Minimum Wage Hike Passes Legislature

State lawmakers have approved a measure to hike California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2022, linking further hikes to the rate of inflation. That would put California’s minimum wage at twice the federal level. It marks a victory for “Fight for 15” activists, and will likely lead to an end to several ballot measures on the issue. Republican lawmakers say it will hurt small businesses and young workers, but Democrats say it’s a step toward bringing people out of poverty and reducing income inequality. Christopher Martinez files this report from Sacramento.

New State Retirement Plan Would Help 7 Million Workers

A state board has made recommendations on a new retirement savings plan for 7 million private sector workers. Supporters call the automatic retirement savings plan the biggest change to retirement savings since Social Security was enacted in the 1930’s. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Cal State Faculty Rally for 5% Pay Hike

Faculty at the 23 California State University campuses are fighting for a 5% pay increase, while the university administration is offering a 2% raise. Union members took their case to Sacramento, where they rallied on the capitol steps before a day of lobbying state lawmakers. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

What Would a 15$ Minimum do to California?

Legislation to increase the state minimum wage to 15$ an hour passed out of the house appropriations committee today. Ken Jacobs and Michael Reich, professors at UC Berkeley shared findings from their study with the committee demonstrating that the proposed 50 percent increase over 7 years would have little impact on the over all health of the economy, while helping ease the economic troubles of many low wage workers. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report.

Legal Claim Alleges Sheriff Beating, Theft, Coverup

Lawyers have filed a claim against the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, saying deputies illegally beat a man lying on the ground, then took a trophy photo, stole money and a gold medallion from him, and used them to bribe witnesses. A surveillance camera video of the beating has since gone viral on the Internet. Christopher Martinez files this report from Oakland.

Family of Unarmed Man Fatally Shot by Fresno Police Officers

The family Freddy Ceteno, an unarmed and mentally ill man who was shot to death by Fresno Police officers last year, filed suit against the police department for excessive force and civil rights violations. The incident, which occurred on September 3rd of 2015, was recorded by a police body camera. Ceteno was shot multiple times after being confronted by police officers as he was walking down the street. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer defended the shooting, saying the officers believed Ceteno had a gun. Attorneys for Ceteno’s family have called the shooting ‘an assassination’. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Minimum Wage Deal Would Hike Wage to $15/Hour

Governor Jerry Brown joined Democratic lawmakers and labor leaders to announce a landmark agreement to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. The deal would phase in the increase over six years, eventually linking the state’s minimum wage to the rate of inflation. It opens the way to remove a minimum wage initiative that is poised to go onto the November ballot. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

New Legislation Could Expand Classifications for Asian Americans in California

Asian Americans in California may soon be receiving better representation if the state legislature chooses to support a new bill in the works being championed by state assemblymember Rob Bonta. If passed, the bill would task education and health organizations with more accurately classifying the demographic data it collects about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Scott Baba reports.

15th Annual Good Friday March in the Tenderloin

Over a dozen people gathered outside of city hall in San Francisco for the 15th annual Good Friday march. Reverend River Sims led the procession through the Tenderloin, stopping to recite the Stations of the Cross. KPFA’s Emma Riley reports:

Greens, Peace and Freedom Protest Omission of Candidate

Peace and Freedom Party and Green Party activists are calling on California’s Secretary of State to reconsider his apparent decision to remove one of their candidates from the list of candidates for the state’s presidential primary ballot. Secretary of State Alex Padilla has refused to list Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein as a candidate also for the Peace and Freedom Party. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Fresno Legislator Seeks Changes in Proposition 47

Fresno Assembly member Jim Patterson, a Republican representing the 23rd District wants to amend Proposition 47, the criminal sentencing reform measure that California voters passed in 2014. Under the resulting law, some types of nonviolent crimes like theft and drug possession can only be prosecuted as misdemeanor not matter how many times a person is arrested. At a press conference Tuesday Patterson announced a bill, AB 2369, that, if approved, would be placed on the ballot in 2018 aimed at revising the existing law. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

UC Condemns Anti-Semitism, but Not All Anti-Zionism

A University of California Regents committee has approved new “Principles Against Intolerance”, with a special focus on what a working group calls “an increase in incidents reflecting anti-Semitism on UC campuses.” But the Regents walked back from controversial language equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. Christopher Martinez files this report from San Francisco.

Mayor Lee Gets a Nudge on Homelessness from Board of Supes

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced today that the City will open a new Navigation Center and lease an additional 200 units of housing for the homeless. The new Navigation Center, which will begin accepting clients in two months is the second of its kind, building off the success of the center on Mission street. Lee's announcement comes on the heels of the Board of supervisors call for up to 6 new navigation centers and demands to declare a state of emergency on homelessness with in the city of San Francisco. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report

Sentencing Initiative Moves Forward on Streets, in Court

A proposed ballot initiative to revamp California’s criminal sentencing laws is still headed to the ballot, but it’s also working its way through the courts. Governor Jerry Brown’s “Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016” would change the way juveniles are sent to adult courts, and expand parole and good time credits for adult inmates. The California District Attorneys Association is trying to block the initiative from the ballot, saying the measure was illegally amended at the last minute to include the adult sentencing changes. Christopher Martinez reports.

Mayor Lee Wins Battle over how much Developers Pay in tranist Fees

The San Fransisco Board of Supervisors failed to override Mayor Ed Lee vetoed a bill today that would have increased the fees paid by developers to improve the transit system with in the city. The bill which initially passed in a 6-5 vote would have raised the the Transportation sustainability fee by two dollars a square foot on new commercial developments generating an additional 2.4 million dollars a year as well as a one time $30 million dollar boost. Today before the meeting Supervisor John Avalos was joined on the steps of city hall by leaders of transit unions and various activist groups urged the board of supervisors to override the mayors veto. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports from San Fransisco city hall.

Lemos Case a Prime Example of Police Misconduct in Sonoma County

Gabrielle Lemos, a teenager from Sonoma County, is suing the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office in Federal Court for use of excessive force. Hers is yet another case alleging misconduct by Sonoma County Law Enforcement, which is also in court for the shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. This time, her lawyer thinks they can make legal inroads against mounting police violence in the area.
Claire Stremple has the story.

Community College Changing Accreditation Body

California community colleges will be looking for a new accrediting body, phasing out the controversial accreditation commission that has drawn increasing fire after its attempts to strip accreditation from the City College of San Francisco. The Community College Board of Governors is putting in place a process to create a new way to accredit community colleges more in line with the accreditation of 4-year universities, saying the current accrediting commission has lost credibility within the system. Christopher Martinez files this report from Sacramento.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Move Forward on Eviction Protections for Students and Teachers

The San Francisco Board Of Supervisors moved today to protect students and teachers from ongoing housing crisis. Scott Baba reports.

Obama Rekindles Diplomatic Ties in Cuba

In an historic moment, President Obama became the first President to visit Cuba in almost 90 years. Though he's restored diplomatic ties, a 54-year trade embargo still stands. Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee says the president is leading the way with action and it's time for congress to follow suit.
Pacifica's Claire Stremple reports.

Three Coalitions Join to Protest Police Killings in San Francisco

In a show of unity, dozens of organizers and supporters of the Alex Nieto, Amilcar Perez-Lopez, and Mario Woods coalitions stood in front of San Francisco's City Hall, demanding justice. After last week's disappointing ruling in the Alex Nieto case – a jury cleared the police officers involved in his fatal shooting – the coalitions have banded together and are calling for Police Chief Greg Suhr to step down, and for Mayor Ed Lee to step up.

BART Equipment Failures Lead to Station Shutdown

BART equipment failures have led to a shutdown between the North Concord and Pittsburg-Bay Point stations as experts try to solve a major electrical problem damaging cars and taking trains out of service indefinitely. Thousands of Bay Area residents that rely on BART services every day are infuriated by the overcrowding and closures resulting. BART carries over 400,000 passengers every weekday and there are fears that BART will not be able to fix the problem for months. Pacifica’s Emma Riley reports:

Elephant Seals Survive to Face Climate Change

Many marine animals are struggling to survive the impacts of 20th century industrial civilization on the world’s oceans. Elephant Seals are one species that have rebounded back from the brink of extinction to a population growing in numbers and range. Now they’ve become a major tourist attraction along the California coast on where colonies have been established. But like all ocean creatures, Elephant Seals are facing the multiple challenges brought on by global warming, in addition to human impacts. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

San Jose Student Protest Hate Crime Verdict

Today, about 100 students gathered at Tower Plaza at San Jose State, angry about the light sentence received Monday by 3 former students who were found guilty of battery against Donald Williams, a black student who shared the same dormitory suite. The 3 men were not convicted of committing a hate crime.

Democrats Blast Republican Autopsy Failure

Democratic leaders are blasting the Republican Party for failing to live up to its own recommendations on modernizing the GOP. The so-called “Republican Autopsy Report” aimed at drawing in more women, youth and people of color. The Democrats say the party of Donald Trump is moving in the opposite direction. Christopher Martinez reports.

SCOTUS Confirmation Mired in Politics

President Barak Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland seems to have many things working in his favor as a Supreme Court nominee. He’s politically moderate, and even old enough to seem more palatable to Republican senators, compared to others Obama could have chosen. But it will still be an up-hill battle to convince senate Republicans to hold a confirmation hearing before the presidential election. That Republican stance could end up affecting Republican senate candidates in key races in November. Christopher Martinez reports.

Protest at Oakland City Hall Move City Council Behind Closed Doors

A dramatic protest at the Oakland city council meeting last night over a controversial sale of public land to private developers near Lake Merritt. In the first minutes of the meeting residents and Oakland activists took control of the chambers singing chants and refusing to be silenced by council members or police. In a move the activists are calling undemocratic and possibly illegal, the acting council president Larry Reid took the meeting behind closed doors only inviting press and city staff to join. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report from city hall.

Obama Withdraws Plan to Drill Off Atlantic Coast

In a major reversal, the Obama administration announced that it will not be drilling for oil off the Southeastern shore of the Atlantic. Claire Stremple has the story.

Sexual Harassment Roils Berkeley Law School

UC Berkeley staff, faculty and students are reeling from the recent sexual harassment incident involving dean Sujit Chaudary, who has stepped down from his dean position. Students were invited to a town hall meeting at the law school to make their voices heard on the issue. Christopher Martinez reports from Berkeley.

Central American Refugee Action Protests for Temporary Protective Status

Several dozen members and supporters of Central American Refugee Action group rallied outside Senator Feinstein's office this morning demanding Temporary Protective Status fot immigrants from the Central American region. Claire Stremple reports from San Francisco.

Berkeley Law School Dean Resigned After Sexual Harrasment Accusations

Sujit Choudhry resigned from Dean of UC Berkeley's Law School Thursday, March 10th, after his former executive assistant sued him on allegations of sexual harassment. Tyann Sorrell is suing the school in addition to Choudhry for it's failure to properly discipline the Law Dean when the allegations were proved to be true: Claude Steele, UC Berkeley provost and executive Chancellor announced that Choudhry would remain on faculty.
Morgan Levey reports.

ACLU Report Finds Prisons Are Failing Reproductive Needs

A report by the American Civil Liberties Union has found an alarming number of violations of reproductive rights in state and county prisons across California. They include denial or delay of prenatal and postpartum care, and insufficient nutrition, even in cases where a woman has a high-risk pregnancy. The report also documented accounts of women who were denied menstruation supplies and the failure to protect them from sexual assault - particularly for transgender women who are often placed in male, and not female prison facilities.
Pacifica’s Saadia Malik files this report:

CA State Assemblymember Rob Bonta Introduces the TRUTH Act

Oakland State Assemblyman Rob Bonta today unveiled legislation responding to the Immigration and Custom Enforcement's controversial deportation programs. Its called the TRUTH Act --the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds. Bonta says that ICE's new "Priority Enforcement Program" is only repeating the mistakes of the defunct "Secure Communities Program" which the Obama Administration jettisoned as a failure just two years ago. The Assemblyman says his TRUTH Act builds upon the California TRUST Act --a law signed by Governor Brown three years ago that tries to protect undeserving immigrants from immigration detainer requests by deportation authorities. Pacifica's Emma Riley reports from the state building in Oakland:

SFPD Did Not Use Unreasonable Force Decided The Jury on Nieto's Shooting

The jury in the Nieto VS San Francisco city and county trial reached a verdict in favor of the San Francisco police department who fatally shot Alex Nieto with at least 48 bullets in Bernal heights park 2 years ago. The jury, 6 women and 2 men found that the 4 officers involved used reasonable force. Nieto's parents had filed the federal lawsuit.
Pacifica's Nina Pareja was at the federal courthouse in San Francisco and filed this report.

Landmark Anti-Tobacco Bills Pass State Senate

State lawmakers have passed a package of anti-tobacco bills that amount to the toughest tobacco measures in decades. They include a bill to raise the smoking age to 21, and another to include e-cigarettes under existing smoking regulations. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Last Step in The Nieto VS SF City and County Trial: Jury is Deliberating

Attorneys gave their closing arguments today in the trial of the family of Alex Nieto VS the city and county of San Francisco. Elvira and refugio Nieto filed a lawsuit over the death of their son, Alex Nieto, who was fatally shot at least 48 times by San Francisco police 2 years ago. The jury of 6 women and 2 men is now deliberating the verdict. The jury will have to unanimously determine whether the 4 officers involved in the shooting used unreasonable force against 28-year-old Nieto and if it is, determine an amount of damages for the Nieto's parents. Defense for the city says the officers used reasonable force and did not violate Nieto's civil rights because they followed their training, responding to an imminent threat, they said Nieto pointed a weapon at them, and appropriately responded using lethal force.
Pacifica's Nina Pareja was at the trial and filed this report.

Soda Tax Bill Targets Diabetes, Obesity

Democratic Assemblymember Richard Bloom is pushing legislation to tax sugar-sweetened beverages. He says the measure would help address health problems like diabetes and obesity that have become epidemic. The measure would impose a two cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks in order to fund health and nutrition programs, especially in communities of color that bear the brunt of the diabetes crisis. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Congressional Democrats File Supreme Court Amicus Briefs over DACA/ DAPA

Last week The Supreme court announced it will hear arguments on a case effecting the residency status of 5 million Immigrants. This week immigration reform advocates from all walks of life ranging from teachers to members of congress filed amicus briefs with the high court. The friends of the court briefs demonstrate a wide range of support for president Obama's DACA and DAPA programs opposed by the state of Texas and 22 other republican dominated states which oppose granting amnesty for millions of undocumented youth and parents of children in the country legally. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report.

Last Witnesses At the NIeto's VS SF City and County Trial

Testimony in the Nieto's vs San Francisco city and county trial wrapped up today. The defense, the city, brought its 3 last witnesses today, 2 dog walkers and a paid police expert.
Elvira and Refugio Nieto are filling a lawsuit in the death of their son, Alex Nieto, fatally shot multiple times by the San Francisco police department 2 years ago. The 4 officers involved in the shooting have always stated they followed their training. They said they approached Nieto after receiving a call about a Latino man walking in Bernal heights park with a gun attached to his hip. Then, they said he refused to comply with the order to showing his hands forcing them to start shooting as they thought Nieto was reaching for his holster. The Nieto's say the officers used unreasonable force against a lone man who was in fact armed only with a taser to go to his job as a security guard
Pacifica's Nina Pareja was at the trial and filed this report.

Plastic Bag Ban Draws Student Support

Student activists are gearing up to support a state law banning single-use plastic bags linked to ocean pollution. Plastic bag companies have blocked the law from going into effect by putting a referendum on the November ballot, but the student activists and environmentalists are campaigning to save the plastic bag ban law. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

SF City Hall to Battle over How to Handle Homlessness

Supervisor David Campos called for a state of Emergency on homelessness in San Francisco Today. Hid announcement comes After an announcement last week that the mayor's office would take at least another six months to build a second navigation center, a pilot program taking homeless people in groups and people with pets off the streets and into housing. Campos says the mayors time line is unacceptable and says that the city needs to declare a state of emergency in order to cut through red tape and speed up the process of picking sites for the new centers. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports from Mission street in San Francisco.

San Jose has Fastest Rising Rent in the U.S.

Last night in San Jose, over 500 community members and advocates filled a high school gym to impress on San Jose’s mayor and council members the urgency of addressing high rents and unjust evictions in the city.

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Discusses Waste Water Disposal Changes

California is under threat by oil and gas drillers and their practice of dumping toxic waste water into over a thousand open air pits across the state. This is according to a new report being put out by an environmental watchdog, which also alleges that regulators are failing to effectively address the situation. Scott Baba reports.

New Assembly Speaker Rendon Praises Affirmative Action, Food Stamps

Democrat Anthony Rendon of Paramount has been sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly, one of the three most powerful offices in state government. With recent changes in legislative term limits, Rendon could hold that leadership position until 2024, which would make him the longest-serving speaker since Willie Brown in the 1990’s. He’s vowing to focus on poverty, and he could be pushing to take back some legislative power he says has shifted to the governor’s office in the era of term limits. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Repressive Honduran Government Receives Funding from US

Missing from much of the coverage of Berta Casares' death are details of US involvement in the 2009 coup d'etat leading to a repressive Honduran government and a hostile climate for environmental activists. Pacifica's Claire Stremple reports.

Domestic Workers Coalition Rally in San Francisco

Several people gathered in the rain at the Mission BART Plaza in San Francisco to rally in support for a bill that will permanently guarantee overtime pay for domestic workers. KPFA’s Emma Riley reports:

GOP Candidates Pledge Unity, Continue Attacks

The four remaining candidates for the Republican presidential nomination gathered in Detroit for the 11th Republican presidential debate. It comes days after Trump’s big wins on Super Tuesday. All of the candidates vowed to support whoever is the Republican nominee for president, but the attacks and insults were still on display, as the stakes rise for the nomination and the fate of the Republican party. Christopher Martinez reports.

Nieto's Family VS SF City and County : 2nd Day of Trial

Witness testimony began in the Alex Nieto wrongful death trial in San Francisco. Nieto was fatally shot 48 times by 4 San Francisco police officers 2 years ago. Officers state they followed their training and used reasonable force, while Elvira and Refugio Nieto claims their son's civil rights were violated and that the racial bias was a factor.
Pacifica's Nina Pareja is attending the trial and filed this report.

Trump Could Threaten GOP Candidates

Establishment Republicans are becoming more and more worried about the prospect of a Trump nomination. Among their fears is the question of how a Trump candidacy could affect Republican candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. Christopher Martinez reports.

Supervisor Campos Demands More Navigation Centers in San Francisco

With El Nino rains about to start falling again, San Francisco Supervisors took up the ongoing issue of the city's homeless population. The hearing took place a day after officials made good on their threat to clear out the remaining homeless people at what had been a large encampment on Division Street.

L.A. City Council Calls For Maximum Prop 47 Funding

The L.A. City Council is urging state lawmakers to make good on promises to give local communities the state's savings from letting low-level non-violent offenders out of prison. With a 14-to-0 vote, the council called on Sacramento lawmakers to start making good on the local funding promised by Prop 47, the voter-approved initiative from 2014 that reduced penalties for many drug crimes and other less serious offenses. The Proposition allowed re-sentencing and early release for many prisoners. Los Angeles city and community leaders say the funding is needed for jail alternatives. Pacifica's Dan Fritz reports from Los Angeles.

The Nieto Family VS SF City and County Trial Opens

The civil trial in the San Francisco police department killing of Alex Nieto opened this morning, two years after Nieto was fatally shot multiple times in Bernal heights park. The trial's opening brought anti-police brutality activists outside of the San Francisco's federal courthouse to support Nieto's family.
Pacifica's Nina Pareja was there and filed this report.

New Gun Control Bills Move Forward in Legislature

Some Democratic lawmakers have introduced a package of legislation they say will help curb gun violence. The bills include several aimed at the so-called “bullet button” that allows quick reloading of assault rifles. Several of the measures came up for their first legislative hearing Tuesday, drawing strong opposition from the National Rifle Association and Republican lawmakers. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

SF Sheriff Deputies Face Charges for "Fight Club"

Two current and one former San Francisco sheriff's deputies were charged this morning with a total of 25 crimes related to forcing county jail inmates to fight one another for food. The charges include Assault by Officer under Color of Authority, criminal threats and cruel and unusual punishment of a prisoner. The charges come nearly a year after the March 5 and 6th fights that lead to a joint investigation by the FBI Public Corruption Task Force and the District Attorney's investigation division. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report.

East Lake Oakland Residents Fight Luxury Tower with Affordable Housing Alternative

Oakland's East lake residents turned out last night to demonstrate their opposition to proposals to build a high rise luxury tower in their neighborhood. They instead endorsed a community sponsored plan for housing on the publicly owned parcel. Claire Stremple reports from the Oakland City Council.