KQED's The California Report

The number of K-12 students experiencing homelessness in California has surged by the thousands. That’s according to new enrollment data from the state’s Department of Education.Reporter: Joe Hong, CalMatters A new investigation finds that after police killings, many California law enforcement agencies are trained to keep news of people's deaths from family members. That way, according to the reporting, police can grill families for information that can be used to limit liability and protect departments’ reputations.Guest: Brian Howey, Investigative Reporting Program, UC Berkeley and LA Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A parade of atmospheric rivers has delivered record-busting levels of rain and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada this year. But with all that snow poised to melt in the coming months, communities in the Central Valley floor, which are already grappling with flooding, are bracing for the worst. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand a guaranteed income program for an additional 200 former foster youth in the area. It’ll provide recipients with $1,000 a month for two years. Reporter: Izzy Bloom, The California Report  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest reading of California’s snowpack is in, and the amount of snow is huge - 220% of average. The last time California had this much snow in the Sierra Nevada was in 1952.Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR How many of you have had this very California problem? You really want to buy your first home, but the down payment is just too high. And the monthly mortgage payments would kill you financially. Well, the state of California has just started taking applications for a new program, where it will put down a good chunk of money to help people buy their first home. Guest: Eric Johnson, California Housing Finance Agency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the food scraps we throw out from our kitchens get hauled to dumps, they release methane, a super-accelerant of climate change. So last year, a state law went into effect requiring California cities to slash the amount of food waste they send to landfills. But how is implementation of that law going?Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California ReportStarting Monday, California Public Health officials will no longer require masking in healthcare and correctional facilities. Also, COVID-19 vaccinations won’t be required for healthcare workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state says it's offering aid to communities that have been deeply impacted by this year's storms. But for many residents in the San Bernardino mountains, the challenges are mounting.Reporter: Jill Replogle, LAistA group of hunger strikers at two California immigration detention centers say they're pausing their protest, after what they call violent tactics by ICE officials. The 35-day hunger strike began in mid-February – with dozens of men at the Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex facilities protesting substandard conditions.Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Continuing their series “Mixed! Stories of Mixed Race Californians,” The California Report Magazine spoke with Professor Reginald Daniel. He taught the nation’s longest running course on Mixed Race Studies at UC Santa Barbara.Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will replace voting equipment targeted by former President Trump and others, promoting the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. The county is now going to be hand counting ballots.Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQEDHousing advocates say landlords have been taking advantage of a loophole in California’s Tenant Protection Act to kick renters out. Lawmakers passed the landmark legislation in 2019 to keep tenants in their homes.Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The experience of climate-fueled storms since the turn of the year is lodged into the minds of Californians — levee failures displaced thousands, blizzard conditions trapped people in their homes, hundreds of thousands lost power and a vast inland California lake appeared. Climate scientists say the storms and flooding are just a fraction of what’s expected in a warmer world.Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQEDGovernor Newsom is asking the Biden Administration to declare a major disaster for counties in California, that have been impacted by storms over the past month. That includes Monterey County, where residents in Pajaro have been asking for help from the state and federal government.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State lawmakers have approved Governor Gavin Newsom's bill, which is attempting to increase transparency of the oil industry in the state. It would allow the California Energy Commission to impose penalties, through a regulatory process, if the agency believes oil companies are making excessive profits from gas prices.California's crisis support centers want to better serve Native Americans in need. But right now, less than one percent of calls to the 988 crisis line are from Native People.Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadioA state task force developing proposals to provide reparations for Black Californians is nearing the end of its work. The panel faces a June deadline to send recommendations to the legislature to compensate Black residents for the harms dating back to slavery. And the California state legislature -- well it has its own pro-slavery history. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Water is back on, but it's still not drinkable in the Monterey County community of Pajaro, which was hit by massive flooding a few weeks ago. Residents are being allowed back in their homes to assess the damage, and start the process of cleaning up their property.Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KAZUOver 5 million people around California use CalFresh, the state's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as "food stamps." But starting in April, these folks will notice a steep drop in the amount of food benefit they’re receiving.Guest: Carly Severn, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland teachers at 14 middle and high schools are planning a walkout on Friday. But, the teachers union has not sanctioned a strike. Meanwhile, LA educators are back in the classroom today after reaching an agreement late Thursday.Communities in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles, are once again struggling to dig out of more snow following this week's latest atmospheric river. But, to assist residents with questions they may have about receiving possible aid, assistance centers are opening over the weekend.A levee that has protected the city of Corcoran for decades is at risk of filling up after the recent rains that have drenched California. Authorities say they are monitoring the situation. TCR Reporter, Kerry Klein in Fresno has the details.A father who was separated from his family by a Trump administration immigration policy is finally back home in California after nearly four years. EdSource Reporter, Zaidee Stavely, introduces us to Jose Luis Ruiz Arevalos, who's looking forward to getting back to life with his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices