Opponents of Proposition 1 are conceding that the state ballot measure -- aimed at housing Californians with severe mental illness -- is likely to pass. That result will allow the state to borrow money and shift existing mental health dollars toward building residential treatment facilities and affordable housing.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Assembly member Vince Fong is the top vote-getter in the race to replace Kevin McCarthy. That means he’ll advance to the general election in November....

When the Biden administration opened a new immigration court in the Bay Area city of Concord last month… it was part of an effort to cope with a nationwide backlog of more than 3 million cases. But a new spending deal just reached in Congress actually cuts the court budget. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Water is a key ingredient in brewing beer, along with hops and barley, but you rarely see it mentioned on labels. One Napa Valley craft brewer goes to extremes to source water from wells...

Why We Keep Springing Forward Way back in November 2018, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 7, a measure that was supposed to keep us from having to adjust our clocks twice a year for daylight saving time. So why did we still have to “Spring forward”? Reporter: Oliva Zhao, CalMatters In Trinity County, A Key Victory for the LandBack Movement The Nor Rel Muk Wintu people in Trinity County finally have their own land. That includes 78 acres from an anonymous donor inspired by...

In California, young people who could vote, and are even registered, just aren’t doing it in big numbers. Tuesday’s primary election was no exception. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald  In his State of the Union address, President Biden addressed his push for a secure border, and how he’s been blocked by Republicans. California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a strong supporter of immigration reform, invited a guest who highlighted a different side of immigration. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED The...

Death Valley is normally known for its extreme heat. But this winter, rain and winds pushed tons of water into the area, creating a lake locals grew to call "Lake Manly." People could kayak and wade out. But the lake has begun to dry up and boating is now suspended there. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report One of the most expensive state races has been waged in state Senate District 25 which spans from Glendale to Rancho Cucamonga east of L.A.  More than $5 million has flowed...

In the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat once held by the late Dianne Feinstein, Democrat and L..A area Congressman Adam Schiff and Republican and former pro baseball player Steve Garvey will advance to the November general election. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED  The result of California's only statewide ballot measure -- Proposition 1 -- is still too close to call. Latest results show just over 50% of voters supporting the measure aimed at housing more Californians with mental health and...

Polling places are open in California, as local and statewide races are on the ballot. Two of the biggest races -- the U.S. Senate seat that had long been held by the late Dianne Feinstein and Proposition 1, a proposal dealing with mental health and homelessness.   The cold winter storm and blizzard conditions that complicated mountain travel and closed ski resorts in the Sierra this past weekend also significantly boosted California’s snowpack and the state’s water supply. Last week, the...

In recent years, traffic fatalities have remained stubbornly high across California despite efforts to reduce them. That’s especially true in Los Angeles where last year, more than 330 people -- drivers, pedestrians and cyclists -- were killed in collisions, a number higher than the city’s homicide rate. In response to the toll, L.A. voters are voting this election on a ballot measure that’s supposed to make the city’s streets safer. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report Several...

Amid California’s housing crisis, a group of mobile home park residents in Fresno County have done something that might seem impossible. They purchased their park from their corporate landlord, securing stable affordable housing for themselves. But the road to get there wasn't easy. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Communities in the Sierra Foothills are preparing for several more feet of snow over the next two days. This week's blizzard will also bring extremely high wind...

A blizzard warning is in effect through much of the Sierra foothills through the weekend. The National Weather Service says some higher elevations could see as much as ten feet of snow. Ski resorts in Lake Tahoe are preparing for dangerous conditions on the mountains. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Voting in California’s primary election doesn’t end until Tuesday night. But election officials are getting worried about low levels of voter turnout.  Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

When Fresno County voters go to the polls next week, they will be asked to choose whether local officials should have more control over naming. And re-naming things like towns, cities, and street names. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report San Diego County shut down its migrant welcome center last week . That means border officials will continue to drop migrants off on San Diego streets. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the...

Californians will head to the polls on March 5 to vote in the presidential primary. While there's only one statewide measure on the ballot, voters will have plenty else to ponder. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED Politics Correspondent In Shasta County, a citizens commission created by right-wing politicians is recommending that county officials violate state law by hand-counting election ballots.  Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio

Proposition 1 would allow the state to issue more than $6 billion in bonds, for supportive housing and residential treatment facilities for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. But local governments are eyeing the measure through a different lens, and what may be impacted locally. Reporters: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU and Erik Adams, North State Public Radio Prop 1 isn't the first ballot measure that's tried to help Californians who live in that overlap between homelessness and...

The Rogue Festival in Fresno’s Tower District showcases local talent through improv, comedy and storytelling. This year the festival will host nearly 200 performances over the course of two weekends.  One of them is a performance of the novel Latehomecomer by Hmong American author Kao Kalia Yang. Guest: Jasmine Vang, Hmong American Actor  The Sierra is glittering white. Over the last week, recent storms have added up to four feet of snow to the mountain range. Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

There’s a nasty virus spreading through the U.S.  We’re not talking about COVID and we’re not even talking about humans. Avian influenza or bird flu has affected millions of birds across the country, including here in California.  And in the Central Valley, farmers have been set back months due to the loss of flock and eggs. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR The push for California to provide reparations for Black Californians is taking shape at the state capitol. Members of the legislature's...

In the heart of California’s oil country, Kern County, more than 16,000 people work in the petroleum industry. Many of their jobs will likely disappear over the next two decades, as the state phases out oil drilling. Slashing fossil fuel emissions is part of California’s plan to combat climate change. That plan also includes burying carbon deep beneath the ground. Kern County is betting on the carbon management industry to create thousands of jobs in the region. But it's unclear if that will...

California landlords would be required to accept pets under first-of-its-kind legislation introduced this month. The bill by San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney would also ban property owners from asking about pets on applications, limit pet deposits, and prohibit “pet rent” — additional monthly fees for pets. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED A new UCSF study shows that midwives can face extra obstacles operating in California, especially when they’re trying to serve some of the state’s...

Some Sacramento organizations prepare people from underrepresented communities to serve in public office. That includes Nueva Epoca, which is designed to empower Latinos. Reporter: Kristin Lam, CapRadio In Temecula Valley, teachers and parents who sued the school board over a ban on critical race theory and a transgender notification policy can move forward with their case. A Riverside County Superior Court judge denied the district’s request to dismiss it.  Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

Advocates for letting public universities in California hire undocumented students, who don’t have federal work authorization, have gotten a boost from Sacramento. A new proposal would let all students work, regardless of immigration status, in the UC, CSU and state community college systems. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED We’ve been exploring the crisis of loneliness among Californians and finding community. We turn to the topic of friendship as one all important remedy to social...

Roughly a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, including your home. That’s why the federal government wants to give homeowners money to replace gas appliances, install solar panels and replace your windows with more efficient ones. Some developers are taking low-carbon retrofits a step further, creating zero-carbon homes. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW It’s a challenge confronting some renters in California. They want to buy an electric vehicle, but they don’t...

America's growing culture wars can be seen in local politics across the state. That includes in the Orange County city of Huntington Beach, where a conservative majority on the city council has rolled back several progressive initiatives. And in March, a highly contentious measure is on the ballot. It’s a city charter amendment titled Measure 1 that if passed, would require Huntington Beach residents to show official identification when voting in-person. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The...

Prop 47 is a 2014 ballot measure that lowered the penalties for drug possession and shoplifting from felonies to misdemeanors. Retailers and prosecutors are collecting signatures for a November ballot measure that would roll back some portions of the law. And lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills to tweak it in some way or another. But what have the impacts of the measure been? Guest: Maris Lagos, KQED California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has promised sweeping changes...

A new immigration court opens in the Bay Area Monday. It’s part of an effort by the Biden Administration to cope with a record number of asylum seekers – and a historic backlog of 3 million cases nationwide. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Cal State faculty members start voting Monday on a deal that could raise wages and add more paid parental leave. But some CSU employees say it falls short of what their union is demanding. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist

Fast food workers are officially launching a new statewide union on Friday. This comes weeks before a new law will raise the industry’s minimum wage to $20 an hour and create a statewide Fast Food Council. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Programs dedicated to the well-being of California’s youngest residents are facing major cutbacks. That’s because a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products sharply lowered revenue that’s supposed to fund First 5 California and the early childhood...

Decades ago, the homes in a Palm Springs neighborhood known as Section 14 were deemed eyesores and officials wanted to promote tourism. So they forced out the mostly black and brown families who lived there. Crews tore down everyone’s homes, and then burned them, sometimes with people’s personal possessions still inside. The city made a public apology in 2021, but survivors are still waiting for additional support. Guests: Pearl Devers, Section 14 Survivor and Areva Martin, Civil Rights...