Two-thirds of California is in at least some degree of drought at the moment. With little rain in the forecast and a predicted dry winter climate, scientists say drought could get a lot worse. But is the beginning of another multi-year drought? Story by Ezra David Romero. (Photo: The National Drought Mitigation Center) Over the weekend, Los Angeles County issued a new stay-at-home order. Now, Governor Gavin Newsom is warning other parts of California could be headed there, too. He also teased plans about distributing 327,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine soon. Story by Nicole Nixon. Nearly nine months into the pandemic, many healthcare workers are not being regularly tested for exposure to… read more

The certification of election results is getting a lot more attention this year. CapRadio's Nick Miller explains California is scheduled to certify its vote over the next two weeks. Story by Nick Miller. (Photo: Andrew Nixon / CapRadio) A letter released last week by the agency that governs utilities said PG&E will be held accountable to fulfill its wildfire safety plans. Story by Ezra David Romero. The day before Thanksgiving a major announcement was made about the California department that permits oil exploration. The Department of Finance audited the California Geologic Energy Management Division — or CalGEM. Story by Ezra David Romero. For those who are grieving, estranged from their… read more

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) read more

Wild turkeys are flourishing across the state. They were brought to California in 1877 for hunting. But as the globe warms, wild turkey habitat may change. It’s not that they’ll go extinct. It’s that some of their homes won’t be suitable to live in. Story by Ezra David Romero. (Photo: Turkeys roam Colonial Heights, Sacramento, Nov. 7, 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio) Governor Newsom held a news conference from his home where he's quarantined after members of his family were exposed to a CHP officer who tested positive. Story by Nicole Nixon. ZEV sales grow in California, but the slow pace raises questions about the state's plan to go all-ZEV by 2035 Story by Steve Milne. read more

Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a curfew on 41 counties who are in the state's most restrictive coronavirus tier comes as cases, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations surge. Assemblyman James Gallagher is skeptical of the approach. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Courtesy James Gallgher/via Twitter) read more

Last week the FBI released the statistics for reported hate crimes in 2019. You won’t be surprised to know the numbers are up including a dramatic increase in hate crimes targeting transgender people. 3 people have filed suit in West Virginia after being denied health care benefits supporting treatment for various aspects of gender dysphoria. This follows the U.S. Supreme Court hearing considering again the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, in New York, state officials announced changes in that state’s DMV system that will allow gender non-binary people to select an X as a gender marker. Outbeat News is a service of NorCal Public Media and can be heard as part of Outbeat Radio, Sunday at 7 pm… read more

In 2020, for the first time, residents of Southwest Santa Rosa voted for their first city council member. The election gave more power to historically disenfranchised neighborhoods in Santa Rosa. How will decades of inequity be addressed after the election? This special, produced in collaboration with KBBF radio, examines the history of voter power in Southwest Santa Rosa and how influential community members and organizers have been in shaping the district. This story was supported by the Solutions JournalismNetwork, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. More solutionsjournalism.org. (Image: A mural in Roseland designed… read more

California health officials announced a curfew on nonessential activities beginning this weekend due to a spike in coronavirus cases. While critics of Gov. Gavin Newsom questioned the move, business owners are deciding how to move forward. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: via Tab|Leau) California's hospital industry group says facilities have learned a lot since the start of the pandemic. Most don't plan to cancel surgeries this time around, they aren't relying on field hospitals and they're keeping a very close eye on equipment. Story by Sammy Caiola. Several state lawmakers in northern California want a more localized approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic … so they’ve started… read more

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. read more

Childcare providers say they've taken on increased costs serving families of essential workers during the pandemic, and warn many may be forced to close if they don't get some help soon. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: www.vperemen.com, CC BY-SA 4.0) Sacramento's highest public health official declared racism a health crisis and in the same sentence, used a derogatory term to describe the Asian American community. Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan. Gas appliances in homes and buildings are responsible for almost a quarter of California's greenhouse gas emissions. The California Energy Commission is working now to develop new building codes for 2022. Story by Suzanne Potter – California News Service. read more