- S.F.'s new archbishop takes over (SF Chronicle)
More than 2,000 worshipers filled St. Mary's Cathedral on Thursday to see Salvatore Cordileone assume his role as Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, as several dozen protesters angered by his leading role in the fight against same-sex marriage demonstrated outside.
- Calif. gas prices jump by up to 20 cents overnight (SF Chronicle)
Californians woke up to a shock Friday as overnight gasoline prices jumped by as much as 20 cents a gallon in some areas, ending a week of soaring costs that saw some stations close and others charge record prices. The average price of regular gas across the state was nearly $4.49 a gallon, the highest in the nation, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge report.
- Apple doing fine a year after Jobs' death (SF Chronicle)
The real bias in journalism doesn't tilt left or right, it leans toward conflict. Which is why, since Steve Jobs' death one year ago Friday, the press has seized on any perceived Apple misstep as a sign of a new narrative taking hold: the demise of the tech giant without its visionary co-founder. MarketWatch, Huffington Post, Time, CNBC, PC World and others have all run headlines that posed variations of the question: Has Apple lost its way?
- San Jose Earthquakes checking out the Bay Area stadiums as potential site for possible MLS Cup match
- UC San Francisco performs kidney transplant for illegal immigrant after thousands support his cause (SJ Mercury News)
Seven years of waiting are over for Jesus Navarro, an illegal immigrant who finally received a new kidney after his story motivated one man plus thousands of others to fight on his behalf for a transplant. Navarro, 36, was recuperating at his small Oakland apartment Thursday with his wife and daughter after the successful transplant last week at UC San Francisco Medical Center. The hospital became embroiled in controversy nine months ago after Navarro came to believe -- despite having private health insurance, despite his wife's pledge to donate her own kidney -- that his immigration status doomed his chances of a transplant.
- Tax group sues to block California firefighting fee (Oakland Tribune)
A taxpayer group, joined by plaintiffs throughout California, filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to block a fee that is being assessed on more than 800,000 property owners to raise money for fire prevention. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is seeking a declaration about whether the fee is valid and seeks refunds for those who paid the fee and filed a claim with the state.
- Navy Blue Angels and Air Force F22 Raptor wow the Bay Area community during Fleet Week (Contra Costa Times)
Blue Angels pilot Lt. Cmdr. C.J. Simonsen routinely soars through the sky at breakneck speeds while performing death-defying corkscrews, loops and near-miss passes in a distinctive blue and gold Navy F/A-18 fighter jet. Yet, the soft-spoken Minnesota native says he doesn't consider himself a daredevil or thrill seeker. "I've never sky-dived," the 36-year-old lead solo pilot said, before taking off for Thursday's practice flight over Alcatraz and the Municipal Pier. "And I don't ride motorcycles." Sure, he admits the nearly supersonic flights are thrilling and exhilarating. But he said that's not what he loves most about his once-in-a-lifetime stint in the elite air squadron, which lasts three years. Instead, he treasures the time spent talking to students across the country.
- Kaiser CEO will retire at the end of 2013 (Oakland Tribune)
Kaiser Permanente says its top boss, George Halvorson, will retire in December 2013 as chairman and chief executive of the health services giant. Halvorson has served in that capacity since 2002. Under his leadership Kaiser has grown to serve more than 9 million members, pioneered electronic health records and is often seen as a model for the future of health care. The CEO made the announcement Thursday to Kaiser workers.
(SJ Mercury News)
The Earthquakes are exploring three Bay Area college football stadiums as potential sites to play host to the MLS Cup should the soccer club reach the title match Dec. 1. The facilities are Spartan Stadium, Stanford Stadium and Buck Shaw Stadium. "With those options we're going to find a suitable location for the game if we're fortunate enough to host it," Quakes president David Kaval said Thursday.