The California Report Magazine

High above the lights of Los Angeles, there’s a place where you can actually see the stars and planets in the dark winter sky. It’s called the Mt. Wilson Observatory. Peter Gilstrap went to see what happens on Mt. Wilson when the stars come out. Plus, Catholic Latinos across the state commemorate Las Posadas, the journey of Joseph and Mary as they searched for refuge and a safe place for her to give birth to the baby Jesus. Madi Bolaños went to a celebration in Firebaugh. And we hear from Sonoma County songwriter Sean Hayes. He has a new album out called “Be Like Water.” And we mourn the loss of Mexican icon and King of Mariachi, Vicente Fernández, who died December 12th at age 81. Back in 2007, Fernández came to California on his biggest US tour to date. And the California Report’s Senior Editor Victoria Mauleón brought us a story about the impact he had on his fans on this side of the border. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Dec 202129min

These days, It can be a lot harder to find what you might call a “good” job. The kind of job where a person is employed by one company and gets things like health insurance, paid sick days, and at least minimum wage. Today, all kinds of businesses from Uber to janitorial companies argue they’ve come up with something better: “gig work,” in which workers are independent contractors, not employees.  But some workers in California are pushing back against the “gig economy. " After Jerry Vasquez started working as a janitor, with a business that promised he’d be his own boss, he began to question just how independent he really was. This week we’re talking with Krissy Clark, host of Marketplace’s documentary podcast “The Uncertain Hour." She features Jerry's story in her special series, “This Thing We Used to Call Employment.” She says what happened to him could have a huge impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and our whole economy.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Dec 202129min

Finding a place to call home is getting increasingly harder here in California.  The pandemic has been particularly hard on renters. There’s been a lot of news about the end of the statewide eviction moratorium this fall. But it’s not just evictions. Some renters are also facing another challenge – harassment from their landlords. A growing number of California cities are moving to ban landlords from using aggressive practices to try to push out tenants. Kori Suzuki tells us about one renter’s experience with her landlord – and what it cost her.  And, If you’re a parent, you know the fear of dying before your child is old enough to care for themself…But what if your child will always need some extra care, even as an adult? What if there aren’t other family members to help? What if other family members can’t, or won’t, step up? Polly Stryker tells us about a group of parents in San Mateo County who are in the process of creating a self-sustaining community for their adult children called Big Wave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Dec 202129min

This week, we’ve got a couple of storytelling treats for you: two legends and how they’ve left their mark on our state. In the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District, there’s a massive blue mural painted in shades of blue, depicting figures of women among waves and cascading water. In the foreground, a woman stands to the side, a giant tear falling from her eye. “La Llorona’s Sacred Waters” was painted by Bay Area artist Juana Alicia back in 2004. But there are differing versions of her story – both in Mexico and here in California. And what do we do when we're presented with something we can't explain? Do we just chalk it up to the supernatural...or superstition? In this story that first aired in 2018, we explore the mystery of a bizarre 60-foot deep hole that once appeared on Mt. Shasta, and why a guy who works at an old school video store might have some answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Nov 202129min

We’re sharing some stories about the unexpected ways food plays a role in our lives, and in the history of California. These are some of our favorite stories from the award-winning series California Foodways, which has aired on The California Report Magazine since 2014. Reporter Lisa Morehouse has been reporting food stories from every one of the state's 58 counties.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Nov 202129min

The crash ‘em, smash ‘em motorsport of demolition derby had its heyday in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. These days, derbies are featured at county fairs and racetracks. But once a year, Irwindale Speedway in Los Angeles County hosts an annual all-women derby. Plus, during the pandemic many people tried to figure out new ways to connect to break through the isolation. KQED’s Silicon Valley reporter, Adhiti Bandlamudi, actually started dating someone new during lockdown... and found true love. Finally, we head to a museum in San Francisco's Chinatown that's preserving the neighborhood's glamourous history from the 1930's to 60s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Nov 202131min

Identity is always complicated, and for multiracial folks who straddle many identities, it can be isolating. It can also be invigorating and rich to belong to multiple communities and celebrate that complexity. The latest census shows it's demographic to pay attention to: 2020 data reflect a 276% increase in people who identify as multiracial compared to 2010. Sasha Khokha is joined by special guest host Marisa Lagos as they delve into the mixed race experience, grounded in their own backgrounds. They'll talk with pioneering artist Kip Fulbeck, whose hapa project allowed mixed-race folks to answer the question "What Are You?" in their own voices and hear a conversation between two listeners who share a similar Black/Filipina background, but straddle different generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Nov 202137min

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 Okt 202131min