application process for city jobs is often months long. And at the same time as this hiring effort, LA is facing a nearly $300 million budget deficit. Reporter: Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was hailed as the official end of single-family zoning in California and decried as a threat to suburban neighborhoods.  But two years later, Senate Bill 9 has done little to add new housing, despite a desperate need for it. But a growing number of developers have emerged with an offer: cash for your backyard. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Nearly 500,000 fast food workers in California start earning at least $20 an hour on Monday. But some restaurants have already started laying people off in response to the change. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero , KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Grand Avenue in Oakland, musicians are keeping an almost century-old institution alive and thriving. Longtime piano bar The Alley brings in customers old and new, who find comfort in their surroundings.  Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED State utility regulators have released a proposed plan to reduce the cost of residential electricity for lower income Californians.  Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A mass shooting at a pair of mushroom farms in a coastal town south of San Francisco last year exposed the deplorable conditions workers lived in. Now the city of Half Moon Bay is preparing to break ground on permanent farmworker housing.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California legislators are out for their spring recess. But discussions about their bills are still happening outside of Sacramento committee rooms. One of the most talked about is a bill aimed at curbing retail theft. Reporter: Lynn La, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named a wealthy tech attorney as his running mate at a rally in Oakland Tuesday. 38-year old Nicole Shanahan is also an investor and philanthropist. She was previously married to the co-founder of Google. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED For years, San Diego County residents living near the US-Mexico border have had to deal with polluted ocean water. That's forced the months long closure of beaches and regular episodes of a terrible outdoor stench that's affected people's health. Guest: MacKenzie Elmer, Voice of San Diego  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As more Californians have fallen into homelessness more have died on the streets — but just how many, nobody knows. That’s starting to change. Spurred in part by the efforts of a few counties, the state recently began taking steps to collect this data. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED A case that could limit access to the abortion pill will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. Anti-abortion rights groups sued the Food and Drug Administration over rules that expanded access to abortion pill mifepristone. It’s part of a two-drug regimen used in most medication abortions. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about what causes air pollution in California, cars and factories probably come to mind. But what about ports? For instance, the Port of Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach, when combined, are the single largest source of pollution in Southern California. But change is afoot. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Earlier this month, thousands of employees were laid-off off by one of the country’s largest stone fruit producers, which operates in central California. The Prima Wawona layoffs are part of a decades-long shift in farm work. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Downtown Oakland, a pop-up event called couchdate is making room for artists and music lovers to hang out, play and connect with one another.  Reporter: Ariana Proehl, KQED Worker safety advocates are outraged that Governor Newsom’s administration may delay the implementation of new rules to protect indoor workers from heat illness. California’s deadline to adopt indoor heat regulations was five years ago. But just hours before the vote, news broke that the state Department of Finance declined to sign off Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A proposal from Governor Gavin Newsom to build housing and mental health treatment beds for Californians experiencing homelessness was narrowly approved by California voters. Proposition 1 allows the state to borrow nearly $6.4 billion to build treatment facilities and supportive housing. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Venues including fast food chains in airports, hotels and convention centers will be exempt from paying a new state-mandated $20 minimum wage to fast food workers.  That’s thanks to a bill California lawmakers passed earlier this week. Reporter: Olivia Zhao, CalMatters A new report from UCLA researchers finds that nail salon workers are being misclassified as independent contractors and missing out on pay and benefits. Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist A new affordable housing community with an innovative design opened in South Sacramento this week. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio The calendar has been saying March for 21 days, but the main event -- March Madness -- starts Thursday. Five women's teams from California made it this year. Reporter: Ethan Toven-Lindsey, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Association of Realtors, one of the most powerful real estate groups in the country, announced on Friday it would settle a major class-action lawsuit that had accused the group of artificially inflating the commissions its agents make in home sales. The settlement is seen as a seismic shift in the real estate market. Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED In the wake of multiple massive wildfires, some property insurance companies have severely raised their rates, or withdrawn from California altogether. A new proposal would create a method of calculating rates aimed at both bringing back those companies and creating more affordable policies.  Reporter: Alec Stutson, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The margin is still too close to call between Yes and No votes on Governor Newsom’s Proposition 1 mental health ballot measure. So close that opponents of the measure, who had previously conceded the race, have now withdrawn their concession. Reporter: Olivia Zhao, CalMatters Huntington Beach officials are considering privatizing the city’s library system at Tuesday's city council meeting. The discussion about privatization comes amid fierce debates over content and control over the city's library system. Reporter: Elly Yu, LA-ist A years-old chemical reaction beneath the surface of one of LA County’s largest landfills has turned into a toxic headache for the tens of thousands of people living nearby. Air quality officials have slapped the privately-owned Chiquita Canyon landfill near Castaic with more than 130 legal violations, but fixing the problem won't be easy. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not paying someone for a job they did is illegal. It’s called wage theft. But a KQED investigation found California regulators have failed to force the worst offender they cited in the state, to pay more than a tiny fraction of the millions of dollars in wages that he owes. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can California Legislate Its Way to Happiness? The newly formed Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes had its first meeting this week to explore the topic of 'happiness.' Lynn La, CalMatters Indian Students Lead Way for Increase in International Students in United States India's U.S. consular team issued over 140,000 student visas last year, more than any other country in the world. California remains a top destination for these students. But what is life like when they get here? Madi Bolanos, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humanitarian Parole Program Can Continue An Oakland man is breathing easier… after a program that protects a Nicaraguan friend survived a court challenge by several Republican-led states. But with a notice of appeal filed this week, his relief could be short lived. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Senior Immigration Editor People Incarcerated at San Quentin Graduate from Coding Program Roughly 50 people incarcerated at San Quentin are now one step closer to getting a career out of prison. That’s through a program that gives job training in skills like coding and audio production to prisoners. Billy Cruz, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opponents of Proposition 1 are conceding that the state ballot measure -- aimed at housing Californians with severe mental illness -- is likely to pass. That result will allow the state to borrow money and shift existing mental health dollars toward building residential treatment facilities and affordable housing.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Assembly member Vince Fong is the top vote-getter in the race to replace Kevin McCarthy. That means he’ll advance to the general election in November. But a special election for the same seat still needs to be decided. Reporter: Joshua Yeager. KVPR When a recruit enters boot camp, the Marine Corps controls virtually all aspects of their life...including, for many, where they bank. An investigation from KPBS in San Diego uncovered how the Marine Corps systematically enrolls thousands of new recruits each year into Oceanside-based Frontwave Credit Union. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Biden administration opened a new immigration court in the Bay Area city of Concord last month… it was part of an effort to cope with a nationwide backlog of more than 3 million cases. But a new spending deal just reached in Congress actually cuts the court budget. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Water is a key ingredient in brewing beer, along with hops and barley, but you rarely see it mentioned on labels. One Napa Valley craft brewer goes to extremes to source water from wells and springs throughout the region to use for different beers. Reporter: Tina Caputo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why We Keep Springing Forward Way back in November 2018, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 7, a measure that was supposed to keep us from having to adjust our clocks twice a year for daylight saving time. So why did we still have to “Spring forward”? Reporter: Oliva Zhao, CalMatters In Trinity County, A Key Victory for the LandBack Movement The Nor Rel Muk Wintu people in Trinity County finally have their own land. That includes 78 acres from an anonymous donor inspired by the LandBack movement.Some members hope it will help the tribe win federal recognition. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In California, young people who could vote, and are even registered, just aren’t doing it in big numbers. Tuesday’s primary election was no exception. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald  In his State of the Union address, President Biden addressed his push for a secure border, and how he’s been blocked by Republicans. California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a strong supporter of immigration reform, invited a guest who highlighted a different side of immigration. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The federal government has announced $72 million will be spent on connecting Tribal communities, including some in California, with reliable, renewable energy. The Yurok Tribe, whose reservation lands are located in and around Humboldt County, is one of the four tribes in California that received a part of this funding. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Death Valley is normally known for its extreme heat. But this winter, rain and winds pushed tons of water into the area, creating a lake locals grew to call "Lake Manly." People could kayak and wade out. But the lake has begun to dry up and boating is now suspended there. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report One of the most expensive state races has been waged in state Senate District 25 which spans from Glendale to Rancho Cucamonga east of L.A.  More than $5 million has flowed into the race – much of it coming from one of the candidates. Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat once held by the late Dianne Feinstein, Democrat and L..A area Congressman Adam Schiff and Republican and former pro baseball player Steve Garvey will advance to the November general election. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  The result of California's only statewide ballot measure -- Proposition 1 -- is still too close to call. Latest results show just over 50% of voters supporting the measure aimed at housing more Californians with mental health and addiction problems. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polling places are open in California, as local and statewide races are on the ballot. Two of the biggest races -- the U.S. Senate seat that had long been held by the late Dianne Feinstein and Proposition 1, a proposal dealing with mental health and homelessness.   The cold winter storm and blizzard conditions that complicated mountain travel and closed ski resorts in the Sierra this past weekend also significantly boosted California’s snowpack and the state’s water supply. Last week, the snowpack was at 80% of average. It’s now 104%, a massive increase from just one storm. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Do you ever think you'll never get your foot into the door of California's residential real estate market? Well, applications open in early April for a state program that could help you buy your first home in California. It's called the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation loan. And when it first launched last year, it was so popular it exhausted its $300 million in funding in the first 11 days. Guest: Erin Baldassari, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, traffic fatalities have remained stubbornly high across California despite efforts to reduce them. That’s especially true in Los Angeles where last year, more than 330 people -- drivers, pedestrians and cyclists -- were killed in collisions, a number higher than the city’s homicide rate. In response to the toll, L.A. voters are voting this election on a ballot measure that’s supposed to make the city’s streets safer. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Several feet of snow fell in higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada over the weekend. The blizzard closed many businesses and shut down I-80.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid California’s housing crisis, a group of mobile home park residents in Fresno County have done something that might seem impossible. They purchased their park from their corporate landlord, securing stable affordable housing for themselves. But the road to get there wasn't easy. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Communities in the Sierra Foothills are preparing for several more feet of snow over the next two days. This week's blizzard will also bring extremely high wind gusts. Local residents and businesses have been busy preparing for what's to come. Reporter: Sophia Holm, KUNR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A blizzard warning is in effect through much of the Sierra foothills through the weekend. The National Weather Service says some higher elevations could see as much as ten feet of snow. Ski resorts in Lake Tahoe are preparing for dangerous conditions on the mountains. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Voting in California’s primary election doesn’t end until Tuesday night. But election officials are getting worried about low levels of voter turnout.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Fresno County voters go to the polls next week, they will be asked to choose whether local officials should have more control over naming. And re-naming things like towns, cities, and street names. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report San Diego County shut down its migrant welcome center last week . That means border officials will continue to drop migrants off on San Diego streets. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the greater Tahoe region and much of the Sierra from Thursday morning until Sunday.  Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  When you’re voting for a candidate running for state office, like a state legislator or the governor, you can evaluate them based on their voting record, policy positions and more. But finding information on candidates for local judge seats can be trickier. Reporter: Olivia Zhao, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians will head to the polls on March 5 to vote in the presidential primary. While there's only one statewide measure on the ballot, voters will have plenty else to ponder. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED Politics Correspondent In Shasta County, a citizens commission created by right-wing politicians is recommending that county officials violate state law by hand-counting election ballots.  Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 1 would allow the state to issue more than $6 billion in bonds, for supportive housing and residential treatment facilities for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. But local governments are eyeing the measure through a different lens, and what may be impacted locally. Reporters: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU and Erik Adams, North State Public Radio Prop 1 isn't the first ballot measure that's tried to help Californians who live in that overlap between homelessness and mental illness. In 2018, voters passed No Place Like Home, a proposition that committed to building thousands of affordable housing units for homeless residents experiencing mental health issues. But a new investigation from CalMatters shows it delivered only a fraction of what proponents promised. Guest: Marisa Kendall, Reporter CalMatters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rogue Festival in Fresno’s Tower District showcases local talent through improv, comedy and storytelling. This year the festival will host nearly 200 performances over the course of two weekends.  One of them is a performance of the novel Latehomecomer by Hmong American author Kao Kalia Yang. Guest: Jasmine Vang, Hmong American Actor  The Sierra is glittering white. Over the last week, recent storms have added up to four feet of snow to the mountain range. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a nasty virus spreading through the U.S.  We’re not talking about COVID and we’re not even talking about humans. Avian influenza or bird flu has affected millions of birds across the country, including here in California.  And in the Central Valley, farmers have been set back months due to the loss of flock and eggs. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR The push for California to provide reparations for Black Californians is taking shape at the state capitol. Members of the legislature's Black Caucus have chosen 14 reparations bills to prioritize this year. Those range from a formal apology on behalf of California lawmakers who supported slavery, to limits on solitary confinement in state prisons. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the heart of California’s oil country, Kern County, more than 16,000 people work in the petroleum industry. Many of their jobs will likely disappear over the next two decades, as the state phases out oil drilling. Slashing fossil fuel emissions is part of California’s plan to combat climate change. That plan also includes burying carbon deep beneath the ground. Kern County is betting on the carbon management industry to create thousands of jobs in the region. But it's unclear if that will actually come to fruition. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California’s budget deficit has grown to $73 billion. That’s larger than a previous projection of $68 billion. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio The Supreme Court has dealt a blow to California landlords when it declined to take up a pair of cases with implications for rent control and eviction moratoriums. The cases , from New York and Seattle,  argued the policies violate landlords’ property rights. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California landlords would be required to accept pets under first-of-its-kind legislation introduced this month. The bill by San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney would also ban property owners from asking about pets on applications, limit pet deposits, and prohibit “pet rent” — additional monthly fees for pets. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED A new UCSF study shows that midwives can face extra obstacles operating in California, especially when they’re trying to serve some of the state’s lowest-income families.  Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Sacramento organizations prepare people from underrepresented communities to serve in public office. That includes Nueva Epoca, which is designed to empower Latinos. Reporter: Kristin Lam, CapRadio In Temecula Valley, teachers and parents who sued the school board over a ban on critical race theory and a transgender notification policy can move forward with their case. A Riverside County Superior Court judge denied the district’s request to dismiss it.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Advocates for letting public universities in California hire undocumented students, who don’t have federal work authorization, have gotten a boost from Sacramento. A new proposal would let all students work, regardless of immigration status, in the UC, CSU and state community college systems. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED We’ve been exploring the crisis of loneliness among Californians and finding community. We turn to the topic of friendship as one all important remedy to social isolation. Guest: Rhaina Cohen, journalist and author of the book “The Other Significant Others”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roughly a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, including your home. That’s why the federal government wants to give homeowners money to replace gas appliances, install solar panels and replace your windows with more efficient ones. Some developers are taking low-carbon retrofits a step further, creating zero-carbon homes. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW It’s a challenge confronting some renters in California. They want to buy an electric vehicle, but they don’t have a place to plug it in where they live. In response, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty has introduced a bill aimed at increasing access to EV charging for people who live in multi-unit housing and without garage access.  Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America's growing culture wars can be seen in local politics across the state. That includes in the Orange County city of Huntington Beach, where a conservative majority on the city council has rolled back several progressive initiatives. And in March, a highly contentious measure is on the ballot. It’s a city charter amendment titled Measure 1 that if passed, would require Huntington Beach residents to show official identification when voting in-person. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Fresno judge has approved a plan to reopen bankrupt Madera Community Hospital, which has been closed for more than a year. That’s despite a reopening bid from UC San Francisco announced last week. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prop 47 is a 2014 ballot measure that lowered the penalties for drug possession and shoplifting from felonies to misdemeanors. Retailers and prosecutors are collecting signatures for a November ballot measure that would roll back some portions of the law. And lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills to tweak it in some way or another. But what have the impacts of the measure been? Guest: Maris Lagos, KQED California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has promised sweeping changes to try to fix the state’s insurance market and convince companies to offer more coverage. Now, he’s released proposed rule updates.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new immigration court opens in the Bay Area Monday. It’s part of an effort by the Biden Administration to cope with a record number of asylum seekers – and a historic backlog of 3 million cases nationwide. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Cal State faculty members start voting Monday on a deal that could raise wages and add more paid parental leave. But some CSU employees say it falls short of what their union is demanding. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fast food workers are officially launching a new statewide union on Friday. This comes weeks before a new law will raise the industry’s minimum wage to $20 an hour and create a statewide Fast Food Council. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Programs dedicated to the well-being of California’s youngest residents are facing major cutbacks. That’s because a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products sharply lowered revenue that’s supposed to fund First 5 California and the early childhood services it supports.