KQED's The California Report

KQED

KQED's statewide radio news program, providing daily coverage of issues, trends, and public policy decisions affecting California and its diverse population.

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 9 min
Central Coast Wineries Adjust Business Models to Deal With Downturn
Tariffs, inflation, difficulty in finding buyers for grapes. It’s all been a challenge for local winemakers on the Central Coast. Many wineries are now looking at alternative business models to try to satisfy a fragmented consumer base. Reporter: Mira Honeycutt Much of California is preparing for more hot weather this weekend. Temperatures could reach triple digits for many inland areas. And that means people near the coast will likely be looking for a way to cool off, at local beaches. But the combination of heat waves and rough water conditions is resulting in lifeguards across the state becoming that much more important. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday · 9 min
Drug Shows Some Promise for People Suffering From Valley Fever
Valley fever cases continue to climb across California. The fungal disease is showing up in places where doctors may not expect it. And now a new study suggests an experimental drug could offer hope for people with the most severe form of the illness. Guest: Fariba Donovan, University of Arizona College of Medicine Valley Fever Center for Excellence A Southern California lawmaker has introduced a bill to end what she calls medical neglect in ICE detention facilities. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove says she was inspired by the treatment of one of her constituents. At this week's LA Police Commissioners meeting, a report documented potential misconduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating in the city. Reporter: Jared Bennett, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wednesday · 9 min
Court Records Show Federal Agents Used Slurs While Targeting People During Immigration Sweeps
How do you get free air conditioning to California homeowners who need it the most? One Los Angeles contractor is using state incentives creatively, and it’s not just a win for residents - it helps the climate too. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED International students in Southern California say new visa limits coming in September are adding to the uncertainty they already experience. Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist A new court filing reveals federal agents used slurs to identify people they were targeting during immigration sweeps in Los Angeles last year. Guest: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 9 min
Healthcare Company Focusing on Women's Health Faces Scrutiny
A healthcare company that brands itself as a modern, women-centered alternative to traditional doctor's offices is facing scrutiny about the quality of care it provides. A new investigation from LA Public Press found some patients at Tia clinics, including locations here in California, say they were misdiagnosed, hit with surprise medical bills, and in some cases, incorrectly told they were not pregnant. Guest: Madhri Yehiya, LA Public Press Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Monday · 9 min
There's a Political Power Struggle in the City of Avenal
In the small, quiet Kings County community of Avenal, there’s a war waging over political power. Voters recently recalled four council members, but the city is disputing the election results, and the only member who wasn’t recalled now claims he is the mayor. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR Healthcare advocates are calling for stronger state oversight over rising hospital costs in Santa Barbara County. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX A team leading the closure of L.A. County’s aging Men’s Central Jail says people will have to be held there for at least five more years even though the facility was supposed to close in 2021. Reporter: Jordan Rynning, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 24 · 9 min
Western Snowy Plover Population Passes Milestone
Western snowy plovers are tiny, shy shorebirds that are slowly making a recovery along the West Coast. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Doctors are announcing an effort to unionize nearly 10,000 senior physicians at the University of California. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 23 · 9 min
Proposed Development in Big Bear Threatens Famous Eagles' Habitat
For the last decade, a 24-7 livestream of an eagle’s nest in Big Bear has captivated people around the world, and made its occupants Jackie and Shadow internet celebrities. Eagle advocates worry that plans to develop the lakeshore and forest near the nest will harm Jackie and Shadow. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR In the year since large-scale ICE raids began in Los Angeles County, the fallout for families and people’s livelihoods has been profound. Now, a new study by UCLA finds that 95% of local Latino small business owners are struggling financially. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW In Los Angeles County, a new soil cleanup program is launching this year for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire. Reporter: Cato Hernandez, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 22 · 9 min
World Cup Was a Test Run for 2028 Olympics
The World Cup has come and gone, and for cities like Los Angeles, it was mostly a success. Officials saw the event as a test run for what's to come, the 2028 Summer Olympics, which is also set to take place in LA. Guest: Libby Rainey, LAist Californians who haven’t paid their utility bills will be protected from power shut offs if temperatures reach 90 degrees or above. The California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve the new standard late last week. Reporter: Molly Peterson, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 21 · 9 min
Japanese American WWII Camp Survivors Say Immigrants Today Share Similar Experiences
The Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Eighty years after its closure, a group of pilgrims recently paid tribute to the people who died there. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Federal fire investigators are looking into a possible link between PG&E equipment and a fire in Plumas County that started earlier this month. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED As a new school year approaches, some Los Angeles special education teachers and parents are worried the LA Unified School District won’t bring ballooning class sizes down this fall. That’s despite an agreement reached last spring between the district and UTLA, the union representing teachers. Reporter: Maya Mukherjee, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 20 · 9 min
Small Farmers Push Back Against Federal Program Cuts
In April, the House of Representatives passed their 2026 Farm Bill. Now the US Senate is working on their iteration of the massive legislation package, the first since 2018. But while Congress debates, many small farmers are still reeling from the second Trump administration's blitz of the federal bureaucracy in early 2025. Reporter: Noah Abrams, Northern California Public Media A federal judge has ordered major changes at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. It comes as part of a lawsuit in which detainees have claimed that conditions at the facility violate their Fifth Amendment protections. Reporter: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters A new federal law seeks to regulate college programs that offer poor returns on investment. The policy requires that colleges and universities nationwide prove their graduates earn at least the median wage of workers with only a high school diploma. Reporter: Alex Echelman, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 17 · 9 min
Small Businesses Feel Left Out as Inglewood Brings in Millions From World Cup
The World Cup games have attracted thousands to stadiums across the country, as fans gathered to attend matches in person. That includes in Inglewood, which hosted eight games. It’s the latest global event to come to the city’s revitalized sports and entertainment district. But the extra foot traffic hasn’t been a boon for everyone. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report One Salinas teen will represent Monterey County, and the Boys and Girls Club, at the World Cup Final, representing her home town on one of the world’s largest stages. Reporter: Jillian Smith, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 16 · 9 min
Jailhouse Stings Happening More Frequently in California
A law enforcement practice that’s being used in California jails is coming under increasing scrutiny. In what’s known as a “Perkins operation,” undercover agents attempt to elicit confessions from people booked at county jails. The tactic has helped secure hundreds of murder convictions. But critics say they are coercive, can produce false confessions and disproportionately target people of color. Reporter Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters Scorching heat has hit much of California this week. In Southern California, triple digit temperatures were recorded in cities across the region on Wednesday. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 15 · 9 min
Kids Learning to Swim at Community Pool in Central Valley
Much of the Central Valley is under a heat advisory Wednesday, as temperatures could reach triple digits. Many of the region’s unincorporated communities don’t have public swimming pools where they can cool off. That also means residents don’t have a place to learn how to swim which could have tragic consequences. Reporter: Alice Daniel California health officials say an outbreak of a foodborne stomach parasite -- that's generated nearly 7,000 suspected cases nationwide -- has not reached the state. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors has agreed to create a committee to study recommendations that call for oversight of its sheriff’s department. A grand jury recently made the recommendations after investigating concerns about jail deaths and a lack of oversight. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 14 · 9 min
Peach Farmers Forced to Adjust After Major Buyer Enters Bankruptcy
Peach farmers in the Central Valley have had to pull their crops and are facing financial hardship. They’re hoping a new farm bill will help keep them going. Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio A bill to cut red tape and make affordable housing easier and cheaper to build just became law Monday. It focuses on a controversial mechanism. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED The Los Angeles Police Department will not be renewing its contract with the surveillance company Flock Safety. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 13 · 9 min
Old Timers and Newbies Look to Cash in by Panning in Gold Country
Close to two hundred years ago, people from all over the world flocked to California's rivers in search of gold. This year, they're back at it, hoping that with the price of gold trending upward in the last year or so, they might just get lucky. But is it really that easy? Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED A bill advancing in the state Legislature would let insurance companies track how you drive, in exchange for a possible discount on your premium. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 10 · 9 min
Investigation Leads to More Transparency From College Campuses About Military-Grade Weapons
At colleges across California, many campus police departments have AR-15s, stun grenades and sonic weapons. This military-grade gear is supposed to be catalogued and open to public scrutiny. But according to recent reporting from CalMatters’ College Journalism Network, the law meant to sunshine that information isn’t really being followed. Guest: Phoebe Huss, CalMatters College Journalism Network New research from UC Davis shows California gray wolves are eating cattle more than anything else, and their presence is causing significant stress among livestock. Reporter: Chris Felts, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 9 · 9 min
What You Need to Know if You're Planning an Outdoor Adventure This Summer
July has officially started, and if you haven't gone hiking or camping yet, you're probably thinking about it. But California, the great state that it is, is brimming with possibilities, especially when it comes to outdoor adventures. Do you go to Yosemite and deal with the big crowds that park has seen after it dropped its reservation system this year? Or maybe you stay local. Or what about hike intensity? What about the heat, crowds, gear? Guest: Sarah Wright, KQED As California state employees begin to follow Governor Gavin Newsom's return to office mandate, some workers in Sacramento are raising alarms about the conditions they're facing, including bed bugs. Reporter: Chris Felts, CapRadio For years, tribal casinos in California have claimed they have exclusive rights to host blackjack and other Las-Vegas style gambling. But tribes are facing yet another defeat, in the wake of a new court ruling last week. Reporter: Ryan Sabalow, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 8 · 9 min
More California Communities Adopting Zone 0 Policy for Fire Safety
In the aftermath of a catastrophic wildfire we often ask, how do we stop this from happening again? Fire experts and the insurance industry have an answer to this. But there’s a tradeoff. It calls for getting rid of something we often love very much - our plants. Officials are now slowly phasing in this step called “Zone Zero,” but the strongest push may come from insurance companies themselves. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED A federal judge has rejected a Trump administration effort to shift how states spend federal homelessness money. It’s a win for California in what’s been an ongoing legal battle. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Three satellites launched this week are the start of a global fire detection network that California helped shape. Reporter: Desmond Meagley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 7 · 9 min
Advocates Call to Support Black English in Preschools
Black English is older than America herself. The language is rooted in African American history and has become ubiquitous on social media and pop culture, yet it hasn’t been embraced in the classroom. But one Bay Area woman wants to legitimize Black English starting in the early years. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Salinas is temporarily putting the brakes on new tobacco retailers. The move comes as city leaders consider stricter rules to prevent children from accessing tobacco products. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 7 · 9 min
Remember Your Mom’s ‘Tanda’? Young Latinos Are Giving It a Tech-Savvy Twist
Life in California has become more expensive, and people are trying to find ways to survive. Among the Latino diaspora – from the Bay Area to the Central Valley – more people are turning to tandas: an old tool, now with a modern twist. It’s a way to get out of a tight spot, save money and build credit. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR A Bay Area carpenter who was rushed to the emergency room during an immigration arrest last year is suing the Trump administration, saying violent treatment and months of medical neglect in immigration detention left him seriously disabled. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KQED's The California Report

