Why California's Best Strategy Against Wildfire Is Hardly Ever Used

1. Are planned burns a solution to California's catastrophic wildfire problem?

California fire officials say planning more burns safely could reduce catastrophic risks posed by wildfire.

With climate change, wildfires threaten disaster and chaos in more California communities, more often.

But experts say it's possible to avoid catastrophic harm to human and forest health by setting planned burns before human error, lightning or arson choose when fires start.

Cal Fire now intends to triple the amount of prescribed fire on lands the state controls. That follows a May executive order from Gov. Jerry Brown to improve forest management.

It's a small step toward addressing a major deficit. According to one report, an area the size of Maryland -- including state, private and federal land -- needs maintenance or planned fire to become healthier.

But that's easier said than done.

2. Rohnert Park's police chief will retire next month amid increasing scrutiny over his department's seizure of marijuana and cash

A Rohnert Park police squad car. (Sukey Lewis/KQED)

Brian Masterson, who has served as the director of Rohnert Park's Public Safety Department for nearly a decade, is retiring next month.

The announcement comes as Masterson's department faces increasing scrutiny over an asset and marijuana seizure program. In April, the city launched an internal investigation into a suspicious traffic stop that took place in December.

In June, KQED reported about a series of questionable seizures made by Rohnert Park Public Safety officers during traffic stops conducted 40 miles north of the city along Highway 101.

In the letter announcing his resignation, Masterson did not directly address the internal investigation or the scrutiny of his department.

3. Tech workers are organizing in the Bay Area. So what do they want?

Those active in the Tech Workers Coalition came out to support Salesforce employees who are speaking out against the company. (Sam Harnett/KQED)

A number of tech worker organizing groups have formed in the Bay Area in recent years. Some are trying to get workers more plugged into the communities they live in and impact.

Others focus on organizing service workers on tech campuses scrambling to get by as the industry's wealth transforms the region.

So what does it come down to? Tech workers want more control over what their companies are building and how they are run.

4. Highway 1 is open again after that epic Big Sur slide

Aerial view of the rebuilt section of Highway 1 across the Mud Creek slide. This section of the route, near Gorda at the southern end of Big Sur, was closed in May 2017. (Caltrans District 5 via Twitter)

A section of Highway 1 wiped out by a monster landslide near the southern end of Big Sur reopened Wednesday after 14 months of re-engineering and construction.

Caltrans announced Tuesday night that the final phase of the $54 million project — which restored the broken highway just south of the community of Gorda and 25 miles north of San Simeon — went faster than expected.

5. Did you know lane splitting by motorcycles is legal in California? Find out some other interesting facts about the controversial practice.

California is the only state in the country where it is legal to lane split. (Craig Miller/KQED)

If you've ever driven in California, you've probably had a motorcycle drive between you and another car. It's called lane splitting, and a 2014 study found that 80 percent of California motorcyclists do it on freeways.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that when motorcyclists are lane splitting, they're breaking the law. But they're not.

So why is California the only state in the country where it's legal? And is it safe? Bay Curious investigated.