KQED's The California Report

It’s been more than a year and a half since a levee breach flooded the community of Pajaro. The state of California gave Monterey County $20 million for recovery, with $10 million earmarked for direct aid to residents and businesses. But Pajaro residents are still waiting on most of that money.Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZUA powerful atmospheric river continues to slam Northern California. Weather conditions have toppled trees, flooded roads, left thousands without power, and forced the closure of some schools as a precautionary measure. The National Weather Service warns Eureka and Humboldt County could see extensive flooding. Reporter: Sukey Lewis, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the country's Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has promised that the Trump administration will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water on day one in office. But what will that mean for water, and our teeth?Guest: Dr. Howard Pollick, Professor of Dentistry, UCSF The state Legislature’s fiscal analyst is out with its first round of budget projections this week. The takeaway? The budget is roughly balanced, for now.Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several California tribes are renewing their push for the federal government to protect their ancestral lands. They’re urging the Biden administration to create three new national monuments across the state before the end of the year.Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS On Wednesday, unions representing tens of thousands of healthcare, professional, service and technical employees at the University of California launched a two-day strike.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re one of the unlucky people who get bitten by a venomous snake, you’re going to need antivenom. And it’s costly. Millions of Californians live in rattlesnake territory, and are unaware that the medical bill could be enormous.Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KFF Health News It's been two weeks since Lake County’s Measure U asked voters if the town of Kelseyville should change its name to Konocti. Over 70% voted against the change.Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump has yet to announce his pick to lead the Labor Department. His choice will reveal the direction the administration plans for the agency.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQEDThe first case of a more severe strain of mpox has been found in California. State health officials confirmed the first known U.S. case of the strain – known as clade I – in San Mateo County over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The LA County city of Inglewood has been on a roll the last few years. SoFi Stadium, home to two NFL teams, the L.A. Rams and L.A. Chargers opened in 2020 at a cost of over $5 billion. And just this year, the Intuit Dome became the home of the LA Clippers. While the sport venues were supposed to be a boon for the area, some Black-owned small business owners say they're actually doing more damage than good.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California ReportThe Palm Springs City Council unanimously approved a settlement with Section 14 residents and descendants Thursday night. The neighborhood was home to mostly Black and Latino families, whose homes were burned down by the city in the 1960's.  Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to reenter the White House, California housing advocates are bracing for how a second term could impact the state’s challenges in building housing, notoriously high home prices, rents, rates of homelessness.Guest: Dan Dunmoyer, President and CEO, California Building Industry AssociationThe Palm Springs City Council will vote Thursday on whether to approve a settlement for the survivors and descendants of a predominantly black and brown neighborhood that was burned down 60 years ago.Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supporters of criminal justice reform in California suffered some big losses in last week’s election. But people on both sides of the debate over crime and punishment say the election shouldn’t be seen as a renunciation of progressive reforms entirely.Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQEDIn the Central Valley, Republican Congressman David Valadao has won re-election, moving the GOP closer to control of the House. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQEDFor the first time in history, women will make up at least half of the California State Senate.Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump made plenty of promises during his campaign that could affect the state of California. But California is already taking action to defend itself against potential Trump administration policies. Will it work?Guest: Melanie Mason, Politico Federal health officials are making a new push to test more workers who might be infected with bird flu. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Veterans Day, a reminder that thousands of veterans, young and old, are homeless in our state. But in Sacramento and surrounding communities, the numbers of homeless vets has noticeably dropped over the past couple of years.  Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio The California Air Resources Board is moving ahead with changes to toughen the state’s low carbon fuel standard. Regulators voted to approve the controversial amendments late Friday.Reporter: Kevin Stark, KQEDAs the Southern California Kaiser mental health worker strike enters its fourth week, some patients are turning to social media to show their support. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices