Bay Current

It's just about game time in Las Vegas, where the San Francisco 49ers are facing off with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2024 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium.  Tickets to the game are almost $10,000, but at a time where it seems everyone is struggling financially, who can even afford to go to these games? How does this rematch up the stakes? And are women-identified NFL fans going to save the face of the game? In this episode of Bay Current, we get some answers from Alicia Jessop, program chair of the sport administration program at Pepperdine University and the founder of the media platform Ruling Sports.

The 21st Annual SF Sketchfest is underway in San Francisco, bringing comedians, improv performers, writers and lots of chuckles together for over two weeks of shows: from literal sketches to musical performances and improvised Shakespeare, on stages big and small across the city.  But, why San Francisco? In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sits down with SF Sketchfest co-founder Cole Stratton to talk about the comedy festival's run, what makes San Francisco a good audience and the legacy of “Nash Bridges.” For more Bay Area stories, subscribe to Bay Current on the Audacy app or wherever you get podcasts. 

Donald Trump did what he expected to do in the Iowa Caucus last night by winning it handily and Ron DeSantis saved his campaign by coming in second over Nikki Haley. DeSantis earned a ticket to New Hampshire, where Haley is heavily favored. For the latest, here's KCBS' Doug Sovern. Produced by Mallory Somera and Joe Hiti. Sound design by Joe Hiti. Photo credit: Former President Donald Trump speaks at his caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowans voted today in the state's caucuses for the first contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process. Trump has been projected winner of the Iowa caucus. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It's been a tragic and harrowing week in the Sierra, where one person died between two avalanches in two days at two adjoining ski areas. The avalanches followed a powerful winter storm in the region, however experts say they didn't expect anything like this within resort bounds.  But can they be predicted? And is there anyway to mitigate them? To get some answers, KCBS Radio's Nikki Medoro and Eric Thomas spoke with Dr. Ethan Greene, professor of avalanche science and director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at Colorado Mountain College.

An incarcerated man, who was honored in 2022 as a hero for saving the life of a Vacaville woman, is now suffering from Stage 4 kidney failure and dramatic weight loss behind bars. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald finds out what it would take for Darnell Armstrong to live in comfort at home and hears from Armstrong's wife, Felicia Armstrong.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Kris Ankarlo heads to Grizzly Peak to meet the man leading litter clean up efforts at one of the East Bay's most popular (and gorgeous) lookout points and hiking destinations.

Neither California Governor Gavin Newsom nor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have shied away from feeding the headlines with thoughts on each other's respective states. And now they're set to debate this Thursday, November 30 on Fox, moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity.  But, Gov. Newsom isn't running for president or a nomination for 2024 like Gov. DeSantis is, so what's the point of the debate? To get a sense of what we expect to see and hear during the debate, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sat down with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of “The State of California.” 

The musical The Wiz broke ground in 1975, changing the face of Broadway. Now, almost 50 years later, it's back on stage with its first limited run, Broadway-bound tour in 40 years, with a run at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre in early 2024.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Megan Goldsby had the chance to sit down and chat with a few of the very well-known folks bringing the story to life across the country: Wayne Brady, who will portray the Wiz, lead producer Brian Moreland and comedian Amber Ruffin, who wrote additional materials for this run. 

Cheryl White is an undersung American icon. She was the United States' first Black, female jockey, standing up to racial segregation and gender discrimination on the back of a horse, even making her mark on tracks up and down the California coast and in the Bay Area.  In this episode of “Bay Current,” KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sat down with Cheryl's brother, Raymond White, Jr., and New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir, co-authors of a new book inspired by Cheryl's story: “The Jockey and her Horse”.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Kris Ankarlo wraps up his 4-part series by checking in with the hikers who braved the snow pack by trekking 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Conversations around mental health, mental wellness are not easy. But talk can save lives.  So all this week, we're featuring conversations and stories that highlight mental health and wellness, as a part of Audacy's annual I'm Listening special.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mary Hughes helps us take a look at the state of mental health in our aging LGBTQ+ communities and what's being done to make sure they don't feel alone.

Conversations around mental health, mental wellness are not easy.  So all this week, we're featuring conversations and stories that highlight mental health and wellness, as a part of Audacy's annual I'm Listening special.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mike DeWald helps us take a look at the growing push to care for the wellness of athletes from youth sports all the way up to the pros.

The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has initiated coordinated strikes at three factories belonging to General Motors, Ford and Stellantis—the parent company of Chrysler—kicking off one of the most impactful industrial labor actions in the U.S. in many years.   In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio anchors Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer speak with William Gould, Stanford law professor emeritus and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board and author of “For Labor to Build Upon.”

A beloved, underground farm-to-table Mexican restaurant in Santa Rosa has been shut down after 30 years of serving firefighters, policemen and its community. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald told us about the eatery, known as “Abuela's House.” We also got to hear from the family who ran it, as well as Santa Rosa City Councilmember Eric Alvarez about the significance of its neighborhood and the legacy it will leave behind.

Youth sports provide the structure and community kids need growing up, and can help build confidence and problem solving skills. But it is time consuming, expensive and can add to the risk of potential injuries.  So how do you balance it all? In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern dives into a world he's become ingrained in with his own kids, and tells us what he's learned while putting together reports for our week-long series on The State of Play. Check out our Town Hall on the “State of Play” and youth sports, and stay tuned to KCBS Radio to hear our week-long series.  

Three years ago, the Bay Area woke up to dark orange, apocalyptic skies, the aftermath of a barrage of wildfires burning throughout the state. While it was an anomaly at the time, more cities have begun to experience the same thing, as wildfires become more widespread and frequent. Are orange skies our new normal? In this episode of Bay Current, we get some answers from Ian Faloona, bio-micrometeorologist and Professor of Atmospheric Science at UC Davis.  

Burning Man has finally kicked off, even after Tropical Storm Hilary delayed and muddied the week-long event.  What started as the burning of an 8-foot human effigy on San Francisco's Baker Beach has now exploded into what it is today as Black Rock City in Nevada, where tens of thousands of attendees plan for the music and art-filled event for months.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Jim Taylor tells us all about his experience and the conditions this year's burners came up against.

IKEA, the Swedish experiential furniture retail store, opened in downtown San Francisco this week. As high-end retailers like Nordstrom and Anthropologie make their exit out of the city and big box discount retailers like IKEA and Total Wine & More move in, could we be seeing the suburbanization of San Francisco? To get some answers, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sat down with Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

Wildfires have devastated the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui, and as investigations into the start of the fires continue, the death count and estimate of destruction are expected to rise.  In this episode of Bay Current, we hear from KCBS Radio reporter Jennifer Hodges, who flew to report on the scene on Maui to tell us what she witnessed first-hand in the aftermath of the tragedy.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sat down with Jahi, founder and curator of the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives and Davey D, hip hop historian, professor and radio host, to discuss how diaspora and community lay the foundation for the genre and to find out more about the artists and culture makers inducted into the first-ever archives dedicated to Bay Area hip hop.

Oakland students are back in school this week, but doesn't seem a little too soon? In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter and anchor Holly Quan tells us about the unique challenges students, teachers and the school district are facing as textbooks open back up and kids head back to the playground. Listen to Holly Quan's four-part series on KCBS Radio's On-Demand playlist or by subscribing to KCBS Radio on the Audacy app. 

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Kris Ankarlo checks back in with the Pacific Crest Trail hikers braving this year's historic snowpack, finding out the challenges they've faced and the changes they've had to embrace. Get acquainted with the hikers in Part One and Part Two of this series.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera celebrates hip hop's 50th birthday by speaking with 102 JAMS' Chuy Gomez about what it was like DJing during the golden era of hip hop, how Bay Area rap differs from the rest of the country, and the role Bay Area radio played in the history of the genre.

Oysters aren't just food. They play a critical role in the ocean health and ecosystem, so volunteers at the Wild Oyster Project, Bay Area restaurants and some chickens are teaming up to save a native species.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Raquel Maria Dillon tells us about the restoration efforts and what she learned about the magic sea creatures.

San Quentin State Prison is in the midst of an ambitious transformation, a modernization with a shift in focus from incarceration to rehabilitation. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald takes a tour inside the prison and speaks with some of the incarcerated participants taking advantage of these rehabilitation programs.

Ghirardelli Square is one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco, but that intersection–North Point and Larkin Streets–also happens to have the most car break-ins in the city according to new data reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Megan Goldsby went to Ghirardelli Square to break the news to visitors. 

He's the best pitcher and the best hitter in the game. And he's on the trade market with The San Francisco Giants considered one of the front runners to get him.  But would it be worth the short-term and long-term costs? KCBS Radio sports anchor Matt Pitman discusses with Bay Area sports radio vet Dan Dibley of the Willard and Dibs Show on 95.7 The Game.

Conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion have touched almost every industry in the past few years, and professional sports has been no exception.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mary Hughes tells us where we can find inclusion in Bay Area sports and what she learned about the state of equity and equality in sports from her episode of KCBS Radio's “In Depth”.

On July 13th, 1898, the San Francisco Ferry Building opened on the Embarcadero, a gateway to a promising new world of ideas, trade and travel.  The beaux-arts style building with its 245-foot high clock tower has withstood two global pandemics and two devastating earthquakes. 125 years later after the first vessel arrived there, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera got to attend San Francisco's Very Ferry Birthday to celebrate its resiliency and the plans to move forward as climate change challenges the coasts.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered campuses across the country in 2020, the social and academic impacts it would have on students were both expected and dreaded.  Kids are back in class now and with their friends, but three years later, a new study has revealed that students' scholastic progress in the past year is still coming up short and has even declined.  So what's it going to take to get students back on track? In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio news anchors Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer got some answers for today's “Ask an Expert” segment from Meg Honey, ethnic studies and history teacher at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek and adjunct faculty member at Saint Mary's College and University of the Pacific.

This year is the 78th U.S. Women's Open and it's a historic first for the United States Golf Association (USGA). This week's championship is the first time the world's best female players are showcasing their talents at Pebble Beach Golf Links and the number of entrants has been record breaking. In this episode of Bay Current. KCBS Radio sports reporter Steven Langford got the chance to speak with sports icons Brandi Chastain and Michelle Wie West about their careers and this year's championship. 

The snowpack in the Sierra this year has provided both awe and added obstacles to nature enthusiasts, especially those hitting the trails for the summer. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Kris Ankarlo checks in with the hikers braving the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in part two of our special series.

Signs of LGBTQ+ resistance, belonging, pride and history are all over the Bay Area.  From Harvey Milk murals to the bright pink triangle that adorns San Francisco's Twin Peaks during pride month, and the drag shows that spill out of bars onto sidewalks.  But in this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera explores the once underground ballroom and vogue scene – a historically safe and celebratory space for Trans Black and Latinx communities – at Oakland To All's Lovers Revenge Ball. 

Saturday, June 24, 2023 marks one year since the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years.  A lot has happened since then, so to help us unfold the past yea and to look at the state of abortion here in California and in the Bay Area, our KCBS Radio reporter Raquel Maria Dillon has put together a four-part on-air series.  In this episode of Bay Current, she sat down with KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera to talk about what she learned in the making of this series.

With a reelection campaign looming, the Bay Area gets a rare visit from Pres. Joe Biden, this time with an eye on climate change.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mike DeWald had the chance to hear about the $600M funding from the president himself, and gets reaction from Assemblymember Marc Berman and Sonoma State University Political Science Professor David McCuan.  

It's the second annual California State Parks Week! So for this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Kris Ankarlo helped to celebrate by trying new things, like paddling to the middle of Lake Natoma. He also got to hear from California State Park Foundation executive Director Rachel Norton and Sam Hodder, president of the Save the Redwoods League, about what makes the parks so special.    

The first ever San Francisco Annual Juneteenth Market St. Parade kicked off a week of celebrations this past weekend.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera got to speak with some of the organizers and participants of the event to hear how they think Pres. Biden's federal holiday declaration of Juneteenth has changed the landscape of how it's celebrated.

This Sunday, June 11, more than 2,000 triathletes are expected to complete the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, more than six decades after a couple of the most famous prison breaks in history from what was then known as the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.  In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera caught up with KCBS Radio reporter Jim Taylor, who got to speak with one of the Bay Area-born triathletes participating this year.

The KCBS Radio family experienced a big loss in early May when former KCBS Radio traffic reporter, Mitch Thompson (aka Mark Pape), passed away at the age of 63. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio traffic operations manager and Mitch's longtime friend, Don Bastida, talks about the legacy he leaves behind with former KCBS Radio midday anchor, Rebecca Corral, and former KCBS Radio Traffic Reporter (Sky One), Ron Cervi.

The snowpack in the Sierra this year is nothing short of legendary, which makes it an interesting season to hike on the trail that runs along the spine of California. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Kris Ankarlo catches up with a few hikers braving the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.  

Two nonprofits in San Francisco have joined forces for the chance to mentor and teach filmmaking to underserved youth from the city for a program called the Boundless Self-Discovery Filmmaking Program. In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera attended the screening and panel, and spoke with the young filmmakers, as well as WeXL founder Arabella Delucco, and The Village Project's director, Adrian Williams.

For some, preparing a home for wildfire can seem like a daunting task, an overwhelming feat. For this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mike DeWald went to this year's Ember Stomp at the Marin County Civic Center, which aims to demystify the process while also bringing the community together around art, music, food and design.