Olivia Harden

Los Angeles

Travel Reporter at SFGate

She/Her | PARAMORE Stan | Travel Reporter @SFGATE | I travel SoCal for a living, the world for the memories

Articles

These 2 Bay Area DMVs open early for extra Real ID appointments

1 week ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

The Department of Motor Vehicles is opening select locations earlier for Real ID appointments to assist Californians panicking about the upcoming travel deadline. Eighteen locations throughout California will open one hour early, specifically for Real ID appointments, from April 14 to June 27, according to the DMV.
‘The atmosphere in town is one of anxiety’: Palm Springs is in trouble

1 week ago | kcra.com | Olivia Harden

The tourism industry in Palm Springs is growing fidgety as Canadian visitors reconsider returning to California, given the ongoing strain on the relationship between the two North American countries.
Coastal California city crowned best beach town of the year

1 week ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

A Central Coast beach town offering a quick escape from the Bay Area or Los Angeles (and famously name-dropped in an iconic 1990s movie) was just crowned the coastal small town of the year. On Wednesday, USA Today released its top 10 best coastal small towns for 2025, and the top honor went to Pismo Beach. USA Today editors and readers praised Pismo’s “quiet” beaches, wineries and outlet shopping.
'This greatly bothered me': California city pleads with Canadian tourists

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

The tourism industry in Palm Springs is growing fidgety as Canadian visitors reconsider returning to California, given the ongoing strain on the relationship between the two North American countries. Hoping to assuage this tension, Palm Springs has launched a full-throated celebration of Canada across its downtown and airport.
Airline abandons Bay Area hub to instead offer ICE deportation flights

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

An ultra-low-cost carrier that established base operations at a Bay Area airport last year abruptly announced it is now shrinking routes to make room for its latest contract — deporting immigrants for the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Avelo Airlines confirmed with SFGATE that it signed an agreement committing to a “long-term charter program” with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for deportation flights. The contract begins on May 12.
Airline abandons Bay Area hub to instead offer ICE deportation flights

2 weeks ago | lucianne.com | Olivia Harden

Original ArticlePosted By: sunset, 4/8/2025 9:13:16 PMAn ultra-low-cost carrier that established base operations at a Bay Area airport last year abruptly announced it is now shrinking routes to make room for its latest contract - deporting immigrants for the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Avelo Airlines confirmed that it signed an agreement committing to a "long-term charter program" with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for deportation flights.
New details released after police fatally shoot man in Hawaii national park

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Olivia Harden

The National Park Service on Thursday released body camera footage of law enforcement officers fatally shooting a man inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The shooting took place on March 4 around 6 p.m. at the Namakanipaio Campground, according to the park service. "The community briefing video shows significant sections of the body worn camera footage from some of the involved law enforcement officers," the park service said in a statement.
New details released after police fatally shoot man in Hawaii national park

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

The National Park Service on Thursday released body camera footage of law enforcement officers fatally shooting a man inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The shooting took place on March 4 around 6 p.m. at the Namakanipaio Campground, according to the park service. “The community briefing video shows significant sections of the body worn camera footage from some of the involved law enforcement officers,” the park service said in a statement.
Former Mar-a-Lago chef to open 2 new Downtown Disney restaurants

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

The former executive chef of Mar-a-Lago, who once led a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, is set to unveil a steakhouse and a barbecue fast-casual restaurant in Downtown Disney. Joe Isidori has a decorated resume. He took the helm at the Mar-a-Lago estate and Trump Hotel Collection restaurants in 2004 and oversaw President Donald Trump’s namesake restaurant, DJT. The Las Vegas restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star in 2009.
Entire committee resigns in protest of Bay Area city's safety plan

3 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Olivia Harden

A waterfront road along San Francisco Bay that’s extremely popular among bicyclists was due to receive a hefty grant for redesigning the roadway to enhance bike lanes. But after a marathon meeting this week ended with the Sausalito City Council rejecting the grant to reshape Bridgeway, the entire Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee quit in protest.