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EAST FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — Bojangles, a Southern fast-food staple, is back in Brooklyn after a decades-long absence.
Bojangles recently opened at the corner of Ralph Avenue and Church Avenue in the heart of East Flatbush.
It’s the first modern New York City location in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, following a previous short-lived presence in the 1980s, making this a significant return for the chain.
Marshall Scarborough is the vice president of menu and culinary innovation at Bojangles. He says his love for the brand started very early.
“My love affair with Bojangles began at a very young age. I was a youngster, I got to grow up with Bojangles,” Scarborough said.
Habib Hashimi says his family working in the restaurant industry inspired him to become a franchise owner of Bojangles.
“My family has been in the restaurant business for decades,” Hashimi said.
“I wanted to find a brand that was exciting and had amazing food, and I saw this crazy following behind it. And I looked on social media, I looked on TikTok, I looked on Instagram, and people were so excited about the brand, it was part of their daily lives, and when I tried the food, I understood why that was.”
According to Scarborough, Bojangles is known as the Carolina legend.
“I like to describe it like, we are cooking like grandmas, but we also appeal to her grandson. Our culinary north star is being authentically Southern with a modern twist,” Scarborough said.
Bojangles is not your typical fast-food restaurant. The chain cooks on stove tops, and all the chicken is hand-breaded.
The biscuits are also hand-made and scratch-made, taking a total of 49 steps to make them.
“They’re soft, they’re buttery and delicious,” Hashimi said.
At Bojangles, one of their signature menu items is the Bo’s chicken biscuit. It’s tender, juicy, crispy chicken between a soft, fluffy buttermilk biscuit.
“We’re using marinated chicken and hand-breading it to order,” Scarborough said.
You can also order just chicken tenders, which is the flagship product on Bojangles’ menu for lunch and dinner. They’re made from thick pieces of tenderloin marinated with Bojangles seasoning and batter-breaded in a buttermilk coating system.
Scarborough believes Bojangles is different from other fast-food chains.
“I can’t speak to a whole lot of fast-food restaurants where they’re taking the time and energy it takes to produce such high-quality food,” Scarborough said. “I think it’s cool that we’re bringing the Southern culture, the Southern traditions of food to you guys to share what we’ve been keeping our secret this whole time,”
Police in Antioch have launched a suspicious death investigation after a person found lying on a roadway early Friday morning died.
Around 3:30 a.m., officers were called to the area of “L” Street between West 18th and West 10th Street, near the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds and Antioch High School. Officers located an adult victim on the side of the roadway.
Police rendered medical aid, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s identity has not been released.
In a statement Friday, police said the death is being investigated as suspicious based on preliminary information and evidence. The department’s Investigation’s Bureau, which includes crime scene investigators and Violent Crimes Unit detectives, are investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Robert Ibanez of Antioch Police by calling 925-481-8398 or emailing ribanez@antiochca.gov.
California is once again breaking ranks with the Trump administration, this time over the World Health Organization.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Friday that the Golden State is the first and, so far, only state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). The move comes one day after the Trump administration announced the U.S. had officially withdrawn from the WHO.
California joined GOARN back in September. Only sovereign nations can be official dues-paying members of the WHO. There are no dues for being part of GOARN.
Newsom called the U.S. exiting the WHO “reckless” and warned it could be harmful to public health.
With GOARN, California doctors will have global access to early warning systems and data sharing to prepare for potential virus outbreaks.
NBC Bay Area’s Emma Goss has more in the video report above.
New York-based cocktail historian David Wondrich had most recently finished editing an 860-plus-page compendium of knowledge about cocktail history when the opportunity arose to share cocktail history through a different medium: as a graphic nonfiction book.
The author took on the challenge, teaming up with illustrator Dean Kotz to take readers on a journey around the world, following the world’s drinking preferences from Colonial-era punches to Prohibition, from the rise of the 1930s tiki trend to the modern-day craft cocktail movement and beyond — plus much more along the way, including an array of cocktail recipes. We recently caught up with Wondrich to learn more.
“The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On” by David Wondrich, illustrated by Dean Kotz (Ten Speed Graphic, $30) covers the evolution of the cocktail from the rise of distillation to the craft cocktail movement and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Ten Speed Graphic)
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: What inspired you to tell the history of cocktails through a comic book?
A: I had thought about doing a cocktail-themed comic book for quite a long time. I was talking to Ten Speed Press a couple years back, and they mentioned their comic book history series and asked if I would be interested in doing that. I said yes.
Q: You cover so much history in the book. How did you go about curating that history and figuring out which stories to include?
A: I was very familiar with the history because I’ve been writing cocktail history for 25 years. For my last book before this one, I was the editor-in-chief and principal writer of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, a huge reference book that includes histories and biographies of famous bartenders, as well as other related information. So a lot of the information was pretty fresh in my mind. That said, I always research my books anew, and see what else I can find; what other connections I can make. There were some periods in some places that were completely new to me, and that was fun. I tried to tell as many stories as I possibly could. I’ve written at length, for instance, about the history of African American bartenders, which was really deeply buried. I also did a lot of research on Asian and Pacific Islander bartenders in America.
Q: What was it like translating that history into comic book form? How did that process work with the illustrator?
A: It was really hard. I did this not because it was easy, but because I thought it would be easy. But it turned out to be really difficult. My editor insisted that this should be a real history with documentation, so I couldn’t skip over bits or dramatize stuff too much. I had to make sure that it gave you a good, solid, accurate history, while at the same time trying to make it as lively as possible.
Q: And you included a number of recipes — what were some of your favorites?
A: Well, I included a lot of bedrock classics that were emblematic of the age that I was talking about. But I threw in some curveballs, and at the end, included some cocktails that I invented, like the Leaving of Liverpool, which somebody asked me to come up with during the COVID lockdown, when everybody was singing, or watching videos of people singing, sea chanteys. That actually turned out to be quite delicious.
Bartender Ray Sheridan holds a Trader Vic’s Original Mai Tai, left, and a Ginger Cooler at Rocker Oysterfeller’s at Lucas Wharf in Bodega Bay on Aug. 23, 2024. (Erik Castro for The Press Democrat)
Q: The Bay Area gets a few shoutouts in the book, too. Tell me more about the Bay Area’s significance in cocktail history.
A: In America, which is the homeland of the cocktail, and almost always its driving force, there are really three major cocktail cities — not to take away from the others — where great drinks have been invented, and where there were always great bars. There were three real style leaders: New York, New Orleans and San Francisco. A great many drinks came out of San Francisco and Oakland. When I first visited San Francisco in the 1980s, I was used to the neighborhood bars in New York, which were all Irish bars. In San Francisco, I think it’s telling that the local neighborhood bars, the old ones, were all tiny little cocktail lounges. So it’s been cocktail country from the very beginning.
Cocktail historian David Wondrich’s new book, “The Comic Book History of the Cocktail” tells many stories behind the evolution of the cocktail over the past five centuries. (Photo courtesy of Ten Speed Graphic)
Q: Tell me more about Irish coffee and its San Francisco connection. National Irish Coffee Day is Sunday, Jan. 25.
A: This guy, Stan Delaplane, was a top travel newspaper columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1950, he went on a press junket to Ireland and was served Irish coffee and was like, “What magical elixir is this?” He brought back some Irish whiskey to the Buena Vista Cafe, and he and the owner sat down and tried to re-create it, and finally they managed to get it exactly right. The bar put it on the menu, in 1953, I believe, and it really took off in 1954. It became the biggest hit of the 1950s, and San Francisco was the catalyst.
Q: There was also Trader Vic’s, which opened in 1934 in Oakland.
A: Trader Vic (Bergeron) didn’t invent the standard tiki bar — Don the Beachcomber (a.k.a. Donn Beach) did that down in L.A., but Trader Vic was his earliest disciple, and a much better businessman than Donn Beach was. He was a very good businessman and a very good mixologist. He came up with the Mai Tai, which is a splendid drink, and things like that. He was the great popularizer, while Donn Beach was more of the philosopher behind the whole thing. But you need both.
In “The Comic Book History of the Cocktail,” author David Wondrich and illustrator Dean Kotz showcase stories like this one about Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron, the creator of the mai tai, who started his empire of tiki joints with the first location in Oakland in the 1930s. (Photo courtesy of Ten Speed Graphic)
Q: Did the martini originate in Martinez?
A: That, unfortunately, doesn’t hold water. It’s a nice idea, but the timing doesn’t work out. And there’s no evidence for it whatsoever.
Q: What are you hoping people take away from the book?
A: I’m hoping they get a sense of the people involved. These drinks are things that were made by people, for people. I’m hoping they can see themselves in the book and find what really resonates with them in the tradition of mixing drinks. My main hope is that people find it interesting, that it gives them stuff to talk about, and that they can understand where their favorite drinks came from.
Details: “The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On,” by David Wondrich, illustrated by Dean Kotz (Ten Speed Graphic, $30) is available where books are sold, including at penguinrandomhouse.com.
HERCULES, Calif. (KRON) — A Richmond Police Department detective on their way to work Thursday morning pulled over to help who they thought was a stranded driver on Interstate 80 in Hercules, according to authorities. The encounter ended with the detective fatally shooting the man, setting off a multi-agency investigation that shut down the roadway for nearly 10 hours.
Prior to the shooting, at 6:35 a.m., the California Highway Patrol began receiving reports of a Nissan car that was being driven on I-80 westbound through Vallejo and was involved in several collisions. The callers told CHP that the vehicle was being driven recklessly and at high speeds, and at one point, it was reported that “the vehicle’s hood had flown up, obstructing the windshield, yet the vehicle continued to travel,” Richmond PD wrote.
Forty minutes later, as the Richmond PD detective was driving to work in their unmarked department vehicle on westbound I-80 just west of Highway 4, they came across a gold Nissan car stopped in the fast lane, authorities said.
“The detective stopped and activated their emergency lights to render aid to what appeared to be a stranded motorist,” Richmond PD wrote.
The detective saw a man standing near the stopped Nissan who was allegedly holding a metal object. While the detective and the man interacted, Richmond police said an altercation occurred and the detective shot the man with their service weapon.
The man was transported to a trauma center, where he later succumbed to his gunshot injuries. His identity has not been released as of Friday morning.
The detective sustained minor injuries in the incident and was treated at a local hospital, authorities said.
“At the time of the incident, the detective was not in uniform and was not wearing a body-worn camera because detectives assigned to investigative divisions are to wear business attire and are not required to wear body-worn cameras,” Richmond PD wrote.
Police believe that the Nissan reported earlier in the morning is the same vehicle that the detective encountered on I-80.
The California Attorney General’s Office is leading the investigation into the police shooting.
All lanes of westbound I-80 were reopened by 5:10 p.m.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — A deadly shootout in the South Bay led to a massive response, and now more than a day-long investigation in downtown San Jose and beyond.
San Jose police gave us more details as to what happened Wednesday just before the injured sergeant was released from the hospital after being shot in the head by a carjacker.
“Under fire, wounded and under extreme stress, his training and resolve kicked in,” SJPD Chief Paul Joseph said. “Only a person with a warrior spirit could fight through an encounter like that and live.”
It’s nothing short of a miracle that the 13-year veteran sergeant was the only confirmed injury in the violent crime spree and deadly shootout that spanned several days.
It covered hundreds of miles, with multiple armed robberies and carjackings, across multiple counties and cities. It involved several jurisdictions, and it all culminated in the suspect being shot and run over by police.
“This was a scene none of us ever want to witness in real life,” Joseph said. “It’s the kind of footage people might expect from an action movie. But this was not a movie. This was a battle for that sergeant’s life unfolding in the middle of our city in broad daylight with members of the public in the crossfire.”
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph gave us a better look at the timeline Thursday afternoon.
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph gave an update to the press on Thursday after a deadly shootout with a carjacker that took place on Wednesday afternoon.
The chief says the suspect, 30-year-old Muhammed Hussein of Davis, stole a red corvette from a dealership in Sacramento on Saturday, Jan. 17 and committed multiple armed robberies in Northern California and the Bay Area over the next few days.
On Wednesday, license plate readers spotted that stolen red Corvette in San Jose, but officers were not able to find the driver.
A pursuit began when the suspect stole a bright green Corvette at gunpoint from Capitol Chevrolet in San Jose.
The police chopper followed the carjacker about 45 miles south to Hollister, where the man got into a shootout with San Benito Sheriff’s deputies and Hollister Police.
The man stole another car in Hollister — seen on cell phone video — then drove back to San Jose as he fired at California Highway Patrol officers along the way.
It all ended in downtown San Jose, as shown in video from a law enforcement helicopter obtained by Fugitive.com.
You can see the carjacker shoot the SJPD sergeant, hitting him in the head and fracturing his skull, before trying to steal the sergeant’s patrol car before running off.
Police shot him and drove over him at Julian Street and Notre Dame Avenue.
“Nothing about a deadly force encounter is pretty,” Joseph said. “And at that point, you have an incredibly dangerous situation with a dangerous individual and that individual needs to be stopped. And whatever means the officers needed to use to stop that individual, they made a decision in that moment.”
A lengthy investigation will now begin into that fatal use of force and all images and video collected by police, including body cam footage, will be released in 45 days per state law.
A man died after police said he was shot by a Richmond detective on Interstate 80 in Contra Costa County, closing the westbound lanes for most of Thursday.
Around 6:30 a.m., the California Highway Patrol began receiving reports that a gold or gray Nissan sedan was driving recklessly and striking vehicles through Vallejo. Police said they received one report that the vehicle’s hood flew up and blocked the windshield, yet the driver continued along the highway.
A vehicle believed to be connected to the reports was found at about 7:15 a.m., stopped and blocking a lane of westbound I-80 near Highway 4 by a detective in an unmarked vehicle with the Richmond Police Department, police said. The detective stopped and activated their emergency lights.
When the detective contacted the man, the Richmond Police Department said he was holding a metal object. Officers said there’s unconfirmed information that he may have been swinging the object at vehicles passing by before the detective arrived.
During the detective’s encounter with him, Richmond police said an altercation happened and the detective fired their service weapon, wounding the man. Police said he was rendered aid at the scene and taken to a local trauma center, where he later died. The detective sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital, police said.
The identification of the man who died has not been released.
Officers said the detective was not in uniform at the time of the shooting and was not wearing a body-worn camera. Police said detectives assigned to investigate divisions are able to wear business attire and are not required to wear body-worn cameras.
Richmond police said because it’s unclear whether he had a weapon in his possession at the time of the shooting, the California Department of Justice will lead the investigation.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said the police shooting falls under Assembly Bill 1506, which requires the California Department of Justice to investigate officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed person.
Westbound I-80 was closed at the Hercules offramp until about 5 p.m.
Lanes of westbound Interstate 80 near Hercules closed due to police activity, Jan. 22, 2026.
CBS
The Hercules Police Department said in a statement that its officers were not involved in the incident, but they assisted with managing traffic.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — State Sen. Scott Wiener (D- San Francisco) has stepped down from the leadership of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus following controversial remarks he made regarding the situation in Gaza. Wiener, who is running for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat, announced Thursday that he would be resigning from his position as co-chair from the caucus.
The San Francisco Democrat said that he suggested stepping down when he entered the congressional race, but “was asked to stay to provide a continuity of leadership during a difficult time for the Jewish community.”
However, following recent controversy surrounding Wiener and his initial unwillingness to label Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide,” he said he would be stepping down.
State Senator Scott Wiener during San Francisco Congressional District 11 Candidate Forum at The Academe at 198 in San Francisco on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
He also cited the increasing demands of his campaign, saying, “Now, my campaign is accelerating, and my recent statements on Israel and Gaza have led to significant controversy in the Jewish community.”
“The time to transition has arrived,” he added.
Wiener later changed his stance to call Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide. He addressed that in the statement announcing his resignation.
“Since I stated my view that the Netanyahu government committed a genocide in Gaza, I have had many in-depth conversations with members of the Jewish community with a range of perspectives,” Wiener said. “While many in the community strongly disagree with my view, I am grateful for their willingness to engage with me and hear my perspective, showing once again the deep respect for difference in our community.”
Wiener has served in the Jewish Caucus leadership for five years and called it a “true honor.”
A big rig overturned on State Route 24 Thursday afternoon near the Caldecott Tunnel at about 4 pm, and as of press time, all westbound lanes are still closed. The overturned truck crashed into eight vehicles,one person was injured, and traffic is being diverted to nearby Highway 13.[KGO]
ICE went and arrested a five-year-old child in Minneapolis today, shipping the kid thousands of miles away to a detention facility Texas, and this image of the poor kid in his blue knit hat being arrested by ICE is one of the most cruel and heartless sights of the Trump 2.0 era. [CNN]
The stars of the hit homoerotic show Heated Rivalry have been named torch-bearers at the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony coming up on Friday, February 6. [Bay Area News Group]
Videos:
Two videos today, because this is big news! As the Bay Lights are soon to return to the Bay Bridge, eagle-eyed Reddit users have captured videos of the new lights being tested out over the last couple nights, and those videos are seen below. So check out the bridge at night when you get a chance, because you might see more testing happening.
As state Senator Scott Wiener continues to try to thread the needle of being a moderate Democrat who has historically supported Israel but now kind of needs the pro-Palestinian vote, he is stepping down from a role he’s held for five years in the state’s legislative Jewish Caucus.
Scott Wiener made headlines last week when he reversed his stance on calling Israel’s military actions in Gaza a “genocide” — something he’s declined to do for years, and something that his challengers were more than willing to do in the first candidate forum two weeks ago for the race for Nancy Pelosi’s House seat.
Obviously sensing that this will be a political problem for him, Wiener posted a video to Xitter last Monday, trying to stanch the fallout from the news cycle, and reversing his long-held silence on the genocide question.
“For many Jews, associating the word ‘genocide’ with the Jewish state of Israel is deeply painful and frankly traumatic,” Wiener said in his prepared statement. “But despite that pain and that trauma, we all have eyes, and we see the absolute devastation and catastrophic death toll in Gaza inflicted by the Israeli government. And we all have ears, and we hear the genocidal statements by certain senior members of the Israeli government. And to me, the Israeli government has tried to destroy Gaza, and to push Palestinians out, and that qualifies as genocide.”
For years, I’ve condemned Netanyahu and his extremist government and the devastation they’ve inflicted on Gaza. It’s why I’ve been clear I won’t support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities. I’ve stopped short of calling it genocide, but I can’t anymore. pic.twitter.com/71nIt6K527
Now, having angered some Jewish supporters, Wiener is stepping down from his leadership role in the California legislative Jewish Caucus. As KRON4 reports, in making the announcement Thursday, Wiener said he’d already suggested he should step down from the leadership position when he announced his candidacy for the US Congress, but he says he “was asked to stay to provide a continuity of leadership during a difficult time for the Jewish community.”
“Now, my campaign is accelerating, and my recent statements on Israel and Gaza have led to significant controversy in the Jewish community,” Wiener said Thursday. “The time to transition has arrived.”
Wiener has been in the caucus leadership for five years, and he has served as a state senator since 2016.
He added that, since reversing his stance on the word “genocide,” he has had “many in-depth conversations with members of the Jewish community with a range of perspectives.”
“While many in the community strongly disagree with my view, I am grateful for their willingness to engage with me and hear my perspective, showing once again the deep respect for difference in our community,” Wiener concluded.
In running for Pelosi’s seat this November, and in a primary this June, Wiener is up against Supervisor Connie Chan, who will likely bring with her significant support from the city’s large bloc of Asian voters, and onetime AOC campaign manager Saikat Chakrabarti, who will likely siphon off a number of progressive votes.
During a timeout, the Warriors’ forward walked back to the locker room with team athletic trainer Drew Yoder with 3:52 left in the second quarter of the Warriors’ 123-115 loss to the host Mavericks on Thursday night.
At the 4:28 mark, Kuminga appeared to roll his left ankle and buckle his knee on a fastbreak layup that led to a foul on Brandon Williams. Kuminga briefly sat down in a courtside chair on the baseline before getting up and walking to the free throw line.
He shot two free throws, and then played the next three possessions before being subbed out. Kuminga then walked back to the locker room under his own power.
The Warriors later diagnosed Kuminga with left knee soreness, and said he would not return.
“I just talked to Jonathan, and he said he’ll get an MRI tomorrow,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It was both the knee and the ankle, and we’ll see how bad it is.”
The Warriors later said that Kuminga had not yet decided whether or not he would get an MRI.
Kuminga, 23, had requested a trade earlier in the month and was presumed to be out of the rotation entirely after not playing in 16 consecutive games.
He had begun the year as a starter, being a part of the first five during the team’s initial 12 games after signing a two-year deal and ending his restricted free agency. But a combination of poor play and middling team results led to Kerr removing Kuminga from the starting lineup.
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether.
However, after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL against the Heat on Monday, Kuminga suddenly found himself back in the team’s immediate plans.
He responded by scoring 20 points in 21 minutes against Toronto on Tuesday’s loss to the Raptors.
Before exiting the Mavericks game, Kuminga had scored 10 points in nine minutes and made all three of his shot attempts and each of his four free throws, and was a stellar plus-18 in his short stint.
But after Kuminga went back to the locker room, he was not among the players who warmed up after the halftime break. The Warriors ruled him out shortly afterwards.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg (32), Dwight Powell, center left, and Max Christie (00) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Missing their two best scoring wings, the burden fell on the guards to carry the offense. Fortunately for the Warriors, the team received a vintage Steph Curry performance to keep them in the game.
The soon-to-be 38-year old torched the Mavericks to the tune of 38 points, making 8 of 15 3-point field goals. De’Anthony Melton provided a more athletic complement to Curry’s long-range showmanship, scoring 22 in 23 minutes.
But with the team trailing just 102-101 with 6:49 left fourth quarter, Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul when he elbowed Stanford alum Dwight Powell as the Maverick big man was cutting to the rim. A few seconds later, Green was reviewed for another flagrant after a hard foul on Max Christie, but it was ruled a normal foul.
“It wasn’t his night, and he’d be the first to tell you,” Kerr said.
The stoppages helped the Mavericks gain momentum, leading to a 11-0 run over the next two minutes to help Dallas pull away. Green fouled out with 3:50 left after contesting a shot by Williams. Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 30 points, while Bay Area legend Klay Thompson scored six points.
The Mavericks outrebounded the Warriors 54-35.
The Warriors (25-21), now on a two-game losing streak, will travel to Minneapolis to play the first of a two-game baseball-style series with the Wolves on Saturday.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 22: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors calls to his team during the first quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 22, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg (32), Dwight Powell, center left, and Max Christie (00) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is fouled driving to the basket by Dallas Mavericks’ Dwight Powell, left, and Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg (32) and Ryan Nembhard (9) look on in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Former employees of Lane Fertility clinic say its founder, Dr. Danielle Lane, failed to pay them thousands of dollars in wages and expenses–adding to a growing number of legal complaints previously raised by egg donors, vendors, and landlords.
The new allegations come months after NBC Bay Area first reported that more than a dozen women who donated eggs through Lane Fertility accused Dr.Lane of not paying them as agreed, despite signed contracts promising compensation within 90 days of their donations. Several donors told NBC Bay Area they were ignored or blocked when they attempted to collect payment and were only paid after threatening legal action or filing lawsuits.
Former Lane Fertility accountant Carol Holmes said she worked at the clinic from 2022 to 2025 and is now seeking nearly $20,000 in unpaid wages, unreimbursed expenses and penalties through a complaint filed with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office, which is currently under investigation.
Holmes said she repeatedly asked to be paid and at one point used her personal credit card to cover the phone bill, while Lane was traveling overseas.
“I wasn’t going to keep working for free,” Holmes said. “I had to leave so I could look for another job.”
Holmes also said she received calls from egg donors and vendors who were distressed about not being paid.
Another former employee, Ann DeGuire, said she worked remotely for seven months as a donor coordinator screening potential egg donors and went at least12 weeks without receiving pay. DeGuire left the position last March and later filed a lawsuit.
Court records show DeGuire was awarded a $12,500 judgment for back pay last November after Lane failed to appear in court. DeGuire said she has not received the money, but recently she heard back from Dr.Lane who agreed to commit to a payment plan.
NBC Bay Area previously uncovered documented complaints from egg donors recruited by Lane Fertility through social media, where Dr. Lane promotes egg donation with videos promising payments of up to $10,000. Donors from across the country said they completed egg retrievals procedures at Lane Fertility clinics in San Francisco or Novato but were later ghosted when they sought payment.
Egg donor Kaitlyn Becker told NBC Bay Area she was blocked and ignored before finally receiving compensation nine months after her donation, following NBC Bay Area’s investigation.
Court records reviewed by NBC Bay Area show at least two dozen lawsuits filed against Lane alleging nonpayment or breach of contract by former employees, patients, vendors, and landlords. While Lane has denied most allegations in court filings, many cases ended in judgments or settlements against her without an admission of wrongdoing. Several plaintiffs told NBC Bay Area they are still attempting to collect on those judgments.
Lane is also facing lawsuits from two former landlords. One is seeking $144,000 for unpaid rent of an apartment she leased in the city for 17 years and nearly $117,000 for her San Francisco clinic. She vacated that location back in October following an eviction lawsuit. In the new complaint her landlord is also accusing her of fraud noting that her failure to pay rent “is part of a broader pattern of fraudulent conduct and failure to pay debts and obligations”. Lane has not responded yet to either complaint.
Multiple attempts were made to reach Lane for comment by phone and email. NBC Bay Area approached her outside a San Francisco courthouse last October, where Lane said she had “so much to say,” but she did not return after the hearing and has not responded to follow-up inquiries.
Despite the lawsuits, the California Medical Board currently lists no disciplinary action against Dr. Lane. According to their website it can take up to 1.5 years to file a formal accusation and between 3-5 for a full investigation and resolution depending on the complexity of the case. In a statement, the Board said that to discipline a licensee, it must obtain clear and convincing evidence that they violated the Medical Practice Act. The clear and convincing evidence standard is a higher burden of proof than required by most other states.
Dr. Lane remains active on social media, is listed as a medical consultant with Conception Fertility, and her Novato clinic continues to operate.
Since NBC Bay Area’s last report, additional egg donors have come forward alleging nonpayment, and at least two more have been awarded court judgments against Lane. Like many others, they said they are still waiting to be paid.
PINOLE, Calif. (KGO) — All westbound lanes of I-80 have been shut down in the East Bay Thursday morning due to a reported police shooting and major police activity, causing a massive traffic backup.
The reported incident happened just after 7 a.m., before Pinole Valley Road near Hercules. Westbound traffic is being diverted and is backed up for miles all the way to the Carquinez Bridge.
According to police radio broadcast, which ABC7 News is working to confirm, a man was reportedly shot by Richmond police after using a metal object to attack cars on the highway.
The incident started in Solano County, when the suspect fled authorities, CHP Solano County says.
The Contra Costa County district attorney will be overseeing the investigation, but it is a multi-agency effort involving the CHP, Richmond police, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.
This reported shooting comes less than a day after a deadly shooting involving an officer in San Jose.
Stay with ABC7 News for updates on this developing story.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Two Bay Area restaurants made Yelp’s list of the “Top 100 Places to Eat” in the U.S. in 2026, and no local spots cracked the top 50.
The list ranks “the highest-reviewed restaurants, diners, fast-casual spots, food halls, and more — all ranked by the Yelp community,” the company said.
According to Yelp, The Bay Area’s best restaurants are a pair of San Francisco brunch spots. Lapisara Eatery at the corner of Post and Jones streets was the highest ranking local restaurant on the list, ranking 54th overall.
Lapisara Eatery previously ranked as San Francisco’s second-best brunch spot in 2024, according to Yelp. The top SF brunch spot at the time was Mr. East Kitchen — per the 2024 list — ranking as the 10th best brunch spot in the U.S. Mr. East Kitchen was not included in Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat” in 2026.
The chicken and waffles at Lapisara Eatery on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Photo By Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Board and Drink in Fisherman’s Wharf is the other restaurant, which ranked 89th on the list.
“Our menu features fluffy pancakes, savory omelettes, shakshuka, and our crowd-favorite sweet boards, all crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients,” the Board and Drink website reads. “Whether you’re searching for a cozy San Francisco brunch spot, weekend breakfast in Fisherman’s Wharf, or a midday bite near Pier 39, every dish is made with care and attention to detail you’d expect from a homemade meal.”
Nine California restaurants made the list. The Los Angeles area had the most in the state with four, including NAM Kitchen in Gardena, which ranked third on the list. Texas was the top state, according to Yelp, with 17 restaurants.
The top spot to eat in the U.S. in 2026, according to the list, is Ci Siamo in New York City.
Health officials in Napa County confirmed Wednesday that a child has been diagnosed with measles in the county’s first case in nearly 15 years.
According to the county’s Health & Human Services Agency, the case involves an unvaccinated child who became ill after visiting South Carolina, where a large measles outbreak is taking place. Officials did not provide additional details about the child.
The last measles case reported in Napa County was in 2012.
Officials said Wednesday that there is no public health threat to the general population. The county is working with the California Department of Public Health to ensure people potentially exposed are notified and are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.
Unvaccinated people are urged by health officials to receive the MMR vaccine, which provides lifelong immunity to the measles after two doses.
“MMR vaccines are our best defense against the measles virus and its complications,” said Health Officer Dr. Christine Wu. “Simply being in the same room with someone who has measles can result in infection for people who are not immune.”
A highly contagious respiratory virus, measles can remain airborne or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that begins on the face and spreads downward across the body, officials said.
Late last month, health officials in Contra Costa County confirmed a measles case and issued a health warning after the person was found to have visited several stores in Walnut Creek ahead of the Christmas holiday.
BAY POINT — A two-alarm fire early Thursday sent one person to a hospital and caused significant damage to a residence, fire officials said.
Fire crews from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded about 5:25 a.m. to a residence on Anchor Drive and found smoke and fire coming from it upon their arrival. Spokesperson Capt. Victor Daniel said officials sounded a second alarm to make sure all occupants were out of the house.
Daniel said only one person was in the house and that the person got out without help. That person went by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Crews knocked down the fire by 5:50 a.m., and had it fully extinguished by 6:30 a.m.
“There will be an extensive overhaul of the residence,” Daniel said.
Investigators were at the scene but have not determined what caused the fire.
The Olympic flame on Thursday crossed through the romantic, lagoon city of Venice, where torchbearers glided on traditional Venetian boats down the Grand Canal and across St. Mark’s Basin facing the famed Doge’s Palace in one of its most scenic passages ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
The flame arrived near dusk in Venice’s Piazzale Roma, the main bus terminal for people arriving in the city. It crossed the Ponte delle Guglie in Cannaregio en route to the arched Rialto Bridge, where it was loaded onto a boat to traverse the Grand Canal toward the wooden Accademia Bridge.
Francesco Lamon, an Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist, was one of the torchbearers on Thursday.
“It’s an indescribable emotion,” he told The Associated Press.
People cheered from the side of the canal as the flame, held aloft by torchbearers, was conveyed on a long traditional Venetian boat that once carried Venice’s rulers. Called the Serenissima, it was flanked by smaller traditional boats as well as police on Jet Skis. One small group of anti-war demonstrators called for Israel and the U.S. to be excluded from the Games.
