KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

Judge Rules Walgreens Contributed To Opioid Crisis In San Francisco Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

San Francisco has won a landmark lawsuit against Walgreens pharmacy over its role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the city. A federal judge found that Walgreens filled hundreds of thousands of suspicious prescriptions for powerful painkillers over 15 years, without taking steps to prevent their misuse.

California’s Supreme Court may soon get its first Latina Chief Justice. Patricia Guerrero currently sits on the state’s supreme court as an associate justice and she’s held that role since March.

Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED

This year, potentially tens of thousands of Californians who couldn’t work because of health reasons, including pregnancy, have been forced to wait weeks -- or even months -- to get their “State Disability Insurance” payments.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Supporters of a bill to create safe injection sites are urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 57. The idea behind SB 57 is to address the growing toll on city streets, where people are dying in record numbers from overdoses of drugs like fentanyl.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

The backers of dueling ballot campaigns to legalize sports betting in California sparred during a hearing at the Capitol Wednesday. Proposition 27 is backed by gambling companies like DraftKings and unlike Prop 26, would allow bets to be made on phones and computers.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

California has adopted the nation’s most ambitious offshore wind targets. The new goals put the state on course to meet a quarter of its electricity needs — enough to power about 25 million homes — from offshore wind by midcentury.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

On Thursday, California lawmakers will advance – or quietly kill – hundreds of bills in rapid-fire succession. The bills have been stuck in a legislative limbo known as “the suspense file.”

Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters

In recent years, lots of California mountain lions have been struck and killed by California drivers. But collisions have also killed many other kinds of animals, from deer to bobcats to desert tortoises. Legislation aimed at making roads safer for wildlife is being heard in Sacramento on Thursday.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

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LA City Council Approves Ban On Encampments Near Schools During Raucous Meeting Aug 10, 2022

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An L.A. City Council meeting turned chaotic Tuesday when members of the public started shouting at council members and one person made an attempt to lunge at the dais. The council was preparing to vote on an ordinance that would ban homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

More than 4,250 COVID-19 deaths in California could have been prevented in one year if the entire state met National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. That’s according to a new study by the Public Health Institute.

Guest: Dr. Paul English, Director of the Public Health Institute’s Tracking California program

The Inflation Reduction Act could bring billions of dollars in drought relief to California. At $4 billion, the largest pot of drought funds would help watersheds like the Colorado River, which Southern California relies on.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

With lackluster resources and rising costs, supportive homes for people living with a serious mental illness are continuing to dwindle in Los Angeles and across the state. At one home that’s been around for 40 years though, residents keep their spirits high and celebrate.

Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC

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New Report Blasts California's Employment Development Department Aug 09, 2022

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California’s Employment Development Department was too slow delivering unemployment insurance payments to roughly 5 million workers during the pandemic. That’s from a new report by the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

More than 22,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border from Mexico into California since the Russian invasion in February. Many have come to the Sacramento area, which already has a large and tight-knit Slavic community.

Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio

A State Senate committee focused on California’s response to monkeypox will hold its first hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The committee is chaired by State Senator Scott Wiener, who’s been a vocal critic of the government's failure to act quickly when the monkeypox outbreak first occurred.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Hate crimes are up for the fourth straight year in a row across the U.S. That’s according to new data from Cal State San Bernardino, which found that in California, hate crimes jumped more than 32% last year.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED

Gun rights groups are suing the state of California over a bill signed into law in June, that bans the marketing of guns to minors. Firearm advocates say the law is a direct assault on the Second Amendment.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

California’s fast food and franchising industries could change drastically under a bill moving through the state Legislature. The bill would give fast food workers the power to collectively bargain through a state-run council.

Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

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Hotels Could Be Required To Provide Rooms For The Unhoused Population In LA Aug 08, 2022

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Los Angeles voters will decide whether they want to require hotels across the city to provide vacant rooms to unhoused people. The City Council voted Friday to put the contentious hotel voucher program on the 2024 ballot.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

Farmworkers from across the state have joined the “March for the Governor’s Signature,” a 335 mile trek from Kern County to Sacramento, to show support for a voting rights bill. Although farmworkers say the bill is critical for unionization, some argue that it will not accomplish what it’s intended to do.

Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

California women are more likely than men to be rent burdened, meaning they spend a third or more of their income on rent and other housing costs. That’s according to a new study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute.

Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED

The California Air Resources Board held a series of public listening sessions across the state last week. Its part of the board's latest plan to help the state achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the sheriff in Siskiyou County and other county officials, alleging that Asian American residents have been unfairly discriminated against. The lawsuit claims that Asian Americans have been harrassed and discriminated against.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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As Monkeypox Cases Surge In California, Feds Look To Increase Vaccine Supply Aug 05, 2022

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Federal health officials are considering breaking single doses of monkeypox vaccine into smaller doses to stretch the current supply. The Food and Drug Administration may allow healthcare providers to split a one-dose vial of the monkeypox vaccine into five doses.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Throughout history, struggling Americans have looked for greener pastures, with many striking out for California. But some powerful people in the state have actively tried to keep the migrants out by setting up border checkpoints.

Guest: Bill Lascher, Author of the book "The Golden Fortress: California's Border War on Dust Bowl Refugees"

California is offering $20,000 stipends to recruit and train more mental health clinicians to work in public schools. The program is a response to the student mental health crisis.

Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED

A bill that provides some protection for immigrants in court is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The measure said if an attorney wants to ask a witness about their immigration status in court, the judge must first decide if it’s relevant to the case.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

Voters in San Bernardino County will have the chance to vote in November on whether the county could potentially secede from California.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

A Fresno high school has issued an apology for painting over a student mural completed for the campus. Artists questioned the decision and the message it sends to the arts community.

Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR

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Childcare Crisis Hits Home For Many California Families Aug 04, 2022

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Long waitlists. Parents lining up overnight in hopes of landing an open spot in daycare or preschool. These are some of the stories that have emerged since the pandemic, highlighting the nation’s childcare crisis.

Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

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Dodgers Legendary Announcer Vin Scully Dies At 94 Aug 03, 2022

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He was the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for decades. On Tuesday, Vin Scully died at the age of 94.

Guest: Bill Shaikin, Reporter, L.A. Times

California faces increased wildfire danger across much of the state into the fall months. This comes as crews continue to battle the biggest fire of the year in Siskiyou County.

Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

Farmworkers from across California are beginning a march up the Central Valley on Wednesday morning. It’s all to support a voting rights bill.

Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

Some state courts appear to be dragging their feet following a new law, that’s intended to give relief to people piling up late fees for infractions like traffic tickets.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

It’s an election year, with control of Congress in play. In one of Orange County’s most competitive congressional districts, the sitting Republican Congresswoman and her Democratic challenger don’t agree on much. But they do see eye-to-eye on one thing -- U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

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California Declares State Of Emergency Over Monkeypox Outbreak Aug 02, 2022

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Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as part of California's ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak. Meanwhile in San Francisco, the city’s main public hospital plans to distribute more monkeypox vaccine on Tuesday.

Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

State lawmakers have reconvened in Sacramento after a month-long summer recess for the final, frenzied month of the legislative session. There are a number of bills that will be voted on, from abortion to gun rights.

Guest: Emily Hoeven, Author of the WhatMatters newsletter for CalMatters

Crews saw much calmer weather on Monday as they continue to battle the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County. But there's still no containment on the fire, which has burned more than 55,000 acres.

Guest Erik Neumann, Interim News Director, Jefferson Public Radio

A bill to allow so-called “safe injection sites” where addicts can use drugs with supervision is on its way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Visitors to Redwood National Forest on the North Coast could be fined and even face jail time if they’re caught trying to get too close to the world’s tallest tree.

Reporter: Anaïs-Ophelia Lino, KQED

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Two People Killed In The McKinney Wildfire That Burns Out Of Control In Siskiyou County Aug 01, 2022

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Authorities say two bodies have been found inside a burned vehicle in the path of a raging California wildfire that is one of several major blazes burning across Northern California.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are headed to the Golden State for Climate Change and infrastructure. The mix of fires, drought, and even record rainfall in some parts of California are taking a toll on the state's infrastructure. But, a new federal program unveiled last week, could funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to the Golden State to help safeguard its roads and bridges.

Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW

California Health officials are not ready to declare a statewide emergency for Monkeypox. The State of California has reported nearly eight hundred cases of Monkeypox - the majority in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Eleven people in California have been hospitalized - but, no one has died. So, health officials in California say they don't see the need - at least not yet - to declare a statewide emergency over the Monkeypox virus....similar to the local one declared by the city of San Francisco last week.

A new Kaiser study says adults with young kids could provide some protection against severe COVID illnesses. Researchers compared more than half million adults - and found that those without children were 49 percent more likely to be hospitalized-and 76 percent more likely to be admitted to an ICU - than those with young kids at home.

A School in the Inland Empire plans to move because of influx of new warehouses. Another large warehouse complex is slated for Southern California’s Inland Empire… which is east of Los Angeles. The region is home to over a billion square feet of warehouses. One of the latest proposed warehouses would be next door to an elementary school in the small community of Bloomington in San Bernardino County.

Reporter Jonathan Linden, KVCR

A new public housing project in Southern California is unlike many others. It's called Jordan Downs and it's located in L.A.'s Watts community. Even in a state where millions struggle to find…and keep… an affordable place to live, building more public housing hasn’t been a popular solution. That’s because over the decades public housing has become synonymous with segregation of Blacks and Latinos, warehousing of the poor, and terrible living conditions. But in L.A.’s Watts neighborhood, one big public housing project called Jordan Downs is in the midst of a decades-long, one billion dollar transformation. When done, it will more than double the number of people living there. Its also supposed to show the potential of public housing….if done right..

Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

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L.A. County Decides Not To Re-Implement Mask Mandate Jul 29, 2022

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L.A. County health officials have pushed the pause button on reinstituting an indoor public mask mandate. The data show that LA is right on the cusp of dropping into the CDC’s medium COVID risk level. That’s due to hospitalizations dipping slightly.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Farming in California has not been a friendly place to Black people, let alone Black women. Only one percent of farmland in the state is Black owned.

Reporter: Ariana Proehl, KQED

In San Jose, a program that sent 1500 kids to day camp for free is wrapping up on Friday. It’s paid for with COVID-19 relief money.

Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

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