KQED's The California Report
KQED's statewide radio news program, providing daily coverage of issues, trends, and public policy decisions affecting California and its diverse population.
Could Democratic Momentum Lead to Change in Huntington Beach?
Huntington Beach is famous far beyond Southern California - as Surf City. And for its MAGA policies. All seven city council members are strong supporters of President Trump. But this year, with his poll numbers down, Democrats sense an opportunity.
Reporter: Kerstin Zilm
Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate for governor, made a rare public appearance in Riverside on Friday.
Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR
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Orange County Community in the Heart of Debate Over E-Bikes
Governor Gavin Newsom signed three laws this week aimed at addressing some of the most pressing safety concerns surrounding electric bicycles, as the devices’ popularity continues to rise in California. It was not long ago that the headlines about e-bikes seemed full of promise, as a replacement for gas-guzzling cars, and an affordable, flexible new mode of transportation. Now, a lot of the news is about crashes and serious injuries, often involving kids.
Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist
Lyft has agreed to pay more than $272 million to settle a state lawsuit alleging it mi...
Inside State Investigation Over Mass Use of Force Incident at CA Women's Prison
Former Democratic Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and Republican commentator Steve Hilton clashed over taxes, immigration and Trump on Wednesday night in a CNN debate.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
AI researchers and safety advocates warned a U.S. Senate subcommittee Wednesday that AI developers are racing to build systems they don't fully understand or control.
Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED
Today we’re going to bring you the third and final segment in my investigation into the Central California Women's Facility. Yesterday, we brought you the story of...
Incarcerated Women Detail Devastating Use-of-Force Incident
In August of 2024, at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, a mass use-of-force incident took place. Four women were carried away on stretchers. 13 women sued, saying the operation was retaliation for complaints of sexual abuse.
Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report
Orange County officials have declared coastal erosion along the county’s coastline an emergency.
Reporter: Destiny Torres, LAist
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Incarcerated Women Fight for Justice Against Prison Abuse
Back in August 2024, a mass use-of-force incident left dozens of women injured and traumatized at the women’s prison in Chowchilla. The incident led to an investigation into abuse at one of the largest women’s prisons.
Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report
Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill aimed at strengthening the pipeline of new immigration lawyers, to serve rural parts of California – where there are many immigrants, but few attorneys.
Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED
New research on Valley fever shows that the fun...
Xavier Becerra Keeping Low Profile in CA Gubernatorial Race
California voters will soon start getting their ballots in the mail. County election offices have until next Monday, October 5th, to begin sending them out. Voters will have lots to decide on, including who will be the next governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra or Republican Steve Hilton. A recent poll puts Becerra in the lead by more than 25 points, and that lead is growing. But is the Democrat taking that lead for granted?
Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two new safety laws after a fire at a cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights...
Recent Measles Case Highlights Difficulty in Tracking Disease
A person was hospitalized with measles earlier this month after traveling extensively through California on Amtrak trains and buses. Now public health officials across the state are trying to find other passengers who were exposed.
Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED
California’s Supreme Court has ruled that the Republican sheriff in Riverside County illegally seized hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year, and must return them. The ballots were from a vote on Proposition 50 which asked whether to redraw California's congressional map to favor Democrats.
Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR
...
Shasta County Registrar Subpoenaed Over Election Claims
A federal grand jury has subpoenaed Shasta County's registrar of voters to report to Sacramento on Thursday. They've asked him to bring ballots he seized from the June election. The subpoenas came after Clint Curtis, the registrar, locked up stacks of those ballots, saying they looked and smelled suspicious. Curtis counters that he doesn't have to bring ballots to Sacramento because the FBI is already on the case.
Guest: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters
The group behind a ballot measure to reform California’s landmark environmental protection law is rejecting claims it will make it...
Historians Discover Mystery Behind Central Valley 7UP Signs
7UP is one of the most recognizable drinks in the world. But what’s less known is a connection in the San Joaquin Valley that began almost a century ago. Billboards and signs of the once flourishing Valley industry have enticed historians for years.
Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR
The governor has signed legislation that strengthens protections for abused children.
Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist
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State of Emergency Declared As California Prepares for Potentially Historic El Niño Event
With a potentially historic El Niño brewing, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Monday ahead of winter storms and high tides that could wreak havoc across the state.
Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED
Governor Newsom is signing a package of bills placing new regulations on data center development.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
It’s less than a month away from when ballots will hit Merced County residents’ mailboxes, and officials are urging voters to drop off their ballot in–person. The county is prov...
Despite Dwindling Resources, Chico Works to Shore Up Fire Mitigation
We’re in the most dangerous months for wildfires across the state. And in Chico, the city is taking steps to clear out vegetation in Bidwell Park. But like a lot of cities, staff is being stretched thin and funding is limited.
Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio
Shasta College, based in Redding, is seeking approval on the November ballot for a $129 million bond. The money would be used to expand and remodel the college’s facilities.
Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio
Learn more abou...
Warden at Central California Women's Prison Ousted Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal
The warden of the state women’s prison in Chowchilla has been demoted and reassigned from her position this week.
Reporter: Madi Bolanos
The HBO drama, The Pitt, won six Emmy's this week... but it's also getting another kind of recognition. Health care workers say it gives viewers a glimpse inside the ER. KPBS health reporter Heidi de Marco takes us inside suburban San Diego's Sharp Grossmont hospital to find out what local doctors and nurses think it gets right…and how it may be shaping patient expectations.
Reporter: Heidi de M...
Governor Newsom Signs 'Leno's Law' Exempting Classic Cars From Smog Checks
Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed legislation to exempt certain collector cars from smog checks.
Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED
Written public comment closes at the end of this week for governor Newsom’s plan to ensure water for cities and farms and a healthy habitat for wildlife in the Delta.
Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED
Two bills sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom's desk aim to protect incarcerated people from sexual abuse and strengthen legal protections for survivors. This comes after a report from the Department of Justice fo...
Scientists Warn This Year's El Niño Can Trigger Unprecedented Flooding
Federal scientists now say it’s very likely that a strong El Niño will continue through the end of the year. The natural phenomenon is pushing a massive stretch of warm water toward California, and climate scientists worry that this process could trigger monumental flooding later this year.
Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED
California just became the first state in the nation to pass rules that require insurance companies to address smoke damage after major fires.
Reporter: David Wagner, LAist
Backers of a November bal...
The Race for California's 48th Congressional District
Voting in November's midterm election will begin in less than three weeks, and a handful of California districts are at the center of the fight for control of Congress. That includes the 48th House District in Riverside and San Diego counties. KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzorati has been reporting in the district, and he joins us this morning from San Diego.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
President Donald Trump is expanding the Interior Department’s authority over energy projects under the Defense Production Act. The executive order could affect the Central Coast, where th...
Trauma-Informed Daycare Center in LA Serves Families Affected by Gangs
A nonprofit that has helped disempowered children around the world is now working in Downtown LA. They’ve opened at Homeboy Industries, the noted gang rehabilitation program. It’s an experimental new daycare… for families who have been involved with gangs.
Reporter: Clare Wiley, KCRW
California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are sounding the alarm on wildfire preparedness … They’re concerned that federal agencies won’t have enough money for the rest of the 2026 wildfire season.
Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX
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Saving Money at Professional Baseball Games
This summer, KPBS and KQED teamed up to look at different ways that Major League Baseball fans save money when going to a game, so that maybe you can too during some of these last games, or keep this in mind for next season.
Reporters - Jake Gotta, KPBS and Carlos Cabrera-LomelĂ, KQED
Governor Gavin Newsom says he is signing a packageof bills that institute some of the strongest protections for children in the country.
Reporter: Chris Alam, KQED
T...
Agave Takes Root in Central Valley Ag School Programs
A new plant is taking root in ag classrooms: agave. At a test plot in Merced County, agave is becoming the primary subject of coursework.
Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR
A new lawsuit filed in Kern County details sexual abuse allegations by an unnamed plaintiff against the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. It accuses nonprofits tied to Chavez of negligence.
Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado
The US Department of Justice is alleging that UC Berkeley law school’s admissions policy discriminates against white and Asian applicants.
...Sonoma County Agency Agrees to Reel in Drone Program After Privacy Violations
Changes are coming to a controversial drone code enforcement program in Northern California’s Sonoma County. The county's land use planning and development permitting agency, Permit Sonoma, recently [[last week]] agreed to settle after being sued for allegedly spying on much more than what the program initially intended.
Reporter: Noah Abrams, KRCB
Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra has a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California governor. But Becerra has kept a relatively low profile since the June Primary and made few specific commitments about what he would do as...
Immigration Related Threats by Employers Spiking in California, Worker Advocates Say
California signed off earlier this summer on an agreement to share state driver’s license data with a national database.
Reporter: Wendy Fry, CalMatters
As the Trump administration ramps up immigration arrests… worker advocates and state officials say some employers are taking advantage of the political climate to exploit immigrant workers in lower-wage jobs.
Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED
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Native Americans in Central California Ring in Powwow Season
Powwows are common in many parts of the country where Native Americans call home. But did you know some regions have powwow seasons? California’s powwow season recently kicked off in Central California. And it brought tribes from as far as New York and Canada to Table Mountain Rancheria casino just outside of Fresno, where the sound of a long tradition rang out.
Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR
California sea lion poisonings are surging along the coast, and warm waters brought by El Niño could make things worse.
Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQE...
Heading Outdoors for Labor Day Weekend? Here's Some Wildfire Safety Tips
Big Sur is being consumed by two wildfires …the Timber Fire to the north started in the first week of August. And at the end of the month, the Plaskett Fire broke out to its south. Earlier this week, KAZU spoke with folks keeping the now-opened strip of the Big Sur Valley alive.
Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU
Labor Day weekend is here, and as you’ve heard we’re still in the middle of fire season without much rain in sight. We know many of you will likely be heading outdoors to enjoy California's wilderness so KQE...
Formerly Incarcerated Advocate on Why Sexual Violence Persists in Men's State Prisons
California prison officials and advocates met this week in Sacramento to discuss the ongoing crisis of sexual abuse and assault in men's prisons and work toward solutions. We spoke with formerly incarcerated community activist Darnel Washington about why sexual violence persists behind bars, and what needs to change to better protect incarcerated people.
Reporter: Madi Bolanos, KQED
California lawmakers have sent a slew of bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk aiming to increase state oversight of federal immigration detention.
Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED
Learn more ab...
Lawyers Say Laken Riley Act Is Eroding Due Process Rights for Immigrants
During his second term, president Donald Trump has done very little that can be considered even remotely bi-partisan. But one thing stands out - The Laken Riley Act. We explore the impacts of this immigration legislation a year after Trump signed it into law.
Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS
A bill that could give the public more access to information about emergencies inside private immigrant detention centers is on its way to becoming a law. It just needs Governor Newsom’s signature.
Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR
St...
Voters in This Competitive California District Say Healthcare Is the Key Issue
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, one of the top issues for voters across the country is healthcare, following major cuts last year to Medicaid. California’s 22nd congressional district has high Medicaid enrollment…and it’s one of the most competitive seats in the country…now that Democrats recently gained a voter advantage there due to redistricting. In a partnership with KFF Health News, KVPR spoke to residents in this district about how healthcare could influence their vote.
Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR
California lawmakers are set to vote today on changes to what hap...
Head Start Would be English Only Under Proposed Trump Overhaul
The Trump administration wants to overhaul Head Start .. an early education and antipoverty program .. that serves about 75 THOUSAND children in California. The proposed rules would strip away regulations on class sizes, disciplinary policies and other standards. But buried in that proposal is a requirement to teach only in English.
Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED
Immigration agents arrested more people in Northern California in July… than at any previous time in President Donald Trump’s second term. That’s according to new data from UC Berkeley's Deportation Data Project.
Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED <...
The Santa Cruz Recovery Group Helping Fire Victims Rebuild Their Homes
It’s been six years since the CZU fire burned nearly 700 homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Less than 1/3 of those have been rebuilt.
Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU
Palm Springs is the latest city to approve a temporary ban on large-scale data centers… as more communities across Southern California consider their impacts on infrastructure and the environment.
Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is responding to concerns that the $17 billion dollar settlement deal he and other attorneys general just reached with Meta is t...
Can California farmers produce solar energy alongside food?
Water shortages, climate change and rising production costs are a few of the many challenges California agriculture has been facing in recent years. But researchers at UC Davis are looking at whether combining farming and solar energy could help farmers adapt. It’s a relatively new approach called agrivoltaics.
Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio
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How Immigration Raids are Affecting Children in Los Angeles
The Trump administration's deportation policies are separating families across the country. And for some children left behind, that separation can take a serious toll on their mental health and wellbeing. Today, we're diving deeper into how immigration arrests are affecting children and their communities in Los Angeles with Cora Cervantes, a reporter with MindSight News.
Reporter: Cora Cervantes, MindSite News, Madi Bolanos
Nearly 300,000 K through 12 students experienced homelessness last school year, a 10 percent increase since the last recorded peak in 2019.
Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED
A...
Central Valley Farmers are Growing Agave to Save Water
For centuries, Mexico has capitalized on growing and harvesting a plant often distilled into Tequila or Mezcal. It’s called agave and it thrives on little water and a lot of heat. Now, with a California law restricting water use on farms, Valley farmers are looking to agave as a new revenue stream on their land.
Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR
California’s highest court is weighing whether a sheriff broke the law when he seized hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year. The court heard oral arguments yesterday.
Reporter: Madi...
Monterey Park Becomes a Role Model for Banning Data Centers
Across the US, communities are mobilizing in the fight against data centers. And they’re turning to Monterey Park in LA County, which this year became the first city in the US to ban them. That was entirely due to the efforts of a group of residents called, appropriately, No Data Center Monterey Park. So, what advice do they have?
Reporter: Brandon Reynolds, KCRW
The California Supreme Court will hear arguments today in two separate lawsuits over the Riverside County sheriff’s seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year.
<...California Senators Express Concern Over Potential Shasta County Elections Hire
California Senators are expressing grave concern over a plan by Shasta County’s top elections official to hire former Colorado clerk Tina Peters who was convicted in an election interference case in 2024.
Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED
Hayward State Senator Aisha Wahab is the Bay Area's newest member of Congress after winning a special election for the seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
Health Net, one of the largest Medi-Cal insurers, is planning to cancel assisted living benefits for members by the en...
Central Valley Conservation Group Uses Animals to Fights Invasive Species
Thousands of Ukrainians across the Bay Area are waiting anxiously for a decision today from the Trump administration on whether they’ll be able to stay – or told to go back to a war zone.
Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED
California is experiencing hotter days more frequently each year… while many families are struggling to get access to AC.
Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED
Governor Gavin Newsom says California will fight the Trump administration’s push to open national forests up to commercial use.
Reporter: Katherin...
Grizzly Flats Residents Still Struggle to Recover Five Years After Wildfire
A federal judge in Oakland heard opening statements in a lawsuit brought by four states against Meta.
Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED
A national survey by a California advocacy group found that 70 percent of teenagers are using Artificial Intelligence to complete their schoolwork.
Reporter: Jose Velazquez, KQED
It’s been five years since the Caldor Fire nearly burned down the entire community of Grizzly Flats, a remote canyon town nestled in El Dorado County. Since then, residents say they’ve received little to no help from the...
Who Represents Unaccompanied Migrant Kids In Immigration Court
A California lifeguard and the boy he rescued off the coast of Santa Cruz last month were reunited at the White House yesterday as the president honored both as heroes.
Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report
Governor Gavin Newsom has set a goal to add 2.5 million new units to California’s housing stock by 2030.
Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters
A state bill heading for a final vote as early as this week would permanently extend a fund to help oil industry workers affected by California’s tran...
Using Nature to Steer Teens Away From Violence
A significant El Niño will continue warming California coastal waters into fall and winter, and likely bring new marine visitors to Monterey Bay.
Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU
Republican lawmakers are pushing new measures with the goal of making California’s top elections office nonpartisan.
Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio
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Scientists Are Building a 'Noah’s Ark' of California’s Tide Pools
Dinosaur bones and taxidermied animals get most of the attention at the Natural History Museum in LA County. But researchers are excited about a new collection that could have big implications for monitoring climate change.Â
Reporter: Lucas Brady Woods, LAist
The U.S. Department of Justice says California is failing to protect incarcerated women from sexual abuse and harassment by prison staff.
Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report
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Young People Consider Trades as Cost of College Rises
Central Coast leaders are saying the threat of offshore drilling could extend beyond the environment to the region’s economy.
Reporter: Jillian Smith/KAZU
Since the pandemic, Californians have been able to get craft liquor delivered to their doorstep. But it could be last call for deliveries from small distilleries, unless lawmakers intervene soon.
Reporter: Ryan Sabalow/CalMatters
For many young people the default blueprint for life after high school is clear: go to college, and then get a job. But with soaring tuition, and an...
Demand for Pistachios Clashes With Climate Reality
Demand for pistachios is booming worldwide – from Dubai-inspired chocolate bars to pistachio cookies and lattes. But in the Central Valley, growers are worried that this year’s harvest could be smaller than anticipated. That’s after some unexpected weather earlier this spring.
Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR
People in five Monterey County zones have been evacuated due to the Timber Fire in Big Sur. It’s burned more than 3,000 acres and hundreds of homes are currently threatened. A portion of Highway One is now closed, due to the spread of the fire. The limited...
Residents Try to Shut Down South LA Oil Drill Site
Los Angeles is a city. But it’s also an urban oilfield. About a third of L.A. County residents live less than a mile from an active oil drilling site. Now one of those sites in South L.A. could be shut down.
Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist
A federal agency is conducting an unusual review of California's Coastal Management Program. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, did a review of the program just two years ago. But Trump administration officials asked for a new one because they say the cu...
