The Bay

San Francisco’s mayor’s race kicked into high gear after 5 candidates took to the stage for their first debate last Wednesday evening. Today, in Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez’s last act as a KQED journalist, he opens up his reporter’s notebook to break down his key takeaways from the debate, and what it told us about the upcoming race ahead. Links: Watch the first debate here S.F.'s second mayoral debate: Mon, June 17 at 7:30 pm Become a KQED member Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 27, 2023, an armed security guard shot and killed a Black trans man named Banko Brown outside of a San Francisco Walgreens. Brown’s killing sparked outrage. But San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins decided not to charge the security guard who shot him, saying that he acted in self-defense. And just last Friday, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office announced that it supported that decision. This announcement has crushed Banko Brown’s loved ones, including those who say that his killing was an example of the conditions that unhoused transgender people face in San Francisco. KQED reporter Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez sits down with Brown’s chosen family, to discuss life as a homeless queer person in San Francisco, and Banko’s life before his death. This episode originally aired on Sept. 6, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At elite high schools in Silicon Valley, the pressure to succeed is intense. And according to Sophia Shao, a former student at Los Altos High School, her proximity to California’s tech capital is a big reason why. In this special collaboration with KQED’s Youth Takeover, a yearlong project to highlight compelling stories written and produced by local teens, Shao talks with us about going to school in a place where everyone is expected to excel. This episode first ran on Aug. 15, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ruins of Sutro Baths, at the far western edge of San Francisco, are mysterious. Clearly something big used to stand here. Today, the folks from the Bay Curious podcast take you back in time to what visiting this grand swimming facility would have been like. Episode Transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is in the middle of figuring out exactly how it wants to regulate artificial intelligence. CalMatters’ Khari Johnson joins us to explain how these efforts are going — and how AI could affect all of our lives soon. Links: Episode Transcript How California and the EU work together to regulate artificial intelligence Apply to be The Bay’s Producer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Applying for student aid this year was supposed to be easier for incoming college students, with a more simplified application process for FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. But technical problems and missed deadlines for the new form’s rollout has led to disastrous results for students, especially those who are undocumented or come from mixed status families. These issues are likely a big reason why California saw a major drop in FAFSA applications for the Class of 2024. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Tamuna Chkareuli and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The company that owns the Regional Medical Center of San Jose says it plans to close the hospital’s trauma center on August 12. The trauma center is the only one of its kind on Santa Clara County’s east side. Now, local leaders, patient advocates, and even some doctors from the hospital want the state to intervene, warning that this closure will have devastating ripple effects on the entire region. Links: Episode Transcript Advocates Urge State to Intervene in Closure of San Jose Trauma Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Alan, and intern Ellie talk about a possible tax on oil refining in Richmond, the debate over farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay, and Berkeley’s baby falcons. Plus, an interview with Tamuna Chkareuli, a visiting journalist from the Republic of Georgia who has been working at KQED for the past few weeks. Links: After 'Foreign Agent' Law Defeat, Georgian Protesters Set Sights on Elections Richmond Oil Refining Tax on Chevron, a Major Polluter, Moves Closer to Ballot Half Moon Bay Farmworker Housing Gains Approval After Push by Newsom Meet the falcons: Aurora, Eclipse, Nox and Sol Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ride BART, you may have seen uniformed employees with the words ‘Crisis Intervention Specialist” on their backs. About 20 of these ‘CIS-es’ — who are not police officers — can be seen walking through trains, seeking out and offering help to the many people in the sprawling transit system struggling with lack of shelter, mental health problems or addiction. KQED’s Matthew Green joins us to talk about what he learned about this program, and what a morning on the job was like. Links: 'We Approach in Peace': Are BART's Efforts to Help People in Crisis Working? This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie-Prickett Morgan, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Tamuna Chkareuli, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his 12 years with The Golden State Warriors, DJ D Sharp has seen it all — from the team’s lowest point to the championship rings. Raised in East Oakland, D Sharp talks Rightnowish host Pendarvis Harshaw about his journey, inspiration and a go-to Warriors song. This episode originally aired May 2, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, California voters passed Proposition 22, which allowed app-based companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors and not employees with full benefits. It was a big win for companies like Uber and Lyft, who spent unprecedented amounts of money to get the measure passed. Now, the issue is back — this time before the California Supreme Court, which heard a case on Prop. 22 this Tuesday. KQED’s Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos explain in an episode of the Political Breakdown podcast. Links: Nov, 13, 2020: With Prop. 22 Approved, Regulating Gig Companies Just Got a Lot Harder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Less than half of all San Francisco pharmacies carry buprenorphine, one of the most powerful medications used to treat opioid addiction, according to San Francisco’s Department of Public Health. The city hopes to change that. This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, protesters blocked the entrance of Google’s largest development conference in Mountain View to protest the tech giant’s ties with the Israeli government. At issue is Project Nimbus, Google and Amazon’s $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, including the Israeli Defense Ministry. But as KQED’s Rachael Myrow explains, Silicon Valley’s ties to Israel run much deeper — which makes divesting a tall order. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the 60s, BART was just a plan in the making. And located through its path were communities of mostly low income people of color. But thanks to a legal tool known as eminent domain, many in that community were forced to sell their homes or face eviction. This is an episode of Bay Curious that originally aired on May 16, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Jacobo was a rising star in the progressive wing of San Francisco politics when a colleague publicly accused him of rape in 2021. At that time, he largely escaped scrutiny from members of his own party. But as Josh Koehn of the San Francisco Standard reported in mid-April, three more women have publicly accused Jacobo of sexual abuse and domestic violence. And they say that leaders treated their allegations with indifference. Links: Episode Transcript Women accused a rising SF political star of rape and abuse—and met a wall of silence San Francisco created an agency to fight sexual crimes. It’s never met with police San Francisco Democrats are having a #MeToo moment as women share stories of rape, abuse This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, we’re replaying this look back at a thriving Indian American theater company in the South Bay. This episode originally aired Sept. 9, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel testified before Congress on the district’s handling of antisemitism allegations in public schools. The hearing comes after a group of Jewish parents, along with the Brandeis Center and Anti-Defamation League, filed a federal complaint in February alleging “severe” antisemitism in the district. However, many pro-Palestinian parents, educators and students have pushed back, arguing that the complaint unfairly conflates critiques of Israel with antisemitism. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Forever, the billionaire-backed group behind an effort to build a city from scratch in Eastern Solano County, is plowing ahead in its campaign to convince voters. Last week, the company announced that it has gathered enough signatures to qualify its measure for the November ballot. KQED’s Adhiti Bandlamundi unpacks the last few months of campaigning and speaks to voters. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ellie-Prickett Morgan, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Episode transcript The Bay: California Forever Unveils Ballot Measure Plans for Its New City The Bay: The Silicon Valley Giants Who Want to Build a New City in Solano County Become a KQED member Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making this podcast is a lot of work, but we do it because we care. Help us keep it going by becoming a KQED member. Today, we take you behind the scenes and show you how an episode gets made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pro-Palestine protests have popped up on college campuses nationwide, with some becoming the epicenters of violent counter-protests and arrests by police. In the Bay Area, however, what have become known as ‘solidarity encampments’ have remained largely peaceful so far. Today, we hear from student journalists at San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, and Sonoma State about what’s been happening on their respective campuses. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the state’s sickest patients are stranded in hospitals for weeks, months, and even years as they wait to be moved into nursing homes and psychiatric facilities. This backup is caused in part by nursing home staffing shortages, coupled with a rapidly aging population. KQED’s Lesley McClurg tells us the story of one Berkeley resident’s struggle to find adequate care for his wife. Links: Episode Transcript Systemic Neglect: How Staffing Shortages In Nursing Homes Leave Patients Trapped in Hospitals This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Maria and Alan talk about Berkeley’s newest (and youngest) District 7 city councilmember, allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in death row sentencing in Alameda County, and efforts to bring giant pandas to San Francisco. Episode Transcript Links: Cecilia Lunaparra declares victory in District 7 race for Berkeley City Council Allegations of Prosecutorial Bias Spark Review of Death Penalty Convictions in Alameda County SF Mayor Breed Talks Crime, Tourism and Pandas Ahead of China Trip A grizzly bear chase. A dead penguin. Behind the scenes, the S.F. Zoo is in turmoil over safety This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Alan Montecillo and Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, in what’s been described as the most significant case on homelessness in decades. Many Californians are watching this case closely — from politicians, to advocates, to unhoused residents. KQED housing reporter Vanessa Rancaño breaks down the basics of this case, and why people in the Bay are closing following it. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballots are being recounted in the race for California’s 16th Congressional house seat, which ended in a tie for second between Assemblymember Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. One or both of them will move on to face former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in November. KQED’s Guy Marzorati explains how the recount is working, and why it’s gotten a little ugly. Episode transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland officials are moving ahead with a plan to rename the city’s airport to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” Residents, business groups, and airlines all have a lot to say about it, and San Francisco has also filed a lawsuit to try and stop the renaming from happening. The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe joins us to talk about why the name change feels existential. Episode transcript Editor’s note: Oakland International Airport is a financial supporter of KQED. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After last year’s mass shooting at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, officials learned that some of the farmworkers had been living in shipping containers. State, federal, and local officials promised to do something about it. Now, the city is close to breaking ground on housing for the survivors and other low-wage farmworkers in the area. Links: Episode transcript Half Moon Bay Prepares to Break Ground on Farmworker Housing Become a KQED member This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Bureau of Prisons abruptly announced that it will shut down Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, the federal women’s prison infamous for an alleged culture of sexual abuse. KQED's Alex Hall tells us why this news took many people by surprise, and what it could mean for the hundreds of women inside. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Ellie Prickett-Morgan, with production support from Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this month, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin announced his entry into the race for mayor in November. Peskin has been in San Francisco politics for a long time, and is the first prominent mayoral candidate from the city’s progressive camp. KQED’s Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez tells us how Peskin shakes up this mayoral race. Links: Episode Transcript Chinatown Rally Launches Aaron Peskin Mayoral Run SF Supervisor Aaron Peskin Announces Mayoral Run This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darius Simpson is the author of the collection “Never Catch Me.” In this episode in celebration of National Poetry Month, Simpson talks about how his poetry has changed over the years, his involvement in People’s Programs in Oakland, and how he hopes his poetry can inspire people to organize towards liberation of all oppressed people. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Alan Montecillo, and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and guest hosted by Maria Esquinca. Links: Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official: The A’s are leaving Oakland. The Athletics announced last week that they’ll play their home games for the 2025-27 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as part of bigger plans to relocate to Las Vegas for the 2028 season. But A’s fans vow to continue speaking out about the move and how its long goodbye to Oakland has been handled. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Maria Esquinca, Ericka Cruz Guevarra and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever noticed how few school buses there are in California? A survey by the Federal Highway Administration found that nationally, almost 40% of school-aged kids ride a school bus. In California, that number is only 8%. Why? It goes back to a state constitutional amendment passed in 1978. In this episode from Bay Curious, producer Katrina Schwartz dives into how this proposition led to California’s lack of school buses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode contains graphic descriptions of death and violence. At least 33,000 Palestinians — including an estimated 13,000 children — have been killed by Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza. The region’s health care infrastructure has been decimated, as an estimated 12 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are considered operational. Dr. Mohammad Subeh, an emergency room physician from the South Bay, recently returned from a volunteer medical mission to the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. In this episode, he talks about why he went, what he saw, and the people he met. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Dana Cronin, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s salmon are still in decline — so much so that fishery managers may cancel the state’s salmon season for the second straight year. Lawmakers, environmental groups and tribes have identified one part of the problem: toxic dust that comes from our tires. KQED’s Ezra David Romero tells us how we can fix this problem. Links: Toxic Dust Threatens California Salmon Population, Lawmaker Seeks Solution This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Dana Cronin, and Maria Esquinca, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are no signs of a doom loop in Oakland’s queer nightlife scene, where brick and mortar nightclubs and bars quadrupled in the last year, and the events to go along with them have grown too. KQED Arts and Culture Editor Nastia Voynovskaya explains what’s behind this flourishing scene. Links: A Queer Party Renaissance Brings New Life to Downtown Oakland 'Something's blooming': Queer nightlife in Oakland is approaching a renaissance Episode transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Maria and Alan talk about the resurgence of the East Bay’s Street Spirit newspaper, a new non-emergency phone line for Oakland residents, and Aaron Peskin’s potential bid for San Francisco mayor. Links: Berkeleyside: Street Spirit homeless newspaper is back in print The Oaklandside: MACRO, Oakland’s non-emergency crisis response team, now has a phone number KQED: Aaron Peskin's Rumored Run for SF Mayor Has Same Strength and Weakness: Housing This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every child in California under 3 is entitled to early intervention services like physical, speech, and occupational therapy if they show signs that they need developmental support. Experts say getting these services early and in-person is critical for babies’ development, and that it can actually reduce the need for special education services later in life. But many families aren’t receiving the care they need. KQED’s Daisy Nguyen explains why. Links: Episode transcript 'Early Start' 101: Here's How Families Can Access Early Intervention Services for Younger Kids This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, it’s been a minute since the March 5 primary, but we finally know the results of Proposition 1. California voters narrowly approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to build new treatment facilities and direct a larger share of mental health funding to housing. KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzorati joins us to unpack the results, and what this could mean for the state moving forward. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Episode transcript Become a KQED member Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay is home to a new professional women’s soccer team. Bay FC, founded by four former U.S. Women National Team players, kicks off its home opener at PayPal Park in San Jose on Saturday, March 30. Marisa Ingemi with the San Francisco Chronicle joins us to talk about how this team got started, which players to watch, and the Bay Area’s history as a hotbed for women’s soccer. Links: ‘I’m here to win trophies’: Bay FC’s African strikers eager to make mark in NWSL A beginner’s guide to the NWSL: Five things Bay FC fans should know This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Advocates and lawyers are scrambling to provide immigration legal assistance in Contra Costa County, where a new immigration court has opened to help tackle a nationwide deportation backlog and record numbers of asylum claims. KQED’s Tyche Hendricks takes us to a high school gym in Concord where nonprofit groups helped provide free legal advice to people ahead of their court hearings. Links: Episode transcript New Bay Area Immigration Court Opens, Aims to Tackle Deportation Backlog Become a KQED member Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode discusses sexual abuse. For decades, the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, a women’s prison, has been known for a pervasive culture of sexual abuse towards the women incarcerated there. There have been firings, settlements, and trainings, but the problems haven’t gone away. Now, the FBI has raided the prison as a group of survivors have filed a total of 63 lawsuits against the facility. On Friday, a federal judge ordered an independent third party to oversee reforms and policy changes. Will it be enough to change things? Links: 'A Dysfunctional Mess': Judge Orders Third-Party Oversight for East Bay Women's Prison Plagued by Sexual Abuse Episode transcript This episode was produced by Dana Cronin and Maria Esquinca, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Activists and scientists have been sounding the alarm about radioactive contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, the site of former U.S. Navy activity, for years. In January, the Navy released a report acknowledging that, through human-caused climate change, toxic chemicals could rise with groundwater in parts of the site. Today, we’re sharing an episode from August 2022 with KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero. In it, we meet residents of Bayview-Hunters Point who have been fighting for more information, and resources to deal with health problems that they attribute to this pollution. Links: Episode transcript US Navy Acknowledges Rising Toxic Groundwater Threat at SF Superfund Site Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alameda County is notoriously slow at counting votes, but we do have some results to discuss. Today, KQED’s Annelise Finney dives into the Board of Supervisors elections, a very expensive state Senate race, and a measure that aims to change the county’s recall rules. Episode transcript This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Maria Esquinca, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco moderates, especially Mayor London Breed, are celebrating after Propositions C, E and F appear headed to victory. Props E and F will expand police powers and drug screen welfare recipients. Now that they’ve passed, Mayor London Breed hopes to show voters she’s addressing the worries on voters’ minds ahead of a competitive mayoral race this November. Links: Episode transcript This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey finished in the top 2 in the race for California’s U.S. Senate seat, with Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee finishing third and fourth. KQED’s Guy Marzorati gives a quick rundown of some of the local races we know about so far, and then breaks down the results of the biggest race on the California primary ballot. Links: Episode Transcript Live Election Results This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election Day is over, and the votes are being tallied. And while we don’t know what the final voter turnout numbers will be, we do know that most people don’t vote in primaries. Primary elections aren’t sexy. They never turn out as many voters as a November general election because most people are motivated by national stuff, like presidential races. But the issues on a primary ballot, especially locally, are perhaps more consequential to people’s everyday lives. Today, we talk with Mindy Romero, founder and director of USC's Center for Inclusive Democracy, about the consequences of low primary turnouts, and how to get more people to vote. Links: Episode transcript California primary results This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you voting in the March Primary today? Why or why not? Maybe there’s a particular issue you’re fired up about where you live. Maybe you’re not happy with the candidates in your area. Or maybe you’re just hella confused by all the measures with letters on your ballot. Either way, we wanna hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 415-710-9223. And maybe you’ll hear yourself in an upcoming episode of The Bay! Tell us your name, where you’re from, and whether you’re voting in the March primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Napa County, 3 out of the 5 seats on the Board of Supervisors are on the ballot, in nonpartisan races that will be decided in the March 5 primary. (In these races, nobody is advancing to November— voters will pick the winner in this election!) The wine industry looms large, but so do issues about housing, wildfire protection, and environmental conservation. KQED’s Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli tells us about the stakes, and focuses on the race in District 5. Links: Episode transcript KQED Voter Guide Bay Curious Breaks Down Prop. 1 Will SF Voters Expand Police Powers in This Election? What to Know About California's US Senate Race This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Maria Esquinca, and edited and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode contains explicit language. Race has been a mostly silent character in criminal courtrooms. Historically, people accused of crimes haven’t been able to raise claims of racial bias in the justice system to defend themselves from a criminal accusation. But in 2020, California passed the Racial Justice Act, a groundbreaking law that allows criminal defendants to argue that racism may have played a role in how the justice system handled their case and ask for the court to provide a remedy. It’s the first law of its kind in the nation. KQED’s Annelise Finney explains how one case in Contra Costa County is testing the limits of the new law. Links: Episode Transcript California's Groundbreaking Racial Justice Act Cuts Its Teeth in Contra Costa Judge Finds 8 Antioch Police Officers Tainted by Racial Bias, Reduces Criminal Charges This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and Ericka Cruz Guevarra. It was edited and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Maria and Alan talk about an assembly race where housing development has taken center stage, the mother of Oscar Grant getting his cell phones back 15 years after his killing, and how the politics of fast food are heating up in San Jose. Links: Palo Alto's Lydia Kou Channels Anti-Sacramento Anger in Challenge to Assemblymember Marc Berman Oscar Grant's Cellphones Returned to His Mother, 15 Years After Notorious Police Killing on BART Platform San Jose fast-food workers question city official’s support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When one of your appliances or electronics breaks, do you buy a new one or try to fix it yourself? Manufacturers have made it hard for consumers to fix their own stuff. But people have been pushing back in what's called the "right to repair" movement. KQED's Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman takes us to a "Fixit clinic" in Redwood City, where people learn how to fix their broken items. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices