Every year The Bay team takes some time off from making new episodes. This is time we spend planning and recharging. So there will be no new episodes in your feed in the month of July. In the meantime, we want to thank you for letting us be part of your daily routines. We will be back Friday, August 1 with a new episode. You can still reach us via e-mail at thebay@kqed.org. We always love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 02, 2025•1 min
On this month’s edition of The Bay’s news roundup, we introduce you to the Bay Area’s first women’s sports bar, discuss Stanford’s scaling back of gender-related surgical procedures for minors, and the secret sauce of the San Francisco malls defying the ‘doom loop’ narrative. Links: The Bay Area’s First Women’s Sports Bar Is Open for Business Stanford Scales Back Trans Care for Minors Amid Federal Crackdown Asian Food Is Coming to Save a Mall Near You SF Chronicle: These S.F. malls are experienc...
Jun 30, 2025•24 min
Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley has long been seen as a launchpad for actors and artists. In 2018 the theater commissioned and premiered the Tony-Award winning play “Eureka Day.” Now, the theater is suspending production, joining a growing list of Bay Area theaters on the brink of closure in what the San Francisco Chronicle theater critic Lily Janiak describes as the “industry’s free fall.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2025•22 min
The Wood Street encampment in West Oakland was at one point the largest homeless encampment Northern California. In 2023, the city of Oakland completed final evictions of Wood Street residents. Dozens of Wood Street residents ended up at a city-funded shelter site where part of the encampment used to be. It includes an RV park and a "community cabins" site. Now, this shelter site is scheduled to close on Monday. Today, Oakland journalist and filmmaker Caron Creighton tells us about the cabin sit...
Jun 25, 2025•22 min
Gwenn Craig moved to San Francisco in 1975, as a young woman eager to explore her lesbian identity. She got involved in politics and was a close collaborator of Harvey Milk. In this episode, she talks about her political organizing, what pride has meant to her over the years, and what she hopes for its future. This episode first aired on June 28, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2025•20 min
Hip-hop is nearly 52 years old — and when it comes to talking about hip-hop history, it’s no secret that the Bay Area gets overlooked. Today, we're revisiting an episode with KQED's Eric Arnold and Nastia Voynovskaya about exploring the history of hip-hop — and how our region has shaped it through the years. Links: That’s My Word The Bay Area Was Hip-Hop Before There Was Hip-Hop That’s My Word, Spotify Playlists celebrating 50 years of Bay Area Hip Hop It’s Time to Unpack Pimp Culture in Bay Are...
Jun 20, 2025•28 min
After the city of Berkeley ordered the clearing of RV encampments on Second Street, the city began offering cash to people living in their RVs in addition to a room at a motel shelter. Most accepted the offer, and city leaders are hopeful that this approach can expand. Links: Berkeley’s Strategy for RV Encampments Could Be a Model for California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2025•24 min
Suisun City in Solano County will begin studying annexing land owned by California Forever, the billionaire-backed group that bought up thousands of acres of land with plans to build a brand new city from scratch in Solano County. KQED’s Adhiti Bandlamudi joins us to discuss the implications of this decision and why it has divided the local community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2025•25 min
The Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown has left few safe spaces for immigrants. But in the East Bay, local soccer leagues have provided a rare sense of psychological safety for immigrant newcomers. Links: As Safe Spaces Shrink, Immigrant Youth Find Solace in 'The Beautiful Game' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2025•25 min
Since Donald Trump’s first term in office, a UC Berkeley student group called Central Americans for Empowerment (CAFE) has been pushing for a Central American Studies department. For them, it would help raise visibility of Central Americans whose specific stories often get lost in broader conversations about Latinos and immigration in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2025•24 min
Fairfax is a small, predominantly white town of about 7,500 people, nestled up against the Mt. Tam watershed in Marin. Wellness and a distrust of authority have long been part of the town’s culture. But since the pandemic, it also became a place where supporters of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine message grew louder and louder. Links: The Marin Town Where RFK Jr.’s Message Took Root Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 09, 2025•24 min
This episode contains explicit language. Next week, San Jose City Council will vote on a controversial plan that would threaten unhoused people with arrest if they refuse multiple offers of shelter. Mayor Matt Mahan says this approach could help open paths to treatment and increase support for more shelter construction. But Santa Clara County officials are skeptical. Links: Mahan’s Final San José Budget Focused on Controversial Homelessness and Pay Plans In San José, a Controversial Choice for U...
Jun 06, 2025•27 min
An independent investigation into a massive fire at the Martinez PBF Energy refinery found that human error, worker inexperience and lack of supervision were at the heart of the February fire that prompted shelter in place orders. Today, we revisit an episode about this initial fire that alarmed local residents. Links: Massive Martinez Refinery Fire in February Caused by Human Error, Investigation Finds This episode first aired Feb. 7, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Jun 04, 2025•18 min
In the 1900s, San Francisco eradicated native coyotes from the city. But around 20 years ago, they returned and are now a part of daily life. For some residents, they’re a source of wonder, while others view them as a nuisance and a danger to pets and children. Links: The Coyotes of San Francisco How We Photographed Coyotes in San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 02, 2025•21 min
On this month’s edition of The Bay’s news roundup, we talk about a proposed 10-year ban on state AI regulations that the House of Representatives passed as part of President Trump’s budget bill. Plus, Oakland’s MACRO program – a non-emergency alternative to police – releases new data, and the Bay Area’s very own Ruby Ibarra wins NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Links: Californians would lose AI protections under bill advancing in Congress Oakland's MACRO touts improvements despite criticism; needs $4M a...
May 30, 2025•28 min
More than four years after the Taliban took control of Kabul, thousands of Afghan families are still waiting for the U.S. to fulfill promises it made to take them in for helping the American war effort. Now, the U.S. is moving to deport thousands of Afghans who have recently arrived here, after the Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for people from Afghanistan. Links: Bay Area Afghans, Allies Decry Trump’s End of TPS: ‘They’re Terrified’ Jewish Community...
May 28, 2025•22 min
In 2023, Rise East, a collective of East Oakland nonprofits, received a $50 million grant a from national philanthropic organization. But there was a catch: The money could only be unlocked if Rise East could raise more $50 million more from local donors. On Thursday, Rise East announced that they had done it. And East Oaklanders have already begun dreaming about what to do with this money to help reimagine their communities. This episode originally aired on Oct. 11, 2024. Links: Rise East Unloc...
May 26, 2025•21 min
My Wildest Story is a national live storytelling and comedic trauma-bonding event series from the pop-up comedy collective Fools Circle. Earlier this month, some of the Bay Area’s favorite comedians and storytellers gathered at KQED for this showcase of crazy and jaw-dropping personal experiences that could only happen here. This episode contains explicit language. Links: Watch the full event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2025•29 min
Inspired by hunger strikes at California State University campuses, at least 20 students, staff and faculty at Stanford are on an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with Gaza. They're demanding that Stanford disclose and divest from companies they say are profiting from Israel’s siege. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2025•20 min
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has tapped some of the city’s richest people to run a new nonprofit aimed at raising money to revitalize the city’s downtown, and also recently announced a fund that will use private dollars to help address homelessness. But how much power should the city’s ultrarich have over the city’s comeback? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2025•20 min
The Bay Area is home to the WNBA’s newest team. Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries play their first-ever regular season game at Chase Center. For women’s sports fans across the region, it’s been a long time coming. The Chronicle's Marisa Ingemi joins us to preview the Valkyries' inaugural season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2025•22 min
Since 2019, a bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge added more options for cyclists. Now, the fate of the bike lane is a hot button issue as officials decide whether to limit access to weekends only, or keep the lane open seven days a week. Richmondside reporter Joel Umanzor joins us to talk about what’s next for the bridge, and the strong opinions on both sides of the bike lane. Links: Cyclists cheer as Richmond-San Rafael bridge bike lane vote is delayed again Learn more about your ad ch...
May 14, 2025•18 min
The Press Democrat, the longtime local newspaper of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, has been sold to MediaNews Group, a newspaper publisher owned by Alden Global Capital, an investment firm based in Manhattan. The sale has raised alarms among North Bay journalists and residents, who fear that the company will continue its pattern of buying newspapers and then slashing staff. KQED’s Gabe Meline joins us to discuss the sale and its potential impact on the local media landscape in the North Bay. Corr...
May 12, 2025•18 min
For decades, the National Endowment for the Arts has provided federal grant funding to local arts nonprofits around the country and the Bay Area. Now, several recipients have had their grants cancelled by the Trump Administration, leaving many uncertain about the future of arts and culture in the region. Links: Trump Cancels NEA Grants for Many Bay Area Arts Nonprofits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 09, 2025•19 min
After a decadeslong fight, the majority of ranching along the Point Reyes National Seashore will end by next year, thanks to a legal settlement involving environmentalists, ranchers, and the National Park Service. Environmentalists say the deal will protect native animal and grass species. Meanwhile, ranchers and workers are now in a scramble to find housing in an area already squeezed for options. Links: Cattle Ranching Is at the Center of a Battle Brewing in Point Reyes Point Reyes Ranching Wi...
May 07, 2025•21 min
When it comes to private school enrollment, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Marin counties are all well above the state average. But why? In this episode from our friends at Bay Curious, we'll explore the many reasons San Francisco families choose to send their kids to private schools. It's a trend rooted in the history of desegregation that's been hard to reverse. Links: Why Is Private Schooling So Popular in the San Francisco Bay Area? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
May 05, 2025•20 min
Wednesday marked 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. As a result of the north's victory, an estimated 120,000 Vietnamese refugees fled to communities all over the U.S. — including to San José. Today, it's hard to imagine San José without the Vietnamese American community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 02, 2025•25 min
In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we unpack the razor-thin election results in San José’s District 3 and the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Plus, we learn more about how roughly 900 Berkeley homeowners will need to clear vegetation in order to protect their houses against wildfire damage. Links: After Recount, Tordillos Advances to Runoff Election for San José Council Seat San Francisco Chinatown Businesses Enter Survival Mode During Tra...
Apr 30, 2025•22 min
Head Start was founded 60 years ago to help America’s poorest families break the cycle of poverty. Now, it’s one of many federal programs that the Trump administration wants to reduce or cut altogether. KQED’s Daisy Nguyen tells the story of one federal employee in the Bay Area who was laid off from Head Start — and how the program changed her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2025•19 min
As part of Youth Takeover Week at KQED, The Bay and Bay Curious have teamed up to collaborate with four high school students who live in San Pablo, Fremont, Walnut Creek and San Jose. For several months, these teenagers — two juniors and two seniors — have shared what’s going on in their lives, what’s got them worried, what’s making them excited and what they're passionate about. This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Alan Montecillo, Katrina Schwartz, Olivia Allen-Price, and Christopher ...
Apr 25, 2025•40 min
