© 2024 KALW 91.7 FM Bay Area
KALW Public Media / 91.7 FM Bay Area
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Crosscurrents

Daily News roundup for Thursday, October 8, 2015

Elzinga Alexander/Flickr

Here's what's happening in the Bay Area as curated by KALW news:

California poised to be 1st state to outlaw human antibiotics in livestock // San Francisco Chronicle

"This has been the year of antibiotics awareness in the food industry. Giant food corporations like McDonald’s, Tyson, Foster Farms and Costco all announced plans to phase out meat raised with antibiotics.

But these efforts pale in comparison to pending California legislation that aims to strictly limit antibiotic use in agriculture and, according to public health experts, could reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by drug-resistant bacteria. With the passage of SB27, which Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign by Sunday, California would be the first state in the nation to outlaw the routine use of human antibiotics in livestock."

-----

Golden Gate Bridge, National Park Service reach deal on permit for suicide barrier // The Marin Independent Journal 

"Golden Gate Bridge and National Park Service officials have worked out a tentative deal that would allow work on a $76 million suicide barrier on the span to move forward.
Span officials said the park service permit will be reviewed by the Building and Operations Committee Thursday and the full board Friday. If approvals are given, the bridge district intends to advertise a construction contract by Oct. 13. Bids would be opened in January, with another six weeks needed to go through the submissions made by bidders."
-----

California bill allows roughly 40,000 to get high school diplomas // SF Gate

"An estimated 40,000 young people will be eligible to receive their high school diplomas under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Under SB172, students who failed the California High School Exit Exam since its 2006 debut can claim diplomas if they met all other graduation requirements. The bill also suspends the exam for the next three years while the state considers updating it to reflect the new Common Core standards being taught in schools."
-----

California vaccine law: Opponents' repeal effort fails, but fight goes on // Contra Costa Times

"The fight to repeal California's controversial new mandatory vaccine law officially ended this week before it even got to the ballot box, as opponents on Wednesday conceded an ill-fated petition drive fell woefully short on signatures.

But while the latest setback is forcing one of the state's most vocal and embittered activist groups to acknowledge an organizational breakdown and lack of resources, parents and politicians behind the cause refuse to give up the larger battle: overturning -- or, at least, weakening -- a law they say violates their parental rights."

-----

Oakland's Top Housing Official: There Is No Affordable Housing Crisis // East Bay Express 

"Oakland's Director of Planning and Building Rachel Flynn reportedly told a conference of real estate developers in San Francisco yesterday that Oakland's residents are not facing an affordable housing crisis. Her comment was tweeted out by several attendees, including journalists.

Flynn made the comment while speaking on a panel of planning directors from major cities organized by the Urban Land Institute, a developer funded-think thank. Her comments also sparked some strong criticism on social media."

-----

Supervisor Kim’s Treasure Island affordable-housing goal hits snag // SF Gate

"An ambitious goal to increase affordable housing on Treasure Island was floated Tuesday — but it’s unlikely it will be achieved.

At the weekly Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Jane Kim urged the Treasure Island Development Authority to research options that would increase the area’s affordable and middle-income housing to 40 percent. The problem is the funding."

-----

Apple holding $181 billion in profit offshore, study says // Silicon Beat

"With $181 billion stashed overseas, Apple tops the list of U.S. companies that hold the most offshore profit, according to a new study released Tuesday.

Citizens for Tax Justice and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund used the companies’ SEC filings in the study, which found that Fortune 500 companies held more than $2.1 trillion in profit overseas in 2014."

Tags