Central Valley Daily

Hanukkah, the 8-day festival of lights, starts on Sunday. Rabbi Shmuli Schlanger with the Chabad of Bakersfield explains the meaning of the holiday and highlights events in Bakersfield and Tehachapi. Plus, the latest news headlines: how Valley Catholics are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Reedley College wins a prestigious national award.

Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Or if you’re Rebecca Jo Jackson, to write one. On today’s episode, the Visalia-based author discusses the latest book in her Sweet River romance series, “Olivia’s Only Pretending.” Plus, the latest news headlines: Hundreds of millions of dollars to address California homelessness could be in jeopardy, and some childcare providers are asking t...

For decades, so-called “forever chemicals” have been increasingly used on crops and consumer products in the U.S. Environmental advocates are raising alarm over the lack of regulation and research into how these chemicals affect the human body. Today we speak with a policy analyst with the Environmental Working Group who breaks down how these chemicals show up in places like our crops. Plus, the l...

Space is becoming increasingly commercialized. This has given rise to so-called “memorial spaceflights.” That’s when people can choose to send their loved one’s ashes into orbit. In this encore episode of Central Valley Daily, we revisit a story by KVPR’s Kerry Klein about a Central Valley native’s decision to honor her travel-loving sister with one final exploration in space. Plus, the latest new...

A number of nursing homes in California are facing lawsuits for purported negligence and abuse. Some have already had to pay millions to residents or family members. On today’s episode, Jocelyn Wiener with our news partner CalMatters introduces us to one owner at the center of CalMatters reporting.

The Valley has been blanketed in thick Tule fog in recent weeks, which may remind some Valley residents of years past. So why is it unusual to see these conditions now, and why are they so different than in the past? San Francisco Chronicle Meteorologist Anthony Edwards breaks down what’s changed. Plus, the latest news headlines: Valley Congressmen re-introduce legislation to prevent illegal biome...

Kratom is among the many substances on the market that claim to improve health and wellness. But many in the medical community worry about widespread abuse, and leaders in Fresno are seeking to ban it. Pablo Orihuela, with our news partner Fresnoland, breaks down why. Plus, the latest news headlines: California’s economy is likely to keep worsening before it gets better, and hundreds of acres of l...

Small farm towns that typically balloon in size during peak harvest seasons in the San Joaquin Valley are seeing less activity as the Trump Administration cracks down on immigration. CalMatters reporter Nigel Duara set out to examine what these impacts look like, even as enforcement has largely been confined to major cities for now. Plus, the latest news headlines: Thousands of trucking schools at...

The AIDS epidemic of the 1980’s brought tragedy for more than 100,000 Americans. Four decades later, Kern County is honoring victims through art. On today’s episode, Audrey Chavez with the Bakersfield AIDS Project discusses the community’s display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Plus, the latest news headlines: our neighbors in Stockton reel after a deadly mass shooting this past weekend; judges dismi...

Every year, NPR collaborates with its team and puts together ‘Books We Love.’ It’s a curated list of hundreds of books that staff members and trusted critics say are worth a read. NPR’s Andrew Limbong joins us to discuss the thorough list and some of his favorite books from this year.

The police chief and assistant police chief in the City of Porterville are both out on “authorized leave,” as an interim police chief is leading the department. At the same time, the department is facing multiple civil rights lawsuits. KVPR Associate Editor Kerry Klein breaks down what we know about the department’s current affairs. Plus, the latest news headlines: Health budget cuts in Kern Count...

Thousands of children work in California’s agricultural fields – and while child labor is legal in the ag industry, lax enforcement means kids are suffering. On today’s episode, journalist Robert J. Lopez tells the stories of dozens of child laborers whom he spoke with for his report for Capital and Main entitled “California’s Child Farmworkers: Exhausted, Underpaid and Toiling in Toxic Fields.” P...

It’s easy for visitors to Yosemite National Park to marvel at the park’s ancient trees and landscape. But what about the many creatures that call the park home? For the first time in more than 100 years, there’s a new book dedicated just to Yosemite’s wildlife. On today's episode, we speak with the author of that new book, Beth Pratt.

Hard Rock Casino Tejon opened this month to much enthusiasm – especially from the Tejon Indian Tribe. Tribal leaders say the new event space will bring jobs and revenue to the region. On today’s episode, we speak with tribal chairman Octavio Escobedo III about how the casino’s presence could benefit the tribe. Plus, the latest news headlines: The CSU and UC systems approve new tuition rates and co...

What’s the future of transportation in Fresno County? A new proposal seeks to build a regional rail to connect communities in the west with those in the east. Today we speak with Paul Herman, deputy director of the Fresno Council of Governments, about the plan and what it means about the future of transportation in the county and the wider region. Plus, the latest news headlines: California could...

Earlier this month, The Fresno Bee’s parent company McClatchy laid off three long-time editors at the local newspaper. As a result, the local opinion pages will now be managed from hundreds of miles away by editors at The Sacramento Bee. To understand what this means for local media, we speak with Jim Boren, a former executive editor of the newspaper. Plus, the latest news headlines: Advocates spe...

The nation’s trucking industry is one of the latest targets of President Trump’s immigration crackdown agenda. Recent deadly trucking accidents provided the administration with examples of why it needs to take some immigrant drivers off the road. So how is the industry reacting? We speak with industry veteran Craig Fuller, from the industry website “FreightWaves.” Plus, the latest news headlines:...

The University of California, Merced, is celebrating 20 years since opening its doors to its first students. In that time, the campus has grown to be nationally ranked and to play an integral part of the central California region. Today we speak with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz about the campus’s past and future.

The Kern County Board of Education is proposing to display the Ten Commandments in its school lobbies. But the proposal has been met with protest from those who want to keep separation of church and state. In this episode, we speak with attorney Chris Line. He's with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, one of the civil rights groups opposing the proposal. Plus, the latest news headlines: The fed...

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday night to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The bill restores federal worker salaries and food aid benefits that had slowed earlier this month. But it doesn’t include healthcare subsidies that Democrats had largely been pushing for. But Merced Democratic Rep. Adam Gray tells KVPR that this doesn’t mean Democrats will stop pushing for thos...

Firebaugh may be a small town in western Fresno County. But it has left its mark on the sport of football – as the hometown of NFL quarterback Josh Allen. On today’s episode, KVPR’s Samantha Rangel takes us there to witness the unique way Allen is giving back to his hometown. Plus, the latest news headlines: Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s upset with Democratic senators over the shutdown deal; and a g...

The so-called “Land Back Movement” seeks to return ancestral lands to native groups as a way to preserve and reestablish indigenous sovereignty. The State of California recently completed one of those deals with the Tule River Indian Tribe. In this episode, we speak with a journalist from Tribal Business News about that deal and its meaning. Plus, the latest news headlines: What a major Fresno Cou...

The “Golden State Killer” began his crimes in Tulare County in the 1970s and evaded authorities for decades until his capture in 2018. On today’s episode, Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho discusses his new book, “The People Vs. The Golden State Killer,” which details his lead role in the case and what he learned from survivors’ stories.

Journalist and author Ari Shapiro hosted NPR’s flagship show “All Things Considered” for 10 years. This fall he decided to step away, trading the studio for the stage. Shapiro is an experienced cabaret singer and in today’s episode he tells us about his show “Thank You For Listening,” which he will perform at Modesto's Gallo Center for the Arts on Sunday. Plus, the latest news headlines: Groups pu...

Was California’s Proposition 50 measure an early referendum on President Trump’s second term in office? Voters overwhelmingly supported an effort by Gov. Gavin Newsom to redraw congressional lines and give more power to Democrats next year. We look more closely into the measure’s approval with The Maddy Institute’s Blake Zante. Plus, the latest news headlines: A lawsuit seeks to reverse Propositio...