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Consider the beaver. Once thought of as a “nuisance rodent,” yes it’s a rodent, for flooding roads, farmland and other properties that we want to keep dry, the beaver is now embraced as a “climate solving hero” and an eco-engineer. Why? Well for its natural ability to help increase water storage and to create natural buffers against wildfires.  Guests: Laurie Wayburn, Co-Founder of Pacific Forest Trust and Leila Phillip, Author of the book "Beaver Land: How One Weird Rodent Made America"

The California State University system has some of the lowest tuition rates in the country. But a huge budget gap could force new tuition hikes.  Reporter: Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Stanford University is conducting the first clinical trial in the world, looking at whether Paxlovid could be a possible treatment for Long COVID patients.   Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report Kennedy High School is in Richmond, a town northeast of San Francisco. One retired teacher has shown extraordinary commitment to the school, where he’s dedicated his time and energy for more than 50 years.  Reporter: Richard Gonzales, The California Report Magazine

Every year for the past two decades, tribes along the Oregon-California border have come together for an event known as the Salmon Run. It’s a spiritual run and prayer for the health of the Klamath watershed.   Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio A new state legislative committee is digging into the fentanyl crisis in search of solutions. Over five hours of testimony on Wednesday, public health and law enforcement experts painted a grim picture of a complex crisis requiring multifaceted solutions. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED

This year, the city of Los Angeles decided to turn one of its methane gas plants into a hydrogen plant. It's part of the city’s ambitious goal to run on 100% renewable energy by 2035. It might sound great, but it’s actually a controversial move. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW A new state legislative committee focused on fentanyl and opioid addiction is holding its first meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The committee is hoping to address the ongoing opioid crisis.  Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED

A historic agreement has been reached between seven Western states to cut the amount of water they take from the Colorado River. But what are California's responsibilities under the deal? And which part of the state will be most affected? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  California's lawmakers have been scrambling to address the state's fentanyl overdose crisis. The synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and it caused nearly 6,000 deaths in California in 2021, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. But the state legislature is split on the best approach to tackle this crisis -- treatment or punishment? Guest: Anita Chabria, Columnist, Los Angeles Times

California’s food banks are reporting alarming spikes in demand, that’s according to the state’s association of food banks, which says the end of pandemic-era food benefits and record high inflation is to blame.  In April, the Sacramento food bank and its partners fed 281,000 people – almost double the amount it served before the pandemic. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadio Fueled by California's record snowfall, rivers in the state are flowing fast and have swept away a number of people recently. That includes an 8-year-old girl, who drowned in the Kings River in Fresno County on Sunday.   Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Earlier this month, we brought you the story of Long COVID patients and their concerns about the lack of clinical trials for potential treatments. Now, a Bay Area lawmaker is looking for answers from the federal agency in charge of Long COVID research. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

It was once Northern California’s largest settlement of unhoused people. The city of Oakland recently cleared the last remaining portion of the community people called Wood Street.   Reporter: Erin Baldassari, KQED We're learning more about U.S Senator Dianne Feinstein's recent health struggles. They were worse and more complicated than her office first disclosed.  Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED California workplace regulators have confirmed complaints of child labor and other violations at a Popeye’s fast food restaurant in East Oakland. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Rivers in California are flowing fast and wide this year as record snowpack in the mountains melt. All that water has created flood damage and worries about more to come, but one industry is thriving after years of drought and shrinking rivers -- whitewater rafting.    Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR California workplace health and safety regulators are holding a public hearing on Thursday on a proposed rule to prevent heat-related illness in indoor spaces. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Along the Yuba River on Tuesday, California officials announced a plan to give fish access to areas they haven't swam in for more than a century. Daguerre Point Dam has blocked migrating salmon, sturgeon and Pacific lamprey since it was built in 1910. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED After a wildfire destroyed his home a few years back, a young Latino man from Santa Rosa was inspired to become a firefighter. Now, he’s well on his way to achieving his goal -- thanks to a program designed to increase diversity in California’s fire departments. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

In 2015, the Berryessa Snow Mountain region became a national monument. The monument status brought protections to the area’s biologically diverse landscape.  But one large swath of land, nestled in the monument’s center, was excluded from protection. Now environmental groups and tribes are trying to fix that.   Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Governor Gavin Newsom warned of a more than $31 billion shortfall when he released his revised state spending plan last week. One sector that will feel the pinch of a tighter budget is child care. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

U.S. immigration officials are expressing confidence in the state of things at the U-S Mexico border. That after the Trump-era Title 42 program ended last week. It prevented migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. But there are still plenty of concerns from people trying to cross the border. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report

Now that the pandemic era border restrictions, known as Title 42, have been lifted., it’s estimated six thousand migrants are in shelters across the San Diego -Tijuana border waiting to apply for asylum. Many had been waiting for days without much food. They slept on the ground under bright lights. Governor Gavin Newsom will be announcing how big of a budget deficit the state is expecting next year – and how he plans to close that gap. Reporter: Alexei Koseff, CalMatters  Fire season is fast approaching in California. As the climate warms, fires are expected to be more intense. This comes as California struggles to beef up its wildfire personnel. But a new program in the Bay Area aims to help build that workforce. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report

Title 42, the border policy that was put in place during the pandemic to turn asylum seekers away, ends Thursday night. Officials are expecting a surge of migrants at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is already keeping 400 migrants in a makeshift camp in San Ysidro, between the primary and secondary border walls.  Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS  Thursday marks the end of the COVID 19 federal public health emergency.  But for people who are affected by Long COVID, it’s not the end of the pandemic.  Many have lost their jobs, have no means of income, and are relying on disability checks to try to survive. But getting approved for long-term disability is becoming a major roadblock. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report

As we’re now in the fourth year of the pandemic, there is a growing sense of optimism that the worst is likely behind us. Vaccines and boosters have helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. But for millions of Americans who are suffering from Long COVID symptoms, there’s no end in sight for their day-to-day struggles. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The California Report  Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to release his revised budget on Friday. He’s warned about a major deficit, but that isn’t stopping lawmakers from putting pressure on him to increase child care funding, to the tune of a billion dollars.  Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED   After the COVID-19 public health emergency ends on Thursday, some people who were receiving medications through telehealth will need to visit a doctor in person. Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS

California’s legislature has approved spending $150 million to help cash-strapped hospitals across the state. The money would fund a hospital loan program. Reporter: Ana Ibarra, CalMatters Menifee in Riverside County is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. As it's grown, the city made the decision to create its own police department from scratch. It launched in the summer of 2020 – just as policing was under intense scrutiny in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.   Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR

This week will mark the end of a controversial border policy that started under President Donald Trump. Title 42 is part of the U.S. Public Health Code meant to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. But it's been used to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants from crossing the border. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED We’re nearing the end of the first week of the Hollywood writers strike, and studios and the union representing writers stand far apart on a number of key issues. But, the strike doesn’t only threaten the financial health of those who work on TV shows or movies. It has lots of other businesses worried as well.  Reporter: Josie Huang, LAist The California reparations task force has approved a statewide plan for descendants of American Slavery.  The sweeping recommendations include a method to calculate money denied to Black residents by racist policies and plans for a new state agency to manage repayment. Reporter: Annelise Finney, KQED

Hundreds of parents and teachers in Oakland are taking to the picket line on Friday morning for day two of the citywide teachers strike.  Reporter: Phoebe Quinton, KQED David “Mas” Masumoto has been growing peaches, nectarines and grapes on his family farm in Del Rey, just south of Fresno, for over 40 years. He thought he knew all about his family history in the area -- the racism, imprisonment during World War II, and eventually buying some land, establishing a home. But Masumoto got a big shock in 2012.  Reporter: Lisa Morehouse, The California Report Magazine

TV and film writers are taking to the picket lines for the third day, after failing to reach an agreement with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It' still unclear how long the strike will last, but both sides seem to be dug in. Guest: Michael Schneider, Senior TV Editor, Variety. Host of Screengrab, a podcast from KCRW   The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pass ambitious plans for new housing in Hollywood and Downtown L.A. The aim is to bring 135,000 new homes to the two neighborhoods. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist

In Hollywood, film and television writers represented by the Writers Guild of America, or WGA, are on the second day of a strike. It’s the first such labor action in more than 15 years, and it could have a devastating economic impact on the industry if it continues.  Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report On Tuesday, we told you about the lack of affordable child care options, and how it’s keeping women from joining certain industries. A lot of that has to do with how little early educators are paid. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED

The construction industry in California wants to hire more women to meet a shortage of skilled workers. But access to child care is keeping many of these women from joining the trades. Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQED The state is suing the city of Elk Grove for allegedly using discriminatory housing practices to deny a proposed affordable housing project. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Did you know when California communities plan new housing, they don’t have to take the size of their unhoused populations into consideration? A new bill advancing through the state Legislature could change that. Reporter: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters