After a decadeslong fight, the majority of ranching along the Point Reyes National Seashore will end by next year, thanks to a legal settlement involving environmentalists, ranchers, and the National Park Service. Environmentalists say the deal will protect native animal and grass species. Meanwhile, ranchers and workers are now in a scramble to find housing in an area already squeezed for options.

Links:

Cattle Ranching Is at the Center of a Battle Brewing in Point Reyes

Point Reyes Ranching Will All But End Under New Deal, Capping Decadeslong Conflict

Point Reyes Cattle Ranchers Urge Republicans to Leave Environmental Deal Alone

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this episode stated that ranchers would need to leave roughly 28,000 acres of land and that some ranchers would have up to 20 years to cease operations. The correct number is roughly 16,000 acres, and all 12 ranchers will have 15 months to cease operations. It has also been updated to clarify the terms of the settlement and provide additional context on the Point Reyes Act.

Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.

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When it comes to private school enrollment, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Marin counties are all well above the state average. But why? In this episode from our friends at Bay Curious, we'll explore the many reasons San Francisco families choose to send their kids to private schools. It's a trend rooted in the history of desegregation that's been hard to reverse.

Links:

Why Is Private Schooling So Popular in the San Francisco Bay Area?

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Wednesday marked 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. As a result of the north's victory, an estimated 120,000 Vietnamese refugees fled to communities all over the U.S. — including to San José. Today, it's hard to imagine San José without the Vietnamese American community.

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In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we unpack the razor-thin election results in San José’s District 3 and the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Plus, we learn more about how roughly 900 Berkeley homeowners will need to clear vegetation in order to protect their houses against wildfire damage.

Links:

After Recount, Tordillos Advances to Runoff Election for San José Council Seat

San Francisco Chinatown Businesses Enter Survival Mode During Trade War

Berkeley Moves to Require Vegetation Removal Near Homes in Fire Zones

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Head Start was founded 60 years ago to help America’s poorest families break the cycle of poverty. Now, it’s one of many federal programs that the Trump administration wants to reduce or cut altogether. 

KQED’s Daisy Nguyen tells the story of one federal employee in the Bay Area who was laid off from Head Start — and how the program changed her life.

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As part of Youth Takeover Week at KQED, The Bay and Bay Curious have teamed up to collaborate with four high school students who live in San Pablo, Fremont, Walnut Creek and San Jose. For several months, these teenagers — two juniors and two seniors — have shared what’s going on in their lives, what’s got them worried, what’s making them excited and what they're passionate about.

This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Alan Montecillo, Katrina Schwartz, Olivia Allen-Price, and Christopher Beale

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Join host Xorje Andrés Olivares and guests to explore what it means to live within a hyphenation. Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to have easy conversations about hard things: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. Hyphenación—where conversation and cultura meet!

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After running on a promise to unite Oakland, former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee has defeated former city councilmember Loren Taylor in a tight race for mayor. Lee will complete the term of former Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled in November.

Today, The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe joins us to discuss what to expect from Mayor-Elect Barbara Lee.

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Last week, the oil giant Valero announced that it will “idle, restructure, or cease operations” at its Benicia refinery that employs more than 400 workers by April 2026. KQED’s Julie Small tells us how officials are reacting, and why many view this decision as a response to state and local regulations.

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Picture an all-electric home with smart appliances that talk to each other via WiFi to figure out when to pull power from the grid. That’s the idea behind something called ‘virtual power plant’ technology. While it’s not new, the technology’s advocates hope it will power many more homes in the coming years. KQED’s Laura Klivans takes us inside one such home in north Richmond.

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