‘A Perfect Storm’: Massive Tracy Medical Supply Warehouse Fire Still Burning
As California’s Wine Industry Struggles, Some Lodi Grape Growers Pivot to New Crops
Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman
Small Ring, Big Dreams: The Central Valley’s Backyard Wrestling Underdogs
California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case
Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns
Central Valley Farmers Express Concerns About Possibility Of New Political Maps
How Is a Corn Maze Made? Plus, Where to Find Them in the Bay Area This October
‘Without People, We Are Nothing’: California’s Farm Workforce Is Growing Older
Player sponsored by
window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_12087309": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12087309",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12087309",
"found": true
},
"title": "Massive fire destroys Medline Industries warehouse in Tracy of California",
"publishDate": 1781281713,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12087306,
"modified": 1781281754,
"caption": "Black smoke pours into the sky from a massive commercial fire at the Medline Industries medical supply warehouse in Tracy, California, on June 11, 2026. The South San Joaquin County Fire Authority reported that the million-square-foot distribution facility on Promontory Parkway was fully engulfed, prompting the evacuation of neighboring commercial structures and nearby fulfillment centers within the industrial park. ",
"credit": "Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-160x114.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 114,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-1536x1097.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1097,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280499585.jpg",
"width": 1980,
"height": 1414
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12087152": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12087152",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12087152",
"found": true
},
"title": "20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED",
"publishDate": 1781200899,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12087134,
"modified": 1781201404,
"caption": "Mohrgan Fry examines grape vines at her family’s ranch, Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation farming operation, in Lodi, on June 10, 2026. Mohrgan is a sixth-generation of her family's business.",
"credit": "Gina Castro/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-8-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12085467": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12085467",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12085467",
"found": true
},
"title": "1",
"publishDate": 1780063087,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12085466,
"modified": 1780063453,
"caption": "Dr. Jasmeet Bains (left) and Randy Villegas (right), both Democrats, are seeing if they can unseat incumbent David Valadao in the 22nd Congressional District. ",
"credit": "Kerry Klein/KVPR",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12076569": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12076569",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12076569",
"found": true
},
"title": "031226_DRAGONDEN _GH_015-KQED",
"publishDate": 1773678759,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1773678797,
"caption": "Wrestler Paras Singh holds his championship belts inside the 209 Dragon’s Den training gym on March 12, 2026, in Lodi.",
"credit": "Gustavo Hernandez/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12054792": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12054792",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12054792",
"found": true
},
"title": "PrisonHeatCM2",
"publishDate": 1757093843,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12054658,
"modified": 1757093871,
"caption": "The Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla in 2008.",
"credit": "Tomas O’Valle/Fresno Bee via Reuters",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/PrisonHeatCM2-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/PrisonHeatCM2-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/PrisonHeatCM2-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/PrisonHeatCM2-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/PrisonHeatCM2.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12065571": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12065571",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12065571",
"found": true
},
"title": "091125-melon-farm-and-kerman-lv-06-692dad6424650",
"publishDate": 1764601219,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12065570,
"modified": 1764601265,
"caption": "Farmworkers harvest melons behind a tractor on a melon farm outside of Firebaugh on Sept. 11, 2025.",
"credit": "Larry Valenzuela/ CalMatters/CatchLight Local",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/091125-melon-farm-and-kerman-lv-06-692dad6424650-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/091125-melon-farm-and-kerman-lv-06-692dad6424650-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/091125-melon-farm-and-kerman-lv-06-692dad6424650.jpg",
"width": 780,
"height": 520
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12061952": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12061952",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12061952",
"found": true
},
"title": "CaliforniaDivided2",
"publishDate": 1761692307,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12061715,
"modified": 1761692331,
"caption": "Charles Meyer stands in his Kings County cotton field on Oct. 10, 2025. He says he opposes Proposition 50 — and Democratic leadership in general — because he feels their environmental regulations are slowly edging farmers out of business. ",
"credit": "Kerry Klein/KVPR",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2-160x120.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 120,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2-1536x1156.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1156,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2-1600x900.jpg",
"width": 1600,
"height": 900,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CaliforniaDivided2.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1505
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12059309": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12059309",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12059309",
"found": true
},
"title": "251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1760041536,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1760041596,
"caption": "The exit of the corn maze at Andreotti Family Farms in Half Moon Bay on Oct. 9, 2025.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-15-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12054921": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12054921",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12054921",
"found": true
},
"title": "A farmworker picks grapes at a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025.",
"publishDate": 1757107574,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1757109024,
"caption": "A farmworker picks grapes at a field in Fresno, California, on Sept. 3, 2025.",
"credit": "Gina Castro for KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-18-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-18-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-18-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-18-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"byline_news_12087134": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_news_12087134",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_news_12087134",
"name": "Hannah Weaver",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_news_12077310": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_news_12077310",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_news_12077310",
"name": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-weaver-73b82b1a5/\">Hannah Weaver\u003c/a>",
"isLoading": false
},
"kmizuguchi": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11739",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11739",
"found": true
},
"name": "Keith Mizuguchi",
"firstName": "Keith",
"lastName": "Mizuguchi",
"slug": "kmizuguchi",
"email": "kmizuguchi@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce1182f9924192ae5ea66d39a75cd7d1?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Keith Mizuguchi | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce1182f9924192ae5ea66d39a75cd7d1?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce1182f9924192ae5ea66d39a75cd7d1?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/kmizuguchi"
},
"mbolanos": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11895",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11895",
"found": true
},
"name": "Madi Bolaños",
"firstName": "Madi",
"lastName": "Bolaños",
"slug": "mbolanos",
"email": "mbolanos@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6df5601c1f2d951e46a3fb42764330f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Madi Bolaños | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6df5601c1f2d951e46a3fb42764330f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6df5601c1f2d951e46a3fb42764330f?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/mbolanos"
},
"kdebenedetti": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11913",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11913",
"found": true
},
"name": "Katie DeBenedetti",
"firstName": "Katie",
"lastName": "DeBenedetti",
"slug": "kdebenedetti",
"email": "kdebenedetti@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Katie DeBenedetti is a digital reporter covering daily news for the Express Desk. Prior to joining KQED as a culture reporting intern in January 2024, she covered education and city government for the Napa Valley Register.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Katie DeBenedetti | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/kdebenedetti"
},
"sarahwright": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11956",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11956",
"found": true
},
"name": "Sarah Wright",
"firstName": "Sarah",
"lastName": "Wright",
"slug": "sarahwright",
"email": "swright@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"bio": "Sarah Wright is KQED's Outdoors Engagement Reporter. Originally from Lake Tahoe, she completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 and was a U.S. Fulbright Program grantee to Argentina in 2023. Her journalism has appeared in The Guardian, The San Francisco Standard, The Palo Alto Weekly and the Half Moon Bay Review.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/585b7a53f459b86d1d3ca1561541ab4b?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"contributor",
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Sarah Wright | KQED",
"description": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/585b7a53f459b86d1d3ca1561541ab4b?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/585b7a53f459b86d1d3ca1561541ab4b?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/sarahwright"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"news_tag_central-valley": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_311",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "311",
"score": 8.66465
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Central Valley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Central Valley Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 319,
"slug": "central-valley",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "Central Valley",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "news",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial"
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/news?tag=central-valley",
"seeMore": true
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12087306": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12087306",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12087306",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1781288387000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "a-perfect-storm-massive-tracy-medical-supply-warehouse-fire-still-burning",
"title": "‘A Perfect Storm’: Massive Tracy Medical Supply Warehouse Fire Still Burning",
"publishDate": 1781288387,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "‘A Perfect Storm’: Massive Tracy Medical Supply Warehouse Fire Still Burning | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A massive warehouse fire that destroyed a medical supply facility in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tracy\">Tracy\u003c/a> on Thursday could continue to burn for several days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fire officials said a water system failure contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. No official cause has been identified yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is our largest concern when we have several million square foot warehouses,” Tracy Fire Department Chief Randall Bradley said Thursday afternoon. “My first thought was [with] an aggressive fire attack, we’d be able to stop it, but things worked against us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was a little bit of a perfect storm for this fire evolving quickly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fire officials responded just after 1 p.m. Thursday to the 5700 block of Promontory Parkway, where a structure fire had broken out on the roof of a distribution facility for Medline, one of the largest medical supply manufacturers and distributors in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tracy, a major commuter hub for the Bay Area, is home to massive e-commerce and distribution centers, many 1 million square feet or larger. City officials said hundreds of employees work on the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are grateful that all Medline employees and on-site personnel were safely evacuated and accounted for,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. Bradley said the fire spread quickly from the roof to the rest of the building, engulfing it in flames within a 30-minute period despite an “aggressive” internal fire attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087373\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Black smoke pours into the sky from a massive commercial fire at the Medline Industries medical supply warehouse in Tracy, California, on June 11, 2026. The South San Joaquin County Fire Authority reported that the million-square-foot distribution facility on Promontory Parkway was fully engulfed, prompting the evacuation of neighboring commercial structures and nearby fulfillment centers within the industrial park. \u003ccite>(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The firefighters battled high winds, low humidity and hot temperatures. They also lacked sufficient water supply — the facility’s two fire sprinkler systems did not activate, and its fire hydrants lacked water pressure, Bradley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City-operated fire hydrants outside the facility operated correctly, he said. Bradley said the water supply issues will require a post-incident investigation, but he believes the water supply issue was a facility issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fire spread across the street to a FedEx warehouse, burning pallets and containers stacked outside. Bradley said efforts to stop the spread of flames into that warehouse were ongoing, but “promising” on Thursday afternoon, and he believed they would be able to save the structure. There were also multiple spot fires throughout the city, which Bradley said crews were able to extinguish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between 100 and 150 firefighters responded to the scene, and Bradley said he expects personnel to remain for several days to try to stop the blaze from spreading further across the 1,800-acre industrial park.[aside postID=science_2001297 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/ControlledBurnGetty1.jpg']According to city manager Midori Lichtwardt, in addition to the Medline and FedEx facilities, the area also includes a Home Depot, Amazon and multiple other operational warehouses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the Medline facility continued to burn Thursday afternoon, billowing dark smoke into the sky, intermittent explosions could be heard outside the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bradley said those were likely caused by ruptured tires on distribution trucks, or explosions of some product inside the facility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if any of the products stored in the facility could pose a risk to the surrounding area, Bradley said. The city is monitoring air quality and had not issued any warnings on Thursday. Local public health officials urged nearby residents to stay indoors if possible and keep windows and doors closed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Among the chemicals that were consumed in the Medline fire were an assortment of respiratory irritants, toxic gases, carcinogens, and at least one neurotoxin,” Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Services’ public health officer, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to California Environmental Protection Agency records, Medline stores xylene, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, as well as bleach, at the facility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If anyone in the vicinity of the smoke plumes inhaled the smoke and is experiencing sudden onset respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or throat irritation, they should report to their nearest emergency department for further evaluation and treatment,” Park said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Central Valley fire officials believe a water system failure contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. No official cause has been identified yet.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1781293915,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 19,
"wordCount": 740
},
"headData": {
"title": "‘A Perfect Storm’: Massive Tracy Medical Supply Warehouse Fire Still Burning | KQED",
"description": "Central Valley fire officials believe a water system failure contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. No official cause has been identified yet.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "‘A Perfect Storm’: Massive Tracy Medical Supply Warehouse Fire Still Burning",
"datePublished": "2026-06-12T11:19:47-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-06-12T12:51:55-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12087306",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12087306/a-perfect-storm-massive-tracy-medical-supply-warehouse-fire-still-burning",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A massive warehouse fire that destroyed a medical supply facility in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tracy\">Tracy\u003c/a> on Thursday could continue to burn for several days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fire officials said a water system failure contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. No official cause has been identified yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is our largest concern when we have several million square foot warehouses,” Tracy Fire Department Chief Randall Bradley said Thursday afternoon. “My first thought was [with] an aggressive fire attack, we’d be able to stop it, but things worked against us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was a little bit of a perfect storm for this fire evolving quickly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fire officials responded just after 1 p.m. Thursday to the 5700 block of Promontory Parkway, where a structure fire had broken out on the roof of a distribution facility for Medline, one of the largest medical supply manufacturers and distributors in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tracy, a major commuter hub for the Bay Area, is home to massive e-commerce and distribution centers, many 1 million square feet or larger. City officials said hundreds of employees work on the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are grateful that all Medline employees and on-site personnel were safely evacuated and accounted for,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. Bradley said the fire spread quickly from the roof to the rest of the building, engulfing it in flames within a 30-minute period despite an “aggressive” internal fire attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087373\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2280507113-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Black smoke pours into the sky from a massive commercial fire at the Medline Industries medical supply warehouse in Tracy, California, on June 11, 2026. The South San Joaquin County Fire Authority reported that the million-square-foot distribution facility on Promontory Parkway was fully engulfed, prompting the evacuation of neighboring commercial structures and nearby fulfillment centers within the industrial park. \u003ccite>(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The firefighters battled high winds, low humidity and hot temperatures. They also lacked sufficient water supply — the facility’s two fire sprinkler systems did not activate, and its fire hydrants lacked water pressure, Bradley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City-operated fire hydrants outside the facility operated correctly, he said. Bradley said the water supply issues will require a post-incident investigation, but he believes the water supply issue was a facility issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fire spread across the street to a FedEx warehouse, burning pallets and containers stacked outside. Bradley said efforts to stop the spread of flames into that warehouse were ongoing, but “promising” on Thursday afternoon, and he believed they would be able to save the structure. There were also multiple spot fires throughout the city, which Bradley said crews were able to extinguish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between 100 and 150 firefighters responded to the scene, and Bradley said he expects personnel to remain for several days to try to stop the blaze from spreading further across the 1,800-acre industrial park.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "science_2001297",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/ControlledBurnGetty1.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>According to city manager Midori Lichtwardt, in addition to the Medline and FedEx facilities, the area also includes a Home Depot, Amazon and multiple other operational warehouses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the Medline facility continued to burn Thursday afternoon, billowing dark smoke into the sky, intermittent explosions could be heard outside the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bradley said those were likely caused by ruptured tires on distribution trucks, or explosions of some product inside the facility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if any of the products stored in the facility could pose a risk to the surrounding area, Bradley said. The city is monitoring air quality and had not issued any warnings on Thursday. Local public health officials urged nearby residents to stay indoors if possible and keep windows and doors closed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Among the chemicals that were consumed in the Medline fire were an assortment of respiratory irritants, toxic gases, carcinogens, and at least one neurotoxin,” Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Services’ public health officer, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to California Environmental Protection Agency records, Medline stores xylene, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, as well as bleach, at the facility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If anyone in the vicinity of the smoke plumes inhaled the smoke and is experiencing sudden onset respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or throat irritation, they should report to their nearest emergency department for further evaluation and treatment,” Park said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12087306/a-perfect-storm-massive-tracy-medical-supply-warehouse-fire-still-burning",
"authors": [
"11913"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_311",
"news_4462",
"news_21068",
"news_34487"
],
"featImg": "news_12087309",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12087134": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12087134",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12087134",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1781262002000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "as-californias-wine-industry-struggles-some-lodi-grape-growers-pivot-to-new-crops",
"title": "As California’s Wine Industry Struggles, Some Lodi Grape Growers Pivot to New Crops",
"publishDate": 1781262002,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "As California’s Wine Industry Struggles, Some Lodi Grape Growers Pivot to New Crops | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published in the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_5861a96a-6744-4727-8a92-f52dcf7a6e0c.html\">\u003cem>Lodi News-Sentinel\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and has been edited for KQED.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Mohr-Fry Ranch, just south of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> city of Lodi, peacocks roamed through one vineyard on a blindingly sunny spring day. Mohrgan Fry strolled through her family’s ranch, pointing a manicured pink nail at rows of dark brown, gnarly vine branches that split off in all directions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They all look like they have a story to tell, right?” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes the story of her family, who have been farming grapes in the region for six decades. For the past 13 years, they’ve been cultivating grapes exclusively.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060895/visiting-a-vineyard-to-see-how-the-bays-wine-industry-is-doing\">California’s wine industry began bottoming out \u003c/a>over the past few years, driven by what growers say is the worst industry storm they have seen in their lifetimes, the family started looking at different options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Where the industry is at, you have to be able to diversify and be willing to try something new,” Fry said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grapes are everywhere in Lodi — in the city’s official logo. On murals downtown. They’re the namesake of the stadium and the annual “Lodi Grape Festival.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city of 66,000 has about a dozen wine tasting rooms — and that’s just within the city limits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087157\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1302\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But it’s no longer just the land of the grape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Orchards full of pistachios, almonds and olives are popping up all over the city’s outskirts as challenges in the wine industry are pushing growers to try other crops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wine consumption is down globally, according to reports from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. National reports from the Napa-based Wine Market Council show baby boomers are drinking less as they age. Younger generations are drinking less too, as they become more health — and wallet — conscious. On the supply side, California grape growers are having to compete with cheaper foreign-grown grapes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consequently, growers in Lodi and across the state are ripping vines out. About 10% of vines in the Lodi area were removed in the last year alone, according to a report from the California Association of Winegrape Growers.[aside postID=news_12077310 hero= 'https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED.jpg']About a fifth of California’s vineyard acreage has been ripped out since 2022, state data shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some smaller vineyards are closing shop altogether. Others are taking unique approaches, like leasing their land for use as water-recharge basins. But for grape growers who want to continue growing, there is one key to staying afloat — crop diversification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s especially true for larger farming operations, according to Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Stuart Spencer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We honestly think this is a good thing,” he said. “I think diversification is always good from an economic and business perspective and … ecological perspective.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a sixth-generation farmer, it’s not surprising that Fry knows so much about grapes. She grew up around the family business and always knew she wanted to be a part of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hate sitting in the office,” she said. “But I love being outside. I love being with Mother Nature.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given the choice, she’d spend every minute in the vineyards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You get to make decisions that are different than in an office or in a lab, because you’re out there and you’re making pruning decisions, and then you see the results within a few months,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087149\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087149\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bruce Fry, left, and his daughter Mohrgan Fry, right, examine grape vines at their ranch Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After studying the business and engineering of agriculture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she knew she wanted to bring what she’d learned back to her family’s ranch as operations manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when she graduated two years ago, the industry was tanking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ironically, I think it was actually the best time to come join the industry, I think for me, for my family,” she said. “It’s a time for us to really think about the decisions we’re making and how we can be more efficient, how we can save money, but still be able to provide for our employees and continue to farm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Frys are no strangers to diversification. Over the 171 years their family has been farming, they’ve grown 30 different crops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They started out in what is now Hayward, but at the time was land claimed by the Spanish. Fry’s great-great-great-grandfather left a whaling ship in the San Francisco Bay to start farming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family didn’t start with grapes. Instead, they grew crops like tomatoes, sugar beets and wheat. As Hayward became more urban, they moved the operation to Lodi in 1965 and got into the wine business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087155\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED-1536x1048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bottles of wine, made with Mohr-Fry Ranches’ grapes, are displayed in the ranch’s office in Lodi on June 10, 2026. Mohr-Fry Ranches is a six-generation family farming operation. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It was right around that time that Mohrgan’s grandfather, Jerry Fry, took over the business. He’s seen it through labor shifts from World War II to the Bracero Program that brought workers from Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few decades later, Mohrgan’s dad, Bruce Fry, came into the business. Like Mohrgan, he’d just graduated from Cal Poly. At that time, wineries were consolidating, leaving grape growers with fewer buyers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the same issues the family faced then have continued. Fewer wineries, increasing labor costs, damaging pests. And now, more foreign competition and decreasing wine consumption. Jerry said none of the previous threats have been quite like the current one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my perspective, this has been the most challenging of anything that I think our family has dealt with,” Jerry said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, they could plant a different crop every year and rip it out if it wasn’t selling well. Now, because of the soil type and price of the land, annual crops don’t make financial sense for them. That means picking a permanent crop, one they’ll be committed to for the next two decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past year or so, the family’s been weighing their options. They’ve been talking to neighbors, looking at research, setting up spreadsheets. At the moment, they’re leaning toward olives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087154\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1367\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED-1536x1050.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A plaque awarding Marian’s Vineyard for the California State Fair’s “2025 Vineyard of the Year” is displayed at Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And last fall, they ripped out a block of their vineyards to begin their next chapter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On another one of the Frys’ properties just north of Lodi, Mohrgan and Bruce stood on a gravel path that runs right through the past and future of their farming operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the south side, where there once were Chardonnay grapes, little green sprouts stick up out of the dirt, far into the distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s safflower, a transitional crop. Mohrgan explained it will help add some nutrients to the soil that the vineyards had used up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really good for the soil health, for its porosity, all those other fun things,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Transitioning crops is a yearslong process. After the grape harvest this past fall, they ripped out the vines. For several months, they planted safflower in its place. By this time next year, the safflower will be swapped out for the new permanent crop, likely olives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The process was made possible with the aid of a regional government initiative, the Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program, that paid to help remove the vines in an environmentally friendly way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that the program is really great because [it] saves you some money,” she said. “Getting your tax dollars back, right?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohrgan and her family are keenly aware of what the government is — and isn’t — doing to help farmers like them. Even as they spoke with a reporter, Bruce got an alert on his phone and pulled up a livestream of a state Assembly hearing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087150\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087150\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bruce Fry, left, and his daughter Mohrgan Fry, right, examine grape clusters at their ranch Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The hearing focused on \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1585\">AB 1585\u003c/a>, a bill that would require wines to be made with 100% American grapes if vintners want to use an “American” designation on the label.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Fry family and many other growers in the state say it will stop wineries from blending in cheaper foreign grapes. They also hope it will encourage them to buy from American growers, most of which are in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For 40 minutes, Mohrgan held the phone on the hood of her blue Chevy truck. She and her dad watched intently as assemblymembers debated the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the committee members voted to move the bill along to the next stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully this bill keeps going, keeps rolling,” Mohrgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Baby steps,” Bruce said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the bill does pass, it might alleviate one of the industry’s challenges. But there’s a long way to go if grape growers and vintners are to fully bounce back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet many growers like the Frys remain optimistic. They feel connected to grapes and believe the industry could be turning the corner soon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the wine grape region, [and] it’s going to stay that way, but it’s just, it’s not going to be as big as what it was before,” Bruce said. “I think change is hard, but change makes things better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED-1536x1063.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A peacock walks through a vineyard at Mohr-Fry Ranches in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mohrgan said she feels encouraged by both the older generation’s willingness to pivot and her generation’s fresh ideas. Last year, the Lodi Winegrape Commission elected its youngest leadership team ever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just a lot of knowledge to learn from, like my grandpa and my dad, and I think because of that, we’ll make it through,” Mohrgan said. “You have, I wouldn’t say it’s a weight, but … you want to make your family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With generations working together, they’re hoping to make wine feel less pretentious and more approachable for consumers. If they’re successful, Lodi could remain the land of the grape for years to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hannah Weaver writes for the Lodi News-Sentinel as a cohort member of the California Local News Fellowship program, a multi-year, state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting in California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "In a Central Valley town known as “the Winegrape capital of the world,” some farmers are experimenting with new growth in the face of change.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1781211796,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 55,
"wordCount": 1917
},
"headData": {
"title": "As California’s Wine Industry Struggles, Some Lodi Grape Growers Pivot to New Crops | KQED",
"description": "In a Central Valley town known as “the Winegrape capital of the world,” some farmers are experimenting with new growth in the face of change.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "As California’s Wine Industry Struggles, Some Lodi Grape Growers Pivot to New Crops",
"datePublished": "2026-06-12T04:00:02-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-06-11T14:03:16-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 31795,
"slug": "california",
"name": "California"
},
"source": "The California Report Magazine",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/californiareport",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/1fee4ec6-2fea-47cc-b08b-b466013ccc1f/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprByline": "Hannah Weaver",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12087134/as-californias-wine-industry-struggles-some-lodi-grape-growers-pivot-to-new-crops",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published in the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_5861a96a-6744-4727-8a92-f52dcf7a6e0c.html\">\u003cem>Lodi News-Sentinel\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and has been edited for KQED.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Mohr-Fry Ranch, just south of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> city of Lodi, peacocks roamed through one vineyard on a blindingly sunny spring day. Mohrgan Fry strolled through her family’s ranch, pointing a manicured pink nail at rows of dark brown, gnarly vine branches that split off in all directions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They all look like they have a story to tell, right?” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes the story of her family, who have been farming grapes in the region for six decades. For the past 13 years, they’ve been cultivating grapes exclusively.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060895/visiting-a-vineyard-to-see-how-the-bays-wine-industry-is-doing\">California’s wine industry began bottoming out \u003c/a>over the past few years, driven by what growers say is the worst industry storm they have seen in their lifetimes, the family started looking at different options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Where the industry is at, you have to be able to diversify and be willing to try something new,” Fry said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grapes are everywhere in Lodi — in the city’s official logo. On murals downtown. They’re the namesake of the stadium and the annual “Lodi Grape Festival.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city of 66,000 has about a dozen wine tasting rooms — and that’s just within the city limits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087157\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1302\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-25-KQED-1536x1000.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But it’s no longer just the land of the grape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Orchards full of pistachios, almonds and olives are popping up all over the city’s outskirts as challenges in the wine industry are pushing growers to try other crops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wine consumption is down globally, according to reports from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. National reports from the Napa-based Wine Market Council show baby boomers are drinking less as they age. Younger generations are drinking less too, as they become more health — and wallet — conscious. On the supply side, California grape growers are having to compete with cheaper foreign-grown grapes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consequently, growers in Lodi and across the state are ripping vines out. About 10% of vines in the Lodi area were removed in the last year alone, according to a report from the California Association of Winegrape Growers.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12077310",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_015-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>About a fifth of California’s vineyard acreage has been ripped out since 2022, state data shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some smaller vineyards are closing shop altogether. Others are taking unique approaches, like leasing their land for use as water-recharge basins. But for grape growers who want to continue growing, there is one key to staying afloat — crop diversification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s especially true for larger farming operations, according to Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Stuart Spencer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We honestly think this is a good thing,” he said. “I think diversification is always good from an economic and business perspective and … ecological perspective.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a sixth-generation farmer, it’s not surprising that Fry knows so much about grapes. She grew up around the family business and always knew she wanted to be a part of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hate sitting in the office,” she said. “But I love being outside. I love being with Mother Nature.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given the choice, she’d spend every minute in the vineyards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You get to make decisions that are different than in an office or in a lab, because you’re out there and you’re making pruning decisions, and then you see the results within a few months,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087149\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087149\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bruce Fry, left, and his daughter Mohrgan Fry, right, examine grape vines at their ranch Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After studying the business and engineering of agriculture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she knew she wanted to bring what she’d learned back to her family’s ranch as operations manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when she graduated two years ago, the industry was tanking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ironically, I think it was actually the best time to come join the industry, I think for me, for my family,” she said. “It’s a time for us to really think about the decisions we’re making and how we can be more efficient, how we can save money, but still be able to provide for our employees and continue to farm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Frys are no strangers to diversification. Over the 171 years their family has been farming, they’ve grown 30 different crops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They started out in what is now Hayward, but at the time was land claimed by the Spanish. Fry’s great-great-great-grandfather left a whaling ship in the San Francisco Bay to start farming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family didn’t start with grapes. Instead, they grew crops like tomatoes, sugar beets and wheat. As Hayward became more urban, they moved the operation to Lodi in 1965 and got into the wine business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087155\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-19-KQED-1536x1048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bottles of wine, made with Mohr-Fry Ranches’ grapes, are displayed in the ranch’s office in Lodi on June 10, 2026. Mohr-Fry Ranches is a six-generation family farming operation. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It was right around that time that Mohrgan’s grandfather, Jerry Fry, took over the business. He’s seen it through labor shifts from World War II to the Bracero Program that brought workers from Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few decades later, Mohrgan’s dad, Bruce Fry, came into the business. Like Mohrgan, he’d just graduated from Cal Poly. At that time, wineries were consolidating, leaving grape growers with fewer buyers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the same issues the family faced then have continued. Fewer wineries, increasing labor costs, damaging pests. And now, more foreign competition and decreasing wine consumption. Jerry said none of the previous threats have been quite like the current one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my perspective, this has been the most challenging of anything that I think our family has dealt with,” Jerry said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, they could plant a different crop every year and rip it out if it wasn’t selling well. Now, because of the soil type and price of the land, annual crops don’t make financial sense for them. That means picking a permanent crop, one they’ll be committed to for the next two decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past year or so, the family’s been weighing their options. They’ve been talking to neighbors, looking at research, setting up spreadsheets. At the moment, they’re leaning toward olives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087154\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1367\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-17-KQED-1536x1050.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A plaque awarding Marian’s Vineyard for the California State Fair’s “2025 Vineyard of the Year” is displayed at Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And last fall, they ripped out a block of their vineyards to begin their next chapter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On another one of the Frys’ properties just north of Lodi, Mohrgan and Bruce stood on a gravel path that runs right through the past and future of their farming operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the south side, where there once were Chardonnay grapes, little green sprouts stick up out of the dirt, far into the distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s safflower, a transitional crop. Mohrgan explained it will help add some nutrients to the soil that the vineyards had used up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really good for the soil health, for its porosity, all those other fun things,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Transitioning crops is a yearslong process. After the grape harvest this past fall, they ripped out the vines. For several months, they planted safflower in its place. By this time next year, the safflower will be swapped out for the new permanent crop, likely olives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The process was made possible with the aid of a regional government initiative, the Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program, that paid to help remove the vines in an environmentally friendly way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that the program is really great because [it] saves you some money,” she said. “Getting your tax dollars back, right?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohrgan and her family are keenly aware of what the government is — and isn’t — doing to help farmers like them. Even as they spoke with a reporter, Bruce got an alert on his phone and pulled up a livestream of a state Assembly hearing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087150\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087150\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bruce Fry, left, and his daughter Mohrgan Fry, right, examine grape clusters at their ranch Mohr-Fry Ranches, a six-generation family farming operation since 1855, in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The hearing focused on \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1585\">AB 1585\u003c/a>, a bill that would require wines to be made with 100% American grapes if vintners want to use an “American” designation on the label.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Fry family and many other growers in the state say it will stop wineries from blending in cheaper foreign grapes. They also hope it will encourage them to buy from American growers, most of which are in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For 40 minutes, Mohrgan held the phone on the hood of her blue Chevy truck. She and her dad watched intently as assemblymembers debated the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the committee members voted to move the bill along to the next stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully this bill keeps going, keeps rolling,” Mohrgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Baby steps,” Bruce said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the bill does pass, it might alleviate one of the industry’s challenges. But there’s a long way to go if grape growers and vintners are to fully bounce back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet many growers like the Frys remain optimistic. They feel connected to grapes and believe the industry could be turning the corner soon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the wine grape region, [and] it’s going to stay that way, but it’s just, it’s not going to be as big as what it was before,” Bruce said. “I think change is hard, but change makes things better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260610_LodiWine_GC-26-KQED-1536x1063.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A peacock walks through a vineyard at Mohr-Fry Ranches in Lodi on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mohrgan said she feels encouraged by both the older generation’s willingness to pivot and her generation’s fresh ideas. Last year, the Lodi Winegrape Commission elected its youngest leadership team ever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just a lot of knowledge to learn from, like my grandpa and my dad, and I think because of that, we’ll make it through,” Mohrgan said. “You have, I wouldn’t say it’s a weight, but … you want to make your family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With generations working together, they’re hoping to make wine feel less pretentious and more approachable for consumers. If they’re successful, Lodi could remain the land of the grape for years to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hannah Weaver writes for the Lodi News-Sentinel as a cohort member of the California Local News Fellowship program, a multi-year, state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting in California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12087134/as-californias-wine-industry-struggles-some-lodi-grape-growers-pivot-to-new-crops",
"authors": [
"byline_news_12087134"
],
"programs": [
"news_72",
"news_26731"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1758",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_36718",
"news_35332",
"news_311",
"news_27626",
"news_19904",
"news_21047",
"news_20851",
"news_30162"
],
"featImg": "news_12087152",
"label": "source_news_12087134"
},
"news_12085466": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12085466",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12085466",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1780087235000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "two-democrats-battling-to-unseat-longtime-central-valley-congressman",
"title": "Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman",
"publishDate": 1780087235,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, May 29, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most competitive primary races for Congress right now is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">a swing district in the Central Valley.\u003c/a> Democrats there are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao. But first they need a nominee. With just days until the primary , the party’s two candidates in the 22nd Congressional District are competing for who can appeal to the most voters – as the national Democratic Party contemplates its own identity. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">California is rolling out first-of-its-kind regulations pushing manufactures to cut plastic pollution. One of the deadlines for producers is Monday.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"ArtP-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">\u003cstrong>‘A tug of war for the identity of the party’ – why a Valley congressional race is key for Democrats\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the country’s most competitive primary races for Congress this year is a swing district in Central California, where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District 22, which stretches across parts of four counties in California’s rural and agricultural Central Valley, is politically purple. Even though Democratic voters have held a slight majority in this district for many years, Valadao has won six of the last seven congressional elections here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But statewide redistricting last year, which rewrote California’s congressional district maps, is expected to have made this district even more favorable for Democrats. And with less than a week until the primary on June 2, the party’s two candidates are competing for who can appeal to the most voters – as the national Democratic party contemplates its own identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of those candidates is Randy Villegas, a political science professor at a local community college – College of the Sequoias – and an elected trustee of the Visalia Unified School District. On a recent night canvassing in the Kings County town of Hanford, Villegas’s messages advocating for universal healthcare and suspending federal gas taxes seemed to resonate with voters. When he asked them if he could count on their votes, many said yes – and some even said they had already voted for him before submitting their ballots early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the trail, Villegas says he refuses to accept campaign contributions from political action committees (PACs) funded by corporations. “I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race that has never touched a corporate PAC check, and I never will, because I want to be committed to our communities and not corporate interests,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California state Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains is also running for the Democratic nomination in District 22. She represents part of this district in the state legislature and is also a family doctor. “It’s time we elect the physician to Congress,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Sacramento, Bains has voted for Democratic priorities like access to abortion rights and public school funding. But she also bucked her party on some prominent issues, including by voting against Democratic redistricting and a legislative effort to restrict oil industry profits. She says she listens to her constituents, many of whom voted for President Trump. “The people that represent the Valley understand the importance of standing up for the Valley, not their party,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing she and Villegas have in common is that they both scold Valadao for his 2025 vote to slash Medicaid funding through the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, even though his district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollments in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Deadline for single-use packaging approaches\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since the midcentury, the production of plastics has increased hundreds of times. It’s found in remote arctic wildlife and babies’ poop. Production is expected to triple in the next 25 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is trying to halt the trend. A state bill passed in 2022 makes manufacturers responsible for reducing and cleaning up the plastic they use, including ensuring all of their packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032. June 1st is a deadline for producers to submit baseline data about their use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like every day something new comes out about the potential dangers associated with microplastics. This is an opportunity for us to reduce that material that’s being sold into the state in a very meaningful way,” said Zoe Heller, director of CalRecycle. That’s the department that is overseeing implementation of the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The industry has asked for more time to comply and said food prices may rise. A state analysis indicated consumers would save money overall, bearing less clean up costs and avoiding illness.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The District 22 race is one of the most competitive in the state.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1780087235,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 15,
"wordCount": 790
},
"headData": {
"title": "Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman | KQED",
"description": "The District 22 race is one of the most competitive in the state.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman",
"datePublished": "2026-05-29T13:40:35-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-05-29T13:40:35-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 33520,
"slug": "podcast",
"name": "Podcast"
},
"source": "The California Report",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC7469457937.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12085466",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12085466/two-democrats-battling-to-unseat-longtime-central-valley-congressman",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, May 29, 2026\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most competitive primary races for Congress right now is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">a swing district in the Central Valley.\u003c/a> Democrats there are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao. But first they need a nominee. With just days until the primary , the party’s two candidates in the 22nd Congressional District are competing for who can appeal to the most voters – as the national Democratic Party contemplates its own identity. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">California is rolling out first-of-its-kind regulations pushing manufactures to cut plastic pollution. One of the deadlines for producers is Monday.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"ArtP-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2026-05-27/a-tug-of-war-for-the-identity-of-the-party-why-a-valley-congressional-race-is-key-for-democrats\">\u003cstrong>‘A tug of war for the identity of the party’ – why a Valley congressional race is key for Democrats\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the country’s most competitive primary races for Congress this year is a swing district in Central California, where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District 22, which stretches across parts of four counties in California’s rural and agricultural Central Valley, is politically purple. Even though Democratic voters have held a slight majority in this district for many years, Valadao has won six of the last seven congressional elections here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But statewide redistricting last year, which rewrote California’s congressional district maps, is expected to have made this district even more favorable for Democrats. And with less than a week until the primary on June 2, the party’s two candidates are competing for who can appeal to the most voters – as the national Democratic party contemplates its own identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of those candidates is Randy Villegas, a political science professor at a local community college – College of the Sequoias – and an elected trustee of the Visalia Unified School District. On a recent night canvassing in the Kings County town of Hanford, Villegas’s messages advocating for universal healthcare and suspending federal gas taxes seemed to resonate with voters. When he asked them if he could count on their votes, many said yes – and some even said they had already voted for him before submitting their ballots early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the trail, Villegas says he refuses to accept campaign contributions from political action committees (PACs) funded by corporations. “I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race that has never touched a corporate PAC check, and I never will, because I want to be committed to our communities and not corporate interests,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California state Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains is also running for the Democratic nomination in District 22. She represents part of this district in the state legislature and is also a family doctor. “It’s time we elect the physician to Congress,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Sacramento, Bains has voted for Democratic priorities like access to abortion rights and public school funding. But she also bucked her party on some prominent issues, including by voting against Democratic redistricting and a legislative effort to restrict oil industry profits. She says she listens to her constituents, many of whom voted for President Trump. “The people that represent the Valley understand the importance of standing up for the Valley, not their party,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing she and Villegas have in common is that they both scold Valadao for his 2025 vote to slash Medicaid funding through the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, even though his district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollments in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Deadline for single-use packaging approaches\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since the midcentury, the production of plastics has increased hundreds of times. It’s found in remote arctic wildlife and babies’ poop. Production is expected to triple in the next 25 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is trying to halt the trend. A state bill passed in 2022 makes manufacturers responsible for reducing and cleaning up the plastic they use, including ensuring all of their packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032. June 1st is a deadline for producers to submit baseline data about their use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like every day something new comes out about the potential dangers associated with microplastics. This is an opportunity for us to reduce that material that’s being sold into the state in a very meaningful way,” said Zoe Heller, director of CalRecycle. That’s the department that is overseeing implementation of the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The industry has asked for more time to comply and said food prices may rise. A state analysis indicated consumers would save money overall, bearing less clean up costs and avoiding illness.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12085466/two-democrats-battling-to-unseat-longtime-central-valley-congressman",
"authors": [
"11739"
],
"programs": [
"news_72"
],
"categories": [
"news_33520",
"news_34018"
],
"tags": [
"news_36903",
"news_311",
"news_36905",
"news_20149",
"news_20717",
"news_36900",
"news_25428",
"news_36901",
"news_382",
"news_36904",
"news_21998",
"news_21268"
],
"featImg": "news_12085467",
"label": "source_news_12085466"
},
"news_12077310": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12077310",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12077310",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1774627246000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "small-ring-big-dreams-the-central-valleys-backyard-wrestling-underdogs",
"title": "Small Ring, Big Dreams: The Central Valley’s Backyard Wrestling Underdogs",
"publishDate": 1774627246,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Small Ring, Big Dreams: The Central Valley’s Backyard Wrestling Underdogs | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"term": 26731,
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published in \u003ca href=\"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_ca83de23-bdaf-43b4-ae33-c552240f73a8.html\">the Lodi News-Sentinel\u003c/a> and has been edited for KQED.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/category/sports\">wrestlers\u003c/a> clad in neon windbreakers and leopard print pants climbed onto a square-shaped platform while A-ha’s 1985 hit “Take on Me” blared. A floodlight illuminated puffs of breath as they tangled with their opponents on a chilly February night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Razzle Dazzle, the ’80s-themed duo on stage, is a hometown favorite at these World Wrestling Entertainment-style monthly events in the heart of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-joaquin-county\">San Joaquin County\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That night, they sparred with another tag-team duo called Monstars, Inc. One half of the duo, Moizilla, wearing a black lizard tail and piercing white contact lenses, lifted one of the hometown heroes in the air and triumphantly threw him onto his back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/209dragonsden/\">209 Dragon’s Den\u003c/a>, a breeding ground for wrestling talent just east of Lodi. Wedged between a private home, a plant nursery and a barn, this backyard venue is one of the humbler sites of hundreds nationwide in the independent wrestling circuit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Independent wrestling is typically focused more on uplifting the sport than making money. The Dragon’s Den, for example, charges around $20 per adult ticket and $5 for kids. Some of that money goes back to the wrestlers who perform. But to really make a living out of it, the wrestlers hope to sign a contract with major promotions like the WWE or take their acts abroad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076566\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076566\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Big MF” Matt Freeman, center, owner and trainer of the 209 Dragon’s Den, speaks with first-time wrestler Peter Kuzmitski, left, as Paras Singh prepares nearby on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re providing something that’s raw and authentic and is not filtered by all the bulls—,” owner Matt Freeman said. “[It’s a place to] get drawn in and forget about all the things in your life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman came to wrestling late in life, in his 40s, after a divorce. Soon after, he set up a wrestling ring in his backyard and started a training group that became the 209 Dragon’s Den. In the past year, it has since burgeoned into a more official promotion, hosting shows that have attracted audiences and opponents from throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman said he has a soft spot for the sport’s underdogs: the scrawny, nerdy or older wrestlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I really get excited for those people that people thought would’ve never been able to do it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to become top-caliber wrestlers, they must first learn how to develop a convincing character.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Hector Madrigal, aka “Razzle” or “Dazzle”\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just as in the top tiers of professional wrestling, the outcomes of these matches are scripted. But just because the result is planned, it doesn’t mean the holds, throws — or spirit — are fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like method actors, the wrestlers tap into real parts of themselves to make their performances believable.[aside postID=arts_13981646 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250904_FULLQUEER_GH-33-KQED.jpg'] “A lot of times, when we’re in the ring, we just get in our heads. We need to get out of our heads, get in our hearts to really get to that next level,” said Hector Madrigal, one half of Razzle Dazzle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he’s not competing, he’s a secretary at a Lodi elementary school, a job where he’s a lot calmer than his wrestling character.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just always behind … the computer, ordering stuff, doing a bunch of paperwork. But I do interact with the children,” he said. “Maybe a little of my Razzle Dazzle side comes out when I’m interacting with the kids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the ring, he’s much more “bombastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[I] emphasize everything that’s in my heart,” he said. “I try to put it out so the crowd can see what I’ve been holding inside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Paras Singh, aka “Punjabi Papi” or “The All-American”\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Toward the end of the night, an announcer bellowed into the microphone as the crowd waited eagerly for one of their favorite wrestlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He is the only king that stands in this ring. He is every lady’s habibi: The Punjabi Papi!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lodi local Paras Singh strutted through billowing curtains and along the front row of the crowd to high-five cheering fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076567\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076567\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paras Singh tapes his wrist before training at the 209 Dragon’s Den gym on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He climbed atop the ropes onstage, gesturing for the crowd to get loud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But before Singh could do too much preemptive celebrating, he was face-to-face with Reno-based wrestler David Luster, who’s nearly twice Singh’s size and age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The match was full of plot twists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh started strong, landing his signature drop kick to Luster’s face. But Luster retaliated, knocking Singh down again and again. Just when it seemed that Luster would earn an easy win, he kicked the referee. That move got him disqualified, and Singh won by default.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the crowd booed that outcome, the pair set up for a rematch. Luster knocked Singh down to his back, where he remained motionless for several minutes. Then, hometown villain group “The 209 Kliq” stormed the stage and stole Singh’s championship belts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the end, it was unclear who had prevailed. What was clear was the crowd’s enthusiasm — heckling and cheering from the edges of their plastic folding chairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Connecting with the audience through compelling characters and storylines is the point, the wrestlers at 209 Dragon’s Den said.[aside postID=news_12077101 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260310-UnhousedMail-02-BL_qed.jpg'] Singh has been performing recently as “Punjabi Papi,” playing off his Indian heritage. But he started as “The All-American.” With that character, he wanted to show off his background as an Army soldier. It worked for a while, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People loved … a hero that’s all good,” he said. “But you become one-dimensional in that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With his new character, he gets to show off more of his personality. Singh said it’s who he wanted to be when he was younger. Someone who’s admired for their ethnic identity, instead of bullied for it. Someone with confidence and swagger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t have to be an all-good hero. I could have layers now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up, Singh always wanted to be a wrestler. When he came home to Lodi at age 23 after serving active duty in the Army, he found the Dragon’s Den and thought, “Why not just go for it?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years later, he’s headlining shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just a kid with a dream,” he said. “A little brown boy from Lodi, California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many of his fellow indie wrestlers, Singh has aspirations of making wrestling a full-time gig. To reach that goal, he spends most weeknights training under Dragon’s Den head coach, Michael Hayashi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Michael Hayashi, aka “The Angry Dragon”\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nicknamed “The Angry Dragon,” Hayashi has performed for over two decades. His character was inspired by martial arts stars like Bruce Lee — and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I lean on the things I loved when I was a kid,” he said. “Basically, Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles. Or Raphael, depending on the situation. Hardly ever, Donatello. Though sometimes Leonardo.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>He said he was initially drawn to wrestling as an outlet for his teenage angst.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076573\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076573\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wrestlers train inside the ring at the 209 Dragon’s Den on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I used to have a chip on my shoulder,” Hayashi said. “Maybe I was even a little crazy, like trying to hurt myself almost, and prove that I could even belong in the ring.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But his relationship with his wrestling persona is different these days, now that he’s almost 40.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead of trying to fake a character that I used to play, now I’m just showing you more of my true self,” he said. “To be honest, I’m not really an angry person anymore … And at this point now, I’m just kind of at the twilight of my career.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayashi’s coaching emphasizes both intense physical skills and doing deep internal work. The aim, he said, is that wrestling becomes an outlet for projecting your true self.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We try to, at the very least, find people’s strengths, turn them up to 11, and then, if they can kind of balance out after that, then they can become the wrestler that they want to be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Wrestlers by night\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On weeknights, Hayashi drives across town to the Dragon’s Den, where he trains the next generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next to where the outdoor shows happen, there’s a wooden barn with a lofty ceiling. On a recent Wednesday night, a floodlight illuminated the practice ring inside. A dozen wrestlers stretched on mats or jabbed at a punching bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given the theatrics of the sport, audiences often think wrestling doesn’t really hurt and that there’s little skill involved. But the wrestlers here, many fresh off a weightlifting session or nursing injuries, said that couldn’t be further from the truth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076570\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076570\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Razzle Dazzle duo Hector Madrigal, left, and Christopher Pontilo pose on a ladder outside the 209 Dragon’s Den on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As they warmed up, Hayashi took the opportunity to talk about the concept of trust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re always going to assume that our opponents are not trying to put us in the hospital, that we’re trying to have a good time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the next two hours, the wrestlers hopped into the ring one by one. Hayashi led them in drills to practice falls, or “bumps,” in wrestler-speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As each wrestler cycled in for their turn in the ring, Hayashi pushed them to commit further — to bring the same intensity to practice that they would in a match. The students waiting on a couch by the ring got into the spirit, heckling their fellow wrestlers just like their ideal audience would.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the ring that night, they were Razzle Dazzle, Punjabi Papi, and the Angry Dragon. The next day, they’ll go back to being Hector Madrigal, Paras Singh and Michael Hayashi. But they’ll keep coming back to the 209 Dragon’s Den, training for their next match and hoping for a shot at the main stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hannah Weaver writes for the Lodi News-Sentinel as a cohort member of the California Local News Fellowship program, a multi-year, state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting in California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The 209 Dragon’s Den near Lodi in San Joaquin County is a breeding ground for burgeoning wrestling talent.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1774649944,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 53,
"wordCount": 1930
},
"headData": {
"title": "Small Ring, Big Dreams: The Central Valley’s Backyard Wrestling Underdogs | KQED",
"description": "The 209 Dragon’s Den near Lodi in San Joaquin County is a breeding ground for burgeoning wrestling talent.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Small Ring, Big Dreams: The Central Valley’s Backyard Wrestling Underdogs",
"datePublished": "2026-03-27T09:00:46-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-03-27T15:19:04-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"name": "Sports"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/5560322c-73cc-47fb-b842-b41801694e46/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprByline": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-weaver-73b82b1a5/\">Hannah Weaver\u003c/a>",
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12077310",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12077310/small-ring-big-dreams-the-central-valleys-backyard-wrestling-underdogs",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published in \u003ca href=\"https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_ca83de23-bdaf-43b4-ae33-c552240f73a8.html\">the Lodi News-Sentinel\u003c/a> and has been edited for KQED.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/category/sports\">wrestlers\u003c/a> clad in neon windbreakers and leopard print pants climbed onto a square-shaped platform while A-ha’s 1985 hit “Take on Me” blared. A floodlight illuminated puffs of breath as they tangled with their opponents on a chilly February night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Razzle Dazzle, the ’80s-themed duo on stage, is a hometown favorite at these World Wrestling Entertainment-style monthly events in the heart of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-joaquin-county\">San Joaquin County\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That night, they sparred with another tag-team duo called Monstars, Inc. One half of the duo, Moizilla, wearing a black lizard tail and piercing white contact lenses, lifted one of the hometown heroes in the air and triumphantly threw him onto his back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/209dragonsden/\">209 Dragon’s Den\u003c/a>, a breeding ground for wrestling talent just east of Lodi. Wedged between a private home, a plant nursery and a barn, this backyard venue is one of the humbler sites of hundreds nationwide in the independent wrestling circuit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Independent wrestling is typically focused more on uplifting the sport than making money. The Dragon’s Den, for example, charges around $20 per adult ticket and $5 for kids. Some of that money goes back to the wrestlers who perform. But to really make a living out of it, the wrestlers hope to sign a contract with major promotions like the WWE or take their acts abroad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076566\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076566\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Big MF” Matt Freeman, center, owner and trainer of the 209 Dragon’s Den, speaks with first-time wrestler Peter Kuzmitski, left, as Paras Singh prepares nearby on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re providing something that’s raw and authentic and is not filtered by all the bulls—,” owner Matt Freeman said. “[It’s a place to] get drawn in and forget about all the things in your life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman came to wrestling late in life, in his 40s, after a divorce. Soon after, he set up a wrestling ring in his backyard and started a training group that became the 209 Dragon’s Den. In the past year, it has since burgeoned into a more official promotion, hosting shows that have attracted audiences and opponents from throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman said he has a soft spot for the sport’s underdogs: the scrawny, nerdy or older wrestlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I really get excited for those people that people thought would’ve never been able to do it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to become top-caliber wrestlers, they must first learn how to develop a convincing character.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Hector Madrigal, aka “Razzle” or “Dazzle”\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just as in the top tiers of professional wrestling, the outcomes of these matches are scripted. But just because the result is planned, it doesn’t mean the holds, throws — or spirit — are fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like method actors, the wrestlers tap into real parts of themselves to make their performances believable.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13981646",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250904_FULLQUEER_GH-33-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> “A lot of times, when we’re in the ring, we just get in our heads. We need to get out of our heads, get in our hearts to really get to that next level,” said Hector Madrigal, one half of Razzle Dazzle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he’s not competing, he’s a secretary at a Lodi elementary school, a job where he’s a lot calmer than his wrestling character.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just always behind … the computer, ordering stuff, doing a bunch of paperwork. But I do interact with the children,” he said. “Maybe a little of my Razzle Dazzle side comes out when I’m interacting with the kids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the ring, he’s much more “bombastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[I] emphasize everything that’s in my heart,” he said. “I try to put it out so the crowd can see what I’ve been holding inside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Paras Singh, aka “Punjabi Papi” or “The All-American”\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Toward the end of the night, an announcer bellowed into the microphone as the crowd waited eagerly for one of their favorite wrestlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He is the only king that stands in this ring. He is every lady’s habibi: The Punjabi Papi!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lodi local Paras Singh strutted through billowing curtains and along the front row of the crowd to high-five cheering fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076567\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076567\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paras Singh tapes his wrist before training at the 209 Dragon’s Den gym on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He climbed atop the ropes onstage, gesturing for the crowd to get loud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But before Singh could do too much preemptive celebrating, he was face-to-face with Reno-based wrestler David Luster, who’s nearly twice Singh’s size and age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The match was full of plot twists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh started strong, landing his signature drop kick to Luster’s face. But Luster retaliated, knocking Singh down again and again. Just when it seemed that Luster would earn an easy win, he kicked the referee. That move got him disqualified, and Singh won by default.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the crowd booed that outcome, the pair set up for a rematch. Luster knocked Singh down to his back, where he remained motionless for several minutes. Then, hometown villain group “The 209 Kliq” stormed the stage and stole Singh’s championship belts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the end, it was unclear who had prevailed. What was clear was the crowd’s enthusiasm — heckling and cheering from the edges of their plastic folding chairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Connecting with the audience through compelling characters and storylines is the point, the wrestlers at 209 Dragon’s Den said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12077101",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260310-UnhousedMail-02-BL_qed.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> Singh has been performing recently as “Punjabi Papi,” playing off his Indian heritage. But he started as “The All-American.” With that character, he wanted to show off his background as an Army soldier. It worked for a while, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People loved … a hero that’s all good,” he said. “But you become one-dimensional in that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With his new character, he gets to show off more of his personality. Singh said it’s who he wanted to be when he was younger. Someone who’s admired for their ethnic identity, instead of bullied for it. Someone with confidence and swagger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t have to be an all-good hero. I could have layers now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up, Singh always wanted to be a wrestler. When he came home to Lodi at age 23 after serving active duty in the Army, he found the Dragon’s Den and thought, “Why not just go for it?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years later, he’s headlining shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just a kid with a dream,” he said. “A little brown boy from Lodi, California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many of his fellow indie wrestlers, Singh has aspirations of making wrestling a full-time gig. To reach that goal, he spends most weeknights training under Dragon’s Den head coach, Michael Hayashi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Michael Hayashi, aka “The Angry Dragon”\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nicknamed “The Angry Dragon,” Hayashi has performed for over two decades. His character was inspired by martial arts stars like Bruce Lee — and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I lean on the things I loved when I was a kid,” he said. “Basically, Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles. Or Raphael, depending on the situation. Hardly ever, Donatello. Though sometimes Leonardo.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>He said he was initially drawn to wrestling as an outlet for his teenage angst.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076573\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076573\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_027-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wrestlers train inside the ring at the 209 Dragon’s Den on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I used to have a chip on my shoulder,” Hayashi said. “Maybe I was even a little crazy, like trying to hurt myself almost, and prove that I could even belong in the ring.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But his relationship with his wrestling persona is different these days, now that he’s almost 40.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead of trying to fake a character that I used to play, now I’m just showing you more of my true self,” he said. “To be honest, I’m not really an angry person anymore … And at this point now, I’m just kind of at the twilight of my career.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayashi’s coaching emphasizes both intense physical skills and doing deep internal work. The aim, he said, is that wrestling becomes an outlet for projecting your true self.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We try to, at the very least, find people’s strengths, turn them up to 11, and then, if they can kind of balance out after that, then they can become the wrestler that they want to be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Wrestlers by night\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On weeknights, Hayashi drives across town to the Dragon’s Den, where he trains the next generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next to where the outdoor shows happen, there’s a wooden barn with a lofty ceiling. On a recent Wednesday night, a floodlight illuminated the practice ring inside. A dozen wrestlers stretched on mats or jabbed at a punching bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given the theatrics of the sport, audiences often think wrestling doesn’t really hurt and that there’s little skill involved. But the wrestlers here, many fresh off a weightlifting session or nursing injuries, said that couldn’t be further from the truth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076570\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076570\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/031226_DRAGONDEN-_GH_022-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Razzle Dazzle duo Hector Madrigal, left, and Christopher Pontilo pose on a ladder outside the 209 Dragon’s Den on March 12, 2026, in Lodi. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As they warmed up, Hayashi took the opportunity to talk about the concept of trust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re always going to assume that our opponents are not trying to put us in the hospital, that we’re trying to have a good time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the next two hours, the wrestlers hopped into the ring one by one. Hayashi led them in drills to practice falls, or “bumps,” in wrestler-speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As each wrestler cycled in for their turn in the ring, Hayashi pushed them to commit further — to bring the same intensity to practice that they would in a match. The students waiting on a couch by the ring got into the spirit, heckling their fellow wrestlers just like their ideal audience would.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the ring that night, they were Razzle Dazzle, Punjabi Papi, and the Angry Dragon. The next day, they’ll go back to being Hector Madrigal, Paras Singh and Michael Hayashi. But they’ll keep coming back to the 209 Dragon’s Den, training for their next match and hoping for a shot at the main stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hannah Weaver writes for the Lodi News-Sentinel as a cohort member of the California Local News Fellowship program, a multi-year, state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting in California.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12077310/small-ring-big-dreams-the-central-valleys-backyard-wrestling-underdogs",
"authors": [
"byline_news_12077310"
],
"programs": [
"news_72",
"news_26731"
],
"categories": [
"news_223",
"news_31795",
"news_8",
"news_10"
],
"tags": [
"news_18538",
"news_311",
"news_21047",
"news_34078",
"news_30162"
],
"featImg": "news_12076569",
"label": "news_26731"
},
"news_12077737": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12077737",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12077737",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1774623647000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-agrees-to-1-9m-settlement-in-prison-use-of-force-case",
"title": "California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case",
"publishDate": 1774623647,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 13 women who say correctional officers injured them during a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004368/like-a-war-zone-prison-officers-used-unprecedented-force-in-august-attack-incarcerated-women-say\">mass use-of-force incident\u003c/a> at the Central California Women’s Facility in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The plaintiffs say they suffered seizures, respiratory distress and long-term vision problems after officers used batons, physical force and chemical agents on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t breathe. My lungs were on fire … I thought I was going to die,” plaintiff Wisdom Muhammad said in a recent interview at her home in Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women received settlements ranging from $200,000 to $50,000 each, based on the severity of their injuries, according to their attorney Robert Chalfant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sexual abuse of inmates, excessive force, cruel and unusual punishment, retaliation, those things need to stop,” Chalfant said. “And the only way those things stop is through lawsuits and forcing the payment of large amounts of money so that people take notice of what’s happening.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an email, CDCR spokesperson Mary Xjimenez said the agency has reviewed the incident and has taken corrective action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 41 staff members were found to have violated policy, making it one of the largest disciplinary actions issued against \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-department-of-corrections-and-rehabilitation\">CDCR\u003c/a> staff in a single incident, according to CDCR. Punishment ranged from transfers to termination, CDCR said, but the department has not yet responded to a public records request for disciplinary documents related to the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11993411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1742px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11993411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1742\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed.jpg 1742w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-800x612.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-1020x781.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-160x122.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-1536x1175.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1742px) 100vw, 1742px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Incarcerated people stand together in a yard at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Madera County. \u003ccite>(Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004477/incarcerated-women-say-officers-used-unprecedented-force-in-august-attack\">Aug. 2, 2024\u003c/a>, incident began when officers removed more than 150 women from their cells and locked them in the dining hall while staff conducted a large-scale search of their cells. As temperatures in the Chowchilla facility climbed to more than 100 degrees and time wore on, the women began to ask for water, food and medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prison officials have said that the incarcerated population “became disruptive.” Officers used physical force, batons and chemical agents to “stop the incident,” according to a review from the Office of the Inspector General.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The complaint claims the women were complying with the officers’ orders and that the force was excessive and unnecessary. It also alleges that some women were denied or delayed medical care after being injured, leaving them with lasting physical and psychological harm.[aside postID=news_12004368 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/CentralCaliforniaWomensFacility-1020x816.jpg']A total of 109 incarcerated persons were medically evaluated, CDCR said, and three were transported to an outside medical facility for a short time. In the wake of the incident, CDCR also said it made mental health staff and resources available to those affected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Staff were also retrained after the incident on how to respond to alarms and on the appropriate use of force, according to CDCR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women involved in the suit have a broader claim about this incident as well, that it was retaliation for sexual assault complaints that they had filed against correctional staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women’s prison in Chowchilla has been plagued by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11786495/metoo-behind-bars-new-records-shed-light-on-sexual-abuse-inside-state-womens-prisons\">reports of sexual assault for years\u003c/a>. In one high-profile case, at least 22 women accused correctional officer Gregory Rodriguez of sexual abuse dating back to 2014. The state ultimately paid millions of dollars to settle those claims. Rodriguez was criminally charged and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022075/former-guard-california-womens-prison-found-guilty-59-counts-sexual-abuse\">sentenced to 224 years\u003c/a> in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.oig.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Staff-Misconduct-Monitoring-Report-January-June-2025.pdf\">audit \u003c/a>by the Office of Inspector General found that at least 279 women had sued the department, accusing at least 83 prison employees of sexual misconduct. The audit describes “a wave” of lawsuits filed by currently and formerly incarcerated people alleging staff sexual assault, harassment and misconduct. In response to the lawsuits, the department approved 402 investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating allegations of sexual abuse and staff misconduct at California women’s prisons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12003275\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12003275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into staff sexual abuse allegations at two women’s prisons in Chowchilla and Chino, following a series of lawsuits and similar abuses at federal facilities like FCI Dublin, which was closed due to widespread misconduct. \u003ccite>(J. David Ake/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the settlement reached this past week, CDCR did not agree to any policy changes or other non-monetary terms, and did not admit to wrongdoing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Department’s focus remains on the safety, security, and well-being of both the incarcerated population and staff,” Xjimenez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another class action lawsuit tied to the Aug. 2 incident is still pending. That case, known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70350459/1/pc-hooper-v-de-la-cruz/\">Hooper v. State of California\u003c/a>, raises similar claims that medical care was delayed or denied and that the use of force was excessive and retaliatory. It is set to go to mediation in May, according to court filings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CDCR said it could not comment on pending litigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chalfant said that many of his clients were scared to come forward. The incarcerated woman told him that correctional officers continued to reference the lawsuit and retaliate against them by writing them up for minor infractions and searching their belongings up to the day of the settlement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If individuals’ rights are violated in state prisons, lawyers are going to take those cases,” Chalfant said. “[These women] don’t lose their constitutional rights when [they] go into a prison facility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit alleging corrections officers used excessive force, batons and chemical agents on women at the Central California Women’s Facility, causing serious injuries, raising concerns about retaliation. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1774625478,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 23,
"wordCount": 934
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED",
"description": "California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit alleging corrections officers used excessive force, batons and chemical agents on women at the Central California Women’s Facility, causing serious injuries, raising concerns about retaliation. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case",
"datePublished": "2026-03-27T08:00:47-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-03-27T08:31:18-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34167,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"name": "Criminal Justice"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12077737",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12077737/california-agrees-to-1-9m-settlement-in-prison-use-of-force-case",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 13 women who say correctional officers injured them during a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004368/like-a-war-zone-prison-officers-used-unprecedented-force-in-august-attack-incarcerated-women-say\">mass use-of-force incident\u003c/a> at the Central California Women’s Facility in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The plaintiffs say they suffered seizures, respiratory distress and long-term vision problems after officers used batons, physical force and chemical agents on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t breathe. My lungs were on fire … I thought I was going to die,” plaintiff Wisdom Muhammad said in a recent interview at her home in Los Angeles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women received settlements ranging from $200,000 to $50,000 each, based on the severity of their injuries, according to their attorney Robert Chalfant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sexual abuse of inmates, excessive force, cruel and unusual punishment, retaliation, those things need to stop,” Chalfant said. “And the only way those things stop is through lawsuits and forcing the payment of large amounts of money so that people take notice of what’s happening.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an email, CDCR spokesperson Mary Xjimenez said the agency has reviewed the incident and has taken corrective action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 41 staff members were found to have violated policy, making it one of the largest disciplinary actions issued against \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-department-of-corrections-and-rehabilitation\">CDCR\u003c/a> staff in a single incident, according to CDCR. Punishment ranged from transfers to termination, CDCR said, but the department has not yet responded to a public records request for disciplinary documents related to the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11993411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1742px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11993411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1742\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed.jpg 1742w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-800x612.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-1020x781.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-160x122.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-1322060041_qed-1536x1175.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1742px) 100vw, 1742px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Incarcerated people stand together in a yard at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Madera County. \u003ccite>(Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004477/incarcerated-women-say-officers-used-unprecedented-force-in-august-attack\">Aug. 2, 2024\u003c/a>, incident began when officers removed more than 150 women from their cells and locked them in the dining hall while staff conducted a large-scale search of their cells. As temperatures in the Chowchilla facility climbed to more than 100 degrees and time wore on, the women began to ask for water, food and medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prison officials have said that the incarcerated population “became disruptive.” Officers used physical force, batons and chemical agents to “stop the incident,” according to a review from the Office of the Inspector General.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The complaint claims the women were complying with the officers’ orders and that the force was excessive and unnecessary. It also alleges that some women were denied or delayed medical care after being injured, leaving them with lasting physical and psychological harm.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12004368",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/CentralCaliforniaWomensFacility-1020x816.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>A total of 109 incarcerated persons were medically evaluated, CDCR said, and three were transported to an outside medical facility for a short time. In the wake of the incident, CDCR also said it made mental health staff and resources available to those affected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Staff were also retrained after the incident on how to respond to alarms and on the appropriate use of force, according to CDCR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women involved in the suit have a broader claim about this incident as well, that it was retaliation for sexual assault complaints that they had filed against correctional staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women’s prison in Chowchilla has been plagued by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11786495/metoo-behind-bars-new-records-shed-light-on-sexual-abuse-inside-state-womens-prisons\">reports of sexual assault for years\u003c/a>. In one high-profile case, at least 22 women accused correctional officer Gregory Rodriguez of sexual abuse dating back to 2014. The state ultimately paid millions of dollars to settle those claims. Rodriguez was criminally charged and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022075/former-guard-california-womens-prison-found-guilty-59-counts-sexual-abuse\">sentenced to 224 years\u003c/a> in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.oig.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Staff-Misconduct-Monitoring-Report-January-June-2025.pdf\">audit \u003c/a>by the Office of Inspector General found that at least 279 women had sued the department, accusing at least 83 prison employees of sexual misconduct. The audit describes “a wave” of lawsuits filed by currently and formerly incarcerated people alleging staff sexual assault, harassment and misconduct. In response to the lawsuits, the department approved 402 investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating allegations of sexual abuse and staff misconduct at California women’s prisons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12003275\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12003275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/USDeptofJusticeGetty-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into staff sexual abuse allegations at two women’s prisons in Chowchilla and Chino, following a series of lawsuits and similar abuses at federal facilities like FCI Dublin, which was closed due to widespread misconduct. \u003ccite>(J. David Ake/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the settlement reached this past week, CDCR did not agree to any policy changes or other non-monetary terms, and did not admit to wrongdoing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Department’s focus remains on the safety, security, and well-being of both the incarcerated population and staff,” Xjimenez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another class action lawsuit tied to the Aug. 2 incident is still pending. That case, known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70350459/1/pc-hooper-v-de-la-cruz/\">Hooper v. State of California\u003c/a>, raises similar claims that medical care was delayed or denied and that the use of force was excessive and retaliatory. It is set to go to mediation in May, according to court filings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CDCR said it could not comment on pending litigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chalfant said that many of his clients were scared to come forward. The incarcerated woman told him that correctional officers continued to reference the lawsuit and retaliate against them by writing them up for minor infractions and searching their belongings up to the day of the settlement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If individuals’ rights are violated in state prisons, lawyers are going to take those cases,” Chalfant said. “[These women] don’t lose their constitutional rights when [they] go into a prison facility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12077737/california-agrees-to-1-9m-settlement-in-prison-use-of-force-case",
"authors": [
"11895"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_34167",
"news_6188",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_18538",
"news_1628",
"news_616",
"news_1629",
"news_311",
"news_17725",
"news_22009",
"news_27626",
"news_21891",
"news_1305",
"news_2700",
"news_1527",
"news_32043",
"news_1917"
],
"featImg": "news_12054792",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12065570": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12065570",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12065570",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1764620095000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "immigration-crackdown-changes-everyday-life-in-californias-farm-towns",
"title": "Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns",
"publishDate": 1764620095,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California’s Farm Towns | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Monday, December 1, 2025…\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fear, isolation, uneasiness. Ever since the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement efforts, immigrant communities in California have a growing sense of anxiety. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/11/immigration-california-farms/\">One community worried about enforcement is farm workers,\u003c/a> where many people’s lives have been upended. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-shooting-stockton-party-b5694f32ae71d2e6d874641a78f65f4f\">shooting at a banquet hall in the Central Valley town of Stockton\u003c/a> has left four young people dead and 11 injured. The shooting Saturday took place at a children’s birthday party.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"entry-title entry-title--with-subtitle\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/11/immigration-california-farms/\">\u003cstrong>How Fear Of Trump’s Immigration Blitz Is Changing Life In California Farm Towns\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As this year’s harvest ends, the small Central Valley towns that rely on migrant or undocumented labor to survive are themselves forced to imagine the end of a way of life. The worry here is the workers might not return next year, at least not in the numbers that sustain local economies and power the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/?p=29277\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$60 billion agricultural industry\u003c/a>, which grows three-fourths of the fruits and nuts consumed in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/tag/donald-trump/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration\u003c/a> has pledged to carry out the largest deportation program in American history. They have, so far, mostly left the agricultural industry alone. But Trump and his advisers \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/08/trump-teased-a-solution-for-farmers-its-likely-not-coming-soon-00498932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have wavered\u003c/a> on whether to protect farms from \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/tag/immigration/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">immigration raids\u003c/a>, so the seasonal workers and their employers will have to wait and see.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small farm towns in the Central Valley are similar in their seasonal economics to a beach town on the East Coast: Both swell in summer with a population boom, then dig in for a slow winter. Firebaugh City Manager Ben Gallegos said the town of 4,000 grows to 8,000 people in the summer, then empties out after the harvest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The story plays out in the numbers, but already this year’s numbers tell a different tale. In the second quarter of the year, which runs from April 1 to June 30, total taxable transactions in Firebaugh were down 29% from the same quarter last year, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In nearby Chowchilla, total taxable receipts are down 21% in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People don’t want to shop or go out to eat, Gallegos said. The city of Firebaugh is staring down cuts to its police force, its parks and its senior center. In September, the appearance of county probation officers dressed in green fatigues caused waves of panicked Whatsapp texts. Some people went into hiding. The food bank in Firebaugh used to serve about 50 families. Today, at weekly distributions behind city hall, that number is up to 150. When it’s over, volunteers take the remaining food boxes to families who are too afraid to leave their homes. “We need those individuals to drive our community,” Gallegos said. “They’re the ones that eat at our local restaurants, they’re the ones that shop at our local stores. Without them, what do we do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"Page-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-shooting-stockton-party-b5694f32ae71d2e6d874641a78f65f4f\">\u003cstrong>Investigators Urge Witnesses Of The Deadly Shooting At Child’s Party In Stockton To Come Forward\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Authorities in Stockton urged witnesses of a deadly shooting at a child’s birthday party to come forward as the search for a suspect stretched into another day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three children ages 8, 9 and 14 and a 21-year-old \u003cspan class=\"LinkEnhancement\">\u003ca class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" href=\"https://apnews.com/article/stockton-california-shooting-b59e32ae53716a0dfe9f28c246552607\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\">were killed Saturday when gunfire broke out\u003c/a>\u003c/span> at a banquet hall in Stockton where at least 100 people were gathered, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. Detectives believe the gunfire continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eleven people were also wounded, with at least one in critical condition, he said. No one was in custody by Sunday evening, and the sheriff urged anyone with information to contact his office with tips, cellphone video or witness accounts. “This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behavior, when people will just walk in and kill children,” Withrow said. “And so if you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know. If not, you just become complacent and think this is acceptable behavior.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said earlier that investigators believe it was a “targeted incident.” Officials did not elaborate on why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted. She said investigators would welcome any information, “even rumors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "In small Central Valley towns like Firebaugh, the economy is already suffering from immigration crackdowns.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1764620095,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 12,
"wordCount": 784
},
"headData": {
"title": "Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns | KQED",
"description": "In small Central Valley towns like Firebaugh, the economy is already suffering from immigration crackdowns.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns",
"datePublished": "2025-12-01T12:14:55-08:00",
"dateModified": "2025-12-01T12:14:55-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 33520,
"slug": "podcast",
"name": "Podcast"
},
"source": "The California Report",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC9950092087.mp3?updated=1764602223",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12065570",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12065570/immigration-crackdown-changes-everyday-life-in-californias-farm-towns",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Monday, December 1, 2025…\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fear, isolation, uneasiness. Ever since the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement efforts, immigrant communities in California have a growing sense of anxiety. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/11/immigration-california-farms/\">One community worried about enforcement is farm workers,\u003c/a> where many people’s lives have been upended. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-shooting-stockton-party-b5694f32ae71d2e6d874641a78f65f4f\">shooting at a banquet hall in the Central Valley town of Stockton\u003c/a> has left four young people dead and 11 injured. The shooting Saturday took place at a children’s birthday party.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 class=\"entry-title entry-title--with-subtitle\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/11/immigration-california-farms/\">\u003cstrong>How Fear Of Trump’s Immigration Blitz Is Changing Life In California Farm Towns\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As this year’s harvest ends, the small Central Valley towns that rely on migrant or undocumented labor to survive are themselves forced to imagine the end of a way of life. The worry here is the workers might not return next year, at least not in the numbers that sustain local economies and power the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/?p=29277\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$60 billion agricultural industry\u003c/a>, which grows three-fourths of the fruits and nuts consumed in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/tag/donald-trump/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration\u003c/a> has pledged to carry out the largest deportation program in American history. They have, so far, mostly left the agricultural industry alone. But Trump and his advisers \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/08/trump-teased-a-solution-for-farmers-its-likely-not-coming-soon-00498932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have wavered\u003c/a> on whether to protect farms from \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/tag/immigration/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">immigration raids\u003c/a>, so the seasonal workers and their employers will have to wait and see.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small farm towns in the Central Valley are similar in their seasonal economics to a beach town on the East Coast: Both swell in summer with a population boom, then dig in for a slow winter. Firebaugh City Manager Ben Gallegos said the town of 4,000 grows to 8,000 people in the summer, then empties out after the harvest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The story plays out in the numbers, but already this year’s numbers tell a different tale. In the second quarter of the year, which runs from April 1 to June 30, total taxable transactions in Firebaugh were down 29% from the same quarter last year, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In nearby Chowchilla, total taxable receipts are down 21% in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People don’t want to shop or go out to eat, Gallegos said. The city of Firebaugh is staring down cuts to its police force, its parks and its senior center. In September, the appearance of county probation officers dressed in green fatigues caused waves of panicked Whatsapp texts. Some people went into hiding. The food bank in Firebaugh used to serve about 50 families. Today, at weekly distributions behind city hall, that number is up to 150. When it’s over, volunteers take the remaining food boxes to families who are too afraid to leave their homes. “We need those individuals to drive our community,” Gallegos said. “They’re the ones that eat at our local restaurants, they’re the ones that shop at our local stores. Without them, what do we do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 class=\"Page-headline\">\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-shooting-stockton-party-b5694f32ae71d2e6d874641a78f65f4f\">\u003cstrong>Investigators Urge Witnesses Of The Deadly Shooting At Child’s Party In Stockton To Come Forward\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Authorities in Stockton urged witnesses of a deadly shooting at a child’s birthday party to come forward as the search for a suspect stretched into another day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three children ages 8, 9 and 14 and a 21-year-old \u003cspan class=\"LinkEnhancement\">\u003ca class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" href=\"https://apnews.com/article/stockton-california-shooting-b59e32ae53716a0dfe9f28c246552607\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\">were killed Saturday when gunfire broke out\u003c/a>\u003c/span> at a banquet hall in Stockton where at least 100 people were gathered, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. Detectives believe the gunfire continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eleven people were also wounded, with at least one in critical condition, he said. No one was in custody by Sunday evening, and the sheriff urged anyone with information to contact his office with tips, cellphone video or witness accounts. “This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behavior, when people will just walk in and kill children,” Withrow said. “And so if you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know. If not, you just become complacent and think this is acceptable behavior.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said earlier that investigators believe it was a “targeted incident.” Officials did not elaborate on why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted. She said investigators would welcome any information, “even rumors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12065570/immigration-crackdown-changes-everyday-life-in-californias-farm-towns",
"authors": [
"11739"
],
"programs": [
"news_72"
],
"categories": [
"news_33520",
"news_34018"
],
"tags": [
"news_311",
"news_18269",
"news_36163",
"news_17708",
"news_21721",
"news_784",
"news_21998",
"news_21268"
],
"featImg": "news_12065571",
"label": "source_news_12065570"
},
"news_12061797": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12061797",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12061797",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1761678249000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "central-valley-farmers-express-concerns-about-possibility-of-new-political-maps",
"title": "Central Valley Farmers Express Concerns About Possibility Of New Political Maps",
"publishDate": 1761678249,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Central Valley Farmers Express Concerns About Possibility Of New Political Maps | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, October 28, 2025…\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ripple effects of President Trump’s national gerrymandering battle are being felt in California’s rich agricultural belt. Next week, voters in the state will decide whether to support \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/proposition-50\">Proposition 50.\u003c/a> That’s Governor Newsom’s plan to counter surprise redistricting in Texas and other red states. If Prop 50 passes, Congressman David Valadao of the Central Valley would be one of five Republicans on the chopping block. And that worries farmers in his district. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">State Attorney General Rob Bonta says the monitors that the U.S. Department of Justice is sending to five California counties \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/bonta-bashes-trump-administration-plan-to-send-election-monitors-to-california\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">will not be allowed to interfere in the voting process.\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Los Angeles Dodgers \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95311/dodgers-over-blue-jays-world-series\">won a marathon Game 3 of the World Series\u003c/a>, as Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run in the 18th inning.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061715/california-divided-heres-whats-at-stake-for-californians-whose-districts-could-get-rewritten-by-prop-50\">\u003cstrong>Central Valley Farmers Say Redistricting Could Have Huge Impact On Industry\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If Californians pass \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/proposition-50\">Proposition 50\u003c/a> next week, several areas of the state could see far different representation in the coming years. That includes the Central Valley, where agriculture is king.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charles Meyer grows a cornucopia of crops on his 1500 acres in Stratford, in Kings County. “We’re growing wheat, we’re growing alfalfa, we’re growing almonds, we’re growing pistachios,” he said. Kings County is one of three agricultural counties that make up District 22, represented by Republican Congressman David Valadao. Farms bring in billions of dollars to the region and Meyer said he feels the elected leader in District 22 should represent the interests of the agriculture industry, like Valadao, a former dairy farmer. “You become attached to the ground. It’s like our boys in the military, they give their life for the country. We feel about our ground about like that,” Meyer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valadao is in danger of losing his seat if maps are redrawn and Prop 50 passes. Meyer said the new maps are an overreach, blaming Democrats for rising farming costs and slumping profits. And while it’s a common thought among the farming community, Democrats in the region welcome a possible change, blaming Valadao for issues like healthcare costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/bonta-bashes-trump-administration-plan-to-send-election-monitors-to-california\">Attorney General Says Federal Election Monitors Are Unnecessary\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday denounced plans by the Justice Department to send election monitors to California, where \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/promoting-early-voting-and-protecting-voting-rights-together-attorney-general\">voting is underway\u003c/a> in the closely watched contest over Proposition 50.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration announced Friday that it would send monitors to five counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Kern and Fresno for the Nov. 4 special election. The Justice Department said in a news release that it would send monitors to polling places and to offices of registrars of voters “to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.” The move comes in response to a request for monitors by the California Republican Party, which claimed voting irregularities in past elections including that voters received incorrect ballots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not uncommon for the federal government to monitor elections, but Bonta questioned the motives behind the decision. “These are not normal times so it is with a great deal of concern that I see these so-called election monitors coming to California,” he said. “We have to look at the broader context here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has claimed there’s widespread voter fraud in California, where 81% of ballots are mailed in. He reiterated his position as recently as Sunday on his \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115441871289276790\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Truth Social account. \u003c/a>Bonta said Monday that voter fraud is extremely rare in California, and Secretary of State Shirley Weber says \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-cybersecurity/trusted-information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">\u003cu>on her website\u003c/u>\u003c/a> that mail-in ballots provide more election security, not less. Bonta said the election monitors are designed to bolster the president’s claim of election fraud and to sow fear among citizen immigrant voters. The attorney general promised to monitor the monitors. “Of course there will be observers of the election monitors — so-called election monitors — that the DOJ is sending. They will not be allowed to do things that they are not allowed to do,” he said. “They can watch and observe like everybody else.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95311/dodgers-over-blue-jays-world-series\">\u003cstrong>After 18 Innings, Dodgers Prevail Over Blue Jays In World Series Classic\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Freddie Freeman homered leading off the bottom of the 18th inning, Shohei Ohtani went deep twice in another record-setting performance and the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Game 3 on Monday night to win a World Series classic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defending champion Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup and still have a chance to win the title at home — something they haven’t done since 1963.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman connected off left-hander Brendon Little, sending a 406-foot drive to straightaway center field to finally end a game that lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes, and matched the longest by innings in postseason history. The only other Series contest to go 18 innings was Game 3 at Dodger Stadium seven years ago. Freeman’s current teammate, Max Muncy, won that one for Los Angeles with an 18th-inning homer against the Boston Red Sox in a game that took 7 hours, 20 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Many in the farming community are looking for their interests to be front and center with any representative. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1761760426,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 13,
"wordCount": 905
},
"headData": {
"title": "Central Valley Farmers Express Concerns About Possibility Of New Political Maps | KQED",
"description": "Many in the farming community are looking for their interests to be front and center with any representative. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Central Valley Farmers Express Concerns About Possibility Of New Political Maps",
"datePublished": "2025-10-28T12:04:09-07:00",
"dateModified": "2025-10-29T10:53:46-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 33520,
"slug": "podcast",
"name": "Podcast"
},
"source": "The California Report",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC6232518707.mp3?updated=1761660233",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12061797",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12061797/central-valley-farmers-express-concerns-about-possibility-of-new-political-maps",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, October 28, 2025…\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ripple effects of President Trump’s national gerrymandering battle are being felt in California’s rich agricultural belt. Next week, voters in the state will decide whether to support \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/proposition-50\">Proposition 50.\u003c/a> That’s Governor Newsom’s plan to counter surprise redistricting in Texas and other red states. If Prop 50 passes, Congressman David Valadao of the Central Valley would be one of five Republicans on the chopping block. And that worries farmers in his district. \u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">State Attorney General Rob Bonta says the monitors that the U.S. Department of Justice is sending to five California counties \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/bonta-bashes-trump-administration-plan-to-send-election-monitors-to-california\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">will not be allowed to interfere in the voting process.\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Los Angeles Dodgers \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95311/dodgers-over-blue-jays-world-series\">won a marathon Game 3 of the World Series\u003c/a>, as Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run in the 18th inning.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061715/california-divided-heres-whats-at-stake-for-californians-whose-districts-could-get-rewritten-by-prop-50\">\u003cstrong>Central Valley Farmers Say Redistricting Could Have Huge Impact On Industry\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If Californians pass \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/proposition-50\">Proposition 50\u003c/a> next week, several areas of the state could see far different representation in the coming years. That includes the Central Valley, where agriculture is king.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charles Meyer grows a cornucopia of crops on his 1500 acres in Stratford, in Kings County. “We’re growing wheat, we’re growing alfalfa, we’re growing almonds, we’re growing pistachios,” he said. Kings County is one of three agricultural counties that make up District 22, represented by Republican Congressman David Valadao. Farms bring in billions of dollars to the region and Meyer said he feels the elected leader in District 22 should represent the interests of the agriculture industry, like Valadao, a former dairy farmer. “You become attached to the ground. It’s like our boys in the military, they give their life for the country. We feel about our ground about like that,” Meyer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valadao is in danger of losing his seat if maps are redrawn and Prop 50 passes. Meyer said the new maps are an overreach, blaming Democrats for rising farming costs and slumping profits. And while it’s a common thought among the farming community, Democrats in the region welcome a possible change, blaming Valadao for issues like healthcare costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/bonta-bashes-trump-administration-plan-to-send-election-monitors-to-california\">Attorney General Says Federal Election Monitors Are Unnecessary\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday denounced plans by the Justice Department to send election monitors to California, where \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/promoting-early-voting-and-protecting-voting-rights-together-attorney-general\">voting is underway\u003c/a> in the closely watched contest over Proposition 50.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration announced Friday that it would send monitors to five counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Kern and Fresno for the Nov. 4 special election. The Justice Department said in a news release that it would send monitors to polling places and to offices of registrars of voters “to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.” The move comes in response to a request for monitors by the California Republican Party, which claimed voting irregularities in past elections including that voters received incorrect ballots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not uncommon for the federal government to monitor elections, but Bonta questioned the motives behind the decision. “These are not normal times so it is with a great deal of concern that I see these so-called election monitors coming to California,” he said. “We have to look at the broader context here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has claimed there’s widespread voter fraud in California, where 81% of ballots are mailed in. He reiterated his position as recently as Sunday on his \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115441871289276790\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Truth Social account. \u003c/a>Bonta said Monday that voter fraud is extremely rare in California, and Secretary of State Shirley Weber says \u003ca class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-cybersecurity/trusted-information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">\u003cu>on her website\u003c/u>\u003c/a> that mail-in ballots provide more election security, not less. Bonta said the election monitors are designed to bolster the president’s claim of election fraud and to sow fear among citizen immigrant voters. The attorney general promised to monitor the monitors. “Of course there will be observers of the election monitors — so-called election monitors — that the DOJ is sending. They will not be allowed to do things that they are not allowed to do,” he said. “They can watch and observe like everybody else.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95311/dodgers-over-blue-jays-world-series\">\u003cstrong>After 18 Innings, Dodgers Prevail Over Blue Jays In World Series Classic\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Freddie Freeman homered leading off the bottom of the 18th inning, Shohei Ohtani went deep twice in another record-setting performance and the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Game 3 on Monday night to win a World Series classic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defending champion Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup and still have a chance to win the title at home — something they haven’t done since 1963.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freeman connected off left-hander Brendon Little, sending a 406-foot drive to straightaway center field to finally end a game that lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes, and matched the longest by innings in postseason history. The only other Series contest to go 18 innings was Game 3 at Dodger Stadium seven years ago. Freeman’s current teammate, Max Muncy, won that one for Los Angeles with an 18th-inning homer against the Boston Red Sox in a game that took 7 hours, 20 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12061797/central-valley-farmers-express-concerns-about-possibility-of-new-political-maps",
"authors": [
"11739"
],
"programs": [
"news_72"
],
"categories": [
"news_33520",
"news_34018"
],
"tags": [
"news_4092",
"news_36017",
"news_311",
"news_20717",
"news_778",
"news_36016",
"news_35928",
"news_21998",
"news_21268",
"news_144"
],
"featImg": "news_12061952",
"label": "source_news_12061797"
},
"news_12059426": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12059426",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12059426",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1760180445000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "how-is-a-corn-maze-made-plus-where-to-find-them-in-the-bay-area-this-october",
"title": "How Is a Corn Maze Made? Plus, Where to Find Them in the Bay Area This October",
"publishDate": 1760180445,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "How Is a Corn Maze Made? Plus, Where to Find Them in the Bay Area This October | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Jim Groverman, the owner of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/petaluma\">Petaluma\u003c/a> Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze, has been building corn mazes for more than 30 years. And he does it all by hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t map anything out,” he said. “I do it all in my head.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While other creations vie for the “biggest corn maze in the world” title — including \u003ca href=\"https://www.coolpatchpumpkins.com/\">Dixon’s record-holding Cool Patch Pumpkins\u003c/a> — Groverman’s \u003ca href=\"https://petalumapumpkinpatch.com/corn-maze/\">four-acre corn maze\u003c/a> holds a different charm. And it’s just one of many Bay Area corn mazes in full holiday swing this month, offering the public a chance to solve these life-sized puzzles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Experttipsforsolvingacornmaze\">Expert tips for solving a corn maze\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-corn-maze-near-me\">Bay Area corn mazes to visit this spooky season\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Some corn mazes, like Groverman’s, are hand-cut with just one way in and out. Others boast intricate patterns and hidden checkpoints — not to mention all the other activities on the farm during fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read on to find out how the Bay Area’s corn mazes are made, with expert tips from their creators on how to get out of them. And if you’re eager for a challenge, we’ve got a roundup of Bay Area corn mazes where you can get lost in the stalks yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is a corn maze made?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>How corn maze creators actually design and build their labyrinths can be very different from farm to farm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Groverman, the key to a solid corn maze — like any crop, is “good soil.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Starting in March, he takes soil samples, adding fertilizers as needed, before working the soil and preparing it for planting. While the old saying says corn should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2025/07/02/knee-high-by-fourth-of-july-adage-is-becoming-obsolete-heres-why/84426153007/\">“knee high at the Fourth of July\u003c/a>,” Groverman waits until the end of June to plant, so his stalks can still be that welcoming green color in time for his October maze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12059448 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The corn kernel sandbox at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze. Jim Groverman, owner of the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch, has been building corn mazes for more than 30 years. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Groverman plants 30,000 seeds per acre in total — 7 inches apart, in rows 2-and-a-half feet apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All summer long, he weeds the rows to keep the crows out of the young stalks, because “they’ll just go along and pull the corn right out of the ground” at that height.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the corn gets tall enough, Groverman grabs his shovel and gets to work sculpting his maze. With a team of two, just making the pathway takes four to five eight-hour days, “at least,” he said. “I try to have it all made and completed by the first of August.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final touch: Groverman then lets the remaining corn grow tall until October, when he opens his doors to the public.[aside postID=news_12054079 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250904-PRESIDIOHIKES-11-BL-KQED.jpg']Frank Andreotti, farm manager at \u003ca href=\"https://andreottifamilyfarm.com/\">Andreotti Family Farm\u003c/a> in Half Moon Bay, takes a similar freehand approach — but with a little more power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After all his corn has grown in, Andreotti constructs his 10-acre corn maze in just a few hours by plowing a 6-foot-wide path with a tractor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I’m driving through, I just have in my mind the outlay of the entire field,” he said. “It’s like freehand painting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Denise Fantozzi, on the other hand, is one farm owner who took the GPS route — and it’s paid off. Each year at Fantozzi Farms, located in the Central Valley, \u003ca href=\"https://fantozzifarms.com/corn-maze/\">she and her husband dream up a new design for the maze\u003c/a>, which is actually three mazes in one. The pair works with a company called Maze Play to input the design into a GPS and then, when the stalks are about 3 feet tall, they cut the maze exactly to the design.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is how food goes from the farm to the grocery store to the table, Fantozzi said. The smallest of the mazes is designed to be short and easy for school groups to complete, featuring animal tracks that kids can identify as they navigate the maze. The second-largest maze invites older children to play “Farm Scene Investigation,” a Clue-like game in which they can search for hidden pictures in the maze to identify which animals stole Farmer Joe’s pies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The largest of the mazes, for teens and adults, includes 12 hidden checkpoints and can take anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours to complete, Fantozzi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an intricate design every year,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Experttipsforsolvingacornmaze\">\u003c/a>What are some top tips for solving a corn maze?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Consider shelling out for the map\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groverman’s is a traditional maze, with one way in and one way out — and to complete it, you have to pass through each corner and climb two towers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You really have to cover the whole area,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059308\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The corn maze path at Andreotti Family Farms in Half Moon Bay on Oct. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Groverman’s maze takes around 45 minutes to complete, but if you’re worried about solving it, you can purchase a postcard featuring an aerial map to help you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s so many times I go in to rescue people at the end of the night,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Look for clues in your surroundings\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andreotti’s, on the other hand, is full of dead ends, but should only take up to 25 minutes, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before entering the maze, he recommends you get a lay of the land first: Take note of any landmarks, “and use the sun,” he advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059307\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059307\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sun shines through the leaves of a corn stalk in the corn maze at Andreotti Family Farms in Half Moon Bay on Oct. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know how to get out if you really need to \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fantozzi’s mazes also come with a map, but that doesn’t mean people don’t still get turned around, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get really lost and you just want to get out of the maze, you can walk between any two rows of corn and it’ll take you right to the side,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is an out if you really get completely lost,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-corn-maze-near-me\">\u003c/a>Bay Area corn mazes (and pumpkin patches) to get you into the spooky season mood\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://petalumapumpkinpatch.com/\">\u003cstrong>Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Petaluma\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to Groverman’s corn maze is $9 during the day and $13 for the night maze. Kids under 5 years old enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Apart from their handmade corn maze, Groverman grows everything that is sold at the pumpkin patch, including pumpkins, gourds and squash. There’s even a giant corn box, filled with around 8,000 pounds of corn grain to play in like a sandbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059452\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12059452 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children enjoying pony rides at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You’ll also find food vendors, farm animals, a bounce house, a super slide and giant chair and — on the weekend — pony rides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The entire pumpkin patch is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://andreottifamilyfarm.com/\">\u003cstrong>Andreotti Family Farm\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Half Moon Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also known for its U-pick sunflower field, Andreotti’s pumpkin patch, hay rides and corn maze location opened on Oct. 4 this year after heavy rains delayed the opening. Andreotti’s team grows all their own crops, including edible and decorative pumpkins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets to the corn maze can be purchased in advance and cost $12, plus a processing fee. Kids 3 and under enter for free. The hay ride is $7 plus a fee, and takes visitors on a tour of the property. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.webbranchinc.com/\">\u003cstrong>Webb Ranch\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Portola Valley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This small quarter-acre corn maze is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and reservations are required on weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Webb Ranch also offers a bounce house open daily, in addition to a kids’ farm obstacle course and haunted house. On the weekends, they are open for tractor hay rides, a petting zoo and a reptile zoo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059455\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059455\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Webb Ranch, located in the Portola Valley, is a small quarter-acre corn maze and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are required on weekends. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Webb Ranch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Webb pumpkin patch store sells pumpkins and other produce like jams, honeys and corn stalks for purchase, plus other Halloween supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weekend entry to the patch, including all activities, is $35 for children under 12, $15 for teens and adults and $10 for adults accompanying a child. Kids under two enter for free and senior admission is $10. Weekday passes are discounted and don’t require a reservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://fantozzifarms.com/\">\u003cstrong>Fantozzi Farms,\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> Central Valley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This Patterson maze in Stanislaus County may be more of a trek from the Bay Area, but its three different mazes for all age levels are designed to entice a family-oriented crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The maze is open in the evenings on weekdays until 7 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays, plus Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also available at the farm is a hayride through “Scarecrow Alley,” featuring a community contest to make the favorite scarecrow, pipe slides, live pig races and even a pig derby. There’s also a petting zoo, paintball shooting range and an evening haunted maze on Friday and Saturday nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the whole farm is $15 on weekends and $12 on weekdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Delving into the art of creating a superior corn maze — plus, where to find the best Bay Area corn mazes near you.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1760367077,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": true,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 51,
"wordCount": 1723
},
"headData": {
"title": "How Is a Corn Maze Made? Plus, Where to Find Them in the Bay Area This October | KQED",
"description": "Delving into the art of creating a superior corn maze — plus, where to find the best Bay Area corn mazes near you.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "How Is a Corn Maze Made? Plus, Where to Find Them in the Bay Area This October",
"datePublished": "2025-10-11T04:00:45-07:00",
"dateModified": "2025-10-13T07:51:17-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12059426",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12059426/how-is-a-corn-maze-made-plus-where-to-find-them-in-the-bay-area-this-october",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Jim Groverman, the owner of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/petaluma\">Petaluma\u003c/a> Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze, has been building corn mazes for more than 30 years. And he does it all by hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t map anything out,” he said. “I do it all in my head.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While other creations vie for the “biggest corn maze in the world” title — including \u003ca href=\"https://www.coolpatchpumpkins.com/\">Dixon’s record-holding Cool Patch Pumpkins\u003c/a> — Groverman’s \u003ca href=\"https://petalumapumpkinpatch.com/corn-maze/\">four-acre corn maze\u003c/a> holds a different charm. And it’s just one of many Bay Area corn mazes in full holiday swing this month, offering the public a chance to solve these life-sized puzzles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Experttipsforsolvingacornmaze\">Expert tips for solving a corn maze\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-corn-maze-near-me\">Bay Area corn mazes to visit this spooky season\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Some corn mazes, like Groverman’s, are hand-cut with just one way in and out. Others boast intricate patterns and hidden checkpoints — not to mention all the other activities on the farm during fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read on to find out how the Bay Area’s corn mazes are made, with expert tips from their creators on how to get out of them. And if you’re eager for a challenge, we’ve got a roundup of Bay Area corn mazes where you can get lost in the stalks yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is a corn maze made?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>How corn maze creators actually design and build their labyrinths can be very different from farm to farm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Groverman, the key to a solid corn maze — like any crop, is “good soil.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Starting in March, he takes soil samples, adding fertilizers as needed, before working the soil and preparing it for planting. While the old saying says corn should be \u003ca href=\"https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2025/07/02/knee-high-by-fourth-of-july-adage-is-becoming-obsolete-heres-why/84426153007/\">“knee high at the Fourth of July\u003c/a>,” Groverman waits until the end of June to plant, so his stalks can still be that welcoming green color in time for his October maze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12059448 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The corn kernel sandbox at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze. Jim Groverman, owner of the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch, has been building corn mazes for more than 30 years. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Groverman plants 30,000 seeds per acre in total — 7 inches apart, in rows 2-and-a-half feet apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All summer long, he weeds the rows to keep the crows out of the young stalks, because “they’ll just go along and pull the corn right out of the ground” at that height.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the corn gets tall enough, Groverman grabs his shovel and gets to work sculpting his maze. With a team of two, just making the pathway takes four to five eight-hour days, “at least,” he said. “I try to have it all made and completed by the first of August.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final touch: Groverman then lets the remaining corn grow tall until October, when he opens his doors to the public.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12054079",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250904-PRESIDIOHIKES-11-BL-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Frank Andreotti, farm manager at \u003ca href=\"https://andreottifamilyfarm.com/\">Andreotti Family Farm\u003c/a> in Half Moon Bay, takes a similar freehand approach — but with a little more power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After all his corn has grown in, Andreotti constructs his 10-acre corn maze in just a few hours by plowing a 6-foot-wide path with a tractor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I’m driving through, I just have in my mind the outlay of the entire field,” he said. “It’s like freehand painting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Denise Fantozzi, on the other hand, is one farm owner who took the GPS route — and it’s paid off. Each year at Fantozzi Farms, located in the Central Valley, \u003ca href=\"https://fantozzifarms.com/corn-maze/\">she and her husband dream up a new design for the maze\u003c/a>, which is actually three mazes in one. The pair works with a company called Maze Play to input the design into a GPS and then, when the stalks are about 3 feet tall, they cut the maze exactly to the design.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is how food goes from the farm to the grocery store to the table, Fantozzi said. The smallest of the mazes is designed to be short and easy for school groups to complete, featuring animal tracks that kids can identify as they navigate the maze. The second-largest maze invites older children to play “Farm Scene Investigation,” a Clue-like game in which they can search for hidden pictures in the maze to identify which animals stole Farmer Joe’s pies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The largest of the mazes, for teens and adults, includes 12 hidden checkpoints and can take anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours to complete, Fantozzi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an intricate design every year,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Experttipsforsolvingacornmaze\">\u003c/a>What are some top tips for solving a corn maze?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Consider shelling out for the map\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groverman’s is a traditional maze, with one way in and one way out — and to complete it, you have to pass through each corner and climb two towers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You really have to cover the whole area,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059308\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The corn maze path at Andreotti Family Farms in Half Moon Bay on Oct. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Groverman’s maze takes around 45 minutes to complete, but if you’re worried about solving it, you can purchase a postcard featuring an aerial map to help you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s so many times I go in to rescue people at the end of the night,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Look for clues in your surroundings\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andreotti’s, on the other hand, is full of dead ends, but should only take up to 25 minutes, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before entering the maze, he recommends you get a lay of the land first: Take note of any landmarks, “and use the sun,” he advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059307\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059307\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251009-CORNMAZEBTS-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sun shines through the leaves of a corn stalk in the corn maze at Andreotti Family Farms in Half Moon Bay on Oct. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know how to get out if you really need to \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fantozzi’s mazes also come with a map, but that doesn’t mean people don’t still get turned around, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get really lost and you just want to get out of the maze, you can walk between any two rows of corn and it’ll take you right to the side,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is an out if you really get completely lost,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-corn-maze-near-me\">\u003c/a>Bay Area corn mazes (and pumpkin patches) to get you into the spooky season mood\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://petalumapumpkinpatch.com/\">\u003cstrong>Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Petaluma\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to Groverman’s corn maze is $9 during the day and $13 for the night maze. Kids under 5 years old enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Apart from their handmade corn maze, Groverman grows everything that is sold at the pumpkin patch, including pumpkins, gourds and squash. There’s even a giant corn box, filled with around 8,000 pounds of corn grain to play in like a sandbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059452\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12059452 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/PetalumaCornMaze2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children enjoying pony rides at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You’ll also find food vendors, farm animals, a bounce house, a super slide and giant chair and — on the weekend — pony rides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The entire pumpkin patch is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://andreottifamilyfarm.com/\">\u003cstrong>Andreotti Family Farm\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Half Moon Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also known for its U-pick sunflower field, Andreotti’s pumpkin patch, hay rides and corn maze location opened on Oct. 4 this year after heavy rains delayed the opening. Andreotti’s team grows all their own crops, including edible and decorative pumpkins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets to the corn maze can be purchased in advance and cost $12, plus a processing fee. Kids 3 and under enter for free. The hay ride is $7 plus a fee, and takes visitors on a tour of the property. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.webbranchinc.com/\">\u003cstrong>Webb Ranch\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, Portola Valley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This small quarter-acre corn maze is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and reservations are required on weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Webb Ranch also offers a bounce house open daily, in addition to a kids’ farm obstacle course and haunted house. On the weekends, they are open for tractor hay rides, a petting zoo and a reptile zoo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059455\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059455\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/WebbCornMaze1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Webb Ranch, located in the Portola Valley, is a small quarter-acre corn maze and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are required on weekends. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Webb Ranch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Webb pumpkin patch store sells pumpkins and other produce like jams, honeys and corn stalks for purchase, plus other Halloween supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weekend entry to the patch, including all activities, is $35 for children under 12, $15 for teens and adults and $10 for adults accompanying a child. Kids under two enter for free and senior admission is $10. Weekday passes are discounted and don’t require a reservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://fantozzifarms.com/\">\u003cstrong>Fantozzi Farms,\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> Central Valley\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This Patterson maze in Stanislaus County may be more of a trek from the Bay Area, but its three different mazes for all age levels are designed to entice a family-oriented crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The maze is open in the evenings on weekdays until 7 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays, plus Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also available at the farm is a hayride through “Scarecrow Alley,” featuring a community contest to make the favorite scarecrow, pipe slides, live pig races and even a pig derby. There’s also a petting zoo, paintball shooting range and an evening haunted maze on Friday and Saturday nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the whole farm is $15 on weekends and $12 on weekdays.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12059426/how-is-a-corn-maze-made-plus-where-to-find-them-in-the-bay-area-this-october",
