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Articles by Natalia V. Navarro
Ballhalla Rising: Golden State Valkyries Cool Off Phoenix Mercury to Take Home Opener
News Home / Sports May 11, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email The Golden State Valkyries play the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) The seats were packed with purple as the Golden State Valkyries kicked off their second season in the WNBA at San Francisco’s Chase Center Sunday.
After Criticism, Newsom Urges Clearer Rules for Trans Girls in Sports
Oct 25, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again Parents, children and supporters march to Gov. Gavin Newsom's home in Kentfield in support of trans youth rights on March 31, 2025. (Aryk Copley for KQED) Experts have said athletic ability varies greatly across gender, based on many factors not exclusive to sex assigned at birth. And scientific reviews, including one by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, show biomedical factors related to puberty do not predict athletic performance.
Tracking Newsom’s record on pro-LGBTQ+ laws signed and vetoed this session
With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive. As Gov. Gavin Newsom’s national profile rises and as he considers a presidential campaign, some LGBTQ+ advocates have questioned the governor’s commitment to queer and transgender constituents.
Tracking Newsom’s Record on Pro-LGBTQ+ Laws Signed and Vetoed This Session
Oct 22, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again California Gov. Gavin Newsom answers a reporter's question about his revised 2024-25 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento on May 10, 2024. KQED tracked some noteworthy bills proposed by California’s LGBTQ+ advocates to see how Gov. Newsom’s approach might change this year. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo) “He has that track record and that history and that should not be lost on members of the community,” Low said.
Trump Administration Cuts California Sex Ed Funding Over Gender Identity Content
Aug 27 Failed to save article Please try again Women rights activists in Los Angeles on May 21, 2019, protested against restrictions on abortions after Alabama passed the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S. A federal funding cutoff threatens California’s sex education program for at-risk youth after the state refused to remove lessons on gender identity, impacting thousands of students and nonprofits.
Kaiser to Stop Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Minors, Leaving Trans Kids With Fewer Options
Jul 24 Failed to save article Please try again The Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in Oakland on Oct. 4, 2023. Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente has said it will cease surgical gender-affirming care for trans minors, citing political pressure from the Trump administration. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED) Calder Storm doesn’t know where to turn for gender-affirming care for his 16-year-old daughter.
SF Dyke March Returns in Full Force for Pride Weekend With Inclusivity At Its Core
Jun 26 Failed to save article Please try again The San Francisco Dyke March fills 16th Street in the Mission District on June 25, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) “In this time of immense oppression from our regime in power, visibility is critical to show that we care about the world that’s happening around us, and we deserve to take space and to exhibit the power that we have,” said M Rocket, interim project director for the march.
The Bay Area’s Newest Basketball Team Makes History
May 17 Failed to save article Please try again Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) advances toward the basket during the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED) The Bay Area’s brand new WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, made history Friday with the second-largest crowd — a roaring 18,064 fans — of any team in their debut game.
Barbara Lee, Oakland’s Next Mayor, Is Ready to ‘Govern in a New Way’
May 14 Failed to save article Please try again Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee holds a press conference in Oakland on April 21, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED) Barbara Lee doesn’t need any reminders; she’s got a tough job ahead of her. “We’ve been working very hard,” she told KQED on Tuesday, a week before she is set to be sworn in as Oakland’s next mayor.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat Sold to Nation’s Largest Private Newspaper Group
May 1 Failed to save article Please try again The Press Democrat’s former printing facility in Rohnert Park on April 11, 2025. The sale of the Sonoma County papers to the owner of San José Mercury News and East Bay Times was a surprise twist in a plan to initially sell to SF Chronicle-owner Hearst. (Gina Castro/KQED) Earlier this month, The Press Democrat’s staff faced a difficult choice of waiving their union contract in order to make the Hearst deal possible.
Rep. Lateefah Simon Rebukes Trump in Fiery Speech, Calls for Bold Progressive Action
Mar 7 Failed to save article Please try again Rep. Lateefah Simon speaks as Congressional Democrats and CFPB workers hold a rally to protest the closing of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the work-from-home order issued by CFPB Director Russell Vought outside its headquarters on Feb. 10, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Changing Your Name & Gender Marker in California
Nov 10, 2025 Updated 5:26 pm PT Failed to save article Please try again Andrea and Milo Ronquillo stand outside the Civic Center Courthouse in San Francisco on Feb. 26, 2025. They attended a workshop hosted by Alexis Levy about changing the name and gender marker on official government documents. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) Mere hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump issued an executive order stating that the federal government would recognize only two sexes, male and female.
California’s Worst Flu Season in Years May Finally Be Easing
Feb 25 Failed to save article Please try again A CVS in Huntington Park on Aug. 28, 2024. A new state report shows a growing decline in flu positivity rates in California, but experts still urge those who haven’t gotten flu shots to do so as soon as possible. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) California may finally be getting a reprieve from one of the worst recorded flu seasons in decades, a recent report by state health officials shows.
If Trump and Musk Dismantle NOAA, Scientists Say Lives Will Be at Risk
Feb 8 Failed to save article Please try again Elon Musk in March 22, 2022. Staffers with Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) reportedly entered the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the Department of Commerce in Washington DC today, inciting concerns of downsizing at the agency.
Federal Officials to Investigate San José State Under Trump’s Order on Trans Athletes
Feb 6 Failed to save article Please try again The San José State Spartans play the Air Force Falcons during the first set of an NCAA college volleyball match Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in San José, California. The Department of Education’s investigation into alleged Title IX violations comes after SJSU women’s volleyball was thrust into a nationwide debate over transgender athletes.
How Anti-Trans Politics Loomed Over San José State's Volleyball Season
The San José State Spartans volleyball team greets their opponents, the University of New Mexico Lobos, before playing their home game on Nov. 2, 2024. (Natalia Navarro/KQED)
Anti-Trans Lawsuit Seeks to Ban San José State Volleyball Player From Tournament
Nov 22 Failed to save article Please try again The San José State Spartans volleyball team huddles between sets during their home game against the University of New Mexico Lobos on Nov. 2, 2024. (Natalia Navarro/KQED) A federal judge in Colorado is considering whether to ban a San José State volleyball player from next week’s Mountain West Conference tournament, the latest turn in a case that has thrust the university into a nationwide debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Bay Area’s San Luis Reservoir Expansion to Boost Water Supply Amid Climate Change
Nov 13 Failed to save article Please try again San Luis Reservoir, just west of the San Joaquin Valley town of Los Banos, is California's sixth-largest reservoir and stores water pumped south from the Delta by the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project. February 2015. (Dan Brekke/KQED) “Experts say California needs to build more reservoirs to store water in those rare wet years to reduce shortages during the inevitable droughts,” Rogers said.
Here’s an Election Distraction: Bay FC Is Playoff-Bound
“We’ve got a very good opponent that we’re playing against,” Montoya said. “We lost both games of the season with them, but we played both of those games the first half of the season. I think we’re a very different team in the second half of the season than we were in the first half.” Part of that change is due to the acquisition of national team veteran Abby Dahlkemper. Raised in Menlo Park, Dahlkemper came to the Bay from San Diego Wave FC in August.
Latino Voters Are Key. California Sen. Padilla Wants to Steer Them Away From Trump
Oct 23 Failed to save article Please try again Sen. Alex Padilla speaks at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San José during the 'Fight for Reproductive Freedoms' tour on Jan. 29, 2024. With Election Day less than two weeks away, Sen. Padilla is hitting key swing states to make the case for Vice President Kamala Harris to Latino voters. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED) With less than two weeks left until Election Day, California’s Sen.
Dyke March Canceled for San Francisco Pride, Organizers Say
Jun 26 Failed to save article Please try again Crowds gather on the sidelines to cheer on motorcyclists who lead the march down 18th Street at the 2019 Dyke March in San Francisco. (Sruti Mamidanna/KQED) “Marginalized groups [and] communities don’t always have the time and resources available to get through difficult times, such as reviving after a global pandemic,” said M Rocket in an emailed statement.
The End of the Oakland Teacher Strike
The Oakland teacher’s strike ended on Monday, when the teachers union reached a tentative agreement with the district. Classes were canceled for tens of thousands of students for seven days. The deal not only includes pay raises for teachers and other school staff, but also so-called “common good” proposals that address broader community needs, like support for unhoused families and improvements to transportation access and infrastructure.
'Overflowing With Patients': Why the Head of California's Hospital Association Thinks It's a Bad Time to End the State of Emergency
Feb 28 Failed to save article Please try again A clinician cares for COVID-19 patients in a makeshift intensive care unit at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Jan. 21, 2021, in Torrance. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) California is formally ending its COVID-19 state of emergency Tuesday after almost three years since the pandemic began. This emergency declaration gave Gov. Gavin Newsom the power to suspend or change laws in California to combat COVID.
Hard-Hit Santa Cruz County Cleans Up From One Storm While Preparing for the Next
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A series of atmospheric rivers has caused storm damage to infrastructure throughout Santa Cruz County. On Thursday, the wharf in Capitola was broken in half by a powerful storm surge. Currently over 5,000 people remain without power and initial damage estimates from the storm are over $20 million. This all comes as another powerful storm is set to make landfall on Monday.
By Natalia V. Navarro Verified, Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman Verified
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KQED-TV (San Francisco,CA)
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'We Need Care, Not Cages': California Criminal Justice Reformers Applaud Planned Closure of 2 State Prisons
But, Jordan noted, California's prison population has decreased markedly over the last decade — reduced by over 30,000 inmates — the result of widespread criminal justice reform efforts and a 2011 Supreme Court order to significantly reduce overcrowding — in which justices found that the state's prison conditions constituted cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment.
'Heartbroken': Visitors, Staff of Shuttered Tenderloin Center Left Reeling Amid SF's Ongoing Overdose Crisis
"People talked about their experiences there. There was also sadness and anger, and a sense of resignation because … the experience of life [for unhoused people] is to be so marginalized and not seen as people," she said, of those who paid tribute this weekend.
As Calls for Violence Against Elected Officials Mount, Rep. Jackie Speier Weighs In on Where to Go From Here
Failed to save article Please try again US Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) warns of the alarming escalation of calls for violence and hate-mongering against elected officials by their fellow politicians. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) In light of the recent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) joined KQED's Natalia V.
'It’s a Despicable Act’: Rep. Jackie Speier on the Attack on Paul Pelosi
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Failed to save article Please try again Paul Pelosi (left) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, then the House minority leader, attend the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2018, in Washington, DC.
By Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Natalia V. Navarro Verified, Maria Esquinca Verified, Alan Montecillo Verified
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KQED-TV (San Francisco,CA)
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Wondering How to Find Affordable Child Care or Preschool in San Francisco? Here Are Some Resources
Mezquita said their goal is to reduce or eliminate racial disparities. "We're in this unique position where not only are we going to be funding child care, but we're also looking at children in a holistic way," she said. She said this will include looking at comprehensive services and ensuring there are no gaps or missing links to support children and their families. When are you expecting expanded services to be available to families?
California Traffic Penalties Are Highest in US and Disproportionately Affect Black and Latinx Drivers, Report Finds
Failed to save article Please try again A report by nonprofit Spur analyzing stop data from seven locations in the state finds that California's huge amount of traffic ticket penalties are disproportionately affecting lower-income communities of color. (fstop123/Getty Images) California has among the highest traffic ticket penalties in the country, often putting significant burdens on lower-income people.
Student Loan Forgiveness Will Help Undergrads, Not So Much Graduate Students, Says CSU Official
Failed to save article Please try again Student loan borrowers stage a rally in front of the White House on Aug. 25, 2022, to celebrate President Biden cancelling some student loan debt and to begin the fight to cancel any remaining debt. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We the 45m) Students celebrated the Biden administration's decision to cancel some student debt at a rally in Washington, D.C., today.
Can Kids Get Monkeypox? What We Know Right Now, for Parents and Caregivers
It's possible to mistake many common rashes in kids for monkeypox Parents and caregivers know that rashes can be common in kids, and that figuring out what a particular rash could be — and if it’s a cause for real worry or necessitates a call to a pediatrician — can be hard. Adding concerns about monkeypox into that mix, especially at this time of year, could only make things tougher.
BA.5 Will Cause 'Even Greater Surge,' Warns UCSF's Wachter of Highly Infectious COVID Subvariant
Failed to save article Please try again A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing on Jan. 19, 2022, in San Francisco. (Liu Guanguan/China News Service via Getty Images) While COVID-19 restrictions have eased around the U.S., experts have discovered a new omicron subvariant, named BA.5, that appears to be more infectious and can evade immune responses.
Central Valley Group Fears Local Repurcussions of Abortion Ruling
Experts say the decision likely will have a disproportionate impact on lower-income communities and people of color, especially in areas like the Central Valley that already have limited access to reproductive health care, making it harder to access health services as people from out of state search for similar appointments.
'Hold More Men Accountable': Ellen Pao on What Silicon Valley Should Learn from Elizabeth Holmes's Conviction
Do you think the Holmes trial and the high-profile conviction will affect the barriers of entry for women in the industry? It's been interesting to read the feedback from the column that I wrote. So many men were so angry with me, saying things like, "No, look, what she did was completely wrong, and she did something that was totally different from what these other people are doing.
COVID Forced Women And Mothers From The Workforce And Some Can't Go Back
Women overtook men in the number of payroll jobs for the second time ever in January 2020. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and women across the country quit their jobs or stopped looking for work. Many blamed a lack of child care. "I used to work at a nursing home and I had to quit in September because my younger kids were failing elementary," Heather Hernandez said. Hernandez has 10 children living and doing remote school at her Denver home.
Nearly 100 Migrants Test Positive For COVID-19 At Aurora ICE Detention Facility
Almost a hundred people detained at the privately-owned Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Aurora have tested positive for COVID-19. As of last week, the outbreak included 96 detainees and one employee at the facility owned by the Geo Group, according to a report by Congressman Jason Crow's office. People in detention centers like the one in Aurora have faced an extremely high risk of infection during the pandemic.
The University of Denver will require students to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination this fall
The school is considering a similar mandate for faculty and staff. Before coming back to campus in the fall, students at the University of Denver will have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The private university is the latest Colorado institution to announce a requirement. Earlier this month, Durango’s Fort Lewis College became the first Colorado university to issue a mandate.
Levitt Pavilion returns with a pretty stellar lineup of free concerts
The Ruby Hill Park venue has been shuttered during the pandemic. Levitt Pavilion has been hosting free concerts in Ruby Hill Park since 2017, save for 2020, because, well, you know. But the venue announced its return Tuesday with 10 shows on its calendar. Pimps of Joytime will kickoff the concert season May 14, and shows are scheduled through Sept. 18.
Denver weather trying to make a point, apparently: Snow, ice, slush and low temps Tuesday morning
It’s not a lot of snow. It’s not the coldest we’ve ever been. But it does feel personal this time. Good morning. We’re doing this again. It’s not a lot of snow. It’s not the coldest we’ve ever been. But it does feel personal this time. Just after midnight, the National Weather Service reported 4.8 inches of snow in downtown Denver and 3.1 out at DIA.
Denver legalizes weed delivery (and other things to know about the biggest overhaul ever to the city's marijuana laws)
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City Council passed the biggest changes to the city’s marijuana laws since recreational sales began. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite Denver City Council on Monday passed the most significant changes to the city’s marijuana laws since recreational sales started more than seven years ago, ushering in a new era that will include weed delivery, access to smoking in some previously banned areas and eliminating some caps on dispensary and cultivation locations.
By Natalia V. Navarro Verified, Corey H. Jones Verified, Esteban L. Hernandez Verified, Kevin J. Beaty Verified
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Denverite
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‘She Was The Light Of Our Lives’: Family Mourns 25-year-old Boulder Shooting Victim Rikki Olds
Rikki Olds snorted when she laughed. She changed her hair color often. She put ketchup on everything. She made people smile. Loved ones of the 25-year-old King Soopers manager, who was killed during the March mass shooting in Boulder, gathered to celebrate her life Wednesday at Boulder Valley Christian Church. "I absolutely cherish all the stories that I'm hearing about your willingness to make everyone you came in contact with know that they mattered," said Rikki's uncle, Robert Olds.
You’re Eligible For The COVID Vaccine Now. But Can You Get An Appointment?
All Colorado residents 16 years and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, but the process for actually getting that shot in your arm can be complicated and often wrought with technological difficulties. Some people have made it work by logging into online reservation sites and constantly refreshing the page — and a little bit of luck, like Bianca Hall of Parker who has signed up herself, her husband and six of her friends and relatives. “It's just persistence,” Hall said.
Boulder Muslim Community Fears Backlash After Alleged Mass Shooter’s Name Released
Fear of religious-based backlash after the mass shooting in Boulder on Monday has forced the city's Muslim community center to take security precautions, including temporarily suspending daily prayer services. "The person who murdered 10 people at King Soopers in Boulder does not represent the Muslim community," said Tracy Smith with the Islamic Center of Boulder at a city council meeting Wednesday. "He doesn't represent Islam.
How and when Denver will expand the practice of sending social workers to nonviolent incidents instead of police officers
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Not soon enough, says one city councilmember. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite Mar. 24, 2021, 3:09 p.m. The safety net that catches people with mental and behavioral health issues before they land in the criminal justice system will expand by late summer or early fall, but not to the entire city. The Support Team Assisted Response is a group of social workers and paramedics who replace police officers in some nonviolent situations and connect people with services.
By Natalia V. Navarro Verified, Corey Jones Verified, Esteban L. Hernandez Verified, Kevin J. Beaty Verified
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Denverite
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Victims Named In Boulder Shooting At King Soopers
Police have released the names of the 10 people killed in a mass shooting at a King Soopers in south Boulder on Monday. They range in age from 20 years old to 65 years old. They are: Denny Strong, 20 Neven Stanisic, 23 Rikki Olds, 25 and a King Soopers employee Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Teri Leiker, 51 Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Kevin Mahoney, 61 Lynn Murray, 62 Jody Waters, 65 “Our hearts go out to all of the victims killed during this senseless act of violence.
Who We Lost In The Boulder King Soopers Shooting
Updated at 2:11 p.m., March 24 The 10 people killed in Monday’s mass shooting at King Soopers in Boulder were young and old, ages 20 through 65, and lived in and around Boulder. The dead included store employees, customers, and a police officer who was among the first to respond to the shooting. They were sons, fathers, grandmothers, mothers, King Soopers employees, and retirees. Some were friends and coworkers.
Double Check Your COVID Vaccine Appointment Before You Head Out Into The Colorado Snowstorm
Several hospitals and COVID-19 vaccination sites across Colorado are closing or rescheduling weekend appointments because of the arrival of an anticipated March 13 winter storm. The northern Front Range is forecast to get as much as two feet of snow. The foothills could get between two and four feet.
Remembering 6 Lives That Colorado Lost To The Coronavirus
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Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteJeannie Davis sits with a portrait of her parents, Dottie and James, inside her home in Aurora. Feb. 26, 2021. They fought in wars, climbed mountains and survived a depression, recessions and at least six previous U.S. epidemics. They built families and businesses and inspired their communities. Combined, their time on Earth spanned more than four centuries. All of their lives were ended by the coronavirus.
By Andrea Dukakis Verified, Stina Sieg Verified, Elena Rivera, Claire Cleveland, Natalia V. Navarro Verified
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Colorado Public Radio
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COVID-19 Restrictions Also Made For A Milder Flu Season In Colorado
Colorado's flu season has been dramatically less harmful this year thanks to measures taken to combat COVID-19. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported only 24 hospitalizations and no deaths due to the flu this season, which started in September and will continue through May. "There's been a great side effect from all the work to control the pandemic," said Dr. Eric France, CDPHE's Chief Medical Officer.
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