Wren Farrell
ReporterWren Farrell (he/him) is a writer, producer and journalist living in San Francisco. Originally from San Diego, he moved to the Bay Area in 2018, where he got his start in radio at KPFA. He graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2021 and then went on to work for a number of podcasts as an associate producer. In 2023 he joined the inaugural class of UC Berkeley’s California Local News Fellowship, which brought him back to KALW as a full-time emergency and disaster preparedness reporter. In his free time he likes biking, cooking and hanging out.
All Stories
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Starting tomorrow, Waymos, Uber Black, and Lyft Black cars will be allowed to pick up and drop people off on certain parts of Market Street. -
The registration period for California’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt seismic retrofit program opened yesterday. -
New data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that most of the United States’ water supply is contaminated with “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. -
The San Francisco Bay could soon become home to the United States’ first fleet of electric ferries. -
The State Department announced on Saturday that it is temporarily halting visitor visas for people from Gaza, including children seeking medical care. -
The Bay Area Air District filed a lawsuit against a landfill in Martinez on Thursday for illegally emitting high levels of methane and other air pollutants. -
San Francisco federal workers, seniors, and advocates will rally at the Federal Building on Thursday to protest cuts to Social Security. KALW's Wren Farrell has more. -
An East Oakland recycling facility has reached an agreement with the Bay Area Air District to resolve the company's air quality violations. -
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Three injured Palestinian children arrived at San Francisco International Airport this week seeking medical care in the Bay Area.
News Updates
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Tomorrow, caregivers at more than 30 dialysis clinics in California will picket to draw attention to worsening workplace conditions. -
California congressman Kevin Mullin wants the federal government to do more to address the threat of rising groundwater levels. -
Mayor Daniel Lurie signed legislation Tuesday morning, establishing 24/7 two-hour parking restrictions for large vehicles. -
The CEO of the agency that operates the Golden Gate Bridge wants to end several DEI initiatives to protect federal funding. -
The Oakland City Council heard a report Monday on its non-police response program, MACRO. -
Hundreds of city employees gathered at City Hall today to voice their opposition to Mayor Lurie’s proposed budget. -
According to a report submitted to the Oakland City Council, the city needs almost 200 more police officers to meet its long term safety goals. -
The San Francisco Environment Department is asking people to give feedback on its 2025 Climate Action Plan. -
San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder wants the city to adopt a new strategy to deal with its drug overdose crisis. -
A press conference held in San Francisco’s Chinatown Tuesday called attention to the devastating economic impact President Trump's tariffs will have on the local economy.
Crosscurrents
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CrosscurrentsPart six of our series on sea level rise looks at a dune restabilization project at Ocean Beach, and a wastewater treatment plant that is being threatened by coastal erosion and rising tides. -
CrosscurrentsToday is Transgender Day of Visibility. It’s a day to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of trans people, while also acknowledging the discrimination and challenges many still face.March was a particularly tense time for trans folks in San Francisco. Two local bathhouses — Imperial Spa in the Fillmore district, and Archimedes Banya in Hunters Point — were accused of enforcing anti-trans policies.After facing backlash online and potential protests, Imperial Spa quickly reversed their policy. But at Banya, it was a little more complicated. -
CrosscurrentsFor months organizers in California have been working to spread the word about a helpline for perpetrators of domestic and intimate partner violence. You heard that right. A helpline for perpetrators, not victims.It’s an unusual approach to a serious problem: Rates of domestic violence in the U.S. are high, and they got even worse during the pandemic.The helpline – A Call for Change – promises anonymity to its callers. Their goal is to provide a non-carceral approach to preventing domestic and intimate partner violence. -
CrosscurrentsIn part two of this series, we'll learn about the larger network of service providers that the Mobile Support Team works with. And what happens to their clients after a crisis. -
CrosscurrentsLast year, Sonoma County got state funding to make their Mobile Support Team available 24/7. In part one of this series, we look at the complexities of crisis intervention. -
CrosscurrentsToday, an update on Oakland’s community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. How and when you can call them, and what they’re doing for Oaklanders.
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CrosscurrentsEvery other year, communities across the country count the number of unhoused folks in their area. It's a way to get federal funding. But is the model working? -
CrosscurrentsStudent reporters have been at the center of pro-Palestine encampments across the world. But what's it like being a student reporter today? -
CrosscurrentsSubstance abuse experts say there’s a strong connection between the stress of the pandemic and increased drug and alcohol use nationwide. In this story, we take a closer look at one of the personal stories behind the statistics. -
CrosscurrentsLast week the California Academy of Science’s resident corpse flower bloomed. It’s an event that usually makes the news. But despite all the attention they attract, wild corpse flowers are endangered, which is why the Academy is joining a national effort to preserve their DNA.
