Shows
Central Valley DailyMay 15: Danger Lurks For California’s Prison Population In Cases Of DisastersTwo prisons in the small city of Corcoran in Kings County nearly flooded when Tulare Lake returned in 2023. A recent state audit found that it would have taken at least three days for the prisons to evacuate in an emergency. KVPR’s Kerry Klein discusses some of the problems state prisons face in cases of an emergency. Plus, the latest news headlines: Teenage Clovis shooting suspects appear in court for the first time, and Community Health System settles in an alleged fraud case.2025-05-1514 min
KQED's The California ReportTariffs Likely To Increase Cost Of Weddings In CaliforniaWeddings are pricey affairs in California — and they’re about to get even more expensive. According to the National Bridal Retailers Association, about 90 percent of all wedding gowns sold in the U.S. are made in China. With 145% tariffs now being imposed on all Chinese goods coming into the U.S., that could mean big price increases for California bridal shop owners and brides-to-be.
Reporter: Tina Caputo
Congress is moving ahead with a plan to block California’s electric vehicle mandate.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
When T...2025-05-0211 minCentral Valley DailyApr. 9: What Mass Bee Die-Offs Look Like In The Central ValleyWe just wrapped up the most deadly winter on record for commercial honeybees: a survey by the non-profit research organization “Project Apis m.” estimated that 62% of commercial bees died between fall and spring. These bees not only make honey but also pollinate more than 100 U.S. crops - contributing to a total of $18 billion dollars in agricultural revenue. What did these losses mean to commercial beekeepers – and the local ag industry that depends so much on them? On today’s episode, we talk about these sudden, massive die-offs with KVPR reporter Kerry Klein. Plus, the latest news headlines: A news investig...2025-04-0913 minCentral Valley DailyFeb. 20: Inside The World’s Largest Farm Trade Show In TulareEvery year, the city of Tulare doubles its population when the world’s largest farm trade show comes to town. The World Ag Expo wrapped up last week, but in today’s episode, KVPR reporter Kerry Klein brings us a story from the show’s grounds. We hear what makes the expo so attractive and what it takes to make it happen. Plus, the latest news headlines: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s next move and Valley food banks' worries.2025-02-2011 min
KQED's The California ReportTrump Executive Order Takes Aim At California's Water ManagementPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says will help Southern California fight future wildfires. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and federal environmental rules, to send more water from California’s Delta. Trump has said this move will help protect against wildfires, by bolstering Southern California’s water supplies. But this order won’t actually do that.Guest: Alastair Bland, CalMattersA new strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in the United States. It was found in Merced County...2025-01-2811 min
KQED's The California ReportLA Residents Track Price Gougers On Their OwnCalifornia Attorney General Rob Bonta is continuing to track price gouging in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. On Wednesday, Bonta announced charges against a Southern California real estate agent for gouging a couple who lost their home to the fires. It's yet another challenge facing people who lost their homes, who are just trying to figure out where to live. And some residents are tracking price gougers on their own. Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, CalMattersAn organization representing farmworkers has received postcards threatening people...2025-01-2311 minCentral Valley DailyDec. 24: Looking Back At KVPR’s Biggest Stories Of 2024This year, scandals, natural disasters, and human stories shaped the San Joaquin Valley. As we say goodbye to 2024, we look back at some of the stories covered by KVPR. We speak to KVPR news director Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado and Associate Editor Kerry Klein about the stories that kept the newsroom – and our airwaves – busy.2024-12-2419 min
KQED's The California ReportHow A Building Code Update Disrupted Child Care Centers In CaliforniaCalifornia is contending with a child care shortage, and the state has made efforts to increase options for families. But conflicting regulations from two state agencies are causing childcare centers to turn away thousands of infants and toddlers.Reporter: Daisy Nguyen, KQEDHealth officials are scheduled to provide an update Friday morning on Governor Newsom's declaration of a state of emergency over bird flu. Although details are scant, public health experts say it’s likely a good thing. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad c...2024-12-2011 min
KQED's The California ReportWhistleblowers Paint Picture Of Violence At New Folsom PrisonThe warden at a troubled prison in northern California is retiring this month, and the governor has just given the former chief deputy warden there a big promotion. KQED reporters Julie Small and Sukey Lewis investigated this prison for their podcast On Our Watch, and they have an article out this week that tells the emotional story of a pair of whistleblowers who work there and the challenges they faced.Guest: Julie Small, KQEDThe co-founders of failed Fresno startup Bitwise Industries have been sentenced to prison for wire fraud. R...2024-12-1811 minCentral Valley DailyDec. 17: Four Months After Bird Flu Was Found In The Valley, Where Are We Now?Tulare County is one of the country’s top dairy-producing counties. But now, four months after the first detection of avian influenza in California dairy cows, how is the county handling the outbreak? In today’s episode, we get an update from KVPR’s Kerry Klein. She tells us how bird flu is also affecting humans. Plus, the latest news headlines, including sentencing for Bitwise Industries co-founders, and, could blood tests determine unhealthy alcohol use?2024-12-1714 min
KQED's The California ReportSan Diego Police K-9 Policy Called Into QuestionSan Diego's police commission is reviewing the department's K-9 policy, after complaints of excessive force. Data show large racial disparities in who gets bitten by police dogs.Reporter: Katie Hyson, KPBS Former San Joaquin Valley Congressman TJ Cox has agreed to plead guilty to two financial crimes.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2024-12-1211 minCentral Valley DailyNov. 13: The Fresno Police Department Is Using AI To Write Police ReportsWhat role does artificial intelligence play in police departments? While not yet widely used, the Fresno Police Department is already utilizing the technology to write its police reports. We speak with KVPR editor and reporter Kerry Klein about her new reporting that looks into this. Plus, the latest news headlines, including a bomb threat investigated at the Kings County elections office and Fresno's search for a new poet laureate.2024-11-1313 min
KQED's The California ReportWhat A Trump Presidency Means For CaliforniaPresident-elect Donald Trump made plenty of promises during his campaign that could affect the state of California. But California is already taking action to defend itself against potential Trump administration policies. Will it work?Guest: Melanie Mason, Politico Federal health officials are making a new push to test more workers who might be infected with bird flu. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2024-11-1211 minCentral Valley DailyNov. 6: A Look Back At Election Day And Night In The ValleyElection Day is behind us. We hear how it went in the San Joaquin Valley. Nationally, Republicans have seemed to have a lead in Congress and in the White House. In the Valley, congressional races were still too close to call as of Tuesday night. KVPR’s Kerry Klein and Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado tell us where things ended up, and what reporters from the KVPR newsroom observed as the night went on.2024-11-0613 min
KQED's The California ReportMany California Almond Growers Struggling To Stay AfloatIn the last decade, almonds have turned up everywhere. Even at the Super Bowl, where a commercial showed actor Jeremy Renner supercharged by almond milk. Even so, California almond producers have been struggling. Growers have in some ways been the victims of their own success - although the outlook might be improving. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR A sweltering heat wave continues in much of our state this week. Now, a new report from the state’s insurance commissioner takes a long view on the dangers of high temperatures, reporting that nearly 140,000 Californians visi...2024-07-0911 min
KQED's The California ReportSephora Kids Trend Draws Growing Concerns From ParentsIf you’ve found yourself at a makeup store recently, especially in a mall after school, you might’ve noticed more young people around you. Like really young. Like elementary and middle school young. This is a trend and it has a name: Sephora Kids. And their purchases are doing damage to more than just their parents’ bank accounts.Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRWFresno's Police Chief has resigned. This follows an investigation that cleared Paco Balderrama of wrongdoing, after an internal complaint stemming from an affair with an officer’s wife.Report...2024-06-2610 min
KQED's The California ReportHow The Closure Of Madera County's Only Hospital Has Impacted The CommunityWhen a county’s only hospital closes, you might expect there to be dire, immediate effects on public health. However, since Madera Community Hospital closed its doors in early 2023, the consequences haven’t been so clear.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRCalifornia insurance regulators are sharing the next phase of their plans to fix the state’s ailing insurance market. The new regulations propose to let insurance companies use the catastrophe models they want, but in exchange, require them to offer more coverage in wildfire-prone areas of the state.Reporter: Danielle Venton...2024-06-1310 min
KQED's The California ReportTwo California National Parks Rank As Most Polluted In The CountryNational parks have been called “America’s best idea.” But a recent study says these parks are increasingly threatened by human-caused air pollution. The parks with the biggest risk are all here in California.Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPRShuttered Madera Community Hospital has cleared yet another hurdle in the path to reopening. It’s been approved for a $57 million interest-free loan.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRA community in Red Bluff was recently notified that their water had high concentrations of chemicals called PFAS. Data shows that the s...2024-04-0910 min
KQED's The California ReportPort Of Los Angeles' Goal For Zero Emissions Still Faces Some RoadblocksWhen you think about what causes air pollution in California, cars and factories probably come to mind. But what about ports? For instance, the Port of Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach, when combined, are the single largest source of pollution in Southern California. But change is afoot.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California ReportEarlier this month, thousands of employees were laid-off off by one of the country’s largest stone fruit producers, which operates in central California. The Prima Wawona layoffs are part of a decades-long shift in farm...2024-03-2510 min
KQED's The California ReportMassive Bird Flu Outbreak Severely Impacting Farms In Central ValleyThere’s a nasty virus spreading through the U.S. We’re not talking about COVID and we’re not even talking about humans. Avian influenza or bird flu has affected millions of birds across the country, including here in California. And in the Central Valley, farmers have been set back months due to the loss of flock and eggs.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRThe push for California to provide reparations for Black Californians is taking shape at the state capitol. Members of the legislature's Black Caucus have chosen 14 reparations bills to prioritize t...2024-02-2210 min
KQED's The California ReportCulture Wars Dominate Huntington Beach Politics Heading Into March PrimaryAmerica's growing culture wars can be seen in local politics across the state. That includes in the Orange County city of Huntington Beach, where a conservative majority on the city council has rolled back several progressive initiatives. And in March, a highly contentious measure is on the ballot. It’s a city charter amendment titled Measure 1 that if passed, would require Huntington Beach residents to show official identification when voting in-person.Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California ReportA Fresno judge has approved a plan to reopen bankrupt Madera Community Hospital, which has been...2024-02-1410 min
KQED's The California ReportSupport Group Helps Mothers Who Have A Child In PrisonThere are more than 1.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S. And there are also a lot of mothers out there, living with the guilt, shame and loneliness that comes with having a child in prison. In Sacramento, one mom is turning that pain into support.Reporter: Madi Bolaños, The California ReportA job fair was held this week for workers laid off by a Fresno-based agricultural company. Prima Wawona, which grows and packages peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots, filed for bankruptcy in October. A few weeks ago, it warned its emp...2024-02-0210 min
KQED's The California ReportCreek Fire Survivors Face Challenges In Moving ForwardThree years ago, the Creek Fire was finally contained. It remains California’s fifth largest blaze, after destroying nearly 400,000 acres and hundreds of homes in the Sierra Nevada east of Fresno. The three years since have been a time of healing and recovery – especially for those involved in a high-stakes rescue the first weekend of the blaze.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR California has been closing prisons to save money. But the state’s spending 90% more per year on each prisoner kept locked up than it was a decade ago. That’s according to a new analy...2024-01-2510 min
KQED's The California ReportMeadows A Key Part Of Forest HealthMeadows can be a key to forest health. In the Sierra Nevada, however, most have been degraded or lost. But there are efforts underway to restore these habitats. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR A unique holiday tradition here in the Bay Area. The Misfit Cabaret is a variety show that features eccentric performers, often performing burlesque and drag.Reporter: Rachel Martin, NPR2023-12-2510 min
KQED's The California ReportNew Hope For Shuttered Madera Community HospitalThere is still hope that Madera Community Hospital will reopen. It shut down and filed for bankruptcy a year ago, leaving patients with virtually no other options. Earlier this month, a deal to save the facility fell through. But two more suitors are eyeing the hospital.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRIn the Bay Area, a unique childbirth education program for and by Black people is improving birth outcomes and patient experiences. That’s why the agency that oversees Medi-Cal is looking into how it can bring this program to other public hospitals in C...2023-11-2910 min
KQED's The California ReportRegulators Suspend Cruise's Driverless Taxis From Operating In San FranciscoThe Department of Motor Vehicles has suspended permits that allowed robo-taxi company Cruise to operate in San Francisco. That comes after an incident earlier this month, in which one of the company's fully driverless vehicles hit and dragged a pedestrian. Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQEDTeachers from the Fresno Unified School District, California’s third largest public school system, have voted to strike. It’s the first strike authorization by Fresno Unified teachers in more than 40 years. Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRWhen Los Angeles-area landlords want to evic...2023-10-2510 min
KQED's The California ReportRestoring Meadows In Sierra Nevada A Key To Healthy EcosystemsWhen you think of a meadow, what comes to mind? Probably a peaceful expanse of grass and flowers straight out of a postcard. A perfect place to have a picnic or read a book. But meadows are also key to the health of forests And in the Sierra Nevada most meadows have been degraded or lost.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRMeeting in Long Beach Wednesday morning, California State University’s Board of Trustees is expected to vote on whether to increase tuition at all 23 CSU campuses. The proposal would include a 6% tuition hike...2023-09-1310 min
KQED's The California ReportLA Photographer Blames Algorithmic Bias For Shutdown Of IG AccountThe popular social media app Instagram and its parent company, Meta, use artificial intelligence to moderate content. But there are growing concerns that the “training data” for AI is biased against women and people of color. A Los Angeles photographer thinks this “algorithmic bias” is part of the reason Instagram disabled his account.Reporter: Beth Tribolet, KQEDThe California legislature has passed a bill that would ban the hand-counting of ballots in most elections. The legislation was targeted specifically at Northern California’s Shasta County, where supervisors did away with Dominion voting machines earl...2023-09-1110 min
KQED's The California ReportCalifornia Residents Look To Fight West NileBy all accounts, this year's West Nile virus season has been particularly bad. The state has reported five fatalities so far this summer. In Sacramento and Yolo Counties, the Mosquito & Vector Control District has been spraying a diluted insecticide throughout the region to kill the mosquitoes that carry the disease. Reporter: Kate Wolffe, CapRadioKern County’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the state. Family members of people who died there during childbirth have now gotten the attention of the state medical board.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR2023-09-0110 min
KQED's The California ReportCalifornia's Child Care Crisis Could Benefit From Employer-Sponsored CareStanding water in Kings and Tulare Counties in the San Joaquin Valley has led to a proliferation of mosquitoes. As a result, big bucks are being spent on abatement.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRFor a lot of parents, having no one to care for their children means they often just don’t go to work, which can be bad for their employers. One study found that businesses lose $23 billion every year due to child care challenges faced by their workers. So some companies are taking matters into their own hands through employer-sponsored ca...2023-08-0910 min
KQED's The California ReportTulare Lake Leaves Many Farmers Struggling To Get Back To Normal OperationsAfter days of triple-digit heat, areas of the San Joaquin Valley, flooded from winter storms, are drying up, little by little. That includes Tulare Lake, which is receding after peaking at more than 170 square miles in size. But for many, the return to dry land doesn’t mean a return to normalcy.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRA coalition of environmentalists and social justice groups have launched a statewide campaign to try to ban new oil and gas wells near schools, parks and other residential places. The group is gathering signatures to get the...2023-08-0310 min
KQED's The California ReportWere Two Central Valley State Prisons Prepared For Potential Flooding?After months of alarm, forecasters predict that Tulare Lake has peaked in size. That means the risk of flooding has likely subsided for the city of Corcoran. But questions still surround what could have happened if floodwaters had overtaken two state prisons on the outskirts of the city.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRFord, General Motors and several other truck manufacturers have agreed to abide by California’s ban on the sale of new diesel big rigs by 2036. The deal puts an industry stamp of approval on rules California solidified this year, to fi...2023-07-0710 min
KQED's The California ReportBig Melt Could Lead To Flooding In Parts Of StateWeather forecasters expect an early-season heatwave this week in many parts of the state. The warmth may cause flooding as the snowpack melts in inland areas of California.Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQEDOn the best of days, agricultural work isn’t easy, but in recent years, California farmworkers, in places like the San Joaquin Valley, have also had to deal with record heat waves, wildfires and more recently storms and flooding. But because of chronic illnesses, agricultural laborers also face a growing health crisis.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPR2023-04-2511 min
KQED's The California ReportStorm Once Again Batters CaliforniaDowned trees, widespread power outages, flooded roadways -- it was all part of the latest atmospheric river to hit California. At least two people died due to falling trees in the Bay Area on Tuesday.In Tulare County, where signs reading “pray for rain” line the highway, many communities are still underwater. And so are agricultural fields.Reporter: Kerry Klein, KVPRWe’re still waiting to hear whether the Service Employees International Union will appeal last week’s court ruling upholding most of Proposition 22. That's the voter approved...2023-03-2211 min
KQED's The California ReportWater Restrictions Lifted For Millions Of Southern CaliforniansMillions of L.A. County residents and businesses can resume outdoor watering, after news that urgent repairs to a pipeline that brings water from the Colorado River to Southern California have wrapped up early.Reporter: Darrell Satzman, KCRW Open agricultural burning is a useful tool for farmers, but its high particulate emissions are harmful to San Joaquin Valley residents. Air regulators plan to phase out the practice by 2025, but air quality advocates have doubts after years of inaction. Reporters: Kerry Klein and Monica Vaughan, KVPRGovernor Gav...2022-09-2017 min
KQED's The California ReportState Workers No Longer Required To Test For COVIDWith the start of the work week, many state workers who are unvaccinated will not have to undergo regular testing for COVID-19. Since July of 2021, unvaccinated state employees have had to submit to weekly testing.Reporter: Matt Guilhem, KCRWOpen agricultural burning is due to be phased out in California by 2025, in an effort to reduce harmful emissions. But many farmers are apprehensive of a future without burning.Reporters: Monica Vaughan and Kerry Klein, KVPR The San Francisco Police Department may have collaborated with a fe...2022-09-1917 min
Snap JudgmentMother NatureWhat’s rich, buttery, and tastes like opportunity? Callo de Hacha. The shellfish delicacy that gave one Sinaloan town… “White Gold Fever.” And “Escape From Mammoth Pool,” the harrowing rescue of 242 people and 16 dogs from the blazing fast “Creek” wildfire.
STORIES
White Gold Fever
What’s rich, buttery, and tastes like opportunity? Callo de Hacha. The shellfish delicacy that gave one Sinaloan town… “White Gold Fever.
Thank you, Belen, and to everyone in Teacapan for sharing this story with us!
This story was produced in collaboration with Fern: the Food & Environment Reporting Network, a nonprofit investigative journalism outlet. BIG thanks to Brent Cunningham an...2022-07-2249 min
KQED's The California ReportCA Attorney General Has Plan For Nearly 1.5 Million California Tenants At Risk Of EvictionOne in seven California tenants are behind on their rent. So, Attorney General Rob Bonta is issuing instructions to sheriff and police departments across the state on how to respond when someone reports an illegal eviction. Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED Overall, 91 percent of jobs at daycare centers in California have come back. That might sound good, but the state lags behind the rest of the U.S. economy. Reporter Daisy Nguyen, KQED Starting January 1, the University of California and Cal State school systems will offer *all* stu...2022-07-1417 min
Snap JudgmentMother NatureWhat's rich, buttery, and tastes like opportunity? Callo de Hacha. The shellfish delicacy that gave one Sinaloan town... "White Gold Fever.” And "Escape From Mammoth Pool," the harrowing rescue of 242 people and 16 dogs from the blazing fast "Creek" wildfire.
STORIES
White Gold Fever
What's rich, buttery, and tastes like opportunity? Callo de Hacha. The shellfish delicacy that gave one Sinaloan town... "White Gold Fever.
Thank you, Belen, and to everyone in Teacapan for sharing this story with us!
This story was produced in collaboration with Fern: the Food & Environment Re...2022-07-0748 min
KQED's The California ReportLos Angeles Clears The Way To Ban Homeless Encampments Near SchoolsThe Los Angeles City Council has voted in favor of drafting new municipal ordinances that will ban homeless encampments within 500 feet of all schools and daycare centers in the city.A new state audit has found major problems with the state's Child Abuse Central Index. The audit only reviewed six of California’s 58 counties, but found information gaps in tens of thousands of cases.Reporter: Sara Hossaini, KQED Our sister station KVPR in Fresno has launched a new podcast series called “The Other California.” It profiles small towns ar...2022-06-0218 min
Valley EditionValley Edition – April 15, 2022 – A bonus hour all about climate changeOn this week’s Valley Edition, a bonus episode – a collaboration from the California Newsroom entitled Climate Costs: A public radio special exploring the high price of climate change for California communities. Hosted by KVPR’s Kerry Klein, with contributions from eight public radio newsrooms in California, we bring you stories of the challenges brought on by climate change. We’ll visit the Northern hemisphere’s largest geothermal field, a Native American reservation in the Eastern Sierra, a Central Coast city grappling with the loss of its coastline, and a region where acres and acres of orange groves are being replaced w...2022-04-1555 min
The Other CaliforniaEpisode 5: OriginsPeople come to work in the San Joaquin Valley for many reasons: as refugees, as migrants and as immigrants. And as you’ll see in this episode, they don’t all come to work the land. At the beginning of The Other California podcast, Host Alice Daniel told you about why and how she came to the San Joaquin Valley, specifically Fresno. A lot of listeners related to it and told her their own stories of how they got here. The KVPR news team is emblematic of so many of those histories, plus as you’ll see, they’re great storytel...2022-04-1526 min
KQED's The California ReportGroundwater's Importance in California and the Plans for SustainabilityGroundwater is an important part of the puzzle in the state's outlook for water supplies, especially during drought years. And the state is now reviewing sustainability plans that have been put together by local agencies.Guest: Kerry Klein, Reporter KVPR2021-12-2811 min
Escape From Mammoth PoolPart 7: Climate Change, Fire Suppression, And The Growing Human Toll Of WildfiresThe emergency rescues at Mammoth Pool Reservoir last September didn't happen in a vacuum. Wildfires in the West are getting bigger, faster, and more intense, and “megafires” like the Creek Fire, driven largely by climate change and a century of fire suppression, are putting people and infrastructure more at risk than ever. This conversation features CalFire/Fresno County Fire Battalion Chief Daniel Urias; Province Ecologist Marc Meyer and Research Economist Jose Sanchez with the U.S. Forest Service; Sergeant Jeff Andriese, Aerial Supervisor with the California Highway Patrol; and Registered Professional Forester Julianne Stewart. This is the final episode in this...2021-10-1515 minEscape From Mammoth PoolPart 6: Could This Happen To Me?Last September, just days after the Mammoth Pool Reservoir rescues, thick orange smoke and falling ash from a different wildfire forced Jack Haskel to cut short a backpacking trip in Northern California. A few years before that, he had to evacuate a trail under similar circumstances in Oregon. But not only is Jack a backpacker, he’s also a Trail Information Manager with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and he is increasingly finding himself spending his summer days fielding phone calls from hikers and backpackers seeing smoke and wondering what to do. In this interview, host Kerry Klein talks with Ja...2021-10-0918 minEscape From Mammoth PoolBonus: Hear Us On KQED's 'The California Report Magazine'Great news: our podcast has been featured on The California Report Magazine , a weekly radio show and podcast produced by our friends at KQED. Every week, they share creative, sound-rich stories that take listeners on “road trip for the ears and the imagination,” and today they’ve dedicated an entire episode to Escape From Mammoth Pool . The episode features excerpts from our original series, as well as a conversation between host Sasha Khokha and our own Kerry Klein. Head on over and take a listen, and while you’re at it, subscribe to The California Report Magazine wherever you get your pod2021-10-0200 minEscape From Mammoth PoolPart 5: A Deeper Dive With 'Chief Joe' RosamondIn an earlier episode of this podcast, Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Rosamond, a helicopter pilot with the California Army National Guard, went so far as to say that flying the rescue mission at Mammoth Pool Reservoir “was the most dangerous, most risky thing I've ever gotten myself into.” What you haven’t heard is just how harrowing those flights were—particularly the one in which Rosamond and his crew loaded in three times as many people as the helicopter is rated for. In this extended interview we take a deep dive with Chief Rosamond, who’s been a guardsman for 24 years, fli...2021-10-0222 min
The California Report MagazineEscape from Mammoth Pool: A Wildfire Rescue that Saved 242 People (and 16 Dogs)Over Labor Day weekend 2020, the historic, fast-moving Creek Fire tore through remote wilderness in the Sierra Nevada northeast of Fresno, trapping hundreds of campers at a Mammoth Pool Reservoir. A new podcast from KVPR explores what it takes, in the era of climate change, to launch a successful, large-scale rescue from a massive forest fire. "Escape from Mammoth Pool" gives us an intimate look at the people involved in the rescue effort — survivors who helped save strangers, and National Guard members who said this was scarier than war. We're devoting our whole show this week to sharing part...2021-10-0229 minEscape From Mammoth PoolPart 4: The View A Year LaterIn the first three episodes of this series, we shared stories from the panicked evacuations and dramatic rescues of hundreds of people trapped at Mammoth Pool Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada. They’d fled there over Labor Day weekend 2020, as the Creek Fire consumed their campground and closed in on the lake. This week, we step back from that narrative with an epilogue. In a conversation with KVPR colleague Kathleen Schock, Kerry Klein checks in on these three families a year later: How have they recovered? How do they look back at the experience? And who is suing whom? Credits: Re...2021-09-2512 minEscape From Mammoth PoolPart 3: Heroes, Big And SmallThere are many ways to be heroic. Some of them are death-defying—like rushing into a burning forest to save hundreds of strangers—but some aren’t, and even talking someone down from a panic attack, or offering a ride in the middle of a wildfire, can pay dividends in serendipitous, even life-saving ways. And so, even though by many measures, what happened at Mammoth Pool Reservoir over Labor Day weekend 2020 was a tragedy, the high-stakes situation also revealed some of the best of human nature. In today’s episode: the heroes, in all forms, who enabled everyone to get out aliv...2021-09-1714 min