Two-Alarm Fire Burns Through Martinez Rental And Hemp Building Wednesday

A devastating fire burned through a structure on Howe Road in Martinez Wednesday, growing to 2-alarms and eventually burning through the building’s roof. The Cresco Rental Store sustained minimal smoke damage while a commercial hemp business next door was thought to be a total loss. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known as…

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Contra Costa Homeless Count Shows Small Increase, Still Below 2024 Levels

From Contra Costa Health: Contra Costa County’s annual survey documenting people experiencing homelessness found a modest increase in 2026 compared to 2025, though the overall count remained lower than 2024 levels, according to data released by Contra Costa Health’s Health, Housing and Homeless Services Division (H3). H3, with 188 volunteers, conducted the Point-in-Time Count across…

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On The Night Beat: Brake Lights, Flash Lights, And Media Lite

When there were newspapers, and we worked for them, we called the graveyard shifts “The Lobster” or “Nightside.” The journalist gypsies who populated the shifts went by a variety of names: “Nighthawkers,” “Ghouls,” “Darksiders.” For some, it was a desirable gig. Little management oversight (most reporters are independent cusses to begin with), we had our…

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FBI Searches County Assessor’s Office, Personal Residences Tuesday

A team of FBI agents executed a series of search warrants at private homes and the Contra Costa County Assessor’s office Tuesday. Agents declined to specify who or what they were looking for though a bureau spokesperson confirmed warrants had been served at the assessors office at 2530 Arnold Drive in Martinez, the home of…

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Injury Crash Cripples Eastbound Ygnacio Valley Road In Walnut Creek Monday

A multi-vehicle crash in the eastbound direction of Ygnacio Valley Road in front Ygnacio Valley Center left 6 people injured Monday, one seriously, along with damaged and upended vehicles strewn across the critical commuter route. The crash was reported at 7:13pm. The crash ultimately involved four cars with firefighters moving in to stabilize three EVs…

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Letter: Reader Writes In Support Of Tice Creek Principal Pam Davis

Note: This letter is identical to one the author sent to the District Governing Board this evening. Ed.   Editor: Re: Support for the Appointment of Pam Davis as Principal of Tice Creek School I am writing to express my strong support for the appointment of Pam Davis as Principal of Tice Creek School. My…

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Not What You Want To See On The Highway…

Driver of this truck ran into a little trouble on southbound I680 north of S. Main in Walnut Creek a few moments ago (2:13pm) with fire starting in the engine compartment and spreading to the truck as occupants baled out. No one was injured, thankfully, through traffic is stalling in the area as fire apparatus…

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