Latest news with #BayArea
E&E News
3 hours ago
- Business
- E&E News
California officials approve 6 highway projects after enviro-union spat
California transportation officials approved funding for six highway construction projects Thursday that have become a source of tension between labor unions and environmental groups. What happened: The California Transportation Commission signed off on over $600 million in funding for six highway expansion projects ranging from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County, following heated debate between union construction workers and clean transportation groups during public comments. Why it matters: Environmental groups have increasingly organized opposition against highway expansion projects over the last year, arguing that the construction is a waste of taxpayer money that won't solve congestion issues and that the state needs to more aggressively reduce emissions to meet its climate goals. Advertisement That opposition has drawn the ire of construction unions, which say they support building public transit and infrastructure for walking and biking, but that canceling highway projects would cost workers jobs.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
6 of the best sights and local secrets in San Francisco
The hotel After a ten-and-a-half hour flight from London, the 1920s glamour of the Beacon Grand (rooms from £169, makes for a plush and, crucially, well-located refuge for the weary traveller – it's just two miles from the San Francisco Opera and Fisherman's Wharf. Time your arrival right and you'll want to head straight to the 21st floor for a refreshing sundowner at the rooftop Starlite bar, which has one of the most enviable 360-degree views in town. The heights Shake off your jet lag with a pre-dawn taxi trip up to leafy Twin Peaks (below) to watch sunrise over the city, serenaded by birdsong (that is to say, unless Karl the Fog has rolled in). Then take a 20-minute stroll or bus down, past San Francisco's 'I'd definitely live there' houses – with their flamboyant colours, bay windows and the occasional turret – to the Castro district for revivifying pancakes beneath fairy lights at Orphan Andy's diner. The sights Despite its sticky-sweet confectionery stores and tourist tat, Fisherman's Wharf is a must-visit for its barking sea lions. Catch a ferry to Alcatraz Island, the infamous (and, for now, still former) prison, and out past the Golden Gate Bridge (below) from Pier 41. If you haven't packed your sea legs, a clattering old cable-car trolley ($8 a ride, bring cash) is a great way to see the city, or ride the Wiggle, a bike route that winds around (instead of over) many of SF's famous hills (Bay Wheels bike day pass, $15). The bites From Four Kings' cheeky spin on chicken and waffles in Chinatown to the 'cozy Nob Hill jewel box' (Michelin's words, not mine) that is Sons & Daughters, British chef Harrison Cheney's homage to the forest-to-table kitchen, you could take a year to eat your way around SF and barely touch the sides. My favourite is the homely waterfront Italian, Scoma's of Sausalito (above), a 45-minute ferry ride across the bay, with superb views of the city and seafood dishes to die for. The park The city has tripled down on friendly open spaces post-pandemic, a welcome counter-narrative to the tough times that some people will tell you the city has fallen on. The new Tunnel Top Park (above) has spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, The Great Highway (an ageing stretch of road) is now closed to cars on weekends, making it a beachfront promenade devoted to pedestrians and cyclists, and Aquatic Park is where swimmers brave the frigid San Francisco Bay. The after-dark SF loves a revival. Take in live jazz at the Dawn Club (above), the 2.0 update of the club of the same name from the 1930s and 40s (it's down the road from Twitter HQ, and after a few cocktails my friend wrote a job application to CEO Elon Musk here on the back of a napkin; she didn't get it). Sink a mai tai made with Chinese wine at legendary Chinatown cocktail bar Li Po Lounge or sip champagne with spiced nuts in French wine bar Verjus, then whizz back to HQ in a Waymo, Google 's ubiquitous driverless taxi.
CBS News
9 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Bay Area family shares frustrations after FDA rejects drug for ultra-rare Barth Syndrome
With the FDA recently rejecting a drug application that aims to help those living with Barth Syndrome, one Bay Area family is frustrated by the delay of approved treatments in the rare disease community. Approximately 150 people live with Barth Syndrome nationwide, an ultra-rare genetic disorder that affects only males and impacts muscle and heart muscle health. "He has a severe heart failure, and was admitted to the hospital where he was on intravenous medications to help his heart pump," Megan Branagh, whose son Henry has Barth Syndrome, told CBS News Bay Area. Megan's son was diagnosed with the disease when he was three months old. "There's no treatment or cure for it at all, just simply symptom management," she said. There are currently no FDA-approved therapies for the disease, but Stealth BioTherapeutics has been working for years to get a target drug approved. "Extremely long and delayed," Megan said. "We were supposed to get an answer in January, and FDA asked for a three-month extension based on some data they had requested." The drug, elamipretide, targets cardiolipins, a molecule in the mitochondria that is a key source for the gene defect. It's the only drug for Barth Syndrome clinical trials. After several delays, however, the FDA announced it will not be approving the drug application. Megan believes federal budget cuts could be one of the reasons. "There was only one person left remaining at the FDA who had a hand on our case for this final part of it," she said. "We've heard from the current administration the desire to make medication available for the rare disease community, and the support of the rare disease community. And this case defies everything that has been publicly stated over the last few months." The FDA instead recommended that more data be included in the company's resubmission of the drug application. While the company said they are optimistic for a new path forward with the agency, families like the Branaghs are anxiously waiting for the approval. "Sickening to know that there's something out there that could make a difference that might never be available for Henry or anyone else," she said. Her son is 13 years old and has endured many challenges, taking at least eight pills a day and making frequent trips to the doctor's office. "I do it and I just get it over with," Henry Branagh told CBS News Bay Area. "And I wait six more months, and they usually put a heart monitor for two days and I take it off." He shared that he enjoys playing sports, including baseball, soccer, skiing, and swimming. "I love playing with my friends," Henry said. He added that he does take more frequent breaks to maintain his heart health, and hopes there will be more treatment options for him soon. "It'd be really nice for me to have it too, because my wish is to like live one day be normal without having Barth Syndrome," Henry said. "Mainly when I'm in sports, and I'm running around, and I get tired and other kids are running way faster and have way better stamina." Dr. Hitenda Patel, the Branagh's family cardiologist, told CBS News Bay Area that he doesn't see the application rejection as a denial. "I think the FDA wants a little more data on its efficacy," Patel, who is also the pediatric cardiology director at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, said. "There are a lot more designer drugs being developed. And designer drugs specifically, are often for rare diseases. And if you only have, let's say, at the most 500 patients in the world, it's very hard to get approval based on the current mandates for the FDA," he added. Patel said FDA approvals in the pediatric rare disease community are an even bigger hill to climb. "It seems like it's a delaying tactic, but I think you have to respect the FDA and its process because it's what has allowed to develop many things," he said. "And ultimately, they are in charge of the safety of the American people." He said that with work from those like the Branagh's do make an impact. "With advocacy such as the Barth Syndrome and what the Branaghs are doing, FDA has realized that there is a huge difference between approval process that is needed for the pediatric and rare disease market as opposed to something that is more common," Patel said. "Because the FDA has its mandates and you have to go through the trial process, it takes a long, long, long time." Patel said he remains optimistic for the community that often gets overlooked. And so, the fight continues for the Branaghs. "Super proud. He inspires us to live our best every moment and take nothing for granted," Henry's mother said. "I think the worst thing to watch as a parent to know that your kid has something that you can't do anything about." She adds that she will continue to fight for his health, no matter how long it takes. "My parents help me out a lot, they just always push me and encourage me to keep on going," Henry said. CBS News Bay Area reached out to Stealth BioTherapeutics, and a spokesperson said that while there is no public timeline yet for next steps, they are working closely with the FDA urgently to reach approval. Meanwhile, the Branaghs are preparing for their next fundraising campaign that will take place at the JBL Ranch on September 27. "Our family started something called Happy Heart Week, that is an awareness and fundraising campaign all around Barth Syndrome. 13 years now, and all the funds go directly to the foundation to support everything that they're doing," she said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
San Francisco Unicorns drive cricket's popularity in Bay Area
The Bay Area's new cricket team has started hot after a 5-0 win over the Seattle Orcas on Wednesday night. It comes as the San Francisco Unicorns play their first season in the Major League Cricket league. Inside a Pleasanton training facility, cricket means fast balls, flat bats, and a sport chirping its way into America's lineup. "I fell in love with the sport when I saw my dad playing with his friends. So I gave it a shot," said 23-year-old Vatsal Vaghela of the San Ramon Grizzlies, a minor-league club with major momentum. He's what's known as a bowler—think baseball pitcher, except here the ball bounces off the ground first. "Like everyone who plays minor league, has that dream of playing at the highest level and minor leagues probably one of the best ways to just put yourself out there," Vaghela said. He's not the only one with big-league dreams. Shreyak Porecha, 14, plays on the Grizzlies' junior squad, part of a growing pipeline of fresh talent. "The energy it's the passion. It's the competitive environment," Porecha said. Major League Cricket is only in its third season, but it's quickly gaining ground. With billions of people worldwide tuning in, the U.S. isn't just catching up, it's catching on. This summer, the league takes its biggest swing yet: the Oakland Coliseum, once home to the A's, is hosting its first-ever top-tier cricket match. Although it may look like a cross between baseball and golf, you quickly find out it's a whole other ball game. David Haubert, Board Director for USA Cricket, believes the sport, second only to soccer worldwide, could give the 63,000-seat stadium a second life. "Every year is going to get a little bigger or a little better. We do expect to fill up the stadium," Haubert said. With the San Francisco Unicorns — the Bay Area's first pro cricket team — in the mix, the sport is getting a shot in the arm and a serious boost where it counts, said Grizzlies co-owner Samir Shah. Baseball may be America's pastime. But if fans have their way, cricket might just be its future, Samir Shah said. "They're playing to perfection," he said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Bay Area sees Asian grocery market boom as big-box stores close
The Bay Area is in the midst of an Asian grocery market boom as big-box stores close. Tony Yoo has opened highly acclaimed restaurants in Korea, earning a Michelin star along the way. "I'm making Korean barbecue dishes. These are two different kinds," Yoo said. He's now the executive chef at Pogu, a restaurant inside the mega food complex called Jagalchi, at the Serramonte Center in Daly City. The massive grocery, bakery, bar, food court, and restaurant fills what was once an empty 75,000 square foot space, long ago occupied by JCPenney. "Three months in now, we're in a more stabilized, steady phase. We're seeing consistent month-over-month growth," said Jagalchi marketing manager Ashley Jung. Camilla Rahman had been wanting to try it since it opened earlier this year. "This is just a really nice use of this space. I think that as retail has changed and the Bay Area's population has changed as well, this is a good use," Rahman said. At least seven large Asian chain groceries, including Tokyo Central in Emeryville and Mega Mart in the South and East Bay, are slated to open this year. San Francisco State Asian American Studies professor Russell Jeung said the market boom in Asian grocery stores is a reflection of shifting consumer demands and a demographic uptick in the region. Census numbers show Asians in the Bay increased from one in four in 2010 to one in three by 2020. "The increase in immigration from China and especially India and those coming especially for the high-tech industry, makes up a large segment of that population growth," Jeung said. Jeung said that growth, employment in biotech, AI, and other high-earning sectors of the economy are partly fueling the demand and replacing what were once smaller mom-and-pop Asian groceries. "That Asian American community has high enough incomes where they want more high-end Asian groceries. So they're not mom and pop grocery stores coming in, but they're actually corporate," Jeung said. It's a new environment for Yoo, working in a state-of-the-art kitchen, in the middle of a mall, to introduce his modern take on Korean cuisine. "Welcome to authentic Korean flavors, welcome to Pogu," Yoo said. It's his new home in a vastly changing retail space in the Bay. Jagalchi in Daly City is the first location in the U.S. Company officials say there are plans to expand to other cities. The new T&T grocery will open in San Francisco at City Center on Geary and Masonic. Its San Jose store is scheduled to open at Westgate Center this fall.
