San Francisco

Dr. Leonard Shlain, the San Francisco surgeon who was a pioneer in the use of laparoscopic surgery and later wrote three best-selling books combining anthropology, science and art, died May 11 in San Francisco. He was 71 and had been battling brain cancer for two years. Shlain was "a remarkably innovative surgeon . . . who led the way in pioneering new and innovative surgical therapies," said Dr.

Benjamen Chinn, one of the few Chinese American photographers to live and artfully document street scenes in San Francisco's Chinatown, has died. He was 87. Chinn died April 25 at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, according to Newton Don, his nephew who is the executor of his estate. He was being treated for an infection and died of cardiac arrest.

On her first visit to California as first lady, Michelle Obama on Monday helped volunteers construct a school playground here on a site that has been barren for years. "Imagine the changes that happen with the creation of this park," Obama said, speaking at Bret Harte Elementary School. "Kids who were never able to play on a swing set will get the opportunity to play."

Responding to the continuing recession, San Francisco passed legislation Tuesday that advocates for landlords and renters said add some of the state's strongest tenant protections to the city's rent-control law. Supervisor Chris Daly introduced the legislation in March, saying that the downturn has left more of the city's renters in danger of eviction. The new laws limit rent increases and allow tenants to add roommates to help cover costs.

The blogosphere has been buzzing for days over the perky widow who stole the handsome gay guy from his longtime partner. She's been called a "home wrecker" and the sobriquet that rhymes with witch, and lambasted as a wretch "who only lives for her own happiness, no matter who gets hurt." Cherchez la femme notwithstanding, the saga of Linda and Harry and poor, cuckolded Pepper has ignited a fierce debate about whether homosexuality is a choice. Even People magazine has called for details.

Forty-four people were reportedly injured Saturday in a crash involving two light-rail trains at a boarding platform on San Francisco's west side. Authorities said three people were severely injured in the 2:30 p.m. crash as an L Line train rear-ended a K Line train at the West Portal Station. A San Francisco Police Department spokesman said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. Both trains were operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni, system.

Jorge De La Rosa pitched eight scoreless innings to win his sixth straight start against San Francisco and help the Colorado Rockies avoid a three-game sweep against the Giants with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. The Giants had the tying run at third in the ninth, but Rafael Betancourt struck out Nate Schierholtz. Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki homered for the Rockies, who had lost four straight, including the first two in this series. But with De La Rosa's outpitching All-Star Matt Cain (13-6)

"So what are you having for breakfast this evening?" asked the waiter, while pouring Sauvignon Blanc into tiny white ceramic cups typically used for hot tea. As I reviewed the menu, I could feel the stranger next to me at the communal table leaning over my left shoulder. "You should really try the Burmese fish stew," said the woman with bright bleached blond and pink hair. "It's absolutely to die for." Welcome to one of the latest quirky restaurants to hit the dining scene in San Francisco, a city known for its culinary excellence and a style all its own. Of course, you can always visit the usual spots such as the Slanted Door.

I never quite got anime. Yes, I watched the Japanese animated series "Speed Racer" growing up, and I'm impressed by Hayao Miyazaki, the director of the anime films "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro." But if I happen to visit a comic book store, I gravitate to Marvel and DC, steering far clear of the anime-style Japanese comic books known as manga. A newish San Francisco hotel was about to challenge my thinking and prove what a global pop culture phenomenon anime is. Two years ago, boutique hotel chain Joie de Vivre reopened the Best Western Miyako Inn in Japantown as the anime-infused Hotel Tomo.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to bar law enforcement officials from handing juvenile illegal immigrants over to the federal government unless they have been convicted of a felony. Twenty years ago, San Francisco enacted a "sanctuary city" ordinance requiring, in part, that local agencies not consider immigration status when dealing with young offenders. But Mayor Gavin Newsom changed the policy in the summer of 2008, after published reports revealed that the ordinance was protecting young undocumented offenders from deportation.