KRCB North Bay Report

Preservation Ranch Petition - February 8, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:51:50 -0800

Sonoma County isn't just a local issue any more.

Backers of a huge mountaintop vineyard conversion project in far northwestern Sonoma County called it Preservation Ranch. Opponents call it a bad idea, and have found tens of thousands of online petition-signers who agree.

You can see a picture of the petition banner, as well as a map of the Preservation Ranch project, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Peace-making in Afghanistan - February 7, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 11:13:26 -0800

Even in a nation ravaged by decades of war and tribal conflicts, there are young people working for peace.

In a country whose adults have known little but war for much of their lives, a new generation is trying to create a different path toward the future.

Linda Sartor will report on her travels in a slide show titled "Afghanistan Through The Eyes of Its People," which will be presented, free of charge, at the Peace and Justice Center in Santa Rosa tomorrow evening. You can get all the details, and links to the Afghan youth organization, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Salmon Status 2012 - February 6, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 10:59:01 -0800

These are hard times for the coho, chinook and steelhead in the Russian River, even as efforts to aid and protect them intensify.

Much is being done to support wild salmon in our local waterways, from habitat restoration projects in remote creeks to extensively debated adjustments in the water flows in the Russian River. But do the results match up with the effort invested?

For details on the salmon-related events this week, go to the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Algae Research - February 3, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:42:31 -0800

Creating fuel from tiny aquatic plants? It’s already happening - on a small, experimental scale - in Santa Rosa.

At Santa Rosa’s Regional sewer plant, ponds covered with fast-growing aquatic plants are being used to help clean toxins and pollutants out of the water as part of the wastewater treatment process. But there’s another, very different benefit those plants can offer as well.

We've got pictures and more on this story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

AmeriCorps - February 2, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:20:19 -0800

A team of near-volunteers from across the country are spending a few weeks aiding the environment on a Sonoma County hilltop.

AmeriCorps draws college age youth from across the country to do dozens of public service projects every year. Right now, a team of those young workers are leaving their mark on a corner of the outdoor environment here in Sonoma County.

We've got pictures of the AmeriCorps crew and the work they've been doing on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

World Book Night - February 1, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:11:24 -0800

It captured the public imagination in England and Ireland last year. Now World Book Night is coming to the USA.

Every book lover has felt the urge to share a favorite title. Now a nationwide program is coming to support that urge - at no cost to the giver.

You can see the full list of books to share, and connect to sign up for World Book Night on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Redevelopment and Affordable Housing - January 31, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:31:33 -0800

California’s Redevelopment Agencies are about go out of business. Should you care? Here’s one reason.

Community-based affordable housing projects could be an inadvertent victim of the demise of redevelopment agencies across California. And even a possible safety valve measure in the legislature will only offer a little temporary aid.

You can learn more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Open Space Plans - January 30, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:54:59 -0800

Property prices are down, but so are revenues for the Sonoma County Open Space District.

It's a buyers' market for real estate in the North Bay, and that's working to the benefit of the Sonoma County Open Space District. At least, some of the time.

The Stakeholder workshops for the Open Space District will be held from 1-3 this afternoon and 6-8 this evening at their offices at 747 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa. The same schedule will be repeated there on Wednesday. Learn more on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Stormwater - January 27, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:14:34 -0800

Rainwater runoff as a serious source of pollution? Yep, it’s one of the biggest, almost everywhere. So what’s being done about it?

Most storm drains don’t flow to sewage treatment facilities, but feed into local creeks, streams and rivers instead. So what goes down those drains is important to the health of those nearby waterways.

For more on this issue, check out the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Government Secrecy - January 26, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:34:22 -0800

Transparency in government has not been a hallmark of the Obama administration. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Twenty-first century America is an ominous environment for political whistle-blowers, says Daniel Ellsberg. That's why they are so badly needed now.

Daniel Ellsberg will host a showing of the film about him, The Most Dangerous Man In America, Friday night at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. He will also speak to a small dinner gathering at the French Garden on Sunday. Both events are at 6:30pm You can hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Changing Demographics of American Couples - January 25, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:45:28 -0800

How marriages are made in modern America: apart from parents with partners who meet online.

As Americans in their 20s increasingly live apart from their parents, they are marrying later, and finding partners from a far greater pool of potential mates. Demographic numbers confirm it.

Sociology professor Michael Rosenfeld will talk about the state of same sex unions and the changing American Family at noon Thursday on the Sonoma State campus. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Simplicity Parenting - January 24, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:06:59 -0800

Creating "socially resilient" children isn't simple, but it requires greater simplicity.

To raise "socially resilient" children, says a consultant and trainer, parents should simplify their lives, decrease clutter and increase predictability, and create more space for imagination to flourish.

Kim John Payne will talk about "How Parents Can Raise A Socially Resilient Child," tomorrow night at the Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm in Santa Rosa. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

California Indian Languages - January 23, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:12:43 -0800

California’s many indigenous Indian languages are mostly either extinct or fading fast. One scholar has preserved all he knows.

Long before Europeans ventured into California, scores of native tribes here were speaking dozens of indigenous languages. A new book attempts to compile and preserve them.

There’s more from Victor Golla, and a map of our state’s many native tribes, all posted on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

My So-Called Enemy - January 20, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:43:43 -0800

Sometimes, just cultivating a friendship can be a radical act.

Cultural differences and animosities run deep in the Middle East. But a yearly gathering of girls from varying backgrounds is working to counter their conflicts by helping them to really know each other as individuals.

You can see the trailer for My So-Called Enemy and get all the details about the screening tomorrow evening on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Occupy the Courts - January 19, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:01:27 -0800

A nationwide offensive tomorrow against the legal concept of corporate personhood, is being directed by a north coast activist.

Wall Street was an obvious and iconic focal point for the Occupy movement as it began. Tomorrow, a nationwide series of coordinated protests will target the legal system's enabling of corporate influence. They're calling the actions "Occupy the Courts."

For more on both the Occupy the Courts protests, and Occupy Healdsburg's action on Saturday, go to the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Restoring Western Hills - January 18, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:37:49 -0800

With new owners, a future for the former Western Hills Nursery is beginning to take shape.

There’s nothing close to a vacuum at the former Western Hills Nursery in Occidental, but volunteers working to restore the property must still contend with what Nature does when left unchecked.

Find out more on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Western Hills Nursery - January 17, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:39:50 -0800

From decay to display, a horticultural treasure in western Sonoma County is on the rebound.

A major attraction for plant lovers and gardeners in the hills of Western Sonoma County is now in the process of being restored.

If you want to see what this story is all about, we’ve got pictures of the garden on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sea Star Search - January 16, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:20:41 -0800

Who knew? Starfish can be used to gauge the effects of climate change on the undersea coastal ecology.

The common star fish uses a distinctly uncommon internal mechanism to mitigate its exposure to warm air at low tide. Understanding that may unlock clues to how temperature changes in both the oceans and the air above them may affect aquatic ecosystems.

Sea Stars are interesting and unusual creatures in the own right, as well. You can learn more about them on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Thyroid Treatments - January 13, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:16:02 -0800

Although often overlooked, thyroid imbalances are not difficult to treat, even without synthetic medications.

Thyroid imbalance can result in diverse and lingering heath and even psychological problems, but may often go undiagnosed. When properly identified, however, it is usually easy to treat.

We’ve got more information about thyroid health on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Thyroid Health - January 12, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:35:02 -0800

One little gland, at the base of your throat, can be implicated in a great many health problems.

Too much or too little hormone output from your thyroid gland can cause or contribute to a lengthy list of health problems. Yet these imbalances are often overlooked.

There’s more on this subject on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

NPR’s New President - January 11, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:50:36 -0800

Who would want to job of running NPR in today’s political and media climate? Gary Knell, for one. We hear fro the new man on the job. NPR’s greatest challenges may swirl around their headquarters in Washington, D.C., but their greatest strength lies in the hundreds of member stations scattered throughout the other 50 states. Hear more from new NPR President Gary Knell on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

A Manual for The Modern Mystic - January 10, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:44:17 -0800

Lessons from the stars can direct a more enlightened life on Earth. A new guide book makes the connections.

Anyone can be a modern mystic, and a new book from a local astrologer offers some detailed instructions on how to go about it.

Rio Olesky offers his annual presentation on Perspectives for the New Year at 7 pm tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in Santa Rosa. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Cambodian Women's Art - January 9, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 12:28:38 -0800

Great suffering and great courage is revealed in some unusual and highly personal self portraits now showing in Santa Rosa. Hear the extraordinary story behind the art.

Surviving the murderous regime of former Cambodian despot Pol Pot required fortitude and resilience, as well as good fortune. Revealing the strengths and scars from that experience takes another kind of courage, which is now on display in an improbable art show in Santa Rosa.

Find out more about the "Strong Women of Vista" exhibit, and hear some of the stories behind the images, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Plan Bay Area - January 6, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 11:36:41 -0800

Two million more people are expected in the Bay Area by 2040. So where will they live? We hear some possible answers.

The Bay Area's population is forecast to grow by a third over the next 25 years. Regional agencies are already at work on plans to concentrate the new housing these new residents will need close to mass transit opportunities, even in the North Bay. And they want your input, too.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission will hold its Santa Rosa planning workshop Monday at 5:45 pm at the Finley Center. Additional sessions are scheduled for the following week in San Rafael and Napa. Advanced registration is requested, so we have all the necessary details on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Occupy Wells Fargo - January 5, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:22:28 -0800

In their first actions of 2012, Occupy Santa Rosa is working with local immigrant rights groups to protest the policies and practices of one high-profile California-based bank, with a demonstration and march in Roseland tomorrow.

Far from disappearing since vacating their City Hall lawn encampment, Occupy Santa Rosa has been quietly re-evaluating its aims and messages, explains organizer Carl Patrick, while reaching out to other social justice activists in the area.

A central part of the planned rally in the parking lot of the Roseland shopping center will be a series of speakers with personal stories that relate directly to the protest being directed at Wells Fargo and the two private prison companies.

You can find more on this story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Benefit Corporations - January 4, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 11:03:01 -0800

Doing well by doing good is now legal for a new class of corporations in California.

For most corporations, profit is their only legally sanctioned goal. However, a new law taking effect in California in the new year creates an alternative - the California Benefit Corporation - which must promote and document its social benefits alongside its fiscal returns.

Assemblyman Huffman explains how this new corporate category was created on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Americans Elect - January 3, 2012

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:50:53 -0800

A new, internet-driven effort is trying to bypass existing political parties and nominate a consensus candidate for president. We hear from a local supporter.

Can Presidential politics be wrested away from the dominance of Democrats and Republicans? A new campaign, primarily organized online, is trying to do just that.

Learn more about Americans Elect on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

EPA vs. Bees - December 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:45:50 -0800

Government scientists have warned that a popular agricultural insecticide is bad for bees. But its use is still expanding.

Leaked documents from government researchers cast doubts on the approval process for a potent pesticide that is now suspected as a major factor in the massive die-offs of honeybees across the country.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Repurchase Loan Market Today - December 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:49:32 -0800

The flow of credit in our economy is closely tied to "repurchase" lending, which is still at risk for freezing up again. We'll explain why, and what could be done about it.

