D.C.'s Shutdown Hits the Golden State
Despite signs of progress in Washington, the government shutdown drags on, and the impact is being felt -- and feared -- even on the West Coast. Host Scott Shafer talked with some Californians.
The Shutdown as Seen from Tuolumne County
The standoff in Washington began this summer, when 80 conservative members of Congress urged House Speaker John Boehner to use the budget and debt ceiling debate to try and kill the Affordable Care Act. One of those Congressmen was California Republican Tom McClintock. He represents an inland district stretching from Lake Tahoe to Fresno. Sacramento bureau chief Scott Detrow hit the road this week to see how the shutdown is affecting life in McClintock's rural district.
Hunger in the Valley of Plenty: Gleaning the Harvest
The Central Valley produces most of the nation's nuts and fresh fruit - but the people who harvest those crops often can't afford them. At the same time, a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates as much as 30 percent of some Central Valley crops go to waste in the fields. As part of a series we're calling "Hunger in the Valley of Plenty," Central Valley bureau chief Sasha Khokha takes a look at a grassroots effort to feed people by rescuing some of that produce.
Hunger in the Valley of Plenty: Teen Diary
Changing eating habits for young people in the Central Valley is still a challenge. That's the case for Jane Carretero, the daughter of farmworkers in Fresno. She brings us this audio diary.
Creating the Next Smart Home
Nineteen college teams from around the world have come to Irvine with models of high-tech green houses they designed. They are competing this month in what's known as the "Solar Decathalon."