Here's what's happening in the Bay Area, as curated by KALW news:
Public Utilities Commission Told SF General It's OK To Flush Tons Of Pills Down Toilets // SFist
At least one veteran nurse at SF General is sounding the alarm bell about a recent policy change at the hospital pushed by the Drug Enforcement Administration that has all leftover pills and controlled substances — and there are a lot — being flushed down toilets, which will result in the chemicals ultimately reaching the San Francisco Bay.
As San Francisco Magazine is reporting, hospital staff had previously been disposing of excess medications into sealed "blue/white bins" which were kept under nurses' watchful eyes and ultimately incinerated. This system is apparently unacceptable to the DEA, and in 2014 issued a letter to the hospital insisting that all heavy narcotics and controlled substances like OxyContin, fentanyl, and Adderall instead be separated out and flushed, while all other medications not on their list could be disposed of in the usual way, in the bins.
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Drummond: Homeless doc takes stethoscope to the streets // Oakland Tribune
Oakland's new street medicine team rolled up to a small homeless tent camp and parked a 25-foot RV at the curb. Dr. Jason Reinking, sporting a blond ponytail and bluejeans, hopped out.
There in a park beneath a knot of freeways in North Oakland, he found a frantic homeless woman wheezing and crying that she couldn't breathe.
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Peer-Run Mental And Behavioral Wellness Center Coming To Mid-Market // Hoodline
As politicians and law enforcement agencies explore options for building a new mental health facility to support the city's criminal justice system, a private mental health agency is preparing to expand its early engagement and self-help services in the Mid-Market area.
By the end of February, Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS, Inc.) plans to open a peer wellness center at 1282 Market St., formerly home to Western Dental.
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California Regulators Order SoCalGas to Permanently Close Leaking Well // KQED
When the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) finally manages to seal a natural gas storage well that’s been leaking for months, the company will have to shut the well down permanently, California regulators say.
And in the meantime, the company will have to minimize air pollution from the ongoing leak and fund an independent study on potential health impacts on the surrounding community.
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Twitter's stock slides amid leadership shake-up // San Jose Mercury News
Four Twitter executives are leaving the San Francisco tech firm in a major leadership shake-up that some analysts say could weigh on the company's already murky future as its stock took another beating Monday.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey confirmed in a Sunday night tweet that Alex Roetter, senior vice president of engineering; Katie Jacobs Stanton, vice president of global media; Kevin Weil, senior vice president of products; and Brian Schipper, vice president of human resources; all chose to leave the San Francisco tech firm.
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S.F. library rolls out Biblio Bistro for lessons on cooking // SF Gate
Seven years ago, a tiny garden of mixed greens and vegetables was planted in the children’s area at the Mission Branch Library. But the kids were befuddled about what to do with the produce.
That’s when program manager Lia Hillman realized there was a disconnect between healthy food and the ability to cook it, especially for youngsters and families using hot plates in single room occupancy units. So the former chef bought a Charlie Cart — a mobile kitchen equipped with burners, an oven and utensils — and set out to teach library patrons how to saute, sear and score.