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"Latinas Forever!" brings Carnaval energy to Mission Bay

"Latinas Forever!: Nuestro Carnaval" is a celebration of Latina talent, music and small businesses.

Things to Do

A Mission Bay park is transforming into the ultimate fiesta this Sunday.State of play: Inspired by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Carnaval traditions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/05/23/sf-carnaval-celebration-mission" data-vars-content-id="6a7338fa-0abb-4808-a052-0151b6499b49" data-vars-headline="&quot;Latinas Forever!&quot; brings Carnaval energy to Mission Bay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/05/23/sf-carnaval-celebration-mission" target="_self">Carnaval traditions</a> across Latin America, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Latinas Forever!: Nuestro Carnaval" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latinas-forever-nuestro-carnaval-tickets-1982317911235?aff=oddtdtcreator" data-vars-content-id="6a7338fa-0abb-4808-a052-0151b6499b49" data-vars-headline="&quot;Latinas Forever!&quot; brings Carnaval energy to Mission Bay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latinas-forever-nuestro-carnaval-tickets-1982317911235?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">Latinas Forever!: Nuestro Carnaval</a>&quot; is a celebration of Latina talent, music and small businesses, set to take place noon-4pm at SPARK Social SF.

The trinket trade boom is taking over San Francisco

What began as an experiment in the Outer Sunset has now taken off across the city.

Neighborhoods

<figure><img alt="A trinket exchange box in San Francisco." height="450" id="76e69924-29ac-40e3-96d5-ee8a2f3d1948" src="https://images.axios.com/6xUpR04Sbar7FC_PJ7QXDMZU1VQ=/2026/03/05/1772746864702.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>The Keychange Exchange on Pine Street. Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios</figcaption></figure>Across San Francisco, colorful, decorated boxes stuffed with trinkets are popping up on street corners and on sidewalks, turning ordinary blocks into miniature trading posts.The big picture: From the Outer and Inner Sunset to Noe Valley and the Castro, small trinket trade boxes stocked with everything from rings and rubber ducks, keychains, baseball cards, tiny ceramic animals, patches and custom pins are inviting strangers to take a tiny treasure and leave one behind.

Giants fans flock to Phoenix for spring training

Nearly 60% of Cactus League fans come from out of state for sun and baseball.

News

San Francisco Giants fans are soaking up some desert sun as spring training kicks off throughout the Phoenix area under new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="manager Tony Vitello" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/10/31/giants-larry-baer-sf-downtown-recovery" data-vars-content-id="3129782a-1528-4de9-b6cb-1b48ac8a1a9a" data-vars-headline="Giants fans flock to Phoenix for spring training" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/10/31/giants-larry-baer-sf-downtown-recovery" target="_self">manager Tony Vitello</a>.The big picture: This is the 79th year of the Cactus League, which now boasts 15 teams at 10 stadiums, just miles apart.

What's next for the Transamerica Pyramid

The landmark tower is poised for new ownership.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Transamerica Pyramid" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/15/time-capsule-transamerica-pyramid-exhibition" data-vars-content-id="42f2c915-ca34-41cd-b06c-8f00a9a590f9" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for the Transamerica Pyramid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/15/time-capsule-transamerica-pyramid-exhibition" target="_self">Transamerica Pyramid</a> is slated to get new owners, but it remains unclear what that will mean for this icon of San Francisco&#x27;s skyline.The big picture: The Transamerica Pyramid&#x27;s pending sale, the second in its 54-year history, comes as San Francisco&#x27;s commercial real estate market continues to see gains largely <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="driven by the AI boom." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/18/mary-daly-ai-hiring-transition-phase" data-vars-content-id="42f2c915-ca34-41cd-b06c-8f00a9a590f9" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for the Transamerica Pyramid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/18/mary-daly-ai-hiring-transition-phase" target="_self">driven by the AI boom.</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.

Mountain lion captured after prowling Pacific Heights

The two-year-old cougar was hiding in a crevice between apartments.

A young mountain lion spotted near Lafayette Park in Pacific Heights earlier this week has been found and captured — welcome news for dog owners and anyone who prefers their evening walks free of surprise maulings.Driving the news: Law enforcement and wildlife officials Tuesday morning safely<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" apprehended and tranquilized" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kqed.org/news/12071216/san-francisco-mountain-lion-is-tranquilized-as-officials-work-to-capture-the-cougar" data-vars-content-id="4424c5b0-3374-42ac-951f-6fc870386944" data-vars-headline="Mountain lion captured after prowling Pacific Heights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kqed.org/news/12071216/san-francisco-mountain-lion-is-tranquilized-as-officials-work-to-capture-the-cougar" target="_blank"> apprehended and tranquilized</a> the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" two-year-old cougar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mountain-lion-pacific-heights-21316657.php" data-vars-content-id="4424c5b0-3374-42ac-951f-6fc870386944" data-vars-headline="Mountain lion captured after prowling Pacific Heights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mountain-lion-pacific-heights-21316657.php" target="_blank"> two-year-old cougar</a>, who was hiding in a crevice between two apartment buildings on California Street.

SF's new smart bins aim to make battery recycling easier

You can now drop off devices with lithium batteries at eight locations across the city.

San Francisco has launched one of the first automated public battery recycling systems in the U.S., rolling out smart drop-off bins that accept all mixed lithium-ion batteries and battery-embedded devices without manual sorting.Why it matters: Battery-embedded products, such as phones and laptops, are notoriously hard to recycle safely, and mishandling lithium-ion batteries can trigger fires. The new effort aims to reduce landfill waste while improving fire safety and material recovery in an increasingly battery-dependent economy.

California faces highest wildfire smoke death count in U.S.

The grim findings are among the strongest evidence on record of the harmful effects of climate change, the study's authors say.

California is projected to see more deaths than any other state due to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfire smoke" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/41762218.145/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3NlYXR0bGUvMjAyNS8wMS8wOS93aWxkZmlyZS1zbW9rZS1kZW1lbnRpYS1zdHVkeT91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323Bd504b8c1" data-vars-content-id="79cf7cdd-1620-410a-bde5-c7ffbcad5d5b" data-vars-headline="California faces highest wildfire smoke death count in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/41762218.145/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3NlYXR0bGUvMjAyNS8wMS8wOS93aWxkZmlyZS1zbW9rZS1kZW1lbnRpYS1zdHVkeT91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323Bd504b8c1" target="_self">wildfire smoke</a> by midcentury — part of a nationwide surge that could claim tens of thousands of lives annually without protective measures, a new study warns.Why it matters: The grim findings are among the strongest evidence on record of the harmful effects of climate change, the study&#x27;s authors say.

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's summer chill is breaking decades-old records

As the rest of the country heats up, San Francisco is stuck in the 50s under thick, chilly fog.

San Francisco is in the grip of one of its chilliest summers in recent history, matching temperatures <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="not seen since 1982" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/NWSBayArea/status/1949409122530504955" data-vars-content-id="f517f861-3f37-440d-9d80-3795c2f38859" data-vars-headline="SF&#x27;s summer chill is breaking decades-old records" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/NWSBayArea/status/1949409122530504955" target="_blank">not seen since 1982</a>. The big picture: The city is no stranger to cold and foggy summers — often the source of laughs when tourists arrive unprepared — though this year&#x27;s prolonged cold spell has surprised even longtime locals.

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.

Controversial land bill faces rewrite after public backlash

More than 250 million acres across the West could be for sale under the current proposal.

Politics

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) says he&#x27;s revising a proposal to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sell millions of acres of public land" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/06/23/mike-lee-public-land-sale" data-vars-content-id="b17f972a-eebd-4ab0-8853-1e8f130c1a02" data-vars-headline="Controversial land bill faces rewrite after public backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/06/23/mike-lee-public-land-sale" target="_self">sell millions of acres of public land</a> to housing developers after backlash from outdoor rec enthusiasts, Axios&#x27; Erin Alberty reports.State of play: Across California, land around Mount Shasta, Big Sur, Mendocino, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Eastern Sierra" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-public-lands-could-sell-highest-bidder-20384049.php" data-vars-content-id="b17f972a-eebd-4ab0-8853-1e8f130c1a02" data-vars-headline="Controversial land bill faces rewrite after public backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-public-lands-could-sell-highest-bidder-20384049.php" target="_blank">the Eastern Sierra</a> and along the Pacific Crest Trail could be eligible for sale under the current draft, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a recent analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/40382019.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lsZGVybmVzcy5vcmcvYXJ0aWNsZXMvbWVkaWEtcmVzb3VyY2VzLzI1MC1taWxsaW9uLWFjcmVzLXB1YmxpYy1sYW5kcy1lbGlnaWJsZS1zYWxlLXNlbnItYnVkZ2V0LXJlY29uY2lsaWF0aW9uLXBhY2thZ2U_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323Bf032b9d1" data-vars-content-id="b17f972a-eebd-4ab0-8853-1e8f130c1a02" data-vars-headline="Controversial land bill faces rewrite after public backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/40382019.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lsZGVybmVzcy5vcmcvYXJ0aWNsZXMvbWVkaWEtcmVzb3VyY2VzLzI1MC1taWxsaW9uLWFjcmVzLXB1YmxpYy1sYW5kcy1lbGlnaWJsZS1zYWxlLXNlbnItYnVkZ2V0LXJlY29uY2lsaWF0aW9uLXBhY2thZ2U_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323Bf032b9d1" target="_self">a recent analysis</a> by a conservation nonprofit.

San Francisco among top 10 U.S. cities with best parks

Park access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment all contributed to a  city's score.

San Francisco&#x27;s park system is the sixth-best in the nation after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="jumping one spot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/05/22/sf-parks-ranking-trust-for-public-land" data-vars-content-id="dfdb0714-0a16-49e5-bd38-cedddaf4ffdb" data-vars-headline="San Francisco among top 10 U.S. cities with best parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/05/22/sf-parks-ranking-trust-for-public-land" target="_self">jumping one spot</a> in the 2025 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rankings from the Trust for Public Land" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/39954677.109/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHBsLm9yZy9wYXJrc2NvcmU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323C43040f5c" data-vars-content-id="dfdb0714-0a16-49e5-bd38-cedddaf4ffdb" data-vars-headline="San Francisco among top 10 U.S. cities with best parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/39954677.109/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHBsLm9yZy9wYXJrc2NvcmU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/673d6f07cfc5ece025011323C43040f5c" target="_self">rankings from the Trust for Public Land</a>.Why it matters: City parks serve as community meeting spots and civic spaces, offer room for exercise and fresh air, and can draw in new residents — but they require investment, attention and protection.

Fire weather intensifying in California amid climate change

Hot, dry and windy weather that helps wildfires spread is becoming more common.

Climate

Hot, dry and windy weather that fuels <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" data-vars-content-id="220e49de-0a4c-42b7-9dae-f448bfd1e831" data-vars-headline="Fire weather intensifying in California amid climate change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" target="_self">wildfires</a> is becoming more common across California and much of the western U.S. amid climate change, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: What used to be several months of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;fire season&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="220e49de-0a4c-42b7-9dae-f448bfd1e831" data-vars-headline="Fire weather intensifying in California amid climate change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" target="_self">&quot;fire season&quot;</a> is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing blazes.

Environment

Yosemite drops reservations amid mounting environmental, traffic concerns

Feds "cannot delay action" on Colorado River

Mountain lion captured after prowling Pacific Heights

SF's new smart bins aim to make battery recycling easier

California faces highest wildfire smoke death count in U.S.