The $4 trillion Repurchase Loan market was a key factor in creating the 2008 recession, but it remains largely unregulated. That’s risky for both big banks and individual investors.

If you want to know more about the repurchase lending market, we can point you in the right direction on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Repurchase Loan Problems - December 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:31:20 -0800

It wasn't risky home loans that burst the housing bubble, but the banks reliance on them to finance their own borrowing. We explain how it happened.

It wasn't just the over-valued mortgage-backed securities that tanked the economy three years ago. The bigger, behind-the-scenes problem was a daisy chain of interbank lending all based on those securities.

We’ve got more on this story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Bullied in High School - December 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:36:01 -0800

It’s impossible to learn when you’re living in constant fear, as teachers at a Santa Rosa High school were reminded in one of the stories that drew the strongest response last year.

High school is hard enough without enduring bullying. But when there is constant verbal abuse, and fear of worse, learning becomes impossible.

We have more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Wood Smoke Health Risks - December 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:30:32 -0800

Coughing and burning eyes may be the least serious effects of exposure to wood smoke in the air.

Humans have been burning wood for millennia, but new research indicates that breathing in the smoke from those fires can have negative health impacts that reach all the way down to your DNA.

You can see some of these particles, and reporter Cheryl Katz suggests some other precautions you can take to minimize wood smoke exposure, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Wisdom Of The Radish - December 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:19:00 -0800

A tasty memoir of life on a start-up organic farm near Healdsburg.

The pitfalls and rewards of do-it-yourself organic farming come alive in The Wisdom of the Radish, a rueful and informative account of two first-timers' debut growing season in Sonoma County.

The Foggy River farmers share more insights into their hand-on agricultural experiences on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Jack London’s Photos - December 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:03:33 -0800

Who knew? In addition to his writing, Jack London was a skilled and empathic photographer.

As a writer, Jack London wielded his pen as a prolific and passionate novelist, journalist and essayist. A new book reveals that he also became a skilled user of another tool - the camera.

You can see some of Jack London’s photographs on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Becoming Jimi Hendrix - December 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:12:30 -0800

Who was Jimi Hendrix before he was a rock star? A struggling guitarist named Jimmy James, for one.

Before he became the most innovative and influential rock and roll guitarist ever, James Hendrix was just another struggling musician trying to get by. The arc of those difficult early years is told in remarkable detail in a new partial biography that unfolds, in Becoming Jimi Hendrix.

You can hear more about the early Jimi Hendrix, including some of the very first recording sessions he played on, at the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Marijuanaland - December 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:29:43 -0800

People who smoke marijuana--or grow, raid, sell, prescribe or write about it - are all denizens of "Marijuanaland." We explain that.

California has been on the front lines of the culture changes surrounding marijuana over the past half century. A local writer documenting them has subtitled his book, "Dispatches from An American War."

Hear more from Jonah Raskin on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Julia Whitty's Deep Blue Home - December 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:24:20 -0800

Life on earth began in the seas, and we remain dependent on them in more ways than is sometimes apparent. Sebastopol based environmental writer Julia Whitty has a reminder.

There’s plenty of grim news affecting the world’s oceans, from depleted fisheries to devastating oil spills. But there are also some successes to be reported. Julia Whitty writes about both.

Hear more from Julia Whitty on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Marketing Local Authors’ Books - December 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:15:56 -0800

Writing and publishing a book is a big job. But selling it can be an even greater challenge. Here is a look at how some local authors are trying something new to connect with local readers.

The works of Sonoma County writers can get lost on the shelves of even the most supportive local bookstores. So one resourceful author has found a way to make their books to stand out.

Since we first broadcast this story last June, the number of participating books by local authors has grown to more than 80. You can find a list of the locations where they are being featured on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Share Exchange Turns 1 - December 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:59:15 -0800

In just 12 months, Santa Rosa’s innovative Share Exchange is making good on its goals of stimulating the local grass roots economy. We’ll tell you what they’ve been doing.

Whether by retailing local crafts and fine arts, or offering office infrastructure for business self-starters, the Share Exchange has been quick to make its presence known in Sonoma County’s home-grown economy.

We’ve got more about what Share Exchange has been up to, and is planning for the future, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Exporting Lead Batteries - December 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:28:51 -0800

Recycling lead batteries is both routine and profitable - especially when they’re shipped to countries with weaker environmental laws. That’s what’s happening.

We all use lead-based batteries daily, if not directly in our cars (including hybrids), then indirectly in cell phone towers, computer servers, or trucks and fork lifts. But what happens to them after the charge is gone has become a source of concern south of the border.

You can find out more about this on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Mentors - December 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:23:25 -0800

Developmentally disabled adults who aren't ready or able to live alone can often be more independent with the help of a mentor. We'll tell you how that works.

A Mentor - with a capital M - to a developmentally disabled adult, is like a specialized form of a foster family. And more are needed, all across California.

Find out more about the California Mentor program, and how to contact them, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Toxic Algae Research - December 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:22:13 -0800

Did a Red Tide kill those thousands of abalone last summer? If so, where did they come from? Meet the man who's out to answer those questions.

Red tides - caused when millions of algae spread across the surface of coastal waters - have been around for centuries. But our understanding of how and why they occur is murkier than the water they inhabit. So a new research project is hoping to clear things up.

You can see Red Tide pictures, and learn about the robotic research equipment being used in this study, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Children's Dental Health - December 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:51:35 -0800

One of the biggest health concerns in Sonoma County is hidden in plain sight, inside the mouths of our children.

The number one chronic health problem affecting young children isn't something they can be vaccinated for, but it can be readily prevented. It's... tooth decay.

There's more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Lynn Cominsky - December 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:46:39 -0800

Not everyone's work explores the limits of the known universe. But Lynn Cominsky's does.

A serious scientist with a sense of humor, Lynn Cominsky has studied the far reaches of the galaxies, and now explains what’s found there to students of all ages.

Dr. Cominsky will be the featured speaker this evening at a special Science Buzz Cafe presentation hosted by the Children's Museum of Santa Rosa. You can get details about that, and hear more from her on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Move to Amend - December 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 7 Dec 2011 11:25:58 -0800

Corporations are, by definition, both immortal and amoral. So should they enjoy the rights of human citizens? We’ll hear from someone opposed to that.

The concept of "Corporate Personhood" has been in place for well over a century, but recent court decisions expanding corporate influence have fueled a backlash that seeks to restrict the extension of human rights to impersonal business entities.

You can read the full text of the proposed constitutional amendment, and hear more about the case for it, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Nanotechnology in Food - December 6, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 12:30:41 -0800

Nanotechnology has come to our food, but it’s impossible now to know exactly where and how.

Nanotechnology changes things at the molecular level, creating microscopic substances that can enter the body through our skin, the air we breathe, and the food that we eat. And not even the people who make and sell that food really know what new particles are beginning to be included in it.

You can read the full report from, Michael Passof and his colleagues, and hear more from him about it on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SE Greenway Update - December 5, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 12:10:21 -0800

It may take years to create a Greenway in the former Highway 12 Right of Way in Southeast Santa Rosa, but the project is gaining momentum.

Right now, the long thin strip of land from Farmers Lane to Spring Lake in Southeast Santa Rosa is bare and disused. But a shared vision for its transformation into a community Greenway is now documented and under discussion.

You can find maps, pictures and the full Greenway report on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Deportation Documentary - December 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:40:42 -0800

Immigration reform is a hot button political issue for some. For others, it is a personal tragedy. We hear about a family in the latter group.

Nearly two thirds of the undocumented immigrants in the United States have been here ten years or longer, a new study reported yesterday, and almost half have children under age 18. Film-maker Theo Rigby documented the story of one such family in the North Bay after immigration enforcement officials found them, literally by mistake.

For details on the Sin Pais screening and discussion, and to hear more from filmmaker Theo Rigby, go to the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

World AIDS Day 2011 - December 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 11:37:23 -0800

AIDS and HIV are no longer on the increase in Sonoma County. But they aren't decreasing either. A look at the current numbers and trends.

Food For Thought, Sonoma County’s AIDS Food Bank, is still struggling to compensate for losing all their federal funding last year, even as the needs of their clients are growing. But at least new HIV/AIDS diagnoses are not.

To find the full list of local restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life this year, go to the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Media & Censorship - November 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:41:11 -0800

Media, propaganda & censorship. Even in the US, one critic says, they’re more closely linked than we like to think.

Progressive journalist and media critic David Barsamian has often observed and denounced propaganda and censorship. But becoming the direct object of a government ban was something new and unexpected.

David Barsamian is visiting Santa Rosa, where he’ll give a talk on "Media, Propaganda and Censorship" at the Arlene Francis Center tonight at 7 pm. You can find details about the event, and hear more of what he has to say about Kashmir, Occupy Wall Street, and US News Media, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Welfare Reform - November 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:28:20 -0800

For welfare reform to work effectively, it should realistically intersect with the lives and needs of the programs’ recipients. We hear from one of them.

If the intent of public assistance is really to wean recipients off welfare, the programs need to be restructured to accomplish that goal. A local single mom is headed to Washington this week, to offer her suggestions.

For more on this issue, go to the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Education and Poverty - November 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:20:57 -0800

It’s simple, but often true. A college degree can lift single moms not just off welfare, but out of poverty. Higher education is often a ticket out of poverty, even for single mothers who face extra challenges in obtaining a degree. You can learn more about professor Katz’s research on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

National Day of Listening - November 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:44:07 -0800

The other important holiday this week isn't about shopping: it’s about listening to each other.

As a contrast to the frenzy of commercialism that erupts after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps founder David Isay suggests a quiet interlude spent listening to the life story of a loved one.

We've got links to guidelines and suggestion questions for doing your own Day of Listening interviews on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SBA Fraud Bill - November 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:05:57 -0800

Insisting that a legally required share of federal contracts go to small businesses isn't controversial. But it isn't happening either.

Diverting 23% of all federal contracting to small businesses, as required by law, would create jobs, hold the line on government spending and, incidentally, end a decade of fraudulent contract reporting. But despite the best efforts of a Petaluma gadfly, it’s still not happening.

Chapman has more to say about his issue, and the pushback he’s facing, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

California Cap and Trade - November 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:41:06 -0800

Cap and Trade emissions rules are now the law of California, even though they don’t kick in until 2013. We look at what the policy will do.

Three years in the making, California’s first-in-the-nation rules restricting carbon emissions are now finalized, and ready to take effect in 2013.

Learn more about Cap and Trade on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SMART Train Rally - November 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:26:39 -0800

Support for the SMART commuter train in Sonoma and Marin Counties is now about employment as much as transportation. Hear about a big rally to defend the project.

Seventy percent of the voters in Sonoma and Marin Counties backed the sales tax levy for the SMART commuter train three year ago, and enthusiasm and desire for the project remains high, as demonstrated at a lively midday rally in support of the train yesterday.

You’ll find pictures and more audio from the SMART rally on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

CSU Class Loads - November 17, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:30:13 -0800

Fee increases and reduced access to classes are making the path to a college degree both longer and more expensive. We'll hear show students at Sonoma State are reacting to these trends.

It's taking longer than ever for undergraduates to complete their degrees at Sonoma State and other California universities; meanwhile the cost of attending college has been bumping upward with increasing frequency. Unhappiness with those concurrent trends bubbled up on the Rohnert Park campus yesterday, but students got few satisfying answers to their complaints.

More on this story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Parks Alliance - November 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:06:44 -0800

California can’t afford to keep its local state parks open any more. Can local non-profits fill the gap? We get an update on how they're doing.

What will it take to keep five threatened state parks in Sonoma County from being closed next summer? An array of new non-profit partnerships are just beginning to figure that out.

You can find more on the current status of specific parklands in Sonoma County on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Solomon Takes the Food Stamp Challenge - November 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:48:51 -0800

Congressional candidate Norman Solomon is taking the Food Stamp challenge this week. Find out what’s on his menu.

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) - better known as Food Stamps - provides a single adult with $ 31.50 per week in purchasing power. But what does that actually buy?

What does $ 4.50 per day buy? You can see Norman Solomon’s shopping list, posted on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Surviving Suicide - November 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:49:33 -0800

Who better to counsel against suicide than a man who has survived a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge?

It was his mental illness that drove Kevin Hines to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge, back in 2000. And it is the fact that he survived - against all odds - that now drives his work in suicide prevention.

Kevin Hines’ free talk on "The Truth About Suicide" will be at the SSU Cooperage at 7:30 this evening. You can hear more of his story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Repurchase Loan Market Today - November 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:04:56 -0800

Repurchase Loan Problems - November 10, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:56:56 -0800

It wasn’t risky home loans that burst the housing bubble, but the banks' reliance on them to finance their own borrowing.

It wasn’t just the over-valued mortgage-backed securities that tanked the economy three years ago. The bigger, behind-the-scenes problem was a daisy chain of interbank lending all based on those securities.

We’ve got more on this story on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SF Bay in 2099 - November 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 9 Nov 2011 13:26:45 -0800

Climate change will affect the waters of San Francisco Bay in many ways. But how bad, and how soon? A new study offers some answers.

Climate change globally begets climate change locally. What will that mean for the San Francisco Bay region? By the end of the century, a new study predicts, things will be either bad... or worse.

You can read the full report and hear more from Jim Cloern on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sea Level Rise - November 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 8 Nov 2011 11:58:26 -0800

Sea level rise is likely to turn some prime Bay Area real estate back into marshlands. Are we ready to react yet?

San Francisco Bay used to be much larger, before dredging and infill created new real estate where marshlands were before. So what will happen to those lands when the world’s sea level increases? Documentarian Claire Schoen warns that it won’t be pretty.

You can hear the first of the three RISE documentaries on KRCB-FM this evening at 7 pm Producer Claire Schoen also has more to say about her series on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Social Media and the Arab Spring - November 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 7 Nov 2011 13:48:37 -0800

How important was the internet to Egypt’s revolutionary uprising? An on-the-ground observer offers his assessment.

Even more than Facebook and the internet, cell phones were the disruptive new technology that helped empower the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt.

Shahar Lin will talk on "Media, Censorship and New Media in the Arab Revolutions" tonight at 7 on the Sonoma State Campus. You can get details about that event, and hear more from Dr. Lin on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Green Jobs in California - November 4, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:52:53 -0700

Solar Energy employs more people in the United States than coal. But you’d never know it from the rhetoric coming out of Washington.

Forget Solyndra. The real news in the growing efforts to develop green jobs and businesses is happening at the local level, all across the country. And some of the leadership for that is rippling out of Oakland.

Jakata Imani will be the keynote speaker tomorrow at the annual awards dinner hosted by the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy. You can find details about the event, and a list of this year’s award winners on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Propagating "Extinct" Clover - November 3, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 3 Nov 2011 15:51:49 -0700

In a handful of small plots along the Marin County coast, a formerly "extinct" plant is making a carefully watched comeback.

One way to ensure the survival of a native coastal plant, only recently considered extinct, may be to burn it.

Want to know what Showy Indian Clover looks like? We've got pictures on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SMART Status Report - November 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:18:12 -0700

The SMART commuter rail project is poised to issue bonds and sign big construction contracts, even as a repeal campaign revs up.

Three years after the election that authorized Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, the commuter train is close to making more visible progress - and creating some of those long-promised jobs.

There’s more about what’s happening these days with the SMART Train project on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Drug Abuse & Treatment - November 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:17:48 -0700

Meth, booze and prescription pills; they’re the main causes of drug abuse problems in the North Bay.

Opium dens may be a relic of centuries past, but modern prescription opiates are a large and growing part of contemporary drug abuse problems.

The annual DAAC breakfast starts at 7:30 tomorrow morning at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel, in Santa Rosa. Reservations are required at 544-3295 or online at daacinfo.org. Use those same contacts to arrange a free tour of their facilities. You can also hear more from Michael Speilman on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

7 Billion People - October 31, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:38:36 -0700

Earth’s human population is due to hit a milestone on Halloween. But not a good one.

The biggest threat to sustaining life as we know it on planet Earth could be humankind’s still-burgeoning birthrates.

For more on this issue, and its direct effects here in the United States, check out the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Healdsburg’s Twisted History - October 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:13:03 -0700

The dark side of Healdsburg’s history is on full public display at the town’s museum, but only for a few more days.

From strange clowns to unsolved murders, even a low profile role in a high profile act of vigilantism, the sordid and unseemly side of Healdsburg’s history is on display in their local museum.

The exhibit, "Twisted History: Bizarre But True" continues at the Healdsburg Museum through November 9th. Find out more about it on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Stem Cell Update - October 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:52:08 -0700

California’s stem cell research programs are targeting many difficult health issues, and making some encouraging progress. Seven years ago, California voted to fund stem cell research in the state. After a slow start, those efforts are now beginning to show some preliminary results. A panel of researchers, patient advocates and other stakeholders - including all three speakers heard in today’s report - will present an update on the stem-cell related research being done in California on Saturday morning at Sonoma State University. More information about that free event, as well as further comments from some of the participants can be found on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Hawks - October 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:14:49 -0700

There are about 300 species of hawks worldwide, and 17 of them frequent the North Bay. The ones you see soaring are only the most visible variety.

When you see a hawk gliding high overhead, the bird is getting a much better look at you. But what it’s really looking for is a mouse to munch on.

Dick Ashford's talk, "Hawks, Masters of Flight," happens tonight at 7 pm at the Sonoma Community Center. You can find pictures of some of the local hawk species, along with some further comments from Mr. Ashford on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Rankism - October 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:20:42 -0700

There’s a new word for bullying that isn’t racist, sexist ageist or homophobic. It’s "rankism."

Competitive and even predatory behaviors are deeply ingrained in the human psyche. But that doesn’t mean we can’t overcome them to superimpose respect and dignity instead.

Dr. Fuller’s talk tonight is at 7 pm in the Sonoma Community Center, at 275 E. Napa Street in Sonoma, You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

"Not In Our Town" - October 24, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:56:00 -0700

"Not In Our Town" is an anti-hate crime movement with roots here in Sonoma County - and with KRCB-TV.

When the residents of Billings, Montana came together to oppose hate crimes in their city, they inspired a film that launched a movement. But Sonoma County helped, too.

Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness airs tonight at 9 on KRCB-TV. You can hear more about the making of the film on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Occupied Santa Rosa - October 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:56:50 -0700

One week in, the Occupy Santa Rosa campaign is gathering strength and settling in for the long haul.

Their numbers fluctuate from thousands on Saturday afternoon to a dozen or two overnight in midweek, but the determination of the Occupy Santa Rosa activists is holding steady as the protest heads into its second week.

Find out more about the inner workings of Occupy Santa Rosa, and their counterparts in Napa, on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Vandalized Salmon - October 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:37:52 -0700

Reward money is being raised to aid the hunt for vandals who released thousands of young salmon into San Francisco Bay.

The salmon are gone from the vandalized pens in Tiburon where students help feed and raise them. But their planned release ceremony will still be held later this month.

To find out how to contribute to the reward find, or find out more about the Casa Grande fish hatchery program, go to the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Clean Energy Moves Forward - October 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:32:15 -0700

Sonoma County is one small step closer to generating its own clean electricity.

From solar to geothermal, wind to biomass, potential renewable energy sources are abundant in Sonoma County. A new initiative headed by the county Water Agency is exploring a mechanism to tap into all of them and provide consumers with an alterative to PG&E.

Find out more about Community Choice Aggregation, and how it could work in Sonoma County on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Black Tide - October 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:04:50 -0700

It’s been 18 months since BP’s Gulf Oil spill, and the situation there has hardly improved, for either people or fish.

The devastating impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill live on in coastal Texas and Louisiana, says writer and industry critic Antonia Juhasz, and they will continue to do so for decades.

Antonia Juhasz will talk about oil-related issues in the gulf coast and Afghanistan at the Community Church of Sebastopol, this evening, at 7 pm. She has more to say on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Teaching Eco-Literacy - October 17, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:00:43 -0700

Even grade school classrooms exist within our planetary ecosystem. So they ought to learn about that, too. We hear from someone working to accomplish just that.

While state and federal educational standards concentrate on the basics, to the exclusion of almost everything else, proponents of Eco-literacy are finding ways to bring the outside world into the classroom. And vice versa.

Karen Brown was among the plenary speakers at the annual Bioneers conference over the weekend at the San Rafael Civic Center, You can hear more from her on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Fatty Liver Disease - October 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:14:03 -0700

A hard-to-detect liver ailment that mimics the effects of alcoholism may be the greatest public health danger we face today. Even though you've probably never heard of it. But you will.

French farmers stuff geese with carbohydrates to produce fatty livers for pate'. Humans are doing much the same to themselves by consuming too much sugar. The consequences, only now becoming apparent, will likely be devastating.

Dr. Lustig has more to say about the ill effects of unregulated sugar consumption on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Crash Course - October 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:43:49 -0700

Now is the time to downsize your standard of living, says Crash Course author Chris Martenson, while you can still do so voluntarily.

Chris Martenson's Crash Course works two ways: as a three and a half hour intensive study of trending economic changes, and as a guide for coping with them as they unfold.

Chris Martenson will be live at the Sebastopol Grange tonight to talk about his Crash Course. You can also learn more about it on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Occupy Santa Rosa - October 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:39:05 -0700

From Wall Street to Santa Rosa City Hall, the Occupy Together movement is spreading across the county and California.

The impassioned call to occupy public spaces in protest of the economic imbalance and corporate influence in politics has triggered local "occupations" planned for Sonoma County this weekend.

You can find details about the plans to Occupy Santa Rosa and more about the movement nationwide on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Slow Money - October 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:45:31 -0700

Investing as if food, farms and fertility matter more than maximum returns. That’s the core concept of Slow Money.

Instead of investing in the markets, Woody Tasch encourages investing in the planet and the food that grows on it. It’s a concept that has come to be known as Slow Money.

The third annual 3-day Slow Money national gathering convenes tomorrow in San Francisco’s Fort Mason. You can find out more about it on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Rainwater - October 10, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:50:30 -0700

Water shortages would cease to be a concern if we were better at catching and saving it when it falls free from the sky.

One of our most bountiful and essential natural resources falls freely from the skies, yet we let most of it slip away without making good use of it. Even though there are many ways to catch, save, and repurpose the rainwater that runs off our roofs.

Nate Downey will talk about rainwater and how the make good use of it in a gathering at the Windsor Town Council chambers this evening at 7, co-hosted by Daily Acts. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Biominicry - October 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 11:37:59 -0700

We can learn a lot from nature, if we look closely enough. Biomimicry is copying what we learn.

From Leonardo DaVinci to the Wright Brothers, men studied birds to develop flight for humans. New applications of that practice - now known as "bio mimicry" - often focus on much smaller natural phenomena.

You can find out more about that presentation tomorrow on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Flu Season - October 6, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 6 Oct 2011 10:48:14 -0700

Flu season has begun. Or perhaps we should think of it as flu SHOT season.

It’s time again for flu shots, with a reminder that even the worst reaction to the vaccine is still much milder than the disease itself.

The call for everyone over six months old to get vaccinated is new this year. We've got additional information about why that expansion was adopted on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

"Joe Hill's Last Will" - October 5, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 11:25:50 -0700

96 years after his execution, Joe Hill lives again. This time, on stage in Sebastopol.

Long-ago labor organizer Joe Hill used music to make his point. Now his music is central to a biographical play about Hill's life, that gets its debut in Sebastopol this weekend.

John McCutcheon talks more about Joe Hill, and the new biographical one-man show about him, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SSU History - October 4, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 4 Oct 2011 10:44:24 -0700

A lot can change in 50 years, as the history of Sonoma State University demonstrates.

From two stark concrete classrooms surrounded by muddy fields, to a lush 269 acre campus with a mounting reputation for academic rigor, Sonoma State University has had a transformative first 50 years.

You can see historic pictures from Sonoma State University's early years on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Immigration as a Moral Issue - October 3, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 3 Oct 2011 13:11:59 -0700

Immigration is ultimately a human and moral issue, not a political one. So says a prominent clergyman.

Immigration reform may be a politically charged subject, but ultimately, says the head of America’s Unitarian churches, it should be seen as a moral issue.

You can hear more from Rev. Morales on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. We invite your comments on this and other North Bay Report stories there as well.

Green Flight Challenge - September 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:38:45 -0700

Electric cars are now being mass-produced and sold, and battery driven private planes may not be far behind.

Brien Seely has a vision for the future of personal aviation, and it doesn’t include gasoline. But it has been getting tested in Santa Rosa this week.

The CAFE Foundation open house at the Santa Rosa airport runs from 9 to 4 tomorrow. You can hear more about the technical aspects of the competition on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

1493 - September 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:14:56 -0700

Columbus didn't just discover the New World, he set in motion the world’s first wave of globalization. We'll hear from an author who has documented those changes.

It wasn't just the islands of the Caribbean that felt the effects of Christopher Columbus’s arrival. The consequences of his "discovery" were felt down through the decades in Europe, China and Africa, as well as the Americas.

Charles Mann discusses his new book, 1493, at Book Passage on Corte Madera this evening at 7 pm. You can also hear more from him on North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

After Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell - September 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:24:22 -0700

Gays and lesbians can now serve openly in the US Armed forces. So now what? We turn to a local expert for answers.

An estimated 60,000 men and women in our armed forces have been directly affected by the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.But that may be just the beginning.

Steve Estes also shares some insights into the process behind the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Bahrain Protests - September 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:36:49 -0700

The pro-democracy Arab Spring movement is also active in the small island nation of Bahrain, even though it’s scarcely mentioned here.

The Arab Spring pro-democracy movement is continuing its struggle in multiple locations, including a small island nation that has been ~largely overlooked by American news media.

To find out more about the popular revolt for Democracy in Bahrain, visit the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Burrowing Owls - September 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:09:20 -0700

Trees are safer places to nest than abandoned squirrel or badger holes. No wonder western Burrowing owls are in decline.

Nesting sites for burrowing owls were widespread in the north bay until about 25 years ago. Now some small steps are being taken to encourage the birds to come back.

We’ve got pictures of burrowing owls, and the artificial habitats being created for them, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

It Fell Out of the Sky - September 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:53:12 -0700

Getting stuck by lightning is commonplace, compared to what happened to Jim Hayes last Friday.

The odds of getting hit by a falling piece of space debris from the falling research satellite this weekend are astronomically low. But the near miss that left a Sonoma County man unscathed last Friday was statistically impossible.

To see pictures of the damaged bike and the portion of the rocket that hit, go to the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Dolphin in the Mirror - September 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:09:12 -0700

Dolphins rescue humans. Humans kill and capture dolphins. So which species is smarter?

From ancient creation myths to rescues after recent tsunamis, humans have shared an affinity with dolphins. But we’re still just beginning to learn how - and how well - they think.

Diana Reiss will talk about her book, The Dolphin in the Mirror, at the Sebastopol Community Church, Saturday evening at 7 pm. We also have video of some of her demonstrations of dolphin intelligence posted on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Seniors and Savings - September 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:01:24 -0700

Debt and death are not the only contingencies that estate planning should cover.

In addition to investing for retirement, Baby Boomers and others need to make sure those assets are accessible if they should become incapacitated.

You can hear the first part of this interview, along with other archived stories, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Naked in the Nursing Home - September 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:17:13 -0700

Getting older is easy. Being smart about it takes some preparation.

Baby boomers and others, when planning for their long-term future, need to think about more than wills and financial matters.

You can comment on this and other stories now on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Quakefinder - September 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:22:14 -0700

Could electromagnetic sensors hold the key to being able to predict when earthquakes might strike? We'll talk with someone who’s working to do just that.

Earthquakes have long been feared as natural disasters that occur with no advance warning. But a different detection methodology is hoping to change that.

You can see a map of the Quakefinder sensor locations on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And you can get additional news by following the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Arrested at the White House - September 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:15:57 -0700

Getting arrested at a White House protest was more sad than empowering. But Kenna Lee says she’d do it again.

Joining a national protest movement, even knowing that it will result in getting arrested, is one thing. But actually going through that experience for a first time, is something rather different.

For a deeper behind the scenes view of the Keystone XL protest at the White House, visit the North Bay Report newsblog at krcb.org. We welcome your comments on this story there, as well.

Tar Sands Pipeline - September 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:01:36 -0700

Tar sands in Alberta, protests at the White house, and a concerned mom from Sebastopol.

Kenna Lee, a mother of three from Sebastopol, is committed to leaving her kids a healthy planet for their kids. So she’s jumped into the effort to block a proposed Tar Sand Pipeline running from Canada to Texas.

You can find more information about the Keystone XL Pipeline on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Islamophobia - September 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:53:36 -0700

Islamophobia can happen anywhere in the country these days, even in the progressive North Bay area.

Cultural stereotypes, ethnic profiling, and simple racism combine to raise fears and risks for Muslims in America, even those who were born here. A local cleric calls this growing problem "Islamophobia."

That meeting begins at 7 pm this evening, in the temple at 85 La Plaza, within the hexagon in downtown Cotati. You can comment on this story at the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Harvest of Loneliness - September 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:10:28 -0700

Latino labor is a large and important part of California’s agricultural workforce. That’s a trend that started during and because of World War II.

Sonoma County was an early and active participant in the bracero program, which brought large numbers of Mexican workers north to harvest California crops, in the 1940s and 50s. A new documentary film examines what life was like for the participating workers.

Harvest of Loneliness will be broadcast at 9 pm tonight on KRCB Channel 22. You can see excerpts on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Napa 9/11 Memorial - September 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:50:19 -0700

Some of the massive wreckage from New York’s fallen Twin Towers is becoming a public memorial in downtown Napa.

It’s a long way from Napa to Manhattan, but a September 11 memorial sculpture and garden now under construction is designed to create an enduring link between the two cities.

We’ve got renderings of the planned memorial, and pictures of the materials it is being created from on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Ishi Exhibit - September 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 12:08:23 -0700

Ishi is still the most famous Indian in California. But most everything else generally "known" about him is wrong.

Ishi, the so-called "Last Yahi" may be the most famous Indian in California history. But much of what has been taught about him over the past century has turned out to be wrong.

You can see pictures of Ishi, and read more about the exhibit about him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Marijuanaland - September 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 14:04:12 -0700

People who smoke marijuana--or grow, raid, sell, prescribe or write about it--are all denizens of "Marijuanaland."

California has been on the front lines of the culture changessurrounding marijuana over the past half century. A local writerdocumenting them has subtitled his book, "Dispatches from An American War."

Jonah Raskin will read from Marijuanaland at Copperfields Books in Sebastopol tonight at 7 pm. We’ve also got more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sebastopol Business Incubator - September 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 7 Sep 2011 12:16:55 -0700

Small business and a small town are working together for economic growth in Sebastopol.

It’s rare to find a new business incubator in a town of just 7500 residents. The Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project is exactly such a rarity.

The Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project will have its grand opening celebration tomorrow evening at the O’Reilly Media center at the north edge of town. You can hear about some of the new businesses the Project are supporting on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Library Hours - September 6, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 12:26:00 -0700

Were reduced hours the only way to close the Sonoma County libraries’ budget hole? Some people don’t think so.

Everyone is unhappy about the reductions in hours at all 13 Sonoma County libraries. But there is some disagreement over other steps the library system might have taken to address a million dollar budget shortfall.

There’s lots more about our libraries and the upcoming Library Commission meeting, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sustainable Soil - September 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 2 Sep 2011 12:22:44 -0700

Healthy soil has a biology all its own, an underground ecosystem that ideally is teeming with fungi and micro-organisms.

Dirt consists of much more than mere minerals. That’s why the most important parts of the plants we grow may be the underground root systems we rarely see.

There’s more on this story, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Business Relocation - September 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 17:10:59 -0700

Unemployment remains high in California, but not because businesses are moving to other states. A bay economist breaks down the trends.

Conservatives often charge that California and its state government have an "anti-business attitude" that is driving record numbers of companies out of the golden state. But an impartial analysis of the actual numbers does not support that claim.

You can read Jed Kolko’s full report on business relocation in California, and hear him talk about job movement within California, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Food Bank Cuts - August 31, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:05:48 -0700

Part of the debt ceiling budget deal in Washington DC is being felt at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. And not in a good way.

The need for groceries from the Redwood Empire Food Bank is on the upswing, while federal support for their programs is moving in the opposite direction.

What are the prospects for restored support for Food Bank program in the US Senate? David Goodman shares his prognosis on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Burning Man Film - August 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:32:42 -0700

Amid the dust and spectacle at Burning Man, a ritual of emotional healing and release. A documentary film tells the story, and we hear from the filmmaker.

The power of art to aid in healing grief is one theme of a new documentary about Petaluma’s David Best, and the temples he creates for Burning Man.

We've got pictures of David Best’s Temple, as seen in the film, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Tribes of Burning Man - August 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:55:26 -0700

Burning Man isn’t all wild art and debauchery in the desert. But it isn’t all sweetness and light, either.

Burning Man arises from the northern Nevada desert each year, and returns to dust again six days later. Even so, there is a lot going on behind the scenes, much of it documented in the new book, The Tribes of Burning Man.

Put 50,000 creative and uninhibited souls together in one concentrated environment, no matter how unconventional, and there are bound to be conflicts. Steven T. Jones talks about some of those on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. We’ll look at Burning Man from another perspective on tomorrow’s report.

Exploring the Cayman Islands - August 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:43:43 -0700

Blue iguanas, tame string rays, and other abundant wildlife make the Cayman Islands a prime destination for young naturalists.

Adults may associate the Cayman Islands with banking and high finance, But for a team of National Geographic youth explorers - including one from Sebastopol - it's a tropical paradise full of exotic wildlife.

You can see some of Sha'nan Levy's photos, and read his winning contest entry, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson - August 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:41:54 -0700

Brian Wilson, the man who invented the Beach Boys sound is back on the road, recreating it.

It can be a short trip from great success to a complete breakdown, followed by a long, arduous way back, a path that the creative light behind the Beach Boys knows intimately.

You can hear more form Brian Wilson, and see videos of him performing, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Indian Voices - August 24, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:09:24 -0700

The author of Indian Voices compiled it as an exercise in the "anti-stereotyping" of Native Americans.

The oldest cultures on our continent are struggling to find their place in 21st century America. Contemporary Native Americans tell their stories in a new book by a north bay writer.

Alison Owings will read from her book, Indian Voices, Listening to Native Americans at the Sebastopol Community Church, 1000 Gravenstein Highway North, tomorrow evening at 7 pm. She’s also got more to say about it on on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Domestic Workers' Rights - August 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:43:03 -0700

Existing labor law mostly overlooks domestic workers. AB 899 seeks to correct that. We'll tell you what it would do, and where it stands in Sacramento.

The workers who clean, cook, and help care for the infirm and disabled are mostly women, and largely Latino. That’s left them outside the labor protections afforded to most other workers, a situation that may be about to change.

You can find out more about the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Family Justice Center - August 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:34:13 -0700

A new model for providing support to victims of domestic violence in Santa Rosa quietly opened its doors on Monday, August 22nd.

Victims of domestic violence, elder abuse and childhood sexual abuse need many kinds of help and support, both to recover and to take action against the abusers. Now they can find it all in one place.

You’ll find contact information and more about the Family Justice Center on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Neighborhood Summit 2011 - August 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:05:48 -0700

Active and involved neighborhood associations thrive when they are a priority of local government. We’ll hear from a city with that has taken that approach for more than three decades.

For more than 30 years, Portland Oregon has been developing an extensive and diverse network of neighborhood associations and coalitions among them. So they have lessons to share with Santa Rosa.

The Santa Rosa Neighbors Summit begins tonight with a 6:30 pm presentation in City Hall, followed by a day or workshops from 9-3 tomorrow at the Finley Center. And you can hear more from the keynoters on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Credo School - August 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:22:16 -0700

A new high school will open its doors in Rohnert Park on Monday, with a creative approach to education.

A new high school emphasizing the Waldorf approach to education is poised to open its doors, at a former grade school campus not far from Sonoma State University.

You can find out more about the new Credo High School on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Vanishing America - August 17, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:09:40 -0700

America is fast losing it’s defining sense of place, contends author James Conaway, and he blames our inexorable corporatocracy.

Corporate-driven sameness is swallowing up the localized sense of place that has long characterized the American landscape, writes preservationist author James Conaway, even in the verdant vineyards of the Napa Valley.

James Conaway will talk about his book, Vanishing America, at Copperfield’s Books in Napa on Friday evening at 7 pm. He’s also got more to say about it on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Gleaning in Marin - August 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:18:15 -0700

The link between school lunches and organic farms in Marin is a team of volunteer gleaners.

What might have become compost is instead feeding school children, through Marin Organic’s weekly volunteer gleaning program at local organic farms.

To find our more about these gleaning programs, follow the links on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Darwin's Workshop - August 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:53:00 -0700

There’s nothing like hand-on experience with bones, bugs and experiments to get kids interested in science.

Inspired by the famous naturalist Charles Darwin, a former science teacher has turned her west county farmhouse into a learning laboratory for young students with a curiosity about the natural world.

Want to get a peek inside Darwin’s Workshop? We’ve got pictures, along with some further comments from Maggie Discoe, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Homeless Initiatives - August 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:32:30 -0700

Homelessness is on the rise locally, but some creative answers are emerging to meet the need.

With homelessness in Sonoma County still rising sharply, and resources to assist trending in the opposite direction, some creative new programs are being developed to help meet the need.

There’s one more promising initiative to help stretch the available resources for aiding the homeless in Sonoma County, and you can hear about that on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Homeless update - August 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:26:39 -0700

As the number of homeless people and families in Sonoma County continues to grow, the resources available to help them are shrinking.

There’s a new subgroup among Sonoma County’s homeless population, those who have been displaced by economic factors outside their control. And they’re driving up the total number of local families and individuals who lack shelter.

We’ve also got a link to that Resource Guide on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Vernal Pools - August 10, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:52:18 -0700

Wet winters and cool summers prolong the annual cycle of vernal pools, while adding to their mysteries.

Seasonal ponds that dot the central Sonoma County landscape before they dry up each summer are the product of unusual geology and home to some rare annual flowers.

If you’re wondering what those endangered flowers look like, we’ve got pictures for you on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Health Centers - August 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 9 Aug 2011 10:21:46 -0700

One year later, the federal Health Care Reform Act is making itself felt at local community Health Centers.

It may have slipped your notice that this is National Health Centers Week. A combination press conference and town hall meeting in Santa Rosa Monday morning, seized the occasion to detail some of the changes being felt in Sonoma County as a result of the 2010 federal Health Care Reform legislation.

Find out more about how the national Health Care Reform Act could affect you, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

HybridCore Homes - August 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:52:04 -0700

Building a new home around a prefab core of kitchen, laundry and bathrooms can save time and money. A SR company is hoping the concept catches on.

By partly prefabricating new houses, a Santa Rosa company is out to save builders time and money, with a stated goal of "revolutionizing the way America builds homes."

Find out more about HybridCore homes, and watch one being built in less than five minutes, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Inventions - August 5, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:45:31 -0700

It takes more than a good idea to create a successful invention. That's where Steve Schneider comes in. We'll tell you just what he does.

There’s a lot more to a successful invention than just a good idea.

Steve Schneider fills you in on the history of the inventors’ support center on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Peak Nature - August 4, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:41:57 -0700

Biodiversity is in decline on planet Earth. This is bad news humankind, even through we’re the leading cause.

The rate of extinctions globally is now hundreds, perhaps thousands to times higher than the historic incidence. Could we have already reached - or passed the point of Peak Nature?

You can hear more with Stephanie Mills, and read her Peak Nature article, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

DNA Privacy - August 3, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:37:40 -0700

Your DNA is uniquely yours, at least genetically. But you’re not necessarily the only one who has access to the information it holds.

It’s hard to imagine anything more personal than the genetic information encoded in your DNA. But it’s only protected by privacy laws some of the time.

Learn more about how protected your personal genetic information is on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Natural Capitalism - August 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:30:13 -0700

There are four forms of capitalism, including two that are constructive, even though they’re usually not acknowledged. We'll tell you what they are.

Capitalism doesn't have to be an economic system that devours raw materials with massive waste. An advocate of a variant termed "Natural Capitalism" contends it can deliver greater prosperity through increased efficiency and careful stewardship of natural and human resources.

Hunter Lovins also talks about how natural Capitalism reconciles with the free market economic theory of Adam Smith on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Sheep in Vineyards - August 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:22:34 -0700

With a little conditioning, reinforced by 5000 volt shocks, sheep can safely graze in vineyards benefiting both grapes and animals.

Sheep may safely graze in vineyards during the dormant, winter months, but expanding that to a year-round option requires applying some ovine psychology.

For further details on how this works, check out the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Santa Rosa Teacher At Sea - July 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:07:07 -0700

A six-day stint as an assistant marine biologist, measuring the ocean life and waters off the Sonoma-Marin coast might not be everyone's idea of an ideal summer interlude. But for one Santa Rosa high school teacher, that's exactly what it was.

While the entire experience aboard the NOAA research vessel was memorable, Elaine Bechler says there was one sight in particular that stood out for her.

Hear more on this, as well as archives of past stories on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Beatles Class - July 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:01:34 -0700

Studying the music of the Beatles is a popular way to pick up some core credits during the summer session at SSU.

A summary of the 1960s is merely the backdrop for a popular summer session class at SSU, one that focuses on the music--and the lives--of the Beatles.

Joshua Cook shares some of the inner workings of his Beatles course on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Electric Vehicles: Who’s Left Stranded? - July 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:56:47 -0700

The Californians who could most need clean air may get the least benefit from electric cars. That’s one finding of a new study.

Asians and Latinos in California are widely worried about air pollution and climate change, yet they are among the least likely to own hybrids or electric cars. That disconnect is the subject of a new report from a Berkeley policy study group today.

You can read the full "Who’s Left Stranded?" report, and hear more from its author, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Prison Realignment - July 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:42:57 -0700

The new state budget puts extra pressure on the Sonoma County Jail.

Numerous cuts made in the struggle to balance California’s budget are having direct effects on county programs. One of the first to feel such an impact will be the Sonoma County Jail.

Hear more about this from the sheriff on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Citizens and Politics - July 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:12:46 -0700

Although Americans have been increasingly disengaged in politics, over the past two decades, that doesn't mean they aren't interested in getting involved in and improving their communities.

Richard Harwood's ground breaking report, CITIZENS AND POLITICS: A View From Main Street America, was about to be published in 1991, just before the first Gulf War. When the swift and successful result in that conflict prompted a huge surge of in the approval ratings for then-President George H.W. Bush, Harwood quickly revisited his study subjects. But he found their disenchantment with the political process had grown, in spite of the outcome in Kuwait.

We've got more on this, as well as archives of past stories on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

"What If Cannabis Cured Cancer?" - July 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:33:27 -0700

"What If Cannabis Cured Cancer?" is a documentary film title. But that’s not just a rhetorical question.

The human body is born with an innate anti-cancer mechanism, a compound that mimics a widely available herb. But the plant’s potential benefits have largely gone unexamined, because it happens to be illegal.

"What If Cannabis Cured Cancer?" will be shown tomorrow at 7 pm at the Occidental Center for the Arts, and Dr. Hergenrather will be there to lead a discussion after the screening. Meanwhile, we’re got more from him and filmmaker Len Richmond about cannabis research on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org.

Immigration Enforcement Suit Settled - July 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:33:27 -0700

Sonoma County’s collaboration with immigration officers will diminish as part of a lawsuit settlement. Unless it already has.

A settlement in a lawsuit over immigration enforcement in Sonoma County either makes notable changes in policy, or merely codifies current practices. Either way, both sides seem satisfied.

To hear more about the details of the settlement, go to the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Commissioner Or Candidate - July 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:33:25 -0700

Santa Rosa city council candidates would have to give up seats on city boards and commissions under one incumbent’s proposal.

Good governance or hidden political motives? Santa Rosa prepares to weigh a policy change that would force city council candidates to give up seats on city boards and commissions.

We've got more on this issue, as well as archives of past stories on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

The Mondragon Cooperatives - July 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:33:24 -0700

A worker-owned and managed business conglomerate isn't an oxymoron; it's the biggest economic success story in Spain. We get a look inside.

The driving motive for the Mondragon Cooperatives of northern Spain is not earnings, but strengthening community, and boosting quality of life. Their considerable profits, it seems, are just a byproduct.

We've got additional looks at the internal workings of the Mondragon Centers, and information about the next Praxis Peace institute visit there, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter at @KRCBNews.

Reviving the American Dream - July 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:21:28 -0700

It’s not exactly alive and well, so the American Dream is up for a political re-imagining this weekend.

It means many things to many people, but there’s a widespread sense that the American Dream is tattered, tarnished or unattainable. A nationwide series of informal gatherings over the coming weekend in meant to rebuild a collective vision of what it should be, and how we might realize it.

To find out where and when The American Dream meeting nearest you is happening, go to on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Inside the Federal Reserve - July 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:21:27 -0700

What does the Federal Reserve actually do, and why? Some broad answers and a forum for more details will be forthcoming.

The Federal Reserve Bank plays a critical, but low-profile role in maintaining the stability of our national economy. Today's report offers a peek into the Fed's internal functions.

A deeper look inside The Fed is on tap tonight at 6:30, when the Science Buzz cafe convenes at Coffee Catz in Sebastopol. Further details are on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Blood On The Tracks - July 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:53:43 -0700

S. Brian Willson caused death and destruction as a member of the US military, then, as a peace protester, survived his own maiming at the hands of the US Navy.

In a horrific peaceful protest gone wrong, Brain Wilson lost both his legs when he was run over by a train loaded with military weaponry. He’s written about that experience, and much more, in a newly published memoir, and talked about it yesterday with KRCB’s Bruce Robinson.

S. Brian Willson opened a week and a half of bay area events book tour at Friends House in Santa Rosa last night; he'll speak at Community Church in Sebastopol tomorrow night at 7. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. We've posted the schedule of his other appearances around the bay this week and next on the site as well.

Sonoma Clean Energy - July 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:40:02 -0700

Using the money we pay for electricity to fund the creation of renewable power sources is the concept behind Sonoma Clean Power.

From chicken manure to geothermal steam, Sonoma County is rife with renewable energy potential. A new public-private partnership, currently being studied, could accelerate the development of those "green" power sources.

For more on how Sonoma Clean Energy could work, and its potential benefits, check out the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Lyme Disease - July 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:05:33 -0700

There’s more to Lyme disease than ticks and bulls-eye rashes, including a festering controversy among doctors.

Lyme Disease is an elusive bacterial infection that is afflicting a growing number of patients, but inconsistent symptoms make it tricky to diagnose, much less treat.

A deeper look into the complexities of Lyme Disease is offered in the documentary film, Under Our Skin, airing KRCB television at 9 pm tonight. You can see the trailer for it and learn more about the debate over Lyme Disease on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Zits Revisited - July 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 6 Jul 2011 10:51:30 -0700

Behind the success of the comic strip, "Zits" lies an unusual long-distance partnership. One half of that team explains how it works.

What began as a sideline for Jim Borgman, a highly regarded political cartoonist-- has become his main occupation: drawing the hugely successful daily comic strip, Zits. In fact, since he was first featured in this North Bay Report from April, 2007, he has retired from political cartooning, while the popularity of Zits continues to grow.

This wraps up our retrospective of interviews with cartoonists this week on the North Bay Report. There’s more on our NBR newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Tom Tomorrow Revisited - June 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:53:30 -0700

The first Gulf War was a turning point for cartoonist Dan Perkins; that’s when his work became sharply political. He explains how that happened.

For some cartoonists, their medium is about more than entertainment. Even before Thomas Nast, there were artists who used their pens to make political points, and today they are legion. Among the most acerbic, literate and unflinchingly liberal is Dan Perkins. But as this interview from 2007 explains, readers know him by an altogether different name.

This is part of a retrospective of interviews with cartoonist all this week on the North Bay Report. There’s more on our NBR newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Opus Revisited - June 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:08:48 -0700

The most popular penguin on the Sunday Comic pages is about to retire, while his creator, cartoonist Berkeley Breathed, moves on to other projects.

Within the world of dedicated fans of the Sunday Funnies, there was muted mourning three years ago, when cartoonist Berkeley Breathed wrote an end to his Sunday-only comic, Opus. When his farewell tour came through Santa Rosa, he explained why he made that decision in this North Bay Report from October, 2008.

This is part of a retrospective of interviews with cartoonist all this week on the North Bay Report. There’s more on our NBR newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Bizarro Revisited - June 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:08:47 -0700

Why has Cartoonist Dan Piraro has amplified his Bizarro comic strip into a multi-media live performance? He explains.

Dan Piraro’s one-panel comic, Bizarro is published in more than 200 newspapers, including the Press Democrat and the Chronicle. In April of 2006, when he paid his first and so far only visit to the Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, he also talked with KRCB’s Bruce Robinson, which resulted in the following the North Bay Report.

This is part of a retrospective of interviews with cartoonist all this week on the North Bay Report. There’s more on our NBR newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Mutts Revisited - June 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:08:45 -0700

Snoopy was hardly the first dog to regularly appear in a comic strip. But he changed the way they were portrayed. Another cartoonist who draws dogs explains how and why.

For KRCB News Director Bruce Robinson, one of the benefits, of having the Charles Schulz museum open in Santa Rosa, is the opportunity to talk with some of the interesting and widely read cartoonists who visit it. The first such conversation, back in the spring of 2005, came as the man behind a then newish strip with a throwback style came to town to help prepare an exhibit at the museum about the history of dogs in comic strips.

This is part of a retrospective of interviews with cartoonist all this week on the North Bay Report. There’s more on our NBR newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Pop'd from the Panel - June 24, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:44:20 -0700

Fine art borrows from the comics in the newest exhibit at the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. We'll get a sneak preview.

Which came first, cartoons or art? That question is explored, if not exactly answered, in a new exhibit at the Charles Schulz Museum that features works by some big names in 20th century art.

We've got a preview of a couple of the pieces that will be on display on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And all next week, we'll feature our own audio comics retrospective, reprising five past North Bay Report interviews with noted comic artists.

California Green Party - June 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:44:18 -0700

After 21 years as a minor player in California politics, the Green Party is revving up to make a bigger impact. We'll hear from their new leader.

Since the Green Party was established in California in 1990, they have elected 220 candidates, all at the local level. With a new director from the North Bay taking charge, they are now out to grow those numbers substantially in the 2012 election.

You can read that Green Party platform, and hear who they compare themselves with the Peace and Freedom Party on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Global Student Embassy Projects - June 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:44:17 -0700

A summer job under the equatorial sun? Global Student Embassy has young people lining up for them. We’ll tell you where.

Would you pay to have a summer job? Students working on the international service projects organized by Global Student Embassy are eager to do just that.

Want to know more? We've got pictures and links on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Trains next week - June 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:44:16 -0700

The long wait for renewed freight train service in the North Bay may not be very much longer. We'll tell you when to listen for the whistles.

It’s been years since freight trains last rolled through Sonoma County. Now it looks like they might finally start up again next week.

For more about when the trains will run, and what they’ll be carrying, go to the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Selling Local Authors' Books - June 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:44:10 -0700

One way for local authors to sell their books is to look beyond bookstores...to coffee shops.

Sonoma County writers can get lost on the shelves of even the most supportive local bookstores. So one resourceful author has found a way for their books to stand out.

We've got the full list of locations where these Sonoma County writers' books are being featured on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

California DREAM Act - June 17, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:17:05 -0700

A new California Dream: Make it easier for motivated but undocumented Latino youth to go to college.

California is one of several states considering laws aimed at expanding educational opportunities for undocumented youth who have grown up here, measures that have borrowed some of the spirit as well as the name of the unsuccessful federal DREAM act.

The North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org, has links to the Dream Act Alliance, and more information about the bills themselves. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Landslide Maps - June 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:37:52 -0700

The most widespread natural hazard along the North Coast isn’t earthquakes - it’s landslides.

Geologists can predict where earthquakes may happen, but not when. With landslides, they can zero in on both.

We’ve got links to those landslide hazards maps for you on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Williamson Act - June 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:01:09 -0700

If Sacramento pulls state funding to offset reduced property tax assessments for working farms and ranches, will local counties be able to sustain the program?

Sonoma County pioneered the concept of a sales-tax supported Ag and open space district. Yet there is another tax-related measure, shared with all of California, that achieves some of the same benefits. But can the cost of doing that be sustained?

For more information about how the Williamson Act affects Sonoma County, check out the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

A Buck for the Parks - June 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:08:09 -0700

If 11 million Californians would simply donate a dollar, none of the state’s parks would have to close. The campaign on is, and we’ll meet the man behind it.

Eleven million dollars are needed to keep 70 of California’s state parks from closing. One man is out to raise that money, one dollar at a time.

We've got more about the "Buck for the Parks" campaign, and the man who inspired it, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB dot org. The link for online donations is posted there, too.

Mayan Calendar - June 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:21:06 -0700

One scholar’s reading of the Mayan calendar says the world won’t end in 2012, but it will undergo a cosmic change next October.

There are nine distinct levels on the pyramids built by the ancient Mayans, and that number was also central to their remarkably complex calendar. According to one student of that calendar, its ninth wave is approaching completion, not in 2012, but later this year.

If you want to hear more before tomorrow night, go to the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Wisdom of the Radish - June 10, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:00:13 -0700

The Wisdom of the Radish - a tasty memoir of life on a start-up organic farm near Healdsburg.

The pitfalls and rewards of do-it-yourself organic farming come alive in The Wisdom of the Radish, a rueful and informative account of two first-timers debut growing season in Sonoma County.

The Foggy River farmers share more insights into their hand-on agricultural experiences on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Pacific Coast Railroad R.O.W. - June 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:18:43 -0700

A nearly forgotten coastal railway could be reborn as a recreational trail from Sausalito to Duncans Mills. We’ll track its prospects.

Beginning in the late 19th century, a local train line carried tourists from Sausalito to western Sonoma County and back. Eco-tourism advocates now are hoping to see that revived in the 21st century.

You can see a map of the old rail route, and hear about its history, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Online Retail Sales Tax - June 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 8 Jun 2011 11:56:44 -0700

Online retailers and their customers don't pay sales tax in California, but some lawmakers are out to change that.

Amazon.com and other online retailers enjoy an unfair advantage because they don't charge California customers sales tax, the company's critics contend. The state legislature appears ready to change that.

Nancy Skinner and Bill Petrocelli offer additional arguments for the tax law change on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. You'll find a link to opposing views there, too. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Online Legal Issues - June 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 7 Jun 2011 12:38:23 -0700

Libel, defamation and copyright law have all followed journalism online. But they’re lagging way behind.

The world of online dialog is sometimes characterized as a digital version of the "wild west," where just about anything goes. That's an exaggeration, says a San Francisco media attorney, but the law is struggling to keep up with behavioral developments within the worldwide web.

Simon Frankel is a partner at Covington & Burlington LLP. He'll be the featured speaker tomorrow night at Book Passage in Corte Madera. His presentation, "Online News: Redefining Journalism" is past of the First Amendment Speaker's Bureau series presented by the Media Law Resource Center. Details on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Budget Cuts for the Disabled - June 6, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 6 Jun 2011 14:29:31 -0700

California’s disabled population is already feeling the pain of state budget cuts, amid fears it could get worse yet.

Even if Gov. Brown prevails in his bid to extend the state’s current sales tax rate as a way to close the remaining budget deficit, cuts already adopted will fall heavily on California’s thousands of people with disabilities.

Some of the clients from Becoming Independent recently staged a protest demonstration outside the gates of San Quentin, to call attention to the disparity in state spending for their needs as opposed to the prison population. We've got pictures on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Wicked Bugs - June 3, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 3 Jun 2011 14:13:37 -0700

"Wicked Bugs" can be deadly, painful or destructive. Fortunately they’re a small minority.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of species of bugs on Earth, only about a hundred can actually harm humans. But that’s enough to populate a fascinating, squirm-inducing new book.

Amy Stewart will read from Wicked Bugs tonight at Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma. She’ll also be at Book passage on Sunday and Reader’s Books in Sonoma on Monday. We’ve got details on these events, as well as her comments on the Assassin Bug, the Brown Recluse Spider and the Bombardier Beetle, all on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Statewide Apple Moth EIR - June 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 2 Jun 2011 15:13:29 -0700

Eradicating agricultural pests rarely works. Yet California appears to be locking into that approach, while critics call for considering alternatives. We’ll explain the issue.

The fight against invasive insects that threaten crops is a big concern in California. Now a proposed statewide environmental planning document for that effort is threatening to trigger another fight over how it should be conducted.

In case you wonder what a light brown apple moth looks like, we’ve got pictures, along with more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Roseland Prep Graduations - June 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 1 Jun 2011 10:09:14 -0700

In just seven years, a small, supportive high school in Roseland is changing educational expectations within its whole district.

Roseland University Prep, a charter high school serving a mostly Latino population in Santa Rosa, will graduate virtually all of their seniors again this year. But that won’t mean they’ll say good bye altogether.

How did this new school in a disadvantaged area accomplish what they have? They offer some additional insights on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Eradicating Mice on the Farallones - May 31, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 1 Jun 2011 10:01:03 -0700

No one wants mice overrunning the Farallones Islands. But poisoning the rodents isn’t very popular either. We take a closer look at this issue.

If protecting one endangered species means other, less threatened species are harmed in the process, where is the ethical and environmental balance point? That’s the issue the US Fish and Wildlife Service is wrestling with as they attempt to eradicate a plague of non-native house mice on the Farallones Islands.

We dig deeper into the complexities of this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Climate Change & Agriculture - May 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:22:34 -0700

Electricity generated from chicken poop? It’s on the way, maybe as soon as next summer.

Using chicken manure to create electricity, and the benefits of getting to know your local farmer. These were among the myriad topics covered at a conference yesterday on "Preserving Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change." KRCB’s Bruce Robinson was there.

There’s more from the conference on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Mussel Farming - May 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:07:40 -0700

Pacific farmed mussels could be heading for a plate of pasta near you. Pretty soon, anyway.

Demand is high and the costs are relatively low for a new aquaculture crop that holds rich potential for expansion along the North Coast - mussels.

To hear more details about how mussel farming works, check out the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

West County Seed Bank - May 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:09:43 -0700

Biodiversity begins with seeds, the primary crop at Sebastopol's West County Seed Garden. Find out what's growing there this year.

In a small bountiful community garden in Sebastopol, the goal is not producing food, but harvesting seeds to be shared with others for future growing seasons.

Sara McCammant talks more about how saving seed preserves a alternative to monoculture and corporate seed sources, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Bicycle Commuting - May 24, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:54:05 -0700

Many commuters hate the daily grind. Not John Daly; and he does it on a bicycle. We’ll meet him.

The 36 mile round trip from Occidental to SRJC is hardly flat, but it just a day’s ride to work and back for Sonoma County’s Bicycle Commuter of the Year.

How do weather and vehicle traffic affect bicycle commuting. John Daly offers his experience on those issues on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

"Real Common Sense" - May 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:53:57 -0700

Rampant consumerism is at the core of America’s socio-political malaise, says the author of "Real Common Sense." The cure? A deliberate return to the core values of the Constitution.

Members of the Tea Party movement often invoke elements of the US Constitution to buttress their political positions. In doing so, they often distort those sources, argues writer and radio host Brian Kahn, whose new book sets out to set the record straight.

Brian Kahn elaborates on the role of commercial media in our current societal problems, and offers a remedy as well, all on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Deep Blue Home - May 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:13:29 -0700

Julia Whitty calls her book, Deep Blue Home, An Intimate ecology of our wild ocean. We hear from the author directly.

As an environmental writer, Julia Whitty reports on the oceans of the world and the life they support, from beneath the surface--in more ways than one.

Julia Whitty will read from her book tomorrow at the Healdsburg library at 11 am and at the Guerneville branch at 2 pm. For a schedule of her additional local book events next week, go to the newsblog at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Countering Park Closures - May 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:28:04 -0700

If California can’t afford to keep its parks open, perhaps local counties can find other ways to sustain them. At least in Sonoma County. We’ll hear about some of those possibilities.

If there’s no money available to keep state parks in Sonoma County open, what else can be done? County Regional Parks director Caryl Hart is working on some options.

There’s more about this issue on our newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Taser Studies - May 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:22:45 -0700

Nearly half the published studies on Taser safety were funded by the company that makes them. Coincidentally, they tend to see fewer risks from the devices.

Numerous studies have concluded that Tasers do not pose risks to the people they shock. A closer looks finds this conclusion is far more likely when the study was funded by the Taser maker, or conducted by someone with links to the company.

There’s more on this study, including a link to a previous North Bay Report about Tasers, on our newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Planning Regional Growth - May 17, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:27:19 -0700

Two million more people are expected in the Bay Area by 2040. So where will they live? We’ll hear some possible answers.

The Bay Area's population is forecast to grow by a third over the next 25 years. Regional agencies are already at work on plans to concentrate the new housing these new residents will need close to mass transit opportunities, even in the North Bay. And they want your input, too.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s local planning workshop will be held tomorrow evening, 5:30 to 8:30, at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. We’ve also got more information about the meting and the regional planning process on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sales Tax for Agriculture - May 16, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 16 May 2011 13:13:58 -0700

Sonoma County voters have willingly taxed themselves to support Open Space. Might they do the same for agriculture?

If we value the agricultural diversity that abounds beyond the vineyards in Sonoma County, would be we willing to tax ourselves to sustain and benefit from it?

You can find this and other recent stories archived on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Remaking California - May 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:08:42 -0700

Originally Aired: September 10, 2010

There’s widespread agreement that California’s state government is dysfunctional and "broken." But consensus on how to correct things is elusive.

California’s constitution was adopted when the state was small, homogeneous and barely industrialized. What will it take to bring the mechanics of the state’s governance into the 21st century? Bruce Robinson looks for answers.

Jeffrey Lustig talks about "Remaking California." You can hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The State of Sustainability - May 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:08:15 -0700

In the world of business, reaching for sustainability may require big changes, even a shift from products to services.

Our Gross National Product, as currently calculated is not a good measure of actual economic productivity, much less the growing move toward more sustainable business practices.

We’ve got more from Dean Maggie Winslow, and information about tomorrow’s Sustainability Enterprise Conference on the North Bay Report newsblog at KRCB.org. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Carbon Nation - May 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:08:05 -0700

Belief in climate change is NOT a pre-requisite for taking action to save energy and avoid fossil fuel use. A new film makes that case.

Renewable Energy and increased efficiencies are concepts that anyone can understand and embrace, regardless of their views on climate change. A new documentary contends that these are positive solutions, no matter how the problem is defined.

You can see the trailer for Carbon Nation, and hear more about some of the stories within the film, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Legalizing Hemp - May 10, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:35:05 -0700

Hemp isn’t a drug, but it’s still an illegal crop in California. State Sen. Mark Leno wants to change that.

From the sails on Columbus’ ships to some early American currency, industrial hemp has played a vital and varied role in American History. A North Bay legislator is working to update that history into 21st Century California.

Hear more about what Industrial Hemp can do, and what it has done historically, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Endocrine Disruptors and Delta Fish - May 9, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:08:23 -0700

Endocrine disruptors are potent and widely used chemicals. But they may be causing gender confusion in small freshwater fish. We hear from someone who’s studying that issue.

Pesticides, birth control pills, human hormones and more are part of the chemical stew in the Sacramento River delta. A Bodega Bay researcher is studying how they’re affecting the fish.

You can learn more about endocrine disruptors and Bryan Cole’s research on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Homeless Shelter - May 5, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 5 May 2011 10:36:10 -0700

Homelessness is different in the time of the great recession, and so, too, are the services being offered to cope with it. We’ll get a look inside our largest local shelter.

Changes in the homeless populations in Sonoma County are being matched with new services made available to them at the regional shelter in downtown Santa Rosa.

The Catholic Charities Family Support Center is hosting a community open house tomorrow from 11-1. They’re located at 465 A Street, near the corner of 7th and A. We’ve got more about them and their programs on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Marine Protection Areas - May 4, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 3 May 2011 17:28:34 -0700

In addition to the Sonoma Coast beaches, our area also has protected parklands even further west - and yes, they are under water.

Important offshore habitat areas near us, including the Farallone Islands and the Cordell Banks, have long been protected as National Marine Sanctuaries. More recently. A series of smaller areas closer to the shore have joined them as California’s Marine Protected Areas, a development that’s rather new.

You can see a map detailing where the Marine Protected Areas have been established on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sri Lanka Preschools - May 3, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 3 May 2011 12:11:33 -0700

In rural Sri Lanka, a batch of new preschools are benefiting their villages in multiple ways.

If it’s too far for very young children to walk to the nearest school, then the school must come to them. That’s an approach that is working for preschool students in Sri Lanka.

You can hear more about these teachers and their schools on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org; and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Eco-Odyssey - May 2, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 2 May 2011 17:21:27 -0700

Tourism in the North Bay takes on a low-carbon approach with the debut this week of the Eco-Odyssey.

If the local economy relies, in part, on tourism, and tourism is dependent on fossil fuels, what happens if - or when - gas prices head past $5 per gallon? The Eco-Odyssey is a new effort to demonstrate a carbonless alternative.

Be listening for our ongoing coverage of the Eco-Odyssey on KRCB-FM all this week, and on our North Bay Voice website. You can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Russian River, Then and Now - April 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:15:27 -0700

There’s nothing like old photographs to document how an area changes through the years. A new book does that for the lower Russian River area.

Back when Santa Rosa was still a sleepy farm town, the lower Russian River was a lively vacation hot spot. That history is a marked contrast with the region’s present, and they both can be seen side by side in a new book about the area.

The co-authors of Russian River Then and Now are doing a pair of hometown book signings this weekend, tonight at 7 at River Reader in Guerneville and tomorrow at noon at the Forestville Pharmacy. You can get a peek at a couple of the pictures they were talking about on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Redwood Research - April 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:06:02 -0700

Redwoods are a familiar part of our landscape, yet within them lie botanical mysteries that have defied scientific unraveling.

Beyond being a beautiful building material, redwoods hold promise for carbon sequestration as well as pest resistance. The trick is unlocking that potential.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Redwood Wonder Plot - April 27, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:32:15 -0700

Second growth redwoods kept the Northern California timber industry going for an extra half century, thanks to the vision of one man.

Redwoods grow quickly, but live for centuries, which makes tracking their life history a long-term project. But in a remote 1-acre plot in southern Mendocino county, exactly such a project has been underway since the early 1920s.

You can hear more about the Wonder Plot, and see a picture, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Volunteers - April 26, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:41:22 -0700

What's prevailing wage for volunteer workers on environmental projects? Nine years after jumping into that issue, the California legislature still has not found a satisfactory answer.

California's beaches, parks, waterways and open space have benefitted from hundreds of thousand of hours or volunteer labor. But an ongoing, behind-the-scenes legislative tussle is keeping the availability of that cost-free work force in question.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Southeast Greenway - April 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:52:10 -0700

Transforming a 50 acre strip of vacant land into urban open space is the goal of the Santa Rosa SE Greenway campaign.

Community gardens, walking and bicycle paths, meandering creeks, and a habitat corridor for wildlife. All of these could be part of an urban open space "greenway" in the concentrated residential area of Southeast Santa Rosa.

What else might a future Southeast Greenway include? You can hear more ideas, see a map of the area, and find links to walks around the site and other related events on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sonoma County in 10 Years - April 22, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:28:05 -0700

We can’t truly be a healthy community without social justice. It’s a bold new message from local health care planners and providers.

There is no single path to a healthier Sonoma County, participants at a conference on health an poverty were reminded yesterday. But getting there will require getting off the systemic treadmills that aren’t working now.

Dr. Iton has a lot of interesting things to say about health and poverty, and you can hear more of them on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Woodsmoke Health Risks - April 21, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:47:56 -0700

Coughing and burning eyes may be the least serious effects of exposure to wood smoke in the air.

Humans have been burning wood for millennia, but new research indicates that breathing in the smoke from those fires can have negative health impacts that reach all the way down to your DNA.

You can see some of these particles, and reporter Cheryl Katz suggests some other precautions you can take to minimize wood smoke exposure, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

From the Back Porch - April 20, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:47:55 -0700

Universal human truths, ripped from the editorials of a small town community newspaper. We’ll meet the man who wrote them.

Today, Ace Remas teaches Buddhist meditation, but there was a time - captured in his community newspaper editorials - when his teachers were his two young sons.

Ace Remas will read from his book, From the Back Porch, Saturday at noon at Book Passages in Corte Madera. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Fire Free Fitch - April 19, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:24:49 -0700

The best time to think about fire safety is before something starts to burn.

On today’s North Bay Report, we meet another of this year’s Red Cross Real Heroes Laura Tietz is being recognized with their environmental award, but it could just as easily have been for being a good neighbor.

The sold-out Real Heroes awards breakfast is tomorrow in Santa Rosa. Meanwhile, Laura Tietz has some additional fire safety tips that apply well beyond Fitch Mountain, which you can hear on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

ProsthetiKa - April 18, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:11:56 -0700

Jon Batzdorff builds artificial limbs for amputees. After the Haitian earthquake, he built a lab to build the limbs, and shipped it there.

The local chapter of the Red Cross holds its 8th annual Real Heroes breakfast and fundraiser on Wednesday morning, at which 10 North Bay citizens will be recognized for their contributions to their community and the world. Today’s report profiles one of them.

We’ll meet another of this year’s Real Heroes on tomorrow’s report. Meanwhile, you can find pictures of the ProsthetiKa lab in Haiti and some of the people it’s helped on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

"Plane Jane" at Costco - April 15, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:20:30 -0700

Selling books one on one isn't the path to best-seller status, but it’s working for a first time Santa Rosa novelist.

After a small press local author persistently talked his way into doing a book signing at a local big box store, he found that talking customers into buying the book was easy.

You’ll recognize that roadside sign when you see its picture on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

CSU Budget Protests - April 14, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:01:42 -0700

Budget cuts for the California State University system should be felt at least as much by administrators as by students, said protestors at Sonoma State yesterday. They had more to say.

Students and faculty across the California State University system staged concurrent protests Wednesday, railing against the recent history of rising administrative costs, along side higher student fees, and cutbacks in course offerings and the professors teaching those classes.

We’ve got photos from the rally at Sonoma State on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Gravenstein History - April 13, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:46:50 -0700

For juicy local history, it’s hard to beat Sebastopol’s Gravenstein apples.

From the dominant local crop, to a specialty fruit with a fervent fan base, Sebastopol’s Gravenstein apples have a long and colorful history, now documented in a newly published book.

We’ve got more Gravenstein history - and a few pictures - on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Immigration Hunger Strike - April 12, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:00:34 -0700

Can hunger still be used as a political tool? A Santa Rosa advocate for immigrant rights is putting that to the test.

With US immigration policy a confusing and unworkable mess, Sonoma County’s participation in its punitive practices should be kept to a minimum, argues one local activist. So he’s putting his own health on the line to make his point.

What are other communities doing on this issue? Rick Coshnear answers that question on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Hoodwinked - April 11, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:08:56 -0700

If we don’t pay the true costs of the things we buy, we’re perpetuating an unsustainable economy. You’ll hear an alternative approach.

The way out of the global recession, suggests former Economic Hitman John Perkins, is for personal purchase decision-making to embrace justice and sustainability as more valuable than cheap prices.

John Perkins will talk about his news book, Hoodwinked, tonight at the Sonoma Community Center at 8 pm., an event sponsored by the Praxis Peace Institute. You can also hear more from him on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Queen of the Sun - April 8, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 8 Apr 2011 10:52:17 -0700

Is the industrialization of pollination at the root of massive honeybee die-offs' is the bees' disease? A new documentary film examines that question.

Honey bees have been pollinating plants all over planet Earth for millennia. But now, rather abruptly, there are far fewer of them around to do the job. A new documentary examines the history of bees - and worries about their future.

Queen of the Sun: What Are The Bees Telling Us? opens locally today at the Summerfield Cinemas in Santa Rosa. You can see the trailer and hear more from the director on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB dot org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

SRJC Education Forum - April 7, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 6 Apr 2011 18:02:55 -0700

What do state budget cuts - those already made, and those possibly still to come - mean for teachers and students at Santa Rosa Junior College? The effects are already being felt.

California’s community colleges have already seen their budgets for the coming year slashed by $400 million, and even bigger cuts may be looming. And they’re only a small piece of the state’s educational infrastructure. So what does the future hold for our schools?

The public forum on "Our Education Crisis" will be held in Newman Auditorium on the SRJC campus, beginning at 2 pm on Friday afternoon. It’s actually the second in a series of three meetings on the subject. We’ve got details about the third and final one on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sonoma County Energy Independence - April 6, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 5 Apr 2011 17:13:35 -0700

Sonoma County’s Energy Independence Program is charging into its third year, with no letup in demand. We'll get an update.

Sonoma County’s innovative program to charge energy-saving home improvements against future property tax bills is two years old, and growing.

If this sounds like something you might want to get in on, we've got the necessary links and info on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Mosquito Season - April 5, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 4 Apr 2011 18:08:57 -0700

For sports fans, we have now entered baseball season. But it’s mosquito season for everyone. Find out what you can do about it.

It’s an annual sequence: First the rains, then the sun comes out, and soon thereafter, clouds of mosquitoes. But at least now they are more of an annoyance than a health hazard.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

New Home for Tool Library - April 4, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 1 Apr 2011 15:12:10 -0700

Using the right tool makes any job go easier. Finding and borrowing the right tool just got easier, too. How? We’ll tell you.

Obeying the old admonition to "find an need and fill it," Dustin Zuckerman created the Santa Rosa Tool Library, Today, it reopens in its new home.

Dustin Zuckerman talks more about the evolution of his tool library, and how it works, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Skaggs Island - April 1, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:34:31 -0700

The San Pablo Wildlife Refuge expands by nearly a third today, with the addition of 3300 acres of Skaggs Island.

From nature to hay fields to the Navy and back again. Skaggs Island approaches full circle as it becomes part of the San Pablo Wildlife Refuge.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Hawai'i History - March 31, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:46:24 -0700

Hawaii’s history is not nearly as beautiful as its scenery - especially after American missionaries arrived.

Hawaiian history with a healthy dose of wry commentary. Writer Sarah Vowell turns her attention to the westernization of out 50th state in her newest book. Bruce Robinson talked with her about it.

Sarah Vowell reads from her new book at Copperfield’s in Petaluma, tomorrow night at 7 pm. You can also hear more from her on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Happiness Is A Warm Blanket - March 30, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:11:01 -0700

Good Grief. Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang have a brand new video out, ten years after their creator’s death. We get a peek behind the scenes. A new generation creative team, led by the son of cartoonist Charles Schulz, has revisited the world of Peanuts to produce a new animated video that debuts this week. You can see the trailer for Happiness is a Warm Blanket and hear more about how it was made, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Ocean Garbage - March 29, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:50:46 -0700

A once a year coastal clean-up day collects tons of trash every September. But in the big picture, that’s just a drop in the ocean.

If the world’s beaches are littered with all sorts of debris on a random Saturday in September - and they are - just think what washes up in the surf all the rest of the time.

You can hear more about this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Phil Ochs Documentary - March 28, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:45:31 -0700

Phil Ochs was a passionate and political 1960s folk singer, whose music still speaks to the issues of our times.

Phil Ochs, one of the best and best known topical folk singers of the 1960s, has since been largely forgotten. A new documentary film is out to revive his music and introduce him to another generation.

"Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune," will screen four times tomorrow at the Sixth Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa. You can see the trailer and hear more from Meegan Ochs and filmmaker Kenneth Bowser, on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB dot org.

Doris Murphy Obit - March 25, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:28:18 -0700

Doris Murphy was history personified for the town of Occidental.

Doris Murphy, who became a matriarch to the entire town of Occidental, passed away earlier this week, just a few days after her 101st birthday. KRCB's Bruce Robinson talked with her just before her centennial a year ago, which was marked by big birthday bash at the Occident Center for the Arts. Today, we repeat that report.

Doris Murphy shared some further reflections from her eventful life, which you can hear on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And we invite you to follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Ministerial Hiring Discrimination - March 24, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:49:19 -0700

An unemployed Sonoma County minister has become the public face of hiring discrimination against unmarried clergy.

Education and experience are pluses in the job marketplace, but they aren’t necessarily enough to offset discrimination. And that can come in some unexpected ways, as an unemployed pastor in Petaluma has discovered.

You can hear more from Pastor Ahmlee and how he has responded to this issue on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB dot org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Green Music Center Gift - March 23, 2011

bruce_robinson@krcb.org — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:00:20 -0700

A major donation from a nationally recognized philanthropist will enable the Green Music Center at Sonoma State to finally open in September 2012.

A record-breaking financial gift to Sonoma State University will enable the completion of the concert hall at the new Green Music Center, which is now due to open officially in September of next year.

Want to see what the finished Green Center will look like? We’ve got pictures on the North Bay Report newsblog, at KRCB.org. And now you can also follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.