Here's what's happening in the Bay Area, as curated by KALW news:
California wildfires: 400 homes burn, one person killed // SF Gate
"Thousands of Northern California residents fled as two of the fastest-burning wildfires in decades overtook several Northern California towns, killing at least one person and destroying 400 homes, two apartment complexes, and 10 businesses.
"The Lake County, California fire has burned more than 61,000 acres. The devastation comes after a separate wildfire to the southeast destroyed at least 81 homes."
Creating a 'People's Budget' // East Bay Express
"A group of Oakland residents are pushing a radical ballot initiative in Oakland that would give citizens the power to decide how to spend taxpayer funds. The Community Democracy Project is campaigning to radically transform the city's budgeting process — transferring power from City Hall to one hundred newly established Neighborhood Assemblies throughout the city.
"While the idea of a people's budget is simple enough, the infrastructure would be complex and multifaceted.
"The City of Vallejo made history in 2012 by becoming the first U.S. municipality to approve participatory budgeting."
California charter school scores dive // San Jose Mercury News
"On state results released last week, test scores of many once high-flying charter schools plummeted—even more than public school tests."
"Possible reasons are high teacher turnover, inadequately training, and rapid expansion. Experts feel it may also be that new tests in the Common Core curriculum, known as the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, reinforce the difficulty in educating kids in high-poverty areas."
Right-To-Die Bill Passes In California // The Huffington Post
"The End of Life Option Act, which passed in the state Assembly Wednesday, would allow patients to seek aid-in-dying options so long as they are given six months or less to live by two doctors, submit a written request and two oral requests at least 15 days apart and possess the mental capacity to make their own health care decisions."
"Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who attended a Jesuit seminary prior to his political career, has yet to indicate whether he will sign the bill into law."
One Big Spill // East Bay Express
"PG&E's former gas plants are still leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and San Francisco Bay, possibly endangering human health and marine life."
"Herring fishermen believe that PG&E's failure to clean up toxic waste from gas plants is harming marine life in San Francisco Bay."
"[F]ishermen are asking PG&E to conduct more extensive testing and clean up the polluted sites before the toxic waste spreads further."
Fantasy football was born in Oakland, original league still thriving // San Jose Mercury News
"Created by Bill Winkenbach, a former minority owner of the Raiders, the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League have met for their annual fantasy football draft since 1963. This is not the young, tablet-toting bunch so common in fantasy leagues across the country. "We're pencil and paper guys," said Stan Heeb, the commissioner and a retired teacher. Some of the silver-haired participants have been involved so long they aren't sure when they joined."