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Olivia Harden

Travel Reporter at SFGATE -- based in California. Writing about social justice and mental health everywhere else. Passionate about food, exploring the world, and uplifting the voices of those who often go unheard.

SFGATE •

Handful of investors quietly purchase private land within Joshua Tree

A handful of privately owned lots within the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park in the Whispering Pines area were recently purchased, sparking concerns among environmentalists and some residents about what's coming to the California desert.

A handful of privately owned lots within the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park in the Whispering Pines area were recently purchased, sparking concerns among environmentalists and some residents about what's coming to the California desert.

The ro...
SFGATE •

Calif. woman, 30, dies while climbing famed red rock formations

A California woman fell to her death on Jan. 18 while climbing in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas. Identified as Micah Manalese, 30, of Aliso Viejo, the woman was climbing with a friend when "human error" caused the fall, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department told Climbing.

A California woman fell to her death on Jan. 18 while climbing in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas. Identified as Micah Manalese, 30, of Aliso Viejo, the woman was climbing...
SFGATE •

Bay Area airport narrowly avoids losing its air traffic controllers

After tense contract negotiations, a Bay Area airport narrowly avoided losing all of its air traffic controllers. The incident occurs in the wake of a tragic crash at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which a preliminary safety report about the collision from the Federal Aviation Administration suggests was caused by abnormal air traffic control tower staffing issues.

After tense contract negotiations, a Bay Area airport narrowly avoided losing all of its air traffic controllers. The incident occ...
SFGATE •

Waterfront Hotel overlooking San Francisco Bay to close after 35 years

The Waterfront Hotel, operated by hotel conglomerate Hyatt Corp., is closing its doors on Friday. The boutique hotel with a nautical theme — its blue spire looms over Jack London Square like a lifeguard tower —is located on Washington Street adjacent the Port of Oakland. The Waterfront Hotel opened its doors in 1990 as part of the Port of Oakland’s $100 million development plan to revitalize Jack London Square.

The Waterfront Hotel, operated by hotel conglomerate Hyatt Corp., is closing its doo...
SFGATE •

Yosemite tries to control February crowds after damage done to park

Each year in mid-February, Horsetail Falls transforms into a unique spectacle when the waterfall is backlit by the sunset. In the winter light, the waterfall glows bright orange as through it was on fire, and the event is therefore nicknamed named Firefall.

Each year in mid-February, Horsetail Falls transforms into a unique spectacle when the waterfall is backlit by the sunset. In the winter light, the waterfall glows bright orange as through it was on fire, and the event is therefore nicknamed...
SFGATE •

Ticket prices leaked for high-speed rail between California, Vegas

High-speed rail proponents who look forward to the bullet train connecting Southern California to Las Vegas may get sticker shock from the initial ticket prices.

High-speed rail proponents who look forward to the bullet train connecting Southern California to Las Vegas may get sticker shock from the initial ticket prices.

In recent filings that seek to raise $2.5 billion in a bond offering, Brightline West revealed that ticket prices for the trip would range from about $119 to $133 one way. In...
SFGATE •

Spirit tightens rules on dress code in new contract of carriage

Spirit Airlines is adding another caveat to flying with the ultra-low-cost carrier — a more stringent dress code.

Spirit Airlines is adding another caveat to flying with the ultra-low-cost carrier — a more stringent dress code.

On Jan. 22, Spirit updated its contract of carriage to specify fashion faux pas that could leave certain customers grounded at the gate.

On Jan. 22, Spirit updated its contract of carriage to specify fashion faux pas that could leave certain customers grounded at the g...
SFGATE •

'It’s just math': United CEO says airlines like Southwest are in trouble

A legacy carrier CEO is back to criticizing the business model of low-cost carriers — this time, precisely their place at San Francisco International Airport.

A legacy carrier CEO is back to criticizing the business model of low-cost carriers — this time, precisely their place at San Francisco International Airport.

On Jan. 22, during United Airlines’ quarterly earnings call, CEO Scott Kirby said it wasn’t profitable for low-cost carriers to operate at SFO and other major airports, the San Fra...
SFGATE •

California couple sues airline, says ice 'size of watermelon' fell on home

A couple in Inglewood, California, sued JetBlue Airways for $1 million after a block of ice allegedly fell during a flight to Los Angeles International Airport and landed in their bedroom last year.

A couple in Inglewood, California, sued JetBlue Airways for $1 million after a block of ice allegedly fell during a flight to Los Angeles International Airport and landed in their bedroom last year.

Around 8:09 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2024,  a large block of ice — “the size of watermelon” — fell through th...
SFGATE •

'Clearly a sham': Hawaiians, Texans unite against Elon Musk company

SpaceX asked the FAA to increase the number of rocket landings from five a year to 25. The company, owned by Elon Musk, also asked the FAA to expand the landing zone to around 20 times its current size. The rockets take off from Boca Chica in Texas and land in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii or the Indian Ocean near Australia.

SpaceX asked the FAA to increase the number of rocket landings from five a year to 25. The company, owned by Elon Musk, also asked the FAA to expand the landing zone to aro...
SFGATE •

Disneyland quietly removes suspected AI art after blowback

After backlash from hawkeyed Disney fans, Disneyland has removed a piece of artwork rumored to have been created by generative artificial intelligence.

After backlash from hawkeyed Disney fans, Disneyland has removed a piece of artwork rumored to have been created by generative artificial intelligence.

Disneyland recently opened its highly anticipated add-on to the Haunted Mansion — Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, a stand-alone gift shop near the ride. Even better, in a “Nightmare Before Chri...
SFGATE •

Disneyland quietly takes down suspected AI art from new gift shop

After backlash from hawkeyed Disney fans, Disneyland has removed a piece of artwork rumored to have been created by generative artificial intelligence.

After backlash from hawkeyed Disney fans, Disneyland has removed a piece of artwork rumored to have been created by generative artificial intelligence.

Disneyland recently opened its highly anticipated add-on to the Haunted Mansion — Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, a stand-alone gift shop near the ride. Even better, in a “Nightmare Before Chri...
SFGATE •

California couple's half-built home stirs dispute within national park

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Missoula is set to hear oral arguments on whether the region’s conservation district has jurisdiction over the home. The Flathead Conservation District previously ordered the couple, John and Stacy Ambler of San Diego, to tear down the house. The district claimed the couple violated state law because they did not obtain necessary building permits.

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Missoula is set to hear oral arguments on whether the region’s conservation distric...
SFGATE •

Mount Whitney hiker missing for nearly a week amid treacherous conditions

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and Inyo County Search & Rescue are asking the public for help finding an “overdue hiker” who attempted to summit Mount Whitney in late December.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and Inyo County Search & Rescue are asking the public for help finding an “overdue hiker” who attempted to summit Mount Whitney in late December.

On Jan. 2, Inyo County Search & Rescue called for tips on the whereabouts of Taylor Rodriguez after it was alerted to his disappearance. The...
SFGATE •

Man banned after allegedly urinating on passenger during SFO flight

A man was banned from flying on United Airlines after allegedly urinating on a Bay Area resident during a flight from San Francisco International Airport to the Philippines.

A man was banned from flying on United Airlines after allegedly urinating on a Bay Area resident during a flight from San Francisco International Airport to the Philippines.

On Dec. 27, Jerome Gutierrez of Hillsborough was traveling in business class on UA Flight 189 from SFO to Manila when, according to his stepdaughter,...
SFGATE •

2 dead, several injured after plane crash near small California airport

Two people died and more than a dozen were injured when a plane crashed into the rooftop of a commercial building near a small California airport, according to the Associated Press.

Two people died and more than a dozen were injured when a plane crashed into the rooftop of a commercial building near a small California airport, according to the Associated Press.

At 2:09 p.m. Thursday, the Fullerton Police Department in Orange County responded to a crash. In a social media post, police said the...
SFGATE •

Private jet narrowly avoids Calif. runway collision with Delta flight

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a private jet was ordered to stop before it could have collided with a commercial aircraft rearing for takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a private jet was ordered to stop before it could have collided with a commercial aircraft rearing for takeoff.

On Friday around 4:30 p.m., Delta Airlines Flight 471 was taking off from Los Angeles International Airport and headed to Atlanta while air traffic controll...
SFGATE •

Pothole spans lanes, damages tires on busy Bay Area freeway

On Dec. 27, around  4:10 a.m., California Highway Patrol received a call from a driver with a flat tire after hitting a pothole driving south on Highway 880, Oakland CHP spokesperson Adib Zeid told SFGATE.

On Dec. 27, around  4:10 a.m., California Highway Patrol received a call from a driver with a flat tire after hitting a pothole driving south on Highway 880, Oakland CHP spokesperson Adib Zeid told SFGATE.

CHP said the pothole measured 8 to 12 feet and stretched across the two lanes closest...
SFGATE •

Body discovered on board flight to Hawaii

A body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight after it landed in Hawaii.

A body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight after it landed in Hawaii.

On Dec. 24, Flight 202 from Chicago took off on time from O’Hare International Airport around 9:30 a.m. local time, according to FlightAware. The body was found following the flight’s arrival at Kahului Airport at about 2:15 p.m. local time on Maui.

On Dec. 24, Flight 202 from Chicago took off on time from...
SFGATE •

CHP closes flooded intersection linking 3 Bay Area counties

In the middle of holiday travel where AAA predicted the worst congestion was between San Francisco and Napa, the California Highway Patrol closed a highway in the middle of wine country because of flooding.

In the middle of holiday travel where AAA predicted the worst congestion was between San Francisco and Napa, the California Highway Patrol closed a highway in the middle of wine country because of flooding.

Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, CHP announced on social media that state Route 121 in Son...
SFGATE •

Delays, canceled flights pile up at California airport

Just as the holiday travel boom kicks in, when San Diego International Airport will see over 80,000 people a day, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay that’s expected to last through the evening. The culprit is a familiar foe for San Francisco International Airport: thick fog.

Just as the holiday travel boom kicks in, when San Diego International Airport will see over 80,000 people a day, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay that’s expected to last thro...
SFGATE •

How AAA predicts a mid-week holiday will impact Bay Area traffic

Bay Area travelers braving the roads for the holidays should expect an unprecedented number of drivers — even more than last year’s holiday season — on the highways.

Bay Area travelers braving the roads for the holidays should expect an unprecedented number of drivers — even more than last year’s holiday season — on the highways.

According to the annual AAA report based on data from INRIX, 119.3 million people are traveling 50 miles or more from Saturday, Dec. 21, to Wednesday, Jan. 1. That’s...
SFGATE •

How scammers are targeting TSA PreCheck travelers

However, in recent years, prospective TSA PreCheck travelers have fallen victim to an enrollment scam. People are providing information and payments to third-party manipulators to submit their applications. The problem is that travelers do not need a liaison to book an appointment for TSA PreCheck.

However, in recent years, prospective TSA PreCheck travelers have fallen victim to an enrollment scam. People are providing information and payments to third-party manipulators to submit their applic...
SFGATE •

Police investigating how Jeep rolled into waves on California beach

First responders in a California city successfully completed a beach rescue in challenging conditions on Saturday after receiving an early morning call that a vehicle and passenger had been swept out into the ocean.

First responders in a California city successfully completed a beach rescue in challenging conditions on Saturday after receiving an early morning call that a vehicle and passenger had been swept out into the ocean.

The Newport Beach Police Department, Fire Department and Public Wo...
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