KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

Riverside Boarding School Highlights Long History for Indigenous Community Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

Sherman Indian High School in Riverside is a boarding school, where Native American students from across the country can come and earn a high school diploma while also maintaining their tribal traditions and language. They also have a museum for the school’s 100 year history, that has brought healing to many in the indigenous community.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

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Afghan Refugee and His Family Settling Into Life in the Bay Area Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

California is often a place where people resettle to live out their dreams. But following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, it's been a refuge for Afghans, who have often times struggled with the culture shift of living in California and the United States.

Guest: Mustafa, Former Interpreter for American organizations in Afghanistan

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Groundwater's Importance in California and the Plans for Sustainability Dec 28, 2021

Show notes

Groundwater is an important part of the puzzle in the state's outlook for water supplies, especially during drought years. And the state is now reviewing sustainability plans that have been put together by local agencies.

Guest: Kerry Klein, Reporter KVPR

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During the Holidays, Kindness Can be Key Dec 27, 2021

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The holidays often highlight the need for kindness. There are many ways people can be kind or learn to do so.

Guest: Daniel Fessler, Director, UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute

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Why is Sanger Known as "The Nation's Christmas Tree City" Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

The small city of Sanger, which is about a twenty-minute drive east of Fresno, is recognized as “The Nation’s Christmas Tree City.” But where did the name come from?

Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio

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California Pushes Booster as Omicron COVID Cases Surge in the State Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

All healthcare workers and nursing home staff in California will be required to get a COVID-19 booster shot by February 1. The announcement comes as cases and hospitalizations continue to surge, in large part due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED

There are a lot of scary threats Meta — aka Facebook — is trying to counter with a combination of artificial intelligence and human content moderators. But innocents are still getting deleted from the platform.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

Hollywood is still reeling from the devastating shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. And according to a new report, the lull in production hit California especially hard.

Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW

It’s almost Christmas, but even if you don’t celebrate, you can still savor the holiday delicacies that abound across the state, whether in bakery shop fronts or family kitchens. In the Bay Area, the sheer variety of holiday treats says a lot about the cultural richness of the region.

Guest: Luke Tsai, KQED Food Editor

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Governor Newsom to Require Healthcare Workers to Get COVID Booster Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

California will require all healthcare workers to get the COVID vaccine booster. Healthcare workers in California are already mandated to be vaccinated.

Every mile or so along Highway 101 in Central California, you can find a cast iron bell supported by a shepherd’s hook hanging next to the roadway. The bells follow a network of roads called the El Camino Real, between the 21 Spanish missions from Sonoma to San Diego. But to many Native Americans, the history of California’s missions is a painful one.

Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU

If you’re a student or staffer on a University of California campus, you’re gonna need to get a COVID-19 booster shot. The UC system announced the new booster requirement this week, citing the fast-spreading omicron variant.

Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

Did you know there’s a good chance your child's personal info is on the dark web? That’s because hackers target schools, along with everything else. But there are ways you can protect your child's information.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

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Schools Send Students Home with Rapid COVID Tests Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

Public school students are on break this week, and with the omicron variant rapidly on the rise, many California districts sent students home with school-issued rapid COVID-19 testing kits. The state’s department of public health is providing the kits to districts.

Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED

California Governor Gavin Newsom thinks he’s found a way to crack down on illegal guns in a way that will avoid being struck down by the federal courts. As his model, he’s using a Texas law empowering ordinary people to sue anyone who helps a woman get an abortion.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Walmart operates more than 300 stores across California. And according to a lawsuit from the attorney general’s office and a dozen DAs, the retail giant has been knowingly dumping hazardous waste at local landfills, despite being sued before over the very same issue.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

The removal of invasive species from the Lake Tahoe basin is underway. It’s the largest effort to date.

Reporter: Ed Fletcher, CapRadio

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More Rain on the Way to California Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

More rain is on the way, first to Northern California, and then moving down to Southern California later this week. But how much will it impact the state's water resources?

Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

State maps may soon show even more homes and buildings are at risk for wildfire. After years of delay, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention says it’s almost ready to release new fire hazard severity maps.

Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio

Health officials across the state continue to raise concerns about rising hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 cases. This comes as friends and family gather for the holidays.

Street food vendors and food trucks are a way of life in Los Angeles and have been for decades. But recent shutdowns of longtime established sites in East Los Angeles have many wondering if these businesses are facing too many restrictions to operate legally.

Guest: Janette Villafana, Reporter, LA Taco

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Monarch Butterflies Return to Pacific Grove Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

This time of year, monarch butterflies from all over the U.S. migrate to coastal California, especially to the small town of Pacific Grove in Monterey County. Last year, for the most part, butterflies stayed away. But they've returned, to the delight of locals and visitors in 2021.

Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU

There are growing concerns about the number of people hospitalized in Southern California with COVID-19 symptoms. The numbers have spiked since the Thanksgiving holiday across multiple counties.

The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case that could sweep aside efforts to allow California workers to sue their employers, even after signing arbitration agreements.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

While many of us were able to stay inside during this week’s storms, people living outside were struggling to stay warm and dry. In Santa Cruz, an encampment along the San Lorenzo River flooded.

Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU

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