Amita Sharma
Investigative ReporterAs the public matters investigative reporter, Amita leads KPBS’ coverage on efforts to undermine democracy, including threats to public officials, bolstering the Big Lie, chipping away at voter’s rights, attempts to overturn election results, eroding institutions and weakening the government's capacity to do its job, as well as civic efforts to engage people with opposing views without rancor.
The goal of the position is to report on the stakes, from a San Diego County perspective, on the United States’ current political moment.
She has spent the last two years reporting on local threats to democracy, including regional extremism, the shrinking of local news coverage while the number of hyper partisan “news” websites grow, censorship at libraries and incivility at public meetings.
Her previous coverage includes: exposing abuses in local nursing homes at the height of the pandemic, including a serial rapist who had worked in several El Cajon facilities and was arrested following her reporting; unearthing a contract between the city of Chula Vista and Motorola that allowed the company to sell data collected by the Chula Vista Police Department; and reporting on discrimination and retaliation in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office that led to court settlements and the retirement of the Public Defender.
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The cost to California ratepayers of moving energy through SDG&E's planned $2 billion Sunrise Powerlink project may go up another billion dollars. That's because planners of the state's power grid now say major reinforcements are needed to move energy from the desert to the customer. -
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today said he’ll terminate an in-home care program for the disabled to help close a budget shortfall unless the federal government gives the state $7 billion. -
Fear is growing over the possibility that Governor Schwarzenegger may end a $5 billion California program that provides in-home care for the disabled and elderly. The move would be part of the governor's effort to patch a $20 billion budget hole.
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State investigators are stepping up random home visits of the disabled and elderly who receive in-home care. But not everyone thinks the house calls are a good idea. KPBS Investigative Reporter Amita Sharma tells us about the visits.
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San Diego County plans to spend $322,000 a year for covered and secure parking spaces for District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis's staff.
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The State of California has still not followed a federal judge's order to stop cuts to an in-home care program for the elderly and disabled. Judge Claudia Wilken cited the state two weeks ago for contempt.
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County requiring employees of grocery stores and many other retail outlets to wear masks as of midnight Friday. That’s a tall order, says the California Grocers Association.
- California bans masks meant to hide law enforcement officers' identities
- Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon
- Trump nominates White House aide to be top U.S. prosecutor for office probing Letitia James
- Earlybirds Club: for ladies who want to get down and also get to bed on time
- Social media is shattering America's understanding of Charlie Kirk's death