New Polls Confirm Drought is Top-of-Mind for Californians
As we head into August, it seems the record-high temperatures and lack of rain -- with some notable exceptions -- have put the drought at the top of the worry list for Californians. But there was some good news this week from state regulators, as KQED Science Editor Craig Miller explains.
A Mixtape for a Drying California
Songs like "We Shall Overcome" became part of a soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement. And Prince's "Baltimore" was inspired by protests over police violence against African-Americans. Valley Public Radio’s Ezra David Romero found that our state's historic drought has also provided inspiration for new music.
Crickets: They're What's for Dinner
Eating bugs sounds like something you tricked your little brother into doing. But a few companies have started marketing insect powder as a nutritional supplement. Requiring little food or water, bugs have a low-carbon footprint, a fact that makes them very attractive in our drought-stricken state. But are we ready for crickets in our cookies and milkshakes?
Tootie Heath's 'Kwanza': a Reissue That Deserves Another Spin
Jazz drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath has played with greats like John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery. At 80, Heath is still playing today. Jazz critic Andrew Gilbert gives another listen to "Kwanza," Heath's second album as a bandleader, which is finally back in print after more than four decades.
How a Pack of '86 Baseball Cards Inspired an Epic Road Trip
Many of us hold on to things from our childhood. For Oakland biology teacher Brad Balukjian, it's the memory of the 1986 baseball season. In search of a cardboard piece of his past, nostalgia led him to eBay and packs of baseball cards. For most people, that would be it -- curiosity satisfied. But for Balukjian, it led to a cross-country road trip and an idea for a book called "Wax Pack." We caught up with him in Kansas City.