KQED's The California Report

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

The U.S. Forest Service this week directed its employees in California to stop prescribed burning "for the foreseeable future," a directive that officials said is meant to preserve staff and equipment to fight wildfires if needed.Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Californians will vote on ten statewide ballot propositions this fall. Among them is Proposition 3, which would enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in the California constitution.Reporter: Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters Voter support appears to be waning for a ballot measure that would increase the state’s minimum wage. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The head of the federal agency in charge of securing our nation’s election infrastructure is on a speaking tour, trying to instill confidence in the integrity of the coming vote. Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final weeks of the presidential campaign, migration at the U.S.-Mexico border remains a heated topic. Former President Donald Trump calls it an “invasion.” And Vice President Kamala Harris is vowing tougher enforcement. So what is actually happening at the border?Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQEDThe editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times has resigned after the newspaper’s owner, billionaire biotech entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked the editorials team’s plan to endorse Kamala Harris in this year’s presidential election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orange County is once again poised to help decide control of Congress this November. The 47th district is one of the swing seats up for grabs. And college education levels are dividing voters in the district’s two largest cities. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQEDAmerica, Mexico and Los Angeles have all lost an athletic and cultural icon with the death of former L.A. Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela at the age of 63.Embattled Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has resigned from his position and agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy to steal millions of taxpayer dollars, funds that were intended to feed seniors.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, state energy officials approved a strategic master plan to start developing enormous offshore wind farms in the waters off the coast, with hundreds of wind turbines each the size of the Eiffel Tower sitting atop floating platforms. But what's on tap for the growing industry?Guest: Adam Stern, Executive Director of Offshore Wind CaliforniaIt's day 2 of a strike by thousands of Kaiser Permanente mental health care workers in Southern California. More than 100 picketed outside the healthcare provider’s medical center on Sunset Blvd. Monday.Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weeks Ago, We Heard From an Opponent of Prop 36, Now, We Speak With a SupporterWe hear from the owner of a 7-Eleven franchise in Los Angeles, whose store has been targeted by thieves at least twice. He tells us how his experience shaped how he feels about Prop 36.The bill would undo criminal justice reforms that voters approved more than a decade ago; that means tougher sentencing on non-violent crimes, reclassifying some misdemeanors as felonies, and placing harsher penalties on repeat offenders.Kaiser Permanente Workers in Southern California Go on StrikeMore than 2,400 mental health workers with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California went on strike this morning, setting up picket lines at facilities from Los Angeles to San Diego.Represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, the mental health professionals mobilized to strike over the weekend, after rejecting Kaiser's terms on Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 33 once again puts rent control on the ballot. The previous initiatives failed, but the idea is gaining momentum in California, and nationally. Even President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have embraced it. Still, rent regulations remain controversial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this high stakes election year, many politically-engaged Californians are volunteering in their communities. But some feel they can make more of a difference traveling out of state, like to neighboring Nevada.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California ReportThe Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million dollars to victims of clergy sex abuse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most healthcare employers in California are required to increase their minimum wage starting Wednesday. This is the first raise of its kind in the U.S. specific to healthcare.Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQEDThis fall, school districts throughout the state are asking voters to approve billions of dollars in bonds to repair and renovate aging campuses. But what is a bond?Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Californians gear up for the upcoming election, we've got some big races on the ballot, you know, President of the United States and U.S. Senate. But there's also a pivotal decision looming whether to back a $10 billion state climate bond.Guest: Caleigh Wells, KCRWGovernor Gavin Newsom signed a controversial special session measure aimed at lowering gas prices. But it has plenty of critics.Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices