Californians voted on Proposition 34, a measure to repeal the state's death penalty and convert all current death sentences to life in prison. Advocates of the measure said it would save the state millions of dollars and reform a very inefficient and unethical system of criminal punishment. But opponents countered that doing so would be a major injustice to the families and friends of victims who have had to go through undue suffering, and are desperately seeking closure. They argued that...

Reform California's strict three strikes law? As voters headed to the polls to weigh in on Prop 36, four SF State students hit the road to hear perspectives from folks most effected by the law.

Ken Burns visited KQED on December 6, 2013. We had a chance to sit down with him and discuss his thoughts on the Gettysburg Address and get his interpretation of how President Lincoln would view the state of the Nation today. Four score and seven years ago ... well actually, 150 years ago -- on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his now legendary Gettysburg Address in. A mere 273 words in length, in honor of the soldiers who fought in one of the most important battles of...

What is the SAFETY NET? It gets talked about a lot these days. The presidential candidates and their respective parties constantly argue over it, and the American public can't seem to decide if they like it or not. The safety net provides citizens with range of government services - from school lunches to health care. And a huge number of Americans rely on it. But it's also super expensive to maintain, and some see it as an example of fiscal irresponsibility and too much government...

This digital story looks at Fremont High School and examines some of the issues that may lead to a high student dropout rate.

That $130 pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for weeks is now marked down 20 percent. To sweeten the deal, you have a coupon for 10 percent off your entire purchase. In other words, you’re looking at a discount of: 10% off 20% off $130. So … how much would you end up paying? Percentages. You can run, you can hide … but they’ll find you. From sports to the news, to — most importantly — shopping, they are pretty hard to avoid. And if you’re among the 80 percent of our population who doesn’t...

That $130 pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for weeks is now marked down 20 percent. To sweeten the deal, you have a coupon for 10 percent off your entire purchase. In other words, you’re looking at a discount of: 10% off 20% off $130. So … how much would you end up paying? Percentages. You can run, you can hide … but they’ll find you.Percentages. You can run, you can hide … but they’ll find you. From sports to the news, to — most importantly — shopping, they are pretty hard to avoid. And...

It adds up a lot faster than you might think — especially in the United States, which collectively generates more garbage — or municipal waste — than any other nation on earth. With only five percent of the world’s population, America creates roughly 25 percent of the planet’s waste. On average, each American produces more than seven pounds of trash a day (or 2,555 pounds a year) according to a recent Columbia University survey. That’s a big pile of garbage, and it’s the cause of some...

Quick shopping quiz: That $130 pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for weeks is now marked down 20 percent. To sweeten the deal, you have a coupon for 10 percent off your entire purchase. In other words, you’re looking at a discount of: 10% off 20% off $130. So … how much would you end up paying? Percentages. You can run, you can hide … but they’ll find you. From sports to the news, to — most importantly — shopping, they are pretty hard to avoid. And if you’re among the 80 percent of our...

If you gamble on faith — not on odds — you might want to stop reading this now. Because the chances of winning just about any big stakes lottery game — like Mega Millions — is just north of impossible. Let’s take Powerball, for instance. Odds of winning the jackpot: about 1 in 175 million. By comparison, your odds of getting hit by lightening — a presumably less favorable outcome — are significantly higher. So, be sure to take shelter during thunderstorms, and, if you play the lottery: you...

Last November, voters had to decide between two tax increase propositions. Although both were intended to to help prevent major public school funding cuts, they'd go about in very different ways. And only one can pass - unless they both fail. So how does the system work, and what were CA citizens of this state willing to pay for ... and willing to do without?