KQED's The California Report

Palm Springs is known as a wealthy city filled with luxurious hotels and casinos. But lesser known is the history of its violent racism against a predominately Black and Latino neighborhood. Now, former residents are seeking reparations. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Several large wildfires broke out across the state over the weekend, burning thousands of acres in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal agencies are considering a controversial rule that would restrict rock climbers from leaving gear attached to cliff walls in designated wilderness areas. This could affect some of California’s iconic routes in Yosemite and other historic climbing destinations. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED The state legislature passed a placeholder state budget Thursday, just ahead of a mandatory deadline. But lawmakers must still negotiate with Governor Newsom on the final deal. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters A bill that would ban “forced outing” or “parental notification” policies in California schools has moved forward in the state legislature. At least six California school districts in the past year have adopted measures that require staff to tell parents if their child changes their gender identity at school. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a county’s only hospital closes, you might expect there to be dire, immediate effects on public health. However, since Madera Community Hospital closed its doors in early 2023, the consequences haven’t been so clear. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR California insurance regulators are sharing the next phase of their plans to fix the state’s ailing insurance market. The new regulations propose to let insurance companies use the catastrophe models they want, but in exchange, require them to offer more coverage in wildfire-prone areas of the state. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is expanding transitional kindergarten with a vision of making it available to every four-year-old in the state by fall of 2025. The state has a long way to go to reach its goal of serving 300,000 students. And while many families are eager to sign up, they face complicated logistics. Reporter: Blanca Torres, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom has removed an outspoken occupational safety expert from the regulatory body that adopts California’s workplace health and safety rules. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When school starts in 2025, every 4-year-old in the state will be able to attend public school. It’s a new grade known as transitional kindergarten. But in the lead-up, many schools are struggling to find the necessary classroom space for these additional classes. Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist A California law that set guidelines for classifying workers did not unfairly target Uber and other gig companies. That’s according to a federal appeals court ruling that came down on Monday. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is in the middle of an ambitious plan to offer transitional kindergarten to all four-year-olds by the 2025-2026 school year. It's poised to be the largest free preschool program in the country. A lot of the kids heading to TK are dual language learners. But a shortage of bilingual teachers could hamper the state's ambitious goals. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED A Superior Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order to the University of California, pausing the strike by thousands of academic workers who walked out over the UC’s response to pro-Palestinian protesters. But some legal experts are questioning that decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The California Supreme Court has ruled that UC Berkeley can start construction on student and supportive housing in People’s Park -- and also gave the green light to a much larger campus expansion project. The case has brought mixed reaction from the wider Berkeley community. Reporters: Adhiti Bandlamudi , KQED and Billy Cruz, The California Report A new report shows Sacramento County’s homeless population dropped 29% compared with two years ago. That’s one of the largest reductions statewide. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio California has funded over 4 million tax-free savings accounts for students to pay for college. But many families don’t seem to know the money’s there. Reporter: Jacqueline Munis, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are stars exploding all around us. They burst, flash and fade. Some leave visions of their spectacular journeys in telescopes. A high school student recently turned supernovae data into a piece of music. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED President Joe Biden signed an executive order this week that shuts off asylum to most migrants who enter the country illegally. But it has critics on both sides of the political divide. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles' tourism industry, still trying to rebound from the pandemic, has gotten a gift in the form of Shohei Ohtani. Japanese fans have come by the thousands to see the superstar play for his new team, the Dodgers. Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist Votes in the election to recall the controversial conservative school board president in Temecula are still being counted. Early results show the effort to recall Joseph Komrosky winning by a 54-46 percent margin. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With two-thirds of California’s unhoused population living unsheltered, cities are increasingly turning to tiny homes to get people off the streets quickly. Now lawmakers are considering a plan to make it easier to build them. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED For the second time, state labor officials have rejected the University of California's request to get a court order to stop the UC academic workers strike. This comes as workers from three more campuses are going on strike this week. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans in California have struggled to gain power at the state capitol, but they’ve found more success recently on school boards. Conservatives have made gains in these local seats -- but now they’re facing pushback in the form of recall elections -- including two underway right now in Riverside County and the Bay Area. Reporters: Guy Marzorati, KQED and Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reaction was not surprisingly mixed to Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts, marking the end of the former president’s historic hush money trial. Republicans are still standing strong behind Trump, while many Bay Area residents said they were surprised and pleased by the verdict. Analysts say that Trump’s guilty verdicts may not sway his GOP base, but they could change how swing voters view him and the coming November election. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Looking to fix the state’s insurance crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a bill to speed up insurance premium rate reviews this week. Under the bill, the Insurance Department would have up to 120 days to review insurers' requests and provide a rate estimate. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

175 tiny homes for the unhoused are expected to be unveiled in South Sacramento this fall. That’s a year past Governor Gavin Newsom’s projected launch. But it turns out, it’s the only project delivering on the original promise. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Classes will once again be held online at UC Santa Cruz on Thursday as a group of pro-Palestinian protesters say they plan to continue to block the main entrance to the campus. On Tuesday, both roads leading into campus were blocked, leaving many stranded for hours. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU At UC Davis, a dozen students held a peaceful demonstration on campus on Wednesday, in support of the 125 Israeli hostages that remain in Gaza. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March, the country’s largest stone fruit producer laid off thousands of workers in the San Joaquin Valley. The announcement came months after the Fresno-based company, Prima Wawona, declared bankruptcy. The collapse has left many in the Central Valley wondering how prepared the workforce is for industry disruptions. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR California firefighters often wear protective gear that also has some amount of toxic chemicals in it. Now efforts are underway to change that. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday at UCLA and at UC Davis, unionized student academic workers will strike. They’re protesting the UC system’s crackdowns on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, filing unfair labor practice charges. The university system has argued that the strikes are illegal. This is the second wave of strikes on UC campuses. At UC Santa Cruz, academic workers have now been on strike for more than a week. UAW 4811 members there say morale remains high, and they appreciate other campuses joining in on the strike. Guests: Rebecca Gross & Katherine Rogers, Grad Students and UAW 4811 members at UC Santa Cruz As California faces a deficit in the tens of billions of dollars, Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a number of painful spending cuts and program reductions. But advocates are calling on California lawmakers to save some programs, like one that provided In-Home Supportive Services for undocumented immigrants. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As our weather warms over the summer, we’re approaching peak rattlesnake season in California and that means more encounters between rattlers and humans. So what should we know about snakes? Guest: Emily Taylor, Professor of Biology, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Author of the book “California Snakes and How to Find Them” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 1951, an extraordinary looking chapel made of wood, glass and stone has been perched close to the edge of the Pacific on Southern California's Palos Verdes Peninsula. Over the decades, countless weddings and other life events have played out at Wayfarers Chapel. But now the building is in danger from shifting geology, and an architectural rescue operation is underway to save it. Guest: Katie Hauck, Architectural Historian A second pro-Palestinian encampment was quickly taken down on Thursday at UCLA. And eight pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after blocking traffic at one of the school's main entrances. This all came on the same day as when UCLA's chancellor testified on Capitol Hill about antisemitism on college campuses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last seven years, about 31% of police shootings in Los Angeles involved people who officers believed showed signs of mental illness. Some experts are calling for more de-escalation training for officers, while activists would like to see police removed from such interactions. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Should California doctors be required to report domestic abuse to police? That’s the question at the center of a bill advancing in the state Legislature. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next month, voters will go to the polls in Mexico to select the country's next president. The election is already historic because the two leading candidates, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, are women. The election will also be notable because of the likely record number of Mexican citizens living in California and the rest of the U.S. who will cast ballots. Guest: Tony Payan, director of Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Rice University Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s one-time staffer will replace him in Congress, at least for now. In a decisive victory for Assemblymember Vince Fong in a special congressional election, the Associated Press called the race for the Bakersfield Republican just minutes after polls closed in California. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR The California Supreme Court appears hesitant to strike the state’s Proposition 22, a voter-backed initiative that has allowed gig companies to classify their workers as independent contractors. Justices heard oral arguments in the case on Tuesday. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Close races in California this year could decide who controls the U.S. House of Representatives. One of those competitive races is District 13, a sprawling area between Stockton and Fresno. Climate change is among voters' top priorities. But some liberal voters say they face an ethical dilemma as they are disillusioned by U.S. support of Israel and may choose not to vote in November. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED The official start date for incrementally increasing the minimum wage to $25 an hour for about 500,000 healthcare workers in California will likely be delayed for at least a month. Los Angeles State Senator Maria Elena Durazo is introducing a bill to start implementing the wage increases on July 1 instead of June 1. This gives Governor Gavin Newsom and lawmakers more time to negotiate the projected costs to the state, which faces a nearly $28 billion dollar budget deficit. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Workers who are cheated on their paychecks often don’t recover the wages they are owed -- even after state regulators rule in their favor. In San Diego County, a first-of-its-kind government program aims to change that. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Academic workers at UC Santa Cruz go on strike on Monday, becoming the first UC campus to do so following a union vote last week. The walkout is in response to what the union calls unfair labor practices at UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine, where campus leaders called for police to intervene during on-campus protests over the war in Gaza. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU The California Supreme Court will hear a new challenge to Proposition 22 on Tuesday. That’s the 2020 ballot initiative that classified gig workers as independent contractors. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brown pelicans are starving up and down the California coast. The Monterey Bay is a particular hot spot. A wildlife rescue center there has taken in more than a hundred sickened birds over the past month. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED Advocates for a large, self-governed homeless encampment in Sacramento are trying to stop the city from closing it. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 47, California's landmark critical justice reform measure, has received plenty of recent criticism. Many blame Prop 47 for shoplifting, drug use and homelessness in the state -- and are trying to roll it back with a new initiative this fall. But Prop 47 has also resulted in $800 million in state savings, because fewer people are being sent to prison and jail for drug and low-level property crimes under the law. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Sonoma State University President Mike Lee has been placed on indefinite leave by Cal State University's Chancellor. It comes a day after Lee reached a divestment agreement with pro-Palestinian student protesters on campus. Reporter: Noah Abrams, KRCB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hospitals across the state were hit hard during the pandemic, which disrupted their operations and chipped away at their finances. Maybe the most glaring example is Madera Community Hospital, which shuttered its doors over financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy in 2022. But one nearby hospital saw record profits, financial investments and executive compensation. Reporter: Omar Sheikh Rashad, Reporter Fresnoland Good news for visitors and residents of Big Sur. Caltrans has completed temporary repairs on Highway 1 over a week ahead of schedule. Storms in late March caused one lane of the highway to fall into the ocean. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, but a Democratic state lawmaker says there’s a big loophole for some people deemed mentally ill by a state court - and he wants to fix it. The loophole - while California law prohibits someone from possessing a gun if a court finds them mentally incompetent to face a felony charge, it doesn’t apply to people being prosecuted for a misdemeanor. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says the state could save up to a billion dollars a year by closing more prisons. This as California faces a budget deficit in the tens of billions. But Governor Gavin Newsom is taking a more cautious approach to trimming prison beds. Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A multi-billion dollar budget deficit in California is putting organizations across the state at risk. One program facing an uncertain future is Market Match. It works with EBT, or food stamps, to give recipients vouchers they can use at local farmers markets. Reporter: Ava Norgrove, North State Public Radio Governor Gavin Newsom says he has a plan to deal with a staggering $27 billion state deficit next year --without cutting core services or raising taxes. Newsom says California is facing a $56 billion shortfall over the next two years. He wants lawmakers to approve a spending plan that spans those two years. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED An encampment to protest the war in Gaza was set up at the University of California Merced on Sunday. It came after the school held its commencement ceremony over the weekend. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State regulators have approved a controversial proposal that will add a monthly charge of $24 to many Californian's electricity bills. But in exchange, utility customers should see reductions in charges per kilowatt hour of electricity used. As college campus protests continue over Israel's War in Gaza, students at UC Merced are asking the university to refrain from what they say is over-policing. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR It’s finally warming up in California. As more bugs come out in the heat, so do bats to feed on them. And one bat species is emerging from hibernation with a new distinction -- the pallid bat is now the official state bat of California. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on, American protesters are accusing Silicon Valley companies like Intel and Google of complicity in the violence, and urging them to divest. But US tech has been deeply involved with Israeli tech for half a century. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The California Public Utilities Commission votes Thursday on a controversial flat electricity rate. Regulators say the change would lower bills for many, but critics argue it could do the opposite. Reporter: Alix Soliman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years ago, the northern Imperial County town of Niland lost its only post office in a fire. It was supposed to be a temporary closure. But residents are still fighting to get it back. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS California prison officials say it will cost billions of dollars to enforce new indoor heat regulations that the state’s proposed for workers. But they have declined to share exact cost estimates. Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been over a month since California started requiring most fast food employers in the state to pay a minimum wage of $20 dollars an hour -- a big jump from the state’s general minimum wage of $16 dollars. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED News San Francisco State University’s top administrator is promising to provide more transparency about financial ties to Israel … and to explore school divestment. That’s in a public meeting Monday with pro-Palestinian student protesters... who’ve camped out on campus for the past week. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED News The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is set to meet today to discuss next steps now that the longstanding County Registrar of Voters has retired, but it’s unclear exactly how her position will be filled. Reporter: Alec Stutson, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can solutions to California's housing crisis be found in how we used to design and build homes in the past, namely smaller multifamily dwellings in neighborhoods and cities with fewer zoning restrictions. That topic is explored by Los Angeles urban planner Max Podemski. In his new book, A Paradise of Small Houses. I met up with Podemski in the L.A. neighborhood of Eagle Rock. In California, tens of thousands of immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will soon be able to get health insurance. That’s after President Joe Biden on Friday announced that those with DACA can enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage. The union representing some 48 thousand academic workers in the UC system is planning to hold a strike authorization vote as early as this week over what they say is the university’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. The decision to consider striking gained momentum after police action at UCLA that led to more than 200 arrests early last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As pro-Palestinian student movements persist on college campuses up and down the state, the movement at UC Berkeley has drawn cross-generational support. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald The Cal Poly Humboldt campus remains closed, even after the arrests of 30 Pro-Palestinian protesters, who took over two university buildings last week. But the student-run radio station is still up and running, thanks to some quick thinking. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of law enforcement officers descended on the UCLA campus on Wednesday night, eventually breaking up a large Pro-Palestinian encampment. Dozens of people were taken into custody. Guests: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report and Sergio Olmos, Investigative Reporter, CalMatters While we've been reporting this week about some of the chaotic scenes at UCLA, USC and Cal Poly Humboldt, for the most part, protests on campuses across the state have been peaceful. That includes at UC Santa Cruz, where hundreds of students and faculty gathered on Wednesday, Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large group of counter-protesters tried to tear down barricades that had been surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on Tuesday night. That led to several fights breaking out. The FAIR plan is known as California's home insurance of last resort. But the plan is now the only option for many homeowners, especially in rural communities. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Protests over the war in Gaza have increased at college campuses across the state. Encampments have now been set up at Sacramento State, San Francisco State, UC Irvine and UC Riverside, along with Occidental College, a liberal arts school in Los Angeles. Student journalists have been covering the events as they unfold on campus. Guests: Dezmond Remington, Reporter, The Lumberjack, Catherine Hamilton, Editor, The Daily Bruin, Aarya Mukherjee, Reporter, The Daily Californian Members of congress have launched an investigation into a San Diego County-based credit union. This after a KPBS investigation revealed the credit union collects millions of dollars in overdraft fees from young marines every year. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS A federal program that has helped millions of Californians afford internet expires on Tuesday. The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program will affect a wide swath of Californians. Reporter: Khari Johnson, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the climate crisis changes California’s landscape, the ecosystems in state parks are threatened. At one point, the people in charge of those parks were just preserving the land. But now they’re trying to save the land from climate-driven collapse. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Worker advocates are applauding a new federal rule that will make millions more people eligible for overtime pay. But in California, those protections are already stronger. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel’s attacks on Gaza have lasted over 200 days and the devastation can be seen around the world. As the war continues, families in the U.S. with Palestinian roots are having to watch the destruction from afar. Many are leaning into their traditions. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR A controversial California housing law is unconstitutional, according to a superior court judge who made the ruling this week. Senate Bill 9 lets homeowners in single family neighborhoods split their lot and build two new homes on each. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Battle lines are being drawn in what could be a huge fight over taxes in California this November. Those fights are playing out on the ballot and in court. The state could be headed for another “tax revolt” like the one that ushered in Proposition 13. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio California lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that would make workers on strike for more than two weeks eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Californians, the idea of High Speed Rail becoming a reality, is well just an idea. But in Fresno, where one of the first stations will be built, some residents see the rail system as a lifeline. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Cal Poly Humboldt has shut down its campus, after students occupied a building on campus. And a protest encampment continues to grow at UC Berkeley, as students voice their concerns about the war in Gaza, and universities investing in companies that benefit Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many young parents in Los Angeles, buying a home with enough space for kids is out of reach, and so is renting a family-sized apartment. The makes life challenging for those young couples. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist On Monday, a case about homelessness from Grants Pass in Southern Oregon was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court is expected to rule before the term ends in June. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio A San Francisco lawmaker's bill to allow police to ticket scofflaw robotaxis has passed its first test in the state Legislature. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Monday in a case that could have major implications for how cities across the country approach homelessness. This case is called City of Grants Pass, Oregon versus Gloria Johnson. It hinges on whether a local government can issue fines and jail people for camping on public property when there isn't enough shelter available. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED A proposed state ballot measure to require schools to notify parents if their child is transgender will continue to go by a title supporters say is inaccurate and biased. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR State prison officials are increasing pay for tens of thousands of incarcerated workers. But most will still be earning less than one dollar an hour. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LA Woodshop is a woodworking school and maker space in Los Angeles. It offers classes, bench space, custom furniture, and an events space, for both novice and experienced woodworkers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to crack down on cities that don’t make progress towards reducing homelessness — this on the heels of a scathing audit that found the state doesn’t know where billions in spending is going. Newsom said he plans to establish a new team that will oversee how local communities use homelessness funding. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new study out that takes a demographic and socioeconomic snapshot of African-Americans in the Golden State. It's called the state of Black California. Despite gains in the quality of life for Black Californians over a 20-year period, the study found that racial inequality continues to persist compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Guest: Michael Stoll, Professor of Public Policy, UCLA A bill that would give California cities and counties the ability to regulate robotaxi services has passed its first test in the Legislature – despite doubts expressed by some lawmakers. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In most California counties, the sheriff also oversees the coroner’s office. But in Riverside County, families whose loved ones have died in local jails say that's a conflict of interest — and they want to change the system. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR This week, US Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler announced legislation to create a new national monument on the north edge of the Salton Sea, east of Palm Springs. Supporters say the land is especially important to communities of color. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California requires student health centers at public universities to offer the abortion pill. But how much students pay for the medication differs dramatically campus by campus, from nothing to several hundred dollars. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Democratic state lawmakers are pushing to put a $10 billion affordable housing bond on California’s November ballot. Supporters say it could lead to thousands of affordable housing units being finished. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suspending or expelling children from preschool for challenging behavior is surprisingly common. And it happens way more often to Black children, boys, and kids with learning differences than others. A California law restricts the practice at state-funded early education programs, but implementing the law has been hard because of long-lasting impacts of the pandemic – like staffing shortages and learning loss. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Two San Diego environmental groups are suing the federal government in an effort to stop cross border sewage flows that endanger the environment and public health. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're nearing the deadline to file taxes. While the task may seem daunting, especially for people who can’t afford an accountant, a group of high school students in Central California want to help fix that problem. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Fewer than one in five people in California could afford to buy the median priced home last year. That’s according to a new report from the California Association of Realtors. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED The city of Stockton has settled a wrongful death suit with the family of a man who died after being held face down by police in 2020. Reporter: Emily Zentner, The California Newsroom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year was one of the deadliest on record for migrants. Tougher enforcement is pushing some to try swimming around the wall along the southern border. And that's prompted lifeguards on both sides of the border to respond. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The pollutants from venting and flaring at oil and gas facilities in California are leading to 13 deaths a year, and worsen asthma in 1,800 children. A new study shows Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern counties suffer the worst outcomes, and low income communities are disproportionately affected. Reporter: Kristel Jandra, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The warnings go back nearly 30 years. As soon as a person is handcuffed, get them off their stomach. So says a Department of Justice bulletin from 1995. Yet, people in California continue to die after being held face down by law enforcement. Reporter: Emily Zentner, California Newsroom California doesn’t know if its efforts to address homelessness are working — despite billions of dollars spent to address the crisis. That’s according to a state audit released Tuesday. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National parks have been called “America’s best idea.” But a recent study says these parks are increasingly threatened by human-caused air pollution. The parks with the biggest risk are all here in California. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Shuttered Madera Community Hospital has cleared yet another hurdle in the path to reopening. It’s been approved for a $57 million interest-free loan. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR A community in Red Bluff was recently notified that their water had high concentrations of chemicals called PFAS. Data shows that the site has had high levels of contamination for several years. Reporter: Justin Higginbottom, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices