The Trump administration has laid off more than a thousand National Park Service employees in the past few weeks as part of its broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce. KQED’s Sarah Mohamad talks about how these layoffs are affecting workers — and how your next visit to a national park might be a little different. 

Links:

• What You Should Know About Visiting National Parks Right Now

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We’re celebrating 1000 episodes of The Bay with a very special episode and we want to hear from you! Tell us what you love about the show.

Leave us a voicemail at 415-710-9223, or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Tell us your name, your city, and how long you’ve been listening to The Bay. 

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An investigation by CalMatters found that homeless shelters are dangerous, chaotic, and ineffective at getting people into permanent housing. The lead reporter behind the investigation, Lauren Hepler, spoke with KQED’s Political Breakdown about what’s gone wrong.

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Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop to the politics of memes, Close All Tabs covers it all.

How will AI change our jobs and lives? Is the government watching what I post? Is there life beyond TikTok? Host Morgan Sung pulls from experts, the audience, and history to add context to the trends and depth to the memes. And she’ll wrestle with as many browser tabs as it takes to explain the cultural moment we’re all collectively living.

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Bay Area public schools are struggling, especially in Oakland and San Francisco. Both districts are among only a handful across California with negative budgets, and as a result recently voted to approve preliminary layoff notices for teachers, counselors, and other staff.

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

Links:

• How Oakland and SF Ended Up Among 7 CA School Districts Who Can’t Pay Their Bills

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San José leaders have announced a new and controversial plan as part of their efforts to end street homelessness. ‘Homeward Bound’ will offer to send unhoused residents to family or friends who are willing to take them in. Mayor Matt Mahan says it’s an additional tool to get people off the streets, while some homelessness advocates say it’s an ineffective and inhumane approach.

This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Mel Velasquez, and Tessa Paoli, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo.

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In this edition of the Bay’s monthly news roundup, Alan, Jessica, and intern Mel talk about renewed fears of real estate development at San Francisco’s Presidio, an increase in FasTrak scam texts, and concerns around two famous peregrine falcons at UC Berkeley.

Links:

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A new “triage center” in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood opened in early February. It’s one of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first tangible initiatives to address the city’s fentanyl crisis as he embarks on his first year in office. A second center is also planned in the Tenderloin. KQED’s Sydney Johnson visited the new center and tells us what she saw.

This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Mel Velasquez, and Tessa Paoli, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo.

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San Francisco’s sanctuary policies have been contested repeatedly since they were first enacted in the 1980s following an immigration raid at a Mission District dance club that left dozens of people detained for hours — some U.S. citizens. So what can the history of challenges against the city’s sanctuary policies tell us about President Donald Trump’s threats to it today?

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Affected faculty and students at Sonoma State University were caught off guard over plans to slash entire academic departments and NCAA sports programs last month. Could these cuts at SSU signal what’s to come for more campuses in the California State University system?

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