A law enforcement practice that’s being used in California jails is coming under increasing scrutiny. In what’s known as a “Perkins operation,” undercover agents attempt to elicit confessions from people booked at county jails. The tactic has helped secure hundreds of murder convictions. But critics say they are coercive, can produce false confessions and disproportionately target people of color. Reporter Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters Scorching heat has hit much of California this week. In Southern California, triple digit temperatures were recorded in cities across the region on Wednesday. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much of the Central Valley is under a heat advisory Wednesday, as temperatures could reach triple digits. Many of the region’s unincorporated communities don’t have public swimming pools where they can cool off. That also means residents don’t have a place to learn how to swim which could have tragic consequences. Reporter: Alice Daniel California health officials say an outbreak of a foodborne stomach parasite -- that's generated nearly 7,000 suspected cases nationwide -- has not reached the state. Reporter: Carly Severn, KQED Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors has agreed to create a committee to study recommendations that call for oversight of its sheriff’s department. A grand jury recently made the recommendations after investigating concerns about jail deaths and a lack of oversight. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peach farmers in the Central Valley have had to pull their crops and are facing financial hardship. They’re hoping a new farm bill will help keep them going. Reporter: Claudia Brancart, North State Public Radio A bill to cut red tape and make affordable housing easier and cheaper to build just became law Monday. It focuses on a controversial mechanism. Reporter: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED The Los Angeles Police Department will not be renewing its contract with the surveillance company Flock Safety. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Close to two hundred years ago, people from all over the world flocked to California's rivers in search of gold. This year, they're back at it, hoping that with the price of gold trending upward in the last year or so, they might just get lucky. But is it really that easy? Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED A bill advancing in the state Legislature would let insurance companies track how you drive, in exchange for a possible discount on your premium. Reporter: Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At colleges across California, many campus police departments have AR-15s, stun grenades and sonic weapons. This military-grade gear is supposed to be catalogued and open to public scrutiny. But according to recent reporting from CalMatters’ College Journalism Network, the law meant to sunshine that information isn’t really being followed. Guest: Phoebe Huss, CalMatters College Journalism Network New research from UC Davis shows California gray wolves are eating cattle more than anything else, and their presence is causing significant stress among livestock. Reporter: Chris Felts, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices