A California bill meant to keep problematic teachers out of the classroom has collapsed. It would have created a database to allow schools to see if teachers applying to work there had previously been fired or resigned over claims of misconduct. But that proposal was dropped after pushback from the state's teachers licensing agency and unions. They warned it would violate privacy and due process.

Guest: Holly McDede, KQED

California is suing the Trump administration in an effort to protect the private information of people on a federal cash assistance program.

Reporter: Julie Small, KQED

Washington state is in its most destructive wildfire season on record. It’s been a rough fire summer around the West, but not necessarily in California.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

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California lawmakers are returning to Sacramento from summer recess on Monday -- and a fight is already brewing over the future of the state’s climate fund. Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has changed environmental rules to prevent higher gas prices. And that could lead to less money for affordable housing, transit and other projects to reduce carbon emissions.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

The executive board of the California Democratic Party threw its support behind Proposition 40, the so-called billionaire's tax on the November ballot. If approved, the measure would impose a 5%, one-time tax on billionaires’ assets to pay for healthcare.

The CARE court mental health program has seen an increase in participation, according to officials in Los Angeles County.

Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist

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Tariffs, inflation, difficulty in finding buyers for grapes. It’s all been a challenge for local winemakers on the Central Coast. Many wineries are now looking at alternative business models to try to satisfy a fragmented consumer base.

Reporter: Mira Honeycutt

Much of California is preparing for more hot weather this weekend. Temperatures could reach triple digits for many inland areas. And that means people near the coast will likely be looking for a way to cool off, at local beaches. But the combination of heat waves and rough water conditions is resulting in lifeguards across the state becoming that much more important.

Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report

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Valley fever cases continue to climb across California. The fungal disease is showing up in places where doctors may not expect it. And now a new study suggests an experimental drug could offer hope for people with the most severe form of the illness.

Guest: Fariba Donovan, University of Arizona College of Medicine Valley Fever Center for Excellence

A Southern California lawmaker has introduced a bill to end what she calls medical neglect in ICE detention facilities. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove says she was inspired by the treatment of one of her constituents.

At this week's LA Police Commissioners meeting, a report documented potential misconduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating in the city.

Reporter: Jared Bennett, LAist

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How do you get free air conditioning to California homeowners who need it the most? One Los Angeles contractor is using state incentives creatively, and it’s not just a win for residents - it helps the climate too.

Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

International students in Southern California say new visa limits coming in September are adding to the uncertainty they already experience.

Reporter: Yusra Farzan, LAist

A new court filing reveals federal agents used slurs to identify people they were targeting during immigration sweeps in Los Angeles last year.

Guest: Sergio Olmos, CalMatters

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A healthcare company that brands itself as a modern, women-centered alternative to traditional doctor's offices is facing scrutiny about the quality of care it provides. A new investigation from LA Public Press found some patients at Tia clinics, including locations here in California, say they were misdiagnosed, hit with surprise medical bills, and in some cases, incorrectly told they were not pregnant.

Guest: Madhri Yehiya, LA Public Press

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In the small, quiet Kings County community of Avenal, there’s a war waging over political power. Voters recently recalled four council members, but the city is disputing the election results, and the only member who wasn’t recalled now claims he is the mayor.

Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR

Healthcare advocates are calling for stronger state oversight over rising hospital costs in Santa Barbara County.

Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX

A team leading the closure of L.A. County’s aging Men’s Central Jail says people will have to be held there for at least five more years even though the facility was supposed to close in 2021.

Reporter: Jordan Rynning, LAist

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Western snowy plovers are tiny, shy shorebirds that are slowly making a recovery along the West Coast.

Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU

Doctors are announcing an effort to unionize nearly 10,000 senior physicians at the University of California.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

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For the last decade, a 24-7 livestream of an eagle’s nest in Big Bear has captivated people around the world, and made its occupants Jackie and Shadow internet celebrities. Eagle advocates worry that plans to develop the lakeshore and forest near the nest will harm Jackie and Shadow.

Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

In the year since large-scale ICE raids began in Los Angeles County, the fallout for families and people’s livelihoods has been profound. Now, a new study by UCLA finds that 95% of local Latino small business owners are struggling financially.

Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW

In Los Angeles County, a new soil cleanup program is launching this year for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire.

Reporter: Cato Hernandez, LAist

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The World Cup has come and gone, and for cities like Los Angeles, it was mostly a success. Officials saw the event as a test run for what's to come, the 2028 Summer Olympics, which is also set to take place in LA.

Guest: Libby Rainey, LAist

Californians who haven’t paid their utility bills will be protected from power shut offs if temperatures reach 90 degrees or above. The California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve the new standard late last week.

Reporter: Molly Peterson, CalMatters

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