Rachel Dornhelm | radio journalist

NYC Subway Memories Come Alive--in an East Bay Living Room

Friday, January 4, 2013

aired on the Calfornia Report, listen here

Richard Dornhelm grew up in Brooklyn riding the subway. That was the start of a love affair that's grown into a hand-crafted miniature railway complete with a hundred meticulously detailed vintage subway and elevated cars.

Millions of people in this country have hobbies. There’s stamp collecting, role playing games, beer making -- you name it, it’s out there.

And then there's my dad, Richard Dornhelm. He grew up in New York City in the 1940s and '50s and fell in love with the city's trains -- especially the ones running underground.

Woodworker Crafts New Sounds

Friday, December 28, 2012

aired on the California Report, listen here

There's a thriving community of instrument makers in California. Hear the profile of one who's working to bridge "forward-looking" experimental music with the ancient craft of woodworking. Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm

Sung Kim's workshop is in an industrial office park north of San Francisco, where forklifts move pallets in and out of giant garages. The last thing you might expect to hear there are the plaintive cries of a string instrument coming from a workshop.

But one recent morning, the architectural woodworker and designer takes a break from furniture making to pull the bow across the strings of one of his instruments.

In Marin: when food pantry clients give back

Friday, November 16, 2012

Aired on KQED's The California Report, listen here

The news is full of stories of an economic recovery. But food banks are still full of people in need. That need is even greater in some surprising places, like the affluent Bay Area county of Marin.

Between 2010 and 2011 the number of low income residents in Marin rose 18 percent. That includes families making up to 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit. In Marin, that translates into a family four who is earning $41,000 per year.

There are agencies and community groups working to reach out to these residents. One recent weekend morning in the town of Fairfax about a dozen people are setting up tables in a church courtyard. Underneath red tinged maple leaves, Marin resident Mike Wilson points to food piled up on tables. Rachel Dornhelm spent time with Wilson and has his story.

After elections, California healthcare takeholders look to the future

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

appeared on California Healthline, listen here

In a California Healthline Special Report by Rachel Dornhelm, experts discussed how the re-election of President Obama and the passage of California's Proposition 30 will affect the state's health care system.

Many officials and advocates said that 2013 will be a crucial year for health care policy as the nation moves toward full implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

The Special Report includes comments from:

• Alex Briscoe, director of the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency;
• Vanessa Cajina, a legislative advocate at the Western Center on Law and Poverty;
• State Controller John Chiang (D);
• Joe Lee, Community HealthCorps program coordinator at LifeLong Medical Care; and
• William Walker, director and health officer for Contra Costa Health Services (Dornhelm, California Healthline, 10/10).

Foreclosures Lower Number of Likely Voters

Friday, October 19, 2012

aired on KQED's The California Report, listen here

Even in presidential election years, it's common for just over half of those who can vote to do so. Researchers have identified a number of contributing factors including youth, lack of income and lack of education. Now, they're adding another factor: the foreclosure crisis. Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm

Efforts to Improve Access to Consumer Health Records Are Taking Off

Wiednesday, October 10, 2012

Audio published on iHealthBeat.org

Now that a critical mass of providers have health IT systems up and running, regulators and health care systems are looking for ways to engage consumers with their electronic health records.

Stage 2 of the meaningful use program aims to improve patient engagement by requiring health care providers to give patients the ability to view, download or share their online health information.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

In an iHealthBeat Special Report by Rachel Dornhelm, experts discussed efforts to encourage patients to become more involved with their electronic health data.

Prop. 32 Targets Unions' Political Donations

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Aired on the California Report, listen here

A number of propositions on the November ballot are drawing national attention -- and money. One example is Proposition 32, a measure that targets political donations from unions. Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm

Ed Kinchley, co-chair of the San Francisco Committee on Political Education for SEIU 1021, phone banks in their union hall. (Image credit: Rachel Dornhelm/KQED)

An Officer-Involved Shooting Plays Out in Oakland Theater

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Aired on KQED News, listen here

Jinho Ferreira (Flipsyde)

A new play premiering in Oakland this weekend takes an unflinching look at violence through the lens of race, law enforcement and the media. “Cops and Robbers” is a one man-show from first-time playwright Jinho Ferreira.

Ferreira – pronounced fuh-HAY-duh – brings a unique perspective to the script. To create the multiple characters that populate the script he draws on his vast life experience, including his days as an alternative hip hop artist, his job as an Alameda County sheriff’s deputy, and his time growing up in West Oakland.

Four Legged Heroes: Rescue Dogs in Training

Thursday, July 5, 2012

listen here, aired on KQED's The California Report

CARDA volunteer Rebeccah Riley and her Catahoula mix search dog, Maggie Mae.

They're a familiar sight on the news after a disaster: search-and-rescue teams using dogs to find victims. Many of those canine teams are volunteers.

The California Rescue Dog Association, or CARDA, is the largest such group in the nation. It used to focus more on wilderness work -- but it's becoming more involved in search-and-rescue in metropolitan areas.

Reporter: Rachel Dornhelm

Supreme Court Upholds Health Care

Thursday, June 28, 2012

read more here, blogging for KQED's State of Health

Live blogged the day of the Supreme Court ruling on health care as part of a week of work for State of Health. Other posts included challenges facing an aging California, hunger during the summer among school children in the state and disparities in cancer diagnoses.