KQED's The California Report

This week marks the 70th anniversary of the release of the original Godzilla film across Japan. But the movie that American audiences first saw was actually an altered version with added scenes shot at a small Los Angeles studio.Reporter: Josie Huang, LAistThe Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County has destroyed 132 structures, most of which were homes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Details are still coming in about how voting demographics broke down in the presidential election. But so far, it seems Republicans made big gains with Latino voters, particularly men.Guest: Christian Paz, Senior Politics Reporter, VoxThousands of people have been forced to evacuate in Ventura County because of a wind-whipped wildfire that continues to burn out of control. The Mountain Fire is believed to have destroyed dozens of homes so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump has been elected the 47th President of the United States. Although a handful of states have not been called, the former president clinched the victory with his win in Wisconsin. Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQEDDemocratic representative Adam Schiff won the US Senate seat long held by the late Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday night.A number of statewide ballot measures were decided on Election Night, although the outcome of some are still up in the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of Californians are expected to head to the polls Tuesday in the 2024 general election. They'll be voting on local measures, state propositions and our next president. If you're one of those people and you've got some last minute questions you're too afraid to ask, we've got you covered.Guest: Kim Alexander, President of the California Voter Foundation PG&E says as many as 15,000 in 17 counties across its sprawling area could lose power starting Tuesday night, because of the onset of dangerous fire weather.Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, you’ve likely heard news stories about fiery school board meetings. But most often, they’re pretty routine. In the November election, there are several school board races on the ballot. But many are not, because the races have not attracted more than one candidate.Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU Shasta County in far Northern California has been the epicenter of election denialism in the state, and the tension is taking a toll on election workers. Officials have confirmed that 10 out of 21 workers with the Shasta County Registrar of Voters have quit as of last week.Reporter: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of thousands of University of California workers have authorized their unions to call a strike in coming weeks. They say many departments are understaffed and accuse UC administrators of bargaining in bad faith.Although California's more than 180,000 unhoused residents could be impacted by the results of next week's election, many may not vote due to various challenges. Data from Sacramento County shows less than 10 percent of unhoused voters there are registered.Reporter: Yue Stella Yu, CalMattersStatewide Proposition 34 is, on its face, about requiring health care providers to spend nearly all of their revenue on patients. But the measure is backed by a landlord lobbying group and only applies to a single provider who is pushing for more rent control in California.Reporter: Aaron Schrank, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young voter turnout across the U.S. has historically been low. But this year, youth voter registration has surged. And that could make a difference in the Congressional District 13 race in northern San Joaquin Valley. Two years ago, Republican John Duarte beat Democrat Adam Gray by less than 600 votes. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPRAnother demographic that could sway the vote in California’s 13th District is Latinas. They make up 1 in every 4 voters in the District, according to Lucete Latina, a Federal Political Action Committee.Guest: Roxana Pantoja, 19-year-old Merced resident The Los Angeles Dodgers won in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, coming from behind to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 of the World Series. It's the franchise's eighth World Series championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Hall, a KQED reporter specializing in Shasta County elections, sheds light on the challenges facing voters in this northern California region. He discusses the recent transition of election officials following the retirement of a longtime registrar. The conversation touches on community trust issues, including local decisions on voting integrity and the shift to hand-counted ballots. Hall also emphasizes the importance of transparency in managing elections and reassures voters about the security of their voting machines.

Over the last few months, voting rights advocates have been hitting the ground across the Imperial Valley as part of a new effort to get more people ready to cast their ballots in November. They’re fighting an ongoing battle: decades of low voter turnout.Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBSMore than 37,000 University of California service and patient care workers are voting this week on whether to authorize a statewide strike.The Los Angeles Dodgers are a win away from a World Series Championship. L.A. defeated the New York Yankees in Game 3 Monday night, 4-2, to take a 3-0 lead in the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should a California town change its name because of its association with a murderous settler? That’s the question at the heart of a ballot measure this election season, in Lake County. It’s a rural area about two hours drive north of Sacramento. Voters are being asked if the small town of Kelseyville should be renamed Konocti. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadioSouthern California’s largest Asian American advocacy group is training its poll monitors to keep an eye out for racist rhetoric and bullying.Reporter: Josie Huang, LAistCalifornians will vote on ten statewide ballot propositions this fall. Among them is Proposition 2, which would let California borrow $10 billion through a state bond to pay for updates to school facilities.Reporter: Carolyn Jones, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices