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A new study offers an ominous warning about Bay Bridge traffic if two transit measures on the ballot this November fail to pass, though critics note the report was produced by a think tank that has strongly endorsed both measures.

The analysis, conducted by the nonprofit think tank SPUR, warns of major impacts for drivers and commuters if transit agencies are forced to make service reductions due to a lack of funding.

The biggest concern is significantly worse traffic on some of the Bay Area’s busiest roads, including estimates that traffic on the Bay Bridge could double during rush hours.

“The failure of these measures would be devastating for communities and our economic recovery,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said.

Tuesday, Mayor Lurie and state lawmakers used the information to again urge voters to support the transit funding measures.

“People will be spending more to get to work, and will be spending more time on the road, and that also impacts our region’s economic prosperity as well,” said State Sen. Jesse Arreguin. “Make no mistake about it, transit is facing a critical moment here in the Bay Area. This is an emergency.”

Agencies like BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain are facing so-called fiscal cliffs after ridership and fare revenue fell dramatically during the pandemic.

Tuesday night, all three agencies are preparing for dramatic service cuts in case the measures fail.

Those measures — Proposition RTM, a five-county sales tax, and Prop. H, a parcel tax for Muni in San Francisco — aim to save the agencies from dire fiscal straits.

“Both Prop. H and the regional transit measure must pass to keep these transit systems strong,” said State Sen. Scott Wiener. “If the regional transportation measure fails, BART will collapse. I’m not being melodramatic — BART will collapse.”

SPUR says transit cuts would also affect family budgets and the environment, adding up to $3,200 a year in costs for some riders who are forced to switch from riding transit to driving.

In addition to estimated peak-hour delays doubling on the Bay Bridge, SPUR believes there will be additional congestion at the Caldecott Tunnel and on most major highways.

The analysis also estimates transit cuts could generate 498 million additional vehicle miles traveled each year, producing hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly.

However, critics are pushing back against the findings. Gregg Dieguez, president of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit, leads the group opposing the regional measure.

He says the report fails to explore other alternatives, including reallocating funding from other transportation projects, and does not prove transit cuts are the only option.

“We want fixes before funding,” Dieguez said. “Before asking Bay Area residents for another $1.2 billion a year, the transit establishment should demonstrate that it has considered the full range of lower-cost transportation revenue and network design alternatives.”

Dieguez added, “Why are they looking at this only one scenario? It’s because they want to generate fear to get this thing passed. The real choice is whether we continue financing an extraordinarily capital-intensive transportation model designed for yesterday’s commuting patterns or use this moment to build a transportation system that is smaller, where demand has permanently fallen.”

Arizona State hockey coaches were present when a player collapsed during an outdoor workout, but plans for the training session were not submitted to the school, according to a preliminary report issued by the university on Tuesday.

Matthew Mayich collapsed during an Aug. 20 workout and remains hospitalized with what family attorney Rob Carey said was exertional heat stroke that reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain. The 21-year-old is unlikely to recover, Carey said.

The Arizona State police department is investigating the incident and a report will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review when completed.

Arizona State’s preliminary report said the hockey coaching staff asked permission for Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret, to speak with the team during a three-day, team-building event. The coaching staff did not “submit a plan of training activities for review by ASU’s strength and conditioning coaches prior to the event,” according to the report released by James Rund, ASU’s senior vice president of educational outreach and student services.

“In the month following Matthew’s hospitalization, our review has focused on fact finding with the goal of identifying additional steps that ASU can and should take to improve student-athletes’ well-being,” the report said. “As limited medical information is available to us, and we remain committed to respecting the privacy of Matthew and his family, our review has focused on the circumstances surrounding the workout and related university policies, procedures and training protocols.”

Arizona State said it will engage a multi-disciplinary panel of experts to provide recommendations regarding best practices for outdoor athletic activities.

“A month later, nobody’s been named, nobody’s been suspended, nobody’s been fired for violating the very policies ASU published today, and the university wants to appoint a committee,” Carey said in a statement issued to The Associated Press. “A committee isn’t going to tell us why grown men with a rulebook in their hands let this happen to a young man at his first real workout in the desert. That’s what an investigation is for, and it’s why we’re going to ask the County Attorney to do one.”

Arizona State’s report showed temperatures during the workout that started at 7 a.m. ranged from 86 to 89 degrees, with humidity between 51% and 46%.

Rund said all student-athletes who participated in the event had been medically cleared before the workout, including Mayich, who previously participated in three voluntary strength and conditioning workouts.

The workout at Sun Angel Stadium including a series of calisthenic circuits and body weight exercise, with the student-athletes getting a water break about 20 minutes into the activity.

Mayich collapsed during a “wind-down” run while carrying a 10-pound medicine ball. Mayich fell to the ground after several stumbles and tried to get up, falling again.

Mayich was initially responsive after trainers applied ice towels and poured water over him, but quickly deteriorated, prompting a call to 911.

“What the report doesn’t say is what the players will tell you: this was a punishment workout,” Carey said. “Miss a count, your group runs again. The head coach set it up, stood there and watched it, and didn’t stop it when the signs were there. And when Matthew went down, there was no plan and no preparation, so he was treated in a way that hurt his chances rather than helped them.”

The St. Louis Blues drafted Mayich in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, but he never signed an entry-level contract. The Stoney Creek, Ontario, native played four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League before playing at Clarkson University last season.

Mayich transferred to Arizona State for the upcoming season.

A Vallejo woman has earned the highest civilian award for heroism for jumping into action to save a stranger’s life.

Amanda Williams is one of 16 people in the United States and Canada being presented with the Carnegie Medal for heroism.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Williams said. “I don’t think it’s hit me yet.”

Williams helped save Roscell Wallace, a 29-year-old man who was attacked by a knife-wielding relative last year.

“He was yelling, ‘Help me! He’s trying to kill me!” Williams recalled. “He just kept saying that over and over. ‘He’s trying to kill me! He’s trying to kill me!”

Williams, a single mom and DoorDash driver, happened to be driving by the scene of the knife attack and instinctively jumped out to help.

“I grabbed his wrist – the one that held the knives – I grabbed his wrist so he couldn’t swing at him anymore,” Williams said.

Williams then managed to wrestle two knives from the attacker’s hand.

“I didn’t really think about it,” Williams said. “It was either I had to do something or he was going to die. It was a split second. You don’t really have a chance to think about it. It’s either you do something or you don’t.”

The attacker, Henry Johnson, stole Williams’ car and totaled it before getting arrested. Johnson is set to go to trial on attempted murder and other charges.

Roscell said he’s forever grateful to Williams for stepping in to help.

“She’s like an angel,” Roscell said. “God sent her to save me.”

It was a perfectly normal delivery in the most abnormal place possible: bumper-to-bumper traffic in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

When Karollyn Zepeda realized Saturday afternoon that it was time to head to the hospital to deliver her child, she and her partner Nate Geminiano didn’t expect traffic to derail their birth plan.

“I had looked at Nate and I was like, ‘You know what, I’m scared I’m gonna have this baby right here,’ especially because just as we were leaving my house my water did break,” Zepeda said.

With traffic on Crossover Drive through Golden Gate Park at a standstill, Geminiano pulled over, called 911 and started asking other people stuck in traffic for help.

“I told them that she was in labor,” Geminiano said. “Then they assisted me in just going around to other cars trying to find any medical professionals.”

Katie Higgins, a trained doula, was sitting in traffic several cars away when she heard those calls for help. She jumped into action, along with other helpers.

“Someone was going through their car and ultimately found a box of gloves that were very important and helpful,” Higgins said. “A couple women showed up with a big blanket to give her privacy. Everybody, all these San Franciscans came together.”

Zepeda said she felt relief as soon as Higgins showed up.

“She immediately, I think, said to me, ‘I’ve done two home births. I’m a doula.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ I was just immediately relived,” Zepeda said.

The gridlock also delayed first responders. Both the American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance crew and the San Francisco firefighter team that were dispatched to the scene realized they were not going to be able to make it to the call in their vehicles, so they had to hike.

Brian Ingram with AMR tried pushing a gurney through traffic before settling on another plan.

“I asked one of the firefighters, ‘I just need one person. Just grab the front. We just got to try to make it up this dirt hill,'” he said.

When first responders eventually arrived, they all pitched in to help. A few pushes later, a new child was born.

“Being able to grab that baby, I wrapped her up in a blanket and turned around and handed her to dad,” firefighter William Melton said. “It was a very special moment.”

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that the 2025 death of a woman one week after her arrest by Brentwood police was caused by a stroke and not by police restraint, ending a year-long investigation into her death.

“While incredibly tragic, Yolanda Ramirez died from a stroke and other health-related issues, as opposed to police use of force,” the District Attorney’s Office wrote in a report. “No further action will be taken in this case.”

The decision means prosecutors will not seek charges against Brentwood police officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia, who detained Ramirez, 72, outside a home in Brentwood on Sept. 26, 2025.

Ramirez was found barely conscious and confused in the back of their patrol car 20 minutes after her arrest following an altercation with her sister over the well-being of their brother, an elderly man who suffers from dementia-like symptoms. Ramirez was then taken to a hospital, where she died on Oct. 3, 2025, according to the district attorney’s report.

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Melissa Nold, an attorney representing the Ramirez family, said that Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton made the wrong call in the finding of death due to natural causes.

“This is after her office failed to investigate the case at all until there was public pressure, a second autopsy and I had investigated,” Nold wrote in a social media post.

After Ramirez tried to leave the scene when police arrived, body camera footage from both officers showed Ramirez was forcibly put into handcuffs and put into the back of the car, where she was left alone for 20 minutes after allegedly hitting her head on the outside of the car during her arrest.

Camera footage from the patrol car showed Ramirez, who was diabetic, slumped in the backseat and unresponsive when officers returned. She was later sent to a hospital, where she died.

A Contra Costa County coroner’s autopsy immediately following Ramirez’s death found that she died from a stroke and did not have any bruising on her head, ultimately ruling her death was due to natural causes. A second autopsy ordered by Ramirez’s family differed, concluding that Ramirez had suffered “blunt force trauma to the head” from contact with police and that her death was a homicide.

A coroner’s inquest into Ramirez’s death in July ended in a split verdict by a jury, with seven jurors ruling her death was from natural causes and eight ruling her death was an accident.

An inquest is a process separate from a medical examiner’s probe into an in-custody death and is when a jury reviews witness testimony and determines the manner of the cause of an individual’s death. Jurors were advised to choose between four possible rulings: accident, suicide, natural causes and “at the hands of another person, other than by accident.”

A new Major League Volleyball team in the Bay Area now has a name: NorCal Rumble.

The team announced its name on Tuesday and will begin playing at Tech CU Arena in San Jose in 2027.

Kerri Walsh Jennings, a Bay Area native and three-time Olympic gold medalist, is one of the team owners. The volleyball legend and NorCal Rumble President Heather Vaughan joined NBC Bay Area to discuss the team’s new logo, the league and why it is important for the region to have a professional women’s volleyball team.

Watch the segment in the video above.

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The College of San Mateo is mourning the loss of a student-athlete.

Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back on the school’s football team, was killed in a car crash last weekend. Two of his teammates were also injured.

“Pop wasn’t just a teammate – he was a brother,” the College of San Mateo football team wrote in a post on social media. “He lit up every room he walked into with his infectious energy and smile, he had a way of making everyone around him feel special. Whether he was dancing in the locker room, cracking jokes in team meetings, or showing up for his teammates off the field, Pop gave everything he had each and every day.”

College officials did not say when or where the crash happened.

The California Highway Patrol reported a deadly crash Sunday morning on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose. The CHP said a preliminary investigation indicates the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control of the vehicle while traveling northbound. A 19-year-old passenger from Fairfield was ejected from the vehicle and died from his injuries.

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A Republican senator is calling for an investigation into the business dealings of Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden following the revelation that a Russian oligarch paid for Trump Jr.’s post-wedding festivities in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, sent a letter Monday to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., requesting that the panel subpoena the president’s eldest son as well as former President Joe Biden’s son for testimony.

Curtis wants the two to provide information about “their past business dealings, relationships with foreign individuals and entities, gifts or other benefits they have received, and any instances in which their relationship to the President was invoked or understood to provide value.”

Curtis noted that Hunter Biden has “denied involving his father in his business dealings,” but the senator suggested he benefited from his father’s service in public office. He also expressed concern about Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, paying for Trump Jr.’s post-wedding celebration in May.

“These reports raise legitimate questions about foreign access to members of a sitting president’s family and whether such relationships can create actual or perceived expectations of favorable treatment,” Curtis said. “They also may create expectations of a returned favor that would not be in the best interests of the American people or our allies, and could even create national security vulnerabilities.”

In a post on X Tuesday, Curtis criticized the president’s son. “A toaster is a wedding gift. A private-island party paid for by a Putin-connected oligarch is something else. Republicans nearly wore out the subpoena machine investigating Hunter Biden’s foreign relationships. We should not unplug it now. ‘Trust us’ was not enough then, and it is not enough now.”

A Judiciary Committee spokesperson said that the panel received Curtis’ letter and that hearing dates for the committee are extremely limited through the end of the year.

Asked about the letter on Tuesday afternoon, Grassley declined to comment, saying that he hadn’t read it yet.

Durbin, however, voiced support for Curtis’ request.

“For the Committee to ignore this matter is to run the risk of being complicit in a coverup,” he said, noting that Hunter Biden had given a sworn deposition to Congress about allegations against him, while Trump Jr. has not.

Republicans have for years accused Hunter Biden of using his family’s connections to enrich himself through business deals in Ukraine and China, and several House committees investigated the allegations.

The Trump Organization, where Trump Jr. serves as executive vice president, and Hunter Biden didn’t respond to requests for comment. NBC News also reached out to the White House.

In a post on X, Hunter Biden responded to Curtis’ request for his testimony: “I say bring it on. I’ve already given more than seven hours of sworn testimony. More than three dozen witnesses testified across two chambers. I had no foreign business dealings while my father was president. None. I painted paintings, and I still do. I’ll sit next to Don Jr. and testify any time, any place. Eric and Jared can join us too. No need for a subpoena. Let’s all do it tomorrow.”

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Trump acknowledged Kremlev paid for their post-wedding celebration on a pair of Caribbean islands after ProPublica reported the connection.

In a joint Instagram post, they referred to the paid-for celebration as “an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.”

They also said in the post that the vacation had been planned separately from their wedding, but when their nuptial plans changed, “we simply decided to get married before it.”

Last week, the president defended his son’s decision to accept the cash gift from Kremlev, but claimed that he has paid him back. “It’s totally allowed. But as I understand it, he paid him back. He didn’t want to have that, so I hear he paid him back.”

Some Republicans, especially in tight re-election races, are distancing themselves from Trump. Curtis, however, is currently serving his first term in the Senate and is not up for re-election until 2030.

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President Donald Trump’s Truth Social is accused of “unprecedented corruption” and insider trading, according to a lawsuit announced Tuesday.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu announced the lawsuit against the platform’s parent company, Trump Media, for selling subscriptions allowing early access to the president’s social posts. Chiu said the paid access violates federal ethics laws and facilitates insider trading.

“Trump Media created a marketplace that enables insider trading, which Trump directly profits from,” Chiu said in a statement. “This scheme turns the public trust into private profit. It is corruption, plain and simple. Californians should not be forced to compete against wealthy trading firms buying early access to market‑moving information. We are acting decisively to stop this corruption and protect Californians, who work hard, save, and invest responsibly. They deserve a fair marketplace and an ethical government that won’t sell them out to make a quick profit.”

Truth Social over the summer started selling a subscription that allows financial firms and other organizations to get alerts for new posts made by Trump and other top accounts before general users do. For a high-frequency trading firm, even milliseconds of a head start could make a huge difference, NBC News recently reported.

The lawsuit, which aims to stop the service, claims the deal is making Truth Social an estimated $60,000 to $100,000 a month and violates California’s unfair competition law.

Trump Media is responding to the lawsuit by saying its service is no different than any standard subscription uses pay for ways to trade stock successfully.

Trump has the largest following on the platform and has used Truth Social as his go-to platform to release official statements throughout his second term.

NBC News contributed to this report.

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A ride-hailing driver was arrested earlier this month for allegedly sexually assaulting a teen boy during a trip in San Jose, police announced Tuesday.

The teen was heading to downtown San Jose in an Uber on the evening of Sept. 12 when the driver, identified as 32-year-old Foster City resident Anuj Kumar, allegedly sexually assaulted him, police said.

According to court records, Kumar inappropriately touched the 14-year-old boy and engaged the child locks on the vehicle to prevent him from leaving. Investigators said the sexual assault happened just outside the teen’s destination: the Hammer Theatre near San Jose State University.

“I know it happened inside the car, and after the survivor got out of the vehicle he did the right thing by contacting SJPD,” police spokesperson Stacie Shih said. “We’re fortunate that the victim reported this to the San Jose Police Department immediately so that we could begin our investigation.”

Authorities utilized automated license plate reader cameras to identify the suspect vehicle and subsequently Kumar as the suspect. He was arrested on Sept. 13 in Foster City and booked into jail for sexual assault of a minor, according to police.

In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said, “What’s been reported is deeply disturbing and has no place on our platform. We take reports of sexual assault extremely serious, and the driver has been permanently banned from the Uber platform. Our team is supporting law enforcement with their investigation.”

Kumar had been an Uber driver for two and a half years and had a 4.95 rating, according to court records.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information about the case or similar cases is encouraged to contact San Jose police Detective Hoang by email at [email protected] or by phone at 408-277-4102.

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A man was arrested in connection with two homicides in San Jose after he allegedly flagged down a police officer and said he had committed a homicide, according to authorities.

The investigation began around 5:14 p.m. Saturday when a San Jose police patrol officer was flagged down by a man who alleged he had committed a homicide.

Officers responded to the area of Lelong and Alma avenues, where they found a man dead, police said.

The suspect, identified by police as Marcelino Castro, 28, of San Jose, was taken into custody.

During the investigation, Castro provided detectives with information about a second homicide in the area of Autumn Parkway and Coleman Avenue, according to police.

Detectives responded to that location and found a second person dead.

Castro was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on two counts of murder.

Police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.

The deaths are being investigated as San Jose’s 20th and 21st homicides of 2026.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Van Den Broeck at [email protected] or Detective Estantino at [email protected]. The San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit can also be reached at 408-277-5283.

It’s harvest time in California wine country, but many growers are struggling to sell their grapes as changing drinking habits have caused demand to plunge. The decline is forcing some growers to tear out vineyards that their families have grown for generations.

Wine sales have decreased by more than 20% over a five-year period, causing prices paid for grapes to drop and prompting California growers to take roughly a quarter of the state’s vineyards out of production. Many growers are having to decide whether to harvest at a loss, leave grapes on the vine or replace vineyards with crops more in demand such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios and olives.

Third-generation grower Bill Berryhill said it means another year of losing money and wasting hundreds of tons of healthy grapes.

“It’s just sickening,” said Berryhill, standing in a vineyard of unsold merlot grapes. “You raise a beautiful crop, and it’s really a nice vintage this year, and you drop it on the ground. It’s sad. All your work is just down the toilet.”

Berryhill, who owns Berryhill Family Vineyards near Lodi in the San Joaquin Valley, said he can’t find buyers for grapes grown on 200 of his 500 acres (202 hectares). He plans to remove 50 acres (20 hectares) of vineyards when the harvest season is over.

“I will lose money for sure. It’s just a matter of how much,” Berryhill, 68, said. “This has been a big loser for three years now.”

Grape growers take vineyards out of production

At its peak during the pandemic, California had almost 600,000 acres (242,811 hectares) of vineyards, but farmers have removed or stopped actively growing wine grapes on roughly 25% of that land, said Jeff Bitter, president of Allied Grape Growers, which represents about 500 farmers statewide.

This year, about half of California’s wine grape crop entered the harvest season without contracts with buyers, compared with 70 to 80% with contracts in a typical year, Bitter said.

If they’re lucky, growers can sell their uncontracted grapes at a loss to buyers making concentrated syrup.

Even as growers have abandoned or removed tens of thousands of acres of vineyards in California in recent years, too many grapes are still being produced, Bitter said.

“The market is just so depressed that it’s difficult to grow them profitably,” he said. “Demand is not going up. It’s still continuing to decline.”

Kyle Collins, a Lodi-based operations manager with Allied Grape Growers, recently examined ripe grapes in a petite verdot vineyard in Lodi, one of California’s most productive wine regions.

“Unfortunately, we do not have a buyer for these grapes,” Collins said. “That’s unfortunately a reality for not just this vineyard but a lot of us around here.”

Besides hurting vineyards, the drop in sales has hit local businesses and workers, he said.

“That’s not getting into the pockets of the people doing the field labor, the farmworkers,” Collins said. “It does have a trickle effect in the economy.”

Wine sales fall after years of growth

The downturn is a dramatic shift for the wine industry in California, which produces more than 80% of U.S. wine due to its unique geography and Mediterranean climate. For decades, California’s wine industry grew steadily as Americans, particularly baby boomers, developed a taste for cabernet, zinfandel, chardonnay and other varietals.

The most famous wine regions such as Napa and Sonoma Valley produced premium vintages while the Central Valley grew grapes for less expensive labels.

Wine sales peaked during the pandemic in 2021 when restaurants were closed and social gatherings restricted. People stocked up on wine and drank more at home.

But over the past five years, wine sales have declined sharply, and they’re expected to fall further this year.

In the U.S., sales of wine cases declined 23% from 427 million in 2020 to 329 million in 2025, while total wine spending fell 22% from $94 billion to $74 billion, according to First Citizens Bank, formerly Silicon Valley Bank, which produces an annual State of the Wine Industry Report.

Wine industry faces more competition, tariffs and changing tastes

California can’t export its excess inventory because wine consumption is down globally and it’s more expensive to produce in the U.S. than countries such as Argentina and Australia, Bitter said. In 2025, global wine consumption declined 2.7% from 2024 and 14% from 2018, with sharp declines in Europe and China, according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine.

There are a variety of forces driving the decline in wine sales. Baby boomers are aging out of the market while young people are drinking less alcohol due to health and financial concerns. Wine faces competition from craft beer, liquor and canned cocktails as well as cannabis.

“The kids just aren’t drinking as much,” Berryhill said. “And it’s not just wine, it’s whiskey and beer and everything. And then you’ve also got the competition with all the seltzers.”

Tariffs have reduced exports, particularly to Canada, which was the largest foreign buyer of American wine.

“The next step in the healing process is not only balancing supply and demand, but now actually figuring out what it is that the other consumers want,” said Rob McMillan, chief wine strategist at First Citizens Bank.

The industry hopes the market will bottom out soon. Meanwhile, growers are absorbing heavy losses trying to hang on.

Berryhill, whose grandfather started growing grapes nearly 100 years ago, doesn’t plan to give up on wine even though it’s costing him.

“I love growing grapes. It’s in the blood,” Berryhill said. “Because I love them, I can weather this and I’ll fight through it.”

San Francisco could move one step closer Tuesday to a potential takeover of PG&E’s power grid in the city.

The city has considered taking over PG&E’s power grid for years, but the issue was reignited following a widespread blackout last December that left a third of San Francisco in the dark in the days leading up to the Christmas holiday.

Since then, steps to expand public power have followed.

In July, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously certified the final environmental impact report for a proposed acquisition of PG&E’s assets.

On Tuesday, PG&E is appealing that decision to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

If the board rejects the appeal, it would clear one hurdle for the city to potentially use eminent domain for public power.

Several hurdles would still remain, including determining how much PG&E’s assets are worth.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has previously estimated the value at between $3 billion and $4 billion. PG&E says that estimate is significantly lower than what its assets are worth.

If supervisors reject PG&E’s appeal Tuesday, it would allow the potential public takeover to move forward.

President Donald Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday at a tumultuous moment for the world — and for his presidency — and made the case that he’s shown fortitude while other leaders have equivocated as he defended his decision to start a war with Iran.

Trump opened his remarks to the international community with more of a campaign stump-style speech, largely overlooking foreign affairs to focus on his domestic track record on the economy, immigration and crime.

“I can report to you with pride that America is back and our country is stronger today than ever before,” Trump said.

Trump then turned to his six-months-long war against Iran, framing the conflict he launched earlier this year as necessary to address a long-ignored threat. Trump accused Iran of stalling to make a deal to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate an endgame to the war until after the midterm elections.

“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”

He continued, “Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”

The president’s comments came in his wide-ranging address to the international body in which he also celebrated this year’s U.S. military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, a new agreement to expand the U.S. military presence in Greenland, and pushed back against calls for greater regulation of the artificial intelligence industry.

But at the heart of the address was a fulsome defense of the war and pushback on the notion that Iran has shown a measure of resilience.

“The terrorist regime is behaving badly, not because they are strong and confident, but because they are weak and desperate,” Trump said.

Most of Iran’s delegation walked out of the chamber as Trump railed against the Islamic Republic.

Trump later told reporters that his chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with the Iranian officials on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders but he offered few details about how the discussions transpired or the substance of the exchange.

“It was a very good meeting,” Trump said. The president later added that the Iranian officials were “not the highest level, but it’s something.”

The engagement comes after months of U.S.-Iran communications languishing following the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire that was brokered in June. U.S. and Iranian negotiators met separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators in Doha in early July for indirect talks.

Earlier Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump is open to meeting with Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, while he’s in New York for the General Assembly.

“This is a president that will meet with anybody for the most part, because he believes that engaging with people is important if you’re going to solve problems,” Rubio said on NBC’s “Today” show. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to end up agreeing with them, but it’s important.”

Trump also met on Tuesday with leaders and senior officials from Gulf Cooperation Council nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates — as well as Jordan to discuss the way ahead with the war in Iran.

In his address to the General Assembly, Trump made the case that he’s shown fortitude while other leaders have equivocated as he defended his decision to start a war with Iran.

But Trump also suggested that he could be at a crossroads in the conflict even as he called on the Islamic Republic to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to the negotiating table to find a settlement to end the conflict.

Trump’s speech began a busy day of diplomacy

After his speech, Trump gathered with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the General Assembly to sign a new security agreement.

The deal, announced last week, came together after Trump repeatedly threatened to “take over” Greenland, a territory of NATO-ally Denmark, by military force if necessary. Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will immediately begin the process of developing a larger military presence in Greenland including “building two very major military bases.”

Under the deal, Greenland remains Denmark’s territory.

Trump also held talks with new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He’s expected to hold a more informal meeting on Tuesday evening with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, according to the White House.

Trump also took part in an event on the Shield of Americas, an initiative Trump launched with Latin American countries earlier this year focused on combatting violent cartels.

Iran war looms large

The visit to the U.N. comes when Trump’s foreign policy approach — particularly his decision to start a war with Iran — has become a drag on his fellow Republicans’ hopes of retaining control of both chambers of Congress during the coming midterm elections. Recent polls show 69% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war. Trump insisted Tuesday that he’s not concerned with politics and claimed the world is better off for his leadership.

“As president of the most extraordinary nation in history,” Trump said. “I have no interest in leaving dangers to grow for another day. I do not believe in letting problems fester.”

The global economy has been shaken by his decision to launch a war against Iran. Anxiety about the social impact being wrought by artificial intelligence is surging. And questions linger about the future of the United Nations itself with Trump’s scaling back U.S. financial support for the United Nations.

In last year’s address at the U.N., Trump claimed the U.S. had “demolished” Iran’s nuclear capabilities after he ordered the June 2025 bombardment of three key facilities.

He returned to the General Assembly nearing the seven-month mark of a new war against Iran that he insists is necessary to address a nuclear threat posed by Iran.

The war has grown more complicated even though strikes by the United States and Israel have killed much of Iran’s top leadership and destroyed its air force and navy, while a U.S. blockade of Iranian oil has left Tehran in economic shambles.

The energy market continues to be spooked by the war and oil prices remain elevated. Saudi Arabia earlier this month shuttered a key pipeline that acted as a relief valve for oil blocked in the Gulf. The kingdom made the move after the pipeline came under attack by Iran-backed militants in Iraq.

At the same time, territorial grabs by the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, another Iranian-backed group, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait has now made it treacherous for oil carriers to use that Red Sea shipping lane.

Trump’s frustration with Russia-Ukraine war mounts

In his address, the president also touched on Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine during his U.N. address — a conflict that during his 2024 campaign he predicted would be resolved on Day One of his second term. He once again expressed hope that the conflict will soon be resolved.

Trump hasn’t obscured that his patience is being tested by Ukraine’s targeting of Russia’s diesel refineries — an issue that’s added to the global oil markets’ volatility — and Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s energy grid.

Trump last week asserted that he got the two sides to agree to not target each other’s energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy had said he was willing to go along with Trump’s plan if Russia abided by it. Russia said it could only go along with Trump’s energy truce proposal if Western energy sanctions on Moscow were lifted first.

The two sides have continued carrying out strikes on refineries and other energy infrastructure.

Trump noted that last week he signed a new sanctions bill targeting Moscow. It empowers him to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas.

The legislation includes an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports. Trump, however, has yet to enact the stiff penalties.

“If necessary, I will have to use them,” Trump said. “It’s time to stop the killing.”

A local hair salon owner is left starting over from scratch after thieves broke into her business last Thursday, spending an hour inside and making off with tens of thousands of dollars in supplies and equipment.

The burglary happened during the early morning hours while the owner was out of town and no one was working. Compounding the loss, the salon’s security system failed to notify police of the break-in.

Segen Gedam, owner of Goddess Hair Bar, recalled the moment she discovered the devastation.

“I just wanted to vomit, I wanted to vomit, I just couldn’t believe my eyes,” Gedam said.

Surveillance footage captures two thieves entering the salon. One of the suspects notices a security camera and throws it to the floor. The footage shows the pair moving to the back of the shop, rummaging through cabinets, stuffing supplies into bags, and leaving a mess behind.

“It was containers of hair on this side, containers of hair that side, all my chemicals,” Gedam said.

Gedam specializes in hair extensions. The thieves stole her entire inventory, including hair, retail products, professional tools, and everyday supplies.

“They even took napkins, like tissue paper, for the bathroom,” she said.

Because the security system failed to alert authorities, the burglars had ample time to ransack the business for a full hour before fleeing. The loss has forced Gedam to question the future of her livelihood.

“I worked so hard, do I want to do that again? Do I want to start all over again?” she asked.

Despite the setback, the Campbell community is rallying around Gedam by launching an online fundraiser and continuing to book appointments at the salon.

“It’s not just about the money, it’s about feeling protective of someone trying to hurt our family, our community, our space,” said Angelina Barron, a customer at Goddess Hair Bar.

Gedam, who has spent 20 years in the industry and owned her salon for a decade, remains determined.

“I’m not going to give up, I worked too hard,” she said.

The Campbell Police Department said investigators are actively working to identify those responsible.

California has a new law aiming to toughen penalties for those participating in illegal sideshows. The legislation is the result of a partnership between San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and State Assemblymember Catherine Stefani.

Ernesto Cabello, a vendor who has been part of San Francisco’s Mission District for nearly 30 years, says he remembers when the intersection of 16th and Mission streets used to be a hotspot for dangerous illegal sideshows. But he notes that things have improved.

In fact, the last major illegal street show the San Francisco Police Department had to respond to was back in May on the Bay Bridge.

Now, authorities say that with a combination of stricter laws and new efforts — like drones and speed bumps — the streets are getting safer again.

City officials expect the situation to improve even more now that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the new sideshow accountability measure. The law was authored by Stefani and supported by Lurie.

According to the mayor’s office, the new law will add motorbikes and dirt bikes to the sideshow framework, closing a legal loophole.

It also makes serious bodily injury caused by a driver in a sideshow felony-eligible and will allow authorities to impound vehicles when someone is convicted of a sideshow-related offense.

“What we were hearing from a lot of our law enforcement agencies was that they didn’t have the tools to deal with the way sideshows were continuing to proliferate throughout the Bay Area, and it updates the law as to how sideshows operate today,” Stefani said.

Last year, Lurie also signed a bill increasing fines for misdemeanor sideshow offenses from $500 to $1,000.

“It is focused on people who repeatedly engage in the most dangerous conduct,” Stefani said.

Bay Area air quality officials met with Richmond residents to discuss a preliminary health risk assessment that indicates emissions from the Chevron refinery pose potential health risks to parts of the city.

Officials emphasized that the assessment is not an immediate warning for residents to stay indoors, but the findings identify risks high enough to potentially require corrective action from Chevron.

The report estimates a maximum lifetime cancer risk of 37 in a million from refinery emissions — more than three times the district’s threshold. It also identified short-term non-cancer health risks exceeding district standards.

“10 out of 266 of different sources throughout the refinery were found to be above the limit that raises the risk of particular contaminants… that can cause cancer,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, Bay Area Air District health officer.

According to the findings, the estimated cancer risk is primarily linked to pollutants escaping through small leaks at the facility, while short-term risks are mostly tied to the refinery’s wastewater treatment system.

“Everybody deserves to breathe the cleanest air possible… and people are looking to government and science to provide reliable results to make their life safer,” Radhakrishna said.

A map presented during the meeting highlighted the highest estimated risks near Point Richmond and the Richmond Parkway. Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said the priority is utilizing the report to drive environmental improvements.

“I think this report… helps to understand the health impacts of the refinery,” Gioia said.

For lifelong Richmond residents, the data validates long-standing local concerns.

“Over the years we’ve heard that Richmond refinery is the highest polluter in the state,” one community member noted during public comment.

“I think more than anything it’s how do we reduce the risk? We all have children, we all work here,” said Richmond resident Tania Pulido.

Other residents expressed skepticism regarding whether Chevron will implement lasting corrections.

“Only way they’ll reduce it is if there’s infrastructure out there to keep on flagging every time they mess up,” said Richmond resident Dshawn Goodwin.

Chevron pushed back against the findings, questioning the accuracy of the report in a statement released Monday:

“A health-protective assessment should also be accurate. The Air District acknowledges that key assumptions in their draft report may overstate estimated risk. We agree and have identified outdated equipment and assumptions that do not reflect actual operations.”

The assessment remains preliminary, with a public comment period open through Nov. 23. If the elevated risk levels are ultimately confirmed, Chevron will be required to develop and execute a compliance plan to reduce them within five years.

The defense team in the retrial for the man convicted of kidnapping and killing Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar is calling the judge biased and requesting he recuse himself.

The surprising move on Monday comes weeks before the start of Antolin Garcia-Torres’s retrial. His defense team argues the judge was biased based on a handful of prior rulings and because he used to work as a prosecutor in Santa Clara County.

“To make this move now, I think, is very unusual,” said Steven Clark, a legal analyst. “It may be that they’re trying to work the refs like you see coaches do in sports. That they’re trying to say, ‘Look, some of these rulings have not gone our way. We hope we’ll get some rulings down the road.’ I don’t think this is going to be successful.”

Judge Brian Buckelew said as prosecutor he had never worked directly on the Sierra LaMar case. He also gave an important tentative ruling that favored the defense, saying he was inclined to now allow prosecutors to use the DNA data firm Cybergenetics for potential analysis.

“This case will come down to the DNA evidence and the validity of the way it was gathered and tested,” Clark said. “Having the prosecution not be able to use the DNA experts they want is a huge win for the defense.”

Morgan Hill Apr 27

Attorney general requests review of overturned Sierra LaMar murder conviction

Morgan Hill Mar 2

‘Sierra didn't get a second chance': LaMar's dad talks about overturned conviction

Morgan Hill Feb 27

Conviction overturned for man found guilty in Sierra LaMar's murder

The 15-year-old LaMar vanished in March 2012 while on her way to school in Morgan Hill and her body was never found.

