Defense Grills FBI Agent in Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Trial
As the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her partner Andre Jones entered its second week Tuesday,…
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Civic life
Local reporting. The people, places and decisions behind the headlines.
Search and community filters apply to these 50 stories in this part of the archive. Continue to earlier reporting below.
Civic life
Martinez Announces Marina Closures for King Tides Through January
The City of Martinez has announced temporary daytime closures at the Martinez Marina and Waterfront Park for five extreme high tide…
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Hops & Scotch Closes at Avalon as Lesher Center Unveils Holiday Lineup
Hops & Scotch Taproom & Whiskey Bar has closed after more than eight years at Avalon Walnut Creek on Treat Boulevard, even as…
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Bipartisan House Pledge Urges Lawmakers to Seat Midterm Winners
Among the eight Republicans and one Republican-caucusing independent in California’s U.S.
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Report Urges Direct Intervention Powers for New K-12 Commissioner
A new report published through the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence by researchers Heather Hough and Jason Willis…
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California Prepares K-12 Overhaul Under New Education Commissioner
Under Assembly Bill 181—proposed by Gov.
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California Orders Lenders to Explain Wildfire Claim Payout Delays
California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation have ordered…
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Outside PACs Spend Record $6M+ in California Insurance Chief Race
Independent expenditure committees have spent a record $6 million-plus in the Nov. 3 race for California insurance commissioner…
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Sycamore Valley Park fields get turf work and a lighting tune-up
The Town of Danville Maintenance Services Department has completed its late-October athletic field aeration, drainage inspection, and…
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Danville Town Council Advances High-Visibility Crosswalk and Lighting Upgrades on Hartz Avenue
Public safety improvements introduce illuminated pedestrian beacons and curb extensions across historic downtown retail district.
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Pleasanton City Council Approves Weather-Based Smart Irrigation Systems Across Municipal Parks
Automated water management sensors reduce civic turf consumption by twenty percent ahead of regional conservation targets.
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San Ramon Police Department Deploys Enhanced Traffic Safety Patrols Along Bollinger Canyon Corridor
Targeted enforcement and radar trailers address excessive vehicle speeds near Dougherty Valley school zones and Iron Horse Trail…
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Dublin Public Works Conducts Comprehensive Traffic Signal Timing Review Along Dublin Boulevard Corridor
City engineers assess vehicle telemetry and pedestrian crossing intervals near Silvergate Drive to reduce regional peak-hour…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Schedules Tree Pruning and Wildland Clearance at Andrew H. Young Park
County public works and fire protection crews coordinate canopy thinning along Danville Boulevard corridor ahead of winter storm…
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Contra Costa County Initiates Playground Safety Resurfacing and Accessibility Upgrades at Hemme Station Park in Alamo
Popular community park along Iron Horse Trail to temporarily close play structures for engineered wood fiber replacement and swing…
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Dougherty Valley High Robotics Team Unveils Autonomous Agricultural Computer Vision Rover
Student engineering team develops solar-powered autonomous ground vehicle to identify weed species and monitor soil moisture without…
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Winter Walk approved, with Hartz Avenue closures through January
Town leaders authorize pedestrian street closures along Hartz Avenue, seasonal lighting displays, and expanded outdoor dining through…
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Pleasanton Unified Advances Energy Resilience Microgrid at Amador Valley High School
District partners with state energy commission on $2.4M solar-plus-storage installation to power emergency cooling centers during…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Finalizes Livorna Road Wildfire Evacuation Clearance Protocol
County advisory board and San Ramon Valley Fire coordinate intensive roadside brush clearing and emergency vehicle access along the…
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City of Dublin Opens Application Window for Two Below-Market-Rate Condominiums at Dublin Centre
Affordable homeownership initiative offers two-bedroom residences for qualifying families earning between 80 and 120 percent of area…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council and San Ramon Valley Fire Issue Late-Autumn Diablo Foothills Wildfire Advisory
Property owners urged to maintain 100-foot defensible perimeter zones and clear roof gutters as gusty Diablo winds elevate regional…
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Dublin Police and Regional Auto Theft Task Force Track High-End BMW Stolen From Amador Valley Boulevard Car Wash
Automated license plate readers and freeway surveillance cameras assist Tri-Valley investigators following brazen midday vehicle theft.
