Shutdown fallout grounds Blue Angels, shutters Bay Area parks
Government Shutdown Ripple Effects
With federal funding lapsing overnight, Bay Area residents woke up to a cascade of closures and potential furloughs for thousands of workers. The National Park Service confirmed that iconic sites such as Alcatraz and Muir Woods are closed until further notice, while the Presidio remains open because it is financially self-supporting (full list here).
San Francisco’s Fleet Week will go ahead, but without its top attraction: the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. Canadian Snowbirds and other international teams are still expected, yet planners warn schedules could change daily. Organizers have activated contingency plans, and Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city is “in constant contact” with Washington (details).
A shutdown also freezes many federal paychecks and food-assistance programs. In Contra Costa and Alameda counties alone, nearly 18,000 low-income residents could temporarily lose benefits, officials told NBC Bay Area.
Roads & Rails
Morning commutes should ease a bit in the North Bay: after nearly three decades of planning, Caltrans has opened continuous HOV lanes on Highway 101 between Sausalito and Windsor, completing the $762 million Marin-Sonoma Narrows project.
On rail, BART has lengthened trains on its busiest lines as ridership ticks up, adding one or two extra cars during peak periods (KRON-4). Officials say the move restores roughly 90 percent of pre-pandemic capacity.
For drivers in a hurry to swap vehicles, online retailer Carvana’s new same-day delivery service went live across the Bay Area on Tuesday.
Courts & Campuses
California’s power to override parole kept the spotlight on the long-incarcerated Menendez brothers, who each received routine three-year denials despite marathon hearings streamed to an unusually large audience (CalMatters analysis).
At UCLA, nearly all of the 800 frozen science grants have been restored after a federal judge ruled the Trump administration lacked evidence to link the university to antisemitism. The decision frees more than $500 million in research funds and eases fears elsewhere in the UC system.
Closer to City Hall, Palo Alto joined San Francisco and scores of other municipalities in suing Washington over what they call “illegal strings” on housing and transit grants (case file).
CalMattersNeighborhood & Culture Beat
The Southeast Treatment Plant in Bayview debuted a $717 million upgrade engineered to handle earthquakes and sea-level rise while removing a ton of grit from wastewater each day (KALW report).
Festival season rolls on despite the shutdown drama. From Litquake’s 26th edition (preview) to a redesigned Vallejo Waterfront Weekend now rebranded as Vallejo Fest (Times-Herald), organizers promise full lineups—weather permitting.
And if you need coffee with a twist, San José just welcomed what it calls the nation’s first Kerala-style chai café (KQED feature).
Business & Tech Snapshot
Silicon Valley’s AI-driven wealth is reshaping high-end housing markets from Atherton to Los Altos Hills, according to a new analysis. Realtors report bidding wars returning for estates near Stanford as IPO cash flows.
Meanwhile, San José’s pilot use of artificial intelligence to spot potholes and illegal dumping is delivering a 97 percent accuracy rate, encouraging city officials to expand the program citywide (ABC7 data). Neighboring cities, including San Francisco, are watching closely (Axios context).
Bay Area Forecast
Today: Scattered showers return late morning, high around 69°F. Expect up to a quarter-inch of rain before tapering this evening.
Trend through the weekend: Clouds break on Thursday, giving way to sunny, mild afternoons—upper 60s to low 70s—and cool nights in the mid-50s. Clear skies and slightly warmer temps should hold for Fleet Week’s opening events Friday and Saturday.
Planning ahead: Keep a light jacket handy for breezy evenings along the waterfront, but umbrellas can likely stay home after tonight if the current outlook holds.