If you’re one of the unlucky people who get bitten by a venomous snake, you’re going to need antivenom. And it’s costly. Millions of Californians live in rattlesnake territory, and are unaware that the medical bill could be enormous. Jackie Fortier with KFF Health News reports.

If you’re one of the unlucky people who get bitten by a venomous snake, you’re going to need antivenom. And it’s costly. Millions of Californians live in rattlesnake territory, and are unaware that the medical bill could be enormous. Jackie Fortier with KFF Health News reports.

Breaking news from the Bay Area and throughout California.

Breaking news from the Bay Area and throughout California.

KQED On Demand

KQED NOW

KQED DYNAMIC

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories.

KQED

For the Millions of Californians Living in Rattlesnake Territory, Antivenom is a Costly Lifesaver

KQED newscast for Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM

KQED Newscast

Today, the city of Oakland is holding a celebration rally for one of its homegrown stars ... Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu. She's the first American woman to win gold in her sport in nearly a quarter of a century. Liu grew up in Richmond ... and trained in Oakland throughout her career. Her coach Phillip DiGuglielmo is also based in the Bay Area ... and was part of her team for the Milan Winter Games. I spoke with him and he started by telling me about the moment when Liu decided to return to skating after her two-year retirement.

Today, the city of Oakland is holding a celebration rally for one of its homegrown stars ... Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu. She's the first American woman to win gold in her sport in nearly a quarter of a century. Liu grew up in Richmond ... and trained in Oakland throughout her career. Her coach Phillip DiGuglielmo is also based in the Bay Area ... and was part of her team for the Milan Winter Games. I spoke with him and he started by telling me about the moment when Liu decided to return to skating after her two-year retirement.

Alysa Liu's Coach on the Young Skater's Post-Retirement Success

It’s not just gas prices rising. The attacks on Iran are also causing fertilizer prices to surge by about 30% just as the spring planting season gets underway in California. But as KAZU’s Elena Neale-Sacks reports, some farmers here have been adopting techniques that aren't just resilient to climate change, but also to the supply chain disruption of war.

It&rsquo;s not just gas prices rising. The attacks on Iran are also causing fertilizer prices to surge by about 30% just as the spring planting season gets underway in California. But as KAZU&rsquo;s Elena Neale-Sacks reports, some farmers here have been adopting techniques that aren't just resilient to climate change, but also to the supply chain disruption of war.

For the Millions of Californians Living in Rattlesnake Territory, Antivenom is a Costly Lifesaver

KQED

Recent clips