KQED's The California Report

During the COVID pandemic, ridership on California’s public transit systems plummeted.  Now, ridership levels for one agency – Los Angeles Metro – are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, but there are still big concerns about quality of service, safety and how to deal with drug abuse and homelessness on subways, buses and light rail. The transportation agency is trying to deal with those concerns by putting a friendly face on mass transit.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kern County in the rural San Joaquin Valley is facing what one leader calls an existential threat. The county is the largest oil producer in California, but the state wants to eliminate drilling by 2045. As a result, Kern is looking to a new industry – carbon capture and storage – to secure its future.  hopes the industry will provide jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue, while helping the state meet its climate goals.Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPREnvironmental groups have successfully pushed for a ‘green terminal’ strategy at the Port of Humboldt outside Eureka. The terminal is where giant offshore wind turbines will be built.Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of Mexicans living in the United States are eligible to vote in Mexico’s upcoming presidential elections. Some experts are calling it the most important election in Mexican history.Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBSCamp Fire survivors now have until April of 2025 to live in trailers full-time on their properties in the town of Paradise. That’s after the Town Council voted to allow RV living for another year.Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory, calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. So how did we get to this point? Guest: Dr. Carla Perissinotto, Geriatrician, UCSFThe Biden administration is awarding California $168 million for clean vehicle charging infrastructure. Grants will fund projects across the state, from truck charging stations along freight routes in the Inland Empire, to public vehicle charging facilities in low-income communities in Contra Costa County.Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in an avalanche at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort on Wednesday as 66-year-old Kenneth Kidd. One other person was buried and injured; two other skiers were caught up in the avalanche but rescued.California is facing a nearly $38 billion budget shortfall, but to hear Governor Gavin Newsom tell it, things aren’t too dire. As he rolled out his proposed spending plan on Wednesday, Newsom framed the shortfall as a return to normal of sorts: After several years of unusual spikes in capital gains, sales and corporate tax revenues, driven by low interest rates and historic federal pandemic aid,  things are leveling off. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED As Senate negotiators struggle to hammer out a deal in Washington, trading tougher asylum rules for more aid to Ukraine and Israel, California Senator Alex Padilla says more border restrictions are not the best way to manage the migration crisis. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we're spending tens of billions of dollars fighting homelessness, why isn't the problem getting better? An investigation by KCRW and The California Newsroom looked at the massive failures of one major recipient of Governor Gavin Newsom's Homekey program. That's his administration's big effort to turn buildings like hotels and motels into low income housing, which has cost more than $3 billion since it launched in 2020.Guest: Anna Scott, Reporter KCRWGovernor Newsom is expected to release the state’s spending plan on Wednesday morning. This comes as the state is dealing with a $68 billion shortfall.Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Newsom has officially ordered a special election on March 19 to fill the seat vacated by former Congressman Kevin McCarthy. The district will see up to four different ballots to determine who will serve the remainder of McCarthy’s term and who will succeed him in Congress. Meanwhile, California lawmakers want to clean up state election law after a judge ruled that a Republican candidate can run for both Congress and the Assembly this year. Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio  A suite of options to allow psychedelic use in California could soon be on the table, including regulated therapies. As officials wrestle with what comes next, the state recently cleared advocates to collect signatures for a statewide decriminalization vote as a ballot measure in November.Reporter: Anna Marie Yanny, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are still struggling to find a place to live years after devastating wildfires ripped through Butte County.  In the remote town of Berry Creek, many are living in RVs on the lots where houses once stood. But they face deadlines to rebuild their homes or move.Reporter: Jamie Jiang, North State Public Radio Doctors are bracing for more COVID patients as people return to school and work after the holiday break.Reporter: Jackie Fortier, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 20th century, the last California gray wolf was observed in the 1920s, but that changed in 2011 with the sighting of a wolf who had crossed into California from Oregon.  Now, a small but growing population of wolves have reestablished themselves in the state.Reporter: Jordan Traverso, California Department of Fish and WildlifeA parents rights group says it plans to sue Attorney General Rob Bonta because of how his office titled and summarized an initiative the group hopes to get on the ballot. The proposal from the group Protect Kids California would prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, exclude trans girls from girls competitive sports, and require schools to disclose a students’ gender identity to their parents.Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passions over war in the Middle East have spilled into where many of us work. So as an employee, what rights do you have to share your opinions or protest on the job?Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQEDIn Sacramento, state legislators ended their first session of the year early Wednesday, after hundreds of Israel-Hamas war protesters broke out into songs and chants in the Assembly chamber.Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices