Latest Stories
May 18, 2022
In the San Joaquin Valley, rapidly growing school districts endure overcrowding
As the cost of housing in the Bay Area and coastal Southern California drives families inland in search of relief, some school districts in the vast San Joaquin Valley contend with rapid enrollment growth.
May 17, 2022
FDA authorizes first COVID booster for children ages 5 to 11
The Food and Drug Administration expanded authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID vaccine to enable kids ages 5 to 11 who were vaccinated at least five months ago to get a third shot.
May 16, 2022
With inflation, California worries about progress on poverty
California lawmakers and activists are pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom to spend more to help the state’s poorest residents.
May 16, 2022
California church shooter was motivated by hate for Taiwanese people, officials say
A gunman killed a 52-year-old man and wounded five others in an attack at a Southern California church on Sunday, authorities said.
May 16, 2022
The federal government is offering another round of free COVID tests
Households in the U.S. will receive eight test kits via the U.S. Postal Service. The release comes as cases have risen over 60% in the U.S. over the past two weeks.
Michael Wolff: Jazz Innovator, Life Optimist
Remember jazz pianist Michael Wolff? He's best known as Arsenio Hall's sidekick and music director. Wolff has overcome many physical challenges and details it all in his recently published memoir, "On That Note."
May 16, 2022
Is your house at risk of a wildfire? This online tool could tell you
Many people move without realizing the danger that wildfires pose to their new home. A new risk rating system could help buyers learn more on real estate sites.
May 14, 2022
Five things to know about nuclear power in California
Gov. Newsom is considering seeking federal funds to keep Diablo Canyon open as California transitions away from fossil fuels. But there are many complications to keeping nuclear power in California.
May 14, 2022
A salty dispute: California Coastal Commission unanimously rejects desalination plant
The commission, in a marathon session today, killed a proposed desalination plant in Huntington Beach that’s been debated for more than 20 years.
May 13, 2022
Interview: Cal Fire’s staffing shortage, and a bill that could bring in more firefighters
Cal Fire has been facing staffing shortages for years. While most municipal fire stations have three firefighters per engine, Cal Fire has an average of 2.7, requiring employees to work forced overtime and causing severe mental health issues.
NPR Top Stories

Politics
These 14 states had significant miscounts in the 2020 census
May 19, 2022
The states were not counted equally well for population totals used to determine their share of political representation and federal funding for the next 10 years, a new Census Bureau report shows.

Europe
Kharkiv's mayor says it's time to move out of the city's subway stations
May 19, 2022
As Ukrainian troops push Russian forces away from its second-largest city, the mayor urges thousands of residents to emerge from their makeshift shelters in the city's metro stations and trains.

National
Buffalo prosecutors get more time to build their case against a mass shooting suspect
May 19, 2022
Payton Gendron is accused in a racist supermarket attack that killed 10 people. On Thursday, a judge delayed the hearing that will decide if there's enough evidence to proceed to trial until June 9.

Politics
Trying to condemn the war in Ukraine, Bush inadvertently calls Iraq war unjustified
May 19, 2022
In a speech, Bush criticized "the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq — I mean of Ukraine."

Book Reviews
Latin American literature in translation: Stories that take you to unexpected places
May 19, 2022
New translations of Juan Emar's Yesterday, Cristina Rivera Garza's New and Selected Stories, and Gabriela Alemán's Family Album offer a look at human nature — and adventures along the way.

Asia
Shanghai is expected to reopen some subways as it eases COVID restrictions
May 19, 2022
The lockdown of China's largest city has dealt a blow to the economy and frustrated residents.

Race
A photo of Florida students spelling out a racial slur is under investigation
May 19, 2022
In the photo, each of the six students is shown holding up a large letter that spells out the N-word.

Author Interviews
'Mirror Made of Rain' looks at how patterns of self-destruction are inherited
May 19, 2022
Naheed Phiroze Patel's debut novel Mirror Made of Rain is out in the U.S. this week.

National Security
Before a Fiji court: Can the U.S. seize a Russian yacht in the South Pacific?
May 19, 2022
The case of a yacht detained in the South Pacific island nation is raising questions about how far U.S. jurisdiction extends.

Photography
A photographer uses toys to reflect children's experiences in war
May 19, 2022
Brian McCarty's nonprofit provides art therapy to kids who have escaped conflicts, then transforms some of their traumatic drawings into toy dioramas to help people understand the horrors of war.
Listen to our latest showsall programs

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
Show Date: May 18, 2022

K-ZAP On CapRadio
Show Date: May 14, 2022

Mick Martin's Blues Party
Show Date: May 14, 2022