KQED's The California Report

Two Firefighters Critically Injured in Silverado Fire In Southern California, The Silverado and Blue Ridge Fires have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands, and left two firefighters in critical condition with second and third degree burns. Like other recent blazes, the Silverado fire might be connected to a utility company. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Governor Newsom Strikes Another Blow Against the Death Penalty Three months after he was sworn into office, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on executions in California. Now he’s trying to strike another blow against the death penalty, this time in the courtroom. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio L.A. to Test Unarmed Mental Health Crisis Response Program In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others by police, Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco are all exploring alternatives to cops responding to some emergencies. The City of Los Angeles has also announced a partnership with L.A. County that will test a model of unarmed mental health crisis response. Reporter: Robert Garrova, KPCC GOP House Candidates Hope to Hold Onto Northern L.A. County In northern L.A. county, the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys have become one of California’s fiercest electoral battlegrounds. Two Republicans running in the area have taken different paths to hold off challengers this fall. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Faculty Diversity Gaps Persist at California's Community Colleges This week, in collaboration with CalMatters’ College Journalism Network, we’re providing a student-centered perspective on Proposition 16. Today we hear from Marisa Martinez, a senior at Cal State L.A. about the representation gaps between faculty and students across California Community College campuses. Reporter: Marisa Martinez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Prop 16 Could Reshape Higher Ed Campuses Across California Student journalists are taking over The California Report to kick off a special collaboration with CalMatters' College Journalism Network. They're looking into Prop 16, is a statewide ballot measure that would restore affirmative action in public institutions and government contracts. Reporters: Kayleen Carter, Marisa Martinez, Janelle Salanga Early Voters Cast Ballots in Voting Centers Across L.A County Over the weekend, Los Angles County voters could start casting their ballots in-person as the county opened up over 100 vote centers. Hundreds more centers will open on October 30th. Ballot Measure to Raise Commercial Property Taxes Falling Short, IGS Poll Shows A ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes and generate billions of dollars for schools and local services is falling short of 50 percent, according to a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California State University System Students Graduating at Highest Rates Ever The good news is that students are graduating from the California State University system at the highest rates ever. The bad news? Just 31 percent of first time students get a diploma in four years. Reproter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uber Drivers Sue Over Pop Up Messages Soliciting Support for Prop 22 The lawsuit identifies three messages in the Uber app that began popping up in August. One asked drivers to vote for Prop 22, which would legalize contractor status for gig workers. Reporter: Sam Harnet, KQED Creative Economy Slammed by Coronavirus Pandemic, New Study Shows A study out this week from Otis College of Art and Design found the creative economy has been slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. The downturn is particularly affecting Southern California. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW How California Latinos Are Mobilizing to Get Out the Vote Nearly a million California Latinos have already voted. Sounds like a lot, but the raw numbers are not the whole story, because Latinos are nearly a third of the state’s eligible voters. And a lot of folks are working to ensure they can flex that political muscle. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED U.S Government Told to Do More to Reunite Children Seperated from Parents In court in San Diego on Thursday, federal Judge Dana Sabraw said he wants to see more coordination from the government in finding the parents of 545 families that were separated at the border. This comes as part of a status conference meant to enforce the settlement that was supposed to stop the government’s “family separation” policy along the border. Reporter: Max Rivlin Nadler, KQED Federal Court Blocks Federal Effort to Exclude Unauthorized Immigrants from Census A federal court in San Jose has blocked the Trump administration’s effort to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the census population count used to distribute Congressional seats among the states. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED West Hollywood Could Name Official “Drag Laureate” The West Hollywood City Council is eyeing the creation of an official “drag laureate” who would serve as an ambassador to local businesses. Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 4.8 Million Californians Have Voted So Far Californians are exceptionally motivated to vote in this election, with more than 4.8 million vote-by-mail ballots already returned. A new statewide poll also finds deep-seated skepticism about a potential coronavirus vaccine. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Competitive Central Valley House Race is a Toss-Up Following Debate The two candidates in one of the most competitive House races in California, the 21st district, which includes parts of Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern Counties, squared off this week in Bakersfield. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED How Do Fire Victims Vote-By-Mail? Registrars Are Helping There are only 12 days until election day, and because of the pandemic, all registered voters in the state have been sent mail-in ballots. But what about people who have lost their homes to wildfires, how do they vote? Reporter: Isabella Bloom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Coronavirus Numbers Up Slightly, But Positivity Rate Remains Low California counties find themselves on very different paths when it comes to reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday San Francisco learned it is moving into the yellow tier of the state’s framework on restrictions as Shasta and Riverside counties are being downgraded to purple after a spike in cases. $100 Million Scholarship Fund Supports Community College Students Students often quit California's community colleges before graduating. It's long been a pain point for the state. This week, college leaders are celebrating a $100 million dollar donation meant to help students finish their degrees. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Universities Sue Over Skilled-Worker Visa Restrictions Caltech and the University of Southern California are among the plaintiffs suing the federal government for placing new restrictions on hiring highly skilled foreign workers. Reporter: Caroline Champlin KPCC Investigation Finds Human Error Caused Tragic Boat Fire A federal investigation into a deadly boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast a year ago has found human error mostly to blame. The fire aboard the Conception killed 34 people. It's the deadliest maritime disaster in modern state history. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW San Francisco Bans Racist Non-Emergency 911 Calls San Francisco supervisors have unanimously approved new legislation which makes it a hate crime to make racist, non-emergency calls to the police. It’s called the CAREN legislation, a nod to the privileged white woman meme. Purdue Pharma Pleads Guilty in Opioid Investigation The Department of Justice says it’s reached an $8 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. Officials say the company will plead guilty to three counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. It does not release members of the Sackler family from criminal liability. Guest: Anand Giridharadas, Author, Winners Take All Advocates Work to Mobilize California's Unlikely Voters We are less than two weeks away from Election Day, but nearly four million Californians have already cast their ballots by mail. Those robust early returns are causing excitement among groups dedicated to increasing voter turnout, but there's a catch. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Satirist and Math Professor Puts Work in Public Domain Legendary Satirist Tom Lehrer is also a distinguished emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. the 92-year-old has just put much of his intellectual property in the public domain so that others can use it freely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fire Experts Use Satellites to Monitor and Understand Wildfires As this epic fire season drags on, the state is watching for new fires from space. Satellites allow scientists and fire officials see where wildfires are, and help them understand how quickly these fires grow and what controls their growth. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Residents Protest Bankrupt Battery Plant's Contamination of East L.A. In Los Angeles, more than 100 residents joined community activists last night to protest a troublesome battery recycling plant that polluted homes and businesses for decades. They're energized over a recent court ruling that leaves state taxpayers responsible for the rest of the cleanup bill. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Uber and Lyft Flood Drivers With Pro Prop 22 Ads During Shifts Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft are using in-app pop up ads to urge riders and drivers to vote for proposition 22. That ballot measure would allow companies that depend on gig workers to continue a key part of their business model: classifying workers as contractors, not employees. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED September Home Sales 20% Higher Than a Year Ago New data from the California Association of Realtors shows homes sales in September up more than 20% from a year ago, beating a record set more than a decade ago. It’s a conundrum, as the pandemic appears to have put a damper on many parts of the economy. Guest: ChrisThornberg, Beacon Economics Beloved L.A. Diner Reopens With Limited Service The coronavirus pandemic and shutdowns have been devastating for many small businesses all over CA. But in the economic wreckage, there are examples of beloved businesses that many people thought were gone for good, finding a way to reopen. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GOP Agrees to Modify Controversial Ballot Boxes California’s Republican Party says it plans to modify but expand its ballot collection program after legal threats by California’s Attorney General. The boxes appeared in counties with competitive congressional races, including Fresno where the boxes have been removed, for now. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Polls Show Suburban Women Turning Away From Trump In the final days of the 2020 campaign, President Donald Trump is openly courting suburban women, a crucial group of voters for both candidates. But polls show those women pulling away from the president. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Court Rules Bankrupt Battery Recycler Not Responsible for Cleanup of Toxic Waste A bankruptcy court in Delaware has approved a plan to abandon a battery recycling plant in L.A. County, siding with the Trump administration over the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom. The decision could leave a toxic mess in a poor community with no money to pay for cleanup. Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Administration Rejects State's Petition for Wildfire Relief The Trump Administration has rejected California’s petition for a federal disaster declaration and relief funds in the aftermath of several recent wildfires, including the devastating August Complex Fire, the biggest wildfire in state history. Oakland, Portland Sue Over Use of Federal Agents at Protests The City of Oakland is challenging the Trump administration's authority to send federal law enforcement to respond to protests. Reporter: Nina Thorsen, KQED Civilian Watchdog Group Demands L.A County Sheriff Resign The civilian watchdog group overseeing LA. County’s Sheriff’s Department has released an unanimous resolution demanding that the county’s sheriff, Alex Villanueva, resign immediately. Newsom Releases Recommendations for Police Response During Protests New recommendations that aim to make demonstrations more peaceful are out. Tensions between police, protestors and journalists have been especially high since demonstrations broke out after the killing of George Floyd in the spring. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED The Mental Health Toll of a Coronavirus Outbreak Inside Avenal State Prison Some of the largest COVID-19 clusters in the country are in California’s jails and prisons, and at the top of the list is Avenal State Prison in the San Joaquin Valley. Inmates say the prison's handling of the virus has been chaotic, and that impacts inmate safety as well as mental health. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Statue of Former Governor Pete Wilson Removed in San Diego The statue of Pete Wilson, put up just thirteen years, ago, has become a target for recent protests by activists who objected to Wilson’s stance on immigration and LGBTQ rights. New Online Detection Tool Could Stop Ships from Colliding with Whales In recent years these waters, especially around Santa Barbara, have gotten more dangerous for the giant mammals because of the increased danger of collisions between whales and cargo ships. In response, researchers at UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Initiative have developed a first of its kind system to help ships avoid hitting whales. Guest: Morgan Visalli, Benioff Ocean Initiative scientist and Whale Safe project lead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dangerous Weather Conditions Mean More Power Shut-Offs in Northern California 53,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers in Northern and Central California are without power this morning. The utility has shut it off because of dangerous weather conditions that could spark a wildfire. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED State Grid Operator Faces Tough Questions About Rolling Blackouts The agency that manages the state’s power grid is calling for Californians to conserve power today, two months after almost a million Californians were left in the dark by the state’s first planned rolling blackouts in 20 years. The agency is also under scrutiny over distribution of the state power supply. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Democrats Cry Foul Over GOP's Unofficial Ballot Drop-Boxes Democrats in California’s three most competitive Congressional races are crying foul over the Republican Party's unauthorized vote-by-mail drop boxes. The GOP is defending the use of the ballot boxes and the issue has gotten the attention of President Trump. Reporter: Guy Marzaroti, KQED Record-Breaking Numbers of Californians Have Already Voted Every registered voter has been mailed a ballot this election and a a result, record-breaking numbers of Californians have already voted. Secretary of State Alex Padilla says more people voting by mail means election day will be safer for everyone who needs to be there in person. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED Unemployment Agency Seeks to Reduce Backlog With New ID System California’s Employment Development Department says it’s making progress towards eliminating its massive unemployment claims backlog thanks in part to a new identity verification system helping EDD process claims faster and head off fraud. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED L.A. City Council Votes To Develop Non-Police Crisis Response When people are experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s often the police who respond. San Francisco and Oakland are implementing programs that would remove police from crisis response. Now the City of Los Angeles is also moving forward with developing its own unarmed civilian crisis response team. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SCOTUS Ruling Ends Census, Leaving Marginalized Communities Undercounted The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump Administration can end counting for the 2020 Census now instead of waiting until the end of the month. The court’s decision is a blow to local governments and advocacy groups, who say stopping the count now will lead to a big undercount of marginalized communities. Trick-Or-Treating and Parties Discouraged For Halloween and Dia de los Muertos The State of California is strongly discouraging trick-or-treating and large gatherings for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, health officials are suggesting alternatives to traditional holiday activities. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Prop 18 Would Allow Some Californians to Vote Before They Turn 18 When you turn 18 you’re allowed to do a lot of things you weren’t allowed to do before, like vote. But should California allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary if they'll be 18 on election day? That’s what Proposition 18 would allow. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Eases Restrictions as COVID Hospitalizations Drop Hospitalizations for coronavirus patients in California are at their lowest level in six months. Just over 2,200 COVID patients were hospitalized as of this past Saturday compared to the peak of nearly 7,200 patients hospitalized in July. And coronavirus patients in intensive care units are now at their second-lowest level since the pandemic began. California Looks to Florida for Guidance on Reopening Amusement Parks One huge economic blow caused by the pandemic is the continued closure of California’s amusement parks. But across the country, Florida is reopening its parks. Governor Gavin Newsom says he’s sending California officials to Florida to see how things are going since Disney World and other parks reopened last month. GOP Says They Will Not Remove Unauthorized Ballot Drop Boxes California’s top election official and the state’s Attorney General are demanding that California’s Republican Party remove unauthorized ballot drop off boxes that have appeared in at least three counties in the state. GOP officials insist they aren't breaking any laws. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio PG&E Considers Power Shut-Offs As Temperatures and Winds Pick Up Northern California is in for another round of hot, windy weather this week. PG&E is preparing for another possible round of “wildfire safety” blackouts to prevent its equipment from sparking another blaze. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PG&E Under Investigation in Connection with Deadly Shasta County Wildfire Utility giant, Pacific Gas and Electric says state authorities are investigating whether the company’s equipment might have started a Northern California fire that killed four people late last month and destroyed over 200 structures. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Thousands March in Beverly Hills in Solidarity with Armenia Thousands of Armenian-American protestors marched in Los Angeles on Sunday, demanding an end to a decades-old, violent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that’s flared up in recent weeks. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW State Regulators Plan to Cut Cost of Jail and Prison Phone Calls The California Public Utilities Commission plans this fall to start discussing placing a cap on the price of the calls. This move is part of a national movement to reduce expensive phone rates for incarcerated people. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED The History of Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated People This election year, California voters will decide on Proposition 17, a ballot measure that would restore voting rights to people on parole if it passes. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private Firefighters Accused of Allegedly Setting Illegal Backfires State fire officials are investigating several private firefighters for allegedly setting illegal backfires to protect some structures threatened by the Glass Fire in the wine country. Jackie Lacey and George Gascón Square Off in LA County District Attorney Race The candidates to lead the largest prosecutor’s office in the country squared off last night in a virtual debate. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey is running for her third term against George Gascón, the former San Francisco D.A., who is campaigning as a progressive challenger. Some Call for a Less Partisan Election Chief in California California Secretary of State Alex Padilla is charged with overseeing the state's elections. But he's also a Democrat, who has to face his own election every four years. Some election experts think the job needs a fundamental overhaul. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Over 100,000 College Students Lack Tech for Online Classes More than 100,000 California college students don’t have the technology they need for online classes. That’s according to a new estimate from the nonprofit Ed Trust West. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harris and Pence Spar Over Forest Management and Wildfires During Debate Issues important to California, like climate change and wildfires came up in Wednesday’s Vice Presidential debate. The candidates started off discussing the COVID pandemic and the administration’s handling of it, but the conversation soon turned to the environment. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Facebook Bans Political Ads Until After the Election Facebook has announced plans to prohibit all political ads until after the polls close on November 3rd. The tech giant says it will also place notifications at the top of the News Feed, reminding users that no winner is decided until “real news outlets” announce one. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Changes to White Collar Worker Visa Has Bi-Partisan Support The U.S. Department of Labor enacts big changes today, to the H1-B visa program for high-skilled guest workers. The changes are supported both by pro-labor Democrats and anti-immigration Republicans. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Governors New Executive Order Dedicates 30% Of California's Land to Conservation Governor Gavin Newsom is setting a goal of conserving 30% of state land and coastal waters by the year 2030. Yesterday he signed an executive order that calls for using the state’s own natural resources to remove carbon emissions which drive climate change. Wineries Struggle With Fires and Other Impacts of Climate Change The Glass Fire has ravaged 67,420 acres of land around California's wine country. The vineyards and wineries lucky enough to have survived are still struggling with the impacts of the smoke and hotter temperatures driven by climate change. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio 7th Grader Remembers Tubbs Fire Three Years On Three years ago today, dozens of fires broke out in Northern California’s wine country. Those fires ultimately killed 44 people and destroyed or damaged more than 20,000 homes. including the home of 7th grader Leo Abrams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Reopening, Counties Must Increase COVID-19 Testing, Reduce Positive Cases Starting this week in order to qualify to reopen more industries and loosen restrictions, California will require its 35 largest counties to bring down coronavirus rates in hard-hit neighborhoods. That means hitting goals both for overall testing and in lowering the percentage of new positive cases. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Data Indicates In-Person Learning Hasn't Caused More COVID Transmission California’s Health and Human Services secretary Dr Mark Ghaly says in-person learning hasn’t caused an uptick in COVID-19 transmission rates in the counties where schools have re-opened. Vallejo Declares Public Safety Emergency to Implement Police Reforms The Vallejo City Council has declared a public safety emergency in an effort to reform a police department plagued by officer misconduct, controversial police shootings and low morale. Police departments across the state are facing similar criticism. Facebook Bans All QAnon Accounts, But Implementation Could Take Weeks Less than a month before Election Day, Facebook has announced it’s banning all QAnon accounts from its platforms. Previously only QAnon accounts that discussed violence were banned. The tech giant warns implementing the ban will take weeks. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Firefighters Save Historic Napa Valley Grist Mill California’s record breaking wildfires have destroyed many beloved local attractions, from parks to restaurants and wineries. But in Napa Valley, firefighters went went to great lengths to save one local treasure. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Gig Workers Divided Over Prop 22 A "yes" vote on Proposition 22 means app-based ride hailing and delivery drivers in California would be classified as independent contractors. A "no" vote means the drivers are classified as employees of the companies, and receive protections, like minimum wage, sick time and health insurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Openly Gay Justice Nominated to State Supreme Court Governor Gavin Newsom has nominated veteran Judge Martin Jenkins as his first appointee to the California Supreme Court. If he's appointed Jenkins will be the first openly gay justice on the California Supreme court. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California Physicists Awarded Nobel Prize Two Californians have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics with a British scientist. They share the prize for discovering a supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Tenants Protest Eviction as Moratoriums Expire As local rent moratoriums expire, landlords have begun filing evictions across the state, and tenants are now protesting a new state law that they say creates new problems for renters instead of protections. Reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS LAUSD Conflicted About How To Cut Police Budget In June, a divided Los Angeles Unified School Board voted to reduce the school police budget by 25 million dollars and to reallocate the money to schools with more Black students. More than three months later, the district still hasn’t figured out how to do it. Reporter: Carla Javier, KPCC Colossal August Complex Fire Chars More Than a Million Acres In a season of disastrous and record-setting wildfires across California, one blaze stands out. The August Complex began seven weeks ago with a series of lightning strikes scattered through remote forests. It has since scorched more than a million acres, and is the largest fire ever recorded in the state. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Communities in Los Angeles Unimpressed with Community Policing Efforts In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police many law enforcement agencies are wrestling with how to better serve the communities they’ve sworn to protect. In Los Angeles, the LAPD thinks it has a program that works. It’s called the Community Safety Partnership and it’s about strengthening relationships between cops and residents. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Record Four Million Acres Scorched in California, With Months of Fire Season Remaining State fire officials announced yesterday that wildfires have burned a record four million acres this year in California. That’s more than double the previous record year of 2018 when 1.8 million acres burned in the state. Elder Care Homes Keep Familiar Routines While Evacuated California’s wildfires have forced tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate from their homes. Such evacuations can be stressful even for those who are young, healthy, and mobile. For residential care homes, keeping elderly residents comfortable and safe while evacuating can be a challenge. Reporter: Polly Stryker, KQED Following Complete Destruction, Beloved Santa Rosa Stables Will Be Rebuilt The Glass Fire has burned through Napa and Sonoma counties destroying or damaging many wineries and vineyards. The blaze also annihilated beloved community stables, the Pony Express Ranch. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Ballots for All Californians' Mailed This Week Because of the pandemic, every California voter will get a ballot in the mail. This week is the deadline for counties to mail those ballots to voters, and in-person voting begins for some counties. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED ICE Detainees Say They Were Illegally 'Quarantined' in Solitary Confinement About 6,000 undocumented immigrants held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have tested positive for COVID, including hundreds in California. Some detainees say they were quarantined in solitary confinement for weeks. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Positive COVID-19 Test, Trump's Swing Through Southern California Likely On Hold News that President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 is expected to end a swing through Southern California that had been planned for next week. This diagnosis has been confirmed this morning by White House doctors. Guest: Jessica Levinson, Loyola Law School professor Republicans Are No Longer a Third Party in California For the first time in over two years, more California voters are registered as Republican than no-party-preference, or independent voters. The GOP’s recent gains have done little to chip away at the huge registration advantage still held by California Democrats. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Newsom Plans to Increase Already Historic Spending for Battling Wildfires Governor Gavin Newsom says he plans to dedicate more state resources for wildfire prevention in next year’s budget. Newsom made the announcement Thursday while touring the damaged areas of Santa Rosa where the Glass Fires have been burning. Hotel and Hospitality Workers Disappointed After Newsom Vetoes Labor Protection Bill Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill this week that would have provided extensive new labor protections for laid-off employees during the pandemic. Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW Why Some Civil Rights Groups Oppose Proposition to End Cash Bail in California California voters are being asked whether the state should end cash bail. Some progressive civil rights groups are siding with the bail industry and law enforcement to bail in place. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighters Deploy Emergency Shelters Amid Intense Conditions Cal Fire is reporting a close call for two crew members who were forced to deploy emergency shelters while fighting the Glass Fire. The incident occurred Sunday night as gusty northeasterly winds created chaotic conditions on the fire. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED New State Law Considers Slavery Reparations Governor Gavin Newsom made the final call on a slew of bills that passed in the Legislative session that just ended. Among the legislation signed Wednesday are bills tied to racial justice and police reform. Reporter: Katie Orr KQED Court Blocks Trump 'Wealth Test' on Immigrants A federal court has blocked a plan from the Trump administration to charge immigrants a lot more money to apply for U.S. citizenship, green cards and other benefits. Critics of the plan call it a wealth test. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED How Prop 13 Hurt Schools and Helped Corporations California voters have a shot at overturning one of the most notorious propositions of recent decades. Proposition 15 on the November ballot would increase property taxes on corporations undoing a key component of Prop 13. That 1978 landmark ballot measure which was sold to voters as a way to help homeowners. But critics say it decimated state school funding, and helped corporations. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigrant Workers Hit Hard by WildfiresThe Glass Fire is just the latest blow to low-wage immigrant workers in Sonoma and Napa counties, who were already struggling during the pandemic. Many of them don't have the option to stay home from work. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Local Businesses Step Up Support to Firefighters Fighting the Glass FireSmall businesses in Napa and Sonoma counties have stepped up their efforts to support those on the frontlines of the Glass fire tearing through the community. Food trucks and restaurant owners and feeding and providing supplies to firefighters and other first responders. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED California Still Unprepared For Wildfires After $2.5 Billion InvestmentA Bay Area state Senator says California was not prepared for this current fire season, even though the state recently purchased a dozen black hawk helicopters, seven c-130 air tankers and invested $2.5 billion in emergency preparedness. California Wildfire Policy Flares Up in Presidential DebateCalifornia’s wildfires came up in last night’s chaotic presidential debate. Joe Biden pledged to return to Obama era policies, while President Trump says a billion trees will be planted, Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Poll Finds Declining Concern Around COVID-19California voters’ concern about the coronavirus pandemic is on the decline according to a survey out this morning from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Happiest Place on Earth Lays of 28,000 WorkersDisney says it’s laying off 28,000 employees as the pandemic continues to ravage its theme park division. The entertainment giant says the state of California is partially to blame. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Affirmative Action Measure Stuggling Amid Calls for Racial Equity25 years ago California voters banned affirmative action. Now voters will decide on Proposition 16, which would overturn that ban. It comes during a nationwide conversation on race and social justice. But recent polls show the measure is struggling. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heartbreaking Toll of Wildfires Continues to Grow Three people have died in the Zogg Fire burning in Shasta County outside of Redding. The Glass Fire has burned at least 36,000 acres, tripling in size in just 24 hours in Napa and Sonoma counties, and destroying homes. It’s also forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. California's Emergency Alert System is in Shambles Making sure people get advance word about advancing flames is a matter of life and death. But are California’s emergency alert systems up the task at a time when many people have lost power because of Pacific Gas and Electric utility shut offs? Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Wine Industry Faces Big Fire Losses The fires have dealt a big blow to California’s wine industry. Some wineries have burned to the ground and over a hundred others are within wildfire evacuation zones. The future of some are in question. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Firefighting Resources Streched Thin Across the State Firefighting resources are stretched thin, with 18,000 people fighting 27 major wildfires across the state. CalFire officials say crews are focusing resources on containing the Zogg and Glass Fires burning in Shasta, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. Preparation is Crucial When Evacuating Animals As the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties tripled in size, many evacuees have had to make the difficult decision to leave their animals behind. The Napa Community Animal Response Team helps with livestock and pets left behind. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED Legislators Anxiously Anticipate Outcome of Pending Bills September 30th, is the last day Governor Gavin Newsom has to sign bills into law or veto them. This can be an anxious time for legislators who are wondering about the fate of bills they’ve championed. Will the Governor take out his pen and sign them or not? Governor Promotes Flu Shot By Getting One As a way to encourage people to get their shots early, Governor Newsom got his annual flu shot during a press conference on Monday. He said widespread inoculations could avoid an overlap of influenza and COVID19 infections that might overwhelm the healthcare system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wildfires Burning in Napa and Sonoma Counties Hit Santa Rosa Wildfires burning in Napa and Sonoma counties north of San Francisco have reached the city of Santa Rosa where homes in a residential neighborhood on the city’s eastern edge have been destroyed. Newsom Signs Law to Expand Access to Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Friday that gives California some of the most expansive standards in the country for providing access to mental health care. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Californians Worried about Integrity of Presidential Votes A lot of Californians are worried about the integrity of their presidential votes, according to a new poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The Rematch Heating up in California's 21st District One of the most vulnerable House Democrats in California this year is Representative TJ Cox, who narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Congressman David Valadao two years ago in California’s 21st district. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Venture Capitalists Consider Gig Economy Potential of Homecooked Meals Because of a state law on the books, a homecooked meal might do more than feed you and your family. It could also make you a little extra money. But now venture capitalists are wondering if they too can profit from the law by turning home cooks into the next gig economy workforce. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Ending Census Early A federal judge in San Jose has barred the Trump Administration from putting a halt to counting for the 2020 U.S. Census a month early. Judge Lucy Koh issued a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from doing so. Biden's Massive Lead Against Trump Continues in California Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden continues to hold a huge lead with state voters over President Trump in California. That's according to a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Some Progressive Democrats Say Feinstein Not Equipped to Lead Supreme Court Fight As the nation waits to see who President Trump will name to the US Supreme Court seat left empty by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, some are wondering whether Senator Dianne Feinstein is the right person to lead the fight against the confirmation. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governors Executive Order Bans Gas-Burning Car Sales by 2035 California is the largest automobile market in the country, but those cars we love so much are big contributors to climate change. That’s why Governor Newsom signed a historic executive order yesterday banning the sale of new gas-powered cars in the state by the year 2035, replacing them with zero emission vehicles. Reporter Kevin Stark, KQED Car Dealers Push Back Against Electric Car Mandate The governors' vow to end the sale of gas-fueled cars in California has critics. They include the California New Car Dealers Association, which represents about 1,200 dealers in the state. The associations president says one problem with implementing the order is infrastructure. Guest: Brian Maas, President, California New Car Dealers Association New CSU Chancellor Faces Big Challenges The California State University System is the country’s largest four year public university system, with 23 campuses and about 480,000 students. This mammoth system now has a new chancellor, Joseph Castro, who’s also its first leader of color. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC U.S. Senate Looks to California as it Considers Data Privacy Legislation The clout of California’s tech companies are getting a lot of scrutiny in Washington D.C. right now. As U.S. senators consider federal data privacy legislation, they took testimony from California’s attorney general. California has the most comprehensive data privacy law in the country. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audit Finds UC Campuses Favor Wealthy Students “Who you know” can be a big advantage in life, getting you that new job or investment tip. But it’s not supposed to help you get a spot in a University of California school. A new state audit found that four UC campuses improperly admitted dozens of wealthy students over the past six years as favors to donors, family, and friends. Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED California Counties Expand Partial Reopening As they meet coronavirus metrics, most of the Bay Area and Riverside County in Southern California have been given the green light by the state to partially reopen restaurants, houses of worship, fitness centers and movie theaters. Long Beach Mayor Won't Rush Reopening Even as California makes gains against the virus and reopens, some elected officials warn not to rush that process. One of them is Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, who recently lost both his mother and stepfather to COVID. Guest: Robert Garcia, Long Beach Mayor California Defends Affordable Care Act Before Congress The head of Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, will testify before a Congressional committee today about the importance of the Affordable Care Act during the pandemic. The current opening on the U.S. Supreme Court could mean an uncertain future for the law. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED COVID-19 Outbreak at San Bernardino Detention Center Grows At least 53 detainees have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. Nine people confirmed with the coronavirus have been hospitalized so far. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED California Votes to Protect Joshua Trees Both climate change and development are threatening Joshua Trees in the Mojave Desert. The state's Fish and Game Commission voted to extend temporary protected status to California's Joshuas yesterday. Poll Finds California Voters Are Not Enthusiastic About Prop 22 A new poll shows California voters feel lukewarm about Prop 22. Tech companies like Uber and Lyft are pushing the ballot measure, which would exempt some gig workers from employee status. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED How Inequity Shows Up in Kindergarten Across California, parents of school age kids face the same challenge of making sure their children get a good education virtually as schools remain closed because of the pandemic But some parents have way more time, money and resources to do that than others. Reporter: Claire Trageser, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hotshot Firefighter Dies in El Dorado Blaze A firefighter died last week fighting the El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County. Charlie Morton was a squad boss of a hotshot crew in the San Bernardino National Forest. The Bobcat Fire burning in the San Gabriel Mountains is about 13% contained. It has damaged about 30 structures. California's COVID-19 Numbers Continue To Fall Though more than 15,000 Californians have died from the coronavirus, the states' COVID-19 numbers, seven-day positivity rate, and hospitalization rates continue to drop, says Governor Gavin Newsom. The state is also expanding testing, with 124,000 average daily tests over the last week. CDC Reverses Guidelines Around COVID-19 Transmission On Friday the CDC issued new guidelines for how coronavirus spreads, saying aerosol transmission might mean the virus could travel more than six feet through the air. On Monday, the CDC removed that information, saying it was posted in error. Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED Unemployment Audit Recommends Overhaul of State Agency California’s Employment Development Department has had a huge backlog of cases since the pandemic began. An audit by a state strike team released over the weekend recommended lots of changes at the department. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Lawsuit Alleges CBP Intentionally Broke the Law A class action lawsuit filed against the Trump administration alleges that Customs and Border Protection personnel knew they were breaking the law as they reviewed migrants’ claims for asylum at the U.S. - Mexico border. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Governor Announces Additional Funding for Homeless Housing Initiative Governor Newsom has announced a second round of funding for the state’s Project Homekey. $236 million dollars will be spent turning hotels, motels, and vacant apartment buildings into housing for homeless individuals. That struggle to create more housing is explored in a new KQED podcast called “Sold Out”. Guest: Molly Solomon, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California to Temporarily Halt Accepting Unemployment Claims California’s Employment Development Department plans to stop accepting unemployment claims until October 5 while it tackles a massive backlog of 600,000 cases. This comes as an investigative strike team set up by Governor Gavin Newsom released a report saying the agency needs a massive overhaul. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED Newsom Signs law to Make More Undocumented Immigrants Eligible for Tax Credits Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure to expand eligibility for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which benefits low-income workers. The new law removes a requirement that eligible undocumented filers must have at least one child under the age of six. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Mourners Gather in San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood to Honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg Millions of Americans are mourning the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. On Friday evening in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood, many gathered for a candlelight vigil honoring the trailblazing Supreme Court Justice. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED The History of California's Statewide Initiative System A dozen statewide propositions will appear on California's November ballot, asking voters to decide on complex issues from affirmative action to digital privacy. The state's initiative system was created in 1911, and it was pitched as a way to give voters a direct voice in governing. Guest: Joe Matthews, Connecting California columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Prison Officials Meet with Inmate Advocates to Discuss Efforts to Contain COVID-19 Outbreaks What started as a handful of coronavirus cases early last month at Folsom State Prison has ballooned to over 500. Further south, Avenal State Prison in Kings County has had 22 hundred cases. That’s more than any prison in California, including San Quentin. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Adelanto Immigration Detention Center Grapples with COVID-19 Outbreak The immigration detention center in the desert city of Adelanto, northeast of Los Angeles, continues to face a COVID-19 outbreak there. 39 individuals have tested positive. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR How to Build in the Era of Climate Change and Raging Wildfires As fire crews across the state continue to battle record-setting blazes, many people are asking what can be done to make sure future fires aren’t as destructive in an era of climate change. Many experts say one big solution is improved planning and not building homes where they’re threatened by fire. Guest: David Shew, CalFire Calls Grow for LA County Sheriff to Resign There are increasingly angry calls from elected officials for LA. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who runs the largest sheriff’s department in the country, to resign. Villanueva’s critics cite an attempt to rehire a deputy accused of domestic abuse, his threat of lawsuits against critics, gang-like cliques of deputies in the department, and controversial deputy-involved shootings Hot, Dry Summer Likely to Continue For Most of California in The Fall Our state has had a hot and dry summer, and scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are forecasting that will continue for most of California in autumn. That means the wildfire threat continues. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED UC Berkeley Launches New Center to Study Science of Psychedelics Berkeley’s center will instead focus on how psychedelics affect the brain. The center will also train people to be guides or facilitators for psychedelic research and therapies. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED How the Pandemic is Shaping Dialogue Around Death and Dying The pandemic is forcing us to have hard conversations about something no one really wants to talk about: our wishes around death and dying. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Some Families are Coping with Unhealthy Air Quality in Southern CaliforniaAir quality may finally be improving in the Bay Area, but things are still smoky down in Southern California. That’s especially true in in the foothill communities of the San Gabriel Valley, where the Air Quality Index has hit 500 this week. Reporter: KCRW’s Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW New Poll Shows Tough Fight for Proposition to Reinstate Affirmative ActionThe poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows just 31 percent support a proposition to reinstate affirmative action. The poll also shows a slim majority of likely voters support Proposition 15, which would change how property taxes are assessed on commercial and industrial properties in the state. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Neighbors Step Up to Help One Restaurant Worker Out of Work Since Pandemic BeganThe restaurant industry has been hard hit during the pandemic, losing nearly 400,000 jobs in the state since March. As some businesses reopen, those workers are competing for fewer positions. Victor Moreno is one restaurant worker finding unexpected support from people in his neighborhood. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 250 Marines and Sailors Sent to Battle Creek Fire250 marines and sailors are being sent to Central California to help fight the Creek Fire, which has grown to over 220,000 acres and is now 18% contained. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Firefighters Fight to Save Historic Mount Wilson ObservatoryThe Bobcat Fire has gotten dangerously close to the observatory. It’s surrounded by firefighters and helicopters there to defend the structures, which contain scientifically important telescopes. Sharon McNary, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris Visits Fresno to Meet with Emergency Personnel Battling Wildfires Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris met Tuesday with emergency service personnel who have been battling the Creek Fire in the mountains near Fresno. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Women's Groups Vow to Defend Kamala Harris from Racist, Sexist Attacks As the first woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket, Kamala Harris is already facing subtle and not so subtle personal attacks that observers say most white men would not encounter. Women's groups are geared up to defend her. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED New Alliance of Progressive Prosecutors Founded to Lobby for Criminal Justice Reform A group of California prosecutors say they are fed up with their peers’ opposition to criminal justice reform and are starting a new group dedicated to pushing political change. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Blames Forest Management, Dismisses Climate Change During California VisitBoth presidential nominees turned their attention Monday to the wildfires roaring across the west coast. President Donald Trump landed in Sacramento to receive a wildfire briefing. In his own address on climate issues, across the country, Democratic nominee Joe Biden said four more years of Trump would lead to more fires, floods and storms. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Researchers Use 3-D Simulation to Show the Pending Catastrophe of Sea Level RiseRising sea levels could be exponentially more expensive to deal with than wildfires. Dr. Patrick Barnard, director of climate research at the U.S. Geological Survey, and executive producer Tobin Jones have set out to show rather than tell what climate change could look like. Guests: Dr. Patrick Barnard, director of climate research at the U.S Geological Survey, and animator Tobin Jones Outrage Continues after Journalist Arrested While Covering ProtestThe search continues for a man who shot two L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies in their patrol car in Compton on Saturday night. Shortly after the shooting, sheriffs’ deputies arrested KPCC reporter Josie Huang. The Sheriff’s office said she did not clearly identify herself as a member of the press, although video footage contradicts that account. Court Rules Trump Administration Can End Humanitarian Protections for ImmigrantsThe 9th circuit court of appeals has ruled on Monday that the Trump administration can end humanitarian protections for more than 400,000 immigrants nationwide. That would pave the way for their deportation. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Young Voters More Likely to have Vote-by-Mail Ballots RejectedAs California prepares to mail every voter a ballot this fall, the issue of ballot rejections is a rising concern. Over the last decade, an average of 1.7% of mail ballots have been rejected, according to the California Voter Foundation. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED QAnon Followers Threaten, Dox Scott Wiener Over Sex Offender LawSome Republican politicians stand accused of seizing on a new law, signed by the Governor late last week, as an opportunity to rally QAnon believers Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump Expected to Visit California as Wildfires Rage President Donald Trump is set to visit California in Sacramento as fire fighters make progress containing wildfires. Before this Friday, President Trump went three weeks without saying anything about the wildfires Unprecedented Fire Conditions Continue to Strain Resources Firefighters in California are battling nearly 30 major blazes burning across the state. Chief Dave Winnacker with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District is in the field at the Red Salmon Complex burning in Trinity County. Guest: Dave Winnacker, Fire Chief at Moraga-Orinda Fire District Newsom Signs Bill to Allow More Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters to Join Professional Fire Crews Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Friday to make it easier for formerly incarcerated fire fighters to be hired by fire agencies in full time positions. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot in Compton Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were shot Saturday, and the suspect is still on the loose. Both deputies are in critical conditions and expected to recover. Shortly after the shooting, Josie Huang with member station KPCC was documenting the arrest of a protestor when she was arrested. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darrell Satzman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Dead and a Dozen Missing in Massive North Complex Fire Driven by high winds the North Complex fire in Butte County exploded across more than 230,000 acres over the last two days. It’s claimed the lives of three people and 12 are reported missing. The blaze also brings back painful memories for the residents of Paradise. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Clearer Skies Above the Bay Area Mean Worsening Air Quality Californians woke up yesterday to deep orange skies that conjured up images of the apocalypse or another world. Today, the air is expected to look more normal, but that doesn’t mean the air quality is better. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Three Firefighters Injured as Blaze Claims Fire Station The people at greatest risk when it comes to wildfires are the firefighters on the front lines. Earlier this week, while trying to protect a fire station, 14 firefighters were injured in the Dolan Fire in Monterey County near Big Sur. Volunteer Fire Chief Draws on Faith When Delivering Bad News Firefighters do more than battle blazes. Sometimes they have deliver bad news. The volunteer fire chief of one mountain town is uniquely suited to doing just that. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio Turnout is Higher in California Counties that Vote-By-Mail In less than a month, counties will begin mailing every voter a ballot. It's part of California’s shift to vote-by-mail in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than a dozen counties that already send every voter a ballot, could provide clues for how this year’s election will play out. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED New Laws Aim to Keep Smaller Businesses Afloat With Tax Breaks Governor Newsom signed several bills into law on Wednesday aimed at helping small businesses recover from downturns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Two new laws are designed to help smaller businesses stay afloat with tax credits and exemptions. Facebook Faces Ongoing Scrutiny Over Hate Speech A coalition of more than forty civil rights groups are calling for Facebook’s public policy chief in India to step down. This comes a day after a software engineer resigned over the company's mishandling of hate messages and conspiracy theories. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Santa Ana Winds Threaten Communities Burning East of Los Angeles Residents in several foothill communities east of Los Angeles are being warned to prepare for possible evacuations due to the Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. The blaze started on Sunday, and firefighters fear it might grow quickly because of forecast Santa Ana winds. Evacuees from Creek Fire Number 30,000 and Counting The Creek Fire east of Fresno has grown to over 162,000 acres and is still zero percent contained. Hundreds of people who were trapped by the blaze have been rescued, and officials are trying to find others who might still need help. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED PG&E Inspects Lines Before Restoring Power to 172,000 Customers Power is expected to be restored to 172,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers by the end of today. The utility giant intentionally shut the power off as a way to prevent electrical equipment from sparking even more wildfires in hot, dry and windy conditions. Victims of the 2015 Butte Fire Relive Their Loss as they Await Settlements On this day in 2015, PG&E lines caused a deadly fire in Amador County east of Sacramento. Five years later, some survivors are still waiting for settlement money and many have been unable to rebuild their homes. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED As Evacuations are Lifted Homeowners Face Insurance Bureaucracy After fleeing wildfires, many Californians are returning to homes that have been destroyed or severely damaged. That means they'll be dealing with insurance issues that can get confusing very quickly. Guest: Amy Bach, Co-Founder, United Policyholders Governor Eases Coronavirus Restrictions on Five More Counties In consultation with public health experts, Governor Gavin Newsom is relaxing coronavirus restrictions in five more California counties. That means restaurants, churches, gyms and nail salons are now allowed to open for indoor activities with fewer people and other modifications. Governor Newsom Calls Christian Gathering a 'Public Health Menace' Redding pastor Sean Feucht is calling on his followers to join him for a worship service in Sacramento that took place last weekend. The service, like others Feucht has organized along the West Coast, is being criticized by Governor Gavin Newsom as a menace to public health. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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200 People Airlifted to Safety from Creek Fire Near Fresno the Creek Fire broke out Friday night near Fresno trapping around 200 people at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. They were airlifted out to safety by helicopter. Officials say 20 people had injuries, including burns. The Creek Fire spread quickly and has now burned more than 73,000 acres. Extreme Behavior of Creek Fire Baffles Fire Scientists Dr. Scott Stephens has been monitoring the behavior of the Creek Fire. He says this fire is behaving differently than other fires he's observed in the Sierra Nevada region. Drought conditions have created enormous smoke plumes and intense heat in the interior of the fire. Guest: Dr. Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC Berkeley Record-Breaking Temperatures Recorded in Southern California Across California temperatures reached well into the triple digits on Saturday and Sunday with many places shattering old temperature records. North of Lost Angeles, Woodland Hills recorded a high temperature of 121 degrees on Sunday. The National Weather Service says that's the hottest temperature ever recorded by a weather station in Los Angeles County. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meteorologists Warn of Dangerous Heatwave to Hit Labor Day Weekend From COVID-19 spread to possible blackouts, there is a lot to worry about when the forecasted heatwave hits. The National Weather Service says the temperatures will climb starting today and should peak by Monday. In Southern California, many temperature records are likely to fall. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED Firefighters Battle Three Major Sets of Wildfires as Heatwave Looms The heat wave over this Labor Day is expected to bring temperatures in the 90s and 100s in areas where firefighters continue to battle major wildfires. Fire officials say hotter and drier weather could spread current fires or start news ones, but they remain confident in their containment efforts so far. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED State of Postal Service Means Delayed Prescriptions and Vital Documents Big changes at the U.S Postal Service have many concerned about the upcoming election and mail-in-voting. But issues at the postal service have also made it harder for state and local agencies to do their jobs. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Remembering Mets Baseball Pitching Legend and Fresno Native Tom Seaver Tom Seaver passed away this week at age 75. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 for his 20-year career in the Major Leagues. He put the Mets on the map, and earned the nickname "Tom Terrific" for his pitching prowess. Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public Radio Census Bureau Lays off Workers Soon After In-Person Counting Begins Across the country and in California, census workers called "enumerators " are supposed to be knocking on doors this month to help people complete 2020 census forms. But last week one worker received a text message that the Census Bureau was starting to lay off these workers, citing "lack of work." Reporter: Caroline Champlin, KPCC State Legislature Passes Bill to Allow Some Inmates Who Fought Fires to Become Firefighters California relies on incarcerated fire fighters to help fight many of its big wildfires. But can these inmates turn this into a career once their sentence is over? Reporter: Ariella Markowitz, The California Report Magazine Long Beach Councilman on the Pandemic's Impact on Atlantic Avenue In recent weeks on this show, we've been checking in with people who live and work along Atlantic Avenue in Los Angeles County to see how they're dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Rex Richardson is councilman for the city of Long Beach who represents a stretch of Atlantic Boulevard. Guest: City of Long Beach Councilman Rex Richardson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poll Reveals Ethnic and Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Death Rates The coronavirus has killed more than 13,000 people in our state since the pandemic began. According to a new poll 20% of Californians know someone who’s died of COVID-19, but that number is much higher in some communities. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED California Sees Declines in COVID-19 Positivity Rates and Hospitalizations California is seeing positive numbers in the fight against coronavirus. Governor Gavin Newsom says there's been a 23% decline in both COVID-19 related hospitalizations and patients admitted into ICUs in the past two weeks. Latino Task Force Tackles COVID-19 in Central Valley And as COVID-19 continues to take a disproportionate toll on Latinos, the Kern County Health Department is creating a first of its kind task force to address the issue. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio Utilities Urge Conservation During Upcoming Labor Day Heat Wave Much of California is expected to face record breaking high temperatures this Labor Day weekend. Utilities are urging energy conservation to avoid energy shortages as temperatures soar. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KQED California Takes Action to Protect Post Office Ahead of Elections California wants the US Postal Service to roll back changes that have led to mail delays. Those changes include removing mail sorting machines and limiting employee overtime. California is joining a group of states to file a preliminary injunction to reverse the changes. Tobacco Industry Pushes Back Against Flavored Product Ban Last week, Governor Newsom signed into law a ban on flavored tobacco sales in retail stores, which begins in January. Advocates say the law is a huge win for public health, but the tobacco industry is pushing back. Congressional Races Heat Up as Election Day Approaches With election day approaching, congressional races are heating up across the state. Challengers to house incumbents, who might have little name recognition, need to overcome the difficulties of campaigning during a pandemic. That's the task that faces Democrat Phil Arballo who's challenging well-known incumbent and Trump loyalist Devin Nunes in the Central Valley. Guest: Phil Arballo, Democratic Candidate for CA District 22 Chico Students Ordered Out of Dorms Following Campus Outbreak Students in the dorms at California State University, Chico have until Sunday to find a new place to live. This comes after an outbreak of the coronavirus on campus. One student is wondering if staying at the university for online classes is worth it. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drop in COVID Cases in the Bay Area Allows More Businesses to Reopen Top state health officials say new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop. in Northern California, risk in San Francisco and Napa counties is only considered “substantial” which means schools and some businesses can open sooner. Central Valley Schools Use Day Camp Loophole to Reopen Most counties in the Central Valley have been on the state’s COVID-19 watch list for months. For counties where the virus is deemed widespread, schools are not allowed to reopen for in-person lessons, but some schools in Tulare county are partially reopening as day camps. Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public Radio To Reopen, Schools Need Better Ventilation Infrastructure A growing number of schools across the state are moving to reopen in-person classes. One piece of the safety equation is improving ventilation systems inside older school buildings. A bill that would help that happen is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Jerry Brown Throws His Weight Behind Criminal Justice Reform Former Governor Jerry Brown is putting a million dollars into defeating a November ballot measure, backed by police, that would reverse some of the criminal justice reforms he championed in office. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Velvet Bandit Brightens Streets With Vibrant Illustrations of Our Current Moment A prolific Northern California street artist has been going out at night and plastering her vibrant illustrations from the Bay Area to Mendocino county. Her work speaks to the moment we are in, from commentary on life in a pandemic to the death of George Floyd. Guest: Gabe Meline, KQED Local Dairies on the Brink as Restaurant Orders Plummet The coronavirus has devastated businesses. Some temporarily, others for good. When a business gets slammed, so do its workers and suppliers. In Sonoma county small dairy producers are struggling with diminished demand from restaurants. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newborn Baby Appears on Assembly Floor As Time Runs Out on Final Legislative Session Lawmakers voted to approve statewide eviction protections in the final hours of this year’s legislative session -- and just as California’s eviction ban was set to expire. In a dramatic legislative session lawmakers ran out of time to several pass bills before the midnight deadline. Guests: Katie Orr, KQED, and CA Assemblywoman Monique Limón, District 27 AB 3216 Prioritizes Laid-Off Workers For Rehire As the legislative session comes to an end scores of bills are headed to the governor’s desk. One new bill, AB 3216, puts pressure on companies to rehire hospitality and transportation workers laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Poultry Plant Closed for Cleaning Following Eight COVID-19 Deaths In the Central Valley a facility belonging to poultry processor Foster Farms is planning to shut down for about a week. The plant has seen 400 confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least eight workers have died. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Remote Learning Puts Teachers on IT Duty As millions of students across CA start the new school year online, they’re running into the same problems as many of us now working from home, like Security hurdles, wifi dilemmas, and Zoom glitches. In many cases, teachers are taking on IT duty Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deadline Nears for Lawmakers to Pass Eviction Moratorium A new state law would ban evictions for tenants who miss paying their rent due to pandemic-related hardships, like company layoffs or wage reductions. Those protections would largely be in place until the end of January. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED Hot, Dry Weather Expected to Return to California Fire crews have been able to take advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but that’s about to change. The National Weather Service says a high pressure system will keep the air hot and dry for the next week or so. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED Imagining a Greenbelt to Protect and Surround Paradise from Future Wildfires It’s been nearly two years since the Camp fire raced through the Butte County town of Paradise. 85 people were killed and nearly all buildings in town were destroyed. Now the rebuilding is underway. Community leaders are looking at new ideas to make sure how they rebuild will protect Paradise when the next wildfire fire comes. Guest: Laura Bliss, Bloomberg City Lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant Ordered to Shut DownAmidst a massive COVID 19 outbreak among workers, Merced County health officials in the Central Valley have ordered a Foster Farms poultry processing plant to shut down. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Newsom Boosts Funding to Aid Early Release Efforts Across State PrisonsCalifornia is releasing thousands of inmates in state prisons early. Governor Gavin Newsom says California will commit 15 million dollars to help formerly incarcerated people re-enter society. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Bonny Doon Mountain Community Bands Together to Battle the FlamesAs hundreds of wildfires burned across California, fire crews were stretched thin. Many Santa Cruz County residents came together to defend their mountain community. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED Disability Advocates Say Some Wildfire Evacuation Centers were Filled with Access BarriersIn Watsonville and in Santa Cruz this week, disability advocates found many accessibility problems for those who needed to flee their homes during the wildfires. Some evacuation centers lacked braille signs, and shower stalls were difficult to get wheelchairs into. Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED UC Santa Cruz Chancellor on the Wildfires Threat and the Virtual Academic YearOne of the biggest institutions threatened by fires was UC Santa Cruz, which had a campus-wide evacuation. That came as the university was preparing for the coming academic year and figuring out how to teach most students virtually because of the pandemic. Guest: Cynthia Larive, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor The 50th Anniversary of the Chicano MoratoriumCapping two years of protests, on August 29th, 1970, tens of thousands of Mexican Americans marched in the streets of East L.A. in opposition to the Vietnam War and social and economic inequities. 100 Years Later, California Women Reflect on the Right to VoteA hundred years ago this week, women officially won the right to vote. But it was only a partial victory, and it excluded many immigrants and women of color. This week, our sister show, the California Report Magazine, features women talking about what the vote means to them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New State Emissions Standards Move Closer to Approval After a public hearing, California’s Air Resources Board is expected to approve tough new pollution emission standards for both commercial trucks and ships docked in California ports. The standards are the state’s most stringent in ten years New Lab Would Double Statewide Testing Capacity Governor Gavin Newsom says the state will build a new laboratory that will more than double California’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Newsom says the lab will allow the state to conduct 150-thousand additional coronavirus tests per day. State Senate Scrambles to Finish Session as Member Tests positive for COVID-19 A state senator says he’s tested positive for COVID 19. The Senate cancelled its session yesterday after learning of his diagnosis. The case comes as lawmakers are already scrambling to finish their legislative work. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED NBA and MLB Games Cancelled Following Players Boycott Over Racial Injustice Professional athletes continue to expand their protests against the killings of African Americans by the police. There are reports that players for the Los Angeles Clippers and the L.A. Lakers, like other NBA teams, will sit out the rest of the season in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Indigenous Cultural Sites at Risk From Flames and Fire Prevention Efforts As wildfires continue to burn across the state, native groups are sharing traditional burn practices that could reshape future fire seasons here. Some Native American cultural sites are at risk and not just because of flames, but because of fire prevention efforts. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED California Wildlife Well Adapted to Survive Wildfires The hundreds of wildfires, large and small, burning in California have threatened people and communities, but what’s been the effect on animals and their habitats? Experts say, in some cases, not as bad as you might think. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighters Make Progress During Cooler Calm Weather Containment continues to steadily grow against the LNU, CZU and SCU fires because of cooperative weather conditions and the hard work of firefighters. But the scope of damage from these blazes and hundreds of others burning around th e state is staggering. Squaw Valley Resort To Change Racist Name That’s a piece a tape from the 1960 Winter Olympics held in a Lake Tahoe area ski resort. The resort will soon get a new name, one that’s not offensive to Native American women. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, CapRadio State Finds Discrimination Against Black and Disabled Students In Three School Districts The state justice department has reached settlements with three California school districts over discriminatory treatment of Black students and students with disabilities. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED 'Black Thriving Initiative' Seeks to Confront Racism at UC Irvine UC Irvine here in Southern California has a tiny number of Black students compared to most other UC campuses. In response, UCI has launched an initiative to boost the recruitment of Black students and faculty, and help them succeed once they’re on campus. Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRW Fearing COVID-19, ICE Detainees Hold Hunger Strike In the U.S., nearly 5,000 people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have tested positive for COVID-19. in Yuba County, immigrant detainees held at the local jail are coming off a six-day hunger strike to protest conditions they say make them very vulnerable. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Demand at Food Banks Skyrocket but Fires Stall Distribution Since the beginning of the pandemic and shutdowns began, there’s been a big increase in people turning to food banks for help. Now, those food banks face the challenge of fire season. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over One Million Acres Scorched as Help Arrives From Out of State Firefighters are making some progress in containing the enormous wildfires burning in a ring around the Bay Area, but the toll has been immense. Governor Gavin Newsom reports 1.2 million acres have burned and at least 1,200 homes and other structures have been destroyed or damaged. Seven people have also died because of the blazes. Lake County Bulldozer Cafe Feeds Evacuees and Firefighters Near the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, a cafe owner who also operates a firefighting bulldozer will cut you a fire break and then serve you breakfast. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Affirmative Action Ban Restricts Minority's Access to College In the coming election, voters will decide whether to undo Proposition 209, a landmark ban on affirmative action passed by California voters in 1996. A new report out is the most detailed analysis yet of how Proposition 209 affected people of color trying to get into the UC system. Guest: Zach Bleemer, U.C. Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education Unemployment Agency Faces Scrutiny Over Ongoing Inefficiency As it grapples with fires California is also dealing with joblessness caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The state’s embattled Employment Development Department which sends out unemployment checks, is under scrutiny yet again this week for poor customer service. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Supervisor Opposes Lawsuit Requiring Distance Learning Despite public health warnings about the coronavirus, a private Christian school in Fresno County has started in-person classroom instruction. That’s prompted the county to file an injunction against the school. One county supervisor is speaking out in support of the campus. Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public Radio Californians Show Support for Post Office As Mail-In Election Approaches As the November election approaches, the debate over mail-in voting is heating up. Protests in support of the post office continue across the state, and a new survey shows Californians have faith in the vote-by-mail process. Reporter: Guy Marzaroti, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This is an Absolute Marathon" Fire Crews Make Progress Fighting Wildfires Some of the biggest wildfires in state history continue to burn over a vast stretch of Northern California with blazes raging in counties surrounding the Bay Area and along the Central Coast. Senior California Public Utility Regulator Claims Whistleblower Retaliation Alice Stebbins was appointed in early 2018 as the California Public Utility Commission’s executive director. She says she's being targeted because she's pushing to collect millions in fees the California Public Utility Commission is owed, but has never demanded from utilities. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED How the Once Mighty GOP Faded from California Politics As the Golden State became bluer, the Republican Party lost clout and now trails Democrats and independent voters in membership. Mike Madrid, a veteran California Republican political strategist, says it will likely get worse for the party. Guest: Mike Madrid, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group of Republicans bent on defeating Donald Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of Thousands Flee as Wildfires Rip Across Northern California The enormous wildfires burning around the Bay Area have claimed the lives of at least five people. Residents from Wine Country north of San Francisco to the edges of San Jose and Santa Cruz have been forced to evacuate. Some Residents Stay Put to Save Their Homes from the Flames Official firefighting resources on the dozens of lightning-caused fires around the Bay Area are spread very thin. As the blazes spread, some residents have wound up having to try to defend their own property from the advancing flames. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Vacaville Farmer Describes 'Obliteration' After Wildfires Tom Walter, the caretaker of La Ferme Soleil, was forced to evacuate in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He says all that remains of his home is an unrecognizable heap of blackened, twisted metal. Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED Care Homes Carve Out Fire Escape Plans Amidst Coronavirus Threat The Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health say care homes should organize people to keep those known to have COVID-19 separate from people who don’t. Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED Farmworkers Work Through Dense Smoke as Fires Burn The River Fire outside Salinas is just miles away from fields where many farmworkers continue to work harvesting fruits and vegetables. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Doctors Brace for Patient Surge from Wildfire Smoke For months, doctors have urged us to stay outside for any kind of socializing. But wildfire smoke is forcing a new lockdown on much of the state Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern California Grapples With Heavy Smoke, High Temperatures, and Dozens of Wildfires Hundreds of wildfires are burning across the state. The largest are concentrated in Northern California around the Bay Area, where residents are also grappling with high temperatures, and the looming threat of power outages. Rural Evacuees Pull Together at Santa Cruz Fairgrounds Meanwhile, a group of fires has burned 25,000 of acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties and also triggered widespread evacuations of both people and livestock from far flung rural areas. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED Texas, Arizona, Nevada Send Engines to California Wildfires The fires have placed enormous pressure on emergency responders, pushing CALFIRE and the state’s Office of Emergency Services to request 375 engines from other states and the federal government. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Helicopter Pilot Killed During Firefighting Water Drop Mission A helicopter pilot was killed yesterday while fighting a fire in the Central Valley. 52 year-old Mike Fournier from Rancho coucamonga was on a water drop mission near Fresno when his helicopter crashed. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Coronavirus Changes Wildfire Evacuation Protocol The CZU lightning complex fire near Santa Cruz, almost doubled in size overnight. It’s now burning 40,000 acres in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Three people have been injured and 20 buildings have been destroyed. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians Take Center Stage at Joe Biden's Nomination 263 California delegates were awarded to Joe Biden -- as he was officially nominated for president at last night’s Democratic National Convention. Several Californians took center stage at last night’s virtual event. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED New Law Requires Ethnic Studies for All CSU Students Governor Newsom has signed a bill into law requiring California State University students to take an ethnic studies class in order to graduate. Many professors support the law, but CSU opposes the law, saying it gives the state too much power over curriculum. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Report Finds Prison Officials Mishandled Pandemic Public health officials and legal experts are reacting to the recent Office of Inspector General report that finds weaknesses in the way state prison officials initially handled the pandemic. Reporter: Shannon Lin, KQED State Releases Prisoners Early Without Adequate Reentry Support In response to the spread of the coronavirus behind prison walls, California is releasing thousands of state prisoners early. Those getting freed are generally non-violent offenders with less than a year remaining on their sentences. Guest: Judith Tata, Executive Director of the California Reentry Program Central Valley Makes Progress Against COVID-19 California’s Central Valley has been a hot spot for COVID infections in the state. But Governor Gavin Newsom says following state intervention, trends in that region are now headed in the right direction. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices