San Francisco

blue

Axios San Francisco Partners

San Francisco Alerts

Alert

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting San Francisco.

Axios San Francisco Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in San Francisco with Nadia Lopez and Shawna Chen.

Axios San Francisco

Standard

San Francisco Members

Membership

Sportsball Monday: Giants still uneven, 49ers add WRs, Valkyries prep

We bring you up to speed on your favorite local teams.

News

Welcome to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sportsball Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/09/sportsball-monday-warriors-giants-49ers" data-vars-content-id="a52c16ef-1e94-430a-b7c1-de2feddaf7c5" data-vars-headline="Sportsball Monday: Giants still uneven, 49ers add WRs, Valkyries prep" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/09/sportsball-monday-warriors-giants-49ers" target="_self">Sportsball Monday</a>, where we bring you up to speed on your favorite local teams once a month.The big picture: The Giants remain on shaky ground; the 49ers expand their wide receiver room; and the Valkyries gear up for their second year.

Take our Friday SF news quiz

Think you're smart? Put some proof in that pudding.

The weekend is almost here — cue the cleaning, shopping, errands and clocking in Monday feeling like you didn&#x27;t get to chill at all.<ul><li>That <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI-enabled four-day work week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/behind-the-curtain-sams-superintelligence-new-deal" data-vars-content-id="48f87aa6-bec1-4fbe-809d-2495fcbe3c9f" data-vars-headline="Take our Friday SF news quiz" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/behind-the-curtain-sams-superintelligence-new-deal" target="_self">AI-enabled four-day work week</a> can&#x27;t come fast enough. </li></ul>But hey, at least we&#x27;ve got our Friday news quiz to take the edge off.

Where to go during SF Restaurant Week

Book your reservation, or plan out your next week of meals, now.

Things to Do

Eating out in San Francisco may feel a bit more accessible for the next week or so.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Restaurant Week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfrestaurantweek.com/about/" data-vars-content-id="ba66a852-a06b-4c43-9db3-e63cd806a107" data-vars-headline="Where to go during SF Restaurant Week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfrestaurantweek.com/about/" target="_blank">Restaurant Week</a>, which begins today and runs through April 19, gives diners a chance to try some of the city&#x27;s best restaurants at lower prices — with prix-fixe menus ranging from as low as $10 for lunch or brunch and up to $90 for dinner.<ul><li>Here are some of my top picks:</li></ul>

What San Franciscans have to say about unsafe driving

Axios SF readers pointed to drivers blowing through red lights amid weak enforcement and a slow city response.

Last week&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newsletter on street safety" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-san-francisco-77c65ecd-74cc-4569-906b-47173cb6e89b.html" data-vars-content-id="ac2db2e3-ad77-4381-ba67-d028ad4b19f6" data-vars-headline="What San Franciscans have to say about unsafe driving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-san-francisco-77c65ecd-74cc-4569-906b-47173cb6e89b.html" target="_self">newsletter on street safety</a> resonated with a lot of you, and you shared your thoughts.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="An Axios analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/30/sf-10-streets-pedestrian-crash-hotspots" data-vars-content-id="ac2db2e3-ad77-4381-ba67-d028ad4b19f6" data-vars-headline="What San Franciscans have to say about unsafe driving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/30/sf-10-streets-pedestrian-crash-hotspots" target="_self">An Axios analysis</a> found that 10 streets account for about a third of all vehicle-pedestrian <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="injury crashes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/26/sf-most-severe-crashes-map-high-injury-network" data-vars-content-id="ac2db2e3-ad77-4381-ba67-d028ad4b19f6" data-vars-headline="What San Franciscans have to say about unsafe driving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/03/26/sf-most-severe-crashes-map-high-injury-network" target="_self">injury crashes</a> in San Francisco — a pattern that hasn&#x27;t changed since before the pandemic.

Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon

Limited refinery capacity and global disruptions could push Bay Area gas prices higher.

If filling up your tank lately feels like a gut punch, you&#x27;re not alone. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gas prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/gas-prices-iran-war-4-dollars-gallon" data-vars-content-id="330d789d-e34a-4967-8848-982940365d4b" data-vars-headline="Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/gas-prices-iran-war-4-dollars-gallon" target="_self">Gas prices</a> in San Francisco are soaring — fueled by a collision of global oil disruptions and local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="supply constraints" data-vars-click-url="https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/" data-vars-content-id="330d789d-e34a-4967-8848-982940365d4b" data-vars-headline="Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/" target="_blank">supply constraints</a> that analysts warn could get worse.The big picture: Drivers across California are watching the cost of gas climb fast and at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="some stations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gasbuddy.com/gaspricemap?fuel=1&amp;z=13&amp;lat=37.7717185&amp;lng=-122.4438929&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="330d789d-e34a-4967-8848-982940365d4b" data-vars-headline="Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gasbuddy.com/gaspricemap?fuel=1&amp;z=13&amp;lat=37.7717185&amp;lng=-122.4438929&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">some stations</a> in San Francisco, they&#x27;re already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearing $7 a gallon" data-vars-click-url="https://sfstandard.com/2026/03/12/san-francisco-gas-prices-cheapest-station/" data-vars-content-id="330d789d-e34a-4967-8848-982940365d4b" data-vars-headline="Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/03/12/san-francisco-gas-prices-cheapest-station/" target="_blank">nearing $7 a gallon</a>.

