California

A young woman with duck tape over her mouth that says "Feed Me Opportunity"

University of California votes to not allow undocumented students to work on campus, for now

Undocumented students have been lobbying the University of California for the right to work legally on campus for more than a year. They argue that the UC's 4,000 students who are not US citizens still need a way to earn a paycheck and get the same kind of academic work experiences that their peers do. But, federal immigration law prohibits hiring anyone without work authorization. And last week, UC regents voted against changing hiring rules. From San Francisco, KQED's Madi Bolaños reports.

University of California votes to not allow undocumented students to work on campus, for now
rally

San Diego doctor says height of the border wall is leading to more injuries from falls

San Diego doctor says height of the border wall is leading to more injuries from falls
Ariya Tok poses with her fellow graduates after they received their certificates at a Cambodian cultural graduation ceremony at Cal State Long Beach.

Cambodian American graduates: More than victims of genocide

Cambodian American graduates: More than victims of genocide
Vira Ustyanska, a 34-year-old artist, fled her home in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, soon after the war started. She now lives in San Diego, California, with a host family waiting for the war to end.

Finding home in California after fleeing war in Ukraine

Finding home in California after fleeing war in Ukraine
Antonio Lopez makes markings in the sand to show what sea turtle tracks look like.

From the desert to the sea, CRRIFS cares for and protects San Carlos wildlife

From the desert to the sea, CRRIFS cares for and protects San Carlos wildlife
Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest

1 in 6 trees in the US threatened with extinction

A recent study concludes that 1 in 6 US tree species are at risk of extinction, largely due to pests and disease.

1 in 6 trees in the US threatened with extinction
woman on bench

Safe and unsilenced: Afghan scholars find refuge at US universities

​​​​​​​As they watched the Taliban take over Kabul, a group of Bay Area universities got together to bring Afghan scholars to the US by funding their residencies.

Safe and unsilenced: Afghan scholars find refuge at US universities
A sea turtle heads back to the ocean after the tortugueros have finished gathering data on it

Kino Bay’s Becerra family gave up traditional fishing to focus on saving sea turtles

Green sea turtles are an endangered species and among the largest of their kind in the world. They’re also the only herbivorous sea turtles. Now, some conservation groups are trying to protect them.

Kino Bay’s Becerra family gave up traditional fishing to focus on saving sea turtles
Prem Pariyar stands in front of Alexander Meiklejohn Hall on the campus of California State University, East Bay.

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus

Caste was outlawed decades ago across South Asia. But it still exists and has found its way to American campuses.

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus
Luke Sital-Singh's new single is called "Me & God."

Musician Luke Sital-Singh finds catharsis by singing a song to God

Sital-Singh, now an atheist, has released a single, "Me & God," which gets up close and personal with his faith.

Musician Luke Sital-Singh finds catharsis by singing a song to God
Firebaugh residents perform traditional Aztec dances for the Virgen de Guadalupe celebration.

Las Posadas holiday tradition brings ‘joy to the people’ in California community hit hard by the pandemic

Every December, Catholic Latinos across California honor the Virgen de Guadalupe. The celebration of Las Posadas commemorates the appearance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to an Indigenous man named Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531.

Las Posadas holiday tradition brings ‘joy to the people’ in California community hit hard by the pandemic
Woman holding hose from truck to fill water trough

Avoiding water bankruptcy in the drought-troubled Southwest: What the US and Iran can learn from each other

Cities and farmers in the Southwest are resorting to unsustainable strategies to pull in more water. Iran has tried many of these strategies and shows how they can go wrong.

Avoiding water bankruptcy in the drought-troubled Southwest: What the US and Iran can learn from each other
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Landsat 9 satellite onboard launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

Landsat 9 will capture satellite images of a radically changing Earth, NASA scientist says

Josh Willis, who works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab at Caltech in Pasadena, California, has used Landsat satellite images in his own work. He joins The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the power of Landsats to understand climate change. 

Landsat 9 will capture satellite images of a radically changing Earth, NASA scientist says
Families evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan, walk through the terminal before boarding a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Virginia, Aug. 27, 2021.

Afghan families are being rapidly resettled in the US. But adjusting to their new lives will take years.  

One Afghan family in Sacramento recently arrived from Kabul, where the Taliban came knocking on their door. The father was able to get a Special Immigrant Visa to resettle in the US. The family counts themselves as among the fortunate ones, but they worry about those they left behind. 

Afghan families are being rapidly resettled in the US. But adjusting to their new lives will take years.  
Three men in green suits stand on a small boat that says "Border Patrol" with an American flag in the middle

US Border Patrol launches new marine unit amid rise in maritime smuggling

More than 1,000 people have been apprehended while being smuggled at sea so far this year.

US Border Patrol launches new marine unit amid rise in maritime smuggling