California Update for Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Truckdriver A group of California state lawmakers is accusing trucking companies of misclassifying their drivers as independent contractors during the pandemic.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Veronica538, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Vice President Kamala Harris visited her hometown of Oakland Monday to talk about small business, jobs, water infrastructure, and of course the so-called American Jobs Plan.

Story by Kris Hooks.

California Update

April 19, 2021

California Update for Tuesday, April 20, 2021

California’s state employees took a significant pay cut last year thanks to a state budget deficit. Now, the union representing those workers says their pay will likely be restored this summer. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Sacramento Capitol – CapRadio file photo) A bill before Nevada lawmakers…
April 18, 2021

California Update for Monday, April 19, 2021

California counties say it’s been a challenge to expand vaccine eligibility to all Californians given the fluctuation in supply, and the complications of adjusting to a new state distribution system. Story by Sammy Caiola. (Photo: Luther Burbank high school hosts a vaccine clinic in its gym…
April 15, 2021

California Update for Friday, April 16, 2021

State health officials have moved Merced County into the less-restrictive red coronavirus tier, making Merced the last of the state's 58-counties to move out of purple. The county’s health director says the state should've moved Merced sooner. Story by Steve Milne. (Photo: The view from Grouse…
April 15, 2021

California Update for Thursday, April 15, 2021

Republican lawmakers have claimed a large percentage of migrants at crowded southern border facilities are testing positive for COVID-19. PolitiFact California examined that and other claims in this week’s Can You Handle The Truth segment. Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: A migrant child holds onto…
April 14, 2021

California Update for Wednesday, April 14, 2021

A father and son are in custody in connection with the disappearance of Kristen Smart who vanished from her Cal Poly San Luis Obispo dorm after coming home from a party in 1996. Story by Mike Haggerty. (Photo: Kristin Smart was a 19-year-old freshman at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo when she disappeared…
April 13, 2021

California Update for Tuesday, April 13, 2021

A bipartisan coalition of Central Valley state lawmakers is urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency because of dangerously dry conditions. Story by Steve Milne. (Photo: Gov. Gavin Newsom tours the North Complex Fire zone in Butte County on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, outside…
Apr 11, 2021

California Update for Monday, April 12, 2021

People in need of in-home care have been near the top of the eligibility list since early in the vaccine roll-out. But there are likely still…
Apr 09, 2021

California Update for Friday, April 9, 2021

California Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have reached an agreement to spend over half-a-billion-dollars on wildfire prevention. Story…
Apr 07, 2021

California Update for Wednesday, April 7, 2021

California is aiming to fully reopen its economy on June 15. Governor Gavin Newsom made the announcement Tuesday as the state hit 20 million vaccine…
Apr 05, 2021

California Update for Monday, April 5, 2021

California will begin allowing crowds at events like conferences and live performances later this month. The relaxed restrictions apply to both…
Apr 02, 2021

California Update for Friday, April 2, 2021

The generation of power from offshore wind turbines is set to see major gains under plans introduced by President Joe Biden, but California might…
Mar 31, 2021

California Update for Thursday, April 1, 2021

California Sen. Alex Padilla recently claimed that in a majority of states, Americans can obtain a rifle quicker and easier than they can vote.…
Mar 30, 2021

California Update for Tuesday, March 30, 2021

After success in Stockton, two bay area communities to launch basic income pilots. Oakland’s pilot will give low-income families of color $500 a…
Mar 28, 2021

California Update for Monday, March 29, 2021

More and more Central Valley farmers are working to revive populations of bees and other pollinators, using a state program and the expertise of…
Mar 28, 2021

California Update for Friday, March 26, 2021

Farmers south of the San Joaquin Delta are facing dry times with their water supplies frozen amid a worsening drought. Story by Richard Ibarra.…
Mar 25, 2021

California Update for Thursday, March 25, 2021

Popular Facebook posts are blaming President Biden for the spike in gas prices. CapRadio’s PolitiFact California fact-checked those claims in this…
Mar 24, 2021

California Update for Wednesday, March 24, 2021

A recall against Governor Gavin Newsom is likely headed to the ballot later this year, and a new poll gives an early look at where things stand.…
Mar 23, 2021

California Update for Tuesday, March 23, 2021

The number of registered voters in California shot up the last two years by nearly 2.2 million. As of February’s count, more than 22 million…

NorCal News

April 16, 2021

Santa Rosa parents ask district to fully reopen

At least 250 parents in Santa Rosa city schools this week signed a letter asking the district to open full time, in accordance with the state’s updated reopening plan. On April 1st, the district began in-person instruction two shortened days a week for elementary aged children. Next will be…
April 15, 2021

As vaccine eligibility opens, hesitation is the next hurdle

As of today, all adults in Sonoma County are eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, but there’s still a lot of hesitancy about whether to get the shot. Sonoma County has successfully vaccinated 36 percent of the adult population, and is surpassing other counties of similar size. But vaccine…
April 14, 2021

J&J pause slows down vaccinations of vulnerable residents

Because the new J&J vaccine didn’t arrive in the county until March, so far it only makes up about three percent of those administered. But the single-dose vaccine has been important in getting shots to unsheltered and homebound folks. Now, a few hundreds of doses intended for those hard-to-reach…
April 13, 2021

Businesses have more options in orange tier

After spending six months stuck in the state's most restrictive purple tier, Sonoma joined the majority of the Bay Area in the second least restrictive orange tier last week because of low COVID numbers in the county. Being in the orange tier means COVID spread is moderate and businesses can…
April 12, 2021

Windsor mayor under sex-crimes cloud

Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli is refusing to step down despite sex-crime allegations from half a dozen women, including a fellow city council member. An increasingly isolated Foppoli is rejecting calls to resign from just about every North Bay political leader after accusations emerged late last…
April 07, 2021

Sonoma County enters orange tier

Sonoma County's virtual community COVID-19 briefing.Less than a month after moving out of the state’s most restrictive purple tier, the County made it into the more relaxed orange tier Wednesday. The announcement comes a day after Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state’s aim to fully open up the…
Apr 06, 2021

Health Fair vaccinates hundreds of residents

Art about the COVID-19 vaccine by Santa Rosa art nonprofit Raizes Collective at the Cesar Chavez Health Fair. People waited in line starting at 9…
Apr 01, 2021

Santa Rosa hands out weather radios to boost alert system

A NOAA Weather Radio. (photo courtesy of the City of Santa Rosa's website)Santa Rosa is boosting its ability to notify residents when a fire breaks…
Mar 31, 2021

Sonoma County teens design quarantine mural

Santa Rosa-based art organization Artstart's Shelter in Place Mural. (photo courtesy of Jennifer Tatum). COVID has affected everyone, old and young.…
Mar 29, 2021

COVID-19 easing, while vaccine distribution hits bottleneck

By Marc Albert Improving data suggests vaccines are gaining the upper hand and COVID-19 related restrictions across Sonoma County may be eased as…
Mar 24, 2021

New Data Shows an Uptick in Fatal Drug Overdoses

COVID-19 numbers are on the decline after Sonoma County moved into the state’s red tier a week and a half ago, but communities are facing other types…
Mar 19, 2021

Abalone season cancelled, at least until 2026

By Marc Albert With wild abalone populations decimated by a string of environmental setbacks, besides over-fishing. State officials reiterated Friday…
Mar 19, 2021

Sonoma likely facing challenging drought

One of the driest winters on record locally, may cause serious water issues this summerBy Marc Albert The rainy season has hardly been generous.…
Mar 17, 2021

Sonoma County schools planning April return to campus

About 70,000 school students across Sonoma County are heading back to classrooms in April. So far, 47 schools across Sonoma County have the green…
Mar 12, 2021

Covid Restrictions to Ease Sunday

As predicted, declining new COVID-19 infections and other metrics will allow Sonoma County to ease pandemic-related restrictions this weekend. KRCB's…
Mar 12, 2021

The Power of Art for Vaccine Outreach

Advocates, artists, healthcare professionals and residents gathered in Santa Rosa's Roseland Neighborhood on Valentines Day to showcase and pass out…

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