Bay Current

It’s just about game time in Las Vegas, where the San Francisco 49ers are facing off with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2024 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. 

Tickets to the game are almost $10,000, but at a time where it seems everyone is struggling financially, who can even afford to go to these games? How does this rematch up the stakes? And are women-identified NFL fans going to save the face of the game?

In this episode of Bay Current, we get some answers from Alicia Jessop, program chair of the sport administration program at Pepperdine University and the founder of the media platform Ruling Sports.

The 21st Annual SF Sketchfest is underway in San Francisco, bringing comedians, improv performers, writers and lots of chuckles together for over two weeks of shows: from literal sketches to musical performances and improvised Shakespeare, on stages big and small across the city. 

But, why San Francisco?

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio’s Mallory Somera sits down with SF Sketchfest co-founder Cole Stratton to talk about the comedy festival’s run, what makes San Francisco a good audience and the legacy of “Nash Bridges.”

For more Bay Area stories, subscribe to Bay Current on the Audacy app or wherever you get podcasts. 

Donald Trump did what he expected to do in the Iowa Caucus last night by winning it handily and Ron DeSantis saved his campaign by coming in second over Nikki Haley. DeSantis earned a ticket to New Hampshire, where Haley is heavily favored. For the latest, here's KCBS' Doug Sovern. Produced by Mallory Somera and Joe Hiti. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

Photo credit: Former President Donald Trump speaks at his caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowans voted today in the state’s caucuses for the first contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process. Trump has been projected winner of the Iowa caucus. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It’s been a tragic and harrowing week in the Sierra, where one person died between two avalanches in two days at two adjoining ski areas.

The avalanches followed a powerful winter storm in the region, however experts say they didn’t expect anything like this within resort bounds. 

But can they be predicted? And is there anyway to mitigate them?

To get some answers, KCBS Radio’s Nikki Medoro and Eric Thomas spoke with Dr. Ethan Greene, professor of avalanche science and director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at Colorado Mountain College.

An incarcerated man, who was honored in 2022 as a hero for saving the life of a Vacaville woman, is now suffering from Stage 4 kidney failure and dramatic weight loss behind bars.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald finds out what it would take for Darnell Armstrong to live in comfort at home and hears from Armstrong's wife, Felicia Armstrong.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Kris Ankarlo heads to Grizzly Peak to meet the man leading litter clean up efforts at one of the East Bay's most popular (and gorgeous) lookout points and hiking destinations.

Neither California Governor Gavin Newsom nor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have shied away from feeding the headlines with thoughts on each other’s respective states. And now they’re set to debate this Thursday, November 30 on Fox, moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity. 

But, Gov. Newsom isn’t running for president or a nomination for 2024 like Gov. DeSantis is, so what’s the point of the debate?

To get a sense of what we expect to see and hear during the debate, KCBS Radio’s Mallory Somera sat down with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of “The State of California.” 

The musical The Wiz broke ground in 1975, changing the face of Broadway. Now, almost 50 years later, it’s back on stage with its first limited run, Broadway-bound tour in 40 years, with a run at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre in early 2024. 

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Megan Goldsby had the chance to sit down and chat with a few of the very well-known folks bringing the story to life across the country: Wayne Brady, who will portray the Wiz, lead producer Brian Moreland and comedian Amber Ruffin, who wrote additional materials for this run. 

Cheryl White is an undersung American icon. She was the United States’ first Black, female jockey, standing up to racial segregation and gender discrimination on the back of a horse, even making her mark on tracks up and down the California coast and in the Bay Area. 

In this episode of “Bay Current,” KCBS Radio’s Mallory Somera sat down with Cheryl’s brother, Raymond White, Jr., and New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir, co-authors of a new book inspired by Cheryl’s story: “The Jockey and her Horse”.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Kris Ankarlo wraps up his 4-part series by checking in with the hikers who braved the snow pack by trekking 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Conversations around mental health, mental wellness are not easy. But talk can save lives. 

So all this week, we’re featuring conversations and stories that highlight mental health and wellness, as a part of Audacy’s annual I’m Listening special. 

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mary Hughes helps us take a look at the state of mental health in our aging LGBTQ+ communities and what’s being done to make sure they don’t feel alone.

Conversations around mental health, mental wellness are not easy. 

So all this week, we’re featuring conversations and stories that highlight mental health and wellness, as a part of Audacy’s annual I’m Listening special. 

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Mike DeWald helps us take a look at the growing push to care for the wellness of athletes from youth sports all the way up to the pros.

The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has initiated coordinated strikes at three factories belonging to General Motors, Ford and Stellantis—the parent company of Chrysler—kicking off one of the most impactful industrial labor actions in the U.S. in many years.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio anchors Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer speak with William Gould, Stanford law professor emeritus and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board and author of “For Labor to Build Upon.”

A beloved, underground farm-to-table Mexican restaurant in Santa Rosa has been shut down after 30 years of serving firefighters, policemen and its community.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio’s Mike DeWald told us about the eatery, known as “Abuela’s House.” We also got to hear from the family who ran it, as well as Santa Rosa City Councilmember Eric Alvarez about the significance of its neighborhood and the legacy it will leave behind.

Youth sports provide the structure and community kids need growing up, and can help build confidence and problem solving skills. But it is time consuming, expensive and can add to the risk of potential injuries. 

So how do you balance it all?

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio’s Doug Sovern dives into a world he’s become ingrained in with his own kids, and tells us what he's learned while putting together reports for our week-long series on The State of Play.

Check out our Town Hall on the “State of Play” and youth sports, and stay tuned to KCBS Radio to hear our week-long series.  

Three years ago, the Bay Area woke up to dark orange, apocalyptic skies, the aftermath of a barrage of wildfires burning throughout the state.

While it was an anomaly at the time, more cities have begun to experience the same thing, as wildfires become more widespread and frequent. Are orange skies our new normal?

In this episode of Bay Current, we get some answers from Ian Faloona, bio-micrometeorologist and Professor of Atmospheric Science at UC Davis.

Burning Man has finally kicked off, even after Tropical Storm Hilary delayed and muddied the week-long event. 

What started as the burning of an 8-foot human effigy on San Francisco’s Baker Beach has now exploded into what it is today as Black Rock City in Nevada, where tens of thousands of attendees plan for the music and art-filled event for months. 

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio reporter Jim Taylor tells us all about his experience and the conditions this year's burners came up against.

IKEA, the Swedish experiential furniture retail store, opened in downtown San Francisco this week. As high-end retailers like Nordstrom and Anthropologie make their exit out of the city and big box discount retailers like IKEA and Total Wine & More move in, could we be seeing the suburbanization of San Francisco?

To get some answers, KCBS Radio’s Mallory Somera sat down with Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

Wildfires have devastated the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui, and as investigations into the start of the fires continue, the death count and estimate of destruction are expected to rise. 

In this episode of Bay Current, we hear from KCBS Radio reporter Jennifer Hodges, who flew to report on the scene on Maui to tell us what she witnessed first-hand in the aftermath of the tragedy.

In this episode of Bay Current, KCBS Radio's Mallory Somera sat down with Jahi, founder and curator of the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives and Davey D, hip hop historian, professor and radio host, to discuss how diaspora and community laid the foundation for the genre and to find out more about the artists and culture makers inducted into the first-ever archives dedicated to Bay Area hip hop.