Central Valley Daily

New episodes delivered every weekday morning by 7 a.m.

The Central Valley’s daily news podcast. Hear headlines and interviews on the issues that matter to Central Valley residents, delivered in about 10 minutes every weekday morning. The KVPR Newsroom brings you stories from communities across Central California, including Fresno, Merced, Bakersfield, Visalia, and the Central & Southern Sierra.

Latest Episodes

July 9: Lawmakers Voted For Insurance Companies to Cover IVF. Then It Was Delayed.

Large employers in California now have to cover fertility care for policyholders, including IVF. But lawmakers have delayed the coverage, potentially leaving families trying to conceive in a lurch. We speak to freelance journalist Sarah Kwon about what this means for a Central Valley family. Plus, the latest news headlines: Attorney General Rob Bonta responds to military presence at Los Angeles park; and a former employee speaks out about a suicide death at a Valley meat plant.
July 8: He Came Here Legally. So Why Did a Fresno County Immigrant End Up in ICE Custody?

On today’s episode of Central Valley Daily, we bring you the story of Yan Garcia-Heredia, who legally immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela. After he was arrested in Mendota in connection to a robbery, charges were dropped – and yet he is being held in ICE custody. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Raheem Hosseini has covered this case closely, and explains what’s at stake.Plus, the latest news headlines: why mothers who lost sons held a protest yesterday in Hanford; and what new research says about the harmful effects of arsenic in drinking water.
July 7: Is Fire The Solution – Or Problem – To Help Giant Sequoias Thrive?

Wildfires in recent years have ravaged Giant Sequoia groves in California’s Sierra Nevada. But it turns out less-intense fire can actually be a tool for forest regeneration. Assistant Cooperative Extension Forest and Fuels Specialist Kristen Shive of UC Berkeley breaks down the latest research on sequoia restoration and addresses why human intervention can be controversial.
July 3: Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown, Faith Leaders See A Concerning Pattern

Fresno faith leaders are speaking out about the way the Trump administration has handled protests against immigration enforcement in places such as Los Angeles. They recently penned a letter raising alarm about further actions by the government. We speak with a reverend who joined the letter about what concerns he and others have. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno police catch an alleged serial rapist using a novel technique; and how state legislators aim to track water usage at large data centers.
July 2: Why This Valley Community Could Lose Its Only Water Source

A community of homeowners in western Stanislaus County are facing a 200 percent increase to their water bills. That’s because the agency that supplies water is threatening to stop. Lois Henry, CEO and Editor of SJV Water, breaks down the water woes of Diablo Grande. Plus, the latest news headlines: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno files for bankruptcy; and the federal government moves to take control of state oil permitting.
July 1: In An Effort To Conserve Water, A New Problem Arises: Too Much Dust In The Valley

The San Joaquin Valley is considered the nation’s breadbasket. But it is increasingly becoming a dustier place to live. New research co-authored by UC Merced professors shows efforts to conserve groundwater in the face of drought may be worsening the region’s dust problem. Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno gets much-needed funding to continue downtown revitalization; and air quality officials caution against too many fireworks this Fourth of July.
June 30: How Doulas Are Filling A Critical Gap In Maternal Healthcare

Expectant mothers in Mariposa County often have to drive close an hour to the nearest hospital. In this maternal healthcare desert, doulas are helping fill a critical need for families. KVPR’s Rachel Livinal brings us more on how this support system is growing in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
June 27: A Future With Less Snow? Scientists Say We Are Already Living In It.

A recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows snowpack in the Western U.S. is rapidly melting. We speak to Climatologist Dan McEvoy about what kind of conditions this phenomenon creates. Plus, the latest news headlines: A new heat dashboard shows Latino communities are hit harder; and a west Fresno school is first in the nation to be named after a Sikh activist.
June 26: What Will Mass Deportations Cost California’s Economy?

California’s economy is deeply intertwined with people without legal status. And as mass deportations threaten communities and the state’s workforce, billions could be on the line for the state. We speak with a UC Merced researcher about the potential impacts. Plus, the latest news headlines: A Valley group opposes plans for an ICE facility in Kern County; and what the federal government is saying about California’s trans athlete policy weeks after controversy.
June 25: Public Media Funding Is At Risk Of Major Cuts. What That Means For KVPR

Reducing government spending has been a hallmark of President Trump’s second term in office. On today’s episode, KVPR President and General Manager Joe Moore discusses what the station stands to lose if funding cuts are approved against the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Plus, the latest news headlines: A state bill seeks to protect doctors who prescribe abortion medication; and Fresno County goes after illegal dog and cat breeders.