Her cell phone and belongings were later discovered on the side of the road two miles from her home, containing trace evidence that tied Garcia-Torres to her disappearance. Her DNA was also found in Garcia-Torres’s car. But without a body, murder weapon, or crime scene, that forensic DNA was the crux of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s case.

In June 2017, Garcia-Torres was sentenced to life for her murder.

A judge in February overturned the conviction, partly because the district attorney had used three unrelated kidnapping cases to help convict Garcia-Torres.

Garcia-Torres has remained in prison.

Both sides are set to return to court Thursday. The judge in that hearing is expected to rule whether he plans to stay on the case.

Con Azucar Café is a national franchise, but it all started with a Bay Area visionary and a dream.

Owner Alejandra Gonzalez graduated from Los Gatos High School and attended a vocational school in San Jose. That landed her a job at Tesla, where she ran their new recycling department, eventually overseeing 400 employees. But she wanted more.

She decided to quit Tesla and open a Mexican coffee shop with her husband, calling it Con Azucar. It was a gamble.

“It is very scary,” Gonzalez said. “We still don’t know what’s on the other side. But it’s a learning process like everything. I think we’ve learned a lot throughout the time.”

The gamble has paid off. Con Azucar has become an institution, leading to locations across the Bay Area and franchises in Los Angeles, Nebraska and Texas. Moving forward, one investor has developed a plan to open 100 franchise locations in 10 years in Southern California.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Sep 15

Hispanic Heritage Month spotlight: Bay Area artist Nacho Moya

Art and Culture Sep 15

Hispanic Heritage Month: History, celebrations and why it begins on September 15

A 19-year-old man was killed and another was seriously injured in a crash on Highway 101 in San Jose early Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The solo-vehicle crash happened around 2:06 a.m. on northbound Highway 101 at Yerba Buena Road.

CHP said a preliminary investigation indicates the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control of the vehicle while traveling northbound.

A 19-year-old passenger from Fairfield was ejected from the vehicle and died from his injuries, according to CHP.

The driver, a 19-year-old man from San Mateo, was taken to a hospital with major injuries.

CHP said it is not yet known whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Jose CHP office at 408-961-0900.

California is bracing for a “Super El Niño” that some believe could bring some of the strongest storms, and storm damage, the state has ever seen.

Gov. Gavin Newsom considers the warning so dire that he has declared a preemptive state of emergency.

Folks who live along the Russian River in Guerneville are no strangers to flooding, but tonight they are gearing up for possible record conditions.

“Comes in fast and then it drains by the tides. The tides hold the water the creek can’t get out,” said Steven Cline, a Guerneville resident who describes the flooding that takes place in his neighborhood nearly every year.

But Cline says he is now gearing up for potentially historic flooding.California officials are sounding the alarm, saying a record-breaking El Niño could bring extreme storms and flooding across the state.

“The risk in front of us is serious. This is part of a larger and alarming trend,” said Caroline Thomas Jacobs, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Thomas Jacobs added that climate-driven El Niño conditions could mean months of dangerous weather, heavy rain, strong winds, deep mountain snow, and flooding, emphasizing that Californians should understand this clearly.

Paul Lowenthal with the Santa Rosa Fire Department says that while it is unclear whether the forecasted El Niño conditions will hold, the emergency declaration is a great reminder to prepare.

“Whether it’s knowing when to sign up for emergency alerts, having your go-bag ready, being prepared for the potential of outages, being prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” Lowenthal said.

State and local officials are already gearing up. Cal Fire crews have been removing trees along River Road in Sonoma County — trees at risk of coming down in a big storm.

They are clearing debris from waterways and getting ready to put in extra sandbag stations. They are also prepositioning California National Guard equipment, including high-water vehicles to be used for water rescues if needed.

“Last couple weeks they were sledging the creek, taking all the debris, taking out 100 yards of dirt, bulldozer, bulldoze tree debris, garbage and clearing all culverts out, so they’re preparing for it,” Cline said.

Cline says he is glad to see the state and the county taking precautions. He says he will start moving his belongings to higher ground soon.

“El Niño is going to really sock us this year, so I’m preparing, that’s all I can do,” he added.

Extreme Weather Aug 6

Experts warn of high Bay Area flood risk during super El Niño

Extreme Weather May 6

Odds of a ‘super El Niño' increase, adding to fears of extreme weather around the world

San Francisco’s first Raising Cane’s officially opened its doors at Fisherman’s Wharf on Monday morning, drawing dozens of people hours before the restaurant opened.

The first person in line arrived dressed in a Raising Cane’s costume.

Kodi Fort, a senior at nearby Galileo High School, got in line around 7:30 a.m. and was one of 20 people who won free Raising Cane’s meals for a year.

The Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant marks Raising Cane’s first location in San Francisco, 30 years after the chain was founded in 1996.

Not everyone welcomed the new restaurant. A handful of PETA protesters gathered outside to share their opposition to consuming animal products.

The protest remained peaceful, and the demonstrators later left.

Another Raising Cane’s location is set to open at Stonestown next month.

The group known as the “Stanford 11” has reached an agreement that could lead to the dismissal of charges stemming from a 2025 protest at Stanford University.

A judge Monday agreed to a stipulated agreement between the defendants and the California Attorney General’s Office.

Under the agreement, the 11 defendants, who faced a combination of misdemeanor and felony charges, will have their cases dismissed if they complete 100 hours of community service and pay nearly $52,000 in restitution to Stanford for damage caused during the protest.

The restitution has already been paid, and two defendants, including Jerman Gonzalez, have completed their community service.

The defendants were arrested following a June 2025 protest in which demonstrators broke into a Stanford University building to protest the school’s investments in companies they say support Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office took the case to a grand jury and secured indictments. An attorney for the Stanford 11 criticized the process as a “secret,” one-sided grand jury hearing that prevented the defendants from having a public preliminary hearing.

The District Attorney’s Office has said the protest caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and traumatized workers.

Five of the defendants went to trial earlier this year, but the case ended in a mistrial.

A judge later barred Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen and his office from retrying the case, citing a conflict of interest after Rosen promoted the case on a campaign fundraising website as part of an effort to fight antisemitism.

It’s that time of year again. San Francisco Fleet Week is back.

The fall tradition will be highlighted by the Blue Angels screaming across the skies, but there are plenty of other events to experience. Check out the guide below to learn more about Fleet Week events.

What is San Francisco Fleet Week?

San Francisco Fleet Week is an annual celebration of the nation’s sea services.

A multi-day air show, parade of ships and ship tours highlight the weeklong festivities.

“San Francisco Fleet Week is an annual public event that honors the contributions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces while advancing cooperation and knowledge among civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance personnel,” a statement on the event’s website reads.

When is San Francisco Fleet Week 2026?

Fleet Week is scheduled to take place Sunday, Oct. 4 through Monday, Oct. 12.

San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show

Head to a location along San Francisco Bay between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to catch a thrilling aerial show featuring the Blue Angels, a United Airlines 777, and much more.

• When: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11
• Lineup and schedule: Stay tuned for detailed information on the airshow lineup and schedule
• Where: Ticketed seating located at the Marina Green in San Francisco
• Tickets: Air show tickets are available via the San Francisco Fleet Week website
• Note: Gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday

Bay Area Jan 16

Blue Angels pay quick visit to the Bay Area in preparation for annual Fleet Week show

San Francisco Sep 3

San Francisco supervisor wants to ensure city is ready for Fleet Week crowds

San Francisco Fleet Week Parade of Ships

Set your eyes on the water near the Golden Gate Bridge to catch the fleet of ships arriving in the Bay, escorted by a San Francisco Fire Department boat shooting water into the air.

• When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9
• Where: San Francisco Bay waterfront (the parade can be seen from locations along the water between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge)

San Francisco Fleet Week Ship Tours

Climb aboard various ships to see what it’s like to be a sailor in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.

The visiting ships will be announced in late September.

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Who: TBD
When: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Pier 27; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Pier 35

Thursday, Oct. 8

Who: TBD
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Pier 27 and Pier 35

Saturday, Oct. 10

Who: TBD
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Pier 27 and Pier 35

Sunday, Oct. 11

Who: TBD
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Pier 27 and Pier 35

Monday, Oct. 12

Who: TBD
When: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Pier 35

San Francisco Fleet Week Honor Our Fallen Concert

Pay special tribute to the U.S. service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice by attending the Honor Our Fallen Concert, led by the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band.

• When: 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8
• Where: Marines’ Memorial Theatre (609 Sutter St., San Francisco)
• Tickets: The concert is free and open to the public, but you must reserve your seat in advance. Reservations for the Honor Our Fallen concert can be made via the San Francisco Fleet Week website.

San Francisco Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series

Enjoy Navy and Marine Corps bands perform during free concerts in neighborhoods across San Francisco. Check out the concert series schedule below.

Tuesday, Oct. 6

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: TJPA Salesforce Park (425 Mission St.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Noe Valley Town Square (3861 24th St.)

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet
When: 11:30 a.m.
Where: SF VA Medical Center – outdoor picnic tables behind canteen (building 7) (4150 Clement St.)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West Brass
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point St. E100)

Who: Navy Band SW Woodwind Quintet
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Grace Cathedral (1100 California St.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Huntington Park (California and Taylor streets)

Who: Navy Band SW Brass Band
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Osaka Way in Japantown (Buchannan Street between Post and Sutter streets)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West – Mobility
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Pier 39

Thursday, Oct. 8

Who: Navy Band SW Woodwind Quintet
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Ferry Building back plaza (1 Ferry Building)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West Brass
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Crab Wheel Plaza (2820 Taylor St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Brass Band
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Jane Warner Plaza

Who: USAF Band of Golden West – Mobility
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Pier 39

Who: Navy Band SW Destroyers (DD)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Heroes Block Party by American Legion Cathay Post 384 (1524 Powell St.)

Friday, Oct. 9

Who: 1st Marine Divison Brass Band
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley (50 Fell St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Brass Band
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Golden Gate Park Band Shell (Music Concourse Dr.)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West – Mobility
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Crab Wheel Plaza (2820 Taylor St.)

Who: 191st Army Woodwind Quintet
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Presidio Tunnel Tops (210 Lincoln Blvd.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Popular Music Group
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Union Square (333 Post St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Woodwind Quintet
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Glen Park Library (2825 Diamond St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Destroyers (DD)
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Pier 39

Who: USAF Band of Golden West Brass
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point St. E100)

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Chinatown Night Market (Commercial Street and Grant Avenue)

Saturday, Oct. 10

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Brass Band
When: 11 a.m.
Where: K9 Heroes – Duboce Park (Steiner Street and Duboce Avenue)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West – Rock Band Mobility
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: 191st Army Jazz Ensemble
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point St. E100)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West Brass
When: 1 p.m.
Where: India Basin Waterfront Park (900 Innes Ave.)

Who: Navy Band SW Woodwind Quintet
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Sunset Branch Library (1305 18th Ave.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band/Quintet
When: 4 p.m.
Where: West Portal Patio (80 West Portal Ave.)

Who: Navy Band SW Brass Band
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: Navy Band SW Destroyers (DD)
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Pier 39

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Band and Popular Music Group
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Westwood World (2036 Lombard St.)

Sunday, Oct. 11

Who: USAF Band of Golden West Travis Brass Band
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Band of the West Division
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Ceremonial Band
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Italian Heritage Parade (Jefferson and Powell streets to Washington Park)

Who: Navy Band SW Parade Band
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Italian Heritage Parade (Jefferson and Powell streets to Washington Park)

Who: 191st Army Big Band
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Fleet Fest (2860 Taylor St.)

Who: 1st Marine Division Brass Quintet / Woodwind Quintet
When: 3 p.m.
Where: San Francisco Zoo – Leaping Lemur Cafe (1 Zoo Rd.)

Who: USAF Band of Golden West – Mobility
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Pier 39

For information about other Fleet Week events, visit the San Francisco Fleet Week website.

The California’s attorney general’s office announced a settlement Monday resolving a 12-state legal challenge to Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a key hurdle for the transaction.

The merger would join together two historic film studios (Paramount and Warner Bros.), two popular streaming platforms (Paramount+ and HBO Max) and two news organizations (CBS News and CNN) under the leadership of 43-year-old mogul David Ellison.

The states opposing the deal, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, sued to block the merger July 13, arguing in a 38-page complaint that it would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood.

The terms of the settlement include a pledge by the company to release 30 films per year for the first two years of the deal, followed by 32 films in each of the following three years — or pay a fee for missing that target. Bonta also said that the combined company would invest more than $1 billion in production and film releases in the United States.

Paramount is also pledging to establish independent editorial boards overseeing the operations of CNN and CBS News.

Also Monday, the Writers’ Guild of America announced it had settled its lawsuit with Paramount. The guild, which is made up of more than 21,000 members, said in its statement that it is still opposed to the deal, but after the states moved to drop their case, it had to “contend with the reality of forging ahead alone.”

As part of its settlement terms, the union said Paramount has agreed “to prohibit writer layoffs at CBS News Broadcast for 5 years, and to pay $17.5 million to our health fund along with our attorneys’ fees in the litigation.”

Paramount had agreed to freeze the merger until either the antitrust challenge was resolved or June 1, 2027 — whichever came first. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who is presiding over the case, had scheduled an antitrust trial for early March.

The fee of $30 million per missed film will be paid into health care and retirement trust funds associated with Hollywood unions, such as the Writers Guild, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Directors Guild of America.

In a statement Monday, Ellison said, “We are grateful to Attorney General Bonta and his fellow AGs, as well as the WGA, for engaging in good faith to find a path forward to a resolution that serves all parties, and to Governor Newsom for his support throughout this process.”

“Our goal has always been to build a stronger Hollywood — one with more stories told, greater choice for consumers and stronger competition,” he added.

Shares of both Paramount and Warner soared more than 10% as reports of the settlement circulated early in the day.

Additionally, as part of the states’ settlement agreement, “the merged company must conduct negotiations for Paramount basic cable channels independently from negotiations for Warner basic cable channels, preserving the existing competitive dynamic between the companies,” New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement.

“The merged company will commit $47.5 million in a workforce fund over five years for training and career development for workers who are displaced by the merger,” the statement said.

The lawsuit challenging the deal was filed by Bonta and his fellow Democratic attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.

They argued that the transaction violated Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, a federal law that bars mergers likely to reduce competition. The states said the deal would lessen competition in three areas: wide-release theatrical film distribution, anticipated top-grossing movie distribution and the market for distributing basic cable channels to cable and satellite providers.

Paramount rejected those claims, arguing that the states’ suit is “wrong on both the facts and the law” and “one of the weakest merger challenges in modern antitrust history.”

Paramount executives had been eager to wrap up the deal as soon as possible partly because the company agreed to pay Warner shareholders a “ticking fee” of 25 cents a share each quarter if the transaction did not close by Sept. 30 — a penalty worth more than $600 million every three months.

In August, Paramount’s lawyers asked Martínez-Olguín to require the merger’s legal opponents, which also includes the Writers Guild, to put up a nearly $1.9 billion bond. The money, the company said, would cover the costs of delays caused by the antitrust lawsuit.

The Justice Department threw its support behind Paramount’s demand that the opponents should be forced to post a bond as the price of continuing to block the merger. Martínez-Olguín had scheduled a hearing on Paramount’s bond request for Sept. 24.

Media Jul 24

Paramount agrees to delay closing Warner buyout for months

Media Jul 13

12 states challenge Paramount's $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros in lawsuit

Hollywood’s mixed views on merger

Paramount had already received regulatory clearance from the Justice Department, which approved the deal June 12, and it has touted similar approvals from other foreign territories, including Australia, Canada and China.

The deal was given the green light by the European Commission on July 21, which required the company to divest its stake in United International Pictures and not enter any film distribution deals with Universal in the European Economic Area for 10 years.

The merger also has the backing of AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas, the largest movie theater chains in the U.S. by number of locations and screens.

But many outspoken actors, writers and producers in Hollywood have rallied behind efforts to block the merger, arguing in an open letter earlier this year that further corporate consolidation of the entertainment industry will “threaten the sustainability of the entire creative community.”

Paramount has repeatedly insisted the deal is “lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry.”

The company has argued that big studios face healthy competition from smaller film distribution labels, including recent hitmakers Amazon MGM (“Project Hail Mary”), A24 (“Backrooms”) and Lionsgate (“Michael”).

The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA issued a statement shortly after a settlement was reached saying it believes the terms address “some of our deep concerns about production levels and investment in U.S. production”

“We will continue to approach our relationship with Paramount with professionalism and the intention to work well together,” SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin and National Executive Director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in the statement. “We hope that the process of engaging with the attorneys general has impressed upon them the fact that in addition to collective bargaining, our members rely on the law to help protect our interests.. These are the lowest standards that our employers must meet.”

On Sunday and Monday, members of the Committee for the First Amendment, a free-speech advocacy group headed by actor Jane Fonda — organized rallies in Oakland, California, outside Bonta’s office, and in New York City, outside state Attorney General Letitia James’ office.

Holding signs reading “#BlockTheMerger,” the protesters called on attorneys general from the states suing Paramount to “stay strong” and resist making concessions in negotiations.

“We just want to thank everyone for listening, we want people to spread the word and let everyone know: this merger is bad,” said Bruce Cohen, a producer who was among the rally attendees and speakers Monday. “It’s bad for Hollywood, it’s bad for workers, it’s bad for democracy.”

A protest outside California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Oakland office caught the attention of some of the biggest names in Hollywood on Sunday.

About three dozen demonstrators protested at Bonta’s office with a mission to persuade him to continue his fight against the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger and not accept what they say is a bad settlement.

More than 1,000 actors, directors and production crews, including 75 Academy Award winners, have come out against the merger.

The group formed after actor Mark Ruffalo encouraged his social media followers to join the rally.

Paramount Skydance wants to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for about $110 billion. But the deal has been met with political and legal challenges, as well as with protests.

Among other things, opponents are worried it will hurt writers and shrink the labor market.

“It’s the tens of thousands of people who will lose their jobs, the creativity that will be lost as a result of there not being this competition out there,” Landmark Theaters co-founder Gary Mayer said.

Paramount has said publicly it needs the merger so it can compete financially with larger companies, but in July, California joined 11 other states in suing to stop the merger, and a judge temporarily blocked the consolidation deal during litigation.

In an email, Bonta’s press office said they could not “confirm or deny” whether talks are ongoing nor about “their alleged substance.”

Protestors say they want Bonta and other AGs across the country to stand firmly against further media consolidation, stop the settlement talks and take this case to trial.

NBC Bay Area reached out to Paramount for comment about the rally and the ongoing talks but have not heard back.

Home prices continue to rise across the Bay Area, even as the housing market typically begins to cool in the fall.

The latest Zillow Home Value Index shows home values rose across all nine Bay Area counties in August.

San Francisco saw a 1.8% increase, while San Mateo County rose 0.7% and Alameda County increased 0.1%. Home values in the remaining counties rose by roughly a couple tenths of a percentage point.

Coldwell Banker told NBC Bay Area it is not seeing the typical slowdown in fall sales activity that the region has experienced in recent years.

The real estate company said there is a significant amount of cash in the market, in part because of the boom in artificial intelligence.

“Even though interest rates have ticked up, those buyers that are mortgage dependent are still coming into the market and they want home ownership,” said Mary Lee Blaylock, president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates. “The American Dream of home ownership is steadfast and consistent and remains intact no matter what.”

Coldwell Banker said it cannot predict where home prices will go from here and noted that real estate conditions can vary significantly from one area to another.

The company recommends consulting with a local real estate agent when considering buying or selling a home.

Two people fighting the Dome Fire in Yosemite died after their firefighting helicopter crashed Sunday, according to officials.

The helicopter crashed around 2 p.m. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

Aerospace company FlyPrecision announced on social media that it had lost two members of its team, saying the company was “devastated by this loss.”

The Dome Fire has burned more than 3,000 acres and was 15% contained.

No evacuation orders were in place.

Authorities have found no evidence to back up a report that an injured girl was spotted at the scene of a rollover crash Sunday night in Redwood City, police said.

The crash occurred about 10:40 p.m. on northbound U.S. Highway 101 at the overpass north of Woodside Road. The suspect fled the scene on foot, authorities said.

Police and California Highway Patrol officers searched the area following a report that a 4- to 5-year-old girl, with blonde or brown hair and a pink jacket, was seen bleeding from the head after the crash.

“After a thorough search, no juvenile matching the reported description was located and there is currently no evidence that a child was involved,” police said in an update on Monday morning.

Multiple spot fires ended up burning approximately 340 acres in Marin County on Sunday, the Marin County Fire said.

The fire department said at around 4:40 p.m. crews responded to reports of a vegetation fire near Chileno Valley Road, around four miles south of Tomales Road, in the Chileno Valley area.

Upon arrival, the fire department said it was determined there were multiple spot fires. The forward progress of one of the smaller ones was stopped at around 4:50 p.m., while the forward progress of the two remaining fires was stopped just before 7 p.m.

Authorities said the spot fires burned approximately 340 acres combined.

The Oakland Roots Soccer Club, Port of Oakland and a Southern California realty group have come to an exploratory negotiating agreement to develop the Howard Terminal site.

On Sept. 10, the Port of Oakland Commissioners voted to authorize an exploratory exclusive negotiating agreement with the team, the port and Industrial Realty Group for one year at Howard Terminal, according to an agenda report.

“You are probably aware that we have been playing at four different venues through our seven years existence, very nomadic,” Chief Real Estate Officer of the Oakland Roots and Soul Lydia Tan said. “I think it’s important for me personally as a commissioner to think about the opportunities at Howard as something that will provide strength and health to the entire port and all of our operations, and I think this is really good step in that direction.”

A description of the respective projects, site plans, proposed acreage parking plans, potential uses, workforce and maritime integration are part of the expected timeline.

in a statement, the Oakland 68s, an organization dedicated to the community and its sports culture said in part the agreement “represents an opportunity to build a new chapter for Oakland sports and the city’s waterfront.”

NBC Bay Area reached out to Industrial Realty Group for comment, but hasn’t heard back yet.

A body was found in the Guadalupe River Trail area in San Jose early Sunday morning, according to the police department.

Police said at around 1:15 a.m., officers responded to a report of suspicious circumstance in the area of the Guadalupe River Trail near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Autumn Parkway. There, authorities said they found a dead person.

The police department said investigation is ongoing.

A healthy baby girl made an unexpected roadside arrival Friday afternoon after her family got stuck in heavy traffic on the way to the hospital, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

The unexpected delivery began at approximately 4:40 p.m., when crews received a report of a family en route to a hospital to deliver their baby, the department announced Saturday.

Fire officials said due to heavy traffic near Crossover Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the family pulled over and called 911.

SFFD Paramedic Engine 14 and AMR Unit 110, a 911 provider for San Francisco, were dispatched to the scene. AMR Unit 110 arrived first, but traffic conditions forced the crew to park two blocks away and run to reach the patient.

Parents Karollyn and Nate said on Sunday a doula sitting in traffic with them helped coach Karollyn through the process while waiting for paramedics.

Personnel arrived just in time to assist with the delivery of the baby girl. Engine 14 crews arrived shortly afterward to provide care for both the mother and the newborn.

Both the mother and child were later transported to a local hospital and reported to be in good condition, the department stated.

“We want to congratulate the family and welcome this new child to the world,” the SFFD said in a statement. “Her arrival is a true testament to the dedication, compassion and teamwork of our first responders.”

On Sunday, Karollyn and Nate revealed the baby’s name is Cielle Ray. They said Karollyn is “doing great,” and she is in the recovery process.

“Mom is doing great, recovering well and we’re leaving later tonight,” the family wrote. “We always joked around about giving birth in the car, never thought it would happen to us. We took a route that I take every morning to work without issues, and just so happens that the day with the worst traffic is the last day we needed it. But we were so fortunate to have the support that we did, especially some medical professionals that were sitting in the same traffic. Most notably a doula that helped coach Karollyn through the process until the paramedics arrived.

SAN FRANCISCO — Kruk and Kuip plan to call their final game together on Sept. 27, but the road to get there won’t be easy. 

A few weeks after Mike Krukow announced that this will be his final season, Duane Kuiper revealed Sunday that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer.

Kuiper is getting treatment and will miss some upcoming games, but he plans to be in the booth next weekend with Krukow for their final series together.

“I was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and began treatment last week with my doctors at Stanford Medicine,” Kuiper said in a statement released by the Giants. “This cancer is unrelated to the one I experienced five years ago, and I’m optimistic that it will be successfully treated. I’ll miss the broadcasts tomorrow and Wednesday as I continue treatment, but I’m looking forward to returning Tuesday and this weekend to celebrate my partner, Mike Krukow, and his remarkable career as he calls his final game before retirement. I’m incredibly grateful for the care I’m receiving and for the tremendous support from my family, the Giants organization, my broadcast partners and so many others.”

Kuiper, 76, missed this weekend’s series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Jon Miller and Dave Flemming filling in. He has long planned to be back next weekend, when he and Krukow, his broadcast partner and closest friend, will call games against the Dodgers for the final time. 

It will be the end of a 36-year run for Krukow, who announced last month that he is retiring because his long battle with inclusion body myositis has made it difficult to continue to keep up with the physical demands of the job.

Kuiper, who underwent chemotherapy in 2021, has said that he intends to keep calling games beyond this season.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation designed to accelerate California’s transition to clean transportation, streamline the deployment of electric vehicle chargers and expand consumer choice, the governor’s office announced Sunday.

The legislative package includes SB 969, SB 1283, AB 1820, SB 1213, SB 1267 and SB 615. The new laws are aimed at cutting red tape to expedite charger deployment, supporting charging access in multifamily housing, strengthening transparency for zero-emission truck incentives and providing clearer battery information for consumers, according to the governor’s office.

“Donald Trump has failed to protect American families from paying skyrocketing costs at the pump because of his reckless foreign conflicts and Big Oil greed,” Newsom said in a statement.

The laws address practical hurdles in EV adoption. SB 969 modernizes outdated inspection rules for manufacturer-tested public chargers to help them come online faster while preserving consumer protection safeguards.

SB 1283 clarifies that streamlined permitting rules for charger installations also apply to related infrastructure work like trenching, electrical upgrades, solar canopies and battery storage.

AB 1820 reduces permitting barriers and fees for charging projects at apartments and mixed-use developments to expand access for renters.

Additionally, SB 1213, SB 1267, and SB 615 improve incentive transparency for zero-emission trucks, assist residents in homeowner associations with EV charging access and offer clearer battery information for vehicle buyers.

The legislation builds on the state’s MyFirstEV program, which provides eligible first-time buyers instant rebates of up to $3,500 for a new zero-emission vehicle or up to $1,750 for a used vehicle. The program is backed by a $135.5 million state investment matched dollar-for-dollar by participating automakers, totaling $271 million in point-of-sale savings.

Californians can explore options at electricforall.org. The MyFirstEV rebate is part of a broader $600 million investment funded through Cap-and-Invest revenue and smog-abatement fees, which also supports the Clean Cars 4 All program, the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project and the Carl Moyer Program.

State officials report that California features more than 216,445 public and shared charging plugs statewide, including over 20,000 DC fast-charging ports.

The California Energy Commission allocated $98.5 million in light-duty ZEV infrastructure funding for the 2025–26 fiscal year, prioritizing Level 1 and Level 2 chargers at homes and multifamily residences, the governor’s office reported Sunday.

California has surpassed its initial goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicle sales by 2025, recording more than 2.7 million cumulative ZEV sales. In the second quarter of 2026, residents purchased 86,857 new ZEVs, accounting for 19.1% of all new vehicle sales in the state, according to the governor’s office.

“California is choosing a stronger path: more EVs on the road, more chargers in our communities, and more affordable choices for families and businesses. These laws cut red tape, accelerate the infrastructure we need, and build a safer, more reliable, and more affordable future, one that is powered by California innovation, not dictated by global oil markets,” Newsom added.

Dan’s Irish Sports Bar at 1524 Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek may be forced to leave its current location due to a lease dispute, according to the bar’s owner. For the time being, the bar is encouraging patrons to stop by and say their goodbyes.

Saul Tallarico, who began working at Dan’s in 1996 and has owned the bar since 2011, said the bar has existed in its current location for more than 55 years. But now, Tallarico expects the odds are slim that the bar remains at that location.

“Who are we if we’re not human, if we don’t hold out hope for some sort of Hail Mary?” he wondered out loud.

“[But] is that the likelihood? Probably not? That’s why I’m looking at other spaces,” he continued.

Tallarico claims he negotiated in good faith to renew his lease, but that the property manager “kept moving the goalposts” and asked him to pay an additional $500,000 on top of rent payments to match an offer from a new competing tenant.

Tallarico has concerns about how this lease dispute was handled and has filed civil litigation against the property manager, landlord, and competing tenant in Contra Costa County. We have reached out to the parties named in this litigation, but have notreceivedd a response.

Meanwhile, there is no clear timeline for a potential closure.

“Come visit us while we’re still here, come in, take your pictures,” said Alona Lettner, a bartender at Dan’s, who noted that over the past few weeks many people have been dropping in as news spreads about the likely end to the bar’s time on Civic Drive.

On Saturday, plenty of people dropped in to visit the bar to squeeze in a few more memories.

“I think we’ve all met a lot of our good friends here, we’ve celebrated many birthdays,” noted Patrick Yang of Concord, who said he’d been going to Dan’s from the time he was old enough to drink.

Regulars did not mince words about how important this spot is to them.

“This is our local ‘Cheers’,” said Walnut Creek resident Brittany Grinnel.

“And if it goes away, I promise you, I’ll move out of Walnut Creek. Walnut Creek is becoming way too commercial,” said Grinnel.

Tallarico said that even if the bar is forced to move, he plans to look for another location in Walnut Creek to relocate Dan’s and the Dan’s staff.

“Doors will be open here as long as we can keep them open, and then hopefully we find this next place, and this next place will be the next magical spot,” Tallarico said.

A group of local high school students in the Bay Area is serving the planet by turning old tennis balls into useful community tools.

Thousands of used tennis balls are finding a new purpose at schools, animal shelters, and assisted living centers around the Bay Area, courtesy of Bin to Better, a student-led environmental organization that transforms waste into opportunity.

Because the rubber and felt on a tennis ball cannot be recycled, about 125 million of them end up in landfills each year. To combat this, members of the Bin to Better organization rally on their time off, sorting through donations collected at local tennis clubs.

The students cut the balls open so they can be repurposed as chair leg covers in classrooms, glides on walkers at assisted living homes and enrichment toys for pets.

Fremont Elementary teacher Ms. MacKenzie notes that the modified balls work great to keep classrooms quieter while preventing scratches on the floor.

The initiative is also making a splash environmentally. Kim Grant, director of the Kim Grant Tennis Academy in Palo Alto, is glad to be part of Bin to Better, saying the effort helps keep nearby waterways clean.

As the organization expands and thinks outside the box for community waste solutions, founders encourage community members to ask around at local tennis clubs or check out the Bin to Better website to join the rally.

State and Bay Area health officials warned of a possible measles exposure Friday after a person infected with the disease traveled by train from the Midwest through California.

Alameda County and California Department of Public health officials say an Amtrak passenger, infected with Measles, traveled from Chicago, through Sacramento, then to Emeryville, before the last leg of their journey to Los Angeles. They said that person could have infected scores of other passengers all along the way.

Two frequent riders on the Sacramento to the Bay Area route just heard about the possible measles exposure on Saturday.

“That is new news that I’m hearing about. It’s very worrisome,” passenger Elham A said.

“It’s a risk you take in any public space. I don’t think Amtrak is particularly at fault for anything related to that. When you use public transport, if people are being silly, it can affect you,” passenger Henry N. said.

According to officials, the infected passenger started their trip in Chicago on Sep. 10 and arrived in Los Angeles on Sept. 12. The passenger arrived in Bakersfield and traveled to Stockton that same day. On Sept. 13, the passenger traveled from Oroville to Sacramento, and then from Sacramento to Emeryville. On Sept. 14, the passenger left Emeryville to arrive in Denver on Tuesday.

Health experts say measles cases have skyrocketed as vaccination rates have decrease; 3,400 were reported nationwide in 2026, while there were fewer than 2,300 in all of 2025.

“So, we have been having the largest Measles outbreak, in since the last 35 years in this country, and now this person riding on Amtrak, actively infected with Measles, could unfortunately infect people who are not vaccinated,” UCSF Department of Medicine Dr. Monica Gandhi said.

Dr. Gandhi says vaccination rates for the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine have fallen below the critical 95-percent rate across the U.S., and nine out of 10 patients hospitalized with measles are unvaccinated.

“So, we really want 95% rates of vaccination, and the reason Measles is spreading in this country and we’re in this situation, is because we have people who are unvaccinated,” she said.

California does still meet the 95% MMR vaccination rate, but a recent Reuters poll says only about 84% of U.S. citizens have faith in vaccines.

Gandhi says there’s also a risk with vaccinated people who came into contact with the measles positive Amtrak passenger or others actively infected.

She says they can still pick up and carry the disease and transmit it to others.

“The concern is, you could take it home to someone who’s vulnerable, who is not vaccinated, like say a small child,” she said.

The California Department of Public Health urges people to get vaccinated and to monitor for symptoms of a fever coupled with an unexplained rash. They advise anyone who believes they’ve been infected to self-isolate and call a doctor immediately.

State and local health officials are working to identify and notify anyone who may have been infected.

Six people were injured following a multi-vehicle crash in San Francisco Saturday, the fire department said.

The fire department said the crash occurred in the area of Park Presidio and California streets just before 7 p.m. At the scene, firefighters declared a “yellow alert multi-casualty incident,” which authorities said brings more ambulances and secures adequate emergency room occupancy for trauma patients.

The fire department said all six victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; three of them have moderate injuries, while three have minor injuries.

Authorities warned drivers to expected delays in the area of Park Presidio Boulevard and California Street.

A person was arrested on the De Anza College campus in Cupertino, the De Anza Community College District Police Department said on Friday.

Police said officers on patrol noticed a person acting suspiciously on campus and made contact. Authorities said a records check revealed the person had an outstanding felony warrant.

Police said officers also found the suspect had an axe, suspected methamphetamine and heroin, loaded hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia.

The person was taken into custody and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on multiple drug, weapons and warrant-related charges, according to authorities.

A man died after crashing into a building in Fremont on Saturday, according to the police department.

Police said officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash at around 12:12 p.m. in the area of Niles Boulevard and Cinematic Common.

At the scene, authorities said they found the unresponsive 88-year-old driver and provided life-saving efforts. The driver was taken to a local trauma center, where he later died, officials reported.

Police said no bystanders were injured and the exact cause of the crash is under investigation, but “speed has not been ruled out”.

Authorities added this is the city’s ninth fatal traffic collision in 2026.

The FBI says the number of women who say they were tricked online by a man posing as a 49ers player has grown to 61.

Investigators are working to verify that the newly identified women are, in fact, victims of Daejon Love and Taylor Chan.

Love and Chan are charged with several crimes including wire fraud.

The FBI says Love posed as a 49ers player on dating apps to meet women online. He would then ask them for money for fake investments while Chan posed as his financial adviser, according to authorities.

The FBI is asking anyone with information about Love or Chan to contact the agency.

Yet another correctional officer from a now-shuttered women’s prison in Dublin has been charged with sexually abusing inmates.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed five felony charges against David Perez, who was working as a disciplinary hearing officer at the notorious Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin.

According to court filings, Perez allegedly abused two women, identified as R.M. and S.M., between August 2015 and December 2017.

Using his authority as a prison official, Perez allegedly was able to get each woman alone with him in the prison’s “Captain’s Complex,” where he is accused of touching their breasts and buttocks and, on one occasion, “digitally penetrating” R.M.’s genitals, according to prosecutors.

Perez is facing three counts of abusive sexual contact, one count of sexual abuse of a ward and one count of lying to federal investigators.

If convicted of all charges, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 29 years in prison and could be on the hook for more than $1.2 million in fines.

Perez has not been arrested and no lawyer is listed for him in court documents. He has not yet entered a plea or filed a response to the charges.

In a related civil lawsuit filed on March 11 in federal court, R.M. says Perez allegedly routinely subjected her to sexual abuse and harassment.

“In 2016, while she was housed in the SHU punishment cell following an altercation with another inmate, David Perez … began singling her out,” according to the suit. “Under the guise of addressing her disciplinary status, he summoned her alone, isolated her from others, pressed his body against hers, grabbed her by the hips, and groped her breasts and buttocks without her consent.”

Perez allegedly engaged in similar behavior on at least four separate occasions, according to the suit.

R.M. says she felt “frozen, terrified, and powerless to resist” because of Perez’s authority over her and she didn’t report the abuse because she feared retaliation, including the possible extension of her sentence.

“The institutional culture within FCI Dublin created an environment of intimidation and coercion,” according to the lawsuit, which adds that the prison is “known for its culture of tolerating sexual misconduct.”

In fact, Perez is the 11th official from the prison to be charged with sex-related offenses, including former warden Ray Garcia, who was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to nearly six years in prison.

The former low-security prison closed in April 2024 in the wake of investigations into predatory sexual abuse of female inmates.

The owners and the manager of a Cupertino spa were accused of running a brothel, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said on Thursday.

The DA’s Office said 46-year-old Ling Wang and 48-year-old Xian Wang of San Jose have owned and operated the Hummingbird Day Spa since 2022, which offered sexual services to approximately 30 men daily. The brothel, according to authorities, brought in about $700,000 a year.

The DA’s Office said it also charged the spa’s manager, 42-year-old Rui Wang of Sunnyvale.

Officials said the investigation began in March, after reports of illegal sexual activity from the community. The DA’s Office said evidence showed that the business, marketed to male customers, had a high volume of men entering the facility over a short period of time every day.

Further investigation revealed the Wangs were underreporting payroll by more than $100,000 per year, and that profits were funneled through mortgage payments to properties in San Jose and Chino Hills, along investments, according to authorities.

The defendants were taken into custody on Sept. 10, according to the DA’s Office, and two women who were on the scene received support services from Community Solutions. Authorities added the defendants were charged with numerous felonies, including pimping and pandering, money laundering and tax and payroll fraud.

A disabled train between the Fremont and Union City stations caused delays on the Berryessa line on Saturday, according to BART.

At 12:15 p.m., BART said a disabled train between the Fremont and Union City stations was major causing delays on the Berryessa line.

Just before 2 p.m., BART announced that train was cleared out of the way and it was in the process of restoring normal service, adding there was still a 20-minute delay on the Berryessa line in the Richmond, Daly City and Berryessa directions.

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A UC Berkeley student said she was followed and chased into her off-campus apartment building on Tuesday night. Berkeley junior Eden Winograd said this all happened at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday when she was walking her dog near her off-campus apartment complex.

That night, Winograd said she was walking her dog on the same path she does every night when she noticed a man approaching whom she had seen a few days earlier.

“I started to panic a little bit, but I didn’t want to offend him if he was just standing there,” she said, recalling that she then started crossing the street. But then, she said the man started following directly behind her and saying things to her while she walked.

“I started speeding up and heard his feet banging on the floor behind me,” she said.

“I went up to the gate, I buzzed myself in, I went, and I closed it, and then I heard clanging sounds while I was walking inside, and I turned around, and he was like scaling the gate,” Winograd continued.

“My heart sank, I was out of breath, my heart was pounding,” she recalled.

She made it inside the elevator of her building before anything else happened, then called the police.

Winograd posted the surveillance video of the incident on TikTok, where it has now been viewed more than 858,000 times.

That surveillance video has now also been shared by Berkeley Police. The video shows Winograd walking into the gate of her apartment complex, walking her dog on a leash. A few seconds later, a man can be seen climbing over the same gate where she entered and following in the same direction Winograd walked in, holding something in his hand.

Police said that initial reports indicated the suspect had a knife in his hand, but investigators later found that the object was likely a barbecue lighter. It is still unclear why that man would be holding a barbecue lighter.

But for Winograd, that doesn’t change how alarming this incident was.

“I don’t care if they have a weapon in their hand or nothing in their hand, I don’t want to be chased the second I step out of my apartment. I don’t want to be chased and have to watch someone claw their way up a wall to get to where I live,” she said.

Police said that the following day, they were called about the same man lying on the sidewalk in the same area. Berkeley police said they detained him and confirmed he was involved in “the prior trespassing incident.” Police did not arrest that man, but they did send a case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Police have not released the man’s name, but they said he is 50 years old and experiencing homelessness.

A man died following a shooting in Oakland on Friday, according to the police department.

Police said the incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. in the 1500 block of Magnolia Street. Authorities said they found a man with an apparent gunshot wound, who died at the scene.

The police department said a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident, and the department’s Homicide Section is conducting a follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

Solano CHP said Friday it caught a driver sleeping in his Tesla while going 60 miles an hour.

The CHP says the driver thought he could hide the fact he was asleep behind dark sunglasses, but an officer spotted the driver slumping over.

The CHP reminds everyone that self-driving features are meant to help but not replace drivers. 

The Bernal Scream haunted house returned to San Jose Friday, and it’s bigger than ever.

The homegrown haunt has nearly doubled its footprint this year to nearly 10,000 square feet. For the first time, it includes two main attractions: The Last Confession and Anxiety.

The Last Confession takes visitors on a harrowing journey through their darkest sins. Anxiety is a psychological gauntlet designed to trigger primal phobias.

The event also includes bouncy houses for younger children and glow-in-the-dark paintball. It opened its doors at 7:15 p.m. Friday and runs through Nov. 8.

One woman’s medical emergency might open your eyes to a costly “gap” in health coverage.  

“I probably would have died if the ambulance did not show up,” said Sophia, who asked NBC Bay Area not to use her last name. She was walking with a friend last year when she suddenly felt sick. 

“My friend called 911,” Sophia said. NBC Bay Area obtained a recording of the 911 call.  

“She’s cold as ice… She’s drooling,” the caller said. 

An operator asked, “Is she responding normally?”

Hurriedly, Sophia’s friend said, “No!”

An incident report shows Sophia’s eyes were “swollen shut.” Medics rushed her to the hospital by ambulance. She spent time in intensive care for a severe food allergy, but recovered. 

“It was pretty scary,” Sophia said.  

Next, Sophia said she braced for her bills. “I have insurance through my husband’s work,” she explained. 

She expected a 20% co-pay. Maybe a couple hundred dollars. But then, a surprise ambulance bill. Sophia was on the hook for a $4,517 balance because her insurance company, Cigna, only covered $927 of the $5,444 the ambulance company charged. 

“I was shocked,” she said. “That’s a lot of money..” 

Sophia went digging and found AB 716. 

“We ended surprise ambulance bills in the state,” said Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, from Encinitas. She told NBC Bay Area that she heard from many constituents – like Sophia- who were caught between a health plan and an ambulance company over an emergency ambulance ride. 

“It’s really heartbreaking,” Boerner said. So, she sponsored AB 716 to stop surprise ambulance bills. It’s now state law. Since 2024, California law has basically told health plans and ambulance companies to work out their billing disputes themselves, and stop sending patients a bill for the balance.    

“It was such an obvious gap to close,” Boerner said.  

But, it turns out AB 716 doesn’t apply to Sophia and millions of others. Why? A surprise technicality. Sophia doesn’t actually have traditional health insurance. She’s part of a “self-funded health plan.” That means her husband’s employer pays claims in the background, while Cigna handles front end administration. “Self funded” plans are generally federally regulated, so state laws like AB 716 do not apply. 

“We just don’t have jurisdiction over the federal plans,” Boerner explained. 

If you work for a large company, your insurance card likely says “self funded.” An Employee Benefit Research Institute report estimates about 75% of companies with 500 or more workers have “self funded” health plans.

Federal law has a “no surprises” act, too. But here’s another surprise: it does not cover ambulance bills. a Harvard law school publication recently called ambulance bills, “The Last Gap in the No Surprises Act.”

“I really urge congress to close that gap,” Boerner said. 

AMR, Sophia’s ambulance company, told NBC Bay Area it “would welcome a change to the law requiring federally regulated health plans to pay the approved rate for emergency ambulance services.”

With neither federal nor state protection, it looked like Sophia had to pay the big, $4,500 balance bill for her emergency ambulance ride. Then, one final surprise. NBC Bay Area asked Cigna about Sophia’s case. It said somewhere in the billing process Sophia’s lifesaving ride was charged wrong because in Santa Clara County, the county sets ambulance rates.   

Cigna said, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The claim has been reprocessed in accordance with county-established ambulance rates.” 

Sophia said her $4,500 bill then dropped to just $300. 

“Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it,” she said. “I really felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own. I felt like I was getting the runaround.”

When you have health plan problems, government regulators can help you file an official complaint.

The state covers traditional health insurance with the Department of Managed Health Care. 

If your health plan is “self funded,” you can turn to the federal government’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. 

To know which plan you have, look at your insurance card or talk to your employer’s personnel department. 

Joyce Orecchia’s beach bag could be packed with memories of coast-to-coast travel, after all she’s a timeshare owner. Instead, the sack is stuffed with postcards, of sorts, from several states of frustration.  

“Well, I bought it in Vegas,” she said with a side eye and a sigh. “Never buy things in Vegas!” 

In a Las Vegas impulse buy, Joyce wagered $12,000 with Diamond Resorts (now Hilton Grand Vacations) for a “lifetime of travel” — that’s their tagline. 

On top of paying $12,000, she was required to pay maintenance fees annually for life, whether she used her timeshare or not. She told NBC Bay Area that those fees recently rose to more than $1,000 a year. 

“I said, ‘No way. That’s more than I would even pay for a hotel,’” she said. “So, I was like, ‘I gotta get out of this.’”

She said she called in 2024 and asked Hilton if she could return what she owned. “The solution was: I had to buy more to get out of it. And that was $15,000.” 

Hilton did not address Joyce’s claim with us. When she hung up the phone, Joyce took action. “That’s when I started looking for an exit company,” she said. 

An “exit company” is an outfit that advertises help to get rid of or re-sell a timeshare. They look like lifesavers. But the Federal Trade Commission says: beware. Its website says, “The truth is, the timeshare market is overcrowded, and it might be hard, if not impossible, to sell a timeshare.”

Others have issued warnings, too, including Consumers’ Checkbook.  

“We found that several victims we’ve spoken with, after years, are still held to these timeshare exit companies that promised they would get them out of, and haven’t,” said Checkbook Executive Editor Kevin Brasler. His team has written about high pressure sales tactics, hollow promises, and high fees, both in buying into a timeshare as well as getting out.   

“Consumer groups have been begging the timeshare industry to clean up its act for decades now,” Brasler said. “And it’s made very little progress,” he said.  

The timeshare industry has created what’s called the Coalition for Responsible Exit. Its website tells timeshare owners like Joyce “There’s no need to pay a company to take the steps toward timeshare exit.” The coalition’s members, including Hilton, are supposed to give owners “A comprehensive overview of your timeshare exit options.” 

But to get out of her Vegas splurge, remember that Joyce said the deal Hilton put on the table was doubling down. So, she hired a third-party timeshare exit company that, in turn, enlisted another company for the transfer. Joyce paid Consumer Edge Travel Solutions in Carlsbad and Liberty Consultations in Tennessee $6,700, up front, in 2024. 

Joyce said she paid. And waited. Joyce shared a certificate guaranteeing transfer in 365 days. By the time she contacted NBC Bay Area Responds, about 730 days had gone by. Two years after signing an agreement, she still had a timeshare and the requirement to pay annual fees. 

We asked if she had any idea she would still be dealing with this in 2026. “Hell, no,” she said. 

So, NBC Bay Area contacted the companies. All three responded. None went on camera. The exit companies said Hilton was the hiccup holding up Joyce’s transfer. A rep wrote, “Their phone lines were literally so overwhelmed it would kick my staff off.” And, “I believe we have resent this transfer 3 times.”

Hilton disputed that and said this about the hold up: “…it appears a third-party company engaged by the member filed incomplete paperwork that resulted in significant delays.”

To Joyce, none of that finger-pointing mattered. All she wanted was out. Shortly after our inquiry, the transfer company said it sent another packet of papers. Hilton then confirmed to Joyce “The transfer is complete.” 

Hilton said: “While the vast majority of our members love their vacation ownership, we understand that life circumstances can change, and we strive to support our members in finding the right solution for their needs.” 

The exit companies said they were “fully committed to seeing this through to completion.” 

As for the $12,000 Joyce spent in Vegas buying real estate, she didn’t get a single penny back cashing out.  But she says that loss was OK to end her unlucky run as a timeshare owner.   

“I feel like I’ve had this weight on my back for so long. It’s just… gone,” she said. “And it’s such a relief.”

If you ever consider buying a timeshare, make sure you ask about fees. Are there fees to get in? Fees to use your timeshare? Annual maintenance fees? And, does the program charge fees to get out? Ask about your options to exit your lifetime contract. Can you just give back your timeshare? Or can you re-sell it? Also, research whether anyone’s even buying second hand.  A quick search of eBay for second hand timeshares sales might open your eyes.

California’s general election is Nov. 3, with statewide races and propositions as well as key local races and measures across the Bay Area. Here’s what you need to know to cast your ballot, including important dates and deadlines, how to register or check your status, where and when to vote, and what’s on the ballot.

Key election dates

The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 19.

County election officials will start mailing ballots by Oct. 5.

Ballot drop-off locations open on Oct. 6

Last day to register to vote for the general election is Oct. 19.

First vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties on Oct. 24.

In person early voting locations in the state open on Oct. 31.

Election Day, Nov. 3, is the last day to vote in-person or return a ballot by 8 p.m.

• Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3.
• If mailing on election day, get a hand-stamped postmark from a postal employee inside a post office.

Visit the California Secretary of State’s website for a full list of key dates and deadlines.

Check voter registration status

Voters can check their registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov to confirm their mailing address and voting status.

How to register to vote

California residents can register to vote in elections at registertovote.ca.gov. Note Oct. 19 is the last day to register for the general election.

Same day voter registration window will be open from Oct. 20 up to the Nov. 3 election day. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations to complete same day registration.

How to find your polling place

Visit the California Secretary of State’s website, where you can input your address to find your polling location and see what is on your ballot.

Voters can also visit their county elections office for more information. Scroll down to the Bay Area county election offices section of this guide for further contact information.

What to bring to your polling place

Voters usually are not required to show identification to a polling place worker before casting a ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s website.

There are some instances when providing identification is required:

• Voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number
• California identification number or the last four digits of social security number are missing on registration form

In these cases voters should plan to bring identification to a polling place or bring a copy of it with their vote-by-mail ballot.

The Secretary of State says the following are acceptable forms of identification:

• Passport
• Driver license
• Official state identification card
• Student identification card
• Copy of recent utility bill
• Sample ballot booklet received from county elections office
• Any document received by a government agency

How to track your mail-in ballot

Voters can track their vote-by-mail ballot and confirm it has been received by using the state’s Where’s My Ballot? tool at california.ballottrax.net/voter/. Ballots mailed in may take a few days to appear on the website.

Why is California choosing a new governor?

Gov. Gavin Newsom terms out after this year and voters will choose between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, who both advanced to the general election after a wild primary.

Becerra has served as former President Joe Biden’s top health official and oversaw the response to the coronavirus pandemic. He was also the California’s attorney general during President Donald Trump’s first term and has more than two decades of experience as a congressmember.

Hilton was a conservative commentator with a show on Fox News for six years. He also worked as an adviser to former British prime minister David Cameron.

What are the 14 California propositions voters will decide in the November election?

Here’s a list of the California propositions on the November ballot and descriptions from the secretary of state:

Proposition 1: Authorizes bonds for housing affordability programs

Proposition 2: Increases state’s rainy day fund

Proposition 3: Provides permanent funding for schools and healthcare by extending existing tax on high incomes

Proposition 4: Repeals prohibition against public funding of election campaigns.

Proposition 5: Changes recall election process for statewide officers.

Proposition 37: Creates loan program for middle-income buyers of qualified new homes.

Proposition 38: Authorizes bonds for immunology medical research.

Proposition 39: Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification.

Proposition 40: Imposes one-time tax on certain taxpayers.

Proposition 41: Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenues from state spending limit. Requires audits for new state special taxes.

Proposition 42: Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.

Proposition 43: Limits voters’ ability to raise revenues for local government services.

Proposition 44: Requires community health clinics spend 90% of revenue on program services.

Proposition 45: Modifies environmental review for certain projects.

Regional measure to watch

Measure RTM: The Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative, is a regional sales tax aimed at increasing funds for public transit. It includes 5 Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

Races and measures to watch in Alameda County

California Congressional District 14: California lawmaker Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez will face off again to determine who will serve the next full two-year term.

Wahab topped Hernandez in an August special election to serve the remainder of former California U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term. Swalwell resigned from Congress earlier this year after sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

District 14 includes the East Bay cities such as Fremont, Hayward and Livermore.

Measure X in Berkeley: Would establish 10% limit on annual rent increases and other changes to the city’s rent ordinance.

Measure Y in Berkeley: Parcel tax to pay for arts projects.

Measure Z in Berkeley: Parcel tax to fund a public bank.

Measure AA in Berkeley: Increase soda tax (not assigned)

Measure EE in Oakland: Shift city to a strong mayor system.

Measure FF in Oakland: Eliminate foreclosure exemption from property transfer tax.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in Alameda County and additional election information, visit the Alameda County Elections website.

Races and measures to watch in Contra Costa County

In Contra Costa County, several county board of education seats are open. In Richmond, residents will vote on a new mayor while voters in San Pablo will weigh in on Measure S, which would limit rent increases.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in Contra Costa County and additional election information, visit the Contra Costa County Elections website.

Races and measures to watch in Napa County

California Congressional District 4: Mike Thompson faces Eric Jones.

Measure B in Napa County: Sales tax to fund wildfire prevention and open space preservation.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in Napa County and additional election information, visit the Napa County Elections website.

Races and measures to watch in San Francisco

San Francisco voters will weigh in on several open seats on the county board of supervisors and board of education.

Proposition A: Give mayor more power to hire and fire department heads.

Proposition B: Pave way for public bank.

Proposition C: Increase the city’s annual contribution to an affordable housing trust fund.

Proposition D: New barriers to placing measures on the ballot.

Proposition E: Changes to city contracting.

Proposition G: Reopen parts of the Great Highway to vehicle traffic on weekdays.

Proposition H: Parcel tax to fund Muni.

Proposition J: Eliminate foreclosure exemption from property transfer tax

California Congressional District 11: Scott Wiener and Connie Chan compete to succeed Nancy Pelosi.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in San Francisco and additional election information, visit the San Francisco Department of Elections website.

Races and measures to watch in San Mateo County

Measure E in Redwood City: Limit rent increases.

Measure Q in Half Moon Bay: Referendum to block proposed farmworker housing.

Measure U in San Mateo County: Create independent commission to draw supervisor districts.

For a complete list of San Mateo County measures and races on the ballot, visit smacre.gov/elections.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in San Mateo County and additional election information, visit the San Mateo County Elections website.

Races and measures to watch in Santa Clara County

In San Jose, incumbents Peter Ortiz and Bien Doan are up for re-election in Districts 5 and 7, respectively, and there’s an open seat in District 9.

Races and measures to watch in Solano County

Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 4: Mike Silva and John Carli face in a runoff in a district covering Vacaville and Dixon.

Measure E in Solano County: New tax on data centers and battery storage facilities in the unincorporated county areas.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in Solano County and additional election information, visit the Solano County Registrar of Voters website.

Races and measures to watch in Sonoma County

California Congressional District 1: Mike McGuire will face James Gallagher in a seat redistricted by Proposition 50.

California Congressional District 4: Mike Thompson faces Eric Jones.

State Assembly District 12: Eric Lucan and Jackie Elward compete in a battle between business and labor.

🗳️ For a complete list of races and measures on the ballot in Sonoma County and additional election information, visit the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters website.

Bay Area county election offices

Here’s a list of local elections offices and their contact information.

Alameda
Cynthia Cornejo, Interim Registrar of Voters
1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 272-6933
(510) 272-6982 Fax
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
acvote.alamedacountyca.gov

Contra Costa
Kristin Braun Connelly, County Clerk, Recorder and Registrar of Voters
555 Escobar Street
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 271
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 335-7800
(925) 335-7838 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
www.contracostavote.gov/
E-Mail:[email protected]

Marin
Natalie Adona, Registrar of Voters
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 121
San Rafael, CA 94903
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box E
San Rafael, CA 94913-3904
(415) 473-6456
(415) 473-6447 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.marincounty.gov/departments/elections
E-Mail: [email protected]

Napa
John Tuteur, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
Napa County Registrar of Voters
1125 Third St., First Floor
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 253-4321
(707) 253-4390 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
www.napacounty.gov/396/Elections
E-Mail: [email protected]

San Francisco
John Arntz, Director of Elections
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 48
San Francisco, CA 94102-4635
(415) 558-6100
(415) 558-6109 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
sf.gov/departments/department-elections
E-Mail: [email protected]

San Mateo
Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Registration-Elections Division
40 Tower Road
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 312-5222
(650) 312-5348 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
smcacre.gov/elections
E-Mail: [email protected]

Santa Clara
Matt Moreles, ROV
1555 Berger Drive, Bldg. 2
San Jose, CA 95112
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 611360
San Jose, CA 95161-1360
(408) 299-8683
(866) 430-8683
(408) 998-7314 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
vote.santaclaracounty.gov/home
E-Mail: [email protected]

Solano
Timothy Flanagan, Registrar of Voters
675 Texas Street, Suite 2600
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 784-6675
(888) 933-8683
(707) 784-6678 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
www.solanocounty.gov/government/registrar-voters
E-Mail: [email protected]

Sonoma
Evelyn Mendez, Registrar of Voters
3880 Brickway Blvd
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 11485
Santa Rosa, CA 95406-1485
(707) 565-6800
(800) 750-8683
(707) 565-6843 Fax
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/clerk-recorder-assessor-registrar-of-voters/registrar-of-voters
E-Mail: [email protected]

Decision 2026 Aug 20

California lawmaker Aisha Wahab wins special election to succeed Eric Swalwell in Congress

San Francisco Sep 16

San Francisco mayor backs Prop H as Muni faces $307M budget shortfall

Experts are unsure why this sea turtle has chosen California to lay her nest.

Ventura County deputies found the couple after family requested a welfare check.

The crash occurred east of Whiskey Creek Road.

Multiple California schools landed in the top of the annual rankings.

When issues of theater etiquette go too far.

The suspect had been arrested three times this month, authorities said.

Loren Herzog, the other half of the Speed Freak Killers, died in 2012.

Rio’s wrong turn could be the result of illness, injury or simply bad navigational skills. 

"The scientific method gone mad — Dr. Strangelove, but it is not fiction."

"You have a quintuple whammy."

Modern-day DNA testing solved a 27-year-old missing person case. 

A hiker discovered the body on Wednesday.

The big cat was first spotted roaming the streets around 7 a.m.

The property earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places this year.

The boat struck rocks at 6:10 a.m. before capsizing.