News

How Growers Had To Sidestep County And State Programs To Vaccinate Farmworkers

May 9, 2021

As harvest season approached, growers begged county officials to vaccinate their workers. But the state and counties didn’t prioritize vaccine doses for farmworkers in February. So the growers and doctors stepped in and set up their own clinics.

Pediatricians Can Bypass MyTurn As They Vaccinate Children

May 8, 2021

In an effort to accelerate vaccination of teens, California health officials say they will allow pediatricians to obtain doses without going through the state’s problematic registration site. Children ages 12 to 15 may become eligible for COVID-19 va

Red Flag Warning For Much Of Northern California Mother's Day Weekend

May 8, 2021 | Steve Milne | Chris Hagan

Much of the Central Valley stretching from Redding to Modesto will be under a red flag warning this weekend as dry, windy conditions increase the risk of wildfires.

Cal Fire Urges Homeowners To Prepare For Wildfires

May 8, 2021 | Rich Ibarra

Cal Fire Director Thom Porter says there’s every reason to believe that this year could be as bad as last year. Porter is urging people to clear 100 feet of defensible space around their homes, harden their structures and form an evacuation plan.

California Lost Population For First Time In History In 2020

May 7, 2021 | Chris Hagan

The announcement comes on the heels of new Census figures that showed since 2010 California grew by its lowest rate in any decade , so much so it will lose two congressional seats.

‘A Tax On The Poor’: Nevada Lawmakers Consider Removing Jail Time For Unpaid Traffic Tickets

May 6, 2021 | Bert Johnson

Nevada is one of just 13 states where an unpaid ticket can land people in jail. For the fifth legislative session in a row, lawmakers are weighing a bill that would decriminalize minor traffic violations.

Rates Of Suicide Rose During The Pandemic For Black Americans

May 6, 2021 | Megan Manata | Vicki Gonzalez

The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone in the U.S., but not equally. The latest research from Johns Hopkins University shows that Black Americans' suicide rate went up 100% during the pandemic.

State Government

Interview: New Sen. Alex Padilla Has Limited Time To Prove Himself To California Voters

May 6, 2021 | Kris Hooks | Vicki Gonzalez

California Sen. Alex Padilla has been in office for 100 days and will face an election next year after being appointed to Vice President Kamala Harris' former seat. He said his focus will be on infrastructure, climate change and immigration.

Survivors Stuck In Limbo As PG&E Fire Victim Trust Pays Out $50 Million In Fees

May 6, 2021

In its first year of operation, the PG&E Fire Victim Trust spent nearly 90% of its funds on overhead expenses while families who lost their homes waited for help.

PolitiFact California

Can You Handle The Truth?: Fact-Checking Claims By Recall Election Candidate John Cox And Gov. Gavin Newsom

May 6, 2021 | Chris Nichols

PolitiFact California found Cox distorted plans for a good behavior plan for prison inmates, while Newsom’s claim the recall election could cost “hundreds of millions of dollars” is on the right track.

PolitiFact California

No, California Gov. Newsom Did Not ‘Just Let 76,000 Inmates Out Of Jail,’ As Recall Candidate John Cox Falsely Claimed

May 6, 2021 | Chris Nichols

California expanded a good behavior credit program that will make thousands of inmates eligible for somewhat shorter sentences, but a state prisons spokesperson said no releases are expected for months or years.

Interview: The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Affect On Our Personal-Space Boundary Norms

May 6, 2021 | Randol White

Face-to-face meetings are creeping back into our daily lives after more than a year of social-distancing. But how comfortable will you be with this shift back to in-person social interaction?

State Government

Republican Challengers Officially Launch Campaigns As California Recall Begins In Earnest

May 4, 2021 | Nicole Nixon

California’s recall election went into full swing Tuesday, with two Republican candidates launching campaigns while Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom reiterated his record managing the state during the pandemic and other emergencies.

California University Students, Employees Demand Removal Of Campus Police

May 4, 2021 | Janelle Salanga

Monday’s work stoppage kicked off a month of actions organized by members of the nationwide Cops Off Campus Coalition. For those who participated, it was a way to start building and talking about a future without police.

Pandemic Led To 30% Increase In Deaths For Workers In Certain High-Risk Industries, Study Shows

May 3, 2021 | Rich Ibarra

The U.C. Merced study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020.

California Keeps Millions In Child Support While Parents Drown In Debt

May 3, 2021

California keeps parents in debt by garnishing child support and imposing high interest rates when they fall behind on payments.

Millions Of California Salmon Are Making Their Way To The Ocean Via Truck

May 3, 2021 | Rich Ibarra

Northern California hatcheries are ferrying their young salmon 50 to 100 miles on special tanker trucks.

State Government

Three Major Progressive Proposals Just Stalled In California’s Legislature

May 3, 2021 | Scott Rodd

The bills aimed to create a single-payer health care system, ban political contributions from corporations and levy a wealth tax on the richest Californians.

Project Roomkey Sheltered Thousands Of California’s Homeless Residents. Will The Model Live On Post-Pandemic?

May 3, 2021 | Chris Nichols

Advocates say the private room or ‘non-congregate’ shelter approach is more successful at bringing people in off the street and connecting them with housing and social services than traditional, dorm-style shelters.

50 And Forward, An Anniversary Celebration Of NPR

May 2, 2021

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of NPR's first original on-air broadcast, we look back at our origins in radio, how we grew from a staff of 65 to thousands, and into our future in the digital space.