A new online registry allows participants to monitor their own cognitive abilities, while also becoming part of a pool of people who might be part of future research projects studying human brain health.

Dr. Michael Weiner, chief investigator for the new Brain Health Registry at U.C. San Francisco Medical Center, says they hope to recruit a broad cross section of the American population, and quickly expand to include international participants.

For Alzheimer’s researcher Dan Mungas at UC Davis, the registry offers an unprecedented opportunity to find the most valuable research subjects for future studies in his specialty.

  The worst of the winter weather is past for this season, which is good news for the homeless in Sonoma County. But the people who provide services to that population are already thinking ahead to next winter. Today they’re starting a weeklong process to find out who among the homeless are most vulnerable. Bruce Robinson talks with the coordinator of that effort.

To find out more about how to volunteer in Petaluma later this week, or sign up for the training, click here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  ALSO: A bill that would ban the sale of personal care products containing microplastics in California will get its first hearing today in the legislature.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Today's reports written by Katie Orr and Amy Quinton.

  Plowing, using pesticides and fertilizers and other common agricultural practices actually contribute to global warming. But adopting alternative practices could reverse that, as a growing number of small farmers are already demonstrating.

  Industrial agriculture has dominated the industry for years now, but with a far higher carbon footprint than traditional methods. But reporter Kristin Ohlson says small farmers who are reverting to those historic practices are finding them profitable as well as green.

In her home state of Oregon, Ohlson reports, the USDA is testing an incentive program for farmers who switch to “no-till” methods, which earns them carbon credits in two ways.

Kristin Ohlson will talk about her book at Copperfields in Sebastopol, on Tuesday evening, April 8 at 7 pm.