KQED's The California Report

Record Number of Californians Hospitalized for COVID-19 There are now more than 7,400 people hospitalized in California because of the coronavirus. That’s more than triple the number who were hospitalized just a month ago. As coronavirus cases surge, a new stay at home order takes effect for Los Angeles County residents. Which Healthcare Workers Will Receive COVID-19 Vaccine First? Health care workers will be first in line to receive the coronavirus vaccine once it’s available, but that first shipment may not be enough to vaccinate all of them. California has 2.4 million health care workers, but the state expects to receive just 1 to 2 million vaccines in the first allocation from the federal government. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Tobacco Industry Coalition Looks to Referendum to Overturn Flavored Tobacco Ban California legislators passed a law this year banning the retail sale of flavored tobacco products in the state as a way to stop young people from getting hooked on the products. Now a coalition backed by the tobacco industry says it’s collected more than a million voter signatures to place a referendum on the November 2022 ballot that would overturn the flavored tobacco ban if passed. US Citizenship Test Just Got Longer and Potentially Harder to Pass Starting Tuesday, applicants for naturalization will have to take a new naturalization test. The Trump administration is doubling the length of the test from 10 to 20 questions, and the list of possible questions people need to study will also increase to 128. Critics say a longer test is meant to discourage people from becoming citizens. Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED UC Application Deadline Extended Due to Technical Difficulties Because of an online power outage it experienced, UC is extending the deadline for applications from today, Monday, to Friday of this week. But now that the system is back up and running, UC is advising prospective students not to procrastinate and get in their applications as soon as possible. How a Controversial News Blog Helped Cost Michael Tubbs Re-Election in Stockton The defeat of Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs was a surprise to many and in part attributed to how he was covered in a Stockton news blog, the 209 Times. Without trusted news sources, residents go to other places for information. Sarah Minez-Tan, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young Queer Candidates of Color are Changing the Bay Area Political Scene KQED podcast 'The Bay' is kicking off a series about expanding concepts of democracy and increasing representation in government. In the first episode, The Bay’s host Devin Katayama talks to KQED reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi about LGBTQ candidates of color who've recently been elected in the Bay Area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food Banks Face Enormous Need This Thanksgiving Many Californians confront incredible hardships this Thanksgiving because of the pandemic. Food banks all over the state are stepping in to fill in the gaps, including distributing Thanksgiving meals. They expect the need this year to be enormous. Guest: Amanda Green, Director, Union Station Homeless Services Rare Rose Flourishes on Alcatraz After Decades of Neglect Many of Alcatraz Island’s indoor spaces are off-limits to visitors because of the pandemic. But The Rock’s craggy outdoor landscape is full of unexpected finds, like a rare rose once thought to be extinct. Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Incarcerated People Got Hundreds of Millions in California Unemployment Scam A group of California prosecutors says thousands of state prison inmates have scammed California's Employment Development Department out of hundreds of millions of dollars of unemployment benefits. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Trump Gives Uber and Lyft Five Year Government Contract California-based ride hail companies Uber and Lyft have negotiated a big contract with the Trump Administration to provide transportation services to federal employees. Those who’ve traditionally provided those services are not happy. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Elected Officials Weigh Public Health Against Economic Needs As many California counties and cities implement pandemic restrictions, elected officials confront the charged issue of how to balance public health and the needs of the economy. The mayor of Long Beach, felt the pain of the pandemic personally when his mother and stepfather died from the coronavirus. Guest: Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach L.A. County Suspends Outdoor Dining As COVID-19 Spike Continues It will soon be back to take-out and delivery only for restaurants in Los Angeles County. Starting tonight outdoor dining will be suspended as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. But not all areas of the county will adopt the new restriction. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Survey Shows Latino Californians Most Impacted by COVID-19 More than 40% of Californians personally know someone who’s tested positive for the coronavirus and 25% know someone who has died from it. That’s according to a new survey from Covered California. The Latino community is bearing the heaviest burden. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Homesick College Students Face Tough Thanksgiving Decision Homesick college students are torn about whether or not to go home for the holidays. They're being warned they risk bringing the virus back to their families, and are having to make complicated decisions. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Officials Urge Californians to Scale Back Holiday Plans as COVID-19 Cases Surge New COVID-19 cases in the state continue to increase rapidly, with well over a million cases so far. In Los Angeles County, supervisors are contemplating a strict stay-at-home order, similar to the one implemented in the early days of the pandemic. Judge Denies Reopen Request from San Diego Businesses A San Diego judge has denied a request from a group of local businesses demanding to be allowed to reopen indoor operations, despite record numbers of coronavirus cases in California. The judge found that the risk to public health outweighed the needs of the businesses. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS COVID -19 Vaccines Require Rigorous Safety Procedures Coronavirus vaccines may be available to the general public soon. That’s extraordinarily fast, but experts say the vaccines must still go through a rigorous safety process and California will have a role. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Dianne Feinstein Resigns from Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Dianne Feinstein says she’s stepping down from her role as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, a position she’s had for the past four years. Dissatisfaction with the 87-year-old senator grew more intense over her handling of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Apple's Head of Security Indicted in Santa Clara County Bribery Scandal The head of global security at Apple and a county undersheriff have been indicted by a grand jury in Santa Clara County. These are the latest of six indictments in a widening bribery scandal. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED How Far Will the Biden Administration Go To Reunite Separated Immigrant Families? President-elect Joe Biden has said that on his first day in office, he'll create a task force to reunite migrant families separated at the border by the Trump administration. It's a monumental task that could prove easier said than done. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

L.A County Suspends Outdoor Dining As the state and counties put in place new coronavirus restrictions, California businesses try to survive. Guelaguetza is a well known restaurant here in L.A. known for its Oaxacan dishes from Mexico. Guest: Bricia Lopez, the co-owner of Guelaguetza, a restaurant in L.A Hospitals Brace for COVID-19 Surge California hospitals are seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients, which they expect will only increase. Hospitals are applying lessons learned at the beginning of the pandemic to deal with the surge. Sammy Caiola, CapRadio Kaiser Enrolls Youth in Sacramento and Santa Clara for Vaccine Study Kaiser Permanente says it’s enrolling 12 to 15 year olds in Sacramento and Santa Clara in an expanded late-stage study of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer has said the vaccine is safe and 95 percent effective in adults. Now researchers want to determine how well it will work in adolescents and teenagers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Police and the Public Are Likely to Respond to Newsom's Curfew Order Governor Gavin Newsom is imposing an overnight curfew as California tries to head off a surge in coronavirus cases. California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly says the limited stay-at-home order is being implemented in 41 counties. Guest: Scott Rodd, CapRadio New Report Shows State Employment Agency Left People Vulnerable to Identity Theft The report says E.D.D. has sent at least 38 million pieces of mail containing Social Security numbers since the start of the pandemic. The problem persists even though the state auditor asked the agency to remove this information from many of these documents a year and a half ago. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, The California Report New Rules Aim to Protect California Workers from COVID-19 The emergency standard approved unanimously by the board that oversees Cal OSHA standards requires employers to implement cleaning protocols, investigate and respond to positive COVID cases in the workplace, and provide testing in cases of outbreak. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Prison Officials Defend Transferring Inmates Leaving State Prisons to ICE State law currently restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But inmates leaving state prisons are excluded from those protections. Prison officials are defending that policy. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Salton Sea Could Get Funding Boost Coachella congressman Raul Ruiz introduced a bill this week which seeks to hold the federal government financially accountable for restoring and cleaning up California’s Largest Lake. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KVCR The California Report Magazine Preview: Sounds of Boyle Heights A new musical project spearheaded by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts tells the story of Boyle Heights. The immigrant neighborhood is quickly gentrifying. “Sounds of Boyle Heights” is featured on this week’s California Report Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stockton's Mayor Lost Reelection. Will His Initiatives Continue? Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs has lost reelection to his challenger, Republican pastor and veteran Kevin Lincoln. Tubbs conceded the race on Tuesday. Tubbs launched initiatives that generated national attention. When he leaves office, the resilience of those programs will be tested. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED California's Economic Outlook is Better than Expected Budget projections released yesterday show the state’s finances are in a better position than many expected this far into the pandemic. The number of people signing up for assistance programs has been below expectations, and tax revenue is higher. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Apple to Pay $113 Million Over Battery Lawsuits California and 33 other states have announced a $113 million settlement against Apple. It accounts for false claims made by the company about battery performance and processing power in some iPhones. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Nurses Grapple With Pandemic Fatigue and Frustration as COVID Cases Surge As COVID cases surge in California, we decided to check back in with some of the nurses and doctors we followed early in the outbreak, including an emergency room nurse in the Bay Area. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED About That Blue Wave... More than two weeks after Election Day, two of California’s congressional districts remain uncalled. But we already know that the 'Blue Wave' from 2018, when Democrats flipped several Republican house seats, didn’t hold up so well in 2020. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Largest River Restoration in U.S. History to Proceed with Removal of Klamath Dams The largest river restoration in U.S. history will proceed along the Klamath in 2023, under a new agreement announced Tuesday. This summer the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission threw a wrench in the gears of an agreement decades in the making, to remove the dams. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED L.A. County Could Be Headed for Lockdown as COVID Cases Surge California’s most populated county could be headed for a three-week lockdown. Yesterday officials in Los Angeles County imposed new restrictions on businesses after daily confirmed coronavirus cases more than doubled in the last two weeks. Hospitalizations there are up 30%. Childcare Industry on the Verge of Collapse Due to COVID-19 Requirements Child care providers who care for some of the state’s neediest families are warning the system is about to collapse if they don’t get help. Their union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the state. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED California Squandered 2.4B of Affordable Housing FundsA scathing new report from the state’s auditor says state agencies squandered billions of dollars from bonds meant for building affordable housing. Developers missed a deadline to use state money that could have helped finance low-income housing units. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Black Student Group Hopes Grant Will Bolster Racial Equity California voters rejected Prop 16, the ballot measure that would have reinstated affirmative action. That’s despite polling this summer that showed most Californians think racial inequality is a major issue. Student groups working to bridge long-term equity gaps on their campuses hoped Prop 16 would bolster their efforts. Reporter: Kayleen Carter, CalMatters Student Journalism Network Big Tech Testimony Leads to Partisan Senate Judiciary Disagreement The CEOs of Twitter and Facebook testified on Capital Hill again yesterday about their efforts to moderate content. They walked a fine line aimed at ensuring lawmakers in Washington D.C. don’t try to actually regulate the industry. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Twitter Hires Legendary Hacker 'Mudge' as Head of Security Security at Twitter in 2020 has been a mess. The company has been under a lot of scrutiny for its handling of misinformation during and after the election. In response, twitter has hired a new head of security known as Mudge. Guest: Joseph Menn, Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why State is 'Putting the Brakes' on Reopening According to Governor Gavin Newsom, 41 counties in the state are now in the "purple" tier, indicating the most widespread risk. This comes as the holidays loom near. Will these new restrictions make a difference? Guest: Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, UC San Francisco Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Chair Most Californians Back To Tightest COVID-19 Restrictions Governor Gavin Newsom and his top health advisors are concerned about a sharp jump in California’s COVID cases. They’re rising at a level that, if unchecked, Newsom says could overwhelm the state’s healthcare system. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Politics State Lawmakers Head to Honolulu for Policy Conference As our state’s COVID cases rise at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, a group of state lawmakers is in Honolulu, Hawaii for a policy conference. Guest: Hannah Wiley, Sacramento Bee Federal Judge Considers Extending COVID-19 Rules at Detention Center A federal judge in San Francisco is considering whether to extend Covid-related rules in place to protect immigrants at an ICE detention center in Bakersfield. Sara Hossaini, KQED Public Defenders Wants Inmates and Jail Staff to be Priority for Eventual Vaccine Brendon Woods says it's not surprising that some of the state's worst outbreaks have been in prisons, and that's why he is pushing for incarcerated people to be first in line if and when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. State Audit Shows Insufficient Oversight in Lead Cleanup at L.A Exide Battery Site Toxic lead has long contaminated a working class Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles. Now a state audit concludes clean up around that facility will take longer than planned. Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Biden's Pledge to End Travel Ban Could Impact Immigrant Communities President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end the Trump administration’s travel ban on several Muslim-majority nations, including Iran. The impact could be big in California, which is home to the largest Iranian community in the country. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Why The LA Times Handed Over Letters Page to Trump Supporters The Los Angeles Times provided a page full of letters from Trump supporters this weekend. The move led to a lot of pushback online. Guest: Sewell Chan, Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Editor What's Next for California's Bail Industry? California voters have shot down Proposition 25, a referendum on whether to ban cash bail. That means people working in the bail industry will stay in business, and lawmakers who supported the measure are weighing their next steps. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over One Million Coronavirus Infections Confirmed in California California has now reached one million confirmed coronavirus infections. This comes nearly 10 months after the first cases were confirmed here. San Francisco Lawyers Say ICE Misled Federal Judge About Coronavirus Outbreak San Francisco lawyers representing immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say the agency ignored CDC protocols, and misled a federal judge about the causes of a coronavirus outbreak at an ICE jail in Bakersfield. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED A Smooth Election in California Despite Manufactured Suspicions Well over 150 million Americans cast ballots this year. And in California, a majority of the more than 15 million votes cast were sent by mail after Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to ensure all registered voters in the state would get a mail-in ballot. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED Secretary of State Alex Padilla Frontrunner to Fill Kamala Harris Senate Seat Speculation is rising over who Governor Gavin Newsom will pick to fill the California US Senate seat of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris until the next election. One name that keeps coming up is Alex Padilla, currently California’s Secretary of State. Reporter: Chery Glaser, KCRW Commissioner Asks Insurance Companies to Extend Some Benefits to Wildfire Victims State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is asking insurance companies to extend some benefits for victims of 2017 and 2018 wildfires. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Big Game Hunters and a Surprise Discovery Nine thousand years ago, in the highlands of Peru, people made a living in the harsh landscape by hunting and gathering. UC Davis anthropologist Randy Haas studies these early people, and the discovery of a new burial site took him in a new direction. Reporter: Daniele Venton, KQED California Report Magazine: Comfort Food to Soothe Stress As part of the California Report’s 25th anniversary, we’re taking a dive into the archives with some of the most delicious California food stories we’ve brought you over the years, from traditional favorites to creative fusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Has Recorded Nearly One Million COVID-19 Cases California is on the brink of recording it’s one millionth COVID-19 infection. That’s more than any other state except Texas. This grim milestone has been accelerated by the virus’ recent uptick, with more than 6,000 new daily cases recorded in the state over the past week. False Claims of Voter Fraud in Nevada Persist Republicans and conservative groups continue to make unproven claims about voter fraud in Nevada’s presidential election. Some have even suggested that Californians unlawfully helped President-elect Joe Biden win that state. Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio’s PolitiFact California Orange County Swings Purple in 2020 Election In 2018, Democrats were elated when they flipped four Orange County congressional seats held by Republicans. This year, the GOP managed to claim at least one back and appears to be on track to flip another. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Election Spotlight on Jones Day Expands to Other Clients As President Trump refuses to concede defeat in last week’s election, the law firm Jones Day is in the spotlight for representing Republican interests in that fight. The unwelcome press attention is renewing scrutiny into Jones Day’s role in a legal case much closer to home. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Lawmakers Consider De-Criminalization of Psychedelics Next year, the state lawmakers will consider legislation that would de-criminalize psychedelic drugs. State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco says he believes all drugs should be de-criminalized, and this is just one more step towards that goal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's Immigration Policies Could be Difficult to Reverse The Trump administration has focused much of its energy on the border over the past 4 years. Joe Biden has promised to undo many of these policies, but that might be difficult, according to a report out this week from the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS COVID-19 Increases Restrictions in 11 Counties, Cases Continue to Rise Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the state. 11 California counties have moved into to more restrictive tiers. If COVID-19 rates continue on their current trajectory more than half of the state’s 58 counties could be back in restrictive tiers by next week. COVID-19 Spreads Among Fresno County Officials Fresno’s incoming mayor announced yesterday he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. This comes as Fresno county’s top health official says COVID cases there are increasing, and that he expects the region will soon move into a more restrictive category. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED L.A. Board of Supervisors Look Into Firing the Sheriff The L.A. County Board of Supervisors will look into weather they have the power to remove the sheriff from office. It’s the latest power struggle between Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the supervisors who say he's failed to crack down on police gangs, fatal shootings and other misbehavior. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW New Whale Protections Restrict Crab Fisheries California’s endangered humpback whales now have protection against potentially fatal entanglements in commercial fishing lines. This month state wildlife officials issued new regulations for the Dungeness Crab fishery, which can shut down crabbing in areas where whales are spotted. Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED Xavier Becerra Looks Forward to Biden Administration California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been one of President Trumps greatest adversaries. Becerra has filed a barrage of lawsuits against the administration, challenging it on a variety of issues, from the environment to immigration to health care. Guest: California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Warns Against Complacency as COVID-19 Cases Swell The U.S. has surpassed more than 10 million coronavirus cases and looks on track to hit record hospitalizations. Here in California, COVID-19 cases are increasing as well. In a press conference yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom warned against complacency. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Who Should Get the Coronavirus Vaccine First? A panel of experts with the state’s Department of Public Health is getting to work this week on how to decide who’s first in line to get a coronavirus vaccine. This comes after Pfizer’s announcement yesterday that the company’s vaccine is more than 90% effective. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Newly Conservative SCOTUS Reconsiders Obamacare Today, with it's new six-to-three majority, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over whether the Affordable Care Act should be struck down. If that happens, California will lose several billion dollars a year in federal health insurance subsidies. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Liberal California Leans to the Right on Propositions The Golden State is often painted as solidly blue, but the 2020 election has shown that when issues are on the ballot, California leans a little bit more to the right. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden-Harris Supporters Celebrate Across California People celebrated in downtown L.A. on Saturday morning after it was announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had won the 2020 election and Donald Trump had been defeated. The same kind of scenes played out in many cities and town across California as people gathered spontaneously to express their joy. The Extraordinary Rise of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris With Joe Biden now poised to become the nation’s 46th president, Vice President-elect Harris will break a glass ceiling other women, like Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin, before her tried and failed to break. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A Historic Mayoral Win for Todd Gloria in San Diego Todd Gloria is a Democrat and member of the State Assembly. Gloria ran a mayoral campaign emphasizing how it was time for San Diego to recognize its increasingly urban character and start tackling big problems facing the city, like housing and homelessness, transportation and combating climate change. Hopes for Vaccine as Cases Surge in Los Angles Drug giant Pfizer and a German company have co-developed a vaccine that might be 90% effective in protecting people from the virus. Meanwhile, L.A. County continues to be the state’s hottest of coronavirus hotspots with more than 2,200 new cases announced over the weekend. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Survivors Wrestle with Aftermath Two Years after Camp Fire Destroyed Paradise Sunday marked two years since the town of Paradise and nearby communities were destroyed by our state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire. The “Camp Fire” killed 85 people, and displaced tens of thousands. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's College Students Come to Grips with Prop 16's Defeat Students who lobbied hard this year to overturn the state’s ban on affirmative action are coming to terms with the rejection of Proposition 16. Reporter: KQED’s Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Criminal Justice Reform Advocates Celebrate Wins at the Ballot Box California voters gave people on parole the right to vote, and half dozen Bay Area cities passed police accountability measures. In Los Angeles, the progressive District Attorney candidate George Gascon appears to have prevailed over his rival who was backed by law enforcement. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Public Advocate at California Public Utilities Commission Recommends Fine Against SoCalGas The public advocate at the California Public Utilities Commission is recommending $255 million dollars in fines against SoCalGas. They claim the utility wrongly used ratepayer funds to sabotage California’s clean energy goals. SoCalGas calls the claims “demonstrably wrong” and says the proposed fine has no merit. Lionsgate and ESPN Announce Job Cuts Santa Monica-based studio Lionsgate and ESPN, which is owned by Disney, are the latest to announce job cuts. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW LA County Board of Supervisors All Female For First Time in History For decades, L.A. County's powerful Board of Supervisors was an all male "boys club." But things started changing in the 1990s with the election of the first woman to the board. Fast forward to this week, where the Board is now all female. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Rideshare Drivers React to Approval of Prop 22 California rideshare drivers will remain independent contractors as a result of Prop 22’s resounding victory this election. Drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft have long been split on the question of employee status. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC A Complicated Portrait of the California Voter Californians overwhelmingly voted for Democrat Joe Biden this election. But dig deeper, and you get a more complicated portrait of California voters. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Latino Support For President Trump is Growing Latino voters overwhelmingly supported Joe Biden for the presidency, but a growing share of Latinos voted for President Donald Trump both in California and nationwide. That’s according to a poll of more than 5,000 Latinos across the U.S., taken the day before election day. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Prop 21's Defeat is a Big Win for the Real Estate Industry Rent control lost big on election night in California. Prop 21 was defeated by a huge margin. It was a repeat of results from a similar ballot measure two years ago, and a major victory for the real estate industry. Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED Prop 22's Passage Could Set a Precedent For the Future of Low Wage Work On Tuesday, California voters passed Prop 22 by a large margin. Backed by 200 million dollars from Silicon Valley companies like Uber and Doordash, the measure makes it legal for gig companies to classify workers as contractors. Guest: Sam Harnett, KQED California's COVID-19 Cases Are Rising Slowly and Steadily California continues to see an uptick in new coronavirus cases. The state added more than 5 thousand new cases on Tuesday. Since October, California’s test positivity rate has ticked up to 3.3%. Misinformation on Social Media Expected to Surge in Coming Weeks Silicon Valley’s social media giants are working to quash misinformation in these tense days after the election. Twitter and Facebook have flagged a number of President Trumps' posts, including one on Tuesday night where Trump falsely said the election was being “stolen” from him. Guest: Shirin Ghaffary, Recode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden's Lead in Nevada Dwindles to 8,000 Votes Here in California, Joe Biden won a decisive victory against President Donald Trump capturing 64% of the vote. But the presidential race is tight next door in Nevada, where Biden's lead has dwindled to less than 8,000 votes. Reporter: Paul Boger, KUNR Prop 22 Passed, Allowing Tech Companies to Deny Employee's Benefits Silicon valley’s gig companies like Uber and Doordash spent more than $200 million on Proposition 22, and it has passed, making it legal for those companies to classify workers as contractors and deny them basic employee benefits. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Hotly Contested House Races Too Close to Call There are several important Congressional races happening in California this year. From record-breaking spending in East San Diego's District 50, to the tight Central Valley race that might flip District 21 from blue to red. Guest: Katie Orr, KQED Politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judge Upholds 'Abuse of Power' Lawsuit Against Governor Newsom A judge in Sutter County has handed a victory to two Republican state lawmakers who filed an “abuse of power” lawsuit against Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The judge struck down an executive order the governor issued in June which set up new requirements for the 2020 election. Guest: Assemblymember James Gallagher, Dictrict 3, Yuba City California Businesses Brace for Potentially Violent Protests Californians have already voted in record numbers. There is excitement, but there’s also tension in cities and towns around the state. Many businesses are boarding up their windows and bracing for potentially violent protests. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Oakland Law Enforcement on Standby for Election Night Unrest Law enforcement agencies across the state are also preparing for potentially violent protests as a result of today’s election. In Oakland, Mayor Libby Schaaf says the city’s emergency operations center will be up and running. Last-Minute Registration and Voting Tips For This Unprecedented Election It’s finally Election Day and the California Voter Foundation has some last-minute voting advice. Even if you haven’t registered, you can still vote today, and more than 10 million Californians already have. Guest: Kim Alexander, President, California Voter Foundation PG&E Could Begin Paying Wildfire Victims This Month Victims of wildfires caused by PG&E could soon start getting money from a multi-billion dollar trust fund set up in the utility’s recent exit from bankruptcy protection. The fund’s trustee plans to disburse partial payments of up to $25,000 to those who need it most. Director of California's Embattled Unemployment Agency Announces Retirement The state’s Employment Development Department is set to have a new leader come January. Current director Sharon Hilliard announced late last week that she would retire at the end of this year. Lawmakers are thinking about what comes next for the state agency. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Distance Learning Struggles Mean More L.A. Teens Are Failing Classes Struggles with distance learning are leading to more D and F grades among L.A. Unified middle and high school students. Superintendent Austin Beutner says it'll be a while before campuses are able to reopen. Reporter: Carla Javier, KPCC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Record Turnout as Californians Vote Early More than 22 million people are now registered to vote in California. That's nearly 88% of those eligible, and according to the Secretary of State's office, it's the highest percentage heading into a general election in the past 80 years. Head of California's Employment Development Department Steps Down Governor Gavin Newsom's office is set to launch a search for a new head of the state's Employment Development Department after the current director announced late last week that she'll be retiring at the end of this year. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Eager California Democrats Hope to Help Flip Arizona Blue Arizona has been a reliably red state in all but one presidential race since 1948 , but this year Democrats are convinced they have a shot at carrying it. That’s prompted eager California Democrats to flood the zone in the final days before this election. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Newsom Unveils New High-Speed COVID-19 Testing Lab The new 25 million dollar lab in Valencia will be able to process up to 150,000 COVID-19 test kits daily with results sent to patients in less than two days. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Why Newsom Campaigned Next Door in Nevada In the final stretch of this election season, Governor Gavin Newsom is campaigning in Nevada. It's a rare campaign outing this year for the governor. The presidential race has big implications for Newsom's agenda at home. Guest: Sophia Ballag, Sacramento Bee Californians Weigh Prop 23 Dialysis Regulations Californians are voting on Proposition 23, a measure that would put doctors in dialysis centers. Two major dialysis providers have poured nearly $100 million into making sure that doesn’t happen. Reporter Brett Simpson . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Election Day Nears, Cities Prepare for Unrest Governor Gavin Newsom says that the state is taking precautions to make sure Californians remain safe, although he wouldn’t go into details. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti says the city’s received no intelligence about possible acts of violence or voter intimidation, but that quote “We prepare for the worst.” Mexican Consulate Speaks Out After Fatal Shootings by U.S Police and Border Patrol 39-year-old Jose Alfredo Castro Gutierrez, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was shot by San Diego police outside his home last month. 30-year-old David Villalobos, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents near the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry. Their families of both men say they were suffering from mental illness. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS reporter Prop 20 Could Roll Back Some Criminal Justice Reforms and Stiffen Penalties Law enforcement groups have put Prop. 20 on the ballot. It would increase penalties on some theft and fraud crimes, and exclude thousands of people from early parole. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Death Toll Grows in California's Historic Fire Season The Butte County Sheriff's Office announced the death of Win Naing this week. He is the 32nd person to die in California wildfires this year. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Firefighters Who Came to from Mexico to Battle CA Wildfires Positive for COVID-19 About a month ago, a group of Mexican firefighters came here to help contain a wildfire burning in Central California. On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed that two have contracted COVID-19. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Report from House Committee Says White House Family Separation Policy Marked By 'Intentional Cruelty' The Trump administration’s family separation policy was marked by "reckless incompetence and intentional cruelty," according to a report released Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Trade Groups Sues Over Declaring Western Joshua Tree a Threatened Species Several trade groups have filed a lawsuit against the California Fish and Game Commission’s decision to consider the Western Joshua Tree a threatened species. The iconic desert yucca’s habitat spans more than five million acres of the Mojave Desert. It was granted provisional protection in September. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED Older and Overlooked: What Went Wrong After Hundreds of Seniors Fled Glass Fire In our sister show, the California Report’s weekly magazine, guest hosts April Dembosky and Molly Peterson investigate what went wrong with evacuation protocols when hundreds of seniors were forced to flee a wildfire in Santa Rosa last month. Reporters: April Dembosky and Molly Peterson, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside the Race for California's 50th Congressional District One of the most closely watched political races in California is happening in the 50th Congressional district covering much of eastern San Diego County and part of Riverside County. The race pits a veteran Republican politician, and a young Democrat who ran for the same seat two year ago and lost. Reporter: Matt Hoffman, KPBS How Affirmative Action Shapes Community on Campus This week, we’ve brought you stories about how the ban on affirmative action passed by California voters in 1996 through Prop 209 has affected college students, and what they think about the current measure on the ballot, Prop. 16, to bring affirmative action back. Reporter: Kayleen Carter, Sacramento State junior L.A City Council Weighs Proposal to Ban Camping Near Freeway Overpasses L.A.’s city council was supposed to vote on whether to ban camping near freeway overpasses and some homeless shelters on Wednesday, but members kicked the can down the road as they tried to find consensus. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW New Report Highlights Gaps in Calculating Costs of Wildfires Amid a record-breaking fire year in the state, a new report says California doesn’t have a grasp on the true cost of wildfires. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Battling Misinformation Around Incarceration and Voting Rights This election year, there’s a lot of attention paid to the voting rights of people who have a criminal history. After all, we send so many people to prison and jail in this country, and in our state, that the formerly incarcerated could be a pretty big voting block of millions of people. Guest: Tim Cornegay, an organizer with the L.A. Free the Vote campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Western States Join California's COVID Vaccine Advisory Group Governor Gavin Newsom says Oregon, Washington, and Nevada are joining California's vaccine advisory working group, which will evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available. L.A. Studying Reliability of At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests The city and county of Los Angeles are conducting a pilot study to test the reliability of rapid antigen tests, designed to tell in a few minutes if someone is infectious with the coronavirus. Besides being faster, the small at-home nasal swab tests are much cheaper than the tests L.A. has been using. Reporter: Jackie Fortier KPCC UCSF Doctors Call Treatment of Migrant Children "Torture" A group of UC San Francisco doctors is calling the Trump administration’s treatment of migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border, "torture" under international law. Pediatricians say the children suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Polling is Close on Prop 22 Days Before Election Day Election Day is less than a week away, and polling is close on Proposition 22, which would allow ride hailing and delivery companies to keep classifying their workers as contractors. Each side is trying to sway undecided voters in the final stretch. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED State Cleanup of Toxic Battery Plant Behind Schedule and Short of Funds For decades, a now shuttered battery recycling plant polluted working class neighborhoods in East and South Los Angeles. Now California’s State Auditor reports that state clean-up work is behind schedule, short more than 390 million dollars to finish the job, and leaves quote “Californians at continued risk of lead poisoning.” Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Breaking Down Asian American Perspectives on Prop 16 From our collaboration with CalMatters’ College Journalism Network we look into the conflicting feelings Prop 16 brings out across the Asian American community. It underscores that the common narrative we hear about Asian Americans and affirmative action is often oversimplified. Reporter: Janelle Salanga, UC Davis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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