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Bay Area

SF Building Boom Has Dramatic Implications

A building boom in San Francisco has dramatic implications not only for the city's skyline, but also for its neighborhoods and political landscape.

Oakland Hosts NAACP Conference to Help Faith Leaders Fight HIV

On Thursday, the NAACP wrapped on a conference in Oakland organized to help local faith leaders fight the spread of HIV.

SF DA Warns Asian Elderly About Scam

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón is ramping up his effort to educate Chinese seniors about scams targeting their community.

Transit Cuts May Affect Long-Term Health of Riders

Recent cuts to Bay Area public transit may be affecting some riders’ long-term health.

Recently on KQED Public Radio

Forum With Michael Krasny

More Faulty Rods on Bay Bridge

Recent reports state that more than 400 steel rods securing the base of the new Bay Bridge's eastern span may be faulty, adding to concerns about the bridge's seismic safety and structural soundness. The Federal Highway Administration has launched an investigation, and a state senate committee held a hearing Tuesday to find out what went wrong. We discuss the latest developments.

Upheaval at Oakland Police Department

Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan unexpectedly resigned last week, citing medical reasons. His replacement as interim chief stepped down two days later. The turmoil in the department comes in the midst of two reports critical of Oakland police. One report from a court-ordered overseer finds OPD out of compliance with federally mandated reforms from a decade-old police brutality case. Another report, by law enforcement consultant William Bratton, is critical of the department's ability to reduce crime. Forum takes up these issues with the newly appointed Interim Police Chief Sean Whent and others.

Warriors Release S.F. Arena Redesign

The red-hot Golden State Warriors, who are tied with San Antonio in their playoff series, are also facing some tough opposition off the court this week. At issue is the team's plan to build a new $1 billion arena on San Francisco's Embarcadero. The arena has the blessing of Mayor Ed Lee and other city leaders, but some neighbors and environmental groups oppose the project, saying it is inappropriate for the waterfront location. Supporters maintain that the latest design, unveiled on Sunday, preserves Bay vistas and reduces parking.

$2.25 Billion PG&E Fine Proposed for San Bruno Explosion

California regulators want to penalize PG&E $2.25 billion for the 2010 San Bruno gas line explosion that killed eight people and injured 66. California Public Utility Commission staff recommended the hefty fine, which would be the largest penalty ever brought by a state regulator in the U.S., citing the severity of the damage and PG&E's "reprehensible" failures. Forum discusses the proposed penalty and what has changed since the deadly blast.

The California Report

Oakland Searches for Its Next Police Chief

Big changes are afoot for one of California's most troubled police departments. On Thursday, Oakland police officials will release a highly anticipated report from Bill Bratton, the former Los Angeles police chief hired as a turnaround consultant. Whatever the agency does with the proposal, it will do with a new police chief.

Caltrans: Bay Bridge Fix May Cost $10 Million, Delay Opening

Less than four months before the planned opening of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Caltrans is facing big questions about the steel used throughout the massive public works project. The agency released the results of an internal investigation on Wednesday, and officials acknowledged it may cost as much as $10 million to fix the mistake.

East Bay Senator: Caltrans Took Unnecessary Risks on Bay Bridge

On Wednesday, Caltrans is expected to announce its plans on how to deal with some potentially flawed steel components installed in the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Many Californians are asking whether the $6.4 billion bridge will be safe. We spoke with State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, chairman of the Senate's transportation committee.

For Biotech Entrepreneurs, Academia as Launch Pad

There's an old joke that Stanford is a start-up incubator with a football team. That's easy to understand with companies like Google and Yahoo getting their start on campus. But it's not just MBAs blurring the lines between industry and academia. Schools focusing on science, like UC San Francisco, are scrambling to help students turn their lab work into the next big biotech company.