Oakland voted to legitimize diverse family structures, and Berkeley is on tap to do the same. Advocates see the legal protections as a significant step to reduce stigma.
Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto last year, lawmakers hope SB 1012 can finally regulate supervised use of psychedelics in California.
A new proposal would increase flexibility and accessibility to methadone. Assemblymember Matt Haney thinks this will address the state's opioid crisis.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2024/04/10/a-bay-area-lawmaker-pushes-to-expand-access-to-methadone/
One woman with Huntington's disease was left in limbo at Kaiser’s emergency department in Richmond for more than 4 months as she waited for space in a nursing home.
Residents of the California Pacific Medical Center are pushing the Sutter Health network for increased security in an inpatient psych unit after a horrific assault.
The county is already the state’s largest oil producer and a top producer of agricultural products, but climate change — and the state’s effort to mitigate it — threatens those economic m...
California legalized human composting in 2022, but the law won’t take effect until 2027. This San Francisco man didn’t want to wait.
After years of delays, the newly installed stainless steel suicide-deterrent safety net on Golden Gate Bridge may offer a literal lifeline to families and individuals struggling with depression.
As the Israel-Hamas war stretches on, videos from overseas continue to shock viewers and listeners in the Bay Area. Social media platforms are rivers of atrocities, which can leave people emotion...
California patients are waiting to see what coverage policies insurers will set for the new pill form of the drug, zuranolone.
The FDA approved two gene therapies for anyone 12 and older suffering from the most severe form of sickle cell disease, a brutal blood disorder long neglected by medical research.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/12/09/fda-approves-first-gene-editing-treatment-for-human-illness/
California’s top health insurance authority faces mounting criticism and impatience from lawmakers and advocates who accuse the regulator of going easy on health insurers.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/10/23/is-californias-landmark-mental-health-law-working/
What is it about immersing ourselves in nature that makes us feel so good? It turns out, there's some fascinating science behind those feelings.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/10/09/why-nature-is-great-for-your-mental-health/
The Port of Oakland settled a lawsuit with West Oakland environmentalists who argued the project would expose residents to pollution.
Air pollution from wildfire smoke can pose serious health risks for people residing in affected areas. Here are some key steps people can take to protect their lungs.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/09/19/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke/
While Bay Area virus levels are still lower than earlier surges, it may be time to take precautions. Plus, a universal vaccine is in the works.
SARS-CoV-2 has not yet fallen into a predictable seasonal pattern of the type most respiratory pathogens follow, experts say.
State attorneys general vowed the funds would go toward tackling the addiction crisis. But as with the tobacco payouts of the 1990s, local officials have started using them to fill budget shortfa...
Waste would undergo extensive treatment and testing before it's piped directly to taps, providing a new, costly but renewable water supply. The state's new draft rules are more than a decade in t...
You can still enjoy the outdoors this summer despite the scorching weather, if you're smart about it. Here's what to watch out for and how to stay safe.
The study is among the first to pinpoint areas where rising groundwater is at risk of making contact with contaminants and could move them toward the bay or people’s homes.
Hospitals are short specialists up and down the state.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/06/16/patients-are-waiting-days-for-care-in-some-california-ers/
Clinicians anticipate some key barriers as magic mushrooms move from trial studies to treatment for diseases like depression.
California officials are stepping up efforts to combat the spread of xylazine, a powerful animal sedative that’s increasingly being used by people, often with devastating results.
Reality bites: Warming weather has extended skeeter season in San Francisco by six weeks. Here are some tips for managing the bugs.
Following their success in using sewers for COVID-19 surveillance, Marin public health officials began testing weekly samples for everything from nicotine to methamphetamine and fentanyl in early...
The ambitious plan would phase out the state's diesel truck fleets, from semi-trucks to delivery vans and garbage trucks.
The plan would accelerate the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the state within the next two decades.
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2023/04/27/california-poised-to-phase-out-its-fleets-of-diesel-trucks/
The researchers are examining decades of birth records and wildfire smoke data to understand how wildfires affect pregnancy and children’s health.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday to preserve access to the abortion drug while the case is pending appeal.