KQED's The California Report

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  Governor Newsom Signs 'Leno's Law' Exempting Classic Cars From Smog Checks 17.09.2026 9min

  Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed legislation to exempt certain collector cars from smog checks. Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED Written public comment closes at the end of this week for governor Newsom’s plan to ensure water for cities and farms and a healthy habitat for wildlife in the Delta. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Two bills sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom's desk aim to protect incarcerated people from sexual abuse and strengthen legal protections for survivors. This comes after a report from the Department of Justice found an “unbroken pattern” of sexual assault at state women’s prisons. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, KQED Residents in a Fresno County foothill community are raising concerns with county leaders about the water coming from their taps. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Scientists Warn This Year's El Niño Can Trigger Unprecedented Flooding 16.09.2026 9min

  Federal scientists now say it’s very likely that a strong El Niño will continue through the end of the year. The natural phenomenon is pushing a massive stretch of warm water toward California, and climate scientists worry that this process could trigger monumental flooding later this year. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED California just became the first state in the nation to pass rules that require insurance companies to address smoke damage after major fires. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Backers of a November ballot measure that would levy a tax on billionaires are facing an uphill battle, according to a new poll released today. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Race for California's 48th Congressional District 15.09.2026 9min

  Voting in November's midterm election will begin in less than three weeks, and a handful of California districts are at the center of the fight for control of Congress. That includes the 48th House District in Riverside and San Diego counties. KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzorati has been reporting in the district, and he joins us this morning from San Diego. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED President Donald Trump is expanding the Interior Department’s authority over energy projects under the Defense Production Act. The executive order could affect the Central Coast, where the administration has already invoked the federal law to support a pipeline restart off the Santa Barbara coast. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Trauma-Informed Daycare Center in LA Serves Families Affected by Gangs 14.09.2026 9min

  A nonprofit that has helped disempowered children around the world is now working in Downtown LA. They’ve opened at Homeboy Industries, the noted gang rehabilitation program. It’s an experimental new daycare… for families who have been involved with gangs. Reporter: Clare Wiley, KCRW California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are sounding the alarm on wildfire preparedness … They’re concerned that federal agencies won’t have enough money for the rest of the 2026 wildfire season. Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Saving Money at Professional Baseball Games 11.09.2026 9min

  This summer, KPBS and KQED teamed up to look at different ways that Major League Baseball fans save money when going to a game, so that maybe you can too during some of these last games, or keep this in mind for next season. Reporters - Jake Gotta, KPBS and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom says he is signing a packageof bills that institute some of the strongest protections for children in the country. Reporter: Chris Alam, KQED The San Joaquin Valley air basin has long been out of compliance with federal air quality standards. That includes ozone and fine particulate matter that can be inhaled and lodged into the lungs. One often overlooked element in this regions air pollution: fast-food drive-through lanes. Reporter: Tim Sheehan, The Central Valley Journalism Collaborative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Agave Takes Root in Central Valley Ag School Programs 10.09.2026 9min

  A new plant is taking root in ag classrooms: agave. At a test plot in Merced County, agave is becoming the primary subject of coursework. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR A new lawsuit filed in Kern County details sexual abuse allegations by an unnamed plaintiff against the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. It accuses nonprofits tied to Chavez of negligence. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado The US Department of Justice is alleging that UC Berkeley law school’s admissions policy discriminates against white and Asian applicants. Reporter: Katie DeBenedetti Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Sonoma County Agency Agrees to Reel in Drone Program After Privacy Violations 09.09.2026 9min

  Changes are coming to a controversial drone code enforcement program in Northern California’s Sonoma County. The county's land use planning and development permitting agency, Permit Sonoma, recently [[last week]] agreed to settle after being sued for allegedly spying on much more than what the program initially intended. Reporter: Noah Abrams, KRCB Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra has a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California governor. But Becerra has kept a relatively low profile since the June Primary and made few specific commitments about what he would do as governor. Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio Attorneys for Santa Clara County say they’re optimistic after a federal judge in San Jose extended a halt on the construction of a new ICE holding facility near Gilroy. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero The clean-up effort following last year’s battery fire at Texas-based energy company's Vistra facility in Moss Landing is moving into its final phase. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Immigration Related Threats by Employers Spiking in California, Worker Advocates Say 08.09.2026 9min

  California signed off earlier this summer on an agreement to share state driver’s license data with a national database. Reporter: Wendy Fry, CalMatters As the Trump administration ramps up immigration arrests… worker advocates and state officials say some employers are taking advantage of the political climate to exploit immigrant workers in lower-wage jobs. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Native Americans in Central California Ring in Powwow Season 07.09.2026 9min

  Powwows are common in many parts of the country where Native Americans call home. But did you know some regions have powwow seasons? California’s powwow season recently kicked off in Central California. And it brought tribes from as far as New York and Canada to Table Mountain Rancheria casino just outside of Fresno, where the sound of a long tradition rang out. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR California sea lion poisonings are surging along the coast, and warm waters brought by El Niño could make things worse. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Researchers estimate that close to 6,000 unsheltered people live within a mile of venues for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Heading Outdoors for Labor Day Weekend? Here's Some Wildfire Safety Tips 04.09.2026 9min

  Big Sur is being consumed by two wildfires …the Timber Fire to the north started in the first week of August. And at the end of the month, the Plaskett Fire broke out to its south. Earlier this week, KAZU spoke with folks keeping the now-opened strip of the Big Sur Valley alive. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Labor Day weekend is here, and as you’ve heard we’re still in the middle of fire season without much rain in sight. We know many of you will likely be heading outdoors to enjoy California's wilderness so KQED Outdoors reporter Sarah Wright is joining us today to walk us through some ways to stay safe. Reporter: Madi Bolanos and Sarah Wright, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Formerly Incarcerated Advocate on Why Sexual Violence Persists in Men's State Prisons 03.09.2026 9min

  California prison officials and advocates met this week in Sacramento to discuss the ongoing crisis of sexual abuse and assault in men's prisons and work toward solutions. We spoke with formerly incarcerated community activist Darnel Washington about why sexual violence persists behind bars, and what needs to change to better protect incarcerated people. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, KQED California lawmakers have sent a slew of bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk aiming to increase state oversight of federal immigration detention. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Lawyers Say Laken Riley Act Is Eroding Due Process Rights for Immigrants 02.09.2026 9min

  During his second term, president Donald Trump has done very little that can be considered even remotely bi-partisan. But one thing stands out - The Laken Riley Act. We explore the impacts of this immigration legislation a year after Trump signed it into law. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS A bill that could give the public more access to information about emergencies inside private immigrant detention centers is on its way to becoming a law. It just needs Governor Newsom’s signature. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Students without legal status aren’t allowed to work for California’s public colleges or universities. A bill that could change that is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Voters in This Competitive California District Say Healthcare Is the Key Issue 01.09.2026 9min

  As the 2026 midterm elections approach, one of the top issues for voters across the country is healthcare, following major cuts last year to Medicaid. California’s 22nd congressional district has high Medicaid enrollment…and it’s one of the most competitive seats in the country…now that Democrats recently gained a voter advantage there due to redistricting. In a partnership with KFF Health News, KVPR spoke to residents in this district about how healthcare could influence their vote. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR California lawmakers are set to vote today on changes to what happens AFTER a damaging wildfire is sparked by utility equipment. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED An Imperial County judge appears poised to strike down the county's moratorium on data center development. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Head Start Would be English Only Under Proposed Trump Overhaul 31.08.2026 9min

  The Trump administration wants to overhaul Head Start .. an early education and antipoverty program .. that serves about 75 THOUSAND children in California. The proposed rules would strip away regulations on class sizes, disciplinary policies and other standards. But buried in that proposal is a requirement to teach only in English. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Immigration agents arrested more people in Northern California in July… than at any previous time in President Donald Trump’s second term. That’s according to new data from UC Berkeley's Deportation Data Project. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California... is linking a voter-backed proposition to a rise in homelessness. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Santa Cruz Recovery Group Helping Fire Victims Rebuild Their Homes 28.08.2026 9min

  It’s been six years since the CZU fire burned nearly 700 homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Less than 1/3 of those have been rebuilt. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Palm Springs is the latest city to approve a temporary ban on large-scale data centers… as more communities across Southern California consider their impacts on infrastructure and the environment. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR California Attorney General Rob Bonta is responding to concerns that the $17 billion dollar settlement deal he and other attorneys general just reached with Meta is too weak. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Can California farmers produce solar energy alongside food? 27.08.2026 9min

  Water shortages, climate change and rising production costs are a few of the many challenges California agriculture has been facing in recent years. But researchers at UC Davis are looking at whether combining farming and solar energy could help farmers adapt. It’s a relatively new approach called agrivoltaics. Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  How Immigration Raids are Affecting Children in Los Angeles 26.08.2026 9min

  The Trump administration's deportation policies are separating families across the country. And for some children left behind, that separation can take a serious toll on their mental health and wellbeing. Today, we're diving deeper into how immigration arrests are affecting children and their communities in Los Angeles with Cora Cervantes, a reporter with MindSight News. Reporter: Cora Cervantes, MindSite News, Madi Bolanos Nearly 300,000 K through 12 students experienced homelessness last school year, a 10 percent increase since the last recorded peak in 2019. Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED A bill that would make it easier for people to sue federal agents for civil rights violations has advanced in the legislature Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Central Valley Farmers are Growing Agave to Save Water 25.08.2026 9min

  For centuries, Mexico has capitalized on growing and harvesting a plant often distilled into Tequila or Mezcal. It’s called agave and it thrives on little water and a lot of heat. Now, with a California law restricting water use on farms, Valley farmers are looking to agave as a new revenue stream on their land. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR California’s highest court is weighing whether a sheriff broke the law when he seized hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year. The court heard oral arguments yesterday. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR The Trump administration ended a long standing agreement that kept ICE out of workplaces that the U.S. Department of LABOR is investigating. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Monterey Park Becomes a Role Model for Banning Data Centers 24.08.2026 9min

  Across the US, communities are mobilizing in the fight against data centers. And they’re turning to Monterey Park in LA County, which this year became the first city in the US to ban them. That was entirely due to the efforts of a group of residents called, appropriately, No Data Center Monterey Park. So, what advice do they have? Reporter: Brandon Reynolds, KCRW The California Supreme Court will hear arguments today in two separate lawsuits over the Riverside County sheriff’s seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Counties up and down the state are reporting decreases in their homeless populations. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  California Senators Express Concern Over Potential Shasta County Elections Hire 21.08.2026 9min

  California Senators are expressing grave concern over a plan by Shasta County’s top elections official to hire former Colorado clerk Tina Peters who was convicted in an election interference case in 2024. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Hayward State Senator Aisha Wahab is the Bay Area's newest member of Congress after winning a special election for the seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Health Net, one of the largest Medi-Cal insurers, is planning to cancel assisted living benefits for members by the end of this year. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices