‘It Just Felt Like the World Was Burning’: Remembering the 2020 Fires

Earlier this summer, KQED in partnership with LaRussell and Good Compenny hosted a Bay Area Music Showcase in Vallejo. After more than 200 submissions, five artists from the Bay Area were selected to compete for real recognition.  Today, first place winner Misa James talks with us about his music, being an artist in San Jose, and his hopes after his win.  Links: Listen to Misa James’ Music LaRussell, Ruby Ibarra, Souls of Mischief, Misa James and more perform in San Jose Sunday Sept. 21  Watch Misa James perform at the KQED x Good Compenny Bay Area Music Showcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this Spring, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order telling U.S. National Park Service staff, including those in California, to scrub parks of any materials that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.” Advocates and park workers say following through has been confusing and chaotic, and many worry that a true record of California’s history is at stake.  Links: As Trump Targets National Parks that 'Disparage Americans,’ Advocates Warn California History Is At Stake What’s Going on With the Muir Woods Exhibit Removal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early to mid-2000s Palo Alto was rocked by a cluster of teen suicides. For Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we’re airing a documentary from audio reporter and producer I-Yun Chan, who traveled to Palo Alto to help her understand her own loss, and what it means to live on after someone losing someone to suicide. This story was edited by Shereen Marisol Meraji and was made in the audio program at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. It was engineered by Chris Hoff. This episode discusses suicide. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Valkyries’ first season has been a huge success. Next week, they’ll be the first WNBA expansion team to appear in the playoffs.  The Valkyries aren't just good; they're fun to watch. Part of their appeal is the community around the team, which embraces women and LGBTQ people. This is also reflected in the team's official DJs, whose job it is to set the mood at Chase Center, AKA Balhalla. Links: Meet the DJs Bringing the Pride and the Party to the Valkyries’ Ballhalla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's another recall election in the Bay Area. This time, it's in San Francisco's Sunset District on the city's west side. Voters in District 4 have until Tuesday, Sept. 16 to vote in a special recall election for Supervisor Joel Engardio, who faces backlash from constituents after supporting Prop. K, which closed a portion of the Great Highway for a new park. Links: Your Guide to the Special Recall Election of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 2020, a dry lightning storm kicked off an unprecedented siege of wildfires. These firestorms lasted for months, destroyed 9,000 structures and killed 31 people. Millions of residents throughout the region breathed in toxic smoke as the sky turned orange and the pandemic raged on. As we mark five years since the sky turned orange, we’re bringing you stories from people who lived through the 2020 fires, in their own words. Links: The Summer That Changed California Forever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of people are signing up to 'adopt' street corners near where day laborers gather to find work. Their goal? To keep an eye out for ICE agents. KQED labor correspondent Farida Jhabvala Romero takes us to one intersection in East Oakland to meet some of these volunteers. Links: Volunteers ‘Adopt’ Street Corners To Monitor For ICE Activity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A decade ago, most major tech companies swore off working with the U.S. military. Google, Meta and OpenAI even once had policies banning the use of AI in weapons. But times have changed, and now Silicon Valley is fully embracing contracts and collaborations with the military. Sheera Frenkel, tech reporter with the New York Times, explains how and why this shift occurred. Links: The Militarization of Silicon Valley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the last 102 years, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park has supplied millions of Bay Area residents with some of the cleanest water in the country. But climate change has made it harder to manage the reservoir. This episode originally aired on May 10, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka is joined by The Bay’s senior editor Alan Montecillo and KQED associate arts and culture editor Nastia Voynovskaya. We talk about the Pickett Fire currently burning in Napa, scheduling and payment changes to public transit across the Bay, and why some local artists have decided to take their music off Spotify. Links: Pickett Fire Did ‘escaped control burn’ cause Napa County’s Pickett Fire? Dispatch records raise questions about blaze’s origin Starting This Week, You Can Tap Onto BART With a Credit Card — Here’s How SF Band Ditches Spotify Over CEO’s $700M Military AI Investment Bay Area transit’s latest Big Sync improves transfers, saving riders up to 20 minutes per trip Bay Area artists turn down S.F. Boiler Room show, throw their own party instead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices