Audio Academy 2020

Santa Clara’s top health official told the county board of supervisors, Tuesday, that statewide changes to shelter-in-place create a significant risk of coronavirus spread.

Earlier this year, the Governor made it clear he wanted to close one state prison in the next five years. Now, a revised budget plan proposes the closure of two, in three years. Either way, this would be the first California prison to be shuttered in more than two decades.

The Spare the Air season normally begins on May 4. But the district said at that time, so few people were driving because of shelter in place that the air quality was actually really good.

Now as stay at home orders relax. More people are driving. 

Over the holiday weekend, there was a back and forth about whether or not places of worship should reopen right now. 

Superintendents of six California school districts sent a letter to state legislators on Monday after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would cut school budgets by $7 billion.

Bay Area counties reported a total of 263 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations over the weekend. That’s a more than forty percent decrease in the number of cases since last month, when the region was at its peak.

A big question looming over counties’ re-opening is how small businesses are going to operate.

A new survey from a San Francisco restaurant trade group finds that they can’t survive by doing takeout and deliveries alone.

Protestors rallied outside of Tesla’s Fremont factory on Saturday. This comes after the electric car manufacturer reached a deal last week with Alameda county to keep its factory in Fremont in operation.

The past week has been full of contentious posturing between Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and public officials. At one point, Musk threatened to move the Fremont factory to either Las Vegas or Texas. He also opened the plant last week in defiance of Alameda County’s shelter in place law and then dared the government to arrest him.

The Contra Costa Superior Court announced that they will reopen all locations to the public on May 26. Other Bay Area courts, such as San Francisco and Santa Clara, will follow on June 1.  

This means that prospective jurors scheduled after those dates will be expected to appear in person. Officials also warn that you should expect to wait in line when you arrive.

San Francisco officials are recommending more protections for gig workers, after seeing new data about the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

Last night Oakland City Council unanimously passed a measure that gives workers up to 80 hours of paid sick leave during the pandemic.

Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Friday directing counties to send all registered voters mail-in ballots.

Public transit service in San Francisco has been cut dramatically due to the shelter in place order. Now, the city’s rolling out a new commuting option for essential workers: free taxi rides.

Tenderloin residents have been raising alarm bells about deteriorating conditions in their neighborhood. And yesterday, the mayor responded.

Fremont lawmakers might postpone a scheduled increase in minimum wages set to take effect this July. They’re meeting next Tuesday to hash out the details.

Ride hailing company Uber is announcing a significant reduction in its workforce today.

The city of Oakland has launched a new program to house over 130 homeless individuals.

UCSF has released the initial findings of a landmark coronavirus testing effort in San Francisco’s Mission District. For the last month, hundreds of volunteers staffed pop-up testing sites with the goal of testing everyone in a four-square block area of the Mission. 

Fire season may start early this year in Northern California. And fire experts predict it’s also likely to be especially severe.

A new UCSF study identifies several medications that could help manage the novel coronavirus.

The order comes about one month after PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter during the 2018 Camp Fire. It was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Investigations later revealed it began when one old and worn metal hook snapped off a transmission tower. 

Students in San Francisco’s public schools have some new clarity regarding their grades during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across California, students are seeking to recoup money paid for a college experience that has been dramatically transformed by the pandemic. A student at UC Davis has filed a class action lawsuit against the UC system. The lawsuit accuses the university of profiting from the pandemic.

The standoff between local lawmakers and San Francisco’s mayor around housing the homeless continued Tuesday as a group of city supervisors held a press conference to denounce the mayor’s efforts.

Coronavirus has impacted another “only-in-San Francisco” tradition. San Francisco’s 37th annual Folsom Street Fair will move from its SoMa venues to a virtual space this September.

Stanford Health Care is planning system-wide pay cuts and furloughs to roughly 14,000 employees. This comes as embattled hospitals across the country fight the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom partially lifted hospital restrictions. That’s because successful social distancing has left the state’s hospitals well below capacity. 

The SFMTA Board of Directors voted unanimously, on Tuesday, to increase MUNI fares by the end of this year.