The last five 49ers drafts have produced more unemployed coaches than first-round success stories, but three of the team’s most exasperating picks in recent years — Alex Smtih, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree — nearly led San Francisco to a come-from-behind win at Houston on Sunday.

Smith, the No. 1 overall choice in 2005, replaced quarterback Shaun Hill at halftime and threw three touchdown passes to Davis, the sixth overall pick in 2006. The resurgence of Davis, a tight end whose tremendous physical tools have rarely been matched by comparable production, has been the biggest surprise of the 49ers’ 3-3 start. But the debut of Crabtree, the 10th pick in this year’s draft, was a more welcome development for San Francisco.

Crabtree caught five passes for 56 yards in his first game since ending a 71-day holdout. His day wasn’t perfect — he had to be directed to the correct side of the formation on at least one play — but it was a great start. He made an 18-yard reception while reaching back at the sideline, cut across the middle to pull in a 17-yarder, and then held his ground and absorbed a hard hit on a first-down catch to open the fourth quarter. He caught every ball thrown to him except one, and accounted for three of San Francisco’s four third-down conversions.

»fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009···d-davis/

Firefighters in San Francisco had their hands full Sunday fighting two large fires.

The biggest was a four-alarm fire at 1526 Wallace Ave.

May 29, 2009
By SAMANTHA YOUNG - Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed closing up to 220 state parks to help cut the state's $24.3 billion deficit, including popular attractions for millions of visitors each year, such as a park that is home to some of the tallest trees on Earth.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Miss California USA pageant says its co-directors plan to address whether current title holder Carrie Prejean will hold onto her crown amid allegations of contract violations.

Keith Lewis said Friday that he and fellow co-director Shanna Moakler will make their case public Monday. He says they and Prejean's representatives are close to a resolution.

The state pageant is investigating whether the 21-year-old old violated her contract by making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage and by failing to reveal that she had posed in her underwear as a teenager

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Q & A: What You Need To Know About Swine Flu

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings and take their own precautions.

Vandals severed multiple fiber optic cables on Thursday, leaving thousands of people in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties without cell phone, Internet and landline service, police said.

Crews were making repairs, but estimated that it would likely be sometime Thursday night before all service was restored.

Schedule for Presidents Day:

•Banks: Many, but not all, banks are closed.
•Federal, state and local offices: Closed.
•Financial markets: Closed.
•Post offices: Closed.
•Schools: Closed.

"The Sonoma County Water Agency expects to impose mandatory water restrictions in four to six weeks, the earliest and most aggressive step the agency has ever taken to combat what is shaping up to be a potentially devastating drought.

The agency will declare this a dry water year on Sunday and will begin reducing the amount of water it releases into the Russian River from Coyote Dam on Lake Mendocino.

"As water levels in Lake Mendocino continue to go down it looks to be a matter of when, not if, Redwood Valley will have less water to use.

Levels in Lake Mendocino hovered above 31,000 acre feet Thursday morning.

Eve Kushner - Thursday, January 22, 2009

For Westerners, New Year's is a time to paint the town red, figuratively speaking. But for the Chinese who observe Lunar New Year, painting and the color red are literally part of the celebration.

Victoria Colliver, Chronicle Staff Writer

(12-12) 15:58 PST -- Kohl's Corp. and Forever 21 Inc.

A man was hit and killed by a Caltrain near the Hayward Park station in San Mateo, according to a Caltrain spokesperson.

The person was fatally struck by southbound train No.

Reported by S.F.Gate

"10-17) 18:12 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Mervyns, the 59-year-old department store chain based in Hayward, is closing up shop.

The ailing retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July and planned to close 26 stores, said Friday it now plans to liquidate its remaining 149 locations and shutter the business after the holiday season."

-- Federal offices and courts will be closed Monday for Columbus Day, one of 10 federal holidays.

-- There will be no home mail delivered Monday, except Express Mail.

By JESSE McKINLEY - October 10, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — After decades of debate, and unknown numbers of lost lives, the board that controls the Golden Gate Bridge took a major step toward building a suicide barrier on Friday, voting to erect a net under the span.

The 14-to-1 vote came after several failed efforts over the years to support a physical barrier on the Golden Gate, where troubled souls have long leapt to their deaths.

By Bruce Newman - Mercury News


The Northern California fire season, which appeared to be all but over after a full day of rain last weekend and a recent run of chilly nights, suddenly got run back up the flagpole Friday. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning — the highest level of fire danger short of actual flames — for all of the Bay Area and the Big Sur coastal region that was devasted by the Basin Fire in July.

By JUDY LIN

WILLIAMS, Calif. (AP) -- A charter bus traveling to a casino overturned in north-central California on Sunday, killing 10 people and injuring several others.

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT (AP) ¯ More than 1,300 firefighters were trying Saturday to contain a wildfire that had burned nearly 12,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest along the California coast.

Fire officials said the 19-square-mile blaze burning about 20 miles south of King City in Monterey County was 22 percent cintained.

Full containment was not expected until mid-October.


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By Syantani Chatterjee

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California and Florida cities top the list of those under the risk of future plummeting home prices in the next two years, a report said Wednesday.

According to the PMI Fall 2008 U.S.

Sept 11, 2008
By: Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

Silverstone Communities has completed the development of Park Broadway, a 96-residence condominium property located 15 miles south of San Francisco in Millbrae, part of California's upscale San Mateo County.

The concept behind Park Broadway adheres to Silverstone's basic corporate tenet, which is to provide relatively reasonably priced, newly constructed homes with the same upscale tenor found at neighboring properties.