KQED's The California Report

Kaiser Permanente has reached a tentative deal with thousands of healthcare workers in Northern and Southern California, who were prepared to go on strike on Monday. They are still negotiating with a group of engineers, who have been off the job for two months. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC President Biden will sign his administration’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law on Monday. California will get tens of billions of dollars in new federal spending, but will it come quick enough to fix roads, bridges and other transit issues facing the state? Guest: David Kim, Secretary of California's State Transportation Agency While much of the focus has been on the massive backlog at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, residents in nearby communities are also expressing major concerns about pollution from those cargo ships. But a new queuing system being launched this week at the ports could help improve air quality and safety. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The San Joaquin Valley ranks worst in the nation when it comes to particulate air pollution, and environmental organizations say the Environmental Protection Agency is failing to do something about it. The groups have filed a lawsuit hoping to force the EPA to act. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Some 6,000 lecturers across the University of California system are planning to strike this week. The union representing lecturers has been in negotiations for more than two years and says the UC is refusing to negotiate issues like paid family leave and reimbursement for remote teaching expenses. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED The public comment period will close Monday on proposed new regulations requiring passenger sportfishing and whale watching boats to upgrade to cleaner engines. California’s charter boat operators say the proposed new rules will jeopardize their livelihoods. Reporter: Greta Mart, KRCB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations climate change conference wraps up Friday in Scotland. And while an agreement hasn't been reached, the summit could have varying impacts on California. Guests: Violet Saena, Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities and Mark Hertsgaard, Executive Director of Covering Climate Now and Environment Correspondent for The Nation Magazine Kaiser Permanente could be hit by multiple statewide labor strikes beginning on Monday. Thousands of the company's healthcare workers in California are threatening to walk off the job over contract talks. Reporter: Tara Siler, KQED There was a significant increase in hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 2020, mainly fueled by racially-motivated attacks. That's according to the annual crime report released this week by the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Workers in practically every sector seem to be in short supply these days, and with Christmas season around the corner, you can add Santa to that list. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State health officials are advising adults who want to get a COVID-19 booster shot to do so before the holiday season. This comes as the state is warning about a possible surge in COVID-19 cases this winter. Fossil fuels are the biggest driver of human-made climate change. So why has an analysis by environmental group Global Witness tallied more than 500 gas and oil lobbyists at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow? Guest: Kassie Siegel, Director for the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute California’s state delegation to the United Nations climate conference is packed with Latino power players. Latinos in California are not of the same mind when it comes to climate policy. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations has released a draft of a climate accord that urges nations to “revisit and strengthen” their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. That’s not just carbon dioxide, it’s methane too. And earlier at COP26, countries committed to slash methane emissions. Guest: Rachel Becker, Environmental Reporter, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom broke his silence around his absence from the United Nations climate change conference in Scotland, saying he skipped the trip to spend Halloween with his kids. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED When oceans and climate change are in the same sentence, it’s usually negative. But at the international climate conference COP26, a Bay Area ecologist pointed to marine sanctuaries as a climate change solution. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Researchers at the Public Health Institute followed more than 18,000 women who were pregnant in Oakland in the early ‘60s, and received injections of a synthetic hormone intended to prevent miscarriages. Fast forward six decades and their offspring may face a greater cancer risk. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Many people in California are concerned about the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the state. A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California finds an overwhelming majority say the gap between the haves and have-nots is getting bigger. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Fast food workers across California walked off the job Tuesday, to advocate for better working conditions. The workers are calling for the passage of an Assembly bill which would help set standards for industry wages and working conditions. Reporter: Shehreen Karim, KQED Former California Governor Jerry Brown has convened a group of experts and ex-government officials to tackle one of the state's biggest problems: wildfires. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The massive infrastructure package that's awaiting President Biden's signature is expected to have a longstanding impact on California. And it won't just be fixing roads and modernizing transit projects. Guest: Serena Alexander, Associate Professor with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University At the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, state senators from California and their counterparts in Washington state discussed merging part of their cap-and-trade markets, as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Fast food workers across California are walking out on Tuesday to advocate for better working conditions. The workers are calling for the passage of Assembly Bill 257, which would establish a fast food council to set standards for industry wages and working conditions. Reporter: Shehreen Karim, KQED After burning nearly a million acres, the Dixie Fire, which started in July northwest of Lake Tahoe, was fully contained late last month. But for many communities in Northern California, the recovery process is just beginning. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The tri-colored blackbird, which is native to much of the Central Valley, gained protection under California’s Endangered Species Act in 2018. Since then, populations of the tri-colored blackbird appear to have stopped declining. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Southern Californians who live near oil refineries may soon be able to breathe easier. The South Coast Air Quality Management District unanimously passed its biggest emissions rule in decades on Friday. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW The United Nations climate change conference continues this week in Glasgow, Scotland. And one longtime observer says what happens outside of the negotiations is an important aspect of this event. Guest: Chris Field, Director, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Democratic lawmakers in California once wanted to ban state contracts with border wall companies. But after the Newsom administration hired one of those firms for pandemic response, lawmakers are mostly silent on the issue. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Access to banking is often an indicator of a community’s health. In Imperial County, a shortage of bank branches plus rising temperatures can lead to dangerous outcomes. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of unionized Kaiser Permanente nurses and other healthcare workers in Southern California are preparing to go on strike. This comes after months of talks and negotiations have stalled. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC An investigation from the Los Angeles Times has found that thousands of times a year, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pull over bicyclists for minor violations, and then search them even though they often have no reason to suspect they’ll find something illegal. This is particularly impacting the Latino community. Guests: Alene Tchekmedvian and Ben Poston, Reporters, LA Times California just received the last chunk of federal COVID-19 relief dollars, aimed at helping the state’s students recover from the pandemic. The $5 billion being released is money schools are already expecting and brings the total the state has recieved to $15 billion. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED The Self Parking Program at Long Beach City College will allow students who are living out of their cars to park overnight in one of the college’s parking structures. They'll have access to wi-fi, showers and electrical outlets. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many California children, ages 5 to 11, have started getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In Los Angeles alone, more than 900, 000 school-aged children are now eligible for the shot. Reporter: Jackie Fortiér, KPCC As the United Nations Climate Change Conference continues in Scotland, many Californians can see the effects right here along the California coast. For instance, look out the window on a trip on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, which connects downtown Los Angeles and downtown San Diego, and the effects of climate change are right in front of you. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California Attorney General Rob Bonta says his office will take a larger role in enforcing California's housing laws. He's launching a 12 member strike force to step up enforcement. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED As the United Nations climate summit continues in Scotland, a majority of Californians are making it clear they support the state’s climate change mitigation goals. And they see the damage caused by global warming. That’s according to new findings from the Public Policy Institute of California. Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Levels of carbon emissions have almost returned to where they were before the pandemic, according to Stanford research. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all children ages 5 through 11 get a low-dose COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. In California, counties across the state are preparing to deliver the shots to children. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva continues to attack his county’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. He claims the sheriff's department could lose thousands of employees because of the mandate, although he hasn't provided evidence that that will actually happen. It’s important to have health insurance, especially during a pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, some insurers chose not to charge COVID-19 patients for expensive hospital stays and therapies. A few have continued that policy as long as the public health emergency is in place, but most are quietly going back to business as usual. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California has sent a contingent of officials to attend the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow. The delegation includes state Senator Josh Becker, a Democrat who represents San Mateo County and part of Santa Clara County. Guest: Josh Becker, Bay Area State Senator State utility regulators have reached proposed settlements with California's two biggest power companies, over allegations they violated safety rules before a string of destructive fires. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric are alleged to have violated a wide range of safety regulations before the blazes, which include the Thomas and Woolsey fires in Southern California and the Kincade Fire north of San Francisco. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Pacific Gas & Electric ratepayers could be stuck footing at least some of the bill for the Dixie fire. It's just the latest scandal for the troubled utility. Now, a Silicon Valley congressman says he hopes this will be the tipping point that pushes PG&E towards a public takeover. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new report finds that climate change is chiefly responsible for the growing frequency and severity of California's wildfires. The team of researchers from UCLA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory based that estimate on how quickly dry air sucks up moisture. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Pacific Gas and Electric says it's received a subpoena from federal prosecutors, in connection with this summer's catastrophic Dixie Fire. The fire burned nearly a million acres and has led to investigations by CalFire and by prosecutors in several counties. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Like so many other places in the country, California is grappling with its racist past. It’s also looking at the idea of reparations for African Americans and Black descendents of slaves. A new task force is studying this issue, and families are coming forward to share their experiences. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio In the wake of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, Sacramento is struggling with an influx of refugees from the country. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Beccerra visited the region Monday, and heard from refugees about the struggles of finding affordable housing, getting around without a car and enrolling children in school. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Using fresh Census data, state, local and federal political maps are redrawn every ten years to account for population changes over the past decade and to even out representation. The maps by the nonpartisan commission are by no means final. But they show some potentially big shakeups in Northern California’s congressional districts. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Geneticists at the San Diego Zoo have found the first ever case of condor reproduction by just a single parent. Testing revealed two young condors, reared by two separate mothers, had only one parent. Their eggs were not fertilized by male sperm. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations Climate Change Conference kicks off this week in Scotland. And while Governor Gavin Newsom canceled his trip at the last minute, the state will be well represented, as officials hope to showcase California's ambitious climate goals. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED Climate Reporter Over the weekend, employees of healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente staged worker solidarity rallies. Tens of thousands of Kaiser workers, like nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists are threatening to strike across the state. This past weekend, activists and supporters gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco to celebrate the release of the last remaining person detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Yuba County Jail. Now the “Free The Yuba 11 Coalition” is advocating that federal officials end ICE’s contract with the jail. Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED A new organization in California hopes to help people who have been released from prison re-integrate back into their communities. The Re-Entry Providers Association of California – or REPAC -- is the nation’s first statewide coordinated effort to help formerly incarcerated people succeed on the outside. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report The White House says it's committed to immigration reform, ultimately creating a pathway to citizenship for the 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants who live in this country. A key figure in that effort is California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, who is himself the child of immigrants from Mexico. Guest: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla from California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state Natural Resources and Water Committee held its first hearing Thursday on the massive oil spill off the coast of Orange County. The cause of the spill remains under investigation. Central Valley farmworkers and their families are calling on state and local officials to restrict the use of 13 pesticides that have been linked to childhood cancers. They also want to be warned ahead of time when these pesticides are used. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Facebook has changed its company name to Meta. The social media company has been under fire for spreading misinformation and other things. And the new name led to plenty of snarky Twitter comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state has pre-ordered 1.4 million doses of Pfizer's pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, so medical providers can start putting shots in arms as soon as federal health officials sign off. Staffing levels for federal wildland firefighters have dipped dramatically in recent years, impacting efforts to contain massive wildfires across the country, particularly in California. At a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, advocates argued for two pieces of legislation aimed at helping hire more firefighters. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report President Joe Biden has presented a trimmed down reconciliation bill to Congress on Thursday morning. California Senator Alex Padilla joined the California Report to talk about the proposal and some of the reasons it's been so heavily debated by his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. Guest: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California The Beverly Hills Police Department has been accused of racially profiling Black shoppers on Rodeo Drive. New records from a class action lawsuit show that out of 90 people who were arrested along the shopping corridor, 80 were Black. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW The coronavirus pandemic led to record drug use across the country. Fatal overdoses rose almost 30% percent last year, driven mainly by fentanyl and other opioids. But the stimulant methamphetamine is also a huge part of the problem. It doesn’t get as much attention, though, in part because it doesn’t cause the impressive death counts that make for good headlines. Guest: Sam Quinones, Journalist and Author of the book "The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Tuesday’s FDA committee vote endorsing the use of Pfizer's Covid vaccine in kids over the age of 4, public health officials in California are getting ready to distribute the kid-size doses. It’s looking like children will be able to get their shots in the next couple weeks, as soon as the review process is completed. Guests: Jessica Nicholson and Maura Fallon McKnight, Parents in Richmond and Humboldt County In Los Angeles, city employees who don’t get vaccinated by December 18 could lose their jobs. A plan approved Tuesday by the L.A. City Council would also require people who are not vaccinated to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, on their own dime. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's embattled Employment Development Department says it's taking steps to fix some of what's broken there, from clogged phone lines to fraud. State lawmakers grilled agency officials at an oversight hearing in Sacramento on Monday. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Rising rents and limited affordable housing continue to put pressure on many Californians. And new research shows the housing market is particularly challenging for Black renters in San Diego. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS The atmospheric river has effectively put an end to California’s wildfire season. And there's more evidence in the Sequoia National Forest. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Wildfire prevention is one of the key goals of President Biden’s trillion dollar infrastructure bill. Democrats are pushing for a vote on it in Congress this week. One of them is Josh Harder who represents California’s Central Valley. He’s been especially focused on measures that would address the health impacts from wildfire smoke. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Immigration advocates are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to cancel a no-bid, $350 million contract. It was awarded to a border wall company to help with the state’s COVID-19 response. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rain and wind wreaked havoc across Northern California and the Bay Area on Sunday, causing power outages, flooding and downed trees in several areas. Several cities saw rainfall records broken. This weekend's record-breaking rainfall is still not nearly enough to curb the state’s drought. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for all 58 counties in California last week. Farmers in Fresno County, like Joe Del Bosque, have been struggling for months. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Hundreds of Hollywood artisans held a candlelight vigil in Burbank Sunday night for Halyna Hutchins. She's the 42-year-old cinematographer who was accidentally killed by actor Alec Baldwin last week on a film set in New Mexico. An investigation is ongoing in New Mexico, but in California, it's prompted legislative action. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Two dozen Congressional Democrats from California are calling on the Biden Administration to shut down three immigration detention centers in the state. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, 23 members of Congress, plus Senator Alex Padilla, note that conditions in the facilities violate health and safety standards set by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom wants to ban new oil drilling near schools, homes and many businesses, proposing a rule aimed at improving the health of millions of Californians. The rule would bar new drilling within 3,200 feet of houses, schools and businesses open to the public. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The Bay Conservation and Development Commission has adopted a Bay Area-wide plan for adapting to rising seas. Scientists project the bay could rise by several feet by the end of the century, a result of warming temperatures. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED In response to its homelessness crisis, the city of Los Angeles has opened the country's largest so-called tiny home village. It's located in northeast Los Angeles and more than 200 people will be able to live there. Guest: Amy King, CEO of Pallet, a company building many of these homes A new state audit has found that California’s Board of State and Community Corrections, which helps run the state’s adult and juvenile justice and penal systems, mismanaged nearly $60 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The recall attempt targeting Governor Newsom is over, but there are other efforts across the state to remove elected officials from office. In Shasta County, a conservative member of the Board of Supervisors is facing a recall election promoted by members of a local militia and things have gotten ugly. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L.A City Employees Must Get Vaccinated by December City of L.A. workers who remain unvaccinated may be getting a reprieve from a vaccine mandate that took effect Wednesday. ..but it won’t last forever. Mayor Eric Garcetti says municipal employees who aren’t fully vaccinated by December 18th should be “prepared to lose their jobs.” Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW Rainfall Arrives, And the Drought Continues Rain has been falling in Northern California, and the National Weather Service’s Bay Area division predicts more rain later this week. That’s really good news for reducing wildfire risks, but what does it mean for the drought? Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED California Partners with Company that Built Border Wall for COVID-19 Response California has turned to an unusual partner for part of its COVID-19 response. It’s the same company that built former president Donald Trump’s border wall along the California-Mexico border. The no-bid, $350 million contract has frustrated immigration advocates and community health care leaders. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of unvaccinated Los Angeles City workers may have until December to get the mandated shots. But if they remain unvaccinated, they could feel the bite in their paychecks. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Los Angeles County is studying the effectiveness of a peer vaccination program. The homeless are being used as ambassadors to try to help convince other unhoused people get their shots. Guest: Chelsea Shover, Professor at UCLA who is helping lead the program A record number of cargo ships are idling off the Southern California coast. That means delays at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. But one Bay Area port is trying to help alleviate these delays. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report The descendents of some of Southern California’s early pioneers are trying to save their ancestors’ crumbling home. This is taking place in the Inland Empire, where a farming town was founded when California was still part of Mexico. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business leaders testified during a Congressional hearing on Monday about the impacts the recent Orange County oil spill has had on the region. At least one owner says he's unsure if and when things will get back to normal for his fishing company. October is National Pedestrian Safety Month and while many cities across California have ambitious goals to better protect those walking on the street, they are falling well short of those goals. Can anything be done to better protect pedestrians from drivers? Guest: Leah Shahum, Executive Director, Vision Zero Network Revenue from parking tickets is used by cities to pay for things like public parks and trash removal. But in Los Angeles, a new report has found that parking citations just aren’t the money maker they used to be. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW A new law in California will soon mandate use-of-force training for security guards. A CapRadio investigation into the private security industry sparked the legislation. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio South Bay Congressman Ro Khanna will preside over an historic hearing later this month, where Big Oil executives and trade groups will face questions about their role in spreading climate disinformation. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom sent nearly $850 million to cities and counties to buy empty motels and other properties to convert them into homeless housing. Now he wants to spend over $2.5 billion more on the same effort. The Homekey program has proven to be a success, but most of the sites being used aren't permanent places to stay for participants. Reporters: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report, Anna Scott, KCRW The Coast Guard said that back in January, a cargo vessel named the MSC Danit might have caught its anchor on the underwater pipeline involved in the Orange County oil spill, dragging it more than a 100 feet across the ocean floor. Los Angeles Unified School District’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate takes full effect Monday. Staff and teachers in L.A. need at least one COVID shot to get on campus, and must be fully vaccinated by November 15. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC The California condor is under threat once again. The massive birds went extinct in the wild in the 1980s but through breeding and conservation programs started making a comeback. But deaths attributed to lead poisoning have been rising once again, threatening the survival of this endangered species. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bitter rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers came to a head in their National League Division Series playoff battle. It's the first time the teams have met in the postseason. And the Dodgers came out on top in Game Five in a nail-biter. The Coast Guard says it’s confident the number of gallons leaked from the oil spill in Orange County is around 25,000, far less than the original estimate. Meanwhile, the oil spill was a major talking point during a Congressional hearing on Thursday. Recent COVID-19 trends in California are very positive, with infections, hospitalizations and deaths all down because of vaccinations and mask use. And in Los Angeles the number of new infections among school children is also subsiding. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About 60,000 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are threatening to strike next Monday if they can’t reach an agreement with studios over such issues as working conditions and more reasonable hours. IATSE represents a wide range of Hollywood’s workforce from cinematographers and editors to make up artists and script coordinators. Guest: A.J. Catoline, Editor on Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso" The executive director of the labor union SEIU California has resigned, after being charged with tax fraud and other felonies. Alma Hernández and her husband were charged earlier this month. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report One of the bills Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed mandates mental health education classes for many middle and high school students in California. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED One team will advance to the National League Championship Series. The other will have its season come to an end. The Dodgers and Giants take the field tonight in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alisal Fire has burned more than 13,000 acres in Santa Barbara County. That’s prompted evacuation orders in rural areas and forced the shut down of parts of Highway 101. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX Los Angeles continues its push to dismantle large homeless encampments in the city and move people into temporary shelters. It's already happened in the city's Echo Park and Venice neighborhoods. Now, the unhoused who are living in a section of MacArthur Park west of downtown, will be required to move by the end of this week. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report In the Coachella Valley, desert cities are passing laws restricting or banning short-term rentals. And that’s squeezing supply in the city of Palm Springs. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW California’s committee on reparations met again Tuesday to discuss housing and environmental inequities that have specifically disadvantaged African Americans. The committee looked at how reparations could be given in the form of direct payments and other methods to correct decades of racist policies and actions. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio Among the more than 700 bills Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law are several that aim to fix problems at the state’s unemployment department. The changes come in the wake of a parade of problems that jeopardized much needed help for jobless Californians. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla visited the site of the Orange County oil spill on Monday. Bonta has pledged to work with federal and local law enforcement to investigate the disaster. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED So far, more than two dozen birds have been rescued by the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, which is leading recovery and rehabilitation efforts for wildlife impacted by the Orange County oil spill. Pacific Gas & Electric has been blamed for numerous fires in recent years and the utility is mired in debt. Fire survivors have struggled to get any type of compensation from the company. But there's one group that has benefited from all of the pain -- Wall Street hedge funds. Guest: Lily Jamali, Former Co-Host, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

City and state beaches are reopening in Huntington Beach after more than a thousand volunteers and workers continued with clean-up efforts over the weekend, following the recent oil spill. Investigators are looking into whether the pipeline in question may have been damaged far earlier than first thought. Homekey is the centerpiece of California’s multi-billion dollar plans to fight homelessness. Started last year, it focuses on turning old or underused businesses, especially motels, into permanent supportive housing for the homeless. But the program is also showing other benefits in some cities. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring California high school students to take an ethnic studies class in order to graduate. The courses must be offered by the 2025-26 school year. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED A new law will afford tribes the same ambulance certification exemptions given to city and county fire departments. Previously, tribes had to jump through hoops. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly a week after oil was first reported off the coast of Orange County, investigators still have not been able to determine exactly how much crude has spilled into the Pacific. Tar balls have been spotted further south in San Diego County, but it's unclear if they're from the oil spill. During the pandemic, people have taken up lots of new hobbies and activities. That includes yoga. And some yoga instructors have found ways to create culturally sensitive spaces for students of color, in an industry where many feel white westerners have co-opted the practice. Reporter: Gabriella Frenes, The California Report As COVID-19 cases decline in California, Los Angeles County health officials are encouraged by another metric -- more teenagers are getting vaccinated. In the past month, there was a 5% increase in Latino 12-15 year olds receiving the free shots. The percentage was similar for Native American children in the same age group, followed by Black children. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Bay Area public health officers say the Delta COVID-19 surge is subsiding. So now, it’s time to talk about an exit strategy for indoor mask mandates. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The investigation continues into this past weekend’s oil spill off the coast of Orange County, with attention now focused on a cargo container vessel named “The Rotterdam Express.” The German-owned ship was anchored near the site of the oil spill for more than a week, before the pipeline owned by Amplify Energy ruptured. The Los Angeles City Council has passed an ordinance requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter many indoor businesses, city-owned buildings and large events. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW As California’s drought persists, there’s once again attention on saving water and a renewed push to make our homes and gardens more water efficient. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Coast Guard says a section of the pipeline that ruptured off the coast of Orange County moved more than a hundred feet along the ocean floor. It’s still unclear what caused the rupture, as authorities have not been able to confirm reports that it may have been caused by a ship’s anchor. Southern California Congressman Mike Levin is renewing a call to pass his legislation, that would ban new offshore drilling off the coast of Southern California. He says the massive oil spill in Orange County is further evidence of the importance of the bill. Guest: Congressman Mike Levin, Representative for California's 49th District Governor Gavin Newsom was at a Fresno elementary school on Tuesday to sign historic education bills into law. One will expand free access to early Pre-K and fund a college savings account for low-income students. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio In a split decision, a three judge panel on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that California’s ban on private prisons and detention centers is unconstitutional. A private prison firm and the Trump administration had sued to stop the 2019 ban from taking effect. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Why did some homes in the Northern California town of Paradise survive the 2018 Camp Fire while so many others did not? New research shows that simple actions such as creating defensible space around homes might have been a big factor. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting is Thursday and it comes days after a jury ordered the carmaker to pay $137 million to a Black worker, who accused the company of ignoring racist abuse. The former employee, who worked at Tesla’s Fremont plant from 2015 to 2016, said he was called racist names and employees drew swastikas and left racist graffiti around the plant. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are growing questions about why the emergency response wasn’t faster to a massive oil spill in Orange County over the weekend. And an investigation into the pipeline’s rupture is also underway. The oil spill is also threatening to destroy ecologically sensitive marsh areas in Southern California. Wetlands in Huntington Beach, which have been carefully restored and maintained since the 1990s, are now inundated with oil, and they're critical for coastal life. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KPCC Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that aims to address racial health disparities for new moms of color and their babies. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED In response to an investigation by California public radio stations into the health risks from wildfire smoke, state and federal lawmakers plan to introduce legislation and hold at least one hearing on the topic. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crews are working to contain a massive oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach. The oil spill has closed many beaches in the area, and environmental groups are working frantically to save wildlife that has been impacted by the spill. In surveys, half of Californians say they have to wait too long to see a mental health provider when they need one. A new bill currently on the governor’s desk would require health insurers to reduce those wait times to no more than 10 business days. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED California’s statewide eviction moratorium has expired. And now many tenants are looking for rent relief and legal guidance. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California should see big changes in police practices and an increase in transparency and accountability for officer misconduct because of a set of bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The laws include an expansion of police transparency, allowing public access to cases involving racial discrimination, unlawful arrests and excessive force by officers. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED This week, The California Report is losing a key member of our family, our team. Co-host Lily Jamali is moving onto exciting new challenges outside of KQED. Lily came to The California Report as co-host and reporter in mid-2018, and it’s overwhelming what she’s been able to accomplish these last three years. Reporter: Angela Corral The state’s eviction moratorium has expired. But applying for rent relief can still put off an eviction,at least for now. Reporter: Erika Kelly, KQED A prominent California lawyer who advised President Donald Trump on overturning election results is facing calls to be investigated -- and possibly disbarred. Chapman University Law School Professor John Eastman was forced to resign after speaking at the rally that preceded the insurrection on January 6. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of our continuing investigation, “Dangerous Air,” NPR's California Newsroom found out how some Californians are coping with all the smoke created by wildfires in the state, and why the smoke hits some parts of California harder than others. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW With so much social media inundated with vaccine misinformation, YouTube has announced it’s cracking down on it, again. The company said it would remove videos claiming that vaccines do not reduce rates of transmission or contraction of disease, and content that includes misinformation on the makeup of the vaccines. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED The L.A. City Council was supposed to vote on a sweeping municipal ordinance Wednesday that would require people to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination before entering many indoor public spaces. But the council had to delay action after one councilmember withheld his vote. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of NPR's California Newsroom investigation, Dirty Air, we traveled to rural Northern California. There's been a shocking increase in wildfire smoke, and unhealthy air recently in California, and it can be particularly damaging for children. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire continue to grow as they scorch parts of Sequoia National Park. Thousands of firefighters are battling challenging conditions, including steep and rugged terrain. During a contentious meeting, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for eligible students and staff. The plan calls for younger students to be vaccinated as well, once the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An analysis by NPR’s California Newsroom of more than ten years of data found a tremendous spike in the amount of smoke we are breathing, from San Diego to the Oregon border, with disturbing health outcomes. In some parts of rural Northern California, people are living with unhealthy air months at a time. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED From now on, California voters will get a ballot in the mail, by default, in all future elections. It’s the result of a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED A federal judge is ordering all state prison guards and other staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in order to enter any prison facility. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PG&E is facing manslaughter and other charges after its equipment started the 2020 Zogg Fire that killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes. On Friday, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett announced 31 charges against the utility, saying it failed to perform its legal duties. Californians with the most basic homeowners insurance policies have long complained that when disasters strike, they just don't have enough coverage to pay for all of their expenses. But change is coming . Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report California’s groundbreaking task force on reparations for Black Californians wrapped up its latest meeting on Friday. The group is working on drafting a reparations proposal. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS COVID-19 cases among young people were increasing last month as students started the school year. Cases have since declined, but even small COVID outbreaks at schools in the Central Valley are having major impacts on families in rural communities. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Breathing in too much ozone gas is harmful for our health. Now researchers say the health risk is even higher for older Californians who live in areas with elevated ozone pollution. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that it’s received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and been endorsed by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel, state health officials say they’re ready to give COVID-19 booster shots to anyone who’s eligible. Before it’s widely distributed, the efficacy of a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine still needs to be reviewed by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. Movie fans will soon be able to enjoy a new museum in Los Angeles that is aimed specifically for them. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens on Septemeber 30, and will provide guests with a rich, visual history of the filmmaking industry. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report During a visit to the site of KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $15 billion climate package. But how will the money be spent? Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED The KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire are both burning in Sequoia National Park. Fire crews are trying to protect the iconic trees there and so far, have been fairly successful. Reporter: Sorreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the Caldor Fire has destroyed more than a thousand buildings and continues to burn, communities around South Lake Tahoe mostly escaped the fire's destruction -- despite lying square in its path. That's thanks to firefighters, but also years of work preparing the forest. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 701. It’s a bill that requires warehouse operators to disclose more about the quotas and algorithms they use to squeeze more productivity out of workers, possibly creating more dangerous workplaces. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED After a month and a half-long preliminary hearing, Paul and Ruben Flores will stand trial for crimes related to the disappearance and murder of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Kristin Smart, who went missing in 1996. Smart was never found and was declared legally dead in 2002. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July, as a response to the worsening drought, Governor Gavin Newsom asked the people of California to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%. But so far, Californians have only reduced water consumption by less than 2 %. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Los Angeles County has two juvenile halls, but state officials say they’re both failing in their duties. The facilities are accused of treating the young people housed there so poorly, that within the next two months, they’ll have to either fix the way they operate, or remove juveniles from the detention centers all together. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW With extremely high COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the Central Valley, pediatricians are warning local doctors to be on the lookout for a related condition found in children who have been exposed to the virus. Cases of Multi Inflammatory Syndrome , or MIS-C tend to increase following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Next year in Los Angeles, residents will elect a new mayor, and people are starting to announce their intentions to run. The latest is L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon, who announced his candidacy Tuesday. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC With every natural disaster and humanitarian crisis, Californians apply thumbs to phones to send money to people and organizations raising funds for those in need. Which explains the presence of a bill, on Governor Newsom's desk now, that promises to boost state oversight of charitable fundraising online. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In response to California's ongoing wildfires, State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued an order requiring insurance companies with policy holders living in fire zones to keep people's policies in place and to honor insurance renewals. Guest: Ricardo Lara, California Insurance Commissioner The KNP Complex Fire burning in Sequoia National Park continues to threaten a grove of giant sequoias. That includes the General Sherman, considered one of the oldest and largest trees on earth. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Wildland firefighters accept risk when they head out to battle a blaze. But Cal Fire firefighters are getting sick, and some have even died, during training. Reporters: Jacob Margolis, KPCC and Brian Edwards, Columbia Journalism School The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board has told the Wall Street Journal that Tesla should address “basic safety issues” before offering its “full self-driving” package to more drivers. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Bay Area Assemblyman Marc Levine is launching a run for state Insurance Commissioner and he’ll be challenging a fellow Democrat. The election is next year. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles County health officials have added in-home care workers to the list of high-risk health jobs that must get COVID-19 vaccines by the end of September. The move has emboldened advocacy groups, who are pushing to make it statewide. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC A statewide bill that aims to diversify California’s arts and culture workforce, and jobs that pay a living wage, has landed on the governor’s desk after winning near-unanimous support in the Assembly and Senate. The California Creative Workforce Act is the first of its kind in the country. Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED Pacific Gas & Electric says it’s possible that electricity continued to flow through a set of power lines for several hours after a tree fell into them and ignited the Dixie Fire. That’s according to court filings from the company. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED Labor unions made a massive effort to help Governor Gavin Newsom beat the recall and stay in office. Now, unions are expecting Newsom to show up for them. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED From a Southern California warehouse for reclaimed produce to a food distribution event for poor families, the state's efforts to boost food recycling as a way to fight climate change are on full display. Beyond current industrial-scale effort, starting next year, Californians will be required to recycle food at home. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills aimed at boosting housing supplies across the state. One of them, SB 9, would increase density and affordable housing options in neighborhoods dominated by single family homes. Reporter: Erika Kelly, KQED California health officials are now requiring that people who work in high risk medical settings be fully immunized against COVID-19. That includes employees of hospitals, nursing homes and doctors’ offices, but it doesn’t include care workers in private homes. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC An FDA committee is meeting Friday to decide whether to recommend booster shots for seniors and the general public. As of mid-August, 119,000 Californians have gotten booster shots, according to records that KQED News requested from California’s Public Health Department. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Governor Newsom will soon get a chance to make his second appointment to the California Supreme Court. That's because Associate Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar has decided to leave the court to head up a prestigious international think tank. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED It’s been 3.5 years since the ACLU first filed a lawsuit in San Diego against the Trump administration, over its policy of separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. Now the federal government is intensifying its push to reunite those parents and children, with a new program launched this week. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Democrats are looking into reforming the recall process less than 24 hours after Governor Gavin Newsom survived an effort to remove him from office. Both the Senate and the Assembly will hold hearings in the coming months to explore possible reforms. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Governor Newsom has until October 10 to decide whether to sign a bill that softens production quotas for warehouse workers. AB 701 is widely seen as targeted at Amazon, which runs more than 60 warehouses across the state. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED A new health order in Los Angeles County would require proof of vaccination for COVID-19 at indoor bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges. It would also encompass large outdoor events and theme parks. Fire crews are ramping up the battle against the so-called KNP Complex Fire threatening Sequoia National Park. The fire is moving closer to an iconic grove of giant sequoias, some of which are more than 2,000 years old. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report As vaccine mandates take hold around the state, some Californians are seeking exemptions on religious grounds. But verifying claims related to these exemptions involves somewhat murky legal territory. Guest: Dorit Reiss, Law Professor, UC Hastings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has soundly defeated a recall effort to remove him from office. Although votes still need to be counted, more than 60% of those that have been tallied thus far voted no on the question of whether he should be recalled. Reporters: Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos, KQED With Governor Newsom's decisive win in the recall election, he can now focus on several pressing needs, from the pandemic to homelessness and wildfires. But he'll also be back on the campaign trail soon enough, as he's up for re-election next year. Guest: David McCuan, Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says California’s coronavirus transmission rates are now tilting in the right direction. The state’s coronavirus transmission level has fallen from “high” to “substantial,” the second-highest tier as defined by the CDC. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden campaigned with Governor Gavin Newsom in Long Beach Monday night, a day before the recall election. Meanwhile, the candidates looking to replacing Governor Newsom made a final pitch to voters on why they should be selected to replace him. In California, the number of people dying from methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses now outnumbers deaths from fentanyl. Health officials are desperate for more treatment options for stimulant addiction and there is a controversial drug treatment plan in the works. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED A federal judge wants Pacific Gas & Electric to explain why it took several hours to shut off electricity to a power line with blown fuses at the Dixie Fire ignition site. That delay may have caused the now nearly million-acre blaze. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED Garment workers in California are one step closer to securing hourly wages and pay theft protections, thanks to a bill that’s waiting to be signed by the governor. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW A design blogger and e-commerce entrepreneur with 5 million followers on Pinterest, who says she helped launch the social media site, is suing the company’s co-founders. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday is the last day to vote in the recall election, and the campaigns are trying to sway Latinos, who represent almost 30% of all registered voters in the state. Opinions seem to be fairly mixed on the job Governor Gavin Newsom has done since entering office. Reporters: Maria Peña and Scott Shafer, KQED President Joe Biden will make a couple of stops in California on Monday. He'll tour some of the biggest wildfires in the state and also join Governor Gavin Newsom, one day before the gubernatorial recall. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED California lawmakers want to make it easier for property owners and conservancies to mitigate wildfires, by setting fires themselves. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio As wildfires continue to burn across Northern California, the emerging wildfire litigation industry has become big business for attorneys in recent years. But some survivors of past fires have a message for the most recent group of fire victims: buyer beware. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Los Angeles Unified School District board has unanimously approved a vaccine requirement for all eligible students 12 and older if they want to attend classes in-person. Latinos make up about a third of registered voters in California. And the campaigns for and against the recall are running TV and radio ads in Spanish hoping to win them over. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED With California’s recall election wrapping up next Tuesday, a new poll has good news for Governor Gavin Newsom. The poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies finds 60% of likely voters oppose the recall effort. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Governor Newsom and Republican frontrunner Larry Elder were both in Fresno on Thursday making their respective recall campaign pitches to voters. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report Managing California’s water supply requires an enormous amount of energy. Now, new research suggests making the state’s water system more efficient is also a climate solution. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supporters of Governor Gavin Newsom are working furiously to turn out the “No” vote and keep him in office. They've been canvassing the state in the lead-up to election day. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED With the final day to vote in the gubernatorial recall election just five days away, tensions are flaring on the campaign trail. Republican frontrunner Larry Elder was greeted by angry protesters in Venice on Wednesday. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW The city of San Francisco and irrigation districts in the Central Valley are suing the state over drought restrictions, restrictions that prevent them from drawing water out of creeks and rivers. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom continues his campaign across the state, as he looks to fight off the recall election. Meanwhile, top candidates to replace the governor are also spreading their message, a week before election day. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California lawmakers wrap up their legislative session at the end of this week. And there are still a flurry of bills that may be in the pipeline. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio California is one of just a handful of states that has laws on the books meant to protect workers from excessive temperatures. But, people are still getting sick and dying from excessive heat and the state agency that's supposed to protect workers has been understaffed for years. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to COVID-19 testing, one increasingly popular option is at-home test kits. But do they really work? Guest: Katherine Wu, Staff Writer, The Atlantic Crews continue to build containment around the Caldor Fire in the Sierra foothills. But some communities are still in limbo as it's not safe enough for residents to return to their homes. Over Labor Day weekend, up to 2 million Californians lost emergency unemployment benefits created to help get them through the pandemic. As people who still haven’t found work try to move forward with less support, some fear they may never recover. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices