KQED's The California Report

Skiers cruising down Tahoe’s white slopes this winter had a unique chance to learn about the surrounding ecosystem. UC Davis scientists clicked on their skis and led public tours down the mountain. Reporter: Anna Guth, KQED The American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal court to stop the government from cutting off legal services to families who were forcibly separated at the U.S.-Mexico border during the first Trump administration. Reporter: Mark Betancourt, The California Newsroom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the state grapples with the homeless population of over 187,000 people, a new program at Santa Monica Community College is training students for jobs to help people get off the streets and into housing. But it also faces an uncertain future. Guest: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Farmworkers in the U.S. have historically been excluded from overtime pay. That’s no longer the case in California. But on Wednesday, state lawmakers tabled proposal to help ag employers afford that overtime. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bill aimed at bringing healthcare services directly to farmworker communities will be considered at the state legislature Wednesday. Immigrant rights groups say more than a dozen people were arrested by immigration officials on Tuesday at a hardware store in Pomona. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR The Trump Administration eliminated deportation protections for asylum seekers who entered the country through the CBP one mobile app. KPBS spoke to an immigration lawyer representing multiple migrants impacted by the decision. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Supporters of reparations for Black Californians are pursuing a new strategy to advance their priorities at the state capitol. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of Pope Francis is being felt around the world. And right here in California, millions of Latino Catholics are mourning not just the loss of a spiritual leader, but someone who, for many, felt like one of their own. Pope Francis was the first from Latin America. He spoke often about immigration, inequality, and the dignity of the poor. Guest: Jeff Guhin, Sociology Professor, UCLA Starting this week, Californians can buy naloxone at a discount on a state-run website. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses. Reporter: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters A California state labor board says Governor Gavin Newsom may have violated the law when he issued an executive order calling state employees back into the office four days per week. Reporter: Megan Myscofski, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The district attorney's office in Shasta County is facing high workloads and high vacancy rates. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Dry summer conditions have long been known to cause issues for vulnerable fish populations. A recent UC Berkeley study found dry winters can cause issues, too. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine that severe storms sent ice balls containing chemical slush raining down onto the ground. While that sounds like science fiction here on earth, researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered, that is science-fact on our solar system's biggest planet--Jupiter. The U.S. Justice Department has ruled that tech giant Google has been holding an unlawful monopoly over online ads, enabling them to manipulate the market and keep competition out. A new report shows that Black and Latina women in California continue to face disproportionate challenges when it comes to accessing maternal healthcare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It might sound farfetched, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles has a track-record of renewing the licenses of drivers whose dangerous maneuvers behind the wheel have caused deaths on the road. In Southern California, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has decided to move forward with plans to stabilize the coastal highway corridor that links Los Angeles, Orang and San Diego counties. However, the plan is not being met with much fanfare by local environmentalists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US wine industry let out a sigh of relief last week when President Trump decided to pause placing 20 percent tariffs on goods from the European Union, which would have included wine. However, the White House's global trade war is creating sour grapes with another major US trading partner--Canada; and that is jeopardizing California's wineries, which usually bank big with our neighbors to the North. In other tariff news, Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, saying that the president does not have the authority to impose unilateral tariffs. A non-profit watchdog group has released a report that sheds light on the world of black market rideshare and food delivery accounts, where people who wouldn't normally pass a background or criminal records check to register as a legitimate gig worker, can instead rent a vetted account on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2023, the entertainment world in the US went on strike over production studios' embrace of artificial intelligence, and its potential to replace humans in the every role from actors to directors. While TV and movie studios eventually came to terms with striking workers in Hollywood, a year later, performers in the videogame industry represented by SAG-AFTRA went on strike over a number of reasons, including better working conditions and how the use of AI in game production would impact their careers. In the face of mounting lawsuits over a controversial immigration raid back in Kern County that happened at the beginning of the year, the Department of Homeland Security says it will retrain all of its 900 agents at the California-Mexico border about respecting the 4th Amendment when conduction an operation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States is seeing a boom in professional soccer, especially in California. The state is already host to four Major League Soccer teams and three teams in the National Women's Soccer League. There is also a crop of minor league teams sprouting up throughout the state, in both big cities and small towns. We'll take to you to the Southern California city of Lancaster, which hopes to score big with its newest soccer team, AV Alta FC. The Trump Administration canceled the social security numbers of roughly 6,000 immigrants. Advocates say the move puts these people in economic limbo, since they wouldn't be able to obtain legal employment or access any bank services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump says he will not limit the scope of his deportation efforts, going so far as to say schools across the country will also be targeted in sweeps and raids by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents. That looming threat has undocumented students attending UC Berkeley calling on the university to issue a strong statement of support for them. Santa Clara County's District Attorney is moving forward with pressing charges against a dozen students that took part in last year's on-campus pro-Palestinian protests, where demonstrators occupied the office of the campus resident. The Santa Clara DA alleges that the students are responsible for thousands of dollars in damages, and are facing felony vandalism and trespassing related charges. The Trump Administration's trade war with China is heating up, and that may not bode well for California's agriculture businesses in the Central Valley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early January, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from El Centro near San Diego launched a deportation raid in Kern County, more than six hours from their usual area of operation. The man behind the effort is Gregory Bovino, head of CBP's El Centro sector. He claimed the operation targeted criminals that were illegally in the US, but arrest data show that, of the nearly 80 people that were swept up by the agents out of El Centro, Border Patrol had an arrest record for just one individual. Ultra low-budget airliner, Avelo, is shuttering its Bay Area hub at Sonoma County's Charles M. Schultz Airport, after it got tapped by the Trump Administration to conduct mass deportation flights. One Sonoma County Supervisor is condemning the move, saying it would hurt the local economy in the long-run. Prop 36, California's voter-approved "tough on crime" bill, is still a head-scratcher for lawmakers in Sacramento, who are still debating on how to actually fund its rollout statewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is aiming to make the entirety of its electricity production zero-carbon by 2045. One of the key areas that state leaders are looking to help the state reach its clean energy goals is the Mojave Desert. Since 2014, the desert has been home to one of the largest solar power plants in North America. However, California's zero-carbon efforts in the Mojave are coming at the expense of a celebrated natural icon: the Joshua Tree. President Trump's tariff war may take a big chunk out of California's budget. Since the tariffs went into effect last week, the stock market has plummeted for days on end; that means a drop in revenue for some of the state's wealthiest residents, which could put a hole in California's budget down the line. A new bill circulating through the California state legislature may tip the balance in favor of rideshare drivers, when it comes to bargaining for better working conditions. AB-1340 would make it legal for those driving for rideshare giants like Lyft and Uber to form a union, in order to negotiate with their employers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighter aircraft were cheered on back in January, when they were making headlines as they painted the areas being scorched by the Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles County with fire retardant. However, scientists are starting to wonder whether the contents of these retardants could impact the health or the environment of the people who have to eventually rebuild these communities that were devastated by wildfires. Thousands in California are preparing to demonstrate against President Trump's efforts to cut funding to the National Institute of Health. He has already stalled about $1.5 billion dollars in medical research funds, which have had wide-ranging effects, impacting studies into long COVID and cancer, among others. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has revoked visas from hundreds of international students that were studying in the United States, including dozens from the Bay Area. Two students in California have decided to push back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Fresno mobile home park has become ground zero in a fight to save one of the last bastions of affordable housing in California. But residents there are facing an uncertain future as they wait for a federal judge to decide who will take control of the place they call home: another corporate landlord or an affordable housing non-profit. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Thousands of people in the Bay Area joined protesters across the country over the weekend in taking to the streets to demonstrate against President Trump and Elon Musk, saying they're taking the country in the wrong direction. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's tariffs are sending shockwaves around the world, and across car dealerships here in California, the U.S.'s largest car and truck market. A 25% tariff is being placed on all vehicles imported into the United States, but that tariff also covers car parts that are used to assemble vehicle models associated with "Made in the USA." The tariffs will likely mean higher prices for all kinds of new vehicles. Guest: Brian Ellis, Glendale Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Perhaps no California industry will face a bigger impact from tariffs than agriculture. In 2018, during President Trump's first term in office, the US engaged in a trade war with China. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that farmers took a $27 billion dollar loss from retaliatory tariffs. But what will happen this time around? Guest: Colin Carter, Professor of Agricultural Economics, UC Davis A Eureka woman is suing a Catholic hospital chain after she was denied emergency abortion care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In last year’s presidential election, Donald Trump improved on his 2020 performance all across California. Voters in every congressional district in the state shifted toward Trump. But the areas moving most toward Republicans also have a lot to lose from the party’s budget plan in Washington. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Lawmakers are introducing a bill to strengthen existing statewide tenant protections. Some property owners are not happy. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED San Joaquin Valley has the lowest ratio of doctors to patients in the entire state. A new bill co-authored by Democratic representative Jim Costa of Fresno is aiming to change that. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's logging industry has been shrinking for years, with an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the trade. But in Northern California, a community college is stepping in to change that, helping to train the next generation of loggers through an innovative apprenticeship program. Guest: Kate Rix, The Hechinger Report The California snowpack is close to 100 percent for the third year in a row. That hasn’t happened in three consecutive years since the late 1990s. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major League Baseball is underway and for many fans of the Athletics, it’s a bittersweet season. That’s because the team used to be known as the Oakland Athletics, until they left Oakland last year. The A’s are now set to play at least three seasons in their new home in West Sacramento, while the team prepares for a permanent move to Las Vegas. Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED Nearly 60,000 workers across the University of California are walking off the job again Tuesday. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Almost 60 years ago, Cesar Chavez ended a 25-day fast at Memorial Park in Delano. He was protesting the treatment of farmworkers across California. On Cesar Chavez Day, thousands of people marched from that same park, to continue in the legendary labor leader’s footsteps. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of police officers in California have been stripped of their badges in the last few years for serious misconduct. The offenses range from sexual assault to excessive force to racial bias. But thousands of cases still need to be reviewed. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS A pair of bills aiming to limit the harms of social media on children will face their first hearing in the California legislature this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to get new housing approved in California? Way too much, say some lawmakers. To change that, a bipartisan group is proposing a package of nearly two dozen bills to cut through barriers they say is putting the brakes on housing production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holy month of Ramadan is a special time when Muslim families often gather together. But when the Eaton Fire destroyed the only mosque in the Altadena area, it nearly upended the community’s ability to uphold tradition. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW A bill in the state Legislature asking for more accountability from California’s homeless shelters has passed out of its first committee hearing. The proposed legislation comes after a CalMatters investigation found evidence of violence and mismanagement at shelters across the state. Reporter: Lauren Hepler, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sonoma County, is of course, famous for its vineyards but a lot more is produced there by small farmers. From eggs to milk and all kinds of specialty greens, Sonoma County is the Bay Area’s bread basket. But making it as a small farmer in Sonoma – like the rest of the state -- has gotten a lot harder in recent years. In part, because land has gotten so expensive. Reporter: Noah Abrams, KRCB Drivers for ride hailing apps are rallying Wednesday in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, ahead of mediation talks linked to charges that Uber and Lyft stole wages from drivers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The elections clerk in Shasta County, where several debates over voting and election integrity have occurred, is resigning at the end of April. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate the Department of Education. He also appears poised to make big changes to student loan programs. What could all this mean to people paying off their loans? Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR A California non-profit is suing the Trump Administration over its decision to end humanitarian parole programs. This comes after the Trump administration announced Friday that it will end a program for some Latin American and Caribbean countries. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a series of town halls on Sunday, Bay Area congressman Ro Khanna urged residents of Republican-held congressional districts in California to organize against the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to programs like Medicaid and the wider social safety net. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Congressman Khanna's next stop was an amphitheater in the Inland Empire community of Norco, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR A federal rent assistance program that tens of thousands of Californians rely on is running out of money. Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The historic language of Jews in Europe – Yiddish – was once spoken by tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants in Los Angeles. That language was almost destroyed by assimilation and the Holocaust. But now, Yiddish is making a comeback. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW Dozens of postal workers gathered in protest outside a Bakersfield courthouse on Thursday. They were fighting against the potential privatization of one of the nation’s oldest institutions. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been in your local market recently, you may have noticed empty shelves in the aisle where you normally find eggs. With the spread of bird flu, which is infecting chickens throughout the country, eggs have gotten expensive. Really expensive. The average price of a dozen eggs in California is now around $9. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio The University of California has announced it's putting a pause on all new hires, in the face of uncertainty over its budget. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding a place to live in the Tahoe Basin is a difficult task for many local workers. A recent partnership between Placemate and Washoe County aims to remedy this problem. Reporter: Kat Fulwider, KUNR Under California law, if a person makes a threat to a place - like a school or house of worship - but they don't threaten specific individuals, it can be really hard to prosecute them. A bill moving through the state legislature could close this loophole. Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago, Boston and Aurora, Colorado have all seen high profile raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of President Trump’s promise of mass deportations. Immigrants rights activists in Los Angeles say it's only a matter of time before we see the same there. One group has taken the unusual step of patrolling the streets looking for ICE. Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist Officials in the Tulare county city of Porterville are challenging a state law on pronouns. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump has been looking to punish sanctuary cities since his first presidency -- but last time around, his administration repeatedly ended up on the losing side in court. That hasn’t stopped him from trying again. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED State Farm policyholders could soon see their bills go up. That's after California's Department of Insurance announced tentative approval of an emergency rate hike. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since January, Los Angeles residents have been volunteering to support wildfire recovery, sorting donations, or helping with cleanup. And there’s another cause that’s been bringing folks together: Fireproofing history — by preserving it online. Reporter: Andrea Domanick, KCRW California is joining 20 other states to sue the Trump administration over its deep cuts to the federal Department of Education. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many childcare providers lost their homes in the January fires in Los Angeles, and those homes often doubled as places of work. The state offered financial assistance for a month, but that money ran out in early February. For some, it's been a real challenge trying to get any type of relief. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist A Fresno County man who tested positive for measles is quarantining at home. He presented to a health center last Friday evening after traveling internationally. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a growing field of candidates looking to replace Gavin Newsom as governor. The latest high-profile entry is former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, who officially entered the race on Tuesday. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED California law lets landlords evict tenants for nonpayment - even if tenants can prove they can pay off their overdue rent. A bill before the state Legislature could change that. Reporter: Felicia Mello, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A German tourist has spent more than a month in US Immigration custody here in California. Her friends say she’s experienced a terrifying ordeal. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says he opposes the resentencing of the Menendez brothers, who are serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents. Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sacramento and Washington, D .C. are at odds, California has some ability to insulate itself. It can partially set its own agenda through state laws, agencies, and funding. But that's not true in about half of the state because half of it is owned by the U .S. government in the form of public lands. In those parts of the state, federal policies apply. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED Did you know, if your car gets towed in California and you don’t claim it, the DMV can pocket any profits after it’s sold? Even though owners are entitled to this money, the DMV doesn’t have to notify them, and the agency has brought in millions off of these kinds of sales. Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a common belief that music soothes the soul. But some researchers and healthcare companies say it can be used to heal the mind, and maybe the body. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Lawmakers should hit the brakes on one of Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature programs for cleaning up homeless encampments. That’s according to a report out this week from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More and more tents are popping up along the sides of San Diego freeways, on state property managed by the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans. City leaders call it a growing problem. Reporter: Katie Anastas, KPBS The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the University of California for possible workplace discrimination. Leaders in Fremont have revised a controversial ban on homeless encampments in the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Los Angeles neighborhoods of Altadena and the Palisades are still a mess from the January fires. And some of the people out there struggling to clean it up are immigrant day laborers. They are dealing with toxic ash that can have lead and chemicals in it. What’s the best way to do that safely? One organization is training them. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has lost her bid to get her job back, with the City Council voting 13-2 to deny her reinstatement. Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An unhoused Bay Area woman and her advocates are claiming a big win after a judge stopped officials from clearing her elaborate shelter. It’s believed to be the first court victory of its kind since the U.S. Supreme Court last year made it harder to stop encampment sweeps. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED California is rolling back its more flexible work from home policies that began during the pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order requiring state employees to work from the office at least four days a week. Reporter: Megan Myscofski, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Sunday night, Hollywood had its biggest night of the year with the Academy Awards ceremony. But here’s a plot twist. None of the ten films that were up for the best picture Oscar were shot in Hollywood or the greater L.A. area. It’s just the latest example of how much film and television production now occurs outside of Los Angeles, costing local jobs and raising questions about the very future of Hollywood. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Saturday, people gathered at national parks across the country to protest the firing of 1,000 National Park employees. Some 90 miles east of Los Angeles at Joshua Tree National Park, hundreds joined the movement. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked a Trump administration directive to mass terminate thousands of federal employees. The ruling only covers some federal agencies, including Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The Sierra Nevada Snowpack is about average for this time of year. Several storms expected in the coming days will likely add several inches. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED President Trump's plans to impose tariffs on imported goods have faced heavy criticism among some experts who warn that the move will raise prices for American consumers and harm U.S. businesses that rely on imports. But the tariffs have also found support among one state industry: California grape growers. Reporter: Tina Caputo Shasta County leaders are pushing for voter identification requirements and an elimination of the state's universal mail-in ballots. They advocated for those changes in recent letters to Governor Newsom and President Trump. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Del Norte County, starting Thursday, teenagers in trouble will be held accountable by a true jury of their peers. Teen court is a diversion program run by teenagers for teenagers. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara says he'll make a decision soon on State Farm's request for an emergency rate increase. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's homeless shelters are deadlier than the state's jails and only a fraction of the people in them end up in permanent housing. Those are just a couple of the startling findings in a new investigation out this week from our California newsroom partner CalMatters. Guest: Lauren Hepler, CalMatters More than 50,000 University of California workers are set to go on strike statewide starting Wednesday. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think people whose homes survived the recent Los Angeles area fires might feel fortunate. But those homeowners are wrestling with their own problems, like how to make their homes livable again in largely destroyed neighborhoods. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Governor Newsom on Monday announced hundreds of millions of dollars in new homelessness spending, along with a new website meant to let Californians track whether it’s making a difference. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health care workers across California are attending crash courses on constitutional law. They’re preparing for possible encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who are now officially allowed inside health care facilities. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KFF Health News After weeks of a fraying relationship, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has fired L.A.’s fire chief, Kristin Crowley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's long-delayed and over budget high-speed rail project is under threat again by the Trump administration. During his first term in office, Trump tried, without success, to claw back nearly a billion dollars in federal aid for the project, which one day is supposed to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco. Now this second Trump Administration is launching an investigation into high speed rail. That could jeopardize $4 billion in funds that the feds have committed for constructing the project’s first segment in the Central Valley. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Lawmakers at the state capitol are rolling out proposals to lower Californians' electricity bills, including by taking aim at the rate-increases from investor owned utilities like PG&E and Southern California Edison. But saving money for some ratepayers may come at the expense of other Californians. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The Los Angeles fires have renewed concerns about how well prepared California is to support older people and people who have disabilities during natural disasters. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has returned home to Los Angeles after losing to Donald Trump in the November election. The question now is what will she do next? Many pundits are speculating about a possible run for California governor. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Insurers have already paid out around $7 billion in claims to people who lost homes or suffered property damage in the LA fires. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Another fire flared up Tuesday night at a Monterey County battery storage facility, one month after a massive blaze damaged it and caused major health concerns in the region. Reporter: Joseph Geha, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration pursued a controversial policy of forcibly separating migrant family members, including young children, at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden Administration then set up a task force to help reunite those families. But with Trump’s return to office, one of his first executive actions dissolved that Biden family reunification task force. This has legal experts and immigrants’ rights advocates worried. Guest: Mark Betancourt, The California Newsroom California’s U.S. Senators, Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, are both “demanding answers” from the Trump administration about the abrupt cutoff of federal funding meant to expand zero emission vehicle infrastructure in the state Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent decades, Dr. Bronner’s evolved from a niche soap company to a powerhouse home brand with a worldwide following. But a recent wrongful death lawsuit makes some troubling allegations against the San Diego County-based company. The lawsuit alleges the company has turned a blind eye to an internal culture of drug use. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS Riverside County’s firebrand sheriff is the first high-profile Republican to join the 2026 race for California governor. Chad Bianco kicked off his campaign on Monday at a banquet hall in Riverside. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tiny town of Scotia, California on the state’s remote redwood coast was built up entirely around a large sawmill. An attached biomass plant that burns the wood waste for electricity stands in the middle of a climate debate in the region. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Some college aid experts in California are tying a recent drop in student aid applications to fears around immigration enforcement. Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices