South Bay leaders commit to using AI for social good
A newly formed partnership with the Gov-AI Coalition held its first public forum in San Jose, designed to help people learn about the group's mission. The partnership is intended to ensure local government has a voice in the future of AI and how it is used to help the public. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes discuss the group's goals with Khaled Tawfik, San Jose Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology.
Bay Area teens build satellite, headed to space via NASA
A group of engineering students at a Morgan Hill private school have achieved something remarkable. A small satellite built by students at Oakwood School has been selected by NASA to launch to the International Space Station. Oakwood was the only K-12 school chosen for the agency's Cube-Sat Launch Initiative, selected alongside other universities and a NASA flight center. The nanosatellite created by the team at Oakwood is called "Nyan Sat", a nod to the popular meme. KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined live in studio by two of the Oakwood students who helped build the satellite, junior Lauren Sorci and senior Ruchir Kavulli for more on the project.
"Smarty Marty" breaks barriers in the sports world and beyond
Longtime San Francisco Giants sideline reporter Amy Gutierrez is out with the third installment in her children's book series: "Smarty Marty Takes The Field". The latest book is inspired by trailblazing Giants Assistant Coach Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in MLB history. KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined live in studio by Amy G for more on her new book and what's next for both her and Marty.
Bay Area teen survives cardiac arrest, now advocating for heart health
A Bay Area teen who recently survived cardiac arrest at just 13 years old spoke at the Heart Ball this weekend in Sacramento where she helped raise $250,000 for the American Heart Association. Heather Freligh and the friends who helped save her life back in September were also recognized by the 911 for Kids Foundation. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined in studio by Heather and her dad Derek as well as her friend McKenna Adamo, one of the young women who jumped into action to help her when she collapsed at school, for more on their advocacy plans moving forward.
Confronting sexism and gender bias in Silicon Valley
The Bay Area is home to a number of tech giants and start-ups, attracting people from all backgrounds across the world. But the industry can also be notoriously cut-throat and presents an additional set of challenges for women navigating the often male-dominated field. In her new novel, creative writer Kyla Zhao chronicles the life of a Gen Z woman tackling gender bias, sexism and doubt in Silicon Valley. KTVU's Heather Holmes speaks with Zhao about how her own experiences influenced "Valley Verified" and the advice she has for any woman entering tech.
Deadly mountain lion attack renews conversation about wildlife safety
The first deadly mountain lion attack in California in 20 years is renewing the conversation about wildlife safety and how humans interact with wild animals. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Alys Granados from the Bay Area Puma Project about the best ways to avoid conflict with mountain lions and the likelihood of attacks like this happening in the first place.
New report: Cost of being a woman in California
New research by Mount Saint Mary's University reveals the average monetary cost of being a woman in California and highlights the work that still needs to be done to address inequities, including but not limited to the wage gap. In its latest report on The Status of Women and Girls in California, data shows the wage gap has narrowed over the past decade but COVID slowed the progress down significantly, especially for women of color. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes are joined by Dr. Nicole Haggard, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary's University for more on the report.
Adoptable dogs available now at Oakland Animal Services
KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes are joined live in studio by Ann Dunn, Director of Oakland Animal Services and German Shepherd Doberman Pinscher mix Bruno with his foster mom Madison Hale ahead of National Puppy Day.
Trauma specialist explains paths to healing in wake of 'Quiet on Set'
The new documentary series "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" dives into the dysfunction of the children's tv industry, particularly popular Nickelodeon shows run by Dan Schneider. Several actors and former child stars tell their stories of abuse and inappropriate behavior at work, renewing the conversation about child safety and healing from traumatic experiences. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined by Dr. Frank Anderson, Harvard psychiatrist and trauma specialist about this docuseries brings to light an issue that is far from exclusive to the entertainment industry.
"March Munch Madness" tips off in Berkeley
Basketball fans are buzzing for the start of March Madness but in Berkeley, they're celebrating something called "Munch Madness". The city is tipping off its highly-anticipated restaurant week with more than 75 restaurants offering delicious deals, many of which highlighting mushrooms as their MVP. The motto is..."They shoot, they spore!" KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes are joined live in studio by Jeffrey Church with Visit Berkeley for details on this year's tiered pricing options, from the "Layup" to the "Full Court Press".
Campaign raises more than $1 million for sexual assault survivors
When a sexual assault victim steps forward, the are all too often met with hurtful comments that they, in some way are responsible for what happened. Victim blaming is sadly a common occurrence, and a campaign called "Still Not Asking For It" has been fighting that stigma for the last 10 years. The annual flash charity event is held at tattoo shops in the Bay Area and around the world, raising more than $1million to help support sexual assault survivors. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined live in studio by Ben Verhoek, tattoo artist and co-owner of Pastime Tattoo in San Leandro for more on this weekend's annual event and how to participate.
Goodwill SF teaming up with SFSU fashion design students
Goodwill is partnering up with local fashion design students in an effort to repurpose clothes and turn them into new garments. Six students from San Francisco State University's Fashion Design and Merchandising Department have been given clothes from a Goodwill warehouse that would otherwise have been thrown away. By the end of the semester, they are challenged to showcase their upcycled garments on mannequins at one of the San Francisco Goodwill stores. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Julie Bryant, Goodwill SF's Director of Sustainability about the goals of the new partnership.
Female athletes sue NCAA, allege "serial" Title IX violations
A new lawsuit is taking aim at the NCAA's policies on transgender athletes. More than a dozen current and former athletes filed the suit, accusing the association of violating their rights under Title IX by allowing a transgender woman to compete in a swimming competition. At the national championships in 2022, Lia Thomas won the Women's 500-Yard Freestyle Event competing for the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas was the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division 1 Title in any sport. In the lawsuit, one of the plaintiffs, Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines says she tied for 5th place with Thomas in a different event but Thomas was handed the trophy instead of her. KTVU's Alex Savidge discusses the lawsuit and allegations with Shaun Fletcher, Professor of Public Relations and Sports Communication at San Jose State University.
How to manage seasonal allergies with and without medication
Spring is here and so are seasonal allergies. KTVU's Heather Holmes speaks with Dr. Malaika Stoll, Senior Medical Director at Blue Shield of California about the best ways to prevent and reduce allergy symptoms with and without taking medicine.
Viral ad pushes back against misconceptions about Down syndrome
An ad released ahead of World Down Syndrome Day is sparking conversation and challenging assumptions about people with the condition. The ad stars Canadian actor and model Madison Tevlin and was produced by the advocacy group Coordown in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society and other organizations. The conclusion: assumptions, both negative and positive, can become reality. KTVU's Heather Holmes and Alex Savidge are joined by Madison Tevlin and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society Kandi Pickard for how they hope the ad will help shape public perception of Down syndrome.
Falcon baby watch returns, 2 eggs appear atop Berkeley clocktower
It's that time of year again; baby falcon watch! Just over a month ago, Annie, the beloved UC Berkeley peregrine falcon took a new mate into her nest on top of the Berkeley campanile. He has been named Archie, earning his title as a result of a falcon fan naming competition last month on social media. Three days ago, one egg appeared in the nest, followed by egg number two just yesterday. Now, the watch is on for eggs number three and four. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Cal Falcons biologists Lynn Schofield and Sean Peterson about all of the excitement as falcon chick season gets started.
Empowering women in the workplace through body language and confidence
A recent CNBC/SurveyMonkey survey found a lack of workplace satisfaction across the board for women, with 80% saying their career has not advanced in the last year and 17% saying they actually make less than they did the year prior. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined by communication strategist and author of "A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall, Raise Your Voice" for more on how women can break through communication barriers at work and advocate for themselves when it comes to pay, promotions and seniority.
Endometriosis Awareness Month: Recognizing and treating symptoms
March marks Endometriosis Awareness Month, a complex and chronic inflammatory condition affecting roughly 190 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Yet, many women are unaware they may have the disease. KTVU's Heather Holmes discusses symptoms and treatment with Dr. Miya Yamamoto, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon based at Kaiser San Leandro and Dr. Joan Manglic-Mot, Emergency Department Physician and endometriosis patient herself.
Tech expert explains advantages of sovereign AI for governments, companies
Santa Clara-based chipmaker Nvidia announced a new partnership with Oracle focused on what's known as sovereign AI, meaning individual countries or companies produce artificial intelligence using their own infrastructure and workforce allowing them to keep data secure. KTVU's Alex Savidge discusses the advantages of this strategy with tech expert and San Jose State University professor Ahmed Banafa.
"Connect Bay Area Act" could provide $750M a year for transit
State Senators Scott Wiener and Aisha Wahab say the "Connect Bay Area Act" could provide hundreds of millions of dollars to struggling local transit agencies. The senators say it would generate at least $750 million a year for transit operations and avoid service cuts. If the bill becomes law, a measure would be placed on the ballot in 2026 asking voters to authorize a new tax on sales, regional payroll or properties. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with State Sen. Wiener and bill co-author about how it would address the budget shortfalls and many Bay Area transit agencies are still facing after the pandemic.