KQED's The California Report

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When 1 million marched for immigrant rights in Downtown L.A. Mar 30, 2026

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In the spring of 2006, a historic number of Angelenos took to the streets to stop a harsh anti-immigration bill. It worked. But where's that momentum now?

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

No Kings rallies brought out tens of thousands of people across California over the weekend … to protest President Donald Trump, his administration’s policies, and the war in Iran.

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How the War in Iran Is Impacting Fertilizer Supplies, Food Prices Mar 27, 2026

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It will soon be a month since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. In response to U. S. military action, the Iranian regime has restricted which trade ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway not only for oil moving from the Middle East to North America, but also for fertilizer, the fertilizer American farmers need to start growing crops. The agricultural industry has started to ring the alarm about the potential impacts the crisis at Hormuz could have on food prices.

Guest: Daniel Sumner, UC Davis Professor

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is set to pay nearly $2 million to settle a lawsuit over a violent incident at a women’s prison in Chowchilla.

Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report

Shasta County voters will see a proposal to change their election system on the June primary ballot. Among other things, Measure B would require residents to present photo ID when voting in person, and limit who can cast an absentee ballot.

Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

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Central Valley 911 Dispatch Training Program Gives Students Real World Experience Mar 25, 2026

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911 dispatchers are often the first voice people hear in an emergency. But across the country, it’s getting harder to find people trained to answer those calls. Two programs in the U.S. are trying to change that, and one is right here in the San Joaquin Valley.

Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR

An appeals court has denied the state attorney general’s request to stop Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s effort to recount ballots from last year’s special election.

A new poll from the California Democratic Party shows two Republicans leading the state's crowded race for governor, and nearly a quarter of voters still undecided.

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Gov. Newsom Weighs in on Foreign Policy to Build National Profile Mar 24, 2026

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As California Governor Gavin Newsom eyes a potential 2028 presidential run, he’s been wading into more foreign policy -- even on issues that are controversial. It’s a pivot that’s helping him build a national profile.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Since last summer, the Trump administration has been arresting undocumented immigrants as they try to claim their children from federal custody. This has left a lot of kids — including at least a dozen in Southern California —- stranded in government shelters and foster care. Immigration attorneys say they’ve suspected for months that the arrests are part of a formal policy. And court documents that were recently discovered suggest that it is.

Reporter: Mark Betancourt, The California Newsroom

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Despite Protections, The California Condor Struggles Mar 23, 2026

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The California Condor used to range from California to Florida and from Canada all the way down to Mexico. But last century, their population crashed. Now, there are more than 600 alive, but they aren't doing as well as scientists expect it. New research explains the mystery of why, despite many protections, the birds are still struggling.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who’s also a Republican candidate for governor, says the state’s attorney general is interfering in his department’s investigation of alleged irregularities in the 2025 special election to redraw California’s congressional districts.

Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

California leaders want to increase investments in agriculture technology, but farmworker advocates say they’re worried about displacement.

Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR

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Farmworker Activists Reflect on Legacy of Civil Rights Icon Mar 20, 2026

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As word of damning accusations against Cesar Chavez spread this week, farmworkers and advocates in California have struggled to reconcile the disturbing details with their image of a man they considered a hero.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

A coalition of leaders in East San José say the sexual assault allegations against labor leader Cesar Chavez should be a turning point for the community and the country.

Reporter: Joseph Geha, KQED

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California Reacts to Allegations Against Labor Leader Cesar Chavez Mar 19, 2026

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A major investigation by the New York Times is raising serious allegations about Cesar Chavez, one of the most admired figures in Latino civil rights history. The reporting includes accounts from multiple women, including co-organizer and civil rights leader, Dolores Huerta. They say Chavez sexually abused them, in some cases, when they were children.

Guest: Gustavo Arellano, LA Times

Following the harrowing accounts from these women, the United Farm Workers union is now distancing itself from Chavez, its co-founder.

In Sacramento, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to rename Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day, in light of the allegations against the civil rights leader. There are also growing calls to rename streets and other property bearing his name at the local level.

Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX

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CA Democrats Splintered on Blame Over Gas Prices Mar 18, 2026

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The nationwide increase in gas prices since the beginning of the war in Iran is hitting especially hard in California, already home to the nation’s highest prices at the pump. It's also started a new round of political blame game between President Trump, Governor Newsom, and even some Democrats.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Veterans and native tribes are calling for the protection of public lands in the Mojave Desert. They say President Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management could open the area to fossil fuel extraction.

Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

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How Federal Housing Reform Could Impact Californians Mar 17, 2026

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California's housing crisis is spreading to other states. Congress is finalizing a package of bills some national housing experts say are among the most significant reforms to come out of the federal government in decades. Some of the bills are inspired by laws California has already passed. So what does this package do for us?

Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED

California regulators are pushing back after the Trump Administration ordered a Texas-based oil company to restart pipeline operations along the Central Coast.

Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX

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Ukiah School Emphasizes Math in Transitional Kindergarten Class Mar 16, 2026

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This school year is the first in which transitional kindergarten is free and available for all 4-year-olds across California. The state has spent more than $15 billion since 2021 to offer this new grade. But in order for that investment to pay off, the skills kids gain in TK need to last throughout elementary school. One district is trying to set their students up for success by focusing on one particular subject.

Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

Protesters put on a concert at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in the Mojave Desert on Saturday, to call attention to the plight of undocumented detainees.

Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

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