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The bank that's got your mortgage lender's back

Nov 14, 2024
Alanna McCargo of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco discusses the bank's role in the region's housing affordability challenges.
"Affordability has been a long-time challenge," said Alanna McCargo, head of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

An insurance shakeup in California threatens to uproot foster families

Oct 15, 2024
The Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California provides liability coverage to 90% of the market for foster family agencies in the state.
Adriana Mancilla has been a foster parent for over two decades. She fosters kids through a foster family agency.
Elly Yu

New California law forces brands to add clothing recycling networks

Oct 10, 2024
The law's aimed at improving a clothing recycling rate of only 15 percent.
California's new plants will work to reduce the massive rate of clothing waste.
Caleigh Wells/Marketplace

Fracking shifts U.S. oil production away from California

Sep 4, 2024
Once a leading source of oil, California produced fewer barrels of oil in June than in any month since the federal government began counting in 1981.
As fracking in places like the Permian Basin in Texas took off, California started pumping fewer and fewer barrels of oil.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

California's fast-food workers got a big pay hike. Franchise owners say they're struggling.

Aug 19, 2024
The state's $20-an-hour mandate pressures some outlets to raise prices and risk turning away low-income customers.
Jaylene Loubet, a McDonald’s cashier and fast-food worker advocate, says the pay boost helps cover her family's expenses.
Megan Jamerson/KCRW

California governor pushes for homeless crackdown in wake of Supreme Court decision

Ann Oliva of the National Alliance to End Homelessness says Gov. Gavin Newsom's policy of clearing encampments could make things worse.
"Our elected leaders need to commit to long-term solutions, because this problem wasn't created overnight and it's not going to be solved overnight," said Ann Oliva of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Here's what California's offshore wind industry might look like

Aug 1, 2024
In a patch of calm water off the Port of Long Beach, 1,000-foot wind turbines would be assembled before they're towed out to sea.
At Pier Wind, completed turbines will wait in a wet storage area at the Port of Long Beach, shown in the rendering above.
Courtesy Port of Long Beach

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Safety net home insurance plans are becoming the only option for many in disaster-prone states

May 20, 2024
As private insurance companies retreat in states hit by climate-fueled disasters, safety net insurance plans are left to fill the gap.
At his two-acre property in San Diego County, Paul Felber gotten rid of much of the flammable vegetation bordering his home and spent more than $60,000 to harden it against wildfire. But home insurance companies weren’t impressed. In the last five years, the Felbers were dropped by two different companies.
Scott Rodd/KPBS

Higher rates may not solve California's property insurance woes

May 6, 2024
With climate change hiking insurer costs, the state may allow catastrophe modeling as a stopgap, says former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.
"As climate change  has driven more frequent and severe weather-related events, it's killing people, damaging property and causing more insurance losses," says Dave Jones, a former state insurance commissioner.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Tired of your boss bugging you after hours? You want the "right to disconnect"

Apr 4, 2024
A bill in the California legislature would make the state the first in the nation to offer what's already law in France and about a dozen other countries.
Antonio Guillem via Getty Images