California Update

In Stockton, Mayor Michael Tubbs surprisingly lost his re-election bid year - in part because of a controversial news blog.

Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan

(Photo: 209 Times founder Motec Sanchez, outside Stockton City Hall Thursday Nov. 19. 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

A group of California mayors and public leaders want to buy out PG&E using $50 billion in bonds.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Residences leveled by the wildfire in Paradise, Calif., in 2018 - Noah Berger / AP Photo)

California students may not get enough oxygen. The study, done by UC Davis and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, specifically looked at schools that had replaced their heating and air conditioning equipment. It found roughly 85% of the systems did not provide adequate ventilation.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: P199 – own work/Public domain)

A new audit is raising questions about how California school districts are spending money intended for low-income students, English language learners, and foster kids.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: Via CalMatters/Cap Radio)

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 

During the confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett this week, Democrats —including California’s two U.S. Senators — are pressing the judge one issue in particular: access to health care.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett listens as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee give their opening statements in her confirmation hearing on Monday - Stefani Reynolds/Pool / Getty Images)

There’s very little rain forecast for Northern California for the rest of October. In its place are dry, warm, and windy weather patterns. The trifecta presents perfect conditions for wildfires to ignite.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

A report from the California Trade Justice Coalition finds that California's trade-related job losses over the past three years are the worst in the country.

Story by Suzanne Potter – California News Service

With new positive cases on the decline statewide and many counties reopening businesses with modifications, the state is greenlighting small, private social gatherings outdoors.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Lee Myungseong / Unsplash)

California’s new Consumer Privacy Act has been in effect for less than a year, but already its backers want to strengthen it. But opponents of the online privacy initiative Prop 24 say it's riddled with loopholes.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Three criminal-justice reform proposals are on the ballot in November, concerning felon voting rights, cash bail, and higher criminal penalties.

Story by Suzanne Potter – California News Service

California State University Chancellor Timothy White has announced his retirement. He’ll step down at the end of June after serving more than 7 years.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: In this Nov. 17, 2015, file photo, Chancellor Dr. Timothy White pauses during a California State University trustees meeting in Long Beach, Calif. California State University has decided not to raise tuition at its 23 campuses for the 2018-19 year - Nick Ut, AP File)

The California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) maintains the power grid for 80 percent of the state and some of Nevada too. This month a new energy management system was installed which Cal ISO says is the most advanced in the world.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo:  Earlier this month, California utility PG&E shut down power for about 800,000 customers in north and central California. The move was meant to prevent wildfires caused by their equipment during high winds - MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images/via Cap Radio)

  Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Democrats have controlled California’s legislature for decades. But the upcoming election offers a chance for the party to strengthen that hold -- the party is pumping millions into Orange County statehouse races.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: House Democrats hope to expand their majority in this election - Mark Tenally / AP)

Should 17-year-olds have the right to vote in certain elections? California voters will decide when they vote on Proposition 18.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Governor Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions in California soon after he took office. Now, he’s taking his crusade against the death penalty to the courtroom with his first amicus brief.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Residents of live-in veterans facilities in Yountville want the right to use California’s End of Life Option Act while staying in the homes. Credir: CalVetsResidents of live-in veterans facilities in Yountville want the right to use California’s End of Life Option Act while staying in the homes. They filed a lawsuit against the state department of veterans’ affairs today.

Credit: A. / FlikrCalifornia physicians must check a statewide database before writing a prescription for an opioid or other controlled substance.

Roughly 19.1 million Californians are now registered to vote. It’s the largest number in state history. The Secretary of State’s office released its latest update today ahead of the upcoming November election.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Wildfire smoke and rising temperatures are damaging California’s famous wine country... And climate change will likely make it worse.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: A farmworker sorts through grapes at a Santa Rosa vineyard operated by Atlas Vineyard Management - Scott Rodd / CapRadio)

Protesters opposed to the measure sought to block entrances to the Capitol and repeatedly disrupted the Senate and Assembly before Newsom signed the California Vaccine Medical Exemption measure.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: The Senate chamber is brought to a halt by protesters - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

Lawmakers approve a measure that would allow college athletes to profit from their celebrity status.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi - Creative Commons)

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Climate change and fire suppression are among the top reasons why experts say California wildfires have grown so big. But others say removing Indigenous people from the landscape is an overlooked reason behind today’s explosion of fires.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

(Photo: Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires leap above Butts Canyon Road on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, as firefighters work to contain the blaze in unincorporated Lake County, Calif. - Noah Berger / AP Photo)

California says its system for tracking cannabis products from seed-to-sale will soon cover the entire industry. But regulators still have more work to do.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Daniel Oberhaus [CC BY-SA 4.0])

A team at UC Irvine has developed a machine-learning technique and tested it in Alaska. Shane Coffield was the lead author on the project. He says it works best when determining whether a fire will become large.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: The town of Paradise and areas nearby were devastated by the Camp Fire that started on Nov. 8, 2018 in Butte County - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

A new California Public Policy Institute of California report shows registered voters most likely to cast a ballot tend to be older, white, affluent, and own their home.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

(Photo: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 

California’s legislative session wrapped up after 1 AM this morning [Tuesday]…and it was truly one for the ages. Gaffes, glitches...and of course some notable legislation.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Andrew Nixon/CapRadio)

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the state’s new four-tiered COVID-19 plan for safely re-opening the economy in California’s 58 counties.

Story by Mike Haggerty.

If you’ve been to the California coast and expect a warm day often instead you’re greeted with chilly, damp fog. Researchers say climate change is decreasing the amount of coastal fog and that could lead to increased fire risk.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

A new state audit found dozens of underqualified students were admitted to UC schools because of connections to faculty members or large donors.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: UC Berkeley campus - John Morgan / Flickr)

It might seem like there’s been more fire recently in the coastal range. Researchers found high-severity wildfires in this area have increased exponentially since the 80s.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

California's Health and Human Services director announces nail salons now have the state's permission to operate indoors with modifications

Story by Drew Sandsor.

If you're among the 13-million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal - the state-run health system - and get your coverage through a "managed care plan," the quality of your care likely hasn't improved over the past 10 years.

Story by Steve Milne

(Photo: Sammy Caiola / Capital Public Radio)

California's top health official is calling on residents to stop vaping until the source of a lung illness is pinpointed

Story by Drew Sandsor

(Photo: In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, a man exhales while smoking an e-cigarette in Portland, Maine - Robert F. Bukaty / AP Photo)

California voters will only see one bail measure on the November 2020 ballot, rather than two separate propositions. Meanwhile, opponents of the state's new vaccine laws can now move forward with their two referenda.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: Hector Mata/AP/via Cap Radio)

  Wednesday, September 25, 2019

As November approaches, 42% of California voters say they’re concerned with the integrity of the upcoming election.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

Wildfires are burning year-after-year in wine country and lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada. But are pre-existing burn scars enough to ward off future fire?

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Governor Gavin Newsom says neighboring states and the federal government are offering help after new major wildfires broke out over the weekend.

Story by Mike Haggerty.

Mental health experts and advocates are weighing in on a California strategic plan for suicide prevention.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Hendrike - Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 2.0])

Police in the Central Valley town of Tracy say they've arrested a suspect in last month's murder of a Sikh man.  

Story by Steve Milne.

(Photo: People gather at a candlelight prayer vigil for Parmjit Singh in Gretchen Talley Park, in Tracy, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2019. Singh was wearing his traditional turban when he was fatally stabbed in the park - United Sikhs/AP/via CapRadio)

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation this month that changes the standard for when police can use deadly force. But a companion bill that would mandate new training for police officers is still in the works.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at the AB 392 signing ceremony, joined by lawmakers and activists - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

President Biden is keeping true to his promises for ensuring LGBTQ equality. Last week, his new Secretary of Defense removed the ban on transgender people serving in the military on his very first day on the job. 

LGBTQ business owners in New York are now eligible to be designated as a “small minority-owned business” by the state and eligible for special access to state contracts, procurements, and other sources of funding that will be especially helpful for businesses and the Corona Virus pandemic continues. 

Here in California, a State Senator introduced a new bill last week supporting aging seniors living with HIV.

(Photo: Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin is President Biden's new defense secretary. Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)

Ann O'Leary (left) on Election Night with Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Gavin Newsom. Credit: Newsom campaign / Eduardo Ezequiel Tello LafozGovernor-elect Gavin Newsom has named a longtime senior Hillary Clinton aide and a former California budget director to the top two positions in his incoming administration.

Story by Ben Adler.

Credit: Scott Wilson / FlickrCalifornia's Proposition 7 gives lawmakers the freedom to make changes to the twice-a-year clock switch, but it's a many-step process.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

This home in Concow was consumed by the Camp Fire. Credit: Marc Albert / NSPRThe Camp Fireis mow the most destructive wildfire in California history. If the latest estimates are accurate, about 15% of the county could now be homeless.

Story by Marc Albert – North State Public Radio.

Monday, November 11, 2018

Credit: knittymarie / Flickr / via CapRadioThe days of dissecting frogs and other animals in California schools could end soon. That’s if a newly introduced bill becomes law. The bill would ban all K-12 students in the state from dissecting animals.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Eric Bailey now works for Sacramento’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, using his lived experience with bipolar disorder to help connect people suffering from mental health issues to the care they need. Credit: Sammy Caiola / Capital Public RadioPeer support workers helping people with mental health issues all over California may soon receive standard certifications.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are seen at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, N.Y., Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Credit: Seth Wenig / AP Photo / via CapRadioState health officials “very concerned” about the spread of measles in California.

Story by Julia Mitric.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

California broke some heat records last week. New research shows residents in the state’s poorest neighborhoods suffer the most during heat waves. But there are efforts underway to address this climate inequity.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: The Hagan Park Community Pool in Rancho Cordova provides a cool refuge from the hot weather - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)