The crash reported Wednesday afternoon shut down both directions of Vasco Road, just south of Camino Diablo.

Contra Costa County Fire spokesperson Steve Hill said at least three vehicles were involved in the crash.

Motorists should expect significant delays in the area, officials said.

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Visitor safety is a hot topic after recent issues at another local fair.

The Alameda County Fair has been ranked among the top 50 best fairs in North America and has become a tradition for many local families who said it is a sign that summer has almost arrived.

Giang Doan has taken his kids to the annual fair for years. The Livermore family’s favorite part is getting on all the rides and eating as much as they can.

As the parent of two young children, Doan is aware of what took place last month in Contra Costa County when a series of fights broke out at their county fair.

In fact, things got bad enough that the fair instituted a chaperone policy for teen guests in response to the issues.

Doan said he understands the chaos at big events like this is something you have to prepare for.

“In the climate that we’re in now, you have to be aware of your surroundings,” Doan said.

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Organizers emphasize security will be a top priority at the Alameda County Fair.

The Solano County Fair is also underway this weekend and while they’re expecting much smaller crowds — closer to 30,000 to 50,000 guests — they’re also partnering with the county sheriff’s department to make sure everyone feels safe.

However, neither fair is planning to institute a chaperone policy.

“Our primary goal is to make sure that there is security in place so that if there is a problem, that we can handle it right here on the ground,” said Darla Givens with Solano County Fair.

For Doan, knowing there is a security presence gives him the peace of mind to create more memories and keep the county fair tradition going with his kids.

The latest incident happened at a home in Walnut Creek. Crews were able to contain the fires and investigators are now saying the original fire was caused by a lithium battery charging a cordless vacuum.

It’s the third lithium battery related fire in the county in less than two weeks.

In the video above, Pete Suratos has more on fire officials wanting to put residents on alert. Since the batteries are commonplace around the household.

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“My heart was broken,” Valerie Randolph said.

On May 27, Randolph said she was heading back home to Antioch after a date with her boyfriend Nykruma Haynes.

Haynes worked as a foreman for a local solar company and Randolph said their love for dogs led to the launch of their own kennel club. But that night, Haynes rode back home separately on his motorcycle and was a few exits ahead of her.

As Randolph approached Railroad Avenue along Highway 4 in Contra Costa County, traffic came to a stop for nearly 45 minutes.

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Randolph tried calling Haynes to tell him she had been delayed, but got no response. While stuck in traffic, she decided to check social media for more information.

“I read something that said ‘accident with motorcycle and car.’ And then, I looked at the comments and it said ‘black motorcycle’ and I know that he has a black motorcycle,” she said.

Randolph eventually pulled off to the shoulder and walked towards the scene. It was one of her worst fears.

“I walked over and they uncovered his face,” she said. “I broke down and I held his head and I cried.”

According to the California Highway Patrol, Haynes crashed into the rear end of a Kia Optima, which caused him to be thrown off the bike. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was the third fatality on Highway 4 since May 10.

A CHP spokesperson said the most recent stretch of fatal accidents on Highway 4 isn’t much different than the dangers they are seeing across the county.

But according to CHP Contra Costa’s Facebook page, out of the 15 deadly car crashes this year, eight of them have taken place on Highway 4.

“Even that night as I look back and reflect, it was the holiday weekend. I didn’t see any CHP,” Randolph said.

However, the CHP’s Contra Costa division said it was under its “maximum enforcement period” for that weekend, which means an increase in police presence along highways.

For now, Randolph and Haynes’ family have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of funeral services. It’s an opportunity for Randolph to pay tribute to her late boyfriend who was a father, a best friend and the man she was building a future with.

“He’s that energy that everyone needs around them. He’s missed so, so, so dearly,” she said.

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“For many years, growing up here, I never though that’d be a possibility,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson, who is a lifelong resident of the county.

On the first day of Pride Month Thursday, Carlson raised the pride flag in front of the administrative building in downtown Martinez.

Carlson had already made history as the first openly gay city councilmember for the city of Pleasant Hill. And before that, he worked as a Concord police officer for nearly three decades.

Carlson said he’s seen the county’s stance on LGBTQ issues change over the years and he hopes it continues to move in a positive direction.

Pete Suratos has more in the video above.

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The utility is inspecting its large electrical transmission towers and power poles throughout Santa Clara County, making sure its power lines are secure and not at risk of coming down during high winds.

PG&E crews are conducting inspections on the ground and in the air via helicopter, starting Wednesday in the hills east of San Jose, Milpitas and surrounding border communities.

On Thursday, crews will cover Los Gatos and neighboring hills, and on Friday, they’ll focus on northern Santa Clara County – Cupertino, Mountain View and Sunnyvale.

Meanwhile, in Contra Costa County, firefighting officials held their annual wildfire prevention town hall in Lafayette to encourage residents to be prepared for this year’s wildfire season.

All local fire departments and Cal Fire continue to remind residents living on property with a lot of vegetation to make sure they maintain 100 feet of defensible space around the property.

All the preparation and reminders come after the release of this year’s fire season outlook from Accuweather meteorologists, who predict that in California, 400,000 to 1 million acres will burn.

But with the help of a neighbor, and his drone, the teenage suspect didn’t get very far.  

It all started during Memorial Day weekend when someone broke into a home on Finch Court in Hercules and stole $30,000-worth of cash and jewelry.

Residents call the incident concerning and are worried it could happen again.

“It’s a little scary because you never know what happens and this is my parents house and this is right around the area,” said Noah Aquino of Hercules. 

According to Hercules police, a teenager broke into the house on Sunday morning while a homeowner was inside.

“Heard the glass breaking in the back of the house, ran out and actually yelled at the suspect, and then ran out the front door and went to the neighbors and called the police,” said Connie Van Putten of the Hercules Police Department. 

Police arrived on the scene minutes later, setting up a perimeter around the home, but weren’t able to find the thief.

However, a resident they spoke to earlier decided to use his personal drone to help with the search, locating the burglar and alerting police.

“He saw a person hiding in the vicinity of the victim’s residence,” said Van Putten. 

As the suspect kept moving, the drone’s pilot kept tracking, leading officers right to him.

“They were able to stop the vehicle which turned out to be an Uber,” said Van Putten. 

Inside of the Uber, police say they found the stolen property and the 17-year-old suspect from Texas. Now, the case is in the hands of the district attorney.

As for the neighbor stepping into help with the search, Hercules police said it’s the perfect example of community policing, while staying safe.

“He saw something was suspicious and he acted on it by calling the police, doing the proper thing. Not trying to make an apprehension himself, but calling the police,” said Van Putten.

Fair officials have added a chaperone policy for minors on the event’s last day to prevent any repeat.

NBC Bay Area’s Pete Suratos has more in the video above.

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One of the videos posted on social media showed what appeared to be one person being attacked. NBC Bay Area has blurred the video because many of the people seen are minors.

NBC Bay Area’s Christie Smith spoke with a security guard who was there when the fighting started. He asked not to use his name.

“The kids started piling in and one thing led to another. There was one large brawl,” he said. “And that kind of turned into two or three large brawls. I think there must have been a dozen fights, at least large fights. We’re talking multiple people, multiple kids, all middle school kids and it got way out of hand. And we wanted to shut it down way earlier because there was no controlling it. It was just a madhouse in there.”

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Jacob Ferguson was at the fair Saturday with a group of families, he didn’t see the fighting but added there were crowds with cell phones out and he could hear the commotion. His kids were in the animal area.

“A group, a hoard of kids started coming towards that way and they locked the gate to the animals,” he said. “My wife and kids were stuck in there and you could see the kids running. This one poor kid said he was scared.”

Ferguson and his family’s visit didn’t last long as security told them to head home.

“I believe they just told us to leave and after that, the cops came and they closed it down,” Ferguson said.

NBC Bay Area reached out to the county fair, but they did not comment. But on Facebook, fair organizers posted their goal is making sure the fair remains a safe fun environment.

NBC Bay Area also reached out to law enforcement to ask about injuries or arrests, but have not heard back.

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The settlement stipulated CVS will pay $7.5 million in civil penalties and restitution. 

The DA’s office said Monday in a statement the settlement is part of a multi-county enforcement action initiated by officials in Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Marin, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Shasta, Solano, and Yolo counties. 

CVS has 31 stores in Contra Costa, offering products such as over-the-counter drugs, food, infant formula, and baby food.  

California law prohibits retailers from selling or offering for sale any over-the-counter drug that has expired. Food retailers are also prohibited from selling or offering for sale any infant formula or baby food that has passed its “use by” date, as mandated by the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  

Filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on May 9, the complaint alleged CVS has been selling expired over-the-counter drug products, infant formula and baby food past their “use by” date for the past four years. 

The Contra Costa DA’s office said CVS cooperated with authorities and acted by conducting internal checks for expired over-the-counter drugs, infant formula, and baby food that were past the “use by” date at all their retail locations in California.  

Authorities also said CVS also retrained employees to verify the expiration dates of food and drug products. The investigation didn’t show evidence the sale of expired or past the “use by” date products resulted in harm to any consumers.  

“This enforcement action underscores how our work helps to protect consumers from unlawful business practices,” Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said, in a statement. “The residents of Contra Costa County must have confidence that the products they purchase are safe and not beyond their expiration dates. This settlement shows that CVS Pharmacy understands the seriousness of the violations and has taken steps to remedy the problem.” 

CVS agreed to abide by a court order prohibiting further violations of California law regarding the sale or offer for sale of expired over-the-counter drugs or infant formula and baby food past their “use by” date.  

The agreement was made without admitting or denying wrongdoing. CVS will pay $6.5 million in civil penalties and investigative costs and $1 million in restitution, the latter of which will go to various charitable organizations throughout the state.  

In Contra Costa, CVS will pay the DA’s office $475,000 in civil penalties and $19,000 to reimburse the office for prosecution costs.

The family of 49-year-old Jeremiah Smeby is trying to adapt to life without him. Smeby died last week when another car collided with his vehicle on Hwy. 4 in Martinez.

“He was an incredible man. He was selfless, an amazing father, friend,” said Elise Almaraz, the victim’s daughter in law. “On Wednesday night, he was driving from Antioch to Martinez and he was hit by another vehicle. That vehicle pushed him off the side of the freeway where he hit a tree.”

Laura Arkell saw it happen from her condominium window and was the one that called 911.

“I open my blinds and heard the impact and saw them come down the embankment and hit the trees,” she said. “It was out of a horror movie. I don’t think I could even put words to it.”

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This is not the first time it has happened. She says she’s witnessed accident after deadly accident on the same stretch of highway and insists something has to change. 

“Figure it out, put a barricade and stop people from hitting trees,” said Arkell.

“Believe it or not, in the 20 years I’ve been with a department we’ve been on the stretch of highway within 100 yards, many many accidents, for some reason it’s a sweeping turn on Highway 4 going westbound and for some reason we’ve had major accidents here, unfortunately,” said Contra Costa County Fire District  Battalion Chief Paul Silva.

Smeby’s family is calling for change. They believe a guardrail may have saved him and the 18-year-old driver of the other car who also died. 

“It could’ve possibly been prevented,” said Almaraz.

Smeby’s family has set up a GoFundMe to help his kids. Meanwhile, they and others, say they will push for a guardrail so more lives aren’t lost

“What are you doing about this? Isn’t enough, enough? This is enough. People are dying, fix it,” said Arkell.

Back in January, Contra Costa County held its annual “point-in-time survey,” where volunteers count the number of unhoused individuals across the region over a 24-hour period.

This week, the county recently released those numbers, showing roughly 2,400 people without housing during the period, a 4% increase compared to the last recorded survey in 2020.

Pete Suratos has more in the video above.

The county said the Antioch Marina has been a problem property for years. But they say the trash is now piled so high and the living conditions are so bad, it’s time to take action before someone gets hurt.

Paula Hobson said the place she’s called home for the past 6 years has become a living nightmare. She said the landlord cut off the power, the water, the garbage service and even closed the bathrooms during the pandemic, turning the place into a dump.

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“Oh, Lord, wild, wild West there’s no management there’s no owner it’s a free-for-all you’ve got some people coming to stay here thot haven’t belonged here,” Hobson said.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis says the county is now taking steps to clean it up and clear it out. The county is trying to help the 30 or so marina residents find shelter elsewhere. They’ve allotted $80,000 dollars to clean up the property and have given residents three weeks to move out.

“The landlord isn’t providing services they should be providing. They don’t have dumpsters they don’t have a sewage system or a septic system. They don’t have proper electricity, and it’s not even zoned for this type of use,” she said.

Burgis said it’s become a fire hazard and a health hazard, neighbors say the situation is more than an eyesore.

“You don’t understand what this is until you’re here and you’re physically seeing it. The top of that garbage right there is 12 feet high,” said Mark Whitlock Sr., Bethel Island Resident. “It is beyond bad beyond bad for the neighbors, and so unsafe for all these people. And I don’t want to see anyone get hurt period.

The site has already had several fires. Residents said they understand the need to clear it out but most don’t know where they’ll go next.

Burgis said the county is doing its best to help the residents.

“These are human beings that deserve to live in a place that they can be healthy that they can feel safe that they can avoid stress and also so they can hopefully have better times in their lives,” she said.

Burgis said the property owner will ultimately have to pay the county back for the cleanup, which should take place next month.

Steve Hill With Contra Costa County Fire said the wet winter is making it difficult for crews to fully prepare for what he expects to be a busy wildfire season.

He shared this example, a fire dozer struggling to do some trail maintenance due to the soggy conditions.

He said it’s also limiting the number of controlled burns an important tool for preventing larger wildfires.

Pete Suratos has more in the video above.

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The test comes less than two months after health officials warned residents not to eat any fruits and vegetables they have grown because of potentially toxic ash from that flare.

The incident occurred about 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2022 and into the early hours of the following day. The health department following the flaring event said the spent catalyst was a dust-like substance that contained “elevated levels of aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and zinc.”

A team of people from a newly hired environmental consulting company have started collecting samples from around the area and are trying to figure out if any of the “spent catalyst” powder could be a long-term health concern for residents.

“As we wait for the results of the soil sampling and this risk assessment, we are saying out of an abundance of caution, please do not eat, but go ahead and still plant your gardens,” said Nicole Heath, Contra Costa County’s hazardous materials programs director.

Some residents and businesses said they are on hold through prime planting season.

“Everyone is just waiting to hear whether it’s safe or not to consume what they already have, and still planting the best that they can,” said Wendy Gomez, who runs the Knots and Found plant shop in Martinez. “But ultimately trying not to eat anything if it could be hazardous.”

Other residents have voiced frustration with the refinery not effectively communicating what happened and its response.

“I mean, come on. November there’s December, January, February, March, April. We’re now in May,” Martinez resident Gayle Goldblatt said. “How hard is it to test what exactly is in the soil?”

Lab results from the soil sample collection should be available later this month or in June.

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The Bishop Ranch Autonomous Shuttle Program will run through fall 2023, providing free, driverless electric shuttles to four key destinations within San Ramon’s Bishop Ranch business park.

CCTA said the program will be available to the community from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Bishop Ranch PRESTO shuttle will take passengers along a route with four stops throughout Bishop Ranch and City Center. The shuttles hold up to eight passengers, plus an attendant, and have a maximum speed limit of 15 miles per hour. 

CCTA said the service is family-friendly, but riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

PRESTO is a new suite of mobility options that will include bike share, scooter share, and express bus service in addition to autonomous shuttles. 

CCTA said PRESTO will prepare the Bay Area for the future of transportation and increase transit options for all, including transportation-challenged and underserved communities in Contra Costa County.

“We’re excited to be able to provide the public with free access to these zero-emission, low-speed, autonomous shuttles,” said CCTA Board Chair Federal Glover, in a statement.

“The service can help cut down on harmful emissions, reduce congestion on our roads, and create a new, accessible connection to transportation hubs throughout Contra Costa County, and we’re grateful to Bishop Ranch and the city of San Ramon for sharing our vision of a brighter future for the county.”

CCTA said Bishop Ranch’s 30,000 employees and miles of private roadways, bisected by public roads, make it an ideal location for the program’s launch.

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The program is funded in part by an $8 million grant award from the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) program.

CCTA is also partnering with Beep, which specializes in testing autonomous shuttles, to create and manage “stress-free and self-sufficient autonomous mobility solutions.” Beep has tested autonomous shuttles around the country, including in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and at Yellowstone National Park. 

PRESTO shuttles don’t have drivers, pedals, or steering wheels, but do have an attendant to make sure riders have a safe and pleasant experience. The Beep command center also remotely monitors the shuttles at all times to ensure the shuttles are operating safely.

CCTA said it plans to bring shuttles to several public events across the county this summer to make it easier for people to see and experience autonomous shuttles first-hand.   

More information on how to use the shuttles can be found at ridePRESTO.com.

Shortly after 8 p.m., a Contra Costa CHP officer pulled over a Chevrolet on the right shoulder of the southbound side of the highway.

The officer was standing next to the Chevrolet when a Mercedes veered from the road and hit the car. Due to the force of the crash, the Chevrolet then hit the officer. 

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First responders took the officer to the hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and released. The CHP said she was expected to make a full recovery. The driver of the Chevrolet was also injured, but there is currently no word on their condition.

The driver of the Mercedes was not injured during the crash and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.

At its meeting Wednesday, the Contra Costa Water District board voted to end most water-use prohibitions approved in April 2022 and to drop the surcharge that went into effect that July.  

“We are in a much different situation as compared to April 2022 and accordingly, we have lifted several water use restrictions and ended the temporary drought surcharge,” CCWD board president Ernesto Avila said.

“At the same time, we encourage customers to continue efforts to use water efficiently as we adapt to the ever evolving water supply conditions,” Avila said in a news release Thursday.

The surcharge of 79 cents per 748 gallons of water, which amounted to a 15 percent increase on household water bills, will sunset at the end of April. A typical household uses about 260 gallons per day.

While it was in effect, the surcharge was rebated to households that used less than 200 gallons per day.

Some of the restrictions that are ending include the requirement that restaurants only serve water on request, that hotels only wash towels and linens on request, that construction sites use only non-potable water for dust control and that new irrigation had to be drip or micro-spray.

CCWD’s announcement comes on the heels of a historically wet winter and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s March 24 decision to end many of the state’s two-year-old emergency drought rules.

Not all of CCWD’s water conservation regulations have ended, however. 

People are still required to avoid excessive runoff while watering their yards, are prohibited from watering during and within 48 hours of measurable rainfall, from hosing down driveways, patios and sidewalks unless necessary for health and safety reasons, and from using a hose to wash vehicles unless it’s fitted with a nozzle that can be shut off.

The district’s rule against watering between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. is still in effect, as well. 

Also on Thursday, the district, which serves about 500,000 customers in East and Central Contra Costa County, announced that it will receive 100 percent of the water it requested from the federal Central Valley Project, from which it pulls the vast majority of its water. 

“We’ve had an amazing year of a lot of rain and snow coming in,” said district spokesperson Jennifer Allen. “It’s a lot of change pretty quickly.”

CCWD still offers resources and rebates to encourage water use efficiency, which can be found at its website ccwater.com/conserve.

The district attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday the investigation into Christopher George Miller started in 2022 when he worked at Deer Valley as a campus supervisor. 

A student’s parent told school officials Miller sent inappropriate texts to the student regarding marijuana use at the school, as well as sexually suggestive messages. 

Earlier this month, investigators from the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) posed as a 13-year-old girl from the school to see if Miller — by then a former school employee — was willing to sell marijuana and arrange to meet for sex.

Using a chat app Miller used, a detective started communicating with Miller, the D.A.’s office said. At one point, Miller allegedly offered to sell the fictitious teen marijuana. Later texts allegedly became more sexual in nature. 

Miller allegedly arranged to meet the “teen” for sex at a Martinez park on March 16. ICAC officers from various Contra Costa law enforcement agencies met him at the park and arrested Miller on suspicion of marijuana possession with the intent to sell to a minor and other charges related to contacting and arranging to engage in lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.

Miller was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility and arraigned on seven felony charges on March 21. His preliminary hearing is set for April 3rd at 8:30 am in Department 25 in Martinez. ICAC Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe said in a statement Miller may have been in contact with other victims. Anyone who has information related to Miller’s case can reach Holcombe at DHolcombe@contracostada.org.

One of the boys was in critical condition, officials said.

The crash happened in the Contra Costa County town of Rodeo, not far from Hercules. The suspect, identified as Ralph Ellsworth White III, 20, of Vallejo fled the scene but was taken into custody a short time later at a nearby liquor store, according to police.

Hercules police began the chase after spotting a suspect driving a stolen white Mazda SUV at around 7:20 p.m. During the chase, they lost site of the vehicle until they came upon it at the scene of a crash. The suspect had slammed into a gray Nissan.

“As our officers attempted to pull behind the [suspect] vehicle, the vehicle immediately accelerated,” Hercules police Chief Joseph Vasquez said. “The officers then initiated a pursuit, which lasted less than 30 seconds, before the vehicle ultimately and unfortunately collided into an uninvolved vehicle.”

The Nissan’s driver died at the scene, and one of her 6-year-old twin sons was airlifted to Oakland Children’s Hospital in critical condition, officials said. The victims were not immediately identified.

“She was a loving mom, she played sports, healthy, took care of her kids,” said Tommie Lewis, a cousin of the victim. “This didn’t deserve to happen this way.”

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Rodeo resident Clayton Winfrey witnessed the incident and said a major accident like this is unusual in the small, quiet neighborhood.

“The loss of life is just ridiculous,” he said. “I don’t know whose fault this is. I mean when you have a high speed pursuit sometimes you let the situation go, so, you don’t have situations like this, but that’s just my opinion.”

Vasquez said they will reevaluate their pursuit policies.

“I think in this situation here everything was so fast and so fluid,” he said. “There really wasn’t time to determine that the pursuit needed to be canceled at that point.”

White faces multiple charges, including vehicular manslaughter and leading a pursuit causing death or great bodily injury. He is being held at the Contra Costa County jail in Martinez on $375,000 bail.

The investigation is being handled by Hercules police, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the county District Attorney’s Office.

Police responded just before 7:15 p.m. a call about a person down in the street in the area of Stoneman Avenue and Briarcliff Drive.

Officers found the teen suffering from injuries consistent with being hit by a car. The vehicle left the area and wasn’t seen by the person who called 911, according to police.

Officers provided medical aid to the teen, who was transported by paramedics to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Investigators determined the teenager was walking northbound across Stoneman Avenue from Briarcliff Drive and was headed to Golden Gate School.

As she crossed into the westbound lanes on Stoneman Avenue, the vehicle hit her. The teenager was walking within the fully marked crosswalk in the intersection, providing her the right of way to cross the street, police said.

Police arrested Robert Sainez and his fiancé Vanessa Landeros Wednesday for the suspected hit-and-run that killed a teenage girl last week. 

Sainez is facing charges including manslaughter and felony hit-and-run. 

His fiancé is accused of hiding evidence.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday it has dispatched a special crash investigation team to look into the Feb. 18 crash in Northern California where emergency responders had to cut open the Tesla to remove the passenger. Four Contra Costa County firefighters had minor injuries.

The probe is part of a larger investigation by the agency into multiple instances of Teslas on Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles that are tending to other crashes.

The $1.4 million ladder truck was damaged in the crash on Interstate 680. The truck was parked to shield a crew clearing another accident, fire officials said.

The driver of the the 2014 Tesla Model S was declared dead at the scene.

NHTSA is investigating how Tesla’s Autopilot system detects and responds to emergency vehicles parked on highways. At least 15 Teslas have crashed into emergency vehicles nationwide while using the system.

Authorities said the truck had its lights on and was parked diagonally on northbound lanes of the freeway to protect responders to an earlier accident that did not result in injuries.

The fatal accident occurred around 4 a.m., and it took several hours to clear the freeway. The firetruck had to be towed away.

The Model S was among the nearly 363,000 vehicles Tesla recalled in February because of potential flaws in “Full Self-Driving” a more sophisticated partially automated driving system.

The recall, to be done with an online software update, is aimed at correcting possible problems at intersections and with speed limits.

Despite their names, Tesla has said both systems are advanced driver assist systems and that human drivers must be ready to intervene at all times.

Messages were left Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its public relations department.

“We are making this recommendation out of an abundance of caution,” county health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said Tuesday in a statement. “There is no immediate health threat to the community. That said, it’s also always better to be safe than sorry.”

• View the health department’s advisory here

The Martinez Refining Company “inadvertently showered” neighborhoods near the refinery with over 20 tons of the spent catalyst between about 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2022, and the early hours of Nov. 25, the health department said. The spent catalyst was a dust-like substance that contained “elevated levels of aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and zinc,” the health department said.

Tzvieli said residents in the area can safely plant seeds in their yards and gardens now. But he advised residents to wait for the environmental test results before eating anything that was grown in soils potentially exposed to the spent catalyst. Those results are expected in the late spring or early summer.

People still worried about gardening can safely grow produce in pots, planters or raised garden beds with fresh soil, Tzvieli said.

Marlene Lerner-Bigley takes pride in her garden every year. Now what was once a calming past time, is turning into a source of concern and frustration. 

“I’m a two-time breast cancer survivor and I don’t need this in my life,” she said. “I’m not touching my soil, I’m not doing that. It is not in my interest to do that.”

She lives next to the Martinez refining company.

“My fear is that it is very toxic, and for how long will it stay there,” said Lerner-Bigley.

Neighbors like Brenda Jacobs say they aren’t waiting for results. She’s spent more than $300 replacing all the soil in her garden.

“These are really heavy metals and they are terrible from ingestion and to put in your body,” said Jacobs. “Whenever we are being rained on with these metals, it is concerning.”

The health department is still trying to determine just how far the ash cloud spread, whether any soil is impacted, and how to solve any problems they find. 

“Repeated ingestion build up in the body and have all sorts of adverse health effects,” said Tzvieli. “They can affect the immune system, some of these metals can be carcinogenic … we are just wanting people to be very cautious.”

It could take months to find the answers, a timeline frustrated neighbors say is too long when it comes to their health. 

“They have to do something and they have to do it quicker, they have to act faster, this is an unacceptable timeline,” said Jennifer Rogers of Martinez.

The case has been referred to the district attorney’s office.

Some are growing weary of the wild weather, while others say “keep it coming.”

“The snow started Thursday night, Friday morning at that point we got quite an accumulation overnight,” said supervising park peace officer Cameron Morrison.

He’s been working at Mount Diablo since 2001 and he said he’s never seen that much snow on the mountain. A total of 16 to 18 inches have come down so far.

“A lot of pictures have been taken. A lot of people have a great time and made a lot of great memories,” said Morrison.

The Summit is closed to traffic but Ben Hromyk and his son Samuel made the 2-mile trek on foot.They say every bit was worth it. 

“I think it’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. I love inclement weather in general so seeing something like this is definitely a lifetime of memories,” said Samuel Hromyk.

Others hiked up with their snowboards, they say they definitely got some good turns in. 

“Man, we just had to take the chance and come out and see how it was and it was worth it for sure,” said Simeon Kirov.

Yosemite National Park Feb 28

Yosemite, Buried Under Several Feet of Snow, Remains Closed Indefinitely

Mount Diablo Feb 28

Watch: Skier Enjoys Run Down Mount Diablo

“It’s crazy, I’ve never seen it like this. I remember when I was a little kid, coming up here it was just a little bit of ice right at the peak,” said Adrian Todorov. “This is just crazy to me.”

The rest of Contra Costa County saw more rain Tuesday, slick conditions meant spin outs and fender benders. A giant rain filled pothole on Interstate 680 caused a nightmare for drivers as about a dozen cars ended up with flat tires. 

“I was just following the guy in front of me and boom … I hit a pothole, I was the second person and then I pulled over with a flat about an hour ago and cars just keep coming in with flats, same thing,” said a driver.

Folks are taking the bad with the good as winter continues to deliver surprises.

The high price tag comes as the department faces a budget crisis and an aging flood control system in dire need of maintenance.

“Most of our flood control system was built in the 1950s and 1960s,” Contra Costa County Public Works Director Brian Balbas said. “It’s reached it’s useful life.”

Balbas outlined the issues for county supervisors at a meeting Tuesday.

NBC Bay Area’s Pete Suratos has more on what happened at the meeting in the video report above.

bay area storm Feb 27

Bay Area Storm-Related Problems: Flooding, Road Closures, Power Outages

bay area storm Feb 27

Still Recovering From January Strom? Federal Resources Now Available in the East Bay

The good news is, there are federal resources available for those who qualify.

A FEMA’s disaster recovery center is now open in Danville, serving as a hub of information for people impacted by the January storms.

Kris and Theresa McCullough came down to the center from Byron hoping to get some help repairing the home damaged in the January storms.

“It’s been really traumatic and hard dealing with a brand new baby,” said Kris. “We lost all of our baby’s stuff and most of our belongings.”

bay area storm Feb 27

Storm Brings Heavy Rain, Hail, Low Elevation Snow to the East Bay

bay area storm Feb 27

Bay Area Storm-Related Problems: Flooding, Road Closures, Power Outages

“We really want to make sure people have access to information and can file those applications directly with FEMA,” said Kristi Jourdan, Contra Costa County public information officer. 

Jourdan said the county is trying to make it easier for residents to get help by opening up mobile sites in two other cities this week.

They’ll set up first in Richmond at the Civic Center Plaza parking lot near 24th Avenue. Then later will move to Pittsburg on the 200 block of East Leland Road.

Ironically, the mobile site was not running Monday because of the weather. Anyone looking to visit the help centers should bring documentation of any property damage so officials can help them apply directly to FEMA for assistance.

“You want to make sure you’re bringing all your information with you whether that’s photos, or other information that documents any of the damage that you’ve experienced on your private property,” said Jourdan. 

So far, just over 1,000 applications have been filed in Contra Costa County totaling close to $2 million in relief requests.

The deadline to apply for assistance through FEMA is March 16.

For those hardest hit, it’s a step in the right direction. But they note, it’s still a very long road ahead.

“The process has been really difficult because we don’t know what we’ve lost, everything was thrown away and we’re still trying to manage and figure out what we have and what we don’t have,” said Kris.

The National Weather Service issued multiple advisories, warning people of possible thunderstorms, lightning, hail and street flooding.

While lower elevations of Contra Costa County saw slushy conditions, Mt. Diablo received another round of snowfall.

“That’s one thing for sure, it’s cold, and I’m not prepared,” Patrick Anading of Concord said. “I’m not even wearing a snow outfit to be honest, but it’s better than nothing.”

bay area storm Feb 27

Bay Area Storm-Related Problems: Flooding, Road Closures, Power Outages

bay area storm Feb 26

Bay Area Weather Forecast: Rain, Gusty Winds, Low Snow Levels Return

Some adventurers never thought they’d get a chance to ski in Contra Costa County, but the conditions have lined up just right.

“We were just going up to Tahoe for the weekend and driving back to the Bay and we heard there were some killer conditions up at the top of Mount Diablo,” Shea Dellard of Mountain View said. “We decided we’re gonna go up here and give it a whirl.”

This winter just keeps on delivering, and people continue to take it all in.

“It’s just out of control,” Trevor Mecum of Concord said. “I don’t really know what to say about that. It’s a lot. The weather is just crazy.”

The driver of the truck wasn’t injured, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP dispatched received reports of a two-vehicle crash at 4:19 a.m. on Vasco, just south of Camino Diablo.

A Ford Fusion with one occupant was southbound when it crossed the center line and hit the tractor trailer head on. The driver of the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about the accident can contact the CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980.

The new organization will target young people in the West Contra Costa County areas such as Richmond and eastern parts of the county such as Antioch.

Contra Costa Health is the agency behind this new gun violence prevention coalition. Once formed, the coalition plans to sponsor Silence the Violence days of action. More important, it will reach out to middle and high school students at risk of using a firearm and encourage them to go into group counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy.

The coalition also will target young adults ages 18 to 24 who are out of school but with little to no direction in life and will help those individuals develop skills to get jobs in the trades or other professions.

Contra Costa County is one of the few large California counties to see a drop in gun homicides in 2020, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. But the county did see a 10% rise in assaults involving guns during that time.

During the pandemic, Contra Costa Health says gun violence increased after COVID-related government assistance ran out.

Hisham Alibob, manager of the new coalition, was returning Tuesday from a Justice Department convention in St. Louis, where he received on behalf of the county a $1.5 million grant from the federal government to fund the new program. Alibob says there are a litany of reasons why young people turn to guns. Many are bullied at school or in their neighborhood and end up joining a gang.

“The issue of preventing gangs is critical, right? Because a gang is really just a response to a lack of support,” Alibob said. “And it’s critical for me to be the support and to help proliferate support systems and to be an incubator of training and being able to instill skills in people to convert them from, you know, maybe not seeing purpose their life.”

Contra Costa residents with “lived experience, diverse backgrounds and perspectives” are encouraged to apply to be members of the new gun violence prevention coalition. Applications can be submitted online by visiting the county website.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday.

Almost 73% of the teachers and staff members voted in favor of the new contract. It gives them 14.5% pay increases in the first five months and then 7% raises after that and a 7% lump sum retroactive through July 2022.

Francisco Ortiz, the union’s vice president said the pay was a big incentive to get the deal done.

“I think this was a real positive step in securing more educators to be attracted to our district and to retain the educators that we currently have, so that we don’t lose them to neighboring districts,” Ortiz said.

artificial intelligence Feb 16

ChatGPT Likely Helped Student Cheat in Ethics Course About Artificial Intelligence

coronavirus Feb 17

Masks Soon to Be Optional at Alum Rock School District

The deal also allows educators to take a mental health day and recognizes the burnout so many teachers are experiencing.

The agreement also ends a possible strike by district teachers and other employees who threatened a walkout after a 97% vote in favor of a strike.

In a statement, a district spokesperson said the agreement will hopefully allow the district, educators and the community to move forward in a quote “strong partnership” and it will strengthen the education provided to students.

Thom Jensen has the full story in the video above.

Matthew Buckley, a Pinole resident, is accused of crimes that took place in 2020 and 2022 while he worked for the Sheriff’s Office, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Buckley was a 15-year veteran at the department when he was arrested last August. Sheriff’s officials did not say what prompted the investigation that led to his arrest.

Antioch Feb 13

Contra Costa County to Get $30 Million in Federal Funding to Make Roads Safer

Contra Costa County Feb 10

District Responds Following Racist Incident at Diablo View Middle School

Along with grand theft, unlawful possession of an AR-15 and filing a false report, Buckley has also been charged with two counts of preparing false documentary evidence and a misdemeanor charge of destroying or concealing evidence, prosecutors said.

Buckley had served as a court bailiff when District Attorney Diana Becton was a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge prior to her becoming the county’s top prosecutor. As a result, the District Attorney’s Office contacted the state attorney general’s office to determine whether that would warrant the District Attorney’s Office recusing itself from the case.

However, the attorney general’s office said there would be no conflict of interest as long as Becton has an “ethical wall” in which she has no input or ability to make a decision regarding the case, prosecutors said.

More like that new marriage smell. 

The 25,000-square-foot classic car museum hosted 16 couples on Valentine’s Day; 32 people who went in single and came out married, thanks to Contra Costa County selecting it to be it’s Valentine’s Day destination wedding site this year. 

“So do you know where the door is to get these cars in and out of here?” asked Kenneth Espinoza, who was there to see his friends Greg Guzman and Xiomara Villanueva of Oakley get married. “Because I need to know where to take one with me. I just have to choose which one.”

The museum is located on the second floor of a nondescript office building off Arnold Drive in Martinez. The interior is anything but plain. 

Inside is an amazing collection of cars, engines, banners, magazines, photos, and displays full of just about everything associated with cars and racing. The museum’s mission is the promotion, conservation, education and preservation of cars produced by Shelby American. 

“I really like cars and classic cars but I never been here so … it’s like amazing I didn’t even know it was here,” Villanueva said, after getting married during the day’s first ceremony. “I’m like ‘Man, this is my type of thing.’ I really like classic cars; that’s really cool because in the past I had two classic cars. This is like magic.” 

The county has offered destination Valentine’s Day weddings in previous years, including some at the top of Mt. Diablo and at the John Muir House in Martinez. Two deputy commissioners of civil marriages were on hand Tuesday, taking turns presiding at the podium set before massive cases of hundreds of toy cars. 

Nelson Rayrao and Virginia Quares have been together for 14 years and decided to finally take the plunge, once they were told by the county clerk’s office the Cobra Experience was an option. 

“He loves cars, so I thought it was really convenient right on Valentine’s Day; it’s perfect,” said Quares, who got a bit emotional during their ceremony. “We finally tied the knot and we’ve been through a lot together, so … don’t make me cry!” 

Couples were able to bring up to 20 guests to witness their unions. Families browsed the exhibits and posed for photos with some of the most exciting cars ever built, including two that were used in the Matt Damon/Christian Bale film “Ford v Ferrari.” 

Emily Lambert, Cobra Experience’s managing director, said someone from the county came through the museum a few years back and decided it would be a great spot for the civil ceremonies, but then COVID hit and the idea was shelved. 

“This is a perfect idea for something different to do,” Lambert said.  

Cobra Experience was co-founded by Lambert’s father Drew Serb, who started rebuilding, selling and collecting Cobras in the mid-1970s.  

“He has an affection, you could say, for these cars,” Lambert said.  

Some of the cars belong to Serb and the Experience, some are on loan. Nearly all of them are from local owners. Lambert said she isn’t exactly sure how many cars her father actually owns. 

“I quit counting, really,” Lambert said. “It’s more than a hobby. Our whole purpose is to share this subject with the next generation because once the older generation goes no one’s going to have them, you know? 

Matthew and Rosie Hutapea had been together for about a year when they decided it was time to make it official. Though not necessarily “car people,” Matthew said when the county clerk offered them the chance to get married at Cobra Experience, they had to make it “part of our story.” 

“Obviously it’s a very special day, a very special holiday, and it’s one less holiday I’ll have to think about since it’s together with our anniversary,” he said. “We just thought it was a very unique experience. I don’t know another single person who’s ever gotten married at a car museum.”

In fact, Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s superintendent believes the incident could spark some difficult, but necessary, conversations about race.

“Honestly, it’s disgusting to me. Children learn from what they see and I’m a firm believer of that,” said Clayton resident Vina Ferrat.

Ferrat is the mother of a student at Diablo View Middle School. She told NBC Bay Area Friday that she is still trying to process an incident that took place at the school last week.

The Mount Diablo Unified School District said on Thursday that a student was disciplined for passing out cotton balls at the school, as a way of mocking Black History Month.

Contra Costa County Feb 9

Student Disciplined Following Racist Incident at East Bay Middle School

Contra Costa County Feb 9

West Contra Costa Unified School District Celebrates Black Heritage

This event was so wide open and egregious to create an opportunity to create a safe space for students to talk about the harm that this caused,” said Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent at Mt. Diablo Unified School District.

Clark told NBC Bay Area that after the incident was brought to his attention Thursday, his office immediately notified parents about it via email.

On Friday, the district took it a step further by bringing counselors from its equity department to the campus, to discuss the incident directly with students in class.

Clark feels just disciplining students just doesn’t address the bigger problem.

“I want to make sure the adults who are in charge. Address this issue, turn them into teachable moments, not here to punish, not the penal system,” he said.

Clark added this is just one step towards creating a more inclusive environment within the district. He said that diversity discussions need to be ongoing, in order to create lasting change.

For Ferrat, she appreciates the district’s efforts in making sure all kids feel welcome, including her own.

“It shows that they care, make an effort in making this right,” she said.

Last week, officials said that a student handed out cotton balls at Diablo View Middle School in Clayton.

According to Mt. Diablo Unified School District officials, it was apparently to mock “Black History Month.”

On Thursday, the school’s superintendent sent an update to parents and reaffirmed a commitment to fighting bullying. He is also vowing to take action.

It is not clear how the student who did this, and the others involved, are being disciplined.

Pleasanton Feb 9

Pleasanton Parents Demand Action After Student Fight Caught on Camera

Contra Costa County Feb 9

West Contra Costa Unified School District Celebrates Black Heritage

It also comes just weeks after a black substitute teacher was fired for fighting a student, who called him a racial slur.

“It’s really significant for us as an organization for everyone to take notice that we’re really serious about addressing racism,” said Dr. Kenneth Hurst, superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Hurst said it’s the first time in history that the district has raised the flag, both at its headquarters and at schools around the district.

It’s flying two weeks after a viral video made headlines, showing a black substitute teacher at Richmond High throwing a student down after the student reportedly called the teacher an “N-word.”

discover black heritage Feb 9

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discover black heritage Feb 8

Wise Health SF Advances Equity in Accessibility to Wellness

The teacher was immediately fired for his actions and could face charges. The district also disciplining the student for using the racial slur.

The incident triggered a walk out by students at Richmond High, who say the “N-word” is used too frequently by some of their peers.

The superintendent promised to address this issue through events like today’s flag raising and is already meeting with black student unions across the district to collaborate on future actions.

They have an expectation that we’re supporting them and eradicating the word and really just addressing racism across the system. District officials are also looking to adopt curriculum in the classrooms that will better educate students on diversity.

“Really curriculum that’s anti-bias in nature, really teaching about different cultures, the history of African Americans,” said Laresha Huffman, Chief Academic Officer for the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Hurst said he credits the students for holding officials accountable and now, it’s up to them to deliver on those students’ needs.

“It’s not just listening to their concerns it getting their feedback on how we can support their efforts, addressing racism across the system,” he said.

Damond Lazenby’s body was found Jan. 7 alongside Highway 4 in Concord after the 19 year old was reported missing.

“It appears Lazenby was struck by a vehicle,” the CHP said in a Facebook post on Monday. “The CHP believes Lazenby was struck by the right front portion of a vehicle, and the driver fled the scene.”

Police said the suspect vehicle is possibly a dark-colored sedan.

Anyone with information is encouraged to leave a detailed message on the CHP 24/7 tip line at 707-917-4491.

Concord Jan 7

Body of Missing Man Found on Highway 4 in Concord

bay area storm Jan 3

Updates on Storm-Related Problems in the Bay Area: Road Closures, Power Outages

Lazenby’s vehicle was found abandoned in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 near the overpass on Port Chicago Highway. He had not been seen or heard from since the night of his disappearance.

Concord police, the CHP and the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office are investigating the death.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Staff at Church of the Good Shepherd in Pittsburg say crews cleaning a fountain in the church garden on Wednesday Jan. 11 alerted them to a sinkhole which opened up in the garden.

“So we came out and checked it out and let the city know, and the city has been working on this since last Wednesday,” explained Gerry Brochu, who does maintenance for the church.

The city of Pittsburg said the sinkhole opened over a failed storm drain that carries water from nearby Kirker Creek.

Pittsburg Public Works Director and City Engineer John Samuelson explained Saturday that the city has a storm drain line that takes Kirker Creek from one side of Harbor Street to the other side near the church.

“So when this massive rain hit this area, it wasn’t capable of transporting all the water in the creek from one side of the creek to another. So the water found another way, which was over the top of the street through the church property,” Samuelson said.

Since Wednesday, the church has installed security fencing to keep people out of the garden. The area around the sinkhole has been lined with tarps and sandbags.

Over the past few days, Brochu said the sinkhole has grown to be about 23 feet deep and 30 feet across. The sinkhole has swallowed up tree branches, sandbags, and even a 15-foot-tall light pole, he added. Brochu noted that over the course of the day Sunday, about 8 feet of the bank around the sinkhole has eroded into the hole.

During storms on Saturday, floodwaters spilled onto Harbor Street where the church is located. The water on Saturday knocked down a long stretch of the exterior wall separating the church grounds from the street.

On Saturday, Pittsburg police went door-to-door in the area telling residents to prepare for potential evacuation. As of Sunday evening, the city told NBC Bay Area that no homes had been evacuated by law enforcement.

The city shut down Harbor Street from Yosemite Drive to Greystone Place due to the flooding Saturday. That section remains closed, and Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans said in an email Sunday night that the city hopes to reopen the closed section on Tuesday.

In an email on Saturday night, Evans noted that once the water recedes, the city can start working on its short-term plan to address the failed storm drain.

“The longer term plan and complete fix will occur later,” Evans said.

Leaders at Church of the Good Shepherd say the church itself was not damaged by the sinkhole, only the garden grounds. Mass went on as usual Sunday. Parishioners said they were thankful the church building was not impacted.

Brochu told NBC Bay Area that he does worry that the church’s fountain or engraved bricks may be damaged as the sinkhole expands. But overall, he is remaining calm, noting with a laugh, “God made insurance for these types of issues.”

“Since the large storms and they keep coming, we’ve just been on the go,” said Chris Lau with Contra Costa County Public Works.

Lau manages the maintenance division for the county’s public works department.

Lau said roads typically get worse with the winter storms. But he’s seeing an even bigger uptick in road problems this time around, since the storms have been nearly nonstop.

california drought Jan 12

Series of Drenching California Storms Put Dent in Drought

bay area storm Jan 12

Tornado Touches Down in Northern California Town as State is Battered by Winter Storm

It’s particularly a problem for rural areas with older roads like many of the ones in Byron.

“We’ll see more issues this time around because there’s such a large volume of water that’s come down. Everything is more wet, potholes will occur,” Lau said.

It’s clear that the new potholes have caught the residents attention.

“The roads are a lot worse. A lot more potholes, which are really bad for a bike, especially a sports bike,” said Noah Masri of Brentwood.

Over in Lafayette, city crews were placing boulders along a portion of St. Mary’s Road to temporarily stabilize an embankment that’s being eroded by the rain.

Just like crews on the east side of the county, they’re racing to get it all done, while the weather is dry.

More permanent work will include creating a retaining wall and rock flow to stabilize that embankment.

The latest closure occurred on Highland Road, which is closed between Collier Canyon Road and Camino Tassajara due to rock and mudslides. Only local traffic is allowed through the area as crews work to clear the road.

A sinkhole has closed Deer Valley Road in both directions between Briones Valley and Marsh Creek roads, said Contra Costa County Public Works Department spokesperson Kelly Kalfsbeek.

California Jan 2

Tesla Plunges Over Cliff at Devils Slide, 4 Rescued

bay area storm Jan 1

Next Big Storm Expected to Hit the Bay Area Wednesday, Thursday

Marsh Creek Road is also closed, between Deer Valley and Morgan Territory roads, due to ongoing rock and mudslides.

Morgan Territory Road is closed, between addresses 5477 to 5649, because of mudslides and only residents are allowed access, officials said.

Motorists should take alternate routes to avoid the closures, and should never try to cross flooded roads-driving, riding or walking, public works officials said.

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved the contract unanimously in November. The county Board of Supervisors (acting as the fire district’s board) and the Pinole City Council unanimously approved the deal in October.

The fire district will assume responsibility for all firefighting staff, support staff, facilities and equipment for the city of 19,000 people. The contract goes into effect Jan. 1 to allow two months of work on implementation.

The most noteworthy of service improvements will be the reopening and staffing of Fire Station 74, which was closed in 2011 due to budget cuts. The station is expected to be open March 1.

“I am pleased with the partnership with Con Fire that is rooted in empathy, resilience, solutions and actions,” said Pinole Mayor Devin Murphy as mayor pro tem on Oct. 10 when the City Council approved the contract. “I hope this partnership will continue based on these values.”

According to the fire district, benefits of the new contract will include more coordinated, cohesive and streamlined fire and emergency services. Another benefit will be better alignment of firefighting models across districts that could net both increased fire services and improved firefighter safety.

On the night before Thanksgiving, the refinery accidentally released 20 tons of spent catalyst, a powdery dust containing heavy metals that left cars covered in ash. The county says it was a major chemical accident or release, and the refinery violated state law and local policy when it failed to immediately notify them of the incident.

In another incident on Dec. 9, the Martinez Refinery experienced a larger than usual flaring event, which was unsettling to many people who live in the area.

The county is now investigating both incidents.

“We are taking these events very seriously, and we’re investigating the events to the fullest of our ability to completely understand the impacts that have happened to the community and taking all the steps necessary to be able to hold the refinery accountable for any regulatory statutes they’ve violated,” said Nicole Heath of the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program.

The Martinez Refinery Co. says an equipment malfunction caused the Dec. 9 flaring, and in a statement wrote: “The flare worked as designed to safely combust excess hydrocarbons efficiently and effectively. We apologize for impacting the community.”

The city of Martinez and Contra Costa County held a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Monday to address people’s concerns about the two recent incidents.

“I went and looked at my photos because and I did notice, I thought the air looked a little sparkly,” said Katherine Houghtby who was at the Amtrak station on Nov. 24 heading to Seattle for Thanksgiving.

She was part of the meeting which lasted for over three hours with more than 100 people having questions and concerns about their health.

Operations Manager Daniel Ingram addressed both incidents.

“We are very disappointed in ourselves, that on that night we fell short of achieving our own high standard of being a good neighbor. On behalf of our team, we apologize for impacting you, our neighbors, and our community,” said Ingram.

Contra Costa Health Department informed the public about refinery violations.

“This is for, number one failure to notify us on Nov. 24 and 25 event and also for discharge into storm water drains,” said an official at the meeting. “We will be submitting a referral to the DA in the next couple of weeks.”

The refinery is in Federal Glover’s district.

“The one thing we will do here is get to the bottom of this. We will do an independent investigation and from there take the necessary actions,” he said.

Contra Costa County officials also promise to put together an oversight committee and the newly elected mayor of Martinez says she will post results of the investigation on social media.

The Martinez Refinery company said the flaring was caused by an equipment malfunction, and stated “the flare worked as designed to safely combust excess hydrocarbons efficiently and effectively.”

“It was kind of scary because you don’t know what that was, and worrying about my family,” said a resident.

Officials said the incident did not pose an immediate threat, but the flaring came on the heels of another troubling incident that took place on Thanksgiving.

That incident was caused by an accidental release of spent catalyst that resulted in a powdery dust containing heavy metals that left cars covered in ash.

The county said the refinery failed to immediately notify them of said incident. Now, both cases are under investigation.

Martinez Dec 9, 2022

Flare Operation at Martinez Refinery is Not Threat to the Public: Firefighters

Martinez Dec 9, 2022

Watch: Special Operation Flare Up at Martinez Refinery

“We are taking these events seriously and we’re investigating the events to the fullest of our ability to completely understand the impacts that have happened to the community,” explained Nicole Heath of Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program.

Martinez’s newly elected mayor, Brianne Zorn, said it’s imperative the community is kept informed about any potential problems at the refinery, and said the city is looking at instating its own warning system.

“People are expecting push notifications, they want their phones to tell them instantly what’s going on,” Zorn said. “It’s pretty clear our community is asking for more communication.”

Stephen Allen, a refinery neighbor, said having multiple incidents in a matter of weeks is alarming. His car was left covered with soot on Thanksgiving and now he’s been rattled again.

“That’s the big worry. Is it going to harm us in the long run? Maybe not now but later on in life. We don’t know,” he said.

Both the county and the state are investigating the incidents. 

However, experts say the drought isn’t getting flushed out quite yet.

“East Bay MUD is definitely hopeful, ” said Andrea Pook with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, “but that said, as you remember, January, February and March 2021 was awfully dry. It was the driest in East Bay MUD history in many areas around the state, so it’s much too early to know whether the drought will continue or not,” she said.

The agency said its water supply is slowly inching up, its reservoirs are at a combined 69% of capacity, but that’s nowhere near the mark needed to ease up on water conservation.

“In a normal year, East Bay MUD’s Mukolmne watershed gets about 40 inches of rain and we’re at 11, 11 and a half so we still have a lot of inches to make up,” Pook said, “but it’s a good start.”

