KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

Planada Enters Third Day of Evacuations As More Storms Loom Ahead Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto is warning people to be prepared for the Monterey Peninsula to become an island because of flooding from the Salinas River. Nieto warned that flooding Thursday could eliminate all travel routes on or off the peninsula, leaving people stranded on either side.

As the winter storms move through the state, power outages and flooding can make it hard for families to get and preserve food. State officials say families who get CalFresh benefits can apply for replacement funds on their EBT card if their food was lost or destroyed due to misfortune or a disaster.

Reporter: Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli, KQED

Even in the midst of all this rain, wine makers and grape growers are worried about what wildfire smoke from next fire season will do to their wine. UC Vineyard advisor Chris Chen says the best time to think about preventing fires is when they’re still months away.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

The Merced County town of Planada remains evacuated this morning. About 200 people are sheltering at the Merced fairground and with more rain expected they’re worried about their homes and what happens next.

Guest: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR

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Newsom Surveys Flood Damage In Santa Cruz County Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Governor Gavin Newsom toured Capitola Village near Santa Cruz Tuesday, surveying the flood damage to small businesses there hit hard by storm surges.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

In Santa Barbara County, cleanup is underway now that evacuation orders have been lifted. Local leaders consider the evacuations a success. There are no reports of major injuries or deaths.

Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX

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Storm Forces Montecito Residents To Evacuate Five Years After Deadly Mudslides Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

The entire town of Montecito has been evacuated. The order comes exactly five years to the day after a deadly mudslide destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes there after rain washed out a wildfire burn scar. Part of Santa Barbara and the nearby communities of Carpenteria and Summerland were also ordered to evacuate yesterday.

Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED

Governor Gavin Newsom is set to outline his spending priorities for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The new budget proposal comes at a time when the state is facing a projected $24 billion dollar deficit — a sharp contrast to last year when California had a record surplus.

Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters

Bakersfield native Kevin McCarthy claimed the Speaker’s Gavel in the House of Representatives early Saturday after a historic 15 rounds of voting. To get there, the San Joaquin Valley Republican made many concessions to party hard-liners. But he didn’t miss a beat during his acceptance speech that made frequent references to his Central California upbringing.

Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR

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California Faces 'A Relentless Parade of Atmospheric Rivers' Jan 09, 2023

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Gov. Newsom Says 12 Californians Died in Extreme Weather

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for a large swath of Northern and Central California with 6 to 12 inches of rain expected through Wednesday in the already saturated Sacramento-area foothills.

CalMatters Investigates $35 million in Leftover Campaign Cash

A new investigation from CalMatters found there are nearly 100 politicians across California sitting on 35 million dollars in leftover campaign funds. CalMatters’ Ben Christopher explains why, and what’s happening to all this money.

Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters

What Happens After Native American Tribes Get Their Land Back?

Governor Gavin Newsom is setting aside $100 million dollars to support Native American tribes in buying back their ancestral lands. It’s part of his “30 by 30” pledge… to preserve one third of state lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. But once a tribe gets their land back… how do they restore and preserve it? An indigenous tribe in Humboldt County bought back 48 acres of land earlier this year.

Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED

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Historic Rainfall Is Especially Tough On The Unhoused Jan 06, 2023

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Historic Rainfall Is Especially Tough On The Unhoused

California is assessing damage and cleaning up after a week of historic rains. The National Weather Service says San Francisco experienced its wettest ten day period in 150 years. All that rainfall has been especially tough on the unhoused population.

California Still In A Drought Despite Torrential Rains

The past few big storms have eased drought conditions across the state, but not as much as you might think given the deluge. 98% of California is still in some state of drought. KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero has the story.

CA Governor Gets Sworn In Today

Governor Gavin Newsom holds his inaugural celebration in Sacramento later this morning. As KQED Politics Editor Scott Shafer reports, it’s no accident that Newsom chose January 6th to do it.

McCarthy Still Unable To Secure Speaker Vote

Central Valley congressman Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the speaker’s gavel for a third day as the House of Representatives held an 11th round of voting in Washington on Thursday. McCarthy needs 218 votes to assume the speaker position but remains way short. Back home in Bakersfield, McCarthy constituents are watching closely – some in horror, others with glee.

Bakersfield Prison Cited For Violating Workers Rights

California’s workplace health and safety regulators have cited a for-profit prison company for violations affecting detained workers locked up at an immigration facility near Bakersfield. It's likely a first. KQED’s Farida Jhabvala Romero reports.

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CA Storm Packs A Punch With Heavy Rains and 70-80 mph Winds Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

California Storm Packs A Punch Overnight

California continues to be lashed by what’s called a “bomb cyclone” storm this morning, with forecasters warning about rain rates of up to one inch…per hour…in some places and winds of 70 and 80 miles per hour.

Infant Killed In Storm When Tree Falls On House In Occidental

One of two deaths reported in Wednesdays historic storm includes an infant from Sonoma County. Fire officials say the child died when a large tree fell on his family's home in Occidental. Police in Fairfield say a second death involved a woman who's car careened out of control and struck a light post.

San Francisco Mayor Pleads With Residents To Dial 3-1-1 Instead Of 9-1-1 For Storm Related "Non-Life Threatening" Incidents

At a press conference on Wednesday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed warned her city’s residents about the dangerous conditions and she’s asking people to avoid tying up emergency lines with non-emergency calls.

Heavy Rains Disturb Ancient Burial Sites Around Wilton Rancheria In South Sacramento

Tribal leaders at the Rancheria are concerned that continued flooding from the Consumnes River could be disturbing sacred burial grounds nearby. CapRadio’s Sarah Mizes-Tan has the story.

Storms Are Creating Additional Misery For The Homeless

Before heavy rains started failing in San Francisco, The California Report co-host Madi Bolanos spoke to some unhoused individuals to see how they were preparing to cope with the rain.

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Another Storm To Drench California On Wednesday Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Get ready. Another powerful rain and wind storm is set to pummel parts of California on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service said parts of Northern California and the Bay Area should expect widespread flooding.

Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

In San Francisco, small business owners are still dealing with damages from the last big storm. Now, they have to prepare for more rain and wind.

Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report

A state report out Tuesday reveals major racial disparities in policing in California in 2021. According to the data, black drivers and pedestrians were searched and subjected to use of force at more than twice the rate of white drivers and pedestrians, despite police stopping more white individuals.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED

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Storm Leaves California Drenched, With Another On The Way Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Much of California is still trying to clean up from stormy weather that has hit much of the state over the past week. But forecasters said the worst could be on the way, as an atmospheric river forms off the coast.

A new year is bringing a bumper crop of new state laws, which are now officially on the books. They cover everything from abortion to housing and gun rights.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

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New Moms Face "Snapback" Pressure After Childbirth Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

After having a baby, mothers are often barraged with pressure to return to their pre-pregnancy lives and bodies. And that can take a toll on both mental and physical health during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

For many people, the New Year means setting resolutions and goals for 2023. But for one immigrant, who’s now living in the Bay Area, it means rehabbing his life, following a long stint in prison.

Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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The Science Behind Hangovers Dec 30, 2022

Show notes

With New Year's Eve around the corner, that means millions of Californians will be out celebrating the end of 2022 and start of a new year. And that could entail a night of drinking. But is there a way to stop from having a nasty hangover the next day?

Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED

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