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California vows to fight Trump's mail-in voting order

State officials are preparing for another legal fight before the midterms.

News

California&#x27;s vote-by-mail system faces new uncertainty less than three months before the midterms after the Supreme Court on Monday allowed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="8c7fd8f6-8d27-4eb1-9aca-2f3e7e35107b" data-vars-headline="California vows to fight Trump&#x27;s mail-in voting order" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">President Trump&#x27;s</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="executive order" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-mail-in-voting-order-blocked" data-vars-content-id="8c7fd8f6-8d27-4eb1-9aca-2f3e7e35107b" data-vars-headline="California vows to fight Trump&#x27;s mail-in voting order" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-mail-in-voting-order-blocked" target="_self">executive order</a> restricting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mail-in voting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/23/mail-in-voting-trump-pew-poll" data-vars-content-id="8c7fd8f6-8d27-4eb1-9aca-2f3e7e35107b" data-vars-headline="California vows to fight Trump&#x27;s mail-in voting order" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/23/mail-in-voting-trump-pew-poll" target="_self">mail-in voting</a> to move forward.Why it matters: The decision could upend the midterms, but the legal battle is far from over and the exact effect on California&#x27;s upcoming elections remains unclear.

 Behind the Flock backlash in San Francisco

A national surveillance fight is spilling onto San Francisco streets as Flock's footprint expands.

Activists and citizens across the political spectrum are pushing back against license plate readers made by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flock and similar companies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/08/04/flock-ceo-douglas-county-sheriff-regret-axon-data" data-vars-content-id="58fea506-e5ca-407d-9248-f4b664c2d557" data-vars-headline=" Behind the Flock backlash in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/08/04/flock-ceo-douglas-county-sheriff-regret-axon-data" target="_self">Flock and similar companies</a>, fueled by privacy concerns and suspected police misuse.Why it matters: Flock cameras are suddenly emerging as the next big target of populist anti-tech, pro-privacy sentiment, alongside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" data-vars-content-id="58fea506-e5ca-407d-9248-f4b664c2d557" data-vars-headline=" Behind the Flock backlash in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states" target="_self">data centers</a> fueling the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/ai-boom-goldman-sachs" data-vars-content-id="58fea506-e5ca-407d-9248-f4b664c2d557" data-vars-headline=" Behind the Flock backlash in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/ai-boom-goldman-sachs" target="_self">AI boom</a>.

It's SF Friday News Quiz time

Flex those news chops and see if you can snag a perfect score. Glory awaits!

It&#x27;s Friday, friends!<ul><li>Time to flex those local news chops once again, click on in and get quizzed.</li></ul>

Valkyries' rise brings 2027 WNBA All-Star Game to San Francisco

The Valkyries' breakout success is bringing another major sporting event.

San Francisco will host the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game, adding to the city’s growing roster of major sporting events.State of play: Tuesday&#x27;s announcement comes a day after the Golden State Valkyries <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="secured their second" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49645344/valkyries-beat-wings-clinch-playoff-spot-second-straight-season" data-vars-content-id="63593e1e-20bf-40f5-a37b-9e67da7a0990" data-vars-headline="Valkyries&#x27; rise brings 2027 WNBA All-Star Game to San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49645344/valkyries-beat-wings-clinch-playoff-spot-second-straight-season" target="_blank">secured their second</a> straight playoff berth, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beating the Dallas Wings 78-70" data-vars-click-url="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/gameday-recap-20260817" data-vars-content-id="63593e1e-20bf-40f5-a37b-9e67da7a0990" data-vars-headline="Valkyries&#x27; rise brings 2027 WNBA All-Star Game to San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/gameday-recap-20260817" target="_blank">beating the Dallas Wings 78-70</a>.

San Francisco unemployment rate dips to 4.1% in June

San Francisco added 14,500 jobs over the past year.

Business

San Francisco&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unemployment rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/jobless-claims-unemployment-ai" data-vars-content-id="32dfa025-22a8-4e71-b2c4-8c2bedf70cca" data-vars-headline="San Francisco unemployment rate dips to 4.1% in June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/jobless-claims-unemployment-ai" target="_self">unemployment rate</a> fell to a seasonally adjusted 4.1% in June as the national rate ticked down, new federal data shows.Why it matters: San Francisco&#x27;s unemployment rate is 0.1 percentage points below the national rate, and a bit higher than half of the areas surveyed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="jobs report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm" data-vars-content-id="32dfa025-22a8-4e71-b2c4-8c2bedf70cca" data-vars-headline="San Francisco unemployment rate dips to 4.1% in June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm" target="_blank">jobs report</a>.

Local bookstores are betting community beats convenience

Once left for dead, SF booksellers are thriving again

San Francisco&#x27;s newest bookstores are betting community beats convenience.Why it matters: Once left for dead in the wake of Amazon&#x27;s rise, independent and chain booksellers have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pulled off a stunning turnaround" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" data-vars-content-id="a650767a-e75c-4429-8e45-a68afbd8e05f" data-vars-headline="Local bookstores are betting community beats convenience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" target="_self">pulled off a stunning turnaround</a>, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.

How to survive San Francisco's brutal rental market

Record rents and AI-driven demand are making apartment searches brutal.

Looking for a new apartment? Maybe reconsider.The big picture: San Francisco&#x27;s market is rough right now — so rough that some real estate professionals&#x27; top advice is to just stay put if you can.

San Francisco's office-to-housing push is finally taking shape

Developers are now submitting applications for three major proposals.

After years of promises, a meaningful wave of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="office-to-housing conversions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/06/27/office-to-housing-conversion-potential-sf" data-vars-content-id="5abe7d90-3465-4386-9572-95516d4f0a80" data-vars-headline="San Francisco&#x27;s office-to-housing push is finally taking shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/06/27/office-to-housing-conversion-potential-sf" target="_self">office-to-housing conversions</a> is finally moving into the development pipeline. Why it matters: Even as AI companies help fuel an office market rebound, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly a third" data-vars-click-url="https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/06/san-francisco-office-market-hot-stove-report/" data-vars-content-id="5abe7d90-3465-4386-9572-95516d4f0a80" data-vars-headline="San Francisco&#x27;s office-to-housing push is finally taking shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/06/san-francisco-office-market-hot-stove-report/" target="_blank">nearly a third</a> of San Francisco <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="office space" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sf.gov/data--office-vacancy-rate" data-vars-content-id="5abe7d90-3465-4386-9572-95516d4f0a80" data-vars-headline="San Francisco&#x27;s office-to-housing push is finally taking shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sf.gov/data--office-vacancy-rate" target="_blank">office space</a> remains vacant, making conversions a key part of downtown&#x27;s recovery and the push to build more housing.

The home buying clout of San Francisco's AI workers

A new analysis estimates how much home buying power OpenAI and Anthropic employees could gain.

Money

OpenAI and Anthropic employees could theoretically buy nearly one-third of the San Francisco metro area&#x27;s homes if both companies go public at their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expected valuations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/28/anthropic-ai-fundraising-openai" data-vars-content-id="67a36173-cd65-4a07-b723-987852dfcde6" data-vars-headline="The home buying clout of San Francisco&#x27;s AI workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/28/anthropic-ai-fundraising-openai" target="_self">expected valuations</a>, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Redfin analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.redfin.com*2Fnews*2Fopenai-anthropic-housing-wealth&amp;esheet=54568097&amp;newsitemid=20260709178090&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=report&amp;index=1&amp;md5=6b762b7d39150ff98d6dc61e3036d261__;JSUlJSU!!Al82Z4c!yTbnLAQU3E6G5zZTlo4ZcW9hR5Bw9QWasQWZmfME1zTZFSvOHWQdlOADFkpuLnw7U3ijbwcrkPk38xiJgoeqaUR3lWc$" data-vars-content-id="67a36173-cd65-4a07-b723-987852dfcde6" data-vars-headline="The home buying clout of San Francisco&#x27;s AI workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.redfin.com*2Fnews*2Fopenai-anthropic-housing-wealth&amp;esheet=54568097&amp;newsitemid=20260709178090&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=report&amp;index=1&amp;md5=6b762b7d39150ff98d6dc61e3036d261__;JSUlJSU!!Al82Z4c!yTbnLAQU3E6G5zZTlo4ZcW9hR5Bw9QWasQWZmfME1zTZFSvOHWQdlOADFkpuLnw7U3ijbwcrkPk38xiJgoeqaUR3lWc$" target="_blank">Redfin analysis</a> shows.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a striking illustration of how much purchasing power could enter a housing market already defined by scarce inventory and fierce competition.

