KQED's The California Report

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Ukrainians in California Devastated by Russian Invasion Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

With Russia launching attacks on Ukraine on multiple fronts, these are very frightening times for anyone with family, friends and colleagues in that country. That includes thousands of people in the Bay Area with personal and business ties to Ukraine.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

Federal officials are predicting a third consecutive dry year for California. And that’s led them to dramatically cut back on water allocations from a huge federal irrigation project that provides water to much of the state.

Reporter: Katrina Schwartz, KQED

During the pandemic, the state’s Employment Development Department has grappled with how to effectively combat fraud, while still doing right by Californians who need its services. Earlier this week, the agency once again faced this conundrum at a state Assembly hearing.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report

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COVID Testing Could Be a Requirement for California Schools Moving Forward Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

California public schools could be required to have COVID-19 testing and management plans under new legislation introduced Tuesday in the state senate. The bill by State Senator Richard Pan of Sacramento, would also provide state resources to carry out the plans.

The Rancho Santa Fe School District is making indoor masking optional for students. This comes as the state has not issued additional guidance on when it might loosen mask rules.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

On Tuesday, truck drivers, opposed to COVID-19 mandates, are supposed to set off on what they’re calling “The People’s Convoy” from the city of Adelanto in San Bernardino County. Their destination? Washington D.C.

Guest: Ryan Broderick, Journalist with the tech website The Verge

There’s been an ongoing dispute between UC Berkeley and a neighborhood group over building more student housing to accommodate growing enrollment at Cal. But new legislation could allow public universities and other state schools to build on-campus housing without an environmental review.

Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

The California Democratic Party says it will no longer accept donations from the fossil fuel industry. The state Democratic party is trying to align its financial sources with its rhetoric on the need for climate action.

Reporter: Katrina Schwartz, KQED

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Putin's Actions in Ukraine Felt Across the Globe in California Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize two regions of Ukraine as independent states and send in Russian troops has led to greater global concerns that things could escalate quickly in the region. And many with ties to the Ukraine in the Bay Area are worried about the safety of friends and family.

Reporter: Cesar Saldaña, KQED

California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger is said to be on President Biden’s short list to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

In 2021, the murder rate went up in several California cities, including Oakland, which saw homicides reach a 15 year high. At the same time, there are continuing calls to cut the police budget, with many in the community arguing the money could be spent on other programs they think could better deal with the roots of crime.

Guest: LeRonne Armstrong, Oakland Chief of Police

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LA Unified Superintendent Outlines Plans for New Job Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Alberto Carvalho faces many challenges as he takes over the Los Angeles Unified School District. One of his main goals is dealing with some of the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to both students and teachers,

Guest: Alberto Carvalho, LA Unified Superintendent

Millions of Americans with disabilities face barriers to getting married. Tying the knot can mean losing the federal benefits they rely on.

Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU

Governor Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats say they’ll use the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning on the Texas anti-abortion law to advance gun more control measures in California.

Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED

A few years ago, Stephanie Foo was working as a successful radio journalist, producing stories for the show, This American Life. Then, it all started to unravel. The pain from Foo’s past – she suffered terrible child abuse – was catching up with her, and she's written a memoir about it.

Guest: Stephanie Foo, Journalist and Author of the book “What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma”

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CSU Chancellor Resigns Amidst Scrutiny Over Handling of Sexual Misconduct Claims Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

Former Chancellor Joseph Castro’s departure was announced Thursday after the Fresno State Academic Senate - which represents the schools’ faculty - issued a declaration of no confidence in the chancellor earlier this week.

Isolation, fear, and remote learning because of the pandemic have been changing how teenagers think about school.

Reporter: Caroline Smith, KQED

As California is on track to have the driest February on record, the tool is designed to help residents make better decisions about how they use water.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

In a press conference yesterday Governor Newsom said Californians should move away from a reactive mindset and learn to live with the virus.

Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

Clinics that have been vaccinating people who use MediCal say the debt is affecting their operations. A new senate bill aims to shore up funding.

Reporter: Jackie Fortiér, KPCC

The first season of "Imperfect Paradise" is about the struggle to get unhoused people in Orange County into stable housing. The problem isn't always finding land, or money. It's convincing the neighbors.

Former Vice-President Mike Pence was invited to speak at Stanford University by the Stanford College Republicans. Pence discussed topics such as the January 6th insurrection and the 2020 presidential election, to a mix of applause and heckling.

