KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

Candidates In Fiercely Contested District Reflect Region's Changing Demographics Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

In several of California's most competitive races, Latino voters could be decisive, which isn’t so surprising. But more than half of Latino voters who were recently polled say no campaign has asked for their vote.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

The Central Valley has been synonymous with conservative, small-government politics for a long time. But there’s a new state Assembly district in the Central Valley and the two candidates vying for the seat are both women, Democrats and people of color.

Reporter: Ariel Gans, CalMatters

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"Voter Integrity" Groups Question Residents At Home In Possible Voter Intimidation Nov 02, 2022

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Prosecutors say David DePape, the man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, claimed he was on a suicide mission, with plans to kidnap Speaker Pelosi. DePape entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday and is due back in court on Friday.

"Voter integrity" groups claim they're looking to root out fraud. But the targeted door-knocking in Shasta County amounts to voter intimidation and could be illegal under California election laws, according to election officials. It's also part of a broader national trend motivated by election conspiracy theorists. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio

William Curry, who reportedly graduated from high school in Alabama last year, was finally escorted off campus last week. Despite multiple removals from campus since December 2021, Curry continued to return. Campus officials caught Curry on Thursday morning after he allegedly stole a TV from a dorm basement.

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Man Accused of Attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Will Be Arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court Today Nov 01, 2022

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Man Accused of Attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Will Be Arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court Today

42-year-old David De Pape is making his first appearance in court since his arrest on Friday at Pelosi’s house. DePape faces both local and federal charges after the attack, which left Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull.

Bay Area Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier Warns Her Colleagues In Congress That There Needs To Be A Change In The Radicalized American Political Culture

Representative Speier knows about violence wielded by extremists. In 1978 on a trip to the South American country of Guyana to investigate Jim Jones and his People’s Temple cult, the then 28-year-old was shot five times in an ambush by followers of Jones. At the time, Speier worked for congressman Leo Ryan. Ryan and four other people were killed in the attack.

This Election Season Voters In San Bernardino Will Vote To Consider Breaking Away From California

San Bernardino County is just east of Los Angeles and is home to more than 2 million people. By area, it’s the largest county in the USA… and, is bigger than nine states. But despite its size, some local officials say they’re not getting the state support— or resources – they deserve. That’s partly why secession came up in the first place… and, it’s not a new idea.

Powerball Soars To $1.2 Billion for Wednesday night's top prize

No one has hit all six numbers since Aug. 3rd. Including California, Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Pelosi Attacker Faces Attempted Murder Charges Oct 31, 2022

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Prosecutors are expected to announce charges against the man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi. The suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, is facing attempted murder charges as well as assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary.

Just like in the 2020 election, there are claims of fraud this election cycle, particularly in northern California's Shasta County. While some call for a full independent review of the ballots to eliminate cheating, others worry these fraud worries are making it hard to build trust in the election system, no matter how safe it actually is.

Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

Nearly a third of Black Californians questioned in a statewide survey say they feel they have been treated unfairly while trying to get health care because of their race. Most respondents change how they act at doctor's offices to minimize negative experiences.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

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Intruder Breaks Into Nancy Pelosi's Home, Attacks Speaker's Husband Oct 28, 2022

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Paul Pelosi Assaulted

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office says someone broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco this morning and violently assaulted the speaker's husband. The Congresswoman's spokesman says the person who assaulted Paul Pelosi is in custody. Paul Pelosi was taken to a hospital and is recovering.

Oil Companies Just Sold Thousands of Old Wells, Concerning Environmentalists

Shell and ExxonMobile recently sold thousands of aging oil wells in California to smaller players in the industry. This has environmentalists worried that those smaller firms won't be able to pay what it will cost to close them down when the time comes, and that taxpayers will be left to foot the bill.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

The Man of Science and The Ouija Board

This week, as part of a collaboration with the podcast ‘Bay Curious,’ a ghost story for Halloween. It comes from reporter and former KQED science editor Jon Brooks, who usually lives in the world of evidence, facts and data. But many years ago, Jon and his longtime friend Mark witnessed something inexplicable, even supernatural, that just can’t be squared with reality.

Reporter: Jon Brooks

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Residents Push Back On New Affordable Housing Rules Oct 27, 2022

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In response to a massive housing shortage, new rules require California cities to locate affordable housing in single-family neighborhoods as a way to combat decades of racial segregation. Residents in some California cities are pushing back and hope to rely on a time-tested tradition: using the local ballot box to restrict growth.

Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED

Settlement talks have broken down in a case from San Francisco seeking to preserve federal humanitarian protections. More than 260,000 immigrants nationwide face a risk of deportation.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

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Longtime Republican In Key Congressional Battle In Southern California Oct 26, 2022

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One of the most competitive House races in California pits a Republican incumbent who opposed certifying the presidential election against a Democratic challenger who helped prosecute January 6th rioters.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

State utility regulators have recommended fining PG&E more than $150 million for alleged safety infractions they connected to a deadly fire two years ago in Shasta County. The Zogg Fire started in September 2020 after a pine tree fell on a PG&E line near the town of Redding. Four people were killed in the fire.

Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

California voters will weigh in on high profile political offices, like Governor and Congress this fall. But they’ll also be voting on four California Supreme Court justices.

Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters

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Prop 27 Creates Record Spending War Between Gambling Companies and Tribal Governments Oct 25, 2022

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Most of the California tribes who have weighed in on Proposition 27 are against it. They’re worried about language tucked away in the measure that could potentially undermine tribal sovereignty. But at least one tribal chair says it's a way to support financially disadvantaged tribes that don't own big casinos.

Reporters: Guy Marzorati, KQED and Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

California K-12 students’ academic progress has plunged during the pandemic. Math is the worst decline, with the percentage of students who are proficient or better dropping seven percentage points statewide.

Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED

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Gubernatorial Candidates Square Off In Debate Oct 24, 2022

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Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senator Brian Dahle sparred over the economy, climate and more in a debate at KQED on Sunday. It was the first and only debate the two have had.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Voters will be deciding on Proposition 30 in November. It's the plan to tax the wealthy to pay for electric vehicle incentives, and the measure has split Governor Gavin Newsom from his fellow Democrats.

Reporter; Kevin Stark, KQED

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Study Finds Dangerous Chemicals Leaking From Gas Stoves In California Oct 21, 2022

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New research is showing the potential dangers from indoor gas appliances in California homes. The study from PSE Healthy Energy, a nonprofit research institute, found that leaking gas stoves are emitting benzene, and other dangerous pollutants.

Reporter Jessica Kariisa has spent years writing about and dancing to African music in cities up and down the East Coast. When she moved to the Bay Area, she wasn’t sure what she’d find by way of African music, but she soon discovered a club scene that’s thriving and rich with history.

Reporter: Jessica Kariisa, The California Report Magazine

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