California is just four days away now from opening its economy more fully, dropping most of the restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. The governor hopes the reopening will fuel the continuing economic recovery as California rebounds from COVID19, and he’s also endorsing a Universal Basic Income check for the neediest Californians.

For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with  former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, who is now Governor Newsom’s special advisor for economic mobility and opportunity.

The State of California filed an appeal today of a federal district judge’s ruling that the state’s assault weapon ban is unconstitutional.

 Attorney General Rob Bonta is asking the 9th Circuit U-S Court of Appeals to overturn that ruling, but ultimately this case may end up before the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold the majority.

For more on the issues involved and today’s appeal, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern, spoke with Hannah Shearer, the Litigation Director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords after she was shot and severely wounded.

As we’ve been reporting, President Biden is off to Europe to meet with allies in preparation for next week’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President’s trip comes just as Vice-President Kamala Harris returns from her first overseas trip, focusing on immigration issues, to Guatemala and Mexico.
  
We want to examine how the coming summer of demands and interests facing the Biden administration are shaping up, especially as Congress grapples with an infrastructure bill, economic recovery, the difficult issues around immigration, all amidst a backdrop of vaccinations and moving past COVID.  

To discuss further where the Biden agenda stands, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Bill Whalen, the the Journalism Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

We’re just a week away from California’s planned reopening, with most COVID-19 restrictions disappearing starting June 15. Some critics accuse Governor Newsom of playing politics with the pandemic as he campaigns against the recall, with an election at some point this fall.

The date for that election is still to be determined, but one seasoned Sacramento veteran thinks Governor Newsom would be best served by having it sooner rather than later. 

For more, KCBS news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising are joined by KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern. They spoke with State Senator Steve Glazer, a Democrat from Orinda, who, before running for the state senate, served as chief strategist for Governor Jerry Brown. 

Frustrated by the slow pace of the reopening of schools during the pandemic, a group of parents started an organization called “Open Schools California” that lobbied to get kids back on campus in person. Now that group of parents is launching a nonprofit to keep the pressure on Sacramento and local school districts, and to recruit parents to run for office

The new version of “Open Schools California,” led by a mom from Oakland, will develop and promote policies that put the needs of schoolchildren first, and help parents run for local school boards and other elected positions.

For more, KCBS Radio's news anchor Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host, Doug Sovern spoke with Mister Phillips, one of the members advising the new organization.