KQED's The California Report

The California State University system has some of the lowest tuition rates in the country. But a huge budget gap could force new tuition hikes. Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Stanford University is conducting the first clinical trial in the world, looking at whether Paxlovid could be a possible treatment for Long COVID patients. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Kennedy High School is in Richmond, a town northeast of San Francisco. One retired teacher has shown extraordinary commitment to the school, where he’s dedicated his time and energy for more than 50 years. Reporter: Richard Gonzales, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year for the past two decades, tribes along the Oregon-California border have come together for an event known as the Salmon Run. It’s a spiritual run and prayer for the health of the Klamath watershed. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio A new state legislative committee is digging into the fentanyl crisis in search of solutions. Over five hours of testimony on Wednesday, public health and law enforcement experts painted a grim picture of a complex crisis requiring multifaceted solutions. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, the city of Los Angeles decided to turn one of its methane gas plants into a hydrogen plant. It's part of the city’s ambitious goal to run on 100% renewable energy by 2035. It might sound great, but it’s actually a controversial move. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A new state legislative committee focused on fentanyl and opioid addiction is holding its first meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The committee is hoping to address the ongoing opioid crisis. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A historic agreement has been reached between seven Western states to cut the amount of water they take from the Colorado River. But what are California's responsibilities under the deal? And which part of the state will be most affected? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California's lawmakers have been scrambling to address the state's fentanyl overdose crisis. The synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and it caused nearly 6,000 deaths in California in 2021, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. But the state legislature is split on the best approach to tackle this crisis -- treatment or punishment? Guest: Anita Chabria, Columnist, Los Angeles Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s food banks are reporting alarming spikes in demand, that’s according to the state’s association of food banks, which says the end of pandemic-era food benefits and record high inflation is to blame. In April, the Sacramento food bank and its partners fed 281,000 people – almost double the amount it served before the pandemic. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Fueled by California's record snowfall, rivers in the state are flowing fast and have swept away a number of people recently. That includes an 8-year-old girl, who drowned in the Kings River in Fresno County on Sunday. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Earlier this month, we brought you the story of Long COVID patients and their concerns about the lack of clinical trials for potential treatments. Now, a Bay Area lawmaker is looking for answers from the federal agency in charge of Long COVID research. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was once Northern California’s largest settlement of unhoused people. The city of Oakland recently cleared the last remaining portion of the community people called Wood Street. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED We're learning more about U.S Senator Dianne Feinstein's recent health struggles. They were worse and more complicated than her office first disclosed. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California workplace regulators have confirmed complaints of child labor and other violations at a Popeye’s fast food restaurant in East Oakland. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rivers in California are flowing fast and wide this year as record snowpack in the mountains melt. All that water has created flood damage and worries about more to come, but one industry is thriving after years of drought and shrinking rivers -- whitewater rafting. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California workplace health and safety regulators are holding a public hearing on Thursday on a proposed rule to prevent heat-related illness in indoor spaces. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along the Yuba River on Tuesday, California officials announced a plan to give fish access to areas they haven't swam in for more than a century. Daguerre Point Dam has blocked migrating salmon, sturgeon and Pacific lamprey since it was built in 1910. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED After a wildfire destroyed his home a few years back, a young Latino man from Santa Rosa was inspired to become a firefighter. Now, he’s well on his way to achieving his goal -- thanks to a program designed to increase diversity in California’s fire departments. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2015, the Berryessa Snow Mountain region became a national monument. The monument status brought protections to the area’s biologically diverse landscape. But one large swath of land, nestled in the monument’s center, was excluded from protection. Now environmental groups and tribes are trying to fix that. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Governor Gavin Newsom warned of a more than $31 billion shortfall when he released his revised state spending plan last week. One sector that will feel the pinch of a tighter budget is child care. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. immigration officials are expressing confidence in the state of things at the U-S Mexico border. That after the Trump-era Title 42 program ended last week. It prevented migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. But there are still plenty of concerns from people trying to cross the border. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that the pandemic era border restrictions, known as Title 42, have been lifted., it’s estimated six thousand migrants are in shelters across the San Diego -Tijuana border waiting to apply for asylum. Many had been waiting for days without much food. They slept on the ground under bright lights. Governor Gavin Newsom will be announcing how big of a budget deficit the state is expecting next year – and how he plans to close that gap. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters Fire season is fast approaching in California. As the climate warms, fires are expected to be more intense. This comes as California struggles to beef up its wildfire personnel. But a new program in the Bay Area aims to help build that workforce. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Title 42, the border policy that was put in place during the pandemic to turn asylum seekers away, ends Thursday night. Officials are expecting a surge of migrants at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is already keeping 400 migrants in a makeshift camp in San Ysidro, between the primary and secondary border walls. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Thursday marks the end of the COVID 19 federal public health emergency. But for people who are affected by Long COVID, it’s not the end of the pandemic. Many have lost their jobs, have no means of income, and are relying on disability checks to try to survive. But getting approved for long-term disability is becoming a major roadblock. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we’re now in the fourth year of the pandemic, there is a growing sense of optimism that the worst is likely behind us. Vaccines and boosters have helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. But for millions of Americans who are suffering from Long COVID symptoms, there’s no end in sight for their day-to-day struggles. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to release his revised budget on Friday. He’s warned about a major deficit, but that isn’t stopping lawmakers from putting pressure on him to increase child care funding, to the tune of a billion dollars. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED After the COVID-19 public health emergency ends on Thursday, some people who were receiving medications through telehealth will need to visit a doctor in person. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s legislature has approved spending $150 million to help cash-strapped hospitals across the state. The money would fund a hospital loan program. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Menifee in Riverside County is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. As it's grown, the city made the decision to create its own police department from scratch. It launched in the summer of 2020 – just as policing was under intense scrutiny in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week will mark the end of a controversial border policy that started under President Donald Trump. Title 42 is part of the U.S. Public Health Code meant to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. But it's been used to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants from crossing the border. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED We’re nearing the end of the first week of the Hollywood writers strike, and studios and the union representing writers stand far apart on a number of key issues. But, the strike doesn’t only threaten the financial health of those who work on TV shows or movies. It has lots of other businesses worried as well. Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist The California reparations task force has approved a statewide plan for descendants of American Slavery. The sweeping recommendations include a method to calculate money denied to Black residents by racist policies and plans for a new state agency to manage repayment. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of parents and teachers in Oakland are taking to the picket line on Friday morning for day two of the citywide teachers strike. Reporter: Phoebe Quinton, KQED David “Mas” Masumoto has been growing peaches, nectarines and grapes on his family farm in Del Rey, just south of Fresno, for over 40 years. He thought he knew all about his family history in the area -- the racism, imprisonment during World War II, and eventually buying some land, establishing a home. But Masumoto got a big shock in 2012. Reporter: Lisa Morehouse, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TV and film writers are taking to the picket lines for the third day, after failing to reach an agreement with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It' still unclear how long the strike will last, but both sides seem to be dug in. Guest: Michael Schneider, Senior TV Editor, Variety. Host of Screengrab, a podcast from KCRW The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pass ambitious plans for new housing in Hollywood and Downtown L.A. The aim is to bring 135,000 new homes to the two neighborhoods. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Hollywood, film and television writers represented by the Writers Guild of America, or WGA, are on the second day of a strike. It’s the first such labor action in more than 15 years, and it could have a devastating economic impact on the industry if it continues. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Tuesday, we told you about the lack of affordable child care options, and how it’s keeping women from joining certain industries. A lot of that has to do with how little early educators are paid. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The construction industry in California wants to hire more women to meet a shortage of skilled workers. But access to child care is keeping many of these women from joining the trades. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The state is suing the city of Elk Grove for allegedly using discriminatory housing practices to deny a proposed affordable housing project. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Did you know when California communities plan new housing, they don’t have to take the size of their unhoused populations into consideration? A new bill advancing through the state Legislature could change that. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last July, San Bernardino police shot and killed a 23-year-old Black man as he ran from them while allegedly holding a gun. The police killing of Rob Adams drew protests and demands for accountability — and is the subject of a $100 million lawsuit filed on behalf of his family. Now, nine months after Adams was killed, San Bernardino city officials confirmed the names of the involved officers. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Many are calling it environmental justice. California’s air board has passed an ambitious plan to phase out diesel truck fleets, from garbage trucks to Amazon delivery vehicles. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED A recent state audit found the California Department of Public Health has missed opportunities to collect data about people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Criminal justice advocates and some incarcerated individuals have filed a lawsuit against the California prison system. What’s at issue? Policies, the plaintiffs argue, that illegally discriminate against inmates who prison officials believe are foreign-born. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The California Report Magazine is wrapping up their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” with a conversation with comedian W. Kamau Bell, and his wife, Melissa Hudson Bell. The couple have a new HBO film ‘1000 Percent Me’ - where Kamau Bell asks mixed race children about their experiences. Reporters: Sasha Khokha and Marisa Lagos, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is set to see one of its first extended heat waves. That could mean major problems for parts of the state, where flooding is likely from a melting snowpack. Among the communities on edge is Corcoran in the Central Valley, which is already surrounded by rising water. Guest: Joshua Yeager, Reporter, KVPR As California wages its fight against smog and climate change, state regulators this week will vote on a plan to start phasing out diesel truck fleets -- from delivery vans, to garbage trucks, to 18-wheelers. The regulators want to see them replaced with zero emission vehicles. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday in Sacramento, lawmakers will hold a hearing on legislation aimed at creating buffer zones between homes and huge warehouses and logistic centers where companies, like Amazon, store and distribute mountains of goods that a lot of us might order online. This is the latest development in an ongoing debate over warehouses and the health threats they might pose to people who live near them. The center of that debate is the Inland Empire, east of Los Angeles. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Buckle in for a long summer when it comes to the threat of flooding. That’s what Governor Gavin Newsom told people Tuesday in the San Joaquin Valley, while standing atop a dirt levee holding back millions of gallons of floodwater. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weather forecasters expect an early-season heatwave this week in many parts of the state. The warmth may cause flooding as the snowpack melts in inland areas of California. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED On the best of days, agricultural work isn’t easy, but in recent years, California farmworkers, in places like the San Joaquin Valley, have also had to deal with record heat waves, wildfires and more recently storms and flooding. But because of chronic illnesses, agricultural laborers also face a growing health crisis. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR As another wildfire season looms, a federal judge will soon decide whether there should be limits on how firefighters drop chemical retardant onto large blazes. Environmentalists say the retardant pollutes rivers, streams and lakes. But some lawmakers and residents in areas of the state prone to wildfires say the retardant saves lives and properties. Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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