KQED's The California Report

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Are California's Levees Prepared For Water Releases, Atmospheric Rivers? Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

How much water is too much for California’s levees? That’s the question many water experts have been asking since President Donald Trump ordered the release of billions of gallons of water from Central Valley dams – and as big storms produced by an atmospheric river drenched much of the state.

Guest: Emily Zentner, The California Newsroom

A UCLA report finds the Los Angeles area wildfires have caused between $95 and $164 billion in total property and capital losses.

Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leaning on hospitals to continue offering gender-affirming care for youth, calling President Trump’s recent executive order that threatens to stop funding treatments wrong.

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Rebuilding Lessons From Former Fire Victims Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

More than 16,000 structures were lost in last month’s wildfires in LA. Residents there are now beginning the difficult process of deciding whether they can — or even want to — rebuild. For those who do, experts and survivors of past wildfires say there are ways to build in some resilience against future fires. In Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, that’s what many residents did after the 2017 Tubbs Fire decimated their neighborhood.

Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED

Big water releases from two Central Valley dams are leaving farmers flummoxed. It’s the result of an executive order from President Trump that’s supposed to help fight wildfires in Los Angeles. But the water is unlikely to reach its intended destination.

Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR

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California Schools Try To Reassure Families As Deportation Fears Loom Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Schools and colleges are some of the places where the fear of President Donald Trump’s pledge of “mass deportations” is hitting hardest. That’s especially after the administration reversed a policy keeping immigration agents away from schools, churches and other "sensitive locations." In California there are laws to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. But some lawmakers want to go further to protect classrooms.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles fires, State Farm, the largest homeowners’ insurance company in California, is seeking an emergency rate hike from the state. Those fires resulted in more than 8,700 claims made to State Farm and more than a billion dollars, so far, in payouts.

Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

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California's Beaches Face Uncertain Future Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

With more than 800 miles of coastline, you’d think that one problem the Golden State wouldn’t have to worry about having enough sand -- beach sand. But up and down the coast, many beach cities, like San Clemente in Orange County, are facing a growing problem: their sand is disappearing.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Many federal workers in California are suspicious of the Trump administration's offer of pay and benefits, in return for resigning from civil service.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

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Big Bear Eagles Welcome Third Egg Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Fans are tuning into a new season of so-called eagle TV, a camera trained on the nest of two beloved eagles in Big Bear, east of Los Angeles, that live streams 24-7. Last year ended in heartbreak when the eagles’ eggs did not hatch. Fans around the world are hoping for a better ending this time.

Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

A federal judge has ruled that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement can resume detaining immigrants at one of its largest California facilities near the Mojave Desert. The ruling lifts a COVID-era ban on receiving immigrants at the Adelanto Detention facility.

California's western monarch butterfly population has dwindled to a near record low.

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CA Wine Industry Could Face Huge Impact From Trump's Immigration Policies Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump vowed to launch what he called “the largest deportation program in American history,” targeting more than 11 million people. While many question the president’s ability to make good on that promise, the prospect has California’s grape growers and vintners on edge.

Reporter: Tina Caputo

In a new executive order, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to revise its policies toward transgender service members, saying they do not meet the standards of military service.

Reporter: Andrew Dyer, KPBS

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Pasadena Post Office Brings Together Community Affected By Eaton Fire Jan 29, 2025

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Altadena residents who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire still need to get their mail. And right now that means waiting sometimes hours at a post office in Pasadena. It's a scene of grief, hope and strong community.

Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist

A judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's attempt to freeze federal funds. That’s after several lawsuits were filed, including by the state of California.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began gathering hazardous materials this week from the Eaton fire at a park in eastern L.A. County. That's upset some of the surrounding cities.

Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist

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Trump Executive Order Takes Aim At California's Water Management Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says will help Southern California fight future wildfires. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and federal environmental rules, to send more water from California’s Delta. Trump has said this move will help protect against wildfires, by bolstering Southern California’s water supplies. But this order won’t actually do that.

Guest: Alastair Bland, CalMatters

A new strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in the United States. It was found in Merced County.

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

Just one week into President Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been seen conducting operations in San Jose.

Reporter: Joseph Geha, KQED

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Trump's Executive Orders On Immigration And The Real Life Impacts In The Central Valley Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

President Trump has wasted no time signing executive orders that threaten the safety and livelihood of thousands of migrants living in California. That's left many in the Central Valley feeling mixed emotions.

Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report

President Trump wants to deport undocumented immigrants who are accused of crimes. But working with immigration enforcement could mean skirting around California's sanctuary law.

Our partner, CalMatters, asked all 58 California sheriffs if they’ll agree to work with ICE.

Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters

Meanwhile, some schools in California are informing families of their rights, when it comes to immigration.

Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED

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Los Angeles Wildfires Complicate Efforts to Increase Housing Affordability Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

As the Southern California wildfires have made tragically apparent, California Democrats' goal to lower the cost of living are running headlong into the impacts of extreme weather brought on by climate change.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

President Trump is expected to visit Los Angeles today to see the wildfire damage firsthand, but some of the details around the visit are murky. That's after he signed an executive action earlier this week aiming to reroute Northern California water to the rest of the state.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

The state’s response to the bird flu outbreak could be hobbled as the Trump Administration pauses all communication released from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED

State Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who represents Morro Bay, says she's introducing legislation to regulate new battery storage facilities in California. That comes a week after a fire at the world's largest such facility in Moss Landing, owned by the Vistra Corporation.

Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED

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