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Claire Trageser
Investigative Reporter
Claire Trageser is an investigative reporter and has worked at KPBS since 2012. She is part of the KPBS Investigations Desk and writes and produces in depth coverage for radio, television, and the web on a variety of topics.
Claire finds stories that are not part of a specific beat, including reporting and producing the six-part in depth radio, TV, and podcast series Dr J's. She has won the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists' Diversity Prize two years in a row for coverage of emerging leaders in San Diego's lower income communities and the tension between two neighborhoods that share a common boundary. Claire has uncovered stories of sexual harassment, mismanagement of water bills, lack of oversight at animal shelters, and was part of the team that covered allegations of sexual harassment against former Mayor Bob Filner. She also regularly battles public agencies for access to their records.
Claire studied chemistry at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. She then earned a master's degree in journalism at UC Berkeley, where she worked at the Knight Digital Media Center and completed a master's project with Michael Pollan.
Recent Stories by Claire Trageser
San Diego's District 7 Race Features Four Political Newcomers
- Jan. 21
- By Claire Trageser
The primary field includes three Democrats and one Republican. Voter registration numbers favor the Democrats who hope to build on their 6-3 council majority.
One Republican, 2 Dems Vie For San Diego City Council District 5, Once A GOP Stronghold
- Jan. 20
- By Claire Trageser
Three major candidates, two Democrats and a Republican, are running in the March primary to replace termed-out Councilman Mark Kersey.
Two Establishment Democrats, A Republican And An Outsider Vying For San Diego Mayor
- Jan. 17
- By Andrew Bowen, Claire Trageser
All of the candidates have long histories in San Diego, and three of them are current or past City Council members: Todd Gloria and Barbara Bry, both Democrats, and Scott Sherman, a Republican. Also in the race is community activist Tasha Williamson, who has never held elected office.
Marijuana Tourists Mean More Visits To California Hospitals
- Dec. 18, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
Emergency room visits are up 35% in San Diego County and 49% statewide since voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, data show. But doctors say many patients are simply inexperienced pot users who aren't in significant danger.
Large Chaldean Iraqi Population Is Thriving In San Diego Suburb
- Dec. 3, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
In recent decades, the city has been changing — it's now home to one of the largest populations in the country of Chaldeans, a persecuted religious and ethnic minority from Iraq.
California Appeals Court Keeps Limitations To Felony Murder Rule In Place
- Nov. 20, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
California courts have kept in place limitations on the so-called “felony murder rule,” which allowed prosecutors to charge people with murder even if they weren’t directly responsible for the crime.
Humane Society Draws Controversy By Sending Cats Back To The Streets
- Nov. 18, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
Since taking over animal control services for San Diego and several other cities last year, the San Diego Humane Society has allowed more than 1,200 stray cats to be released back to the streets.
Iraqi-Americans In El Cajon Plead For International Support Of Iraqi Protesters
- Nov. 11, 2019
- By Claire Trageser, Max Rivlin-Nadler
More than a hundred people gathered in El Cajon on Sunday to support ongoing anti-government protests in Iraq.
PG&E Blasted For Not Being More Like SDG&E In Managing Power Shutoffs, But Is The Comparison Fair?
- Oct. 24, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
A few weeks ago, PG&E cut power to more than 700,000 customers. At the time, politicians and pundits pointed to SDG&E, which shut off electricity to about 500 customers, as a better example of wildfire preparedness.
Why Are There So Many Broken Trash Bins In San Diego?
- Oct. 14, 2019
- By Claire Trageser
A KPBS analysis of city records revealed an epidemic of broken bins — residents ordered nearly 17,500 replacement bins in 2018 alone. And over the last decade, the number replaced annually has increased by 42%.