KQED's The California Report

In a preliminary report filed with state regulators, Pacific Gas & Electric says the Fly Fire may have started when a tree fell on one of its power lines. The fire started in Plumas County near Highway 70 -- and combined with the Dixie Fire late last month to form the largest wildfire currently burning in the state. With the rapid spread of the delta variant, and cases going up across the region, Bay Area heatlh officials are putting in place a mask mandate indoors again. The only counties that aren't mandating masks are Napa and Solano counties. COVID-19 cases are rising due to the highly contagious delta variant. So what makes this strain so much more contagious than others? Guest: Dr. Monica Gandhi, Infectious Disease Expert, UC San Francico More California-based entertainment companies are requiring employees to get a COVID 19 vaccine. Now you can add Disney and Netflix to the list. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW The water in Lake Mendocino is dropping at an alarming rate, threatening supplies for communities along the upper Russian River. Water in the reservoir is below minimum storage levels, stressing drinking water supplies and fish that depend on the river. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED The trillion dollar infrastructure bill moving through Congress includes language that could tax cryptocurrency companies. But crypto lobbyists are pushing back. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco is the latest county that's considering a mask mandate to help ease the spread of the delta variant. Public health officials say a decision could come as early as this week. Subsidies for electric vehicles have been hailed by environmentalists as a key clean energy policy. But do EVs actually reduce emissions? Guest: David Rapson, UC Davis Economics Professor With wildfire smoke now a year-round problem in many parts of the state, Ventura County just launched a first-of-its-kind alert system to notify farmworkers when air quality conditions may pose a risk to their health. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Among the San Joaquin Valley’s community of Punjabi Sikhs, there are many reasons people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. But many in these communities are also concerned that their vaccination concerns aren’t being addressed by health authorities. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s fire season is off to a fast start, outpacing 2020, which was the worst year on record. Wildfires have burned over 480,000 acres in California so far this year. That’s about four times the total during the same time last year. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio One of Los Angeles' most extraordinary works of public art is in a storm water channel in the San Fernando Valley. Started in the 1970's and still not complete, it's a more than half-mile long mural -- one of the longest in the world -- called the "Great Wall of L.A." The mural was conceived by artist Judy Baca. Guest: Artist Judy Baca Because of the drought, the top environmental issue on the minds of Californians is water and how much there is of it. Roughly two-thirds of adults say water supply and drought are big problems in this state, that according to the latest Public Policy Institute of California survey. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Gymnast Sunisa Lee has become the first Hmong-American to win gold for Team USA. And just as her hometown in Minnesota cheered her on, the San Joaquin Valley was watching as well. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio The shooting competition at the Olympics is wrapping up and one Californian is hoping to take home a medal in her first Summer Games. Sagen Maddalena grew up in Groveland near Yosemite National Park and got an early start in the sport. Guest: Sagen Maddalena, Member of the U.S. Shooting Team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following in the footsteps of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California public health officials are recommending that everyone wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Google will require employees who return to the company’s offices be vaccinated. The Mountain View-based tech giant is among the companies that is shifting gears when it comes to employees returning to the office. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Health officials and politicians have blamed people who are unvaccinated for the recent surge in coronavirus cases, saying we are now in a "pandemic of the unvaccinated." But one Bay Area pediatrician called this rhetoric damaging, because it lumps everyone who hasn't gotten a shot into one group. Guest: Dr. Rhea Boyd, Bay Area Pediatrician and Public Health Advocate The Los Angeles City Council has passed a sweeping ordinance that would restrict homeless encampments in many areas of the city, including near parks, schools, day care facilities, libraries and freeway bridges and offramps. Keeping someone housed may be among the best ways to prevent a serious COVID-19 infection, or even death. That’s according to a new UCLA study that looked at eviction moratoriums during the pandemic. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW In San Diego County, tenants' rights advocates say they will continue to fight against a plan to sell nearly 6,000 housing units to the private equity firm, Blackstone. Some who live in the housing now are worried they’ll lose their homes. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS This week marks two years since the tragic Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, and survivors are adding another defendant in a lawsuit they've filed against the festival. The lawsuit now names Century Arms LLC, which marketed and sold a military-style assault rifle used in the shooting. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles is the latest California city that will require municipal employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. If they don’t, those employees will have to provide regular test results to show that they haven't contracted the virus. Squaw Valley, the famous ski resort near Lake Tahoe that once hosted the Winter Olympics, is preparing for a name change this fall in response to community concerns about the derogatory connotations of its name towards Native American women. Now, another Squaw Valley in Fresno County is at the center of a debate over the possibility of its own name change. Reporter: Sorreath Hok, Valley Public Radio The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people wear masks indoors in areas where the coronavirus is surging. That includes those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Baby salmon are dying in California rivers by the thousands because of abnormally warm temperatures following a series of heat waves. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Santa Barbara has joined the list of California cities, including San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo, moving away from natural gas in new buildings. It’s seen as one way to fight the climate crisis. Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an order from Governor Gavin Newsom, state and health care workers will no longer be able to self attest that they've been vaccinated. Those who do not show proof of vaccination will be tested regularly for COVID-19 and have to wear a mask in the workplace. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Five people are dead following a long standoff at a home in Wasco. Three people inside the home, believed to be the gunman's sons and their mom were killed along with a Kern County Sheriff's Deputy. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio As wildfires rage across much of Northern California, it's a stark reminder that once they are contained, many families will have lost their homes. And the challenge to rebuild can take years, if thoe families stick it out. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dixie Fire burning in Plumas and Butte counties has burned nearly 193,000 and forced even more evacuations in Plumas County. Several homes and structures have been destroyed although the full extent of the damage hasn't been determined. Los Angeles County has seen five straight days of daily COVID-19 cases topping 2,000, mainly due to the highly contagious delta variant. That's led officials to urge all residents who are eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible. California industries have sent manufacturing jobs overseas for years to find lower wages and fewer regulations. But as the drought tightens its grip on the state, some businesses might have an additional reason to leave -- the search for cheap water. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Even when the state isn’t in a drought, some of California’s Native American communities face challenges getting safe drinking water. There are growing concerns about what this year's dry weather will mean for those communities. Guests: Jonathan Rash, Deputy Director of the Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction at the California Area Indian Health Service and Bo Mazzetti, Chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tuition increases approved by the U.C. Regents will be capped at 5%. Starting in 2022, it’s estimated new in-state undergrads will pay roughly $530 more in tuition and fees. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED The major surge of new coronavirus cases is growing in Los Angeles County. And more fully-vaccinated people are testing positive with the virus. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Several new sports are making their debut at the Olympics in Tokyo -- among them are surfing and skateboarding. Both sports have a long and storied history in California. Guest: Selema Masekela, Action Sports Commentator and Host The state Employment Development Department has announced that it will begin paying unemployment insurance claims for applicants who have certified for benefits already and received at least one week of benefits, but who have been pending for at least two weeks. The agency has been riddled with problems since the start of the pandemic. Guest: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report First-Time Olympian Explains How She Got Into Shooting Sagen Maddalena is competing in the Olympics for the first time as a member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team. Maddalena grew up in Groveland, not too far from Yosemite National Park. Guest: Sagen Maddalena, Member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pacific Gas & Electric plans to bury 10,000 miles of its power lines in an effort to prevent its electrical grid from sparking wildfires in California. The announcement comes days after the utility said its equipment may have ignited the Dixie Fire burning in Plumas and Butte counties. Guest: Will Abrams, 2017 Tubbs Fire Survivor While huge fires are burning across the state, in rural areas, even a small brush fire can be devastating. An unincorporated community in Tulare County is struggling to recover after a fire burned down a lifeline for the community earlier this month. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio A popular conservative talk show host will appear as a candidate in California’s upcoming recall election. This was one of the legal rulings issued Wednesday regarding the race. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Videos of groups openly stealing from department stores and running out to waiting cars have gone viral online, and put pressure on law enforcement, despite overall decreasing crime rates. A new law signed by Governor Newsom hopes to help local police investigate these crimes. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As coronavirus cases continue to soar across Los Angeles County, and the rest of the state, more employers are poised to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Pasadena is about to become the first city in Southern California to demand that all of its municipal employees do so. Guest: Steven Mermell, Pasadena City Manager Last month, California unveiled an online portal that would allow residents to gain access to a digital vaccine verification record. But millions who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 have had issues getting all their information included in their digital record. Guest: Darion Afshar-Gomez, business intelligence analyst with the San Jose Sharks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crews continue to face challenging conditions in battling large wildfires across Northern California. Thunderstorms and wind are being replaced by dry, hot weather this week as crews continue to battle the Dixie and Tamarack fires. Critics of Governor Gavin Newsom say his COVID-19 restrictions were unfair and damaging to small businesses -- thousands of which permanently closed during the pandemic. Now they're using that argument to drum up support for the recall of Newsom. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore says he will review body cam footage after an officer shot a protester at close range with a non-lethal round Saturday. This occurred at a protest over transgender rights outside a spa in Koreatown. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC California has approved a $500 million first of its kind fund to prevent real estate profiteering and to help families, land trusts and nonprofits purchase foreclosed properties. This comes following a KQED investigation into real estate firm Wedgewood, which purchased hundreds of properties during the pandemic. Guest: Erin Baldassari, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A significant rise in coronavirus cases over the past few weeks has led to health officials in Los Angeles County to reinstate a mask mandate in indoor settings. The requirement went into effect over the weekend. Guest: Dr. Bob Wachter, Chair of U.C. San Francisco’s Department of Medicine As the Tokyo Olympics get underway this week, at least three athletes have already tested positive for the coronavirus at the Olympic Village. Athletes are facing strict health guidelines as they prepare for the Summmer Games. Guest: Brian Burrows, Member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team PG&E says its infrastructure may have contributed to the start of the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 30,000 acres near the site of the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. Guest: Dan Brekke, KQED California’s top election official has released the list of candidates who filed to run for governor in the September recall election. They're looking to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, should voters decide to recall him. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Smith grew up in Southern California and will be competing in his third Olympics for the U.S. Men's Indoor Volleyball team. He won a bronze medal with the team in 2016. Guest: David Smith, Member of the U.S. Men's Indoor Volleyball Team When it comes to average temperature increases due to climate change, the Bay Area and Los Angeles will not experience warming equal to the amount of greenhouse gases they produce. That’s according to a new study out of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As thousands of firefighters confront a growing number of wildland blazes around the state, crews in Butte County rushed to a new incident near the site of the deadliest fire in California history. The Dixie Fire has burned at least 1,200 acres. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Crews are facing challenging conditions as they continue to work to extinguish the massive Beckwourth Complex Fire burning north of Lake Tahoe. Major wind gusts caused the fire to grow, and forced more people to evacuate their homes. The Biden Administration has approved what could become the first two offshore wind farms along the West Coast -- one in Humboldt County and the other in Morro Bay. The wind farms would help California reach its goal of 100% clean electric power by the year 2045, but local fishermen worry they could jeopardize their livelihoods. Reporter: Kathryn Barnes, KCRW Governor Newsom has nominated Natalie Palugyai to be California's next Secretary of Labor. If confirmed, she would replace Julie Su, who is joining the Biden administration. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Senate Democrats' proposal for a $3.5 trillion investment plan would support families and spur job growth. But immigrant advocates are wondering whether a proposal to legalize undocumented immigrants can pass as part of this budget bill. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles County has seen five straight days with more than a thousand new daily COVID-19 cases. And Sacramento County has the highest number of cases per capita in the state, in counties with at least 100,000 residents. California is in the grip of a drought, but officials have yet to require statewide water restrictions similar to those mandated during the last multi-year drought. Some experts say regional restrictions allow for a more targeted approach to reduce water waste. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED The 2018 Camp Fire was the deadliest wildfire in state history. But a new report from the California Air Resources Board shows it may have been more dangerous to people downwind than previously known. Reporter: Ed Fletcher, CapRadio It's been described as one of the biggest botched deals in business history. Author and journalist Lauren Etter investigates the downfall of Juul's e-cigarette business. Guest: Lauren Etter, Author of the book "The Devil's Playbook: Big Tobacco, Juul, and the Addiction of a New Generation" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom will not be allowed to identify himself as a Democrat on the recall election ballot. Newsom's attorneys did not include the governor's Democratic Party affiliation when the recall response papers were filed with the secretary of state in early 2020 Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Anyone in California who's been paying attention to unemployment issues has probably heard about the huge backlog of unpaid unemployment claims at the state’s Employment Development Department. Now, there are some anomalies in the numbers being released by the state. Guest: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report California health officials have backtracked on how to enforce masking rules at schools in the fall. On Monday, the state issued a mandate, saying that K-12 students who aren’t wearing a mask would be barred from the classroom. Now the state is leaving it up to local school districts to enforce the new rule. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Long before the existence of Twitter, Facebook, and Google, and revelations about the government harvesting Americans' personal data, the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, was fighting for people's civil rights and privacy online. The non-profit is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Guest: Cindy Cohn, Electronic Frontier Foundation Executive Director Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been nominated by President Biden to serve as U.S. Ambassador to India. If he's confirmed by the U.S. Senate, it will set off a chain of political activity in the city. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC Sanitation crews and polie have been clearing a large homeless encampment at Venice Beach. The move comes as the city of Los Angeles appears ready to move forward with an ordinance that would ban tents in many public spaces, including on sidewalks. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom has approved an extra $500 million for wildfire prevention. The change comes after CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom revealed Newsom’s administration had nixed a similar amount. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio A massive rock barrier through part of the Delta in Contra Costa County has recently been completed. The barrier is expected to help preserve water supplies for millions of Californians as drought conditions worsen in the state. Guest: Jacob McQuirk, a principal engineer with the state Department of Water Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom is asking all Californians to voluntarily cut back their water usage by 15%, as drought conditions get worse across the state. The governor has also extended a drought emergency to 50 of California's 58 counties. After California's grid operator CAISO called for rolling blackouts last August, regulators extended the expiration date of four aging power plants. But they didn't hold up during last month's extended heat wave. Guest: Colby Bermel, Reporter with Politico The state Employment Development Department is renewing a contract for Bank of America debit cards, which are used to get people their unemployment benefits. Bank of America told legislators earlier this year it had lost "hundreds of millions" of dollars because of card hacks and other dysfunction related to the cards. Some Californians are now suing the bank. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throngs of passengers are once again spilling out of Los Angeles International Airport as more COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in California. But these passengers are finding there aren’t a whole lot of Uber or Lyft drivers to take them where they want to go. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Many Californians have moved since the start of the pandemic, but not as many are moving out of state as some might assume. They're instead moving to places in California where it's far less expensive to live. Guest: Sarah Parvini, LA Times Reporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A group of current and former fire experts is pushing back against proposed reforms to California’s fire safety regulations. They say the changes will put both first responders and residents at risk. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California school districts will most likely be required to offer an at-home study option for students who don't want to return to the classroom this fall. But there will likely be changes to what has been offered during the pandemic. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED President Joe Biden has pledged to end for-profit detention. But his administration is fighting a California law that would do just that. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate change has had a significant impact on California and now, researchers are concerned about the state's desert environments. That includes Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert, which are seeing a drastic change to their ecosystems. Guest: James Cornett, Desert Ecologist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, as the pandemic was bearing down on Southern California, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city needed to do more to help unhoused people with their hygiene needs, promissing that sanitation stations would be checked daily. But an investigation from the website L.A. Taco found that despite Mayor Garcetti’s commitment, not much changed, as many of these stations have not been filled with running water, paper towels or soap during the pandemic. Guest: Lexis-Olivier Ray, Reporter, L.A. Taco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recall election has been set for Tuesday, September 14. Candidates looking to challenge Governor Gavin Newsom for his seat have about two weeks to officially file for the race. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED There are growing concerns about the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County. New COVID-19 cases have more than doubled since most of the state's coronavirus restrictions were lifted on June 15. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC In the wake of California's record-breaking wildfire season last fall, NPR and California affiliate stations have found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency only approved 5% of the applications it received from people for assistance. Thats the lowest approval rate for FEMA aid for any California wildfire disaster on record. Guest: Sean McMinn, Data Editor, NPR The Los Angeles City Council has approved a measure that would restrict homeless encampments near homeless shelters, daycare centers and a number of other public facilities. It would also prohibit tents from blocking sidewalks. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has announced a plan to combat the city’s growing homeless population. The city would adopt a right to housing law, but also calls for an obligation from those who are unsheltered to accept housing and shelter when it’s offered to them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hate crimes in California surged 31% in 2020, fueled mainly by a big jump in crimes targeting Black people. According to the state attorney general's office, crimes targeting members of the Asian community also surged during the pandemic. Los Angeles has had a 50% spike in shootings in the first six months of 2021 compared to last year. Several other cities have also seen a spike in shootings. One group that’s trying to stop the violence from getting worse is the Urban Peace Institute, which trains people in the community to de-escalate tensions. Guest: Fernando Rejon, Director of the Urban Peace Institute in Los Angeles The Lava Fire burning in far northern California has grown to nearly 20,000 acres. Fire crews are facing challenging conditions with extremely hot weather continuing for at least a few more days. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio California’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has inched up in recent weeks. The number is still very low compared to what the state saw during the height of the pandemic, but there is some concern about unvaccinated people being infected with the Delta variant. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Starting Thursday, Californians with outstanding student loans have new rights and protections. A law signed last year creates an ombudsman to oversee the student loan industry and help borrowers navigate the new regulations aimed at holding loan companies accountable. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California legislators have passed a new state budget and it includes billions of dollars in new ongoing spending. Now there are questions about the budget’s details and what will happen when state revenues take a dip. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED For over a century, California has locked up juvenile offenders in prisons run by the state. But starting next month, California will begin closing its remaining juvenile detention centers and turn over that authority to individual counties. Guest: Dan Macallair, Executive Director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Earlier this year, Governor Gavin Newsom pledged to increase the budget for wildfires and fire prevention to $2 billion. But an investigation by CapRadio and NPR's California Newsroom has found that the governor delivered only a fraction of the money promised for wildfire resilience in the state budget. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Ever since voters passed a $10 billion bond measure to build a high speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the project has been plagued by problems. And voters’ doubts about the project are growing. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawmakers approved a nearly $263 billion budget Monday night, sending it to Governor Newsom. It includes a record amount of funding for education. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED The budget deal would expand public health insurance for low-income undocumented older adults. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The drought is already having a huge effect on some communities in California’s Central Valley. The rural community of Teviston, which is 40 miles north of Bakersfield in Tulare County, has been without running water since early this month after the city’s only functioning well broke down. Large fires have already started to burn across the state and there are growing concerns about the dry weather and illegal fireworks, with July 4 being celebrated this weekend. Guest: Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority California has added five states to its “do not travel” list because they have laws that target LGBTQ people. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's the former mayor of San Diego and most political observers view him as the most formidable opponent in the recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom. Kevin Faulconer explains why he believes he's the right man for the job. Guest: Kevin Faulconer, California Gubernatorial Candidate A nearly $263 billion spending plan will go before state legislators in Sacramento on Monday. The proposal includes expanding Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants age 50 and older and direct cash payments for income-eligible Californians as part of a COVID-19 relief package. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The state legislature is expected to vote Monday to extend California's eviction moratorium until the end of September. The vote comes just days before California’s eviction protections are set to expire. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED California cities are getting about $8 billion in federal funds as part of the Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan. But how cities use that money is still to be determined. Guest: Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director of the League of California Cities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Citing improving vaccination rates and lower COVID-19 numbers, leaders in San Diego are asking the federal government to reopen the US-Mexico border to non-essential travel. Britney Spears drew the world’s attention this week when she finally spoke out in a Southern California court against the conservatorship she’s been living under for more than a decade. A bill making its way through Sacramento seeks to give people like Spears more control over their cases. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED CalFire has just paused logging on a section of Jackson Demonstration State Forest, right along the Mendocino County coast. Members of the local community spoke out about the project Guest: Alicia Bales, KZYX Advocates expect a historic move for California in the coming days - public health coverage for undocumented older adults. The state already offers full-scope Medi-Cal to undocumented children and young adults through age 25. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Venice Beach is normally a popular tourist attraction. But during the pandemic, a large homeless encampment has developed there. Now, Los Angeles city and council officials are fighting over the best way to handle the situation. Guest: Kate Cagle, Reporter, Spectrum News 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some lawmakers are calling for more accountability from Governor Gavin Newsom. This after an investigation from CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom found that Newsom has overstated the wildfire prevention work completed during his time in office. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has placed his longtime chief of staff on leave over disparaging remarks she made online. This comes as a former advisor to Garcetti is facing a sexual harrassment lawsuit brought by a former member of the mayor's security detail. Guest: Libby Denkmann, KPCC California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has confirmed that there are officially enough signatures to place a recall of Governor Gavin Newsom on the ballot. Only 43 signatures were withdrawn from the recall petition, over the six week period when voters were allowed to change their mind. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED The effort to reunite migrant families torn apart by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues. But even as families are reunited, immigration advocates would like to see more changes from the Biden administration. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom has long touted year-round wildfire prevention efforts in the state since he took office. But an investigation by CapRadio and NPR's California Newsroom has found that the governor overstated, by an astounding 690%, the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns in forestry projects aimed at protecting the state’s most vulnerable communities. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio While state lawmakers are wrangling with whether to extend a statewide eviction moratorium that was put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of superviors in both Los Angeles County and San Francisco have extended their local orders. The statewide moratorium expires on June 30. For years, the Justice Department has defended the Trump administration’s decision to end humanitarian protections for an estimated 55,000 immigrants living in California. But now, under the Biden administration, there could be major changes when it comes to Temporary Protected Status for immigrants ln this country. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 2016 and 2019, Bakersfield police officers used force that broke at least 45 bones in 31 people, an analysis of public records shows. No officer has been disciplined for their actions. Guest: Lisa Pickoff-White, Data Journalist, KQED Police and fire personnel in Los Angeles are trailing when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination rates in the city. And that's a cause of concern for health officials and community leaders who say this could impact the public health of more vulnerable people. As the state legislature debates whether to extend California’s moratorium on evictions beyond June, some renters are already being told they have to leave. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED With California's reopening now a week old, businesses are hoping foot traffic picks up as they're finally able to do away with capacity limitations. That's especially the case in downtown business districts, which have been hit hard by a dwindling amount of office workers. Guest: Emilie Cameron, District Affairs and Development Director with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership The largest river restoration project in U.S. history has received a major boost. Federal regulators have approved a dam removal plan along the lower Klamath River in Northern California. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An investigation from NPR’s California Newsroom has found that despite a new state law requiring school districts to keep detailed attendance and engagement records this year, to make sure students online didn’t fall behind, the numbers may not be telling the whole story. In one Central Valley school district, students were counted as present and engaged when they did little more than log-in. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio The state Employment Development Department says that starting next month, unemployed Californians will have to show that they’re actively looking for work to stay eligible for benefits. It could be the latest roadblack for hundreds of thousands of residents who are still waiting for unemploment benefits. Guest: Daniela Urban, Center for Workers’ Rights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The board that oversees California’s workplace safety agency, Cal/OSHA, has voted on new rules around wearing masks in the workplace. Fully vaccinated employees in most job settings will not have to wear face coverings. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report Starting next month, the state's Employment Development Department says unemployed Californians will need to show that they’re actively looking for work to remain eligible for benefits. The EDD suspended the work search requirement in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report On Thursday, President Biden offiicially made Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth has been celebrated annually on June 19, as the day that marked the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved. Guest: James Fugate, Co-Owner of Eso Won Books in Los Angeles Exiled for 11 years, a deported U.S. Army veteran is back home in California. Andrew DeLeon had lived in the United States for more than 50 years, before he was deported for a nonviolent drug offense. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Across California, young women often celebrate their 15th birthdays with quinceaneras, which is a religious ceremony and party. But many have been delayed over the past year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The operator of the state’s power grid is urging Californians to conserve energy on Thursday as the first major heat wave of the year continues. A Flex Alert calls for Californians to conserve power between 5 and 10 p.m. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report The month of May proved to be the busiest in the Port of Los Angeles' 114-year history, as crews processed more than a million containers. It also became the first Western Hemisphere port to process 10 million container units in a one-year period. Guest: Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles In Mendota, a small farmworker community in Fresno County, about half of the city’s 11,000 residents were born in Mexico and Central America. Now, the city is preparing for more Central American migrant youth to arrive in the coming months because of changes in U.S. migrant detention policies. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio This week, California ended the mask mandate in most public settings. On Thursday, the state’s Occupational Health and Safety Board is set to vote on rules about masks in the workplace. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report When California dropped most COVID-19 restrictions this week, it meant that for the first time in over a year, performers could get back on stage in front of a full house. But it's not that easy to just turn on the switch. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU Movie theaters have been hit hard by the pandemic, but they're slowly starting to see more customers with the state reopening. The Roxie Theater in San Francisco is not going to full capacity just yet. Guest: Lex Sloan, Executive Director, Roxie Theater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California lifted most of its coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, meaning businesses can go back to full capacity and masks will no longer be required in most situations for fully vaccinated people. While many are celebrating the move, state and local officials are cautioning people that the pandemic is far from over. More than 50,000 fans were at Dodger Stadum on Tuesday night, the first game since the start of the pandemic where there wasn't a capacity limit. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The Caifornia Report Candidates who are hoping to be on the recall ballot to replace Governor Gavin Newsom will have to make their recent tax returns public. It's all the result of a 2019 law. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED In March of 2020, when there were still only a handful of known COVID-19 cases in the United States, Santa Clara County's Public Health Director Dr. Sara Cody issued the very first shelter in place order in the country. Now, with California reopening, she reflects on what we did right, and whether the U.S. is prepared for the next pandemic. Guest: Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County Public Health Director Tuesday marked the 9th anniversary of DACA -- the program that’s protected more than 800,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. California Senator Alex Padilla co-led a hearing on a bill that would permanently legalize these Dreamers, as well as others. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the state reopens, restrictions on capacity and social distancing have been lifted, although businesses can implement their own rules. Mask requirements are no longer in place for people who are fully vaccinated, although there are some exceptions. Loosened COVID-19 restrictions may be a relief to most Californians, but others may be feeling something they didn't expect–- like social anxiety. Some experts say that dealing with these concerns directly is the best way to feel more comfortable. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC As the state reopens, the hope is that travel will pick up during the summer months. Many popular destinations are already seeing an increase in visitors. Guests: Tom Davies, President of V. Sattui Winery in Napa County, Scott Gediman, Spokesperson for Yosemite National Park, Kris Reyes, Spokesperson for Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk The cards will be an option for businesses who may be concerned about the vaccination status of people not wearing masks. The governor's office says it will not be a requirement and is not a vaccine passport. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Restaurants and bars in California are finally able to open without any capacity restrictions. Most have had to adjust their business models during the pandemic based on ever-changing health guidelines. Guests: Kim Alter, Chef and Owner of Nightbird Restaurant in San Francisco, Jessica Maria and Michael Valladares, Co-Owners of the Hotsy Totsy Club in Albany, Uyen Le, Chef and Owner of Be U Kitchen in Los Angeles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As California prepares to officially reopen Tuesday, the state board that oversees workplace safety has come up with new guidelines. The proposed rules from Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board would allow fully vaccinated workers to remove their face coverings while on the job, but unvaccinated workers would still have to wear masks. As drought conditions continue to get worse in California, a top water official in Southern California is warning about not just this year, but what lies ahead. Jeffrey Kightlinger, head of the Metropolitan Water District, says the state is prepared for the next few years, but has to look even further down the line when it comes to water supply. Guest: Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California On Friday, more than 2 million people were screened at U.S. airports. That's the first time that's happened in a single day since March of 2020. Is that a sign of things to come here in the U.S., and particularly in California when it comes to travel? Guest: Henry Harteveldt, Travel Industry Analyst with Atmosphere Research Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, California will reopen which means an end to the state's mask mandate. There are still some situations that will require people to wear a mask, and many Californians say they don't plan to ditch face coverings just yet. Guest: Carly Severn, Senior Engagament Editor, KQED Conversations around the role of police in society are continuing and this week, a group gathered in San Diego to call for the elimination of police departments at universities. U.C. San Diego students and faculty say it’s time to end police presence on college campuses. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS The recall election against Governor Gavin Newsom will cost California counties $215 million. That's according to an analysis from the state Department of Finance. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Three immigrant families in the Bay Area are suing the federal government after border officials forcibly separated them in 2018. According to the lawsuit, these Central American families were seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when the children were taken from their parents as part of the Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policy. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED California has over a billion dollars in aid to give out to struggling renters and landlords. But so far, a little less than 3% of that money has actually gone out. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s workplace safety board is expected to ease mask rules for fully vaccinated employees, but it likely won’t become official for at least a few more weeks. Cal/OSHA’s new workplace standards would align with mask rules issued by state and federal health officials. Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 infections among farmworkers in the Central Valley and along the Central Coast were rampant. Now, those regions have become a focal point for vaccinations and in Monterey County, efforts have proven to be successful. Guest: Kate Cimini, Reporter with the Salinas Californian and CalMatters Two lawsuits have been filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno under a law known as the California Child Victims Act, which extends the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual assault to file lawsuits through the end of next year. The lawsuits allege a former long-time Central Valley priest sexually abused two minors in the late 80s and 90s. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report It’s been two weeks since a gunman killed nine people at a rail yard in San Jose. Shortly after the shooting, officials started talking about red flag laws, asking if they might have prevented the shooting from happening. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers for journalist Yashar Ali are asking the L.A. City Attorney's Office to release the transcripts of depositions from a lawsuit filed by former LAPD officer Matthew Garza, who says a former advisor of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti sexually harassed him. According to Garza, Garcetti witnessed the harassment firsthand and did nothing to stop it. Guest: Yashar Ali, Journalist Members of a newly formed union of childcare providers rallied Tuesday outside the state Capitol in Sacramento. The union is demanding the state show its members the money as it negotiates its very first contract. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand the unarmed response to people having a mental health crisis. The county will explore using federal COVID-19 relief money to beef up its Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC The federal government plans to reunite more than two dozen families who were separated by the Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policies in the coming weeks. That’s according to a new report from the Family Reunification task force. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Back in 2013, an invasive species of mosquito was first found in California. Aedes aegpyti is known to carry diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. Now, a professor at U.C. Santa Barbara is using the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR to try and contain its spread. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s Department of Public Health has announced substantial updates to its COVID-19 testing guidance. People who are fully vaccinated can skip COVID testing in non-healthcare workplaces or at large or mass social gatherings. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report As schools across California launch into summer school, the state is following through with its pledge to pump $4.6 billion to help them deliver on mental health services and tutoring for kids who need it. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED In California, gas prices are setting new records - a gallon of unleaded now costs $4.22. And there are several factors behind the high prices. Guest: Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio's Full Disclosure Earlier this year, the Sacramento Bee reported an investigation into violent text messages among police officers in Eureka on the north coast. So far, a top supervisor has been placed on leave, other cops have left, and there are more text messages. Guest: Jason Pohl, Investigative Reporter, Sacramento Bee Cities across the state are celebrating Pride Month. In San Francisco, the original Rainbow Flag, which hasn't been seen for years, is back in the public eye at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge has struck down California’s decades-old ban on assault weapons. The decision has drawn outrage from statewide officials including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who made clear his office plans to appeal the ruling. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED California has been living under an official “state of emergency” since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. And Governor Newsom has had almost total authority to run the state as he sees fit. But is it now time for Newsom to hand back some of his unilateral power? Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Californians head into the summer months with plenty of concerns -- wildfires, drought and the potential for more power outages. The state's power grid couldn't keep up with demand last summer, leading to rolling blackouts for the first time in nearly two decades. Guests: Joanna Giardas and Dominic Moscatello, Students at U.C. Berkeley who took an energy regulation course at the Goldman School of Public Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New emergency rules passed by California’s workplace safety agency will keep a mask requirement at most worksites past June 15. But on that date, workers will be allowed to take their masks off if everyone in a room is vaccinated and doesn’t have COVID-19 symptoms. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Governor Gavin Newsom is extending pandemic rules that have allowed restaurants to expand outdoor seating and sell cocktails to go. The announcement comes just days before the state is scheduled to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The state Senate has unanimously passed a bill that, if it becomes law, would help promote the practice of prescribed burns as a firefighting tool. The bill would establish new liability standards and would make insurance more accessible to fire professionals known as burn bosses. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED As more asylum-seekers are allowed into the United States by the Biden Administration, those who have waited months in desperate conditions in Mexico are finally seeing some of their dreams come true. One Honduran family arrived recently in San Diego County. Reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS For the past year, students and school alums across California have used Instagram to share stories of trauma they’ve experienced in high school. Many of the young activists spearheading these efforts are graduating this month, but say they’ve created the tools and platforms for future generations of students to be heard. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands of out of work Californians are stuck with frozen accounts, and without desperately-needed unemployment benefits after being flagged for fraud by the state’s Employment Development Department. But a bill that could protect innocent people snagged by EDD’s "freeze first, verify later" policy has passed through the state Assembly. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Economists in California continue to paint a rosy picture for pandemic recovery. The latest UCLA Anderson Forecast finds that a driving force for an economic recovery will likely be a pent-up demand for leisure and hospitality, but those industries have been struggling to hire workers. Guest: Scott Satterfield, General Manager of Hotel Trio in Healdsburg During the Trump presidency, California and Washington DC were locked in a bitter battle over the regulation of vehicle emissions and whether the state had the authority to cut pollution from cars and trucks. Now, the state wants control back, and the Biden administration seems willing to allow it. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Federal legislation introduced by Bay Area Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren would loosen a decades-old system that puts an annual limit on the share of legal immigrants admitted from any one country. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED A bill to offer food assistance benefits to undocumented immigrants is gaining momentum in the state legislature. Advocates say it could benefit up to a million Californians who don’t qualify for federally-funded CalFresh food stamps. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Mental health services for California children could get a boost under Governor Gavin Newsom’s most recent budget proposal. Health and social service providers say the funding is needed as the state’s youngest residents struggle with mental health challenges created during the pandemic. Reporter: Sammy Caiola, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic leaders of the state Senate and Assembly say they're in agreement on a state budget proposal. But a final deal still needs to be reached with Governor Gavin Newsom. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED For years, Cal/OSHA, the California agency in charge of protecting workers from health and safety hazards, has been understaffed. But the problem got worse during the pandemic, crippling the agency's ability to protect millions of people on the job, who faced new risks from COVID-19. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The state Supreme Court will hold a hearing Wednesday on an issue which could change the way the death penalty is applied in California. A ruling, which is expected in 90 days, could impact the sentences for inmates who are on death row. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED A state task force studying reparations for Black Californians held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. The group is working to identify and recommend eliminating laws that discriminate against Black people. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED The Department of Homeland Security has announced the end of a Trump administration program known as “Remain in Mexico.” The policy sent back over 68,000 asylum-seekers to Mexican border cities, where they waited while their cases went through immigration court proceedings in the U.S. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, Californians have debated whether or not to change the names of places because of their historically racist associations. That debate has now hit the rural Sierra County town of Downieville. Guest: Brittny Mejia, Metro Reporter, LA Times This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre. Considered one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history, it's spurred growing calls for reparations. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Even as coronavirus cases steadily decline and more people get vaccinated in Los Angeles County, Black residents are getting sick and dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than any other race or ethnicity. Latinos had held that spot throughout the pandemic. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California’s eviction moratorium is slated to end on June 30. Meanwhile, the state’s rental aid program has gotten off to a slow start. Tenant advocates say that could put renters across the state at risk of eviction. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is asking California’s Attorney General to review expenditures of a Fire Victim Trust, after a KQED investigation into its overhead expenses. The Trust is charged with distributing billions of dollars to Pacific Gas & Electric fire victims. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new book is highlighting the history of the Boyle Heights neighborhood and its importance in shaping L.A. County. Guest: George J. Sanchez, author of the book, "Boyle Heights: How a Los Angeles Community Became the Future of American Democracy" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Details continue to surface about the gunman who killed nine people at a Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard in San Jose on Wednesday. According to his ex-girlfriend, he was prone to both physical and sexual violence. Domestic abuse is often linked to mass shootings. Guest: April Zeoli, Professor with Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice California has introduced a more than $100 million incentive plan to get more people vaccinated. An example -- the next two million people who get vaccinated in the state will get a $50 gift card. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED In California, police misconduct records used to be kept hidden but that changed in 2019, when the state implemented a new police transparency law. Lots of agencies are still pushing back against this transparency mandate, but a new investigative podcast from KQED and NPR is shedding light on some of these recently unsealed records. Guest: Sukey Lewis, Criminal Justice Reporter, KQED and host of On Our Watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten people are now dead including the gunman who opened fire Wednesday at a Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard in San Jose. Investigators have not identified a motive. Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED California has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. That's left many wondering how mass shootings like the one in San Jose on Wednesday continue to occur in the state. Guest: John Donahue, Stanford University Professor who studies gun laws The massacre at the VTA light rail yard on Wednesday touched the lives of not only employees and their friends and families, but the entire San Jose community. And many people will struggle with the stress and trauma of the deadly shooting for weeks and months to come. Guest: Melissa Brymer, Director of Terrorism and Disaster Programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As soon as next year, the Biden administration plans to sell leases for floating wind farms off the coast of San Luis Obispo and Humboldt counties. But the plan still faces some logistical challenges. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED New polling shows support for the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom is stagnating. The Public Policy Institute of California poll finds 40% of likely voters think Newsom should be removed from office, a number that hasn't changed since March. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED In California, doctors, lawyers and even barbers can lose their license to practice if they do something wrong. There’s no similar recourse for some of the most powerful civil servants around -- police. But advocates are hopeful that new legislation will be passed in Sacramento to change that. Reporter: MJ Johnson, KQED With more seniors vaccinated in L.A. County, young adults now make up the greatest share of people in the hospital with COVID-19. Over the past six weeks, there have been more 30- to 49-year-olds hospitalized with the virus than any other age group, a stark contrast to earlier in the pandemic. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom is facing increasing pressure to expand health coverage through the state’s Medi-Cal program to all low-income adults, regardless of their immigration status. But the price tag will be high, even with this year’s budget surplus. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED On Wednesday afternoon, the University of California’s center in Washington is hosting Iranian musician Sepehr Haddad for a conversation about his new book “A Hundred Sweet Promises.” The book shares the story of the author’s grandfather - who leaves his homeland in Persia for St Petersberg, where he falls in love with a princess from the Russian royal family. Guest: Sepehr Haddad, Author of the book "A Hundred Sweet Promises" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices