KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

Catholic Bishops Hold Mass For ICE Detainees In Adelanto Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Catholic bishops from across California held mass at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center near the Mojave Desert on Wednesday. This is part on of an outreach effort to immigrants who have been caught up in the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown here in California.

Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

Farmworkers across the country are suing the Trump administration. They want to axe a recent change to the guest worker visa program, known as H-2A, that cuts farmworker pay by 25%.

Reporter: Joshua Yeager

Housing advocates filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass over their orders banning duplexes in burn zones.

Reporter: David Wagner, LAist

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Why Aren't There More Condos For Sale In California? Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

The condominium used to be a relatively affordable home ownership option in California. But it has almost disappeared from our cities. Why? A new generation of housing activists says California laws have killed the condo, and they want that to change.

Reporter: Frances Anderton, KCRW

Hundreds of millions of dollars to address homelessness in California is in limbo after the Trump administration reversed course on a major funding program — at least, for now.

Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED

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National Parks Changing Fee-Free Calendar Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Californians hoping to take advantage of free entry days at national parks will see big changes next year. The Trump administration is removing civil rights holidays and adding President Trump's birthday instead. The move is already prompting backlash from civil rights groups and conservation advocates. International visitors will also face new rules for park access.

Guest: Sarah Wright, KQED

The Ukrainian wife of a U.S. citizen remains in ICE custody after she was detained late last week in San Diego. Her lawyers say the arrest marks another new escalation in the Trump administration’s emerging practice of targeting immigrants at their green card interviews. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS

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San Diego Law Enforcement Accessing Private License Plate Readers Dec 08, 2025

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Dozens of cities and law enforcement agencies from around the state are using automated license plate readers. And in some cases, those communities are fighting back, suing to stop their use. In San Diego County, law enforcement agencies are also searching license plate cameras owned by private businesses -- with little oversight. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS

A new law banning cat declawing in California is set to take effect next year.

Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED

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Deported Pomona Man Finally Able To Reunite With His Dog Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

A man and his best friend are being reunited in Mexico on Friday, three months after being separated by immigration agents outside a day labor center about an hour east of Los Angeles.

Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR

The Inspector General for California’s massive prison system says a backlog of investigations into staff misconduct has ballooned to 10,000 cases.

Reporter: Julie Small, KQED

The governing body for high school sports in California is changing its bylaws in an effort to protect immigrant student athletes.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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First Of Its Kind Campus In The Works In San Diego County Dec 04, 2025

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After decades of planning and setbacks, officials are laying the groundwork for something that would be the first of its kind in California — a hybrid campus that houses degree programs from multiple universities across San Diego County.

Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS

California cities cannot choose to disobey the state's immigration sanctuary law.

Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist

There are currently at least 10 candidates vying to be California’s next governor, and the race appears to be anyone’s to win.

Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

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Research Confirms Heavy Metals In Elkhorn Slough After Battery Plant Fire Dec 03, 2025

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Nearly a year after a lithium-ion battery fire in Moss Landing, we're learning the extent of the damage to nearby Elkhorn Slough, a protected marine estuary.

Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is joining six other state attorneys in calling out buy-now-pay-later lenders, amid concerns that they're putting consumers at financial risk.

Reporter: Francesca Fenzi, KQED

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Rise In Robot Workers Leads To Debate Over Future Of Workforce Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Robots have come a long way in the last ten years. They can move parts around a warehouse, clean hotel floors, and deliver food. But they’re still rare in everyday life. This could change as businesses look to cut rising costs by hiring fewer people.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

The search continues for the suspect or suspects who opened fire at a toddler’s birthday party over the weekend in Stockton, killing four guests and wounding eleven more.

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Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Fear, isolation, uneasiness. Ever since the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement efforts, immigrant communities in California have a growing sense of anxiety. One community worried about enforcement is farm workers, where many people's lives have been upended.

Guest: Nigel Duara, CalMatters

A shooting at a banquet hall in the Central Valley town of Stockton has left four young people dead and 11 injured. The shooting Saturday took place at a children's birthday party.

California immigration lawyers are seeing a startling trend: people who are in the process of becoming legal U.S. residents attend their green card interview and are arrested on the spot.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

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Watch Duty App Changes Approach To Wildfire Response Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

The nonprofit app Watch Duty is revolutionizing how people get information about wildfires and evacuations. And it’s not just residents in vulnerable areas downloading the app — firefighters are using it too. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS

People who often eat fish caught in the San Francisco Bay could be consuming unhealthy levels of persistent, dangerous chemicals.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

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