Crosscurrents

There's a new kind of solar on the block... but will law-makers allow renters to use plug-in solar? Then, a fully electric train ride into the future of Caltrains. And, one group is keeping fun at the center of something that’s the cause of a lot of grumbling -- litter. It's Oakland’s Trash Falcons!

Electricity prices have risen sharply over the past decade. A new, cheap solar power option could cut bills. But it’s facing legal challenges. Crosscurrents host Hana Baba sat down with KALW's climate reporter, Mary Catherine O’Connor, to learn more.

If you’ve ridden Caltrain anywhere between San Francisco and San Jose recently, you might have noticed that those trains have made the jump to being fully electric. Gone are the days of the loud, lurching—and often smelly—diesel locomotives. And electrifying the 51 miles of railway along the Peninsula was not cheap. It was a multi-billion dollar modernization project. It’s also just a small part of a larger, statewide ambition: the California High Speed Rail system. Last year, KALW’s transportation reporter, Zain Iqbal went on one of the new trains to see what’s changed with electrification.

Reporter Laura Isaza brings us this story from 2023, of one OAKLAND group tackling the trash near their home.

Today, two new stories from Uncuffed. Plus, a special conversation with the Sights and Sounds team about what they’re looking forward to in their second year.

Uncuffed Solano producer Saladin Rushdan loved his first car, a Mercury. But after he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War, he came back a changed man, with different feelings about the car of his youth.

Uncuffed producer Daniel Cowie struggled to find the courage to reach out to his father. But a conversation at Solano State Prison changed everything — and led to him finding his sister.

Last year, KALW’s Jenee Darden launched a new show all about arts and culture around the Bay. Now, the Sights and Sounds Show is celebrating its first anniversary! I sat down with Jenee, to hear some highlights from their first year… and a look at what’s to come.

Today, Author Meena Harris talks about her new children’s book where a little girl asks "Where are all the statues of women?" Then, we explore the science fiction that’s helped imagine our current reality. And, the art at a Bolinas exhibit offers many different views of our future.

Where are the women? That’s a question a little girl named Maya had. She is the main character in the book "Maya’s Big Question." In the story, Maya goes on a field trip to Washington, D.C. and notices that just about all of the monuments and statues pay tribute to men. “Maya’s Big Question,” is the fifth book by New York Times bestselling Bay Area author Meena Harris.The main character is named after her mother and policy advocate Maya Harris. Meena’s aunt is former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. KALW’s Jenee Darden spoke with Meena Harris on “The Sights + Show.” Here’s an excerpt from that conversation.

Some works of fiction seem to have predetermined where we are now as a society... And where we might be headed. To dive into these questions, KALW recently hosted a live taping of the “Ways of Knowing” podcast. Panelists included two assistant professors from the University of Washington: Anna Price, from the English department and Golden m Owens, from the cinema and media studies department. In this excerpt from that event, KALW’s Executive Producer Ben Trefney, who moderated the panel, asked Price and Owens to share a few of the stories that seemed to see into our present. First, Anna Price.

The Common Wheel Gallery in Bolinas is asking big questions. About how communities around the world respond to a time of global uncertainty. The exhibit is called “Remembering Our Future,” and it brings together art, storytelling, and the work of fellows from the Omega Resilience Awards hosted by the longtime West Marin nonprofit Common Wheel. Mark Valentine is their chief Strategy Officer of the Omega Resilience Awards. He spoke to KALW’s Ethan Elkind on a recent episode of State of the Bay.

You may have heard the phrase save the bees. Well turns out, maybe not ALL bees should be saved. Today, how we can help save California’s native bees. Then, a woman who handles high-stakes situations with grace and a level head. We spend an afternoon with Reverend Annanda Barclay, a Stanford Chaplain Fellow… and bee keeper.

Muslim American women have to face Islamophobia, but when you’re also Black - it’s even more complicated. Today, we meet women navigating the intersection of Blackness and being Muslim. Plus, a rapper from Oakland faces the haters head-on.

A program at San Francisco Airport is helping fearful flyers get into the sky… Today, we visit SFO’s Fear of Flying Clinic. Then, we talk to the clinic’s chairwoman who says, it’s not an easy fear to let go of. And she knows this personally.

Today, we hear how some San Mateo County farmworkers are speaking up about workplace injustice. Then, would you do stand-up comedy with your mom?... or your kid!? And, in the final days of Ramadan, we reflect on how the month can feel different, depending on where you are.

Imagine the scene: You work at your job all month but when payday rolls around there’s no check, no deposit in your account. Your boss says it’ll all be worked out next month… but when that pay period comes around there’s still no money. That’s called wage theft. And it hits low-wage workers especially hard and most frequently. That’s one of the reasons why San Mateo County launched the office of Labor Standards and Enforcement last summer. Reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli wanted to find out: how is it working? How much wage theft is still happening?

The Cinequest film festival is happening now through March 22nd. One film showing at the fest is ‘Comedy Family Style’. Now, many people would be mortified by the idea of performing stand up with their parents, or their kids for that matter. "Comedy Family Style" is a documentary that tells the story of a San Francisco mother and son duo doing just that. Helen Chu and her 10 year-old son Evan Ho are both stand-up comedians. KALW’s Jenee Darden spoke to Helen about her and Evan’s act, and their new film, for The Sights and Sounds Show.

Today, a California Assembly Member shares their take on San Francisco’s pressing priorities. Then, we’ll hear the story of how a Green Day CD opened up a window to a new world. And, a documentary about a San Francisco man fighting colon cancer with laughter.

California Assembly Member Matt Haney represents the 17th district that encompasses much of the eastern side of San Francisco. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, the Legislative Renters’ Caucus, and the Committee on Downtown Recovery. Recently, Assemblymember Haney joined KALW Executive Producer Ben Trefny at our live event space in Downtown San Francisco, for a wide-ranging discussion about the future. The event was part of KALW’s ongoing Bay Agenda series, that connects residents directly with the leaders and changemakers shaping the Bay Area’s future. In this excerpt from their conversation we hear Haney respond to a lightning round of Ben’s questions — from housing and small business recovery to public safety, neighborhood identity, and the role of civic media in shaping local change.