Safety is one of the major concerns for Southern California officials, with the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium a little more than a week away. But there’s also the pandemic. Even though infection rates in Los Angeles County have steadily declined, the county is still averaging thousands of new cases a day over the past week.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

In recent weeks, Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested that state health officials are working on an endemic plan for California, which would outline how the state will live with COVID-19. But with the omicron wave and possible other variants down the line, should the state ease some of its restrictions?

Guest: Dr. Abraar Karan, Infectious Disease Expert, Stanford University School of Medicine

A new poll shows the COVID-19 pandemic still tops the list of concerns for Californians. Nearly one-fifth of those polled by the Public Policy Institute of California say COVID-19 is the most important issue for state leaders to tackle in 2022.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

A state lawmaker is introducing legislation that would require school officials to collect information from parents about guns they store at home. The bill from State Senator Anthony Portantino was inspired by a school shooting in Michigan last year.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED  

The nation’s troubled immigration courts would get an overhaul under a bill being introduced Thursday by San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. They've been plagued by a backlog of 1.6 million cases, and lack due process protections.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

A state appeals court has rejected a bid by a group of 22 PG&E employee, to black out their names from evidence gathered during the criminal investigation into the 2018 Camp Fire.

Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED 

2022 is an election year. And more California counties will be making the switch from polling places to larger vote centers, where people can cast their ballots over several days.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED 

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