SWITCH: Mobile | ePaper | Subscribe

Homes Rentals Jobs Autos Contests

San Francisco

(GENE BLYTHE/The Associated Press) The artist Thomas Kinkade unveils his painting, “Prayer For Peace,” at the opening of the exhibit “From Abraham to Jesus,” in Atlanta. Kinkade, whose brushwork paintings of idyllic landscapes, cottages and churches have been big sellers for dealers across the United States, died Friday, April 6, 2012, a family spokesman said. He was 54.

‘Painter of Light’ Thomas Kinkade dies in Calif.

Last updated Saturday, April 7, 2012 - 5:21pm

SAN FRANCISCO — Artist Thomas Kinkade, whose brushwork paintings of idyllic landscapes, cottages and churches have been big sellers for dealers across the United States, died Friday, a family spokesman said.

Art, Obituaries, Deaths, National Read more Comments

Yahoo dumping 2,000 workers in latest purge

Michael Liedtke The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 11:52am

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yahoo is laying off 2,000 employees as new CEO Scott Thompson eliminates jobs that don't fit into his plans for turning around the beleaguered Internet company.

Business, Internet, Jobs, Layoffs, Yahoo Read more Comments

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Air National Guard parajumpers, from the 129th Rescue Wing prepare medical supplies to be dropped from a Coast Guard aircraft to a 67-foot sailing yacht with three injured persons aboard, the Clipper Venture Six which is sponsored by Geraldton Western Australia, in the Round the World Yacht Race, Saturday, March 31, 2012. The Coast Guard's Rescue Coordination Center in Alameda, Calif. is coordinating the efforts to rescue the three injured persons 400 miles west of San Francisco. (AP Photo/Seaman David Flores, U.S. Coast Guard)

Battered racing yacht limps into SF Bay

Paul Elias The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, April 2, 2012 - 2:07pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- The battered "Geraldton Western Australia" yacht and its bruised crew were limping into port here Monday after a giant wave smashed over the stern with such force that it carried away the boat's steering wheel and knocked the crew about like bowling pins.

Sailing, Ocean, National Read more Comments

Suspect held in slayings of 5 has prison record

Jason Dearen, Terry Collins The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, March 26, 2012 - 4:46pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- The suspect in the slayings of five people in a San Francisco home that police initially thought might have been a murder-suicide served nearly a decade in prison for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, records show.

Murder, Robbery, Suspect, National Read more Comments

After tumultuous week, Alex Smith ready to move on in return to 49ers

Cam Inman Contra Costa Times

Last updated Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 10:32pm

Exhibiting a touch of bravado, Alex Smith officially returned Wednesday as the 49ers' quarterback, a win-or-bust job that almost became Peyton Manning's.

NFL, Pro Football, NFL Football, Sports Read more Comments

Kroichick: Ernie Els in danger of missing Masters, U.S. Open

Ron Kroichick San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 5:48pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barring a dramatic surge in the next two weeks, or an unexpected special exemption, Ernie Els will not tee off in the Masters on April 5. This has generated spirited debate in golf circles the past few days, ever since Els folded on the final two holes of Sunday's PGA Tour event outside St. Petersburg, Fla.

Golf, PGA, Sports Read more Comments

Alex Smith signs three-year deal with 49ers

Janie McCauley The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 2:04pm

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Quarterback Alex Smith signed a three-year deal Wednesday with the San Francisco 49ers that will pay him $8 million per season with $16.5 million guaranteed.

NFL, Pro Football, NFL Football, Sports, Utah Utes Read more Comments

Joe Garagiola still going to bat for baseball ban on tobacco

John Shea San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Monday, March 19, 2012 - 6:13pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Joe Garagiola walked into the Giants' clubhouse, sat next to Willie Mays and reminisced about baseball in the 1950s. Garagiola's final weeks as a player were as a rarely used catcher on the '54 Giants, who swept Cleveland in the World Series.

Minor League Baseball, MLB Baseball, Sports, Tobacco, Baseball Read more Comments

Alex Smith reacting as could be expected

Mark Purdy San Jose Mercury News

Last updated Monday, March 19, 2012 - 3:24pm

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Well, what did you expect Alex Smith to do? Sit around the caddie shack and wait for a phone call?

Hardly.

NFL, Pro Football, NFL Football, Sports, Utah Utes Read more Comments

49ers said to be interested in Peyton Manning

Matthew Barrows McClatchy Newspapers

Last updated Friday, March 16, 2012 - 2:58pm

The reason why the 49ers have yet to sign quarterback Alex Smith yet became very clear Friday when reports surfaced that the team not only has shown interest in free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning but were the first to watch him throw. ESPN reported on Friday that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman flew to North Carolina on Tuesday to watch the 11-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who is recovering from multiple neck surgeries, throw and to give him a physical.

NFL, Pro Football, Peyton Manning, Sports, Football Read more Comments

A new Apple iPad on display during an Apple event in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The new iPad model features a sharper screen and a faster processor. Apple says the new display will be even sharper than the high-definition television set in the living room. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

New iPad has sharper screen

Mike Liedtke, Peter Svensson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 3:25pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple's new iPad model, with a sharper screen and a faster processor, will go on sale in the U.S. and six other countries next Friday, the company confirmed Wednesday.

Business, Apple, iPad, Mobile devices, Tablets, Technology Read more Comments

Remains in Calif. ID’d as serial killers’ victim

Paul Elias The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 4:24pm

SAN FRANCISCO — Human remains uncovered in Northern California with the help of a convicted serial killer have been preliminarily identified as one of his victims, and authorities continued to search another site for the remains of as many as 10 people.

Murder, DNA, Serial killer, National Read more Comments

n this Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 photo, travelers Maria Poole, right, and Lindsey Shepard, practice yoga at San Francisco International Airport's new Yoga Room, in San Francisco. The quiet, dimly lit studio officially opened last week in a former storage room just past the security checkpoint at SFO's Terminal 2. Airport officials believe the 150-square-foot room with mirrored walls is the world's first airport yoga studio, said spokesman Mike McCarron. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco opens airport yoga room

Terence Chea The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, February 3, 2012 - 11:54am

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stressed out by flying?

Travelers in Northern California can now find their inner calm in the Yoga Room at San Francisco International Airport.

Business, Airline Travel, Airports, Yoga Read more Comments

Serial sperm donor told to stop

Erin Allday San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Monday, December 19, 2011 - 12:51pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Last month Trent Arsenault got three women pregnant -- a new record for the Fremont man and father of 14 (and counting).

"I know the holidays are busy," Arsenault, 36, said with a chuckle, "but I didn't know that included babies."

Arsenault's been a sperm donor for five years, offering his semen to women he meets on the Internet for free.

But his baby-making days may be numbered.

Features, Babies, Birth, Pregnancy Read more Comments

Kroichick: Baseball's Hall of Fame ballot lacks a sure thing

Ron Kroichick San Francisco Chronicle

Last updated Thursday, December 1, 2011 - 6:41pm

Next year, baseball's Hall of Fame ballot (for the class of 2013) shapes up as a fascinating referendum on an entire era. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa will appear on the ballot for the first time, each dragging along hefty steroid suspicions.

This year's ballot (for the class of '12), announced Wednesday, brings no similar drama.

Thirteen candidates make their inaugural appearance, and there's no need to ponder the impact of performance-enhancing drugs. That's because none of the newcomers -- not one -- merits serious consideration.

The official press release from the Hall of Fame trumpets American League batting champions Bernie Williams and Bill Mueller. Williams hit .297 in his career and played center field on four World Series-winning teams with the Yankees.

MLB, Hall of Fame, Pro Baseball, Sports, Baseball Read more Comments