Central Coast Wineries Adjust Business Models to Deal With Downturn

Drug Shows Some Promise for People Suffering From Valley Fever

Court Records Show Federal Agents Used Slurs While Targeting People During Immigration Sweeps

Healthcare Company Focusing on Women's Health Faces Scrutiny

There's a Political Power Struggle in the City of Avenal

Western Snowy Plover Population Passes Milestone

Proposed Development in Big Bear Threatens Famous Eagles' Habitat

World Cup Was a Test Run for 2028 Olympics

Japanese American WWII Camp Survivors Say Immigrants Today Share Similar Experiences

Small Farmers Push Back Against Federal Program Cuts

Small Businesses Feel Left Out as Inglewood Brings in Millions From World Cup

Jailhouse Stings Happening More Frequently in California

Kids Learning to Swim at Community Pool in Central Valley

Peach Farmers Forced to Adjust After Major Buyer Enters Bankruptcy

Old Timers and Newbies Look to Cash in by Panning in Gold Country

Investigation Leads to More Transparency From College Campuses About Military-Grade Weapons

What You Need to Know if You're Planning an Outdoor Adventure This Summer

More California Communities Adopting Zone 0 Policy for Fire Safety

Advocates Call to Support Black English in Preschools

Remember Your Mom’s ‘Tanda’? Young Latinos Are Giving It a Tech-Savvy Twist