Richmond's Homeless Coping with Covid

As the corona virus began to spread in the U.S. in late February, experts predicted that homeless encampments would be devastated by the pandemic because of poor sanitation, underlying health conditions, and close proximity living. This has not proved to be the case in some nearby eastbay communities. Tom Herriman reports from Richmond.

KPFA 94.1-FM Berkeley · Richmond's Homeless Coping with Covid

Lawmakers Told Trump’s New Water Rules Will Push Salmon Closer to Extinction

The Trump Administration’s new rules governing water deliveries will push California’s salmon population closer to extinction. That’s the consensus of experts who testified to a legislative panel. The panel met for its annual review of the condition of the state’s fisheries and the multi-billion-dollar industry that employs nearly twenty-five thousand workers and provides seafood for the world. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

AG Barr Escalates Attacks on Sanctuary Jurisdictions

Attorney General William Barr says he’s escalating federal actions against sanctuary jurisdictions, such as California, as well as other states, cities and counties that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement actions. He announced new lawsuits against New Jersey and King County, Washington, as well as attacking local district attorneys who he says charge undocumented immigrants with lower offenses so they will not become subject to deportation.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Fresno Mayor’s Race Pits Progressive Vision Versus the Establishment

Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz gained national attention in 2018 when came close to defeating incumbent Republican Devin Nunes in California’s heavily Republican 22nd Congressional District. Now, he’s campaigning to become the first Democrat in decades to become the mayor of Fresno. Janz is in a tight race with former Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer Fresno, with its population of over half a million residents is the fifth largest city in California. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Organizers Work to Meet 2020 Census Challenges in the Valley

As the countdown to the 2020 Census approaches, community organizers in the San Joaquin Valley are launching an educational campaign stressing the importance of census data for everything from social services funding to political representation. In Fresno recently the Dolores Huerta Foundation has embarked on a mission to maximize participation among hard to reach populations. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Gray Wolf Killer Sought as Feds Seek to End Species Protection

Ever since endangered Gray Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, they have thrived and spread throughout the West. California now has a wolf population residing in Lassen and Plumas counties. In 2018 the Gray Wolf known as OR-59 was shot and killed in Northern California. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been investigating the incident and recently offered a $2500 reward for information leading to the killer of OR-59. KPFA’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Environmental Advocates Wary of New Delta Tunnel Plan

Governor Gavin Newsom has restarted a project to build a single tunnel to ship billions of gallons of water from the San Joaquin Delta to Southern California. Newsom issued a Notice of Preparation on Wednesday which will begin a lengthy process of environmental review. KPFA’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Bill Would Ban Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics

Democratic lawmakers and consumer groups are making a push for a bill that would ban toxic chemicals like lead and asbestos that are commonly used in cosmetics. The legislation would ban 13 toxic chemicals that are already banned from cosmetics in the European Union.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Tom Steyer Opens State Campaign Headquarters in Fresno

Democratic Party presidential candidate Tom Steyer went to Fresno last night to open his first California campaign headquarters. Steyer is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who was late in getting into the election race, promises to invest a hundred million dollars of his own money in seeking the presidency. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

BLM Issues Environmental Study of Fracking in Central California

The Bureau of Land Management has finalized a controversial plan to open up 1.2 million acres of federal land in California to oil and gas production. Earlier this year, the BLM held hearings on its study on the environmental impacts of petroleum development on federal land in the San Joaquin Valley, the central coast region and areas near Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. Environmental groups throughout the state vigorously opposed the plan at several public meetings. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Fishing Groups Say Storm Water Discharge Permit Harms San Joaquin River

A coalition of fishing industry groups, tribes and water quality advocates went public to oppose the Central Valley Water Board’s decision to approve a 25-year permit to the Grasslands Water District to continue discharging storm water into the San Joaquin River and San Francisco Bay Delta. The runoff from storm events and farming in the region contains selenium, mercury and other contaminants which can harm fish and wildlife. The Grasslands Bypass was built in 1996 to drain those pollutants away from valley wetlands and into the San Joaquin River and the San Francisco Bay Delta. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

House Impeaches President Donald Trump

The House of Representatives has impeached President Donald Trump. The historic vote marks just the third time a president has been impeached. The house voted on two articles of impeachment, setting the stage for a trial in the Senate over whether to remove Trump from office.
Christopher Martinez files this report.

Impeachment Eve Rally Brings Together Valley’s Trump Opponents

Hundreds of Valley residents rallied on Impeachment Eve in support of the effort to impeach the President at the office of Trump ally Congressman Devin Nunes. It was one of several events in the Valley, with other gatherings taking place in Visalia, Hanford and Mariposa. They were part of an estimated 600 rallies around the nation calling for Trump’s impeachment. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

House Committee Sets Stage for Impeachment Vote

The House Rules Committee is setting the stage for a Wednesday vote on the impeachment of President Donald Trump. In another marathon session, lawmakers debated the merits of impeachment, with Democrats and Republicans launching pointed critiques of the motivations of the opposing party, but with little of the emotional fireworks that have marked previous impeachment hearings.
Christopher Martinez reports.

California Celebrates One Million Solar Panels

Former governors Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger joined local officials, solar businesses, workers and students in celebrating California reaching one million solar roofs. The governors were honored for their leadership in advancing solar energy. The event was sponsored by a coalition of solar energy concerns and took place at Buchanan High School in Clovis. Vic Bedoian reports.

House Judiciary Committee Set to Vote on Articles of Impeachment

The House Judiciary Committee is moving toward a vote on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, after more than 12 hours of debate. The committee session is the last step before sending the articles to the full House for a vote on impeachment. The committee includes some of the most liberal Democrats in the house, as well as some of the most conservative Republicans.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Justice Department Watchdog Says No Bias in Trump-Russia Probe

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from the Justice Department’s top watch dog, in a hearing on the FBI’s investigation of the Trump-Russia probe. President Donald Trump and his Republican supporters have blasted the investigation as a politically motivated “witch hunt.” The Justice Department’s Inspector General says he found no bias or political motives in the investigation.
Christopher Martinez reports.

Pelosi Announces USMCA Trade Deal Minutes After Impeachment Announcement

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced a trade deal to replace NAFTA. The US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement has been a top legislative priority for President Donald Trump. Pelosi says the new deal is a far cry from what the Trump administration had proposed, with stronger protections for labor and the environment. Meanwhile, Trump is calling the deal “the silver lining to impeachment.”
Christopher Martinez reports.

9-Hour Judiciary Hearing Paves Way for Impeachment

The House Judiciary Committee has held its second, and likely last, hearing before it moves on to drafting articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The committee held a heated hearing, where it received a 300-page report from the House Intelligence Committee on evidence in the Trump-Ukraine impeachment inquiry. A Democratic witness supported impeachment, calling President Trump’s actions “a clear and present danger to our free and fair elections and to our national security.”
Christopher Martinez reports.

Kings River Water Users Fight for Water Rights

A battle over water rights to the Kings River has erupted in the Central Valley between farmers and other water users in the Kings River watershed and an immense Kern County water district to the South.... Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.