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl this weekend in Las Vegas That means thousands of Niners fans are flocking to Sin City to celebrate, and one dedicated fan is hoping to welcome them all. She started a 49ers booster club in Las Vegas.  Guest: Susan Larson, North Vegas Faithfuls  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decades ago, the homes in a Palm Springs neighborhood known as Section 14 were deemed eyesores and officials wanted to promote tourism. So they forced out the mostly black and brown families who lived there. Crews tore down everyone’s homes, and then burned them, sometimes with people’s personal possessions still inside. The city made a public apology in 2021, but survivors are still waiting for additional support. Guests: Pearl Devers, Section 14 Survivor and Areva Martin, Civil Rights Attorney A Popeyes Chicken franchisee is paying more than $200,000 for child labor and other violations at restaurants in East Oakland, Newark and Tracy. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID eviction protections have lapsed for renters in the city of Los Angeles. Now, city outreach workers are going door-to-door,  hoping to catch renters before they’re evicted. And they’re using new data to find those most in need of help. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist  Fresno is the latest city in California to find itself on the receiving end of a bus full of asylum seekers. They were sent from Texas, victims of Governor Greg Abbott’s immigration battle with the Biden administration. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rain continues to fall in Southern California, which has been drenched in this latest atmospheric river. Downtown Los Angeles has seen more than seven inches of rain the last 48 hours, one of the highest two day rain totals on record.   A California law that went into effect last January said public universities have to provide medication abortions. An LAist investigation has found a patchwork of approaches to communicating that abortion pills are now available. Advocates say that’s hurting access.  Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much of the worst of the latest atmospheric river has passed through Northern California. But areas of Southern California continue to be hit with heavy rain and threats of flash flooding. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California’s public universities are required to provide abortion pills to students who want them. But LAist found few universities tell students the medication is available. The lack of information caused one student weeks of anguish. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are more than 1.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S. And there are also a lot of mothers out there, living with the guilt, shame and loneliness that comes with having a child in prison. In Sacramento, one mom is turning that pain into support. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report A job fair was held this week for workers laid off by a Fresno-based agricultural company. Prima Wawona, which grows and packages peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots, filed for bankruptcy in October. A few weeks ago, it warned its employees they’d all be laid off in March. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR One of the mushroom farms where a mass shooting took place in Half Moon Bay a year ago has paid more than $126,000 to federal regulators. The U.S. Department of Labor says that California Terra Garden paid $84,000 in back wages for dozens of workers, and more than $42,000 in penalties. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, the Biden administration introduced a mobile app called CBP One. The idea was that it would help streamline the asylum process for the government agencies and the asylum seekers. But the initial version of the app was riddled with errors. While things have improved, asylum seekers are still facing challenges with the app. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS California’s new oil industry watchdog is recommending reforms to prevent spikes in gas prices at the pump.  Tai Milder heads the watchdog agency. He says the state should publish a market price report and require refineries to store a minimum amount of reserve gas. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday, the City of Los Angeles ends renter protections that were implemented during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. That means tenants need to start paying back the back rent they owe to their landlords. Also, the city will start allowing rent increases in units covered through its rent stabilization program. That means some tenants who live in rent-stabilized apartments will have their rents raised for the first time in four years. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A new report says state corrections officials have used inappropriate tactics to reduce a backlog of staff misconduct cases. When a person held in a state prison files a complaint alleging staff misconduct, it’s supposed to go to the Department of corrections’ s Office of Internal Affairs or trained investigators. But a report by the state inspector general says prison officials dealt with a backlog by reclassifying hundreds of complaints as routine grievances. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  A bill that would let state legislators shield their property holdings from disclosure forms is advancing in the Legislature this week.   Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past two years, undocumented students at the University of California have campaigned to be allowed to work on campus. They argued that they were missing out on opportunities to work with professors and in labs, which could further their academic careers. But last week, UC Regents voted to halt a plan that would have allowed the university to hire them. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report The federal government is awarding California $600 million to fight homelessness. The funding represents a 14% increase over last year’s allocation to the state. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED  A 2023 law made it legal for DACA recipients to become police officers in California. But a new investigation from CalMatters shows, uptake has been slow across the state.  Reporter: Justo Robles, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The San Francisco 49ers are NFC Champions and heading to the franchise’s 8th Super Bowl. They defeated the Detroit Lions 34-31, after trailing by double digits at halftime. Reporter: Christopher Alam, KQED Journalism in Los Angeles and the entire state of California was hit with a major blow this past week. The L.A. Times laid off more than 100 journalists in its newsroom. The cuts come at a time when journalism will play a vital role in informing the public about the upcoming 2024 election. Guest: Margaret Sullivan, executive director of the Newmark Center for Journalism, Ethics and Society at Columbia University Mental health counselors gained some wins in the tentative agreement between the California Faculty Association and Cal State University management. CSU said they'll make an effort to boost the ratio of counselors to students. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our series on social isolation and the search for community in California.  One place where it can be very difficult to find community is L.A.'s Skid Row neighborhood, where many people live on the streets in squalor, as they also battle mental health and addiction problems. But the Skid Row Running Club has been a place where people can find friendship while also getting healthier.  Guest: Jeremy Price, Skid Row Running Club University of California Regents voted to suspend work on a proposal that would have allowed the university to hire students who don't qualify for federal work authorizations like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.  Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report  According to the latest numbers, more than 350, 000 Californians now get their fire insurance through California’s FAIR Plan. The number of FAIR policyholders has nearly tripled over the last five years. So why the increase? Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three years ago, the Creek Fire was finally contained.  It remains California’s fifth largest blaze, after destroying nearly 400,000 acres and hundreds of homes in the Sierra Nevada east of Fresno. The three years since have been a time of healing and recovery – especially for those involved in a high-stakes rescue the first weekend of the blaze. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR  California has been closing prisons to save money. But the state’s spending 90% more per year on each prisoner kept locked up than it was a decade ago. That’s according to a new analysis from CalMatters.  Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A corner store in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood, that’s a crossroads of community life, is being sold. But instead of letting it get snatched up by the highest bidder, the Korean American family that runs the market has worked out a deal with a Black-led nonprofit. The move serves as a small step toward healing historic racial tensions in LA. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW  A big blow to journalism in Los Angeles, as the LA Times has cut about 20% of its newsroom. The paper's Washington bureau and sports and photography departments saw big cuts. And several journalists of color were also impacted. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal State faculty have called off a strike, after a tentative labor agreement was reached Monday night. Faculty had been scheduled to be off the job this entire week. The three Democrats vying to represent California in the U.S. Senate went after the only Republican on stage at Monday’s debate -- and clashed over the war between Israel and Hamas.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  Many in Half Moon Bay are gathering Tuesday to commemorate the first anniversary of the mass shooting that killed seven farmworkers in the community south of San Francisco. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero A controversial school board president in the Riverside County community of Temecula will face a recall election this spring. A group opposed to his conservative agenda collected enough signatures to force a vote. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that required people to show a need for carrying a gun when applying for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. California’s law was similar to that one. Now to get a concealed carry weapons permit, students receive 16 hours of classroom instruction in gun rules and regulations and then time on the firing range. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Monday is the first day of the spring semester for most California State University campuses. But instead of teaching classes, tens of thousands of CSU faculty members from all 23 schools are on strike this week. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we age, our social networks tend to shrink, leaving us feeling disconnected from the world around us. And that can take a toll on someone’s mental health. But recent studies have shown this feeling of loneliness is also linked to an increased risk for heart disease, dementia and early death in older adults. That’s why a coalition here in California is working to change the way we address aging, by bridging the gap between health and social care. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban investor-owned utilities from passing lobbying costs on to customers. The bill follows a Sacramento Bee investigation that found SoCalGas spent millions lobbying against the state’s clean energy policies, and had ratepayers pick up the tab. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the COVID pandemic, ridership on California’s public transit systems plummeted.  Now, ridership levels for one agency – Los Angeles Metro – are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, but there are still big concerns about quality of service, safety and how to deal with drug abuse and homelessness on subways, buses and light rail. The transportation agency is trying to deal with those concerns by putting a friendly face on mass transit. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kern County in the rural San Joaquin Valley is facing what one leader calls an existential threat. The county is the largest oil producer in California, but the state wants to eliminate drilling by 2045. As a result, Kern is looking to a new industry – carbon capture and storage – to secure its future.  hopes the industry will provide jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue, while helping the state meet its climate goals. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Environmental groups have successfully pushed for a ‘green terminal’ strategy at the Port of Humboldt outside Eureka. The terminal is where giant offshore wind turbines will be built. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of Mexicans living in the United States are eligible to vote in Mexico’s upcoming presidential elections. Some experts are calling it the most important election in Mexican history. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Camp Fire survivors now have until April of 2025 to live in trailers full-time on their properties in the town of Paradise. That’s after the Town Council voted to allow RV living for another year. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory, calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. So how did we get to this point?  Guest: Dr. Carla Perissinotto, Geriatrician, UCSF The Biden administration is awarding California $168 million for clean vehicle charging infrastructure. Grants will fund projects across the state, from truck charging stations along freight routes in the Inland Empire, to public vehicle charging facilities in low-income communities in Contra Costa County. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in an avalanche at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort on Wednesday as 66-year-old Kenneth Kidd. One other person was buried and injured; two other skiers were caught up in the avalanche but rescued. California is facing a nearly $38 billion budget shortfall, but to hear Governor Gavin Newsom tell it, things aren’t too dire. As he rolled out his proposed spending plan on Wednesday, Newsom framed the shortfall as a return to normal of sorts: After several years of unusual spikes in capital gains, sales and corporate tax revenues, driven by low interest rates and historic federal pandemic aid,  things are leveling off.  Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED  As Senate negotiators struggle to hammer out a deal in Washington, trading tougher asylum rules for more aid to Ukraine and Israel, California Senator Alex Padilla says more border restrictions are not the best way to manage the migration crisis.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom has officially ordered a special election on March 19 to fill the seat vacated by former Congressman Kevin McCarthy. The district will see up to four different ballots to determine who will serve the remainder of McCarthy’s term and who will succeed him in Congress. Meanwhile, California lawmakers want to clean up state election law after a judge ruled that a Republican candidate can run for both Congress and the Assembly this year.  Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio   A suite of options to allow psychedelic use in California could soon be on the table, including regulated therapies. As officials wrestle with what comes next, the state recently cleared advocates to collect signatures for a statewide decriminalization vote as a ballot measure in November. Reporter: Anna Marie Yanny, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are still struggling to find a place to live years after devastating wildfires ripped through Butte County.  In the remote town of Berry Creek, many are living in RVs on the lots where houses once stood. But they face deadlines to rebuild their homes or move. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio  Doctors are bracing for more COVID patients as people return to school and work after the holiday break. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 20th century, the last California gray wolf was observed in the 1920s, but that changed in 2011 with the sighting of a wolf who had crossed into California from Oregon.  Now, a small but growing population of wolves have reestablished themselves in the state. Reporter: Jordan Traverso, California Department of Fish and Wildlife A parents rights group says it plans to sue Attorney General Rob Bonta because of how his office titled and summarized an initiative the group hopes to get on the ballot. The proposal from the group Protect Kids California would prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, exclude trans girls from girls competitive sports, and require schools to disclose a students’ gender identity to their parents. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passions over war in the Middle East have spilled into where many of us work. So as an employee, what rights do you have to share your opinions or protest on the job? Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED In Sacramento, state legislators ended their first session of the year early Wednesday, after hundreds of Israel-Hamas war protesters broke out into songs and chants in the Assembly chamber. Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal regulators are investigating Kaiser Permanente for how it treats women with postpartum depression. The health provider has twice revised its guidelines to make it easier for women to get a new drug that targets the condition. These developments are the result of a KQED investigation that first revealed Kaiser's restrictions on postpartum care. Guest: April Dembosky, KQED State surveyors have measured the snowpack near Lake Tahoe, and found only a small amount of snow compared to this time last year.  Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of new laws have gone into effect with the beginning of the new year. They affect everything from workplaces, to crime and health care. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our state, we see the effects of climate change around us seemingly every day - storms, flooding, wildfires, extreme heat waves. Such events are changing the landscape and feeling of California and making a lot of us worried. So how do we handle the anxiety and even the grief that stem from climate change?  Guest: Erica Hellerstein, Investigative Reporter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state of California has been experimenting with ways to make it easier for residents to enjoy our state parks and beaches. A pilot program that allows Californians to visit many state parks for free — after checking out a pass from their local library — is helping increase access for more people. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices