Feds Propose New Safety Rules as Oil Transport by Rail Increases
This week, the federal government proposed new rules to improve the safety of trains carrying crude oil after a number of recent explosions, including one in Quebec that killed 47 people. The changes could take several years to kick in, but in the meantime more and more oil trains are coming to California.
California Relies on Thousands of Inmates to Battle Wildfires
The Bully Fire in Shasta County is more or less fully contained after scorching the better part of 13,000 acres southwest of Redding. About 300 firefighters remain on the scene to "mop up" hot spots, but at the height of the effort there were more than 1,500 men and women battling the blaze, including hundreds of low-level prison inmates.
Comic-Con Artist Turns Adversity Into Asset
Comic-Con is on this weekend. The annual event is a riotous, colorful celebration that fills the streets of San Diego with people dressed as action heroes. Comic-Con began as a modest gathering for comic book aficionados. And while Hollywood has taken center stage, a lot of the attendees are still keen to see comic books and the artists behind them. We profile one artist whose work and personal story have generated a cult following among those in the know.
Somali Refugees in San Diego Prep for College, Break Cultural Norms
Young men and women all over California are beginning to pack up their childhood bedrooms to head off to college. But for many Somali refugee girls in the immigrant San Diego neighborhood of City Heights, they're breaking ties with more than just the comforts of home. They're breaking cultural norms. We look at a rapid cultural shift that has Somali girls outpacing their male counterparts.
Berkeley Garage Keeps Vintage VW Buses on the Road
If you're road-tripping through California this summer, you might spot the occasional Volkswagen Bus. Back in its heyday in the 1960s and '70s, the portable camper was everywhere. Now, devotees of the classic German export invest time and money to keep their VW Buses alive and ticking. In Berkeley, there's a place that focuses on getting them road-ready again: The Buslab.