KQED's The California Report

The fall bird migration in California typically peaks from September through November. And this past year, scientists discovered a new wave of avian influenza - or bird flu. Two farms in Sonoma County fought new outbreaks. State officials have been taking steps to mitigate the spread of infection, since major outbreaks were seen in dairy herds in August of 2024. That includes at county fairs. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED A new children's book from a Los Angeles author is inspired by her own childhood translating for her parents. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is home to the largest number of Hispanic-serving institutions in the country. That’s a federal program that allows colleges and universities to apply for federal grants if at least a quarter of their students identify as Hispanic. Earlier this year, The Trump administration cut funding for the program, which has helped serve many Latino students in California, benefiting from supportive environments geared toward them. Reporter: Blanca Torres, KQED E-bike sales in the U.S. have surged, outpacing electric car sales by 20%.  But California building codes haven’t kept up with where they can be safely stored.  Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio Environmental advocates are criticizing the Newsom Administration, after his press office sent out a release seemingly taking credit for the year's rebound in returning salmon.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of old and rare recordings - some that date back a full century, are now available for the public to enjoy online. That’s thanks to a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and record company Dust-to-Digital. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Mountain lions, foxes, hawks and dozens of other species are dying at an alarming rate from rat poison. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Fort Bragg is about three hours north of San Francisco, and during droughts, the former timber town faces severe water shortages. And they're not alone. Nearby communities have had to restrict water in lean years, even while these coastal cities sit next to the biggest body of water in the world. Reporter: Noah Abrams, Northern California Public Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Karuk Tribe in Northern California is crafting an environmental policy that unites traditional knowledge with more contemporary environmental sciences--pushing back against years of bias dismissing tribal knowledge of the Karuk's ancestral lands. A federal judge in the Bay Area has halted ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses in the region. California's Minimum Wage is increasing next year. A new law means that the state's minimum wage is jumping by $0.40. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In San Francisco, advocates for transgender people are trying to beef up protections for their community, in the face of anti-trans policies from the Trump administration. This work isn’t just about legal threats, but also fears of physical violence. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED A new analysis warns the Colorado River could fall to dangerously low levels next year. The river supplies water to cities and farms across San Diego and Imperial counties. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS A UC Davis study found 85% of elementary schools in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you drive or walk past a public park, one of the sounds you’ll likely hear is the thwack of a bat before seeing a ball flying through the air. But at some parks in Fresno, these aren’t due to that all-American sport you may be thinking of. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR Some mental health clinicians are worried AI is coming for their jobs. In the Fall, more than 200 of them gathered for an online forum to learn more. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Watsonville, Mixtec farmworkers are becoming doulas, offering vital support to Indigenous women during pregnancy and childbirth. Inez shares her own challenging birthing story that inspired her to enter this field. A tribal group celebrates the return of thousands of acres of land in central California, marking a significant victory for the Tule River Tribe. The doulas also discuss overcoming language barriers and the importance of cultural care in their community.

Christmas is two days away which means Santa Claus is pulling overtime. He’s at the mall taking photos and he’s project managing toy production. This story is all about the work of being Santa. So, if you’re listening with a child who’s expecting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick this year, you may want to turn down the volume. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW California is preparing for another storm system that could bring dangerous conditions to large portions of the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Humboldt County, a rural volunteer fire station is struggling to meet its community’s needs. They’re hoping a state budget allocation to expand Calfire staffing might offer some support, but nothing has materialized yet. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED The Trump administration continues to drastically shrink the immigration courts in Northern California – leaving just a few judges to handle a massive backlog of cases. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California transportation officials say they’ve paused a plan to resume issuing thousands of commercial driver’s licenses, under federal pressure. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holiday season brings many traditions for families across California. One that is tried and true - decorating your home with a Christmas tree. While most families buy artificial trees these days, there are still some places in the state where you can not only get a living tree, but even cut it down yourself. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Roughly 2,000 people meander through Old Monterey every December to tour California’s oldest government building and other Alta California adobes. Monterey State Historic Park interpreter Aaron Gilmartin helped coordinate the immersive event. A panel of federal judges could rule soon on whether California’s new congressional maps can stay in place. That’s after a three day court hearing in Los Angeles ended Wednesday. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices