KQED's The California Report

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 fiv...

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 wi...

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 wildf...

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 So close that opponents of the measure, who had previously conceded the race, have now withdrawn their concession.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 dis...

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 wo...

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 p...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 5...

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...

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 suppo...

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 fee...

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 o...

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. Re...

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.  Repo...

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 bal...

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...

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 reparation...

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 car...

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...

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 Supe...