Latest news with #SanFranciscoChronicle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Notorious stretch of California highway dubbed ‘Blood Alley' where James Dean died is to close for safety work
A stretch of California highway where actor James Dean died will temporarily shut down. The road, known as 'Blood Alley,' spans 20 miles of Highway 41 and connects the state to the Central Valley, Paso Robles and Kettlemen City. The high volume of traffic and the narrow lanes have been blamed for a high number of accidents. Authorities will be carrying out construction on the highway for five days from June 9 to 13. The work will extend from the interchange of highways 41 and 46 near Cholame, about 20 miles east to Reef Station near the junction of state Route 33, according to SFGate. The Independent has emailed Caltrans, the state's transportation authority, for more information. Jim Shivers, a Caltrans spokesperson, told the San Francisco Chronicle the new works were the latest effort to make the stretch of road safer. He said: 'There will be some lengthy detours, which we have acknowledged. The flip side of that is we'll have a brand new interchange opening up soon. It's a major upgrade, it's a major safety enhancement.' In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle reported 54 people had died on the stretch of highway, with James Dean being one of them. An additional 690 people were injured in the same spot. On September 30, 1955, the 24-year-old actor – who had recently achieved superstar status with his movies Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant – got into his Porsche 550 Spyder and started driving up the coast toward Salinas. Around 5.45p.m., he passed through the intersection in Cholame, about 227 miles from San Francisco. Ford Tudor, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, turned onto the road and struck Dean's car. The actor's vehicle crumpled on impact and Dean died from severe injuries, including a broken neck. He became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award acting nomination, and later received a second. The site of the crash has become a tourist attraction, featuring a sculpture of the actor. Caltrans has spent two decades working to improve safety conditions on the road. The State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project expanded the number of lanes and added a new interchange. Officials believe the established detour will be operable through the improvement efforts. Drivers heading west from the Central Valley are being advised to take Highway 41 to state Route 33 south to Highway 46 west before rejoining Highway 41. Officials say they are optimistic the work will be completed ahead of July 4.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Notorious stretch of California highway dubbed ‘Blood Alley' where James Dean died is to close for safety work
A stretch of California highway where actor James Dean died will temporarily shut down. The road, known as 'Blood Alley,' spans 20 miles of Highway 41 and connects the state to the Central Valley, Paso Robles and Kettlemen City. The high volume of traffic and the narrow lanes have been blamed for a high number of accidents. Authorities will be carrying out construction on the highway for five days from June 9 to 13. The work will extend from the interchange of highways 41 and 46 near Cholame, about 20 miles east to Reef Station near the junction of state Route 33, according to SFGate. The Independent has emailed Caltrans, the state's transportation authority, for more information. Jim Shivers, a Caltrans spokesperson, told the San Francisco Chronicle the new works were the latest effort to make the stretch of road safer. He said: 'There will be some lengthy detours, which we have acknowledged. The flip side of that is we'll have a brand new interchange opening up soon. It's a major upgrade, it's a major safety enhancement.' In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle reported 54 people had died on the stretch of highway, with James Dean being one of them. An additional 690 people were injured in the same spot. On September 30, 1955, the 24-year-old actor – who had recently achieved superstar status with his movies Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant – got into his Porsche 550 Spyder and started driving up the coast toward Salinas. Around 5.45p.m., he passed through the intersection in Cholame, about 227 miles from San Francisco. Ford Tudor, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, turned onto the road and struck Dean's car. The actor's vehicle crumpled on impact and Dean died from severe injuries, including a broken neck. He became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award acting nomination, and later received a second. The site of the crash has become a tourist attraction, featuring a sculpture of the actor. Caltrans has spent two decades working to improve safety conditions on the road. The State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project expanded the number of lanes and added a new interchange. Officials believe the established detour will be operable through the improvement efforts. Drivers heading west from the Central Valley are being advised to take Highway 41 to state Route 33 south to Highway 46 west before rejoining Highway 41. Officials say they are optimistic the work will be completed ahead of July 4.
Eater
4 days ago
- Business
- Eater
Thank AI and Billionaire Dollars: Private Dining Rooms Are Going Gangbusters in San Francisco
There's a buzzy, classy vibe coursing through Wayfare Tavern for a Wednesday at 3 p.m., mid-century American jazz breezing along the spread wings of a taxidermied Canada goose. Fat racks of lamb, hints of lemon rising above the tomato and chickpea, and other dishes fly out of the kitchen, just like its previous location on Sacramento Street. There's one key difference: This new Wayfare Tavern is sectioned into bookable fourths, composed of multi-use rooms and bars. Florence and many more chefs are booking out private dining rooms (PDRs) throughout the city. It's because San Francisco's energy is better than it has been in years. Downtown is busier than in recent years, with Moscone Center events in the first quarter up 12.2 percent compared to the same period last year, per the city's statistics. That's a 52.5 percent increase in attendees from the previous year and an estimated $174 million brought into the city. A big wave of artificial intelligence money is painting the city green, too: The San Francisco Chronicle reported that home-grown OpenAI is taking on Apple designer Jony Ive's startup Io to the tune of $6.5 billion. These triumphant vibes — and dollars — are changing the way San Francisco eats. Numerous chefs say PDRs are increasingly the biggest deal for the bottom lines of San Francisco's fanciest restaurants, like nets stuck out a ship's window catching all the fish flopping around. Acquerello co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini appreciates the boom. He runs the two-Michelin-star-holding Italian restaurant known for luxurious hospitality. Chef Suzette Gresham and wine director Gianpaolo Paterlini's work has long spoken for itself, the restaurant debuting in 1989. But these days it's the restaurant's Gold Room, which seats 20, and the more intimate Wine Room for four to eight that pay the bills. The restaurant also offers a full buyout to accommodate 50 guests. The idea that the Gold Room costs an additional $150 is such a non-issue it'd make Paterlini laugh. He says in 2025 tech executives regularly walk in on a Thursday and offer to pay whatever price to make sure they have the place to themselves the following Thursday. Regularly, these groups spend $7,000 to $8,000 more than an average night. The 40-seat restaurant, in other words, is giddy to receive all this business. Pharmaceutical companies were the first companies to really use these two rooms, presenting their newest medicines and offerings to representatives for medical institutions over rabbit mortadella-filled cappellacci. COVID, with its need for isolation-friendly dining spaces, was the first time those businesses began to take hold in the space. AI companies caught that ball and ran. They rent the rooms, or the whole restaurant, and whip out the whiteboard for multi-hour brainstorming sessions with the early 20-somethings, usually one or two older execs running the meetings. 'The first four months of the year are all private events,' Paterlini says. 'The percentage of revenue for the restaurant is notable.' Wayfare Tavern's meticulously laid-out space is a pretty picture of this new approach. On the first floor, there's technically just one PDR. That's the Cellar, a space ruled by glass cases of wine bottles. It seats 10 to 30 people, and goes for $500 an hour in the evenings with a four-hour maximum; when there's a conference in town or a holiday, the prices go up. During the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in 2026, for instance, it's $9,375 for the full day's food and beverage minimums versus $7,500 on other days. That doesn't account for the 22 percent admin fee, the six percent SF Mandate fee, and the 8.725 percent sales tax applied to the final bill. Upstairs there are three PDRs: the Juniper Room, the Sequoia Bar, and the Barbary Room. A few of them can be combined or modified for different package deals. Florence says the Juniper Room is already booked out through Christmas, despite their recent reopening in April on Pine Street. All this dynamic action is changing the way chef-owners are getting restaurants set up in the first place. Sure, Wayfare's sequel falls into that category. But super successful pop-up-turning-restaurant Happy Crane is a first timer. Designing the upcoming Hayes Valley space, chef-owner James Parry felt the PDR was non-negotiable. Architects working on the space argued it was precious square footage not worth wasting. Parry stood firm. The compromise at Happy Crane is an intimate, small, multi-use part of the restaurant that fits into the regular dining space as easily as it can close off for private bookings. Buy-outs of the restaurant make that moot, of course, and Parry says there have been lots of inquiries for the yet-unopened business. Beyond the money the private bookings bring in on their own, it's easy to budget and account for costing out goods with these events' set menus. In short, a longstanding part of restaurants is more important than ever as the city continues its rebound. 'Increasingly, it feels the city's coming back,' Parry says. 'We want to be ready for the events and private parties.' That's the vein Florence is tapping with his palatial new Wayfare Tavern. Mind you, it's still a restaurant, not a co-working space. The front space diners enter is called the Red Room, a gold-walled dining room where that Canada goose holds court next to a front bar. Behind that, though, is what Florence calls the galley. There's an intimate bar, plush seating, and the little corner acts as one more hushed area, calling to mind North Beach Restaurant's underground deal-making prosciutto room. In total, a full 10,000 square feet of reservable dining space. 'Everyone got the signal,' Florence says. 'It's time to activate.' Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California's Insurance Gap: Mercury Insurance Details What Homeowners Need to Know
Thousands of California Homeowners Are Underinsured LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The devastation caused by January's Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires served as powerful reminders of how crucial it is for homeowners to have adequate insurance coverage. In addition to the emotional toll of losing a home, the financial burden can be overwhelming — particularly for those who discover their coverage falls short. According to a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle, a significant number of California policyholders are underinsured, meaning that they may not receive sufficient funds to rebuild a home comparable to the one they lost. Equally concerning is data from LendingTree, which reveals that of the nearly eight million residences in California, 806,600 are completely uninsured — that's 10.5% of all homeowners in the Golden State. And in some counties, such as Lake, Kings and Humboldt, for instance, the rate is even higher. "Being underinsured can turn a crisis into a financial disaster. Waiting until after a catastrophic event such as a wildfire to review your coverage is far too late," said Kelly Butler, VP and Chief Underwriting Officer at Mercury Insurance. "That's why it is essential to meet with your insurance agent at least once a year to ensure your policy reflects current replacement costs and risks." The issue of underinsurance in California is shaped by a combination of evolving market dynamics and environmental challenges. Rising construction costs, the growing threat of wildfires, and shifts in the insurance market all contribute to a complex landscape for homeowners and insurers alike. Here's a closer look at some of the key factors: Rising Insurance Costs: In wildfire prone areas, premiums have increased in response to heightened risk and construction/materials costs. This can place financial strain on homeowners, and these insureds are most likely to allow their coverage to lapse or to underinsure their properties to lower their premiums. Market Adjustments: Some insurance companies have scaled back their offerings in high-risk regions due to increased losses. As a result, some homeowners need to turn to alternatives such as the California FAIR Plan, which provides basic fire insurance coverage, when private options are unavailable. So, what was originally intended as a provider of last resort is now used by 4% of the state's homeowners, up 300% from 2018. Homeowners may need to supplement FAIR Plan policies with additional "wrap-around" policies for broader protection. Increased Wildfire Risk: The growing frequency and severity of wildfires in California have made it more difficult — and costlier — to insure homes in certain areas. This has impacted both insurance availability and affordability. Regulatory Constraints: Proposition 103, passed in 1988, requires insurers to base rates on historical losses. While designed to protect consumers by regulating how insurers set rates, it has also created challenges for insurers that need to adjust rates to account for evolving risks and rising rebuilding costs, which adds complexity to the current insurance landscape. Policy Type Matters: Understanding the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost policies is crucial. The former may not cover the full cost to rebuild, while the latter aims to replace what was lost in today's dollars, up to the policy's limits. What Can Homeowners Do? Reducing wildfire risk on your property remains one of the most effective strategies. Creating defensible space, hardening your home, and taking other fire-mitigation measures can help lower your insurance costs — and may even qualify you for discounts. But homeowners can't solve this issue alone. Broader efforts are also underway to improve the availability and affordability of insurance coverage in high-risk areas. "Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom," added Butler. "The state is beginning to make meaningful changes. Last year, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara introduced California's Sustainable Insurance Strategy, which supports more accurate pricing in wildfire-prone areas and aims to expand coverage options for homeowners who need it most." By staying informed, proactive, and working closely with their insurance providers, California homeowners can better protect their properties and financial futures — even in the face of growing environmental risks. About Mercury Insurance Headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier offering personal auto, homeowners, and renters insurance directly to consumers and through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury also writes business owners, business auto, landlord, commercial multi-peril and mechanical protection insurance in various states. Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through nearly 4,100 employees and a network of more than 6,500 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and For more information visit or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook. Contact: PCG – Shane Smith (424) 903-3665 (ssmith@ Media Contact Shane Smith, Mercury Insurance, (424) 903-3665, ssmith@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mercury Insurance Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
San Francisco scraps ‘equity grading' program — in which homework and attendance wouldn't affect grades — one day after unveiling it amid bipartisan backlash
San Francisco school officials took a sudden U-turn Wednesday on an initiative that would have effectively let students skip homework, cut class, and re-take their exams. Parents and politicians alike – including SF Mayor Daniel Lurie – trashed the experimental 'Grading for Equity' initiative as soon as the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) unveiled it on Tuesday. Things like class attendance and homework wouldn't have affected a student's final grade under the new system — instead, grades would have been left up to a final exam, which students would be allowed to redo, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 4 The proposed 'Grading for Equity' program would have made it easier for San Francisco students to get high marks. Pixel-Shot – 4 Education officials quickly halted plans to test the program after widespread backlash. vchalup – Advertisement 'Grading for Equity' would have also lowered the point threshold for letter grades. Under a similar system at the nearby San Leandro Unified School District – which SFUSD officials have praised – students need a score of just 80% to get an A, and a score of 41% earns them a C, according to The Voice of San Francisco. The purpose of the alternative grading approach was to minimize the impact of challenges that disproportionately affect low-income students, such as traveling to school and finding time and space to do homework. But critics on both sides of the political spectrum said 'Grading for Equity' was not the answer. 'My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence,' Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat, posted on X. 'Giving A's for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids,' he continued. 4 Under a similar program in San Leandro, students need scores of just 80% to earn an A and 49% to earn a C. Matthew Benoit – 4 Critics included San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie. Koldo_Studio – Advertisement 'We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that,' Mayor Lurie echoed on the platform. Seventy teachers were to test the new system in 14 district schools, but parents cried foul at a Tuesday school board meeting where board members were asked to approve $172,000 for a training program. Superintendent Maria Su then put the plan on hold, citing widespread 'misinformation.' Advertisement 'It's clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal,' Superintendent Maria Su said in a statement to the Chronicle. 'We want to make sure any changes benefit our students. I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community.'
