KQED's The California Report

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Regulators Expected To Vote On PG&E's Proposed Rate Hike Nov 16, 2023

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California’s largest utility wants to bury thousands of miles of power lines to prevent them from causing wildfires. That’s after Pacific Gas and Electric’s equipment caused the Camp Fire that killed 85 people in the community of Paradise. But state regulators – who will vote on PG&E’s proposal on Thursday – say that will send rates through the roof for the company’s customers.

Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED

This week, leaders from around the world are meeting in San Francisco for the APEC conference. The gathering has also been a magnet for protesters. Nearly a thousand climate activists attempted to prevent attendees from entering the APEC conference on Wednesday.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

Nearly 50 maternity wards in California have shut down in the last decade. That means some Californians have to drive hours to give birth at a hospital.

Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters

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Some California Parents Critical Of New Mental Health Law For Low Income Teens Nov 15, 2023

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A new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom will make it easier for low-income teens to access mental health treatment. But some parents are protesting, saying it infringes on their rights as parents.

Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

California’s local governments are thinking about staffing up for climate change related challenges. A new report from the nonpartisan group Next 10 tried to gauge how ready the state’s local governments are when it comes to dealing with a warming planet.

Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

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10 Freeway Shutdown Causes Commuting Nightmare In Los Angeles Nov 14, 2023

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Officials say it was arson that caused an enormous fire that damaged a stretch of the I-10 Freeway near downtown L.A., shutting it down to traffic. The closure has made L.A.’s already terrible congestion even worse for commuters across much of the city.

State transportation officials say they're working around the clock to speed the reopening of the 10 Freeway. But they acknowledge they face a difficult challenge and have no idea when the repairs will be finished.

Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist

The closure of the 10 Freeway is not only affecting people who drive to work each day. It’s also affecting some parents who drop off their kids at school, and teachers and staff at these schools.

Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist

CalFire is downsizing its seasonal staff in the northern part of the Bay Area, following the end of fire season. The North Bay has been the site of some of the region's most devastating wildfires.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

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The Story Behind California's Unemployment Crisis During The Pandemic Nov 13, 2023

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How did the state’s unemployment insurance program get conned out of billions of dollars by scammers, all while millions of Californians who had lost their jobs were stuck waiting for money they badly needed? A year-long CalMatters investigation finds that the state was primed for disaster by years of missed red flags and failed reforms.

Guest: Lauren Helper, CalMatters

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Advocates Call For Workers To Be Out Front And Center At APEC Nov 10, 2023

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The Biden administration promises a “worker-centered” trade policy that delivers shared prosperity for all Americans. But as San Francisco gets ready to host this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, labor advocates say worker interests are not sufficiently represented at the talks.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Scammers have been stealing millions of dollars a month from low-income Californians’ EBT cards. Yet the state still hasn’t put in needed protections to keep those cards secure.

Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

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Actors' Strike Ends After Tentative Agreement Reached With Studios Nov 09, 2023

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After months of picketing, SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative deal to end the strike with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In a letter to its members, the union said the new contract is valued at a billion dollars, and that the approval vote was unanimous.

Guest: Robert Garrova, Reporter LAist

Autonomous taxi operator Cruise says it's identified a software glitch that led one of its cars to drag a pedestrian in a downtown San Francisco crash. The company has now issued a safety recall.

Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

The owner of a Bay Area farm and its parent company are facing felony charges in the death of a farmworker.

Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED

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Five Years Later, Many Camp Fire Survivors Still Struggling Nov 08, 2023

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Wednesday marks exactly five years since the Camp Fire killed 85 people and leveled Paradise. Three years ago, PG&E created the Fire Victim Trust to pay out settlements to fire survivors. But some say they’ve lost hope they’ll ever get their full payments.

Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio

A federal criminal trial is beginning Thursday for David DePape, the Bay Area man facing life in prison for attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, and attempting to kidnap former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco last year.

Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED

Jewish members of the California Legislature are calling for public universities in California to take immediate action to protect Jewish students. The letter is signed by the 18 members of the Jewish Legislative Caucus and cites recent anti-semitic incidents, including physical abuse and threats against Jewish students.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

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Sacramento Shelter Faces Challenges Of Finding Permanent Housing For People Nov 07, 2023

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The city of Sacramento is among the many communities in California struggling to find answers for its growing homeless population. A shelter in the city serves hundreds of men and women, but is struggling to connect them with permanent housing.

Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio

Governor Gavin Newsom's prominent role in national politics could be costing him support in California. According to a new poll, Newsom's overall approval rating -- just 44%, is the lowest mark of his governorship.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

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Weather Swings Create Harsh Obstacles for California's Unhoused Population Nov 06, 2023

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Earth’s hottest summer ever recorded is behind us. Now, California is headed into another potentially drenching winter… while some communities are still recovering from last year’s winter storms. As climate change makes extreme weather more common, one group of Californians is living on the frontlines: those experiencing homelessness. Vanessa Rancaño/KQED News

Thousands of protestors rallied in San Francisco on Saturday to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally was the biggest so far in the Bay Area since the war began on October 7th, and was held in conjunction with similar demonstrations across the US. Juan Carlos/KQED News

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California Tribe's Hard-Fought Landback Victory Highlights Long Road for Movement's Success Nov 03, 2023

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In recent years, indigenous Land Back movements have been gaining momentum across the country. However, the effort to make reparations for the past can come with a lot of strings attached. To understand the complicated reality of landback actions today, we head to an island near the town of Eureka in Humboldt County, where a landback movement succeeded far ahead of its time. Izzy Bloom/TCR

A recent survey from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies shows who's one step closer to representing the Golden State in the U-S Senate, and whose chances are slim. Guy Marzorati/KQED News

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