KQED's Forum

The worldwide count of confirmed coronavirus cases keeps climbing. How are Bay Area residents responding? Are efforts to disinfect, wash hands and stay home having an impact?

On Thursday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren ended her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Warren's campaign was characterized by her call for broad economic reform, including breaking up big tech, canceling student loan debt and imposing a wealth tax. In farewell remarks to her staff, Warren said the campaign showed that "a woman can stand up, hold her ground, and stay true to herself -- no matter what." But campaign watchers wonder whether and to what extent her gender played a role in her downfall. We'll take up the issues.

On June 2, 2019, Walnut Creek resident Taun Hall called 911 to ask police to assist her 23-year old son Miles, who was having a mental breakdown. Hall had a longstanding relationship with the local police, who knew about Miles' schizoaffective disorder and had helped the family to hospitalize him in the past. But the officers who arrived at her home that day fatally shot Miles within minutes. Hall has since become an advocate for the mentally ill and their families, working to change laws about the use of force against those with psychiatric conditions. As part of Forum's First Person series, which profiles local change-makers who make the Bay Area unique, Hall joins us to remember Miles and explain the work she carries on in his name.

Two San Francisco residents have tested positive for coronavirus, health officials said on Thursday. Meanwhile, state and federal officials are monitoring the condition of travelers on the Grand Princess cruise ship, currently quarantined at sea off the Northern California coast. We bring you the latest news on the virus and what it means for the Bay Area.

UC students and faculty are expected to strike on Thursday in solidarity with graduate student workers who are asking for higher wages. The workers argue they’re not being compensated in line with the cost of living at UC campuses, while the UC system says there isn't room in the budget. The strike began at UC Santa Cruz in December when teaching assistants organized to withhold final grades. Fifty-four of those teaching assistants were fired last Friday, and around 30 more are no longer eligible for spring positions. Meanwhile, the union that represents student workers at the University of California and the UC system have filed unfair labor practices charges against each other. We’ll get the latest news on the strikes and where bargaining stands.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday after more than 50 people in the state have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and a patient died from the illness in Placer County.  The governor said he wants to arm the state with tools to contain the spread of coronavirus and protect consumers against price gouging of supplies.  Also, a cruise ship carrying 2,500 passengers is docked off San Francisco awaiting testing kits after some aboard exhibited flu-like symptoms.  We discuss the latest news on the virus and how people are bracing for the spread.

The World Bank on Tuesday announced it would commit $12 billion in loans, grants and technical assistance for developing countries to help fight the new coronavirus. The virus, which has spread to at least 70 countries, is creating an economic slowdown that some fear could tip the world into recession. Time foreign affairs columnist and president of the Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer joins us to discuss the global economic and political impact of the outbreak.

California's 415 pledged delegates are up for grabs as voters head to the polls on Super Tuesday. We'll analyze the results of the democratic primary as well as key state races and ballot measures.

Many of the biggest decisions shaping our communities, from new housing developments to how school districts spend money, are made during public meetings. Laws like California's Brown Act set guidelines to ensure that the public has a say in and has access to those meetings. Some experts, however, say the public meeting system is broken. Too few people participate and those who do don't adequately represent the public. As part of Forum's Activating Democracy series, we break down how people can best navigate the system, and how it can be improved.

On Monday, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 reached six, as global deaths surpassed 3000. Meanwhile, in a White House briefing Monday, Vice President Pence said that the risk to Americans remains low and that a vaccine could be going to clinical trials within six weeks. We'll talk about the latest coronavirus developments and what lessons we can learn from previous epidemics.