News

The Salesforce Tower gondola is back with all its slow-speed thrills, taking riders from Mission Street up to Salesforce Park. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)</ins>

From gondolas to office dogs, a snapshot of San Francisco’s tech scene this week

Editor’s note: This week, we’re launching a new column called Screenshots, in…

  • Aug 27, 2021
The Salesforce Tower gondola is back with all its slow-speed thrills, taking riders from Mission Street up to Salesforce Park. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)</ins>
The monstrous Dixie Fire has become the largest wildfire in California history. It’s been burning for more than a month. (Photo courtesy of Cal Fire via Callaway Climate Insights)

Fiddling with carbon offsets while California burns

Wildfires expose major flaws in the CO₂ market

  • Aug 26, 2021
The monstrous Dixie Fire has become the largest wildfire in California history. It’s been burning for more than a month. (Photo courtesy of Cal Fire via Callaway Climate Insights)
Yik Yak, an app once targeted to undergraduate college students, has returned, with an audience aimed at ages 12 and older. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Yik Yak is back, bringing concerns about cyberbullying with it

Popular phone app was used improperly by students back in its heyday

  • Aug 26, 2021
Yik Yak, an app once targeted to undergraduate college students, has returned, with an audience aimed at ages 12 and older. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
Joan Voight has a 275-gallon tank for storing recycled water on her Healdsburg property. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)

Healdsburg comes up with a creative drought fix

City delivers treated wastewater for residents’ gardens

  • Aug 26, 2021
Joan Voight has a 275-gallon tank for storing recycled water on her Healdsburg property. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)
The California Legislature is moving to increase housing density in urban centers, such as BART’s Rockridge Station in Oakland, where zoning traditionally has been for single-family homes. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)

Lawmakers pave the way for more housing in California

‘Gentle density increase’ respects character of neighborhoods

  • Aug 26, 2021
The California Legislature is moving to increase housing density in urban centers, such as BART’s Rockridge Station in Oakland, where zoning traditionally has been for single-family homes. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)
California lawmakers are considering a plan aimed at making it easier for California community college students to transfer a state four-year campus. (iStock)

Could proposed plan ease transfer woes for California community college students?

Many don’t go to UC, Cal State due to frustrating, complex process

  • Aug 26, 2021
California lawmakers are considering a plan aimed at making it easier for California community college students to transfer a state four-year campus. (iStock)
Traveling nurses Candace Brim, left, and Janet Stovall are based in North Carolina, but have been traveling as a pair since the beginning of this year. (Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters)

Nurse shortages in California reaching crisis point

Many leaving high-pressure jobs for career change, early retirement or less demanding work

  • Aug 26, 2021
Traveling nurses Candace Brim, left, and Janet Stovall are based in North Carolina, but have been traveling as a pair since the beginning of this year. (Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters)
As California continues battling the Dixie Fire, the U.S. government is funding research to improve adverse health effects caused by wildfire smoke. (Courtesy Cal Fire)

EPA grants nearly $3 million to fund Bay Area wildfire smoke research

Three Bay Area research projects will share nearly $3 million in federal…

As California continues battling the Dixie Fire, the U.S. government is funding research to improve adverse health effects caused by wildfire smoke. (Courtesy Cal Fire)
Kat Nobles takes part in a Zoom meeting in a conference room at the cybersecurity firm Okta at the company’s San Francisco offices. The firm is bringing back workers at a staggered pace. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

How SF tech giants are navigating a successful return to the office

‘Nostalgia for 2019 is misplaced’

  • Aug 26, 2021
Kat Nobles takes part in a Zoom meeting in a conference room at the cybersecurity firm Okta at the company’s San Francisco offices. The firm is bringing back workers at a staggered pace. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
Foster City’s City Council fired Peter Pirnejad, the city manager, in closed session this week and did not make the reason public. (Ananda Paulas/Bay City News)

Foster City officials fire city manager, name police chief acting city manager

The Foster City City Council fired City Manager Peter Pirnejad during a…

Foster City’s City Council fired Peter Pirnejad, the city manager, in closed session this week and did not make the reason public. (Ananda Paulas/Bay City News)
The view of downtown San Francisco is obscured as smoke from numerous wildfires chokes the Bay Area in 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Air quality advisories issued for Friday, Saturday due to wildfire smoke

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing air quality advisories…

The view of downtown San Francisco is obscured as smoke from numerous wildfires chokes the Bay Area in 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The San Francisco Giants’ longtime equipment manager Mike Murphy, left, visits with Steve Vucinich, equipment manager of the Oakland Athletics, in Vucinich’s office at the Coliseum in Oakland. (Jed Jacobsohn/New York Times)

Steve Vucinich: ‘He knows it all because he’s seen it all’

A’s beloved equipment manager has been with the franchise for 54 years

  • Aug 26, 2021
The San Francisco Giants’ longtime equipment manager Mike Murphy, left, visits with Steve Vucinich, equipment manager of the Oakland Athletics, in Vucinich’s office at the Coliseum in Oakland. (Jed Jacobsohn/New York Times)
Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host from Southern California in the mold of Rush Limbaugh, could be California’s next governor. (Courtesy photo)

A right-wing shock jock could become California’s governor

Newsom recall is no longer a Republican longshot

  • Aug 25, 2021
Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host from Southern California in the mold of Rush Limbaugh, could be California’s next governor. (Courtesy photo)
While advocates have advised keeping classroom windows open during the pandemic, poor air quality from wildfires has prompted San Francisco public schools to invest in air purifiers. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SF schools wrestle with clean air and failing infrastructure

Parents, unions calling for more resources to keep everyone safe

While advocates have advised keeping classroom windows open during the pandemic, poor air quality from wildfires has prompted San Francisco public schools to invest in air purifiers. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Climate change activists say goals to clean up the environment will not be reached until driving is no longer an attractive transportation option. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

U.N. climate report calls for bold action. What does that look like in San Francisco?

‘We need urgent action at an unprecedented scale’

Climate change activists say goals to clean up the environment will not be reached until driving is no longer an attractive transportation option. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
Flames crest over a ridge Aug. 18 near Genesee as a water tender sits ready to protect the Walking G Ranch, which was once a summer camp. (Christian Monterrosa/New York Times)

Returning home to a valley filled with flames

Childhood memories are replaced by wrath of Dixie Fire

  • Aug 25, 2021
Flames crest over a ridge Aug. 18 near Genesee as a water tender sits ready to protect the Walking G Ranch, which was once a summer camp. (Christian Monterrosa/New York Times)
A plane approaches the huge Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties. (Courtesy Cal Fire)

Study links wildfire smoke to rise in COVID-19 cases, deaths

Exposure to smoke intensifies risks for those who are infected, experts say

  • Aug 25, 2021
A plane approaches the huge Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties. (Courtesy Cal Fire)
La Doña and her band opened Stern Grove’s 84th season on June 20. (Christopher Victorio/Special to The Examiner)

Stern Grove cancels final show due to water main break

Tower of Power, Too Short won’t play Sunday

La Doña and her band opened Stern Grove’s 84th season on June 20. (Christopher Victorio/Special to The Examiner)
Canvassers for an immigrant advocacy group pitched Gov. Gavin Newsom to voters in Palmdale on Aug. 5. (Rozette Rago/New York Times)

Many Californians don’t know there’s a recall — that’s not good for Newsom

What was once seen as a longshot by Republicans is gaining steam

  • Aug 25, 2021
Canvassers for an immigrant advocacy group pitched Gov. Gavin Newsom to voters in Palmdale on Aug. 5. (Rozette Rago/New York Times)
The Sea Change, a catamaran billed as the nation’s first hydrogen ferry, launched in Bellingham, Wash. The vessel will soon be coming to the Bay Area.<ins> (Courtesy All American Marine)</ins>

S.F. will soon roll out nation’s first hydrogen ferry

First of its kind boat will debut here soon

  • Aug 25, 2021
The Sea Change, a catamaran billed as the nation’s first hydrogen ferry, launched in Bellingham, Wash. The vessel will soon be coming to the Bay Area.<ins> (Courtesy All American Marine)</ins>