Cal Fire’s aerial firefighting fleet, the largest civilian force in the world, has added two modern aircraft that can fly farther, operate at night and carry more water. The delivery of the pair of Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters from Colorado-based United Rotorcraft last week marked the fulfillment of a multi-year plan to modernize and bolster … Read more
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAD) is expanding its vehicle buy-back program to encourage the removal of higher-polluting vehicles from the road by increasing the buy-back amount to $2,000, an increase of $500. Beginning on July 1, vehicles that are model year 2000 and older can qualify, the Air District said. “The Vehicle … Read more
Protests will take place across the Bay Area on Saturday as part of what is expected to be over 1,800 nationwide demonstrations in response to the policies of President Donald Trump’s second administration, according to event organizers. Over 190 organizations from across the country formed a coalition called No Kings to promote the events. The … Read more
A reported decision to strip Harvey Milk’s honorific from a U.S. Navy vessel named for the San Francisco LGBTQ rights icon drew condemnation from several Bay Area politicians Tuesday. The USNS Harvey Milk is a fleet replenishment oiler in the Navy’s John Lewis class, named for the late congressman and civil rights leader. Though no … Read more
Recently installed speed cameras throughout San Francisco are capturing an average of more than one thousand speeding drivers each day, according to data released by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. SFMTA began its speed camera pilot program in April, with cameras set up so far at 21 locations across the city. For now, drivers … Read more
The Gilroy Garlic Festival will be held at Gilroy Gardens’ South County Grove this summer after a tragic shooting in 2019 and post-pandemic financial strain caused the festival to go dark in 2022. The return of the Gilroy event, which dates back to 1979, influenced a similar festival that had sprung up in its absence … Read more
A delivery driver pleaded guilty on May 13 to defrauding more than $2.5 million from the San Francisco-based DoorDash delivery company, according to federal prosecutors. Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri, a 30-year-old Newport Beach resident, and three others were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024 with a single count of conspiracy to commit … Read more
A flurry of class action lawsuits against a South Bay digital tech management company landed Monday in federal court after a data breach allegedly exposed the personal, medical and insurance information of nearly half a million people. Santa Clara-based Serviceaide Inc. provides digital management services to many health care providers and other clients, using AI … Read more
Bay Area firefighters are preparing for a difficult fire season this summer. The latest seasonal outlook report from the National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services, released on May 1, predicts an early fire season, with significant fire potential for June, July, and August, further complicating difficulties created by federal budget cuts. Brett Lutz, fire meteorologist … Read more
A man who bombed two PG&E transformers in San Jose pleaded guilty on April 29 to federal charges related to the attacks. Peter Karasev, 38, admitted to bombing the electric transformers on Dec. 8, 2022 near the Westfield Oakridge Mall and on Jan. 5, 2023 near the Plaza Del Rey shopping center, according to officials … Read more