The California Report

Students Bring Message Directly to Sacramento

Several thousand college students from across California came to Sacramento Monday for "Occupy the Capitol," to protest state cuts to higher education. About 70 people were arrested for refusing to leave the building. Reporter: John Myers

In the Rural Anderson Valley, Locals Rally to Save Their Park

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Molly Samuel/KQED

Anderson Valley residents say Hendy Woods is an important part of their economy. Last fall, at "Occupy Hendy Woods," people gathered to discuss how to keep the park open.

Our series "State Parks: On the Rocks" continues today in a leafy corner of Mendocino County, known as Hendy Woods. To folks around there, it's far more than just a pleasant spot for a picnic. It's one of about eight state parks in Mendocino County still on the state's list for closure. And locals are worried that will impinge on both their lifestyles and their livelihoods. Reporter: Molly Samuel

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Northern Calif. Redwoods on the Front Line of Parks Battle

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Molly Samuel/KQED

Redwoods in Hendy Woods

The planned closure of nearly one-in-four state parks leaves California's iconic redwoods especially vulnerable. Ruskin Hartley is Executive Director of the Save the Redwoods League, a San Francisco-based nonprofit founded in 1918 to protect redwoods. The organization helped create the California State Parks, and has given land to many of them. Reporter Molly Samuel spoke with Hartley about the history of the parks and the current threats to them. The conversation has been edited for clarity and style.

End Music

"Sommar, sommar, sommar" by Sten Carlberg, performed by the Gothenburg Musicians conducted by Jerker Johansson, from the album "Swedish Summer Favorites, Vol.2"