Culture

SAN FRANCISCO — A Giants team that had won three consecutive games against the rival Dodgers in dramatic fashion to extend its lead to 3.0 games in the National League West ran out of magic in a deflating 8-0 loss on Wednesday night at Oracle Park. Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani’s struggles against the Dodgers continued while […]

OAKLAND — A 24-year-old man was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison in connection with a June 2020 police chase in Richmond where he was found to be in possession of a loaded pistol. Vandrick Jones, who is listed as a resident of Antioch, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge […]

Katie Ledecky had the race of her Olympics on Wednesday night to help the United States win a silver medal in the 800-meter relay in one of the Tokyo Games’ most dramatic finishes at the pool. Ledecky, 24, anchored the Americans in a race in which the heavily favored Australians finished third and surprising China […]

SAN JOSE – More than half a dozen people were displaced by a fire Wednesday near San Jose State University, authorities said. The blaze was reported at 3:10 p.m. on the second floor of a two-story apartment building at 375 East Williams Street, the San Jose Fire Department said in a social media post. The […]

After the two driest consecutive years in much of California in nearly half a century, reservoir levels are dropping. Lawns are brown. Water restrictions are increasing. And Californians are getting worried. Asked to name the environmental issue they are most concerned about, more California residents cited water shortages and drought than any other, according to […]

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco man who was charged with illegal gun possession after being arrested in connection with a nonfatal downtown shooting spree was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison, court records show. Alvin Merrite, 48, was sentenced July 21 by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, months after Merrite pleaded […]

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants catcher Buster Posey exited Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers in the top of the fourth inning less than an hour after taking a foul ball directly off his catcher’s mask. The Giants did not immediately announce a reason for Posey’s departure from the game, but television replays showed Posey grimacing after […]

Q: I have visited many countries in Europe and noticed when crossing streets that the crosswalks are pushed back from corners about 10 to 20 feet. It makes real sense. In some accidents, the driver does not see the pedestrian behind an obstacle, like a pole, etc. The driver is looking to the left for […]

A wildfire broke out Wednesday evening inside Pinnacles National Park, authorities said. The Pinnacles Fire was reported at about 5:40 p.m. off Highway 146 near the West Pinnacles Visitor Center, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in an incident overview. As of 7 p.m., the fire had consumed 100 acres and was […]

“Back 4 Blood” reaches a key milestone next week as the spiritual successor of the “Left 4 Dead” series enters its Open Beta. Running in two phases through August, the snippets of gameplay will give fans a chance to check out the “Swarm” PvP mode and two co-op maps. The first phase runs from Aug. […]

Firefighters on Wednesday afternoon battled four brush fires along State Route 152 southeast of Gilroy, authorities said. The fires were first reported at about 3:50 p.m. near Lovers Lane, said Pam Temmermand, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. At about 4:35 p.m., Cal Fire announced via Twitter that forward progress […]

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants haven’t made a big trade (yet), but they are planning on adding an All-Star to their roster ahead of Thursday’s series finale against the Dodgers. After taking batting practice on the field and going through a running progression on Wednesday at Oracle Park, shortstop Brandon Crawford said he anticipated being […]