The Bay

If you want solar power in your home, you usually need to be a homeowner with a good roof and a decent amount of cash to pay up front.

But some Bay Area residents are trying out plug-in solar, which can hang from an apartment balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard.

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Forget Rooftops — Bay Area Residents Are Plugging Solar Into the Wall

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Young people are increasingly turning to AI “companion” chatbots to help meet their emotional needs. But a new study shows that these chatbots, which are designed to mimic real social relationships, may come with serious risks.

On this episode of Close All Tabs from KQED, host Morgan Sung and her sister put one chatbot's safety guardrails to the test — and get more than they bargained for.

This episode mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can dial or text 988 and be connected to help.

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In the 1960s, Alameda County and the city of Hayward forcibly displaced more than 1,000 mostly Black and Latino residents living in a 12-block unincorporated area called Russell City to make way for an industrial park. Now, the city and county have approved reparations for former residents whose homes were seized by the government.

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In the South Bay, calls to a community-led Rapid Response Network have increased as the network fights back against misinformation around Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. Meet the community members on the other end of the line.

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This episode was hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and produced by Jessica Kariisa and Alan Montecillo.

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When we talk about homelessness, especially in San Francisco, many of us are usually talking about individuals living on the streets.

But the number of families experiencing homelessness in San Francisco nearly doubled from 2022 to 2024, according to the city’s Point In Time Count. And many of them move from shelter to shelter, in a system that’s meant to be temporary but has few permanent housing options to offer.

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This weekend, San Francisco is hosting shows and celebrations honoring 60 years of the Grateful Dead’s music. Dead & Company, which performs Grateful Dead covers and includes  former members of the original band, will be headlining three nights in Golden Gate Park.

For some Deadheads, it’s a chance to celebrate the Dead’s music in the city where the band became famous. Others say that the anniversary shows, which cost $635 for a three-day pass, go against everything the Dead stood for.

Links:

‘Jerry is rolling in his grave’: The Deadheads boycotting SF’s anniversary shows

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As you may have heard, last week was a tough one for KQED, NPR, and public media across the country.

Last Tuesday, KQED announced that it is cutting 15% of its staff in response to a budget shortfall and financial uncertainty. While our team was not laid off, we are losing many beloved colleagues.

Then, just a few days later, Congress voted to take back $1.1 billion in funding for public media. These were funds that public media stations across the country had already been promised. 

It’s a huge setback for us. But we want to reassure you: We’re still here. And we will keep fighting for the mission that public media represents, and reaffirm our commitment to serving you. So if you’re reading this: Thank you for your support.

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Every year The Bay team takes some time off from making new episodes. This is time we spend planning and recharging. So there will be no new episodes in your feed in the month of July.

In the meantime, we want to thank you for letting us be part of your daily routines. We will be back Friday, August 1 with a new episode. You can still reach us via e-mail at [email protected]. We always love hearing from you.

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On this month’s edition of The Bay’s news roundup, we introduce you to the Bay Area’s first women’s sports bar, discuss Stanford’s scaling back of gender-related surgical procedures for minors, and the secret sauce of the San Francisco malls defying the ‘doom loop’ narrative.

Links:

The Bay Area’s First Women’s Sports Bar Is Open for Business

Stanford Scales Back Trans Care for Minors Amid Federal Crackdown

Asian Food Is Coming to Save a Mall Near You

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Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley has long been seen as a launchpad for actors and artists. In 2018 the theater commissioned and premiered the Tony-Award winning play “Eureka Day.”

Now, the theater is suspending production, joining a growing list of Bay Area theaters on the brink of closure in what the San Francisco Chronicle theater critic Lily Janiak describes as the “industry’s free fall.”

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