KQED's The California Report

The California Department of Public Health is issuing new home isolation guidance for people with confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox. State public health director Dr. Tomás Aragón says the state’s guidelines are more detailed than the CDC’s national recommendations. California is adding Georgia to its already lengthy list of states where publicly-funded travel is banned because of anti-LGBTQ legislation. The travel restrictions come in response to a bill passed by Georgia lawmakers earlier this year that allows the state's athletic association to ban transgender girls from competing in girls' sports. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Both the Biden Administration and California have big goals when it comes to getting more people to drive electric vehicles as a way to fight climate change. There is one big challenge that may not be getting as much attention -- it’s the kind of housing millions of people live in and whether they can find or install electric vehicle charging stations there. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A Bay Area man involved with a violent anti-government militia is set to be sentenced Monday for exchanging sexual photos with a minor and destroying records in a federal investigation. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Estimates say as many as one out of every five students have dyslexia — the learning disorder that affects reading and writing. But if diagnosed, does your child’s school know what to do about it? In California, answers to that question are all over the map. Reporter, Kyle Stokes, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Residents of a Siskiyou County community, ravaged by wildfire last month, are suing the Oregon-based electrical utility they say is to blame. The McKinney Fire started the afternoon of July 29th just outside the hamlet of Klamath River, near power lines owned by Portland's Pacificorp. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Starting next year, Californians will be able to sue people who distribute ghost guns and assault weapons illegally. The law is modeled on Texas abortion legislation and both of the laws offer private citizens a chance at financial rewards for reporting other peoples’ activities. Guest: Nigel Duara, Justice Reporter with CalMatters Democrats in California are split on whether President Joe Biden should run again in 2024 and if he doesn’t, Governor Gavin Newsom has a strong base of support for a presidential run. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Monkeypox cases in L.A. County continue to climb. New cases have jumped 33% since last week, and more than a thousand people have tested positive. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monkeypox cases have tripled in California over the past month. Most vaccine doses have been sent to larger cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. But other communities across the state say they're feeling left out. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters LA County will get far fewer monkeypox vaccine doses than it expected. The county's monkeypox vaccine shipment is being slashed to just 40% of the doses public health officials requested from the federal government. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC It’s been one year since a family from Afghanistan escaped their war torn country and landed in the United States. They fled last August, leaving behind their belongings, their careers and their hopes and dreams. The kindness of strangers on California’s Central Coast helped make their journey to the U.S. possible. Reporter: Doug McKnight, KAZU The Port of Oakland says a protest by truck drivers that shut it down for several days in July had a significant impact on its business. There was a 28% decline in total loaded container volume in July compared to a year ago. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED A group of dancers at a North Hollywood topless bar have taken the first step towards forming a union. If their bid is successful, they would become the only unionized strippers in the U.S. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Some state lawmakers are backing the demands of striking mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente. More than 2000 clinicians are picketing this week in the Bay Area and Fresno. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED More California students are returning to their schools this week as the new academic year begins. But many students won't need to be in class until later in the morning. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state’s power grid operator is calling on Californians to conserve energy on Wednesday. The California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state's electrical grid, says it expects above average temperatures to increase demand for electricity. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report Former Central Valley Congressman TJ Cox pleaded not guilty Tuesday to more than two dozen federal counts including wire fraud, money laundering and campaign contribution fraud. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR California has begun a big push to get more 4-year-olds enrolled in transitional kindergarten, or “TK.” But not every parent of an eligible child is ready to sign up. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The oil industry has dropped its opposition to a bill that would increase fines on California refineries that violate air quality rules. That's after lawmakers watered down the legislation behind closed doors. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED Sidewalks in front of Kaiser facilities in Northern California and the Central Valley are packed with striking mental health care providers again on Wednesday. State regulators are monitoring the situation closely to ensure patient care is not impacted. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon will not face a recall election, county officials announced on Monday. Critics of Gascon, led by prosecutors in his own office, have once again failed to get the more than 560,000 signatures necessary to place a recall before voters. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED New research suggests climate change is increasing the likelihood of California-wide megafloods. Warming temperatures have already doubled the risk of this type of inundation brought on by a succession of storms, lasting for as long as a month. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED A year ago, the Caldor Fire burned through the small town of Grizzly Flats in Northern California. The fire destroyed more than 400 homes. A new investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found that the U.S. Forest Service predicted — for decades — a wildfire could devastate Grizzly Flats. But its plan to protect the town didn’t get done. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio There's no end in sight for a strike which saw almost 2,000 Kaiser mental health care workers walk off the job on Monday in Northern California and the Central Valley. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED The number of people hospitalized after falling from the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border is on pace to surpass last year’s record. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has a plan to extend the operation of California’s last nuclear power plant. Diablo Canyon on the Central Coast is scheduled for closure by 2025. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX For several years now, undocumented immigrants in California have been able to get a driver’s license, which doubles as a critical piece of ID. But what about immigrants who don’t drive? Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC A year ago today, the Taliban entered Kabul and the U.S. military began a frenzied airlift to evacuate tens of thousands of people out of Afghanistan. Now, many of those Afghans are trying to build new lives in California. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California is one of ten states that doesn’t screen all students for the most common learning disability. Advocates have pushed for mandatory dyslexia assessments for years. Reporter: Mariana Dale, KPCC Mexican cities, just across the border from California, were rocked by a wave of violent incidents over the weekend. This string of attacks appears to be in response to Mexican officials' attempt to capture gang members. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most closely watched housing bills has cleared a key legislative hurdle and is now headed to the state senate for a vote. Supporters say it could help developers build millions of housing units across the state. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Roses are red, violets are blue. Most flowers smell nice, but not all of them do. And that’s especially true for a rare tropical flower at the UC Santa Cruz arboretum. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU Pepper spray was supposed to be phased out of L.A. County’s juvenile halls nearly two years ago. But probation department staff are still using the spray. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC A former Los Angeles County assistant sheriff is suing Sheriff Alex Villanueva for alleged retaliation, and is seeking at least $3 million in damages. She was among the whistleblowers who accused Villanueva of trying to cover up an incident where a deputy knelt on an inmate's head. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco has won a landmark lawsuit against Walgreens pharmacy over its role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the city. A federal judge found that Walgreens filled hundreds of thousands of suspicious prescriptions for powerful painkillers over 15 years, without taking steps to prevent their misuse. California’s Supreme Court may soon get its first Latina Chief Justice. Patricia Guerrero currently sits on the state’s supreme court as an associate justice and she’s held that role since March. Reporter: Amanda Stupi, KQED This year, potentially tens of thousands of Californians who couldn’t work because of health reasons, including pregnancy, have been forced to wait weeks -- or even months -- to get their “State Disability Insurance” payments. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Supporters of a bill to create safe injection sites are urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 57. The idea behind SB 57 is to address the growing toll on city streets, where people are dying in record numbers from overdoses of drugs like fentanyl. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED The backers of dueling ballot campaigns to legalize sports betting in California sparred during a hearing at the Capitol Wednesday. Proposition 27 is backed by gambling companies like DraftKings and unlike Prop 26, would allow bets to be made on phones and computers. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED California has adopted the nation’s most ambitious offshore wind targets. The new goals put the state on course to meet a quarter of its electricity needs — enough to power about 25 million homes — from offshore wind by midcentury. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED On Thursday, California lawmakers will advance – or quietly kill – hundreds of bills in rapid-fire succession. The bills have been stuck in a legislative limbo known as “the suspense file.” Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters In recent years, lots of California mountain lions have been struck and killed by California drivers. But collisions have also killed many other kinds of animals, from deer to bobcats to desert tortoises. Legislation aimed at making roads safer for wildlife is being heard in Sacramento on Thursday. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An L.A. City Council meeting turned chaotic Tuesday when members of the public started shouting at council members and one person made an attempt to lunge at the dais. The council was preparing to vote on an ordinance that would ban homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report More than 4,250 COVID-19 deaths in California could have been prevented in one year if the entire state met National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. That’s according to a new study by the Public Health Institute. Guest: Dr. Paul English, Director of the Public Health Institute’s Tracking California program The Inflation Reduction Act could bring billions of dollars in drought relief to California. At $4 billion, the largest pot of drought funds would help watersheds like the Colorado River, which Southern California relies on. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED With lackluster resources and rising costs, supportive homes for people living with a serious mental illness are continuing to dwindle in Los Angeles and across the state. At one home that’s been around for 40 years though, residents keep their spirits high and celebrate. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s Employment Development Department was too slow delivering unemployment insurance payments to roughly 5 million workers during the pandemic. That’s from a new report by the Legislative Analyst's Office. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED More than 22,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border from Mexico into California since the Russian invasion in February. Many have come to the Sacramento area, which already has a large and tight-knit Slavic community. Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio A State Senate committee focused on California’s response to monkeypox will hold its first hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The committee is chaired by State Senator Scott Wiener, who’s been a vocal critic of the government's failure to act quickly when the monkeypox outbreak first occurred. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Hate crimes are up for the fourth straight year in a row across the U.S. That’s according to new data from Cal State San Bernardino, which found that in California, hate crimes jumped more than 32% last year. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Gun rights groups are suing the state of California over a bill signed into law in June, that bans the marketing of guns to minors. Firearm advocates say the law is a direct assault on the Second Amendment. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED California’s fast food and franchising industries could change drastically under a bill moving through the state Legislature. The bill would give fast food workers the power to collectively bargain through a state-run council. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles voters will decide whether they want to require hotels across the city to provide vacant rooms to unhoused people. The City Council voted Friday to put the contentious hotel voucher program on the 2024 ballot. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Farmworkers from across the state have joined the “March for the Governor’s Signature,” a 335 mile trek from Kern County to Sacramento, to show support for a voting rights bill. Although farmworkers say the bill is critical for unionization, some argue that it will not accomplish what it’s intended to do. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR California women are more likely than men to be rent burdened, meaning they spend a third or more of their income on rent and other housing costs. That’s according to a new study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED The California Air Resources Board held a series of public listening sessions across the state last week. Its part of the board's latest plan to help the state achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR A federal lawsuit has been filed against the sheriff in Siskiyou County and other county officials, alleging that Asian American residents have been unfairly discriminated against. The lawsuit claims that Asian Americans have been harrassed and discriminated against. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal health officials are considering breaking single doses of monkeypox vaccine into smaller doses to stretch the current supply. The Food and Drug Administration may allow healthcare providers to split a one-dose vial of the monkeypox vaccine into five doses. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Throughout history, struggling Americans have looked for greener pastures, with many striking out for California. But some powerful people in the state have actively tried to keep the migrants out by setting up border checkpoints. Guest: Bill Lascher, Author of the book "The Golden Fortress: California's Border War on Dust Bowl Refugees" California is offering $20,000 stipends to recruit and train more mental health clinicians to work in public schools. The program is a response to the student mental health crisis. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED A bill that provides some protection for immigrants in court is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The measure said if an attorney wants to ask a witness about their immigration status in court, the judge must first decide if it’s relevant to the case. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Voters in San Bernardino County will have the chance to vote in November on whether the county could potentially secede from California. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report A Fresno high school has issued an apology for painting over a student mural completed for the campus. Artists questioned the decision and the message it sends to the arts community. Reporter: Soreath Hok, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long waitlists. Parents lining up overnight in hopes of landing an open spot in daycare or preschool. These are some of the stories that have emerged since the pandemic, highlighting the nation’s childcare crisis. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He was the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for decades. On Tuesday, Vin Scully died at the age of 94. Guest: Bill Shaikin, Reporter, L.A. Times California faces increased wildfire danger across much of the state into the fall months. This comes as crews continue to battle the biggest fire of the year in Siskiyou County. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Farmworkers from across California are beginning a march up the Central Valley on Wednesday morning. It’s all to support a voting rights bill. Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR Some state courts appear to be dragging their feet following a new law, that’s intended to give relief to people piling up late fees for infractions like traffic tickets. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED It’s an election year, with control of Congress in play. In one of Orange County’s most competitive congressional districts, the sitting Republican Congresswoman and her Democratic challenger don’t agree on much. But they do see eye-to-eye on one thing -- U.S. policy toward Taiwan. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as part of California's ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak. Meanwhile in San Francisco, the city’s main public hospital plans to distribute more monkeypox vaccine on Tuesday. Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED State lawmakers have reconvened in Sacramento after a month-long summer recess for the final, frenzied month of the legislative session. There are a number of bills that will be voted on, from abortion to gun rights. Guest: Emily Hoeven, Author of the WhatMatters newsletter for CalMatters Crews saw much calmer weather on Monday as they continue to battle the McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County. But there's still no containment on the fire, which has burned more than 55,000 acres. Guest Erik Neumann, Interim News Director, Jefferson Public Radio A bill to allow so-called “safe injection sites” where addicts can use drugs with supervision is on its way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Visitors to Redwood National Forest on the North Coast could be fined and even face jail time if they’re caught trying to get too close to the world’s tallest tree. Reporter: Anaïs-Ophelia Lino, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Authorities say two bodies have been found inside a burned vehicle in the path of a raging California wildfire that is one of several major blazes burning across Northern California. Hundreds of millions of dollars are headed to the Golden State for Climate Change and infrastructure. The mix of fires, drought, and even record rainfall in some parts of California are taking a toll on the state's infrastructure. But, a new federal program unveiled last week, could funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to the Golden State to help safeguard its roads and bridges. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW California Health officials are not ready to declare a statewide emergency for Monkeypox. The State of California has reported nearly eight hundred cases of Monkeypox - the majority in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Eleven people in California have been hospitalized - but, no one has died. So, health officials in California say they don't see the need - at least not yet - to declare a statewide emergency over the Monkeypox virus....similar to the local one declared by the city of San Francisco last week. A new Kaiser study says adults with young kids could provide some protection against severe COVID illnesses. Researchers compared more than half million adults - and found that those without children were 49 percent more likely to be hospitalized-and 76 percent more likely to be admitted to an ICU - than those with young kids at home. A School in the Inland Empire plans to move because of influx of new warehouses. Another large warehouse complex is slated for Southern California’s Inland Empire… which is east of Los Angeles. The region is home to over a billion square feet of warehouses. One of the latest proposed warehouses would be next door to an elementary school in the small community of Bloomington in San Bernardino County. Reporter Jonathan Linden, KVCR A new public housing project in Southern California is unlike many others. It's called Jordan Downs and it's located in L.A.'s Watts community. Even in a state where millions struggle to find…and keep… an affordable place to live, building more public housing hasn’t been a popular solution. That’s because over the decades public housing has become synonymous with segregation of Blacks and Latinos, warehousing of the poor, and terrible living conditions. But in L.A.’s Watts neighborhood, one big public housing project called Jordan Downs is in the midst of a decades-long, one billion dollar transformation. When done, it will more than double the number of people living there. Its also supposed to show the potential of public housing….if done right.. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L.A. County health officials have pushed the pause button on reinstituting an indoor public mask mandate. The data show that LA is right on the cusp of dropping into the CDC’s medium COVID risk level. That’s due to hospitalizations dipping slightly. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Farming in California has not been a friendly place to Black people, let alone Black women. Only one percent of farmland in the state is Black owned. Reporter: Ariana Proehl, KQED In San Jose, a program that sent 1500 kids to day camp for free is wrapping up on Friday. It’s paid for with COVID-19 relief money. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L.A. County health officials closed the online waiting list for the monkeypox vaccine Thursday, just one day after it went live. Some qualified people are being turned away at vaccine sites and given conflicting advice. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Truckers at the Port of Oakland continue to protest for the second straight week over AB5, the state law that reclassifies many independent contractors as employees. But truckers have agreed not to block access to terminals and plan instead to rally in designated "free speech" zones set up by the port. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED The Oakland City Council is expected to vote Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to put a measure on the ballot that would officially repeal Prop 8. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Customs and Border Protection say a record number of migrants have been injured while trying to cross the border illegally into San Diego County. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Nevada’s Lake Mead, which is fed by the Colorado River, has long played a critical role in supplying much of California’s water. While it’s no secret all of the West is gripped by drought, new images of Lake Mead released by NASA are providing the clearest picture yet of the dire situation. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As firefighters make gains on the Oak Fire burning near Yosemite National Park, families are beginning to reckon with the devastation. California’s largest fire of the year so far, has consumed nearly 19, 000 acres and forced thousands to flee. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR The chief justice of California's Supreme Court says she will not seek a second term in November. Tani Cantil-Sakauye says she will retire at the end of her term on January 1. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Organizers rallied outside the Glendale offices of State Senator Anthony Portantino on Wednesday to call for support of a bill that would put restrictions on the use of solitary confinement. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC Seven of the ten most expensive areas for housing in the nation are in California, with San Francisco being the most expensive and out of reach metropolitan area in the country. That’s according to a newly released report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED A new statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California reveals where Californians stand on a host of issues from gas prices to climate policy. Reporter: Janaya Williams, KCRW More and more Californians are following water restrictions as the state’s drought drags on. Or at least, they’re supposed to be. There’s actually a satellite orbiting the Earth that can reveal the rule breakers. And one Californian knows who you are. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A state audit report shows hundreds of thousands of Californians are drinking water that is unsafe, and many live in disadvantaged communities in the Central Valley. The state auditor’s report found nearly a million people in California face possible long-term health problems, like liver or kidney damage, or cancer, because their water comes from a failing system with some sort of contaminant, like nitrates or arsenic. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED As the drought persists, many farmers are making the decision to fallow or set aside land that isn't being used to grow crops. But what does that actually mean and how does that impact residents living near these fields? Guest: Andrew Ayers, a research fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Teachers Association are opposing Proposition 30, a “clean air initiative” on the November ballot that would tax the wealthiest Californians to pay for electric car rebates. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Officials say more than 6 million passengers passed through Los Angeles International Airport last month for the first time since January 2020. Reporter: Janaya Williams, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. monkeypox outbreak is swiftly expanding. The CDC reports over 3400 known cases concentrated mainly among men who have sex with men. And in these early days of its spread, people can spend days in search of the right diagnosis. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC San Francisco Supervisors on Tuesday are expected to urge U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to suspend plans to shut down Laguna Honda Hospital. It’s the largest skilled nursing facility in California. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva refused to testify before the Civilian Oversight Commission on Monday. The county’s top cop says he’ll speak with the watchdog group about alleged deputy cliques only if certain conditions are met. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW As the city of Pasadena struggles with an increase in gun violence, it's turning to gang interventionists for help. The latest effort to stem the violence was a three on three basketball tournament at Robinson Park on a recent weekend. Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of Bills on Thursday aimed at reducing gun violence across the state. Of the 8 bills Newsom signed, one targets the sale of gun parts made from 3D printers, another prevents those convicted of child abuse or elder abuse from having a gun for 10 years … a third requires schools to report student threats or perceived threats of violence. Politics Editor Scott Shafer, KQED Radio This week's protests by truckers at the Port of Oakland follows a U-S Supreme Court decision that rejected an industry bid to exclude truckers... who often own their own vehicles. Truckers are demanding either a repeal of AB5, or clarification as to how it will be enforced. Governor Gavin Newsom says truckers should work to implement the transition to AB5. Mexican-American lowrider cruising enthusiasts are working to roll back a decades old cruising ban. If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the 1973 George Lucas film “American Graffiti” which celebrated California car cruising culture. But in a lot of cities, cruising has been illegal for years. The California Reports' Mary Franklin Harvin reports from San Jose…which recently scrapped its decades-old cruising ban. Reporter Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report California’s Fair Political Practices Commission voted unanimously this week to allow people to use crypto currency for political campaign donations. Cryptocurrency donations have been allowed at the federal level since 2014. But California banned the practice four years ago, largely due to concerns about transparency. The new state rule incorporates safeguards. Donors must be identified — and the donation must be converted to cash immediately. Reporter Rachael Myrow, KQED Radio The University of California Regents has decided to investigate UCLA’s decision to leave the PAC-12 Athletic Conference for the Big Ten. The move comes after Governor Gavin Newsom expressed anger and confusion about the sudden move and after he spoke during a closed door meeting of the regents. Newsom wants UCLA to explain how the move will help student-athletes. The California State Fair is back for the first time since 2019. The familiar sights, smells and sounds are back, too... such as livestock, games, funnel cakes, corn dogs and so much more. You and the family can take in some of the attractions at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento. The fair runs through the 31st and children 4 and younger get in for free. Reporter Chris Nichols, CapRadio Check out a preview of our Sister Show, The California Report’s Weekly Magazine. For their Hidden Gems road trip series, reporter Amanda Font takes us to Big Bear Lake, in San Bernardino County. That’s where she set sail on a quirky boat ride bringing together 80s movie history and pirate adventure. Reporter Amanda Font, KQED Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a press conference in Los Angeles yesterday, State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon called on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, to declare a public health emergency. As of yesterday, San Francisco has 141 cases of Monkeypox more than any other county, followed by LA County with 132. UCLA’s departure will leave just UC Berkeley as the only UC campus in the Pac 12. In a statement, Newsom says he wants to know from UCLA how moving to the Big Ten will benefit its student-athletes and preserve college sports rivalries and traditions along the Pacific Coast? Rob Adams was fatally shot by police in a San Bernardino parking lot on Saturday while running away from officers. Police say Adams was carrying a gun and was displaying the weapon when officers drove up. But family members dispute that story and say he was holding his cell phone, not a firearm. The San Bernardino police department reported to the state Department of Justice that officers shot and killed 13 men from 2016 to 2020. Reporter Jonathan Linden, KVCR Radio This week Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that would require the use of GPS devices to monitor so called “sexually violent predators” when they're granted conditional release from a state mental hospital in Fresno County. Supporters of the law say it's necessary to protect California communities. But some critics say the GPS tracking of offenders would be an invasion of their right to privacy. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report It was just four years ago that the commission voted to prohibit campaigns from receiving any crypto donations. But as we know- things change fast in the digital world. So far, 12 states and Washington, DC now allow Crypto donations. California has been among nine states banning these digital contributions because they’re tough to regulate and trace. If the change is approved, crypto donations must be processed using a service that collects the donor’s name, address, occupation, and employer. Reporter Tara Siler, KQED Radio House Democrats Want To Update A Law From The 1920s That Lets The Government Grant Legal Residence To Long-Time Immigrants Who Lack Documentation. The Registry Act Bill was introduced on Wednesday and has been updated over the years, but the current version only offers green cards to people who’ve lived here since at least 1972. Under the new bill, with a rolling cutoff date, immigrants could apply on a case-by-case basis if they’ve lived in the U.S. for seven years. Opponents say it would reward illegal immigration. Reporter Tyche Hendricks, The California Report How Far Should Society Go In Trying To Help The Most Severely Mentally Ill? There's a bill moving through the state legislature seeking to create a new kind of court system in California with the authority to compel some people to receive mental health treatment even if they don’t want it. The proposal has sparked an intense debate about personal freedom and how best to protect people from the toll of mental illness. Reporter Robert Garrova, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Officials Expand Access for Monkeypox Vaccine In Los Angeles, some high-risk people can now sign up for shots to combat Monkeypox online. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California Trees Dying at An Alarming Rate The loss of California trees is posing a direct threat to one of the state’s climate solutions. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW The Aftermath of the Creek Fire As we warily prepare for what might be another devastating wildfire season in California, many communities are dealing with the aftermath of past blazes. It’s been almost two years since the state’s massive Creek Fire destroyed nearly half of the homes in one tight-knit mountain community in Fresno County. Alice Daniel, KVPR New Report Documents Harassment and Discrimination in Asian American and Pacific Island Communities More than 11,000 incidents of harassment, discrimination, and hate crimes against members of the nation’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities were reported in the last two years. That’s according to a new report out by a California- based research and advocacy group. Nina Thorsen, KQED House Speaker Nanci Pelosi Urges Feds to Step Up Response to Monkeypox In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Beccera, Pelosi said the slow federal response to monkeypox is leaving health care providers with massive waitlists and telephone hotlines overrun by desperate callers. Scott Shafer, KQED Apple Is Abusing Its Market Power with Apple Pay, Lawsuit Says This lawsuit accuses Apple of ensuring its devices exclusively use its mobile wallet to make contactless payments. That’s a monopoly, the complaint says, allowing Apple to charge card issuers for a service they get free on Android devices. Rachael Myrow, KQED Community College Students Continue to Wait for Promised Free Textbooks State lawmakers announced last year that they were carving out money to provide relief, community college students are still waiting to receive promised free textbooks. But a bureaucratic logjam is holding up the state funding. Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With summer in full swing, vacationers are heading to places like Lake Tahoe. But seasonal workers at vacation spots around the lake are feeling the effects of the rising cost of living. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio Inflation has been hitting Californians at the gas pump and the grocery store. Now many are facing another new expense - double digit rent increases. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With highly infectious subvariants of Omicron, like BA.5, increasing the spread of COVID-19, mask mandates continue to be re-introduced in the state. Starting Monday, the San Diego Unified School District will require indoor masking for thousands of students and staff involved with summer school activities. A ballot initiative that would’ve taxed the wealthy to fund public health programs won’t make it to the ballot this year. But that doesn’t mean the idea is dead. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A group of foster youth gave a presentaton to the state public health director last week about why it's important to include young people in COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED New sales numbers are out showing Americans are buying EVs at record levels, and they'd actually be buying a lot more if it weren’t for supply chain problems affecting the availability of vehicles. California, perhaps not surprisingly, is leading the electric vehicle buying spree. Guest: Loren McDonald, Electric Vehicle Industry Analyst In an effort to boost sagging recycling rates, the state has looked to local pilot programs to make it easier for consumers to get that nickel or dime deposit back on bottles and cans they return. But rather than helping people keep items out of landfills, an investigation by the LA nonprofit Consumer Watchdog found the pilot programs aren't taking off. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW As more states pass restrictions on abortions, California wants to be a sanctuary state for people seeking to end their pregnancies, But thousands arriving annually from out of state for reproductive services could put a strain on California abortion providers. Some have brought up the possibility of opening clinics on land owned by Native American tribes, but that’s not an easy solution. Guest: Lauren van Schilfgaarde, Legal Clinic Director at the UCLA School of Law Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state. And now, federal health officials say L.A. County’s COVID community risk is high. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Housing is an issue across the state and it's been aggravated by the pandemic. A new podcast, Undocumented and Unhoused, released in partnership with El Timpano and Latino USA, looks at how COVID-19 and rising rent prices has led to an increase of undocumented and unhoused people in the Bay Area. Guests: Madeleine Bair, Founder of El Timpano, and Marta Martinez, Senior Editor, Latino USA Lawyers for five women suing Uber over its response to sexual assaults by drivers, say they plan to file similar claims on behalf of more than 500 people. The complaint alleges women were stalked, harassed, kidnapped, and raped during their rides. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One in seven California tenants are behind on their rent. So, Attorney General Rob Bonta is issuing instructions to sheriff and police departments across the state on how to respond when someone reports an illegal eviction. Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED Overall, 91 percent of jobs at daycare centers in California have come back. That might sound good, but the state lags behind the rest of the U.S. economy. Reporter Daisy Nguyen, KQED Starting January 1, the University of California and Cal State school systems will offer *all* students medication abortions through their student health centers. Thanks to a law that passed in 2019, the new policy will connect more than 62-hundred students statewide with those services. And for some, including those in the UC system, student insurance plans will cover all associated costs. Reporter Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Big money donors supporting Proposition 30 include San Francisco venture capitalist Ron Conway and former Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer. But Lyft has contributed by far the most -- more than seven million dollars. Last year California approved a mandate for ride hailing companies: 90 percent of their miles logged must be with electric cars by 2030. Climate Editor Kevin Stark, KQED The statue of Frank Bogert was removed from the front of Palm Springs' City Hall this week. The former actor and rodeo announcer was Mayor of Palm Springs in the 1950s and 60s and oversaw much of the desert city's growth. What's raising controversy is that he also authorized the bulldozing of homes of poor Native American, Black and Latino families from an area of the city called Section 14, back in the 1960s. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Around 1,600 people in the community of Wawona have been evacuated, and that includes kids from the summer camp, Adventure Risk Challenge. About 10 high schoolers from rural Fresno and Merced Counties were in the middle of a month-long expedition when the evacuation orders came in. Reporter Kerry Klein, KVPR For years, Chief Caleen Sisk has fought to bring salmon back to the river where the Winnenmem Wintu tribe has lived for thousands of years. Because of Shasta Dam the salmon are forced to spawn in waters that can grow quite warm, especially during drought. This past Monday, a truck carrying a small, orange cooler that had 20,000 winter-run eggs came to the remote campground on the McCloud River, now owned by the Forest Service. Chief Sisk says if the salmon can come back, maybe the tribe can bounce back as well. Reporter Judy Silber, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BA.5 is now the most dominant variant showing up in wastewater in the South Bay, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sacramento and elsewhere. The latest data from researchers who study sewage shows clues into how COVID-19 is spreading across the Bay Area. Science Editor Kevin Stark, KQED There's a 25% increase in COVID hospitalizations in Los Angeles County. Health officials say on Thursday LA County could move into the CDC’s high risk category for COVID community spread due to high hospitalizations. Reporter Jackie Fortier, The California Report The FDA has revised its Emergency Use Authorization to let licensed pharmacists prescribe Paxlovid, the treatment given to those at risk of serious illness from COVID. Reporter Carly Severn, The California Report City attorney David Chiu announced that Allergan and Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $34 million-dollars in cash, and another $20 million dollars worth of Narcan, a treatment for opioid overdose. Walgreens is the only remaining defendant in the case; their lawyers are set to give closing arguments today. Californians who are in mental distress and thinking about suicide will be able to call, or text, a new three digit number (9-8-8) to get help. But if they call, will someone pick-up the line? Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Starting on Saturday, Californians who are in mental distress and thinking about suicide will be able to call, or text, a new three digit number to get help. But if they call, will someone pick-up the line? Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report AB 1594 allows state and local governments, and private individuals, to sue gun-makers and sellers for damage caused by their products. Newsom signed legislation last month – adding restrictions on hard to trace ghost guns, and restricting ads for firearms aimed at minors. Politics Editor Scott Shafer, KQED Next week, Dodger Stadium will host the Major League Baseball... All Star Game. But, unions representing the stadium’s 15-hundred food and beverage workers say they’ve got enough votes to authorize a strike. All Star festivities kick off this weekend with MLB's Futures Game. The union is hoping to hear from Levy Restaurants before the start of the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a community meeting on Monday night, fire officials remained hopeful that they could protect trees in the Mariposa Grove like the Giant Grizzly. Reporter Soreath Hok, The California Report New heat maps show how hot weather is harming out health. On the hottest days in California, there are around 8,000 more daily ER visits than on typical days. In LA County alone, there are more than 1,500. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW City Officials in San Diego start the firing process for about 10 employees who refuse COVID vaccinations and tests. San Diego requires all employees to be vaccinated for COVID, they but let about 1,000 employees skip the vaccine for religious reasons. Those employees then have to get tested weekly, but a small group refused that, too. Investigative Reporter Claire Trageser, KPBS New report on new cyber-social threat for regions with large Hindu communities, like the San Francisco Bay Area, reveal real world security concerns. Rutgers University report finds white nationalists and other extremists on social media are bubbling with genocidal hate memes against Hindus. Reporter Rachael Myrow, KQED's Silicon Valley Desk The Tulare County Fairgrounds served as one of the country’s ten assembly centers for many Japanese Americans who were sent to concentration camps during World War II. Fresno and other fairgrounds that served as assembly centers have memorials, but Tulare does not. Mission Oak HS students are looking to change that. Reporter Joshua Yeager, KVPR If just one drone enters an area where firefighters are using aircraft to battle a blaze, the whole aerial operation has to grind to a halt. A new partnership between LA County Fire and the FBI looks to deter drone flights that could hamper fire suppression efforts. Reporter Matt Guilhem, KCRW Last weekend the Bill Pickett Rodeo made a stop in the Bay Area. Next it heads to Los Angeles. Black cowboy culture runs deep in California. Meet a Bay Area Black cowboy who's joining the rodeo for the first time. Reporter Annelise Finney, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles County's approach to Monkeypox vaccines is different from other parts of the country. L.A. County is taking a more targeted approach by giving out doses only to people who have the disease and their close contacts. Reporter Jackie Fortier, The California Report A judge in Alameda County has ordered the state to temporarily stop issuing denials to rental relief applicants... and to hold off on finalizing many others. Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED More than 2,000 acres have burned and residents and campers near the Washburn fire have been evacuated. The wildfire, which started on July 7th, threatens at least 500 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove. Last week's order from a Federal Judge came after an environmental organization, The Earth Island Institute, sued the National Park Service. The organization says the Park Service failed to provide proper public notice or assess environmental risks. Reporter Felicia Alvarez, LA Times Over the weekend, the new Sixth Street Viaduct opened in Los Angeles, and California's newest bridge is the largest and most expensive bridge project in the history of L.A. Reporter Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Researchers looked at moving patterns over the last several years, including during the pandemic. They found the outflow of Californians remained consistent....and many are moving out. Reporter Matt Guilhem, KCRW Drought restrictions that began last month in Southern California target water districts that rely heavily on water imported from Northern California. Santa Monica used to be among them. But now, less than half of their water is imported. Reporter Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The number of COVID-19 positive hospital patients continues to climb in L.A. County. So, the county could be headed for another public mask mandate. Reporter Jackie Fortier, KPCC More than a third of Monkeypox cases are in San Francisco, where vaccine supply isn’t. But, health officials have just received over 2,000 new vaccine doses this week. Reporter Vanessa Rancano, KQED New tax breaks from the State could help stabilize California's struggling Cannabis industry. Plenty of people in the industry are still not convinced the shifts will make enough of a dent for small businesses in the cannabis market. We talk to David Downs, Senior Editor at Leafly… who covers cannabis policy and legalization. Reporter Madi Bolanos, KQED Friendship Park on the US-Mexico border is a place where families separated by the border can see and talk to each other through the fence. But, a new plan by the Biden Administration may change all that and activists are angered by the new developments. Border Reporter Gustavo Solis, KPBS Check out our sister show, The California Report's Weekly Magazine, as Lisa Morehouse's series, “California Foodways,” takes her to every one of California’s 58 counties to bring us a story about food. Reporter Lisa Morehouse, California Foodways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A military rocket test launch on California’s Central Coast ends in failure Wednesday night, with the rocket blowing up seconds after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Reporter Lance Orozco, KCLU Evacuation orders have been lifted in parts of Amador County as fire crews begin to get a handle on the Electra Fire, which is now 40-percent contained. Wildfire smoke is likely one reason Lake Tahoe was a little murkier last year. The head of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center says the lake has not fully recovered from a spike of fine particles that flowed into its waters after the extremely wet year of 2017. Reporter Steve Milne, CapRadio The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District serves many communities like Calabasas and Hidden Hills , home to celebrities. And, it’s also home to some of the state’s top water wasters. Reporter Keith Mizuguchi, KQED Damages that led to a power outage and the release of 5- thousand gallons of oil at an unmanned substation northwest of Bakersfield on Saturday has the California Public Utilities Commission investigating. Reporter Ted Goldberg, KQED A new report from the California Institute for Rural Studies says agriculture employees were four times more likely than any other industry, not to follow COVID-19 protocols, like enforcing face masks and physical distancing. On Wednesday opponents submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for a recall election against District Attorney George Gascon, who some say is soft on crime. A spokesperson with the recall campaign said they spent about $8 million-dollars to gather over 700-thousand signatures. If certified, the election would be the latest in a string of recalls in California. Two men tell KQED they have been held for about a week at a for-profit, private facility in Central California in retaliation for supporting a peaceful labor strike. Reporter Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Electra Fire which broke out on Monday is now 10-percent contained, according to Cal Fire officials. Nearly 1000 residents in Amador and Calaveras Counties are under mandatory evacuation as 4,000 acres have burned and another 1200 structures are threatened. Dr. Bob Wachter, UCSF Chair of Medicine says people should continue to vaccinate and get boosters because it’s easy to get the newest variant. Wachter also recommends people continue to wear masks in an effort to avoid getting the B-A 5 Omicron subvariant. University of California researchers found thousands of prisoners and prison workers were infected with COVID-19, despite the high number of those vaccinated at prison facilities across the state. Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Advance Notice of Termination letters have gone out to at least three dozen employees, half of them in the San Diego Police Department, for failing to take COVID tests and/or get vaccinated, for religious reasons. Claire Trageser, KPBS Investigative Reporter In just a couple weeks, people with mental health emergencies should be able to call 9-8-8 for help. KQED checks in to see how preparations are going ahead of the new number’s launch. Robert Garrova, KQED In South Los Angeles every Sunday hundreds of people show up for a free yoga class. But this class isn’t just for fitness. It started as a protest against Black lives lost to violence. Megan Jamerson, KCRW The Coachella Valley Firebirds make history by hiring the first full-time female assistant coach in the American Hockey League. Jessica Campbell says she's looking forward to working with the players and helping them get to a level where they can play for the National Hockey League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has entered the hottest and driest months of the year, and the Bay Area faces a treacherous fire season. According to the latest wildfire forecast, the potential for wildfire is above normal across Northern and Central California. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED As of July 1, millions of renters in Los Angeles received stronger protections against eviction. The new rules will provide a stronger defense for many L.A. renters who’ve been vulnerable to eviction since April, when a last-minute change in state law temporarily revoked the county’s protections. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC With the Supreme Court decision last month overturning Roe v. Wade, California has pegged itself as a sanctuary for abortion services. But in many parts of the state, including the Central Valley, those services are hard to come by. Guest: Lauren Jennings, Reporter, Visalia Times-Delta The state budget approved by Governor Gavin Newsom last week includes $100 million to help children whose parents died from COVID-19. The HOPE for Children Act, will create savings accounts, with $4,000 deposited for kids younger than 9 and $8,000 for those ages 10 to 17. Reporter: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED It's July, which means the hottest and smoggiest days are ahead of us. And that dangerous mix of higher temperatures and air pollution in California also means a higher spike in deaths. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Climate change is leading to more extreme weather conditions across California. And during the summer months, extreme heat can be more than just an annoyance, it’s downright dangerous. That's why the city of Los Angeles has launched a campaign to warn people about the dangers of extreme heat. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masten Space Systems is helping develop a line of rockets that could be used for spaceflights without a crew and eventually, the next mission to the moon. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Supreme Court ruling out this week sharply limits the Biden administration’s ability to limit carbon pollution from power plants. But it will not affect California’s aggressive climate laws. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED California is adding four new states to the list of places to which state-funded travel is banned due to anti-LGBTQ laws. Attorney General Rob Bonta has added Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana and Utah to California’s do-not-travel list. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Governor Newsom and the state legislature have agreed to eliminate more than $500 million in late payment fees on traffic violations for Californians. The penalties are known as civil assessments. They get tacked on as fines when someone doesn’t pay off things like speeding tickets on time. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report More people are getting infected with COVID-19 at work in Los Angeles County. With more than 300 workplaces reporting clusters of COVID-19 cases in the past week, L.A. County health officials are urging people to wear masks indoors. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California immigration advocates have applauded a Supreme Court ruling that gives the Biden administration a greenlight to end a Trump-era immigration policy known as “Remain in Mexico.” Under the policy, the Trump administration expelled about 70,000 asylum seekers to often dangerous conditions in Mexico, to wait for U.S. immigration courts to resolve their claims. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Mental health workers say Kaiser Permanente is not ready to comply with a new law that went into effect Friday. It requires insurers to shorten wait times between therapy appointments. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This fall, California voters will decide on two different proposals to legalize and tax betting on sports. Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court made it possible, voters will decide whether to legalize the multi-billion dollar industry here. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED A controversial state bill that would make it easier to build housing in office spaces or strip malls has passed out of a Senate Committee. The bill has split the state’s construction trade unions. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Sacramento County’s homeless population hit a new record high this winter at nearly 9300 people. That’s according to the Homeless Point-In-Time-Count, which was released earlier this week. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio California officials urged the federal EPA to let the state enforce its own ambitious clean truck standards at a hearing on Wednesday. The EPA is considering a waiver allowing California to impose strict regulations, forcing manufacturers to limit diesel pollution and increase production of electric trucks. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED California nonprofits that help women access abortion care are reeling from changes to the state budget that lawmakers passed on Wednesday night. Some expenses that they thought would be covered for women traveling from out of state, won’t be. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED The University of California has committed to hosting a voting center or ballot drop box at each of its campuses. The plan was announced as part of a partnership with the Secretary of State’s Office to encourage students to vote. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last of California’s eviction protections expires on Friday. Lawmakers extended the deadline back in March, to give the state more time to pay out emergency rental assistance. But thousands of people who applied are still waiting, and could soon face eviction. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Reported hate crimes in California rose significantly last year, according to a report issued Tuesday by Attorney General Rob Bonta. Overall reports of hate crimes rose nearly 33% last year – to the highest level since right after the 9/11 attacks. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED As California's craft liquor scene grows, some of the state's smaller distillers say their growth is limited by laws preventing them from shipping direct to consumers. Now, a new bill, headed back to a state assembly committee, could change that. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November, California voters will decide whether to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution, after the state Assembly voted on Monday to place the question on the November ballot. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED While abortion in California will remain legal, and the state says it will champion reproductive freedoms, Arizona is looking to enact some of the most draconian abortion laws in the country. What does this mean for both states? Guest: Howard Fischer, Reporter Capitol Media Services in Arizona Los Angeles County has allocated $50 million to start making purchases for 5,000 affordable housing units to help families reduce two big expenses - housing and transportation. Reporter: Janaya Williams/KCRW Undocumented immigrants, ages 26 to 49, will get health coverage beginning in 2024. Roughly 700-thousand people are expected to sign up – at a cost of about 2 billion dollars a year. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Advocates are hopeful that Gov. Newsom's budget proposal will consider an increase wage replacement for workers who take time off to care for an ill relative, or bond with a new child. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California, which has positioned itself as a bastion of reproductive rights, plans to welcome people from states where abortion services are now restricted or banned altogether, following last week's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The state may even help them cover the costs of traveling here. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED This is an election year with control of Congress at stake. And progresssive political activists say in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion and reproductive freedoms will be the biggest issue shaping the political landscape. Guest: Emiliana Guereca, CEO of the Women’s March Foundation Legal scholars say it’s unsettled whether Californians could be held legally liable for helping people from out of state get abortions. At issue is whether states have authority to criminalize behavior outside of their borders. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Next week state lawmakers are expected to pass a bill that will make carrying a concealed weapon her even harder. Reporter: Kris Hooks, CapRadio Nathan Hochman, a former prosecutor and defense lawyer, has won enough votes to face California's Democratic Attorney General, Rob Bonta, in the November general election in California. Hochman won 18% of the vote in the June 7th primary, while Bonta garnered 54.8%, according to the latest figures released on Thursday by the California Secretary of State's Office. Prosecutors say the accused gunman who attacked a Taiwanese congregation in Laguna Woods was motivated by hate. The shooting shows a painful and complex past for Taiwanese immigrants and their American children. Reporter: Josie Huang, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Paradise homeowner is one of the first to get her home fire proofed. It's part of a program that helps residents who lost homes during the 2018 Camp Fire pay for safety improvements. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED The trustee for a more than $13-billion-dollar fund set up to compensate Pacific Gas and Electric wildfire victims is stepping down. Retired Judge John K. Trotter has overseen the "Fire Victim Trust" for the past two years, but next week he leaves the post. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED California’s public pension systems won’t have to divest their funds from fossil fuels anytime soon. A bill that would have forced the state's public pension systems to sell their oil and gas holdings by the end of the decade died in the state assembly this week. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Los Angeles renters may have to start paying back payments owed for rent during the pandemic now that the LA City Council is considering reversing measures that protected renters for the past two years. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC As the LGBTQ community continues to celebrate Pride Month here in California, an event that’s scheduled to feature drag queens at Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo has sparked controversy in the city. Opposing rallies were held near Fresno City Hall on Wednesday. The pandemic is having a brutal impact on many school closures, especially for Catholic schools. We take a look at what the closure of one Catholic School in L.A.’s Boyle Heights neighborhood means for an immigrant community. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Fire is not only dealing with an increasing amount of wildfires across California, but many of its firefighters are facing their own mental health crisis. An investigation by CalMatters looked at the trauma these firefighters are facing and how it's affecting fire crews across the state. Guest: Julie Cart, Reporter, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to compel severely mentally ill Californians into treatment has cleared its latest legislative hurdle, despite concerns from civil liberties advocates. The CARE Court proposal is now headed to its next committee hearing in Sacramento. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Los Angeles County health officials are being urged to be more aggressive in their efforts to help stop the spread of Monkeypox. Currently, there are at least a dozen confirmed, or suspected, Monkeypox cases in LA County, and 37 total cases across the state. California health authorities are being asked to work harder on getting the word out about the disease, and the Aids Health Foundation wants to remind more people to use condoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has the highest gasoline prices in the country. Now, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is investigating whether price gouging by energy companies is the biggest factor. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Cal Fire responds to thousands of fires every year, often at great risk to firefighters. That’s earned the agency a heroic image in the public’s eye. But Cal Fire is also responsible for work that helps prevent catastrophic fire damage, and an investigation by the California Newsroom has found that the agency has failed to meet many of those responsibilities. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of people will line the streets of downtown San Francisco on Monday to celebrate the Golden State Warriors NBA Championship. This is the team's fourth title in the last eight years. At least one bill that would legalize sports betting in California will go before voters in November. And while California could join more than two dozen states with some form of legalized wagering on sports, some are concerned it could have a negative effect on those struggling to kick the habit of sports betting and gambling addiction. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Warriors went on the road and defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 103-90, to clinch their fourth NBA title in the last eight seasons. Guard Stephen Curry was named Finals MVP, after leading the team with 34 points in the finale. A Bay Area state senator is introducing a bill that would require California gun owners to have liability insurance. The bill from Senator Nancy Skinner of Berkeley would make gun owners take out policies similar to car insurance, that would make them financially responsible for injuries, damages, or deaths caused by the negligent or accidental use of their weapons. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED Immigrant detainees who work at two privately run detention facilities around Bakersfield have confirmed they are on strike. This comes as California’s workplace health and safety regulators have opened an investigation into their working conditions at one of the detention centers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Glenn Burke is not a household name for most baseball fans, even though he played for both the L.A. Dodgers and Oakland A’s in the late 70's. But Burke’s legacy off the field resonates today, especially during Pride month. That's because Burke was the first Major League Baseball player to come out publicly as gay. Guest: Andrew Maraniss, Author of the book "Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly a decade, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant has been the only active nuclear plant in California -- and the state’s single largest source of electricity. It's been set for decommissioning over the next three years, but recently Governor Gavin Newsom has discussed delaying its closure, to help offset possible energy shortages predicted in the next few years. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX The city of Sacramento has adopted an emergency ordinance aimed at better protecting patients and staff at reproductive health care clinics from harassment. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report In a win for California employers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday placed limits on a state law that lets workers sue over certain labor law violations, even if they agreed to arbitration. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for young children under the age of 5. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have been the last age group here in the U.S. without access to the COVID vaccines. If all regulatory steps are cleared, the shots could be available as soon as next week. Guest: Dr. Bob Wachter, Chair, UC San Francisco Department of Medicine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More California homeowners could get mortgage relief, as the state expands access to a program designed to help those who have struggled to make payments during the pandemic. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Southern California’s sizzling real estate market may finally be getting a little cooler. As mortgage rates and inflation rise, some sellers now find themselves slashing asking prices to make a sale. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Despite the cooling market in parts of Southern California, rent and property prices still remain out of reach for some Californians. Among them -- many child care providers in San Diego. Reporter: Claire Trageser, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legislators in Sacramento have passed a new state budget, just in time for Wednesday's constitutional deadline. The $300 billion package is the largest spending plan ever. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Richmond have all adopted rules to stop landlords from harassing their tenants. Now, the city of Concord is the latest to take up these protections for renters. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED This past weekend, there were multiple incidents across the country involving right wing groups targeting Pride Month events. And we had at least two notable examples of LGBTQ hate here in California. It's something that many say is happening far more frequently. Guest: Ari Drennen, LGBTQ Director for Media Matters for America Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices