![John Woolfolk is a Bay Area News Group reporter](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/John-Woolfolk-6-2-2024.jpg?w=57)
Reporter
John Woolfolk
John Woolfolk is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group, based at The Mercury News. A native of New Orleans, he grew up near San Jose. He is a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and has been a journalist since 1990, covering cities, counties, law enforcement, courts and other general news. He also has worked as an editor since 2013.
All Stories
!["It wasn't until I started touring nationally that I realized what an oasis this place was, and what a good place for me to get into the music." -- Laurie Lewis "It wasn't until I started touring nationally that I realized what an oasis this place was, and what a good place for me to get into the music." -- Laurie Lewis](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SJM-L-LEWIS-04XX-1.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
The Bay Area helped make Laurie Lewis a bluegrass star, and others are following her footsteps
"It wasn't until I started touring nationally that I realized what an oasis this place was, and what a good place for me to get into the music." -- Laurie...
![Almost a year after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed it, California stands alone among states supporting his call for a constitutional amendment to nationalize California gun restrictions. Will that change? Almost a year after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed it, California stands alone among states supporting his call for a constitutional amendment to nationalize California gun restrictions. Will that change?](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SJM-L-CAGUNLAWS-0526-1.jpg?w=132)
Why haven’t blue states rushed to join Newsom’s call for constitutional amendment on guns?
Almost a year after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed it, California stands alone among states supporting his call for a constitutional amendment to nationalize California gun restrictions. Will that change?
![The protests unfolded amid a larger debate over crime and punishment in the Golden State. A series of laws and initiatives over the last 15 years were aimed at depopulating overcrowded California prisons. The protests unfolded amid a larger debate over crime and punishment in the Golden State. A series of laws and initiatives over the last 15 years were aimed at depopulating overcrowded California prisons.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EBT-L-880PROTEST-0416-109.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Should protesters pay the price? Demonstrations that snarled Golden Gate Bridge, I-880 spur questions about tougher penalties
The protests unfolded amid a larger debate over crime and punishment in the Golden State. A series of laws and initiatives over the last 15 years were aimed at depopulating...
![Proposed initiative would amend Proposition 47, the 2014 initiative, by strengthening theft penalties for repeat offenders and incentives for drug addicts to seek treatment. Proposed initiative would amend Proposition 47, the 2014 initiative, by strengthening theft penalties for repeat offenders and incentives for drug addicts to seek treatment.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SJM-L-SJTHEFT-0208-1.jpg?w=125)
Backers say they have enough signatures to qualify Prop 47 rollback initiative
Proposed initiative would amend Proposition 47, the 2014 initiative, by strengthening theft penalties for repeat offenders and incentives for drug addicts to seek treatment.
![Homeowners have been stung with massive increases in premiums -- if not stripped of coverage altogether. Homeowners have been stung with massive increases in premiums -- if not stripped of coverage altogether.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BRN-L-PARKIT-COL-0730-1.jpg?w=132)
California spent $3.7 billion reducing wildfire fuel. Bill would make insurers factor that into coverage
Homeowners have been stung with massive increases in premiums -- if not stripped of coverage altogether.
!["I understand they would be upset," one protester said of drivers. "But if I was in their position, and I knew that something was going on to help end this war, I would understand it." "I understand they would be upset," one protester said of drivers. "But if I was in their position, and I knew that something was going on to help end this war, I would understand it."](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EBT-L-880PROTEST-0416-40.jpg?w=140)
Protesting war in Gaza, hundreds stop traffic on two major Bay Area freeways
"I understand they would be upset," one protester said of drivers. "But if I was in their position, and I knew that something was going on to help end this...
![Shanahan says Khanna encouraged her to run before publicly calling for her to drop out, but the Santa Clara congressman said he'd cautioned her that her candidacy would hurt issues she's championed. Shanahan says Khanna encouraged her to run before publicly calling for her to drop out, but the Santa Clara congressman said he'd cautioned her that her candidacy would hurt issues she's championed.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SJM-L-RFKJR-03227-2.jpg?w=132)
RFK Jr.’s running mate in public dispute with Ro Khanna over her candidacy
Shanahan says Khanna encouraged her to run before publicly calling for her to drop out, but the Santa Clara congressman said he'd cautioned her that her candidacy would hurt issues...
!["If Polly's killer is somehow able to prevail, this is the tip of the iceberg," said her father, Marc Klaas. "If Polly's killer is somehow able to prevail, this is the tip of the iceberg," said her father, Marc Klaas.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SJM-L-DAVIS-0405-2.jpg?w=129)
Condemned killer of 12-year-old Polly Klaas makes new bid to overturn death sentence
"If Polly's killer is somehow able to prevail, this is the tip of the iceberg," said her father, Marc Klaas.
![While fast food restaurants buckle under a state-mandated $20 minimum wage for their workers this month, Republican leaders noted a Lake Tahoe area cafe that's part of a hospitality group run by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's sister is seeking a $16-an-hour busser. While fast food restaurants buckle under a state-mandated $20 minimum wage for their workers this month, Republican leaders noted a Lake Tahoe area cafe that's part of a hospitality group run by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's sister is seeking a $16-an-hour busser.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SJM-L-TAHOE-1103-12.jpg?w=133)
GOP raps Gov. Newsom as sister’s cafe seeks $16-an-hour busser while fast-food eateries must pay $20
While fast food restaurants buckle under a state-mandated $20 minimum wage for their workers this month, Republican leaders noted a Lake Tahoe area cafe that's part of a hospitality group...
![A bill could make California the first state to give workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails or other communications from their bosses outside their normal work hours. A bill could make California the first state to give workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails or other communications from their bosses outside their normal work hours.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SJM-L-PWROUT-1027-2.jpg?w=132)
California could be first state to give workers right to ignore boss’s after-hours calls, texts, emails
A bill could make California the first state to give workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails or other communications from their bosses outside their normal work hours.