KQED's The California Report

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

On this day one year ago, George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds while Floyd begged for his life. This sparked protests across California and calls for police reform. Guest: Tanya Faison, the founder of Black Lives Matter Sacramento speaking with The California Report's Mary Franklin Harvin Many of the protests following the death of George Floyd were led by young people here in California. While they see some progress being made in the state, they know the fight is far from over. Guest: Jadyn Polk, Member of Black Youth for the People's Liberation in Oakland speaking with The California Report's Keith Mizuguchi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles is mulling whether a whole new entity devoted to focusing on homelessness might be the way to address the problem. A group of civic leaders called the Committee for Greater LA think it’s worth a shot. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW California remains on track to reopen on June 15. It's a day many businesses have been waiting for, but some are finding it hard to hire back staff to a pre-pandemic level. Guest: Margherita Sagan, Co-Owner of Piccino Restaurant in San Francisco speaking with The California Report's Keith Mizuguchi In the town of Paradise, a hundred or so survivors of the deadly 2018 Camp Fire gathered this weekend for a march along the Skyway - the main road through town. They organized this rally after KQED’s recent investigation into the finances of Pacific Gas & Electric's Fire Victim Trust. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report It’s not your imagination -- the Cost of Being Californian is going up.That’s the key finding of a recent study by that name -- released by the Oakland based non profit the Insight Center. Guest: Anne Price, president of the Insight Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Independent Venue Association of California, which has more than 600 members, is pushing for state legislators and the governor to support a $250 million stimulus grant program. This comes as they prepare for the state to reopen on June 15. Guest: Joe Rinaldi, Managing Partner at Music Box in San Diego The owners of Starline Social Club, a popular venue in Oakland, announced late last month that they would re-open later this year, as a worker-owned co-op. The news took former employees by surprise as they found out through media reports. Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, Associate Editor, KQED Arts & Culture A recent survey from CapRadio in Sacramento and the nonprofit “Valley Vision” has found that Black millennials suffered great financial losses during the pandemic. But they're now looking at investing to build that wealth back. Reporter: Sarah Mizes-Tan, CapRadio If you shopped for health insurance last year and decided you just couldn’t afford it, state officials are now saying: it’s time to check again. Money from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is bringing the monthly cost of health plans to new lows -– as long as you buy through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Covered California. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State lawmakers and county health officials are upset that the governor’s proposed budget does not include enough money to rebuild the state’s ailing public health system. The coalition says $200 million is needed to be ready for the next crisis. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED The latest state budget proposal has highlighted the fact that California is flush with cash. But exactly how much? That depends on who you ask. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor Despite many successes when it comes to vaccinating the public, in L.A. County, there are some concerns about outreach. Less than half of eligible people there are fully vaccinated. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC As so many school districts around the state have at least begun the process of reopening, one in the southeast L.A. County suburb of Pico Rivera is not. The population in the El Rancho Unified School District is 97% Latino and families there have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. Guest: Melissa Gomez, Education Reporter, LA Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Citizen app brands itself as a tool to report on local crimes and emergencies in your area. But it can also lead to false reporting as was the case last week, when a man was falsely accused of starting a fire in Pacific Palisades, after his picture appeared on the app. Guest: Boone Ashworth, Contributing Writer, WIRED Santa Clara County is one of four across the state that moved into the least restrictive yellow tier for reopening this week. Now, officials are mandating that businesses keep track of the vaccination status of employees. Providing people a guaranteed income with no questions asked has moved from a fringe notion to the mainstream with pilot projects popping up across the state. The possibility of a Guaranteed Basic Income program in Los Angeles County took a step forward Tuesday with a vote by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC Just months after Shirley Weber was confirmed as California's Secretary of State, she'll have to oversee her first statewide election. It's a recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom, who appointed Weber to her post back in December. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allowing vaccinated people to go maskless in most settings, California won’t change its current mask mandates until the state’s scheduled reopening on June 15th. Since the pandemic began, workers in the grocery delivery business have been trying to organize to get more protections and benefits. Workers at the venture capital-backed Bay Area company, Imperfect Foods just voted to form a union, but it's likely not a model for the rest of the industry. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED The University of California says it’s one step closer to requiring COVID-19 vaccination of students and employees who want to return to campus in the fall. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC Two out of three Californians believe businesses like concert venues and sports stadiums should be allowed to verify their customers’ vaccination status before allowing them to come in. That’s according to a new U.C. Berkeley poll. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED San Francisco is suing the state of California because regulators would like the region to forfeit some of its water supply. The State Water Board would like to see more water flow down the Tuolumne River and not stored in reservoirs. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fire has forced about a thousand people to evacuate their homes. Fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause but said that it is suspicious in nature. The recall election for Governor Gavin Newsom has gotten most of the headlines, but there are several local recall efforts underway across the state, including in Shasta County. Three county supervisors are facing backlash for following the state's guidelines during the pandemic. Guest : Doni Chamberlain, founder and editor of "A News Cafe" blog Fire victims and public officials are calling for increased oversight of the Fire Victim Trust set up to distribute billions of dollars in compensation to families displaced by fires sparked by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. equipment. That’s following a KQED investigation which found the Trust spent $51 million on overhead last year, while the vast majority of fire victims haven’t received a dime. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report The job of Lieutenant Governor tends to be a low-profile office in California. But the campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom will put current Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis front and center. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CDC Says Vaccinated People Don't Need to Wear MasksCalifornia’s mask rules are still in place, but Governor Newsom has indicated changes are coming to the state’s mask mandate by June 15th..the target date to reopen the state. Most of California is in Extreme or Severe Categories of DroughtDrought conditions have intensified in parts of California over the past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday. These factors have prompted Governor Newsom to expand a drought emergency declaration to 41 of California's 58 counties. Guest: Cora Kammeyer, senior researcher at the Oakland-based Pacific Institute The Number of Unaccompanied Children Crossing the Border Decreased in AprilEmergency intake sites like the convention center have allowed the federal government to quickly move children out of ill-equipped Border Patrol facilities. Currently, only a few hundred children are in those facilities — and none for more than 72 hours. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS The California Report Magazine: The Year of Singing DangerouslyIn a preview of our sister show, the California Report’s weekly magazine, KQED’s Chloe Veltman explores how singers across California got creative during the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Faulconer said he wants to eliminate state income taxes for low and middle-income Californians. He said this would allow Californians to keep more of their hard-earned revenue and make the state more affordable. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Hospital care at home is nothing new for patients with low-level health needs. But since the pandemic, a growing number of health providers, including California-giant Kaiser Permanente, are offering people with more serious health conditions hospital-level treatment in the comfort of their homes. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill Every 4-year-old in the state would get access to transitional kindergarten under a major education spending plan announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday. It's all part of his revised budget which will be released on Friday. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Identity theft, fraud, ransomware. Cybercrime is a plague upon the digital landscape. It was bad before the pandemic, and it surged during . Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California health officials said the Pfizer vaccine could be available for 12-15 year olds as early as Thursday. This comes after the Food and Drug Administration authorized the shots for adolescents earlier this week. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED State Senator Richard Pan of Sacramento is a pediatrician and led the effort to tighten California’s childhood immunization law. He says parents should ask questions and do research if they're concerned about getting their kids vaccinated. Guest: State Senator Richard Pan California’s new Attorney General has announced the formation of a Racial Justice Bureau to address racial injustice, in the wake of increased attacks in Asian communities across the state. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more than 90% of California experiencing extreme drought conditions, Governor Gavin Newsom is expanding a state drought emergency from just two to 41 counties. The new drought proclamation represents 30% of the state’s population. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED State Attorney General Rob Bonta has championed criminal justice reform during his time in Sacramento as a legislator. But can he implement real change as attorney general? Guest: Rob Bonta, California Attorney General As he fights a recall campaign to oust him from office, there’s some good news for Governor Gavin Newsom in a new poll. The Berkeley IGS Poll finds just 36% of California voters support recalling Newsom and 49% say they’ll vote no on the recall. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED A map of power lines has been created that the California Public Utilities Commission and Pacific Gas & Electric think are at great risk of starting a fire. Reporter: The California Report's Lily Jamali with KRCB Reporter Marc Albert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project Homekey allows cities and counties to purchase buildings and then covert them into long-term housing for the homeless. Martha Fuentes of Los Angeles says it's been a lifesaver and sanctuary as she's had to live in her car. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Governor Gavin Newsom announced an economic stimulus plan on Monday, one that will see most Californians getting tax refunds. The governor is expected to unveil more pieces of the "California Comeback Plan" in the coming days. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Tackling COVID-19 misinformation in languages other than English has been complicated. In the South Bay, that's especially been the case for the Vietnamese community, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED 2020 proved to be a historic year in California and not just because of the pandemic. The state’s population dropped for the first time since it began tracking annual population estimates. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young kids are starting to get their first COVID vaccines in an early clinical trial at Stanford. If all goes well widespread distribution could begin by this fall. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Officials in charge of monitoring air quality in Southern California officials are voting on a rule Friday that aims to hold warehouses accountable for diesel truck pollution. The rise of e-commerce has led to a warehouse boom in the Inland Empire over the last decade. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KVCR The State Senate has passed a bill that would clamp down on a common feature of employment in Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and beyond: the non-disclosure agreement. It's an attempt to limit the scope of NDA's. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED A lot of college students have been stuck at home during the pandemic but one way they’ve tried to find community is through online video games. This competitive gaming is gaining popularity on California college campuses, where professors say recreational play is leading to professional opportunities. Reporter: Marisa Martinez, KQED and CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After waiting months for an update on their unemployment claims, nearly a million out of work Californians will likely have to wade through even more red tape to access their benefits. That's because the Employment Development Department has disqualified their applications. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report A federal judge has struck down the CDC’s nationwide eviction moratorium, a decision the Justice Department is appealing. The ruling could have major ramifications for millions of tenants struggling to pay rent during the pandemic, but not here in California. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Reality TV celebrity Caitlyn Jenner caused a media frenzy when she jumped into the California governor’s race two weeks ago. On Wednesday night, she sat down for an interview on Fox News. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A KQED investigation has found that the Fire Victim Trust, set up to distribute money to victims of wildfires caused by Pacific Gas and Electric, has spent the vast majority of its money on overhead, rather than fire survivors themselves. Guest: Scott McNutt, Bankruptcy Attorney and former California State Bar governor Most sports facilities are back in full swing, as L.A. County moves into the yellow tier for reopening this week. But that's not the case for basketball courts in Venice Beach. Reporter: Angel Carreras, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s recall election is in full swing, with a campaign launch featuring a live bear. Meanwhile, embattled Governor Gavin Newsom is defending his record managing the state through a tumultuous year. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Public health experts are keeping a close eye on data that shows the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations slowing down. While the slowdown is concerning, some early skeptics of the vaccine have had a change of heart, and are now getting their shot. Guest: Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and chief executive officer of the de Beaumont Foundation The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has voted to launch another investigation into complaints that sheriff’s deputies harass relatives of victims of law enforcement violence. This comes following a new report released by the National Lawyers Guild and American Civil Liberties Union. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC A law passed in 2018 that requires California companies to have women on their boards of directors is having an effect. The number of female directors at California has doubled in the three years since the measure was signed into law. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED Smaller family-owned businesses have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, leaving some to close their doors and others to pivot to new ventures. One immigrant family in the Central Valley used generosity and foresight to help them get through the last year. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's still unclear how many people in California have actually delayed getting the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. But there's concern about what that will mean for their immunity moving forward. Guest: Dr. Steven Parodi, Executive Director of the Permanente Group at Kaiser Permanente As COVID-19 numbers continue to improve across the state, more counties are expecting to move into the least restrictive yellow tier on Tuesday. That will mean businesses will be able to open with even fewer restrictions. Immigrant advocates in California applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to raise the limit on refugee admissions this year, from a historic low to more than 62,000. The president has also reaffirmed his goal of doubling that number by next year. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fresno County Department of Public Health is diverting COVID-19 vaccines allocated to that county elsewhere because of low demand. Some people in the county are still waiting to get the vaccine, but for reasons that might not be often associated with hesitancy. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report Four people are dead after a 40-foot cabin cruiser, suspected of being part of a human smuggling operation, crashed and overturned Sunday in the waters off of Point Loma in San Diego. The temporary shelter for unaccompanied migrant children is located at the Fairplex in Pomona. The goal is to reunite them with their family or sponsor within two weeks. The Biden administration's Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas spoke at UCLA on Friday. He called the decision to expel most migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border "a source of pain." Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Some California students are suing the state and its top education leaders, claiming they’re denying underserved students an “equal right to an education” during the pandemic. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health officials said they're worried about the lack of demand for doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which has dropped significantly this week. Many California counties are experiencing similar issues as supply of the vaccines is outweighing demand. California’s underwater kelp forests are in trouble. A combination of climate change and hungry purple sea urchins have decimated these vital marine habitats. But the Monterey Peninsula has a kind of kelp forest guardian -- sea otters. Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU Disneyland and Disney California Adventure opened to guests Friday for the first time in more than 13 months. The parks have COVID-19 safety protocols in place and are limiting capacity to 25% for now. Guest: Gavin Doyle, Founder of the website MickeyVisit.com Everyone 16-and-up is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine -- and it’s now easier for older teenagers in L.A. County to get the shot. They can now bring a signed consent form with them, rather than have their parents there in person. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Immigration rights activists in California and across the country are planning marches Saturday to call on Congress to legalize millions of unauthorized immigrants in the country. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond toured several schools in the L.A. Unified School District on Wednesday. He said districts are progressing well when it comes to getting kids back in classrooms. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Despite heated debates over school reopenings across the state, a majority of Californians approve of how their elected officials have handled classroom closures. That's according to a new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED California’s Supreme Court Chief Justice is praising a new policy issued this week by the Department of Homeland Security that will limit how federal officials operate in or near courthouses. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED The Los Angeles Police Department says it needs nearly $70 million to address problems that contributed to its mishandling of last year’s protests, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC Numbers from the state health department show that nearly 1,400 Californians have tested positive for COVID-19 after they were fully vaccinated. These cases are fully expected, because the vaccines don’t protect people 100 percent of the time. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Officials are investigating how schemes to rip off the state’s unemployment insurance program, some of which was done by people in prison, may have cost California billions of dollars. Lawmakers are trying to close loopholes, but some advocates for the incarcerated argue it could do more harm than good. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report Consumers often misunderstand the triangular, “chasing arrows” symbol on packaging when it comes to recycling. California lawmakers are taking on this issue with a proposal they call "Truth in Labeling For Recyclable Materials." Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite billions of dollars funneled from the state Capitol, the share of school districts in California offering full-time, in-person learning ranks among the lowest in the U.S. But as more districts begin opening their doors, state lawmakers are turning their focus to next school year as part of the annual state budget process. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED For adults on the autism spectrum it can be hard to get and keep a job. Now a Sacramento-based pilot program that’s helped some autistic adults find employment is looking to expand statewide. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Bay Area immigrant advocates are urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to get rid of Trump-era orders that deny asylum to many immigrants fleeing domestic violence. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED As thousands of migrant families cross into the United States, many are being flown by Customs and Border Protection to San Diego, where they are then removed to Mexico, without any of their belongings. This type of treatment is likely contributing to the rise of unaccompanied children crossing the border. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom will face a recall election later this year. State officials have announced that the campaign to remove the governor from office has gathered enough signatures to put it before voters. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The 2020 Census results came out Monday and California is among the losers. The state is among those losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED With California losing a Congressional seat due to the latest Census results, some are wondering whether the final tally was truly accurate, or if the results undercounted communities of color in the state. Guest: Fernando Guerra, Director for the Center of the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University California’s new Attorney General Rob Bonta, who was appointed by Governor Newsom, has only been on the job for a few days. But he already has a high profile challenger for the 2022 election. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The city of Fresno has reached settlements totaling nearly $10 million with the families of people killed in separate incidents by police in that city. Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ruling to offer shelter to the homless by October has been sharply criticized by the city and county of Los Angeles, which plan to appeal the decision. Many of the homeless who live on Skid Row said that despite the ruling, people may not leave the area. L.A. County is home to the largest Armenian community outside of Armenia itself. Many welcomed the news that President Biden formally recognized the mass killings of Armenians by Turkish forces during World War I as a genocide. On Friday, Governor Newsom took a big step to ban fracking in California. He said California will stop issuing fracking permits by 2024 and halt all oil extraction by 2045. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED With the deadline for validating signatures fast approaching, Gavin Newsom will almost surely face a recall election later this year. Democrats learned some hard lessons when then Governor Gray Davis faced his own recall, nearly two decades ago. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders of the University of California and the California State University systems have announced that their students and employees will need proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to return to campus in the fall. But there are a few conditions to that requirement. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC This week's conviction in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd has one Californian questioning why such a volume of video evidence was so necessary in the case at all. Guest: Allissa Richardson, Journalism Professor, USC California will soon be getting a new Attorney General as the state legislature has confirmed Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta’s appointment to the position. He'll be taking over for Xavier Becerra who is now serving as Health and Human Services Secretary under the Biden administration. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED 12 governors, including Governor Newsom, are urging the Biden Administration to set strict standards for a faster transition to clean vehicles. They want all new cars and light trucks sold to be zero-emission by 2035. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED A section of Highway 1 in Big Sur has been closed since late January after it collapsed during a storm. But it's reopening Friday, two months ahead of schedule. Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom has declared a drought emergency for Mendocino and Sonoma counties. In the Klamath Basin near the California-Oregon border, officials are anticipating a summer of unprecedented drought. Reporter: Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio Young people in California have been at the heart of protests and rallies since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. One youth organizer in Oakland says the fight will continue, even after guilty verdicts were handed down to Derek Chauvin. Guest: Luna EkunDayo, Co-Founder of Black Youth for the People’s Liberation Rob Bonta faced questions from both the Assembly and Senate in Sacramento on Wednesday. He was pressed on how he would handle various high-profile issues, should he be confirmed as California's next Attorney General. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Wildfire smoke may not just be choking the lungs. It could be irritating the skin, that according to a new study from researchers at U.C. San Francisco and U.C. Berkeley. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Low-wage workers in the Bay Area and around California say their bosses often fail to inform them of their rights during the pandemic, and may even retaliate if they ask for COVID-19 protections. That’s according to a new survey of more than 600 frontline workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders up and down California expressed joy and relief following the guilty verdicts handed down to former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd. Members of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles were overjoyed by the guilty verdicts handed down in the murder of George Floyd. But they know that more work lies ahead for them. Guest: Dr. Melina Abdullah, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles A community gathering in Fresno honored the life of George Floyd following the verdicts announced Tuesday. Now, organizers are preparing for a large march to remember the lives also lost in Fresno. Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio The California Legislature will take up the governor’s nomination of Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta to be the state’s next Attorney General. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will formally introduce his budget proposal on Tuesday. It includes money for a universal basic income pilot program. The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd is now in the hands of the jury. One Bay Area professor said the defense's arguments have been rooted in a long history of looking at the health and well-being of Black people differently. Guest: Denise Hurd, Professor of Public Health, UC Berkeley An audit last year of the California District Attorney’s Association revealed that the group had misused at least $2.9 million in public funds meant to help prosecutors enforce environmental and worker safety laws. Instead, the audit found, it was used on things like lobbying. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Los Angeles is home to the largest urban oil field in the country, and about a third of L.A. County residents live less than a mile from an active drilling site. A new study from the University of Southern California has found that the area's long history with fossil fuel extraction has health impacts for residents living near active and inactive sites. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices