Writer Applauds Alameda’s Ban On Leaf Blowers

Editor; I would like to commend the mayor and city leaders of Alameda for taking action and finally banning the use of gas powered leaf blowers on the island effective January 1. Those of us opposed to the machines have argued against their use for years, with Alameda’s city council “kicking the can down the…

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Health Department Asks District Attorney To Press Legal Action Against Martinez Refining Company For Hazardous Materials Release 

From Contra Costa Health: On Wednesday, Contra Costa Health (CCH) formally requested that the District Attorney consider taking legal action against the Martinez Refining Company (MRC) for not notifying the County after the refinery released more than 20 tons of metal-laden dust into the community over the Thanksgiving holiday. The accidental release of “spent catalyst”…

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Firefighters Extend A Helping Hand In Hercules Wednesday

Trees came down, transformers supernovae’d, and steady rainfall fed our streams and low-lying areas to make travel hazardous – as most of the experts had promised – during an often wild night in the 24/680 Wednesday. Our team of semi-waterproof photographers were out and about and Craig Cannon was on hand as this little drama…

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Lafayette Declares Storm Emergency

From the City of Lafayette: Lafayette has proclaimed a Local State of Emergency due to severe storms expected this week, following flooding and mudslides just days ago during the storm on December 31. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected from this afternoon (Wednesday, January 4) through Thursday morning. Flooding is likely in some parts…

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COVID-Positive Inmate Dies In Jail Quarantine Tuesday

From the Office of the Sheriff: In-Custody Death Investigation The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa DA’s Office are currently investigating an in-custody death that occurred at the Martinez Detention Facility this afternoon. The 31-year-old, who is not being identified at this time, was arrested on December 31, 2022, by…

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Danville Proclaims Local Emergency Due To Storms

From the Town of Danville: Town is preparing for additional storms after flooding December 31. The Town of Danville has proclaimed a local emergency due to severe storms expected this week, following flooding and mudslides after the unprecedented storm on December 31. Acting in the capacity of Director of Emergency Services, Town Manager Joe Calabrigo…

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24/680 Locals Using Tuesday To Prep For Expected Storm

Residents in our service area are using a break between storms to shore up their hillsides, patch their roofs and fill sandbags in advance of a predicted and potentially destructive storm forecast to slam into us on Wednesday. Hit hard by a storm that arrived and lingered over the New Year’s weekend residents battled widespread…

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2023 Arrives In The 24/680 – With Bangs And Sirens

Our brand spanking New Year arrived, rain-washed and crystalline – but not completely untarnished as we humans set about doing what we do: screwing up, mightily. We broke tradition and did not party until our heads pounded, eschewing even our traditional birthday toast to our New Year’s Eve-born ancestor, and ended up working through it…

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