KQED's The California Report

Stockton's Mayor Lost Reelection. Will His Initiatives Continue?Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs has lost reelection to his challenger, Republican pastor and veteran Kevin Lincoln. Tubbs conceded the race on Tuesday. Tubbs launched initiatives that generated national attention. When he leaves office, the resilience of those programs will be tested. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQEDCalifornia's Economic Outlook is Better than ExpectedBudget projections released yesterday show the state’s finances are in a better position than many expected this far into the pandemic. The number of people signing up for assistance programs has been below expectations, and tax revenue is higher.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQEDApple to Pay $113 Million Over Battery LawsuitsCalifornia and 33 other states have announced a $113 million settlement against Apple. It accounts for false claims made by the company about battery performance and processing power in some iPhones. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQEDNurses Grapple With Pandemic Fatigue and Frustration as COVID Cases SurgeAs COVID cases surge in California, we decided to check back in with some of the nurses and doctors we followed early in the outbreak, including an emergency room nurse in the Bay Area.Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQEDAbout That Blue Wave...More than two weeks after Election Day, two of California’s congressional districts remain uncalled. But we already know that the 'Blue Wave' from 2018, when Democrats flipped several Republican house seats, didn’t hold up so well in 2020.Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Largest River Restoration in U.S. History to Proceed with Removal of Klamath DamsThe largest river restoration in U.S. history will proceed along the Klamath in 2023, under a new agreement announced Tuesday. This summer the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission threw a wrench in the gears of an agreement decades in the making, to remove the dams.Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQEDL.A. County Could Be Headed for Lockdown as COVID Cases SurgeCalifornia’s most populated county could be headed for a three-week lockdown. Yesterday officials in Los Angeles County imposed new restrictions on businesses after daily confirmed coronavirus cases more than doubled in the last two weeks. Hospitalizations there are up 30%.Childcare Industry on the Verge of Collapse Due to COVID-19 RequirementsChild care providers who care for some of the state’s neediest families are warning the system is about to collapse if they don’t get help. Their union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the state.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQEDCalifornia Squandered 2.4B of Affordable Housing FundsA scathing new report from the state’s auditor says state agencies squandered billions of dollars from bonds meant for building affordable housing. Developers missed a deadline to use state money that could have helped finance low-income housing units.Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQEDBlack Student Group Hopes Grant Will Bolster Racial EquityCalifornia voters rejected Prop 16, the ballot measure that would have reinstated affirmative action. That’s despite polling this summer that showed most Californians think racial inequality is a major issue. Student groups working to bridge long-term equity gaps on their campuses hoped Prop 16 would bolster their efforts.Reporter: Kayleen Carter, CalMatters Student Journalism NetworkBig Tech Testimony Leads to Partisan Senate Judiciary DisagreementThe CEOs of Twitter and Facebook testified on Capital Hill again yesterday about their efforts to moderate content. They walked a fine line aimed at ensuring lawmakers in Washington D.C. don’t try to actually regulate the industry.Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQEDTwitter Hires Legendary Hacker 'Mudge' as Head of SecuritySecurity at Twitter in 2020 has been a mess. The company has been under a lot of scrutiny for its handling of misinformation during and after the election. In response, twitter has hired a new head of security known as Mudge.Guest: Joseph Menn, Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why State is 'Putting the Brakes' on ReopeningAccording to Governor Gavin Newsom, 41 counties in the state are now in the "purple" tier, indicating the most widespread risk. This comes as the holidays loom near. Will these new restrictions make a difference?Guest: Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, UC San Francisco Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics ChairMost Californians Back To Tightest COVID-19 RestrictionsGovernor Gavin Newsom and his top health advisors are concerned about a sharp jump in California’s COVID cases. They’re rising at a level that, if unchecked, Newsom says could overwhelm the state’s healthcare system.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED PoliticsState Lawmakers Head to Honolulu for Policy ConferenceAs our state’s COVID cases rise at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, a group of state lawmakers is in Honolulu, Hawaii for a policy conference.Guest: Hannah Wiley, Sacramento BeeFederal Judge Considers Extending COVID-19 Rules at Detention CenterA federal judge in San Francisco is considering whether to extend Covid-related rules in place to protect immigrants at an ICE detention center in Bakersfield.Sara Hossaini, KQEDPublic Defenders Wants Inmates and Jail Staff to be Priority for Eventual VaccineBrendon Woods says it's not surprising that some of the state's worst outbreaks have been in prisons, and that's why he is pushing for incarcerated people to be first in line if and when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.State Audit Shows Insufficient Oversight in Lead Cleanup at L.A Exide Battery SiteToxic lead has long contaminated a working class Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles.Now a state audit concludes clean up around that facility will take longer than planned.Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Biden's Pledge to End Travel Ban Could Impact Immigrant CommunitiesPresident-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end the Trump administration’s travel ban on several Muslim-majority nations, including Iran. The impact could be big in California, which is home to the largest Iranian community in the country.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Why The LA Times Handed Over Letters Page to Trump SupportersThe Los Angeles Times provided a page full of letters from Trump supporters this weekend. The move led to a lot of pushback online. Guest: Sewell Chan, Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Editor What's Next for California's Bail Industry?California voters have shot down Proposition 25, a referendum on whether to ban cash bail. That means people working in the bail industry will stay in business, and lawmakers who supported the measure are weighing their next steps. Reporter: Scott Rodd, CapRadio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over One Million Coronavirus Infections Confirmed in CaliforniaCalifornia has now reached one million confirmed coronavirus infections. This comes nearly 10 months after the first cases were confirmed here.San Francisco Lawyers Say ICE Misled Federal Judge About Coronavirus OutbreakSan Francisco lawyers representing immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say the agency ignored CDC protocols, and misled a federal judge about the causes of a coronavirus outbreak at an ICE jail in Bakersfield.Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQEDA Smooth Election in California Despite Manufactured SuspicionsWell over 150 million Americans cast ballots this year. And in California, a majority of the more than 15 million votes cast were sent by mail after Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to ensure all registered voters in the state would get a mail-in ballot.Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQEDSecretary of State Alex Padilla Frontrunner to Fill Kamala Harris Senate Seat Speculation is rising over who Governor Gavin Newsom will pick to fill the California US Senate seat of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris until the next election. One name that keeps coming up is Alex Padilla, currently California’s Secretary of State.Reporter: Chery Glaser, KCRWCommissioner Asks Insurance Companies to Extend Some Benefits to Wildfire VictimsState Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is asking insurance companies to extend some benefits for victims of 2017 and 2018 wildfires.Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQEDBig Game Hunters and a Surprise Discovery Nine thousand years ago, in the highlands of Peru, people made a living in the harsh landscape by hunting and gathering. UC Davis anthropologist Randy Haas studies these early people, and the discovery of a new burial site took him in a new direction.Reporter: Daniele Venton, KQEDCalifornia Report Magazine: Comfort Food to Soothe StressAs part of the California Report’s 25th anniversary, we’re taking a dive into the archives with some of the most delicious California food stories we’ve brought you over the years, from traditional favorites to creative fusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Has Recorded Nearly One Million COVID-19 CasesCalifornia is on the brink of recording it’s one millionth COVID-19 infection. That’s more than any other state except Texas. This grim milestone has been accelerated by the virus’ recent uptick, with more than 6,000 new daily cases recorded in the state over the past week.False Claims of Voter Fraud in Nevada PersistRepublicans and conservative groups continue to make unproven claims about voter fraud in Nevada’s presidential election. Some have even suggested that Californians unlawfully helped President-elect Joe Biden win that state.Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio’s PolitiFact California Orange County Swings Purple in 2020 ElectionIn 2018, Democrats were elated when they flipped four Orange County congressional seats held by Republicans. This year, the GOP managed to claim at least one back and appears to be on track to flip another. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQEDElection Spotlight on Jones Day Expands to Other ClientsAs President Trump refuses to concede defeat in last week’s election, the law firm Jones Day is in the spotlight for representing Republican interests in that fight. The unwelcome press attention is renewing scrutiny into Jones Day’s role in a legal case much closer to home.Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQEDLawmakers Consider De-Criminalization of PsychedelicsNext year, the state lawmakers will consider legislation that would de-criminalize psychedelic drugs. State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco says he believes all drugs should be de-criminalized, and this is just one more step towards that goal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's Immigration Policies Could be Difficult to ReverseThe Trump administration has focused much of its energy on the border over the past 4 years. Joe Biden has promised to undo many of these policies, but that might be difficult, according to a report out this week from the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute.Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBSCOVID-19 Increases Restrictions in 11 Counties, Cases Continue to RiseCases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the state. 11 California counties have moved into to more restrictive tiers. If COVID-19 rates continue on their current trajectory more than half of the state’s 58 counties could be back in restrictive tiers by next week.COVID-19 Spreads Among Fresno County OfficialsFresno’s incoming mayor announced yesterday he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. This comes as Fresno county’s top health official says COVID cases there are increasing, and that he expects the region will soon move into a more restrictive category.Reporter: Alex Hall, KQEDL.A. Board of Supervisors Look Into Firing the SheriffThe L.A. County Board of Supervisors will look into weather they have the power to remove the sheriff from office. It’s the latest power struggle between Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the supervisors who say he's failed to crack down on police gangs, fatal shootings and other misbehavior. Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRWNew Whale Protections Restrict Crab FisheriesCalifornia’s endangered humpback whales now have protection against potentially fatal entanglements in commercial fishing lines. This month state wildlife officials issued new regulations for the Dungeness Crab fishery, which can shut down crabbing in areas where whales are spotted.Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQEDXavier Becerra Looks Forward to Biden AdministrationCalifornia Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been one of President Trumps greatest adversaries. Becerra has filed a barrage of lawsuits against the administration, challenging it on a variety of issues, from the environment to immigration to health care. Guest: California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Warns Against Complacency as COVID-19 Cases SwellThe U.S. has surpassed more than 10 million coronavirus cases and looks on track to hit record hospitalizations. Here in California, COVID-19 cases are increasing as well. In a press conference yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom warned against complacency.Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQEDWho Should Get the Coronavirus Vaccine First?A panel of experts with the state’s Department of Public Health is getting to work this week on how to decide who’s first in line to get a coronavirus vaccine. This comes after Pfizer’s announcement yesterday that the company’s vaccine is more than 90% effective. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQEDNewly Conservative SCOTUS Reconsiders ObamacareToday, with it's new six-to-three majority, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over whether the Affordable Care Act should be struck down. If that happens, California will lose several billion dollars a year in federal health insurance subsidies.Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCCLiberal California Leans to the Right on PropositionsThe Golden State is often painted as solidly blue, but the 2020 election has shown that when issues are on the ballot, California leans a little bit more to the right.Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden-Harris Supporters Celebrate Across CaliforniaPeople celebrated in downtown L.A. on Saturday morning after it was announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had won the 2020 election and Donald Trump had been defeated. The same kind of scenes played out in many cities and town across California as people gathered spontaneously to express their joy.The Extraordinary Rise of Vice President-Elect Kamala HarrisWith Joe Biden now poised to become the nation’s 46th president, Vice President-elect Harris will break a glass ceiling other women, like Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin, before her tried and failed to break.Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A Historic Mayoral Win for Todd Gloria in San DiegoTodd Gloria is a Democrat and member of the State Assembly. Gloria ran a mayoral campaign emphasizing how it was time for San Diego to recognize its increasingly urban character and start tackling big problems facing the city, like housing and homelessness, transportation and combating climate change.Hopes for Vaccine as Cases Surge in Los AnglesDrug giant Pfizer and a German company have co-developed a vaccine that might be 90% effective in protecting people from the virus. Meanwhile, L.A. County continues to be the state’s hottest of coronavirus hotspots with more than 2,200 new cases announced over the weekend.Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCCSurvivors Wrestle with Aftermath Two Years after Camp Fire Destroyed ParadiseSunday marked two years since the town of Paradise and nearby communities were destroyed by our state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire. The “Camp Fire” killed 85 people, and displaced tens of thousands.Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California's College Students Come to Grips with Prop 16's DefeatStudents who lobbied hard this year to overturn the state’s ban on affirmative action are coming to terms with the rejection of Proposition 16.Reporter: KQED’s Vanessa Rancaño, KQEDCriminal Justice Reform Advocates Celebrate Wins at the Ballot BoxCalifornia voters gave people on parole the right to vote, and half dozen Bay Area cities passed police accountability measures. In Los Angeles, the progressive District Attorney candidate George Gascon appears to have prevailed over his rival who was backed by law enforcement.Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Public Advocate at California Public Utilities Commission Recommends Fine Against SoCalGasThe public advocate at the California Public Utilities Commission is recommending $255 million dollars in fines against SoCalGas. They claim the utility wrongly used ratepayer funds to sabotage California’s clean energy goals. SoCalGas calls the claims “demonstrably wrong” and says the proposed fine has no merit.Lionsgate and ESPN Announce Job CutsSanta Monica-based studio Lionsgate and ESPN, which is owned by Disney, are the latest to announce job cuts.Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW LA County Board of Supervisors All Female For First Time in HistoryFor decades, L.A. County's powerful Board of Supervisors was an all male "boys club." But things started changing in the 1990s with the election of the first woman to the board. Fast forward to this week, where the Board is now all female. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Rideshare Drivers React to Approval of Prop 22California rideshare drivers will remain independent contractors as a result of Prop 22’s resounding victory this election. Drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft have long been split on the question of employee status. Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC A Complicated Portrait of the California VoterCalifornians overwhelmingly voted for Democrat Joe Biden this election. But dig deeper, and you get a more complicated portrait of California voters.Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices