Kqeds The California Report

Audit Finds UC Campuses Favor Wealthy Students “Who you know” can be a big advantage in life, getting you that new job or investment tip. But it’s not supposed to help you get a spot in a University of California school. A new state audit found that four UC campuses improperly admitted dozens of wealthy students over the past six years as favors to donors, family, and friends.   Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED California Counties Expand Partial Reopening As they meet coronavirus metrics, most of the Bay Area and Riverside County in Southern California have been given the green light by the state to partially reopen restaurants, houses of worship, fitness centers and movie theaters. Long Beach Mayor Won't Rush Reopening Even as California makes gains against the virus and reopens, some elected officials warn not to rush that process. One of them is Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, who recently lost both his mother and stepfather to COVID. Guest: Robert Garcia, Long Beach Mayor California Defends Affordable Care A

Hotshot Firefighter Dies in El Dorado Blaze A firefighter died last week fighting the El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County. Charlie Morton was a squad boss of a hotshot crew in the San Bernardino National Forest. The Bobcat Fire burning in the San Gabriel Mountains is about 13% contained. It has damaged about 30 structures. California's COVID-19 Numbers Continue To Fall Though more than 15,000 Californians have died from the coronavirus, the states' COVID-19 numbers, seven-day positivity rate, and hospitalization rates continue to drop, says Governor Gavin Newsom. The state is also expanding testing, with 124,000 average daily tests over the last week. CDC Reverses Guidelines Around COVID-19 Transmission On Friday the CDC issued new guidelines for how coronavirus spreads, saying aerosol transmission might mean the virus could travel more than six feet through the air. On Monday, the CDC removed that information, saying it was posted in error. Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED Unemployment Audit Recommends Overh

California to Temporarily Halt Accepting Unemployment Claims California’s Employment Development Department plans to stop accepting unemployment claims until October 5 while it tackles a massive backlog of 600,000 cases. This comes as an investigative strike team set up by Governor Gavin Newsom released a report saying the agency needs a massive overhaul. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED  Newsom Signs law to Make More Undocumented Immigrants Eligible for Tax Credits Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure to expand eligibility for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which benefits low-income workers. The new law removes a requirement that eligible undocumented filers must have at least one child under the age of six. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Mourners Gather in San Francisco's Castro Neighborhood to Honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg Millions of Americans are mourning the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. On Friday evening in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood, many gathered for a candlelight vigil hon

State Prison Officials Meet with Inmate Advocates to Discuss Efforts to Contain COVID-19 Outbreaks What started as a handful of coronavirus cases early last month at Folsom State Prison has ballooned to over 500. Further south, Avenal State Prison in Kings County has had 22 hundred cases. That’s more than any prison in California, including San Quentin. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED  Adelanto Immigration Detention Center Grapples with COVID-19 Outbreak The immigration detention center in the desert city of Adelanto, northeast of Los Angeles, continues to face a COVID-19 outbreak there. 39 individuals have tested positive. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR How to Build in the Era of Climate Change and Raging Wildfires As fire crews across the state continue to battle record-setting blazes, many people are asking what can be done to make sure future fires aren’t as destructive in an era of climate change. Many experts say one big solution is improved planning and not building homes where they’re threatened by fire.

How Some Families are Coping with Unhealthy Air Quality in Southern CaliforniaAir quality may finally be improving in the Bay Area, but things are still smoky down in Southern California. That’s especially true in in the foothill communities of the San Gabriel Valley, where the Air Quality Index has hit 500 this week.  Reporter: KCRW’s Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW New Poll Shows Tough Fight for Proposition to Reinstate Affirmative ActionThe poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows just 31 percent support a proposition to reinstate affirmative action. The poll also shows a slim majority of likely voters support Proposition 15, which would change how property taxes are assessed on commercial and industrial properties in the state. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  Neighbors Step Up to Help One Restaurant Worker Out of Work Since Pandemic BeganThe restaurant industry has been hard hit during the pandemic, losing nearly 400,000 jobs in the state since March. As some businesses reopen, those workers are compe

Kamala Harris Visits Fresno to Meet with Emergency Personnel Battling Wildfires Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris met Tuesday with emergency service personnel who have been battling the Creek Fire in the mountains near Fresno.  Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Women's Groups Vow to Defend Kamala Harris from Racist, Sexist Attacks As the first woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket, Kamala Harris is already facing subtle and not so subtle personal attacks that observers say most white men would not encounter. Women's groups are geared up to defend her. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  New Alliance of Progressive Prosecutors Founded to Lobby for Criminal Justice Reform A group of California prosecutors say they are fed up with their peers’ opposition to criminal justice reform and are starting a new group dedicated to pushing political change. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Blames Forest Management, Dismisses Climate Change During California VisitBoth presidential nominees turned their attention Monday to the wildfires roaring across the west coast. President Donald Trump landed in Sacramento to receive a wildfire briefing. In his own address on climate issues, across the country, Democratic nominee Joe Biden said four more years of Trump would lead to more fires, floods and storms. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Researchers Use 3-D Simulation to Show the Pending Catastrophe of Sea Level RiseRising sea levels could be exponentially more expensive to deal with than wildfires. Dr. Patrick Barnard, director of climate research at the U.S. Geological Survey, and executive producer Tobin Jones have set out to show rather than tell what climate change could look like. Guests: Dr. Patrick Barnard, director of climate research at the U.S Geological Survey, and animator Tobin Jones  Outrage Continues after Journalist Arrested While Covering ProtestThe search continues for a man who shot

President Trump Expected to Visit California as Wildfires Rage President Donald Trump is set to visit California in Sacramento as fire fighters make progress containing wildfires. Before this Friday, President Trump went three weeks without saying anything about the wildfires   Unprecedented Fire Conditions Continue to Strain Resources Firefighters in California are battling nearly 30 major blazes burning across the state. Chief Dave Winnacker with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District is in the field at the Red Salmon Complex burning in Trinity County.  Guest: Dave Winnacker, Fire Chief at Moraga-Orinda Fire District Newsom Signs Bill to Allow More Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters to Join Professional Fire Crews Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Friday to make it easier for formerly incarcerated fire fighters to be hired by fire agencies in full time positions. Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQED Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot in Compton Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were shot S

Darrell Satzman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Dead and a Dozen Missing in Massive North Complex Fire Driven by high winds the North Complex fire in Butte County exploded across more than 230,000 acres over the last two days. It’s claimed the lives of three people and 12 are reported missing. The blaze also brings back painful memories for the residents of Paradise. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Clearer Skies Above the Bay Area Mean Worsening Air Quality Californians woke up yesterday to deep orange skies that conjured up images of the apocalypse or another world. Today, the air is expected to look more normal, but that doesn’t mean the air quality is better. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Three Firefighters Injured as Blaze Claims Fire Station The people at greatest risk when it comes to wildfires are the firefighters on the front lines. Earlier this week, while trying to protect a fire station, 14 firefighters were injured in the Dolan Fire in Monterey County near Big Sur. Volunteer Fire Chief Draws on Faith When Delivering Bad News Firefighters do more

Santa Ana Winds Threaten Communities Burning East of Los Angeles Residents in several foothill communities east of Los Angeles are being warned to prepare for possible evacuations due to the Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. The blaze started on Sunday, and firefighters fear it might grow quickly because of forecast Santa Ana winds. Evacuees from Creek Fire Number 30,000 and Counting The Creek Fire east of Fresno has grown to over 162,000 acres and is still zero percent contained. Hundreds of people who were trapped by the blaze have been rescued, and officials are trying to find others who might still need help. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED PG&E Inspects Lines Before Restoring Power to 172,000 Customers Power is expected to be restored to 172,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers by the end of today. The utility giant intentionally shut the power off as a way to prevent electrical equipment from sparking even more wildfires in hot, dry and windy conditions. Victims of the 2015 Butte Fire Reli

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

200 People Airlifted to Safety from Creek Fire Near Fresno the Creek Fire broke out Friday night near Fresno trapping around 200 people at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. They were airlifted out to safety by helicopter. Officials say 20 people had injuries, including burns. The Creek Fire spread quickly and has now burned more than 73,000 acres. Extreme Behavior of Creek Fire Baffles Fire Scientists Dr. Scott Stephens has been monitoring the behavior of the Creek Fire. He says this fire is behaving differently than other fires he's observed in the Sierra Nevada region. Drought conditions have created enormous smoke plumes and intense heat in the interior of the fire.  Guest: Dr. Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC Berkeley Record-Breaking Temperatures Recorded in Southern California Across California temperatures reached well into the triple digits on Saturday and Sunday with many places shattering old temperature records. North of Lost Angeles, Woodland Hills recorded a high temperature of 121 degrees

Meteorologists Warn of Dangerous Heatwave to Hit Labor Day Weekend From COVID-19 spread to possible blackouts, there is a lot to worry about when the forecasted heatwave hits. The National Weather Service says the temperatures will climb starting today and should peak by Monday. In Southern California, many temperature records are likely to fall. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED Firefighters Battle Three Major Sets of Wildfires as Heatwave Looms The heat wave over this Labor Day is expected to bring temperatures in the 90s and 100s in areas where firefighters continue to battle major wildfires. Fire officials say hotter and drier weather could spread current fires or start news ones, but they remain confident in their containment efforts so far. Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED State of Postal Service Means Delayed Prescriptions and Vital Documents Big changes at the U.S Postal Service have many concerned about the upcoming election and mail-in-voting. But issues at the postal service have also made it harder for sta

Poll Reveals Ethnic and Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Death Rates The coronavirus has killed more than 13,000 people in our state since the pandemic began. According to a new poll 20% of Californians know someone who’s died of COVID-19, but that number is much higher in some communities.   Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED California Sees Declines in COVID-19 Positivity Rates and Hospitalizations California is seeing positive numbers in the fight against coronavirus. Governor Gavin Newsom says there's been a 23% decline in both COVID-19 related hospitalizations and patients admitted into ICUs in the past two weeks. Latino Task Force Tackles COVID-19 in Central Valley And as COVID-19 continues to take a disproportionate toll on Latinos, the Kern County Health Department is creating a first of its kind task force to address the issue. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public Radio Utilities Urge Conservation During Upcoming Labor Day Heat Wave Much of California is expected to face record breaking high temperatures t

Drop in COVID Cases in the Bay Area Allows More Businesses to Reopen Top state health officials say new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop. in Northern California, risk in San Francisco and Napa counties is only considered “substantial” which means schools and some businesses can open sooner.  Central Valley Schools Use Day Camp Loophole to Reopen Most counties in the Central Valley have been on the state’s COVID-19 watch list for months. For counties where the virus is deemed widespread, schools are not allowed to reopen for in-person lessons, but some schools in Tulare county are partially reopening as day camps.  Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public Radio To Reopen, Schools Need Better Ventilation Infrastructure A growing number of schools across the state are moving to reopen in-person classes. One piece of the safety equation is improving ventilation systems inside older school buildings. A bill that would help that happen is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Reporter: Laura Klivan

Newborn Baby Appears on Assembly Floor As Time Runs Out on Final Legislative Session Lawmakers voted to approve statewide eviction protections in the final hours of this year’s legislative session -- and just as California’s eviction ban was set to expire. In a dramatic legislative session lawmakers ran out of time to several pass bills before the midnight deadline. Guests: Katie Orr, KQED, and CA Assemblywoman Monique Limón, District 27 AB 3216 Prioritizes Laid-Off Workers For Rehire As the legislative session comes to an end scores of bills are headed to the governor’s desk. One new bill, AB 3216, puts pressure on companies to rehire hospitality and transportation workers laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Poultry Plant Closed for Cleaning Following Eight COVID-19 Deaths In the Central Valley a facility belonging to poultry processor Foster Farms is planning to shut down for about a week. The plant has seen 400 confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least eight workers have died.

Deadline Nears for Lawmakers to Pass Eviction Moratorium A new state law would ban evictions for tenants who miss paying their rent due to pandemic-related hardships, like company layoffs or wage reductions. Those protections would largely be in place until the end of January. Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED  Hot, Dry Weather Expected to Return to California Fire crews have been able to take advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but that’s about to change. The National Weather Service says a high pressure system will keep the air hot and dry for the next week or so. Reporter: Angela Corral, KQED Imagining a Greenbelt to Protect and Surround Paradise from Future Wildfires It’s been nearly two years since the Camp fire raced through the Butte County town of Paradise. 85 people were killed and nearly all buildings in town were destroyed. Now the rebuilding is underway. Community leaders are looking at new ideas to make sure how they rebuild will protect Paradise when the next wildfire fi

Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant Ordered to Shut DownAmidst a massive COVID 19 outbreak among workers, Merced County health officials in the Central Valley have ordered a Foster Farms poultry processing plant to shut down. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  Newsom Boosts Funding to Aid Early Release Efforts Across State PrisonsCalifornia is releasing thousands of inmates in state prisons early. Governor Gavin Newsom says California will commit 15 million dollars to help formerly incarcerated people re-enter society. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED  Bonny Doon Mountain Community Bands Together to Battle the FlamesAs hundreds of wildfires burned across California, fire crews were stretched thin. Many Santa Cruz County residents came together to defend their mountain community. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQED Disability Advocates Say Some Wildfire Evacuation Centers were Filled with Access BarriersIn Watsonville and in Santa Cruz this week, disability advocates found many accessibility problems for those who needed to

New State Emissions Standards Move Closer to Approval After a public hearing, California’s Air Resources Board is expected to approve tough new pollution emission standards for both commercial trucks and ships docked in California ports. The standards are the state’s most stringent in ten years New Lab Would Double Statewide Testing Capacity Governor Gavin Newsom says the state will build a new laboratory that will more than double California’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Newsom says the lab will allow the state to conduct 150-thousand additional coronavirus tests per day. State Senate Scrambles to Finish Session as Member Tests positive for COVID-19 A state senator says he’s tested positive for COVID 19. The Senate cancelled its session yesterday after learning of his diagnosis. The case comes as lawmakers are already scrambling to finish their legislative work. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED NBA and MLB Games Cancelled Following Players Boycott Over Racial Injustice Professional athletes continue to expand their