San Francisco could create the nation's first city-run public bank

A ballot measure heads to voters this November.

San Francisco voters will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="decide this November" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kqed.org/news/12058853/san-francisco-public-bank-supporters-eye-2026-ballot-measure" data-vars-content-id="4bbb262e-4e65-447e-b966-1931d7733989" data-vars-headline="San Francisco could create the nation&#x27;s first city-run public bank" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kqed.org/news/12058853/san-francisco-public-bank-supporters-eye-2026-ballot-measure" target="_blank">decide this November</a> whether the city should take the first step toward creating what could become the first city-run public bank in the nation.Why it matters: Supporters say a public bank could help finance affordable housing, small businesses and green infrastructure — projects that often struggle to get affordable loans from traditional banks.

SF Bay Area tops U.S. host cities in World Cup prices

There is a wild variance in prices across U.S. host cities.

Sports

A beer at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium will set soccer fans back $24.50 — the highest concession price among U.S. cities hosting the World Cup.Why it matters: Fans are paying dramatically different prices for food and drinks depending on which of the 11 U.S. host cities they&#x27;re in.

Bay Area has 37 cities with $1M starter homes

Homeownership remains out of reach in many Bay Area communities.

The San Francisco metro area has 37 cities where the typical starter home costs $1 million or more, the second most in the nation, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Zillow data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.zillow.com/research/million-dollar-starter-home-36452/" data-vars-content-id="8d4c311a-15b7-418b-847e-af1b728f0f9c" data-vars-headline="Bay Area has 37 cities with $1M starter homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.zillow.com/research/million-dollar-starter-home-36452/" target="_blank">new Zillow data</a> shared with Axios.The big picture: The Bay Area is among the most expensive places in the U.S. to buy a home. Only the New York City metro area (63) has more cities where entry-level homeownership crosses the million-dollar threshold.

The Bay Area pioneered AI — Seattle is scaling it

The best place to build AI isn't necessarily where it started. See why companies are choosing Greater Seattle.

Partners

San Francisco may still be synonymous with AI innovation, but another West Coast hub is increasingly shaping how the technology gets built and deployed at scale.The story: Greater Seattle has quietly become one of the country&#x27;s most influential AI ecosystems, drawing attention as companies look beyond the Bay Area, where costs and competition for talent are on the rise.<ul><li>The region brings together AI talent, cloud infrastructure and a closely connected network of research and industry, allowing companies to move from development to deployment in one place.</li></ul>

San Francisco readers share mixed feelings on generative AI

Some readers embrace AI for efficiency, while others raise ethical and environmental concerns.

Last week we asked you, our readers, for your thoughts — good, bad or otherwise — on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="generative AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/13/ai-elite-vs-ai-skeptic-doomer" data-vars-content-id="272c7019-8cb8-46d6-b0f3-11a02d3a51f6" data-vars-headline="San Francisco readers share mixed feelings on generative AI" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/13/ai-elite-vs-ai-skeptic-doomer" target="_self">generative AI</a>.Why it matters: As AI spreads across daily life, public opinion is fractured on how quickly and widely the technology should be adopted.

Feverlines show change in unemployment rates for San Francisco, U.S. and Rapid City, South Dakota.

San Francisco's unemployment rate

Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Note: Data unavailable for October 2025; Jim Sergent/Axios

Business 🏦

San Francisco unemployment rate dips to 4.1% in June

Local bookstores are betting community beats convenience

How to survive San Francisco's brutal rental market

San Francisco's office-to-housing push is finally taking shape

The home buying clout of San Francisco's AI workers