KQED's The California Report

Now that it’s received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and been endorsed by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel, state health officials say they’re ready to give COVID-19 booster shots to anyone who’s eligible. Before it’s widely distributed, the efficacy of a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine still needs to be reviewed by the Western States Scientific Safety...

While the Caldor Fire has destroyed more than a thousand buildings and continues to burn, communities around South Lake Tahoe mostly escaped the fire's destruction -- despite lying square in its path. That's thanks to firefighters, but also years of work preparing the forest. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED  Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 701. It’s a bill that requires warehouse operators to...

In July, as a response to the worsening drought, Governor Gavin Newsom asked the people of California to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%. But so far, Californians have only reduced water consumption by less than 2 %. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  Los Angeles County has two juvenile halls, but state officials say they’re both failing in their duties. The facilities are accused of tre...

In response to California's ongoing wildfires, State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued an order requiring insurance companies with policy holders living in fire zones to keep people's policies in place and to honor insurance renewals. Guest: Ricardo Lara, California Insurance Commissioner The KNP Complex Fire burning in Sequoia National Park continues to threaten a grove of giant sequ...

Los Angeles County health officials have added in-home care workers to the list of high-risk health jobs that must get COVID-19 vaccines by the end of September. The move has emboldened advocacy groups, who are pushing to make it statewide. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC A statewide bill that aims to diversify California’s arts and culture workforce, and jobs that pay a living wage, has landed on...

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills aimed at boosting housing supplies across the state. One of them, SB 9, would increase density and affordable housing options in neighborhoods dominated by single family homes.  Reporter: Erika Kelly, KQED California health officials are now requiring that people who work in high risk medical settings be fully immunized against COVID-19. That inc...

California Democrats are looking into reforming the recall process less than 24 hours after Governor Gavin Newsom survived an effort to remove him from office. Both the Senate and the Assembly will hold hearings in the coming months to explore possible reforms. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Governor Newsom has until October 10 to decide whether to sign a bill that softens production quotas for warehou...

Governor Gavin Newsom has soundly defeated a recall effort to remove him from office. Although votes still need to be counted, more than 60% of those that have been tallied thus far voted no on the question of whether he should be recalled. Reporters: Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos, KQED With Governor Newsom's decisive win in the recall election, he can now focus on several pressing needs, from the...

President Joe Biden campaigned with Governor Gavin Newsom in Long Beach Monday night, a day before the recall election. Meanwhile, the candidates looking to replacing Governor Newsom made a final pitch to voters on why they should be selected to replace him. In California, the number of people dying from methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses now outnumbers deaths from fentanyl. Health officials ar...

Tuesday is the last day to vote in the recall election, and the campaigns are trying to sway Latinos, who represent almost 30% of all registered voters in the state. Opinions seem to be fairly mixed on the job Governor Gavin Newsom has done since entering office.  Reporters: Maria Peña and Scott Shafer, KQED President Joe Biden will make a couple of stops in California on Monday. He'll tour some o...

The Los Angeles Unified School District board has unanimously approved a vaccine requirement for all eligible students 12 and older if they want to attend classes in-person.  Latinos make up about a third of registered voters in California. And the campaigns for and against the recall are running TV and radio ads in Spanish hoping to win them over.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  With California’s...

Supporters of Governor Gavin Newsom are working furiously to turn out the “No” vote and keep him in office. They've been canvassing the state in the lead-up to election day. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  With the final day to vote in the gubernatorial recall election just five days away, tensions are flaring on the campaign trail. Republican frontrunner Larry Elder was greeted by angry protesters in...

Governor Gavin Newsom continues his campaign across the state, as he looks to fight off the recall election. Meanwhile, top candidates to replace the governor are also spreading their message, a week before election day. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California lawmakers wrap up their legislative session at the end of this week. And there are still a flurry of bills that may be in the pipeline. Rep...

When it comes to COVID-19 testing, one increasingly popular option is at-home test kits. But do they really work? Guest: Katherine Wu, Staff Writer, The Atlantic Crews continue to build containment around the Caldor Fire in the Sierra foothills. But some communities are still in limbo as it's not safe enough for residents to return to their homes. Over Labor Day weekend, up to 2 million California...

With major wildfires burning across California, fire crews from across the state and other parts of the country are now on the front lines trying to contain them. That includes migrant workers, who are working under some of the most challenging conditions. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED  Democrats and Republicans are trying to gather support as the recall election nears. Candidates are trying...

Firefighters have taken advantage of lighter winds as they look to get a better handle on the Caldor Fire burning in the Sierra foothills. But thousands remain evacuated from their homes. Like in so many other fire-scarred areas, one year after wildfires devastated communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains, residents are still struggling. One problem? Strict county building codes that stop fire vict...

With the recall election less than two weeks away, one of the big issues is Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. And if a Republican replaces him, the state could be in for major changes when it comes to coronavirus rules and mandates. Reporters: Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer, KQED  The Caldor Fire continues to challenge firefighters battling the massive blaze. Some residents...

Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes in South Lake Tahoe this week because of dangerous conditions brought on by the Caldor Fire. If the fire does hit the city, many residents are wondering what they'll return to when the fire is under control. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED  Another political hot potato has been tossed into the recall election that’s just two weeks away n...

The Caldor Fire continues to spread quickly across the Sierra Foothills. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate South Lake Tahoe on Monday, as the fire continues to make its way towards the city. Guest:Ezra David Romero, KQED California public health experts consider heat-related illness and death to be fully preventable. And California is one of the few states in the country with laws on the...

There was rapid growth for the Caldor Fire on Sunday as it moves closer to the Tahoe Basin. Even more concerning -- the area is under a red flag warning over the next two days, with low humidity and wind gusts expected across the fire zone. Guest:Tamara Wallace, Mayor of South Lake Tahoe More than 8 in 10 residents of Imperial County -- east of San Diego -- are Latino, the highest percentage in th...

Mustafa, who didn't want to reveal his last name because he still has family in Afghanistan, was able to get his wife and daughter out of the country, and they just made it to Modesto this week. He described the whole experience as chaotic, but is glad to have resettled in California. Guest: Mustafa, Afghan Translator Two San Diego County families, who were visiting relatives in Afghanistan, have...

This week the U.S. Supreme Court said the Biden administration must restart a controversial policy from the Trump administration, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are decided. And while that battle is not over, the Biden administration is moving forward with its own plan that would change how asyum cases are decided.  Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Spot fires continue...

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for areas of Northern California affected by the Dixie and River fires. The declaration means federal recovery funds will be available to individuals, businesses and tribal governments. Wih so many wildfires burning across Northern California, the smoke is causing unhealthy air across the region. In fact, areas in and around Lake Tahoe and...

The recall campaign now aimed at Governor Gavin Newsom was fueled in part by parents who were angry with how he handled public school closures during the pandemic.  Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The California Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the Bakersfield Police Department to implement a wide-range of policing reforms. It’s the result of the state’s five-year long investigation i...

The mission of California's new Privacy Protection Agency is to help Californians fight for their digital privacy. But what will it do if big companies violate people's privacy rights? Guest: Jennifer Urban, Chair of the California Privacy Protection Agency The Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County crossed Highway 50 over the weekend, threatening the town of Kyburz. It's the fourth fire that has...