California State Of Mind

California has set some pretty ambitious climate goals. By 2045 all energy has to come from renewable sources - solar, water and wind. Nicole talks with environment reporter Ezra David Romero about plans to potentially build 800 to 900 floating wind turbines off the coast of California. She also talks with CalMatters’ Julie Cart, who also covers the environment, about another project near the Salton Sea that could potentially help the state store its renewable energy.

And, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, some California lawmakers called out for more police reform. Now, with a guilty verdict for the officer who killed him, is there enough political will to make these ideas a reality? CalMatters’ Nigel Duara steps into the co-host chair this week to talk with Nicole about some of the bills California’s Black Caucus would like to see move forward this year.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation this week that allows the state to spend $536 million dollars on wildfire prevention this year, but will it be enough? CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven joins Elizabeth and Nicole to talk about what some critics are calling a bandaid over a gaping wound. They’ll also discuss the state’s inability to get relief money into the hands of childcare providers and why the death of a bill to ban fracking may actually be good news for Gov. Newsom.

Then, nearly 40,000 Californians of color have died from Covid-19 since the pandemic started, compared to 18,000 white Californians. Those figures are just one reason behind the ongoing push for equity in vaccine distribution. Nicole talks about that with Dr. Manuel Pastor, the director of the Equity Research Institute at USC.

California is ready to play ball. With Covid-19 cases falling and restrictions loosening, some fans recently found their way back to the baseball field. Nicole talks with Scott Rodd and Anne Wernikoff about what it was like to attend the games in person and how they may be a harbinger for the new statewide reopening plan.

Also, California’s nursing homes have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic with more than 9,000 residents dying of the virus. As the pandemic has worn on, that’s led to increased scrutiny of these homes and how they’re managed. Elizabeth talks with Jocelyn Wiener about a CalMatters investigation into nursing home oversight.

California’s public universities are some of the most racially diverse in the nation. But that’s often not reflected in campus police departments. That disparity can affect how police and students interact. Nicole talks with Omar Rashad and Katherine Swartz, fellows with the CalMatters College Journalism Network, about their reporting and what it means to have campus police who look like the students they serve.

Also, thousands of K-12 students across California are finally returning to classrooms. Elizabeth gets an update on all things education from Ricardo Cano. And, Lauren Hepler breaks down the on-going drama with California’s Employment Development Department.

They’re in your food. They’re in your drinks. They’re in the air. Microplastics are pretty much everywhere. And California may become the first place in the world to attempt limits on how much of it can be in your drinking water. On this week’s California State of Mind, Elizabeth talks with CalMatters’ Rachel Becker about how the state is planning for possible new restrictions even though there are large gaps in scientific data about how dangerous they are.

Also, if you’re still not sure when you might be able to get in line for the COVID vaccine, we’ll have the latest on eligibility rules. And Gavin Newsom starts the fight to keep his job. CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra and CapRadio’s Chris Nichols join Nicole in this week’s reporter roundtable.

It’s been almost a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order in response to Covid-19. In his first State of the State address since the pandemic began, the governor stayed positive, but acknowledged the extreme losses of life while touting his achievements managing the state in an unprecedented pandemic. CapRadio’s Scott Rodd joins Nicole and guest host Nigel Duara to break down the speech and what it might mean for recall efforts against the leader of the Golden State. 

Plus, California’s never-ending housing crisis continues to never end. Nigel talks with CapRadio’s Chris Nichols about an effort in Sacramento to build affordable, multi-family homes in the cities’ neighborhoods.

Despite the pandemic recession, some people have been able to save and pay down personal debt. But a lot of Californians are still struggling. On this episode of California State of Mind, we’ll explore what that mixed financial picture means for policymakers. Nicole talks with reporters Jackie Botts and Laurence Du Sault about their reporting on the issue. And we hear from a San Diego woman who had to take out a title loan on her car while struggling to get unemployment benefits.

And there’s a new plan to encourage some schools to reopen across the state. Elizabeth talks with Ricardo Cano about California’s legislative package and how it might help get kids back in the classroom.

It’s been almost a full year of nonstop crisis management for public health officials, with nary an end in sight. As the pandemic continues, Nicole and Elizabeth sit down with California’s Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris to talk about how the state is doing and what the past year has meant for kids. 

Plus, Nicole touches base with two small business owners who are trying to ride out the pandemic. Rosey Ibarra owns Social Salon Suites in Glendale and Al Griffin is the co-owner of the Placerville Public House in Placerville. They update Nicole on how their businesses are faring.

She was the first woman to serve as White House press secretary and now she’s spearheading California’s economic recovery efforts. On this episode of California State of Mind, we hear from Dee Dee Myers. She recently spoke with CalMatters’ Lauren Hepler about her new role as the state’s business and economic czar. We’ll hear portions of that conversation as Lauren breaks it down for Elizabeth.

Plus, we take a look at how the state attorney general’s office might change under new leadership and get an update on how the state is tracking COVID variants. CalMatter’s Laurel Rosenhall and CapRadio’s Scott Rodd sit down with Nicole to talk about these stories and more.

The Golden State continues to grapple with some big issues made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. On this episode of California State of Mind, Elizabeth and Nicole chat with Emily Hoeven about the state’s Covid vaccination plans, the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the continuing lack of a plan to get kids back into schools. Emily writes a daily newsletter for CalMatters and shares some of her insights.

Speaking of education, while state and local leaders have spent months trying to figure out a safe return to in-class teaching, tens of thousands of kids have simply dropped off the rolls. Nicole gets an update from CalMatters Education Reporter Ricardo Cano. 

Plus, Lunar New Year is underway and it’s a time of celebration for many, including Vietnamese-Americans and the business districts they support. In Sacramento, one of these places is seeing some change as a younger generation is moving out. Elizabeth talks with CapRadio’s Sarah Mizes-Tan about what a place like Little Saigon means to Asian-American identity.