Venice historically has served as a crossroads between Eastern and Western civilizations, which is evident in its Byzantine architecture and history in the trade of spices, silks and art. In the modern era, it is the capital of the Veneto region, which includes host city Cortina nestled in the Dolomites to the north. On a clear day, snow-capped mountains can be seen from Venice’s historic center.
From the Accademia Bridge, the flame was carried by foot to Punto della Salute, opposite St. Mark’s Square, for a brief tour of St. Mark’s Basin before being set down at the Doge’s Palace. Thousands of people gathered in St. Mark’s Square to cheer the flame as it passed St. Mark’s Basilica, where a small cauldron was lit.
Venice was the 46th stage of the 63-day torch relay covering 12,000 kilometers (nearly 7,500 miles) that started in Rome and will wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on Feb. 6. Two official cauldrons will burn during the Games, one in Milan at Arco della Pace in Sempione Park, and one in Cortina, in the Dibona Square.
It’s the first time in nearly 20 years — since the 2006 Turin Games — that Italy has hosted the flame. The Winter Games run through Feb. 22, when the closing ceremony will take place in the Veneto city of Verona.
PPD said officers, along with the Piedmont Fire Department, responded to the traffic collision at 6:25 p.m. at the intersection of Moraga and Pala avenues.
It is not known how many people were involved and whether there were any injuries.
Photo courtesy of Piedmont Police Department.
Photo courtesy of Piedmont Police Department.
The road was shut down and later reopened at 7:30 p.m.
It is not clear what led to crash or whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
Santa Rosa resident Thorton McKay is a standup comic who survived a suicide attempt off the Golden Gate Bridge. He feels that money should have been used to help people in other ways.
“As somebody whose survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, I think that money could have went to mental health. It could have benefitted other nonprofits,” McKay said. “I think the suicide net was like a band aid on a band aid.”
McKay feels people will find other ways to die by suicide.
She agrees access to mental health care is important, but says reducing access to lethal means can save lives.
“What we do know from research on suicide and access to lethal means is that there isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest that people do tend to substitute-when they have a preferred means of suicide, they don’t tend to move on to a different type of means if that means is unavailable for them,” Sears said. “So for example, if someone has been thinking about jumping from a specific bridge-when they don’t have access to that bridge, they don’t tend to move on to other types of means or other bridges.”
Experts say suicide is a complex issue and that preventing it takes a multi-prong approach.
The Golden Gate Bridge was the top suicide site in the world for years.
According to the Bridge Rail Foundation, there have been at least 1,800 suicide deaths from the bridge.
Those with suicidal thoughts can reach out for support from those around them or to mental health professionals or call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
A suspect in a carjacking was killed in San Jose after leading several Bay Area law enforcement agencies on a car chase, San Jose police said.
San Jose police Sgt. Jorge Garibay said the incident began at a San Jose dealership when the suspect entered with a gun and stole a vehicle around 2 p.m. The suspect then left the city and was spotted by a San Jose police helicopter in San Benito County.
Hollister police said they and San Benito County deputies were told around 2:48 p.m. that a San Jose police helicopter was following a vehicle that was taken by an armed carjacker. Hollister officers found the vehicle just before 3 p.m. near Central Avenue and Miller Road.
A slow-speed car chase ensued and ended near Buena Vista Road, at Westside Boulevard, when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle became disabled. Hollister police said the suspect got out of the car with a gun, and a shooting then occurred. No Hollister officers were injured.
Hollister police said the carjacker left the area following the shooting and was found by San Benito County deputies near Line Street, where another shooting happened. No deputies were injured, Hollister police said.
The suspect then took another vehicle at gunpoint and drove out of Hollister. While driving toward San Jose, the carjacker shot at California Highway Patrol officers. No CHP officers were injured, Hollister police said.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said the chase ended in San Jose near Highway 87 and Julian Street.
CBS News Bay Area spoke to a witness at the scene who said he was driving on Notre Dame Avenue in San Jose when he saw two patrol cars speed past him and then stop at the nearby intersection. He said multiple other patrol cars then arrived in the area.
“About 40 rounds of gunfire popped off,” Grant Messinger said. “It lasted maybe 30, 45 seconds of a firefight.”
Garibay said the suspect had come to a stop after crashing into another vehicle. He then got out of his vehicle and shot at officers, who returned fire. He then tried to carjack another driver but was run over by a patrol vehicle, Garibay said. He died at the scene.
Cellphone video obtained by CBS News Bay Area shows the suspect trying to get into a patrol vehicle in San Jose, running toward a different vehicle, but falling to the ground. He was then run over by a patrol vehicle, video shows.
A San Jose police sergeant was shot during the shootout near Highway 87 and Julian Street and is expected to survive.
