An Asian-American Author Talks About Racism in the Pandemic

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June 24, 2020 By Thess Mostoles Kelly Yang, a young-adult novelist based in San Francisco, was teaching a free writing class for teenagers on Instagram Live in March when she began to talk about how her writing has been affected by surging xenophobia against Asian-Americans in the coronavirus pandemic. As Ms. Yang was talking, one of…

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Saving Heroes

The cover of East Bay Express, with input from Berkeley Journalism, features a firefighter in full gear looking backward. The headline reads "Help the Heroes," with subtext, "Services Needed for First Responders p7." Additional topics listed include defunding cops, Facebook's issues, and cannabis inequities.

Limited services for first responders dealing with mental trauma June 25, 2020 In 2017, a retired police captain woke up in the middle of the night with his gun in his hand, his wife’s shriek breaking the 3am silence. The metal felt cold against his sweaty palm, his heart beat like it was ready to…

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In the Midst of the Coronavirus, CA Weighs Diesel Regulations

A line of large semi-trucks is parked along the side of a road with a chain-link fence on the left. The trucks are positioned one after another. In the background, there are hills and a few scattered palm trees, evoking scenes often captured by Berkeley Journalism students. A car is parked on the right side of the road.

Communities that live in the shadow of industry are hit hard by pollution, and by Covid-19. But companies are using the pandemic to try to delay stricter rules. June 9, 2020 Every day, nearly 18,000 diesel-powered trucks barrel along State Route 60 in Jurupa Valley, a small city 45 miles east of Los Angeles. The…

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How Paradise High’s Class of 2020 Got Its Graduation

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The students and parents pushed and prodded over 10 weeks for an exception to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shelter-in-place order. June 15, 2020 PARADISE, Calif. — When Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to fight the coronavirus by closing down the entire state, including schools, the seniors at Paradise High School began peppering local officials with one…

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Special challenges of special education students under quarantine

A person using a large red button access switch participates in a video call on a tablet. Seated at a wooden desk in a room with books and computer accessories, they engage with multiple individuals in a virtual meeting, reminiscent of an inclusive session hosted by Berkeley Journalism.

May 29, 2020 The sudden shift to remote learning has pushed Sonoma County’s 40 school districts into unchartered territory, testing already-strained resources. For its nearly 400 special education students, the transition has been especially tough, and the stakes could not be higher, as districts plan for summer and fall sessions. On a typical school day,…

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How Has Covid-19 Impacted Homeless Advocates and Service Providers?

A group of six people are celebrating amidst a room filled with packed boxes and assorted items. Some are raising their arms in triumph, while others are smiling and seated. The background includes potted plants, various storage items, and a poster for Berkeley Journalism.

  May 12, 2020 Many of the public services and spaces unhoused people rely on have temporarily stopped or closed. Those that remain open are overburdened and under-resourced. The over 5,000 unhoused residents of Berkeley and Oakland struggle to find the most basic necessities as libraries and restaurants are closed, and food banks and meal…

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