The state of California is suing the Trump administration for freezing billions of dollars in federal child care and welfare funding. The federal government said it was withholding the funds from California and four other Democratic-led states over fraud allegations. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED San Diego is home to the nation’s second largest Somali population. And recent allegations of fraud at Somali-owned child care centers in Minnesota have now spread to their community. Somali childcare providers in San Diego say strangers are now surveilling their centers. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS Governor Newsom is releasing his state budget plan Friday. This comes a day after Newsom delivered his final state of the state address at the capitol, touting California as "a marvel of invention and reinvention.” Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2005, a national report revealed that the U.S. city with the highest rate of concentrated poverty was Fresno. Now, 20 years later, we wondered: have those economic conditions changed? Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR High profile defense attorney Alan Jackson has announced that he no longer represents Nick Reiner, who stands accused of murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, last month. Reporter: Frank Stoltze, LAist A Central Valley grape grower has agreed to pay about $130,000 after a federal investigation into a crash that killed seven employees and severely injured another. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One year ago today, two fires erupted in Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton fires would eventually become two of the most destructive and deadly fires in state history. Thousands of homes were destroyed and 31 people were killed. The rebuilding process has been slow in both Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the communities most greatly impacted by the fires. We wanted to get the perspective from longtime residents who are part of that process. Residents in the north state are likely to see a flurry of elections for Congress this year, after the passing of longtime Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over automated license plate readers in California has increasingly shifted from local crime fighting to concerns about data privacy…. when it comes to federal crackdowns on immigration and people seeking abortions or gender-related healthcare. ALPRs are now in use in hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state, not to mention thousands of homeowner associations and business districts. So what does this all mean for civil liberties in 2026? Guest: Rachael Myrow, KQED Venezuelans in California are going through a whole range of feelings after the Trump administration’s military attack to remove President Nicolas Maduro. There’s celebration, outrage and a lot of questions. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Hundreds of new state laws take effect in the new year. And one in particular brings sweet validation to all of us public radio lovers. That’s because it’s going to make our tote bags even more essential. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 was a blockbuster year for housing in California. State lawmakers took aim at the state's landmark environmental law, which they argued was one of the main culprits blocking development for years. In 2025, they approved major reforms. They also passed another law which promises to dramatically change how housing is built near train stations and along busy bus routes. Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED More vacant home lots are going up for sale in L.A. County burn zones. And many are being scooped up by investors. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All 4-year olds in California can now go to school for free in a grade called transitional kindergarten, or TK. And to lead those classrooms, the state needs teachers with special training. A lot of teachers. So what does it take to do the job? Reporter: Julia Barajas, LAist A new project in San Diego is gathering stories of government persecution against the LGBTQ+ community. Photos of the Lavender Names Project will be shown after select performances at the San Diego Opera this year. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS Researchers at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes have spent years working on an improved way to manage reservoirs called Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations, or FIRO. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fall bird migration in California typically peaks from September through November. And this past year, scientists discovered a new wave of avian influenza - or bird flu. Two farms in Sonoma County fought new outbreaks. State officials have been taking steps to mitigate the spread of infection, since major outbreaks were seen in dairy herds in August of 2024. That includes at county fairs. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED A new children's book from a Los Angeles author is inspired by her own childhood translating for her parents. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is home to the largest number of Hispanic-serving institutions in the country. That’s a federal program that allows colleges and universities to apply for federal grants if at least a quarter of their students identify as Hispanic. Earlier this year, The Trump administration cut funding for the program, which has helped serve many Latino students in California, benefiting from supportive environments geared toward them. Reporter: Blanca Torres, KQED E-bike sales in the U.S. have surged, outpacing electric car sales by 20%.  But California building codes haven’t kept up with where they can be safely stored.  Reporter: Gerardo Zavala, CapRadio Environmental advocates are criticizing the Newsom Administration, after his press office sent out a release seemingly taking credit for the year's rebound in returning salmon.  Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of old and rare recordings - some that date back a full century, are now available for the public to enjoy online. That’s thanks to a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and record company Dust-to-Digital. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Mountain lions, foxes, hawks and dozens of other species are dying at an alarming rate from rat poison. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Fort Bragg is about three hours north of San Francisco, and during droughts, the former timber town faces severe water shortages. And they're not alone. Nearby communities have had to restrict water in lean years, even while these coastal cities sit next to the biggest body of water in the world. Reporter: Noah Abrams, Northern California Public Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Karuk Tribe in Northern California is crafting an environmental policy that unites traditional knowledge with more contemporary environmental sciences--pushing back against years of bias dismissing tribal knowledge of the Karuk's ancestral lands. A federal judge in the Bay Area has halted ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses in the region. California's Minimum Wage is increasing next year. A new law means that the state's minimum wage is jumping by $0.40. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In San Francisco, advocates for transgender people are trying to beef up protections for their community, in the face of anti-trans policies from the Trump administration. This work isn’t just about legal threats, but also fears of physical violence. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED A new analysis warns the Colorado River could fall to dangerously low levels next year. The river supplies water to cities and farms across San Diego and Imperial counties. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS A UC Davis study found 85% of elementary schools in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you drive or walk past a public park, one of the sounds you’ll likely hear is the thwack of a bat before seeing a ball flying through the air. But at some parks in Fresno, these aren’t due to that all-American sport you may be thinking of. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR Some mental health clinicians are worried AI is coming for their jobs. In the Fall, more than 200 of them gathered for an online forum to learn more. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Mixtec farmworkers in Watsonville have trained as doulas to support other Indigenous women during pregnancy and childbirth. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU A tribal group in central California is celebrating the return of thousands of acres of land back from the state. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas is two days away which means Santa Claus is pulling overtime. He’s at the mall taking photos and he’s project managing toy production. This story is all about the work of being Santa. So, if you’re listening with a child who’s expecting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick this year, you may want to turn down the volume. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW California is preparing for another storm system that could bring dangerous conditions to large portions of the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Humboldt County, a rural volunteer fire station is struggling to meet its community’s needs. They’re hoping a state budget allocation to expand Calfire staffing might offer some support, but nothing has materialized yet. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED The Trump administration continues to drastically shrink the immigration courts in Northern California – leaving just a few judges to handle a massive backlog of cases. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED California transportation officials say they’ve paused a plan to resume issuing thousands of commercial driver’s licenses, under federal pressure. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holiday season brings many traditions for families across California. One that is tried and true - decorating your home with a Christmas tree. While most families buy artificial trees these days, there are still some places in the state where you can not only get a living tree, but even cut it down yourself. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Roughly 2,000 people meander through Old Monterey every December to tour California’s oldest government building and other Alta California adobes. Monterey State Historic Park interpreter Aaron Gilmartin helped coordinate the immersive event. A panel of federal judges could rule soon on whether California’s new congressional maps can stay in place. That’s after a three day court hearing in Los Angeles ended Wednesday. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresno Yosemite International Airport may be considered small, but more than 2 million travelers passed through it last year. And the city of Fresno is moving to expand the airport and accommodate a growing customer base for a growing region. In 2023, the airport broke ground on a new terminal. And that terminal opened just in time for Christmas and New Year travel. Reporter: Samantha Rangel, KVPR Officials in the Bay Area city of Dublin voted unanimously this week to oppose using a closed federal women’s prison as an immigration detention facility, or for any type of incarceration. Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED Regulators are set to consider cutting the profits California's major utilities can make. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Newsom administration confirmed it’s backtracking on a plan to indefinitely revoke thousands of commercial drivers licenses held by immigrants. That’s welcome news to the drivers and their families. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED As Jewish communities around the globe struggle to comprehend the deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach, in Kern County, the losses are hitting especially close to home. Reporter: Jonathan Linden, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the last six weeks, children who crossed the US-Mexico border alone have been inexplicably stuck in federal custody at shelters across the country. The Trump administration has stopped releasing these kids to their families and loved ones. It’s not saying why. But sources in the government agency that’s in charge of unaccompanied kids — and lawyers who help them —  say they’ve never seen anything like this. Guest: Mark Betancourt, The California Newsroom Federal authorities say they’ve thwarted a plot to bomb five locations around Southern California on New Year’s Eve. The FBI has arrested four people who they say belong to an extremist anti-government group. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR After a Supreme Court decision that allowed authorities to penalize people for sleeping outdoors, the City of Fresno was one of the first to enact its own anti-camping law. Now, a class action lawsuit is challenging its legality. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties largest food banks report a third of residents can’t consistently afford healthy food. And in this rich fishing region, some of the freshest catch is helping fill those empty bellies. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Doctors are petitioning California to prohibit the use of a popular countertop material linked to the death of dozens of stoneworkers. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices