KQED's The California Report

New State Emissions Standards Move Closer to ApprovalAfter a public hearing, California’s Air Resources Board is expected to approve tough new pollution emission standards for both commercial trucks and ships docked in California ports. The standards are the state’s most stringent in ten yearsNew Lab Would Double Statewide Testing CapacityGovernor Gavin Newsom says the state will build a new laboratory that will more than double California’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Newsom says the lab will allow the state to conduct 150-thousand additional coronavirus tests per day.State Senate Scrambles to Finish Session as Member Tests positive for COVID-19A state senator says he’s tested positive for COVID 19. The Senate cancelled its session yesterday after learning of his diagnosis. The case comes as lawmakers are already scrambling to finish their legislative work.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQEDNBA and MLB Games Cancelled Following Players Boycott Over Racial InjusticeProfessional athletes continue to expand their protests against the killings of African Americans by the police. There are reports that players for the Los Angeles Clippers and the L.A. Lakers, like other NBA teams, will sit out the rest of the season in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.Indigenous Cultural Sites at Risk From Flames and Fire Prevention EffortsAs wildfires continue to burn across the state, native groups are sharing traditional burn practices that could reshape future fire seasons here. Some Native American cultural sites are at risk and not just because of flames, but because of fire prevention efforts.Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQEDCalifornia Wildlife Well Adapted to Survive WildfiresThe hundreds of wildfires, large and small, burning in California have threatened people and communities, but what’s been the effect on animals and their habitats? Experts say, in some cases, not as bad as you might think.Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefighters Make Progress During Cooler Calm WeatherContainment continues to steadily grow against the LNU, CZU and SCU fires because of cooperative weather conditions and the hard work of firefighters. But the scope of damage from these blazes and hundreds of others burning around th e state is staggering.Squaw Valley Resort To Change Racist NameThat’s a piece a tape from the 1960 Winter Olympics held in a Lake Tahoe area ski resort. The resort will soon get a new name, one that’s not offensive to Native American women. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, CapRadioState Finds Discrimination Against Black and Disabled Students In Three School DistrictsThe state justice department has reached settlements with three California school districts over discriminatory treatment of Black students and students with disabilities. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED'Black Thriving Initiative' Seeks to Confront Racism at UC IrvineUC Irvine here in Southern California has a tiny number of Black students compared to most other UC campuses. In response, UCI has launched an initiative to boost the recruitment of Black students and faculty, and help them succeed once they’re on campus. Reporter: Danielle Chiriguayo, KCRWFearing COVID-19, ICE Detainees Hold Hunger StrikeIn the U.S., nearly 5,000 people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have tested positive for COVID-19. in Yuba County, immigrant detainees held at the local jail are coming off a six-day hunger strike to protest conditions they say make them very vulnerable.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQEDDemand at Food Banks Skyrocket but Fires Stall DistributionSince the beginning of the pandemic and shutdowns began, there’s been a big increase in people turning to food banks for help. Now, those food banks face the challenge of fire season. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over One Million Acres Scorched as Help Arrives From Out of StateFirefighters are making some progress in containing the enormous wildfires burning in a ring around the Bay Area, but the toll has been immense. Governor Gavin Newsom reports 1.2 million acres have burned and at least 1,200 homes and other structures have been destroyed or damaged. Seven people have also died because of the blazes. Lake County Bulldozer Cafe Feeds Evacuees and FirefightersNear the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, a cafe owner who also operates a firefighting bulldozer will cut you a fire break and then serve you breakfast.Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQEDAffirmative Action Ban Restricts Minority's Access to CollegeIn the coming election, voters will decide whether to undo Proposition 209, a landmark ban on affirmative action passed by California voters in 1996. A new report out is the most detailed analysis yet of how Proposition 209 affected people of color trying to get into the UC system.Guest: Zach Bleemer, U.C. Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher EducationUnemployment Agency Faces Scrutiny Over Ongoing InefficiencyAs it grapples with fires California is also dealing with joblessness caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The state’s embattled Employment Development Department which sends out unemployment checks, is under scrutiny yet again this week for poor customer service.Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQEDSupervisor Opposes Lawsuit Requiring Distance LearningDespite public health warnings about the coronavirus, a private Christian school in Fresno County has started in-person classroom instruction. That’s prompted the county to file an injunction against the school. One county supervisor is speaking out in support of the campus. Reporter: Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public RadioCalifornians Show Support for Post Office As Mail-In Election ApproachesAs the November election approaches, the debate over mail-in voting is heating up. Protests in support of the post office continue across the state, and a new survey shows Californians have faith in the vote-by-mail process. Reporter: Guy Marzaroti, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This is an Absolute Marathon" Fire Crews Make Progress Fighting WildfiresSome of the biggest wildfires in state history continue to burn over a vast stretch of Northern California with blazes raging in counties surrounding the Bay Area and along the Central Coast. Senior California Public Utility Regulator Claims Whistleblower RetaliationAlice Stebbins was appointed in early 2018 as the California Public Utility Commission’s executive director. She says she's being targeted because she's pushing to collect millions in fees the California Public Utility Commission is owed, but has never demanded from utilities.Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED How the Once Mighty GOP Faded from California PoliticsAs the Golden State became bluer, the Republican Party lost clout and now trails Democrats and independent voters in membership. Mike Madrid, a veteran California Republican political strategist, says it will likely get worse for the party.Guest: Mike Madrid, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group of Republicans bent on defeating Donald Trump  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of Thousands Flee as Wildfires Rip Across Northern CaliforniaThe enormous wildfires burning around the Bay Area have claimed the lives of at least five people. Residents from Wine Country north of San Francisco to the edges of San Jose and Santa Cruz have been forced to evacuate. Some Residents Stay Put to Save Their Homes from the FlamesOfficial firefighting resources on the dozens of lightning-caused fires around the Bay Area are spread very thin. As the blazes spread, some residents have wound up having to try to defend their own property from the advancing flames.Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED Vacaville Farmer Describes 'Obliteration' After WildfiresTom Walter, the caretaker of La Ferme Soleil, was forced to evacuate in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He says all that remains of his home is an unrecognizable heap of blackened, twisted metal.Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQEDCare Homes Carve Out Fire Escape Plans Amidst Coronavirus ThreatThe Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health say care homes should organize people to keep those known to have COVID-19 separate from people who don’t.Reporter: Molly Peterson, KQED Farmworkers Work Through Dense Smoke as Fires BurnThe River Fire outside Salinas is just miles away from fields where many farmworkers continue to work harvesting fruits and vegetables.Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED Doctors Brace for Patient Surge from Wildfire SmokeFor months, doctors have urged us to stay outside for any kind of socializing. But wildfire smoke is forcing a new lockdown on much of the stateReporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern California Grapples With Heavy Smoke, High Temperatures, and Dozens of WildfiresHundreds of wildfires are burning across the state. The largest are concentrated in Northern California around the Bay Area, where residents are also grappling with high temperatures, and the looming threat of power outages.Rural Evacuees Pull Together at Santa Cruz FairgroundsMeanwhile, a group of fires has burned 25,000 of acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties and also triggered widespread evacuations of both people and livestock from far flung rural areas. Reporter: Hannah Hagemann, KQEDTexas, Arizona, Nevada Send Engines to California WildfiresThe fires have placed enormous pressure on emergency responders, pushing CALFIRE and the state’s Office of Emergency Services to request 375 engines from other states and the federal government. Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQEDHelicopter Pilot Killed During Firefighting Water Drop MissionA helicopter pilot was killed yesterday while fighting a fire in the Central Valley. 52 year-old Mike Fournier from Rancho coucamonga was on a water drop mission near Fresno when his helicopter crashed.Reporter: Alex Hall, KQEDCoronavirus Changes Wildfire Evacuation ProtocolThe CZU lightning complex fire near Santa Cruz, almost doubled in size overnight. It’s now burning 40,000 acres in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Three people have been injured and 20 buildings have been destroyed.Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians Take Center Stage at Joe Biden's Nomination263 California delegates were awarded to Joe Biden -- as he was officially nominated for president at last night’s Democratic National Convention. Several Californians took center stage at last night’s virtual event.Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQEDNew Law Requires Ethnic Studies for All CSU StudentsGovernor Newsom has signed a bill into law requiring California State University students to take an ethnic studies class in order to graduate. Many professors support the law, but CSU opposes the law, saying it gives the state too much power over curriculum.Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQEDReport Finds Prison Officials Mishandled PandemicPublic health officials and legal experts are reacting to the recent Office of Inspector General report that finds weaknesses in the way state prison officials initially handled the pandemic. Reporter: Shannon Lin, KQED State Releases Prisoners Early Without Adequate Reentry SupportIn response to the spread of the coronavirus behind prison walls, California is releasing thousands of state prisoners early. Those getting freed are generally non-violent offenders with less than a year remaining on their sentences.Guest: Judith Tata, Executive Director of the California Reentry ProgramCentral Valley Makes Progress Against COVID-19California’s Central Valley has been a hot spot for COVID infections in the state. But Governor Gavin Newsom says following state intervention, trends in that region are now headed in the right direction. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom Orders Investigation Following Heat-Wave Power OutagesGovernor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into why the state’s electrical grid wasn’t ready for a heat wave-related surge in power demand over the weekend.ISO "Dropped the Ball" Says Board GovernorThe state didn’t end up calling for blackouts yesterday, thanks in part to Californians who conserved energy. The California Independent System Operator is the non-profit that makes the call on blackouts. A member of its Board of Governors says communication should have been better.Guest: Severin Borenstein, Member, CAISO Board of Governors & Professor, UC Berkeley Haas School of BusinessCalifornia Prepares Legal Action Against Trump Administration Over U.S. Postal ServiceCalifornia has already sued the Trump Administration more than 95 times, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra is looking to add one more suit to the list -- this time, over the U.S. Postal Service.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQEDRates of Depression and Anxiety Soar Among University StudentsThe rate of students at universities who likely have depression is double what it was a year ago, that’s according to a survey released today from UC Berkeley and other institutions.Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQEDCOVID-19 Spreads Rapidly Through ICE Detention CenterMore than half of the men locked up at a privately-run detention center in Bakersfield have been confirmed with COVID-19. That’s after a federal judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to test all detainees at the facility.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQEDL.A. County Provides Rental Assistance for Tenants Hit by PandemicLocal officials in Los Angeles are releasing more relief money for renters struggling because of the pandemic. Starting this week the county has launched a $100 million dollar emergency rental assistance program for those tenants.Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRWHow Did Local Agencies Spend Coronavirus Relief Funds?A new analysis from the Associated Press and Kaiser Health News shows what government agencies are doing with the money they got from the 150 billion dollar Coronavirus Relief Fund. How quickly they spent that money, and what they spent it on, varied widely throughout the state.Reporter: Nina Sparling, KQED   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scorching Heat Sets off Power Outages Across CaliforniaHundreds of thousands of people across California lost power beginning Friday evening and again on Saturday as hot temperatures became unbearable. The California Independent Systems Operator, instructed utilities to power down parts of the system.'Firenados' Spotted as Crews Battle Blazes Throughout StateObservers of the Loyalton Fire in the Tahoe National Forest reported a fire-induced tornado on on Saturday. That blaze is one of several burning throughout the state. Federal Court Strikes Down California's Ban on High-Capacity MagazinesState Attorney General Xavier Becerra says his office is reviewing a decision by the 9th Circuit of the Court of Appeals that struck down California's ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. A three-judge panel ruled on Friday that the blanket ban is an unconstitutional violation of the 2nd amendment.Democratic Party National Convention Kicks Off Tonight — from a DistanceThe Democratic Party begins its national convention tonight, and what was supposed to be a massive gathering in Milwaukee is now a dramatically pared down event.Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Lawmakers Scramble as Eviction Ban Set to EndIn the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting job losses, courts in California placed a stop on evictions and foreclosures. But evictions will soon resume again unless state lawmakers can figure out a solution.Reporter: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED New Data Shows Disparities in Nursing Home Workers Dying from COVID-19Los Angeles County has released new data this week on deaths tied to nursing homes, and it shows that nursing home workers who have died from COVID-19 are more likely to be people of color. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCCSan Diego County to Begin Free Testing for People Crossing BorderMany people continue to travel between San Diego and Tijuana daily. Now the people crossing the border can get a coronavirus test without an appointment.Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS Californians are Registering to Vote at Historic RatesMore than 83% of eligible voters in California are registered ahead of the November election. According to the Secretary of State’s office, the last time a higher portion of eligible voters signed up, was when Harry Truman was president. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Over 200 Workers at Merced County's Foster Farms Positive for COVID-19With the number of infections among plant employees at Foster Farms Poultry Plant increasing, some say they want all of the plants workers to be tested and for the facility to shut down so it can be cleaned.Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED COVID Diaries: California's State Library Documents the PandemicCalifornia's State Library has started the California COVID Diaries, an on-going project to collect and display items from Californians about what they've seen and experienced during the pandemic. Guest: California's State Librarian Greg LucasRemembering the Brown Berets Who Occupied Catalina Island for Chicano RightsIn 1972, The Brown Berets took on housing discrimination against Mexican-Americans, and occupied Catalina Island, arguing the land did not belong to the U.S government. Reporter: Ariella Markowitz, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices