Olivia Harden

SFGATE • 29th October 2024

Yosemite’s newest casino embraces name Feds ‘forced’ on Calif. tribe

The road to Yosemite and some of California’s most stunning natural beauty now includes a detour to an eclectic casino from an Indigenous tribe in the Sierra Nevada.

The road to Yosemite and some of California’s most stunning natural beauty now includes a detour to an eclectic casino from an Indigenous tribe in the Sierra Nevada.

The Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, off Highway 49 in Jamestown among the foothills of Tuolumne County, is slated to celebrate a grand opening Nov. 9 after opening for r...

SFGATE • 25th October 2024

Distressed Hawaii airport awarded another $17M makeover project

The federal government has approved another round of funding for a Hawaii airport that is already undergoing major renovations.

The federal government has approved another round of funding for a Hawaii airport that is already undergoing major renovations.

On Oct. 24, the Biden administration announced that the Federal Aviation Administration is awarding $970 million as part of its next round of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolu...

SFGATE • 24th October 2024

American Airlines tests new 'shaming tools' to deter boarding frauds

A major airline is testing a stricter approach to deny passengers who try to cheat at the boarding group game before a flight. American Airlines recently began testing new technology that audibly alerts gate agents when passengers attempt to board outside their assigned boarding group, sometimes called being “gate lice” within the airline industry.

A major airline is testing a stricter approach to deny passengers who try to cheat at the boarding group game before a flight. American Airlines rec...

SFGATE • 22nd October 2024

SF man alleges flying coach killed his dog on SFO-bound flight

A French bulldog died on a return flight to San Francisco International Airport, and the owner alleges the airline is responsible because the man and his dog were booted from first class.

A French bulldog died on a return flight to San Francisco International Airport, and the owner alleges the airline is responsible because the man and his dog were booted from first class.

“It makes no sense,” Michael Contillo told the Mercury News about the airline’s decision. “Because there’s less space in t...

SFGATE • 18th October 2024

SFO passenger deplaned from Delta flight due to T-shirt

On Oct. 16, Catherine Banks, a Marine Corps veteran, was asked to get off her flight, which was departing out of San Francisco International Airport. Once she exited the plane, the flight attendant explained that Banks needed to change because her shirt was “threatening,” Banks told NBC Bay Area (KNTV). It featured a message about veteran suicide rates in the U.S.

On Oct. 16, Catherine Banks, a Marine Corps veteran, was asked to get off her flight, which was departing out of San Francisco Inter...

SFGATE • 16th October 2024

Woman and California man die after sneaker wave hits Hawaii beach

A sneaker wave crashed onto the island of Oahu in Hawaii and swept up three visitors, killing two.On Monday, around 8 a.m., a 6- to 8-foot wave swept a man and two women into the water at Ke Iki Beach, Honolulu Ocean Safety spokesperson Shayne Enright told SFGATE in a statement. Lifeguards found the three people — a man from California and two women from Oklahoma — and brought them onto shore after hearing their calls for help and spotting them in the water.

A sneaker wave crashed onto the isla...

SFGATE • 9th October 2024

Convenient I-5 stop in Calif. to close, lay off 45 employees

Bay Area travelers making their way to Oregon on Interstate 5 will soon lose a convenient rest stop in a town that was once known as the olive capital of the world but today is more famous for its truck stops and a massive casino.The TravelCenters of America in Corning is slated to close Oct. 15, the company confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle (the Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms). Forty-five employees will lose their jobs without severance or trans...

SFGATE • 9th October 2024

Like clockwork, Disneyland does its annual October price hike

Disneyland parkgoers are already feeling the pressure of the price to visit the parks. But, like clockwork, Disney chose October to kick off another price hike.

Disneyland parkgoers are already feeling the pressure of the price to visit the parks. But, like clockwork, Disney chose October to kick off another price hike.

The California park will keep its base rate for entry the same, as it has for the last six years, but Disney fans looking to visit on more popular days at the park could see an...

SFGATE • 8th October 2024

Caltrans seeks input on project to remove racist Bay Area freeway

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SFGATE • 4th October 2024

Disneyland slashes park passes in half for kids in 2025

As ticket prices at the Happiest Place on Earth continue to climb, Disneyland is once again offering a reprieve for parents hoping to get a deal on admission for their small children.Beginning Oct. 22, parkgoers can buy one-park admission for children ages 3 to 9 for $50 per day on one-day, two-day or three-day tickets. The discounted price is valid for visits between Jan. 7 and March 20, 2025, Disney wrote in a news release. Guests must make a reservation for the parks that matches the dates th...

SFGATE • 3rd October 2024

Calif. company selling $725 gambit to skip LA traffic

The drive to Palm Springs is such a popular weekend getaway for Angelenos that bottlenecks going in and out of the desert are nearly a given. A private jet company is betting on Californians’ aversion to gridlock with a new flight service that would haul them only about 150 miles to avoid the traffic below.

The drive to Palm Springs is such a popular weekend getaway for Angelenos that bottlenecks going in and out of the desert are nearly a given. A private jet company is betting on Californians...

SFGATE • 27th September 2024

Mother arrested at Disneyland after allegedly sneaking kids into park

In the latest example of unruly behavior at Disneyland, a Disney Magic Key pass holder was arrested after allegedly attempting to bring her children into one of the parks without paying for tickets.

In the latest example of unruly behavior at Disneyland, a Disney Magic Key pass holder was arrested after allegedly attempting to bring her children into one of the parks without paying for tickets.

On Sept. 24, a 26-year-old woman from Torrance entered Disney California Adventure Park with two chi...

