KQED's The California Report

The California Air Resources Board, which regulates car and truck pollution in the state, will soon fully open its new laboratory and emissions testing center in the Southern California city of Riverside. It's expected to play a crucial role in the state's fight against pollution and climate change. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A U.S. citizen from Imperial County, who was held in immigration detention for over a year, most of it in solitary confinement, is suing the private prison company that detained him. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has been one of the most popular politicians in California. Now 89-years-old and recovering in San Francisco from a bout of shingles, she’s facing calls to resign. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED As communities across the state grapple with the long-term impacts of recent floods, added challenges are coming to light. Storm water has flushed more fertilizer and manure into aquifers, which could pollute drinking water in much of the state. Reporter: Alastair Bland, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings face off in Game Three of their playoff series Thursday night. While the team's have a growing rivalry on the court, they share one thing in common off it. They have two of the most fervent fanbases in the NBA, that stretches across Northern California. Reporter: Andrew Saintsing, KALW A California bill that just passed the Senate Labor Committee would expand the paid sick leave most employers must offer from at least three days per year, to seven. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of the renter protections California set up during the pandemic have gone away. But in Los Angeles, one big one has stuck around: rent increases are still banned for most of the city’s tenants. However, some landlords don't know about LA’s rent freeze — and renter complaints are at a 10-year high. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide on Wednesday whether or not a common abortion drug will remain available. while a case challenging its safety makes its way through the court. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For families whose loved ones are facing a mental health crisis, it can be hard to be optimistic, especially when resources are scarce. In Humboldt County, there's a proposal to create an emergency mental health care facility. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio During the pandemic, many people gained access to Medicaid, the low to no cost health insurance. But now, with pandemic protections ending, states are beginning to re-examine people’s eligibility. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Families who once lived in a Palm Springs neighborhood are seeking reparations. Decades ago, the city forcibly evicted the mostly Black and Latino residents from their homes — and leveled the area. Reporter: Leslie Berestein Rojas, LAist The state’s Dream for All housing program aimed to give first-time home buyers a leg-up, especially those in communities often priced out of the market. As we reported last week, funding for the new program ran dry in less than two weeks. But it's unclear if the money actually went to buyers who needed it most. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a beam of light bringing people together in Sacramento, where long suffering basketball fans finally have a reason to celebrate. And the Battle of Northern California kicks off on Saturday, as the Kings are facing off against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED Senator Dianne Feinstein is asking Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on a key committee until she fully recovers from a bout of shingles. But it might not be that simple. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California is experiencing a rush of solar installations as residents and installers worked to get deals in place before new rules take effect on Friday. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California prides itself on welcoming and including immigrants. The state is often at odds with the federal government over immigration enforcement. But there are exceptions – and a big one is that when the state prison system is releasing someone who’s not a citizen, they are allowed to turn them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they routinely do. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Demonstrators from around California are expected to converge in Sacramento on Thursday to support a state bill that would offer unemployment benefits to workers, who are excluded because they’re undocumented. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been 3 months since major flooding inundated the town of Planada in Merced County. Still, residents of this unincorporated community are struggling to stay afloat. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report State officials are preparing for major flooding as the snowpack begins to melt. Statewide, the snowpack sits at 249% of the average for this time of year. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and avoided millions of childhood illnesses. Even so, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to strengthen air standards. It's a move celebrated by many, but some fire experts worry that the new rules could unintentionally lead to larger wildfires and worse air. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill on Tuesday that would restrict California prison officials from transferring certain inmates to ICE. The HOME Act would protect non-citizens from being handed to ICE for deportation, if they’ve been granted clemency or released from prison under recent criminal justice reform laws. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The state launched a program recently to get more Californians into their first homes. The only problem? Maybe the program was too popular. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More fallout from the reappearance of Tulare Lake. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. But it's been dry for years. Now, with massive amounts of rain, and more water coming from the state's melting snowpack, nearby communities are worried they could be flooded out. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Tens of thousands of people rely on salmon fishing to make a living. The season's closure could be devastating to coastal communities - from fishing to charter boats and restaurants. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California child care providers are still waiting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic financial relief from Governor Newsom and the Department of Social Services. Providers were supposed to receive the one-time stipend payments around the holidays, or early 2023 at the latest. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report Fast fashion trends have many Americans buying more clothes than ever. But when those clothes are discarded, thousands of tons of textiles end up in landfills each year. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The number of K-12 students experiencing homelessness in California has surged by the thousands. That’s according to new enrollment data from the state’s Department of Education. Reporter: Joe Hong, CalMatters A new investigation finds that after police killings, many California law enforcement agencies are trained to keep news of people's deaths from family members. That way, according to the reporting, police can grill families for information that can be used to limit liability and protect departments’ reputations. Guest: Brian Howey, Investigative Reporting Program, UC Berkeley and LA Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A parade of atmospheric rivers has delivered record-busting levels of rain and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada this year. But with all that snow poised to melt in the coming months, communities in the Central Valley floor, which are already grappling with flooding, are bracing for the worst. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand a guaranteed income program for an additional 200 former foster youth in the area. It’ll provide recipients with $1,000 a month for two years. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest reading of California’s snowpack is in, and the amount of snow is huge - 220% of average. The last time California had this much snow in the Sierra Nevada was in 1952. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR How many of you have had this very California problem? You really want to buy your first home, but the down payment is just too high. And the monthly mortgage payments would kill you financially. Well, the state of California has just started taking applications for a new program, where it will put down a good chunk of money to help people buy their first home. Guest: Eric Johnson, California Housing Finance Agency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the food scraps we throw out from our kitchens get hauled to dumps, they release methane, a super-accelerant of climate change. So last year, a state law went into effect requiring California cities to slash the amount of food waste they send to landfills. But how is implementation of that law going? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Starting Monday, California Public Health officials will no longer require masking in healthcare and correctional facilities. Also, COVID-19 vaccinations won’t be required for healthcare workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state says it's offering aid to communities that have been deeply impacted by this year's storms. But for many residents in the San Bernardino mountains, the challenges are mounting. Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist A group of hunger strikers at two California immigration detention centers say they're pausing their protest, after what they call violent tactics by ICE officials. The 35-day hunger strike began in mid-February – with dozens of men at the Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex facilities protesting substandard conditions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Continuing their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” The California Report Magazine spoke with Professor Reginald Daniel. He taught the nation’s longest running course on Mixed Race Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will replace voting equipment targeted by former President Trump and others, promoting the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. The county is now going to be hand counting ballots. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Housing advocates say landlords have been taking advantage of a loophole in California’s Tenant Protection Act to kick renters out. Lawmakers passed the landmark legislation in 2019 to keep tenants in their homes. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The experience of climate-fueled storms since the turn of the year is lodged into the minds of Californians — levee failures displaced thousands, blizzard conditions trapped people in their homes, hundreds of thousands lost power and a vast inland California lake appeared. Climate scientists say the storms and flooding are just a fraction of what’s expected in a warmer world. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Governor Newsom is asking the Biden Administration to declare a major disaster for counties in California, that have been impacted by storms over the past month. That includes Monterey County, where residents in Pajaro have been asking for help from the state and federal government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State lawmakers have approved Governor Gavin Newsom's bill, which is attempting to increase transparency of the oil industry in the state. It would allow the California Energy Commission to impose penalties, through a regulatory process, if the agency believes oil companies are making excessive profits from gas prices. California's crisis support centers want to better serve Native Americans in need. But right now, less than one percent of calls to the 988 crisis line are from Native People. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio A state task force developing proposals to provide reparations for Black Californians is nearing the end of its work. The panel faces a June deadline to send recommendations to the legislature to compensate Black residents for the harms dating back to slavery. And the California state legislature -- well it has its own pro-slavery history. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Water is back on, but it's still not drinkable in the Monterey County community of Pajaro, which was hit by massive flooding a few weeks ago. Residents are being allowed back in their homes to assess the damage, and start the process of cleaning up their property. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KAZU Over 5 million people around California use CalFresh, the state's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as "food stamps." But starting in April, these folks will notice a steep drop in the amount of food benefit they’re receiving. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland teachers at 14 middle and high schools are planning a walkout on Friday. But, the teachers union has not sanctioned a strike. Meanwhile, LA educators are back in the classroom today after reaching an agreement late Thursday. Communities in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles, are once again struggling to dig out of more snow following this week's latest atmospheric river. But, to assist residents with questions they may have about receiving possible aid, assistance centers are opening over the weekend. A levee that has protected the city of Corcoran for decades is at risk of filling up after the recent rains that have drenched California. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation. TCR Reporter, Kerry Klein in Fresno has the details. A father who was separated from his family by a Trump administration immigration policy is finally back home in California after nearly four years. EdSource Reporter, Zaidee Stavely, introduces us to Jose Luis Ruiz Arevalos, who's looking forward to getting back to life with his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a rare sight in the LA County city of Montebello on Wednesday after a tornado ripped through the city, damaging 11 buildings. One person was injured. As the latest atmospheric river ravaged the state this week, some communities are left with more mess to clean up. Farming communities have been especially impacted by this year's wet weather -- from Planada in Merced County to Pajaro in Monterey County. And this will likely have a major impact on farmworkers. Guest: Sarait Martinez, Executive Director, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indí-gena Oaxaqueño Bids are due on Friday to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for Silicon Valley Bank’s assets, and liabilities. But there’s no word yet as to whether purchasers will be required to honor the company's $11 billion community benefit agreement. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Downed trees, widespread power outages, flooded roadways -- it was all part of the latest atmospheric river to hit California. At least two people died due to falling trees in the Bay Area on Tuesday. In Tulare County, where signs reading “pray for rain” line the highway, many communities are still underwater. And so are agricultural fields. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR We’re still waiting to hear whether the Service Employees International Union will appeal last week’s court ruling upholding most of Proposition 22. That's the voter approved measure that lets Uber, Lyft and the like classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles Unified School District workers have begun a three day strike on Tuesday, a labor action that will affect hundreds of thousands of students and families across the city. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The 12th atmospheric river this winter is set to once again pummel California. During past storms, washed out roads and fallen trees have isolated many residents in rural communities. But that hasn’t stopped emergency responders from rescuing people. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is this a possible solution to climate change? Capture the greenhouse gasses heating our planet and bury them deep underground? Well such a carbon storage facility has been proposed for part of Kern County. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The historic Black community of Allensworth in Tulare County is the latest to be placed under evacuation orders. This comes after a breach in some waterways over the weekend. All told, more than 11,000 people in Tulare County have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom is taking a public policy road trip over the next few days. Instead of giving the usual State of the State address from inside the State Capitol building, he’s visiting several California cities to highlight policy proposals and to crow about successes. Newsom started yesterday in Sacramento and highlighted the state’s latest effort to combat homelessness. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED The California Reinvestment Coalition, which supports more investment in low-income communities, is calling on federal regulators to ensure whoever buys failed Silicon Valley Bank honors an $11 billion dollar community benefit agreement SVB signed on to. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED In Pajaro, on the Central Coast, thousands of people were evacuated after a nearby levee broke almost a week ago. Some of them are now starting to trickle back to assess the damage and start planning for what comes next. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom visits the flooded farm community of Pajaro in Monterey County and talks about how all the weather has been wearing people down. On the positive side, mandatory water restrictions were lifted for nearly 7 million people in Southern California. Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada sent water gushing into Valley communities last week. With a break in the storms, communities in the eastern San Joaquin Valley are assessing the damage. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KQED It's been a rough winter for California's mountain communities as storm after storm has struck the state. Truckee Mayor Lindsay Romack is telling her blizzard-stressed constituents to be kind to hard-working snow plow drivers and advising outsiders to stay away until conditions improve. A recently released study funded by the California Health Care Foundation finds Black patients have to work harder to deal with possible bias when seeking medical care. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill, Kaiser Health News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the breached levee is nearly repaired in the Monterey County community of Pajaro, residents are being told it might take weeks before they can return to their homes. Reporter: Anna Marie Yanny, KQED The sudden failure of California’s Silicon Valley Bank, the second largest bank collapse in American history, has lawmakers in Sacramento calling for hearings into what happened. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A former San Diego resident is now suspected by police in an antisemitic incident that took place at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam last month. Reporter: Jill Castellano, inewsource Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As another enormous storm front sweeps across the Golden State, authorities are warning Californians about the threat of flooding in already water-saturated regions. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, how did this one financial institution become so dominant in California's tech industry? Old-fashioned word of mouth, particularly by the venture capitalist class. Guest: Ben Bergman, Business Insider Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The town of Pajaro in Monterey County is underwater after a levee broke on the Pajaro River during this weekend’s storms. Officials say they have evacuated more than 2000 people and rescues are ongoing. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED After three years of living in a drought, many Californians are celebrating rain and snowfall. But you might be feeling overwhelmed with the drastic change in weather. For those of us experiencing climate anxiety, what should we do? Guest: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout California, hospitals are being forced to reduce services and even shut down. For many, the pandemic created financial stressors that led hospitals to bankruptcy. But in Paradise, the company that runs the city's only hospital received millions in compensation from insurance after the 2018 Camp Fire destroyed much of the city. But Adventist Health doesn't plan to reopen its doors. Guest: Marisa Endicott, Reporter, Press Democrat This week, Madera County supervisors declined to hire a consulting group, which could have outlined options for reopening Madera Community Hospital. The hospital closed earlier this year, leaving many residents in the lurch. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Desperation has turned into anger for many people in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. As residents continue to dig out from a rare blizzard, many are blasting the county for not helping them more quickly. Amid the criticism, a group of volunteers has hastily come together to deliver supplies. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Bay Area Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and other House Democrats are re-introducing a bill Thursday that could provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least 11 people have died since winter storms battered the San Bernardino Mountains. Meanwhile, in Nevada County in Northern California, the lights have been off for thousands of customers due to storms in the area. Public health officials in California are calling on the governor to reconsider a plan to slash funding to a training program for public health workers. Last year, California committed millions to train workers in specialties like epidemiology, microbiology, and public health nursing. Now, the Newsom administration is proposing significant reductions to the program. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio With just four months left before California closes its state-run juvenile lockups for good, county officials are ringing alarm bells, saying they need more state support to make the historic transition successful. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Desperation is growing as many people are still trapped in their homes in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. It’s been more than a week since a rare blizzard buried the region in snow. And authorities say it might take a few more days before they can reach everyone. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR 18 days into a hunger strike over living and working conditions in two Kern County immigration detention centers, more than 30 men are still going without food. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A growing number of undocumented workers are reaching retirement age in California, but have to keep working. But a new state bill might help them retire. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although progress is being made, many people who have been stuck in communities in the San Bernardino Mountains due to the massive amount of snowfall might not receive assistance for several more days. Crews have been able to clear off many main roads, but the excess snow is piling up, trapping many people in their homes. The closure of Madera Community Hospital in late December has left thousands of people without access to regular checkups, emergency services and specialized care. That includes one patient who is struggling to find a place nearby to get cancer treatment. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California National Guard personnel have arrived in the San Bernardino Mountains. They’re there to help rescue residents who have been trapped in their homes for days by the recent heavy snowfall. A hunger strike at two California immigration detention centers in Kern County is entering its third week. Advocacy groups say Immigration and Customs Enforcement is failing to properly consider the detainees’ requests to be released. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Have you ever heard someone calling your name, but then you look around and no one’s there? Or you feel your phone vibrate, but actually, it didn’t. Then you’ve technically experienced psychosis. For most of us, it will never go further. But for people who later develop schizophrenia, it often starts like this. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a state of emergency for 13 California counties in response to the winter storms. San Bernardino County is covered by the Governor’s declaration. There, residents in mountain communities are still trapped in their homes after more than seven feet of snow has fallen over the last few days. In the Central Valley, Madera Community Hospital closed at the end of last year – after struggling with low Medi-Cal insurance repayments and a shortage of nursing staff. But hospital leaders hope it’s not too late to restore services. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government says people living in California counties hit hard by severe weather now have an extra six months to file their federal taxes. But a new deadline creates challenges for state budget writers. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED President Joe Biden has nominated California's former Labor Secretary to head the U.S. Department of Labor. The White House lauded Julie Su as a “champion for workers,” but she has plenty of detractors. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED A year after Russia invaded Ukraine, we’re checking back in with Silicon Valley people and companies affected by the war. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another monster frigid storm front is moving through California, creating dangerous conditions in the Sierra Nevada. A blizzard warning remains in effect through early Wednesday for the Greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County. And San Bernardino County has declared a local state of emergency, due to the amount of snow that's collected on it's mountains. California spends more than $15 billion a year on its prison system and a new report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office says we’re continuing to pay for thousands of prison beds we’re not using. The state has closed two prisons under Governor Gavin Newsom and plans to close two more, but this new research says that’s not going far enough. Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters The prison closures are a big change from a generation ago, when California was in the midst of a prison construction boom. But with the recent decline in the state’s prison population, advocates of criminal justice reform want to see more penal facilities shut down. Guest: Amber Rose-Howard, Executive Director, Californians United for a Responsible Budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because of the pandemic and the large number of people who now work from home, California has an abundance of vacant office space, but the state also has a shortage of housing. Now, a state lawmaker wants to tackle both problems by making it far easier to turn empty offices into homes. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The Central Coast city of Paso Robles is becoming increasingly prominent in the world of wine. But as its stature grows, the Paso Robles area is facing familiar California challenges – like expensive housing and water worries. And that’s creating problems for the local wine industry. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although no officials numbers are in , there has been widespread snowfall across the state. That includes parts of California that normally see snow on only the rarest occasions. Cold temperatures and rain remain in the forecast as we head into the weekend. There’s widespread agreement that having books in jails and prisons benefits people behind bars. But in LA County jails, there’s no official library system, so a grassroots effort has started to get more books into the hands of the incarcerated. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, LAIst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a legislative hearing in Sacramento on Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration made its case for a controversial proposal aimed at reigning in high gas prices, by imposing a penalty on oil companies when gas prices, and profits, spike. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Huntington Beach in Orange County is the latest city vowing to fight Sacramento over state housing laws meant to encourage more housing. The city council voted 4-to-3 this week to allow its city attorney to pursue any legal actions, to challenge SB 9, SB 10 and any laws that allow for lot splits and the development of accessory dwelling units, or granny flats. During the winter months, researchers take to the American River in Northern California to survey steelhead salmon populations. The surveys play an important part in understanding the impacts of environmental changes, and how conservation efforts can help future generations of salmon thrive. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A hearing on gasoline prices in the state is scheduled to take place Wednesday afternoon in Sacramento, more than two months after Governor Gavin Newsom called for oil companies to be penalized for price gouging. The hearing before the State Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee is the first during a special session on gas prices. Last month, a lot of snow fell on California, which was good news for our drought-stricken state. But California’s snowpack is dwindling -- fast and that's creating uncertainty for the state’s water supply. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Officials are continuing to push for answers and solutions after the closure of Madera Community Hospital more than a month ago. The closure has already impacted neighboring communities. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County tried to stop landlords from evicting renters who have pets that aren’t allowed under their leases. Those protections were set to go away this month, but LA County leaders extended them two more months. Even so, some renters, and their beloved pets, are facing the threat of eviction. Reporter: David Wagner, LAIst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A man suspected of murdering Catholic Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell in Los Angeles over the weekend has been arrested. Meanwhile, friends of the Bishop are remembering him for his kindness to others. Did you know the last secondary lead smelter west of the Mississippi is here in California? It’s called Quemetco, and it recycles the lead in old car batteries about 25 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The company has been violating toxic substance regulations for years and has now reached a settlement with the state that allows it to stay open. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lake Tahoe, nestled high in the mountains between California and Nevada, is one of America’s great natural wonders. But the lake faces a variety of threats -- some old, some new -- that scientists have spent years studying. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Bay Area Assemblymember wants to increase access to California's public parks and beaches, by overhauling the state's reservation system. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new state-backed report gives the first-ever birds-eye view of California’s spending on homelessness programs. The state has shelled out more than $10 billion in the last few years to get people housed. But despite that spending, California still has a long way to go to get people into permanent housing. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Despite protests from many community members, construction has resumed to replace fences with two 30-foot walls at Friendship Park, which sits on the US-Mexico border in San Diego County. The historic park on the western-most end of the border has long been a place where families from both sides of the border can meet up. 75 years ago a plane crashed near the Central Valley town of Coalinga, killing everyone on board. The plane carried Mexican migrants on their way to be deported. After the crash, the government sent the bodies of the white pilot, flight attendants and immigration officer home to their families, but interred the Mexican passengers in a mass grave. Officials didn’t even release the migrants’ names, calling them only “Deportees.” Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who's had this problem? Your laptop or smartphone isn’t working, but the idea of repairing it yourself seems impossible because you can't get replacement parts and repair instructions from manufacturers, like, say, Apple. Well, after past attempts to pass it have failed, a Right to Repair bill has been re-introduced in Sacramento. If passed, it’s supposed to make it easier, and cheaper to get electronics you own fixed. Guest: Sander Kushen, Public Health Advocate, CALPIRG Slavery and involuntary servitude are illegal in California. But our state constitution has an exception to that rule involving the state’s prison system. Some state lawmakers are now looking to change that. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dianne Feinstein has been a U.S. Senator from California for three decades. And before that she was already a powerful figure in San Francisco politics, including serving as mayor. So the announcement that Feinstein is retiring from office at the end of her current Senate term really does mark the end of an era in California politics and governance. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A new study out of Stanford University finds that enrollment in California public schools fell by about 270,000 during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anti-semitism and hate crimes are on the rise in the United States. In California, some far-right groups are becoming even more extreme. A far-right extremist group connected to San Diego, called the Goyim Defense League, is fueling acts of vandalism, harassment and assault. Reporter: Jill Castellano, inewsource A group of California lawmakers wants to prohibit police from pulling motorists over for minor traffic infractions. The legislators say those stops too often lead to violence against people of color. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices