The driver responsible for killing a family of four at a bus stop in West Portal two years ago was sentenced Friday — closing a case that left a neighborhood and family shattered.

State of play: 80-year-old driver Mary Fong Lau, who pleaded no contest to four counts of felony vehicular manslaughter, was sentenced to two years probation, 200 hours of community service and six days of jail time, per local news reports.

• Family members and a petition with more than 13,000 signatures had called for a harsher sentence, including permanently revoking Lau's license.
• San Francisco Superior Court judge Bruce Chan noted Lau was not texting or under the influence at the time of the crash.
• He argued jail would put her safety at risk and instead ordered her to pay $67,400 in restitution. He also revoked her license for the duration of her probation. She will be eligible to reapply afterwards.

Representatives for Fau and the victims did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Catch up quick: On March 16, 2024, Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto, and their children, 1-year-old Joaquim and 3-month-old Cauê, were waiting at a bus stop on their way to the zoo when an SUV traveling at around 70mph crashed into them.

• All four died from their injuries.
• Lau's lawyers stated she accidentally confused the brake and gas pedals.

The big picture: The tragedy became a flashpoint amid ongoing concerns over street safety, speeding and enforcement.

• Advocates have pushed for changes in West Portal, including traffic calming measures and stronger safeguards for pedestrians.

Between the lines: At a vigil held last week near the West Portal Library, dozens of friends, family members and residents gathered to share heartfelt memories of the victims.

Matilde's brother, Luis Ramos Pinto, said he struggled to make sense of the sudden loss, finding only deepening emptiness and grief.

• "Knowing that they knew true love and happiness as a family has been a great source of comfort to me," he said.
• "If this terrible loss can lead to meaningful change, improve pedestrian safety and save lives, then there can be no greater tribute" to their legacy.

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The San Francisco Zoo says it's still on track to welcome giant pandas from China despite a restructuring move following years of scrutiny.

Why it matters: The zoo has faced pressure to cancel its giant panda plans after a 2024 audit raised concerns about worker safety, poor animal care and financial mismanagement.

Driving the news: The zoo eliminated three positions last week in a "strategic reorganization," but it will not affect plans to host giant pandas, CEO and executive director Cassandra Costello told Axios via email.

• A local activist group had recently alleged that the deal was dead, but those claims are "not grounded in fact," said Costello.
• Costello declined to provide an updated timeline on when the pandas will arrive.

The big picture: The restructuring comes as the organization prepares for a "pivotal year," per an internal email obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

• Increased operational costs and declining attendance contributed to the decision to do layoffs, the letter noted.
• Zoo leaders appeared optimistic last year that the giant pandas would arrive by this April if all went according to plan.

The pandas are coming

👮 The San Francisco police union has negotiated a contract with the city to increase pay for officers by 14% over four years. (SF Standard)

🖼️ Madrone Art Bar announced a new grant program to support local artists. (SF Examiner)

🏛️ Assemblymember Matt Haney is championing legislation to formally recognize two Muslim holidays — Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha — as state holidays. (Fox 40)

⚾ Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong, widely perceived as a contender for the bullpen, is out for the season after suffering a forearm strain and an inner elbow ligament sprain. (NBC Bay Area)

Nearly 13 million people visited California's national parks in 2025 — a record high, new National Park Service data shows.

Why it matters: People can't get enough of our great outdoors, even as parks face firings and layoffs, executive order-driven price hikes and a government shutdown.

State of play: Last year, the state's nine national parks attracted about 800,000 more visitors than in 2024.

• The increase was driven by Yosemite, Lassen, Sequoia, Redwood and Kings Canyon national parks.

Zoom in: Yosemite drew 4.3 million visitors — the most of any California park — and ranked fifth nationwide last year, knocking down Rocky Mountain National Park.

What we're watching: The crowds could get even bigger this year now that Yosemite has ditched reservations.

🎈1 big thing: For five years, Axios has delivered smart, trustworthy local news to communities like yours — and we're just getting started.

Why it matters: Memberships sustain the journalism you rely on and help us keep delivering strong, independent reporting focused on what matters most.

Your newsletter helps you stay informed and connected. Help us power the next five years of Axios San Francisco by becoming a member today.

Dear readers, I knew you'd come through.

Dozens of you correctly guessed which Upper Haight bar I was at recently: Persian Aub Zam Zam (colloquially shortened to Zam Zam).

• Congrats to Jon M. for being the first!

Catch up quick: Assyrian-born Samson Mooshei opened the cocktail bar, named after a sacred well in Saudi Arabia, in 1941.

• His son Bruno (who many of you mentioned in your responses) took over in the 1950s, becoming a legendary figure for his strict rules, brusque demeanor and devotion to classic martinis.
• Though he's no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the bar's old-school ethos.

Fun fact: The mural, painted by Assyrian architect and designer Jon Oshanna, depicts the Persian love story of Khosrow and Shirin, which centers on a romance between a king and an Armenian princess that ends in tragedy.

💭 My thought bubble: I'd hate to ever see this beloved watering hole close. It's one of my favorites in the city!

If you go: Open daily, hours vary at 1633 Haight St.