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Inside San Quentin's effort to redefine prison life

A former symbol of mass incarceration now trains inmates in coding, journalism and filmmaking.

News

For decades, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Quentin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/02/san-quentin-state-prison-rehabilitation-project?utm_" data-vars-content-id="a4818f4a-c154-44c2-b995-6a40d40eba5a" data-vars-headline="Inside San Quentin&#x27;s effort to redefine prison life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/04/02/san-quentin-state-prison-rehabilitation-project?utm_" target="_self">San Quentin</a> stood as a symbol of America&#x27;s harshest era of incarceration, housing California&#x27;s death row and many of the state&#x27;s most <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dangerous offenders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-inmates-at-san-quentin-state-prison/treadlightly" data-vars-content-id="a4818f4a-c154-44c2-b995-6a40d40eba5a" data-vars-headline="Inside San Quentin&#x27;s effort to redefine prison life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-inmates-at-san-quentin-state-prison/treadlightly" target="_blank">dangerous offenders</a>.The big picture: But now, in a transformation that would have sounded implausible even a decade ago, the state&#x27;s oldest prison is trying to reinvent itself as something closer to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Scandinavian-style" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48885846" data-vars-content-id="a4818f4a-c154-44c2-b995-6a40d40eba5a" data-vars-headline="Inside San Quentin&#x27;s effort to redefine prison life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48885846" target="_blank">Scandinavian-style</a> rehabilitation facility — one centered on education and second chances.

Nothing quizzical about the Friday SF News Quiz!

If there's a better way to start a long holiday weekend, we don't wanna know about it.

A long and overindulgent weekend awaits, but before that, we are back for another edition of your favorite thing on the internet.<ul><li>That&#x27;s right, it&#x27;s Friday SF News Quiz time! Time to test your smarts. </li></ul>

Nancy Pelosi backs Connie Chan in high-stakes congressional race

Pelosi's endorsement gives Connie Chan a late boost as voters cast ballots.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Supervisor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Connie Chan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/11/20/connie-chan-pelosi-congress-race" data-vars-content-id="fea9a81e-3a9a-4852-b4d0-af7bc7bdf063" data-vars-headline="Nancy Pelosi backs Connie Chan in high-stakes congressional race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/11/20/connie-chan-pelosi-congress-race" target="_self">Connie Chan</a> this week in the race to<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" succeed her in Congress" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/01/08/san-francisco-pelosi-successor-congress-race-2026-district-11" data-vars-content-id="fea9a81e-3a9a-4852-b4d0-af7bc7bdf063" data-vars-headline="Nancy Pelosi backs Connie Chan in high-stakes congressional race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/01/08/san-francisco-pelosi-successor-congress-race-2026-district-11" target="_self"> succeed her in Congress</a>, delivering a major boost to a candidate who has struggled to keep pace with her better-funded rivals.Why it matters: Pelosi&#x27;s 11th-hour backing could prove decisive in the high-stakes primary, potentially helping consolidate traditional Democratic voters behind Chan while tying her candidacy to one of the most powerful political networks in the country.

What to know before mailing tax returns this year

A new IRS postmark rule means sending your return on time may not be enough to avoid penalties.

Money

Mailing your tax return this year comes with a key change: A new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="postmark rule" data-vars-click-url="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession" data-vars-content-id="5b9aa411-d0b7-4398-a35c-f3b5ff84b2bc" data-vars-headline="What to know before mailing tax returns this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession" target="_blank">postmark rule</a> is redefining what qualifies as &quot;on time.&quot;Why it matters: The IRS treats the postmark date — not the day you dropped the envelope into the mail — as proof of filing, meaning delays in postmarking could trigger penalties even if you sent your return on time.

How much Californians can expect to get in federal tax refunds

Most California taxpayers stand to get a refund after navigating the process.

Thousands of dollars in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal tax refunds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/27/irs-tax-season-2025-taxes-refund" data-vars-content-id="6132699a-0958-4f29-bc7e-3becf61005ee" data-vars-headline="How much Californians can expect to get in federal tax refunds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/27/irs-tax-season-2025-taxes-refund" target="_self">federal tax refunds</a> are on the way for many Californians.Why it matters: Tax filing season ends Tuesday .

1 stat to go: 💰 Our average tax return

1 stat to go: San Francisco's average tax return 

1 stat to go: 💻 Engineers cashing in

1 stat to go: Software engineers cash in

Axios What's Next

A choropleth map of the U.S. showing the average tax refund by state for tax year 2022 among filers receiving a refund. Florida leads at about $3.9k, while Maine trails at about $2.7k. The U.S. average is about $3.3k.