Environment130 million Americans routinely breathe unhealthy air, report findsApril 25, 2024Climate change is making it harder to meet clean air goals, says the 25th annual State of the Air report from the American Lung Association.
Health CareGov. Gavin Newsom wants to let Arizona doctors provide abortions in CaliforniaApril 24, 2024 | Kate WolffeCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are announcing legislation Wednesday aimed at helping Arizonans access abortions after the Arizona Supreme Court allowed a near total-ban to move forward.
EducationWill less homework stress make California students happier?April 24, 2024A bill from a member of the Legislature’s happiness committee would require schools to come up with homework policies that consider the mental and physical strain on students.
EnvironmentCalifornia’s newest state park will open near Modesto in JuneApril 24, 2024The park sits at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. It’s the first new state park in California in a decade, and will provide closer recreation options for Central Valley residents. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
EnvironmentJudge drops all charges against man arrested in connection with Caldor FireApril 23, 2024 | Claire MorganTravis Shane Smith was arrested in 2021 and charged with reckless arson and possession of a machine gun. In January, a judge ruled there was “not sufficient evidence” to take the arson charge to trial, and another dropped the gun charge this week.
Housing and HomelessnessSupreme Court weighs upending homeless protectionsApril 23, 2024The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a case that could give cities in California and beyond greater authority to crack down on homeless encampments.
EnvironmentStartups want to cool Earth by reflecting sunlight. There are few rules and big risksApril 23, 2024In a parking lot and on San Francisco Bay, NPR witnesses two different tests for solar geoengineering to tackle climate change. With much science unsettled, experts say regulations aren't keeping up.
State GovernmentJudge rejects changing the name of California’s trans youth ballot measureApril 22, 2024Supporters of a California trans youth ballot measure wanted to change the name assigned by the attorney general, but a judge said no.
Bay FC inaugural season already making mark on women’s soccer in Northern CaliforniaApril 22, 2024 | Manola SecairaThe newest franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League drew nearly 18,000 to their first match, a sign of the growing support for professional women’s soccer in the region and around the country. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Sacramento mayor says ‘stakes are huge’ in Supreme Court case on homeless enforcementApril 22, 2024 | Chris NicholsThe case could have wide-ranging implications for state and local governments in California as they grapple with growing homeless encampments and related political pressures. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Sacramento RegionKings fall to Pelicans, miss shot at 2024 playoffsApril 19, 2024The Kings, who were seeded ninth in the West ahead of Friday’s game, are now the first 49-win team in more than 50 years to miss the NBA playoffs.
Arts and LifestyleSacramento R&B festival Sol Blume postponed to next yearApril 19, 2024 | Claire MorganFestival organizers said the venue, Discovery Park, had “significant site damage and growing safety concerns.” They added they’d permanently transition to hosting the event in the summer to avoid future weather conflicts.
Arts and LifestyleSan Francisco mayor announces the city will receive pandas from ChinaApril 19, 2024San Francisco is the latest U.S. city preparing to receive a pair of pandas from China, in a continuation of Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy.”
EducationSacramento City Unified makes Interim Superintendent Lisa Allen permanentApril 19, 2024Allen, who has been with Sacramento City Unified School District for 28 years, was unanimously appointed superintendent by the school board on Thursday. She took over in July after her predecessor Jorge Aguilar stepped down.
Housing and HomelessnessCalifornia leaders take sides in monumental Supreme Court case on homelessnessApril 19, 2024The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case with major implications on homelessness policy in California. Find out where your leaders stand.
Sacramento RegionCapRadio and financial backer at odds over who owns broadcast towerApril 18, 2024 | Vicki Gonzalez | Chris HaganAfter a financial backer of CapRadio donated one of its broadcasting towers to KVIE following calls for a merger between the two public media stations, management of the Sacramento NPR member station argues they ‘definitively’ own the tower. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
EnvironmentWildfire smoke contributes to thousands of deaths each year in the U.S.April 18, 2024Two new studies show the unseen toll smoke is taking on people across the country. Climate change is likely to make the problem even bigger.
State GovernmentWho owns businesses in California? A lawmaker wants the public to knowApril 18, 2024A California lawmaker wants to require limited liability companies and similar businesses to report the identities of their owners to the government. Such information would be available for public view.
Sacramento RegionSacramento water providers plan to meet new federal limits for ‘forever chemicals’April 17, 2024 | Kristin LamOne local water agency estimates it will cost about $45 million to remove PFAS pollution from groundwater wells.
Elk Grove Police could soon remotely dispatch drones to emergency callsApril 17, 2024 | Vicki GonzalezPolice say the unmanned aerial systems would respond to calls for service in minutes, gather data and allow the department to more efficiently dispatch resources. But it has also raised privacy concerns. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
RaceA Virginia county board votes to restore Confederates' names to schoolsMay 10, 2024The school board meeting stretched into early Friday. During the debate, a Black student athlete told the board, "I would have to represent a man that fought for my ancestors to be slaves."
Untangling Disinformation5 takeaways from NPR's reporting on the purported Matamoros flyer May 10, 2024Here's a summary of NPR's reporting about a purported flyer that was found in a portable toilet at a migrant encampment in Matamoros, Mexico that urged migrants to vote illegally for President Biden.
EconomyTax revenue jumps 22% in April, but U.S. deficit still looms largeMay 10, 2024The U.S. Treasury ran a surplus last month, thanks in part to the April 15th tax deadline. But the federal government is still expected to end the year more than $1.5 trillion in the red.
Middle East crisis — explainedThe U.N. General Assembly backs the Palestinians' membership bidMay 10, 2024The assembly voted by a wide margin to grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider the Palestinians' request to become a U.N. member.
MusicBrian Wilson of The Beach Boys is being placed under a legal conservatorshipMay 10, 2024A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the conservatorship Thursday, noting that Brian Wilson suffers from "a major cognitive disorder." Wilson has agreed to the conservatorship.
FamilyLiam and Olivia are still the most popular baby names in the U.S.—but Mateo is risingMay 10, 2024Olivia and Liam are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for the fifth consecutive year, according to an annual tally by the Social Security Administration.
NewsBiden's new asylum rule would have 'minimal' impact on unauthorized border crossingsMay 10, 2024The new rule allows immigration oficials to speed up the asylum-petitioning process by assessing the person's criminal background within days, instead of months or even years.
SpaceA huge solar storm is slamming into the Earth. Scientists say you should look upMay 10, 2024An aurora could be visible as far south as Northern California. Experts say the storm could disrupt some communications and navigation systems like GPS.