Central Valley Daily

The police chief and assistant police chief in the City of Porterville are both out on “authorized leave,” as an interim police chief is leading the department. At the same time, the department is facing multiple civil rights lawsuits. KVPR Associate Editor Kerry Klein breaks down what we know about the department’s current affairs. Plus, the latest news headlines: Health budget cuts in Kern County are being felt; and the potential impacts of a federal lawsuit over college tuition for immigrant students.

Thousands of children work in California’s agricultural fields – and while child labor is legal in the ag industry, lax enforcement means kids are suffering. On today’s episode, journalist Robert J. Lopez tells the stories of dozens of child laborers whom he spoke with for his report for Capital and Main entitled “California’s Child Farmworkers: Exhausted, Underpaid and Toiling in Toxic Fields.” Plus, the latest news headlines: A federal funding fight might be back on for Fresno; and Valley food pantries are struggling to meet the need.

It’s easy for visitors to Yosemite National Park to marvel at the park’s ancient trees and landscape. But what about the many creatures that call the park home? For the first time in more than 100 years, there’s a new book dedicated just to Yosemite’s wildlife. On today's episode, we speak with the author of that new book, Beth Pratt.

Hard Rock Casino Tejon opened this month to much enthusiasm – especially from the Tejon Indian Tribe. Tribal leaders say the new event space will bring jobs and revenue to the region. On today’s episode, we speak with tribal chairman Octavio Escobedo III about how the casino’s presence could benefit the tribe. Plus, the latest news headlines: The CSU and UC systems approve new tuition rates and compensation packages; and the state DOJ declines to press charges over Fresno police shooting.

What’s the future of transportation in Fresno County? A new proposal seeks to build a regional rail to connect communities in the west with those in the east. Today we speak with Paul Herman, deputy director of the Fresno Council of Governments, about the plan and what it means about the future of transportation in the county and the wider region. Plus, the latest news headlines: California could be headed for a tough financial year; and the new Democratic candidate entering the race for governor.

Earlier this month, The Fresno Bee’s parent company McClatchy laid off three long-time editors at the local newspaper. As a result, the local opinion pages will now be managed from hundreds of miles away by editors at The Sacramento Bee. To understand what this means for local media, we speak with Jim Boren, a former executive editor of the newspaper. Plus, the latest news headlines: Advocates speak out about pesticide regulation in the Valley; and a new wolf pack is found in California.

The nation’s trucking industry is one of the latest targets of President Trump’s immigration crackdown agenda. Recent deadly trucking accidents provided the administration with examples of why it needs to take some immigrant drivers off the road. So how is the industry reacting? We speak with industry veteran Craig Fuller, from the industry website “FreightWaves.” Plus, the latest news headlines: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Visalia school trustee Randy Villegas for Congress; and Valley community college faculty revolt against their chancellor.

The University of California, Merced, is celebrating 20 years since opening its doors to its first students. In that time, the campus has grown to be nationally ranked and to play an integral part of the central California region. Today we speak with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz about the campus’s past and future.

The Kern County Board of Education is proposing to display the Ten Commandments in its school lobbies. But the proposal has been met with protest from those who want to keep separation of church and state. In this episode, we speak with attorney Chris Line. He's with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, one of the civil rights groups opposing the proposal. Plus, the latest news headlines: The federal DOJ joins a lawsuit challenging California's new voter maps, and the chancellor of the California State Center Community College District announces her retirement.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday night to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The bill restores federal worker salaries and food aid benefits that had slowed earlier this month. But it doesn’t include healthcare subsidies that Democrats had largely been pushing for. But Merced Democratic Rep. Adam Gray tells KVPR that this doesn’t mean Democrats will stop pushing for those subsidies. Plus, the latest news headlines: Porterville police department facing multiple lawsuits, and a former top aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom faces federal charges.