California Update

Starting Monday people who want to purchase ammunition for their guns will have to pass a background check.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: In this June 27, 2017 file photo, a semi-automatic rifle is displayed with a 25 shot magazine, left, and a 10 shot magazine, right, at a gun store in Elk Grove, Calif. - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via Capital Public Radio)

Sierra Nevada Brewery says about 75 percent of participating breweries have now contributed at least a portion of their sales. But, given that they're more than a month behind schedule, Sierra is anxious to retrieve the remaining money.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: Courtesy of Sierra Nevada Brewing)

Thursday, June 27, 2019

With warming temperatures, fire season is here. Last year that meant power shutoffs by utilities to prevent wildfires. Now the California Public Utilities Commission wants to fast-track things like microgrids.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

(Photo: The Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid powers a number of buildings on the reservation and helped provide necessary energy during county-wide power outages - Courtesy of the Blue Lake Rancheria)

State lawmakers are moving forward with bills to tackle the coronavirus, homelessness, and racial inequities in California.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Many Californians, especially people of color, believe the worst is yet to come in the coronavirus crisis, according to a new statewide survey.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

The Sacramento Kings TV play-by-play announcer has resigned after more than 30 years behind the microphone following a tweet he sent to a former King.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Credit: Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0]A new PPIC poll shows that calls for President Trump’s impeachment are out of step with a majority of Californians.

Story by Ben Adler.

Credit: Alex E. Proimos / Flickr / via CapradioThree different proposals addressing Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented immigrants are up for debate this week. The latest includes seniors, which are a small but high-need slice of the state’s undocumented population.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Arts projects throughout California are getting a boost. The California Arts Council Wednesday announced the largest investment in arts and culture in nearly two decades.

Story by Steve Milne.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

The 2020 census documents are going into the mail starting Thursday, but as coronavirus concerns increase, some are worried it could impact the process.

Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan.

(Photo: This March 23, 2018 photo shows an envelope containing a 2018 census test letter mailed to a resident in Providence, R.I. - Michelle R. Smith / AP Photo)

Several Northern California counties have switched strategies for dealing with the coronavirus. When will the State of California follow suit?

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: The UC Davis Medical Center - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

Proposition 13, the property tax measure that would have helped fix leaking roofs and remove asbestos in schools, appears headed for defeat.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: File photo – via CapRadio)

California had 737 death row inmates as of March 2019, more than any country in the Western Hemisphere. Graphic by PolitiFact California.Gov. Newsom claimed today California’s death row population is the ‘largest in the WesternHemisphere,’ shortly after he signed the order to suspend capital punishment. PolitiFact California examined that claim.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Find full versions of all PolitiFact California fact checks here.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty at his Capitol office Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via CapRadioGov. Gavin Newsom says his executive order that places a moratorium on executions in California respects the will of the voters, even though voters have rejected statewide ballot measures to abolish capital punishment twice in the last seven years.

Story by Ben Adler.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Economists say California's service sector and gig economy workers will experience the most job losses due to the coronavirus closures.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo: Uber and Lyft drivers say they are seeing less demand for rides in big cities where events are being canceled and people are encouraged to work from home - David Goldman / AP)

Job markets are slowing thanks to economic turmoil over the coronavirus. But some sectors are hiring.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Amazon says it's planning to hire 100,000 U.S. workers to deal with increased demand during the coronavirus outbreak - Scott Olson/Getty Images/via NPR)

In a Facebook Live update, Governor Gavin Newsom said he’ll spend the first part of a billion-dollar coronavirus aid package on homelessness and help for local governments.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: A tent encampment by the West Oakland BART station - Anne Wernikoff/via CalMatters)

People line up at the California Department of Motor Vehicles prior to opening in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. Credit: Richard Vogel / AP PhotoAn audit by the California Department of Finance shows the DMV wasn't prepared for the federal Real ID Act

Story by Randol White.

Forest thinning projects aren't just done by crews with chain saws. When they're scaled up, machines called masticators and skids sort through trees that were thinned. This is a masticator. Credit: Ezra Romero / Capital Public RadioIn the wake of last year's devastating wildfires, the effort to restore the health of California's forests is getting a boost from Cal Fire.

Story by Steve Milne.

Yummy gum, lemon twist, butterscotch and cinnamon roll are just a few of the flavors on the shelf at Twisted Smoke Shop in East Sacramento. Credit: Sammy Caiola / Capital Public RadioA bill that would bar the sale of flavored tobacco products in California has been approved by the state Senate Health Committee.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

An elderly Placer County resident who contracted COVID-19 died Wednesday, the first in California. It comes a day after the county declared a public health emergency.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: This undated photo provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows CDC's laboratory test kit for the new coronavirus - CDC via AP)

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is projected to finish second in California’s primary behind Bernie Sanders—but won big in other Super Tuesday states.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Joe Biden buys a pie at Buttercup Diner in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday. He swept a number of states in the biggest night of the primary season - Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images / CapRadio)

Proposition 13 -- California’s $15 billion school repairs bond -- was still trailing by double digits one day after the election. But both supporters and opponents expect the results will tighten as more voters are counted.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo: Voters cast their ballots at the California Museum vote center March 3, 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, with President Trump at the White House in 2018, approved adding to the 2020 census a question asking, "Is this person a citizen of the United States?" Credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg/ via Getty Images / CapRadioA second federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. census is illegal.

Story by Steve Milne.

The new proposition would also eliminate California’s heavily contested high-speed-rail project. Credit: California High-Speed Rail / FlickrRepublican Representative Doug LaMalfa of Butte County introduced the High-Speed Rail Refund Act saying it's time to kill—what he calls—a misguided project. His resolution directs the Secretary of Transportation to take all necessary actions to get funds back.

Story by Randol White.

Credit: Jason Snyder, Creative Commons

A new study from UC Davis shows it might be possible to separate the therapeutic effects of hallucinogens from the psychedelic effects.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine continues to spread on social media. PolitiFact California fact-checked those claims in this week’s Can You Handle the Truth segment.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: Shutterstock, via PolitiFact)

Governor Gavin Newsom says California will likely relax face mask requirements in outdoor settings on June 15 when many business restrictions are set to be lifted.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Governor Gavin Newsom is set to unveil a revised budget proposal Thursday, and state lawmakers are bracing for steep spending cuts.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Gov. Gavin Newsom, file - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

Gov. Newsom is proposing extra funds for wildfire prevention and preparedness. That’s because he says the number of wildfires in California is up roughly 60% so far this year.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to wipe out 10-years of growth in California's tourism industry.

Story by Steve Milne.

CSU has announced its 23 campuses will continue holding classes virtually for the Fall 2020 semester.

Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a Politics & Eggs event, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in Manchester, N.H. Swalwell announced in April he's running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Credit: Elise Amendola/AP Photo/via Politifact CaliforniaWho is Eric Swalwell? The Bay Area congressman is running for president and qualified this week for the Democratic primary debates. PolitiFact California profiled the long-shot 2020 candidate.

Story by Chris Nichols.

In this November 2018 photo, tents of people evacuated from the Camp Fire line the area around a Walmart in Chico. Credit: Bob Moffitt / CapRadioChico's population increased 20 percent last year due to wildfire displacement. Chico Mayor Randall Stone says fire survivors had to find shelter wherever they could—in trailers, makeshift camps and on the street.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Lawmakers look to expand workers' comp for frontline workers who get COVID-19. About a half-dozen bills would expand workers’ comp for employees who test positive for the virus while on the job. But they differ on who would be covered.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: State Capitol building in Sacramento, CA - via CapRadio)

Sixteen California cities made it onto the top 100 list in terms of how easy it is to access a park within 10 minutes. It’s called a ParkScore and cities are ranked yearly by the Trust for Public Land.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Newsom’s latest budget gives him wide latitude to spend nearly 3 billion on coronavirus response with little oversight from lawmakers. The LAO encourages the Legislature to negotiate its involvement in this fund.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Questions continue about navigating, qualifying, and filing for unemployment benefits amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Story by Steve Milne.

Blood banks are calling for plasma from COVID-19 survivors.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Jessica Patterson is California's GOP chair. Credit: Andrew Nixon / CapRadioThe new chairwoman of the California Republican Party is encouraging voters who can’t support President Trump to consider splitting their tickets and voting against Democrats at the state level.

Story by Ben Adler.

State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, center, discusses his proposed measure to have public health officials grant medical exemptions for vaccination instead of leaving the power to physicians, during a news conference, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via CapRadioThe state of California would have final say over medical exemptions for vaccines under a bill approved by the state Senate.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

Credit: Jim Larrison / FlickrThe California Senate has voted to require that middle and high schools start their classes no earlier than 8:30am. Former Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill last year.

Story by Ben Adler.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

California is facing a steep budget shortfall, and Governor Gavin Newsom says he may have to cut programs to make ends meet. But some workers for those programs are pushing back.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Steven Senne / AP / via CapRadio)

California filed its 82nd lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday. This time it has to do with a decision to weaken Obama-era fuel efficiency standards.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

You can now file for unemployment with EDD and at the same time apply for one of the hundreds of jobs it now has open.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

Governor Newsom announces hair salons, barbershops in most counties can reopen. An attorney for the beauty industry says Newsom caved under legal pressure.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Credit: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public RadioA new law requires most employees in the state to receive sexual harassment training starting next year. But it may pose a challenge for large institutions — including state government.

The California Assembly has passed a bill that would change the status of most gig economy workers—along with many other independent contractors.

Use of force bill passes Assembly which would require police to justify the killing of a suspect by showing the action was necessary to protect the officer’s life. Under current law, police only need to show the action was reasonable under these circumstances.

Stories by Scott Rodd.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Republican recall election candidate John Cox claimed this week Governor Gavin Newsom has ‘just let tens of thousands of inmates out of jail.’ Turns out, he distorted California’s expanded a good behavior credit program.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo: John Cox, Republican gubernatorial candidate in California, launched his official campaign bus tour for the upcoming recall election as an actor bear named Tag walked around behind him in Sacramento on May 4, 2021 - Kris Hooks / CapRadio).

Cal Expo officials said Wednesday they’ll remain as a mass vaccination site through the summer with the hope of allowing events to open with larger capacity later this year.

Story by Ed Fletcher.

California expands workers’ compensation across a range of industries. Eligible workers include those on the frontlines of the coronavirus response, such as nurses and doctors. It also covers those who have continued to work through the pandemic, including grocery store clerks and farmers.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: California Gov. Gavin Newsom displays a bottle of hand sanitizer while saying the state would take action against price gouging because of the coronavirus, at a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

California launches website to find nearby coronavirus testing sites and make appointments. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced a plan to open over 80 new testing locations statewide, with a focus on rural and underserved areas.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Scientists across California are studying how to continue to have clean air when stay-at-home orders lift.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Alleged labor law violations by Uber and Lyft have prompted the state - and several California cities - to file a lawsuit against the ride-hailing companies.

Story by Steve Milne.

This story comes from Capital Public Radio’s Keys to the House podcast. You’ll find this week’s two new episodes from Orange County HERE.

Doctors have been tweeting about their experiences treating victims of gun violence after the NRA mocked a position paper by the American College of Physicians. Credit: Dominick Reuter / AFP/Getty ImagesA heated debate between doctors and gun rights advocates could push forward some public health research on preventing mass violence.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

California Gov. Jerry Brown surveys Camp Fire damage with state officials, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and FEMA administrator Brock Long on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Credit: Cal OES / CourtesyInterior Secretary Ryan Zinke and California Governor Jerry Brown get a firsthand look at the destruction caused by the worst wildfire in California history.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

First-time candidate Josh Harder (left) defeated four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham Tuesday in the Central Valley race, giving Democrats their fourth pickup of a GOP House seat in California. Credit: AP photoDemocrat Josh Harder has unseated Central Valley Republican Jeff Denham.

Story by Sally Schilling.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

False allegations of voter fraud continue to surface weeks after the presidential election. CapRadio’s Mike Hagerty spoke with PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols to sort through these claims in this week’s Can You Handle The Truth segment.

Story by Mike Haggerty.

(Photo: Bloomberg/via Getty Images)

A new analysis projects that nearly 750-thousand Californians will stop receiving their unemployment insurance benefits by the end of next month when key provisions of the CARES Act expire.

Story by Mike Haggerty.

The ag industry says farmworkers in California and throughout the country should be among the first people to get a coronavirus vaccine.

Story by Steve Milne.

The U.S. formally pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement this week. But what does that mean for states like California with ambitious climate goals?

Story by Ezra David Romero.

(Photo: King Bass, 6, left, sits and watches the Holy Fire burn from on top of his parents' car as his sister Princess, 5, rests her head on his shoulder Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. - Patrick Record / AP Photo)\

A major California labor union has again lost its ballot battle against the dialysis industry.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Elections officials are still counting millions of ballots, and the results for California’s statewide propositions are a mixed bag.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Democrats are hoping to flip a handful of southern California legislative seats this election cycle. But with millions of ballots left to count, it’s still too early to call those races.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, (pictured right) continued to cling to a slight lead over Democratic challenger Josh Harder on Wednesday in the Central Valley’s closely watched 10th Congressional District. Credit: Politifact California.Republican incumbent Jeff Denham continues to cling to a slight lead in the Central Valley’s closely watched 10th Congressional District. The race is still too-close-to-call race.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Credit: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public RadioGovernor-elect Gavin Newsom will have an even more Democratic Legislature to work with once he takes office in early January because of a surprise result in an overlooked state Senate seat.

Story by Ben Adler.

California Gov. Jerry Brown speaks with reporters Nov. 7, 2018, following the Midterm Election. Credit: Capital Public RadioGovernor Jerry Brown sat down with a roomful of reporters. He said the results of yesterday's election -- with Democrats now controlling the House and Republicans growing their ranks in the Senate -- reflected the growing dangerous political climate.

Story by Nadine Sebai.

Thursday, November, 8, 2018

A photo making the rounds on social media falsely claimed that more than 1,000 California ballots were recently found in a dumpster. Cap Radio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols looked into the matter.

Story by Steve Milne.

(Photo: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

 Read full versions of all fact checks.

PG&E says it’s already started turning the power back on for some customers. Spokeswoman Brandi Merlo says in order for that process to begin, the utility first consults with its weather team.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: File photo - Rich Pedroncelli / AP / via Cap Radio)

With power outages poised to spread to 7 percent of his state’s population, California Governor Gavin Newsom is both supporting electric utilities’ decisions to turn the lights off — and criticizing Pacific Gas and Electric.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: In this Aug. 15, 2019, file photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric worker walks in front of a truck in San Francisco - AP Photo/Jeff Chiu/via Cap Radio)

STD cases in California are at their highest levels in almost 30 years.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

(Photo via Capital Public Radio)

Thursday, October 10, 2019 

Californians are returning mail-in ballots at a record pace. To make sure each ballot counts, officials are urging voters to take some key steps. CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols talks us through.

Story by Steve Milne.

(Photo: Vote-by-mail ballots wait to be opened at the county registrar's office March 3, 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

57-year-old Brian Terhorst has a rare disease that has him totally dependent on a reliable power source to run his ventilator. He says the power outages are a "life and death scenario" for him and others.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: Generators in place in at businesses during a PG&E power shutoff in Nevada City Oct. 9, 2019 - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

The Trump administration is opening a new front in its battle over climate change policy with California. The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it’s challenging part of the state’s “cap and trade” program.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: Susan Walsh / AP / via Cap Radio)

Democratic Congressman Josh Harder says PG&E's power shutdowns are the result of greed and mismanagement at the utility

Story by Drew Sandsor.

(Photo: Jeff Chiu / AP / via Cap Radio)

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Credit: Michael Macor / The Chronicle (2014)If passed, Proposition 11 would keep paramedics and ambulance employees with private companies on call. Opponents argue it could wipe out pending lawsuits against companies.

Story by Sami Soto.

Next Sunday, most Americans will change their clocks back to standard time, “falling back” after a summer of extended daylight hours. But California’s Proposition 7 could bring the state one step closer to eliminating the time-shift altogether.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

For this weeks Can You Handle the Truth segment, PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols offers tips for staying safe from COVID-19 and voter intimidation at the polls.

Story by Mike Haggerty.

(Photo: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

California’s wildfire season has been relatively calm this year, but Governor Gavin Newsom isn’t taking it for granted. He signed a batch of bills Wednesday to improve wildfire prevention, response, and recovery.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: The Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building - Noah Berger / AP Photo)

Newsom vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have exempted new road projects in wildfire-prone areas from the state’s sweeping environmental review requirements.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Abandoned vehicles line Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 - Noah Berger / AP)

New law gives college sexual assault survivors more time to files lawsuits.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Bob Moffitt – Capital Public Radio)

The red liquid that a protester in the California Senate Gallery threw onto the chamber’s floor last month was, in fact, human blood.

Story by Ben Ader.

(Photo: California police have arrested Rebecca Dalelio, who threw a feminine hygiene device containing "what appeared to be blood" onto the floor of the state Senate on Friday - Sacramento County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Thursday, October 3, 2019

California Governor Gavin Newsom set ambitious climate change mitigation goals Wednesday. As part of an executive order, policymakers will come up with a plan to preserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

(Photo: via CapRadio)

Governor Gavin Newsom's office says a staffer who hasn't interacted with the governor lately has tested positive for COVID-19

Story by Nick Miller.

California lawmakers had hoped for aid from the federal government to help pay for pandemic response and fill a budget deficit. But President Donald Trump says there will be no coronavirus stimulus package at least until after the election.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Shasta County will soon face more restrictions following a spike in positive coronavirus tests that occurred at the same time statewide numbers were falling

Story by Nina Sparling.

California's Secretary of State says voters can help elections officials reduce the time it'll take to release results by getting ballots in early.

Story by Steve Milne.