Veteran Faces Tough Path Home

A report commissioned by the Pentagon this fall concluded that abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs by troops constitutes a public health crisis. The report found that 60% of Marines admitted to binge drinking. Twenty-five percent of U.S. Army troops admitted abusing prescription drugs. Many veterans also suffer from substance abuse brought on by post traumatic stress or brain injuries. the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 18 veterans of all wars commit suicide every day. three young veterans who were deployed several times to Afghanistan and Iraq spoke with Pacifica Radio at the nonprofit Pathway Home in Napa County where they were receiving treatment. In her third and final report, Karin Argoud spoke to Mark Lugo who was deployed to the U.S. warms in Afghanistan and Iraq a total of seven times.

Former Army Gunner Struggles to Receive Services from V.A.

Recent statistics show veterans are waiting longer for the Veterans Administration to process their disability claims.The average wait has grown to nearly nine months, with some veterans waiting even longer. The V.A. acknowledges the problem and says it's trying to cut into the backlog.The V.A. says one reason for the longer wait is the agency has made it easier for veterans with post traumatic stress to receive benefits -- leading to an increase in the number of claims. Some veterans and their families say the long wait can fuel despair and even suicide for veterans already struggling to adjust to life back home. Karin Argoud spoke to three young veterans receiving treatment at the nonprofit treatment center for returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from post traumatic stress, called the Pathway Home in Yountville in Napa County. In the second of three reports she speaks with Sergant Forest Gielenz.

Veteran Opens Up About Path to Recovery

The holiday season can be a tough time of year for the increasing numbers of veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pentagon statistics show that suicides are surging among U.S. troops. A recent report by the Center for a New American Security found that for every US soldier killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, 25 military veterans commit suicide after returning home. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 18 veterans of all wars die by suicide each day. Three young veterans who were deployed several times in Afghanistan and Iraq spoke with KPFA. They opened up about their own demons and their personal road to recovery in hopes of helping other veterans. In the first of three reports, Karin Argoud speaks with Corporal Eric Arvizu, who is receiving treatment at the Pathway Home program in Yountville in Napa County.

San Joaquin Air Board Adopts Particulate Plan

The San Joaquin Valley Air Board on Wednesday adopted a five year plan to clean up the microscopic particulate matter The plan is required by the federal Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act. Pollution from particulates poses major health and economic problems for the Valley. The plan was supported by most farming and business advocates, but air quality activists told the air board the measure does not go far enough to protect public health. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Lawmakers Want More Sunlight on Campaign Donations

Democratic state lawmakers are introducing a variety of bills aimed at reforming California’s campaign finance laws, in the wake of the mysterious $11 million donation an Arizona group gave to a pair of initiative campaigns in the last election. That donation is still under investigation by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission. The new legislative proposals would require more disclosure of big donations, and would ban what one lawmaker calls “anonymous money bombs” close to election day. Christopher Martinez reports.

Riverside Judge Grants Terrorist Suspects Additional Time to Prepare Defense

A federal judge in Riverside says four Inland Empire men accused of plotting terrorist attacks against U.S. service members abroad have up to 12 months to prepare for their defense before trial opens. KPFK reporter Ernesto Arce has more.

Oakland Joins Medical Cannabis Lawsuit Against Feds

Lawyers for the City of Oakland and the federal government are facing off in a trial over a medical marijuana dispensary threatened by the federal government. Oakland’s city attorneys went to court Thursday, trying to block a federal move to shut down the largest medical cannabis program in the nation. The federal government is threatening to seize the property leased by the dispensary, known as Harborside Health Center. The City of Oakland is arguing the federal action threatens to “work a serious injustice on the residents of Oakland, who overwhelmingly support regulation of medical cannabis in their city.” Christopher Martinez reports.

California Issues Draft Regulations on Fracking

The State of California Tuesday released draft rules on the hydraulic fracturing process to produce oil and gas. The practice known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, injects a mix of water and chemicals under high pressure to extract fossil fuels from deep in rock formations. Fracking regulation was the focus of several unsuccessful bills in the state legislature last year. Last week the U.S. Bureau of Land Management auctioned 18,000 acres of public lands in the vast Monterey Shale formation along the Coast Range of Central California. Governor Jerry Brown’s administration has promoted shale-oil development in the state, and has been under pressure from environmentalists to come up with basic oversight rules. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Grand Jury Investigates Alleged Deputy Violence in LA County Jails

A federal grand jury is looking into allegations that the LA County Sheriff Department impeded an FBI investigation into violence by deputies inside the LA County Jails. KPFK reporter Michael McTernan has the story.

LA Victims' Rights Group Questions LAPD Policies

A Los Angeles victim's rights group announced today that it is holding a commemoration for those who were killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last week. Justice for Murdered Children is also speaking out against LAPD policies which they say are misleading and ultimately undermine the investigations into murders and crimes in the city. KPFK reporter Erick Iniguez has the story.

Evicted Renters Protest In San Francisco's Castro District

Evicted renters from neighborhoods across San Francisco gathered in the Castro District today to urge local and state officials to take action against evictions resulting from the controversial Ellis Act - a state law that enables landlords to bypass rent control laws and evict tenants. Protesters are directing their frustration at District 8 Supervisor Scott Weiner who is introducing new legislation they say could increase the number of such evictions, but Weiner insists his legislation in protecting tenants. Alex Kekauoha reports from San Francisco.

Consumers Call for Trader Joe's to Ban Meat Antibiotics

A Consumer Reports action group is calling on Trader Joe's to stop selling meat products treated with antibiotics. Consumers Union members caroled outside of one of the chain's San Francisco stores on Wednesday.
Sally Schilling reports.

U.N. Investigation of Migrant Worker Rights Sought

A national coalition of 28 legal-aid and social service organizations has submitted a complaint to the United Nations asking for an investigation of migrant farmworker labor camps in the United States. Specifically, the complaint argues that farmworkers living in labor camps are being denied visits by legal and other social service providers, which is a violation of international human rights law. It is the first time that a joint complaint by social service organizations has been submitted to the UN, for a special inquiry into a domestic human rights issue. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Dillard's Settles $2 Million Disability Discrimination Case

A major department store chain has settled a class-action lawsuit for requiring employees who take sick leave to report their medical conditions. The national retail chain Dillard's will pay $2 million to current and former employees who were told by supervisors to divulge protected medical information or be terminated. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated and negotiated with Dillard's for years ahead of this settlement. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

California Lawmakers Seek Regulations on Bullets, Guns

California lawmakers are planning to introduce several bills aimed at reducing gun violence, in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The measures include regulations on the purchase of ammunition, and a bill to close a loop-hole in California’s automatic weapons ban. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Consumers Voice Opposition to Smart Meter Program

The California Public Utilities Commission is holding its first and only public hearing in the Los Angeles area on the highly controversial smart meter program. SoCal Edison and SoCal Gas Co. customers will be given the chance to voice their opposition to not only the smart meter program, but the fees the utilities and CPUC are imposing on customers to “opt out” of the highly controversial program. Protestors consider it “extortion” and an “illegal and unacceptable business practice.” They're also raising concerns about the possible ill effects and radiation emitted by the meters. KPFK reporter Michael McTernan has the story.

LA Coalition Fights Illegal Surveillance 'Fusion Centers'

A group fighting what it calls illegal surveillance of residents held a rally outside of a Los Angeles-area intelligence-gathering center. The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition says it's exposing an illegal spy center that most people don't know exists. Pacifica KPFK’s Ernesto Arce files this report from the Joint Regional Intelligence Center in Norwalk, LA County.

Sting Operation Targets LA Sweatshops

The Department of Labor released the details surrounding a sting operation targeting so-called sweatshops in Los Angeles' garment district. The agency says major clothing chains were targeted. Activists say the labor exploitation is nothing new. KPFK's Michael McTernan has more.

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Mass Surveillance

A Federal judge in San Francisco heard arguments Friday over whether activists can sue to block what they call an un-constitutional “dragnet surveillance” program. The Electronic Frontier Foundation says the program rounds up phone calls, e-mails and internet browsing information on millions of Americans with no warrants or suspicion. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is trying to sue to halt the program. The Federal government says there’s no information the program even exists, and it says a lawsuit to find out is blocked by national security law. Christopher Martinez reports.

Hyatt Workers Call for a Worker Representative on Board of Directors

As part of a national action, workers at Hyatt hotels are staging protests. Demonstrations at Hyatt hotels are happening across California, including in San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles. Members of UNITE Here are calling on Hyatt to change the make-up of its Board of Directors. They want to add a new member, a hotel worker, following a practice more popular in Europe, but unheard of here in the U.S. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

San Francisco Launches Domestic Violence, as Petition Targets Sheriff Mirkarimi

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee joined domestic violence advocates in to announce a public awareness campaign against domestic violence. The announcement is the latest in a series of moves by Lee’s administration, following the mayor’s failed attempt to remove Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi from office for official misconduct. Christopher Martinez reports from San Francisco City Hall.

