Accessibility links
Richard Gonzales
Stories By

Richard Gonzales

Thursday

The Reinvention Of Calif.'s New And Former Governor

California Gov.-elect Jerry Brown speaks during a news conference at his campaign headquarters on Nov. 3, in Oakland, California. David Paul Morris/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
David Paul Morris/Getty Images

Politics

The Reinvention Of Calif.'s New And Former Governor

In California, former Gov. Jerry Brown, 72, is preparing to return to the job he left 28 years ago. After his first stint in the governor's office and three failed presidential bids, Brown took a new approach: immersing himself in the nuts and bolts of running a big city as mayor of Oakland.

The Reinvention Of Calif.'s New And Former Governor

Listen · 4:54
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131418157/131425993" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Education

Calif. OKs In-State Tuition For Some Immigrants

California's highest court says illegal immigrant students who've graduated from state high schools will pay in-state tuition rates at California's public colleges and universities. It's a controversial, first-of-its-kind ruling and could have an impact on tuition policy in other states.

Calif. OKs In-State Tuition For Some Immigrants

Listen · 3:56
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131392709/131393332" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Election 2010

Calif.'s Proposition On Legal Marijuana Fails

California's Proposition 19, the controversial ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana, was rejected by voters Tuesday.

Calif.'s Proposition On Legal Marijuana Fails

Listen · 4:13
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131033028/131032984" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Election 2010

S.F. Ballot Measure Targets City's Homeless

A proposal in San Francisco to stop people from sleeping and sitting on public sidewalks has stirred some tension in a city that's traditionally been compassionate to the homeless. An anonymous group of artists is posting critical signs around town labeling supporters of the proposed ordinance the "Sit and Lie Posse."

S.F. Ballot Measure Targets City's Homeless

Listen · 3:59
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/130982821/130983388" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

California's Proposition 19: The Politics Of Pot

Campaigning On The Cheap, Prop 19 Still Builds Buzz

Proposition 19, the California ballot measure that would legalize pot for recreational use, is stirring up lots of attention across the country. But at home in the Golden State, it's definitely a low-budget affair with neither side spending big bucks on a massive media campaign.

Campaigning On The Cheap, Prop 19 Still Builds Buzz

Listen · 3:03
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/130809638/130826499" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Answers Still Elusive In San Bruno Pipeline Blast

A piece of the ruptured pipeline from last month's fatal accident in San Bruno, Calif., displayed in a laboratory at the National Transportation Safety Board's training center in Ashburn, Va. A preliminary NTSB report says a power failure led to a brief change in pipeline pressure but does not say that the pressure change caused the blast that killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes. Luis Alvarez/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Luis Alvarez/AP

National

Answers Still Elusive In San Bruno Pipeline Blast

A month after a fatal gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., survivors and investigators are still asking how it happened. Many victims continue to relive that night. Investigators are looking at everything from problems in the pipeline control room to transmission line maintenance.

Answers Still Elusive In San Bruno Pipeline Blast

Listen · 4:53
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/130570527/130572988" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

National

Calif. Blast Spotlights Nation's Aging Gas Lines

The massive natural gas explosion in San Bruno, Calif., last week exposed a nationwide reality -- neighborhoods have been built on top of decades-old pipelines. In many cases, residents don't know of aging lines near or even under their homes until there's an incident.

Calif. Blast Spotlights Nation's Aging Gas Lines

Listen · 3:52
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129925943/129926374" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

National

Fire Engulfs San Francisco Suburb

A massive fire is burning in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno after an apparent natural gas line ruptured. At least one person was killed. Dozens of homes were destroyed.

Fire Engulfs San Francisco Suburb

Listen · 3:38
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129768462/129768361" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Business

HP Sues Ex-CEO Hurd Over Oracle's Job Offer

Mark Hurd recently was fired from his job as CEO of Hewlett-Packard after a scandal involving an extra-martial relationship. One of HP's main tech rivals -- Oracle -- wants to make Hurd its co-president. That's prompted HP to sue, claiming Hurd can't possibly perform the new job without tapping into HP's trade secrets.

HP Sues Ex-CEO Hurd Over Oracle's Job Offer

Listen · 1:12
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129717444/129717425" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

National

When The Kids Go Away To School

Back in the day, going away to college meant that students cut the cord connecting them with parents and home. That's no longer the case in a world of text-messaging, tweeting and two-way video calls. NPR's Richard Gonzales has an up-and-close personal look at what it means today when the kids go away to school.

When The Kids Go Away To School

Listen · 4:47
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129684613/129684636" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

National

Imperial County Defends Calif.'s Gay Marriage Ban

It's one of the poorest places in California and has one of the nation's highest unemployment rates. Imperial County, which borders Mexico, has another distinction: Voters there overwhelmingly supported Prop 8, the state's gay marriage ban. County officials are stepping in to defend Prop 8 in court -- at a time when California's top elected leaders won't.

Imperial County Defends Calif.'s Gay Marriage Ban

Listen · 4:34
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129441743/129442084" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Law

Opponents Try To Block Calif. Same-Sex Marriage

The sponsors of California's gay marriage ban have asked an appeals court to stop a federal judge's order allowing same-sex weddings to begin next week. Defenders of Proposition 8 asked the appeals court to impose a stay that would halt gay marriages while a judge's ruling that struck down the ban is reconsidered. Last week, a judge ruled Prop 8 was unconstitutional.

Opponents Try To Block Calif. Same-Sex Marriage

Listen · 2:48
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/129171137/129171543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

National

Oakland Looks At Taxing Pot To Close Budget Gap

Oakland, Calif., is laying off police officers to cope with a spiraling budget crisis. The cuts come as Oakland is wrestling with lingering racial unrest over the death of a young black man shot by a transit police officer. Money is the only solution to the city's budget problems, and some of it may come from a new proposal to tax marijuana.

Oakland Looks At Taxing Pot To Close Budget Gap

Listen · 3:27
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128519755/128519741" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Justice Department To Investigate BART Shooting

A worker with the Downtown Oakland Association sweeps the sidewalk near graffiti painted by protesters outside a drug store in Oakland on Friday. The federal government said it will investigate now that officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted Thursday of involuntary manslaughter, touching off angry protests that damaged stores and netted dozens of arrests. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Eric Risberg/AP

Law

Justice Department To Investigate BART Shooting

On Thursday, former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the slaying of 22-year-old Oscar Grant on an Oakland train platform last year. A Justice Department spokesman announced Friday that the civil rights division will review the case.

Law

Transit Officer's Verdict Sparks Violent Protests

A former transit officer from northern California has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man. Johannes Mehserle said he meant to use his taser, but accidentally pulled his gun instead and shot 22-year-old Oscar Grant. The 2009 shooting continues to spark racial tension in Oakland where the shooting happened on a BART train platform. The ex-officer is white, Grant was black.

Transit Officer's Verdict Sparks Violent Protests

Listen · 3:58
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128401136/128401110" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript