window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"science_1997208": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_1997208",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1997208",
"found": true
},
"title": "250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1749073405,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1749073458,
"caption": "The Chevron Richmond Refinery seen from the Point Richmond neighborhood in Richmond on June 3, 2025.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2001648": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2001648",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001648",
"found": true
},
"title": "260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED",
"publishDate": 1786140087,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1786148321,
"caption": "A group of allcove San Mateo youth advisers talks with each other on the couch in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.",
"credit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_1980251": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_1980251",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1980251",
"found": true
},
"parent": 1926793,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-160x103.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 103
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1231
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-1020x654.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 654
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-1536x985.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 985
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-800x513.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 513
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-768x492.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 492
}
},
"publishDate": 1662752040,
"modified": 1662752152,
"caption": "Wildfire smoke hangs over the San Francisco skyline as a ferry boat makes its way across the bay, as seen from Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland on Aug. 18, 2021.",
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Bay Area Smoky Skies",
"credit": "Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "hazy skyscrapers in the distance with a ferry boat in foreground",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2001545": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2001545",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001545",
"found": true
},
"title": "Water irrigation canal, Shafter",
"publishDate": 1785179544,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 2001540,
"modified": 1785179561,
"caption": "Water irrigation canal, Shafter, Kern County, California, USA. ",
"credit": "Citizen of the Planet/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1379450771.jpg",
"width": 1980,
"height": 1320
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2001384": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2001384",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001384",
"found": true
},
"title": "260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1782969421,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1782969475,
"caption": "Dr. Hyman Scott, medical director at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, sits in an exam room at Strut in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco on June 29, 2026.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2000915": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2000915",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000915",
"found": true
},
"title": "042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED",
"publishDate": 1777568991,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1780076812,
"caption": "Kelsea Manion, Emily Marroquin, Morgan Ezeir, Wing Tovbis, and Jenn Hobbs laugh together as they play “Hues and Cues” at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley, California, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The group of women met through a friendship app called RealRoots, where they were matched with each other based on common interests and participated in a series of social events.",
"credit": "Juliana Yamada for KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-02-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2000701": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2000701",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000701",
"found": true
},
"title": "260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1776703937,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776703965,
"caption": "Ruby Lopez-Flores walks through Fowler Creek Park in San José on April 17, 2026.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-04-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2000745": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2000745",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000745",
"found": true
},
"title": "Corn dough nixtamalized in a clay pot to prepare tamales. Typical Mexican food.",
"publishDate": 1776724841,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776725646,
"caption": "Corn dough nixtamalized in a clay pot.",
"credit": "Sandor Mejias Brito/Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-768x513.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 513,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-1536x1025.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1025,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/GETTYIMAGES-1853307842-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1335
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2000465": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2000465",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000465",
"found": true
},
"title": "US-FOOD-JUSTICE",
"publishDate": 1774461408,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 2000462,
"modified": 1774478748,
"caption": "Boxes of PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Flamin' Hot flavored snacks, including Cheetos, Fritos, Doritos tortilla chips and Funyuns, are displayed alongside packaged foods for sale at a warehouse grocery store in Hawthorne, California, on Dec. 2, 2025. San Francisco's city attorney on Dec. 2, 2025, filed the country's first government lawsuit accusing major food manufacturers of fueling diet-related disease through ultraprocessed products.",
"credit": "Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2249030426_qed.jpg",
"width": 1999,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_2000214": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_2000214",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000214",
"found": true
},
"title": "FL2605",
"publishDate": 1772131640,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 2000206,
"modified": 1772131769,
"caption": "A researcher collects a nasal swab sample from a symptomatic elephant seal-weaned pup for avian influenza testing. ",
"credit": "Courtesy of Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/SwabFar__AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_1999999": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_1999999",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1999999",
"found": true
},
"title": "2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED",
"publishDate": 1770829841,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1770841713,
"caption": "Ocean McIntyre goes through a file folder of health insurance claims and denial letters at her home in Panorama City. Feb. 10, 2026.",
"credit": "Jules Hotz for KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00147-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"science_1999676": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "science_1999676",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1999676",
"found": true
},
"title": "251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1765903938,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1768440050,
"caption": "Sita Davis points to a photo of death cap mushrooms in the book Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast during an educational mushroom walk at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland on Dec. 12, 2025. The top image shows an edible mushroom that resembles a death cap, from the book Diccionario Gastronómico de Hongos Mexicanos.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-03-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"byline_science_2000751": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_science_2000751",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_science_2000751",
"name": "Alonso Daboub",
"isLoading": false
},
"dmarks": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "182",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "182",
"found": true
},
"name": "David Marks",
"firstName": "David",
"lastName": "Marks",
"slug": "dmarks",
"email": "dmarks@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Editor",
"bio": "David Marks is a senior digital editor for KQED News. \u003c/a>Reach him at dmarks@kqed.org.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b88bd6227ce6cb96ae33fefaf42b2a29?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twitter": "divadskram",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": []
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": []
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": []
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": []
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "David Marks | KQED",
"description": "KQED Editor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b88bd6227ce6cb96ae33fefaf42b2a29?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b88bd6227ce6cb96ae33fefaf42b2a29?s=600&d=mm&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/dmarks"
},
"adembosky": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "3205",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "3205",
"found": true
},
"name": "April Dembosky",
"firstName": "April",
"lastName": "Dembosky",
"slug": "adembosky",
"email": "adembosky@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Health Correspondent",
"bio": "April Dembosky is the health correspondent for KQED News and a regular contributor to NPR. She specializes in covering altered states of mind, from postpartum depression to methamphetamine-induced psychosis to the insanity defense. Her investigative series on insurance companies sidestepping mental health laws won multiple awards, including first place in beat reporting from the national Association of Health Care Journalists. She is the recipient of numerous other prizes and fellowships, including a national Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting, a Society of Professional Journalists award for long-form storytelling, and a Carter Center Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism.\r\n\r\nDembosky reported and produced \u003cem>Soundtrack of Silence\u003c/em>, an audio documentary about music and memory that is currently being made into a feature film by Paramount Pictures.\r\n\r\nBefore joining KQED in 2013, Dembosky covered technology and Silicon Valley for \u003cem>The Financial Times of London,\u003c/em> and contributed business and arts stories to \u003cem>Marketplace \u003c/em>and \u003cem>The New York Times.\u003c/em> She got her undergraduate degree in philosophy from Smith College and her master's in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a classically trained violinist and proud alum of the first symphony orchestra at Burning Man.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ef92999be4ceb9ea60701e7dc276f813?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "adembosky",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "April Dembosky | KQED",
"description": "KQED Health Correspondent",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ef92999be4ceb9ea60701e7dc276f813?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ef92999be4ceb9ea60701e7dc276f813?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/adembosky"
},
"carlysevern": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "3243",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "3243",
"found": true
},
"name": "Carly Severn",
"firstName": "Carly",
"lastName": "Severn",
"slug": "carlysevern",
"email": "csevern@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Senior Editor, Audience News ",
"bio": "Carly is KQED's Senior Editor of Audience News on the Digital News team, and has reported for the California Report Magazine, Bay Curious and KQED Arts. She's formerly the host of \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/category/the-cooler/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Cooler\u003c/a> podcast.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/54037bf5c128fe678f0ef26cec97a93f2e7f220a22d7285703328f12c42c1b1d?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "teacupinthebay",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "about",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "mindshift",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Carly Severn | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor, Audience News ",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/54037bf5c128fe678f0ef26cec97a93f2e7f220a22d7285703328f12c42c1b1d?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/54037bf5c128fe678f0ef26cec97a93f2e7f220a22d7285703328f12c42c1b1d?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/carlysevern"
},
"jsmall": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "6625",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "6625",
"found": true
},
"name": "Julie Small",
"firstName": "Julie",
"lastName": "Small",
"slug": "jsmall",
"email": "jsmall@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Julie Small reports on criminal justice and immigration.\r\n\r\nShe was part of a team at KQED awarded a regional 2019 Edward R. Murrow award for continuing coverage of the Trump Administration's family separation policy.\r\n\r\nThe Society for Professional Journalists recognized Julie's 2018 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11636262/the-officer-tased-him-31-times-the-sheriff-called-his-death-an-accident\">reporting\u003c/a> on the San Joaquin County Sheriff's \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11634689/autopsy-doctors-sheriff-overrode-death-findings-to-protect-law-enforcement\">interference\u003c/a> in death investigations with an Excellence in Journalism Award for Ongoing Coverage.\r\n\r\nJulie's\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11039666/two-mentally-ill-inmates-died-one-month-in-santa-clara\"> reporting\u003c/a> with Lisa Pickoff-White on the treatment of mentally ill offenders in California jails earned a 2017 regional Edward R. Murrow Award for news reporting and an investigative reporting award from the SPJ of Northern California.\r\n\r\nBefore joining KQED, Julie covered government and politics in Sacramento for Southern California Public Radio (SCPR). Her 2010 \u003ca href=\"https://www.scpr.org/specials/prisonmedical/\">series\u003c/a> on lapses in California’s prison medical care also won a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting and a Golden Mic Award from the RTNDA of Southern California.\r\n\r\nJulie began her career in journalism in 2000 as the deputy foreign editor for public radio's \u003cem>Marketplace, \u003c/em>while earning her master's degree in journalism from USC’s Annenberg School of Communication.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4baedf201468df97be97c2a9dd7585d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@SmallRadio2",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Julie Small | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4baedf201468df97be97c2a9dd7585d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4baedf201468df97be97c2a9dd7585d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jsmall"
},
"dventon": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11088",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11088",
"found": true
},
"name": "Danielle Venton",
"firstName": "Danielle",
"lastName": "Venton",
"slug": "dventon",
"email": "dventon@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"science"
],
"title": "Science reporter",
"bio": "Danielle Venton is a reporter for KQED Science. She covers wildfires, space and oceans (though she is prone to sea sickness).\r\n\r\nBefore joining KQED in 2015, Danielle was a staff reporter at KRCB in Sonoma County and a freelancer. She studied science communication at UC Santa Cruz and formerly worked at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland where she wrote about computing. She lives in Sonoma County and enjoys backpacking.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/37b292b5c40c8d93959c4f48d73b5286f41b7abd8588277e941905a3ed4c801c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "DanielleVenton",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Danielle Venton | KQED",
"description": "Science reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/37b292b5c40c8d93959c4f48d73b5286f41b7abd8588277e941905a3ed4c801c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/37b292b5c40c8d93959c4f48d73b5286f41b7abd8588277e941905a3ed4c801c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/dventon"
},
"lesleymcclurg": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11229",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11229",
"found": true
},
"name": "Lesley McClurg",
"firstName": "Lesley",
"lastName": "McClurg",
"slug": "lesleymcclurg",
"email": "lmcclurg@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Health Correspondent",
"bio": "Lesley McClurg is a health correspondent and fill-in host whose work is regularly rebroadcast on NPR and PBS programs. She’s earned multiple regional Emmy awards, a national and a regional Edward R. Murrow award, and was named Best Beat Reporter by the Association of Health Care Journalists. The Society of Professional Journalists has recognized her work several times, and the Society of Environmental Journalists spotlighted her coverage of California’s historic drought.\r\n\r\nBefore joining KQED in 2016, Lesley covered food and sustainability for Capital Public Radio, environmental issues for Colorado Public Radio, and reported for KUOW and KCTS 9 in Seattle. Away from the newsroom, she loves skiing with her daughter, mountain biking with her partner, and playing with Ollie, the family’s goldendoodle. On deadline, she runs almost entirely on chocolate chips.\r\n\r\n ",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bab49e972ea10c774fe0f5e29dba1722b158f7c0d58a360923d1389d380b2978?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "lesleywmcclurg",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "quest",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Lesley McClurg | KQED",
"description": "KQED Health Correspondent",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bab49e972ea10c774fe0f5e29dba1722b158f7c0d58a360923d1389d380b2978?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bab49e972ea10c774fe0f5e29dba1722b158f7c0d58a360923d1389d380b2978?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/lesleymcclurg"
},
"smohamad": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11631",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11631",
"found": true
},
"name": "Sarah Mohamad",
"firstName": "Sarah",
"lastName": "Mohamad",
"slug": "smohamad",
"email": "smohamad@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Engagement Producer and Reporter, KQED Science",
"bio": "Sarah Mohamad is an audience engagement reporter and producer for KQED Science. She reports on audience-focused science and environment stories and manages the team's social media, newsletter, and engagement efforts. Prior to this role, she played a key role as project manager for NSF's \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode\">\u003cem>Cracking the Code: Influencing Millennial Science Engagement\u003c/em> \u003c/a>audience research.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6224957cd82d015183756ddde1f928013a563d7ca2e4565f8c4de1ec64886c5?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "sarahkmohamad",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "about",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Sarah Mohamad | KQED",
"description": "Engagement Producer and Reporter, KQED Science",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6224957cd82d015183756ddde1f928013a563d7ca2e4565f8c4de1ec64886c5?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e6224957cd82d015183756ddde1f928013a563d7ca2e4565f8c4de1ec64886c5?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/smohamad"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"science_category_health": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_39",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "39",
"score": 10.889391
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 41,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "Health",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "science",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 1
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/science?category=health",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 1
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"science_2001777": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2001777",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001777",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1787688228000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says",
"title": "Residents Near Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Face Higher Risk of Cancer, Air District Says",
"publishDate": 1787688228,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Residents Near Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Face Higher Risk of Cancer, Air District Says | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\n\u003cp>People living close to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chevron-refinery\">Chevron Refinery\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, and illness from short exposure to excess emissions, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/facility-risk-reduction/hra-facilities/fid10/fid10_preliminary-hra.pdf\">preliminary health risk assessment\u003c/a> by the Bay Area Air District released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the cancer risk came from benzo[a]pyrene and other toxic air contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) that seeped from pipe fittings and storage tanks throughout the refinery. Diesel particulate matter and arsenic emissions were also found to be above the regulator’s allowed limit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are multiple sources with multiple pollutants that are beyond the risk threshold,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, the Air District’s health officer. “That can harm people’s health, and [it] needs to be reduced.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The model analysis examines the highest cancer risk over a lifetime posed by exposure to facility emissions. The Air District found the Richmond refinery exposure to be 37 chances in a million, which is more than three times higher than its threshold for action.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The air regulator requires facilities to take action to reduce the risk if it equals or exceeds 10 in a million.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2145\" height=\"1228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg 2145w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2000x1145.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-768x440.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2048x1172.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2145px) 100vw, 2145px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Air District’s breakdown of cancer risk from pollutants at Chevron’s Richmond refinery. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios,” said Ariana Husain, the regulator’s risk assessment manager. “It does not represent the average risk to residents in Richmond.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nor does it mean that 37 more people in a million will develop cancer, Husain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s really the first step in understanding risk posed by emissions from facility operations to the nearby community,” Husain said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment is a tool to measure the risk of toxic air contaminants from high-impact industrial facilities like Chevron’s Richmond refinery, Husain said. The Air District is empowered to conduct these assessments \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/regulation-11-rule-18-reduction-of-risk-from-air-toxic-emissions-at-existing-facilities\">under regulations\u003c/a> it adopted in 2017 and modified in June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The rules require those facilities to work with the air regulator to reduce emissions and the risk to communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caitlin Powell, a Chevron Richmond spokesperson, pushed back in an email and said the company found “significant issues” with the assessment “that we believe materially overstate the Richmond refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron also quickly circulated an \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CHEVRON-RICHMOND-info-on-Bay-Area-Air-District-Draft-HRA-of-Richmond-Refinery-FAQ_Aug-2026.pdf\">FAQ document\u003c/a> to reporters about the assessment that categorized the tool as “conservative” and meant to understand where regulators should “focus efforts and resources to improve air quality and protect public health.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Scientific methods used in HRAs cannot be used to link individual illnesses to chemical exposures,” the document said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>It also noted that the refinery’s cancer risk assessment “is not itself a violation” and fell below the “action” levels set by air districts in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron has 90 days to challenge the Air District’s findings and suggest modifications to the risk assessment. During that time, the public may also submit comments to the air regulator.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Long-term exposure to these substances may increase cancer risk and harm developmental, reproductive and immune systems. Children under two are more susceptible to effects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Air District measured the potential impact of excess emissions on three categories of people with varying degrees of exposure. First, residents who they assumed to have 24 hours a day of exposure, non-resident refinery workers who face 8 hours of exposure a day, and students who attended school near the refinery but lived elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The assessment found that people who live within approximately 3 miles of the refinery, including in the communities of Achitson, Brickyard Cove, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond and North Richmond, face the greatest health risk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1265\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001806\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-160x125.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-768x601.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-1536x1202.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This map shows where the cancer risk is highest around Chevron’s Richmond refinery, according to air regulators. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chevron workers who live out of town did not face an increased risk of cancer, but are subject to acute one-hour releases of benzene that can evaporate from the refinery’s waste treatment system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That is a toxic air contaminant that you can get irritated by in a very short amount of time,” Radhakrishna said. “Smelling it in your nose, in your mouth, in your throat, in your lungs, coughing attacks, and exacerbation of existing health conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effects of benzene are temporary and based on proximity to the refinery, according to the report, but Radhakrishna noted that repeated exposure to benzene can also contribute to cancer over the long term.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment found that children who attend schools near the refinery but don’t live in the area did not face an elevated risk of cancer, but are exposed to risks from the one-hour releases, as are residents and anyone within approximately three miles of the facilities when it releases emissions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Air District scheduled a public meeting to explain the findings and the comment process on Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Civic Auditorium and Convention Center. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The air regulators will consider both public comment and responses from Chevron before issuing a final risk assessment for the Richmond refinery. Then the company is required to submit a plan to reduce the risk, which will also be open to public comment and must ultimately be approved by the Air District.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>People living close to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chevron-refinery\">Chevron Refinery\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, and illness from short exposure to excess emissions, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/facility-risk-reduction/hra-facilities/fid10/fid10_preliminary-hra.pdf\">preliminary health risk assessment\u003c/a> by the Bay Area Air District released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>People living close to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chevron-refinery\">Chevron Refinery\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, and illness from short exposure to excess emissions, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/facility-risk-reduction/hra-facilities/fid10/fid10_preliminary-hra.pdf\">preliminary health risk assessment\u003c/a> by the Bay Area Air District released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most of the cancer risk came from benzo[a]pyrene and other toxic air contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) that seeped from pipe fittings and storage tanks throughout the refinery. Diesel particulate matter and arsenic emissions were also found to be above the regulator’s allowed limit. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Most of the cancer risk came from benzo[a]pyrene and other toxic air contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) that seeped from pipe fittings and storage tanks throughout the refinery. Diesel particulate matter and arsenic emissions were also found to be above the regulator’s allowed limit. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There are multiple sources with multiple pollutants that are beyond the risk threshold,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, the Air District’s health officer. “That can harm people’s health, and [it] needs to be reduced.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“There are multiple sources with multiple pollutants that are beyond the risk threshold,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, the Air District’s health officer. “That can harm people’s health, and [it] needs to be reduced.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The model analysis examines the highest cancer risk over a lifetime posed by exposure to facility emissions. The Air District found the Richmond refinery exposure to be 37 chances in a million, which is more than three times higher than its threshold for action.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The air regulator requires facilities to take action to reduce the risk if it equals or exceeds 10 in a million.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The model analysis examines the highest cancer risk over a lifetime posed by exposure to facility emissions. The Air District found the Richmond refinery exposure to be 37 chances in a million, which is more than three times higher than its threshold for action.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The air regulator requires facilities to take action to reduce the risk if it equals or exceeds 10 in a million.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001825,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg 2145w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2000x1145.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-768x440.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2048x1172.jpg 2048w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg 2145w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2000x1145.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-768x440.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2048x1172.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Air District’s breakdown of cancer risk from pollutants at Chevron’s Richmond refinery.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001825\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Air District’s breakdown of cancer risk from pollutants at Chevron’s Richmond refinery.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios,” said Ariana Husain, the regulator’s risk assessment manager. “It does not represent the average risk to residents in Richmond.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios,” said Ariana Husain, the regulator’s risk assessment manager. “It does not represent the average risk to residents in Richmond.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nor does it mean that 37 more people in a million will develop cancer, Husain said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Nor does it mean that 37 more people in a million will develop cancer, Husain said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s really the first step in understanding risk posed by emissions from facility operations to the nearby community,” Husain said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s really the first step in understanding risk posed by emissions from facility operations to the nearby community,” Husain said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment is a tool to measure the risk of toxic air contaminants from high-impact industrial facilities like Chevron’s Richmond refinery, Husain said. The Air District is empowered to conduct these assessments \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/regulation-11-rule-18-reduction-of-risk-from-air-toxic-emissions-at-existing-facilities\">under regulations\u003c/a> it adopted in 2017 and modified in June.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment is a tool to measure the risk of toxic air contaminants from high-impact industrial facilities like Chevron’s Richmond refinery, Husain said. The Air District is empowered to conduct these assessments \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/regulation-11-rule-18-reduction-of-risk-from-air-toxic-emissions-at-existing-facilities\">under regulations\u003c/a> it adopted in 2017 and modified in June.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The rules require those facilities to work with the air regulator to reduce emissions and the risk to communities.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The rules require those facilities to work with the air regulator to reduce emissions and the risk to communities.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12095469"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250203_MartinezRefineryFolo_GC-46.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caitlin Powell, a Chevron Richmond spokesperson, pushed back in an email and said the company found “significant issues” with the assessment “that we believe materially overstate the Richmond refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron also quickly circulated an \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CHEVRON-RICHMOND-info-on-Bay-Area-Air-District-Draft-HRA-of-Richmond-Refinery-FAQ_Aug-2026.pdf\">FAQ document\u003c/a> to reporters about the assessment that categorized the tool as “conservative” and meant to understand where regulators should “focus efforts and resources to improve air quality and protect public health.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Scientific methods used in HRAs cannot be used to link individual illnesses to chemical exposures,” the document said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>It also noted that the refinery’s cancer risk assessment “is not itself a violation” and fell below the “action” levels set by air districts in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron has 90 days to challenge the Air District’s findings and suggest modifications to the risk assessment. During that time, the public may also submit comments to the air regulator.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Caitlin Powell, a Chevron Richmond spokesperson, pushed back in an email and said the company found “significant issues” with the assessment “that we believe materially overstate the Richmond refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron also quickly circulated an \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CHEVRON-RICHMOND-info-on-Bay-Area-Air-District-Draft-HRA-of-Richmond-Refinery-FAQ_Aug-2026.pdf\">FAQ document\u003c/a> to reporters about the assessment that categorized the tool as “conservative” and meant to understand where regulators should “focus efforts and resources to improve air quality and protect public health.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Scientific methods used in HRAs cannot be used to link individual illnesses to chemical exposures,” the document said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>It also noted that the refinery’s cancer risk assessment “is not itself a violation” and fell below the “action” levels set by air districts in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron has 90 days to challenge the Air District’s findings and suggest modifications to the risk assessment. During that time, the public may also submit comments to the air regulator.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Long-term exposure to these substances may increase cancer risk and harm developmental, reproductive and immune systems. Children under two are more susceptible to effects. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Long-term exposure to these substances may increase cancer risk and harm developmental, reproductive and immune systems. Children under two are more susceptible to effects. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Air District measured the potential impact of excess emissions on three categories of people with varying degrees of exposure. First, residents who they assumed to have 24 hours a day of exposure, non-resident refinery workers who face 8 hours of exposure a day, and students who attended school near the refinery but lived elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Air District measured the potential impact of excess emissions on three categories of people with varying degrees of exposure. First, residents who they assumed to have 24 hours a day of exposure, non-resident refinery workers who face 8 hours of exposure a day, and students who attended school near the refinery but lived elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The assessment found that people who live within approximately 3 miles of the refinery, including in the communities of Achitson, Brickyard Cove, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond and North Richmond, face the greatest health risk. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The assessment found that people who live within approximately 3 miles of the refinery, including in the communities of Achitson, Brickyard Cove, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond and North Richmond, face the greatest health risk. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001806,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-160x125.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-768x601.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-1536x1202.png 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001806\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-160x125.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-768x601.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-1536x1202.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This map shows where the cancer risk is highest around Chevron’s Richmond refinery, according to air regulators.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001806\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This map shows where the cancer risk is highest around Chevron’s Richmond refinery, according to air regulators.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chevron workers who live out of town did not face an increased risk of cancer, but are subject to acute one-hour releases of benzene that can evaporate from the refinery’s waste treatment system.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Chevron workers who live out of town did not face an increased risk of cancer, but are subject to acute one-hour releases of benzene that can evaporate from the refinery’s waste treatment system.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That is a toxic air contaminant that you can get irritated by in a very short amount of time,” Radhakrishna said. “Smelling it in your nose, in your mouth, in your throat, in your lungs, coughing attacks, and exacerbation of existing health conditions.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“That is a toxic air contaminant that you can get irritated by in a very short amount of time,” Radhakrishna said. “Smelling it in your nose, in your mouth, in your throat, in your lungs, coughing attacks, and exacerbation of existing health conditions.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The effects of benzene are temporary and based on proximity to the refinery, according to the report, but Radhakrishna noted that repeated exposure to benzene can also contribute to cancer over the long term.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The effects of benzene are temporary and based on proximity to the refinery, according to the report, but Radhakrishna noted that repeated exposure to benzene can also contribute to cancer over the long term.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment found that children who attend schools near the refinery but don’t live in the area did not face an elevated risk of cancer, but are exposed to risks from the one-hour releases, as are residents and anyone within approximately three miles of the facilities when it releases emissions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment found that children who attend schools near the refinery but don’t live in the area did not face an elevated risk of cancer, but are exposed to risks from the one-hour releases, as are residents and anyone within approximately three miles of the facilities when it releases emissions. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Air District scheduled a public meeting to explain the findings and the comment process on Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Civic Auditorium and Convention Center. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Air District scheduled a public meeting to explain the findings and the comment process on Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Civic Auditorium and Convention Center. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The air regulators will consider both public comment and responses from Chevron before issuing a final risk assessment for the Richmond refinery. Then the company is required to submit a plan to reduce the risk, which will also be open to public comment and must ultimately be approved by the Air District.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The air regulators will consider both public comment and responses from Chevron before issuing a final risk assessment for the Richmond refinery. Then the company is required to submit a plan to reduce the risk, which will also be open to public comment and must ultimately be approved by the Air District.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "People living close to the Chevron Refinery in Richmond face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, according to a preliminary assessment the air regulator released Tuesday. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1787862350,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 19,
"wordCount": 905
},
"headData": {
"title": "Residents Near Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Face Higher Risk of Cancer, Air District Says | KQED",
"description": "People living close to the Chevron Refinery in Richmond face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, according to a preliminary assessment the air regulator released Tuesday. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Residents Near Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Face Higher Risk of Cancer, Air District Says",
"datePublished": "2026-08-25T13:03:48-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-27T13:25:50-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2001777",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>People living close to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chevron-refinery\">Chevron Refinery\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, and illness from short exposure to excess emissions, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/facility-risk-reduction/hra-facilities/fid10/fid10_preliminary-hra.pdf\">preliminary health risk assessment\u003c/a> by the Bay Area Air District released Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the cancer risk came from benzo[a]pyrene and other toxic air contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) that seeped from pipe fittings and storage tanks throughout the refinery. Diesel particulate matter and arsenic emissions were also found to be above the regulator’s allowed limit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are multiple sources with multiple pollutants that are beyond the risk threshold,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, the Air District’s health officer. “That can harm people’s health, and [it] needs to be reduced.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The model analysis examines the highest cancer risk over a lifetime posed by exposure to facility emissions. The Air District found the Richmond refinery exposure to be 37 chances in a million, which is more than three times higher than its threshold for action.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The air regulator requires facilities to take action to reduce the risk if it equals or exceeds 10 in a million.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2145\" height=\"1228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg 2145w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2000x1145.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-768x440.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1-2048x1172.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2145px) 100vw, 2145px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Air District’s breakdown of cancer risk from pollutants at Chevron’s Richmond refinery. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios,” said Ariana Husain, the regulator’s risk assessment manager. “It does not represent the average risk to residents in Richmond.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nor does it mean that 37 more people in a million will develop cancer, Husain said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s really the first step in understanding risk posed by emissions from facility operations to the nearby community,” Husain said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment is a tool to measure the risk of toxic air contaminants from high-impact industrial facilities like Chevron’s Richmond refinery, Husain said. The Air District is empowered to conduct these assessments \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/regulation-11-rule-18-reduction-of-risk-from-air-toxic-emissions-at-existing-facilities\">under regulations\u003c/a> it adopted in 2017 and modified in June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The rules require those facilities to work with the air regulator to reduce emissions and the risk to communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caitlin Powell, a Chevron Richmond spokesperson, pushed back in an email and said the company found “significant issues” with the assessment “that we believe materially overstate the Richmond refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron also quickly circulated an \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CHEVRON-RICHMOND-info-on-Bay-Area-Air-District-Draft-HRA-of-Richmond-Refinery-FAQ_Aug-2026.pdf\">FAQ document\u003c/a> to reporters about the assessment that categorized the tool as “conservative” and meant to understand where regulators should “focus efforts and resources to improve air quality and protect public health.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Scientific methods used in HRAs cannot be used to link individual illnesses to chemical exposures,” the document said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>It also noted that the refinery’s cancer risk assessment “is not itself a violation” and fell below the “action” levels set by air districts in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chevron has 90 days to challenge the Air District’s findings and suggest modifications to the risk assessment. During that time, the public may also submit comments to the air regulator.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Long-term exposure to these substances may increase cancer risk and harm developmental, reproductive and immune systems. Children under two are more susceptible to effects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Air District measured the potential impact of excess emissions on three categories of people with varying degrees of exposure. First, residents who they assumed to have 24 hours a day of exposure, non-resident refinery workers who face 8 hours of exposure a day, and students who attended school near the refinery but lived elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The assessment found that people who live within approximately 3 miles of the refinery, including in the communities of Achitson, Brickyard Cove, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond and North Richmond, face the greatest health risk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1265\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001806\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-160x125.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-768x601.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2-1536x1202.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This map shows where the cancer risk is highest around Chevron’s Richmond refinery, according to air regulators. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chevron workers who live out of town did not face an increased risk of cancer, but are subject to acute one-hour releases of benzene that can evaporate from the refinery’s waste treatment system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That is a toxic air contaminant that you can get irritated by in a very short amount of time,” Radhakrishna said. “Smelling it in your nose, in your mouth, in your throat, in your lungs, coughing attacks, and exacerbation of existing health conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effects of benzene are temporary and based on proximity to the refinery, according to the report, but Radhakrishna noted that repeated exposure to benzene can also contribute to cancer over the long term.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The health risk assessment found that children who attend schools near the refinery but don’t live in the area did not face an elevated risk of cancer, but are exposed to risks from the one-hour releases, as are residents and anyone within approximately three miles of the facilities when it releases emissions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Air District scheduled a public meeting to explain the findings and the comment process on Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Civic Auditorium and Convention Center. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The air regulators will consider both public comment and responses from Chevron before issuing a final risk assessment for the Richmond refinery. Then the company is required to submit a plan to reduce the risk, which will also be open to public comment and must ultimately be approved by the Air District.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says",
"authors": [
"6625"
],
"categories": [
"science_35",
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_524",
"science_856",
"science_374",
"science_5193",
"science_354",
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_4277",
"science_553",
"science_1455",
"science_309"
],
"featImg": "science_1997208",
"label": "source_science_2001777"
},
"science_2001615": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2001615",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001615",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1786359600000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-teens-dont-want-to-hide-behind-screens-they-want-more-places-to-belong",
"title": "California Teens Don’t Want to Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places to Belong",
"publishDate": 1786359600,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California Teens Don’t Want to Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places to Belong | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>For years, parents have watched their teenagers disappear behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+social+media+tagged&sca_esv=b0e23ee05b473abd&sxsrf=APpeQnvz49MVS1V9f84iyWpMciC6gfcItQ%3A1786126776991&ei=uCF2atmHPNS80PEPo-ibkAY&biw=1286&bih=694&ved=0ahUKEwjZw8PgkI-WAxVUHjQIHSP0BmIQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=kqed+social+media+tagged&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGtxZWQgc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIHRhZ2dlZDIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiuElCeBFi3EXAEeACQAQCYAY0BoAHFB6oBAzcuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDaAC5QfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYiQUYogTCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYChigAZgDAIgGAZIHBDEwLjOgB8wisgcDNy4zuAfeB8IHAzYuN8gHEIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp\">glowing screens\u003c/a>, texting more than talking, and asking chatbots the kinds of questions they used to ask a friend. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New research suggests the fix may not be prying phones out of teenagers’ hands, but instead, giving them somewhere to go once they put them down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"http://www.calpartnersproject.org/thirdplaces\">statewide survey\u003c/a>, released by the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.calpartnersproject.org/\">California Partners Project\u003c/a>, co-founded by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, found teens need more places where they feel like they belong. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who lean on artificial intelligence for friendship or advice, nearly half say they’d use them less if they had more chances to connect with peers face to face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Francis Martinez (left) and Ethan Liu, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play air hockey in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sociologists call these spaces for connection “third places” or places that are neither home nor school, but somewhere else to exist without a specific purpose. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The kind of aimless afternoons spent in a 7-Eleven parking lot many adults may remember from their own adolescence have become less acceptable. Parents are more reluctant to let teens roam, and teens say that when they do gather in public, they often feel like they’re being watched instead of welcomed. Whether they’re browsing in a bookstore or lingering in a coffee shop, many say adults treat them like they’re loitering rather than simply spending time together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The teens are sending us a clear signal,” said Jennifer Heifferon, the survey’s lead. “Teens are wanting more places to connect with their peers in person. And when they don’t find those places, many of them are defaulting to digital alternatives.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ZIP codes tend to influence why teens say they can’t find places to hang out, according to the study, based on responses from more than 1,000 California teens, ages 13-18. Suburban teens say they don’t have enough free time between school, sports, jobs and college preparation. Urban teens point to cost, saying even casual outings often come with an expectation to buy coffee or shop. Rural teens are more likely to say they didn’t feel welcome in the places available to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But underneath those differences, teens across the state wanted the same basic thing: somewhere affordable to gather with friends, without fear of being judged or left out, and where cheap food is available.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what \u003ca href=\"https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/\">allcove Youth Center in San Mateo\u003c/a> is trying to be. On a warm summer afternoon, teenagers painted flowers by number, battled it out over foosball, and sipped free boba while music videos played overhead. The teens themselves painted the murals on the walls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s one of 18-year-old Ariya Kaushek’s favorite places. Her anxiety and isolation started in middle school, right around when she started scrolling. She said TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat fed an endless inner critic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really hard navigating the digital world,” Kaushek said, describing “this kind of sense of constant comparison and worthlessness.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001629\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ariya Kaushek poses for a photo at a duck park near the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park on Aug. 4, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than half of California teens reported experiencing some degree of loneliness, even if they regularly spent time with friends. Kaushek said that’s because relationships aren’t just about being together, but about feeling safe enough to be yourself. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, many teens are navigating a never-ending stream of messages about how they should look, dress, speak and even how wealthy they should appear. That pressure, she said, chips away at kids’ confidence and makes authentic connection harder to find.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Things started to shift for Kaushek after she joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.safespace.org/\">SafeSpace\u003c/a>, a youth mental health nonprofit in Redwood City. Over casual meals with other teens, she began talking, really talking, about how hollow she felt on the inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Being present was such a rare feeling that it almost felt like I could unmask and take off this cloak of anxiety and just be.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dayanna Alvarado, Isabella Chin and Taryn Hwang, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play Apples to Apples in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For 17-year-old Vihaan Bhardwaj, that place is a small public library overlooking the ocean in Del Mar. He’s not necessarily going there to make friends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that just being around other people can be super helpful,” he said. “Just hearing other people talk, hearing other people play is very healing, especially when we spend most of our time in our rooms and on our screens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Public libraries have the “highest unused potential” to connect young people, according to the study, with 43% of teens having access to one but not visiting in the past month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj lives on the outskirts of San Diego County, where homes are a half-mile apart, and his high school is a 30-minute drive away. His surroundings can lead him to reach for a phone, but after realizing social media consistently left him feeling angry and insecure, Bhardwaj deleted his accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isla Beltzner (center) shows fellow allcove San Mateo youth adviser Lia Finn (left) something on her phone in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Now, I’m seeing exactly what I want to see, when I want to see it, where I want to see it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj still texts to stay in touch with friends, but said he’d rather spend his afternoons running through a park. After the library, that’s where he feels most like himself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Seeing other people doing the same thing as you, putting in the same effort, can be super motivating, especially when we’re doing so much of our daily lives in isolation,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For years, parents have watched their teenagers disappear behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+social+media+tagged&sca_esv=b0e23ee05b473abd&sxsrf=APpeQnvz49MVS1V9f84iyWpMciC6gfcItQ%3A1786126776991&ei=uCF2atmHPNS80PEPo-ibkAY&biw=1286&bih=694&ved=0ahUKEwjZw8PgkI-WAxVUHjQIHSP0BmIQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=kqed+social+media+tagged&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGtxZWQgc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIHRhZ2dlZDIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiuElCeBFi3EXAEeACQAQCYAY0BoAHFB6oBAzcuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDaAC5QfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYiQUYogTCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYChigAZgDAIgGAZIHBDEwLjOgB8wisgcDNy4zuAfeB8IHAzYuN8gHEIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp\">glowing screens\u003c/a>, texting more than talking, and asking chatbots the kinds of questions they used to ask a friend. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For years, parents have watched their teenagers disappear behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+social+media+tagged&sca_esv=b0e23ee05b473abd&sxsrf=APpeQnvz49MVS1V9f84iyWpMciC6gfcItQ%3A1786126776991&ei=uCF2atmHPNS80PEPo-ibkAY&biw=1286&bih=694&ved=0ahUKEwjZw8PgkI-WAxVUHjQIHSP0BmIQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=kqed+social+media+tagged&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGtxZWQgc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIHRhZ2dlZDIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiuElCeBFi3EXAEeACQAQCYAY0BoAHFB6oBAzcuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDaAC5QfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYiQUYogTCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYChigAZgDAIgGAZIHBDEwLjOgB8wisgcDNy4zuAfeB8IHAzYuN8gHEIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp\">glowing screens\u003c/a>, texting more than talking, and asking chatbots the kinds of questions they used to ask a friend. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>New research suggests the fix may not be prying phones out of teenagers’ hands, but instead, giving them somewhere to go once they put them down. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>New research suggests the fix may not be prying phones out of teenagers’ hands, but instead, giving them somewhere to go once they put them down. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"http://www.calpartnersproject.org/thirdplaces\">statewide survey\u003c/a>, released by the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.calpartnersproject.org/\">California Partners Project\u003c/a>, co-founded by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, found teens need more places where they feel like they belong. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"http://www.calpartnersproject.org/thirdplaces\">statewide survey\u003c/a>, released by the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.calpartnersproject.org/\">California Partners Project\u003c/a>, co-founded by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, found teens need more places where they feel like they belong. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who lean on artificial intelligence for friendship or advice, nearly half say they’d use them less if they had more chances to connect with peers face to face.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who lean on artificial intelligence for friendship or advice, nearly half say they’d use them less if they had more chances to connect with peers face to face.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001626,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Francis Martinez (left) and Ethan Liu, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play air hockey in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001626\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Francis Martinez (left) and Ethan Liu, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play air hockey in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sociologists call these spaces for connection “third places” or places that are neither home nor school, but somewhere else to exist without a specific purpose. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Sociologists call these spaces for connection “third places” or places that are neither home nor school, but somewhere else to exist without a specific purpose. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The kind of aimless afternoons spent in a 7-Eleven parking lot many adults may remember from their own adolescence have become less acceptable. Parents are more reluctant to let teens roam, and teens say that when they do gather in public, they often feel like they’re being watched instead of welcomed. Whether they’re browsing in a bookstore or lingering in a coffee shop, many say adults treat them like they’re loitering rather than simply spending time together.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The kind of aimless afternoons spent in a 7-Eleven parking lot many adults may remember from their own adolescence have become less acceptable. Parents are more reluctant to let teens roam, and teens say that when they do gather in public, they often feel like they’re being watched instead of welcomed. Whether they’re browsing in a bookstore or lingering in a coffee shop, many say adults treat them like they’re loitering rather than simply spending time together.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The teens are sending us a clear signal,” said Jennifer Heifferon, the survey’s lead. “Teens are wanting more places to connect with their peers in person. And when they don’t find those places, many of them are defaulting to digital alternatives.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The teens are sending us a clear signal,” said Jennifer Heifferon, the survey’s lead. “Teens are wanting more places to connect with their peers in person. And when they don’t find those places, many of them are defaulting to digital alternatives.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12091964"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>ZIP codes tend to influence why teens say they can’t find places to hang out, according to the study, based on responses from more than 1,000 California teens, ages 13-18. Suburban teens say they don’t have enough free time between school, sports, jobs and college preparation. Urban teens point to cost, saying even casual outings often come with an expectation to buy coffee or shop. Rural teens are more likely to say they didn’t feel welcome in the places available to them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>ZIP codes tend to influence why teens say they can’t find places to hang out, according to the study, based on responses from more than 1,000 California teens, ages 13-18. Suburban teens say they don’t have enough free time between school, sports, jobs and college preparation. Urban teens point to cost, saying even casual outings often come with an expectation to buy coffee or shop. Rural teens are more likely to say they didn’t feel welcome in the places available to them.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But underneath those differences, teens across the state wanted the same basic thing: somewhere affordable to gather with friends, without fear of being judged or left out, and where cheap food is available.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But underneath those differences, teens across the state wanted the same basic thing: somewhere affordable to gather with friends, without fear of being judged or left out, and where cheap food is available.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what \u003ca href=\"https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/\">allcove Youth Center in San Mateo\u003c/a> is trying to be. On a warm summer afternoon, teenagers painted flowers by number, battled it out over foosball, and sipped free boba while music videos played overhead. The teens themselves painted the murals on the walls.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what \u003ca href=\"https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/\">allcove Youth Center in San Mateo\u003c/a> is trying to be. On a warm summer afternoon, teenagers painted flowers by number, battled it out over foosball, and sipped free boba while music videos played overhead. The teens themselves painted the murals on the walls.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s one of 18-year-old Ariya Kaushek’s favorite places. Her anxiety and isolation started in middle school, right around when she started scrolling. She said TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat fed an endless inner critic.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s one of 18-year-old Ariya Kaushek’s favorite places. Her anxiety and isolation started in middle school, right around when she started scrolling. She said TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat fed an endless inner critic.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really hard navigating the digital world,” Kaushek said, describing “this kind of sense of constant comparison and worthlessness.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really hard navigating the digital world,” Kaushek said, describing “this kind of sense of constant comparison and worthlessness.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001629,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001629\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ariya Kaushek poses for a photo at a duck park near the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park on Aug. 4, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001629\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ariya Kaushek poses for a photo at a duck park near the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park on Aug. 4, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than half of California teens reported experiencing some degree of loneliness, even if they regularly spent time with friends. Kaushek said that’s because relationships aren’t just about being together, but about feeling safe enough to be yourself. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>More than half of California teens reported experiencing some degree of loneliness, even if they regularly spent time with friends. Kaushek said that’s because relationships aren’t just about being together, but about feeling safe enough to be yourself. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, many teens are navigating a never-ending stream of messages about how they should look, dress, speak and even how wealthy they should appear. That pressure, she said, chips away at kids’ confidence and makes authentic connection harder to find.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Instead, many teens are navigating a never-ending stream of messages about how they should look, dress, speak and even how wealthy they should appear. That pressure, she said, chips away at kids’ confidence and makes authentic connection harder to find.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Things started to shift for Kaushek after she joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.safespace.org/\">SafeSpace\u003c/a>, a youth mental health nonprofit in Redwood City. Over casual meals with other teens, she began talking, really talking, about how hollow she felt on the inside.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Things started to shift for Kaushek after she joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.safespace.org/\">SafeSpace\u003c/a>, a youth mental health nonprofit in Redwood City. Over casual meals with other teens, she began talking, really talking, about how hollow she felt on the inside.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Being present was such a rare feeling that it almost felt like I could unmask and take off this cloak of anxiety and just be.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Being present was such a rare feeling that it almost felt like I could unmask and take off this cloak of anxiety and just be.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001625,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dayanna Alvarado, Isabella Chin and Taryn Hwang, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play Apples to Apples in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001625\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dayanna Alvarado, Isabella Chin and Taryn Hwang, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play Apples to Apples in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For 17-year-old Vihaan Bhardwaj, that place is a small public library overlooking the ocean in Del Mar. He’s not necessarily going there to make friends.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For 17-year-old Vihaan Bhardwaj, that place is a small public library overlooking the ocean in Del Mar. He’s not necessarily going there to make friends.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that just being around other people can be super helpful,” he said. “Just hearing other people talk, hearing other people play is very healing, especially when we spend most of our time in our rooms and on our screens.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think that just being around other people can be super helpful,” he said. “Just hearing other people talk, hearing other people play is very healing, especially when we spend most of our time in our rooms and on our screens.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Public libraries have the “highest unused potential” to connect young people, according to the study, with 43% of teens having access to one but not visiting in the past month. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Public libraries have the “highest unused potential” to connect young people, according to the study, with 43% of teens having access to one but not visiting in the past month. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj lives on the outskirts of San Diego County, where homes are a half-mile apart, and his high school is a 30-minute drive away. His surroundings can lead him to reach for a phone, but after realizing social media consistently left him feeling angry and insecure, Bhardwaj deleted his accounts. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj lives on the outskirts of San Diego County, where homes are a half-mile apart, and his high school is a 30-minute drive away. His surroundings can lead him to reach for a phone, but after realizing social media consistently left him feeling angry and insecure, Bhardwaj deleted his accounts. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 2001627,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isla Beltzner (center) shows fellow allcove San Mateo youth adviser Lia Finn (left) something on her phone in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001627\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isla Beltzner (center) shows fellow allcove San Mateo youth adviser Lia Finn (left) something on her phone in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Now, I’m seeing exactly what I want to see, when I want to see it, where I want to see it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Now, I’m seeing exactly what I want to see, when I want to see it, where I want to see it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj still texts to stay in touch with friends, but said he’d rather spend his afternoons running through a park. After the library, that’s where he feels most like himself.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj still texts to stay in touch with friends, but said he’d rather spend his afternoons running through a park. After the library, that’s where he feels most like himself.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Seeing other people doing the same thing as you, putting in the same effort, can be super motivating, especially when we’re doing so much of our daily lives in isolation,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Seeing other people doing the same thing as you, putting in the same effort, can be super motivating, especially when we’re doing so much of our daily lives in isolation,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Teenagers across the state would rather set down their devices and hang out in real time, but say there aren't enough affordable spaces to truly connect.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1786381061,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 25,
"wordCount": 1084
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Teens Don’t Want to Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places to Belong | KQED",
"description": "Teenagers across the state would rather set down their devices and hang out in real time, but say there aren't enough affordable spaces to truly connect.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "California Teens Don’t Want to Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places to Belong",
"datePublished": "2026-08-10T04:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-10T09:57:41-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/92376f76-92ee-4f51-b0de-b4a2011266c3/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2001615",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2001615/california-teens-dont-want-to-hide-behind-screens-they-want-more-places-to-belong",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For years, parents have watched their teenagers disappear behind \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+social+media+tagged&sca_esv=b0e23ee05b473abd&sxsrf=APpeQnvz49MVS1V9f84iyWpMciC6gfcItQ%3A1786126776991&ei=uCF2atmHPNS80PEPo-ibkAY&biw=1286&bih=694&ved=0ahUKEwjZw8PgkI-WAxVUHjQIHSP0BmIQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=kqed+social+media+tagged&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGtxZWQgc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIHRhZ2dlZDIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiuElCeBFi3EXAEeACQAQCYAY0BoAHFB6oBAzcuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDaAC5QfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYiQUYogTCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYChigAZgDAIgGAZIHBDEwLjOgB8wisgcDNy4zuAfeB8IHAzYuN8gHEIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp\">glowing screens\u003c/a>, texting more than talking, and asking chatbots the kinds of questions they used to ask a friend. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New research suggests the fix may not be prying phones out of teenagers’ hands, but instead, giving them somewhere to go once they put them down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"http://www.calpartnersproject.org/thirdplaces\">statewide survey\u003c/a>, released by the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.calpartnersproject.org/\">California Partners Project\u003c/a>, co-founded by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, found teens need more places where they feel like they belong. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who lean on artificial intelligence for friendship or advice, nearly half say they’d use them less if they had more chances to connect with peers face to face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Francis Martinez (left) and Ethan Liu, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play air hockey in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sociologists call these spaces for connection “third places” or places that are neither home nor school, but somewhere else to exist without a specific purpose. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The kind of aimless afternoons spent in a 7-Eleven parking lot many adults may remember from their own adolescence have become less acceptable. Parents are more reluctant to let teens roam, and teens say that when they do gather in public, they often feel like they’re being watched instead of welcomed. Whether they’re browsing in a bookstore or lingering in a coffee shop, many say adults treat them like they’re loitering rather than simply spending time together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The teens are sending us a clear signal,” said Jennifer Heifferon, the survey’s lead. “Teens are wanting more places to connect with their peers in person. And when they don’t find those places, many of them are defaulting to digital alternatives.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ZIP codes tend to influence why teens say they can’t find places to hang out, according to the study, based on responses from more than 1,000 California teens, ages 13-18. Suburban teens say they don’t have enough free time between school, sports, jobs and college preparation. Urban teens point to cost, saying even casual outings often come with an expectation to buy coffee or shop. Rural teens are more likely to say they didn’t feel welcome in the places available to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But underneath those differences, teens across the state wanted the same basic thing: somewhere affordable to gather with friends, without fear of being judged or left out, and where cheap food is available.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what \u003ca href=\"https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/\">allcove Youth Center in San Mateo\u003c/a> is trying to be. On a warm summer afternoon, teenagers painted flowers by number, battled it out over foosball, and sipped free boba while music videos played overhead. The teens themselves painted the murals on the walls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s one of 18-year-old Ariya Kaushek’s favorite places. Her anxiety and isolation started in middle school, right around when she started scrolling. She said TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat fed an endless inner critic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think it’s really hard navigating the digital world,” Kaushek said, describing “this kind of sense of constant comparison and worthlessness.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001629\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ariya Kaushek poses for a photo at a duck park near the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park on Aug. 4, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than half of California teens reported experiencing some degree of loneliness, even if they regularly spent time with friends. Kaushek said that’s because relationships aren’t just about being together, but about feeling safe enough to be yourself. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, many teens are navigating a never-ending stream of messages about how they should look, dress, speak and even how wealthy they should appear. That pressure, she said, chips away at kids’ confidence and makes authentic connection harder to find.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Things started to shift for Kaushek after she joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.safespace.org/\">SafeSpace\u003c/a>, a youth mental health nonprofit in Redwood City. Over casual meals with other teens, she began talking, really talking, about how hollow she felt on the inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Being present was such a rare feeling that it almost felt like I could unmask and take off this cloak of anxiety and just be.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dayanna Alvarado, Isabella Chin and Taryn Hwang, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play Apples to Apples in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For 17-year-old Vihaan Bhardwaj, that place is a small public library overlooking the ocean in Del Mar. He’s not necessarily going there to make friends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that just being around other people can be super helpful,” he said. “Just hearing other people talk, hearing other people play is very healing, especially when we spend most of our time in our rooms and on our screens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Public libraries have the “highest unused potential” to connect young people, according to the study, with 43% of teens having access to one but not visiting in the past month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj lives on the outskirts of San Diego County, where homes are a half-mile apart, and his high school is a 30-minute drive away. His surroundings can lead him to reach for a phone, but after realizing social media consistently left him feeling angry and insecure, Bhardwaj deleted his accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isla Beltzner (center) shows fellow allcove San Mateo youth adviser Lia Finn (left) something on her phone in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Now, I’m seeing exactly what I want to see, when I want to see it, where I want to see it,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhardwaj still texts to stay in touch with friends, but said he’d rather spend his afternoons running through a park. After the library, that’s where he feels most like himself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Seeing other people doing the same thing as you, putting in the same effort, can be super motivating, especially when we’re doing so much of our daily lives in isolation,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2001615/california-teens-dont-want-to-hide-behind-screens-they-want-more-places-to-belong",
"authors": [
"11229"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_856",
"science_5178",
"science_512",
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_249",
"science_309",
"science_461"
],
"featImg": "science_2001648",
"label": "source_science_2001615"
},
"science_1926793": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_1926793",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1926793",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1785866696000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke",
"title": "Shield Yourself From Wildfire Smoke: What You Need to Know",
"publishDate": 1785866696,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Shield Yourself From Wildfire Smoke: What You Need to Know | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960130/4-things-about-californias-wildfire-smoke-climate-change\">wildfires worsen\u003c/a>, it’s become a familiar routine. You wake to see a haze in the sky, and a strange tinge to the light. You start to feel burning in your throat and irritation in your eyes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">the online air quality map\u003c/a> — the one you probably have bookmarked by now — confirms what you already suspected: that smoke from nearby wildfires is in the air once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unhealthy air quality caused by fires has become an unfortunate reality for Bay Area residents, especially for those whose jobs or living circumstances mean they must spend most of the day outdoors. It might be tempting to try to go on with your day as normal. But the risks to your health from poor air quality due to wildfire smoke are serious and can cause long-lasting damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, there are several ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones from hazardous air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>Jump straight to: \u003c/b>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wildfire-smoke-air-quality\">How to stay safe when it’s smoky\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out how to prep your home for more smoky days, when it’s time to really worry about the air outdoors, and what to do when wildfire smoke hits your neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember: The following advice can also help protect your respiratory health on days that a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sparetheair.org/\">Spare the Air alert\u003c/a> has been issued, when concentrations of smog are expected to be unhealthy.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why is smoke from a wildfire so dangerous to my health?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What we call “wildfire smoke” is actually an ever-changing mix of particles and gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides and trace minerals. Many of these compounds are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most dangerous thing for your health in wildfire smoke is the particulate matter: that is, the tiny pieces of soot and ash that are invisible to the naked eye. These particles are so small they’re measured in \u003ca href=\"https://sciencenotes.org/what-is-a-micron-definition-and-examples/\">microns (0.001 millimeters)\u003c/a> — and the most worrying particles in smoke can be less than 2.5 microns wide. For scale, a human hair is about 60 microns wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also so light that they can travel huge distances from a raging wildfire. And when it comes to your respiratory system, these tiny traveling particles then become miniscule invaders that first cause damage to your body just by entering it, setting off inflammatory reactions that can make breathing difficult. In serious cases, these reactions can even trigger a heart attack or stroke.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=science_1930023]The particles then travel deep into your lungs, and within a few days, the damage they cause can result in bronchitis or pneumonia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Put simply: Even brief exposure to wildfire smoke can cause potentially serious health problems for everyone. People at higher risk include those with asthma, lung disease or heart disease, children and teens, older adults age 65+ and people who don’t live or work indoors. Pregnant people and their unborn infants are at particularly heightened risk from these particulates, which have been associated with low birth weight and premature birth for babies.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to prepare for dangerous air quality\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since dangerously unhealthy air from wildfires can sweep in with little to no warning, it’s important to be ready beforehand. The Environmental Protection Agency, \u003ca href=\"https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/\">via its AirNow website\u003c/a>, recommends taking certain steps to ensure you and your home are prepared.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find — or make — a portable air purifier\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Air Resources Board recommends portable mechanical air cleaners with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that collects very small particles and does not emit ozone or other harmful substances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These air cleaners dramatically reduce indoor particle levels, in some cases by more than 90%. \u003ca href=\"https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm\">Here is a list of devices that are certified by and legal in California\u003c/a>. If you can’t get a portable air purifier, the EPA \u003ca href=\"https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/\">has tips on how to make your own DIY air cleaner from a box fan and filter\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1950002\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 3456px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1950002\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378.jpg 3456w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke shrouds a road near Geyserville during a wildfire on Oct. 24, 2019. \u003ccite>(Danielle Venton/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make a ‘clean air room’ — and keep it cool\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The EPA suggests designating a ‘clean air room’ in your home, one you can quickly seal off from any outside air and in which you can run a portable clean air filter. If excessive heat is a concern where you live, and you have a room with an air conditioner, this room might be best to select — just be sure to keep the fresh-air intake closed on any air conditioners to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If it’s not feasible to designate a single clean air room, consider purchasing multiple portable air purifiers and ensure your home is properly sealed to outside air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During heat waves, pay attention to temperature forecasts and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11878134/bay-area-heat-wave-how-to-stay-safe-during-dangerously-hot-weather\">know how to stay safe in the heat\u003c/a>. Even if you don’t have air conditioning, keep doors and windows closed. This can reduce pollutant levels by 50%, according to the EPA. If you can’t stay cool at home or at a friend or relative’s house, the EPA suggests seeking relief at a clean air shelter or other large building with air conditioning and good filtration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stock up on filters for your air purifiers now\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether for portable air purifiers or a central HVAC system (if you have one), it’s a good idea to stock up on replacement air filters before the need arises. If you wait until smoky air descends, the EPA warns, supplies may be out of stock or may not arrive in time to be helpful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re using a central HVAC system, make sure to purchase high-efficiency filters rated MERV-13 or higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11834305]\u003cstrong>Have masks ready to wear\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11834305/masks-for-smoke-and-covid-19-what-kind-is-best\">what kind of masks offer the best protection against wildfire smoke, \u003c/a>the answer is still: that collection of N95 or KN95 masks you may have stocked up on due to COVID. If you don’t have any left, now is a good time to stock up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for N95 masks with exhalation valves, it’s worth noting that these masks work well for wildfire smoke and may be easier to breathe through longer-term. But they’re less effective at stopping the spread of diseases like COVID — even with tape over the valve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The least effective options are one‐strap paper dust masks or surgical masks that hook around your ears — they don’t protect against inhaling fine particles. Note that a cloth mask will not adequately protect your lungs from particles found in wildfire smoke, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wildfire-smoke-air-quality\">\u003c/a>How to stay safe when it’s smoky\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check your local air quality\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">Bookmark our real-time Bay Area air quality map\u003c/a>, which includes data from official EPA AirNow sensors, as well as from dozens of low-cost private sensors manufactured by PurpleAir. There are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1969271/making-sense-of-purple-air-vs-airnow-and-a-new-map-to-rule-them-all\">a few points to keep in mind\u003c/a> if you’re noticing discrepancies between what those sensors are reporting. Keep a close eye on local air quality reports to gauge how much time is safe for you and your family to spend outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1993529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 638px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1993529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"638\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1.png 638w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1-160x105.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The air quality index (AQI) is divided into six categories, each corresponding to a different level of health concern. \u003ccite>(Courtesy EPA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When the air quality index (AQI) rises to 101 or above, consider taking steps to reduce exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep your indoor area purified\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure all doors and windows are closed and turn on those portable air purifiers, or crank your central HVAC system with a MERV-13 or higher-rated filter, if you have one. If you’re running an air conditioner, keep the fresh-air intake closed to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Leave your portable air cleaners running continuously and avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. Burning candles, cooking on gas stoves and vacuuming can all increase indoor pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Driving? Don’t let smoke inside your car\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Air District recommends that on smoky days, you use the “recirculating air” button in your car’s air conditioning system, if you have one (it’s the button with the symbol of a car with a looping arrow inside it).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When your recirculating air is on, your car will stop taking in any air from the outside — and instead, your AC will recirculate the air that’s already inside your car. This will help prevent smoke outside from entering your car while still keeping the inside of your car cool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Help the smoke leave your body\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been exposed to wildfire smoke, wash your nose out and gargle with clean water. Do this five times a day until the smoke subsides. Take a shower and wash your clothing after being outside, even if your clothes don’t smell particularly smoky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep pets inside\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether house pets or livestock, domestic animals are affected by wildfire smoke, too. During periods of poor air quality, try to limit their time outside as much as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Air pollution from wildfire smoke can pose serious health risks. Here are some key steps you can take both before and during smoky days.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785866959,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 40,
"wordCount": 1537
},
"headData": {
"title": "Protecting Your Health from Wildfire Smoke | KQED",
"description": "Take steps to stay safe during wildfire smoke. Learn how to protect your air quality at home and when outdoors.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"socialTitle": "Protecting Your Health from Wildfire Smoke | KQED",
"socialDescription": "Take steps to stay safe during wildfire smoke. Learn how to protect your air quality at home and when outdoors.",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Shield Yourself From Wildfire Smoke: What You Need to Know",
"datePublished": "2026-08-04T11:04:56-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-04T11:09:19-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 3730,
"slug": "wildfires",
"name": "Wildfires"
},
"source": "Wildfires",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/wildfires",
"sticky": false,
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/1926793/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960130/4-things-about-californias-wildfire-smoke-climate-change\">wildfires worsen\u003c/a>, it’s become a familiar routine. You wake to see a haze in the sky, and a strange tinge to the light. You start to feel burning in your throat and irritation in your eyes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">the online air quality map\u003c/a> — the one you probably have bookmarked by now — confirms what you already suspected: that smoke from nearby wildfires is in the air once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unhealthy air quality caused by fires has become an unfortunate reality for Bay Area residents, especially for those whose jobs or living circumstances mean they must spend most of the day outdoors. It might be tempting to try to go on with your day as normal. But the risks to your health from poor air quality due to wildfire smoke are serious and can cause long-lasting damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, there are several ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones from hazardous air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>Jump straight to: \u003c/b>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wildfire-smoke-air-quality\">How to stay safe when it’s smoky\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out how to prep your home for more smoky days, when it’s time to really worry about the air outdoors, and what to do when wildfire smoke hits your neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember: The following advice can also help protect your respiratory health on days that a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sparetheair.org/\">Spare the Air alert\u003c/a> has been issued, when concentrations of smog are expected to be unhealthy.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why is smoke from a wildfire so dangerous to my health?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What we call “wildfire smoke” is actually an ever-changing mix of particles and gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides and trace minerals. Many of these compounds are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most dangerous thing for your health in wildfire smoke is the particulate matter: that is, the tiny pieces of soot and ash that are invisible to the naked eye. These particles are so small they’re measured in \u003ca href=\"https://sciencenotes.org/what-is-a-micron-definition-and-examples/\">microns (0.001 millimeters)\u003c/a> — and the most worrying particles in smoke can be less than 2.5 microns wide. For scale, a human hair is about 60 microns wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also so light that they can travel huge distances from a raging wildfire. And when it comes to your respiratory system, these tiny traveling particles then become miniscule invaders that first cause damage to your body just by entering it, setting off inflammatory reactions that can make breathing difficult. In serious cases, these reactions can even trigger a heart attack or stroke.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "science_1930023",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The particles then travel deep into your lungs, and within a few days, the damage they cause can result in bronchitis or pneumonia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Put simply: Even brief exposure to wildfire smoke can cause potentially serious health problems for everyone. People at higher risk include those with asthma, lung disease or heart disease, children and teens, older adults age 65+ and people who don’t live or work indoors. Pregnant people and their unborn infants are at particularly heightened risk from these particulates, which have been associated with low birth weight and premature birth for babies.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to prepare for dangerous air quality\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since dangerously unhealthy air from wildfires can sweep in with little to no warning, it’s important to be ready beforehand. The Environmental Protection Agency, \u003ca href=\"https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/\">via its AirNow website\u003c/a>, recommends taking certain steps to ensure you and your home are prepared.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find — or make — a portable air purifier\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Air Resources Board recommends portable mechanical air cleaners with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that collects very small particles and does not emit ozone or other harmful substances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These air cleaners dramatically reduce indoor particle levels, in some cases by more than 90%. \u003ca href=\"https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm\">Here is a list of devices that are certified by and legal in California\u003c/a>. If you can’t get a portable air purifier, the EPA \u003ca href=\"https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/\">has tips on how to make your own DIY air cleaner from a box fan and filter\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1950002\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 3456px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1950002\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378.jpg 3456w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/IMG_1378-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke shrouds a road near Geyserville during a wildfire on Oct. 24, 2019. \u003ccite>(Danielle Venton/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make a ‘clean air room’ — and keep it cool\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The EPA suggests designating a ‘clean air room’ in your home, one you can quickly seal off from any outside air and in which you can run a portable clean air filter. If excessive heat is a concern where you live, and you have a room with an air conditioner, this room might be best to select — just be sure to keep the fresh-air intake closed on any air conditioners to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If it’s not feasible to designate a single clean air room, consider purchasing multiple portable air purifiers and ensure your home is properly sealed to outside air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During heat waves, pay attention to temperature forecasts and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11878134/bay-area-heat-wave-how-to-stay-safe-during-dangerously-hot-weather\">know how to stay safe in the heat\u003c/a>. Even if you don’t have air conditioning, keep doors and windows closed. This can reduce pollutant levels by 50%, according to the EPA. If you can’t stay cool at home or at a friend or relative’s house, the EPA suggests seeking relief at a clean air shelter or other large building with air conditioning and good filtration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stock up on filters for your air purifiers now\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether for portable air purifiers or a central HVAC system (if you have one), it’s a good idea to stock up on replacement air filters before the need arises. If you wait until smoky air descends, the EPA warns, supplies may be out of stock or may not arrive in time to be helpful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re using a central HVAC system, make sure to purchase high-efficiency filters rated MERV-13 or higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11834305",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Have masks ready to wear\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11834305/masks-for-smoke-and-covid-19-what-kind-is-best\">what kind of masks offer the best protection against wildfire smoke, \u003c/a>the answer is still: that collection of N95 or KN95 masks you may have stocked up on due to COVID. If you don’t have any left, now is a good time to stock up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for N95 masks with exhalation valves, it’s worth noting that these masks work well for wildfire smoke and may be easier to breathe through longer-term. But they’re less effective at stopping the spread of diseases like COVID — even with tape over the valve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The least effective options are one‐strap paper dust masks or surgical masks that hook around your ears — they don’t protect against inhaling fine particles. Note that a cloth mask will not adequately protect your lungs from particles found in wildfire smoke, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wildfire-smoke-air-quality\">\u003c/a>How to stay safe when it’s smoky\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check your local air quality\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">Bookmark our real-time Bay Area air quality map\u003c/a>, which includes data from official EPA AirNow sensors, as well as from dozens of low-cost private sensors manufactured by PurpleAir. There are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1969271/making-sense-of-purple-air-vs-airnow-and-a-new-map-to-rule-them-all\">a few points to keep in mind\u003c/a> if you’re noticing discrepancies between what those sensors are reporting. Keep a close eye on local air quality reports to gauge how much time is safe for you and your family to spend outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1993529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 638px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1993529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"638\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1.png 638w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/09/wildfires-during-01-understand-the-aqi-1-160x105.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The air quality index (AQI) is divided into six categories, each corresponding to a different level of health concern. \u003ccite>(Courtesy EPA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When the air quality index (AQI) rises to 101 or above, consider taking steps to reduce exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep your indoor area purified\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure all doors and windows are closed and turn on those portable air purifiers, or crank your central HVAC system with a MERV-13 or higher-rated filter, if you have one. If you’re running an air conditioner, keep the fresh-air intake closed to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Leave your portable air cleaners running continuously and avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. Burning candles, cooking on gas stoves and vacuuming can all increase indoor pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Driving? Don’t let smoke inside your car\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Air District recommends that on smoky days, you use the “recirculating air” button in your car’s air conditioning system, if you have one (it’s the button with the symbol of a car with a looping arrow inside it).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When your recirculating air is on, your car will stop taking in any air from the outside — and instead, your AC will recirculate the air that’s already inside your car. This will help prevent smoke outside from entering your car while still keeping the inside of your car cool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Help the smoke leave your body\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been exposed to wildfire smoke, wash your nose out and gargle with clean water. Do this five times a day until the smoke subsides. Take a shower and wash your clothing after being outside, even if your clothes don’t smell particularly smoky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep pets inside\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether house pets or livestock, domestic animals are affected by wildfire smoke, too. During periods of poor air quality, try to limit their time outside as much as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/1926793/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke",
"authors": [
"3243",
"182"
],
"categories": [
"science_31",
"science_35",
"science_37",
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_3730"
],
"tags": [
"science_505",
"science_4992",
"science_856",
"science_192",
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_365",
"science_113",
"science_3693"
],
"featImg": "science_1980251",
"label": "source_science_1926793"
},
"science_2001540": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2001540",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001540",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1785187848000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-scientists-find-early-warning-sign-of-irreversible-groundwater-damage",
"title": "California Scientists Find Early Warning Sign of Irreversible Groundwater Damage",
"publishDate": 1785187848,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California Scientists Find Early Warning Sign of Irreversible Groundwater Damage | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>Some farming towns in California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> have sunk by more than 11 feet in recent years because of groundwater pumping, the extraction of water from underground aquifers using wells and electric pumps for drinking, farming and industry. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While some land subsidence is temporary, excessive pumping can cause aquifers to permanently collapse, reducing storage capacity and damaging homes, roads, bridges and canals.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New research from UCLA and Caltech has outlined a way to detect when temporary land subsidence becomes permanent and irreversible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The research, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2526041123\">published this week\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\u003c/em>, uses satellite imagery to identify the “abrupt transition to irreversible damage.” Researchers hope this will give decision makers new tools to keep an eye on water resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you start seeing that the ground is subsiding this fast, like we’re seeing, we’re hoping this is really an early warning signal that, okay, something is wrong, we need to stop pumping groundwater right now,” said \u003ca href=\"https://epss.ucla.edu/epss-welcomes-new-assistant-professor-dr-stacy-larochelle/\">Stacy Larochelle,\u003c/a> an assistant professor at UCLA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Larochelle and co-authors found that parts of the Sacramento Valley, which has a centurylong history of groundwater exploitation to sustain the region’s intensive agricultural economy, underwent an abrupt and widespread change around 2021, indicating a shift to rapid, permanent subsidence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Essentially, researchers saw if ground movement, as detected by satellites, linked up with water levels in wells, which indicated temporary sinking. If the ground didn’t bounce back when water levels did, the sink was permanent. Larochelle’s hope is that one day this monitoring can be done by satellites alone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We think this is the first time that we’re really able to image this transition with such high- quality data,” Larochelle said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/roland-burgmann\">Roland Bürgmann\u003c/a>, a UC Berkeley geophysicist who was not involved in the research, said the research clearly showed how permanent damage was done to the Sacramento Valley water system by overuse during the recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This could and should have been avoided by proper monitoring and water management,” Bürgmann said. “Every water district in the world should probably be using the kind of satellite imaging data and analysis the authors relied on, so they can recognize when their valuable water storage systems are in danger of such irreversible loss of storage capacity.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S Geological Survey’s California Water Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/publications/groundwater-sustainability-and-land-subsidence-californias-central-valley\">estimates 15%\u003c/a> of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some farming towns in California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> have sunk by more than 11 feet in recent years because of groundwater pumping, the extraction of water from underground aquifers using wells and electric pumps for drinking, farming and industry. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some farming towns in California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> have sunk by more than 11 feet in recent years because of groundwater pumping, the extraction of water from underground aquifers using wells and electric pumps for drinking, farming and industry. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While some land subsidence is temporary, excessive pumping can cause aquifers to permanently collapse, reducing storage capacity and damaging homes, roads, bridges and canals.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While some land subsidence is temporary, excessive pumping can cause aquifers to permanently collapse, reducing storage capacity and damaging homes, roads, bridges and canals.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>New research from UCLA and Caltech has outlined a way to detect when temporary land subsidence becomes permanent and irreversible. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>New research from UCLA and Caltech has outlined a way to detect when temporary land subsidence becomes permanent and irreversible. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The research, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2526041123\">published this week\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\u003c/em>, uses satellite imagery to identify the “abrupt transition to irreversible damage.” Researchers hope this will give decision makers new tools to keep an eye on water resources. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The research, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2526041123\">published this week\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\u003c/em>, uses satellite imagery to identify the “abrupt transition to irreversible damage.” Researchers hope this will give decision makers new tools to keep an eye on water resources. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you start seeing that the ground is subsiding this fast, like we’re seeing, we’re hoping this is really an early warning signal that, okay, something is wrong, we need to stop pumping groundwater right now,” said \u003ca href=\"https://epss.ucla.edu/epss-welcomes-new-assistant-professor-dr-stacy-larochelle/\">Stacy Larochelle,\u003c/a> an assistant professor at UCLA. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“If you start seeing that the ground is subsiding this fast, like we’re seeing, we’re hoping this is really an early warning signal that, okay, something is wrong, we need to stop pumping groundwater right now,” said \u003ca href=\"https://epss.ucla.edu/epss-welcomes-new-assistant-professor-dr-stacy-larochelle/\">Stacy Larochelle,\u003c/a> an assistant professor at UCLA. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"science_2001488"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/052726_DISPLACEDOIL_9432-KQED.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Larochelle and co-authors found that parts of the Sacramento Valley, which has a centurylong history of groundwater exploitation to sustain the region’s intensive agricultural economy, underwent an abrupt and widespread change around 2021, indicating a shift to rapid, permanent subsidence. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Larochelle and co-authors found that parts of the Sacramento Valley, which has a centurylong history of groundwater exploitation to sustain the region’s intensive agricultural economy, underwent an abrupt and widespread change around 2021, indicating a shift to rapid, permanent subsidence. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Essentially, researchers saw if ground movement, as detected by satellites, linked up with water levels in wells, which indicated temporary sinking. If the ground didn’t bounce back when water levels did, the sink was permanent. Larochelle’s hope is that one day this monitoring can be done by satellites alone.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Essentially, researchers saw if ground movement, as detected by satellites, linked up with water levels in wells, which indicated temporary sinking. If the ground didn’t bounce back when water levels did, the sink was permanent. Larochelle’s hope is that one day this monitoring can be done by satellites alone.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We think this is the first time that we’re really able to image this transition with such high- quality data,” Larochelle said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We think this is the first time that we’re really able to image this transition with such high- quality data,” Larochelle said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/roland-burgmann\">Roland Bürgmann\u003c/a>, a UC Berkeley geophysicist who was not involved in the research, said the research clearly showed how permanent damage was done to the Sacramento Valley water system by overuse during the recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/roland-burgmann\">Roland Bürgmann\u003c/a>, a UC Berkeley geophysicist who was not involved in the research, said the research clearly showed how permanent damage was done to the Sacramento Valley water system by overuse during the recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This could and should have been avoided by proper monitoring and water management,” Bürgmann said. “Every water district in the world should probably be using the kind of satellite imaging data and analysis the authors relied on, so they can recognize when their valuable water storage systems are in danger of such irreversible loss of storage capacity.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This could and should have been avoided by proper monitoring and water management,” Bürgmann said. “Every water district in the world should probably be using the kind of satellite imaging data and analysis the authors relied on, so they can recognize when their valuable water storage systems are in danger of such irreversible loss of storage capacity.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S Geological Survey’s California Water Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/publications/groundwater-sustainability-and-land-subsidence-californias-central-valley\">estimates 15%\u003c/a> of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The U.S Geological Survey’s California Water Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/publications/groundwater-sustainability-and-land-subsidence-californias-central-valley\">estimates 15%\u003c/a> of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The U.S. Geological Survey’s California Water Center estimates 15% of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785189670,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 13,
"wordCount": 436
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Scientists Find Early Warning Sign of Irreversible Groundwater Damage | KQED",
"description": "The U.S. Geological Survey’s California Water Center estimates 15% of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "California Scientists Find Early Warning Sign of Irreversible Groundwater Damage",
"datePublished": "2026-07-27T14:30:48-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-27T15:01:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 35,
"slug": "environment",
"name": "Environment"
},
"source": "News",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2001540",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2001540/california-scientists-find-early-warning-sign-of-irreversible-groundwater-damage",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Some farming towns in California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/central-valley\">Central Valley\u003c/a> have sunk by more than 11 feet in recent years because of groundwater pumping, the extraction of water from underground aquifers using wells and electric pumps for drinking, farming and industry. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While some land subsidence is temporary, excessive pumping can cause aquifers to permanently collapse, reducing storage capacity and damaging homes, roads, bridges and canals.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New research from UCLA and Caltech has outlined a way to detect when temporary land subsidence becomes permanent and irreversible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The research, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2526041123\">published this week\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\u003c/em>, uses satellite imagery to identify the “abrupt transition to irreversible damage.” Researchers hope this will give decision makers new tools to keep an eye on water resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you start seeing that the ground is subsiding this fast, like we’re seeing, we’re hoping this is really an early warning signal that, okay, something is wrong, we need to stop pumping groundwater right now,” said \u003ca href=\"https://epss.ucla.edu/epss-welcomes-new-assistant-professor-dr-stacy-larochelle/\">Stacy Larochelle,\u003c/a> an assistant professor at UCLA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Larochelle and co-authors found that parts of the Sacramento Valley, which has a centurylong history of groundwater exploitation to sustain the region’s intensive agricultural economy, underwent an abrupt and widespread change around 2021, indicating a shift to rapid, permanent subsidence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Essentially, researchers saw if ground movement, as detected by satellites, linked up with water levels in wells, which indicated temporary sinking. If the ground didn’t bounce back when water levels did, the sink was permanent. Larochelle’s hope is that one day this monitoring can be done by satellites alone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We think this is the first time that we’re really able to image this transition with such high- quality data,” Larochelle said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/roland-burgmann\">Roland Bürgmann\u003c/a>, a UC Berkeley geophysicist who was not involved in the research, said the research clearly showed how permanent damage was done to the Sacramento Valley water system by overuse during the recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california-drought\">drought\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This could and should have been avoided by proper monitoring and water management,” Bürgmann said. “Every water district in the world should probably be using the kind of satellite imaging data and analysis the authors relied on, so they can recognize when their valuable water storage systems are in danger of such irreversible loss of storage capacity.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S Geological Survey’s California Water Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/publications/groundwater-sustainability-and-land-subsidence-californias-central-valley\">estimates 15%\u003c/a> of the Central Valley’s groundwater storage capacity has been permanently lost because of subsidence.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2001540/california-scientists-find-early-warning-sign-of-irreversible-groundwater-damage",
"authors": [
"11088"
],
"categories": [
"science_31",
"science_35",
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_5178",
"science_686",
"science_182",
"science_4414",
"science_490",
"science_5181",
"science_3543",
"science_309",
"science_201",
"science_997",
"science_110"
],
"featImg": "science_2001545",
"label": "source_science_2001540"
},
"science_2001391": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2001391",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001391",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783346423000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "san-francisco-celebrates-morning-after-pill-for-stis-other-countries-warn-of-antibiotic-resistance",
"title": "San Francisco Celebrates Morning-After Pill for STIs. Other Countries Warn of Antibiotic Resistance",
"publishDate": 1783346423,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San Francisco Celebrates Morning-After Pill for STIs. Other Countries Warn of Antibiotic Resistance | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>Tyler Toler has suffered through the trifecta of bacterial STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11869396/once-on-the-brink-of-eradication-syphilis-is-raging-again-in-san-francisco\"> syphilis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the corresponding itching, burning, and rash felt bad enough, the pain of treatment and the social fallout that often followed were worse. Toler dreaded the awkward conversation with his partners, admitting he may have exposed them to an infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Some people are like, ‘Yeah, cool, thank you for letting me know,’” Toler said. “And then there’s some people that think you’re the dirtiest person on the face of the planet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Toler heard there was a morning-after pill for STIs that could solve all these problems, he wanted in. Doxy PEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is an antibiotic taken within 72 hours of condomless sex to prevent bacterial infections. Toler hasn’t had an STI in the three years since he started taking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can be as much of a promiscuous person as I possibly can and not have to worry about the ramifications as much,” he said with a wry smile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-reports-significant-declines-in-sexually-transmitted-infections-in-2025\">syphilis rates dropped 24% last year\u003c/a>, chlamydia went down 18% and gonorrhea dipped 5%, leading local health officials to celebrate the success of Doxy PEP and their decision to distribute it broadly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bottle of doxycycline hyclate tablets, known as Doxy PEP, sits on the counter at Strut health clinic in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the same time, doctors around the globe caution that using antibiotics this way could contribute to antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat a range of bacterial infections down the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tension between reducing STIs and stewarding antibiotics responsibly has led to a range of divergent policies around who should get Doxy PEP and when.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to be thoughtful about how we’re using it,” said\u003ca href=\"https://profiles.ucsf.edu/annie.luetkemeyer\"> Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer\u003c/a>, an infectious disease physician and researcher at UCSF. “Antibiotics are an incredible resource. We all worry about antimicrobial resistance.”[aside postID=news_12089597 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/RobBontaTrumpGetty.jpg']Gonorrhea has already built resistance to the class of antibiotics that include doxycycline, and research suggests that Doxy PEP is making it worse, Luetkemeyer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She is now leading a five-city study, including Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, Seattle and San Francisco, to examine whether Doxy PEP increases resistance in other bacteria, as well, including strep pneumoniae, which can cause lung infections like pneumonia, and staph aureus, which can cause skin infections. Earlier studies raised this concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In folks who took Doxy PEP, we saw an increase in doxy-resistant staph aureus,” she said. “The numbers were small, but there was a trend in that direction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Developing Doxy PEP policy is a balancing act, weighing the benefits of reduced sexually transmitted infections against the risk of cultivating superbugs that are more difficult to treat. San Francisco officials chose to make Doxy PEP\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-health-update-updated-recommendations-for-prescribing-doxy-pep\"> widely available\u003c/a> and recommended doctors offer it to anyone who might benefit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other countries have taken a more conservative approach. The\u003ca href=\"https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Doxycycline-prophylaxis-of-bacterial-STIs-in-the-EU-EEA.pdf\"> European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://ashm.org.au/initiatives/doxy-pep-statement/\"> Australasian Society for Sexual Health Medicine\u003c/a> recommended restricting the use of Doxy PEP for the prevention of syphilis only, with a focus on men who have sex with men who have a history of syphilis infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001388\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001388\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tyler Toler in Santa Rosa on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Both groups decided against recommending it to prevent gonorrhea or chlamydia because they deemed the benefits did not outweigh the risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would argue that for gay men, there is no population-level benefit for getting chlamydia rates down,” said\u003ca href=\"https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/vincent-cornelisse\"> Dr. Vincent Cornelisse\u003c/a>, a sexual health physician and professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The consequences of syphilis can be dire: blindness, hearing loss, brain damage. Chlamydia, on the other hand, is more of a nuisance for men, Cornelisse said, uncomfortable, but not dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Australian committee decided prescribing Doxy PEP to prevent it was an excessive use of antibiotics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we need to be a bit tempered in recommending strategies to reduce chlamydia amongst gay men when the strategies themselves might have adverse outcomes,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Strut clinic in the San Francisco Castro neighborhood, nearly half the prescriptions the pharmacy fills are for Doxy PEP. Clinicians offer it to everyone who comes into the clinic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001386\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Hyman Scott (left), medical director at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, speaks with office manager Cantwell Muckenfuss at Strut in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Medical director,\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfaf.org/collections/author/hyman-scott-md-mph/\"> Dr. Hyman Scott\u003c/a>, who also does research in the city’s public health department, is firm in his defense of a broad, open policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the early 2010s, San Francisco made serious missteps with\u003ca href=\"http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-topics/hiv-prevention/3848-truvada-prep-demonstration-project-debuts-in-san-francisco\"> the rollout of PrEP\u003c/a>, pre-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV, Scott said, placing a lot of restrictions on who should get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The guidelines were so confusing and the medication so hard to access, he added, only a quarter of people who actually needed it were taking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are a lot of things now we’re trying to undo as a result of the way we did it originally,” Scott said. “We cannot make the same mistakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health officials learned that they have one shot to make a first impression, positive or negative, and that’s the message that will spread through the community, Scott said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So they decided to make their message about Doxy PEP simple and straightforward: everyone is eligible, just talk to your doctor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, an infectious disease physician, sits in an exam room at Pride Hall on the campus of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The science about Doxy PEP moves freely on social media, and by word of mouth, so many San Franciscans who take it are aware of the risk for antimicrobial resistance, both for themselves and the broader population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was very conflicted about it when I started it,” Toler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when he talked to his older friends who lived through the AIDS epidemic, his feelings shifted. Gay activists fought hard for the research and innovation that made PreP and Doxy PEP possible, Toler said, and they want the younger generations to have the sex lives that they couldn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to take advantage of the science that we have right now,” he said, “for the people that weren’t able to take advantage of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Sexual freedom is booming in San Francisco with the city’s broad offering of Doxy PEP. But doctors worry this approach may risk making these drugs less effective in the future. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783457743,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 31,
"wordCount": 1126
},
"headData": {
"title": "San Francisco Celebrates Morning-After Pill for STIs. Other Countries Warn of Antibiotic Resistance | KQED",
"description": "Sexual freedom is booming in San Francisco with the city’s broad offering of Doxy PEP. But doctors worry this approach may risk making these drugs less effective in the future. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "San Francisco Celebrates Morning-After Pill for STIs. Other Countries Warn of Antibiotic Resistance",
"datePublished": "2026-07-06T07:00:23-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-07T13:55:43-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/14af26c3-906a-4094-bc8a-b4800130a09f/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2001391",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2001391/san-francisco-celebrates-morning-after-pill-for-stis-other-countries-warn-of-antibiotic-resistance",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Tyler Toler has suffered through the trifecta of bacterial STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11869396/once-on-the-brink-of-eradication-syphilis-is-raging-again-in-san-francisco\"> syphilis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the corresponding itching, burning, and rash felt bad enough, the pain of treatment and the social fallout that often followed were worse. Toler dreaded the awkward conversation with his partners, admitting he may have exposed them to an infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Some people are like, ‘Yeah, cool, thank you for letting me know,’” Toler said. “And then there’s some people that think you’re the dirtiest person on the face of the planet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Toler heard there was a morning-after pill for STIs that could solve all these problems, he wanted in. Doxy PEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is an antibiotic taken within 72 hours of condomless sex to prevent bacterial infections. Toler hasn’t had an STI in the three years since he started taking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can be as much of a promiscuous person as I possibly can and not have to worry about the ramifications as much,” he said with a wry smile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-reports-significant-declines-in-sexually-transmitted-infections-in-2025\">syphilis rates dropped 24% last year\u003c/a>, chlamydia went down 18% and gonorrhea dipped 5%, leading local health officials to celebrate the success of Doxy PEP and their decision to distribute it broadly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bottle of doxycycline hyclate tablets, known as Doxy PEP, sits on the counter at Strut health clinic in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the same time, doctors around the globe caution that using antibiotics this way could contribute to antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat a range of bacterial infections down the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tension between reducing STIs and stewarding antibiotics responsibly has led to a range of divergent policies around who should get Doxy PEP and when.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to be thoughtful about how we’re using it,” said\u003ca href=\"https://profiles.ucsf.edu/annie.luetkemeyer\"> Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer\u003c/a>, an infectious disease physician and researcher at UCSF. “Antibiotics are an incredible resource. We all worry about antimicrobial resistance.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12089597",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/RobBontaTrumpGetty.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Gonorrhea has already built resistance to the class of antibiotics that include doxycycline, and research suggests that Doxy PEP is making it worse, Luetkemeyer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She is now leading a five-city study, including Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, Seattle and San Francisco, to examine whether Doxy PEP increases resistance in other bacteria, as well, including strep pneumoniae, which can cause lung infections like pneumonia, and staph aureus, which can cause skin infections. Earlier studies raised this concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In folks who took Doxy PEP, we saw an increase in doxy-resistant staph aureus,” she said. “The numbers were small, but there was a trend in that direction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Developing Doxy PEP policy is a balancing act, weighing the benefits of reduced sexually transmitted infections against the risk of cultivating superbugs that are more difficult to treat. San Francisco officials chose to make Doxy PEP\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-health-update-updated-recommendations-for-prescribing-doxy-pep\"> widely available\u003c/a> and recommended doctors offer it to anyone who might benefit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other countries have taken a more conservative approach. The\u003ca href=\"https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Doxycycline-prophylaxis-of-bacterial-STIs-in-the-EU-EEA.pdf\"> European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://ashm.org.au/initiatives/doxy-pep-statement/\"> Australasian Society for Sexual Health Medicine\u003c/a> recommended restricting the use of Doxy PEP for the prevention of syphilis only, with a focus on men who have sex with men who have a history of syphilis infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001388\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001388\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tyler Toler in Santa Rosa on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Both groups decided against recommending it to prevent gonorrhea or chlamydia because they deemed the benefits did not outweigh the risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would argue that for gay men, there is no population-level benefit for getting chlamydia rates down,” said\u003ca href=\"https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/vincent-cornelisse\"> Dr. Vincent Cornelisse\u003c/a>, a sexual health physician and professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The consequences of syphilis can be dire: blindness, hearing loss, brain damage. Chlamydia, on the other hand, is more of a nuisance for men, Cornelisse said, uncomfortable, but not dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Australian committee decided prescribing Doxy PEP to prevent it was an excessive use of antibiotics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we need to be a bit tempered in recommending strategies to reduce chlamydia amongst gay men when the strategies themselves might have adverse outcomes,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Strut clinic in the San Francisco Castro neighborhood, nearly half the prescriptions the pharmacy fills are for Doxy PEP. Clinicians offer it to everyone who comes into the clinic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001386\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Hyman Scott (left), medical director at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, speaks with office manager Cantwell Muckenfuss at Strut in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Medical director,\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfaf.org/collections/author/hyman-scott-md-mph/\"> Dr. Hyman Scott\u003c/a>, who also does research in the city’s public health department, is firm in his defense of a broad, open policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the early 2010s, San Francisco made serious missteps with\u003ca href=\"http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-topics/hiv-prevention/3848-truvada-prep-demonstration-project-debuts-in-san-francisco\"> the rollout of PrEP\u003c/a>, pre-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV, Scott said, placing a lot of restrictions on who should get it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The guidelines were so confusing and the medication so hard to access, he added, only a quarter of people who actually needed it were taking it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are a lot of things now we’re trying to undo as a result of the way we did it originally,” Scott said. “We cannot make the same mistakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health officials learned that they have one shot to make a first impression, positive or negative, and that’s the message that will spread through the community, Scott said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So they decided to make their message about Doxy PEP simple and straightforward: everyone is eligible, just talk to your doctor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2001389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2001389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-19-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, an infectious disease physician, sits in an exam room at Pride Hall on the campus of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco on June 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The science about Doxy PEP moves freely on social media, and by word of mouth, so many San Franciscans who take it are aware of the risk for antimicrobial resistance, both for themselves and the broader population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was very conflicted about it when I started it,” Toler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when he talked to his older friends who lived through the AIDS epidemic, his feelings shifted. Gay activists fought hard for the research and innovation that made PreP and Doxy PEP possible, Toler said, and they want the younger generations to have the sex lives that they couldn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to take advantage of the science that we have right now,” he said, “for the people that weren’t able to take advantage of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2001391/san-francisco-celebrates-morning-after-pill-for-stis-other-countries-warn-of-antibiotic-resistance",
"authors": [
"3205"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_664",
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_660",
"science_2918",
"science_5183"
],
"featImg": "science_2001384",
"label": "source_science_2001391"
},
"science_2001059": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2001059",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2001059",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1781020776000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "can-we-swipe-our-way-to-friendship",
"title": "Can We Swipe Our Way to Friendship?",
"publishDate": 1781020776,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Can We Swipe Our Way to Friendship? | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>When Jenn Hobbs moved to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> last summer, she assumed friendships would come naturally, at the coffee shop or after an exercise class. But six months in, she didn’t have any New Year’s Eve plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I still didn’t have any friends,” said Hobbs, a 31-year-old Twitch streamer who works from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She made it her resolution to fix that and downloaded every friendship app she had seen on Instagram. Services like \u003ca href=\"https://timeleft.com/\">Timeleft\u003c/a> have upwards of three million users. \u003ca href=\"https://dayofus.com/\">DayOfUs\u003c/a> is in 14 different international cities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The premise is similar. Users answer questions about birth order, economic background, and how spontaneous they are, and an algorithm matches them with like-minded strangers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some apps keep you swiping through profiles, hoping to find a match. Others plan a night out, but leave the follow-up to you. The most structured services match the same people week after week for a shared meal. All you have to do is show up. That repetition gives connection a chance to take hold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These platforms are trying to replace what institutions like church, civic groups, and the office once provided. Remember sipping coffee after a service? Or standing around the water cooler at work? You didn’t have to plan it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000919\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Co-founder Matt Goss chats with an attendee at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, where remote work is common and people cycle through jobs and cities, there are fewer chances to see the same faces and let familiarity build over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Hobbs, the curated dinners were fine. She met interesting people. And then, almost without exception, everyone drifted back into their separate lives. So she decided to shell out a few hundred dollars and try \u003ca href=\"https://www.therealroots.com/\">Real Roots\u003c/a>, a women-only program that matched her with nine strangers and committed them to meeting every Tuesday for six weeks. A guide tagged along to encourage the attendees to push past small talk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Since we were meeting every week, I think we got to know each other better and better,” Hobbs said. “And now, even though the series is over, we still meet up every Tuesday.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s only been a few months, but the entire group is still gathering.[aside postID=science_2000962 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/05/260429-CLIMATESOLUTIONSINDUCTION00012_TV-KQED.jpg']They’ve scheduled a craft night to make glitter cups, and Hobbs organized a pole dancing class.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the way, something else has shifted for her. For years, most of her friendships lived online through gaming and streaming, connections she once defended as just as real as anything in person. That’s no longer true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I do feel more fulfilled by face-to-face socializing,” she said. “There’s just something about getting up and going outside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, the ladies met up for game night at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley. Over a round of the board game of “Hues and Cues,” the women talked about how they’d grown tired of trying to build connections online or through one-off events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kelsey Manion said she had tried apps like \u003ca href=\"https://bumble.com/bff-us/\">Bumble For Friends\u003c/a> (BFF), the friendship-focused version of the dating app, but the experience felt hollow and the connections rarely lasted. “It felt easier to ghost people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morgan Ezeir said she never made it off the apps. “I did BFF for a little bit, but it just felt weird,” she said. “It felt like I was dating, but I wasn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wing Tovbis, who moved to the Bay Area from Canada, said even when they found a connection on the app, it didn’t carry over. “It’s a pretty big hurdle to actually meet in person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000917\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000917\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jenn Hobbs, right, smiles as she contemplates her next move alongside Wing Tovbis, center, and Kelsea Manion, left, while playing “Hues and Cues” at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley, California, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The women met through a friendship app called RealRoots, where they were matched with each other based on common interests and participated in a series of social events. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The pull toward connection is strong enough to change behavior after years of isolation. About half of Americans \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.thecignagroup.com/all-stories?item=446\">report\u003c/a> feeling lonely because we are spending less and less time together, with the steepest declines among teenagers, who are spending 45% less time hanging out in person, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/young-americans-spend-much-more-time-alone-than-they-did-fifteen-years-ago?utm_\">federal data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s no recent period in U.S. history where we’ve spent so much time alone. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness\">World Health Organization\u003c/a> warns that social isolation carries risks comparable to smoking, and is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, heart disease and early death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard Weissbourd, a psychologist at Harvard who studies loneliness, describes it as “an anguishing feeling of deprivation that you don’t feel deeply known, that you don’t have relationships that are deeply meaningful to you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said several drivers have been at play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media led to hundreds of online followers, but very few real friends, while also highlighting how much more fun others were having. And it goes beyond comparison; it’s also the relentless scroll of frightening news that leads to a sense of despair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many people \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b7c56e255b02c683659fe43/t/67001295042a0f327c6e6fab/1728058005340/Loneliness_+Brief+Report+2024_October_FINAL.pdf\">report\u003c/a> what Weissbourd called existential loneliness: not just missing friends, but feeling fundamentally unmoored from the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wing Tovbis and Jenn Hobbs place their cones on the game board while playing “Hues and Cues” at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley, California, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Tovbis and Hobbs met through a friendship app called RealRoots, where they were matched with each other based on common interests and participated in a series of social events. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Then the pandemic pulled people out of schools, offices, and gyms. Young people spent critical social years behind screens, had fewer chances to practice in-person interaction\u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09760911251333362?\">, and their anxiety and loneliness climbed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weissbourd pointed to a feedback loop loneliness creates: you feel like you have bad social skills, so you pull back; pulling back makes you rustier; rustiness makes you feel even more deficient.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emily Steelhammer, who uses they/them pronouns, said they know that trap well. Friendships have come and gone during their 15 years in Oakland. People moved, drifted off, got swallowed by jobs and kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They tried to rebuild through a queer meetup, acting classes, even a summer in New York, half-hoping a change of scenery would solve their ache for deeper connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I feel lonely, I pick up the phone and fill that void with parasocial relationships — YouTube, TV, scrolling for hours,” Steelhammer said. “It’s so easy to trick my brain into filling that void in a way that’s not practically changing my life at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friendship apps didn’t help either. The endless swiping felt like window shopping. They would scroll, then close the app, feeling worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What finally shifted things was something simpler. A flyer they kept seeing around Lake Merritt for a group called \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendcult.co/\">Friend Cult\u003c/a>. Its tagline stuck: “It shouldn’t take a blood ritual to get our friends together” — a nod to the elaborate scheduling gymnastics so many Bay Area residents joke about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000918\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000918\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Co-founder Courtney Owyang (right) chats with attendees at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every Wednesday, the group meets at a different Oakland restaurant for what they call a “friend sabbath.” There are about 40 regulars, $35 monthly dues, and a few loose rules: don’t talk about work, ask personal questions, come and go freely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went the first night dreading it,” Steelhammer said. “And the first thing that happened was someone immediately pulled me into a conversation about restaurant recommendations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then somebody walked in holding a plastic alligator head, trying to figure out how to turn it into a lamp.” They laughed. “I went home thinking, I’m so glad I left the house.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They keep going back each week, even when the venue isn’t their scene. Recently, they met at a pizza spot called Hesher’s located on Broadway near Jack London Square. The rock music was loud. Not their vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the door, they slipped a green cord around their neck to signal they’re a regular. Newcomers wear red. People clock who’s new and pull them in. No one stands alone for long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within minutes, people are talking about breakups, parents, money, and why they moved here. It was surprisingly light on small talk. Laughter cut through the music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000921\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attendees chat with one another at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Steelhammer moved through the room with ease, dropping into one circle, then another. They asked questions and waited for the answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People responded in kind. They said they didn’t expect to enjoy the evening, but found that they did. They called it their weekly “social nutrition.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research suggests that kind of regularity matters. It can take \u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407518761225?__cf_chl_tk=HC7GtSJy6sSrAw0mWQQMq_nRZUEeofCdukpeiQ_FBCk-1776900052-1.0.1.1-U1IFfdDojYJu52vKIEq3YM0DVP5PImA7bVCvpM4RD0s\">dozens of hours\u003c/a> together to move from acquaintance to friend, and far more to build real closeness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is collective buy-in at Friend Cult,” they said. “People are choosing to be there, and the goal is actually to enact community, not just to see if you can find somebody useful and move on. It’s like an old school social club. Like the Elks Lodge. But with stranger aesthetics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In many ways, it echoes something older — regular gatherings, shared space, a reason to return. The fact that it has to be rebuilt points to a deeper problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Developmental psychologist Niobe Way has spent four decades listening to young people talk about friendship, and she has a blunt diagnosis for what’s gone wrong. It isn’t social media. It isn’t the pandemic. It’s the culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Loneliness is not natural,” Way said. “We are social animals.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tobi Akomolede (center) speaks with fellow attendees at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She calls it a clash of culture and nature. Our society prizes self-sufficiency, independence, and productivity. It sidelines caring, vulnerability, and connection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The only thing we need in our lives is each other,” she said. “Normalize wanting intimate friendship. It is not a girly thing. It is not a gay thing. It is a human thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the first step is simple. Pay attention to the person in front of you. Ask what matters to them. Listen to the answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Friendship apps and curated dinners are helping people connect in a lonely moment. But they can only open the door. The effort and the follow-up are still on us.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783541224,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 47,
"wordCount": 1949
},
"headData": {
"title": "Can We Swipe Our Way to Friendship? | KQED",
"description": "Friendship apps and curated dinners are helping people connect in a lonely moment. But they can only open the door. The effort and the follow-up are still on us.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Can We Swipe Our Way to Friendship?",
"datePublished": "2026-06-09T08:59:36-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-08T13:07:04-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-4[…]f-aaef00f5a073/eee89594-613c-41d3-b75a-b464010facf3/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2001059",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2001059/can-we-swipe-our-way-to-friendship",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When Jenn Hobbs moved to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> last summer, she assumed friendships would come naturally, at the coffee shop or after an exercise class. But six months in, she didn’t have any New Year’s Eve plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I still didn’t have any friends,” said Hobbs, a 31-year-old Twitch streamer who works from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She made it her resolution to fix that and downloaded every friendship app she had seen on Instagram. Services like \u003ca href=\"https://timeleft.com/\">Timeleft\u003c/a> have upwards of three million users. \u003ca href=\"https://dayofus.com/\">DayOfUs\u003c/a> is in 14 different international cities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The premise is similar. Users answer questions about birth order, economic background, and how spontaneous they are, and an algorithm matches them with like-minded strangers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some apps keep you swiping through profiles, hoping to find a match. Others plan a night out, but leave the follow-up to you. The most structured services match the same people week after week for a shared meal. All you have to do is show up. That repetition gives connection a chance to take hold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These platforms are trying to replace what institutions like church, civic groups, and the office once provided. Remember sipping coffee after a service? Or standing around the water cooler at work? You didn’t have to plan it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000919\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000919\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Co-founder Matt Goss chats with an attendee at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, where remote work is common and people cycle through jobs and cities, there are fewer chances to see the same faces and let familiarity build over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Hobbs, the curated dinners were fine. She met interesting people. And then, almost without exception, everyone drifted back into their separate lives. So she decided to shell out a few hundred dollars and try \u003ca href=\"https://www.therealroots.com/\">Real Roots\u003c/a>, a women-only program that matched her with nine strangers and committed them to meeting every Tuesday for six weeks. A guide tagged along to encourage the attendees to push past small talk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Since we were meeting every week, I think we got to know each other better and better,” Hobbs said. “And now, even though the series is over, we still meet up every Tuesday.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s only been a few months, but the entire group is still gathering.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "science_2000962",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/05/260429-CLIMATESOLUTIONSINDUCTION00012_TV-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>They’ve scheduled a craft night to make glitter cups, and Hobbs organized a pole dancing class.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the way, something else has shifted for her. For years, most of her friendships lived online through gaming and streaming, connections she once defended as just as real as anything in person. That’s no longer true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I do feel more fulfilled by face-to-face socializing,” she said. “There’s just something about getting up and going outside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, the ladies met up for game night at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley. Over a round of the board game of “Hues and Cues,” the women talked about how they’d grown tired of trying to build connections online or through one-off events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kelsey Manion said she had tried apps like \u003ca href=\"https://bumble.com/bff-us/\">Bumble For Friends\u003c/a> (BFF), the friendship-focused version of the dating app, but the experience felt hollow and the connections rarely lasted. “It felt easier to ghost people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morgan Ezeir said she never made it off the apps. “I did BFF for a little bit, but it just felt weird,” she said. “It felt like I was dating, but I wasn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wing Tovbis, who moved to the Bay Area from Canada, said even when they found a connection on the app, it didn’t carry over. “It’s a pretty big hurdle to actually meet in person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000917\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000917\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-04-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jenn Hobbs, right, smiles as she contemplates her next move alongside Wing Tovbis, center, and Kelsea Manion, left, while playing “Hues and Cues” at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley, California, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The women met through a friendship app called RealRoots, where they were matched with each other based on common interests and participated in a series of social events. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The pull toward connection is strong enough to change behavior after years of isolation. About half of Americans \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.thecignagroup.com/all-stories?item=446\">report\u003c/a> feeling lonely because we are spending less and less time together, with the steepest declines among teenagers, who are spending 45% less time hanging out in person, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/young-americans-spend-much-more-time-alone-than-they-did-fifteen-years-ago?utm_\">federal data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s no recent period in U.S. history where we’ve spent so much time alone. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness\">World Health Organization\u003c/a> warns that social isolation carries risks comparable to smoking, and is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, heart disease and early death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard Weissbourd, a psychologist at Harvard who studies loneliness, describes it as “an anguishing feeling of deprivation that you don’t feel deeply known, that you don’t have relationships that are deeply meaningful to you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said several drivers have been at play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media led to hundreds of online followers, but very few real friends, while also highlighting how much more fun others were having. And it goes beyond comparison; it’s also the relentless scroll of frightening news that leads to a sense of despair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many people \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b7c56e255b02c683659fe43/t/67001295042a0f327c6e6fab/1728058005340/Loneliness_+Brief+Report+2024_October_FINAL.pdf\">report\u003c/a> what Weissbourd called existential loneliness: not just missing friends, but feeling fundamentally unmoored from the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000916\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000916\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/042326-FRIENDSHIPCULT-JY-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wing Tovbis and Jenn Hobbs place their cones on the game board while playing “Hues and Cues” at Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley, California, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Tovbis and Hobbs met through a friendship app called RealRoots, where they were matched with each other based on common interests and participated in a series of social events. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Then the pandemic pulled people out of schools, offices, and gyms. Young people spent critical social years behind screens, had fewer chances to practice in-person interaction\u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09760911251333362?\">, and their anxiety and loneliness climbed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weissbourd pointed to a feedback loop loneliness creates: you feel like you have bad social skills, so you pull back; pulling back makes you rustier; rustiness makes you feel even more deficient.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emily Steelhammer, who uses they/them pronouns, said they know that trap well. Friendships have come and gone during their 15 years in Oakland. People moved, drifted off, got swallowed by jobs and kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They tried to rebuild through a queer meetup, acting classes, even a summer in New York, half-hoping a change of scenery would solve their ache for deeper connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I feel lonely, I pick up the phone and fill that void with parasocial relationships — YouTube, TV, scrolling for hours,” Steelhammer said. “It’s so easy to trick my brain into filling that void in a way that’s not practically changing my life at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friendship apps didn’t help either. The endless swiping felt like window shopping. They would scroll, then close the app, feeling worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What finally shifted things was something simpler. A flyer they kept seeing around Lake Merritt for a group called \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendcult.co/\">Friend Cult\u003c/a>. Its tagline stuck: “It shouldn’t take a blood ritual to get our friends together” — a nod to the elaborate scheduling gymnastics so many Bay Area residents joke about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000918\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000918\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Co-founder Courtney Owyang (right) chats with attendees at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every Wednesday, the group meets at a different Oakland restaurant for what they call a “friend sabbath.” There are about 40 regulars, $35 monthly dues, and a few loose rules: don’t talk about work, ask personal questions, come and go freely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went the first night dreading it,” Steelhammer said. “And the first thing that happened was someone immediately pulled me into a conversation about restaurant recommendations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then somebody walked in holding a plastic alligator head, trying to figure out how to turn it into a lamp.” They laughed. “I went home thinking, I’m so glad I left the house.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They keep going back each week, even when the venue isn’t their scene. Recently, they met at a pizza spot called Hesher’s located on Broadway near Jack London Square. The rock music was loud. Not their vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the door, they slipped a green cord around their neck to signal they’re a regular. Newcomers wear red. People clock who’s new and pull them in. No one stands alone for long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within minutes, people are talking about breakups, parents, money, and why they moved here. It was surprisingly light on small talk. Laughter cut through the music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000921\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attendees chat with one another at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Steelhammer moved through the room with ease, dropping into one circle, then another. They asked questions and waited for the answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People responded in kind. They said they didn’t expect to enjoy the evening, but found that they did. They called it their weekly “social nutrition.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research suggests that kind of regularity matters. It can take \u003ca href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407518761225?__cf_chl_tk=HC7GtSJy6sSrAw0mWQQMq_nRZUEeofCdukpeiQ_FBCk-1776900052-1.0.1.1-U1IFfdDojYJu52vKIEq3YM0DVP5PImA7bVCvpM4RD0s\">dozens of hours\u003c/a> together to move from acquaintance to friend, and far more to build real closeness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is collective buy-in at Friend Cult,” they said. “People are choosing to be there, and the goal is actually to enact community, not just to see if you can find somebody useful and move on. It’s like an old school social club. Like the Elks Lodge. But with stranger aesthetics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In many ways, it echoes something older — regular gatherings, shared space, a reason to return. The fact that it has to be rebuilt points to a deeper problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Developmental psychologist Niobe Way has spent four decades listening to young people talk about friendship, and she has a blunt diagnosis for what’s gone wrong. It isn’t social media. It isn’t the pandemic. It’s the culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Loneliness is not natural,” Way said. “We are social animals.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000920\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260429-FRIENDSHIPCULT-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tobi Akomolede (center) speaks with fellow attendees at “Friend Cult,” a weekly gathering meant to help people spend more time with friends, at the Alice Collective in Oakland on April 29, 2026, where participants share a meal and spend time together. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She calls it a clash of culture and nature. Our society prizes self-sufficiency, independence, and productivity. It sidelines caring, vulnerability, and connection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The only thing we need in our lives is each other,” she said. “Normalize wanting intimate friendship. It is not a girly thing. It is not a gay thing. It is a human thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the first step is simple. Pay attention to the person in front of you. Ask what matters to them. Listen to the answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2001059/can-we-swipe-our-way-to-friendship",
"authors": [
"11229"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_856",
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_249",
"science_813",
"science_1520",
"science_697"
],
"featImg": "science_2000915",
"label": "source_science_2001059"
},
"science_2000751": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2000751",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000751",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776956424000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "amid-ice-fears-mental-health-workers-report-drop-in-immigrants-seeking-treatment",
"title": "Amid ICE Fears, Mental Health Workers Report Drop in Immigrants Seeking Treatment",
"publishDate": 1776956424,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Amid ICE Fears, Mental Health Workers Report Drop in Immigrants Seeking Treatment | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>On the outskirts of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> at Fowler Creek Park, rolling grassy hillsides stretch out towards the east, dotted with leafy shrubs and grazing cows. It’s a peaceful spot, where social worker Ruby Lopez-Flores used to love taking her clients to get fresh air, many of them the children of immigrant families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They sometimes don’t have the best home environment, and they just need to get out of the house for a second,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in recent months, Lopez-Flores has been unable to hold her sessions at the park, as many of her clients have started avoiding public spaces out of fear of being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social workers in the Bay Area and Central Coast told KQED they’ve seen a drop in people accessing mental health support as the Trump administration has ramped up its deportation agenda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Lopez-Flores, a member of SEIU 521, which represents thousands of public and nonprofit workers, this has meant making more home visits and even holding sessions in her car to accommodate her clients’ growing fear of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of them fear coming home, and their parents won’t be there,” she said. “I do have clients that have already had encounters with ICE.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fowler Creek Park in San José on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The mounting anxiety comes as President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a key priority in his second term, taking actions like \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-mass-deportation-campaign-first-year\">ramping up mass deportations\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/ice-arrested-more-than-800-people-after-tips-us-airport-security-agency-2026-04-07/\">deploying ICE at airports throughout the country\u003c/a>, and even \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5732437/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump\">challenging birthright citizenship\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also comes as the agency has been the subject of intense criticism following violent encounters between its officers and protesters, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-second-u-s-citizen-was-killed-by-federal-forces-in-minneapolis-heres-what-we-know\">the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, immigrant communities around the Bay and Central Coast have stopped reaching out to mental health services out of fear of detainment.[aside postID=news_12079829 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/ImmigrantTaxes-GilsTaxServices.jpg']“They’re scared to come into our building,” said Yvette Carreon, who chairs the SEIU 521 Monterey County Committee on Political Education. “They’re scared to leave their houses. Children are not going to school.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For communities like Salinas and Pajaro, \u003ca href=\"https://www.salinas.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/2/community-development/housing-documents/2018-regional-farm-worker-study.pdf\">collectively home to an estimated 91,000 farmworkers\u003c/a>, Carreon said the fear of encountering immigration agents has led to missed work and lost wages for a population that already \u003ca href=\"https://transform.ucsc.edu/publication/dignity-in-the-fields/\">faces severe housing insecurity and high rent\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they’re not working, they’re now starving,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One \u003ca href=\"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.03787\">study that looked at the impact of ICE raids\u003c/a> in the Southern California community of Oxnard last summer estimated the city’s agricultural workforce had shrunk by 20 to 40% in the aftermath of the raids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impact of increased immigration enforcement on mental health is studied by researchers, who warn that the effects are likely to be the most pronounced in children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://tom-dee.github.io/files/dee-2025-immigration-PNAS.pdf\">Stanford study\u003c/a> published in October found that immigration raids in the Central Valley early on in Trump’s second term coincided with a 22% increase in daily student absences. Researchers said that the absenteeism could indicate developmentally harmful stress, potentially setting students back in their education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000760\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2000760 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fields in Salinas, California, on April 13, 2011. \u003ccite>(Deborah Svoboda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Kathleen Roche, a George Washington University professor who researches the effect of immigration policies on Latino families, said that negative effects on youth are long-lasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and a team of researchers \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2818679\">studied a group of more than 500 Latino adolescents over four years\u003c/a>. They looked at the effects of immigration related stressors, like a parent’s worries about work issues or avoiding medical care, on their child’s mental health. Families with someone who was detained or deported were more likely to experience heightened anxiety over separation and negative mental states.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It certainly takes a tremendous amount of mental health intervention to help mitigate some of those harms,” Roche said, adding that there are likely to be long-term economic effects from the increased stress, as affected children are less likely to be prepared for school and jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000769\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000769\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A walkway at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in East San José on Feb. 17, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Carreon and Lopez-Flores, those are the kinds of outcomes they want to prevent. Both reported that the children they work with are missing class and dealing with heightened, ongoing stress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, Carreon said, the stakes are high any time there are barriers to care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What happens when [our clients] crash, when they hit that rock bottom,” she asked. “Then sometimes it’s too late to intervene.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "In parts of the Bay Area and Central Coast, some practitioners are increasing home visits, and even meeting clients in their cars, to ease fears of a run-in with ICE.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776965983,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 22,
"wordCount": 818
},
"headData": {
"title": "Amid ICE Fears, Mental Health Workers Report Drop in Immigrants Seeking Treatment | KQED",
"description": "In parts of the Bay Area and Central Coast, some practitioners are increasing home visits, and even meeting clients in their cars, to ease fears of a run-in with ICE.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Amid ICE Fears, Mental Health Workers Report Drop in Immigrants Seeking Treatment",
"datePublished": "2026-04-23T08:00:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-23T10:39:43-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 5334,
"slug": "immigration",
"name": "Immigration"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/fa21196e-24d4-48e0-9695-b40f01133625/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprByline": "Alonso Daboub",
