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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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. -
A hands-on, interactive workshop where we build our emergency kits together with guidance from emergency preparedness experts. -
The Trump administration is considering using a shuttered prison in Dublin to house immigrants who are waiting to be deported. -
Tonight, the Fremont City Council will vote on whether or not to adopt a new camping ban. -
Hundreds of protestors gathered outside of Senator Alex Padilla’s office in San Francisco yesterday to demand he and other Democrats do more to resist President Trump. -
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More than a hundred people gathered on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall yesterday afternoon to reaffirm the city’s commitment to its sanctuary status. -
The City of Oakland is preparing its upcoming two-year budget and it’s asking Oakland residents to give input on its spending priorities. -
A group of unhoused and housed organizers and advocates launched ‘sanctuary spaces’ across the West Coast earlier today, calling on local governments to stop sweeping homeless encampments. -
Last week, phones all over the Bay Area lit up with a tsunami evacuation warning. But, an hour later, the warning was canceled. People were relieved, but had questions about what happened.
News Updates
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Today, frustrated San Franciscans filed a petition letter with the Department of Elections to recall District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio. -
The National Weather Service says an atmospheric river is expected to hit parts of the North Coast this week, and has issued a flood watch in several North Bay counties. -
On January 1, the California Daylighting Law will go into effect. This means cars will no longer be allowed to park within 20 feet of an approaching crosswalk or intersection. -
San Francisco’s mayoral race is still too close to call, but political outsider Daniel Lurie took an early lead last night. -
PG&E has announced that about 15,000 of its customers may lose power starting Election Day. -
On Monday, the City of Oakland announced that a program to prevent gun violence is getting a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. -
Groups in Richmond are working to spread the word about a helpline for people who are abusing their partners or loved ones. -
On Tuesday, San Francisco opened its newest waterfront attraction near Chase Center. It’s called Bayfront Park, and its designers say it was built to withstand the effects of climate change. -
A group of business and community leaders held a press conference in Oakland’s Chinatown today to speak out against the campaign to recall Mayor Sheng Thao. -
A civil rights complaint filed in California lists more than 200 real estate agents, brokerage firms, and landlords who are being accused of refusing Section 8 vouchers.
Crosscurrents
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CrosscurrentsMACRO was created to address some of the toughest problems facing Oakland, from addiction and mental health issues to homelessness. But, building trust takes time. -
CrosscurrentsMACRO was formed in 2022 as an alternative to cops for non-emergency, non-violent 911 calls. But deciding when they should be deployed hasnt been consistent. -
CrosscurrentsMACRO is Oakland’s non-police response team. They’ve been running since mid-2022, but how do they differ from police, firefighters, and paramedics?
