Heather Knight
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San Francisco bureau chief for the New York Times; former columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of #TotalSF podcast; proud to call SF home
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Articles by Heather Knight
La muerte de un adolescente revela la llegada de una droga mortal a San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, Estados Unidos. Era una mañana de martes estresante en San Francisco, y Christina Lacourte fue a la habitación de su hijo para despertarlo para la escuela. La puerta estaba cerrada con llave, así que tuvo que abrirla a la fuerza con un gancho de ropa. Adentro vio a su hijo en la cama, bajo el letrero de neón que decía “Open” (abierto), del tipo que se usa en las tiendas, que él había pedido para su cumpleaños cuando estaba en sexto grado.
Gov. Newsom climbs Golden Gate Bridge to sign his final bill
By Heather Knight, New York Times SAN FRANCISCO — Gavin Newsom does not do subtle. The man who peppers his speeches with the word “audacious” wanted a backdrop so bold that it bordered on the absurd: the very top of the Golden Gate Bridge. But getting there the regular way, in a cramped elevator, would be too normal. No, Newsom would climb it. (Sometimes, it seems, a political stunt requires actual stunt work.) So over his gelled hair went the plastic, white helmet.
Newsom, Eager for a Higher Perch, Climbs the Golden Gate Bridge
Newsom, Eager for a Higher Perch, Climbs the Golden Gate Bridge Gov. Gavin Newsom of California scrambled up a bridge cable before signing a bill at the top of the south tower. Josh Haner/The New York TimesCreditCredit... Heather Knight reported from the top of the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sept. 30, 2026, 9:10 p.m. ET Gavin Newsom does not do subtle.
In San Francisco, It’s a Good Time to Be a Satirist
Downtown San Francisco is a strange place these days. You can ride in a driverless Waymo to the Wild Fox cafe and buy a cup of luxurious coffee for $105. Or you can venture to the Zoox Rider Lounge for a free spin in Amazon’s version of a driverless taxi, which looks like a fish tank on wheels.
In San Francisco, It’s a Good Time to Be a Satirist
2 hours ago The Sea Ranch Lodge, a focal point of a Northern California getaway destination that blends minimalist design with the rocky shores and meadows of the Sonoma County coastline, might have a growth spurt in its future. Owners of the Lodge at Sea Ranch, which includes 17 hotel rooms, on Sept. 3 …
San Francisco sues to stop early access to Trump’s Truth Social posts
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Heather Knight, New York Times SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco has filed a lawsuit to try to stop the social media platform Truth Social from giving users early access to President Donald Trump’s posts if they pay up to $100,000 each month.
San Francisco Sues to Stop Early Access to Trump’s Truth Social Posts
San Francisco Sues to Stop Early Access to Trump’s Truth Social Posts The city attorney argued that the service, available for up to $100,000 a month, could allow wealthy traders to manipulate the market, while leaving out everyday investors. San Francisco has sued Trump Media over a new service offering early access to President Trump’s Truth Social posts if users pay up to $100,000 a month.Credit...Amir Hamja for The New York Times Sept.
La muerte de un adolescente revela la llegada de una droga mortal a San Francisco
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Era una mañana estresante de martes en San Francisco, y Christina Lacourte fue a la habitación de su hijo para despertarlo para la escuela. La puerta estaba cerrada con llave, así que tuvo que abrirla a la fuerza con un gancho de ropa.
Teen’s autopsy marks arrival of deadly drug in San Francisco
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Heather Knight SAN FRANCISCO — It was a stressful Tuesday morning in San Francisco, and Christina Lacourte went to her son’s bedroom to roust him for school. The door was locked, so she had to wrangle it open with a coat hanger. Inside, she saw her son in his bed, under the neon storefront “Open” sign he had wanted for his birthday in sixth grade. His face was turning blue, and his veins were visible.
A teen autopsy marks the arrival of a deadly drug in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — It was a stressful Tuesday morning in San Francisco, and Christina Lacourte went to her son’s bedroom to roust him for school. The door was locked, so she had to wrangle it open with a coat hanger. Inside, she saw her son in his bed, under the neon storefront “Open” sign he had wanted for his birthday in sixth grade. His face was turning blue, and his veins were visible. Black fluid oozed out of his nose and mouth and pooled on his sheets.
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
It was a stressful Tuesday morning in San Francisco, and Christina Lacourte went to her son’s bedroom to roust him for school. The door was locked, so she had to wrangle it open with a coat hanger. Inside, she saw her son in his bed, under the neon storefront “Open” sign he had wanted for his birthday in sixth grade. His face was turning blue, and his veins were visible. Black fluid oozed out of his nose and mouth and pooled on his sheets.
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco
Waymo 5 hours ago A Gun Was Detected Inside a Waymo. So the Robotaxi Made an Unexpected Stop Inc Magazine - Kevin Haynes • 5h A driverless car in San Francisco alerted police to a firearm on board, a violation of Waymo rules. Officers detained 2 passengers—and recovered a loaded, AR-style ghost gun.
San Francisco Mayor Declares Rent Emergency Amid AI Housing Frenzy
SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco on Thursday declared a rent emergency and proposed several actions to combat evictions as residents face a deepening housing crisis amid the artificial intelligence boom. Lurie’s emergency declaration will not allow him to bypass laws and regulations the way a disaster declaration might. But Lurie told The New York Times that it was a way to focus city leaders’ attention on the matter.
San Francisco Mayor to Declare Rent Emergency Amid A.I. Housing Frenzy
San Francisco Mayor to Declare Rent Emergency Amid A.I. Housing Frenzy Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to combat evictions in the city, which has the nation’s highest rent increases. Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling on San Francisco leaders to combat evictions as housing costs soar with A.I. money hitting the market.Credit...Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times Sept.
With Term Winding Down, Pelosi Tries to Anoint a Successor
SAN FRANCISCO — Nancy Pelosi has a meaty to-do list in her final months in office: Ensure Democrats take back the House of Representatives. Fend off attempts by the Trump administration to make it harder to vote in the midterms. And persuade San Franciscans to send a local elected leader little known outside the city to replace her in Washington.
California Sues Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Cancellation
California Sues Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Cancellation The state is asking a court to reverse a Trump administration agreement and reinstate a planned offshore wind farm. A wind farm turbine off the coast of Block Island, R.I., in 2023. California was an early adopter of wind power, but offshore wind farms have so far been developed only on the East Coast. Credit...Julia Nikhinson/Associated Press Aug.
With Term Winding Down, Pelosi Tries to Anoint a Successor
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. With Term Winding Down, Pelosi Tries to Anoint a Successor Representative Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, has been working hard on behalf of Connie Chan, a San Francisco supervisor with a relatively low profile in California.
With term winding down, Pelosi tries to anoint a successor
SAN FRANCISCO -- Nancy Pelosi has a meaty to-do list in her final months in office: Ensure Democrats take back the House of Representatives. Fend off attempts by the Trump administration to make it harder to vote in the midterms. And persuade San Franciscans to send a local elected leader little known outside the city to replace her in Washington.
Newsom Lists Sacramento Home for $7.5 Million as He Prepares to Leave Town Original
Gov. Gavin Newsom has always seemed to adore his home state, California, but his feelings about its capital were once lukewarm at best. “It’s just so dull,” Mr. Newsom said in 2012 of Sacramento, a generally pleasant, family-oriented city that lacks the flash of San Francisco or Los Angeles. “Sadly, I just, ugh, God.” Now, with about 130 days left before he is termed out of office, the governor is putting Sacramento behind him by selling his house in the capital region — or trying to, anyway.
One Bus’s Long, Strange Trip, and Why It’s Returning to San Francisco Original
Among the rolling hills outside Eugene, Ore., down a winding gravel path and inside a big barn sits a school bus built in 1939. Its once-blazing colors have faded. Its roof is crumbling. Its windows are cracked. The only regular occupants these days are insects. It might look like a hunk of junk, but the muted technicolor splotches tell the story of one of the most exuberant periods of San Francisco history.
One Bus’s Long, Strange Trip, and Why It’s Returning to San Francisco
Among the rolling hills outside Eugene, Ore., down a winding gravel path and inside a big barn sits a school bus built in 1939. Its once-blazing colors have faded. Its roof is crumbling. Its windows are cracked. The only regular occupants these days are insects. It might look like a hunk of junk, but the muted technicolor splotches tell the story of one of the most exuberant periods of San Francisco history.
These Employees Like Their A.I. Boss. Its Shop Is Kind of a Disaster.
A terrible boss is the stuff of both sitcoms and nightmares, and you don’t get to pick your own. But what if the boss was replaced by A.I.? The first four months of operations at Andon Market, a San Francisco shop billed as the world’s first retail boutique run by A.I., have provided some answers. In short, having an A.I. boss can be like working for a teddy bear with amnesia.
An aide who had an affair with Gavin Newsom more than 20 years ago when he was the mayor of San Francisco has written a detailed account of the relationship, which Vanity Fair published on Tuesday. The first-person essay by the aide, Ruby Rippey, who was working as Mr. Newsom’s appointments secretary at the time, was published just as he finishes his final year as California governor and lays the groundwork for a possible presidential run in 2028.
Aide Who Had Affair With Newsom 20 Years Ago Details Her Experience
An aide who had an affair with Gavin Newsom more than 20 years ago when he was the mayor of San Francisco has written a detailed account of the relationship, which Vanity Fair published on Tuesday. The first-person essay by the aide, Ruby Rippey, who was working as Mr. Newsom’s appointments secretary at the time, was published just as he finishes his final year as California governor and lays the groundwork for a possible presidential run in 2028.
Aide Who Had Affair With Newsom 20 Years Ago Details Her Experience
CBS Sports' top 10 players at every offensive position: Josh Allen top quarterback, tight race at running back The end of July means the NFL is getting back into the swing of things with training camps, and the eyes are back on the stars. As the season rapidly …
Aide Who Had Affair With Newsom 20 Years Ago Details Her Experience
SAN FRANCISCO -- An aide who had an affair with Gavin Newsom more than 20 years ago when he was the mayor of San Francisco has written a detailed account of the relationship, which Vanity Fair published Tuesday. The first-person essay by the aide, Ruby Rippey, who was working as Newsom's appointments secretary at the time, was published just as Newsom finishes his final year as California governor and lays the groundwork for a possible presidential run in 2028.
Mourning One Tragedy at Sea, a Family Is Devastated by Another
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Boisa family and their friends had finally completed a sad task 11 years in the making. On Tuesday morning, a lovely, warm day, they had sailed from San Francisco's northern waterfront, passing under the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, and into the sparkling Pacific Ocean. There, they scattered the ashes of one of their own, Maria Boisa, who had died by suicide in 2015 at age 32.
Mourning One Tragedy at Sea, a Family Is Devastated by Another
The Boisa family and their friends had finally completed a sad task 11 years in the making. On Tuesday morning, a lovely, warm day, they had sailed from San Francisco's northern waterfront, passing under the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, and into the sparkling Pacific Ocean. There, they scattered the ashes of one of their own, Maria Boisa, who had died by suicide in 2015 at age 32. Boisa, an avid surfer, had loved the water, and the ocean seemed like a fitting final resting place.
Mourning One Tragedy at Sea, a Family Is Devastated by Another
Mourning One Tragedy at Sea, a Family Is Devastated by Another The Boisas went out on the San Francisco Bay to spread the ashes of one of their own. Then a wave toppled their boat. Alcatraz Island a day after a boat named Volare capsized in rough seas near the island.Credit...Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle, via Associated Press July 17, 2026, 8:17 p.m. ET The Boisa family and their friends had finally completed a sad task 11 years in the making.
San Francisco film patrons are found dead on side of highway
SAN FRANCISCO — Three San Francisco couples set out Monday for their annual road trip to Ashland, Oregon, for the town’s famous Shakespeare festival. They drove separately and planned to meet at 6:30 p.m. on the terrace of their favorite Japanese restaurant there. They had booked a table for six, but only four showed up for dinner.
San Francisco Film Patrons Are Found Dead on Side of Highway
SAN FRANCISCO -- Three San Francisco couples set out Monday for their annual road trip to Ashland, Oregon, for the town's famous Shakespeare festival. They drove separately and planned to meet at 6:30 p.m. on the terrace of their favorite Japanese restaurant there. They had booked a table for six, but only four showed up for dinner.
San Francisco Film Patrons Are Found Dead on Side of Highway Original
San Francisco Film Patrons Are Found Dead on Side of Highway Judith Sheldon, 84, daughter of an Oscar-winning director, and her husband, Wylie, 86, were traveling to Oregon on a hot day. Their deaths are under investigation.
San Francisco Film Patrons Are Found Dead on Side of Highway
5:24 5 hours ago New California tool DROP can delete personal information KCRA • 5h The California Privacy Protection Agency is spreading the word about DROP, a free online tool that allows Californians to request the deletion of their personal information from all registered data brokers with a single request. Data brokers collect and sell consumer information, which can include contact details, location data and other personal information.
Seven Takeaways From the First World Cup Games at U.S. Venues
Seven Takeaways From the First World Cup Games at U.S. Venues The crowds have been big, the fans rabid and the lines, well, long. Here’s a glimpse of the atmosphere at sites across the country as the tournament started. Spectators at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., reacting to the fourth goal by the United States, which beat Paraguay.
They Shut the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 Hours. Now They Face Up to 15 Years in Prison.
SAN FRANCISCO — It began like any other Monday morning commute, with drivers zooming south from Marin County to the Golden Gate Bridge as they headed toward San Francisco. At 7:55 a.m. on April 15, 2024, some cars stopped in unison, right in the middle of one of the world’s most iconic spans. Out poured 26 protesters, determined to make a dramatic statement on Tax Day against U.S. tax dollars funding Israel’s military while it attacked the Gaza Strip.
They Shut the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 Hours. Now They Face Up to 15 Years in Prison.
Opinion & Analysis Now If California’s race for governor is a stress test for democracy, it’s failing calmatters.org - Daniel Wolf • 46m The California Democratic Party watched the governor’s race this week with some relief — relief it has not yet earned.
They Shut the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 Hours. Now They Face Up to 15 Years in Prison.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. They Shut the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 Hours. Now They Face Up to 15 Years in Prison. Activists blocked the iconic span to protest the spending of American tax dollars on Israeli military efforts in Gaza. San Francisco’s prosecutor is now seeking a strict punishment.
They Shut the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 Hours. Now They Face Up to 15 Years in Prison.
SAN FRANCISCO -- It began like any other Monday morning commute, with drivers zooming south from Marin County to the Golden Gate Bridge as they headed toward San Francisco. At 7:55 a.m. on April 15, 2024, some cars stopped in unison, right in the middle of one of the world's most iconic spans. Out poured 26 protesters, determined to make a dramatic statement on Tax Day against U.S. tax dollars funding Israel's military while it attacked the Gaza Strip.
Wiener Advances in House Race to Succeed Nancy Pelosi Original
Wiener Advances in House Race to Succeed Nancy Pelosi State Sen. Scott Wiener will be one of two candidates in the general election to represent San Francisco as Nancy Pelosi retires. June 3, 2026, 1:09 a.m. ET Image State Sen. Scott Wiener at a campaign event during his run for San Francisco’s main congressional seat.Credit...Anastasiia Sapon for The New York Times And debate it, they did. The campaign was marked by contentious candidate forums, nasty attack ads and big spending by tech titans.
