In the last decade, almonds have turned up everywhere. Even at the Super Bowl, where a commercial showed actor Jeremy Renner supercharged by almond milk. Even so, California almond producers have been struggling. Growers have in some ways been the victims of their own success - although the outlook might be improving. 

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

A sweltering heat wave continues in much of our state this week. Now, a new report from the state’s insurance commissioner takes a long view on the dangers of high temperatures, reporting that nearly 140,000 Californians visited the hospital because of extreme heat in the last decade 

Reporter: Olivia Zhao, CalMatters

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The state uses the billions raised from the gas tax every year to pay for the constant work of freeway and highway maintenance and new road construction. But the gas tax faces a reckoning. Newer vehicles are ever-more fuel efficient, meaning less revenue is raised from taxing the fuel that’s pumped into them. So the state could eventually move to a model where drivers pay a fee for every mile they travel.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

A $10 billion bond for California’s schools will go before voters this November. If it passes, the multi-billion dollar bond would pay for repairs and upgrades at thousands of K-12 school and community college buildings across California. 

Reporter: Carolyn Jones, CalMatters 

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Breakdancing has been part of American culture for decades. Introduced in the Bronx in the 1970’s, it's synonymous with the birth of hip hop in this country. And it's about to be in the spotlight again this summer. For the first time, breaking will be a sport in the Summer Olympics in Paris. While New York has long been the home of breakdancing and the B-Boy and B-Girl culture here in the U.S., the West Coast played a significant role in the movement as well.

Guests: Zulu Gremlin, DJ Hazze, Asia One

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Now that we're in the heart of summer, and given that this is California, probably a lot of us are going to go to the beach and plunge ourselves into the Pacific, or maybe will splash into a backyard or public swimming pool. But in California's wilderness areas, there are lots of other places to find bliss in the water, like lakes, waterfalls, ponds, and hot springs.

Guest: Dillon Seitchik-Reardon, Author "Places We Swim California"

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California now has an official state mushroom. The designation went into effect this year thanks to a new law signed by Governor Newsom. The Californian Golden Chanterelle was chosen in a poll by the California Institute for Biodiversity which pitted five other mushrooms against the winning chanterelle.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED

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More than 6400 Latinos died in police confrontations or in police custody between 2000 and 2022. That's according to La Raza Database project, which seeks to uncover the true number of Latinos who have died in violent confrontations with police. Still, the project's researchers say that number is likely much higher.

Guests: Roberto Camacho, Reporter and Ivette Xochiyoti Boyzo, Project Manager, La Raza Database Project 

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Starting Monday, a new law goes into effect in California that will require businesses to disclose all costs up front. Basically a ban on so-called junk fees. This would impact the next time you stay at a hotel, buy concert tickets, or book a short term rental, as you should in theory, know the entire price beforehand. Restaurants were supposed to be included in this new law, but a fast track bill was passed last week and signed by Governor Newsom that exempts them. So they're allowed to continue using service charges as long as the nature of that fee is clearly stated on its menu.

Guest: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

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The program allowing Californians to borrow a state parks pass from their local library has received funding for another year. The program started in 2021 as a way to make access to state parks easier for Californians who might not be willing or able to pay 195 dollars for an annual pass.

Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio

A woman from Michigan will become the first hijab-wearing athlete to attempt the oldest 100-mile ultramarathon in the country, right here in California. While the race is considered one of the most prestigious in the running world, it’s also one of the most exclusive.

Reporter: Mark Nieto, KQED

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Hundreds of thousands of health care workers in California who’ve been expecting a minimum wage increase will have to wait until at least October to get it. The delay comes as a result of the state's new budget deal.

Reporter: Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

In Oakland, nearly 20 percent of young children enrolled in Head Start are going through homelessness. That makes it hard for their families to get to the preschool program consistently and on time. So the city found a way to reach these children where they’re at.

Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

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If you’ve found yourself at a makeup store recently, especially in a mall after school, you might’ve noticed more young people around you. Like really young. Like elementary and middle school young. This is a trend and it has a name: Sephora Kids. And their purchases are doing damage to more than just their parents’ bank accounts.

Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

Fresno's Police Chief has resigned. This follows an investigation that cleared Paco Balderrama of wrongdoing, after an internal complaint stemming from an affair with an officer’s wife.

Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR

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