Scott Rodd
Investigative ReporterScott comes to KPBS after spending more than a half-decade in Sacramento as both a State Capitol reporter and an investigative reporter.
Most recently, he worked for Capital Public Radio where he produced a number of award-winning investigative projects. They include a podcast and audio documentary on the U.S. Forest Service’s failed plans to protect a rural California town from wildfire. His reporting prompted a Congressional inquiry that is ongoing.
Scott’s investigation into Gov. Gavin Newsom’s overstated wildfire prevention efforts prompted legislative oversight hearings and a $500 million budget increase for fire mitigation. His reporting on a private security incident at Sacramento’s basketball arena led to the passage of a state law that requires use-of-force training for California security guards.
Scott was the Sacramento Press Club’s journalist of the year in 2021, has a regional Murrow award and was a finalist for a national Investigative Reporters & Editors award.
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                        Two techies launched the app in 2021 to fill a glaring information gap. Watch Duty centralizes fire and evacuation updates from various agencies, as paid staff reporters and an army of volunteers provide real-time updates based on radio traffic.
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                        The official, who oversaw the county’s animal shelters, complained of “shit dogs” and too few euthanasias in a voice recording. The county isn’t providing details about her employment status.
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                        Rachael Borrelli, assistant director at the county Department of Animal Services, sent the voice message in a text exchange late last year. The euthanasia rate has spiked at county-run shelters in recent years.
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                        The contentious civil case plodded its way through the legal process for more than two years. A judge in August dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed against him in 2023.
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                        At one shelter, kennels are hosed down with dogs inside them and the vast majority of dogs do not have beds, leaving them to sleep on concrete floors.
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                        A KPBS investigation last year found the Marine Corps funneled thousands of Marine recruits into the Oceanside-based credit union annually in order to process their paychecks. It also found the credit union relied on overdraft fees as a key source of revenue.
 
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                        Immigration agents arrested Kyungjin Yu, an immigrant from South Korea, because she overstayed her visa, Department of Homeland Security officials told KPBS.
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                        Merle Wakefield was cleared for release four years ago. But the state has struggled to place him in the community as residents protested his release.
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                        Skateboarding is part of the Olympic program for the second time in history.
 
- Judge dismisses suit filed by Issa, Texas representative over Prop. 50
 - California Democrats made Prop. 50 about Trump. Polls show it’s working as voting ends
 - North America's largest model railroad museum is right here in San Diego
 - SNAP benefits will restart, but will be half the normal payment and delayed
 - Trump's National Guard deployments aren't random. They were planned years ago