Most healthcare bills have a hefty price tag attached, but Senate Bill 562 may have one larger than some Californians are willing to take on—an estimated $400 billion a year, according to an analysis from the California Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill, commonly called a “single payer plan,” is being pushed by members of the California Nurses Association, which is headquartered in Oakland. Should it pass, all healthcare costs would be covered under the expansive umbrella provided by the state…
Kava, kratom and caffeine — the stories in this episode of our podcast dive into obsession, addiction and habits. We follow reporters Susie Neilson ad Padmini Parasarathy as they goes to Melo Melo Kava Bar where people consume Kava, a Polynesian root-brewed tea, helping people with their anxiety and overcome addiction. Alexa Hornbeck takes us to Sacramento as she speaks with a mother fighting to keep kratom, a controversial herbal supplement, from being made an illegal substance in the United States….
The Bay Area is sinking and climate change is speeding things up, according to a new study published in Science Advances this month. The study was conducted over the span of two years by researchers Manoocher Shirzaei and Roland Burgmann, who used satellite images to evaluate regions of the Bay Area, such as Treasure Island, which are experiencing sea level rise because of the accelerated melting of polar ice. Shirzaei is a former UC Berkeley post-doctoral student, and Burgmann is…
Since the 1970s, psychologists and neurologists have been studying what happens in the brains of meditating children and adults. Now, hospitals and non-profits like Kaiser Permanente and Mindful Life Project are turning to mindfulness and yoga training for it’s ability to heal.
The BART train whirrs by, leaving MacArthur station, as cars exit the freeway. Nobody notices the bit of history below. Under the train tracks at the speedway intersection of the flatlands at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and 58th Street in North Oakland is a salmon-colored building spanning the length of five blocks. It is the original site of Merritt College, where the Black Panthers met for the first time. Prominent leaders like Bobby Seale and Huey Newton met while…
A look into America’s high maternal mortality rates and maternal health.
Underutilization of the CalFresh program in Contra Costa County resulted in a projected loss of nearly $94 million in annual economic impact. Five years later, the federal aid remains untapped.
Veterans’ Voices offers alternative coverage of issues veterans face while adjusting back to civilian life.
Bay Area residents celebrate the Shoreline Festival organized every first Saturday of October by dozens of volunteers at Point Pinole Regional Park. This year, attendees enjoyed nature walks, birdwatching and local art.
Eating rich doesn’t mean spending money on an expensive meal. Anyone can have a nutrition-rich diet of healthy foods. But knowing where to purchase affordable, and locally grown produce is not easy. Food Week, going on now in Richmond, seeks to build a stronger food movement, united by a vision of food that is healthy, affordable and culturally relevant. Events this week provide opportunities to learn how to grow and prepare home-cooked meals, and how to access healthy food at…
Richmond organizers held the first hazardous-waste collection event on Sept. 30. The event gave Richmond residents the opportunity to properly dispose of toxic items.
Don’t have Saturday afternoon plans? Check out the North Richmond Shoreline Festival, a community event that celebrates the city’s conservation efforts.
The owner of Bzz Bee Removal servicing the East Bay since 1991, Williams locates, captures and transports bees to local keepers, seeking to protect the insects from what is known as colony collapse disorder.