Contra Costa County officials say people should keep water conservation going.

“Property owners and residents can do their part,” said Chris Lau with Contra Costa County Public Works. “They can walk around the property and make sure their property is draining appropriately. They can take efforts to clean up any leaves or debris that may be on their property and may flow onto roadways and cause flooding.”

Storage business UNITS of East Bay and nonprofit Kids Bike Lane are teaming up Saturday to build hundreds of bikes at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

The bikes will then be distributed to organizations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties that will get the bicycles to underserved children in time for Christmas.

Bob Redell has the full story in the video above.

The test kits will ship to residents’ homes within 5-7 business days, according to Contra Costa Health Services.

County health officials are urging residents to test for the virus before attending large indoor gatherings, particularly as COVID transmission continues to increase countywide.

“We want these test kits to be a staple in people’s medicine cabinets like aspirin or band-aids,” said Dr. Sofe’ Mekuria, the county’s deputy health officer. “Testing gives people the information they need to make healthy choices and reduce the spread of COVID, especially during the winter holiday season when families and friends gather indoors.”

County residents can request the four tests from the county by filling out the Contra Costa Health Services form online or by calling (833) 829-2626. The mail-order program is expected to last at least through the winter holidays, according to CCHS.

COVID tests are also available for free at all county library branches and via health care providers.

Information about at-home COVID tests can be found at www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/home-tests.

Krystine Dinh with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano said that donations are down. She added the need has been building in the community.

“The food bank is currently serving 275,000 residents between the two counties, on average per month. That’s about 1 in 6 of our neighbors in need, which an incredibly large number and really sad as we head into the holidays,” Dinh said.

Before the pandemic, Dinh said the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano was serving about 178,000 people a month. Some faced job losses. Now, it’s inflation and paying more for food and gas.

“It’s really the perfect storm. Donations are down year over year by 20%, which is really troubling but maybe not surprising,” she said.

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Experts said that people around the country will find inflation impacting nearly everything at the grocery store this holiday season.

“There is no question that this year, Thanksgiving is more expensive than ever before,” said supermarket guru Phil Lempert.

From potatoes to canned vegetables, prices have shot up this year compared to last and the need for assistance remains high.

“The cost of turkeys for us is up 41%, which is huge. We’re trying to provide that to our clients. It’s a small thing but everyone likes to have some sort of tradition during the holidays,” Dinh said.

The food bank said if people want to help, there’s several ways they can.

“They can go to our website and sign up to, volunteer with their families. They can certainly help by donating money, every dollar provides two meals for our neighbor in need. They can also come by and drop off food,” Dinh said.

For more information, visit foodbankccs.org.

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The term was used in the report to describe the “entrenched culture” of Contra Costa County.

At one point, in defending the people contributing to the report and their choice of words, District 5 supervisor Federal Glover – who is African American – said the board must respect people feeling that way, even if it is uncomfortable.

“Uncomfort; I have lived in it for 66 years,” Glover said. “You talk about words matter; just the other day I was told by a police officer that ‘You’re not on the board of supervisors at this moment, so you’re just a n—–.'”

The report was presented to supervisors Tuesday by a commission convened in Feb. 2021 to “develop and facilitate a community listening campaign to inform the priorities and structure of the ORESJ.”

Once the recommendations – which included hiring two co-directors for the department, among others – were presented, District 2 supervisor Candace Andersen immediately took issue with term “white supremacy,” which was used in the report’s introduction.

“I think many of us were surprised by that statement,” Andersen said. “It’s something where I’m hoping it was an ill choice of words.”

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Andersen said she looked the term up in the dictionary and it doesn’t apply to Contra Costa.

“I see white supremist as somebody who is an extremist, who wants to harm other people,” Andersen said. “To me, having that statement is something that is a divisive statement and I just want to make sure that the product that is produced, and that we accept as a board, avoids language such as that, where I’m hopeful that the intent is we’re talking about disparities and balances of services.”

The report’s introduction says:

“Contra Costa County is in the unceded Me-wok and Karkin territories. It is home to many social justice movement leaders, activists, and organizations. There is a rich history of organizing across multiple movements and generations. Contra Costa County is also home to an entrenched culture of white supremacy, including – surveillance, under-resourcing, and exploitation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. This culture is too often felt, expressed, and allowed within and by County governance and departments.”

The next paragraph says: “The pandemic and racial reckoning of 2020 have exposed and amplified the insidiousness of white supremacy and racial inequity within our county’s health, mental health, education, criminal legal, social service, child welfare, and other systems. These events have amplified both the resistance to and demand for radical transformation in our County systems.”

District 3 supervisor Diane Burgis and board chairperson Karen Mitchoff also took exception to the term. Burgis said she didn’t want it to obstruct people from understanding why the BIPOC is necessary.

Mitchoff initially said she wouldn’t vote to receive the report if it included the term “entrenched culture of white supremacy.” She said she feared people would take it out of context.

Mitchoff was also agitated with District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, who helped present the report, saying she wasn’t aware the term was being used until Monday, which she then raised with Gioia the same day.

She pointed out the term wasn’t in the PowerPoint presentation made earlier in the meeting, which she said was “highly suspicious.” Gioia denied having the term taken out of the presentation.

Dozens of public speakers spoke for the next two hours, including members of the commission, most defending the inclusion of “white supremists.” Mitchoff admitted after a lunch break she’d softened her stance on accepting a report with the term and wanted compromise.

Burgis said she found two distinct definitions of “white supremacy.” The first mentioned those believing the white race is inherently superior to other races as a movement. The other defined it as social, economic and political conditions giving white people advantage.

The board unanimously voted to accept the report with the latter definition inserted parenthetically after the term “white supremacy.”

“A lot of people talked about this being uncomfortable, and I think that’s healthy” Burgis said.

“Because we’re talking but things that have made some people really uncomfortable for way too long. I think the board has taken action in the past that reflects that we acknowledge harm. We want to take action.”

Because discussion of the ORESJ report took so long, the board pushed discussion on closing the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility to next Tuesday.

The advisory was issued Oct. 7 in response to elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air caused by operational issues at the Crockett Wastewater Treatment Plant. The incident caused a rotten egg smell for weeks in the area and prompted hundreds of complaints to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Officials said the advisory was lifted Monday after air readings from the past two days no longer detected hydrogen sulfide in the air coming from the facility. The health department said it will continue to monitor air readings.

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Firefighters doused most of the Marsh Fire, which burned 159 acres over the summer, but an area by Willow Pass Road and the Delta near the marsh itself proved more difficult.

County officials are now monitoring air quality as they discovered the fire is still burning underground in naturally occurring peat soils.

The fire district has asked the owner of that property to step up efforts to put it out, and said the owner has hired a private water tender to help.

“But it’s only smoldering, so it’s not a great volume of smoke,” said Ralph Borrmann with the Bay Area Air District.

Air quality in Pittsburg is in the “good” zone for now, the district said.

“But depending on where you are, some of that smoldering smoke could reach you depending on which way the winds blow,” Borrmann explained.

County officials tweeted they are monitoring air quality in Pittsburg Baypoint and said its in the acceptable range as of last reading.

The air district said if you do smell smoke from the Marsh Fire or any other fire, you’re probably being impacted.

“The best thing to do would be to go indoors, close the windows and doors,” he said. “If you’re still feeling some sort of health impact, contact your health provided or get out of the area.”

Contra Costa County Fire said when it comes to the ongoing smoldering, what they really need to help them out is rain.