The Bay

More than four years after the Taliban took control of Kabul, thousands of Afghan families are still waiting for the U.S. to fulfill promises it made to take them in for helping the American war effort. Now, the U.S. is moving to deport thousands of Afghans who have recently arrived here, after the Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for people from Afghanistan. Links: Bay Area Afghans, Allies Decry Trump’s End of TPS: ‘They’re Terrified’ Jewish Community and Family Services East Bay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2023, Rise East, a collective of East Oakland nonprofits, received a $50 million grant a from national philanthropic organization. But there was a catch: The money could only be unlocked if Rise East could raise more $50 million more from local donors. On Thursday, Rise East announced that they had done it. And East Oaklanders have already begun dreaming about what to do with this money to help reimagine their communities. This episode originally aired on Oct. 11, 2024. Links: Rise East Unlocks $100 Million to Reimagine East Oakland Live From East Oakland: Can $100 Million Revitalize Oakland’s Black Community? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Wildest Story is a national live storytelling and comedic trauma-bonding event series from the pop-up comedy collective Fools Circle. Earlier this month, some of the Bay Area’s favorite comedians and storytellers gathered at KQED for this showcase of crazy and jaw-dropping personal experiences that could only happen here. This episode contains explicit language. Links: Watch the full event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie DiBenedetti, a reporter for KQED, discusses the ongoing hunger strike at Stanford University, where students, staff, and faculty are advocating for Gaza. They call for the university to divest from companies profiting from the conflict. DiBenedetti highlights the striking contrast between the urgency of the hunger strike and the celebratory atmosphere of graduation. She also delves into the emotional and physical toll on the activists, who feel frustrated by the university's lack of response, yet remain steadfast in their demands for justice.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has tapped some of the city’s richest people to run a new nonprofit aimed at raising money to revitalize the city’s downtown, and also recently announced a fund that will use private dollars to help address homelessness. But how much power should the city’s ultrarich have over the city’s comeback? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay Area is home to the WNBA’s newest team. Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries play their first-ever regular season game at Chase Center. For women’s sports fans across the region, it’s been a long time coming. The Chronicle's Marisa Ingemi joins us to preview the Valkyries' inaugural season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 2019, a bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge added more options for cyclists. Now, the fate of the bike lane is a hot button issue as officials decide whether to limit access to weekends only, or keep the lane open seven days a week. Richmondside reporter Joel Umanzor joins us to talk about what’s next for the bridge, and the strong opinions on both sides of the bike lane.  Links: Cyclists cheer as Richmond-San Rafael bridge bike lane vote is delayed again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Press Democrat, the longtime local newspaper of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, has been sold to MediaNews Group, a newspaper publisher owned by Alden Global Capital, an investment firm based in Manhattan. The sale has raised alarms among North Bay journalists and residents, who fear that the company will continue its pattern of buying newspapers and then slashing staff. KQED’s Gabe Meline joins us to discuss the sale and its potential impact on the local media landscape in the North Bay.  Correction: The description of Alden Global Capital has been updated. Links:  Santa Rosa’s Press Democrat Was Just Sold. Locals Are Concerned For the Paper’s Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the National Endowment for the Arts has provided federal grant funding to local arts nonprofits around the country and the Bay Area. Now, several recipients have had their grants cancelled by the Trump Administration, leaving many uncertain about the future of arts and culture in the region.  Links: Trump Cancels NEA Grants for Many Bay Area Arts Nonprofits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a decadeslong fight, the majority of ranching along the Point Reyes National Seashore will end by next year, thanks to a legal settlement involving environmentalists, ranchers, and the National Park Service. Environmentalists say the deal will protect native animal and grass species. Meanwhile, ranchers and workers are now in a scramble to find housing in an area already squeezed for options. Links: Cattle Ranching Is at the Center of a Battle Brewing in Point Reyes Point Reyes Ranching Will All But End Under New Deal, Capping Decadeslong Conflict Point Reyes Cattle Ranchers Urge Republicans to Leave Environmental Deal Alone Editor's Note: An earlier version of this episode stated that ranchers would need to leave roughly 28,000 acres of land and that some ranchers would have up to 20 years to cease operations. The correct number is roughly 16,000 acres, and all 12 ranchers will have 15 months to cease operations. It has also been updated to clarify the terms of the settlement and provide additional context on the Point Reyes Act. Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices