Author Archives: Public Press staff

By Leslie Griffy/KALW Crosscurrents The gravel edge of the railroad tracks that backs on to a warehouse was not the end of the line for Marshawn Lewis and his neighbors. In fact, they have already scattered. But in mid-January, about 50 people had lived there for nearly three months. They slept in tents and makeshift […]

By John Myers, KQED News/Faultlines For a state whose political leaders pride themselves on being focused on the future, California’s 2014 elections seem to have decidedly been driven by its past — as in, its older voters. Or put another way: It was the Year of the Grandparents. Read the complete story at KQED News/Faultlines

By Dan Brekke, The California Report Update, Feb. 9, 2015: As expected, the big rains that have fallen in the northern half of California have boosted storage at the state’s principal reservoirs. So now we are confronted with a glass half-full/half-empty proposition when we appraise how they are looking. Case in point: The federal Central […]

By Jane Meredith Adams, EdSource With huge numbers of California children still uninsured, schools are beginning to take the lead in letting families know that affordable health care coverage is available. In school libraries and courtyards from Sacramento to Los Angeles and beyond, trained enrollment counselors have been invited to set up folding tables, commandeer […]

By Marisa Lagos, KQED News Fix It has been more than two decades since Congress passed the so-called Motor Voter Act requiring state DMVs to let residents register to vote at their offices — but the ACLU of California says the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles is falling asleep at the wheel, and it is […]

By Jen Chien, KALW Crosscurrents California leads the nation in its population of senior citizens. The ratio of working-age adults to those over 65 is projected to plunge in the next few decades. Meanwhile, the need for financial and social support for this growing number of older adults presents new challenges for our society and […]

By Jane Meredith Adams, EdSource/The California Report As schools tout the importance of exercise in an era of childhood obesity, a California parent and his lawyer have agreed to a settlement with dozens of districts across California that will force elementary schools to prove they are providing at least the minimum amount of physical education […]

By Dhyana Levey, Bay Nature Jason Lisenby likens his planting process to working with cookie dough. Standing along the south shore of Mountain Lake in San Francisco’s Presidio, he reaches into a large green bucket for a handful of clay and small stones, then adds a bit of water and sand from the lake to […]

By Beth Slatkin, Bay Nature When several hundred surf scoters and other diving ducks wintering on San Francisco Bay were recently found to be coated with an unknown sticky substance (referred to as “mystery goo” by stumped investigators), San Francisco Baykeeper was one of the first organizations on the scene, helping with wildlife search-and-rescue efforts. […]

By Liza Veale, KALW Crosscurrents When most people are on their way to sleep, San Francisco’s Homeless Outreach Team is just beginning its graveyard shift. The 24-hour patrol team responds to the immediate needs of the roughly 7,000 homeless people living on the city’s streets. Some need blankets or medical attention. There are also issues, […]