SANTA CLARA — The formula that fueled a perfect first half of the season for San Francisco was more than enough to carry the 49ers into the NFC championship game. The Niners ran for 186 yards and completely shut down Minnesota's offense in a 27-10 victory in the divisional round...
San Francisco's Beloved Beefeater Doorman to Retire
SAN FRANCISCO — Another bit of old, quirky San Francisco will be no more when Tom Sweeney finally hangs up his white pressed collar and signature Beefeater jacket this weekend after more than four decades of opening doors at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel downtown. Sweeney has taken the luggage...
McDonald's Tries to Shoo Homeless With Bagpipe Music
A McDonald's restaurant in midtown Sacramento is trying to drive away homeless people by loudly playing nonstop bagpipe music. The tactic isn't working and it is also annoying the neighbors of the restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day. "It actually penetrates through the walls. We can hear it ...
San Francisco Cafes Are Banishing Disposable Coffee Cups
SAN FRANCISCO — A new cafe culture is brewing in the San Francisco area, where a growing number of coffee houses are banishing paper to-go cups and replacing them with everything from glass jars to rental mugs and BYO cup policies. What started as a small trend among neighborhood cafes...
Game Well in Hand, Bulldogs Hand a Victory to USF
Fresno State men's basketball coach Justin Hutson said earlier this year that the Bulldogs needed to take care of business at "winning time." But the Bulldogs have yet to master the art of closing out victories. Bulldogs Led by 8 Late in Game Despite taking an eight-point lead on Nate...
California Is a Wondrous Place. I’m Leaving.
To me, California has always been an amazing place with a wondrous geography far more diverse than the other two largest states. This helps explain why historically it has been such a beacon for so many Americans, including myself, seeking a golden future in the Golden State. But not just...
Walters: A Blast From the Past
A brief procedure in a San Francisco courtroom this month was a blast from California’s political past. Terry Goggin, a former Democratic state assemblyman, pleaded guilty to federal charges that he had misused money that investors gave him to expand Goggin’s coffee shop chain. Prosecutors said Goggin, 78, admitted deceiving investors in...
Forest Thinning to Stop Wildfires as Strong as Weakest Link
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS — Buzzing chainsaws are interrupted by the frequent crash of breaking branches as crews fell towering trees and clear tangled brush in the densely forested Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco. Their goal: To protect communities such as Redwood Estates, where giant redwoods loom over the...
Sherman, Jenkins Among 32 Nominees for NFL Man of Year Award
Veteran defensive backs and team leaders Richard Sherman of San Francisco and Malcolm Jenkins of Philadelphia are among 32 nominees for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The award, now in its 50th year — it was named after the late Hall of Fame running back in...
49ers' Dramatic Win Over Saints Comes at Heavy Cost
SANTA CLARA — San Francisco's most impressive win of the season came with a big cost. The NFC-leading 49ers lost center Weston Richburg to a season-ending knee injury and key defensive players Richard Sherman and Dee Ford for multiple games with injured hamstrings in Sunday's 48-46 victory at New Orleans....