KQED's The California Report

The California's governor's race remains too close to call. Republican Steve Hilton currently leads the pack, but is closely followed by Democrat Xavier Becerra. Fellow Democrat Tom Steyer is sitting in third but still has a chance to overtake one of the two other candidates, with millions of ballots left to be counted. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED We already know the two candidates advancing to several congressional races here in California. But others are still very much up for grabs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's election day. And California's first truly open governor's race in decades has sparked a lot of speculation, including early fears that the state's top-two primary system could leave Democrats shut out of the general election entirely. But that scenario is looking far less likely. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED About 150 immigrants detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center are on their 11th day of a hunger strike. Members of Congress toured the facility Monday to seek answers. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Authorities say a months-long investigation into a Fresno County gang network has disrupted organized criminal activity throughout the Central Valley and led to dozens of arrests. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California voters passed Prop 50 last year to flip some congressional seats in favor of Democrats. That means one of the most progressive Democrats in congress will now have to make a case to some of the most conservative voters. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio In a controversial move, state regulators have approved major changes to a key state climate program. California’s Air Resources Board voted Friday to create a $4 billion fund for big polluters to invest in decarbonization projects. 1,037 people donning white halter dresses and platinum blonde wigs descended on Palm Springs on Saturday afternoon. They broke the Guinness World Record for most Marilyn Monroe lookalikes in one place. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most competitive primary races for Congress right now is a swing district in the Central Valley. Democrats there are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao. But first they need a nominee. With just days until the primary , the party’s two candidates in the 22nd Congressional District are competing for who can appeal to the most voters - as the national Democratic Party contemplates its own identity. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR California is rolling out first-of-its-kind regulations pushing manufactures to cut plastic pollution. One of the deadlines for producers is Monday. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’ve been looking at the rise of "generational change candidates" in Democratic primaries. That's a politician who has positioned themselves as a fresh, modern alternative to long-term incumbents. Think passing the torch to Millennials or Gen Zers who are more focused on climate and health care for all. Well, Prop 50, the ballot measure voters passed in November. has opened up an opportunity for one of those change candidates to emerge in the race for Congressional District 3, which stretches from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio A new poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are leading the still very crowded field for California Governor. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill providing some additional protections for California election workers and voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become the darling of progressives with his populist platform and his ability to connect with young voters. Here in California, two candidates are trying to take a similar message to voters - in the San Francisco race to replace Nancy Pelosi and the Los Angeles Mayor's race. Reporters: Sydney Johnson, KQED and Frank Stoltze, LAist All evacuation orders have been lifted in Orange County after authorities determined that there was no further danger of an explosion, chemical leak or fire at an aerospace manufacturing plant in Garden Grove. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're just a week away from the June 2 primary and in California, several younger, more progressive-leaning candidates are looking to replace longtime incumbents. Two congressional races are highlighting this potential "generational change"- the District 7 race pitting Doris Matsui against challenger Mai Vang and the 32nd Congressional District with incumbent Brad Sherman facing off against Jake Levine. Guest: Maya Miller, CalMatters Evacuation orders have been lifted for more than 30,000 Orange County residents who were ordered to leave their home, over concerns a damaged chemical tank in Garden Grove might explode. Many who were forced to evacuate are questioning how safe their neighborhoods are, in the wake of the scare. Reporter: Chelsea Kurnick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some good news from Orange County, as fire officials have ruled out the possibility that a damaged chemical tank will explode. About 50,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Orange County, and several shelters have quickly filled up. It's unclear when evacuees might be able to return home. Reporter: Chelsea Kurnick A young boxer from the remote Fresno County town of Huron won bronze in her weight class in the national Golden Gloves tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma this month. To get there, she had to win the California Golden Gloves State Championship in Pasadena in April. But her road to success hasn't been easy. Reporter: Alice Daniel, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In California's crowded race for governor, almost every candidate has made housing affordability a central part of their campaign. While the candidates have varied approaches on this issue, and there's a lot they agree on, there are also some key differences. Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Data centers are expanding into water-stressed communities across California, like the Imperial Valley. At the same time, data center operators are using loopholes to hide how much water these facilities are using. These findings are from a new report backed by Santa Clara University and the think tank Next10. Reporter: Molly Peterson, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past four months, many people with friends and family in Iran haven't known if their loved ones are safe. The Iranian government cut off internet access inside the country on January 8 amid widespread protests. There were moments in the weeks that followed when Iranians could access the outside world. But when the U.S. and Israel attacked the country in late February, the blackout resumed.  Now, despite the fragile ceasefire, many Americans of Iranian descent are left in limbo, including students at UC Santa Cruz. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU The First Amendment Coalition is suing Los Angeles Unified, accusing the second largest school district in the country of concealing teacher misconduct records. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Immigrant detainees at a detention center in the Mojave Desert are staging a hunger and economic strike. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crowded field of candidates running for governor in the June 2 primary all agree on one thing — the need to make California a more affordable place to live. Prices for housing, electricity and gas here remain far above the national average. But it could be a challenge for any of the candidates to deliver on affordability. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED The Muslim community is mourning the death of three men who were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. Reporter: Katie Anastas, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five people are dead including two suspected gunmen after a shooting at San Diego's largest mosque. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. This week we’ve been taking a look at PG&E. On  Monday, we talked about the utility's efforts to keep its Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant open. Today, we’re looking at their political spending. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nuclear advocates are pushing to keep Diablo Canyon – California’s only running nuclear power plant – open even longer than planned. The plant passed its final hurdle to run until 2030 last month, but legislators are talking about extending that expiration date even further. Guest: Laura Klivans, KQED While lawmakers debate how long Diablo Canyon should stay open, local support for the nuclear plant is growing. Reporter: Kendra Hanna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six weeks. That's how long state officials say California has until it runs out of a stable supply of gasoline. After that, the supply picture gets a little murky. With the Iran War now in its third month and gas averaging more than $6 a gallon, the state is racing to lock in long-term deals with overseas refiners before that window closes. It's a crisis that's also exposing the tensions in California's long push away from fossil fuels. Guest: Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for a November ballot measure to stash more of California's tax revenue in a rainy day fund. It's part of a plan for savings that Newsom outlined in his final budget proposal as governor on Thursday. The former chief of staff for Governor Newsom has pleaded guilty to three felony charges, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of Californians who make countertops are getting sick with an often deadly, job-related lung disease. Those who can no longer work because of it are often left struggling to make ends meet, even after pursuing benefits that are supposed to help them long term. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED State health officials have identified another California resident who has been exposed to the deadly hantavirus strain. State lawmakers have a new report on how California can better avoid - or recover from - wildfires and other natural disasters. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the crowded field of mostly Democratic candidates vying to be California’s next governor, one MAGA Republican has had surprising staying power. That’s Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. He’s recently been in national headlines for seizing hundreds of thousands of ballots, among other controversies. Bianco has built his profile on bashing the state’s Democrats and Governor Gavin Newsom. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR The World Cup is officially one month away. And some LA advocates aren’t happy about how organizers plan to address human rights. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driven by concerns that Democrats could be locked out of this year's governor's race, a new ballot initiative seeks to repeal California’s top-two primary system. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED State lawmakers are considering a bill that would require California’s DMV to notify vehicle owners when their towed cars are sold for profit. Reporter: Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters An investigation from KQED and ProPublica's Local Reporting Network found dozens of cases where California has not revoked educators’ teaching credentials, despite schools determining they committed sexual harassment or misconduct of a sexual nature. Reporter: Holly J. McDede, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several state bills pending in Sacramento this week seek more guardrails on Artificial Intelligence in the workplace. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED A proposed state budget change could stall the program that sends behavioral health workers — instead of police — to respond to mental health emergencies. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters California’s newest grade — transitional kindergarten — has been lauded as a success, with enrollment doubling over the past few years. But that growth has come at a cost, pulling 4-year-olds out of community-based preschools. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Eby spent 20 years in the Navy before he retired from his role as a commander. But after a while, he got bored - so he signed up for a new covert mission. Looking for otters. Not enemy warships, but threatened sea otters, as a volunteer with the Elkhorn Slough Reserve in Moss Landing. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU U.S. Senator Adam Schiff and Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal joined Chumash Coastal Band leaders and environmental groups on the Central Coast Thursday. They criticized the Trump administration’s support for restarting an oil pipeline linked to the 2015 Refugio spill. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX A number of California residents, who’ve since returned home, are confirmed to have been among the passengers on a cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As wildfires become more destructive in California, the need for forensic investigations is increasing. Specifically: the need for finding and identifying bodies after a wildfire. A recent intensive academy at Fresno City College addressed this need by training working professionals. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Advocates are criticizing the state's tracking of evictions, saying California has failed to accurately count them for decades, and drumming up support for a bill that would more closely monitor it. Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED Humboldt County Supervisors are looking at creating a civilian oversight committee for the sheriff’s office. They’re trying to get ahead of a possible citizen initiative. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration enforcement is affecting recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Since 2012, the program has allowed people brought to the United States as children to stay in the US and work, go to school, and buy property. But one Sacramento woman's life unraveled within days of learning that her immigration case was being reopened. Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District handles allegations of sexual misconduct involving teachers and students. Governor Gavin Newsom is asking California election officials to speed up their vote count in the June primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A major change to a federal farmworker visa program known as H-2A is sparking a heated debate across California. The program allows farms to bring in temporary workers from other countries, but a change from the Trump administration has altered how they are paid, sparking a lawsuit from the United Farmworkers Union. Supporters say it’s a lifeline for farmers facing rising labor costs. Critics call it a wage cut that could push local workers out of the fields. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report A man who was shot multiple times by immigration agents last month in the Central California community of Patterson pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges. San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney is trying again to expand drug-free housing for people leaving homelessness, after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year. A bill moving through the California legislature would require independent evaluations of new education programs, like transitional kindergarten. Reporter: Elly Yu, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shasta County voters will consider a ballot measure that's faced legal challenges before the primary election. It could change the way elections are conducted in the county. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio The World Cup is about a month away. And FIFA luxury suites can cost over $200,000 for a single match in Los Angeles. Union workers at SoFi Stadium say they want their pay to reflect that wealth. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood actors, has reached a tentative four-year deal with major studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Environmentalists say the Trump Administration is being short sighted in its decision to offer to buy out the leases of some offshore wind energy projects along California’s Central Coast. Reporter: Lance Orozco, KCLU Peach growers in the Yuba-Sutter region and Central Valley are being thrown a lifeline from Washington, D.C. The move follows the closure of a major cannery that’s left farmers without a buyer for their fruit. Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California lawmakers are considering new rules for electric bikes as safety concerns grow on roads and trails. But experts say much of the data behind those concerns is misleading. Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio New research from UC Santa Cruz shows climate change is a bigger threat to California’s native trees than previously thought. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU To the north of the Imperial Valley, another battleground is emerging in the debate over AI data centers. Residents are pushing back against a large data center campus in the city of Coachella. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re less than a week away from the start of voting in California’s June primary and the race for governor remains up for grabs. On Tuesday night, the leading candidates made their pitch to voters in a CBS debate at Pomona College - east of Los Angeles, and things got messy. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED In a move immigration and privacy advocates call a “betrayal,” California is preparing to share detailed information about its driver’s license holders with a national database that connects DMVs. Opponents say the move could put more than a million undocumented people who have California driver’s licenses at risk. Reporter: Khari Johnson, CalMatters The city of Marina in Monterey County is reactivating a 30-year-old desalination plant to help boost water supply. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A health care labor union in California submitted more than 1.5 million signatures this week to place a billionaire tax on the November ballot. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED It’s been two months since the war in Iran began, and the resulting energy crisis has made the cost of driving a major concern here for millions of Californians. In a state where people rely heavily on cars, the rising costs are forcing some drivers to make financial sacrifices, with some giving up the car altogether. Reporter: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today in Oakland, two of the most powerful men in tech are set to face off in a federal courtroom. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is suing Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED State courts will start tracking and reporting on immigration arrests at their facilities, starting in June. That’s after the policymaking body for California courts approved a new rule Friday. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED It’s spring cleaning season, and that can involve wiping off something most of us may not otherwise notice: dust. But for researchers at UC Merced and throughout California, dust is much more top of mind. These particles, they say, affect many parts of life and not just our health. Reporter: Rachel Livinal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Courthouse arrests by ICE have been ramping up across California, particularly in the Inland Empire where court raids have become almost a daily occurrence. In response, two state senators have introduced bills in the California Legislature that aim to curb raids at courthouses.  Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Californians, mobile home parks are one of the last real affordable paths to homeownership. Residents typically own their homes, but rent the land beneath them. In recent years corporate investors have sought to buy this land and in some cases seek to maximize profit. But this arrangement can leave homeowners vulnerable. The California Report’s Madi Bolaños has spent the last two years looking into one of these companies, Harmony Communities. Many of its residents say they’ve been dealing with unfair rent increases and fear eviction. These tensions are unfolding in a quiet mobile home park in the Bay Area city of San Pablo. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The policy-making body that oversees California's court system plans to vote on a proposal this Friday that would require courts to collect data on civil arrests inside the state's courthouses. It comes amid a rise in arrests by federal immigration agents of undocumented people inside and near courthouse across the state and throughout the U.S. California counties will be able to continue dedicating the bulk of their federal homelessness funds towards permanent housing. That’s because a move by the Trump administration to shift funding priorities towards temporary and sober housing is now on hold following a legal victory this week. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters A program incentivizing large ships to slow along the state’s coastline when whales are present goes into effect statewide today Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally, county clerk races don’t get that much attention. But in Shasta County, two candidates are fighting for the future of elections in a place that’s garnered national attention for years now. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Former State Controller Betty Yee is ending her campaign for California governor, citing flagging poll numbers and a shrinking donor base. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED A man shot by Immigration Agents in Patterson, California earlier this month will remain in custody over concerns that he could be a flight risk. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along the banks of the San Joaquin River in Fresno County, an unusual soil has sparked heated, public conversations. That’s because, it’s not your typical soil. And the process that creates it is only legal in a handful of states. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR A man, who is part of a class action lawsuit challenging immigration raids in Los Angeles, has been detained again by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is the first state in the country to require folic acid in corn masa flour—the key ingredient in foods like tortillas. The move could help prevent serious birth defects, which occur at higher rates among Latino families. Alabama is set to follow this summer, and other states are considering similar laws. Reporter: Lesley McClurg, KQED A new, proposed train service could connect San Luis Obispo to the Bay Area - in time for the 2028 LA Olympics. Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One byproduct of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign, is a big increase in the number of deportation flights. More and more of those flights are coming from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS California State Senator Scott Weiner and fire survivors are pushing for a bill that would allow the state attorney general to seek damages from oil companies for their role in causing climate-disasters like fires and floods. The goal is to help blunt rising insurance costs. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KQED has obtained surveillance video of a mass use of force incident at the Central California Women’s Facility. It's the first detailed look at the August 2024 incident that resulted in the largest disciplinary action from a single use of force event. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Another woman has come forward to accuse former California Congressman Eric Swalwell of sexual assault. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Governor Gavin Newsom is calling a special election to fill Eric Swalwell’s congressional seat. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio An independent privacy audit of Google, Meta and Microsoft web traffic in California found the firms may be violating state privacy laws, potentially exposing themselves to significant fines. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across California, tax preparers in immigrant communities are seeing an unprecedented drop in filings, in some places, more than 60 percent. KRCB News Reporter Shandra Back explores why undocumented and mixed status families are stepping back from the tax system this year. We visit a legacy tax prep business in Santa Rosa where longtime clients are walking away, discouraged by shrinking credits and shaken trust in federal agencies. We hear from families who have filed faithfully for decades but now question whether it’s worth it. Then, we zoom out with statewide experts from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and the California Immigrant Policy Center to understand the broader economic stakes, from billions in lost revenue to the long-term consequences of eroding trust in filing. Finally, we head to Southern California, where fear of immigration raids is keeping even documented Latino residents from leaving their homes, let alone filing taxes. Reporter: Shandra Back, KRCB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor. This comes just days after a San Francisco Chronicle report where a former staffer said Swalwell sexually assaulted her. And CNN later reported on other instances of alleged sexual misconduct from three other women. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED Delegates at the California Republican Party's spring convention in San Diego failed to endorse either of the two main GOP candidates running for governor. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco received 49% support. Former Fox News Host Steve Hilton drew 44% of the vote. But neither crossed the 60% threshold needed to secure an endorsement. The prevailing GOP message at the convention was a focus on affordability and cost of living. Reporter: Jake Gotta, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pacific Grove or PG is no longer a dry town, although it upheld the Prohibition-era ban on booze into the 1960s—longer than any other city in California. Despite the sleepy reputation it earned, PG is now home to a growing nightlife scene. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU A California court has unsealed the warrants that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco used to seize hundreds of thousands of ballots in that county. The warrants raise questions as to whether the sheriff’s investigation was based on actual evidence of crimes. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR House Democrats are highlighting what they see as President Trump's attempts to undermine the November Election. They held a hearing in San Francisco on Thursday. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 in 3 Planned Parenthood patients in the United States receive care at clinics in California. But as the abortion-rights organization tries to manage after Congress cut its federal funding last year, one Planned Parenthood affiliate in California is diving into a new kind of service - cosmetics. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio California's Supreme Court has ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco -- a Republican candidate for governor -- to halt his investigation into the 2025 election. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED An attorney for the man shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Stanislaus County this week is disputing ICE's characterization of his client. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new report is shedding light on the lives of California farmworkers. It argues low wages are not just an economic issue, but a public health crisis. The report is called Beyond the Cycle of Survival, and it looks at how pay impacts workers' health, families, and communities. Guest: Elana Muldavin, Health in Partnership An investigation is underway after federal authorities shot and wounded a person they were apparently trying to arrest. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security says it happened after officers pulled over the man in Patterson in Stanislaus County on Tuesday. A bill to restore state health care coverage for low-income undocumented Californians will face its first hearing at the state Capitol on Wednesday. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For countertop fabricators trying to follow California’s safety rules, “doing the right thing” can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED A $10 billion bet on the future of Artificial Intelligence is facing a wall of local resistance in the Imperial Valley. County supervisors will decide the fate of a massive data center complex that has already sparked shouting matches, environmental protests, and a last minute scramble in the courts. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want a better life? Move out of California. Well, sorta. According to a new study from the California Policy Lab, the Golden State's high cost of living is still squeezing residents and pushing them out of the state. Guest: Evan White, Executive Director of California Policy Lab California is suing the Trump administration again, this time over the president's executive order to give the US Postal Service new powers to oversee voting by mail. An affordable housing project in Crescent City plans to restart construction soon after a series of setbacks. Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week indie musician Mitski is playing a series of sold out shows at an unexpected L.A. venue: Hollywood High School’s auditorium. The school's connection to the arts goes back decades. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist A federal judge in California says Border Patrol violated a federal court order barring them from making illegal stops and arrests. Reporter: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters The Nuclear Regulatory Commission just gave California’s only operating nuclear power plant approval to run for an extra 20 years. Reporter: Kendra Hanna, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of people became US citizens at a large ceremony in Orange County last month. Despite some concerns about democracy in the US, some new citizens still think it’s a good place to live. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR California officials are warning of an early fire season and strained water supply after warm weather in March melted most of the Sierra snowpack. Reporter: Alonso Daboub, KQED Oil production near the Santa Barbara coast is ramping back up. A Texas-based oil company announced it started selling oil through the same pipeline system tied to the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX A judge has ordered a physician to monitor the healthcare of the detainees being held at California’s largest immigrant detention center. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the struggles of California wineries. But the state’s craft brewers are also dealing with significant challenges. While it may seem like there’s a taproom on every corner, the Brewers Association reports that for the last two years, more California breweries have closed than opened. As craft brewers grapple with everything from rising costs to tariffs, brewers are finding creative ways to adapt.Reporter: Tina Caputo A Sacramento woman who was deported to Mexico in February – despite protection under DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – is speaking out about her treatment. A retired Bay Area carpenter is in Washington DC Wednesday morning for the Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship. He’s the descendent of the man whose case affirmed that right over a hundred years ago.Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday is Farm Workers' Day, formerly known as Cesar Chavez Day, which has been celebrated for almost 30 years. But last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to make the name change official after Cesar Chavez was accused of sexually abusing women and girls. The state is just one of many entities making these name changes, but for some cities that might not happen as quickly. Guest: Nadia Latham, CalMatters Another man who was detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center died last week. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security say they tried to save the man and later transported him to a hospital. But detainees say the man was denied medical treatment and died on site. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spring of 2006, a historic number of Angelenos took to the streets to stop a harsh anti-immigration bill. It worked. But where's that momentum now? Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW No Kings rallies brought out tens of thousands of people across California over the weekend … to protest President Donald Trump, his administration’s policies, and the war in Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It will soon be a month since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. In response to U. S. military action, the Iranian regime has restricted which trade ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway not only for oil moving from the Middle East to North America, but also for fertilizer, the fertilizer American farmers need to start growing crops. The agricultural industry has started to ring the alarm about the potential impacts the crisis at Hormuz could have on food prices. Guest: Daniel Sumner, UC Davis Professor The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is set to pay nearly $2 million to settle a lawsuit over a violent incident at a women’s prison in Chowchilla. Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California Report Shasta County voters will see a proposal to change their election system on the June primary ballot. Among other things, Measure B would require residents to present photo ID when voting in person, and limit who can cast an absentee ballot. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sexual abuse accusations against the late Cesar Chavez have sparked condemnation and soul-searching on the West Coast, and also fears the scandal could undermine ongoing efforts to improve the lives of farmworkers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Fallout continues from the last-minute cancellation of a gubernatorial debate that was scheduled Tuesday on the USC campus, after four candidates of color said the debate criteria unfairly excluded them. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED A judge in Shasta County heard arguments Wednesday over a proposed ballot measure that appears to violate state law. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices