Uber and Lyft are battling in the California courts and on the November ballot to avoid having their drivers classified as full employees, The companies have threatened to shut down operations in California if they lose. We speak with the Taxi Workers Alliance about how the companies have changed the ride-hailing industry, what happens if Uber and Lyft leave California and the gig work economy.

Treasure Island resident and organizer Hope Williams has worked for years to get resources for the island. When the pandemic hit, she kicked her efforts into even higher gear. Hear why she’s still working to get residents heard:

Californians were hit with power shut-offs last weekend and were told to conserve energy by minimizing use as power needs could exceed availability. But some energy experts, including former CPUC president Loretta Lynch, are doubtful that unusually high demand led to the shutdowns, alleging mismanagement on the part of the state’s energy grid operator. A spokesperson for the Independent System Operator wrote in a statement that the operator sought every available megawatt of energy to cover demand and reserves.

Uber and Lyft were expected to shut down service at 11:59 p.m. tonight as a court ruling forcing them to reclassify drivers as employees was set to go into effect. With just hours to spare, an appeals court judge granted the companies a reprieve. We talked with two rideshare drivers who have been organizing for employee status.

It's our birthday! On this day last year, Civic aired its first episode. San Francisco Public Press publisher Lila LaHood talks with producer Mel Baker and host Laura Wenus about major changes in the first year, what we've learned, and what we're hoping to focus on next.

In this press conference, city officials advise residents to stay indoors with windows closed as much as possible to avoid unhealthy smoke. If air quality deteriorates to very unhealthy levels, they said, the city will open respite centers with healthier air.

The 2020 census is well under way, but a timetable muddled by the coronavirus pandemic coupled with attempts by President Trump to make disruptive changes have set the stage for the spread of misinformation that threatens a complete count. Local community organizations have been working to get correct and timely information to people often labeled “hard to count” to avoid that outcome.

This year the census, a constitutionally mandated count of every person in the country every 10 years, is being conducted primarily online for the first time. While the shift offered convenience to the digitally connected, many communities already considered “hard to count” include people with limited digital tools or literacy that put the digital questionnaire out of reach. With the coronavirus pandemic and confusing federal directives, the in-person enumeration most likely to document them has been delayed and cut short.