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Dec. 16: Utility Companies Spend Big To Prevent Wildfires. Should They?

California utility companies have spent billions to prevent wildfires, such as burying power lines and trimming brush near their equipment. Much of the cost of doing this is usually passed on to customers. But with high utility rates, some wonder: could these companies be doing their work more cost-effectively? We speak with CalMatters reporter Alejandro Lazo on his recent reporting on this issue.

Plus, the latest news headlines, including former Rep. Devin Nunes, tapped for White House role, and what do California residents think of the economy?

A Valley native, Elizabeth earned her bachelor's degree in English Language Literatures from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her master's degree in journalism from New York University. She has covered a range of beats. Her agriculture reporting for the Turlock Journal earned her a first place award from the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
Jonathan Linden is a podcast producer at KVPR. Born and raised in Riverside, he's a Southern California native. Jonathan's passion for public radio began at a young age when his brother would play NPR while driving him home from middle school. He earned his B.A. in journalism from Biola University in 2019.