Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, August 2nd, 2024:
- Brad Jay is in Paris as part of the 2024 Olympics international broadcast team, which supplies a feed to nations all over the world who don’t have a major network to produce telecasts. But thousands of radio listeners know him as the evening host of a show on a classic rock radio station in Santa Barbara. This is his eighth time at the Games.
- The Park Fire, which is burning in Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties, has destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes , Additional help is arriving, like five fire fighting crews from Utah and Texas who are joining the more than 6,000 people currently battling the blaze. As of Friday morning, it has spread to nearly 398,000 acres, and is 24% contained
- It’s been four months since California raised the state minimum wage for fast food workers from $16 to $20 an hour. But some businesses like confectionary shops still don’t know whether the new rules apply to them. Business owners shared their concerns at a meeting this week for the state’s new fast food regulatory council.
- Immigrant rights advocates are condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for canceling a program that let people incarcerated in California make phone calls to their attorneys at no charge. The termination of the free call program at two facilities in Central California impacts hundreds of people incarcerated by ICE. ICE ended it on July 31.
Local Radio Host Reaches International Audience at the Olympics
If you’re watching the Olympics, you may recognize world famous athletes like Lebron James or Coco Gauff. But residents of a California beach town might recognize the voice of an announcer from their local radio station.
Brad Jay typically works for a Santa Barbara classic rock station, but right now he’s with the Olympic Broadcasting Service doing TV commentary. Lately he’s been calling kayak and canoe slalom, and will also do three-on-three basketball and BMX freestyle.
This is his eighth time covering the games since Salt Lake City in 2002. He hopes to continue calling at the 2028 Los Angeles Games in his resident Southern California.
Park Fire Continues to Burn in Four Northern California Counties
In addition to five firefighting crews from Texas and Utah, the California National Guard is also joining in the fight with aircraft assistance. Early next week, crews from the National Guard are expected to join also. Currently there are 6,000 people battling the blaze. Forecasts are anticipating dry lightning and thunderstorms in upper elevations that may complicate firefighting efforts or trigger new fires.
The Park fire is on the verge of becoming the fourth largest in California history. Cal Fire announced that wildfires have scorched more than 750,000 acres in California this year. That’s 29 times the area that burned last year.
Business Owners Seek Clarity on Minimum Wage Laws
At the Fast Food Regulatory Council meeting earlier this week, a group of ice cream franchise owners said they still can’t get confirmation from state labor officials about whether or not they have to comply with the recent state-wide wage hikes for fast food workers.
Some franchise owners called on the council to specify whether or not they are exempt from providing higher wages, and to add more detailed language to the state’s guidance. The confusion extends to owners of other confectionaries, such as boba tea shops. Business owners continue to seek answers.
Immigrant Rights Groups Condemn ICE for Canceling Free Phone Call Program
The program allowed for incarcerated people to make free phone calls to their attorneys. Now, as of July 31st, hundreds of people across two facilities are without the service. An attorney with the ACLU says no warning or explanation was given, and calls on ICE to reinstate the program immediately. Regular communication between client and attorney, she says, is necessary for both parties and enables smoother court functions. ICE says calls to a limited list of legal organizations are still free.