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Coronavirus live updates: Two of California’s five regions drop below 15% ICU capacity, triggering shutdowns Saturday 10:48 PM
PANDEMIC DINING
5 Bay Area counties ban outdoor dining as early as Sunday

Most Bay Area restaurants will have to close their parklets and other outdoor dining setups by Sunday night — much sooner than owners were
expecting.
Outdoor dining: Is it really spreading the virus?
'Something has to give': Restaurants consider closing
California wineries brace for big losses during holiday season
Top of the News
San Joaquin Valley, SoCal regions trigger state stay-at-home order

10:49 PM
San Jose expands its natural gas ban. Some say it should do more
New BART gate stopped fare cheats. How will the agency pay for more?
Former Salesforce exec. says she was fired for taking outside board seat
S.F. police swarm South Park building after shooting

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YouTube engineer pleads no contest in LSD-fueled rampage
SHUTDOWN ORDERS
The new lockdown: What you need to know

What’s open, what’s closed, what will change? Here’s what Bay Area residents should know.
Five Bay Area counties to enact strict stay-at-home order starting Sunday
Bay Area travel: What's allowed and what's not under new order
How California’s new stay-at-home order affects your region
CORONAVIRUS SURGE
Here’s what the stay-at-home orders mean for grocery shopping

A new round of panic buying is possible, given new rules that restrict the number of shoppers in grocery stores combined with the surge and the
approaching holidays.
We shouldn’t be panic buying again, but some are. Experts explain why
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CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
PG&E warns of possible power shut-offs in 15 counties Monday

More than 8,500 customers in Napa and Sonoma counties could be a(ected by the fire-prevention outages, the utility said Friday.
Wind gusts expected, but humidity to help Bay Area dodge fire danger
COYOTE ATTACK
Moraga man felt sharp pain while working out. It was a coyote clamped on his leg
Kenji Sytz was wrapping up his early-morning workout Friday in Moraga when he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his left leg. From a push-up position,
he quickly rolled over to find a coyote clamped down, hard, on the shin and calf of his left leg. It’s at least the second coyote bite in Moraga this
year
HOLIDAYS
11 gift ideas from The Chronicle’s Datebook staff for a bizarre holiday season
From masks as art to movie projectors that mimic theaters, our sta( shares the gifts they'd want to give to their readers.
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Trends
LSD Van Gogh Cookies Panic buying Stay-at-home order
Editor's Pick
Theo: Homeless at age 7

By Sarah Ravani and Gabrielle Lurie
Selected by:
Greg Gri)n, Metro Editor
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Help prevent homelessness and hunger in the Bay Area this holiday season
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Ratings for Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

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HOLIDAYS
19 Bay Area gifts for the food lover in your life

Shop locally and give gifts a Bay Area touch. The creativity of the region’s businesses means plenty of compelling choices from specialty
foods and co(ee to premium booze and meal kits.
BY CHRONICLE FOOD AND WINE STAFF
Photos of the Month
Photos of the Month: Top Bay Area images of November 2020

See stories that captivated the Bay Area in November: the 2020 presidential election, ski season returns, the Big Game, and celebrating the
holidays amid a pandemic.
Coronavirus Impact
Vaccines arriving soon in California. Here’s who will get them first
At UCSF, the first vaccines will go to employees with the most direct contact with COVID-19 patients, including urgent care and emergency
department doctors and nurses.
Charts show the evolution of the pandemic in Bay Area counties
Inmate cuffed after stating concerns about COVID-19 protocols
Oakland, San Francisco zoos must close Monday under stay-at-home order
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Bay Area coronavirus testing delays persist. Who’s to blame?
Newsroom Voices
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
Food Writer & Columnist
This curfew could be danger for Black people in the Bay Area
Even well-meaning curfews have alarming connotations for Black people, evoking fears of vigilantism and the specter of “sundown towns.”
HEATHER KNIGHT
Columnist
S.F. Mayor London Breed had her own French Laundry party —...
Breed’s dinner at an opulent restaurant — amid a pandemic and an economic catastrophe — might not have technically violated the rules, but...
Sporting Green
Giants considering other women beyond Alyssa Nakken for coaching positions
Alyssa Nakken’s influence as the first full-time female coach in major-league history has helped create possibilities for other women on the
San Francisco Giants’ coaching sta(.
BY JOHN SHEA
Why the Warriors like to pursue Suns reclamation projects

BY CONNOR LETOURNEAU
How Wiseman, Chriss and Looney fit into Warriors’ center rotation
BY RUSTY SIMMONS
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Warriors’ 2020-21 schedule: 3 takeaways from the first half

Kevin Durant to face Warriors in Bay Area for first time in February
Coronavirus & Sports
Coronavirus pandemic forces AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to prohibit...

Spectators will not be allowed at next year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, tournament o)cials announced Friday.
Warriors clear to hold practices and games in S.F. despite new...
Stanford vs. Washington preview: Can Cardinal stay focused amid relocation?
Warriors’ positive tests show how precarious this season will be
San Jose State takes on Hawaii after 2 cancellations, site switch
Sports Columnists
BRUCE JENKINS
Sports Columnist
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Why the Warriors will never forget Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut, who retired from basketball this week, will be remembered as an invaluable contributor to the Warriors’ first title (2015) of the...
ANN KILLION
Sports Columnist
Before you ‘boo hoo’ the 49ers, think beyond the...

Don’t be mad at Kyle Shanahan for being protective of his players and his sta(. Be mad at the NFL for the ridiculous position in which it has...
SCOTT OSTLER
Sports Columnist
Warriors’ decision: Plunge for a Harden-level star, or ride...

The Golden State Warriors reportedly checked out the availability of Houston Rockets guard James Harden. Should the Warriors gamble on a big-
star...
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FOOD GUIDE
Top Restaurants: Where to eat in the Bay Area

These restaurants selected by the San Francisco Chronicle's critic Soleil Ho represent the best of San Francisco, the East Bay and beyond.
Food & Wine

'Something has to give': Bay Area restaurants consider closing
California’s new stay-at-home order means restaurants are contemplating layo(s and considering temporarily closing.
BY JANELLE BITKER
3 simple yet visually striking cookies to make for holiday cheer

BY JESSICA BATTILANA
9 Bay Area restaurants serving Hanukkah feasts for takeout

BY JANELLE BITKER
More S.F. restaurants are mulling a drastic step: closing for 'hibernation'
BY JUSTIN PHILLIPS
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Meet Pyro Pastrami, new Oakland pop-up selling out of its vegan sandwiches
BY JANELLE BITKER
Top Restaurants
Top East Bay Restaurants

Where to experience the best food and drink in Oakland, Berkeley and beyond.
Top Thai Restaurants in the Bay Area
Top Italian Restaurants
Top Outdoor Restaurants in the Bay Area
Top pizza in the Bay Area
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Listen: Extra Spicy Podcast
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A food podcast, hosted by Soleil Ho and Justin Phillips

Stories about restaurant life, cookbooks and the devastating horror of ranch dressing
Food & Wine Critics
ESTHER MOBLEY
Wine Critic
California wineries brace for big losses during holiday season...

Following news that wineries would likely have to close their tasting rooms at some point in December for at least three weeks, winery owners
and...
SOLEIL HO
Restaurant Critic
You have very legit, totally OK reasons for attending a big...

Unlike everyone else, your reasons for going to a dinner party at one of the most luxurious restaurants in the country during a global pandemic...
Local News
As of mid-October, fires in the state had emitted more greenhouse gases than any economic sector except transportation. But it’s not an
apples-to-apples comparison, experts say.
BY J.D. MORRIS
Atascadero monolith ripped down by youths chanting ‘Christ is king’

BY STEVE RUBENSTEIN
State senator slams BART for approving early labor contract

BY MALLORY MOENCH
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New research explains why salmon are dying in the Pacific Northwest
BY KURTIS ALEXANDER
Alameda Co. blasted for closing most of its hotels for homeless by February
BY SARAH RAVANI
Season of Sharing
Rent grant creates warmer holidays

The furnace stopped working early this year, just as winter was settling in at the Calistoga mobile home park where the 78-year-old retired
hypnotist and RV salesman has lived for 20 years.
Season of Sharing helps Marin County artist recover after cancer
Burned out of apartment by a fire, family finds home in time for holidays
Season of Sharing helps those impacted by pandemic
Family battling cancer, dementia and housing woes amid job loss finds help
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Newsroom Voices
OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.

East Bay Columnist
Dad who returned to U.S. to take care of daughter awaits...

Immigration law hasn’t been addressed since 1996, but experts expect some improvement with the incoming Biden administration.
PHIL MATIER
Columnist
Gun crime in East Bay cities has police and o$cials seeking...
With armed caravans and gunplay on the rise, law enforcement faces new challenges both on the streets and in the justice system.
Help prevent homelessness and hunger in the Bay Area this holiday season
ADVERTISEMENT
INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC
Who are the key players in S.F. corruption case?

The corruption scandal that engulfed San Francisco City Hall this year presents a complex and still-widening web of people and allegations.
Here’s a look at a few of the key players involved.
Biz+Tech
PG&E bills to rise over $160 per year to fund wildfire risk reduction
Rates will go up an average of 8% on residential customers to fund improvements after several disastrous fire seasons.
BY ROLAND LI
HPE, a touchstone of Silicon Valley, moving headquarters to Houston

BY ROLAND LI
Fired employees alleging Google broke labor laws will have day in court
BY CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO
High-dollar real estate sales in S.F. hit over virus, Prop. I concerns
BY KATHLEEN PENDER
Oakland judge blocks new H-1B pay rules

BY BOB EGELKO
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Coronavirus Resources
Face mask rules for the Bay Area: When and how to use them
Face coverings are an essential tool in the fight against the coronavirus. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of wearing masks
and which ones work best.
Looking for a job? These companies are hiring ahead of the holidays
Interactive Database: Bay Area Layoff Tracker
Experts revise thinking on coronavirus transmission
How do I renew my driver’s license, vehicle registration?
Business Columnists
KATHLEEN PENDER
Business Columnist
Federal tax hit could take many unemployed people by surprise

Even if you had federal taxes withheld from unemployment benefits, it may not be enough to cover your tax bill for 2020.
OWEN THOMAS
Business Editor
Slack solves Salesforce’s biggest question

“What do they do again?”
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CONTACT US SECURELY
Politics
Democrat most likely to succeed with Trump? Bay Area progressive Ro Khanna
Known for his aggressively progressive politics, Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna has earned an unexpected distinction among his California
Democratic House colleagues: most bills signed by President...
BY TAL KOPAN
California voters aligned with GOP, not Democrats, on many initiatives

BY JOHN WILDERMUTH
Dianne Feinstein backs Alex Padilla for Kamala Harris’ Senate seat
BY TAL KOPAN
Longtime Newsom adviser Nathan Ballard charged with felony domestic...

BY MEGAN CASSIDY
California Rep. Jim Costa loses bid to chair powerful House panel
BY TAL KOPAN
Election 2020
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Here’s what Kamala Harris is likely to take on as vice president

The vice presidency may be the most loosely defined job in American politics. But all indications point to Kamala Harris being a consequential
second in the White House.
Watch Biden’s record 75 million votes rise to the top of history
For Black women in Bay Area, Harris’ election carries special meaning
What Kamala Harris’ historic win means to Indian Americans
How presidential election changed as votes were being counted
Political Columnist
JOE GAROFOLI
Senior Political Writer
Jerry Brown’s advice to Joe Biden: Follow FDR. And...

Former Gov. Jerry Brown encourages President-elect Joe Biden to follow his paddle-left, paddle-right philosophy of governing — except when it...
CHRONICLED: WHO IS KAMALA HARRIS?

A podcast from The Chronicle on the making of a candidate.
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OUTDOORS GUIDE
What you need to know about skiing during the pandemic

Opening day is coming soon for an unprecedented ski season in Lake Tahoe. Here is everything you need to know about what is shaping up to
be an odd winter in the mountains.
Datebook
'Immersive Van Gogh' brings projected art experience to S.F. in 2021

The visual exhibit of van Gogh's most famous works will make its West Coast premiere at SVN West.
BY TONY BRAVO
S.F. Fine Arts Museums appoints first Black curator for African collection
BY SAM WHITING
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Juicy phone call makes theater in your mind in 'A Thousand Ways'
BY LILY JANIAK
'All My Life' role inspires Harry Shum Jr. to live every moment
BY BRANDON YU
Gift ideas from The Chronicle's Datebook staff

BY CHRONICLE STAFF
What to stream
A buyer's guide to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Still on the holiday hunt for the new video game consoles? Don't despair. Here's what you should know about each, and why waiting until after
the holidays isn't that bad.
'Dear Santa,' a delight for the whole family, is the film we need in 2020
'Selena: The Series' brings Tejano culture to Netflix — and the world
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‘Ma Rainey’ is Chadwick Boseman’s final, perhaps finest gift
The Postal Service's Greek Theatre album leads flurry of new live releases
Datebook Columnists
Pandemic-themed holiday cards find the right message in...

Pandemic holiday cards address the chaos of 2020. But season’s greetings have reacted to national crises for decades, from WWII to the Great...
Leah Garchik's Public Eavesdropping
“
If you're asking me to house-sit, I won't sleep on your couch so the cat can sleep on your bed.
-Woman on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz
overheard by Susan Hancey
SHARE YOUR OWN

READ MORE OVERHEARDS
Entertainment
Holidays 2020: Bay Area performances and more ways to celebrate

Here’s a guide to virtual and outdoor excitement in November and December.
Culture Desk
Move over pandemic puppies. COVID chickens are on the rise
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Hatcheries are sold out of exotic chicks. Wire mesh sales have exploded. The coronavirus has prompted a boom in an unlikely sector:
backyard chicken flocks.
BY SAMANTHA NOBLES-BLOCK
10 things to know before starting a backyard chicken flock

BY SAMANTHA NOBLES-BLOCK
An 11-year-old’s home away from home in the pandemic is a tent

BY JILL K. ROBINSON
Take time off during a pandemic? Workers say, ‘Why bother?’

BY RYAN KOST
Holiday fire stations once lit up city. Then something very S.F. happened
BY PETER HARTLAUB
Outdoors
Newsom dissuades travel, recommends getting outdoors

Nonessential travel may be o( the table for state residents, but Gov....
Beloved Candelabra Tree emerges largely unscathed from CZU wildfires
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Here are the best places to fish trout in the Bay Area right now
Hoping to camp in California in 2021? Now is the time to book your dates
Familiar Bay Area face is new superintendent of Pt. Reyes Seashore
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Class of 2020
How coronavirus drastically changed life for these high schoolers

Chronicle photographers went back to visit with seven Bay Area students to find out how they spent their summer and navigated the
transition to college during the pandemic.
Bad Reporter by Don Asmussen
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Outdoors
TOM STIENSTRA
Outdoors Writer
Beloved Candelabra Tree emerges largely unscathed from CZU...

One of the Bay Area’s most hidden but beloved natural gems, the Candelabra Tree at Butano State Park, emerged from the CZU Fire lightly
scorched...
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CORONAVIRUS GUIDE
How to navigate holidays during the pandemic

We consulted with the Bay Area’s top public health experts to provide the best information possible to navigate the holiday season.
Chronicle Vault
A private toll road to Mission Dolores in 1851 opened S.F. to development

In 1850, the infant city of San Francisco was hemmed into a small area of what is now downtown. But when an entrepreneur built a private
plank road to Mission Dolores over the deep sand and...
BY GARY KAMIYA
‘To our lucky (??) readers’: When The Chronicle gave away the...
BY BILL VAN NIEKERKEN
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Bell-bottoms and Mustangs: A look back at psychedelic ads in 1960s...

BY BILL VAN NIEKERKEN
Strange S.F. mansion’s owner was city’s ‘prize litigant’

BY GARY KAMIYA
The S.F. mansion that made waves

BY PETER HARTLAUB
Opinion
Editorial: California is tired of shutdowns, but they’re still the...

The latest coronavirus restrictions stand to encounter more resistance thanks to avoidable miscues from state and local leaders who have
issued confusing, contradictory and counterproductive...
BY CHRONICLE EDITORIAL BOARD
Pediatricians to San Francisco: Children are suffering, so reopen schools

BY AMY BECK AND ZEA MALAWA
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Editorial: California should be ashamed of its shuttered schools

Editorial: Politicians caught with a smoking fork

First, let’s lock down all the politicians

BY JOHN DIAZ
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JOHN DIAZ
Editorial Page Editor
Suddenly, the hits keep on coming at Gavin Newsom

At one point in April, the hashtag #PresidentNewsom was trending on Twitter. It isn’t anymore. The California governor has hit quite a rough...
WILLIE BROWN
Freelance Columnist
Willie Brown: Newsom needs to appoint himself or a Black woman...

The next logical step for Newsom would be the Senate, so he might as well think about making the move now. But if he goes for an African
American...
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Skip to main content

5 Bay Area counties ban outdoor dining as early as Sunday

'Something has to give': Restaurants consider closing

California wineries brace for big losses during holiday season

Top of the News

San Joaquin Valley, SoCal regions trigger state stay-at-home order

S.F. police swarm South Park building after shooting

YouTube engineer pleads no contest in LSD-fueled rampage

The new lockdown: What you need to know

How California’s new stay-at-home order aﬀects your region

Here’s what the stay-at-home orders mean for grocery shopping

PG&E warns of possible power shut-oﬀs in 15 counties Monday

Chronicle Guides and Trackers

Coronavirus Tracker California Fire Map Outdoors Guide

The Bay Area's best journalism, every weekday morning

E-mail address SIGN UP

Tracking COVID-19 cases across California

LSD Van Gogh Cookies Panic buying Stay-at-home order

Theo: Homeless at age 7

Air Quality Tracker

Ratings for Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

19 Bay Area gifts for the food lover in your life

BY CHRONICLE FOOD AND WINE STAFF

Photos of the Month

Photos of the Month: Top Bay Area images of November 2020

Charts show the evolution of the pandemic in Bay Area counties

Inmate cuﬀed after stating concerns about COVID-19 protocols

Bay Area coronavirus testing delays persist. Who’s to blame?

Why the Warriors like to pursue Suns reclamation projects

Warriors’ 2020-21 schedule: 3 takeaways from the first half

Coronavirus & Sports

Coronavirus pandemic forces AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to prohibit...

Warriors clear to hold practices and games in S.F. despite new...

Warriors’ positive tests show how precarious this season will be

San Jose State takes on Hawaii after 2 cancellations, site switch

Why the Warriors will never forget Andrew Bogut

Before you ‘boo hoo’ the 49ers, think beyond the...

Warriors’ decision: Plunge for a Harden-level star, or ride...

Top Restaurants: Where to eat in the Bay Area

Food & Wine

3 simple yet visually striking cookies to make for holiday cheer

9 Bay Area restaurants serving Hanukkah feasts for takeout

Top East Bay Restaurants

Top Thai Restaurants in the Bay Area

Top Italian Restaurants

Top Outdoor Restaurants in the Bay Area

Top pizza in the Bay Area

Listen: Extra Spicy Podcast

A food podcast, hosted by Soleil Ho and Justin Phillips

Food & Wine Critics

California wineries brace for big losses during holiday season...

You have very legit, totally OK reasons for attending a big...

Atascadero monolith ripped down by youths chanting ‘Christ is king’

State senator slams BART for approving early labor contract

Rent grant creates warmer holidays

Season of Sharing helps Marin County artist recover after cancer

Season of Sharing helps those impacted by pandemic

OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.

Dad who returned to U.S. to take care of daughter awaits...

Who are the key players in S.F. corruption case?

HPE, a touchstone of Silicon Valley, moving headquarters to Houston

Oakland judge blocks new H-1B pay rules