In 1969, Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz and his first wife Joyce built Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa. Since then, generations of locals — including KQED’s Gabe Meline — have made it a tradition to visit the skating rink, especially during the holidays.

This episode first aired on Dec. 18, 2024.

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In the Bay’s final news roundup of 2025, Ericka, Alan and Jessica discuss the recent series of small earthquakes in San Ramon and Sonoma County, Oakland’s decision to expand its network of license plate reader cameras, and new upgrades to the Clipper card system.

Links:

• Scientists Say San Ramon’s Latest Earthquake Swarm Is Normal, but Residents Are on Edge | KQED
• Oakland Council Expands Flock License Plate Reader Network Despite Privacy Concerns | KQED
• New Clipper Cards Are Here, With Big Perks for Riders. How to Manually Upgrade Yours | KQED

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You’re not imagining it — your Pacific Gas & Electric bill really is going up. In fact, according to a KQED analysis, the average PG&E utility bill went up nearly 70% between 2020 and March 2025.

But it’s not just the cost: understanding what’s actually in your bill can be confusing. Today, KQED climate reporter Laura Klivans helps Ericka decode her PG&E bill.

Links:

• The Average PG&E Utility Bill Has Gone Up Nearly 70% Since 2020 | KQED
• Bay Area Electricity Bills Are Some of the Highest. Where Does Your Money Go? | KQED
• PG&E Bills Keep Rising. What Can You Do to (Potentially) Lower Your Bills? | KQED

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Engineered stone is a man-made material made with high concentrations of silica that is commonly used to make kitchen countertops in the U.S. 

But doctors are seeing more and more workers in the countertop industry developing silicosis, an often deadly lung disease linked to inhaling toxic dust the material releases when powercut. Even though California has safety rules in place to reduce the risk to workers, some say it’s time to ban the use of engineered stone altogether.

Links:

• California Doctors Urge Ban on Engineered Stone as Silicosis Cases Surge | KQED

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The Ukraine-Russia war has been called the most technologically advanced war in history. In an episode from KQED’s Close All Tabs podcast, Bay Area journalist Erica Hellerstein visits Ukraine to learn about how the nation’s culture of tech innovation — and its surprising ties to Silicon Valley — are fueling the country’s resistance through an army of engineers, coders, hackers, and tinkerers.

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San Francisco could see taller and more dense buildings in the city’s north and west side after the Board of Supervisors approved Mayor Daniel Lurie’s ‘Family Zoning’ plan last week. 

Some believe it will lead to more housing and lower rents, while others worry that new construction will change their neighborhoods and lead to displacement. But how soon — and how much — could it really change the city? 

Links:

• San Francisco Supervisors Pass Rezoning Plan, Making Way for Taller, Denser Housing

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Inside Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish — home to historic farmworker organizing in East San Jose — we sit down with Father Jon Pedigo, a Catholic priest in the South Bay, to talk about the role of faith and houses of worship under the Trump Administration, what he’s seen in his primarily Spanish-speaking communities, and why he's leaving the pulpit to become a full-time organizer. 

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Nearly 3,000 teachers and staff from the West Contra Costa Unified School district went on strike Thursday morning after negotiations with the district broke down. It’s the latest in a series of labor disputes between educators and districts across California. Today, Jana Kadah, education reporter with Richmondside, talks to us from the field about why West Contra Costa educators walked off the job for the first time in the district’s history.

Links:

• Richmondside: Is your family prepared for WCCUSD teachers strike? Here’s what to know

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UC Berkeley student and animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg will be sentenced today after facing a felony conviction for taking four chickens from a Sonoma County poultry facility 2 years ago. The case, which has garnered international attention, comes after years of tension in Sonoma County over animal rights. 

Links:

• Berkeley Animal Rights Activist Found Guilty in Sonoma Chicken Theft Case

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In a new series called ‘Love You for You,’ KQED’s The California Report Magazine host Sasha Khokha sat in on conversations between trans and nonbinary kids and the people who love them. Today, we talk with Sasha about the series.

Links:

• Check out the entire ‘Love You For You’ series

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In the 1900s, the city of San Francisco eradicated native coyotes. But in more recent decades, they returned and are now a part of daily life.

Scientists point out that coyotes are essential to the local ecosystem. For some residents, they’re a source of wonder, while others view them as a nuisance and a danger to pets and children. 

Links:

• The Coyotes of San Francisco
• How We Photographed Coyotes in San Francisco

This episode originally aired on June 2, 2025.

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