Hana Baba

Last summer, the people of Richmond were in shock from the explosion and following fire that broke out at the Chevron oil refinery in their city. Black plumes of smoke hovered over the Bay, and people filled local emergency rooms with respiratory complaints. Chevron blamed the explosion on a ruptured pipeline.

School districts are increasingly teaching technology as part of their regular curriculum, but the high cost of computers and tablets can hinder that effort. Last year, the federal government pitched in to help some schools out. Hundreds of school districts participated in the Race to the Top program, which is awarding major technology education funding to three school districts in California. One is in the Bay Area, Haven Unified, which serves Union City, in Alameda County.

Bay Area artist Rhodessa Jones has been described by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee as "an artistic powerhouse whose work has transformed and saved lives." The teacher, singer, writer, and activists took theatre to places it seldom goes – producing theatre for female prison inmates, and HIV positive women.

Her current performance, “The Resurrection of SHE”, chronicles her life through storytelling, dance, song, and visual imagery.  “SHE” dives into the realities of being black and female in America today, while reaching deep within her history and telling her own story. Rhodessa Jones joined KALW’s Hana Baba studio to talk about her life and "The Resurrection of SHE."

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In the past decade, we have heard from people with varying perspectives on the war: politicians for and against it; anti-war activists; foreign governments; and the United Nations – and we’ve heard the stories of military veterans coming home.

A decision is due today on the issue of whether City College of San Francisco will lose its accreditation. City College of San Francisco students, teachers, and staff launched a rally outside City Hall on Thursday to express their growing concerns with the college's administration and possible shutdown.