KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

In-Home Daycare Providers Still Face Discrimination From Landlords Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Thousands of California families rely on in-home daycares for their kids. But after the housing market collapse in 2008, the state lost 30% of these types of child care settings, leading to a crisis. As part of its effort to rebuild, California passed a law in 2019 forbidding landlords and homeowners’ associations from refusing to rent to in-home child care providers. But that hasn’t stopped the practice.

Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

California is joining 13 others to create an alliance aimed at coordinating public health policy-- a direct rebuke of the Trump Administration.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

5.5 million Californians could soon lose their food assistance benefits, if Congress doesn't end the shutdown and approve a budget agreement. That's according to The California Department of Social Services, who oversees the program, CalFresh.

Reporter: Nick Gerda, LAist

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Waymo Continues To Increase Its Footprint In Los Angeles Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

In San Francisco, more people are now ordering Waymo robotaxis than Lyfts with human drivers. People are getting more comfortable using driverless cars. This got us thinking - is the same thing about to happen in LA? And how do human Uber and Lyft drivers feel about it?

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

A new state audit released this week finds that California’s public college systems aren’t doing enough to meet the need for student housing.

Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea has never had street addresses. A recent vote by the city council will change that. The decision comes after multiple town hall meetings and input from residents.

Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU

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Delta Community's Finances Up In Air Amid Talks Of Disincorporation Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

A tiny California town in Sacramento’s Delta has struggled for decades, and within a matter of months, could face some big decisions on its status as a city. Financial choices over the years have put Isleton in a sink or swim situation– with talks of disincorporation or bankruptcy and what that could mean for the city’s 800 residents.

Reporter: Riley Palmer, CapRadio

The governor vetoed a handful of bills that aimed to advance reparations for Black Californians.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati , KQED

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Proposed Change to Endangered Species Act Threatens California's Sea Otter Haven Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

The Trump Administration is considering a change to the federal Endangered Species Act that could create new risks for an area in California that has more sea otters than any other in the state.

Last October, the state finished removing four dams from Klamath River up in far Northern California. In the year since the removal, there has been drastic changes to the area's fish population, and overall water quality.

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How Fresno Schools Are Helping Students Get Back On Their Feet Oct 10, 2025

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For many families experiencing homelessness, school can be a difficult hurdle to clear. Chronic absenteeism is higher, and graduation rates are lower among homeless students. But the Fresno Unified School District has been working to combat this problem. And the efforts appear to be working.

Reporter: Rachel Livinal/KVPR

Doctors at Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles County say administrators are allowing federal immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and block doctors from properly treating detained patients who need emergency care.

Reporter: Jill Replogle/LAist

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Preserving The Stories Of Altadena's Trees After The Eaton Fire Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

When you talk about Altadena, you can’t not talk about its trees. It’s why one young Altadenan is documenting the stories of the community’s trees in the wake of the Eaton Fire.

Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist

A 29-year-old man has been arrested for starting a fire that eventually became the deadly Palisades Fire.

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Masking Law Just Part Of Bigger Fight Over Immigration Enforcement Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

California made national headlines last month when Governor Newsom signed a bill barring law enforcement officers from wearing masks -- a law aimed at immigration agents. Federal officials say they won’t comply. But the skirmish is about more than just masks. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

New data suggests Fresno is a more prosperous city than it was 12 years ago.

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

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Investigation Sheds New Light On What May Have Sparked Eaton Fire Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Almost nine months have passed since the Eaton Fire ripped through Los Angeles County. It destroyed more than 9,000 buildings and left billions of dollars in damages. At first, attention focused on Southern California Edison's transmission lines as the likely cause. But a new NPR investigation shows there may have been other failures, too.

Guest: Chiara Eisner, NPR

Another immigrant has died in the custody of federal immigration authorities in California, this time in the Imperial Valley. New questions are being raised about the care of detainees under the Trump administration’s ongoing mass deportation campaign. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS

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Following Medicaid Cuts, Californians With Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities Face Uncertain Future Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

When President Donald Trump signed his sweeping policy bill this summer, it included $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal. The program is recognized for helping low-income people access health care, but it also funds services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now, many Californians with disabilities face an uncertain future.

Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops from California to Oregon.

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New Movie Tells The Story Of Bus Driver Who Helped Students, Teachers Escape Camp Fire Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise remains California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire in history. The Northern California fire claimed the lives of 85 people. Now, a new movie depicts the real-life heroic escape of one local bus driver.

Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio

Yosemite National Park remains open during the government shutdown, but there won't be many rangers there to help visitors.

Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED

The US Department of Education is ending several grant programs that support minority-serving institutions. Department officials say these programs are discriminatory. California stands to lose more grant money than any other state - for programs that support Black, Latino, Asian and Native American students on college campuses.

Reporter: Adam Echelman, CalMatters

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