California's Obamacare Dodges Trump Torpedo Efforts

California is ramping up outreach for its Obamacare program, called “Covered California.” California has the strongest Obamacare program in the nation, and it’s on track to enroll 400,000 more people, with many of them seeing lower premiums than last year. This comes despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to torpedo Obamacare at the federal level.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Ballot Initiative Could Roll Back Recent Criminal Justice Initiatives

Tough-on-crime law enforcement and crime victims’ organizations have introduced a ballot initiative to roll back changes made to criminal justice laws by recent measures to lower the prison population in California’s over-crowded prisons. They want to expand the list of violent crimes that would be ineligible for early release under Prop 57 and to increase DNA testing and other changes to Proposition 47.
Christopher Martinez reports.

California Water Fix Faces an Uncertain Future

California Water Fix was dealt another blow when the Interior Department announced it would not move forward on the project and would not provide funding, What does this mean for the future of the Bay Delta plan and the twin tunnels project? Vic Bedoian Reports from Fresno.

Extreme Heat Map Combats Climate Change Impacts

Record high temperatures in late October are another reminder that 2017 is the warmest yet on record. With rising temperatures come an increasing number of days of extreme heat. The kind of heat that can cause illness or even kill the vulnerable. Nationally, extreme heat kills more people every year than any other kind of weather event. An increasing number of extreme heat days are now reported in twenty states and the District of Columbia. The Natural Resources Defense Council this week unveiled a new extreme heat map and analysis. It brings the reality of climate change at nationally and at the local level using weather data from around the country over 30 years. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Sexual Harassment Becomes State Capitol Issue

A movement to take a stand against sexual harassment has roiled the state capitol, with hundreds of current and former lawmakers and lobbyists signing on to an open letter. That has triggered moves by the Senate and Assembly to bring in outside investigators and consultants, and to hold hearings on the issue. It has also sparked a similar move in Illinois that takes inspiration from the California women.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Single Payer Advocates Speak Out at Assembly Hearing

An Assembly committee on “Healthcare and Universal Coverage” held a second day of hearings at the state capitol. The committee heard from experts who have studied universal health systems in other countries. But it also got an ear-full from advocates of a single-payer bill, Senate Bill 562, that has been bottled up by the Assembly speaker.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Single Payer Advocates Blast Assembly Healthcare Hearing

A new Assembly committee has kicked off hearings on California’s health care system and how to move toward universal health coverage. The hearing is drawing criticism from supporters of single payer health care. They say the hearings involve a powerless committee “just talking” instead of voting on a single payer bill that has already passed out of the state Senate.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Activists Celebrate New Equity & Justice Laws

Criminal justice advocates are celebrating the signing of a package of bills on juvenile and criminal justice. The so-called “Equity and Justice” bills include measures to end fees for juveniles and adults later found innocent, and to prevent false confessions by providing Miranda rights for youths when they’re interrogated.
Christopher Martinez reports.

De Leon Launches US Senate Campaign

Democratic state senate leader Kevin de Leon has officially announced he’ll run for US Senate, setting up a primary challenge to incumbent Dianne Feinstein. De Leon is challenging Feinstein from the left, capitalizing on his anti-Trump record in the state senate, and hoping to build on the frustrations of many progressive Democrats who see Feinstein as too moderate and accommodating to the Trump administration.
Christopher Martinez reports.

New Laws Affect Civil Rights and Environment

Governor Jerry Brown’s final round of bill signings has delivered a series of victories to civil rights and environmental activists in California. Brown has signed bills that will expand transgender rights, block a potential Muslim registry, and provide “right to know” information about chemicals in cleaning products used by consumers and workers.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Brown Signs Free Community College bill, Vetoes Cel Tower Fast-Track

Governor Jerry Brown has completed his work on legislation passed by state lawmakers this year. The bills he signed include a measure to provide a year of free Community College for first time students. Vetoes include a controversial bill that would have made it easier for telecom companies to install antennas and wireless boosters over the objections of local communities and city governments.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Brown Signs Criminal Justice, Women's Bills

Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a series of bills dealing with criminal justice reform and support for women, children and families. The action comes ahead of an October 15th deadline to act on bills passed in the final days of the legislative session.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Southern California Water District Approves Tunnels Project

The Municipal Water District of Southern California voted Tuesday to opt into California Water Fix. The water wholesaler serves 19 million residents in 26 public agencies and water districts in southern California. In doing so, the agency agreed to pay 26 percent of the cost of building and operating the controversial Delta Tunnels. The vote comes shortly after the 600,000-acre Westlands Water District declined to support the project because farmers there found the costs would outweigh the benefits of the project. The vote keeps California WaterFix on life-support, but just barely. Two other major water agencies will decide later this week whether to underwrite the project. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

CA Emergency Officials Give Wildfire Update

The deadly combination of high winds and low humidity is continuing to fuel devastating fires in northern California. They’re on track to become the deadliest fires in California history. Some experts are pointing to the role climate change could be playing in making wildfires worse.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Wildfires Send People to Evacuation Centers

As the wildfires continue to rage in northern California, people are taking refuge in evacuation centers. Marin County opened up an evacuation center Monday, adding to other centers in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Christopher Martinez reports.

California Passes Sanctuary State Law

Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a raft of bills aimed at protecting California’s immigrant communities from President Donald Trump’s immigration and deportation policies. Chief among those bills is Senate Bill 54, sometimes called the “sanctuary state law.”
Christopher Martinez reports.

Paid Maternity Leave for Teachers Awaits Action

Teachers and other supporters are urging Governor Jerry Brown to sign a bill on paid maternity leave. Assembly Bill 568 would guarantee six weeks of paid maternity leave for K-12 and community college teachers and school workers.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Arpaio's Fresno Visit Stirs Controversy and Rallies

Controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio stirred dissent and praise at a demonstration during his appearance at the annual dinner of the Fresno County Republican Party. Hundreds of protesters and a few dozen supporters of Arpaio gathered on opposite sides of the street with Fresno police in between keeping the peace. Arpaio was defeated after 24 years as Maricopa County Sheriff, after being convicted of criminal contempt of court. Meanwhile, at the nearby banquet hall Arpaio continued issuing provocative statements. Arpaio reportedly told the Republican audience that people with DACA status should be sent back to their country of origin, and then given a fast-track back to the U.S. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Free Community College Bill Awaits Governor's Action

Full-time community college students could get a year of free tuition, under a bill awaiting action on the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. The bill is aimed at encouraging full-time enrollment, helping students avoid crippling debt, and providing increasing numbers of much-needed college graduates for the California economy.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Latest Mass Shooting Revives Gun Control Debate

Calls for stricter gun control are increasing in the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting. It’s become a familiar scenario, where a mass shooting tragedy leads to calls for legislative action, along with opposition from critics that say gun control is not the answer and only politicizes the tragedy.
Christopher Martinez reports.