"authors": [
"11956"
],
"categories": [
"news_29992",
"news_223",
"news_31795",
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18538",
"news_311",
"news_23333",
"news_18163",
"news_35888",
"news_27626",
"news_1164",
"news_18816",
"news_2509"
],
"featImg": "news_12059309",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12054936": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12054936",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12054936",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1757347245000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "without-people-we-are-nothing-californias-farm-workforce-is-growing-older",
"title": "‘Without People, We Are Nothing’: California’s Farm Workforce Is Growing Older",
"publishDate": 1757347245,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "‘Without People, We Are Nothing’: California’s Farm Workforce Is Growing Older | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>It’s a cool morning in the small farm town of Caruthers in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/fresno\">Fresno\u003c/a> County. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but Carmen, a mayordoma, or crew supervisor, hops out of her truck and begins prepping the tools her workers will need to harvest grapes: knives, containers, sheets of parchment paper. She’s expecting at least six people to show up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s already a fraction of the crews she used to lead. After two decades in the fields herself, Carmen has spent the last four years as a supervisor. And lately, finding help is harder than ever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Young people don’t want to work in the fields anymore,” she said in Spanish. “And those who used to work here don’t have the strength.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This morning, just three workers showed up — all of them over 40.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carmen, 35, knows the work is tough and the Central Valley heat can be unforgiving. Like many parents who work in the field, she’s brought her kids to the fields so they can gain an appreciation for the work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And as an example of the kind of future they’ll have if they don’t pursue their education,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054922\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054922\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carmen, a field supervisor, picks grapes at a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But there’s the contradiction. Even as she pushes her own children toward college, she knows that’s part of the reason her crews keep shrinking. What feels like a triumph for her family only deepens the challenge she faces each day as a supervisor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her experience reflects a larger shift: California’s farm labor force is aging, and few younger workers are stepping in to replace them. Meanwhile, the workforce is also under strain from the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1979, the average California farmworker was 30 years old. Today it’s 40, with many still laboring well into their 60s and 70s, according to Edward Flores, faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, who has studied these changes.[aside postID=news_12052452 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250725_OAKLANDDAYLABORERS_GC-3-KQED.jpg']Beginning in the 1970s, the U.S. experienced one of the largest migration waves in modern history: hundreds of thousands of young men and women came from Mexico to California, filling farm jobs that fueled the state’s agricultural boom. In 1969, the largest group of farmworkers was between 16 and 25. By the 1990s, it had shifted to 25 to 34, and the average age has only continued to rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If their parents have chronic health issues, struggle to make ends meet, and tell their kids to get an education instead, many children listen,” Flores said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The UC Merced Community and Labor Center documents this trend in its report\u003ca href=\"https://clc.ucmerced.edu/sites/g/files/ufvvjh626/f/page/documents/a_golden_age.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> \u003cem>A Golden Age: California’s Aging Immigrant Workforce and its Implications for Safety Net Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. The research shows that California’s noncitizen workforce, especially in agriculture, is aging rapidly while being largely excluded from Social Security and unemployment benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flores, who co-authored the report, warns that this leaves many longtime farmworkers with no safety net.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They harvest the food that we eat, but they cannot even afford to put food on their own table,” he said. “How do we care for those who have spent an entire lifetime in the fields and have no retirement?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Farmworkers pick grapes at a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If California wants to attract new workers into agriculture, Flores argues, farm jobs need to pay enough to cover basic needs, come with stronger health and safety protections, and offer an economic safety net for workers as they age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But demographics aren’t the only factor shaping who shows up to work. Recently, immigration enforcement has also kept crews thin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has often sent mixed signals on immigration policy. Federal agents have carried out \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-300-arrested-immigration-raids-southern-california-farms-feds/\">raids on farms\u003c/a> in California, even as Trump has publicly \u003ca href=\"https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/trump-immigration-raids-farms\">suggested\u003c/a> that farmworkers could be spared. Those contradictions have left growers scrambling and many crews living with uncertainty.[aside postID=science_1998136 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/250730-COMMUNITYFARM-08-KQED.jpg']Bryan Little of the California Farm Bureau said even the rumors of immigration enforcement have an impact on turnout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had scattered reports of people not showing up to complete harvesting operations,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That fear, layered on top of an already aging workforce, only deepens the shortage. And with fewer reliable hands, growers are already reshaping agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Little points to nut orchards, where once 20 workers harvested almonds with long poles, now a handful of people can run machines that shake trees and sweep nuts off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Five people can do in half the time what 16 used to do all day,” Little said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some growers are experimenting with “assistive technologies,” like robotic carts that follow strawberry pickers down the rows. But Little cautions that without immigration reform and a more accessible guest worker program, those tools won’t be enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12054919 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grapes hang on a vine in a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Farmers and advocates have been calling for that kind of change for decades, with little to show for it. The H2A program has long been criticized for being cumbersome and expensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-12/california-farm-groups-look-to-stabilize-workforce-amid-crackdown-illegal-immigration\">reintroduced\u003c/a> the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill that would amend the guest worker program and create a path to legal status for longtime agricultural workers. But even after passing Congress in previous years, it remains stalled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colleges are also stepping in to address the gap. At Coalinga College, Dean Bobby Mahfoud said students often come in with outdated views of farm work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a perception among young people that ag is just low-tech manual labor,” she said. “In reality, modern ag careers involve technology, sustainability, robotics, and data science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school offers programs in plant science, irrigation systems, and precision agriculture. Dual enrollment lets high school students sample the coursework early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054923\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054923\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A field of grapes in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to combat the perception,” Mahfoud said. “It looks a lot different than it used to look.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, she admits that agriculture competes with other stable local employers, like state prisons and hospitals, which can offer clear benefits and retirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the few young people embracing agriculture is 27-year-old Francisco Marin. His parents harvested table grapes in Bakersfield, and he joined them during his high school summers. It was grueling work, long days in 100-degree heat for $9 an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead of turning away, Francisco leaned in. He’s now training to become a licensed pest control advisor, a job that could pay upwards of $80,000 a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My mom wanted me to hate the work so I’d stay in school,” he said. “But I fell in love with farming. Now she understands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Francisco said he’s often the youngest in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look around, and yeah, I’m one of the youngest guys there,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Carmen, stories like Francisco’s are rare. In her crew, she only sees workers her age or older. Recruiting anyone under 30 feels impossible. She worries about what that means for the future of agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Without people, we are nothing,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "California farms are facing a crisis as the workforce ages. In Caruthers, a grape harvest supervisor says recruiting anyone under 30 feels impossible. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1757367063,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 37,
"wordCount": 1309
},
"headData": {
"title": "‘Without People, We Are Nothing’: California’s Farm Workforce Is Growing Older | KQED",
"description": "California farms are facing a crisis as the workforce ages. In Caruthers, a grape harvest supervisor says recruiting anyone under 30 feels impossible. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "‘Without People, We Are Nothing’: California’s Farm Workforce Is Growing Older",
"datePublished": "2025-09-08T09:00:45-07:00",
"dateModified": "2025-09-08T14:31:03-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34551,
"slug": "labor",
"name": "Labor"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/2304f0cf-97f2-4d5d-99b7-b3520113251c/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12054936",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12054936/without-people-we-are-nothing-californias-farm-workforce-is-growing-older",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s a cool morning in the small farm town of Caruthers in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/fresno\">Fresno\u003c/a> County. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but Carmen, a mayordoma, or crew supervisor, hops out of her truck and begins prepping the tools her workers will need to harvest grapes: knives, containers, sheets of parchment paper. She’s expecting at least six people to show up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s already a fraction of the crews she used to lead. After two decades in the fields herself, Carmen has spent the last four years as a supervisor. And lately, finding help is harder than ever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Young people don’t want to work in the fields anymore,” she said in Spanish. “And those who used to work here don’t have the strength.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This morning, just three workers showed up — all of them over 40.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carmen, 35, knows the work is tough and the Central Valley heat can be unforgiving. Like many parents who work in the field, she’s brought her kids to the fields so they can gain an appreciation for the work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And as an example of the kind of future they’ll have if they don’t pursue their education,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054922\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054922\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carmen, a field supervisor, picks grapes at a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But there’s the contradiction. Even as she pushes her own children toward college, she knows that’s part of the reason her crews keep shrinking. What feels like a triumph for her family only deepens the challenge she faces each day as a supervisor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her experience reflects a larger shift: California’s farm labor force is aging, and few younger workers are stepping in to replace them. Meanwhile, the workforce is also under strain from the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1979, the average California farmworker was 30 years old. Today it’s 40, with many still laboring well into their 60s and 70s, according to Edward Flores, faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, who has studied these changes.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12052452",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250725_OAKLANDDAYLABORERS_GC-3-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Beginning in the 1970s, the U.S. experienced one of the largest migration waves in modern history: hundreds of thousands of young men and women came from Mexico to California, filling farm jobs that fueled the state’s agricultural boom. In 1969, the largest group of farmworkers was between 16 and 25. By the 1990s, it had shifted to 25 to 34, and the average age has only continued to rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If their parents have chronic health issues, struggle to make ends meet, and tell their kids to get an education instead, many children listen,” Flores said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The UC Merced Community and Labor Center documents this trend in its report\u003ca href=\"https://clc.ucmerced.edu/sites/g/files/ufvvjh626/f/page/documents/a_golden_age.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> \u003cem>A Golden Age: California’s Aging Immigrant Workforce and its Implications for Safety Net Policy\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. The research shows that California’s noncitizen workforce, especially in agriculture, is aging rapidly while being largely excluded from Social Security and unemployment benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flores, who co-authored the report, warns that this leaves many longtime farmworkers with no safety net.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They harvest the food that we eat, but they cannot even afford to put food on their own table,” he said. “How do we care for those who have spent an entire lifetime in the fields and have no retirement?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Farmworkers pick grapes at a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If California wants to attract new workers into agriculture, Flores argues, farm jobs need to pay enough to cover basic needs, come with stronger health and safety protections, and offer an economic safety net for workers as they age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But demographics aren’t the only factor shaping who shows up to work. Recently, immigration enforcement has also kept crews thin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has often sent mixed signals on immigration policy. Federal agents have carried out \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-300-arrested-immigration-raids-southern-california-farms-feds/\">raids on farms\u003c/a> in California, even as Trump has publicly \u003ca href=\"https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/trump-immigration-raids-farms\">suggested\u003c/a> that farmworkers could be spared. Those contradictions have left growers scrambling and many crews living with uncertainty.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "science_1998136",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/250730-COMMUNITYFARM-08-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Bryan Little of the California Farm Bureau said even the rumors of immigration enforcement have an impact on turnout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had scattered reports of people not showing up to complete harvesting operations,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That fear, layered on top of an already aging workforce, only deepens the shortage. And with fewer reliable hands, growers are already reshaping agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Little points to nut orchards, where once 20 workers harvested almonds with long poles, now a handful of people can run machines that shake trees and sweep nuts off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Five people can do in half the time what 16 used to do all day,” Little said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some growers are experimenting with “assistive technologies,” like robotic carts that follow strawberry pickers down the rows. But Little cautions that without immigration reform and a more accessible guest worker program, those tools won’t be enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12054919 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grapes hang on a vine in a field in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Farmers and advocates have been calling for that kind of change for decades, with little to show for it. The H2A program has long been criticized for being cumbersome and expensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-12/california-farm-groups-look-to-stabilize-workforce-amid-crackdown-illegal-immigration\">reintroduced\u003c/a> the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill that would amend the guest worker program and create a path to legal status for longtime agricultural workers. But even after passing Congress in previous years, it remains stalled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colleges are also stepping in to address the gap. At Coalinga College, Dean Bobby Mahfoud said students often come in with outdated views of farm work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a perception among young people that ag is just low-tech manual labor,” she said. “In reality, modern ag careers involve technology, sustainability, robotics, and data science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school offers programs in plant science, irrigation systems, and precision agriculture. Dual enrollment lets high school students sample the coursework early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12054923\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12054923\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250903_FARMLABORCRISIS_GC-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A field of grapes in Fresno on Sept. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to combat the perception,” Mahfoud said. “It looks a lot different than it used to look.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, she admits that agriculture competes with other stable local employers, like state prisons and hospitals, which can offer clear benefits and retirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the few young people embracing agriculture is 27-year-old Francisco Marin. His parents harvested table grapes in Bakersfield, and he joined them during his high school summers. It was grueling work, long days in 100-degree heat for $9 an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead of turning away, Francisco leaned in. He’s now training to become a licensed pest control advisor, a job that could pay upwards of $80,000 a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My mom wanted me to hate the work so I’d stay in school,” he said. “But I fell in love with farming. Now she understands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Francisco said he’s often the youngest in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look around, and yeah, I’m one of the youngest guys there,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Carmen, stories like Francisco’s are rare. In her crew, she only sees workers her age or older. Recruiting anyone under 30 feels impossible. She worries about what that means for the future of agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Without people, we are nothing,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12054936/without-people-we-are-nothing-californias-farm-workforce-is-growing-older",
"authors": [
"11895"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1169",
"news_34551",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_18538",
"news_311",
"news_18163",
"news_18269",
"news_27626",
"news_37",
"news_20202",
"news_19904",
"news_3800"
],
"featImg": "news_12054921",
"label": "news"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/news?tag=central-valley": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 0,
"size": 9
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 9,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 160,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12087306",
"news_12087134",
"news_12085466",
"news_12077310",
"news_12077737",
"news_12065570",
"news_12061797",
"news_12059426",
"news_12054936"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news_tag_central-valley": {
"isLoading": true
},
"news_311": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_311",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "311",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Central Valley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Central Valley Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 319,
"slug": "central-valley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/central-valley"
},
"source_news_12087134": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12087134",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The California Report Magazine",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/californiareport",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12085466": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12085466",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The California Report",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12065570": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12065570",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The California Report",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12061797": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12061797",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The California Report",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"isLoading": false
},
"news_28250": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28250",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28250",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28267,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/local"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_4462": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4462",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4462",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "fires",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "fires Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4481,
"slug": "fires",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fires"
},
"news_21068": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21068",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21068",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Tracy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Tracy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21085,
"slug": "tracy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tracy"
},
"news_34487": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34487",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34487",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "warehouses",
"slug": "warehouses",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "warehouses | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34504,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/warehouses"
},
"news_33738": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33738",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33738",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33755,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/california"
},
"news_33750": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33750",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33750",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33767,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/climate"
},
"news_72": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_72",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "72",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/TCR-2-Logo-Web-Banners-03.png",
"name": "The California Report",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The California Report Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6969,
"slug": "the-california-report",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/program/the-california-report"
},
"news_26731": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_26731",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "26731",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The California Report Magazine",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The California Report Magazine Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 26748,
"slug": "the-california-report-magazine",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/program/the-california-report-magazine"
},
"news_31795": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31795",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31795",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31812,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/california"
},
"news_1758": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1758",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1758",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Economy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Full coverage of the economy",
"title": "Economy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2648,
"slug": "economy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/economy"
},
"news_36718": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36718",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36718",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "agriculture industry",
"slug": "agriculture-industry",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "agriculture industry | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36735,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/agriculture-industry"
},
"news_35332": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35332",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35332",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "California wine industry",
"slug": "california-wine-industry",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "California wine industry | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35349,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-wine-industry"
},
"news_27626": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27626",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27626",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27643,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-news"
},
"news_19904": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19904",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19904",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Labor",
"slug": "labor",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Labor | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 19921,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/labor"
},
"news_21047": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21047",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21047",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Joaquin County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Joaquin County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21064,
"slug": "san-joaquin-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-joaquin-county"
},
"news_20851": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20851",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20851",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The California Report",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The California Report Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20868,
"slug": "the-california-report",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/the-california-report"
},
"news_30162": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_30162",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "30162",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The California Report Magazine",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The California Report Magazine Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 30179,
"slug": "the-california-report-magazine",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/the-california-report-magazine"
},
"news_33735": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33735",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33735",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food and Drink",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food and Drink Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33752,
"slug": "food-and-drink",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/food-and-drink"
},
"news_33743": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33743",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33743",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "North Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "North Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33760,
"slug": "north-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/north-bay"
},
"news_33520": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33520",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33520",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Podcast",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Podcast Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33537,
"slug": "podcast",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/podcast"
},
"news_34018": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34018",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34018",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "tcr",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "tcr Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34035,
"slug": "tcr",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/tcr"
},
"news_36903": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36903",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36903",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "22nd Congressional District",
"slug": "22nd-congressional-district",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "22nd Congressional District | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36920,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/22nd-congressional-district"
},
"news_36905": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36905",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36905",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "compostable",
"slug": "compostable",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "compostable | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36922,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/compostable"
},
"news_20149": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20149",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20149",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Congress",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Congress Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20166,
"slug": "congress",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/congress"
},
"news_20717": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20717",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20717",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "David Valadao",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "David Valadao Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20734,
"slug": "david-valadao",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/david-valadao"
},
"news_36900": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36900",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36900",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Jasmeet Bains",
"slug": "jasmeet-bains",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Jasmeet Bains | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36917,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/jasmeet-bains"
},
"news_25428": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25428",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25428",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "plastic",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "plastic Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25445,
"slug": "plastic",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/plastic"
},
"news_36901": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36901",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36901",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Randy Villegas",
"slug": "randy-villegas",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Randy Villegas | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36918,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/randy-villegas"
},
"news_382": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_382",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "382",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "recycling",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "recycling Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 390,
"slug": "recycling",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/recycling"
},
"news_36904": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36904",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36904",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "single-use packaging",
"slug": "single-use-packaging",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "single-use packaging | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36921,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/single-use-packaging"
},
"news_21998": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21998",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21998",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "TCRAM",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "TCRAM Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22015,
"slug": "tcram",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tcram"
},
"news_21268": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21268",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21268",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "tcrarchive",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "tcrarchive Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21285,
"slug": "tcrarchive",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tcrarchive"
},
"news_223": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_223",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "223",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts and Culture",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts and Culture Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 231,
"slug": "arts-and-culture",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/arts-and-culture"
},
"news_10": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_10",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "10",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/sports"
},
"news_18538": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18538",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18538",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california"
},
"news_34078": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34078",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34078",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34095,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sports"
},
"news_33739": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33739",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33739",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33756,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/housing"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"news_33729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33746,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/san-francisco"
},
"news_34167": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34167",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34167",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34184,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/criminal-justice"
},
"news_6188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6212,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/law-and-justice"
},
"news_1628": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1628",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1628",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1640,
"slug": "california-department-of-corrections-and-rehabilitation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-department-of-corrections-and-rehabilitation"
},
"news_616": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_616",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "616",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California prisons",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California prisons Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 625,
"slug": "california-prisons",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-prisons"
},
"news_1629": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1629",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1629",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "CDCR",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "CDCR Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1641,
"slug": "cdcr",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/cdcr"
},
"news_17725": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17725",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17725",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "criminal justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "criminal justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17759,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/criminal-justice"
},
"news_22009": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22009",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22009",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "excessive use of force",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "excessive use of force Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22026,
"slug": "excessive-use-of-force",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/excessive-use-of-force"
},
"news_21891": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21891",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21891",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "lawsuits",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "lawsuits Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21908,
"slug": "lawsuits",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/lawsuits"
},
"news_1305": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1305",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1305",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "prison guards",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "prison guards Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1317,
"slug": "prison-guards",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/prison-guards"
},
"news_2700": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2700",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2700",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sexual abuse",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sexual abuse Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2718,
"slug": "sexual-abuse",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sexual-abuse"
},
"news_1527": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1527",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1527",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sexual assault",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sexual assault Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1539,
"slug": "sexual-assault",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sexual-assault"
},
"news_32043": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32043",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32043",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's prison",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's prison Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32060,
"slug": "womens-prison",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-prison"
},
"news_1917": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1917",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1917",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's rights",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's rights Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1932,
"slug": "womens-rights",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-rights"
},
"news_33745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33762,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/criminal-justice"
},
"news_18269": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18269",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18269",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "farmworkers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "farmworkers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18303,
"slug": "farmworkers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/farmworkers"
},
"news_36163": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36163",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36163",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Firebaugh",
"slug": "firebaugh",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Firebaugh | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36180,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/firebaugh"
},
"news_17708": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17708",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17708",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigrants",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigrants Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17742,
"slug": "immigrants",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigrants"
},
"news_21721": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21721",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21721",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "mass shooting",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "mass shooting Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21738,
"slug": "mass-shooting",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/mass-shooting"
},
"news_784": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_784",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "784",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Stockton",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Stockton Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 794,
"slug": "stockton",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/stockton"
},
"news_4092": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4092",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4092",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "agriculture",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "agriculture Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4111,
"slug": "agriculture-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/agriculture-2"
},
"news_36017": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36017",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36017",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Blue Jays",
"slug": "blue-jays",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Blue Jays | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36034,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/blue-jays"
},
"news_778": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_778",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "778",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Dodgers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Dodgers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 787,
"slug": "dodgers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/dodgers"
},
"news_36016": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36016",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36016",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "election monitors",
"slug": "election-monitors",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "election monitors | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36033,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/election-monitors"
},
"news_35928": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35928",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35928",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Proposition 50",
"slug": "proposition-50",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 50 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35945,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-50"
},
"news_144": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_144",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "144",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "World Series",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "World Series Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 149,
"slug": "world-series",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/world-series"
},
"news_29992": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29992",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29992",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 30009,
"slug": "arts",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/arts"
},
"news_34168": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34168",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34168",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Guides and Explainers",
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Guides and Explainers Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34185,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/guides-and-explainers"
},
"news_32707": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32707",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32707",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "audience-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "audience-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32724,
"slug": "audience-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/audience-news"
},
"news_1386": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1386",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1386",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1398,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area"
},
"news_23333": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_23333",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "23333",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "families",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "families Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 23350,
"slug": "families",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/families"
},
"news_18163": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18163",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18163",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Farmers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Farmers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18197,
"slug": "farmers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/farmers"
},
"news_35888": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35888",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35888",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "featured-audience-news",
"slug": "featured-audience-news",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "featured-audience-news | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35905,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-audience-news"
},
"news_1164": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1164",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1164",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Half Moon Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Half Moon Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1175,
"slug": "half-moon-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/half-moon-bay"
},
"news_18816": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18816",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18816",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Halloween",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Halloween Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18833,
"slug": "halloween",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/halloween"
},
"news_2509": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2509",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2509",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Petaluma",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Petaluma Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2524,
"slug": "petaluma",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/petaluma"
},
"news_33749": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33749",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33749",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Entertainment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Entertainment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33766,
"slug": "entertainment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/entertainment"
},
"news_33740": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33740",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33740",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33757,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/events"
},
"news_1169": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1169",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1169",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1180,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/immigration"
},
"news_34551": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34551",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34551",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Labor",
"slug": "labor",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": "We examine worker safety, workplace regulation, employment trends and union organizing.",
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Labor | KQED News",
"description": "We examine worker safety, workplace regulation, employment trends and union organizing.",
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34568,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/labor"
},
"news_37": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_37",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "37",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Fresno",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Fresno Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 37,
"slug": "fresno",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fresno"
},
"news_20202": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20202",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20202",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20219,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigration"
},
"news_3800": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_3800",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "3800",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "vineyards",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "vineyards Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3819,
"slug": "vineyards",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/vineyards"
},
"news_33748": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33748",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33748",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33765,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/immigration"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
}
}
