Matthias Gafni
@mgafni.bsky.social
San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter, embarrassing dad, sourdough/burrito snob
My daughter wrote a book for her Girl Scouts Gold Award! Inspired by her own pit bull rescue Oliver, she wrote about Vinny, a shelter dog, in an effort to end “dangerous breed” stigma and increase adoptions. All proceeds go to Jelly’s Place dog rescue!
www.amazon.com/Vinny-Was-Go...
www.amazon.com/Vinny-Was-Go...
Vinny Was a Good Boy
Vinny Was a Good Boy [Gafni, Eloise, Becker, Gail] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Vinny Was a Good Boy
www.amazon.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
My daughter wrote a book for her Girl Scouts Gold Award! Inspired by her own pit bull rescue Oliver, she wrote about Vinny, a shelter dog, in an effort to end “dangerous breed” stigma and increase adoptions. All proceeds go to Jelly’s Place dog rescue!
www.amazon.com/Vinny-Was-Go...
www.amazon.com/Vinny-Was-Go...
Urban legend?
Gilroy police are investigating report by teen saying she bit into this Milky Way she collected during Halloween trick-or-treating and found a razor blade inside
www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
Gilroy police are investigating report by teen saying she bit into this Milky Way she collected during Halloween trick-or-treating and found a razor blade inside
www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
Bay Area police investigating report of razor blade in teen’s Halloween candy
Days after trick-or-treating in her South Bay neighborhood, a teen bit into a Milky Way and told police she found a razor blade embedded in the nougat.
www.sfchronicle.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Urban legend?
Gilroy police are investigating report by teen saying she bit into this Milky Way she collected during Halloween trick-or-treating and found a razor blade inside
www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
Gilroy police are investigating report by teen saying she bit into this Milky Way she collected during Halloween trick-or-treating and found a razor blade inside
www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
Happening now: Protesters are continuously walking across crosswalk blocking entrance to Alameda Coast Guard base. Some unmarked and marked federal agent vehicles having to inch through crowd, one used what appeared to be flash bangs to disperse crowd.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Protest of Bay Area immigration crackdown met with apparent stun grenades at Coast Guard base
Law enforcement officials deployed what appeared to be stun grenades to break up a group of protesters attempting to block traffic to Coast Guard Island.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Happening now: Protesters are continuously walking across crosswalk blocking entrance to Alameda Coast Guard base. Some unmarked and marked federal agent vehicles having to inch through crowd, one used what appeared to be flash bangs to disperse crowd.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
🎁🔗
The Trump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents, including from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to Coast Guard Base Alameda and they will begin to arrive Thursday, according to a source familiar with the operation.
The Trump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents, including from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to Coast Guard Base Alameda and they will begin to arrive Thursday, according to a source familiar with the operation.
October 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
🎁🔗
The Trump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents, including from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to Coast Guard Base Alameda and they will begin to arrive Thursday, according to a source familiar with the operation.
The Trump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents, including from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to Coast Guard Base Alameda and they will begin to arrive Thursday, according to a source familiar with the operation.
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
EXCLUSIVE: @sfchronicle.com learns that more than 100 agents, including ICE and CBP are headed to San Francisco
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Exclusive: Major federal immigration operation headed to San Francisco Bay Area
More than 100 federal agents, including some from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Alameda base.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
EXCLUSIVE: @sfchronicle.com learns that more than 100 agents, including ICE and CBP are headed to San Francisco
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Ex-NFL and Raiders RB Doug Martin died early Saturday morning after a struggle with Oakland police
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Ex-NFL running back Doug Martin dies during struggle with Oakland police
Doug Martin, 36, who was born in Oakland, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Ex-NFL and Raiders RB Doug Martin died early Saturday morning after a struggle with Oakland police
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Spot on thread here from my reporting partner @jjreport.bsky.social.
LAFD brass publicly slammed our report of rekindling early on. And now have ignored it altogether in after-action report. That is precisely where lessons are to be learned for future CA and LA wildfires.
LAFD brass publicly slammed our report of rekindling early on. And now have ignored it altogether in after-action report. That is precisely where lessons are to be learned for future CA and LA wildfires.
In January while reporting on the Palisades Fire, @mgafni.bsky.social and I heard from fire survivors about a coincidence. The Palisades Fire started in the same spot as a fire that burned less than a week earlier on New Year's Day. They wondered if the two fires might be connected 🧵
October 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Spot on thread here from my reporting partner @jjreport.bsky.social.
LAFD brass publicly slammed our report of rekindling early on. And now have ignored it altogether in after-action report. That is precisely where lessons are to be learned for future CA and LA wildfires.
LAFD brass publicly slammed our report of rekindling early on. And now have ignored it altogether in after-action report. That is precisely where lessons are to be learned for future CA and LA wildfires.
EXCLUSIVE: Family of East Bay 17yo Amin Noroozi, who got paralyzed after an accident at Stinson Beach, is suing John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek, alleging they failed in his care.
He died April 17.
Absolutely gut wrenching story.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
He died April 17.
Absolutely gut wrenching story.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Bay Area teen survived a broken neck after swim accident. His family says the hospital care cost him his life
Seventeen-year-old East Bay football player was paralyzed and died after a swimming accident in April. His parents filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging poor care by John Muir Medical Center.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Family of East Bay 17yo Amin Noroozi, who got paralyzed after an accident at Stinson Beach, is suing John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek, alleging they failed in his care.
He died April 17.
Absolutely gut wrenching story.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
He died April 17.
Absolutely gut wrenching story.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
After being the first to report that the horrific Palisades Fire was linked to an earlier blaze, @mgafni.bsky.social and Julie Johnson have a remarkable deep dive into the person who has now been charged with starting it:
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
A burned Bible and ChatGPT messages: Chilling details of the case against man charged with starting Palisades Fire
Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
After being the first to report that the horrific Palisades Fire was linked to an earlier blaze, @mgafni.bsky.social and Julie Johnson have a remarkable deep dive into the person who has now been charged with starting it:
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
Chilling details of what led up to suspected Palisades Fire arsonist lighting hillside on fire.
With @jjreport.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
With @jjreport.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
A burned bible and ChatGPT messages: Chilling details of the case against man charged with starting Palisades Fire
Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Chilling details of what led up to suspected Palisades Fire arsonist lighting hillside on fire.
With @jjreport.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
With @jjreport.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
Shoutout to @sfchronicle.com investigative reporter @mgafni.bsky.social and climate reporter @jjreport.bsky.social
NEW: Rekindling embers from smoldering New Year’s Day fireworks blaze possible cause of deadly Palisades Fire, according to @sfchronicle.com reporting.
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
Was the Palisades Fire started by a rekindling of a blaze from New Year’s Day?
Firefighters stopped a fire from reaching Pacific Palisades before dawn on New Year’s Day. Could high winds have re-ignited undetected embers six days later?
www.sfchronicle.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Shoutout to @sfchronicle.com investigative reporter @mgafni.bsky.social and climate reporter @jjreport.bsky.social
NEW: Norcal woman alleges she denied 2x by Dignity Health hospitals for emergency abortions after Sac-area hospitals cite religious restrictions.
Lost amniotic fluid at 17 wks, doctors said fetus can’t survive, but sent her home.
Developed sepsis after one.
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Lost amniotic fluid at 17 wks, doctors said fetus can’t survive, but sent her home.
Developed sepsis after one.
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
California woman sues Catholic hospitals alleging emergency abortion denials
A California woman says Dignity Health twice denied emergency abortions at 17 weeks due to religious restrictions. A lawsuit was filed in S.F. Superior Court.
www.sfchronicle.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:42 PM
NEW: Norcal woman alleges she denied 2x by Dignity Health hospitals for emergency abortions after Sac-area hospitals cite religious restrictions.
Lost amniotic fluid at 17 wks, doctors said fetus can’t survive, but sent her home.
Developed sepsis after one.
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Lost amniotic fluid at 17 wks, doctors said fetus can’t survive, but sent her home.
Developed sepsis after one.
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Wow, genetic genealogy used to solve after 34 yrs the infamous Yogurt shop murders in Austin. Investigators ID dead serial killer. Case had just been profiled in HBO doc.
Another spotlight shined on false confessions & questionable interrogation practices.
www.statesman.com/news/article...
Another spotlight shined on false confessions & questionable interrogation practices.
www.statesman.com/news/article...
Yogurt shop murders solved 34 years later with DNA testing, APD says
Authorities say DNA testing solved the 1991 “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” murders of four teens, closing one of Austin’s darkest chapters.
www.statesman.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Wow, genetic genealogy used to solve after 34 yrs the infamous Yogurt shop murders in Austin. Investigators ID dead serial killer. Case had just been profiled in HBO doc.
Another spotlight shined on false confessions & questionable interrogation practices.
www.statesman.com/news/article...
Another spotlight shined on false confessions & questionable interrogation practices.
www.statesman.com/news/article...
Big jolt! Preliminary quake of 4.6 centered in Berkeley. Who felt that?
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
4.6 earthquake centered near Berkeley jolts Bay Area
An earthquake has struck the S.F. Bay Area, centered near Berkeley. A sharp jolt was widely felt.
www.sfchronicle.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Big jolt! Preliminary quake of 4.6 centered in Berkeley. Who felt that?
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
4 years ago SF med examiner mistakenly declared James Robinson died of overdose. His family held a funeral, spread his ashes, got tattoos.
Last year, they learned he was alive. But he went missing.
The sad update: He was found dead of fentanyl overdose.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Last year, they learned he was alive. But he went missing.
The sad update: He was found dead of fentanyl overdose.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Man dies from fentanyl overdose 4 years after S.F. medical examiner mistakenly declared him dead
James Robinson’s death marks the end of a tragic saga, one that prompted the medical examiner’s office to change how it collects and identifies bodies after the Chronicle exposed its error.
www.sfchronicle.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
4 years ago SF med examiner mistakenly declared James Robinson died of overdose. His family held a funeral, spread his ashes, got tattoos.
Last year, they learned he was alive. But he went missing.
The sad update: He was found dead of fentanyl overdose.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Last year, they learned he was alive. But he went missing.
The sad update: He was found dead of fentanyl overdose.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
Seven former students allege Grammy Award-winning director Kevin Fox sexually harassed and abused them as children while administrators ignored complaints, according to a new lawsuit.
Watch the full video and read @mgafni.bsky.social’s reporting: bit.ly/3HNclqk
Watch the full video and read @mgafni.bsky.social’s reporting: bit.ly/3HNclqk
August 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Seven former students allege Grammy Award-winning director Kevin Fox sexually harassed and abused them as children while administrators ignored complaints, according to a new lawsuit.
Watch the full video and read @mgafni.bsky.social’s reporting: bit.ly/3HNclqk
Watch the full video and read @mgafni.bsky.social’s reporting: bit.ly/3HNclqk
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
NEW:
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
By Katey Rusch and @mgafni.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
By Katey Rusch and @mgafni.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
A trove of internal police files provides a more complete accounting of the early episode that could have jeopardized Aaron McFarlane’s career before a high-profile shooting.
www.sfchronicle.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
NEW:
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
By Katey Rusch and @mgafni.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
By Katey Rusch and @mgafni.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
NEW: Seven former students at Oakland’s Pacific Boychoir Academy file lawsuit alleging former Grammy Award-winning choir director Kevin Fox sexually harassed & abused them when underage. Fox won Grammys for work w SF Symphony.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Former students say Grammy Award-winning choir teacher sexually abused them at Oakland school
Lawsuit alleges choir director groomed and assaulted students over more than a decade while school officials ignored warnings.
www.sfchronicle.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:23 PM
NEW: Seven former students at Oakland’s Pacific Boychoir Academy file lawsuit alleging former Grammy Award-winning choir director Kevin Fox sexually harassed & abused them when underage. Fox won Grammys for work w SF Symphony.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
In 2000, rookie Oakland cop Aaron McFarland wrote report saying he arrested man w drugs.
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
A trove of internal police files provides a more complete accounting of the early episode that could have jeopardized Aaron McFarlane’s career before a high-profile shooting.
www.sfchronicle.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
In 2000, rookie Oakland cop Aaron McFarland wrote report saying he arrested man w drugs.
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyro linked to Esparto explosion, was being investigated for illegally storing fireworks in SoCal @ time of blast.
And Yolo sheriff deputy ran gun store on property.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
And Yolo sheriff deputy ran gun store on property.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Exclusive: Trouble mounts for Costco optician who owns company in deadly fireworks blast
A pair of investigations now center on former San Francisco resident Kenneth Chee, 48, whose Devastating Pyrotechnics operation in the farm town of Esparto was destroyed by fire on July 1.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyro linked to Esparto explosion, was being investigated for illegally storing fireworks in SoCal @ time of blast.
And Yolo sheriff deputy ran gun store on property.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
And Yolo sheriff deputy ran gun store on property.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
Allegations mounting against LA city and state officials that the Palisades Fire was a rekindling of an earlier, abandoned blaze. With @mgafni.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
‘Misinformation and misrepresentations’: Palisades Fire victims lob new claims against L.A., state agencies
Palisades Fire victims added allegations and new evidence in an amended lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Allegations mounting against LA city and state officials that the Palisades Fire was a rekindling of an earlier, abandoned blaze. With @mgafni.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
A blow-by-blow look at the deadly Esparto fireworks explosion using video, audio & maps.
New video of first blast. Audio indicating fire & police initially thought a plane had crashed. Layout of where fireworks were allowed to be stored & more
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
New video of first blast. Audio indicating fire & police initially thought a plane had crashed. Layout of where fireworks were allowed to be stored & more
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Maps and videos reveal how deadly California fireworks explosion unfolded
On July 1, a stockpile of fireworks ignited on a farm in the Yolo County town of Esparto, causing a massive, ground-shaking explosion that killed seven people. Here’s how the tragedy unfolded.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A blow-by-blow look at the deadly Esparto fireworks explosion using video, audio & maps.
New video of first blast. Audio indicating fire & police initially thought a plane had crashed. Layout of where fireworks were allowed to be stored & more
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
New video of first blast. Audio indicating fire & police initially thought a plane had crashed. Layout of where fireworks were allowed to be stored & more
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
EXCLUSIVE: Man linked to massive Esparto fireworks explosion was not allowed to possess or acquire fireworks by feds.
Nearest approved storage container for Devastating Pyro was third of a mile away from explosions, raising ?s about why product was there
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Nearest approved storage container for Devastating Pyro was third of a mile away from explosions, raising ?s about why product was there
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Exclusive: Owner of fireworks company linked to deadly explosion was denied federal license
Why Kenneth Chee was denied a federal license is one of many complexities investigators are sorting through in the aftermath of the explosion in Yolo County.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Man linked to massive Esparto fireworks explosion was not allowed to possess or acquire fireworks by feds.
Nearest approved storage container for Devastating Pyro was third of a mile away from explosions, raising ?s about why product was there
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Nearest approved storage container for Devastating Pyro was third of a mile away from explosions, raising ?s about why product was there
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
A substance known to cause cancer & never before detected at scale after fires has been found in dozens of homes in Eaton & Palisades fire zones. Even in homes that survived.
It’s even in outside air.
Read more by @meganmunce.bsky.social & @susien.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
It’s even in outside air.
Read more by @meganmunce.bsky.social & @susien.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
Toxic metal found in L.A. air after fires. No one knows where it’s coming from
A little-known and highly dangerous earth metal used to craft spaceships has been found in wildfire-ravaged homes and in the air in Los Angeles. Experts are shocked — and alarmed.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
A substance known to cause cancer & never before detected at scale after fires has been found in dozens of homes in Eaton & Palisades fire zones. Even in homes that survived.
It’s even in outside air.
Read more by @meganmunce.bsky.social & @susien.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...
It’s even in outside air.
Read more by @meganmunce.bsky.social & @susien.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...