- Intel announces $300 million initiative to boost workplace diversity (San Jose Mercury News):
Under fire along with other tech companies for its lack of diversity, Intel on Tuesday said it plans to dramatically increase the number of women and minority workers it employs within five years and will commit $300 million to the effort. The company's announcement makes it the first major Silicon Valley company to set goals to increase the diversity of its workforce amid a growing debate about the issue. Full story
- A Peninsula downtown gets a tech makeover (KQED News):
If you’ve been to downtown Redwood City recently, there’s no escaping the construction. Cranes crowd the sky as office buildings and condo complexes rise up to meet demand from tech companies. Full story
- The 2015 drought -- so far (California Water Blog):
A drought as bad as last year seems unlikely, but remains a possibility, especially for the Tulare Basin in the southern Central Valley. Rain has arrived, but the drought has not yet left. Fortunately, we have three months left in the wet season. We won’t know much for sure about the 2015 water outlook until March, no matter how eagerly we want to know. Full story
- Drought leads to more Spare the Air days (Santa Rosa Press Democrat):
December's welcome, wet days have faded into the weather almanac, pushed aside by a familiar bully — the dreaded thermal inversion layer. The atmospheric phenomenon often triggers a Spare the Air alert, a no-burn rule that prohibits the use of fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or other wood-burning devices across the Bay Area. Full story
- Experts say slashing oil use by half difficult, but doable (San Francisco Chronicle):
Gov. Jerry Brown’s goal of cutting California’s oil use in half may sound like an impossible task in a state famous for freeways and sprawl. But by one measure, we may be halfway there. Full story
- New 'zipper' trucks will move Golden Gate Bridge barrier, night and day (Marin Independent Journal):
Those who cross the Golden Gate Bridge will see two rather large new vehicles as part of their drives beginning next Monday. Bridge officials Tuesday unveiled two new $1.4 million "zipper" trucks that will move a new median barrier, which is set to be constructed and installed on the span this weekend. The work will necessitate a 52-hour closure of the span beginning just after midnight Friday. Full story
- Here's what San Francisco would look like if it gets 2024 Olympics (Curbed SF):
San Francisco's Olympic bid organizers have released the details of their $4.5 billion plan for the 2024 Summer Games, and they imagine a city where sporting events could be integrated almost seamlessly into existing structures and places. Full story
- O.J. Simpson's stolen Heisman Trophy recovered -- 20 years after theft (Los Angeles Times):
Los Angeles police say they have recovered O.J. Simpson's 1968 Heisman Trophy that was stolen from a display case at USC more than 20 years ago. The trophy -- the crowning award in college football -- was USC's copy of the statue and was on display in the athletic department when it was stolen in July 1994. Full story
- San Francisco's art bust fuels Oakland's art boom (KQED Arts):
Whether you dwell in 94704 or 94110, a web of art spaces, from commercial galleries to nomadic projects, is just a BART ride away. So top up your Clipper card, hop on a train and take a ride to bask in the rich visual culture on the bright side of the Bay. Full story
9 Stories You Should Know About Today: Wednesday, Jan. 7
Lake Oroville a year ago. Water storage in the giant reservoir has increased by 50 percent over its late November low point, but is still far below normal. (Dan Brekke/KQED)
Sponsored