Drought, Fire Season and the Water Bond Debate
As California struggles with its worst drought in decades, state lawmakers debate a $10.5 billion-dollar water bond. Californians have cut their water consumption by only 5%, not the 20% percent Gov. Jerry Brown called for in January. The State Water Resources Control Board is targeting outdoor water use and threatening fines of up to $500 for wasting water. Meanwhile, the recent high temperatures and dry conditions are cooking up a fierce fire season. In the past two weeks wildfires have flared from Napa to Southern California.
Guests:
• Paul Rogers, KQED Science and San Jose Mercury News
• Scott Detrow, KQED Sacramento Bureau
• Tom Vacar, KTVU News
*Correction: The estimated number of acres fallowed in California due to drought this year is 430,000, according to the University of California, Davis (not the 5 million acres originally suggested during our program).
"Price Check" with Lisa Aliferis
We all want the best prices when we shop. If you're looking for a computer, a new car, or just about anything else, it's pretty easy to find the price range after a quick web search. But it's not so easy when it comes to health care. While it may be well known to health policy types, consumers may not realize that the health care marketplace lacks transparency. It's hard to know whether you're getting a fair price or paying through the nose for a common procedure like a mammogram or an MRI. KQED is stepping into this void with a new project called Price Check. The collaboration among KQED, KPCC and ClearHealthCosts.Com seeks to bring transparency to health costs. Scott Shafer talks with Lisa Aliferis, editor of the KQED State of Health Blog.
Related: Price Check