KQED's The California Report

American society often feels divided. But sometimes, even the most surprising things can bring us together. For a small Central Sierra Nevada community, residents recently found themselves rallying around an unlikely source. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Communities across California are waking up this morning to the damage left behind from Thursday's powerful storm system. The brunt of the damage was in Southern California. We'll learn on Friday the results of a strike vote by 20,000 University of California healthcare and other workers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence is being touted as the next big advancement to take almost every industry into a new direction, and at one of the world's largest agriculture expos, AI evangelists see the new tech as the next big advancement in farming. Authorities in Southern California have issued evacuation warnings for parts of Los Angeles County that were scorched by wildfires last month, as heavy rains in the region increase the risks of dangerous mudslides in those areas. Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, an atmospheric river is pounding the region, causing roadway flooding and blackouts across the region. The National Weather Service said the storm could bring down as much as an inch of rain per hour in some parts of the Bay Area, as well winds reaching up to speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of people are attending this week's World Ag Expo in Tulare County. There’s plenty to choose from, depending on what you’re looking for. And for many in the farming industry, a big issue right now is bird flu. Guest: Lucas Fuess, Senior Dairy Analyst, Rabobank California's FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, is asking for help paying customer claims due to the Eaton and Palisades fire. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The flames have died down at the Moss Landing battery storage plant in Monterey County, after a massive fire last month. But the environmental impacts may be just beginning. In neighboring Elkhorn Slough, a sanctuary for endangered wildlife, researchers have already found heavy metal concentrations up to a thousand times higher than before the fire. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED Starting Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers will begin removing fire debris from private properties that were damaged or destroyed in the January wildfires in Los Angeles. The federal agencies will enter the properties of residents who submitted a Rights of Entry form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a growing club you don’t want to be a part of. They’re the people who’ve lost their homes and had their lives turned upside down because of natural catastrophes. But getting through these events, whether they’re fires or floods, also means you can be a source of hope for others in their moment of crisis. One group is linking these extreme weather survivors, the veterans with the newcomers. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED On Tuesday, the Bay Area city of Fremont is expected to vote on a new ordinance that would make it a crime to “aid or abet” an illegal homeless encampment. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After three straight years of growth, the rate at which Californians are buying electric vehicles is flattening. That’s according to data from the California Energy Commission. Slowing demand for EVs could be a big barrier to California reaching its ambitious EV goals. Reporter: Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters A major lithium project in Imperial County is moving forward again, after a judge rejected a legal challenge by two environmental justice groups. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Does the state of California stop many of its residents from spelling and pronouncing their names correctly? It does. Because in California, diacritical marks can't be used to spell names on many official documents. Guest: State Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much water is too much for California’s levees? That’s the question many water experts have been asking since President Donald Trump ordered the release of billions of gallons of water from Central Valley dams – and as big storms produced by an atmospheric river drenched much of the state. Guest: Emily Zentner, The California Newsroom A UCLA report finds the Los Angeles area wildfires have caused between $95 and $164 billion in total property and capital losses. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leaning on hospitals to continue offering gender-affirming care for youth, calling President Trump’s recent executive order that threatens to stop funding treatments wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 16,000 structures were lost in last month’s wildfires in LA. Residents there are now beginning the difficult process of deciding whether they can — or even want to — rebuild. For those who do, experts and survivors of past wildfires say there are ways to build in some resilience against future fires. In Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, that’s what many residents did after the 2017 Tubbs Fire decimated their neighborhood. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Big water releases from two Central Valley dams are leaving farmers flummoxed. It’s the result of an executive order from President Trump that’s supposed to help fight wildfires in Los Angeles. But the water is unlikely to reach its intended destination. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Schools and colleges are some of the places where the fear of President Donald Trump’s pledge of “mass deportations” is hitting hardest. That’s especially after the administration reversed a policy keeping immigration agents away from schools, churches and other "sensitive locations." In California there are laws to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. But some lawmakers want to go further to protect classrooms. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles fires, State Farm, the largest homeowners’ insurance company in California, is seeking an emergency rate hike from the state. Those fires resulted in more than 8,700 claims made to State Farm and more than a billion dollars, so far, in payouts. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more than 800 miles of coastline, you’d think that one problem the Golden State wouldn’t have to worry about having enough sand -- beach sand. But up and down the coast, many beach cities, like San Clemente in Orange County, are facing a growing problem: their sand is disappearing. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Many federal workers in California are suspicious of the Trump administration's offer of pay and benefits, in return for resigning from civil service. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fans are tuning into a new season of so-called eagle TV, a camera trained on the nest of two beloved eagles in Big Bear, east of Los Angeles, that live streams 24-7. Last year ended in heartbreak when the eagles’ eggs did not hatch. Fans around the world are hoping for a better ending this time. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR A federal judge has ruled that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement can resume detaining immigrants at one of its largest California facilities near the Mojave Desert. The ruling lifts a COVID-era ban on receiving immigrants at the Adelanto Detention facility. California's western monarch butterfly population has dwindled to a near record low. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump vowed to launch what he called “the largest deportation program in American history,” targeting more than 11 million people. While many question the president’s ability to make good on that promise, the prospect has California’s grape growers and vintners on edge. Reporter: Tina Caputo In a new executive order, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to revise its policies toward transgender service members, saying they do not meet the standards of military service. Reporter: Andrew Dyer, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Altadena residents who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire still need to get their mail. And right now that means waiting sometimes hours at a post office in Pasadena. It's a scene of grief, hope and strong community. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist A judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's attempt to freeze federal funds. That’s after several lawsuits were filed, including by the state of California. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began gathering hazardous materials this week from the Eaton fire at a park in eastern L.A. County. That's upset some of the surrounding cities. Reporter: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says will help Southern California fight future wildfires. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and federal environmental rules, to send more water from California’s Delta. Trump has said this move will help protect against wildfires, by bolstering Southern California’s water supplies. But this order won’t actually do that. Guest: Alastair Bland, CalMatters A new strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in the United States. It was found in Merced County. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Just one week into President Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been seen conducting operations in San Jose. Reporter: Joseph Geha, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has wasted no time signing executive orders that threaten the safety and livelihood of thousands of migrants living in California. That's left many in the Central Valley feeling mixed emotions. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report President Trump wants to deport undocumented immigrants who are accused of crimes. But working with immigration enforcement could mean skirting around California's sanctuary law. Our partner, CalMatters, asked all 58 California sheriffs if they’ll agree to work with ICE. Reporter: Nigel Duara, CalMatters Meanwhile, some schools in California are informing families of their rights, when it comes to immigration. Reporter: Billy Cruz, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Southern California wildfires have made tragically apparent, California Democrats' goal to lower the cost of living are running headlong into the impacts of extreme weather brought on by climate change. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED President Trump is expected to visit Los Angeles today to see the wildfire damage firsthand, but some of the details around the visit are murky. That's after he signed an executive action earlier this week aiming to reroute Northern California water to the rest of the state. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED The state’s response to the bird flu outbreak could be hobbled as the Trump Administration pauses all communication released from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED State Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who represents Morro Bay, says she's introducing legislation to regulate new battery storage facilities in California. That comes a week after a fire at the world's largest such facility in Moss Landing, owned by the Vistra Corporation. Reporter: Juan Carlos Lara, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is continuing to track price gouging in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. On Wednesday, Bonta announced charges against a Southern California real estate agent for gouging a couple who lost their home to the fires. It's yet another challenge facing people who lost their homes, who are just trying to figure out where to live. And some residents are tracking price gougers on their own. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, CalMatters An organization representing farmworkers has received postcards threatening people without legal status. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's devastating wildfires in the L.A. area have once again raised questions in California about the wisdom of building homes and entire communities close to mountainous wilderness areas that burned so easily and tragically in dry conditions. Guest: Branden Brough, family home was in Pacific Palisades In one of the first acts of his presidency, Donald Trump ordered cut off of access to the CPB One app for migrants seeking asylum in the United States. That's left many in Tijuana without an idea of their future. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS A new executive order from President Donald Trump on gender identity could complicate travel and employment for California’s transgender and non-binary individuals. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California immigrant advocates are condemning President Donald Trump’s plans to call out the military for immigration enforcement and challenge the Constitutional right to citizenship for everyone born in the U.S. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Immediately after his inauguration, Donald Trump’s promise to crack down on immigration started to take shape, with the new administration moving to abruptly shut down the CBP One app. The government app allowed migrants to schedule appointments in their attempts to gain asylum in the United States at legal ports of entry. Looking ahead to the possibility of mass deportations of people already in the U.S. those who run migrant shelters in the border city of Tijuana say they’re not prepared to receive a wave of people. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, Donald Trump will be again sworn in as President of the United States. And one of his first official trips as president is expected to be to Southern California on Friday to tour fire devastated areas. Beyond that trip, what will Trump’s return to power mean for California? Guests: California Congressmen Tom McClintock and Jay Obernolte California lawmakers and advocates for immigrants are bracing for a sharp rightward shift on immigration immediately after Donald Trump’s swearing in. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighters are still battling the two biggest blazes in Los Angeles - the Palisades and Eaton fires. Crews have been able to get better control of both. As we head into the recovery process, what happens next for people in the region? Guest: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fire crews are still on the front lines battling the Los Angeles blazes, but California’s Democratic state leaders are bracing for a different fight ahead: a potential clash with the administration of President-elect Donald Trump over disaster aid. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED A 14-year-old in Los Angeles is trying to help to restore a sense of normalcy for girls who lost everything in the wildfires there. Her effort to give those girls some free retail therapy has gone viral. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW The fires that have destroyed homes have also burned through thousands of acres of wildland that’s home to bears, mountain lions, squirrels and other animals. Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of the army of firefighters trying to contain the blazes in the Los Angeles area, 1000 are incarcerated individuals hacking out fireline with hand tools in rugged terrain. Despite the experience they gain from this work, they face an uphill battle getting hired as firefighters after their release. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED Thousands of families looking for stability after the Los Angeles fires are suddenly confronting another crisis. L.A.’s lack of affordable housing. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Eaton Fire tore through the community of Altadena. The city has long been a sanctuary for Black people, who make up about 18-percent of its population. The losses from the fire are felt deeply in the community and beyond. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire continues to burn, is often known for its glitzy homes and celebrity residents. But it hasn’t always been that way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By now, most Californians are aware that animals – pets and wildlife – are also suffering because of the fires raging in Los Angeles County. Whenever a natural disaster strikes, animal rescue operations have to kick into high gear. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED California’s insurance commissioner has issued a one-year moratorium on homeowner insurance policy cancellations and non-renewals in areas affected by the Los Angeles fires. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been following the fires in Los Angeles, online or on TV, you've likely seen videos of gridlocked roads filled with abandoned cars. As the Palisades Fire closed in, residents trying to escape were forced to leave their vehicles behind and flee on foot. Bulldozers were later used to clear the roads. This chaotic scene highlights a troubling reality. Many communities, especially those with narrow, winding roads, are unprepared for large scale evacuations. Guest: Lauren Sommer, NPR Climate Desk The fires raging in Southern California have affected thousands of people who have lost their homes. But those losses also affect a wider community of people, namely a population of largely immigrant and Latino workers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More fires have sparked in Los Angeles as fire crews work tirelessly through the day and night to contain them. Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Thousands of homes and structures have been destroyed and five people have been killed in the fires. Guest: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Thousands of Los Angeles County residents at risk of losing their homes to fires are on the state’s insurance plan of last resort. That’s according to reporting from our California Newsroom partner, CalMatters. Reporter: Jeremia Kimelman, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The city of Los Angeles is under a state of emergency following several rapidly growing wildfires that sparked early Tuesday. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from the two biggest fires - one burning in Pacific Palisades and the other near Pasadena. Guest: Saul Gonzalez/The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians are remembering the legacy of late president Jimmy Carter as his family and his remains make their way from the Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta to Washington DC. After facing two years of multi-billion dollar deficits, Governor Gavin Newsom says California's state budget for the upcoming fiscal year can be balanced without new cuts or taxes. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Southern Californians are bracing for what forecasters are calling dangerous and "life-threatening" wind conditions over the next few days. A widespread red flag warning is in effect through Thursday due to the Santa Ana wind event, which could bring gusts of more than 80 miles per hour. President Joe Biden is visiting the Eastern Coachella Valley Tuesday, where he’ll formally dedicate a new national monument. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday marks four years since a mob of supporters of then President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. It was an attempt to keep Trump in office, after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden. 140 law enforcement officers were injured and five people died during or soon after the riot. Since the insurrection, more than 1,000 people have been sentenced for crimes they committed that day. That includes many Californians. Guest: Tom Dreisbach, NPR Investigative Correspondent The Santa Cruz Wharf reopened on Saturday, less than two weeks after 150 feet of it collapsed into the ocean during a storm. That area had already been closed to the public for nearly a year because of previous storms. Still, about 20 businesses had to close as a result. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Trump administration takes office later this month, it'll be on a collision course with California cities that have vowed to protect their undocumented residents from Donald Trump's plans for mass deportation. But when the city says it will protect immigrants, what does that practically mean? Guest: Eunisses Hernandez, Los Angeles City Council Two people were killed and 19 injured when a small aircraft crashed into a furniture manufacturing building in the Orange County city of Fullerton on Thursday afternoon. California's snowpack near Lake Tahoe is higher than it was this time last year, but still just below average for early January. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several new laws went into effect on January 1, dealing with everything from workplace issues to education. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report The future of foreign labor in the tech sector could hinge on the outcome of a debate now raging in the orbit of President-elect Donald Trump, over the H1-B, a temporary visa for skilled workers. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists project the Bay Area could rise more than a foot over the next few decades. Solutions implemented now can help communities prepare for a wetter future. This is especially true for the most vulnerable places, like San Francisco’s iconic waterfront. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To end homelessness, California’s political leaders have championed a seemingly simple solution: build homes for people who don’t have them. Even better, put those homes in places where unhoused folks are already living — in cities, close to public transportation and services. But insurers are increasingly eyeing those properties as too risky to serve — not because of potentially catastrophic storms or wildfires — but because of who lives there and the urban neighborhoods where they’re located. Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED A new law that goes into effect in the new year could give tenants facing eviction a better shot at staying in their homes. Reporter: Felicia Mello, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the Supreme Court gave local governments greater power to police homelessness this summer, some 40 cities across California have passed anti-camping laws, according to the National Homelessness Law Center. In the Central Valley, the city of Fresno is home to one of the state’s harshest crackdowns, banning public camping anywhere, anytime. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal State Monterey Bay researchers and several partners are working to make Central Coast farming more climate resilient. The grant-funded project is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from specialty crops - think lettuce and strawberries - by using things like compost and cover crops. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU A new law in 2025 will scrub most medical debt from Californians’ credit reports. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been nearly two months since election night, when we learned Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. And since then, we’ve brought you coverage on how different sections of our society are preparing for this new administration. Today, we’re checking in with former US Poet Laureate and recent Genius Grant recipient Juan Felipe Herrera. He’s written extensively about the migrant experience in California. Guest: Juan Felipe Herrera, former US Poet Laureate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve found yourself at a makeup store recently, especially in a mall after school, you might’ve noticed more young people around you. Like really young. Like elementary and middle school young. This is a trend and it has a name: Sephora Kids. And their purchases are doing damage to more than just their parents’ bank accounts. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. And that’s true at a landfill in Riverside County. Workers at the Lamb Canyon Landfill have started rescuing items to resell at a new store. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you grew up here in California, you've likely visited a neighborhood that goes all out for Christmas. We're talking decorations on the roof in the front yard and lining the street. In Fresno, that neighborhood is known as Christmas Tree Lane during the holidays. Groups of families or friends get in their cars and drive down the street, blasting the Christmas radio station. Or they pick one of the walking days, stop at the Starbucks just outside the neighborhood, and walk the lane to really soak up its Christmas magic. Guest: Dean Alexander, Christmas Tree Lane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, many of you will be gathering with friends and family to celebrate Christmas. But what’s on your table could depend on traditions your family grew up with. Guest: Ken Albala, Food Historian and History Professor, University of the Pacific Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is contending with a child care shortage, and the state has made efforts to increase options for families. But conflicting regulations from two state agencies are causing childcare centers to turn away thousands of infants and toddlers. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Health officials are scheduled to provide an update Friday morning on Governor Newsom's declaration of a state of emergency over bird flu. Although details are scant, public health experts say it’s likely a good thing. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Mateo County leaders will soon be asking voters to remove their embattled sheriff from office. It’s likely an unprecedented move. Reporter: Brian Krans, KQED Amazon workers across Southern California are joining a nationwide strike Thursday, just days before Christmas, as the Teamsters argue the company is denying their right to unionize. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to aid California's response to the bird flu outbreak. The governor says recent cases were detected in cows at four Southern California dairies, meaning the virus has spread from the Central Valley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The warden at a troubled prison in northern California is retiring this month, and the governor has just given the former chief deputy warden there a big promotion. KQED reporters Julie Small and Sukey Lewis investigated this prison for their podcast On Our Watch, and they have an article out this week that tells the emotional story of a pair of whistleblowers who work there and the challenges they faced. Guest: Julie Small, KQED The co-founders of failed Fresno startup Bitwise Industries have been sentenced to prison for wire fraud. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays are a time where we tend to eat a lot of food, and throw a lot out. Americans throw away about four pounds of waste per day, higher than anywhere in the world. But where does all that food waste go? Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist California Resources Corporation and Aera Energy joined forces to become the state’s largest oil company. But a new investigation from KVPR and Inside Climate News finds that the merger could leave taxpayers on the hook for millions. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first time Donald Trump was elected president, blue state Democrats -- particularly those from California -- asserted themselves as the frontline of the resistance. Eight years later, they say they’re making an intentional decision to stay calm, at least for now. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED It’s official. California regulators are enforcing an agreement with the state’s largest insurance companies that they hope will stem the insurance crisis. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Crews have been working around the clock in the community of Scotts Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains after a rare tornado touched down in the city on Saturday. At least five people were injured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1990, a federal law required universities to return Native American remains to their homes. Many institutions had been using them for research and display. But a recent state audit shows many universities have been breaking that law ever since. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR The season for kissing under the mistletoe has arrived! While there’s no guarantee for holiday smooches, you can get a permit to harvest your own mistletoe this season. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Diego's police commission is reviewing the department's K-9 policy, after complaints of excessive force. Data show large racial disparities in who gets bitten by police dogs. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS Former San Joaquin Valley Congressman TJ Cox has agreed to plead guilty to two financial crimes. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is pushing the trucking industry to electrify to cut pollution. That effort so far has focused on swapping out old trucks for shiny new electric ones. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist The Franklin Fire continues to threaten homes in the Malibu area. Since starting Monday night, the fire has destroyed at least seven structures. Thousands of people remain under evacuation orders and warnings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1990s, California voters approved a law that required public schools to teach most classes only in English. After that, many public school districts across the state essentially eliminated their bilingual programs. Voters eventually repealed this law back in 2016. But a new investigation from our partner CalMatters has found that the state's bilingual education system is still recovering, while students struggle to get the support they need. Reporter: Tara García Mathewson, CalMatters Crews are trying to get a handle on a fast growing wildfire burning in Malibu. The Franklin Fire was first reported around 11 pm Monday night. It's since burned through more than 2,200 acres in the hills north of Pepperdine University. The LA Unified School District is opening up its state subsidized preschools to higher income families. Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are more than 40,000 foreign nationals serving in our military. And most of them are just one mistake away from being deported. But some veterans are advocating for a federal law that would make it easier for foreign-born soldiers to become American citizens. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Los Angeles Congressman Adam Schiff will be sworn in Monday as California’s junior U.S. Senator, filling a seat held by Dianne Feinstein for decades. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED President-elect Trump has pledged to conduct mass deportations. That's stoked fears among financial aid experts, who worry about how his administration might use data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. Reporter: Julia Barajas, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices