Goodwill works: breaking employment barriers though second chances
KTVU's Greg Lee discusses the power of second chances with Jonathan "JT" Toledo, Director of Operations at Goodwill SF Bay.
COVID cases driven by "flirt" subvariants on the rise
New data indicates COVID cases are on the rise in California, driven by a series of new strains of the virus known as "flirt" subvariants. As we head towards summer, those more transmissible subvariants have now overtaken the previous winter strain. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease expert at UCSF about effective our current COVID vaccines are against the new strains.
Congress calls for full investigation into FCI Dublin
Six weeks after the Bureau of Prisons abruptly shut down FCI Dublin, ten U.S. representatives including several from the Bay Area are calling for a full investigation into the corrections facility, including hearings on the closure and the past cultures of abuse and treatment of inmates. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Greg Lee discuss the request with East Bay congressman Mark DeSaulnier.
What's new in iOS 18: AI-generated emojis, smart Siri, and more
One standout feature in Apple's iOS 18 will leverage generative AI to create custom emojis on the fly based on users' text messages, offering an all-new, personalized emoji for any occasion beyond the existing catalog.
Bay Area high school senior's art to hang in U.S. Capitol
A Burlingame high school senior won first place for her artwork as a part of the congressional art competition. The piece focuses on raising awareness about gun violence in America. The winner was selected by Rep. Kevin Mullin from California's 15th district and the teen's art will be displayed in Washington, D.C. at the Capitol building. For more on her work, KTVU's Crystal Bailey is joined live in the studio by Lauren Cheng.
Jay Pharoah live in the KTVU studio, compares socks with Christien Kafton
Stand-up comic, actor and former SNL cast member Jay Pharoah joins KTVU's Christien Kafton live in the studio with a preview of Fox's brand new summer game show: "The Quiz with Balls".
Voters will decide whether to renew Measure P in November
For the last six years, the City of Berkeley has used property transfer tax money to pay for homeless services through Measure P. Since then, the city has also seen a decline in homelessness. In November, Berkeley voters will decide whether to renew that funding source. KTVU's Christien Kafton and Crystal Bailey are joined by Berkeley Mayor and State Senate candidate Jesse Arreguin for a discussion about Measure P.
UC Berkeley peregrine falcon chicks officially named
The Cal Falcons fanbase has voted and now the four, fluffiest new additions to the UC Berkeley peregrine falcon family have officially been named. Introducing Aurora, Solstice (Sol for short), Equinox (Nox for short) and Eclipse. Falcon fans have been weighing in on names all week, racking up nearly 4,000 votes, but this group of nature-themed names was the clear favorite. Very fitting, as the chicks were all born the week of Earth Day last month.
Tech giants ramp up virtual assistants with generative AI
Amazon's voice assistant Alexa is reportedly getting an AI upgrade. The company plans to launch a more conversational version of Alexa later this year using generative AI but Amazon also reportedly plans to charge customers a monthly subscription fee for the upgrade. The move is part of an effort to compete with some of the new AI powered chat bots hitting the market by OpenAI and Google. KTVU's Alex Savidge discusses the value of AI upgrades with Pete Nicoletti from cybersecurity software company, Check Point.
Lung cancer prevalence among Asian Americans
Asian Americans have become the first racial ethnic group in the U.S. for whom cancer is the leading cause of death, but they are also the least likely group to be screened. Lung cancer, is of particular concern. Studies show lung cancer rates among non-smoking Asian American men and women are on the rise, increasing 2% each year. KTVU's Greg Lee discusses the ongoing health issue and potential solutions with Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Jeff Velotta.
Bay Area heading out for Memorial Day weekend
Nationwide, AAA estimates nearly 44 million people will travel 50 miles or more for Memorial Day weekend. That's a 5% jump compared to last year. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Greg Lee discuss the staggering travel numbers with AAA spokesperson John Treanor ahead of the summer season.
Daily marijuana use surpasses daily drinking in US, study finds
For the first time, more Americans use marijuana daily or nearly every day than those who drink alcohol that frequently, a shift 40 years in the making as recreational pot use has become mainstream and legal in nearly half of U.S. states.
Managing mental health for older adults
KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined by Dr. Alicia English, Licensed Clinical Psychologist with the Center for Elders' Independence for more on the unique mental health challenges adults over 60 face and the best strategies to support anyone in your life who may be struggling with mental health issues.
AAPI Heritage and Pride Month intersect with QTAPI Week
As AAPI Heritage Month wraps up and Pride Month begins, this week is an intersection of the two. It is known as Queer and Transgender Asian Pacific Islander Week, or QTAPI Week. In 2021, San Francisco became the first city in the country to officially celebrate the week with a resolution passed by city supervisors. It designates the week as a time of celebration and recognition. KTVU's Claudine Wong is joined by Nguyen Pham, President of San Francisco Pride for more on what the week means to both the queer and AAPI communities.
Honoring Harvey Milk's legacy in 2024
KTVU's Alex Savidge and Claudine Wong are joined by Edward Wright, President Emeritus of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club to discuss the significance of Harvey Milk Day and impact his life still has on the queer community, decades after his death.
Free summer concert series returns to San Francisco
Next month, The Summer of Music free concert series returns to San Francisco for its second year. The event is organized by the non-profit Civic Joy Fund and music promoter Noise Pop Industries. This summer, hundreds of live performances will happen on street corners and inside businesses and stores across various neighborhoods. Right now, organizers are still accepting applications from local musicians and businesses that want to take part. KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined by Manny Yekutiel, Executive Director of the Civic Joy Fund and Michelle Swing, CEO of Noise Pop Industries for more on this year's plans.
San Francisco Public Library hosts genealogical history conference
This week, the San Francisco Public Library is hosting its first free Genealogical and Family History Conferenced aimed at giving people the tools to discover where they came from and who they are related to. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined by Daniel Matsumoto, Electronic Resources Specialist at the San Francisco Public Library for more on the special event.
OpenAI suspends release of controversial virtual assistant
San Francisco-based OpenAI has suspended the released of one of the voice options for its new virtual assistant because it sounds strikingly similar to actress Scarlett Johansson. Johansson played the voice of an AI virtual assistant in the 2013 film "Her" and said in a statement that the voice sounds "eerily similar to mine". OpenAI says the voice was done by a different professional actor, although the company did first ask Johansson to license her voice for the virtual assistant. KTVU's Heather Holmes and Alex Savidge are joined by J.D. Harriman, attorney specializing in intellectual property issues with the Foundation Law Group for more on the legal questions raised by the situation.
Matthew Perry death: LAPD investigating how 'Friends' star obtained ketamine
Local and federal authorities Tuesday were investigating how "Friends" actor Matthew Perry obtained the prescription drug ketamine, which contributed to his death in October.
Exhibit spotlights toll of Ukraine war on children
Two years after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we are seeing the toll the conflict continues to have on the children caught in the violence. Dozens of colorful drawings and paintings are on display right now at San Jose State University. The Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Library is home to artworks created by children displayed by the war in Ukraine in a new exhibit called "Children Draw War, Not Flowers." KTVU's Heather Holmes discusses the artwork with Dr. Ulia Gosart, organizer of the exhibit and Assistant Professor at San Jose State University's School of Information.