“Forever chemicals” in California’s drinking water are raising concerns. Also, the CapRadio Endowment Board discusses its dispute with the public radio station and Sac State. Finally, helping the planet with “Climate Country Radio.”

Forever Chemicals 

“Forever chemicals" in California’s drinking water have raised critical questions about the implications for our communities. CalMatters’ Water Policy reporter, Rachel Becker, sheds light on the complex challenges faced by water agencies and the potential impacts on consumers following the EPA’s new limits on these chemicals in drinking water.  We’ll learn more about the urgency of addressing contamination issues, regulatory standards, and financial burdens.

CapRadio Endowment

CapRadio and an independent financial backer of the NPR member station are at odds over the recent donation of one of its broadcasting towers. The Capital Public Radio Endowment Board - which shares the station’s name but is a separate philanthropic organization - donated the tower to PBS affiliate KVIE earlier this month, without CapRadio or Sacramento State’s knowledge. Sac State holds the station’s news and music licenses. At Wednesday’s public board meeting, CapRadio management said it can definitively show the public radio station owns the tower. The tower is a symptom of a larger back and forth that has played out publicly over the past month with the endowment board. Dan Brunner is the chair and Buzz Wiesenfeld is the treasurer of the Capital Public Radio Endowment Board and join us with their perspective. CapRadio and Sacramento State were invited to discuss this issue, but canceled a planned interview. KVIE declined to be on the show. 

Disclosure: This story was produced by Vicki Gonzalez and edited by Digital Editor Claire Morgan and Chris Hagan. Following NPR’s protocol for reporting on itself, no CapRadio corporate official or news executive reviewed this conversation beforehand.

You can keep up to date with CapRadio’s finances, here.

Climate Country Radio

Climate change and how it can impact our daily lives is the theme behind new public service announcements by the California Council of the Arts. The state agency provided a grant to come up with a creative way to get the word out about the environment, public health and disaster preparedness by teaming up with Davis songwriter and performer Rita Hosking. She joins us to talk about the vision behind the so-called “public service songs” called Climate Country Radio and how she hopes to make a difference.