SFGATE • 27th September 2024

Calif. city was the hottest place in America for 3 days straight

It might be autumn on the calendar, but Palm Springs continues to reckon with extreme heat. The California desert city spent three consecutive days this week as the hottest city in the nation, according to the Desert Sun.

It might be autumn on the calendar, but Palm Springs continues to reckon with extreme heat. The California desert city spent three consecutive days this week as the hottest city in the nation, according to the Desert Sun.

On Sept. 24, Palm Springs reached a high of 112 degree...

SFGATE • 26th September 2024

Why lanes on the Bay Bridge are closing every weeknight for 8 months

Nighttime drivers on weeknights can expect congestion while crossing the oldest bridge into San Francisco until the spring.

Nighttime drivers on weeknights can expect congestion while crossing the oldest bridge into San Francisco until the spring.

Starting Thursday, Caltrans is closing one to two far right lane on the westbound side of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weeknights for routine inspection and maintenance of the cables, Caltrans spokesperson Lori Shephe...

SFGATE • 25th September 2024

Roughly half the workers at this SFO hotel want to leave the union

As hotel workers around San Francisco strike for higher wages and better health care, workers at a hotel near San Francisco International Airport are considering leaving the union entirely.

As hotel workers around San Francisco strike for higher wages and better health care, workers at a hotel near San Francisco International Airport are considering leaving the union entirely.

This month, an employee at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel filed a petition with the National Labo...

SFGATE • 24th September 2024

75,000 birds die during ongoing outbreak at California refuge

Between 75,000 and 80,000 birds are estimated dead as a severe botulism outbreak rages at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed to SFGATE.

Between 75,000 and 80,000 birds are estimated dead as a severe botulism outbreak rages at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed to SFGATE.

The U.S. Agriculture Department National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of avian botulism on Aug. 23 af...

SFGATE • 20th September 2024

Calif. airport ranks first for its class in traveler satisfaction. It’s not SFO.

Even as airport travel gets busier and more expensive, California airports are still leaving passengers satisfied after their flights. In fact, one airport in Southern California was rated the best in its class for passenger satisfaction. For its part, San Francisco International Airport is still a top-10 airport for traveler satisfaction, even as it falls a few pegs after dominating during the pandemic years for a surprising reason.

Even as airport travel gets busier and more expensive, Califo...

SFGATE • 19th September 2024

Newly crowned 'coolest beach' in Calif. closes in two weekends

Anyone looking to beat the heat before summer ends might want to head to what Travel + Leisure recently named the “coolest beach” in California.

Anyone looking to beat the heat before summer ends might want to head to what Travel + Leisure recently named the “coolest beach” in California.

Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville is a beloved beach along the Russian River. Sonoma County Tourism says the beach is a century-long tradition perfect for “sunning, swimming and floating.” The 90-minute drive ma...

SFGATE • 17th September 2024

Fall hiking at a treasured Bay Area park will look different this year

Nature lovers on foot and hoof will soon have to share the trails at one of the Bay Area’s most incredible outdoor treasures.

Nature lovers on foot and hoof will soon have to share the trails at one of the Bay Area’s most incredible outdoor treasures.

On Sept. 3, the Marin Water Board of Directors unanimously approved a new pilot program allowing bikers on select trails in the Mount Tamalpais watershed, totaling 7 miles — including some trails in Mount Tamalpais State Park.

On Sept. 3, the Ma...

SFGATE • 16th September 2024

Google reveals the best week to purchase Christmas flights

As summer turns to fall, holiday travel planning becomes top of mind. But as prices to fly out of Bay Area airports are on the rise, it might be a good idea to start planning now for when to purchase airfare for end-of-the-year festivities.

As summer turns to fall, holiday travel planning becomes top of mind. But as prices to fly out of Bay Area airports are on the rise, it might be a good idea to start planning now for when to purchase airfare for end-of-the-year festivities.

A recent study c...

SFGATE • 12th September 2024

9-hour rescue tragically ends after orca washes ashore Calif. beach

Following hours of a rescue effort, a young orca died after it was found on the shores of a California state park. The cause of death remains unclear.

Following hours of a rescue effort, a young orca died after it was found on the shores of a California state park. The cause of death remains unclear.

On Sept. 10, the orca calf, also known as a killer whale, was discovered stranded at Carmel River State Beach between Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Rescue crews from...

SFGATE • 11th September 2024

One of the world's oldest oaks is tearing a Calif. city apart

Following hours of emotional public comment at the Jurupa Valley City Hall last week that divided one of California’s youngest cities into two, council members decided to approve a controversial development project that some argue will lead to the end of one of the oldest living trees on Earth.

Following hours of emotional public comment at the Jurupa Valley City Hall last week that divided one of California’s youngest cities into two, council members decided to approve a controversial developm...

SFGATE • 6th September 2024

National Park Service sorrows over Cheeto bag littered in ancient cave

A rogue bag of Cheetos triggered a cleanup project and a stern warning to National Park visitors about the unforeseen consequences of highly processed corn.

A rogue bag of Cheetos triggered a cleanup project and a stern warning to National Park visitors about the unforeseen consequences of highly processed corn.

On Friday, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park took to Facebook to explain in great detail how rangers were forced to carefully remove “foreign detritus and molds” from the surface of t...

SFGATE • 5th September 2024

Smoke found in cockpit forces emergency flight landing in Sacramento

A UPS plane bound for Southern California on Wednesday was forced to divert to a former Air Force base in Sacramento after its crew saw smoke coming out of the cockpit.

A UPS plane bound for Southern California on Wednesday was forced to divert to a former Air Force base in Sacramento after its crew saw smoke coming out of the cockpit.

On Sept. 4 at 9:19 p.m., fire crews responded to a “major in-flight emergency” at Sacramento Mather Airport. UPS Flight 975 was headed to Ontario, California, w...