jerry wilcox

Droughts are a fact of life in California. The one that lasted between 1986 and 1992 was a bad one. In 1991 alone, state officials would estimate the drought cost the state $1 billion in agriculture losses, increases in energy costs and damage to the environment—that’s close to 2 billion in today’s dollars.

In the winter of 1991, KCBS Radio ran a series of reports entitled “Drought Watch”, looking at what had already happened—and what may lie ahead.  You’ll hear discussion of things like drip irrigation, advanced weather forecasting, new approaches to water storage, challenges to agriculture,  urban water rationing,

Reporters are Mike Sugerman, Jim Taylor, Barbara Taylor, Dave Padilla, Jerry Wilcox, Mike Colgan, Chris Cutter and Paula Drake.

After the jury verdict acquitting four Los Angeles Police officers of criminal charges in the Rodney King beating, rioting claimed more than 60 lives, did over a billion dollars in damage, and led to more than 12,000 arrests.

On June 26, 1992, KCBS Radio broadcast a special report called "Beyond the Anger", looking at the issues of inner-city hopelessness and poverty, as well as signs of positive movement.  Reporters Mike Sugerman, Jerry Wilcox and George Harris contributed.

On April 16, 1992 KCBS Radio aired a lengthy interview by reporter Jerry Wilcox with death row inmate Pedro Arias. Wilcox met with Arias at San Quentin Prison, where Arias, a convicted murderer from Sacramento, had been sent two years earlier to await his execution. The interview was broadcast less than a week before the scheduled execution of Robert Alton Harris marked the resumption of executions in California after a 25-year hiatus.