KQED's The California Report

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Governor Declares Drought Emergency in Two Counties Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

Governor Newsom has declared a drought emergency for Mendocino and Sonoma counties. In the Klamath Basin near the California-Oregon border, officials are anticipating a summer of unprecedented drought.

Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio

Young people in California have been at the heart of protests and rallies since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. One youth organizer in Oakland says the fight will continue, even after guilty verdicts were handed down to Derek Chauvin.

Guest: Luna EkunDayo, Co-Founder of Black Youth for the People’s Liberation

Rob Bonta faced questions from both the Assembly and Senate in Sacramento on Wednesday. He was pressed on how he would handle various high-profile issues, should he be confirmed as California's next Attorney General.

Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED

Wildfire smoke may not just be choking the lungs. It could be irritating the skin, that according to a new study from researchers at U.C. San Francisco and U.C. Berkeley.

Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED

Low-wage workers in the Bay Area and around California say their bosses often fail to inform them of their rights during the pandemic, and may even retaliate if they ask for COVID-19 protections. That’s according to a new survey of more than 600 frontline workers.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

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Californians React to Conviction of Derek Chauvin Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

Leaders up and down California expressed joy and relief following the guilty verdicts handed down to former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd.

Members of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles were overjoyed by the guilty verdicts handed down in the murder of George Floyd. But they know that more work lies ahead for them.

Guest: Dr. Melina Abdullah, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles

A community gathering in Fresno honored the life of George Floyd following the verdicts announced Tuesday. Now, organizers are preparing for a large march to remember the lives also lost in Fresno.

Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio

The California Legislature will take up the governor’s nomination of Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta to be the state’s next Attorney General.

Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED

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L.A. Mayor Proposing Basic Income Pilot Program Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will formally introduce his budget proposal on Tuesday. It includes money for a universal basic income pilot program.

The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd is now in the hands of the jury. One Bay Area professor said the defense's arguments have been rooted in a long history of looking at the health and well-being of Black people differently.

Guest: Denise Hurd, Professor of Public Health, UC Berkeley

An audit last year of the California District Attorney’s Association revealed that the group had misused at least $2.9 million in public funds meant to help prosecutors enforce environmental and worker safety laws. Instead, the audit found, it was used on things like lobbying.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Los Angeles is home to the largest urban oil field in the country, and about a third of L.A. County residents live less than a mile from an active drilling site. A new study from the University of Southern California has found that the area's long history with fossil fuel extraction has health impacts for residents living near active and inactive sites.

Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

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Pandemic Devastates Latino Community in Kings County Apr 19, 2021

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In Kings County, there’s been a 90% increase in deaths among Latino immigrants between 2019 and 2020. That’s according to a data analysis by UC Merced.

Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio

Tax day is less than a month away and for out of work Californians who still haven’t filed their returns, the process could feel extra complicated. One Bay Area tax expert said it's best to get it done as soon as possible.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report

Following the news of the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, misinformation and conspiracy theories ran rampant. It raises the question of how to educate the public when it comes to vaccinations as a health measure.

Guest: Scott Ratzan, Distinguished Lecturer, CUNY School of Public Health

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Hundreds of Thousands of COVID-19 Cases Linked to Meatpacking Plants Apr 16, 2021

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More than 300,000 COVID-19 cases involve the nation’s meatpacking workers, leading to billions of dollars in economic damage, according to a new study from U.C. Davis.

Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report

With Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement that he wants the state to fully reopen on June 15, the live music industry is preparing for what could be a busy second half of 2021. But not all music venues will open in June.

State utility regulators have voted to take new action against Pacific Gas and Electric, after finding the company hasn’t done enough in regards to wildfire safety work. The California Public Utilities Commission said the utility has fallen short when it comes to removing dangerous trees in areas that are prone to wildfires.

Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

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As Vaccine Eligibility Expands, Questions Remain About Equity Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Everyone over the age of 16 in California can now sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the state's My Turn website. But as eligibility expands in the state, some are concerned people in the hardest hit communities will be left behind in trying to get a shot.

Guest: Kiran Savage-Sangwan, Executive Director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Restaurants in a dozen California counties have filed class-action lawsuits seeking refunds for pandemic-era business permits, licensing fees, and late charges.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

During the pandemic, lots of Americans have been kept afloat financially with the help of stimulus payments from the federal government, like the most recent one for $1,400. But is that money getting to people most in need, like the homeless here in California?

As Republicans in many states work to enact tighter restrictions on voting, California lawmakers are going in the opposite direction. California could become the sixth state in the country to permanently send all voters a ballot in the mail for every election.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

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State Officials Don't Anticipate Vaccination Timeline to be Impacted by Johnson & Johnson Pause Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

The state is following federal guidance by pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as officials investigate six blood clot cases that may be tied to the vaccine. Governor Gavine Newsom said he doesn't anticipate this affecting the state's vaccination or reopening timeline.

Whistleblower Sophie Zhang details how authoritarian governments used Facebook to target activists and journalists, and spread misinformation campaigns, and the company did little about it.

Guest: Julia Carrie Wong, Senior Technology Reporter with The Guardian

The San Francisco-based online newsletter platform Substack has become a popular home for many well-known journalists who’ve abandoned mainstream media outlets. But now, the company's choice of some of the writers it’s invited aboard has come under fire.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

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Federal Health Agencies Pause Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

The FDA has called for a pause in use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, after six people developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination. Nearly 7 million people in the United States have already received a Johnson and Johnson dose.

Guest: Sydney Lupkin, Pharmaceuticals Correspondent, NPR

As the holy month of Ramadan continues, health leaders are encouraging Muslims to get the COVID-19 vaccine. And they're trying to spread the word that vaccines can be safely administered, even while people are fasting.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Street vendors in Central Valley communities have been victimized by violence and thefts. Just last month vendor Lorenzo Perez was shot and killed while he was selling corn in southeast Fresno.

Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio

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Schools In San Francisco, San Diego Reopen for In-Person Instruction Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

In San Francisco, schools will only be open for the youngest students. In San Diego County, the state's second largest school district, in-person learning will be an option for all students.

The Biden Administration's infrastructure plan includes a huge push for getting more electric vehicles on the roadway. At least one expert says a lot can be learned from California's EV push.

Guest: Chelsea Sexton, Electric Vehicle Industry Analyst

The site in L.A. County is expected to hold up to 2,500 unaccompanied migrant children at a time. It will be the third site to open in Southern California, after the cities of Long Beach and San Diego also added temporary shelters.

Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW

Much of the controversy surrounds Commissioner Alison Collins. But now, some students say they want their voices heard as the board makes decisions on the future of schools.

Guest: Holly McDede, KQED

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Punjabi Truck Drivers Face Unique Challenges During Pandemic Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

California’s health agencies offer information about COVID-19 in many languages – including Spanish, Hmong and American Sign Language. But one language that’s largely been missing is Punjabi.

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

Governor Newsom has struck a deal with lawmakers and hopes to sign the plan into law next week. This comes after a record-breaking fire season in 2020, and mostly dry winter, which could make California more susceptible to fires in 2021.

In the private sphere, California is a high-tech mecca, but the pandemic has exposed the frailties and age of the state government’s technology infrastructure. One Bay Area lawmaker said he has a plan to fix some of the state's issues.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report

The family of a mentally ill man, who was beaten by Ukiah police officers, is planning to sue the city and the men who beat him. This is not the first incident that’s drawn criticism for the Ukiah Police Department.

Reporter: Sarah Reith, KZYX

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