KQED's The California Report

Now that the pandemic era border restrictions, known as Title 42, have been lifted., it’s estimated six thousand migrants are in shelters across the San Diego -Tijuana border waiting to apply for asylum. Many had been waiting for days without much food. They slept on the ground under bright lights. Governor Gavin Newsom will be announcing how big of a budget deficit the state is expecting next yea...

Title 42, the border policy that was put in place during the pandemic to turn asylum seekers away, ends Thursday night. Officials are expecting a surge of migrants at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is already keeping 400 migrants in a makeshift camp in San Ysidro, between the primary and secondary border walls.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  Thursday marks the end of the COVID 19...

As we’re now in the fourth year of the pandemic, there is a growing sense of optimism that the worst is likely behind us. Vaccines and boosters have helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. But for millions of Americans who are suffering from Long COVID symptoms, there’s no end in sight for their day-to-day struggles. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report ...

California’s legislature has approved spending $150 million to help cash-strapped hospitals across the state. The money would fund a hospital loan program. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Menifee in Riverside County is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. As it's grown, the city made the decision to create its own police department from scratch. It launched in the summer of 2020 – ju...

This week will mark the end of a controversial border policy that started under President Donald Trump. Title 42 is part of the U.S. Public Health Code meant to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. But it's been used to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants from crossing the border. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED We’re nearing the end of the first week of the Hollywood writers strike, and stu...

Hundreds of parents and teachers in Oakland are taking to the picket line on Friday morning for day two of the citywide teachers strike.  Reporter: Phoebe Quinton, KQED David “Mas” Masumoto has been growing peaches, nectarines and grapes on his family farm in Del Rey, just south of Fresno, for over 40 years. He thought he knew all about his family history in the area -- the racism, imprisonment du...

TV and film writers are taking to the picket lines for the third day, after failing to reach an agreement with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It' still unclear how long the strike will last, but both sides seem to be dug in. Guest: Michael Schneider, Senior TV Editor, Variety. Host of Screengrab, a podcast from KCRW   The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pass ambit...

In Hollywood, film and television writers represented by the Writers Guild of America, or WGA, are on the second day of a strike. It’s the first such labor action in more than 15 years, and it could have a devastating economic impact on the industry if it continues.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Tuesday, we told you about the lack of affordable child care options, and how it’s...

The construction industry in California wants to hire more women to meet a shortage of skilled workers. But access to child care is keeping many of these women from joining the trades. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The state is suing the city of Elk Grove for allegedly using discriminatory housing practices to deny a proposed affordable housing project. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Did you kno...

Last July, San Bernardino police shot and killed a 23-year-old Black man as he ran from them while allegedly holding a gun. The police killing of Rob Adams drew protests and demands for accountability — and is the subject of a $100 million lawsuit filed on behalf of his family.  Now, nine months after Adams was killed, San Bernardino city officials confirmed the names of the involved officers. Rep...

Criminal justice advocates and some incarcerated individuals have filed a lawsuit against the California prison system. What’s at issue? Policies, the plaintiffs argue, that illegally discriminate against inmates who prison officials believe are foreign-born. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The California Report Magazine is wrapping up their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” with...

California is set to see one of its first extended heat waves. That could mean major problems for parts of the state, where flooding is likely from a melting snowpack. Among the communities on edge is Corcoran in the Central Valley, which is already surrounded by rising water. Guest: Joshua Yeager, Reporter, KVPR As California wages its fight against smog and climate change, state regulators this...

On Wednesday in Sacramento, lawmakers will hold a hearing on legislation aimed at creating buffer zones between homes and huge warehouses and logistic centers where companies, like Amazon, store and distribute mountains of goods that a lot of us might order online.  This is the latest development in an ongoing debate over warehouses and the health threats they might pose to people who live near th...

Weather forecasters expect an early-season heatwave this week in many parts of the state. The warmth may cause flooding as the snowpack melts in inland areas of California. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED On the best of days, agricultural work isn’t easy, but in recent years, California farmworkers, in places like the San Joaquin Valley, have also had to deal with record heat waves, wildfires an...

The California Air Resources Board, which regulates car and truck pollution in the state, will soon fully open its new laboratory and emissions testing center in the Southern California city of Riverside. It's expected to play a crucial role in the state's fight against pollution and climate change. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A U.S. citizen from Imperial County, who was held in...

For decades U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has been one of the most popular politicians in California. Now 89-years-old and recovering in San Francisco from a bout of shingles, she’s facing calls to resign. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED As communities across the state grapple with the long-term impacts of recent floods, added challenges are coming to light. Storm water has flushed more fertilizer an...

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings face off in Game Three of their playoff series Thursday night. While the team's have a growing rivalry on the court, they share one thing in common off it. They have two of the most fervent fanbases in the NBA, that stretches across Northern California. Reporter: Andrew Saintsing, KALW A California bill that just passed the Senate Labor Committee woul...

Many of the renter protections California set up during the pandemic have gone away. But in Los Angeles, one big one has stuck around: rent increases are still banned for most of the city’s tenants. However, some landlords don't know about LA’s rent freeze — and renter complaints are at a 10-year high.  Reporter: David Wagner, LAist The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide on Wednesday whether...

For families whose loved ones are facing a mental health crisis, it can be hard to be optimistic, especially when resources are scarce. In Humboldt County, there's a proposal to create an emergency mental health care facility. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio During the pandemic, many people gained access to Medicaid, the low to no cost health insurance. But now, with pandemic protec...

Families who once lived in a Palm Springs neighborhood are seeking reparations. Decades ago, the city forcibly evicted the mostly Black and Latino residents from their homes — and leveled the area.  Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, LAist   The state’s Dream for All housing program aimed to give first-time home buyers a leg-up, especially those in communities often priced out of the market. As we...

There’s a beam of light bringing people together in Sacramento, where long suffering basketball fans finally have a reason to celebrate. And the Battle of Northern California kicks off on Saturday, as the Kings are facing off against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.  Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED  Senator Dianne Feinstein is asking Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schu...

California prides itself on welcoming and including immigrants. The state is often at odds with the federal government over immigration enforcement. But there are exceptions – and a big one is that when the state prison system is releasing someone who’s not a citizen, they are allowed to turn them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they routinely do. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED...

It’s been 3 months since major flooding inundated the town of Planada in Merced County. Still, residents of this unincorporated community are struggling to stay afloat. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report State officials are preparing for major flooding as the snowpack begins to melt. Statewide, the snowpack sits at 249% of the average for this time of year. Reporter: Ezra David Romero,...

The Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and avoided millions of childhood illnesses. Even so, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to strengthen air standards. It's a move celebrated by many, but some fire experts worry that the new rules could unintentionally lead to larger wildfires and worse air. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED  Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill on T...

More fallout from the reappearance of Tulare Lake. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. But it's been dry for years. Now, with massive amounts of rain, and more water coming from the state's melting snowpack, nearby communities are worried they could be flooded out.   Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Tens of thousands of people rely on salmon fishing to make a living. The se...