KQED's The California Report

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

Governor Newsom Orders Investigation Following Heat-Wave Power Outages Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into why the state’s electrical grid wasn’t ready for a heat wave-related surge in power demand over the weekend. ISO "Dropped the Ball" Says Board Governor The state didn’t end up calling for blackouts yesterday, thanks in part to Californians who conserved energy. The California Independent System Operator is the non-profit that makes the call on blackouts. A member of its Board of Governors says communication should have been better. Guest: Severin Borenstein, Member, CAISO Board of Governors & Professor, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business California Prepares Legal Action Against Trump Administration Over U.S. Postal Service California has already sued the Trump Administration more than 95 times, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra is looking to add one more suit to the list -- this time, over the U.S. Postal Service. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Rates of Depression and Anxiety Soar Among University Students The rate of students at universities who likely have depression is double what it was a year ago, that’s according to a survey released today from UC Berkeley and other institutions. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED COVID-19 Spreads Rapidly Through ICE Detention Center More than half of the men locked up at a privately-run detention center in Bakersfield have been confirmed with COVID-19. That’s after a federal judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to test all detainees at the facility. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED L.A. County Provides Rental Assistance for Tenants Hit by Pandemic Local officials in Los Angeles are releasing more relief money for renters struggling because of the pandemic. Starting this week the county has launched a $100 million dollar emergency rental assistance program for those tenants. Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW How Did Local Agencies Spend Coronavirus Relief Funds? A new analysis from the Associated Press and Kaiser Health News shows what government agencies are doing with the money they got from the 150 billion dollar Coronavirus Relief Fund. How quickly they spent that money, and what they spent it on, varied widely throughout the state. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scorching Heat Sets off Power Outages Across California Hundreds of thousands of people across California lost power beginning Friday evening and again on Saturday as hot temperatures became unbearable. The California Independent Systems Operator, instructed utilities to power down parts of the system. 'Firenados' Spotted as Crews Battle Blazes Throughout State Observers of the Loyalton Fire in the Tahoe National Forest reported a fire-induced tornado on on Saturday. That blaze is one of several burning throughout the state. Federal Court Strikes Down California's Ban on High-Capacity Magazines State Attorney General Xavier Becerra says his office is reviewing a decision by the 9th Circuit of the Court of Appeals that struck down California's ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. A three-judge panel ruled on Friday that the blanket ban is an unconstitutional violation of the 2nd amendment. Democratic Party National Convention Kicks Off Tonight — from a Distance The Democratic Party begins its national convention tonight, and what was supposed to be a massive gathering in Milwaukee is now a dramatically pared down event. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Lawmakers Scramble as Eviction Ban Set to EndIn the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting job losses, courts in California placed a stop on evictions and foreclosures. But evictions will soon resume again unless state lawmakers can figure out a solution. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED New Data Shows Disparities in Nursing Home Workers Dying from COVID-19Los Angeles County has released new data this week on deaths tied to nursing homes, and it shows that nursing home workers who have died from COVID-19 are more likely to be people of color. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC San Diego County to Begin Free Testing for People Crossing BorderMany people continue to travel between San Diego and Tijuana daily. Now the people crossing the border can get a coronavirus test without an appointment. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Californians are Registering to Vote at Historic RatesMore than 83% of eligible voters in California are registered ahead of the November election. According to the Secretary of State’s office, the last time a higher portion of eligible voters signed up, was when Harry Truman was president. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Over 200 Workers at Merced County's Foster Farms Positive for COVID-19With the number of infections among plant employees at Foster Farms Poultry Plant increasing, some say they want all of the plants workers to be tested and for the facility to shut down so it can be cleaned. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED COVID Diaries: California's State Library Documents the PandemicCalifornia's State Library has started the California COVID Diaries, an on-going project to collect and display items from Californians about what they've seen and experienced during the pandemic. Guest: California's State Librarian Greg Lucas Remembering the Brown Berets Who Occupied Catalina Island for Chicano RightsIn 1972, The Brown Berets took on housing discrimination against Mexican-Americans, and occupied Catalina Island, arguing the land did not belong to the U.S government. Reporter: Ariella Markowitz, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hughes Lake Fire Forces Evacuations North of L.A. This morning in rural north L.A. County, west of Palmdale, hundreds of firefighters are battling the Lake Hughes Fire. It’s scorched approximately 10,000 acres and is zero percent contained. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for residents in the area. Uber Threatens Temporary Shutdown to Avoid Paying Overtime and Unemployment Uber and Lyft drivers in California could become employees of those companies instead of contract workers in 8 days because of a court injunction involving lawsuit brought by the state attorney general against the companies. Uber and Lyft are using their network of customers and drivers to fight the ruling Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED UC Reinstates Striking Graduate Students After Union Negotiation UC Santa Cruz has come to an agreement with the union representing graduate students who have been on strike since February. Dozens of the students who were fired from their teaching jobs after withholding grades, are now eligible to work again. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED Supporting Black Lives Sparks Positive Change in San Joaquin Medical Community In the San Joaquin Valley, close to 300 medical professionals have signed a letter in solidarity with the Black Lives Movement. Some of those who signed say it’s already had a powerful impact. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio Working From Home Means Shocking Electricity Bills for Some Californians Californians are seeing their electricity bills rise as they’re forced to spend more time at home. This comes amid the uncertainty and economic hardship caused by the pandemic. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Farmstand Thrives as Rural Residents Shop Closer to Home The COVID-19 pandemic and the state of the economy have disrupted the food supply chain across the state. In rural Plumas county, a farm stand is helping to reduce food insecurity by offering fresh produce on the honor system. Reporters: Nina Sparling, KQED, and Tessa Paoli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris Makes History as Joe Biden's Running Mate Joe Biden has picked California Senator Kamala Harris to be his vice-presidential running mate. It’s the first time ever that a woman of color will be on a major party presidential ticket and the first time that a California Democrat will also be at the top of such a ticket. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Californians Support of Black Lives Matter Movement Grows Harris’ nomination comes as Californians are increasingly concerned about race relations in the state — and supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement. That’s according to a new survey out this week from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Companies Seek More Diversity on Corporate Boards In the wake of calls to recognize and fight systemic racism in American institutions, there’s growing evidence companies want to do more to add people of color to corporate boards of directors. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Kaiser Is Investing $63 Million in Contact Tracing Health care giant Kaiser Permanente is now getting in the game of contact tracing. It is investing $63 million dollars in the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Charter School Law May Escalate Tensions at LAUSD A new state law just took effect that was supposed to de-escalate tensions over charter schools. The LA Unified School Board narrowly approved a plan to carry out the new law. But there’s concern this new policy might actually escalate tensions in the district with the most charter schools in California. KPCC's Reporter: Kyle Stokes, KPCC Android Phones Now Come With Earthquake Alert Millions of Android smartphones users in California will now receive automatic alerts from an earthquake early warning system. Bay Area tech giant Google announced that earthquake warnings are now fully integrated with its operating system. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CA Public Health Director Resigns Following Data Errors There’s much speculation about the resignation of California's top public health director last weekend, but Governor Gavin Newsom is staying tight-lipped. Her departure comes after a glitch in a disease tracking system that delayed the processing of data from hundreds of thousands of COVID 19 test results. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Should Uber and Lyft Drivers Be Employees of Freelancers? Should gig economy workers be employees or freelancers? That’s an issue that’s consumed California politics over the past couple of years. A court injunction issued yesterday means Uber and Lyft drivers could become employees of those companies within 10 days. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Youth Who Vape Are More Likely to Get COVID-19 Before the coronavirus pandemic, the danger of vaping was one of the big public health discussions in the U.S. A study released by Stanford University this morning says young adults who vape are more likely to get COVID19. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Flu Season Could Further Strain Hospital Resources Flu season is coming, and experts say getting a vaccine is more important than ever. Flu patients can show up with severe coughs and fevers, just like COVID-19 patients, so demand for ventilators, beds and protective gear for staff could rise. Reporter: Sammy Caiola, CapRadio Excluding Undocumented People From CARES Act Cost The US Economy Big Undocumented people were not eligible to receive $1200 federal stimulus checks earlier this year. A new study from UCLA found that excluding this community from federal relief through the CARES Act cost the United States economy ten billion dollars in potential economic activity. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED ICE Detainee Barred from Receiving Outside Medical Treatment for COVID-19 Last week a judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to test all detainees at a facility in Bakersfield with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. One of the detainees who tested positive is a 22-year old man who an immigration judge already ruled should stay in the country. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Advocates Say Curtailing the Census Targets Latino and Immigrant Communities Conducting the 2020 U.S. Census during a pandemic isn’t easy, especially in California’s poorer and immigrant communities. But Trump Administration critics say the administration is making it even harder to get an accurate count by cutting the amount of time census workes will spend going door to door. Guest: Lizette Escobedo, director of the national census program at the NALEO Educational Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Parents Anxious as Distant Learning Begins in Some Districts This morning the Oakland Unified School District and others across the state start their school year.It won’t be typical, and all instruction is being done remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Guest: Parent Stephanie Campos Southern California Women's Prison COVID-19 Cases Climb to 160 The number of infections at the California Institution for Women in Chino has soared to 160 women, and 13 employees at the prison have active COVID-19 cases. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED California's Top Public Health Official Abruptly Resigns Director of California's Public Health Department Sonia Angell stepped down from her position last night. Angell’s resignation comes just days after it was announced that the state had a backlog of as many as 300,000 coronavirus test results. Ventura County's Godspeak Calvary Chapel Remains Defiant Against Shutdown Order County authorities say the religious gatherings could turn into coronavirus super-spreader events that pose a threat to public health. Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy is encouraging church goers to continue to show up for indoor Sunday service. Bay Area Lebanese Woman Plans Shaken After Deadly Beirut Explosion Beirut, Lebanon is still reeling from the massive explosion that destroyed vast swaths of the city last week. The blast killed at least 150 people, injured thousands more, and destroyed countless homes and businesses in the heart of Beirut. It's also scrambled future plans for so many Lebanese, including one woman living in the Bay Area. Reporter: Lily Jamali OC Registrar of Voters Confident County Can Handle Mail-in-Ballot Surge Election Day is 85 days away, and it will be like no other in American history because of the coronavirus pandemic. Neal Kelley is Orange County's Registrar of Voters. He oversees voting in the fifth largest election jurisdiction in the country with more than one and half million voters. Guest: Neal Kelley, Orange County's Registrar of Voters Calls to Defund Police Draws Mixed Reaction from Black Clergy In this moment of reckoning over racial justice and equity, many people are looking to churches for guidance. Black pastors in particular are speaking out against police violence. Some of California's Black clergy do not support the push to defund the police. Reporter: Ashlea Brown, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 Cases Top 200,000 in Los Angeles County Los Angeles County has the highest number of reported COVID-19 cases of any county in the U.S. Since January, the coronavirus has killed 4,869 people in L.A. County. That makes it the second leading cause of death after coronary heart disease and far deadlier than the flu. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Santa Cruz Farmworkers For the first time since the pandemic started, COVID-19 outbreaks have been documented at agricultural workplaces in Santa Cruz. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED Judge Orders Weekly COVID-19 Testing for Detainees at Mesa Verde A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to test for COVID all detainees at a facility in Bakersfield. That’s after at least nine people held there were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Disability-Rights Group Sues to Move People out of San Bernadino Psychiatric Hospital About 115 patients and 150 staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at Patton Hospital in San Bernadino. An Oakland-based disability rights group is suing the state to move people out of the psychiatric hospital. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED California Counties Allowed Fewer Polling Places this Election Senate Bill 423 from Democratic State Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) allows counties to consolidate voting locations if they allow at least three days of early, in-person voting. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED State Lawmakers Push to Remove Racist Language from Property Records Some Democratic state lawmakers are proposing a system that removes racist language from property records whenever a property is sold or transferred. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio 'Everyday was on Repeat' Healthcare Workers Confront Isolation of the Pandemic For the last five months doctors have seemed unflappable as they confront daily horrors that most of us can’t imagine. They've become our heroes, but now they’re exhausted. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawmakers Demand Immediate Unemployment Reform There are new demands for immediate reform at the state’s Employment Development Department which is in charge of providing unemployment benefits to Californians who’ve lost their jobs. Those demands are coming from more than 60 California lawmakers. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Nancy Pelosi Calls For Extension Of Federal Unemployment Benefits House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says additional unemployment payments for people who lost their jobs because of COVID are crucial as the country tries to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Advocates Say Early End to Census Strategically Targets Under-Resourced Communities The U.S. census bureau will now end its counting efforts on September 30th, a month earlier than previously announced. this puts local census efforts in San Diego, already constrained by the pandemic, under even more pressure to get the count done quickly and accurately. Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS L.A. County's COVID Cases Might Be Higher Than Reported Los Angeles county’s COVID-19 cases are growing by more than 2000 cases a day, but the real number may be much higher. As technical issues on the state level may have led to under-reporting of cases for the last two weeks. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Californians' Views on the Pandemic Fall Along Party Lines A poll from UC Berkeley finds that Democrats and no party preference voters overwhelmingly believe the state moved too quickly to ease pandemic-related restrictions on businesses. But a strong majority of Republicans say the business restrictions needed to be lifted because of the damage they were doing to the economy Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Local Business Owners Bring Entire Staff To Mission District Testing Site In San Francisco's Mission District activists convinced public health officials to set up a pop-up testing site after research revealed that Latinos make up 15% of the city's population, but half of all its COVID cases. The owners of a local tortilla business recently brought their entire staff to get tested together. Guests: Theresa Pasion and Aida Ibarra, Owners, La Palma Mexicatessan CA Attorney General Sues Uber and Lyft Over Worker Status Uber and Lyft are being sued by the state Attorney General for how they classify workers, and now California’s Labor Commissioner is suing the companies, too. The lawsuit comes after over 5,000 drivers filed claims of wage theft for being misclassified as contractors. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Husband of L.A.'s Incumbent District Attorney Faces Criminal Charges In Los Angeles, the race for District Attorney just got more complicated for incumbent Jackie Lacey. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is filing criminal charges against Lacey’s husband after he pulled a gun on Black Lives Matter activists who had gathered outside their house in March. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED CA Attorney General Urges Feds to Expand Production of Remdesivir California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has sent a letter to federal health officials, urging them to allow other companies to manufacture and distribute the Remdesivir. Doctors say the antiviral drug is one of the few treatments that benefits patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED Data is Power for Latino Activists Fighting for More COVID-19 Testing Early in the pandemic, we thought anybody could get coronavirus. We now know your odds depend a lot on things like where you live and how much money you make. In San Francisco’s Mission District, which is among the hardest hit in the city, community activists with the Latino Task Force have set up a pop-up COVID-19 testing site on the street. Guest: Jon Jacobo, Latino Task Force Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple Fire Caused By Malfunctioning Car Exhaust Pipe In Southern California the Apple Fire has burned almost 27,000 acres in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Firefighters now have the blaze 15% contained. CalFire says it was caused by diesel soot from the exhaust pipe of a malfunctioning car on Friday Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR State and Federal Workers Scramble to Contain Outbreak in Central Valley There are few parts of California that have been hit as hard by the coronavirus pandemic as the Central Valley. The region is a major hub of food production, and a lot of Californians who live there aren’t able to shelter in place. Yesterday Governor Gavin Newsom raised concerns about the valley's growing cases of COVID-19. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED New Research Shows Young Children Are Less Susceptible to COVID-19 Pediatricians say the death of a California teenager from COVID-19 last week is a reminder that children aren’t immune to the illness. Though they are less at-risk than adults. Reporter Sammy Caiola: CapRadio CPB Faces Scrutiny Over Munitions Used Against Protestors The aggressive response by Customs and Border Protection to ongoing protests across the country has come under intense scrutiny from California’s lawmakers. In June, the agency supplied munitions that San Diego law enforcement fired on protesters. Reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Trump Administration Announces Steep Increase in Application Fees for Citizenship Under a new rule the Trump administration published yesterday, millions of immigrants in California will have to pay hundreds of dollars more to apply for U.S. citizenship and other benefits. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Huey P. Newton's Legacy Resonates With a New Generation of Activists 50 years ago tomorrow, crowds gathered outside the Alameda County Courthouse to greet Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Liberation. Newton had been convicted, with murky evidence, for his involvement in a shooting where a police officer died, and the California Courts of Appeal reversed the decision. The significance of Newton’s release still resonates with activists fighting for racial equity and justice today. Guest: Pendarvis Harshaw, Host, KQED'S Rightnowish podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Man's Desperate Pursuit of Unemployment Benefits At least seven million Californians have lost their jobs since the pandemic began earlier this year. It took Antonio Rael an estimated 5,600 calls before he could get an Employment Development Department worker on the phone to re-certify his claim. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED Basic Questions Are Clogging the Phone Lines, Says EDD Spokesperson Loree Levy, a spokesperson for EDD, says the agency is in the process of hiring more than 5,000 new workers. She is also encouraging applicants to review the agency's FAQs closely before calling in, and says people have been tying up the phone lines with questions already answered online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Lawmakers Look to Tax the Ultra-Rich More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers have signed on to a bill that would tax earnings above a million dollars an extra one percent. There would also be an additional, higher tax brackets for income above two million and five million. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio COVID-19 Spreads at Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant A COVID-19 outbreak at a big Central Valley poultry processing plant has grown to 73 confirmed cases with one worker dying. Livingston Mayor Gurpal Samra and other city officials met with Foster Farms representatives this week to make sure the company is following adequate safety protocols. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED California Lawmakers Demand Fix to Unemployment Benefit Process Over a million Californians still want to know why they haven’t received their unemployment benefits. The director of the Employment Development Department said at a hearing yesterday it will be until September to process even the backlogged claims that have been resolved. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED Fight Intensifies Over Gig Worker Classification Bill California’s Attorney General opened a lawsuit in May against Uber and Lyft for allegedly misclassifying workers. Now supporters of Prop 22, a referendum that would allow these companies to classify workers as contractors, are suing the attorney general for how he worded the title of their ballot initiative. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Documentary Chronicles Closure of Public Hospital in West Contra Costa County Doctors Medical Center in West Contra Costa County shut down five years ago, citing budget concerns. This hospital mostly served patients who were uninsured or on Medi-Cal. Now former hospital employees have set up a tiny urgent care clinic, where they try to triage patients with just a quarter of their former staff. Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Reporter Still Haunted Months after Being Shot by Police with Foam Round Journalists have been injured by police using tear gas, batons and projectiles to disperse crowds these last few months. KPCC's Adolfo Guzman Lopez was hit in the neck by a policeman’s foam bullet while covering a protest in Long Beach in May. Guest: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC and LAist reporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom Announces Strike Team to tackle Unemployment Backlog The state agency that sends out unemployment insurance checks. has been overwhelmed with applications since the pandemic began, which has led to lots of complaints about late checks and terrible customer service. The Newsom Administration says it’s taking actions to improve the situation. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Tenants Call for Statewide Rent Forgiveness On August 1st rent will be due for lots of Californians. But since the pandemic began, millions of people haven’t been able to pay, and they’ve been protected by a moratorium on evictions. Many renters say more help is necessary and are calling for a statewide program of rent forgiveness. Guest: Pea Nunez, Boyle Heights Rent Striker Proposed Bill Seeks to Extend Eviction Moratorium State Assemblymember David Chiu introduced a bill which gives qualifying tenants protection from eviction until the current state of emergency ends, or until April of next year. Tenants unable to pay rent because they’ve lost work, or who can’t pay because of expenses related to COVID-19 would have an extra year to pay back past rent. The Future of Commercial Real Estate Looks Grim With so many people working from home because of the pandemic, the demand for office space has plummeted. A new UCLA survey reports people in the California commercial real estate market are feeling grim about the future. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Administration Defies Supreme Court, Rejects New DACA Applications Advocates for immigrants in California are blasting the Trump administration for its decision to reject new applications for the DACA program, which allows undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to stay in the country. The Administration’s decision comes in spite of a Supreme Court ruling last month striking down President Trump’s attempt to end the program Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED CA Sues Trump Administration to Include Undocumented Residents in the Census Last week President Trump issued a memorandum ordering that undocumented residents not be counted when it comes to determining seats in Congress. California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra responded yesterday with a lawsuit arguing that counting everyone is a constitutional mandate, and not including the undocumented could cost California seats in Congress. L.A. County's Atlantic Avenue is Quiet Amid High Unemployment we've been checking in on how the pandemic has affected people along L.A. County's Atlantic Avenue, a thoroughfare more than 20 mile long that cuts through a variety of working class communities, with large Black, Latino and immigrant populations. Today we hear from Reginald Hall, who lives just off of Atlantic. Guest: Reginald Hall, Atlantic avenue resident Esselen Tribe Purchases 1,200 Acres of Ancestral Land For the first time in more than two centuries, The Esselen tribe in the picturesque Big Sur area has land to call its own. Through a state grant, the Monterey county tribe this week purchased almost 1,200 acres of its traditional territory. Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom Will Direct Tens of Millions to Central Valley for COVID Relief When it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, L.A. county and the Bay Area often get the lion’s share of attention. But the Central Valley is also grappling with growing virus caseloads and deaths. Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state will direct tens of millions of dollars to the Central Valley to slow the spread of COVID-19. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Healthcare Workers Call for Reduction of State Prison Population In an open letter published this week, hundreds of healthcare workers are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to reduce the state prison population to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Reporter:Shannon Lin, KQED L.A. Hopes to Improve Contact Tracing With Financial Incentive In the battle against the pandemic, contact tracing of infected people is supposed to be a powerful weapon, but so far it’s had mixed results. Now Los Angeles County has a new approach involving dollar incentives. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC California Child Care Providers Vote Overwhelmingly to Unionize Some 45,000 child care providers across the state can now bargain with the state for better pay and benefits after voting overwhelmingly to unionize Monday. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Doctors Stock Up on PPE at Drive-Thru Giveaway Although shortages aren’t as bad as they were when the coronavirus pandemic broke out, many medical professionals still struggle to find personal protective equipment, or PPE .Yesterday crates of it were distributed free of charge to doctors and nurses in the parking lot of Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. Guest: Gustavo Friedrichsen, CEO of the Los Angeles County Medical Association New Podcast Explores the Strange Dark History of California City In the California desert there’s an unusual town called California City. It has a ‘Twilight Zone” vibe with miles of neatly laid out streets with nothing on them and that go nowhere. It's also a place where people have had their dreams and finances destroyed by questionable real estate investment schemes over the decades. Most recently those schemes have targeted immigrants. Guest: Emily Guerin, Host, California City Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Legislators Return to Session California legislators return to Sacramento today after taking an extended summer recess because of COVID 19, and lawmakers have a lot of catching up to do. There are more than 500 bills pending in the Senate and close to 200 in the Assembly. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED New Study Shows Impact of Pandemic on Asian-Americans A new study reports that Asian Americans are suffering financially in this economic crisis. It also shows that racism tied to COVID-19 plays a role. Reporter: Caroline Champlin, KPCC U.S Citizenship Backlog Shuts Many Immigrants Out of Voting When the coronavirus pandemic hit, more than 150,000 immigrants in California were applying to become U.S. citizens. Now many of them may not become citizens in time to vote this November because of the massive backlog and furloughs facing the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero , KQED L.A County's Manhattan Beach Turns to Mask Fines More California cities are increasingly using the threat of fines as a way to get people to wear face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus. One of the first cities to implement a fine for not wearing a face covering was Manhattan Beach in L.A. County. Guest: Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Lawmaker Calls for Second Round of Lockdowns The coronavirus crisis is reaching new, bleak heights in California, where the state reported the highest daily death count on Thursday. State Senator Steve Glazer is calling for a second round of stay-at-home orders in regions where more than 2% of of COVID-19 tests come back positive. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio UCLA Outlines Policy Priorities for California's Latino Communities The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative has put together a policy document outlining economic and health focuses for Latinos in California. The initiative offers up a national vision on education, housing, voting rights, and political representation. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW The Great American Outdoors Act Could Revive California Parks California favorites like Joshua Tree and Yosemite need up to hundreds of millions of improvements ranging from fixed roads to new wastewater treatment plants. The Great American Outdoors Act passed by Congress this week would help, but President Trump would need to sign it into law. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KPCC How Financial Shock Takes a Toll on the U.S Census Californians are not completing the census at the same rates they did in 2010. New research from U.C Merced suggests the pandemic is playing a role because people experiencing financial blows are less likely to complete the census. Reporter: Haley Gray, KQED Without Comic-Con, San Diego Loses A Major Tourism Boom If not for the pandemic, Comic-Con would be in full swing right now, bringing 100,000 people to San Diego. The event brings an estimated $150 million dollars to the city annually, but it's been pushed online this year and downtown businesses are losing out on the revenue. Reporter: Matt Hoffman, KPBS "Soundtrack of Silence" Heads to Hollywood When Matt Hay learned he was going to lose his hearing, he decided to listen to as much music as possible in an effort to create a soundtrack to last the rest of his life. This story, first reported by KQED health correspondent April Dembosky in 2017, is now headed to Hollywood. Guest: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Has More Cases of COVID-19 Than Any Other State California is now reporting more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than any other state in the nation. The state is reaching the grim milestone as it struggles to stem the spread of the virus. Reporter: Guy Marzaroti, KQED Hospital Capacity Dwindles As Cases Surge Across the State The surge is cases is wreaking havoc on healthcare facilities throughout the state, forcing them to prepare for the worst. Many are still struggling with shortages of supplies and staffing. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED COVID-19 is Becoming the Leading Cause of Death in L.A. COVID-19 is on track to become the leading cause of death in L.A. County. Health officials warn that unless people wear face masks and physically distance, more people will die. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC Administrative Error Prevents Nurses From Providing Mental Health Care As coronavirus cases are surging, so are reports of depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. But even as mental health professionals are needed more than ever, those who graduated from a Fresno State nursing program are being told to return to school and repeat their classes. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio How Systemic Inequality Is Fueling The Spread of COVID-19 Systemic racial inequality has left members of low-income and minority communities most vulnerable to transmission and death from COVID-19. In San Francisco, Latinos make up 15% of the population but account for nearly half of all positive COVID-19 cases. Guest: Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics NJ Shooting Linked To Killing of Lawyer in San Bernardino Mountains The FBI has confirmed they have linked the shooting of a men’s rights lawyer in the San Bernardino Mountains to the suspect in the ambush shooting of a federal judge's family in New Jersey. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR Sierra Club Confronts John Muir's Racism One of the country’s largest and most influential environmental organizations is acknowledging its racist past. The Sierra Club is publicly calling out its co-founder John Muir -- who made derogatory comments about Black and Indigenous people and supported racist policies. Reporter: Kathryn Barnes, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 Has Pushed Childcare Industry to the Brink A new report out today paints a grim picture of the future of child care in our state. The industry was struggling even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s been driven to the brink. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Cal State Moves Closer To Requiring Ethnic Studies Classes In higher education it’s looking more and more like undergrads at the 23 Cal State University campuses will be required to take an ethnic studies class. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC Conservative Group Sues to Reopen Schools This Fall A conservative nonprofit is suing Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials on behalf of nine parents. They claim the statewide order which prevents districts from holding in-person classes is unconstitutional. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED For Many, Working From Home Will Outlast the Pandemic Sacramento area workers say they want to keep working from home when the coronavirus threat is over. A new poll finds that employers are listening to their workers and making plans for the future. Reporter: Pauline Bartolone, CapRadio Lassen Wolf Pack Has Eight New Pups California's only wolf pack is growing. for the fourth straight year, Scientists have announced northeastern California is home to eight new wolf pups. But advocates worry efforts by the Trump administration could threaten the future of wolf recovery. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area Workers Join Nationwide Action for Black Lives Matter Workers across the country protested economic and racial injustice Monday by walking off the job for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time that a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Los Angeles Service Workers Stand In Solidarity With Black Colleagues Protests also took place in Los Angeles, where workers from the fast-food, gig work, and health care industries led several different demonstrations. Service workers supporting Black colleagues drew comparisons between the labor and racial justice movements. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW Trump Says Oakland Could see Federal Law Enforcement Next All eyes are on Portland, Oregon, where the Trump administration has deployed federal law enforcement officers at police protests. Monday, President Trump indicated that Oakland was on his list of major U.S. cities that could see federal agents come in next. Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED California Hair Salons May Now Operate Outside Governor Gavin Newsom released new guidelines that could provide some relief for hair care businesses that have had to close because of health orders designed to stop the spread of coronavirus. Newsom acknowledged there was a lot to take into consideration before making the move. New Hotline Offers Support for Harassment in Online Gaming The video game industry has seen huge jumps in revenue during the pandemic, thanks to everyone sheltering in place. But gaming can also be a hotbed of harassment and abuse. A new hotline launching in August seeks to address this. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Mail In Ballots Could Have a Big Impact on the Student Vote Colleges and universities around California are limiting the number of students they’ll allow on campus this fall -- and shifting classes online -- in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes could have a big impact on the college student vote this November. Reporter: Guy Marzaroti, KQED Renowned Writer Unleashes Epic Drunk Tweet Storm This weekend, writer and author Susan Orlean almost broke the Internet with a stream of posts on Twitter. She was at home with her family after having a few glasses of wine at a neighbor's house. Her musings were exactly what the world needs right now. Guest: Susan Orlean, Writer at The New Yorker and Author of "The Library Book" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Bay Area Teachers Relieved Classes to Stay Remote Most of the state’s largest school districts are now focusing on reopening schools this fall with distance learning. No county on the state’s monitoring watch list for increases in COVID-19 cases will be able to reopen without special approval. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Public Health Officials Warn Against Testing Mandates from Employers Public health officials say employers should not be directing their employees to free, government-run COVID-19 testing sites. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services Faces Massive Furloughs California lawmakers say they’re trying to reach a bailout deal for U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency in charge of issuing green cards, work permits and U.S citizenship. More than two-thirds of the agency’s staff, including 23,000 employees in California, could soon be furloughed. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Kaiser Records Highest Number of Employee Complaints Over Coronavirus Concerns The health system Kaiser Permanente has received more complaints from employees feeling threatened by the coronavirus than any other workplace in California by far. Dozens of complaints claim staff were not given adequate protective equipment. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio Traces of COVID-19 Found in Yosemite Wastewater Mariposa County health officials sent samples of raw sewage from Yosemite National Park to a Massachusetts lab, and the results show that as many as 170 people in Yosemite Valley were likely infected with COVID-19 but didn’t know it. Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED California Highway Patrol Officer Harassed Over 20 Women A statewide KQED reporting project has uncovered serious abuse by a California Highway Patrol officer in Los Angeles. The investigation found that Officer Morgan McGrew sexually propositioned or harassed at least 21 women during appointments at a CHP field office. Guest: Sukey Lewis, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Without the Opera House, Long Beach Performers Get Creative The coronavirus has shuttered live performance venues and created enormous headaches for California's theaters, symphonies, and opera companies. That includes Long Beach Opera. Guest: Jennifer Rivera, Long Beach Opera executive director Kincade Fire Caused By PG&E Power Lines, Says CalFire State fire investigators have ruled that last fall's Kincade Fire in Sonoma County was caused by power lines belonging to Pacific Gas and Electric. Lily Jamali, KQED Judge Set to Uphold California's Ban on Private Prisons A federal judge in San Diego is set to allow parts of California’s ban on private prisons to move forward. The ban includes immigration detention centers. Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS With Visits Off-limits, Nursing Home Staff Step Up COVID-19 cases are surging again in California, calling into question the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable: the elderly. Benjamin Gottlief, KCRW Most Nursing Home Staff Know Co-worker Infected by Covid-19, New Poll Shows A new poll by the California Healthcare Foundation finds more than three quarters of the state’s nursing home employees say they know a coworker who’s had COVID-19, or are part of a staff with suspected cases. Former San Quentin Inmate Fights for Friends Still Behind Bars Adnan Khan got life in prison but was freed after 16 years thanks to a new law that challenged his sentence. He says the state is not doing enough to protect prisoners who are getting sick, and he’s calling on Governor Newsom and prison officials to step up. Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Schools Will Remain Closed This Fall There are about 1,000 public school districts in California. And Tony Thurmond, the state’s top education official is acknowledging pandemic conditions have deteriorated to a point where many of them won’t have students physically present in classrooms this fall. Trump Reverses Visa Decision, Allowing International Students to Stay After intense blowback, the Trump Administration told a federal judge on Tuesday that it’s withdrawing a plan to strip international students of their visas if they’re enrolled only in online college classes this fall because of the pandemic. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC California Sues Trump Administration Over Student Loan Relief The state of California filed a lawsuit yesterday against the Trump Administration eliminating the Obama-era “borrower defense” rule, which provides loan relief for students defrauded by for-profit universities. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED Environmentalists Fight to List the Joshua Tree as Endangered The Joshua Tree is now at the center of a growing political dispute. Environmentalists want the state to add it to California’s endangered species list, but many property owners and desert communities are against that, saying it could hobble new development. Guest: Brenden Cummings: Conservation Director, Center for Biological Diversity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Testing Guidelines Priorotize Vulnerable Populations Californians are now facing long lines, limited appointments, and delayed results when they get tested for coronavirus. State health officials have announced new testing guidelines that will prioritize vulnerable populations as the state faces testing backlogs. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED 61 injured in Fire Aboard Navy Ship The Navy says that 61 sailors and civilians have been treated for minor injuries as a fire continues to burn on board the amphibious assault ship the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego. The fire started Sunday morning and it’s still unclear if the ship can be saved. Reporter: Matt Hoffman, KPBS Attorney General Closes LAPD's Inaccurate Gang Database The State of California maintains a massive database of gang members called CalGang. Law enforcement agencies use it to investigate gang-related crimes and they contribute names to it. Now California Attorney General Xavier Beccera is shutting down LAPD's entries to Cal Gang after investigations found many of the department's entries were false and inaccurate. Reporter: Jerome Campbell, KCRW Kern County Launches First-Ever Community Advisory Council The Kern County Sheriff’s Department is facing scrutiny. Following a month of discussions with community leaders the department has agreed to collaborate with a community-led advisory council. It will be the first of its kind for Kern county. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio Gym Owners Frustrated Over New Closures As coronavirus cases surge week Governor Gavin Newsom announced new shutdown orders for indoor businesses across the state. So what it’s like to own a business that has to close again? Reporter: Shannon Lin, KQED AB 5 Enforcement Begins With Mobile Wash Lawsuit Mobile Wash is a Southern California-based gig economy company that offers car washing services. Now the state’s Labor Commissioner’s office is suing Mobile Wash for misclassifying about 100 of its employees as independent contractors. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED 100,000 Mail-In Ballots Were Rejected in CA Primary More than 100,000 mail-in ballots sent in by Californian voters in the March presidential primary were rejected, meaning those votes weren't counted. This news comes as California moves forward with plans to send mail in ballots to every voter in the state to use in the November election because of the coronavirus pandemic. Guest: Kim Alexander, President, California Voter Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom Orders Statewide Shutdown As COVID Cases Rise If the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is a return to some sort of normal life, that light got fainter in the last 24 hours. With COVID-19 cases rising in the state, Governor Gavin Newsom has once again ordered all California counties to shut-down indoor activities at restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Central Valley Officials Expect Public Backlash to Shutdown Seven of the California counties that will have to once again shutter businesses are in the Central Valley. Elected officials expect there will be public backlash to the closures of businesses and churches. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED L.A. and San Diego Schools Will Be Online This Fall California’s two largest school districts, Los Angeles and San Diego Unified, announced yesterday that students would not be returning to campuses next month because of the pandemic, instead instruction will be done online. Reporter: Kyle Stokes, KPCC Judge Denies Request To Extend Hospital Settlement Northern California hospital system Sutter Health says the pandemic is making it hard for them to pay off half a billion dollars in settlement money to the state, but a judge won’t extend the deadline. Reporter: Sammy Caiola, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices