DA Announces Settlement With C&H Sugar Company For Air Emission Violations
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced today (Tuesday, Sept. 16) a settlement with C&H Sugar Company Inc. for odor violations in 2022. The emissions violations by C&H Sugar occurred on various dates between September 8th and October 14th, 2022, at a wastewater treatment…
Martinez Man Charged With Attempted Enticement And Coercion Of A Minor
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California OAKLAND – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Joel Lawrence Benitzhar with the federal crime of attempted enticement and coercion of a minor victim to engage in illegal sexual conduct. Benitzhar was arrested yesterday (Thursday, Sept. 11) and made his initial appearance in federal district…
DA Report Clears Concord Police Involved In Fatal Shooting
From the Office of the District Attorney: Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has issued a public report on a use of force incident in Concord that resulted in the shooting death of 47-year-old Nathan Lee Keesler on February 18th, 2025. Whenever a law enforcement officer or a civilian is shot, killed,…
Concord City Council Lowers Speeds On 20 Local Streets
Concord City Council Approves Speed Reductions on 20 Streets to Improve Safety Concord, Calif. (August 27, 2025) – On Tuesday, August 26, the Concord City Council voted unanimously for an ordinance to lower speed limits on 20 city streets to improve safety. The decision follows a comprehensive citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey conducted by the…
Lafayette Says SB79 Pushes Transit Hub Development Over Risk Posed By Wildfires
From the City of Lafayette: Lafayette CA: The City of Lafayette is encouraging residents and local businesses to voice their concerns about the lack of evacuation safety measures in Senate Bill 79’s blanket approach to development around transit locations. SB 79 (Wiener) would establish statewide transit-oriented development (TOD) zoning standards for properties near major transit stops…
Investigators Hope To Locate Possible Witness To Antioch Homicide
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau is asking for the community’s assistance in identifying a potential witness to a homicide in their city last year. Kevin Vandenbos was shot and killed on July 11, 2024, at about 7:29 p.m. at 600 Wilbur Avenue. Over the past year, detectives have conducted multiple interviews and reviewed forensic…
Danville Launches ‘Not My Kid’ E-Bike Safety Campaign For Families
Campaign includes information and tools in one location, in response to resident concerns. From the Town of Danville: DANVILLE, Calif. (August 8, 2025): The Town of Danville has launched “Not My Kid,” a comprehensive e-bike safety campaign aimed at helping families understand the rules, risks, and responsibilities of youth e-bike use. With e-bikes capable of…
Local Health Officers Urge Bay Area Families To Prioritize Immunizations In Back-to-School Preparations
From Contra Costa Health: As children and families across the Bay Area prepare for the upcoming school year, Contra Costa Health (CCH) joins Bay Area health officials in urging everyone to make sure their back-to-school checklist starts with getting their child vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective and a routine part of preventive health care. They…
Losing A Member Of The Family…
Forgive Us. Processing some news of our own this morning. Lost a dedicated newsgatherer and Friend of News24/680 this morning after some upbeat late-night comms and we’re a little rattled. He told us of a contemplative moment on his patio and a visit by a local owl, who sat with him and dropped this as…
Danville, Adjacent Agencies Step Up E-Bike Enforcement Efforts
From the Town of Danville: Police spread awareness about e-bike laws and issued citations to enhance safety. DANVILLE, Calif. (May 23, 2025): On May 21, the Danville Police Department joined agencies from across the Tri-Valley in Electric Bike Enforcement Day, focused on e-bike regulations, educating riders, and reinforcing the importance of safe riding. During the…