Portrait of Zack Ruskin

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Zack Ruskin

Staff Writer at SFist

Over a decade of experience covering arts, culture, and news in the Bay Area and beyond. Bylines include Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, SFist, WaPo, Variety, SF Chronicle, and Alta Journal.

San Francisco, CA 99 stories published

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Sleep Scientists Excited to Study Results of This Week's 49ers-Rams Game in Australia

Bay Area Sports

Sleep Scientists Excited to Study Results of This Week's 49ers-Rams Game in Australia

The NFL's highly-anticipated season opener between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday has sleep scientists stoked to study how the two teams drastically different approaches to travel and acclimation play out.

Amber Alert Issued For Monterey Teenager Suspected in Infant's Death

Amber Alert Issued For Monterey Teenager Suspected in Infant's Death

The California Highway Patrol has issued an Amber Alert for the teenage girl authorities believe gave birth to an infant who was found dead on the side of the road in Monterey Bay's Moss Landing last month. The missing teen's father is alleged to be the baby's father.

Labor Day Links: Saint Mary's Rugby Player Dies During Training Run

Labor Day Links: Saint Mary's Rugby Player Dies During Training Run

Five are dead after an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway in Miami on Sunday; A24 announces new documentary featuring Nathan Fielder and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes; and Point Reyes Lighthouse has free digs to offer to their next volunteer staffer.

Second Person Dies at Burning Man

Second Person Dies at Burning Man

A second person has died at this year's Burning Man festival, according to the Burning Man Project. Craig Mann, 60, was reportedly found dead in his camp on Saturday afternoon. No cause of death was provided.

Mountain Lion Spotted in Panhandle By Golden Gate Park

Mountain Lion Spotted in Panhandle By Golden Gate Park

A previous alert from multiple city and state agencies has been lifted after a mountain lion was spotted near Fell Street and Baker Street in Golden Gate Park's Panhandle on Saturday night. Officials from SF Recreation & Parks confirmed the sighting.

Sunday Links: Four Dead, Including Two Children, in Fresno Plane Crash

Sunday Links: Four Dead, Including Two Children, in Fresno Plane Crash

More than a dozen require medical treatment or hospitalization at Chainsmokers concert in San Jose; Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupts, disrupting flights; and Snoop Dogg is hiring for an ice cream taster.

One Person Stabbed in Mid-Morning Incident at Crissy Field

One Person Stabbed in Mid-Morning Incident at Crissy Field

According to the San Francisco Police Department, one unidentified victim has been taken to a local hospital after they were stabbed near Crissy Field earlier today. They are currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

KQED Agrees to Pay Nearly $900,00 to Settle Wage-Theft Lawsuit

KQED Agrees to Pay Nearly $900,00 to Settle Wage-Theft Lawsuit

San Francisco public broadcaster KQED has agreed to fork over $895,000 in relation to a class-action lawsuit accusing them of rampant wage-theft. First filed in 2024, the lawsuit's proposed settlement will undergo a final approval hearing in SF Superior Court in November.

Saturday Links: Stanford University to Retire Jersey of Late Goalkeeper Katie Meyer

Saturday Links: Stanford University to Retire Jersey of Late Goalkeeper Katie Meyer

The Marin teenager in prison for stealing Guy Fieri's Lamborghini among other crimes has parole revoked; San Jose sees second bicycle-related fatality in as many days; and Portola Music Festival woos secret raver Nicole Kidman.

Day Around the Bay: Hazmat Situation at Presidio Golf Course

Day Around the Bay: Hazmat Situation at Presidio Golf Course

One person was hospitalized after emergency personnel responded to hazardous materials incident in the Presidio; a federal judge extended the injunction stopping new mail voting restrictions from taking effect; and Diplo is once again caught in the mud at Burning Man.

Google Maps Now Shows 'Lake America' Instead of Lake Ontario to US Users

Business & Tech

Google Maps Now Shows 'Lake America' Instead of Lake Ontario to US Users

Users searching Google Maps in the US are now seeing "Lake America" in place of Lake Ontario after President Trump signed an executive order renaming the Great Lake “effectively immediately" earlier this week. The bizarre move comes as Trump and Canada continue to engage in an escalating trade war.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Claims 40,000 Pounds of Beer Stolen in SoCal Warehouse Theft

Business & Tech

Pabst Blue Ribbon Claims 40,000 Pounds of Beer Stolen in SoCal Warehouse Theft

Authorities are investigating two separate claims of cargo theft at an Anheuser-Busch distribution center in Montclair earlier this month that apparently included the loss of 40,000 pounds of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. The total value of the missing cargo is estimated to be $70,000.

Sunday Links: Three Bay Area Residents Among Four Dead in Alaska Plane Crash

Sunday Links: Three Bay Area Residents Among Four Dead in Alaska Plane Crash

Vacaville woman killed after driver allegedly went wrong way on I-505; lengthy waits for those trying to enter Burning Man; and Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop debuts its first eat-in location in San Diego.

49ers Sought Shanahan Crash Police Report Prior to Public Disclosure, Records Reveal

Bay Area Sports

49ers Sought Shanahan Crash Police Report Prior to Public Disclosure, Records Reveal

A historically bad week for the San Francisco 49ers continued Friday as newly-published public records reveal that team officials repeatedly sought to obtain head coach Kyle Shanahan's police report from Palo Alto authorities for 11 days before disclosing news of his car crash to media outlets.

New Plan Emerges to Rename Embarcadero Plaza After Former SF Mayor Art Agnos

New Plan Emerges to Rename Embarcadero Plaza After Former SF Mayor Art Agnos

A new plan officially introduced on Friday calls for San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza to be renamed Art Agnos Plaza in honor of the former mayor who championed the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway following the damage it sustained in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Saturday Links: Berkeley to Lose Local Coverage as 'Daily Planet' Ends Publication

Saturday Links: Berkeley to Lose Local Coverage as 'Daily Planet' Ends Publication

The daughter of former longtime KGO radio host Ronn Owens pleads guilty to four felonies related to false pregnancy claims; Oakland to host new show from anonymous street artist Banksy this fall; and far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos is deported back to United Kingdom.

Day Around the Bay: SF Opera Orchestra Demands 'Fair' Contract, Threatens Strike

Day Around the Bay: SF Opera Orchestra Demands 'Fair' Contract, Threatens Strike

The new king of Norway is a former UC Berkeley student; the Trump administration is considering selling off a piece of Yosemite; and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says Nashville Airport will be renamed to honor the late Dolly Parton.

Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Immigration Non-Profit Workers from Doxxing

Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Immigration Non-Profit Workers from Doxxing

On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill to provide immigration nonprofit workers with state protections against doxxing and targeted harassment. Republican opponents claim the so-called "Stop Nick Shirley Act" will obstruct reporters from exposing acts of governmental malfeasance.

No Survivors in Richmond House Fire After Fourth Victim Dies

No Survivors in Richmond House Fire After Fourth Victim Dies

A 33-year-old woman has died from injuries sustained in Tuesday's house fire in Richmond. Authorities allege the blaze was set by her brother, Sergio Rivera-Vega. The other victims consist of Rivera-Vega's 45-year-old father, 5-year-old nephew, and 2-year-old niece.

Sunday Links: 49ers Tight End George Kittle Back at Practice Ahead of Season Opener

Sunday Links: 49ers Tight End George Kittle Back at Practice Ahead of Season Opener

Nevada's governor declares a state of emergency as Hawk Fire threatens Reno; 49ers tight end George Kittle returns to practice following Achilles tear; and carmaker Tesla initiates largest automative recall in China's history.

'Reading Rainbow’ Host Mychal Threets Gives Update After Psychiatric Hold

'Reading Rainbow’ Host Mychal Threets Gives Update After Psychiatric Hold

Former Bay Area librarian and current 'Reading Rainbow' host Mychal Threets has revealed that he was placed on a five-day psychiatric hold following a week that saw him get candid online about his mental health struggles and subsequently cancel an upcoming appearance at TEDxSanDiego.

Trump's Department of War Orders Audit of Cal Over Risk of 'Foreign Collaborations'

Trump's Department of War Orders Audit of Cal Over Risk of 'Foreign Collaborations'

UC Berkeley is at risk of losing funding unless they provide information related to any potential "foreign collaborations" to the Trump administration's Department of War by the end of August. Cal is one of 30 universities currently subject to this threat.

Saturday Links: Willie Brown's Awards Turn Up at Reusable Supply Store

Saturday Links: Willie Brown's Awards Turn Up at Reusable Supply Store

Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris regains consciousness after medical emergency forced cancellation of group's Chase Center show; Canada threatens to match US 'dollar for dollar' on 50% tariffs; and Berkeley's Claremont Resort & Club shutters its iconic spa.

Day Around the Bay: Golden Gate Bridge Protestors Score Light Sentence

Day Around the Bay: Golden Gate Bridge Protestors Score Light Sentence

Sixteen puppies abandoned in a Livermore Walmart parking lot last month have all found new homes; President Trump's ballroom construction will temporarily continue thanks to new Supreme Court ruling; and TikTok agrees to pay $400 million to the US over lawsuit alleging child privacy violations.

More Than 80 Pounds of Possibly Stolen Mail Recovered in Major Bay Area Bust

More Than 80 Pounds of Possibly Stolen Mail Recovered in Major Bay Area Bust

Two people have been arrested over allegations that they participated in a major mail theft operation targeting six Bay Area cities. As part of their investigation, authorities say they've recovered over 80 pounds of mail suspected as stolen.