North Bay Report 3

It was a busy year in Sacramento, and that was before legislators had to grapple with the historic fire season. Today, we hear the first part of a conversation with Assembly member Marc Levine, who represents parts of the North Bay.

News director Steve Mencher started with an issue that has gained traction due to the state’s extraordinary fire season. Wireless Emergency Alerts call people in the event of a natural disaster or other crisis. That system, Levine says, needs to be improved, and he is joining other local lawmakers to suggest some changes.

See more at KRCB.org/news, including a link to some criticism Levine received for created a glossy brochure about his accomplishments in Sacramento. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Nobody was surprised when the FCC Thursday struck down Net Neutrality. The FCC has voted to remove rules that require Internet giants like Comcast and AT&T to treat all traffic the same. They’ll now be able create tiers for faster and slower service. News director Steve Mencher talked with Tara Sharp, head of marketing at local ISP Sonic, about the details. Sonic is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is leading a group of states planning to sue the FCC to save net neutrality. Find out more at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Tomorrow on KRCB TV 22 we’ll be broadcasting our second special about the North Bay Fires. The New Normal tells stories from the community about lives turned upside down, and the strength of the human spirit.

One story we’ll be telling: how photographer Diane Askew (ASK-you) finds beauty in the rubble – and partners with those in the community to share their stories. She tells News Director Steve Mencher about her photo of a woman in a red dress…

Watch Diane and see other powerful stories on The New Normal at 6:30 p. m. tomorrow on KRCB TV 22. We’ll simulcast the program on KRCB FM Radio 91. See a few of Diane’s extraordinary images at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Emerald Cup held this weekend will be the last in California during what advocates consider the era of “Prohibition.” On January 1 the legal landscape for cannabis changes, and the industry is getting ready.

The 17th annual Emerald Cup, a celebration of all things cannabis, was held December 9 and 10 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Reporter Stacey Dennick joined the crowd of approximately 25,000 attendees who were, by the look of it, ready to party like it was already 2018.

Visit KRCB .org/news for a slide show of images from the Emerald Cup.

You can always find more stories at krcb.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Scientists are sifting evidence about whether climate change is to blame for the ongoing fires. And the state insurance commissioner warns about disruptions in the insurance market.

Today’s stories come from our partners at The California Report. We’ll hear about whether there’s a direct link between climate change and the state’s worst-ever fire season. But first, the state’s insurance commissioner Dave Jones tells KQED’s Guy Marzorati that some insurance companies may end up issuing fewer policies in the years ahead. Companies have more flexibility about whether or not to issue policies than they do about renewing policies or raising rates. The story begins in Santa Rosa…

This Friday at 6:30 pm, KRCB presents our second TV special about the fires and the ongoing recovery. We’ll also be simulcasting the special – Called The New Normal – on KRCB Radio 91.

We will follow the progress of UnDocuFund, which aims to distribute at least $5 million to undocumented immigrants affected by the fire. Also, see the story of a family sifting through the ashes of their home. We’ll follow a photographer who has been making poignant and beautiful pictures of the fire’s destruction. Plus, we’ll see an animated film shared by millions of people around the world that documents a family’s losses in a very personal and intimate way.

You can always find more at krcb.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Free meals, friendly signs. The North Bay poured out love to its first responders in October. But what help will be available when the stress and trauma catches up to them?

Monday night at 9 KRCB TV 22 will present a documentary about the stresses caregivers and first responders suffer as part of their jobs. News Director Steve Mencher spoke with producer Rodney Whittenberg who started off by describing the background of his filmmaking partner Vic Compher.

“Portraits of Professional Caregivers” airs at 9 pm Monday on KRCB TV 22. Watch a preview at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

A local group is raising money to help undocumented members of the community get back on their feet after the North Bay fires.

Susan Shaw of the North Bay Organizing Project realized early on that help from insurance companies and government agencies would likely bypass undocumented community members. What resulted was the UnDocuFund. Shaw began her talk last week with evidence of why the UnDocuFund is needed.

To learn more about the UnDocuFund and listen to the entire meeting of funders and nonprofits, visit KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

At last week’s meeting of nonprofits and funders raising money for the recovery, one organization reintroduced itself to the public. Rebuild Northbay wants to make sure our region gets every dollar coming to it from government sources. We reported last week on a meeting here in Rohnert Park that brought together funders, government representatives and nonprofits working to coordinate fire recovery dollars. The Community Foundation of Sonoma County invited the North Bay Fire Relief Fund, United Way of the Wine Country, UnDocuFund, and Tipping Point Community to give an accounting of how much money they’ve raised and where it’s going. Darius Anderson, founder of Rebuild Northbay, laid out his organization’s priorities and the places he sees where it can make a difference. You can hear the entire Resilience Convening, led by the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, at KRCB.org/News. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Laughter through tears – that often happens when things are at their worst. There is a fire relief fundraiser scheduled for Saturday at the Charles Schulz Museum. Author Dave Eggers, and Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis, head an all-star cast talking about how humor and creativity can help the North Bay recover. Pastis and Brian Fies, author of "A Fire Story,” join KRCB news director Steve Mencher to talk about the benefit.Watch the animated version of A Fire Story at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Rents have soared 36 percent; a new homeless encampment is active off Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa. What was a housing crisis before the fires is getting worse.

Today, we’re returning to a meeting held earlier this week that focused on two issues: rental housing and homelessness after the North Bay fires. We’ll hear from Santa Rosa City Council Member Julie Combs and Adrienne Lauby, an expert on local homelessness. Combs laid out some facts and figures to keep in mind as the city struggles to recover.

Find our earlier story on this meeting at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.