The police chief and assistant police chief in the City of Porterville are both out on “authorized leave,” as an interim police chief is leading the department. At the same time, the department is facing multiple civil rights lawsuits. KVPR Associate Editor Kerry Klein breaks down what we know about the department’s current affairs. Plus, the latest news headlines: Health budget cuts in Kern County are being felt; and the potential impacts of a federal lawsuit over college tuition for immigrant students.
Thousands of children work in California’s agricultural fields – and while child labor is legal in the ag industry, lax enforcement means kids are suffering. On today’s episode, journalist Robert J. Lopez tells the stories of dozens of child laborers whom he spoke with for his report for Capital and Main entitled “California’s Child Farmworkers: Exhausted, Underpaid and Toiling in Toxic Fields.” Plus, the latest news headlines: A federal funding fight might be back on for Fresno; and Valley food pantries are struggling to meet the need.
It’s easy for visitors to Yosemite National Park to marvel at the park’s ancient trees and landscape. But what about the many creatures that call the park home? For the first time in more than 100 years, there’s a new book dedicated just to Yosemite’s wildlife. On today's episode, we speak with the author of that new book, Beth Pratt.
Hard Rock Casino Tejon opened this month to much enthusiasm – especially from the Tejon Indian Tribe. Tribal leaders say the new event space will bring jobs and revenue to the region. On today’s episode, we speak with tribal chairman Octavio Escobedo III about how the casino’s presence could benefit the tribe. Plus, the latest news headlines: The CSU and UC systems approve new tuition rates and compensation packages; and the state DOJ declines to press charges over Fresno police shooting.
What’s the future of transportation in Fresno County? A new proposal seeks to build a regional rail to connect communities in the west with those in the east. Today we speak with Paul Herman, deputy director of the Fresno Council of Governments, about the plan and what it means about the future of transportation in the county and the wider region. Plus, the latest news headlines: California could be headed for a tough financial year; and the new Democratic candidate entering the race for governor.
Earlier this month, The Fresno Bee’s parent company McClatchy laid off three long-time editors at the local newspaper. As a result, the local opinion pages will now be managed from hundreds of miles away by editors at The Sacramento Bee. To understand what this means for local media, we speak with Jim Boren, a former executive editor of the newspaper. Plus, the latest news headlines: Advocates speak out about pesticide regulation in the Valley; and a new wolf pack is found in California.
The nation’s trucking industry is one of the latest targets of President Trump’s immigration crackdown agenda. Recent deadly trucking accidents provided the administration with examples of why it needs to take some immigrant drivers off the road. So how is the industry reacting? We speak with industry veteran Craig Fuller, from the industry website “FreightWaves.” Plus, the latest news headlines: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Visalia school trustee Randy Villegas for Congress; and Valley community college faculty revolt against their chancellor.
The University of California, Merced, is celebrating 20 years since opening its doors to its first students. In that time, the campus has grown to be nationally ranked and to play an integral part of the central California region. Today we speak with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz about the campus’s past and future.
The Kern County Board of Education is proposing to display the Ten Commandments in its school lobbies. But the proposal has been met with protest from those who want to keep separation of church and state. In this episode, we speak with attorney Chris Line. He's with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, one of the civil rights groups opposing the proposal. Plus, the latest news headlines: The federal DOJ joins a lawsuit challenging California's new voter maps, and the chancellor of the California State Center Community College District announces her retirement.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday night to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The bill restores federal worker salaries and food aid benefits that had slowed earlier this month. But it doesn’t include healthcare subsidies that Democrats had largely been pushing for. But Merced Democratic Rep. Adam Gray tells KVPR that this doesn’t mean Democrats will stop pushing for those subsidies. Plus, the latest news headlines: Porterville police department facing multiple lawsuits, and a former top aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom faces federal charges.
Firebaugh may be a small town in western Fresno County. But it has left its mark on the sport of football – as the hometown of NFL quarterback Josh Allen. On today’s episode, KVPR’s Samantha Rangel takes us there to witness the unique way Allen is giving back to his hometown.Plus, the latest news headlines: Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s upset with Democratic senators over the shutdown deal; and a growing botulism outbreak from baby formula sickens infants.
The so-called “Land Back Movement” seeks to return ancestral lands to native groups as a way to preserve and reestablish indigenous sovereignty. The State of California recently completed one of those deals with the Tule River Indian Tribe. In this episode, we speak with a journalist from Tribal Business News about that deal and its meaning. Plus, the latest news headlines: What a major Fresno County sales tax would fund if voters renew it, and the continuing legal fight to fund food assistance.
The “Golden State Killer” began his crimes in Tulare County in the 1970s and evaded authorities for decades until his capture in 2018. On today’s episode, Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho discusses his new book, “The People Vs. The Golden State Killer,” which details his lead role in the case and what he learned from survivors’ stories.
Journalist and author Ari Shapiro hosted NPR’s flagship show “All Things Considered” for 10 years. This fall he decided to step away, trading the studio for the stage. Shapiro is an experienced cabaret singer and in today’s episode he tells us about his show “Thank You For Listening,” which he will perform at Modesto's Gallo Center for the Arts on Sunday. Plus, the latest news headlines: Groups push for transparency in southeast Fresno expansion plans; and Prop 50 passage changes Valley House races.
Was California’s Proposition 50 measure an early referendum on President Trump’s second term in office? Voters overwhelmingly supported an effort by Gov. Gavin Newsom to redraw congressional lines and give more power to Democrats next year. We look more closely into the measure’s approval with The Maddy Institute’s Blake Zante. Plus, the latest news headlines: A lawsuit seeks to reverse Proposition 50, and Fresno’s new effort to beautify.
California’s Proposition 50 got the seal of approval from voters on Tuesday. The measure passed by double digits and dealt a significant victory to Democrats looking to clamp down on the Trump Administration and the GOP in Congress. KVPR News Director Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado breaks down what the result means. Plus, the latest news headlines: California Sen. Alex Padilla opts out of California governor’s race; and new details emerge in a case against a former CSU Bakersfield coach.
School districts are in an upward climb to get student engagement and test scores back to pre-pandemic levels. Sanger Unified in Fresno County has historically struggled with test scores, but is now outperforming state averages in English and math. Lasherica Thornton, education reporter for EdSource, explains what the district is doing differently and why it’s working. Plus, the latest news headlines: Voters are turning out in high numbers for today’s special election in California; and Democratic officials push to restore funding for higher education.
The tragic Southern California fires earlier this year destroyed houses and killed dozens. Among the homes destroyed was Demitri Camperos’. Camperos is now trekking from Altadena to Paradise — the site of the tragic 2018 Camp Fire — to raise awareness for fire victims. Host Elizabeth Arakelian met Demitri halfway through his journey in Fresno.
“Dia de los Muertos,” or Day of the Dead, is much more than commercialized imagery of colorful skulls and skeletons adorned with bright flowers. In this episode, the KVPR newsroom sets out to shed light on three of the key ingredients to honor the occasion. Plus, the latest news headlines: The Tule River Indian Tribe gets thousands of acres of land back from the state; and Fresno County officials explore a light rail to connect towns.
Voters in California are heading to the polls to weigh in on Proposition 50, which, if approved, could mean more Democratic seats in the House of Representatives. As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would send election monitors to polling sites in Fresno and Kern counties and three others in the state. Fresnoland reporter Omar Rashad tells us what we know about the election monitoring plans. Plus, the latest news headlines: Groups protest plans to expand a Kern County ICE facility, and what a new report says about traffic in two Valley cities.