After ten years of battling to save a Fresno County landmark mountain from gravel mining, a surprise deal was offered by the Cemex Corporation that will save the iconic peak from ever being mined. Last month Fresno County Supervisors turned down the environmental report and denied the project. In exchange for a re-hearing on the environmental report, the company offered to give up their mining attempt and place a deed restriction that would prohibit any mining. The mountain is considered a scenic treasure, and is a sacred site for local Native Americans. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

LA Immigrant Advocates Skeptical About S-Comm Changes

Los Angeles immigrant rights activists say they’re happy about a decision by both LAPD and LA County Sheriff’s to scale back their participation in Secure Communities. But many say that local law enforcement can still detain innocent people who were charged with serious crimes. Pacifica KPFK’s Ernesto Arce has more from Los Angeles.

Environmentalists Protest Oil Fracking

A coalition of environmental groups in California is trying to stop a controversial type of oil and gas drilling called “hydraulic fracturing”, or “fracking.” Protesters took their message to a Federal auction of oil and gas leases in Sacramento, where they blasted the leases as a step toward more fracking that could threaten drinking water, endangered species, and even lead to increased global warming. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Los Angeles Names Lesbian Writer Eloise Klein Healy as First Poet Laureate

The Los Angeles City Council today inaugurated a gay woman as the city's first poet laureate. Sherman Oaks-resident Eloise Klein Healy was selected by a committee of poets and appointed by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

Manteca Family Denounces Police Shooting as Murder

The family of a Manteca man who was shot and killed by police is speaking out after the release of a video showing the shooting. Civil rights attorney John Burris, who is representing the family, says the officer responsible for the death of the unarmed victim is still on the job and is being protected by the law enforcement community. Burris is reaching out to the Department of Justice in an effort to prosecute the officer. Alex Kekauoha reports from Oakland.

LA Youth Demand Accountability of Gang Suppression Policies

Youth activists in Los Angeles are asking the Police Commission to rescind policies that they say unfairly target low-income black and brown youth. Their action at LAPD headquarters this morning is part of an annual 50-mile march that seeks to raise awareness of mass incarceration and the criminalization of young people. The March for Respect coincides with the release of a report that is highly critical of LA County's gang suppression policies. Pacifica KPFK's Ernesto Arce files this report from Los Angeles.

Community Groups Praise USC Development Deal

The Los Angeles City Council has given the go-ahead, with a unanimous vote, to a $1.1 billion development deal to revamp the University of Southern California's village neighborhood. Community groups are calling it a historic deal. After difficult negotiations, USC agreed to contribute up to $20 million for affordable housing in the area, south of downtown, and millions more for local jobs. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

Advocates Rally Against "Fiscal Cliff" Cuts to Poor, Workers Some Democratic lawmakers are saying they’ll oppose any moves to cut safety net programs in the current fiscal negotiations. They joined unions, working and poor families, and other activists at more than 100 events around the country during Monday’s “International Human Rights Day.” They’re calling for an end to tax cuts for the richest 2 per cent, and opposing any cuts to MedicaidM medicare and Social Security. Democratic Representative Barbara Lee of Oakland spoke at a rally at the Social Security Administration office in Oakland as part of the Human Rights Day actions. Christopher Martinez reports.

Group Says Migrant Voyage to the U.S. Increasingly Desperate

A bi-national human rights group that advocates on behalf of undocumented border crossers is in Los Angeles to raise awareness of the increasing desperation of migrants. Angels without Borders from Mexicali say the new Mexican government is making an already dehumanizing voyage even more difficult. They say Central Americans crossing through Mexico have it more difficult now that Mexican military have been stationed at both southern and northern borders. The group is touring Southern California to call for emergency humanitarian assistance and help for what it calls perhaps the most vulnerable people on earth. Pacifica KPFK’s Ernesto Arce has more from Los Angeles.

Supreme Court Will Hear California Gay Marriage Case The US Supreme Court could issue its ruling on same sex marriage in the next 6 months. The high court announced Friday it will hear a pair of cases on the issue, including a California case challenging the state’s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, and a New York case challenging the Federal “Defense of Marriage Act”. Christopher Martinez reports.

Hate Mail Targets Host of Muslim Convention in LA

A Pasadena church has come under fire for hosting the annual convention of a Muslim civil rights group. The All Saints Church in Pasadena has received dozens of hate mail after a conservative think tank publicized its hosting of the Muslim group. Pacifica KPFK's Ernesto Arce has more from Los Angeles.

Ports of Los Angeles Reopened After 8 Day Strike

Workers at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles returned to work this morning after reaching a deal with their employers ending an eight day strike. The work action crippled business at the nation's largest port of entry resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to local companies. Pacifica KPFK’s Ernesto Arce has more from the ports.

ACLU Charges Alameda County Sheriff Seeks A Surveillance Drone

The American Civil Liberties Union Of Northern California has revealed what it says are plans of the Alameda County Sheriff to use a drone for surveillance and intelligence gathering purposes. the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained documents through the California Public Records Act. The Alameda County Sheriff had said the drone would be used for search and rescue and disaster response. Maureen Signard has more on the story.

Bay Area Cities May Pursue Soda tax

Despite The Rejection of Richmond's Soda Tax At The Polls, Several Other Bay Area Cities May Take Up a Similiar Proposal. Maureen Suignard Reports

One-year Anniversary of Occupy Fights Foreclosures in Los Angeles

Occupy Los Angeles Thursday commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Fight Foreclosures campaign with a protests in front of the Hollywood branch of Wells Fargo and the Los Angeles City Hall. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

California voters are more optimistic than they’ve been in years, according to a new public opinion poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. That optimism may bring with it a new political willingness to make changes to Proposition 13, a measure that’s long been an untouchable bastion of the conservative anti-tax movement. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Emergency Air Alerts Sought for Central Valley

Health advocates from around the Central Valley are calling on local authorities to help establish an emergency air alert system. The Central Valley Air Quality Coalition has launched an educational campaign to stimulate discussion and action at the county level. The Valley Air Board is in charge of air pollution-related public health warnings. It consists of regional officials plus a doctor and a scientist appointed by the governor. Advocates say the current warning system is inadequate. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

An Immigration Story: The Mendoza Family Revisited

Last year Pacifica reported on the immigration plight of the Mendoza family who live in the Central Valley town of Kerman. A year ago they faced imminent deportation by immigration authorities. That action would split the family apart. After intense negotiations with the IRS, the family gained a reprieve for one year. Since then changes in immigration policy by the Obama administration have made it easier for the family to renew their temporary permits to stay in the US. But lacking permanent status, the Mendoza family still worries about their future, and immigration reform. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

The court-ordered restoration of the San Joaquin River is making progress but also faces challenges. The San Joaquin is California’s the second largest river system. It was dammed in the late 1940’s with most of the water flow diverted to agriculture. The restoration project is the result of a settlement reached in 2006 after an 18 year lawsuit that required the U.S. Government to bring the river back to life and revive historic Salmon runs. It is the most ambitious project of its type in the nation. That restoration effort was evaluated at a conference held recently in Fresno. Vic Bedoian reports.

California’s Attorney General says a controversial Federal deportation program is voluntary, and local police and sheriffs can make their own decisions about whether to hold undocumented residents in jail under the “Secure Communities” program, or “S-Comm”. A bulletin by Attorney General Kamala Harris puts California at odds with the Obama administration, which has said the program is mandatory. Christopher Martinez reports.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hears From Citizens' Oversight Group

Oral arguments have begun in an attempt to bring more public scrutiny to the operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The Southern California nuclear power facility is still operating at reduced capacity following a radioactive gas leak earlier this year. Investigators found that generators and tubes replaced just two years ago had severely worn down. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

Profit Motive Draws Businesses into Renewable Energy Technology

Business leaders and environmentalists teamed up Tuesday in Century City to show that energy-saving technology is no longer a luxury, it's good business sense. From solar panels to basic energy-efficient retrofitting, the leaders want to dispel the myth that dirty businesses are more profitable. Pacifica's Dan Fritz files this report from Los Angeles.

Lawmakers Open California Legislative Session Amid High Hopes for Change

State lawmakers formally opened the new legislative session, with a new 2/3 supermajority of Democrats in both houses, and high hopes from many advocates who hope Democrats will take on big issues like restoring past cuts in health and welfare cuts. Lawmakers introduced the first bills of the new session, as they face the prospects of a democratic supermajority that can by-pass opposition from Republicans or the Governor, along with an improving budget bringing the possibility of surpluses in coming years. Christopher Martinez files this report from Sacramento.