The San Francisco Chronicle

Broad regulations have been approved in Berkeley, California, that would ban certain activities in public spaces, such as laying on the ground and urinating. This set of rules seeks to impose greater control over the city's homeless population.

Not all buildings can be great, but good design shouldn't be an afterthought either, argues architecture critic John King.

San Francisco's largest transit agency is reviled by many residents because of its service delays and poor management.

A California State Supreme Court ruling has given cities and counties broad authority of what type of retail developments can move into their municipalities, and where they can be located. Under the ruling, cities will be able to ban big box stores.

With high housing costs driving families out of San Francisco, the city's schools are trying innovative ways to improve education and attract the dwindling number of students.

The Northern California wine country town of Napa is on its way to becoming a high-class resort, with many housing and resort developers breaking ground on big projects.

Land use is finally being addressed in California as an intrinsic part of the state's global warming reduction strategy, thanks to passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act and a recent lawsuit by the attorney general against a sprawling county.

Strict guidelines have been proposed in Berkeley, California, that would require local residents and businesses to make broad energy efficiency improvements and to make other environmentally-conscious lifestyle changes.

Just as gas prices have soared to their highest, inflation-adjusted prices, SUV sales, including the new 'crossovers', have rebounded following a two-year drop in popularity, to the chagrin of many environmentalists.

The Slow Food movement has lessons for giving cities a humane density.

Building environment-friendly structures alone won't help; the real issues are much more complicated argues Jane Powell.

City officials in Oakland, California, are proposing the creation of a "tent city" to provide temporary shelter to the homeless. Advocates say the private tents will be preferred to the city's existing barracks-style shelters.

Downtown redevelopment plans that will bring a hotel and retail complex and create a transit-oriented pedestrian-only plaza have been unanimously approved in Berkeley, California.

A freeway collapse in the San Francisco Bay Area dramatically changed commuter patterns this week, and also caused a spike in public transit ridership, giving BART a record-breaking tally of passengers.

San Francisco's density bonus is being used by for-profit developers marketing condos designated for seniors -- albeit for a price.

In California, a huge team of volunteers is building the nation's largest playground for disabled children, equipped with slides and ramps wide enough for wheelchairs, rubber ground padding, and textured play surfaces for blind children.

The Presidio of San Francisco -- the nation's only privately-operated National Park -- has been trying for years to redevelop one of its buidings into an apartment complex. Citing local concerns, a recent proposal for 350 units has been denied.

From monthly 'Critical Mass' bike rides to growing influence on city policy, SF cyclists recount their numerous victories and recent setbacks.

Dams have been decimating the population of salmon in Northern California's Klamath River for years, and now Native Americans who depend on the salmon are traveling to visit the owner of the dams to appeal for their removal.

Under pressure from federal judges, California has approved plans to build 53,000 new prison and jail beds as part of a $7.3 billion construction effort. Critics say increasing capacity does not address the reasons why prisons are overcrowded.