The Bay

Applying for student aid this year was supposed to be easier for incoming college students, with a more simplified application process for FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

But technical problems and missed deadlines for the new form’s rollout has led to disastrous results for students, especially those who are undocumented or come from mixed status families. These issues are likely a big reason why California saw a major drop in FAFSA applications for the Class of 2024.

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Tamuna Chkareuli and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

Transcript

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The company that owns the Regional Medical Center of San Jose says it plans to close the hospital’s trauma center on August 12. The trauma center is the only one of its kind on Santa Clara County’s east side.

Now, local leaders, patient advocates, and even some doctors from the hospital want the state to intervene, warning that this closure will have devastating ripple effects on the entire region.

Links:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Alan, and intern Ellie talk about a possible tax on oil refining in Richmond, the debate over farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay, and Berkeley’s baby falcons. Plus, an interview with Tamuna Chkareuli, a visiting journalist from the Republic of Georgia who has been working at KQED for the past few weeks.

Links:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ride BART, you may have seen uniformed employees with the words ‘Crisis Intervention Specialist” on their backs. About 20 of these ‘CIS-es’ — who are not police officers — can be seen walking through trains, seeking out and offering help to the many people in the sprawling transit system struggling with lack of shelter, mental health problems or addiction. 

KQED’s Matthew Green joins us to talk about what he learned about this program, and what a morning on the job was like.

Links:

• 'We Approach in Peace': Are BART's Efforts to Help People in Crisis Working?

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie-Prickett Morgan, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Tamuna Chkareuli, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his 12 years with The Golden State Warriors, DJ D Sharp has seen it all — from the team’s lowest point to the championship rings. Raised in East Oakland, D Sharp talks Rightnowish host Pendarvis Harshaw about his journey, inspiration and a go-to Warriors song.

This episode originally aired May 2, 2024

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, California voters passed Proposition 22, which allowed app-based companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors and not employees with full benefits. It was a big win for companies like Uber and Lyft, who spent unprecedented amounts of money to get the measure passed.

Now, the issue is back — this time before the California Supreme Court, which heard a case on Prop. 22 this Tuesday. KQED’s Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos explain in an episode of the Political Breakdown podcast.

Links:

Nov, 13, 2020: With Prop. 22 Approved, Regulating Gig Companies Just Got a Lot Harder

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Less than half of all San Francisco pharmacies carry buprenorphine, one of the most powerful medications used to treat opioid addiction, according to San Francisco’s Department of Public Health. The city hopes to change that.

This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, protesters blocked the entrance of Google’s largest development conference in Mountain View to protest the tech giant’s ties with the Israeli government. At issue is Project Nimbus, Google and Amazon’s $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, including the Israeli Defense Ministry. But as KQED’s Rachael Myrow explains, Silicon Valley’s ties to Israel run much deeper — which makes divesting a tall order.

Episode Transcript

This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the 60s, BART was just a plan in the making. And located through its path were communities of mostly low income people of color. But thanks to a legal tool known as eminent domain, many in that community were forced to sell their homes or face eviction. 

This is an episode of Bay Curious that originally aired on May 16, 2024.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Jacobo was a rising star in the progressive wing of San Francisco politics when a colleague publicly accused him of rape in 2021. At that time, he largely escaped scrutiny from members of his own party.

But as Josh Koehn of the San Francisco Standard reported in mid-April, three more women have publicly accused Jacobo of sexual abuse and domestic violence. And they say that leaders treated their allegations with indifference.

Links: 

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices