Christien Kafton
Christien has been reporting for KTVU since 2009. In his time at KTVU, he has worked every shift, from 4:30am working for "Mornings on 2" to the "Ten O'Clock News."
In his time at the station he has reported on hard-hitting stories including his Emmy-nominated reporting on the morning of the deadly Ghost Ship fire, and the Tubbs fire. Christien has also covered lighter human interest stories including the iconic Bay to Breakers, numerous San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors Championships.
Christien is a Bay Area native who grew up watching KTVU Channel 2 News when legendary anchor Dennis Richmond was on the anchor desk. Christien was born in Oakland and raised in Berkeley. He attended Maybeck High School, and UC Berkeley before leaving the state for graduate school at Northwestern University. His first reporting job took him to Plattsburgh, NY, from here he moved on to Toledo, OH and Phoenix AZ before returning to the Bay Area; first working at NBC Bay Area before joining the Channel 2 News team.
Christien currently heads up KTVU's San Francisco bureau covering stories from City Hall to Chase Center. When he's not working you're likely to find him riding his bike through Golden Gate Park with his family or on the baseball diamond, trying to keep up with his son.
The latest from Christien Kafton
Utility worker killed in San Francisco trench collapse
A utility worker trapped under a mound of dirt died Thursday morning, despite furious efforts by San Francisco fire crews to rescue him.
Biden meets with tech leaders to talk artificial intelligence benefits
President Joe Biden is winding down his latest Bay Area visit. This will be a short visit for the president, who is in town fundraising and talking science.
Candidate for San Francisco mayor says city's crisis is its leadership
The race for San Francisco mayor is heating up and now has 29 candidates vying for the position.
Betty Reid Soskin visits namesake school, reflects on life on her 102nd birthday
Students at Betty Reid Soskin Middle School in El Sobrante had a rare opportunity on Friday. They got to meet the woman for whom their school is named, and wish her a happy 102nd birthday.
San Francisco pilot program pays people with drug addiction in gift cards if they get clean
San Francisco launched a pilot program to help those struggling with addiction. The program focuses on cocaine and methamphetamine use. Patients who get clean are paid in gift cards.
Bay Area experiencing smoky conditions due to wildfires
Look just about any direction, and you will see the thick haze resting over the Bay Area, smoke blowing southward from wildfires burning in far Northern California and Oregon.
Scientists estimate fish inside SF's Steinhart Aquarium to be 92 years old
Scientists have now determined that a fish inside the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences is a record holder.
Drug overdose deaths trending in the wrong direction, SF health officials say
San Francisco health officials say the number of people dying from drug overdoses is skyrocketing.
SF Fillmore St. businesses announce 'sinkhole specials' as they continue to recover from main break
Businesses in San Francisco's Cow Hollow are offering deals, hoping customers will return after a massive sinkhole undermined Fillmore Street.
Dreamforce 2023 wraps up in San Francisco
The three-day Dreamforce conference is over, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is weighing in on the conference and how San Francisco stepped up.