Central Valley Daily

Journalist Jeanne Kuang from CalMatters joins us to discuss the impacts of a federal government shutdown on agencies that provide services in California. Congress failed to reach a spending deal to keep the government running after Oct. 1 and has created an impasse between Republicans and Democrats. Plus, the latest news headlines: What officials expect for California’s new water year; and a belov...

Teachers in the Clovis Unified School District have never unionized. That could change as two unions compete for the favor of teachers after their traditional “faculty senate” model was ruled illegal by state leaders. EdSource reporter Lasherica Thornton breaks down this tipping point for Clovis teachers. Plus, the latest news headlines: Bobby Salazar begins to mount defense in arson trial; and th...

Oil is at the heart of Kern County’s economy. But as the state looked to transition to cleaner energy sources under a changing climate, the economic reality clashed with ambitious policy goals. We speak with Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove about the recent signing of a state law that seeks to reboot the county’s oil industry. Plus, the latest news headlines: The looming battle with Fresno and...

California City in Kern County used to house a state prison. The federal government's recent move to turn it into an immigrant detention facility sparked confusion and outrage. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Sara DiNatale explains the “David versus Goliath" political battle playing out in this tiny desert city.

Officials and experts agree there is no wildfire “season” anymore, only a wildfire year. So, lawmakers put money in the budget this year to transition seasonal firefighters into year-round positions. What could this mean for the firefighters and those they serve? On today’s episode of Central Valley Daily, KVPR’s Rachel Livinal takes this special report on how firefighters feel about the change. P...

Professor Samina Najmi teaches English at Fresno State. But unlike most colleagues, she is also a student. Samina is earning her MFA in creative writing, and her first non-scholarly book will be published soon. She will be doing a reading from her forthcoming book, “Sing Me a Circle: Love, Loss, and a Home in Time,” at the third-annual Fresno Writers Summit this weekend. Samina came to the KVPR st...

There are thousands of hyper-local government bodies across the country known as “special districts.” But, what exactly do they do? On today’s episode, we speak with Lorenzo Rios, executive officer of the Clovis Veterans Memorial District, who will soon lead statewide special districts. Plus, the latest news headlines: A large carrot producer is found liable for discrimination; and Kern leaders ce...

Accidents are so common at a Fresno intersection that a neighbor set up a webcam to monitor traffic 24 hours a day. Thousands now tune in to a YouTube channel just to watch accidents and close calls. KVPR’s Samantha Rangel joins us today to talk about the residents who are fed up with the accidents and what’s being done to fix the intersection. Plus, the latest news headlines: A Sanger police offi...

Many Californians rely on Covered California, the public health insurance marketplace. It’s supposed to be relatively affordable, so why are enrollees facing skyrocketing premiums that could double in the next year? Covered California’s Executive Director Jessica Altman explains what’s at stake.

A controversial bill that would allow more solar panels on farmland in the San Joaquin Valley has passed in the state legislature. So why did the legislator who introduced it pull it at the last minute? CalMatters reporter Rachel Becker shares where AB 1156 stands, and why it’s dividing the agriculture industry. Plus, the latest news headlines: A new study shows steady progress among English learn...

Billowing smoke, flaming trees and thousands of axe-wielding hotshot firefighters: these are some of the images from the front lines of the Garnet Fire burning in eastern Fresno County. KVPR’s Kerry Klein takes us on a tour of the north flank of the fire, and shares her reporting on what firefighting operations have looked like. Plus, the latest news headlines: Questions raised over a state legisl...

The assasination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves across the country, including in the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno County leaders called for civility among dissenting groups in the wake of the killing, and today we speak with Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig. He reflects on the local response to Kirk’s assasination and weighs in on how we can repair society. Plus, the lat...

Madera County is one of only nine in the state where expecting mothers do not have access to birthing services. Instead, they have to travel to out of county hospitals. Journalist Tim Sheehan explains why the county’s hospital chose not to continue birthing services when it reopened – and what that means for expecting mothers. Plus, the latest news headlines: A bill to revamp Kern County oil drill...

California has millions of acres of public land. So why is some of it inaccessible? It turns out, an odd sprawl of property ownership in the state has created “landlocked” public lands, which often require people to ask for permission — or to just trespass — to access it. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Emma Stiefel mapped out this inaccessible land, and explains what it would take to open it up...

It was the 1990s, and a high school music teacher in Fresno had fallen in love with a relatively new music genre: Latin jazz. But he had a problem: he couldn’t find the sheet music to help teach this funky, groovy music to his students. So he decided to take matters into his own hands and build a publishing company himself. We talk with KVPR reporter Kerry Klein about her feature on how Steve Alca...

The Garnet Fire burning in the Sierra National Forest has placed renewed attention on wildland firefighters. For decades, these firefighters were prevented from wearing masks while working. But, a landmark decision this week by the U.S. Forest Service will change that. Hannah Dreier, an investigative reporter with the New York Times, discusses her reporting on firefighters’ health that sparked thi...

Each year, federal grants are awarded to communities nationwide, helping with everything from roads to research. However, once President Trump assumed office, he altered the criteria for meeting those grants - which threatened millions the City of Fresno had been counting on. Now, the city is suing. Fresnoland reporter Omar Rashad breaks down the case and highlights one local nonprofit that stands...

When was the last time you spotted a Monarch butterfly? If it’s been a moment, you’re not alone. The population has declined tremendously over the last 25 years. A new effort by the California State Parks Foundation is asking Californians to track their butterfly sightings. Randy Widera, who leads programming for the Foundation, explains how ‘citizen scientists’ can help protect the species. Plus,...

On today’s episode, we explore a relatively new AI-powered tool for law enforcement called “Draft One.” The tool can take audio from body camera footage and write a police report, which would help save officers time on administrative tasks. Departments across the country are piloting the tool, including in Fresno. But is it safe enough to warrant use when it comes to crimes? Tekendra Parmar, an in...

It’s been 60 years since Filipino farmworkers in Delano protested for better wages and sparked a nationwide movement for labor rights. The Delano Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society is hosting a free public event on Saturday to mark the occasion. In this episode we speak with Suzanne Villaruz, an event coordinator, who has a personal connection to the movement in the 1960’...

Gov. Gavin Newsom has spent years cracking down on fossil fuels and on the state’s oil industry. Now, he and other Democratic lawmakers are in talks to boost in-state oil production. We discuss why, and what this sudden shift could mean for Kern County, with CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff. Plus, the latest news headlines: A historic mining town is scorched by a wildfire; and a progressive U.S....

Many students have internships, but what about one that teaches you the art of craft coffee industry from the inside? On today’s episode of Central Valley Daily, KVPR’s Rachel Livinal takes us behind the scenes of a Merced-based apprenticeship program for coffee connoisseurs. Plus, the latest news headlines: A federal judge rules against the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops in S...

The Trump Administration has infused historic funding into immigration enforcement efforts. Among the things getting funding are detention centers that can hold large numbers of immigrants. The Washington Post’s Douglas MacMillan obtained records showing how much the administration plans to expand these centers and joins us to discuss his reporting.

You might know the sport of fencing. But have you ever seen a parafencer on stage? One athlete from Bakersfield is at the top of his game and is getting ready for a competition in South Korea. We catch up with Parafencer Kevin Reeve about the sport and what got him interested. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno County supervisors declare state of emergency over wildfire, and a Fresno business...

A centerpiece of the Trump Administration is cutting public spending. However, as grants and contracts are cut, Valley nonprofits providing critical services are feeling the effects. KVPR associate editor Kerry Klein breaks down how much funding is at stake and who has been hit the hardest. Plus, the latest news headlines: Clovis breaks ground on the largest county library, and a state legislator...