KQED's The California Report

Three Dead and a Dozen Missing in Massive North Complex FireDriven by high winds the North Complex fire in Butte County exploded across more than 230,000 acres over the last two days. It’s claimed the lives of three people and 12 are reported missing. The blaze also brings back painful memories for the residents of Paradise.Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQEDClearer Skies Above the Bay Area Mean Worsening Air QualityCalifornians woke up yesterday to deep orange skies that conjured up images of the apocalypse or another world. Today, the air is expected to look more normal, but that doesn’t mean the air quality is better.Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQEDThree Firefighters Injured as Blaze Claims Fire StationThe people at greatest risk when it comes to wildfires are the firefighters on the front lines. Earlier this week, while trying to protect a fire station, 14 firefighters were injured in the Dolan Fire in Monterey County near Big Sur.Volunteer Fire Chief Draws on Faith When Delivering Bad NewsFirefighters do more than battle blazes. Sometimes they have deliver bad news. The volunteer fire chief of one mountain town is uniquely suited to doing just that.Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public RadioTurnout is Higher in California Counties that Vote-By-MailIn less than a month, counties will begin mailing every voter a ballot. It's part of California’s shift to vote-by-mail in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than a dozen counties that already send every voter a ballot, could provide clues for how this year’s election will play out.Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQEDNew Laws Aim to Keep Smaller Businesses Afloat With Tax BreaksGovernor Newsom signed several bills into law on Wednesday aimed at helping small businesses recover from downturns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Two new laws are designed to help smaller businesses stay afloat with tax credits and exemptions.Facebook Faces Ongoing Scrutiny Over Hate SpeechA coalition of more than forty civil rights groups are calling for Facebook’s public policy chief in India to step down. This comes a day after a software engineer resigned over the company's mishandling of hate messages and conspiracy theories.Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Santa Ana Winds Threaten Communities Burning East of Los AngelesResidents in several foothill communities east of Los Angeles are being warned to prepare for possible evacuations due to the Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. The blaze started on Sunday, and firefighters fear it might grow quickly because of forecast Santa Ana winds.Evacuees from Creek Fire Number 30,000 and CountingThe Creek Fire east of Fresno has grown to over 162,000 acres and is still zero percent contained. Hundreds of people who were trapped by the blaze have been rescued, and officials are trying to find others who might still need help.Reporter: Alex Hall, KQEDPG&E Inspects Lines Before Restoring Power to 172,000 CustomersPower is expected to be restored to 172,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers by the end of today. The utility giant intentionally shut the power off as a way to prevent electrical equipment from sparking even more wildfires in hot, dry and windy conditions.Victims of the 2015 Butte Fire Relive Their Loss as they Await SettlementsOn this day in 2015, PG&E lines caused a deadly fire in Amador County east of Sacramento. Five years later, some survivors are still waiting for settlement money and many have been unable to rebuild their homes. Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQEDAs Evacuations are Lifted Homeowners Face Insurance BureaucracyAfter fleeing wildfires, many Californians are returning to homes that have been destroyed or severely damaged. That means they'll be dealing with insurance issues that can get confusing very quickly.Guest: Amy Bach, Co-Founder, United PolicyholdersGovernor Eases Coronavirus Restrictions on Five More CountiesIn consultation with public health experts, Governor Gavin Newsom is relaxing coronavirus restrictions in five more California counties. That means restaurants, churches, gyms and nail salons are now allowed to open for indoor activities with fewer people and other modifications.Governor Newsom Calls Christian Gathering a 'Public Health Menace'Redding pastor Sean Feucht is calling on his followers to join him for a worship service in Sacramento that took place last weekend. The service, like others Feucht has organized along the West Coast, is being criticized by Governor Gavin Newsom as a menace to public health.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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200 People Airlifted to Safety from Creek Fire Near Fresnothe Creek Fire broke out Friday night near Fresno trapping around 200 people at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. They were airlifted out to safety by helicopter. Officials say 20 people had injuries, including burns. The Creek Fire spread quickly and has now burned more than 73,000 acres.Extreme Behavior of Creek Fire Baffles Fire ScientistsDr. Scott Stephens has been monitoring the behavior of the Creek Fire. He says this fire is behaving differently than other fires he's observed in the Sierra Nevada region. Drought conditions have created enormous smoke plumes and intense heat in the interior of the fire. Guest: Dr. Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC BerkeleyRecord-Breaking Temperatures Recorded in Southern CaliforniaAcross California temperatures reached well into the triple digits on Saturday and Sunday with many places shattering old temperature records. North of Lost Angeles, Woodland Hills recorded a high temperature of 121 degrees on Sunday. The National Weather Service says that's the hottest temperature ever recorded by a weather station in Los Angeles County.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meteorologists Warn of Dangerous Heatwave to Hit Labor Day WeekendFrom COVID-19 spread to possible blackouts, there is a lot to worry about when the forecasted heatwave hits. The National Weather Service says the temperatures will climb starting today and should peak by Monday. In Southern California, many temperature records are likely to fall.Reporter: Angela Corral, KQEDFirefighters Battle Three Major Sets of Wildfires as Heatwave LoomsThe heat wave over this Labor Day is expected to bring temperatures in the 90s and 100s in areas where firefighters continue to battle major wildfires. Fire officials say hotter and drier weather could spread current fires or start news ones, but they remain confident in their containment efforts so far.Reporter: Julie Chang, KQEDState of Postal Service Means Delayed Prescriptions and Vital DocumentsBig changes at the U.S Postal Service have many concerned about the upcoming election and mail-in-voting. But issues at the postal service have also made it harder for state and local agencies to do their jobs.Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQEDRemembering Mets Baseball Pitching Legend and Fresno Native Tom SeaverTom Seaver passed away this week at age 75. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 for his 20-year career in the Major Leagues. He put the Mets on the map, and earned the nickname "Tom Terrific" for his pitching prowess.Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public RadioCensus Bureau Lays off Workers Soon After In-Person Counting BeginsAcross the country and in California, census workers called "enumerators " are supposed to be knocking on doors this month to help people complete 2020 census forms. But last week one worker received a text message that the Census Bureau was starting to lay off these workers, citing "lack of work."Reporter: Caroline Champlin, KPCCState Legislature Passes Bill to Allow Some Inmates Who Fought Fires to Become FirefightersCalifornia relies on incarcerated fire fighters to help fight many of its big wildfires. But can these inmates turn this into a career once their sentence is over?Reporter: Ariella Markowitz, The California Report MagazineLong Beach Councilman on the Pandemic's Impact on Atlantic AvenueIn recent weeks on this show, we've been checking in with people who live and work along Atlantic Avenue in Los Angeles County to see how they're dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Rex Richardson is councilman for the city of Long Beach who represents a stretch of Atlantic Boulevard.Guest: City of Long Beach Councilman Rex Richardson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poll Reveals Ethnic and Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Death RatesThe coronavirus has killed more than 13,000 people in our state since the pandemic began. According to a new poll 20% of Californians know someone who’s died of COVID-19, but that number is much higher in some communities.  Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQEDCalifornia Sees Declines in COVID-19 Positivity Rates and HospitalizationsCalifornia is seeing positive numbers in the fight against coronavirus. Governor Gavin Newsom says there's been a 23% decline in both COVID-19 related hospitalizations and patients admitted into ICUs in the past two weeks.Latino Task Force Tackles COVID-19 in Central ValleyAnd as COVID-19 continues to take a disproportionate toll on Latinos, the Kern County Health Department is creating a first of its kind task force to address the issue.Reporter: Madi Bolaños, Valley Public RadioUtilities Urge Conservation During Upcoming Labor Day Heat WaveMuch of California is expected to face record breaking high temperatures this Labor Day weekend. Utilities are urging energy conservation to avoid energy shortages as temperatures soar.Reporter: Jacob Margolis, KQEDCalifornia Takes Action to Protect Post Office Ahead of ElectionsCalifornia wants the US Postal Service to roll back changes that have led to mail delays. Those changes include removing mail sorting machines and limiting employee overtime. California is joining a group of states to file a preliminary injunction to reverse the changes.Tobacco Industry Pushes Back Against Flavored Product BanLast week, Governor Newsom signed into law a ban on flavored tobacco sales in retail stores, which begins in January. Advocates say the law is a huge win for public health, but the tobacco industry is pushing back.Congressional Races Heat Up as Election Day ApproachesWith election day approaching, congressional races are heating up across the state. Challengers to house incumbents, who might have little name recognition, need to overcome the difficulties of campaigning during a pandemic. That's the task that faces Democrat Phil Arballo who's challenging well-known incumbent and Trump loyalist Devin Nunes in the Central Valley.Guest: Phil Arballo, Democratic Candidate for CA District 22Chico Students Ordered Out of Dorms Following Campus OutbreakStudents in the dorms at California State University, Chico have until Sunday to find a new place to live. This comes after an outbreak of the coronavirus on campus. One student is wondering if staying at the university for online classes is worth it. Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drop in COVID Cases in the Bay Area Allows More Businesses to ReopenTop state health officials say new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop. in Northern California, risk in San Francisco and Napa counties is only considered “substantial” which means schools and some businesses can open sooner. Central Valley Schools Use Day Camp Loophole to ReopenMost counties in the Central Valley have been on the state’s COVID-19 watch list for months. For counties where the virus is deemed widespread, schools are not allowed to reopen for in-person lessons, but some schools in Tulare county are partially reopening as day camps. Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public RadioTo Reopen, Schools Need Better Ventilation InfrastructureA growing number of schools across the state are moving to reopen in-person classes. One piece of the safety equation is improving ventilation systems inside older school buildings. A bill that would help that happen is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQEDJerry Brown Throws His Weight Behind Criminal Justice ReformFormer Governor Jerry Brown is putting a million dollars into defeating a November ballot measure, backed by police, that would reverse some of the criminal justice reforms he championed in office. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQEDVelvet Bandit Brightens Streets With Vibrant Illustrations of Our Current MomentA prolific Northern California street artist has been going out at night and plastering her vibrant illustrations from the Bay Area to Mendocino county. Her work speaks to the moment we are in, from commentary on life in a pandemic to the death of George Floyd.Guest: Gabe Meline, KQEDLocal Dairies on the Brink as Restaurant Orders PlummetThe coronavirus has devastated businesses. Some temporarily, others for good. When a business gets slammed, so do its workers and suppliers. In Sonoma county small dairy producers are struggling with diminished demand from restaurants. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newborn Baby Appears on Assembly Floor As Time Runs Out on Final Legislative SessionLawmakers voted to approve statewide eviction protections in the final hours of this year’s legislative session -- and just as California’s eviction ban was set to expire. In a dramatic legislative session lawmakers ran out of time to several pass bills before the midnight deadline.Guests: Katie Orr, KQED, and CA Assemblywoman Monique Limón, District 27AB 3216 Prioritizes Laid-Off Workers For RehireAs the legislative session comes to an end scores of bills are headed to the governor’s desk. One new bill, AB 3216, puts pressure on companies to rehire hospitality and transportation workers laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic.Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQEDPoultry Plant Closed for Cleaning Following Eight COVID-19 DeathsIn the Central Valley a facility belonging to poultry processor Foster Farms is planning to shut down for about a week. The plant has seen 400 confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least eight workers have died.  Reporter: Alex Hall, KQEDRemote Learning Puts Teachers on IT DutyAs millions of students across CA start the new school year online, they’re running into the same problems as many of us now working from home, like Security hurdles, wifi dilemmas, and Zoom glitches. In many cases, teachers are taking on IT dutyReporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deadline Nears for Lawmakers to Pass Eviction MoratoriumA new state law would ban evictions for tenants who miss paying their rent due to pandemic-related hardships, like company layoffs or wage reductions. Those protections would largely be in place until the end of January.Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED Hot, Dry Weather Expected to Return to CaliforniaFire crews have been able to take advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but that’s about to change. The National Weather Service says a high pressure system will keep the air hot and dry for the next week or so.Reporter: Angela Corral, KQEDImagining a Greenbelt to Protect and Surround Paradise from Future WildfiresIt’s been nearly two years since the Camp fire raced through the Butte County town of Paradise. 85 people were killed and nearly all buildings in town were destroyed. Now the rebuilding is underway. Community leaders are looking at new ideas to make sure how they rebuild will protect Paradise when the next wildfire fire comes.Guest: Laura Bliss, Bloomberg City Lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant Ordered to Shut DownAmidst a massive COVID 19 outbreak among workers, Merced County health officials in the Central Valley have ordered a Foster Farms poultry processing plant to shut down.Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Newsom Boosts Funding to Aid Early Release Efforts Across State PrisonsCalifornia is releasing thousands of inmates in state prisons early. Governor Gavin Newsom says California will commit 15 million dollars to help formerly incarcerated people re-enter society.Reporter: Kate Wolffe, KQED Bonny Doon Mountain Community Bands Together to Battle the FlamesAs hundreds of wildfires burned across California, fire crews were stretched thin. Many Santa Cruz County residents came together to defend their mountain community.Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQEDDisability Advocates Say Some Wildfire Evacuation Centers were Filled with Access BarriersIn Watsonville and in Santa Cruz this week, disability advocates found many accessibility problems for those who needed to flee their homes during the wildfires. Some evacuation centers lacked braille signs, and shower stalls were difficult to get wheelchairs into.Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQEDUC Santa Cruz Chancellor on the Wildfires Threat and the Virtual Academic YearOne of the biggest institutions threatened by fires was UC Santa Cruz, which had a campus-wide evacuation. That came as the university was preparing for the coming academic year and figuring out how to teach most students virtually because of the pandemic.Guest: Cynthia Larive, UC Santa Cruz ChancellorThe 50th Anniversary of the Chicano MoratoriumCapping two years of protests, on August 29th, 1970, tens of thousands of Mexican Americans marched in the streets of East L.A. in opposition to the Vietnam War and social and economic inequities.100 Years Later, California Women Reflect on the Right to VoteA hundred years ago this week, women officially won the right to vote. But it was only a partial victory, and it excluded many immigrants and women of color. This week, our sister show, the California Report Magazine, features women talking about what the vote means to them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices