Latest news with #SFGate
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Urgent warning for Hawaiian tourists as brain parasite cases continue: ‘Don't eat raw food'
Hawaiian tourists are being warned against eating raw food while visiting the tropical state, deemed the 'epicenter' of a nasty brain parasitic disease. Neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, is a serious illness humans can become infected with after consuming raw snails, slugs or other specimens that carry the parasite. It can also be transmitted in vegetables such as Kale or potatoes. Its symptoms can mimic the flu, but also be serious. They range from headaches, nausea, coughing and fevers to long-term neurological problems and disabilities, with experts warning the illness can have a severe, lasting impact on those who become sick. 'Don't eat raw food in Hawaii,' Kay Howe told SFGate. In 2008, Howe's son contracted the disease while living in the Puna District of Hawaii Island when he was 23 years old and he went into a coma for months, prompting Howe to become an advocate of the illness. 'This is a tropical place. There's a parasite, and we advise to cook everything,' said Howe, who has since gained her master's in tropical conservation biology and works in a lab specializing in rat lungworm. Hawaii tourists are being warned against Neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, which is a serious parasitic disease humans can become infected with after consuming raw snails or slugs. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Howe and other specialists recommend tourists avoid popular roadside smoothie stops, as produce needs to be washed – and dried – with care. 'I know it's very popular. It's very healthy. But if you haven't been able to inspect the kale yourself, I wouldn't recommend that you include that,' Franny Brewer, the program manager for the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, added. While locals know of the disease, many visitors don't – and there aren't any initiatives to educate those visiting. The experts warned that many people are unaware if they've been infected, especially since its symptoms closely mimic the flu. Treatment for the illness includes antiparasitic medicine such as Albendazole, but there is no easy test to diagnose rat lungworm disease. To diagnose, patients require a spinal tap, according to the report. Getting a diagnosis quickly can be difficult, the experts said. 'We often have to fight a doctor to get them to deliver [the Albendazole],' Howe said. 'You know, they'll be, 'Oh, wait until symptoms develop.' And it's like, you don't want to wait for symptoms to develop. That's how bad this is. You know, once it's in your brain, it's in your brain.' In her experience talking with people — and in the case of her son — doctors often refuse to test for rat lungworm, not believing it to be the culprit.' 'The people who are in the ER with symptoms, they have to somehow convince the doctor to give them a spinal tap,' Howe added. The disease, which has seen 80 laboratory-confirmed cases between 2014 and 2023, is largely underdiagnosed. While the number of cases remains relatively low, experts warn the disease is severe and can have lifelong repercussions. There have been 80 confirmed cases of the disease between 2014 and 2023, though experts warn it's often underdiagnosed. (AFP via Getty Images) 'We find that a lot of visitors have never heard of it or might not realize that it's endemic in our state, and we want people to know what they can do to protect themselves,' Dr. Sarah Kemble with the Hawaii State Department of Health told SFGate. 'Don't eat raw snails, slugs, freshwater shrimp. And visitors should be aware that when they buy locally fresh fruits and vegetables, they should wash them very carefully before consuming them.' While the disease occurs on all of the islands, most of the cases have been found on Hawaii Island. Howe now lives several blocks away from her infected son. While he is independent, he was left permanently disabled, with his vision and short-term memory affected, she told the outlet. 'When you have seven serious cases a year or 15 serious cases a year amongst a relatively small population on Hawaii Island, that's not really rare anymore,' she said. 'The severity of the disease and the fact that you may never, very well ever, recover the quality of life that you had. You shouldn't be looking at case numbers. You should be looking at severity.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trader Joe's leaves LA customers seeing double after opening another store directly across the street
A Trader Joe's in a wealthy southern California neighborhood was so popular that the grocery chain with a rabid fan base decided to open a new outpost — right across the street. The popular grocery store opened its second Sherman Oaks location, directly across the street from another outpost on Riverside Avenue, on June 6, according to the chain's website. The California-based supermarket's newest location, nicknamed 'Sherman Oaks too,' sits in a busy mixed-use building just minutes from the hectic US Highway 101 in the San Fernando Valley, about 15 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The original location, opened in 1973, occupies a quieter, stand-alone building, SFGate reported. Despite obvious upgrades given the fresh space, Trader Joe's first Sherman Oaks location can be reached within a minute of the new location - and the company plans to keep the old one open. 'We've had a great relationship with our customers in Sherman Oaks for 52 years, and we plan to keep both stores open,' Trader Joe's spokesperson Naika Rohde said. 'Both stores offer the same great products and delightful customer experience, but each has a different layout and parking lot.' While both locations offer the same beloved specialty snacks and products, SFGate noted the newer location features a vibrant exterior mural, underground parking and a less-cramped shopping experience. The newer storefront has wider aisles to better accommodate shopping carts, as well as higher ceilings than the original, according to the report. Trader Joe's latest addition, while confusing to customers, seems to be part of an upward trend for the company, as they plan to open at least a dozen new stores across the country this year alone. 'Since Trader Joe's began in 1967, we have been in growth mode. Some years, we grow more than others, and our goal is always to bring delicious products at great values to as many people as we can,' Rohde said. ' The best way to do that is to open more stores.' Solve the daily Crossword
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Alaska's ‘Nazi Creek' renamed to honour Indigenous heritage
Federal officials on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of two natural features on Alaska's Little Kiska Island, removing World War II-era names considered offensive and replacing them with Indigenous terms. The changes are a long-awaited step toward restoring cultural respect and historical accuracy in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Islands saw military action during World War II, including Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands.(File/ The United States Board on Geographic Names voted 17-0 to rename the 'Nazi Creek' to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa which translates to 'Gizzard Creek' or 'Creek belonging to Gizzard Island' in Unangam Tunuu, according to a report by the Alaska Beacon. A nearby summit known by a slur for Japanese people was renamed to Kaxchim Qayaa or 'Gizzard Hill'. Both the names were derived from traditional Indigenous names for Little Kiska Island. A report by SF Gate quoted Michael Livingston, a member of Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, who led the campaign for change, said the elders of the community were happy with the name change. 'It's about making things better for our community, " Livingston said. Livingston's efforts, the report added, were backed by local Native tribes, cultural institutions and civil rights organizations including the Museum of the Aleutians, Congregation Beth Sholom of Anchorage, and the Alaska chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. The origins of old names The former names, as per the Alaska Beacon report, dated back to a 1953 US Army map, where cartographers assigned arbitrary names based on alphabetical order, an explanation critics said was dismissive and harmful. Livingston said that these offensive terms were removed after World War II but somehow reappeared in mapping databases during the 2010s due to unvetted digitization of old maps. The Aleutian Islands saw military action during World War II, including Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands. The US government then had forced many Indigenous Unangax̂ people into poorly maintained internment camps. Many had died from illness and neglect in these camps. Federal reparations for those actions, according to the Beacon report, were granted in 1988 alongside payments to Japanese Americans interned during the war. Livingston's mission for change continues Livingston, a former police captain, was inspired to push for accurate mapping after delayed emergency response in Anchorage in 2002 which was partially caused by map inaccuracies. That's when he came across 'Nazi Creek' while reviewing outdated maps and was appalled to see it still in use. Livingston told SF Gate that to see 'Nazi' on a map in 2020s America was 'unthinkable'. His next target is Quisling Cove, a body of water named after Norwegian Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling. The renaming is currently under review. FAQs Q: What was 'Nazi Creek' renamed to? It was renamed to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa, meaning 'Gizzard Creek' in the Unangam Tunuu language. Q: Why were the names changed? The names were considered offensive and rooted in arbitrary WWII-era naming conventions that ignored Indigenous history. Q: What language are the new names from? Unangam Tunuu, the traditional language of the Indigenous Unangax̂ people. Q: Are more name changes expected? Yes. A campaign is on to rename Quisling Cove, another WWII-era name referencing a Nazi collaborator.
New York Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Legendary California seafood restaurant clashes with ‘glamorous' influencer who ignited backlash over Trump hat
Pearly fright. A 'glamorous' California restaurant blogger tried calling out a century-old oyster bar for displaying a Trump hat before the family-owned business owners fired back. Kat Ensign's visit to San Francisco's Swan Oyster Depot left her clammy after she noticed the stars and stripes adorned black cap with '45' and '47' emblazoned on the front, referring to President Trump's two terms, behind the shop's counter. 6 A Trump '45 47' is displayed inside Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco. @katfoodsf/Instagram The food influencer appeared disgusted by the apparent political alignment of the restaurant but waited several months to post the photo for optimum backlash against the 113-year-old business. 'Swan oyster depot -> absolutely not,' Ensign wrote on social media on July 8. Ensign questioned if she was the only one who didn't know about the alleged Trump support at the family-owned business. 'Am I late to the game or did everyone else now this?' she asked on TikTok. The food influencer has 36,600 followers on Instagram and another 16,000 on TikTok. 6 Kat Ensign eats at Jagalchi Daly City Oyster Bar as part of her Instagram food reviews. @katfoodsf/Instagram Ensign's social media posts prompted a mass-review bombing of the restaurant featuring thousands of one-star reviews, according to SFGate. Google and Yelp pages rate the eatery as a 4.6 and 4.2-star establishment, respectively. The legendary establishment, opened in 1912, is located in the Polk Gulch neighborhood of San Francisco, one and a half miles west of the Financial District. The Swan Oyster Depot's owners claim they were given the hat from a guest and it was restaurant tradition to display such items inside. 'It was a gift from a customer, much like a lot of the stuff that ends up in our store, whether it's rubber duckies or dollar bills from all over the world,' co-owner Kevin Sancimino told the outlet. 'Our place is a collection of things that have come in over the years.' 6 Customers line up outside Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco, Calif. on Dec. 1, 2011. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images 6 A customer eats at Swan Oyster Depot on Oct. 17, 2006. Getty Images Pictures of Ronald Reagan and a letter from former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher have also been gifted to the family business, according to Sancimino. The business also has a copy of 'Hillary Rodham Clinton: Her Essential Wisdom' on display to show different viewpoints of customers. Swan Oyster management accused Ensign of waiting to post the photo because the store has been closed since July 3 and the hat was taken down two weeks earlier for cleaning before the family went on a two-week vacation. Ensign told the ownership she had taken the photo months earlier but waited to post it because she was still getting bad press from a local executive chef after she poorly reviewed his restaurant, SFGate reported. 6 Owners Jimmy Sancimino and Steve Sancimino prepare for the lunch rush on Dec. 1, 2011. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images 6 The food influencer has 36,600 followers on Instagram and another 16,000 on TikTok. @katfoodsf/Instagram Sancimino defended the decision to display the hat, saying he didn't find it 'super offensive' and it didn't portray the family or employee's political beliefs. 'People can have their different political views, and we can all coexist in the same space,' Sancimino said. 'I just find it to be a little bit sad that somebody would try to make a pariah out of someone or their business for having an alternative political view. … It seems myopic. … Why does political belief not fall under the realm of inclusivity?' Ensign faced backlash for her poor social media post allegedly attacking a family-owned business. 'At what point, as a country, did we decide that it's okay to attack and shame a fellow citizen because they don't have the same political view that we do? Asking for a friend…' one Instagram user commented. 'Trying to destroy someone's livelihood because of how they vote isn't activism — it's bullying in disguise. You don't have to agree with someone's politics to respect their right to earn a living. If your convictions are so fragile that they require silencing people instead of debating them, maybe the problem isn't them — it's you,' another comment read. 'Do something better with your following verses knocking down family-owned businesses,' said a third user. 'This is what you want to be known for? The oyster girl?' said another.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The bizarre American enclave where there's a 25 year waitlist to buy a CAR
The United States has an enclave in California that actively discourages residents from using cars, a departure from the rest of the country's widespread car dependence. Avalon is a harbor town on Santa Catalina Island that currently has a 25-year waitlist to get a permit to even own a car. The tiny community of roughly 3,000 residents have essentially built themselves a Mediterranean-esque paradise with only 30 miles of ocean separating them from Greater Los Angeles. It's a stark contrast indeed, with LA being known for its chaotic 12-lane freeways and Avalon being known for residents using golf carts to scoot around the narrow, hilly streets. Avalon is the only city in California that puts strict limits on the number of cars on its roads. And even if you're approved to have a residential vehicle after a quarter century of waiting, you'll then face restrictions on the size of it. 'A full size vehicle can measure no more than 200 inches in length (including the bumpers), and 80 inches in width,' according to the city website. Most full-sized SUVs and even mid-sized trucks are far longer than 200 inches. The behemoth pickups that clog roads and parking lots all across the US would never be approved in Avalon. The lack of cars gives Avalon a completely feel than practically every other US city, suburb or exurb, SFGate reports. There are no gas stations, no highways, no drive-thrus, and no exhaust fumes, making it cleaner and quieter. One large vehicle that can be found in Avalon, or near it, are cruise ships. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the typically days when the giant luxury liners loom over the smaller sailboats and other watercrafts that dot the city's semi-circle harbor. Cruise ships dock nearly a mile out and passengers are then ferried to shore by smaller boats. Their arrival can double the population of the city in a matter of minutes. But even Californians, not tourists coming by cruise, say Avalon and the island as a whole is a underappreciated gem. Brandon and Claire D'Sa, two Long Beach school teachers, said it feels like a secret even among Angelenos. 'It's off the radar. A lot of our friends in LA have never come here,' Brandon told SFGate. 'If you're in Italy, everyone says go to Capri, but in LA, no one tells you to take the boat to Catalina.' Before the era of cruise ships, Catalina was an island that functioned almost as an exclusive getaway for the who's who of Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable were regular visitors. Later, in 1981, the island attracted its fair share of infamy after actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned there. She was with Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken and her husband Robert Wagner on the latter's 58-foot yacht. They were anchored at the north end of the island. It's never been determined how she entered the water, but there are rumors she and Wagner argued the night of her death. This, and the dawn of the commercial jet - which made flying to more exclusive destinations like Carribean and Hawaii easier - put a damper on celebrities' interest in Catalina and Avalon. This leaves the island for the enjoyment of regular folks who can marvel at, among many other things, the Catalina Casino. An entertainment complex built by William Wrigley Jr. - the chewing gum magnate and former Cubs owner - is a towering Art Deco masterpiece at the northern end of the Avalon Bay. Contrary to its name, the Casino is not a gambling complex. Rather, it has a silent-era movie theater and a giant 1920s ballroom that is now being used as a roller-skating rink. Tourists and locals alike also stroll down the shoreline walkway to gaze into the clear waters. The city is also full of bars and restaurants, one of the most famous being Luau Larry's, a staple tiki bar right on the water.
