Justin Sullivan/Getty

UC and CSU Students Face Tuition Hikes

We sit down with KQED Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis to discuss the week's developments, including big tuition hikes approved at the CSU Trustees and UC Regents meetings.

Boom Times for Recyclers

If you visit almost any big city in California, you're sure to see people removing bottles and cans from garbage bins. The reason: recyling pays -- and it's having a positive impact on the economy.Reporter: Amy Standen

• More: Boom Times for the Recycling Industry : from KQED's Quest

Christina Russo/KQED

Neglected, Abused Horses Get a Helping Hand

When people think of animal cruelty, dogs and cats often come to mind. But in rural areas, horses are often victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment. We visit one Sonoma County veterinarian working to protect them.Reporter: Christina Russo

• More: Sonoma CHANGE Program : about Grant Miller's CHANGE program, at SonomaChangeProgram.com

Gabriel Coan/KQED

California Songs: Cracker's 'Big Dipper'

The wooden roller coaster on the Santa Cruz boardwalk is a magnet for families, kids and teenagers on dates. It also inspired musician David Lowery's song "Big Dipper." Lowery studied mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, and "Big Dipper" appears on the album titled "The Golden Age" released in 1996 with his band Cracker. Lowery tells us the story behind the music.

• More: California Songs: Music Inspired by the Golden State

David Banks/Getty

Fine Tuning 'The Franchise'

Baseball is often called "America's pastime," but we rarely get to see what happens off the diamond or in the locker room. A new documentary series on Showtime promises to change that. "The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants" follows the World Series champs, looking for intimate moments on and off the field. We talk with Executive Producer Mike Tollin.