Matthias Gafni
@mgafni.bsky.social
980 followers 550 following 100 posts
San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter, embarrassing dad, sourdough/burrito snob
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mgafni.bsky.social
We’ve seen the damage wrought from Palisades, Maui and Oakland Hills from rekindling. Poses major questions about firefighting when severe fire weather predicted:

- Should predeploy resources to recent burn sites?

- Should return to recent burn sites to redouble mop-up work, use heat sensors?
mgafni.bsky.social
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.
jjreport.bsky.social
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 🧵
mgafni.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...
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
mgafni.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Matthias Gafni
sarahrosemcgrew.bsky.social
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
mgafni.bsky.social
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...
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
mgafni.bsky.social
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...
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
mgafni.bsky.social
Yolo sheriff Lt. Sam Machado owned Esparto property. Ran Sam’s Gun Sales there. Wife worked for Yolo sheriff & wife’s sister a deputy there too. Her late father was member of Western Pyrotechnics Association & Esparto fire commissioner
mgafni.bsky.social
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...
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
mgafni.bsky.social
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...
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
mgafni.bsky.social
No Kings protest may have ended, but today in SF activists still marching outside lesser known ICE facility in SOMA. Immigrants in ICE program received texts to report over weekend in unusual move.

Activists felt it was a trap.

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
‘Very scared’ immigrants continue to answer ICE summons as protesters target S.F. building
Dozens of protesters returned to a building where immigration authorities summoned immigrants, but it remained closed Sunday morning.
www.sfchronicle.com