Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Brian Krans

Lisa Pickoff-White @pickoffwhite.bsky.social · Aug 4

We’ve launched a database with about 1.5 million pages of once-secret records detailing when law enforcement officers in California seriously injured someone or an agency found an officer violated policy with @kqednews.kqed.org, @sfchronicle.com @latimes.com @calmatters.org 1/

CLEAN - KQED News

Search California public records about law enforcement violence and misconduct.

policerecords.kqed.org

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Michael Bolden @mbolden.bsky.social · Aug 4

Congratulations and thank you to the many people, programs and institutions that have brought the Police Records Access Project into being. This represents the best of journalism, hard work, collaboration and service to the communities in which we live. journalism.berkeley.edu/police-recor...

A new database on police use of force and misconduct in California makes public 1.5 million pages of once-secret police records

For Immediate Release August 4, 2025 Contact: [email protected] A new database on police use of force and misconduct in California makes public 1.5 million pages of once-secret police records ...

journalism.berkeley.edu

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The Vallejo Sun @vallejosun.bsky.social · Jul 30

The Vallejo City Council voted to use an outside law firm to consider whether it must respond to and conduct an investigation into “recent allegations” after the ACLU sent a letter last week accusing the city attorney of misconduct.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-cont...

Vallejo contracts outside law firm for review after ACLU letter

The city will contract with Renne Public Law Group to review what councilmembers called “recent allegations.”

www.vallejosun.com

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Gabrielle Canon @gabriellecanon.bsky.social · Jul 23

IKYMI: There are dangerous vacancies in firefighting at the USFS even as agency leaders continue to assure Congress and the public that it is fully staffed. Internal data shows more than 26% of positions are unfilled across the US. My story (pubbed yesterday): www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

US faces alarming firefighter shortage during peak wildfire season, data reveals

Data contradicts what the fire service chief has claimed when he has assured lawmakers the agency is prepared

www.theguardian.com

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jul 21

Joint effort with @josephgeha.bsky.social.

www.kqed.org/news/1204904...

Pat Tillman’s Brother, Arrested in San José Post Office Fire, Had Alarming Posts Online | KQED

The brother of the late Pat Tillman Jr. is suspected of starting a fire at a San José post office by crashing into it, and his family says he has had mental health issues for years.

www.kqed.org

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · Jun 26

NEW: Documents obtained by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social show that of the tens of thousands of veterans who were separated from the military due to their sexuality over decades, only 21 ended up applying for a pardon—and only four have received one.

Thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans were supposed to get pardons. A year later, only four have succeeded.

President Joe Biden had pledged to use his clemency powers to right “a historic wrong.” Why did it fall so short of its promise?

www.motherjones.com

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jun 24

Here's my full report for @kqednews.kqed.org, including what happens next in this uncharted territory, as no other elected board has removed a sheriff in California history. www.kqed.org/news/1204569...

San Mateo County Supervisors Take Historic Vote to Remove Sheriff | KQED

In a first in California’s history, San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus, a decision she can appeal.

www.kqed.org

Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jun 24

In a rapid-fire roll call vote, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors made California history by voting to remove an elected sheriff. Christina Corpus now has five calendar days to signify she wants to appeal the decision.

Background: www.kqed.org/news/1201828...

California Sheriffs Are Rarely Removed From Office. San Mateo Is Trying Anyway | KQED

Supervisors are trying two different ways to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office — one has never been successfully used and the other hasn’t happened in nearly half a century.

www.kqed.org

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Alex Hogan @alexhogan.bsky.social · Jun 24

Bill Cassidy is challenging RFK Jr. about his changes to ACIP, the CDC's vaccine advisory panel. I chatted with @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social a couple weeks ago about why Cassidy is uniquely positioned to question RFK Jr.'s decisions @statnews.com

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jun 21

The scene from an hour-long protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza this afternoon at San Francisco’s Ferry Building.

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Matthias Gafni @mgafni.bsky.social · Jun 19

Matthew Muller, “American Nightmare” rapist and kidnapper, convicted of a new crime.

As a 16yo, Muller terrorized a young couple camping. More details here:

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

‘American Nightmare’ rapist convicted of terrorizing campers at Northern California lake

Serial rapist and kidnapper Matthew Muller’s latest charge stems from an incident when he was 16 years old and used a gun to order two young campers out of their tent at Folsom Lake.

www.sfchronicle.com

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jun 17

I was in an immigration courthouse yesterday and the bailiff at the metal detector emphasizes that I had to keep my "recording device," a.k.a. my phone, in my pocket or bag the whole time no matter what. This must be why.

Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Jun 17

It's not every day you attend an immigration hearing for people seeking asylum to find a member of Congress -- who is seeking info from ICE about people detained while seeking asylum -- sitting behind you, but that's exactly what happened yesterday in Concord.

www.kqed.org/news/1204459...

Bay Area Lawmaker Demands Answers After ICE Arrests at Immigration Courts | KQED

In a letter, Mark DeSaulnier demanded that ICE provide answers about its activity in Concord. On Monday, he attended an immigration hearing in the East Bay city.

www.kqed.org

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Apr 30

District Judge Jeffrey White ruled that Wenger, who now lives in Florida, will not immediately be taken into custody because the U.S. Marshals Service is not prepared to “make provisions for [Wenger’s] safety as a former police officer.”

www.kqed.org/news/1203822...

Former Antioch Cop Is Guilty of Planning to Distribute Steroids and Destroying Evidence | KQED

A federal jury in Oakland convicted former Antioch officer Devon Wenger of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids and then deleting evidence off his phone while the FBI was at his door.

www.kqed.org

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Apr 22

Why was the first Earth Day in 1970?

In 1969, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District recorded 65 days out of compliance with the ozone health standard, a record that still stands today. Santa Clara County was regularly blanketed in smog and breathing for many was a daily struggle.

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Mar 11

At the first Earth Day at San Jose State in 1970, students raised money, bought a brand new Ford Maverick, and pushed it to campus to be entombed.

ADMIT ONE
SURE!
HERE'S A DOLLAR, I'LL HELP YOU BUY A NEW,
SHINING, 1970 AUTOMOBILE, AS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE AGAINST POLLUTION, TO BE BURIED AT THE SURVIVAL FAIRE AT SAN JOSE STATE COLLEGE ON FEBRUARY 20, 1970.

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San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · Apr 16

Valero Refining Co. has told California regulators that its considering closing its facility in the Bay Area city of Benicia.

“We understand the impact that this may have on our employees, business partners, and community, and will continue to work with them through this period.”

Valero announces possible closure of its Benicia refinery

Valero Refining has told California authorities that it intends to idle, close or restructure the facility next year.

www.sfchronicle.com

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Berkeleyside @berkeleyside.org · Apr 18

An eviction notice was posted on the Point Richmond restaurant and music venue that owed thousands in back rent and wages according to legal filings.

Baltic Kiss closes after turbulent few months

An eviction notice was posted on the Point Richmond restaurant and music venue that owed thousands in back rent and wages according to legal filings.

www.berkeleyside.org

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KQED Forum @kqedforum.bsky.social · Apr 18

🎧 Listen to the podcast!

Oakland news reporters Alex Hall, @darwinbondgraham.bsky.social and @shomik.bsky.social on this unusual mayoral race and the future of Oakland.

🔗 Listen:

KQED's Forum

Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second…

buff.ly

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Apr 16

Todays episode of KQED’s The Bay podcast features my reporting on the opening of San Francisco’s newest park and the controversy around it. And, yes -- as I said on the show -- my rollerblades are bubble gum pink.

kqed.org/news/12036078

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UC Berkeley Labor Center @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social · Apr 9

If a post-Chevron future for Richmond, CA, is imminent, what should the city and local stakeholders be doing right now to prepare? A comprehensive look at what might be next for this refinery town; includes analysis from our recent report. @citizenkrans.bsky.social richmondside.org/2025/04/01/c...

Will Richmond always be a refinery town? Mounting evidence says no

Statewide trends and new studies suggest Contra Costa County’s refineries won’t be around forever. But transitioning could be a messy process.

richmondside.org

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Brian Krans @citizenkrans.bsky.social · Apr 1

Local reporting doesn’t always involve contacting the EPA about the status of an oil refinery on the Virgin Islands, but sometimes it does. My latest for Richmondside looks at the very near future for refineries in the US: richmondside.org/2025/04/01/c...

Will Richmond always be a refinery town? Mounting evidence says no

Statewide trends and new studies suggest Contra Costa County’s refineries won’t be around forever. But transitioning could be a messy process.

richmondside.org

Reposted by Brian Krans

Ezra David Romero @climatedaddykqed.bsky.social · Mar 28

✈️🌧️I got a tip Wednesday night that the federal hiring freeze affects the meteorologists who help air traffic controllers with weather reports for flights in and out of the Bay Area. They are down to 1 meteorologist & can't rehire the three vacancies.

@kqednews.kqed.org
www.kqed.org/news/1203333...

Bay Area Air Traffic Control Is Down to 1 Meteorologist After Trump's Hiring Freeze | KQED

The federal hiring freeze has left a vital Bay Area aviation weather unit with just one meteorologist, risking flight delays and disruptions. The unit oversees a vast airspace, ensuring the safe landi...

www.kqed.org

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Ezra David Romero @climatedaddykqed.bsky.social · Mar 25

Uncertainty Looms Over Bay Area Climate Projects Under Trump: ‘We’re in Triage’

$60 mil in funding is at risk, stalling efforts on wildfire prevention etc. across the region, according to a new survey by Together Bay Area

@kqednews.kqed.org
@kqedscience.bsky.social

www.kqed.org/science/1996...

Uncertainty Looms Over Bay Area Climate Projects Under Trump: ‘We’re in Triage’ | KQED

Potential federal cuts threaten at least $60 million in funding, stalling wildfire prevention efforts and other critical projects across the region. Local leaders warn years of progress could be lost.

www.kqed.org

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The Vallejo Sun @vallejosun.bsky.social · Mar 21

Behind the scenes of the Vallejo city government, 21 commissions, boards and committees influence legislation, study vital issues and act as a check on the city government.

So why is it so hard for the city to find people to join?
www.vallejosun.com/obscure-boar...

Obscure boards and commissions play important role in Vallejo’s governance

Despite the influence of the city’s 21 boards, commissions and committees, the city struggles to find people to fill the roles.

www.vallejosun.com

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Reposted by Brian Krans

Ximena Bustillo @ximenabustillo.bsky.social · Mar 15

NEW: President Trump has filed a presidential action invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a seldom-used law that gives authority to deport. It's only the fourth time in American history a president has used the act — and the first since World War II. t.co/zqQbKxGRh7

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/15/nx-s1-5246028/trump-alien-enemies-act-tren-de-aragua-deportation

t.co

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