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2000751",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2000751/amid-ice-fears-mental-health-workers-report-drop-in-immigrants-seeking-treatment",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On the outskirts of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> at Fowler Creek Park, rolling grassy hillsides stretch out towards the east, dotted with leafy shrubs and grazing cows. It’s a peaceful spot, where social worker Ruby Lopez-Flores used to love taking her clients to get fresh air, many of them the children of immigrant families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They sometimes don’t have the best home environment, and they just need to get out of the house for a second,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in recent months, Lopez-Flores has been unable to hold her sessions at the park, as many of her clients have started avoiding public spaces out of fear of being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social workers in the Bay Area and Central Coast told KQED they’ve seen a drop in people accessing mental health support as the Trump administration has ramped up its deportation agenda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Lopez-Flores, a member of SEIU 521, which represents thousands of public and nonprofit workers, this has meant making more home visits and even holding sessions in her car to accommodate her clients’ growing fear of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of them fear coming home, and their parents won’t be there,” she said. “I do have clients that have already had encounters with ICE.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260417-ICEANXIETY-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fowler Creek Park in San José on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The mounting anxiety comes as President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a key priority in his second term, taking actions like \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-mass-deportation-campaign-first-year\">ramping up mass deportations\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/ice-arrested-more-than-800-people-after-tips-us-airport-security-agency-2026-04-07/\">deploying ICE at airports throughout the country\u003c/a>, and even \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5732437/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump\">challenging birthright citizenship\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also comes as the agency has been the subject of intense criticism following violent encounters between its officers and protesters, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-second-u-s-citizen-was-killed-by-federal-forces-in-minneapolis-heres-what-we-know\">the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, immigrant communities around the Bay and Central Coast have stopped reaching out to mental health services out of fear of detainment.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12079829",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/ImmigrantTaxes-GilsTaxServices.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“They’re scared to come into our building,” said Yvette Carreon, who chairs the SEIU 521 Monterey County Committee on Political Education. “They’re scared to leave their houses. Children are not going to school.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For communities like Salinas and Pajaro, \u003ca href=\"https://www.salinas.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/2/community-development/housing-documents/2018-regional-farm-worker-study.pdf\">collectively home to an estimated 91,000 farmworkers\u003c/a>, Carreon said the fear of encountering immigration agents has led to missed work and lost wages for a population that already \u003ca href=\"https://transform.ucsc.edu/publication/dignity-in-the-fields/\">faces severe housing insecurity and high rent\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they’re not working, they’re now starving,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One \u003ca href=\"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.03787\">study that looked at the impact of ICE raids\u003c/a> in the Southern California community of Oxnard last summer estimated the city’s agricultural workforce had shrunk by 20 to 40% in the aftermath of the raids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impact of increased immigration enforcement on mental health is studied by researchers, who warn that the effects are likely to be the most pronounced in children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://tom-dee.github.io/files/dee-2025-immigration-PNAS.pdf\">Stanford study\u003c/a> published in October found that immigration raids in the Central Valley early on in Trump’s second term coincided with a 22% increase in daily student absences. Researchers said that the absenteeism could indicate developmentally harmful stress, potentially setting students back in their education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000760\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2000760 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/051_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fields in Salinas, California, on April 13, 2011. \u003ccite>(Deborah Svoboda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Kathleen Roche, a George Washington University professor who researches the effect of immigration policies on Latino families, said that negative effects on youth are long-lasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and a team of researchers \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2818679\">studied a group of more than 500 Latino adolescents over four years\u003c/a>. They looked at the effects of immigration related stressors, like a parent’s worries about work issues or avoiding medical care, on their child’s mental health. Families with someone who was detained or deported were more likely to experience heightened anxiety over separation and negative mental states.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It certainly takes a tremendous amount of mental health intervention to help mitigate some of those harms,” Roche said, adding that there are likely to be long-term economic effects from the increased stress, as affected children are less likely to be prepared for school and jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000769\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000769\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/02172023_ksuzuki_tkprogress-010_qed-2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A walkway at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in East San José on Feb. 17, 2023. \u003ccite>(Kori Suzuki/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Carreon and Lopez-Flores, those are the kinds of outcomes they want to prevent. Both reported that the children they work with are missing class and dealing with heightened, ongoing stress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, Carreon said, the stakes are high any time there are barriers to care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What happens when [our clients] crash, when they hit that rock bottom,” she asked. “Then sometimes it’s too late to intervene.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2000751/amid-ice-fears-mental-health-workers-report-drop-in-immigrants-seeking-treatment",
"authors": [
"byline_science_2000751"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_5334",
"science_40"
],
"tags": [
"science_856",
"science_5178",
"science_5181",
"science_5494",
"science_249"
],
"featImg": "science_2000701",
"label": "source_science_2000751"
},
"science_2000716": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2000716",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000716",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776855618000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "californias-tortilla-law-targets-birth-defects-other-states-may-follow",
"title": "California’s Tortilla Law Targets Birth Defects. Other States May Follow",
"publishDate": 1776855618,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California’s Tortilla Law Targets Birth Defects. Other States May Follow | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>AlmaRosa Alarcon expected a routine delivery. She was 27 years old, healthy, and determined to give birth without an epidural. But when the doctor held up her daughter, Caterina, moments after she was born, he revealed tiny twisted feet, a condition known as clubfoot. Paramedics airlifted the newborn to a larger hospital, while Alarcon stayed behind, stunned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t think it was real,” she said. “I was in shock. I only spent like 20 minutes with her. It was one of the roughest days of my life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doctors diagnosed the baby with a birth defect known as “spina bifida” that can cause lifelong complications, including nerve damage, mobility challenges and hydrocephalus — a buildup of fluid in the brain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was living in darkness,” Alarcon said. “It was so horrible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caterina spent her first weeks in the hospital. Medical appointments defined the years that followed — sometimes three a week, more than an hour from home. Alarcon, a single mother, had to leave her factory job to care for her daughter full time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/neural-tube-defects.html\">Research\u003c/a> has linked spina bifida and other neural tube defects — serious conditions affecting the brain and spine — to women with low levels of folic acid during their pregnancy, Alarcon learned later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, California became the first state in the country to require folic acid in corn masa flour — the base for tortillas, tamales and other staples in many Latino households. Public health experts said the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/AB1830FAQ.aspx\">new law\u003c/a> could help prevent serious birth defects, which occur at \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4515959/\">higher rates\u003c/a> among Hispanic families. Other states are considering similar laws. But the move has also drawn pushback from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, who argue that adding vitamins to food, what’s known as fortification, is government overreach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000744\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000744\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caterina Alarcon’s hand and footprints at 1 month old on Dec. 28 2013. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of AlmaRosa Alarcon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Globally, there’s a massive amount of evidence that mandatory fortification of commonly consumed foods reduces neural tube defects,” said Sharon Bustrak with Food Fortification Initiative, a global nonprofit that advocates for adding vitamins and minerals to staple foods. “That evidence is very, very clear. There’s been some modeling to suggest that if nationally we fortified corn masa products, we could probably reduce between 100 and 200 birth defects per year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That need is especially visible at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, down California’s Central Coast, where many patients are farmworkers and immigrants from Mexico, or Indigenous communities from Oaxaca and Guerrero.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As many as 80%-90% are Spanish-speaking. And in that population, neural tube defects show up more often than in the general population. Some years, Dr. Daniele Feldman, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, treats as many as eight cases a year at the hospital.[aside postID=news_12079852 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2000x1500.jpg']“It can be really devastating,” she said. “And it’s always a really difficult conversation, because patients will inevitably ask … what could I have done differently?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neural tube defects develop very early in pregnancy — often before someone even knows they’re pregnant. The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, is supposed to close within the first few weeks. Without enough folic acid, a B vitamin, that process can fail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Folic acid is really important in DNA synthesis and cell division,” said Dr. Shilpa Mathew, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Sacramento. “It’s really important to have that vitamin right at the beginning of pregnancy, when there’s tissue formation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1998, \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/04/15/2016-08792/food-additives-permitted-for-direct-\">the federal government required folic acid\u003c/a> in enriched grains like bread, cereal and pasta. Public health experts say the policy was a success, reducing neural tube defects in the United States by \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12115778/\">more than 30%\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the benefits were not evenly distributed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rule did not include corn masa flour. Over time, a persistent disparity remained: Hispanic families continued to experience \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4151938/\">higher rates of birth defects\u003c/a>. In California, those rates are roughly double that of white or Black women, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DGDS/Pages/cbdmp/Neural-Tube-Defects.aspx\">state data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000743\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000743\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED.jpg 900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-160x284.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-864x1536.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caterina Alarcon (L), AlmaRosa Alarcon (M), and Anne Marie Alarcon (R) on Easter Sunday at their home in Albertville, Alabama, on April 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of AlmaRosa Alarcon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There are lots of reasons someone might not be taking folic acid,” Feldman said. Some people don’t know they should. Others aren’t planning to get pregnant. Cost can be a barrier. And for some, diet alone doesn’t provide enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the new law, manufacturers must add a small, standardized amount of folic acid, about 0.7 milligrams per pound, to corn masa flour, and disclose it on nutrition labels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is once again leading the nation in protecting mothers and infants from preterm birth defects,” said Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, the bill’s sponsor, in a statement. “I’m grateful that this legislation will provide a culturally appropriate way to address disparities to help prevent birth defects across our state.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics argue that large-scale fortification is unnecessary for most people and could limit their choices. Some also argue that adding folic acid to foods like tortillas and tamales changes traditional recipes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media is also rife with people who claim certain gene variants can’t properly process the vitamin, although medical experts said the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/data-research/mthfr/index.html\">science doesn’t back that up\u003c/a>. Kennedy criticized California’s new law in a \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/2004972985246212176\">post on the social media platform X,\u003c/a> calling it “insanity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final version includes exemptions for small-scale producers and snack foods like tortilla chips, amendments that came after industry pushback.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>2,000 miles away, Alarcon is watching closely as Alabama prepares to follow California’s lead this summer. She and Caterina, now 12, live in the city of Albertville.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After years of surgeries and treatment, Caterina’s condition is stable, but she has to wear leg braces and sometimes relies on a wheelchair. She struggles with migraines and incontinence. But Caterina is also a strong student who loves reading and anime — and is already imagining her future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m actually becoming a public speaker,” she said, lighting up as she described a podcast project. She plans to become a media consultant focused on making sure people with disabilities are represented accurately.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I deeply support these new laws,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish my body on my worst enemy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "California now requires folic acid in corn masa flour — a staple in many Latino households — in an effort to close a long-standing public health gap.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776727920,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 27,
"wordCount": 1124
},
"headData": {
"title": "California’s Tortilla Law Targets Birth Defects. Other States May Follow | KQED",
"description": "California now requires folic acid in corn masa flour — a staple in many Latino households — in an effort to close a long-standing public health gap.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "California’s Tortilla Law Targets Birth Defects. Other States May Follow",
"datePublished": "2026-04-22T04:00:18-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-20T16:32:00-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/46f72a82-7ac6-4f37-b39e-b42f01160610/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2000716/californias-tortilla-law-targets-birth-defects-other-states-may-follow",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>AlmaRosa Alarcon expected a routine delivery. She was 27 years old, healthy, and determined to give birth without an epidural. But when the doctor held up her daughter, Caterina, moments after she was born, he revealed tiny twisted feet, a condition known as clubfoot. Paramedics airlifted the newborn to a larger hospital, while Alarcon stayed behind, stunned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t think it was real,” she said. “I was in shock. I only spent like 20 minutes with her. It was one of the roughest days of my life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doctors diagnosed the baby with a birth defect known as “spina bifida” that can cause lifelong complications, including nerve damage, mobility challenges and hydrocephalus — a buildup of fluid in the brain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was living in darkness,” Alarcon said. “It was so horrible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caterina spent her first weeks in the hospital. Medical appointments defined the years that followed — sometimes three a week, more than an hour from home. Alarcon, a single mother, had to leave her factory job to care for her daughter full time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/neural-tube-defects.html\">Research\u003c/a> has linked spina bifida and other neural tube defects — serious conditions affecting the brain and spine — to women with low levels of folic acid during their pregnancy, Alarcon learned later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, California became the first state in the country to require folic acid in corn masa flour — the base for tortillas, tamales and other staples in many Latino households. Public health experts said the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/AB1830FAQ.aspx\">new law\u003c/a> could help prevent serious birth defects, which occur at \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4515959/\">higher rates\u003c/a> among Hispanic families. Other states are considering similar laws. But the move has also drawn pushback from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, who argue that adding vitamins to food, what’s known as fortification, is government overreach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000744\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000744\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-04-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caterina Alarcon’s hand and footprints at 1 month old on Dec. 28 2013. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of AlmaRosa Alarcon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Globally, there’s a massive amount of evidence that mandatory fortification of commonly consumed foods reduces neural tube defects,” said Sharon Bustrak with Food Fortification Initiative, a global nonprofit that advocates for adding vitamins and minerals to staple foods. “That evidence is very, very clear. There’s been some modeling to suggest that if nationally we fortified corn masa products, we could probably reduce between 100 and 200 birth defects per year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That need is especially visible at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, down California’s Central Coast, where many patients are farmworkers and immigrants from Mexico, or Indigenous communities from Oaxaca and Guerrero.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As many as 80%-90% are Spanish-speaking. And in that population, neural tube defects show up more often than in the general population. Some years, Dr. Daniele Feldman, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, treats as many as eight cases a year at the hospital.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12079852",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2000x1500.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“It can be really devastating,” she said. “And it’s always a really difficult conversation, because patients will inevitably ask … what could I have done differently?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neural tube defects develop very early in pregnancy — often before someone even knows they’re pregnant. The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, is supposed to close within the first few weeks. Without enough folic acid, a B vitamin, that process can fail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Folic acid is really important in DNA synthesis and cell division,” said Dr. Shilpa Mathew, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Sacramento. “It’s really important to have that vitamin right at the beginning of pregnancy, when there’s tissue formation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1998, \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/04/15/2016-08792/food-additives-permitted-for-direct-\">the federal government required folic acid\u003c/a> in enriched grains like bread, cereal and pasta. Public health experts say the policy was a success, reducing neural tube defects in the United States by \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12115778/\">more than 30%\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the benefits were not evenly distributed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rule did not include corn masa flour. Over time, a persistent disparity remained: Hispanic families continued to experience \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4151938/\">higher rates of birth defects\u003c/a>. In California, those rates are roughly double that of white or Black women, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DGDS/Pages/cbdmp/Neural-Tube-Defects.aspx\">state data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000743\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000743\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED.jpg 900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-160x284.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/04/260416-FOLIC-ACID-03-KQED-864x1536.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caterina Alarcon (L), AlmaRosa Alarcon (M), and Anne Marie Alarcon (R) on Easter Sunday at their home in Albertville, Alabama, on April 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of AlmaRosa Alarcon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There are lots of reasons someone might not be taking folic acid,” Feldman said. Some people don’t know they should. Others aren’t planning to get pregnant. Cost can be a barrier. And for some, diet alone doesn’t provide enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the new law, manufacturers must add a small, standardized amount of folic acid, about 0.7 milligrams per pound, to corn masa flour, and disclose it on nutrition labels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is once again leading the nation in protecting mothers and infants from preterm birth defects,” said Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, the bill’s sponsor, in a statement. “I’m grateful that this legislation will provide a culturally appropriate way to address disparities to help prevent birth defects across our state.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics argue that large-scale fortification is unnecessary for most people and could limit their choices. Some also argue that adding folic acid to foods like tortillas and tamales changes traditional recipes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media is also rife with people who claim certain gene variants can’t properly process the vitamin, although medical experts said the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/data-research/mthfr/index.html\">science doesn’t back that up\u003c/a>. Kennedy criticized California’s new law in a \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/2004972985246212176\">post on the social media platform X,\u003c/a> calling it “insanity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final version includes exemptions for small-scale producers and snack foods like tortilla chips, amendments that came after industry pushback.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>2,000 miles away, Alarcon is watching closely as Alabama prepares to follow California’s lead this summer. She and Caterina, now 12, live in the city of Albertville.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After years of surgeries and treatment, Caterina’s condition is stable, but she has to wear leg braces and sometimes relies on a wheelchair. She struggles with migraines and incontinence. But Caterina is also a strong student who loves reading and anime — and is already imagining her future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m actually becoming a public speaker,” she said, lighting up as she described a podcast project. She plans to become a media consultant focused on making sure people with disabilities are represented accurately.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I deeply support these new laws,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish my body on my worst enemy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2000716/californias-tortilla-law-targets-birth-defects-other-states-may-follow",
"authors": [
"11229"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_5178",
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_507",
"science_5181",
"science_4277",
"science_309"
],
"featImg": "science_2000745",
"label": "source_science_2000716"
},
"science_2000462": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2000462",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000462",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1774478492000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-ultraprocessed-foods-label-grocery-stores",
"title": "California Bill Aims to Steer Grocery Shoppers Away From Ultraprocessed Foods",
"publishDate": 1774478492,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California Bill Aims to Steer Grocery Shoppers Away From Ultraprocessed Foods | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>A California Democrat wants to make healthy food easier to spot with what would be the country’s first state-certified seal for foods that are not \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101908516/youre-probably-eating-more-ultra-processed-foods-than-you-think\">ultraprocessed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s something that we have seen that has worked really well with the organic label,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel of Encino, who introduced the proposal. “It’s simple, it’s clean, people understand what it means, and then consumers can make a choice for themselves and for their families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill builds on a broader push in California to regulate ultraprocessed foods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1264/id/3272629\">law\u003c/a> creating one of the first legal definitions of ultraprocessed foods, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11979856/from-anxiety-to-cancer-evidence-against-ultra-processed-food-piles-up\">contain certain additives\u003c/a> — like artificial colors, flavorings or emulsifiers — and are high in added sugar, sodium or saturated fat, or contain non-nutritive sweeteners. The law will also phase out the most concerning products from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064869/what-will-school-meals-look-like-under-new-law-on-ultra-processed-food\">school meals\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under Gabriel’s bill, the California Department of Public Health would oversee a certification system, with third-party groups verifying which products meet the state’s standard. Those products could carry a “California Certified” label, and large retailers would be required to make them more visible in stores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000476\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 779px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000476\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"779\" height=\"796\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED.jpg 779w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED-160x163.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED-768x785.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bill proposed by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel would create a “California Certified” seal for foods that are not ultraprocessed and require them to be made more visible in grocery stores. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Environmental Working Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The evidence is there,” said Alyssa Moran, a nutrition researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who supports the bill. “Ultraprocessed foods clearly increase chronic disease risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the federal level, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sought to make similar connections between diet and chronic disease, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/01/07/nx-s1-5667021/dietary-guidelines-rfk-jr-nutrition\">releasing new dietary guidelines\u003c/a> that call for Americans to consume drastically less “highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.” Experts, however, have criticized Kennedy’s focus on red meat and animal fats, and say he often misrepresents scientific research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many consumers, even identifying which foods are healthy can be confusing. Studies have found that shoppers often misclassify ultraprocessed foods and underestimate how much of them they eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I regularly find myself picking up healthy-seeming items and then having doubts,” said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, which sponsored Gabriel’s bill. “Is this whole wheat bagel a good choice if it also has added sugar? Should I be concerned about the emulsifier in this vinaigrette? I find this kind of mental gymnastics to be exhausting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000464\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000464\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attend an event unveiling a new Make America Healthy Again Commission report in the White House East Room on May 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But critics, including food industry groups, say the science around ultraprocessed foods is still evolving. They argue there is no universally accepted definition and said that labeling foods could mislead consumers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gabriel said the intent behind his proposal is not to ban foods but to give people clearer information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, Americans are among the world’s biggest consumers of ultraprocessed foods, and we are paying the price for it,” he said, “both in terms of poor health outcomes and rising health care costs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill is expected to be heard in committee in the coming weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Proposed legislation would create a “California Certified” label for foods low in sugar, fat and additives and require large retailers to display them more prominently.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1774479195,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 15,
"wordCount": 589
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Bill Aims to Steer Grocery Shoppers Away From Ultraprocessed Foods | KQED",
"description": "Proposed legislation would create a “California Certified” label for foods low in sugar, fat and additives and require large retailers to display them more prominently.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "California Bill Aims to Steer Grocery Shoppers Away From Ultraprocessed Foods",
"datePublished": "2026-03-25T15:41:32-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-03-25T15:53:15-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "Health",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/science/category/health",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2000462",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2000462/california-ultraprocessed-foods-label-grocery-stores",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A California Democrat wants to make healthy food easier to spot with what would be the country’s first state-certified seal for foods that are not \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101908516/youre-probably-eating-more-ultra-processed-foods-than-you-think\">ultraprocessed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s something that we have seen that has worked really well with the organic label,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel of Encino, who introduced the proposal. “It’s simple, it’s clean, people understand what it means, and then consumers can make a choice for themselves and for their families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill builds on a broader push in California to regulate ultraprocessed foods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1264/id/3272629\">law\u003c/a> creating one of the first legal definitions of ultraprocessed foods, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11979856/from-anxiety-to-cancer-evidence-against-ultra-processed-food-piles-up\">contain certain additives\u003c/a> — like artificial colors, flavorings or emulsifiers — and are high in added sugar, sodium or saturated fat, or contain non-nutritive sweeteners. The law will also phase out the most concerning products from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064869/what-will-school-meals-look-like-under-new-law-on-ultra-processed-food\">school meals\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under Gabriel’s bill, the California Department of Public Health would oversee a certification system, with third-party groups verifying which products meet the state’s standard. Those products could carry a “California Certified” label, and large retailers would be required to make them more visible in stores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000476\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 779px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000476\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"779\" height=\"796\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED.jpg 779w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED-160x163.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/260325-CALIFORNIA-CERTIFIED-NOT-ULTRAPROCESSED-KQED-768x785.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bill proposed by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel would create a “California Certified” seal for foods that are not ultraprocessed and require them to be made more visible in grocery stores. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Environmental Working Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The evidence is there,” said Alyssa Moran, a nutrition researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who supports the bill. “Ultraprocessed foods clearly increase chronic disease risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the federal level, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sought to make similar connections between diet and chronic disease, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/01/07/nx-s1-5667021/dietary-guidelines-rfk-jr-nutrition\">releasing new dietary guidelines\u003c/a> that call for Americans to consume drastically less “highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.” Experts, however, have criticized Kennedy’s focus on red meat and animal fats, and say he often misrepresents scientific research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many consumers, even identifying which foods are healthy can be confusing. Studies have found that shoppers often misclassify ultraprocessed foods and underestimate how much of them they eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I regularly find myself picking up healthy-seeming items and then having doubts,” said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, which sponsored Gabriel’s bill. “Is this whole wheat bagel a good choice if it also has added sugar? Should I be concerned about the emulsifier in this vinaigrette? I find this kind of mental gymnastics to be exhausting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000464\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000464\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/GettyImages-2216564413_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attend an event unveiling a new Make America Healthy Again Commission report in the White House East Room on May 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But critics, including food industry groups, say the science around ultraprocessed foods is still evolving. They argue there is no universally accepted definition and said that labeling foods could mislead consumers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gabriel said the intent behind his proposal is not to ban foods but to give people clearer information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, Americans are among the world’s biggest consumers of ultraprocessed foods, and we are paying the price for it,” he said, “both in terms of poor health outcomes and rising health care costs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill is expected to be heard in committee in the coming weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2000462/california-ultraprocessed-foods-label-grocery-stores",
"authors": [
"11229"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_4417",
"science_4414",
"science_507",
"science_5181",
"science_4277"
],
"featImg": "science_2000465",
"label": "source_science_2000462"
},
"science_2000206": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2000206",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000206",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1772132043000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park",
"title": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park",
"publishDate": 1772132043,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at the park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We think we were able to witness the very start,” said Christine Johnson, a professor of epidemiology at UC Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of healthy weaned elephant seal pups on the beach at Año Nuevo State Park. The variation in fur color is a normal process of molting each year. \u003ccite>(Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first identified in 1996 and has since spread globally, largely through poultry. The current North American outbreak began in late 2021 and has affected wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and multiple mammal species. Two prior U.S. marine mammal outbreaks — in Maine in 2022 and Washington state in 2023 — were linked to bird-to-seal transmission and were relatively short-lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For people, the risk is low,” Johnson said. But she emphasized that the bird flu is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans through close contact, in rare instances. Officials are urging visitors to stay at least 150 yards away from marine mammals, keep pets leashed and avoid touching sick or dead wildlife.[aside postID=science_2000171 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/RESIZE_Ano-Nuevo-SP_Jan-2024_Mandatory-courtesy-CA-State-Parks.jpg']At the park, public elephant seal tours have been canceled for the remainder of the season. California State Parks said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” to protect both wildlife and to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus through foot traffic in affected areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Año Nuevo State Park hosts one of the most intensively studied elephant seal colonies in the world, led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz. About 3,000 seals use the mainland site during the winter breeding season, and scientists have tracked more than 55,000 individuals over six decades through flipper tags and long-term monitoring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That long-term individual-based data set gives us a really unparalleled opportunity to understand how this virus affects uniquely identifiable animals,” said Roxanne Beltran, who leads the program at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the outbreak appears concentrated among weaned pups — young seals that have recently been left behind after their mothers return to sea. Two weeks ago, researchers counted roughly 930 pups and weanlings on the beach. Beltran said about 95% of adult females had already departed on their foraging migrations when the outbreak began, a detail scientists hope may limit broader impact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avian influenza has affected only a small proportion of the weaned pups at this time,” Beltran said. “There are still thousands, apparently healthy animals in this population.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are bracing for uncertainty. In South America in 2023, H5N1 devastated southern elephant seals in Argentina, with major pup losses that altered the population’s trajectory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers disinfect field boots to prevent the spread of disease. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“A change in the number of pups that survive in a given year has a really, really long-lasting consequence,” Beltran said. Northern elephant seals can live more than 20 years, and population shifts ripple across decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists do not yet know how the virus is spreading at Año Nuevo — whether through direct contact with infected birds, environmental exposure such as feces, or seal-to-seal transmission. Genetic sequencing of the virus is underway and could take weeks to clarify whether it matches the dominant bird strain circulating now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, monitoring has intensified. Teams are conducting systematic beach surveys, collecting samples from sick animals, flying drones to assess colony-wide health and coordinating across agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At The Marine Mammal Center in Marin County, responders have temporarily paused hands-on responses for elephant and harbor seals while assessing risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My biggest concern is that this perpetuates and continues to spread and paralyzes the operations,” said Dominic Travis, the center’s chief executive. “We’re going to be assessing that day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Seven elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for bird flu. About 30 seals have died in what officials call a small, early-stage outbreak. Public tours are canceled.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1772222644,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 22,
"wordCount": 896
},
"headData": {
"title": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park | KQED",
"description": "Seven elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for bird flu. About 30 seals have died in what officials call a small, early-stage outbreak. Public tours are canceled.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park",
"datePublished": "2026-02-26T10:54:03-08:00",
"dateModified": "2026-02-27T12:04:04-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 2874,
"slug": "animals",
"name": "Animals"
},
"source": "News",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-4[…]f-aaef00f5a073/365b33cc-84dc-426e-9f4d-b3fe011c59f8/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-2000206",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at the park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We think we were able to witness the very start,” said Christine Johnson, a professor of epidemiology at UC Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of healthy weaned elephant seal pups on the beach at Año Nuevo State Park. The variation in fur color is a normal process of molting each year. \u003ccite>(Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first identified in 1996 and has since spread globally, largely through poultry. The current North American outbreak began in late 2021 and has affected wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and multiple mammal species. Two prior U.S. marine mammal outbreaks — in Maine in 2022 and Washington state in 2023 — were linked to bird-to-seal transmission and were relatively short-lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For people, the risk is low,” Johnson said. But she emphasized that the bird flu is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans through close contact, in rare instances. Officials are urging visitors to stay at least 150 yards away from marine mammals, keep pets leashed and avoid touching sick or dead wildlife.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "science_2000171",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/RESIZE_Ano-Nuevo-SP_Jan-2024_Mandatory-courtesy-CA-State-Parks.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>At the park, public elephant seal tours have been canceled for the remainder of the season. California State Parks said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” to protect both wildlife and to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus through foot traffic in affected areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Año Nuevo State Park hosts one of the most intensively studied elephant seal colonies in the world, led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz. About 3,000 seals use the mainland site during the winter breeding season, and scientists have tracked more than 55,000 individuals over six decades through flipper tags and long-term monitoring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That long-term individual-based data set gives us a really unparalleled opportunity to understand how this virus affects uniquely identifiable animals,” said Roxanne Beltran, who leads the program at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the outbreak appears concentrated among weaned pups — young seals that have recently been left behind after their mothers return to sea. Two weeks ago, researchers counted roughly 930 pups and weanlings on the beach. Beltran said about 95% of adult females had already departed on their foraging migrations when the outbreak began, a detail scientists hope may limit broader impact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avian influenza has affected only a small proportion of the weaned pups at this time,” Beltran said. “There are still thousands, apparently healthy animals in this population.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are bracing for uncertainty. In South America in 2023, H5N1 devastated southern elephant seals in Argentina, with major pup losses that altered the population’s trajectory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers disinfect field boots to prevent the spread of disease. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“A change in the number of pups that survive in a given year has a really, really long-lasting consequence,” Beltran said. Northern elephant seals can live more than 20 years, and population shifts ripple across decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists do not yet know how the virus is spreading at Año Nuevo — whether through direct contact with infected birds, environmental exposure such as feces, or seal-to-seal transmission. Genetic sequencing of the virus is underway and could take weeks to clarify whether it matches the dominant bird strain circulating now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, monitoring has intensified. Teams are conducting systematic beach surveys, collecting samples from sick animals, flying drones to assess colony-wide health and coordinating across agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At The Marine Mammal Center in Marin County, responders have temporarily paused hands-on responses for elephant and harbor seals while assessing risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My biggest concern is that this perpetuates and continues to spread and paralyzes the operations,” said Dominic Travis, the center’s chief executive. “We’re going to be assessing that day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2000206/officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park",
"authors": [
"11631"
],
"categories": [
"science_2874",
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_2873",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_1120",
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_2549",
"science_2409",
"science_2688",
"science_1396",
"science_4277",
"science_5163",
"science_309"
],
"featImg": "science_2000214",
"label": "source_science_2000206"
},
"science_2000002": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_2000002",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2000002",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1770908403000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "delay-and-deny-even-health-insurance-companies-agree-prior-authorization-process-is-broken",
"title": "‘Delay’ and ‘Deny’: Even Health Insurance Companies Agree Prior Authorization Process Is Broken",
"publishDate": 1770908403,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "‘Delay’ and ‘Deny’: Even Health Insurance Companies Agree Prior Authorization Process Is Broken | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "science"
},
"content": "\u003cp>When Ocean McIntyre started having vision problems at age 34, her health plan took a month to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028048/deny-and-delay-california-seeks-penalties-for-insurers-that-repeatedly-get-it-wrong\"> authorize\u003c/a> a doctor visit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When pressure in her brain started crushing her optic nerve, she spent three months tangled in bureaucratic red tape before the insurer finally permitted her to see a specialist, a neuro-ophthalmologist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He said if you had been seen earlier, we could have preserved your vision,” McIntyre remembered. “Now we’re just trying to see if we can save any of your vision. That was the first time it really clicked that the life that I had before was over.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a wide-ranging career as a tattoo artist, a private pilot, and a research assistant at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab near Pasadena, McIntyre is now 51, legally blind and struggling to find work. “I have no peripheral vision at all. It’s like looking through a straw, and what I see is semi-clear in one eye and completely blurry in the other,” she said. “I fall, I trip on things all the time, even in my own house. I’m obviously not flying anymore, not driving a car anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, patients like McIntyre and their doctors have pressed California and other state lawmakers to rein in health insurers’ ability to review or refuse coverage for medical services after a physician has ordered them, a practice known as prior authorization. But the conversation shifted in December 2024 when Luigi Mangione allegedly murdered UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, using bullets etched with the words “delay” and “deny.” The next year, an unprecedented 31 states, at least, passed laws limiting the use of prior authorization, almost all with bipartisan and near-unanimous support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000017\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2000017 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3.png 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-160x124.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-768x597.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-1536x1195.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2025, 31 U.S. states passed prior authorization reforms. \u003ccite>(Map: Marnette Federis/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While momentum for legislative change \u003ca href=\"https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/prior-authorization/10-states-have-tackled-prior-authorization-so-far-2024\">had already been building\u003c/a>, several industry insiders and observers said the assassination of an insurance executive, and especially the public outcry that followed, was the catalyst that pushed so many laws over the finish line in 2025. Tens of thousands of people took to social media to both condemn the violence and to air their grievances about insurance tactics and barriers to care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It really highlighted for the country this amount of anger,” said Miranda Yaver, health policy professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “And I think that placed pressure on state legislatures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health insurers felt the pressure, too, as lawmakers complained during committee hearings about their own experiences with prior authorization before voting in favor of local bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By summer 2025, a coalition of insurance companies issued\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/health-plans-take-action-to-simplify-prior-authorization\"> a pledge\u003c/a> to voluntarily streamline, simplify, and reduce the use of prior authorizations. Especially where state legislation aligned with these principles or was narrowly tailored, the insurance industry was more receptive than it had been in the past. Where there was still friction, insurance lobbyists stated their objections, but often struck a conciliatory tone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Ascendiun, the parent company of Blue Shield of California, testifies before the House Committee on Ways and Means with other health insurance CEOs on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on Jan. 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Prior authorization process today sucks. We all take accountability for it,” said\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/people/paul-markovich\"> Paul Markovich\u003c/a>, CEO of Blue Shield of California, at a\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/committees/video/house-ways-and-means/hswm00/xBpGgfYHp9k\"> congressional committee hearing\u003c/a> in January featuring a panel of five health insurance executives. “We are fixing it by reducing the number of services that are covered, offering an online service, and standardizing electronic submission of data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prior authorization started out as a tool insurers used to control costs and to\u003ca href=\"https://www.calhealthplans.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fact-sheet-ypya-ca-health-care-affordability-dilemma-04-30-25_.pdf\"> safeguard patients\u003c/a> against unnecessary or harmful treatments. It is typically applied to\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/health/health-insurance-how-states-are-reforming-the-prior-authorization-process\"> high-cost items\u003c/a>, like experimental treatments, hospitalizations and surgeries, and certain prescription drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, back surgeries are often denied because\u003ca href=\"https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010264.pub2/full\"> clinical trials\u003c/a> show they provide little to no benefit to people who suffer from back pain compared to exercise and physical therapy. Brand-name medications can often be replaced with equally effective, but significantly cheaper, generic alternatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two health insurance denial letters lie on Ocean McIntyre’s table, at her home in Panorama City. Many more are stored in boxes and file folders of communication letters from her health insurance on Feb. 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“These efforts help keep coverage as affordable as possible,” said Chris Bond, spokesperson for\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/about-ahip\"> AHIP\u003c/a>, a national trade association for the health insurance industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in more recent years, doctors complained that insurers were abusing prior authorization, applying it to more services or using it as a tactic to delay and deter patients away from care.\u003ca href=\"https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/prior-authorization-survey.pdf\"> In a 2024 national survey\u003c/a>, doctors said they and their staff spent an average of 13 hours a week dealing with prior authorization requests; 23% of doctors said their patients had been hospitalized because of prior authorization delays, 18% said they’d experienced a life-threatening event, and 8% said a patient suffered permanent disability or death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mountains of paperwork and constant second-guessing by insurers drive burnout and push doctors into early retirement, said\u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/president\"> René Bravo\u003c/a>, a pediatrician in San Luis Obispo and president of the California Medical Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is nothing that causes physicians’ blood pressure to elevate like prior authorization,” he said. “You just say the word, and doctors bristle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California targets insurance companies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>States are taking \u003ca href=\"https://chir.georgetown.edu/prior-authorization-reform-heats-up/\">different approaches\u003c/a> to regulating the insurance industry’s use of prior authorization. Some, like Nebraska and North Dakota, focused on expediting the process, mandating timelines for when reviews must be completed, while others restricted the use of artificial intelligence in making determinations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many states, including Texas, Arkansas, and West Virginia, have instituted “gold card” programs that exempt doctors from prior authorization if the treatments they order already have a high rate of approval. Others, including Rhode Island and Montana, focused on exempting certain treatments, such as preventive care, insulin, mental health and substance abuse treatment, or some cancer care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1999997\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1999997\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David H. Aizuss, M.D., F.A.C.S., an ophthalmologist and chair of the board of trustees at the American Medical Association, in his office in Encino, California, on Feb. 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The California law is different. It puts the onus on the health plans,” said\u003ca href=\"https://oaveyes.com/doctors/david-aizuss-m-d/\"> David Aizuss\u003c/a>, an ophthalmologist in Los Angeles and chair of the board of trustees at the American Medical Association, which has been tracking state legislation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB306\">SB 306\u003c/a> said that if a health insurer approves a medical service more than 90% of the time in one year, then it can’t require prior authorization for that service the next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This creates a data-driven, common-sense approach,” said state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, who authored the bill. “If you’re approving it anyway, don’t make patients, providers jump through hoops.”[aside postID=news_12072837 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/020926_KAISERSTRIKE_8137B-KQED.jpg']Though attempts to pass a previous version of this bill \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/votes/SB598/2023\">petered out\u003c/a> in 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office was particularly involved in the passage of SB 306, mediating differences between doctors who supported it and insurers who opposed it, and directing the state Department of Managed Health Care to offer technical assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The regulator is leading the implementation of the law. By July 2026, officials will instruct insurers on how to report the statistics that will be used to list procedures and medications that will be exempted from prior authorization, which regulators expect to publish by July 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aizuss believes a range of medications for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis will make it onto the list, as well as certain outpatient mental health treatments and cancer surgeries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s hopeful that California’s broad approach will lead to more overall transparency and be more effective than other states. Insurers have found loopholes to skirt around the requirements of gold card laws, he said, and the burden is on doctors to prove they should be exempt from prior authorization. For example, in Texas, only 3% of doctors have qualified for gold card status, Yaver said. The California law, by contrast, requires insurers and regulators do the legwork. “This is a positive step toward relieving physician administrative burden,” Yaver said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever the approach, McIntyre is relieved to see progress in California and across the country. She said no one should suffer a heart attack or a cancer relapse, or lose their vision, because they had to wait for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "California is one of 31 states that passed laws in 2025 limiting insurance companies’ use of prior authorization to approve or deny medical treatments.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1770867089,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 27,
"wordCount": 1463
},
"headData": {
"title": "‘Delay’ and ‘Deny’: Even Health Insurance Companies Agree Prior Authorization Process Is Broken | KQED",
"description": "California is one of 31 states that passed laws in 2025 limiting insurance companies’ use of prior authorization to approve or deny medical treatments.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "‘Delay’ and ‘Deny’: Even Health Insurance Companies Agree Prior Authorization Process Is Broken",
"datePublished": "2026-02-12T07:00:03-08:00",
"dateModified": "2026-02-11T19:31:29-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/d1ec0b27-b97d-49f6-81bd-b3ec0123369d/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/2000002/delay-and-deny-even-health-insurance-companies-agree-prior-authorization-process-is-broken",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When Ocean McIntyre started having vision problems at age 34, her health plan took a month to\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028048/deny-and-delay-california-seeks-penalties-for-insurers-that-repeatedly-get-it-wrong\"> authorize\u003c/a> a doctor visit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When pressure in her brain started crushing her optic nerve, she spent three months tangled in bureaucratic red tape before the insurer finally permitted her to see a specialist, a neuro-ophthalmologist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He said if you had been seen earlier, we could have preserved your vision,” McIntyre remembered. “Now we’re just trying to see if we can save any of your vision. That was the first time it really clicked that the life that I had before was over.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a wide-ranging career as a tattoo artist, a private pilot, and a research assistant at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab near Pasadena, McIntyre is now 51, legally blind and struggling to find work. “I have no peripheral vision at all. It’s like looking through a straw, and what I see is semi-clear in one eye and completely blurry in the other,” she said. “I fall, I trip on things all the time, even in my own house. I’m obviously not flying anymore, not driving a car anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, patients like McIntyre and their doctors have pressed California and other state lawmakers to rein in health insurers’ ability to review or refuse coverage for medical services after a physician has ordered them, a practice known as prior authorization. But the conversation shifted in December 2024 when Luigi Mangione allegedly murdered UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, using bullets etched with the words “delay” and “deny.” The next year, an unprecedented 31 states, at least, passed laws limiting the use of prior authorization, almost all with bipartisan and near-unanimous support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000017\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2000017 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3.png 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-160x124.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-768x597.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/1qqZi-states-that-passed-prior-authorization-laws-in-2025-3-1536x1195.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2025, 31 U.S. states passed prior authorization reforms. \u003ccite>(Map: Marnette Federis/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While momentum for legislative change \u003ca href=\"https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/prior-authorization/10-states-have-tackled-prior-authorization-so-far-2024\">had already been building\u003c/a>, several industry insiders and observers said the assassination of an insurance executive, and especially the public outcry that followed, was the catalyst that pushed so many laws over the finish line in 2025. Tens of thousands of people took to social media to both condemn the violence and to air their grievances about insurance tactics and barriers to care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It really highlighted for the country this amount of anger,” said Miranda Yaver, health policy professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “And I think that placed pressure on state legislatures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Health insurers felt the pressure, too, as lawmakers complained during committee hearings about their own experiences with prior authorization before voting in favor of local bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By summer 2025, a coalition of insurance companies issued\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/health-plans-take-action-to-simplify-prior-authorization\"> a pledge\u003c/a> to voluntarily streamline, simplify, and reduce the use of prior authorizations. Especially where state legislation aligned with these principles or was narrowly tailored, the insurance industry was more receptive than it had been in the past. Where there was still friction, insurance lobbyists stated their objections, but often struck a conciliatory tone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/PaulMarkovichAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Ascendiun, the parent company of Blue Shield of California, testifies before the House Committee on Ways and Means with other health insurance CEOs on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on Jan. 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Prior authorization process today sucks. We all take accountability for it,” said\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/people/paul-markovich\"> Paul Markovich\u003c/a>, CEO of Blue Shield of California, at a\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/committees/video/house-ways-and-means/hswm00/xBpGgfYHp9k\"> congressional committee hearing\u003c/a> in January featuring a panel of five health insurance executives. “We are fixing it by reducing the number of services that are covered, offering an online service, and standardizing electronic submission of data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prior authorization started out as a tool insurers used to control costs and to\u003ca href=\"https://www.calhealthplans.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fact-sheet-ypya-ca-health-care-affordability-dilemma-04-30-25_.pdf\"> safeguard patients\u003c/a> against unnecessary or harmful treatments. It is typically applied to\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/health/health-insurance-how-states-are-reforming-the-prior-authorization-process\"> high-cost items\u003c/a>, like experimental treatments, hospitalizations and surgeries, and certain prescription drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, back surgeries are often denied because\u003ca href=\"https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010264.pub2/full\"> clinical trials\u003c/a> show they provide little to no benefit to people who suffer from back pain compared to exercise and physical therapy. Brand-name medications can often be replaced with equally effective, but significantly cheaper, generic alternatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00255-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two health insurance denial letters lie on Ocean McIntyre’s table, at her home in Panorama City. Many more are stored in boxes and file folders of communication letters from her health insurance on Feb. 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“These efforts help keep coverage as affordable as possible,” said Chris Bond, spokesperson for\u003ca href=\"https://www.ahip.org/about-ahip\"> AHIP\u003c/a>, a national trade association for the health insurance industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in more recent years, doctors complained that insurers were abusing prior authorization, applying it to more services or using it as a tactic to delay and deter patients away from care.\u003ca href=\"https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/prior-authorization-survey.pdf\"> In a 2024 national survey\u003c/a>, doctors said they and their staff spent an average of 13 hours a week dealing with prior authorization requests; 23% of doctors said their patients had been hospitalized because of prior authorization delays, 18% said they’d experienced a life-threatening event, and 8% said a patient suffered permanent disability or death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mountains of paperwork and constant second-guessing by insurers drive burnout and push doctors into early retirement, said\u003ca href=\"https://www.cmadocs.org/president\"> René Bravo\u003c/a>, a pediatrician in San Luis Obispo and president of the California Medical Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is nothing that causes physicians’ blood pressure to elevate like prior authorization,” he said. “You just say the word, and doctors bristle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California targets insurance companies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>States are taking \u003ca href=\"https://chir.georgetown.edu/prior-authorization-reform-heats-up/\">different approaches\u003c/a> to regulating the insurance industry’s use of prior authorization. Some, like Nebraska and North Dakota, focused on expediting the process, mandating timelines for when reviews must be completed, while others restricted the use of artificial intelligence in making determinations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many states, including Texas, Arkansas, and West Virginia, have instituted “gold card” programs that exempt doctors from prior authorization if the treatments they order already have a high rate of approval. Others, including Rhode Island and Montana, focused on exempting certain treatments, such as preventive care, insulin, mental health and substance abuse treatment, or some cancer care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1999997\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1999997\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/2026_02_10_DELAY_DENY_00060-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David H. Aizuss, M.D., F.A.C.S., an ophthalmologist and chair of the board of trustees at the American Medical Association, in his office in Encino, California, on Feb. 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The California law is different. It puts the onus on the health plans,” said\u003ca href=\"https://oaveyes.com/doctors/david-aizuss-m-d/\"> David Aizuss\u003c/a>, an ophthalmologist in Los Angeles and chair of the board of trustees at the American Medical Association, which has been tracking state legislation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB306\">SB 306\u003c/a> said that if a health insurer approves a medical service more than 90% of the time in one year, then it can’t require prior authorization for that service the next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This creates a data-driven, common-sense approach,” said state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, who authored the bill. “If you’re approving it anyway, don’t make patients, providers jump through hoops.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12072837",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/020926_KAISERSTRIKE_8137B-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Though attempts to pass a previous version of this bill \u003ca href=\"https://legiscan.com/CA/votes/SB598/2023\">petered out\u003c/a> in 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office was particularly involved in the passage of SB 306, mediating differences between doctors who supported it and insurers who opposed it, and directing the state Department of Managed Health Care to offer technical assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The regulator is leading the implementation of the law. By July 2026, officials will instruct insurers on how to report the statistics that will be used to list procedures and medications that will be exempted from prior authorization, which regulators expect to publish by July 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aizuss believes a range of medications for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis will make it onto the list, as well as certain outpatient mental health treatments and cancer surgeries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s hopeful that California’s broad approach will lead to more overall transparency and be more effective than other states. Insurers have found loopholes to skirt around the requirements of gold card laws, he said, and the burden is on doctors to prove they should be exempt from prior authorization. For example, in Texas, only 3% of doctors have qualified for gold card status, Yaver said. The California law, by contrast, requires insurers and regulators do the legwork. “This is a positive step toward relieving physician administrative burden,” Yaver said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever the approach, McIntyre is relieved to see progress in California and across the country. She said no one should suffer a heart attack or a cancer relapse, or lose their vision, because they had to wait for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/2000002/delay-and-deny-even-health-insurance-companies-agree-prior-authorization-process-is-broken",
"authors": [
"3205"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_5178",
"science_5181",
"science_309"
],
"featImg": "science_1999999",
"label": "science"
},
"science_1999828": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "science_1999828",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1999828",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1768435208000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-combats-largest-mushroom-poisoning-outbreak-in-the-country",
"title": "California Combats Largest Mushroom Poisoning Outbreak in the Country",
"publishDate": 1768435208,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "California Combats Largest Mushroom Poisoning Outbreak in the Country | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>State health officials on Wednesday issued their\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999700/super-bloom-of-death-caps-sparks-largest-outbreak-of-mushroom-poisonings-in-decades\"> second warning this season\u003c/a> to avoid mushroom foraging as illness and deaths from eating wild mushrooms known as death caps rise to unprecedented highs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thirty-five people have gotten sick so far this season, three needed liver transplants, and three died, compared to a typical year that sees only three to five cases. Doctors worry more cases are coming amid a “super bloom” of death caps, sparked by early rains and warm temperatures in the fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We anticipate that these mushrooms could continue to be fruiting in abundance throughout the rainy season in California,” said Dr. Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigrants from Mexico and China make up a disproportionate number of the cases, as death caps, or \u003cem>Amanita phalloides\u003c/em>, look very similar to edible mushrooms that grow in those countries. The California Department of Public Health released a\u003ca href=\"https://flow.page/poisonousmushroomsafety\"> series of fact sheets and videos\u003c/a> on Wednesday in multiple languages,\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmNeRXD3Cg\"> including Mixteco\u003c/a>, an indigenous language of Mexico spoken by communities in Monterey County, where the first poisonings emerged in November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, people have been treated in hospitals throughout the Bay Area after eating mushrooms found in the Oakland Hills, Stinson Beach and Pinnacles National Park, among other sites, though Smollin said that they grow along the West Coast and that no part of California is a death cap-free zone. Some dogs have also died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1999677\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1999677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Death cap mushrooms sit by the side of a trail during an educational mushroom walk at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland on Dec. 12, 2025. Mushroom foraging is not allowed in the park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a really dangerous time to be mushroom hunting and foraging right now,” said Dr. Rita Nguyen, assistant state public health director. “It can be very hard, even for experts, to identify the difference between edible mushrooms and not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Symptoms of death cap poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and can occur 6 to 24 hours after ingestion. Extreme cases can lead to liver failure, necessitating an urgent liver transplant or death. Cooking, boiling or freezing the mushrooms does not inactivate the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A single bite of the mushroom could cause significant toxicity,” Smollin said.[aside postID=news_12069232 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/3-Agaricus-californicus-LA-2016-1.jpg']Local mushroom experts and enthusiasts have bemoaned the state’s messaging around the poisonings as narrow and fear-based. Many would prefer to see an emphasis on education, rather than a prohibition on all foraging, and point out that touching, smelling and looking at mushrooms is safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot more nuance,” said Debbie Viess, co-founder of the Bay Area Mycological Society. “It’s much more important to steer people to places where they can educate themselves about the safety and the dangers of eating wild mushrooms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Viess said field reports coming into her organization suggest the growth of death caps may be slowing in the Bay Area, while another kind of poisonous mushroom known as the destroying angel, or \u003cem>Amanita ocreata\u003c/em>, is starting to pop up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People who believe they or a family member may have ingested a toxic mushroom — or health care providers who have a patient showing signs of mushroom toxicity — can call the state’s toll-free poison control hotline 24/7, free of charge for advice: 1-800-222-1222.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Translation services are available in any language, and all personal information is kept confidential, said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, a pediatrician and toxicologist with poison control.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>We can then determine whether you need to go into the emergency department or whether we, as poison experts, can help you treat the situation at home,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "State health officials again warned against foraging as illness and deaths from eating the wild mushrooms known as death caps rise to new highs.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1768441260,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 15,
"wordCount": 654
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Combats Largest Mushroom Poisoning Outbreak in the Country | KQED",
"description": "State health officials again warned against foraging as illness and deaths from eating the wild mushrooms known as death caps rise to new highs.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "California Combats Largest Mushroom Poisoning Outbreak in the Country",
"datePublished": "2026-01-14T16:00:08-08:00",
"dateModified": "2026-01-14T17:41:00-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 39,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"source": "News",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-1999828",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/science/1999828/california-combats-largest-mushroom-poisoning-outbreak-in-the-country",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>State health officials on Wednesday issued their\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999700/super-bloom-of-death-caps-sparks-largest-outbreak-of-mushroom-poisonings-in-decades\"> second warning this season\u003c/a> to avoid mushroom foraging as illness and deaths from eating wild mushrooms known as death caps rise to unprecedented highs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thirty-five people have gotten sick so far this season, three needed liver transplants, and three died, compared to a typical year that sees only three to five cases. Doctors worry more cases are coming amid a “super bloom” of death caps, sparked by early rains and warm temperatures in the fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We anticipate that these mushrooms could continue to be fruiting in abundance throughout the rainy season in California,” said Dr. Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigrants from Mexico and China make up a disproportionate number of the cases, as death caps, or \u003cem>Amanita phalloides\u003c/em>, look very similar to edible mushrooms that grow in those countries. The California Department of Public Health released a\u003ca href=\"https://flow.page/poisonousmushroomsafety\"> series of fact sheets and videos\u003c/a> on Wednesday in multiple languages,\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtmNeRXD3Cg\"> including Mixteco\u003c/a>, an indigenous language of Mexico spoken by communities in Monterey County, where the first poisonings emerged in November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, people have been treated in hospitals throughout the Bay Area after eating mushrooms found in the Oakland Hills, Stinson Beach and Pinnacles National Park, among other sites, though Smollin said that they grow along the West Coast and that no part of California is a death cap-free zone. Some dogs have also died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1999677\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1999677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/12/251211-DEATHCAPMUSHROOMS-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Death cap mushrooms sit by the side of a trail during an educational mushroom walk at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland on Dec. 12, 2025. Mushroom foraging is not allowed in the park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a really dangerous time to be mushroom hunting and foraging right now,” said Dr. Rita Nguyen, assistant state public health director. “It can be very hard, even for experts, to identify the difference between edible mushrooms and not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Symptoms of death cap poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and can occur 6 to 24 hours after ingestion. Extreme cases can lead to liver failure, necessitating an urgent liver transplant or death. Cooking, boiling or freezing the mushrooms does not inactivate the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A single bite of the mushroom could cause significant toxicity,” Smollin said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12069232",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/3-Agaricus-californicus-LA-2016-1.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Local mushroom experts and enthusiasts have bemoaned the state’s messaging around the poisonings as narrow and fear-based. Many would prefer to see an emphasis on education, rather than a prohibition on all foraging, and point out that touching, smelling and looking at mushrooms is safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot more nuance,” said Debbie Viess, co-founder of the Bay Area Mycological Society. “It’s much more important to steer people to places where they can educate themselves about the safety and the dangers of eating wild mushrooms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Viess said field reports coming into her organization suggest the growth of death caps may be slowing in the Bay Area, while another kind of poisonous mushroom known as the destroying angel, or \u003cem>Amanita ocreata\u003c/em>, is starting to pop up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People who believe they or a family member may have ingested a toxic mushroom — or health care providers who have a patient showing signs of mushroom toxicity — can call the state’s toll-free poison control hotline 24/7, free of charge for advice: 1-800-222-1222.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Translation services are available in any language, and all personal information is kept confidential, said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, a pediatrician and toxicologist with poison control.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>We can then determine whether you need to go into the emergency department or whether we, as poison experts, can help you treat the situation at home,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/science/1999828/california-combats-largest-mushroom-poisoning-outbreak-in-the-country",
"authors": [
"3205"
],
"categories": [
"science_39",
"science_4550",
"science_40",
"science_4450"
],
"tags": [
"science_4414",
"science_5181",
"science_4729",
"science_4277",
"science_309"
],
"featImg": "science_1999676",
"label": "source_science_1999828"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/science?category=health": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 0,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 1299,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"science_2001777",
"science_2001615",
"science_1926793",
"science_2001540",
"science_2001391",
"science_2001059",
"science_2000751",
"science_2000716",
"science_2000462",
"science_2000206",
"science_2000002",
"science_1999828"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science_category_health": {
"isLoading": true
},
"science_39": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_39",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "39",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 41,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/health"
},
"source_science_2001777": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2001777",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2001615": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2001615",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_1926793": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_1926793",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Wildfires",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/wildfires",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2001540": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2001540",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2001391": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2001391",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2001059": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2001059",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2000751": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2000751",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2000716": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2000716",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2000462": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2000462",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Health",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/science/category/health",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_2000206": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_2000206",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_science_1999828": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_science_1999828",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "News",
"isLoading": false
},
"science_35": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_35",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "35",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Environment Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 37,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/environment"
},
"science_40": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_40",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "40",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 42,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/news"
},
"science_4450": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4450",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4450",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Science",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Science Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4450,
"slug": "science",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/science"
},
"science_524": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_524",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "524",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "air quality",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "air quality Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 530,
"slug": "air-quality",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/air-quality"
},
"science_856": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_856",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "856",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "bay area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "bay area Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 862,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/bay-area"
},
"science_374": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_374",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "374",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "cancer",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "cancer Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 380,
"slug": "cancer",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/cancer"
},
"science_5193": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5193",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5193",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Chevron",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Chevron Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5193,
"slug": "chevron",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/chevron"
},
"science_354": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_354",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "354",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "emissions",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "emissions Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 360,
"slug": "emissions",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/emissions"
},
"science_4414": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4414",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4414",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-science",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-science Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4414,
"slug": "featured-science",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/featured-science"
},
"science_5181": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5181",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5181",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5181,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/health"
},
"science_4277": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4277",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4277",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Public health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Public health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4277,
"slug": "public-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/public-health"
},
"science_553": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_553",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "553",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "refinery",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "refinery Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 559,
"slug": "refinery",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/refinery"
},
"science_1455": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_1455",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1455",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "richmond",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "richmond Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1464,
"slug": "richmond",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/richmond"
},
"science_309": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_309",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "309",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "science",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "science Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 314,
"slug": "science",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/science"
},
"science_5220": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5220",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5220",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "East Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "East Bay Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5220,
"slug": "east-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/east-bay"
},
"science_5226": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5226",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5226",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5226,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/health"
},
"science_5212": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5212",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5212",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5212,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/news"
},
"science_5178": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5178",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5178",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5178,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/california"
},
"science_512": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_512",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "512",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "children",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "children Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 518,
"slug": "children",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/children"
},
"science_4417": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4417",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4417",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4417,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/featured-news"
},
"science_249": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_249",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "249",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "mental health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "mental health Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 253,
"slug": "mental-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/mental-health"
},
"science_461": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_461",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "461",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "technology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "technology Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 467,
"slug": "technology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/technology"
},
"science_5211": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5211",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5211",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Technology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Technology Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5211,
"slug": "technology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/technology"
},
"science_31": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_31",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "31",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/climate"
},
"science_37": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_37",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "37",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Events Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 39,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/events"
},
"science_3730": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_3730",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "3730",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Wildfires",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Wildfires Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3730,
"slug": "wildfires",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/wildfires"
},
"science_505": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_505",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "505",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "air pollution",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "air pollution Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 511,
"slug": "air-pollution",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/air-pollution"
},
"science_4992": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4992",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4992",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "audience-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "audience-news Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4992,
"slug": "audience-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/audience-news"
},
"science_192": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_192",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "192",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "environment Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 196,
"slug": "environment-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/environment-2"
},
"science_365": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_365",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "365",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "weather",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "weather Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 371,
"slug": "weather",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/weather"
},
"science_113": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_113",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "113",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "wildfire",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "wildfire Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 117,
"slug": "wildfire",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/wildfire"
},
"science_3693": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_3693",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "3693",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "wildfire smoke",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "wildfire smoke Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3693,
"slug": "wildfire-smoke",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/wildfire-smoke"
},
"science_5229": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5229",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5229",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5229,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/climate"
},
"science_686": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_686",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "686",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "central valley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "central valley Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 693,
"slug": "central-valley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/central-valley"
},
"science_182": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_182",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "182",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "climate Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 186,
"slug": "climate-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/climate-2"
},
"science_490": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_490",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "490",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "groundwater",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "groundwater Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 496,
"slug": "groundwater",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/groundwater"
},
"science_3543": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_3543",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "3543",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "research",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "research Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3543,
"slug": "research",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/research"
},
"science_201": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_201",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "201",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "water",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "water Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 205,
"slug": "water-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/water-2"
},
"science_997": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_997",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "997",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "water quality",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "water quality Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1005,
"slug": "water-quality",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/water-quality"
},
"science_110": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_110",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "110",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "water supply",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "water supply Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 114,
"slug": "water-supply",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/water-supply"
},
"science_5216": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5216",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5216",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Science",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Science Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5216,
"slug": "science",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/science"
},
"science_664": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_664",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "664",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "disease",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "disease Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 670,
"slug": "disease",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/disease"
},
"science_660": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_660",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "660",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "HIV",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "HIV Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 666,
"slug": "hiv",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/hiv"
},
"science_2918": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2918",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2918",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "medicine",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "medicine Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2918,
"slug": "medicine",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/medicine"
},
"science_5183": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5183",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5183",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5183,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/san-francisco"
},
"science_5208": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5208",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5208",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5208,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/san-francisco"
},
"science_813": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_813",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "813",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "news Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 820,
"slug": "news-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/news-2"
},
"science_1520": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_1520",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1520",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "pandemic",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "pandemic Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1529,
"slug": "pandemic",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/pandemic"
},
"science_697": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_697",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "697",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "social media",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "social media Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 704,
"slug": "social-media",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/social-media"
},
"science_5334": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5334",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5334",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Immigration",
"slug": "immigration",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED Science",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 5334,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/immigration"
},
"science_5494": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5494",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5494",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "immigration",
"slug": "immigration",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "immigration | KQED Science",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 5494,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/immigration"
},
"science_5227": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5227",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5227",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5227,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/immigration"
},
"science_507": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_507",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "507",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "food Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 513,
"slug": "food-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/food-2"
},
"science_5217": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5217",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5217",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5217,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/interest/california"
},
"science_2874": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2874",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2874",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Animals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Animals Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2874,
"slug": "animals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/animals"
},
"science_2873": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2873",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2873",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oceans",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oceans Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2873,
"slug": "oceans",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/oceans"
},
"science_1120": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_1120",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1120",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "animals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "animals Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1128,
"slug": "animals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/animals"
},
"science_2549": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2549",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2549",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "marine animals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "marine animals Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2561,
"slug": "marine-animals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/marine-animals"
},
"science_2409": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2409",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2409",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "marine biology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "marine biology Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2421,
"slug": "marine-biology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/marine-biology"
},
"science_2688": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_2688",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "2688",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "marine life",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "marine life Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2700,
"slug": "marine-life",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/marine-life"
},
"science_1396": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_1396",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "1396",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "marine mammals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "marine mammals Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1405,
"slug": "marine-mammals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/marine-mammals"
},
"science_5163": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_5163",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "5163",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Mateo",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Mateo Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5163,
"slug": "san-mateo",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/san-mateo"
},
"science_4550": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4550",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4550",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4550,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/category/local"
},
"science_4729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "science_4729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "science",
"id": "4729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "outdoors",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "outdoors Archives | KQED Science",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4729,
"slug": "outdoors",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/science/tag/outdoors"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
}
}
