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State Sen. Leland Yee Indicted, 'Weed Land' and Poking Fun at Silicon Valley

KQED Newsroom Staff
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State Sen. Leland Yee Indicted by Federal Grand Jury
A federal grand jury has indicted State Sen. Leland Yee, former San Francisco School Board President Keith Jackson and 27 other defendants charging them with crimes including firearms trafficking, money laundering and public corruption. The indictment formalizes federal charges first announced last week. Yee has hired a new attorney and is expected to make his first court appearance next week. Jackson was released on bail Thursday evening. Meanwhile, the capture of Chinatown gang figure Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow has not eased fears among business owners in the neighborhood.

Guests:
•Josh Richman, Bay Area News Group
•Linda Yee, KPIX

Further Reporting:
• Leland Yee, Keith Jackson Indicted by Federal Grand Jury
• Money Talks: The FBI's Bribe Strategy in Yee, Calderon Cases
• A Reporter's Guide to the FBI Affidavit on State Sen. Leland Yee

'Weed Land'
It's been nearly 20 years since California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. In recent years, the number of dispensaries has exploded with more than 200 operating in the Bay Area alone and crop production is booming. The billion-dollar industry is largely unregulated in the state and illegal under federal law. A recent poll shows Californians are divided on legalization. Scott Shafer speaks with Sacramento Bee senior writer Peter Hecht, whose new book "Weed Land" explores the highs and lows of the cannabis industry.

Further Reporting:
• Forum: How Pot Went Legit
• KQED Special: Republic of Cannabis

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Poking Fun at Silicon Valley
The quirks of the high-tech lifestyle are easy fodder for humor. The new HBO series "Silicon Valley," premiering Sunday, serves up a parody of the region. Series co-creator Mike Judge's new show features a collection of awkward, geeky characters who think they've come up with the next big app. But underlying the humor are some serious issues for local residents. We take a look at the funny and not-so-funny aspects of Silicon Valley culture including tech's emphasis on youth, and the ongoing backlash against the Google bus invasion.

Guests:
•Steve Goldbloom, "Everything But The News," PBS Digital Studios & ITVS
•Aarti Shahani, KQED News Contributor

Further Reporting:
• Best Silicon Valley Satires

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