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Pleasanton City Council Weighs Public Input on Downtown Specific Plan and Permanent Outdoor Dining Standards
Main Street restaurateurs and historic preservation advocates debate architectural design guidelines and parking mitigation ahead of…
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Council orders flashing beacons at five busy Hartz Avenue crossings
Downtown pedestrian safety enhancements follow comprehensive traffic study and merchant feedback to improve visibility during autumn…
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Hundreds rally on El Camino Real to push early voting before deadline
Former City Council member Sally Lieber joins hundreds of Bay Area residents along El Camino Real as California county election…
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Oakland Commemorates 35th Anniversary of Historic 1991 Hills Fire With Wildfire Preparedness Gatherings
Oakland Fire Department Chief of Staff Michael Hunt joins residents to honor the 35th anniversary of the 1991 Tunnel Fire while East…
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HazMat Teams Clear Rep. Mark DeSaulnier's Walnut Creek Office After Suspicious Package as Contra Costa Tracks Retail Shifts
Walnut Creek police and county fire investigators declare 3100 Oak Road safe with no injuries while central county planners monitor…
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City of Livermore Launches Veterans Park Design Showcases Ahead of State of the State Wine Country Luncheon
Municipal planners open a two-week public design review today while downtown hosts 30 life-sized elephant sculptures and prepares for…
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Alamo and San Ramon Valley Fire Officials Reinforce Hillside Readiness as Southern California Brush Incident Spurs Alerts
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and Alamo leaders review evacuation zones and defensible space rules ahead of Assemblywoman…
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Pleasanton Civic Forums Spotlight $42 Million PFAS Water Upgrades and Downtown Infrastructure Ahead of November 3 Election
Tri-Valley voters gather at Pleasanton Senior Center and Firehouse Arts Center to evaluate City Council candidates, $42 million Zone 7…
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Contra Costa County Superior Court Releases 2027–2029 Strategic Plan for Judicial Operations
Three-year framework prioritizes accessible justice, digital modernization, facility security, and community outreach across…
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Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Raises $1.7 Million at Crissy Field Trails Forever Dinner
Annual outdoor gala draws 450 conservation supporters to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Crissy Field transformation.
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Coyote Creek Solar Project Shrinks Footprint by 20 Percent in Settlement Preserving 3,300 Mature Blue Oaks
CEQA agreement establishes permanent conservation easement on Barton Ranch to protect ancient oak woodlands up to 850 years old.
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U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Blocks California Class Action Over Tesla Full Self-Driving Claims
Appellate panel vacates class certification granted in August 2025, ruling that individualized questions over buyer reliance prevent…
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Brentwood and Tri-Valley Leaders Partner with Joby Aviation for Public Air Taxi Flight Simulator Showcase
Civic demonstration brings panoramic flight control simulators to East County ahead of regional urban air mobility vertiport planning.
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East Bay Regional Parks Complete Crucial Shaded Fuel Break Along Las Trampas and Alamo Ridgelines
Strategic forestry thinning and brush management along western foothills protect suburban residential interface ahead of seasonal…
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San Ramon Finalizes Engineering Contracts for Iron Horse Trail Multimodal Overcrossing at Bollinger Canyon
Elevated pedestrian and cyclist span will eliminate grade-level highway delays while linking Bishop Ranch corporate campus directly to…
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Dublin City Council Opens Public Selection for Landmark Public Sculpture at Tassajara Road Plaza
Residents invited to review and vote on three commissioned finalist installations designed for the central transit hub at Dublin…
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Pleasanton and San Ramon Municipal Planners Slash 10-Year Capital Infrastructure Deficit to $61 Million
Comprehensive audit of arterial roadways, storm drains, and municipal facilities confirms strategic reserve allocations trimmed…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Endorses Expanded Equestrian and Pedestrian Trail Along Danville Boulevard
Contra Costa County supervisors consider trail widening, split-rail fencing, and heritage oak protective easements along the historic…
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San Ramon City Council Advances Bishop Ranch Clean Transit Corridor and Autonomous Commuter Shuttles
Municipal partnership with Sunset Development deploys zero-emission electric circulators and protected multi-use lanes connecting City…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Reviews Danville Boulevard Pathway Buffers and Trail Preservation
County planning staff and unincorporated Alamo residents evaluate landscape setbacks and split-rail fencing upgrades along scenic…
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Bulb-outs and decorative crosswalks approved for Hartz Avenue
Town leaders approve bulb-out curb extensions, rapid-flashing beacons, and decorative streetscape crosswalks to protect foot traffic.
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Livermore Civic Center Library Launches Hands-On Heritage Loom Weaving Workshop Series
Community art program pairs master textile instructors with East Bay crafters to explore traditional four-harness floor loom…
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San Ramon Appoints Captain Becky Chestnut Next Police Chief Following Carlson Retirement
Veteran law enforcement leader brings nineteen years of municipal and county experience to head San Ramon Police Department beginning…
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Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Reviews Danville Boulevard Traffic Calming and Pathway Buffers
Unincorporated advisory body evaluates radar speed feedback signs and landscaped medians to preserve equestrian and pedestrian…
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Danville Town Council Advances Comprehensive Traffic Safety and Pedestrian Corridor Plan
Municipal leaders review automated speed monitoring and school crossing improvements near San Ramon Valley High
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College district guides international students through visa updates
The Contra Costa Community College District held a briefing to guide international students on updated federal immigration regulations…
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Where to park a bike in Martinez, and what the county will pay for
Martinez publishes a map of where to lock up downtown, last updated in December 2024.
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