KQED's The California Report

With major wildfires burning across California, fire crews from across the state and other parts of the country are now on the front lines trying to contain them. That includes migrant workers, who are working under some of the most challenging conditions. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Democrats and Republicans are trying to gather support as the recall election nears. Candidates are trying to make their case to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, who is fighting the recall effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighters have taken advantage of lighter winds as they look to get a better handle on the Caldor Fire burning in the Sierra foothills. But thousands remain evacuated from their homes. Like in so many other fire-scarred areas, one year after wildfires devastated communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains, residents are still struggling. One problem? Strict county building codes that stop fire victims from rebuilding quickly. Reporter: Jerimiah Oetting, KAZU On Saturday, some 2,000,000 Californians will lose emergency federal unemployment benefits that were created to help get them through the pandemic. And as of now, the state has no plan to provide any meaningful extensions for the people losing out, although the state has started to issue a new round of stimulus checks. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the recall election less than two weeks away, one of the big issues is Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. And if a Republican replaces him, the state could be in for major changes when it comes to coronavirus rules and mandates. Reporters: Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer, KQED The Caldor Fire continues to challenge firefighters battling the massive blaze. Some residents on the western flank of the fire are finally being allowed back home. This week marked the formal withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan after two decades -- bringing to an end American involvement in the war. In recent weeks, the world has seen images of Afghans desperately trying to leave the country, and many comparisons have been made to the fall of Saigon. Guest: Ngoc Nguyen, Ethnic Media Editor at Kaiser Health News and a journalist who has covered the Vietnamese American community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes in South Lake Tahoe this week because of dangerous conditions brought on by the Caldor Fire. If the fire does hit the city, many residents are wondering what they'll return to when the fire is under control. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Another political hot potato has been tossed into the recall election that’s just two weeks away now. State parole board commissioners recently recommended that Sirhan Sirhan, who shot and killed Senator Robert Kennedy in Los Angeles in 1968, be paroled from prison. Reporters: Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer, KQED Republicans in the California Legislature held an informal hearing on wildfire prevention Tuesday on the steps of the state Capitol. Democrats in the Legislature have indefinitely postponed a similar hearing, saying they don’t want to pull critical firefighter personnel away during a busy wildfire season. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Caldor Fire continues to spread quickly across the Sierra Foothills. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate South Lake Tahoe on Monday, as the fire continues to make its way towards the city. Guest:Ezra David Romero, KQED California public health experts consider heat-related illness and death to be fully preventable. And California is one of the few states in the country with laws on the books meant to protect workers. But Californians continue to get sick and die. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was rapid growth for the Caldor Fire on Sunday as it moves closer to the Tahoe Basin. Even more concerning -- the area is under a red flag warning over the next two days, with low humidity and wind gusts expected across the fire zone. Guest:Tamara Wallace, Mayor of South Lake Tahoe More than 8 in 10 residents of Imperial County -- east of San Diego -- are Latino, the highest percentage in the state. The county along California’s southern border also saw the state’s largest voting swing between the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections -- in favor of Republican Donald Trump. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Over the weekend, the remains of U.S. military personnel killed by a suicide bomber outside of Kabul's international airport arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Four Marines from California were killed in the attack. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mustafa, who didn't want to reveal his last name because he still has family in Afghanistan, was able to get his wife and daughter out of the country, and they just made it to Modesto this week. He described the whole experience as chaotic, but is glad to have resettled in California. Guest: Mustafa, Afghan Translator Two San Diego County families, who were visiting relatives in Afghanistan, have been evacuated from the country amidst the chaos of the Taliban takeover. They are among several groups in the county, including two dozen students who attend the Cajon Valley Union School District, who found themselves stranded in Afghanistan. Reporter: Alexandra Rangel, KPBS As the Caldor Fire continues to burn its way east, the first evacuation warning has been issued for the Tahoe basin, specifically Christmas Valley in the South Lake Tahoe area. Efforts to loosen zoning rules in single family neighborhoods to create more housing have long been a contentious issue in California. But legislation that could create more multi-family housing took a big step forward in Sacramento Thursday. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the U.S. Supreme Court said the Biden administration must restart a controversial policy from the Trump administration, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are decided. And while that battle is not over, the Biden administration is moving forward with its own plan that would change how asyum cases are decided. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Spot fires continue to hamper crews battling the Caldor Fire in El Dorado County. But a shift in weather over the next few days could lead to calmer conditions over the fire zone. At a debate appearance Wednesday night in Sacramento, California voters got a chance to learn a bit more about the most prominent Democrat running for governor in the recall election, Kevin Paffrath. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED A new report has found that California’s more rural, Republican-voting counties have higher violent crime rates than more urban, Democratic areas. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for areas of Northern California affected by the Dixie and River fires. The declaration means federal recovery funds will be available to individuals, businesses and tribal governments. Wih so many wildfires burning across Northern California, the smoke is causing unhealthy air across the region. In fact, areas in and around Lake Tahoe and Reno are posting the worst air quality readings in the country. California Republicans were ecstatic in 2003 when voters ousted Democratic Governor Gray Davis and replaced him with a Republican and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger. With another recall election coming up, was the Schwarzenegger win a win for the GOP as well? Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED With the recall election just weeks away, the crowded field of candidates looking to replace Governor Gavin Newsom are trying to stand out to California voters. Guest: Kevin Faulconer, Republican Recall Candidate As climate change worsens, state regulators charged with overseeing development along San Francisco Bay have a new roadmap for flood protections. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recall campaign now aimed at Governor Gavin Newsom was fueled in part by parents who were angry with how he handled public school closures during the pandemic. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The California Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the Bakersfield Police Department to implement a wide-range of policing reforms. It’s the result of the state’s five-year long investigation into the department following complaints of excessive force. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio The California Legislature has indefinitely postponed a planned oversight hearing to examine the Newsom administration’s track record on wildfire prevention. That as internal emails obtained by CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom raise new questions about whether Cal Fire is being honest with the public. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mission of California's new Privacy Protection Agency is to help Californians fight for their digital privacy. But what will it do if big companies violate people's privacy rights? Guest: Jennifer Urban, Chair of the California Privacy Protection Agency The Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County crossed Highway 50 over the weekend, threatening the town of Kyburz. It's the fourth fire that has grown to more than 100,000 acres in Northern California. Many residents in Plumas County who have been impacted by the massive Dixie Fire are being allowed to return home. That includes people in the town of Greenville, which was devastated by the fire. The recently released census results show Latinos make up the second largest ethnic-racial group in San Diego County after white people. But more and more Latinos see themselves as multi-racial. Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an effort to stave off rolling blackouts in California, the Newsom administration is moving forward with five new energy projects set to be fueled by both natural gas and diesel. If you’re among the millions of Californians who have tried to move during the pandemic, chances are, it’s been rough. And there’s more than one reason for that -- low supply and high demand among them. Guest: Mary Daly, President of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank Both the Caldor and Dixie Fires saw far less growth on Thursday, with calmer conditions. But fire officials say there are still concerns about the fires spreading as winds could pick up this weekend. As we continue to watch events unfold in Afghanistan, the Afghan diaspora is watching too. The pain from some of the horrifying images out of Afghanistan is resonating half a world away on the streets of Los Angeles, especially among Afghan American women. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite growing concerns about the delta variant and what it means for the pandemic, there are some positive signs when it comes to the U.S. economy. And one Bay Area economic leader is optimistic about the recovery, and hopes changes in the job market remain in place. Guest: Mary Daly, President of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank Major wildfires across Northern California are threatening several communities. The conditions were not as bad on Wednesday as they had been earlier this week, but the Caldor and Dixie fires continue to burn large swaths of land. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio In the city of Visalia in Tulare County, one hospital is reporting its highest number of COVID-19 patients since February. As of earlier this week, Kaweah Health was reporting nearly 100 COVID-positive patients, which is a third of the entire hospital’s capacity. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County almost quadrupled in size in just a day. The fire has ravaged the town of Grizzly Peak, and forced several communities to evacuate. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio The state attorney general’s office is going to independently review the actions of a former BART police officer who was involved, but never criminally charged in the 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant. Grant was fatally shot in the back at the Fruitvale BART station. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Thousands of people in Afghanistan are trying to flee the country after Taliban forces took control over the weekend. Many are looking to come to the U.S. and organizations say they’re willing to help. That includes the nonprofit World Relief, which has an office in Sacramento. Guest: Kerry Ham, Director of World Relief Sacramento As we continue to grapple with COVID-19, pandemic rules that many of us thought we could largely say goodbye to just a few short weeks ago, are returning. In Los Angeles County, masks are coming back for larger outdoor events like concerts and baseball games. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report A federal lawsuit argues that the recall election targeting Governor Gavin Newsom is unconstitutional. In the lawsuit, lawyers for two California voters say the recall violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause and the “one-person, one-vote” principle in American Democracy. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The burn area of the Dixie Fire continues to be under a red flag warning as winds gusts are expected to pick up later on Tuesday. The fire is advancing on the Lassen County communities of Janesville and Susanville. A new book on the 2018 Camp Fire pieces together what happened in the fire and follows its devastating aftermath through the eyes of fire survivors. The book focuses on the town of Paradise, which was devastated in the fire, and the toll it's taken on the community. Guest: Lizzie Johnson, Author of the book "Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire" Members of the Afghan diaspora throughout California are anxiously watching developments in Afghanistan. Many are seeking help for their loved ones. Guest: Rona Popal, Executive Director, Afghan Coalition in Fremont Pacific Gas and Electric told a federal judge Monday it has no knowledge of a drone flight that interfered with firefighters last month, on the first day of the Dixie Fire. The FBI, FAA and local prosecutors are all investigating who was flying the drone, that got in the way of firefighting aircraft during the first hours of the Dixie Fire. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest in the state, reopens Monday for in-person instruction. Students and staff will be required to wear masks indoors and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, regardless of their vaccination status. There's concern that the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in San Joaquin County could spread to some neighboring areas. The brunt of this latest wave is hitting younger people who are not fully vaccinated. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED A new investigation from the Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, and an environmental news collaboration called Floodlight has found that in 2017, an industry group hired Southern California residents to push for natural gas alternatives to diesel trucks, which are stoking pollution around LA’s hyper-busy port complex. The group paid advocates who say they believed they were working with an environmental campaign, and were told natural gas was the “sustainable solution” -- even as environmentalists were pushing for electric vehicles. Guest: Miranda Green, Reporter Researchers know wildfire smoke can make people more vulnerable to severe lung infection. A new study from Harvard University estimates that inhaling wildfire smoke contributed to the additional deaths of hundreds of Californians due to COVID-19 last year. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED With population data from the 2020 census just out, we’re starting to get a look at how California has changed over the past decade. The data now jump-starts the work of redistricting -- drawing the maps that will define legislative districts for the next decade. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco will become the first city in the U.S. to require workers and patrons inside bars, restaurants, gyms and theaters to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The ordinance takes effect next week for customers. The Dixie Fire has burned over 500,000 acres in Northern California, making it the second largest wildfire in state history. The fire has leveled some towns, but crews were able to save other communities in its path. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio This week, emergency unemployment benefits are ending earlier than expected for thousands of Californians who’ve exhausted every other unemployment benefit program for which they’re eligible. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California voters will soon be getting vote-by-mail ballots for the gubernatorial recall election. And Election Day itself, September 14, is only about a month away. So what should voters know about the election? Guest: Dr. Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State California is the first state in the country to require that all teachers and school staff be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be tested weekly for COVID-19. School districts will have until mid-October to comply with this latest health order. Two federal agencies have joined the investigation into an incident last month involving a drone that interfered with Cal Fire aircraft at the start of the Dixie Fire. Federal and state laws prohibit drone pilots from interfering with firefighting operations. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED A former college lecturer is being held in a Sacramento County jail on charges related to wildfire arson. Although he's been charged in connection with one fire, he's suspected of starting several others in the Lassen and Shasta Trinity National Forests recently. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to announce rules that would require teachers and staff at schools in California to either be vaccinated or submit to regular testing for COVID-19. California would be the first state in the country to implement such rules. California could get billions of dollars to fight wildfires and drought from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The plan still needs to be approved by the House. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Women make up only about 2% of skilled construction workers in California. We’re talking jobs like plumbers, carpenters, electricians. And that number is actually less than it was a few decades ago. So why have women made so little progress getting good paying blue collar jobs? Reporter: Jill Replogle, KPCC An activist in far Northern California’s Siskiyou County is recovering after holding a hunger strike for nearly three weeks. The protest started after police shot and killed a Hmong man during a wildfire evacuation in June. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 6,000 people are hospitalized in California due to the coronavirus as the delta variant continue to surge. The vast majority of those hospitalized continue to be people who are unvaccinated. As the Dixie Fire continues to burn across Northern California, small communities in Plumas County are trying to pick up the pieces after the fire badly damaged their towns. Guest: Scott Rodd, Reporter with CapRadio The head of a special trust in charge of distributing billions of dollars to 70,000 Pacific Gas & Electric fire victims says they will never be fully compensated for all that they lost. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed manslaughter charges against a former LAPD officer, who allegedly shot and killed a man with mental disabilities in 2019. The ex-cop was arrested Monday for the incident inside a Corona Costco -- nearly two years after Riverside County declined to press charges against him. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crews tried to take advantage of cooler conditions over the weekend as they continue to battle the massive Dixie Fire burning in Northern California. The fire has burned more than 489,000 acres. Brian Burrows, who grew up in Northern San Diego County, took home a bronze medal in the mixed team trapshooting event at the Tokyo Olympics. He spoke to The California Report about his time in Japan during the Summer Games. Guest: Brian Burrows, Member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team Faced with a national homelenssess crisis that grew worse during the pandemic, cities across the country are opening so-called “tiny home” villages for the unhoused. The California Report visited one in Los Angeles County. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following two days of extreme fire weatehr conditions, crews battling the Dixie Fire in Plumas and Butte counties are expected to get a bit of a respite Friday. The fire is now the third largest in state history, burning more than 432,000 acres. Last August, California saw rolling blackouts as the state's electricity grid was stressed during a major heat wave. With more hot weather expected this month, many are asking whether the state's power grid is prepared this time around. Guest: Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of California Independent System Operater California will require that all healthcare workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30th. Hospitals will also need to verify that all visitors are vaccinated. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED With COVID-19 hospitalization rates on the rise, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer announced this week that all unvaccinated city employees will soon be required to take weekly covid tests. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Extreme fire conditions on Wednesday led to spot fires from the massive Dixie Fire, as it tore through the town of Greenville in Plumas County. Meanwhile, the River Fire ignited in Placer County before crossing over into Nevada County, destroying dozens of structures. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio A Southern California family took a much-needed trip to Disneyland in June, and took precautions to protect themselves from the spread of the coronavirus. But even though they were vaccinated, they're now struggling with COVID-19. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Four candidates vying to replace Governor Gavin Newsom sparred in a debate on Wednesday night in Orange County. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The federal receiver in charge of medical care inside California's prisons is asking a judge to require that all corrections staff get COVID-19 vaccinations. Only 40% of corrections officers in the state are vaccinated. Reporter: Angela Corral, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Plumas County, thousands of residents have been ordered from their homes as the Dixie Fire continues to spread. Officials sent out notice Tuesday afternoon as high winds have made it tougher for firefighters trying to contain the fire’s spread. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED We’ve heard a lot about controlled burning recently –- carefully lit intentional fires that have benefits for wildfire risk and the environment. But lighting them –- like fighting fires –- takes a lot of work. Guest: Hannah Hagemann, Reporter with the Santa Cruz Sentinel Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature wildfire prevention measure has been 35 “priority projects” aimed at protecting the state’s most vulnerable communities. In June, one was put to the test during the Lava Fire --one of the first large fires this season. As it threatened the town of Lake Shastina near the Oregon border, one of those priority fuel breaks didn’t contain the fire, leaving evacuees stuck in dangerous traffic. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio During a wildfire, it’s often not flames or heat that ignite a home, but embers. Wind can carry these small pieces of smoldering material for miles, but there are ways to protect your home. Reporter: Sarah Bohannon, North State Public Radio A COVID-19 outbreak at a Northern California state prison has infected more than 100 incarcerated people in the last two weeks. It appears the cases spread at the Sierra Conservation Center in Tuolumne County after a prison employee came to work with the virus. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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