Crosscurrents

California's $9.2 billion budget deficit could grow, due to a proposed change to the investment forecast of CalPERS, California’s pension fund. The rate has not been changed since 2003. In 2010, CalPERS return on investment was over 20%, but it was 1.1% in 2011. If CalPERS decides to adjust its investment forecast from 7.75% to 7.25%, the cost of CalPERS could jump up by $425 million come July 1…

CNN may buy Mashable for $200 million. Mashable covers and aggregates news on social media and the Internet at large. Last August CNN bought Zite, a news app for the iPad...

PG&E announced it will pay the city of San Bruno $70 million in restitution from pipeline explosion of September 2010, which killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes. Jim Ruane is the mayor of San Bruno, which has a population of about 40,000 people. KALW's Holly Kernan spoke with Ruane about what the settlement means for the city. 

An update on San Bruno's settlement with PG&E, how to dispose of old or unused pharmaceuticals, rethinking the urban development of Oakland's waterfront property, a celebration of Pi Day, and local musician Ava Mendoza.

California's outer coast once boasted 27 miles of Bay Area beaches. Up until the 20th Century, these beaches provided a natural buffer for the inner land areas; then came freeways, airports and downtowns. KALW's Ben Trefny spoke with Robin M. Grossinger, Senior Scientist and Historical Ecology Program Director at the San Francisco Estuary Institute about California beaches, landscape heritage and how some of these areas have rebuilt themselves.