Central Valley Road Trip: The Impact of the Drought
We begin a special edition of The California Report with a road trip tour of the Central Valley. Host Scott Shafer and Central Valley Bureau Chief Sasha Khokha talk with farmers, ranchers and residents as California's prolonged drought takes its toll. Scott and Sasha tour Tulare County, talking with an almond grower and with a farmworker family, whose well has run dry. They also check in with Tulare County Supervisor Allen Ishida, and with the man who runs the water system for the town of Poplar.
Fresno Teacher Belongs to a Long Line of Central Valley Poets
Central Valley poet Lee Herrick reads from his poem "My California." Herrick left the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to the San Joaquin Valley 20 years ago to write and teach. While you might not think of this region as fertile ground for writers -- it is. In fact the Central Valley has produced a national poet laureate, a state poet laureate and multiple winners of the National Book Award. Herrick says he chose to live in Fresno because of its diversity -- it's a city where you can hear 90 different languages spoken -- and because of its literary scene.
Communal Project Finds Different Way to Treat Fresno's Homeless
Fresno is surrounded by farms. But it's also California's fifth-largest city -- and it struggles with urban problems like homelessness. The city lost a class action lawsuit after it destroyed homeless people's belongings, including medicine and family mementos. Activists have criticized city leaders for not doing more to provide housing for people living on the streets. We find out how a few dedicated people are tackling the issue by trying out a bold idea.
Not Just Ag: Growing Tech in the Central Valley
Central California isn't usually thought of as a hotbed of technology. But techies and local leaders are looking to change that in their quest to diversify the region's economy.
World's Oldest Square Dance Caller Keeps Central Valley Dancing
The Central Valley is busy creating a new future for itself. But people still appreciate tradition. At 89, Ernie Kinney is the oldest active square dance caller in the world. That's according to CALLERLAB, the International Association of Square Dance Callers. A former Marine and school teacher, Kinney has called out the dance steps in all 50 states and all over the world. He's still in demand, even if now he sticks a little closer to his longtime Fresno home. He calls every week for the Travelin' Pioneers square dance club.