KQED's The California Report

California will soon allow water agencies to heavily treat wastewater, converting it into drinking water. The State Water Resources Control Board approved regulations to extensively treat sewage water for human consumption. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQEDCongressman Kevin McCarthy officially submitted his letter of resignation on Tuesday, announcing he will step down December 31.Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Right now, people all over the world are sending friends and family Christmas cards and holiday gifts.  But often overlooked is the one delivering this mail, the mail carrier.Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not-for-profit credit unions have long billed themselves as community-based alternatives to big commercial banks. Yet, many California credit unions charged customers millions in overdraft fees last year.Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBSA new law protecting California workers who use marijuana goes into effect next year. Starting January 1, it will be illegal for employers in California to discriminate against an employee for their marijuana use off the job.Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New numbers show that fentanyl continues to have a devastating effect on the general public in California. Law enforcement also says the drug poses a threat to officers. For example, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office says one of its deputies recently needed the overdose-reversing drug known as Narcan, after handling fentanyl. But experts say opioids were probably not the cause of his symptoms.Reporter: Brian Krans, The California NewsroomThe conservative Christian majority that brought national attention to Temecula in Riverside County no longer runs that city’s school board, at least for now. A board member who was elected last year with the help of a Christian political action committee has resigned.Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diamond Bakery, an institution for generations of Los Angeles Jews, closed this month after 77 years. But, in what could be considered a Hanukkah miracle, the bakery’s original recipes will live on.Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRWCalifornia workplace regulators have approved new emergency temporary protections to stall a surge in silicosis, an irreversible lung disease disabling and killing countertop fabrication workers.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next month, a major PG&E rate hike goes into effect. It’s the latest cost increase driven by wildfire-related expenses, inflation, and the growing energy demands that come with extreme weather. But these soring utility bills are pushing low income Californians to the edge of homelessness.Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQEDSacramento County has launched a first-of-its-kind mobile veterinary clinic, focused on caring for pets owned by homeless residents. It's a free, mobile clinic with medicine and equipment.Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Migrant farmworkers used to make up a large portion of the agricultural workforce. In recent years, those numbers have decreased. The rules for living in migrant housing are still largely the same, and it's creating a difficult situation for those living in these centers across the state.Guest: Lindsey Holden, Reporter, Sacramento BeeA California law meant to ensure overtime pay for farmworkers may be leading growers to cut workers’ hours, and thus actually reduce their paychecks. That’s according to new research out of UC Berkeley. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s solar industry is facing tough times after state utility regulators changed the rules for rooftop solar last spring. Sales are down and layoffs are up.Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS  The Department of Water Resources has released a final environmental impact report for the Delta tunnel project. The project would pump more water from northern to southern California, but is not without its share of critics.Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California regulators are set to vote this week on new emergency rules to protect workers power cutting “engineered stone” to make kitchen countertops. The factory-made material is linked to an aggressive lung disease killing workers.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala RomeroLast week, the city of Fresno became one of the first in the nation to raise the Palestinian flag, in solidarity with those killed in the Gaza Strip. The flag raising comes two months after Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer publicly showed support for Israel and made insensitive comments about the ongoing conflict.Reporter: Esther Quintanilla, KVPR  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 70, 000 Californians are still waiting on support from the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program. And now, that program could run out of money before it pays out the remaining eligible applicants.Reporter: Ben Christopher, CalMattersHeavier than expected snow is falling this week in the Lake Tahoe area, with some places getting over a foot of "powder".  That, of course, is a good thing for ski resorts, who were worried this year's ski season was getting off to a slow start.Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California ReportIt's the story of two California cities and two prisons.  One city is Blythe on the border of California and Arizona. It’s home to the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. Since the lock up first opened in 1988, Chuckwalla has become synonymous with Blythe, with the prison creating hundreds of local jobs and helping to pump lots of dollars into Blythe’s economy. But last year, the state decided to close Chuckawalla. Now, the city of Norco, hundreds of miles away, wants to make a switch, and instead close its prison.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently ousted Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced he’s stepping down from Congress by the end of the year. The news was met with disappointment from many of his constituents in his Central California district.Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Temecula’s Christian conservative school board president is one step closer to being recalled. A local PAC has turned in the signatures it hopes will force a recall election.Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCRState regulators announced the largest wage theft case in the home health care industry, a case that’s led to workers recovering $2 million so far. Nearly 150 caregivers who worked at Adat Shalom Board & Care are set to receive $5.5 million dollars total.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices