KQED's The California Report

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State Workers Push for Telework Options Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

Sacramento County is home to California’s largest community of state workers, around 90,000 people. Governor Gavin Newsom says he wants them to come back into the office starting this summer — many still work remotely part time following the pandemic. But state worker unions hope a new bill will protect their ability to telework indefinitely.

Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio

In Humboldt County, low wages are leading to high rates of poverty and greater enrollment in the state food program CalFresh.

Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio

Along the coast of San Mateo County, elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park could be experiencing a “small outbreak” of bird flu, according to scientists.

Reporter: Sarah Mohamad, KQED

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Misinformation Leads to Confusion in Fresno's Immigrant Communities Feb 26, 2026

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In light of violent immigration enforcement in major cities like Chicago, LA and Minneapolis, immigrants around the country are wondering: could this happen in my community? In the Central Valley, waiting for an answer to that question has given way to fear and misinformation.

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

The LA Unified School Board is meeting behind closed doors Thursday where they're expected to discuss the status of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. This comes a day after federal investigators raided his home and office at the district's headquarters. Time is running out to submit public comments on proposed federal oil and gas leases off the Central Coast.

Reporter: Elena Neale Sacks, KAZU

An agent who is reportedly with the Department of Homeland Security is set to appear in court in Riverside Friday. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon among other felonies. But holding him accountable might be difficult.

Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

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CA Lawmaker Aims to Protect Renters Who Rely on Section 8 Vouchers Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Hundreds of thousands of California families rely on federal housing assistance programs to make rent- you might know it as Section 8 vouchers. Based on their income, they’ll pay a certain percentage of the rent and the government pays the rest. Recipients include seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children. But the Trump administration is expected to introduce new rules to these programs in the coming months. Some lawmakers argue that could make assistance harder to access.

Guest: Sharon Quirk-Silva, California State Assembly

California’s investing billions of dollars into a new grade for 4-year-olds called transitional kindergarten. But the state hasn’t set aside any money to evaluate it.

Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist

On Wednesday, the city of Escondido in San Diego County will discuss a controversial contract that its police department has with the Department of Homeland Security. The contract allows federal agents to use a local gun range for 20 days a year.

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Church Members Maintain Presence at Santa Ana Immigration Court Feb 24, 2026

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Since last summer, when the Trump administration ramped up deportation efforts, a group of volunteer observers has kept a constant presence at the Santa Ana Immigration Court.

Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist

A four-week strike by thousands of Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California and Hawaii is ending Tuesday morning, even though no contract deal has been reached.

Cities on the US-Mexico border remain on high alert following a weekend of violence, in response to the killing of a cartel leader.

Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS

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California's Winter Storms Do Little to Ease Climate Change Worries Feb 23, 2026

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The string of storms that have swept through California has brought much-needed water and snow throughout the state, but climate scientists say, levels may still fall short of what's needed in the coming warm weather months.

The town of Truckee held a memorial for the victims of last week's avalanche in the Sierra. This comes after search and rescue crews finished recovering all nine of their bodies over the weekend.

State Senator, Scott Wiener, is proposing legislation to force a split between San Francisco and Pacific Gas & Electric.

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Elderly Japanese Americans Warn Same Threats Rising That Led to Internment Feb 20, 2026

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This week marks the 84th anniversary of the United States, under president Franklin D. Roosevelt, enacting Executive Order 9066, which led to U.S. residents of Japanese descent being dispossessed and interned, even if they were American citizens. Survivors of Japanese internment say they're seeing the Trump Administration embracing similar policies that led to one of the darkest chapters of the United States in the 20th century.

The non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office is recommending that California lawmakers reject Governor Gavin Newsom's latest electric vehicle rebate proposal, citing cost concerns.

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Eight Dead, One Still Missing Following Tahoe-Area Avalanche Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Eight people have been confirmed dead after an avalanche in Tahoe's Donner Summit region on Tuesday buried a group of 15 backcountry skiers. Six of the skiers, who were part of an overnight backcountry skiing group, were rescued Tuesday night. One person is still missing but is presumed dead.

Guest: Sarah Wright, KQED

A controversial proposal to tax the wealth of billionaires in California is getting a boost this week from one of the nation's leading progressives: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

More than 1400 registered nurses are set to strike at medical centers affiliated with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the latest in a wave of labor unrest hitting the healthcare industry.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

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Nine Missing Following Avalanche in Nevada County Feb 18, 2026

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Search and rescue crews are looking for nine backcountry skiers after an avalanche near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada Tuesday morning. Six people were safely rescued. Two of them were transported to the hospital for treatment.

The city of Los Angeles is looking to ban the construction and operation of some private detention centers. This comes amid reports that warehouses across the country are being eyed as potential detention centers, by President Trump and federal immigration officials.

Reporter: Destiny Torres, LAist

Work is slow in Hollywood right now. But at least one new type of production is hiring. They are bingeable shows made to be watched on your phone. And they’re called vertical micro dramas.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

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AI One of the Main Sticking Points in Hollywood Labor Talks Feb 17, 2026

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SAG-AFTRA is beginning its second week of contract negotiations with Hollywood studios. The union, representing actors and performers, is hoping to avoid a repeat of 2023, when talks broke down and a strike lasted more than a hundred days. AI is expected to be one of the main focuses of the talks.

Guest: Gene Maddaus, Variety

A new bill in the California legislature aims to improve the safety of e-bikes. It would require owners of certain types of e-bikes to register with the DMV and display a license plate.

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Trump Administration Sends Pregnant Unaccompanied Minors to Texas Shelter Flagged as Medically Inadequate Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

The Trump administration is making changes to how it treats unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant, and that's raising alarm bells inside the government. Since last July, the administration has been concentrating pregnant kids in one shelter in South Texas, even if they're apprehended in California or other states. This comes over objections from the government's own health and child welfare officials. They say neither the facility nor the region can provide the specialized care the girls need.

Guest: Mark Betancourt, The California Newsroom

Firefighters across the state are working with scientists at the University of California to minimize their risk to cancer.

Reporter: Alonso Daboub, KQED

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