In the second part of NPR's California Newsroom investigation, Dirty Air, we traveled to rural Northern California. There's been a shocking increase in wildfire smoke, and unhealthy air recently in California, and it can be particularly damaging for children.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

The KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire continue to grow as they scorch parts of Sequoia National Park. Thousands of firefighters are battling challenging conditions, including steep and rugged terrain.

During a contentious meeting, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for eligible students and staff. The plan calls for younger students to be vaccinated as well, once the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

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An analysis by NPR’s California Newsroom of more than ten years of data found a tremendous spike in the amount of smoke we are breathing, from San Diego to the Oregon border, with disturbing health outcomes. In some parts of rural Northern California, people are living with unhealthy air months at a time.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED 

From now on, California voters will get a ballot in the mail, by default, in all future elections. It’s the result of a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday. 

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

A federal judge is ordering all state prison guards and other staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in order to enter any prison facility.

Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED

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PG&E is facing manslaughter and other charges after its equipment started the 2020 Zogg Fire that killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes. On Friday, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett announced 31 charges against the utility, saying it failed to perform its legal duties.

Californians with the most basic homeowners insurance policies have long complained that when disasters strike, they just don't have enough coverage to pay for all of their expenses. But change is coming .

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

California’s groundbreaking task force on reparations for Black Californians wrapped up its latest meeting on Friday. The group is working on drafting a reparations proposal. 

Reporter: Cristina Kim, KPBS 

COVID-19 cases among young people were increasing last month as students started the school year. Cases have since declined, but even small COVID outbreaks at schools in the Central Valley are having major impacts on families in rural communities.

Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio 

Breathing in too much ozone gas is harmful for our health. Now researchers say the health risk is even higher for older Californians who live in areas with elevated ozone pollution. 

Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

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Now that it’s received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and been endorsed by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel, state health officials say they’re ready to give COVID-19 booster shots to anyone who’s eligible. Before it’s widely distributed, the efficacy of a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine still needs to be reviewed by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. 

Movie fans will soon be able to enjoy a new museum in Los Angeles that is aimed specifically for them. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens on Septemeber 30, and will provide guests with a rich, visual history of the filmmaking industry.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

During a visit to the site of KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $15 billion climate package. But how will the money be spent?

Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

The KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire are both burning in Sequoia National Park. Fire crews are trying to protect the iconic trees there and so far, have been fairly successful.

Reporter: Sorreath Hok, Valley Public Radio 

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While the Caldor Fire has destroyed more than a thousand buildings and continues to burn, communities around South Lake Tahoe mostly escaped the fire's destruction -- despite lying square in its path. That's thanks to firefighters, but also years of work preparing the forest.

Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED 

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 701. It’s a bill that requires warehouse operators to disclose more about the quotas and algorithms they use to squeeze more productivity out of workers, possibly creating more dangerous workplaces.

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

After a month and a half-long preliminary hearing, Paul and Ruben Flores will stand trial for crimes related to the disappearance and murder of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Kristin Smart, who went missing in 1996. Smart was never found and was declared legally dead in 2002.

 Reporter: Rachel Showalter, KCBX



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In July, as a response to the worsening drought, Governor Gavin Newsom asked the people of California to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%. But so far, Californians have only reduced water consumption by less than 2 %.

Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED 

Los Angeles County has two juvenile halls, but state officials say they’re both failing in their duties. The facilities are accused of treating the young people housed there so poorly, that within the next two months, they’ll have to either fix the way they operate, or remove juveniles from the detention centers all together. 

Reporter: Tara Atrian, KCRW

With extremely high COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the Central Valley, pediatricians are warning local doctors to be on the lookout for a related condition found in children who have been exposed to the virus. Cases of Multi Inflammatory Syndrome , or MIS-C tend to increase following a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Reporter: Madi Bolanos, Valley Public Radio 

Next year in Los Angeles, residents will elect a new mayor, and people are starting to announce their intentions to run. The latest is L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon, who announced his candidacy Tuesday.

Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC 

With every natural disaster and humanitarian crisis, Californians apply thumbs to phones to send money to people and organizations raising funds for those in need. Which explains the presence of a bill, on Governor Newsom's desk now, that promises to boost state oversight of charitable fundraising online. 

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

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In response to California's ongoing wildfires, State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued an order requiring insurance companies with policy holders living in fire zones to keep people's policies in place and to honor insurance renewals.

Guest: Ricardo Lara, California Insurance Commissioner

The KNP Complex Fire burning in Sequoia National Park continues to threaten a grove of giant sequoias. That includes the General Sherman, considered one of the oldest and largest trees on earth. 

Reporter: Soreath Hok, Valley Public Radio 

Wildland firefighters accept risk when they head out to battle a blaze. But Cal Fire firefighters are getting sick, and some have even died, during training.

Reporters: Jacob Margolis, KPCC and Brian Edwards, Columbia Journalism School

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board has told the Wall Street Journal that Tesla should address “basic safety issues” before offering its “full self-driving” package to more drivers. 

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED

Bay Area Assemblyman Marc Levine is launching a run for state Insurance Commissioner and he’ll be challenging a fellow Democrat. The election is next year.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

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Los Angeles County health officials have added in-home care workers to the list of high-risk health jobs that must get COVID-19 vaccines by the end of September. The move has emboldened advocacy groups, who are pushing to make it statewide.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

A statewide bill that aims to diversify California’s arts and culture workforce, and jobs that pay a living wage, has landed on the governor’s desk after winning near-unanimous support in the Assembly and Senate. The California Creative Workforce Act is the first of its kind in the country.

Reporter: Chloe Veltman, KQED

Pacific Gas & Electric says it’s possible that electricity continued to flow through a set of power lines for several hours after a tree fell into them and ignited the Dixie Fire. That’s according to court filings from the company.

Reporter: Alex Emslie, KQED

Labor unions made a massive effort to help Governor Gavin Newsom beat the recall and stay in office. Now, unions are expecting Newsom to show up for them.

Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED

From a Southern California warehouse for reclaimed produce to a food distribution event for poor families, the state's efforts to boost food recycling as a way to fight climate change are on full display. Beyond current industrial-scale effort, starting next year, Californians will be required to recycle food at home.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

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Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills aimed at boosting housing supplies across the state. One of them, SB 9, would increase density and affordable housing options in neighborhoods dominated by single family homes. 

Reporter: Erika Kelly, KQED

California health officials are now requiring that people who work in high risk medical settings be fully immunized against COVID-19. That includes employees of hospitals, nursing homes and doctors’ offices, but it doesn’t include care workers in private homes.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC 

An FDA committee is meeting Friday to decide whether to recommend booster shots for seniors and the general public. As of mid-August, 119,000 Californians have gotten booster shots, according to records that KQED News requested from California’s Public Health Department. 

Reporter: Raquel Maria Dillon, KQED

Governor Newsom will soon get a chance to make his second appointment to the California Supreme Court. That's because Associate Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar has decided to leave the court to head up a prestigious international think tank. 

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

It’s been 3.5 years since the ACLU first filed a lawsuit in San Diego against the Trump administration, over its policy of separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. Now the federal government is intensifying its push to reunite those parents and children, with a new program launched this week. 

Reporter: Michelle Wiley, KQED  

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California Democrats are looking into reforming the recall process less than 24 hours after Governor Gavin Newsom survived an effort to remove him from office. Both the Senate and the Assembly will hold hearings in the coming months to explore possible reforms.

Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED

Governor Newsom has until October 10 to decide whether to sign a bill that softens production quotas for warehouse workers. AB 701 is widely seen as targeted at Amazon, which runs more than 60 warehouses across the state. 

Reporter: Rachael Myrow, KQED 

A new health order in Los Angeles County would require proof of vaccination for COVID-19 at indoor bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges. It would also encompass large outdoor events and theme parks.

Fire crews are ramping up the battle against the so-called KNP Complex Fire threatening Sequoia National Park. The fire is moving closer to an iconic grove of giant sequoias, some of which are more than 2,000 years old. 

Reporter: Alex Hall, The California Report

As vaccine mandates take hold around the state, some Californians are seeking exemptions on religious grounds. But verifying claims related to these exemptions involves somewhat murky legal territory.

Guest: Dorit Reiss, Law Professor, UC Hastings

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