KQED's The California Report

Another confirmed case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected – this time, in Los Angeles County. According to public health officials, the infected person is an L.A. resident who had traveled to South Africa, returning to Southern California late last month. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  An investigation by KQED and the California Newsroom has been looking into the state’s...

The experts said it was coming, and they were right. Scientists have found the first case of the Omicron variant in the country in a San Francisco resident. Guest: Dr. Monica Gandhi, Infectious Disease Doctor, UC San Francisco California rules meant to protect outdoor workers from the dangers of wildfire smoke are almost never enforced. That’s the finding of an investigation by KQED and The Califo...

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, which guarantees a woman’s right to an abortion. Here in California, abortion laws are among the most progressive in the country. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get an abortion here, especially if you live in a rural area.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED California’s Sierra Nevada region has...

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this week in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s the 1973 ruling that affirms a woman’s Consitutional right to receive an abortion. If it's overturned, abortion advocates are preparing for a surge in out-of-state patients travelling to California for the procedure.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  A temporary injunction stopping the San Di...

In February, the Biden administration began winding down former President Donald Trump’s controversial “Remain-in-Mexico” program. It sent people seeking asylum in this country back to Mexico to wait months for their day in immigration court in the U.S. But over the summer, a Texas judge ordered government officials to restart the program, and the Biden administration plans to roll it back out soo...

The breakdown in the global supply chain has sent food prices soaring. That’s hurting local restaurants still struggling to get out from under the pandemic. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC  A new report from CalMatters shows the global supply chain issues are impacting California hospitals. Many medical facilities are waiting on medical devices that are critical for patient care. Reporter: Keith Mizug...

As many people celebrate Thanksgiving in California, some Native Americans have a different perspective on this day and what it means. Among the challenges indigenous people face is keeping their cultures alive. Reporter: Alice Daniel, Valley Public Radio Many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, but chefs may also be busy preparing a meal for family and friends at home. Guests: Mark Dommen, One...

NASA has launched a first-of-its-kind mission from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base called DART, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test. Guest: Jason Davis, Editorial Director, The Planetary Society A year-long study on a part of the Mojave Desert has found that the night sky there is really, really dark. So much so, it might earn the rare distinction as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Re...

With many younger children finally getting their first COVID-19 vaccine shot, and adults getting their booster, many see this holiday season as a bit of a return to normalcy. But health experts say families should still take precautions during gatherings. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  Diablo Canyon, California’s last remaining commercial nuclear power plant located on the Central Coast in San Lu...

1,000 acres of sacred land could be restored to the Karuk tribe living along the Klamath River in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. That’s if legislation introduced in Congress is passed. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED  Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County is the state's last commercial nuclear power plant and is set to close in the coming years. But the planned closure is not without controvers...

As of Thursday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California was $4.69. According to AAA, that’s a record high and more than $1.50 higher than this time last year. That's led many Californians to rethink their Thanksgiving travel plans. Reporter, Alex Hall, KQED Last week, the state updated its guidance to urge pretty much all Californians to get a COVID booster shot. Now, over...

Media reports this week are painting a picture of dysfunction, disappointment, and confusion surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris and her role in the Biden administration. Sources inside the White House told CNN that Harris is struggling, and low approval numbers are adding to alleged problems.     Guest: Marisa Lagos, Political Correspondent, KQED The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission...

In the Central Valley on Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom was promoting COVID-19 booster shots in a community that’s seeing a higher rate of hospitalizations compared to the rest of the state. He also warned about possibly rough pandemic weeks ahead for California. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report  The first in a series of public input meetings is scheduled for Wednesday, on California’s p...

Last week, the California Department of Public Health updated its guidance on booster shots, telling providers to let people judge their own needs for a shot and not turn anyone away. But many are finding that online appointment systems aren’t making getting a booster vaccination easy. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, is looking...

Kaiser Permanente has reached a tentative deal with thousands of healthcare workers in Northern and Southern California, who were prepared to go on strike on Monday. They are still negotiating with a group of engineers, who have been off the job for two months. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC President Biden will sign his administration’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law on Monday. Cal...

The United Nations climate change conference wraps up Friday in Scotland. And while an agreement hasn't been reached, the summit could have varying impacts on California. Guests: Violet Saena, Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities and Mark Hertsgaard, Executive Director of Covering Climate Now and Environment Correspondent for The Nation Magazine Kaiser Permanente could be hit by mul...

State health officials are advising adults who want to get a COVID-19 booster shot to do so before the holiday season. This comes as the state is warning about a possible surge in COVID-19 cases this winter. Fossil fuels are the biggest driver of human-made climate change. So why has an analysis by environmental group Global Witness tallied more than 500 gas and oil lobbyists at the United Nations...

The United Nations has released a draft of a climate accord that urges nations to “revisit and strengthen” their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. That’s not just carbon dioxide, it’s methane too. And earlier at COP26, countries committed to slash methane emissions.   Guest: Rachel Becker, Environmental Reporter, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom broke his silence around his absence from the U...

The massive infrastructure package that's awaiting President Biden's signature is expected to have a longstanding impact on California. And it won't just be fixing roads and modernizing transit projects. Guest: Serena Alexander, Associate Professor with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University At the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, state sena...

Southern Californians who live near oil refineries may soon be able to breathe easier. The South Coast Air Quality Management District unanimously passed its biggest emissions rule in decades on Friday. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW  The United Nations climate change conference continues this week in Glasgow, Scotland. And one longtime observer says what happens outside of the negotiations is an i...

Thousands of unionized Kaiser Permanente nurses and other healthcare workers in Southern California are preparing to go on strike. This comes after months of talks and negotiations have stalled. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC  An investigation from the Los Angeles Times has found that thousands of times a year, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pull over bicyclists for minor violations, and th...

Many California children, ages 5 to 11, have started getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In Los Angeles alone, more than 900, 000 school-aged children are now eligible for the shot.  Reporter: Jackie Fortiér, KPCC  As the United Nations Climate Change Conference continues in Scotland, many Californians can see the effects right here along the California coast. For instance, look out the window on...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all children ages 5 through 11 get a low-dose COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. In California, counties across the state are preparing to deliver the shots to children. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva continues to attack his county’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. He claims the sheriff's department could lose tho...

A new report finds that climate change is chiefly responsible for the growing frequency and severity of California's wildfires. The team of researchers from UCLA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory based that estimate on how quickly dry air sucks up moisture.  Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Pacific Gas and Electric says it's received a subpoena from federal prosecutors, in connection with th...

The United Nations Climate Change Conference kicks off this week in Scotland. And while Governor Gavin Newsom canceled his trip at the last minute, the state will be well represented, as officials hope to showcase California's ambitious climate goals. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED Climate Reporter Over the weekend, employees of healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente staged worker solidarity rallies....