Wiener Advances in House Race to Succeed Nancy Pelosi
20 hours ago What will it take to cure Parkinson’s disease? It’s one of the first questions I asked when I was diagnosed in 1991, and one that patients and families still ask today. A lot has changed in those three decades, and thanks to the tireless efforts of a global community of scientists, patients and …
Wiener and Chan Will Face Off in House Race to Succeed Nancy Pelosi
SAN FRANCISCO -- It is hard to imagine San Francisco without Nancy Pelosi as its representative on Capitol Hill, but the city's voters for the first time since 1987 had a wide-open congressional race and could debate who should succeed her. And debate it they did. The campaign was marked by contentious candidate forums, nasty attack ads and big spending by tech titans. On Tuesday, the top two candidates in California's open primary system, both Democrats, moved forward to the November election.
5 Things to Know About Tom Steyer Original
5 Things to Know About Tom Steyer He is a billionaire who appeals to many progressive groups in California. Tom Steyer, a billionaire and former hedge fund manager, has campaigned as a progressive outsider who favors raising taxes and expanding government programs.Credit...Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times June 2, 2026, 7:20 p.m. ET Tom Steyer is a Democratic candidate for California governor who is pledging to raise taxes and expand public services.
5 Things to Know About Tom Steyer
1 hour ago WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, under intense grilling at a Senate hearing Tuesday, refused to commit to abiding by federal court orders. Mullin also conceded that his predecessor as secretary, Kristi Noem, had inaccurately described two shootings involving immigration …
Steyer Campaigns on Affordability. Does His Own Mansion Portfolio Matter?
Steyer Campaigns on Affordability. Does His Own Mansion Portfolio Matter? Tom Steyer wants to address California’s housing crisis if he becomes governor. He is also a billionaire with extensive personal real estate holdings. Tom Steyer has campaigned as a progressive Democrat who wants to make housing affordable in the state.
Steyer Campaigns on Affordability. Does His Own Mansion Portfolio Matter?
As Tom Steyer amassed billions of dollars by leading a wildly successful San Francisco hedge fund, he did what many wealthy Californians do. He scooped up luxury homes. His collection looks as if it were ripped from the pages of a glossy real estate magazine. He owns side-by-side, cliff-top mansions in San Francisco with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a 1909 classical home 2 miles away in a gated community dotted with palm trees and security guards' vehicles.
Why Hasn’t California Elected a Woman Governor?
Why Hasn’t California Elected a Woman Governor? Most states have had a woman serve as governor, but California is in the minority despite its progressive-minded electorate. Women who have reached the top elsewhere saw familiar roadblocks.
Thousands Allowed Back Home as Threat of California Chemical Blast Eases
Officials lifted evacuation orders on Monday night for more than half of the 40,000 Southern California residents living near an unstable chemical tank that they had feared would explode. Emergency personnel said they had averted the worst-case scenario of a major detonation, after struggling over Memorial Day weekend to contain the unstable industrial tank, filled with a toxic substance, in Garden Grove, California.
Thousands allowed back home as threat of California chemical blast eases
Officials lifted evacuation orders on Monday night for more than half of the 40,000 Southern California residents living near an unstable chemical tank that they had feared would explode. Emergency personnel said they had averted the worst-case scenario of a major detonation, after struggling over Memorial Day weekend to contain the unstable industrial tank, filled with a toxic substance, in Garden Grove, California.
Threat of Explosion From Toxic Chemical Tank Lessened, Officials Say
Officials struggling to contain a cracked tank of a volatile toxic chemical in Southern California said Monday that they had averted the worst-case scenario of a major explosion, but stressed that the risk of a smaller blast remained. Fears of a catastrophic detonation, which first emerged Thursday, have forced the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents who live near the industrial site in Garden Grove, California.
Threat of Explosion From Toxic Chemical Tank Lessened, Officials Say
Disney Parks & Resorts 7 hours ago Disneyland to Remain Open Amid Ongoing Chemical Incident at Nearby Aerospace Facility People - Christopher Edwards • 7h Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., will remain open amid an ongoing chemical incident at a nearby aerospace facility that has forced thousands of residents to evacuate the area due to the risk of a toxic leak or explosion.
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