SMART trains are accelerating their test runs, and they now expect to begin full service sooner than expected.

SMART trains are now making frequent but irregular test runs, creating changes and possible risks along the railroad tracks as they ramp up to starting regular runs later in the year.

There's more on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Observing the presidential primary campaign on the ground in Iowa is very different from watching debates and other television coverage. KRCB political analyst Dick Spotswood shares that front row perspective.

With Iowa now wrapping up its quadrennial turn in the political spotlight, attention is largely focused on the results of the partisan primary caucuses. But KRCB’s man on the ground in Des Moines has been watching the campaign process as it unfolded in the final days there, and shares his observations with us today.

Dick Spotswood and Bruce Robinson will again provide KRCB’s television cove rage of the California primary election, when it comes around on June 7th. Find out more on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

When the rains come, it’s a mixed blessing for the water quality in our streams and rivers.

Industry and agriculture both contribute to the degradation of water quality in California’s waterways. But the even greater source of pollutants—some 60 million tons each year--is us. But with an assist from Mother Nature.

Find out more on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

This year's presentation of the annual State of Sonoma County Report Thursday morning was enlivened by boisterous protests from a crowd of county workers unhappy with ongoing contract negotiations. But that wasn’t the biggest news to come out of the event, as KRCB’s Bruce Robinson reports.

You can hear Supervisor Carrillo’s entire State of the County talk as part of our longer presentation on event on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Natural selection is just one of the factors shaping the evolution of plants and animals. Other factors can actually preclude the development of certain types of organisms.

Evolution has been shaping life forms on planet earth for millions of years. Yet there are some entirely plausible—even probable—creatures that have never existing. Today we hear from a man who studies the question, “why not?”

Gary Vermay will be the featured speaker at the “Science Buzz Café” gathering in Sebastopol tonight. Find details about the event on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The rebirth of local grange halls across California is now clouded by a bitter rift between the organization’s state and national leaders.

From the outside, it looks like business as usual at local grange halls across northern California. But a bitter internal power struggle between the state and national offices is forcing each community group to choose sides.

Find our more at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Strange ocean weather is making life difficult for many local marine animals

At Sausalito's Marine Mammal Center, staff and volunteers have cared for historic numbers of rescued animals, as ocean conditions remain out of whack.

Hear more from the Marine Mammal Center online at at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

What do creative hotspots, throughout history, have in common? Eric Weiner explores that question in his latest book.

Down through human history and around the globe, there have been occasional times and places where creativity and innovation flourished. In The Geography of Genius, reporter Eric Weiner explores the conditions they share.

Eric Weiner talks about The Geography of Genius at Book Passage in San Rafael tonight at 7 pm. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Post-war urban growth patterns in America are economically unsustainable. But changes now may forestall civic crises in the near future.

One way to understand the economics of local government is to balance tax revenues against the costs of installing and maintaining civic infrastructure. For most US cities, Santa Rosa included, that does not yield a pretty picture.

Charles Marohn and Joe Minicozzi will make their last joint presentation in Santa Rosa this evening, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Bike Money, at 121 5th street in downtown Santa Rosa. You can also hear more from them on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

No two homeless people have the same story, so no one solution can help them all.

The drama of Monday’s overnight “Solidarity Sleep-Out” to raise awareness of homelessness in Sonoma County became a multifaceted discussion of the issue on Tuesday. KRCB’s Bruce Robinson was there.

We’ve got more from Tuesday’s teach-in on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.