Election 2012: The Rise of the Independent
Sixteen years ago, one in 10 California voters didn't belong to a political party. This year, it's one in five. And thanks to the upcoming June primary -- California's first open primary in more than 20 years -- independents are expected to flex new muscle at the ballot box. What will this mean for the future of the state's Republican and Democratic parties?
Nigerian Student Finds Her Faith in Dialogue
California hosts more international students than any other state. Many are among the best and brightest of their home countries, and they come bearing their parents' high expectations. We profile Ajarat Bada, a Nigerian student who was going to be a doctor -- until she caught the bug for a different kind of leadership role.
Pop Music Review: Best Coast's 'The Only Place'
The 2010 debut album by Best Coast established the Los Angeles duo as a bona fide buzz band and, as the name suggests, a cheerleader for our state. Their new follow-up makes plenty of musical references to iconic cheerleaders of old, as pop music critic Steve Hochman discovers.
The Deadlocked Delta: Can We Get Back What We've Lost?
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta provides drinking water for more than 25 million people, and irrigation for millions of acres of farm land. But our heavy use of the Delta has compromised its ecosystem. Scientists are keen to restore some of it, but there's no one alive today who remembers what the Delta looked like before we transformed it. That's where archival materials from the 19th century come in.
Hunting Wild Pigs in Yolo County
Some of the most beautiful, undeveloped property in California is privately owned. That means it's off-limits to hunters, hikers, birdwatchers and other members of the public. But thanks to a new program from the Department of Fish and Game, public and private are coming together -- starting with a series of wild pig hunts.