Yosemite drops reservations amid mounting environmental, traffic concerns

The rollback follows a nationwide push to widen park access despite staffing losses.

Bay Area campers planning a trip to Yosemite National Park this summer may need to brace for bigger crowds — the park is scrapping its reservation requirement for 2026.Why it matters: The policy shift marks a departure from when timed-entry reservations were used to manage overcrowding at one of the nation&#x27;s most popular parks, known for its stunning waterfalls and granite cliffs.

Why PG&E's cheaper rates won't help many in San Francisco

Most San Francisco residents won't see savings — and grid costs are still rising.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pacific Gas &amp; Electric" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/12/california-utility-pge-to-pay-55-million-wildfires" data-vars-content-id="b9646fb8-9796-4ad8-94cf-9bdfced5c637" data-vars-headline="Why PG&amp;E&#x27;s cheaper rates won&#x27;t help many in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/04/12/california-utility-pge-to-pay-55-million-wildfires" target="_self">Pacific Gas &amp; Electric</a> announced lower electricity <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rates for 2026" data-vars-click-url="https://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/PGE-to-Lower-Electric-Prices-on-Jan--1-Fourth-Decrease-in-Two-Years/default.aspx" data-vars-content-id="b9646fb8-9796-4ad8-94cf-9bdfced5c637" data-vars-headline="Why PG&amp;E&#x27;s cheaper rates won&#x27;t help many in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/PGE-to-Lower-Electric-Prices-on-Jan--1-Fourth-Decrease-in-Two-Years/default.aspx" target="_blank">rates for 2026</a>, but San Francisco customers likely won&#x27;t see much difference on their utility bills, analysts say.The big picture: The 5% bill decrease applies to customers who buy power directly from the utility, but most San Franciscans get electricity from a city-run provider.

Bay Area braces for near-freezing temperatures

Temperatures could dip into the 30s with frost possible in parts of the Bay Area.

If you&#x27;re planning any outdoor activities in the next few days, you might want to layer up more than normal.The big picture: Most of the Bay Area is under a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cold weather advisory" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=MTR&amp;wwa=cold%20weather%20advisory" data-vars-content-id="b775ea2e-78e0-4be5-88ce-48620b0bce0d" data-vars-headline="Bay Area braces for near-freezing temperatures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=MTR&amp;wwa=cold%20weather%20advisory" target="_blank">cold weather advisory</a> issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Temperatures could dip into the 30s in parts of San Francisco, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="SFGATE notes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/bay-area-temperatures-freezing-21283541.php" data-vars-content-id="b775ea2e-78e0-4be5-88ce-48620b0bce0d" data-vars-headline="Bay Area braces for near-freezing temperatures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/bay-area-temperatures-freezing-21283541.php" target="_blank">SFGATE notes</a>.

Bay Area revives Clean Cars for All with $10 million boost

Low-income Bay Area residents can now get thousands toward an EV, zero‑emission motorcycle or e-bike.

A program designed to help Bay Area residents ditch their older, polluting vehicles in favor of zero-emission alternatives has been revived with $10 million in state and local funding.Why it matters: The Clean Cars for All relaunch offers a significant opportunity for low-income drivers to obtain an EV at a more affordable price.

California faces intensifying wildfire season as blazes spread statewide

Thousands of fires have burned more than 500,000 acres this year.

Environment

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wildfire season" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/41447270.80/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3BvcnRsYW5kL3dpbGRmaXJlcz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323B818bb085" data-vars-content-id="458f9777-c186-4dcb-9d2a-3b4560c02ac9" data-vars-headline="California faces intensifying wildfire season as blazes spread statewide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/41447270.80/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3BvcnRsYW5kL3dpbGRmaXJlcz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323B818bb085" target="_self">Wildfire season</a> is raging across much of California, with blazes closing off some national forests and prompting evacuations.State of play: 6,844 wildfires have burned across the state since January, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cal Fire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents" data-vars-content-id="458f9777-c186-4dcb-9d2a-3b4560c02ac9" data-vars-headline="California faces intensifying wildfire season as blazes spread statewide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents" target="_blank">Cal Fire</a>, with 517,341 acres burned so far this year — already half of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly 1.1 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024" data-vars-content-id="458f9777-c186-4dcb-9d2a-3b4560c02ac9" data-vars-headline="California faces intensifying wildfire season as blazes spread statewide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024" target="_blank">nearly 1.1 million</a> acres scorched in 2024.

SF considers natural gas ban in major building revamps

Gas use in buildings makes up 44% of San Francisco's total carbon emissions.

San Francisco is moving to eliminate natural gas in buildings that undergo major revamps as part of a broader push to curb carbon emissions.Why it matters: San Francisco can&#x27;t meet its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2040 net-zero goal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfclimateplan.org/" data-vars-content-id="e4912c7f-556e-4511-b67b-215c59f48dcd" data-vars-headline="SF considers natural gas ban in major building revamps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfclimateplan.org/" target="_blank">2040 net-zero goal</a> without phasing out gas use in buildings, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="accounts for 44%" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfenvironment.org/carbonfootprint" data-vars-content-id="e4912c7f-556e-4511-b67b-215c59f48dcd" data-vars-headline="SF considers natural gas ban in major building revamps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfenvironment.org/carbonfootprint" target="_blank">accounts for 44%</a> of the city&#x27;s carbon emissions.

SF offers $1,200 in bill credits for efficient water heater upgrades

Heat pump water heaters are up to seven times more efficient than a gas-powered water heater, city officials say.

A new city program encourages <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Francisco residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/22/sf-climate-week-reduce-carbon-footprint" data-vars-content-id="72514022-7043-4c88-ba28-dca4c62a4a28" data-vars-headline="SF offers $1,200 in bill credits for efficient water heater upgrades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/22/sf-climate-week-reduce-carbon-footprint" target="_self">San Francisco residents</a> to upgrade to clean, efficient water heaters by offering bill credits of up to $1,200.Why it matters: Heat pumps are up to seven times more efficient than a gas-powered water heater and reduce exposure to pollution and fire risk, city officials say.

The long haul gull: Hitching an 80-mile truck ride to find food

Researchers say it's the first recorded case of a seagull using a vehicle for transport while foraging.

Sometimes, we could all use a ride — even the ones among us that fly. State of play: In a quirky first, a GPS-tracked seagull was discovered hitching a ride on a long-haul garbage truck from a waste transfer station in San Francisco to an outdoor compost facility in the Central Valley, according to a recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://bioone.org/journals/waterbirds/volume-48/issue-1/063.048.0101/The-First-GPS-Observation-of-a-Western-Gull-Larus-occidentalis/10.1675/063.048.0101.short" data-vars-content-id="3a09004b-f9f6-48c3-9a7e-495661baaad4" data-vars-headline="The long haul gull: Hitching an 80-mile truck ride to find food" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bioone.org/journals/waterbirds/volume-48/issue-1/063.048.0101/The-First-GPS-Observation-of-a-Western-Gull-Larus-occidentalis/10.1675/063.048.0101.short" target="_blank">study</a> published by The Waterbird Society.

SF summers are becoming hotter, longer and more dangerous

We now have 28 hotter-than-normal summer days compared to 1970.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hotter summers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/06/earth-hottest-summer-globe" data-vars-content-id="670b1451-40c0-45bd-9d78-18b1a5dce1d6" data-vars-headline="SF summers are becoming hotter, longer and more dangerous" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/06/earth-hottest-summer-globe" target="_self">Hotter summers</a> are one of the most tangible ways we&#x27;re experiencing climate change. San Francisco isn&#x27;t exempt. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Higher temperatures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/climate-change" data-vars-content-id="670b1451-40c0-45bd-9d78-18b1a5dce1d6" data-vars-headline="SF summers are becoming hotter, longer and more dangerous" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/climate-change" target="_self">Higher temperatures</a> pose health risks for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, the elderly and homeless people and ramp up the likelihood of extreme heat effects and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/19/fire-weather-worsening-california" data-vars-content-id="670b1451-40c0-45bd-9d78-18b1a5dce1d6" data-vars-headline="SF summers are becoming hotter, longer and more dangerous" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/19/fire-weather-worsening-california" target="_self">wildfires</a>.

🤧 Longer allergy seasons

California is enduring longer allergy seasons 

A symbol map of U.S. cities showing the change in average allergy season length from 1970 to 2025. For most cities, the season has gotten longer, by an average of 23 days. Reno, Nevada, shows an increase of 100 days, while Tulsa, Oklahoma, has a decrease of 15 days.

Climate 🌿

Why San Francisco gas prices could soar as high as $10 a gallon

California is enduring longer allergy seasons

Yosemite drops reservations amid mounting environmental, traffic concerns

Why PG&E's cheaper rates won't help many in San Francisco

Bay Area braces for near-freezing temperatures