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Police Transparency Law Provides Information on How Law Enforcement Investigates Discrimination Feb 17, 2022

Show notes

The first records released to KQED under an expanded police transparency law signed by Governor Newsom last year give the public a glimpse into how police departments investigate officer discrimination. The police department of Avenal, a small town in the Central Valley, cut the pay of a sergeant for using a racial slur while on-duty.

Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED

Bay Area Representative Jackie Speier is introducing a bill that would take federal pensions away from congressmembers who are convicted of sexual abuse. She said the bill was inspired by disciplinary standards in the U.S. military.

Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED

Cal State University’s Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a closed door meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to launch an investigation into the actions of Chancellor Jospeh Castro. Castro is accused of mishandling sexual harrassment claims while he served as president of Fresno State University.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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Historic Sea Level Rise Predicted in U.S. Over Next 30 Years Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Sea levels along the U.S. coastline are projected to rise by a foot or more by 2050, according to new federal data. But the projections are lower for the West Coast than for the rest of the country.

Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED Climate Reporter

California’s battle against single-use plastic waste continues this week. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would limit the types of packaging online retailers can use.

Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

State lawmakers have announced two bills to tackle COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation online. One specifically asks for help from social media platforms, to better recognize what's being done to counter COVID-19 confusion.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

The revelation this week that San Francisco police used DNA provided by a sexual assault victim, to identify and arrest her years later for an unrelated crime is generating national outrage. Many are now calling for legislation to ban the practice.

Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED

The Kern County Sheriff’s Department says it’s received 1,500 inquiries, after releasing a recruitment video targeting Los Angeles County deputies who are at risk of losing their jobs if they don’t get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Masks are no longer required in most indoor settings across the state, although some counties are keeping those guidelines in place. Many businesses are continuing to require employees to wear masks, as a way to better protect them from COVID-19.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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As State Begins Relaxing Mask Guidelines, Schools Wonder When it Will be Their Turn Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

While masking requirements will be lifted for most settings in California starting February 16th, schools aren't one of them – yet. This has school staff, healthcare officials, and others debating when the time is right to unmask

Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED

The Roseville Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees voted last week to make face coverings optional.

According to a new Berkeley IGS poll, Governor Newsom's response to crime and homelessness got especially poor reviews, but it wasn't all bad news. Two-thirds of voters thought the pandemic is improving.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin says San Francisco Police store DNA evidence of victims of sexual assaults, and routinely check that DNA for links to other crimes. Sexual violence prevention advocates are calling for an immediate end to the practice.

Over a dozen bills primarily targeting Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta are being discussed in Washington D.C. One big issue is how the companies use their users' personal data.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

A new report by the Gender Equity Policy Institute says that undocumented women in California earn 49 cents to every dollar made by white men.

Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED

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Booster Shots in Short Supply for Those in Immigrant Detention Centers Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Mask mandates are soon disappearing for most people in California, but they’ll remain in place at congregate settings like immigrant detention centers. In many of these facilities, COVID-19 is spreading, but detained people say it’s been tough to get a booster shot to protect themselves.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Immigrant rights advocates are warning Cambodian communities in California about deportations in the coming weeks. During the pandemic, deportations were paused, but some warn they're starting back up again.

Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC

The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 at SoFi Stadium. Fans celebrated across Los Angeles, causing some damage, particularly in the downtown area.

The filing deadline has passed for people who want to run in this year's mayoral election in Los Angeles. But before it did, one final candidate got in under the wire.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

The Port of Los Angeles has gotten the green light to open a new dock-worker training center later this year. The goal is to prepare workers for a future with more automation at one of the nation's largest ports.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

In a new proposal, the CDC could loosen some of the restrictions on opioid prescribing that some doctors have said harm patients dealing with chronic pain.

Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED

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Republican Lawmakers Want to End Pandemic State of Emergency Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

Nearly two years into the pandemic, California is still under a state of emergency. And Republican state lawmakers are trying to change that.

Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

Super Bowl 56 takes place this weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. And while the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals do battle on the field, another battle is taking place in the community -- over rising homes prices, rent and gentrification.

Guest: Erin Aubry Kaplan, Journalist and Writer

With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations falling fast in L.A. County, some outdoor mask restrictions may be lifted as soon as next week. But it may take awhile longer to lift restrictions on indoor masking.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

The state of California is suing electric car maker Tesla, alleging widespread racial discrimination and harassment at the company’s auto plant in Fremont.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

The California Board of State and Community Corrections met on Thursday to discuss programs funded by Prop 47, a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014, that may have reduced recidivism. In addition to reducing penalties for certain crimes, Prop 47 also funded mental health services, substance abuse treatment and other programs.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED

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