UC Berkeley Joins California-Israel Natural Science Grant Program
UC Berkeley has partnered with nonprofit California-Israel Collaborations in Research, funded by the Koum Family Foundation and the…
2 min read
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
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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9th Circuit Questions DOJ Demand to Set Aside 20,000 Mail Ballots
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S.
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FBI Agent Returns to Stand in Sheng Thao Trial Week Three
The federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong enters its third week in…
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Over 400 Cars Drop Off 30 Tons of Trash at Oakland Bulky Block Party
More than 400 cars carrying 385 Oakland residents lined up along Edgewater Drive in East Oakland on Saturday to dispose of more than…
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DeSaulnier Objects to DOJ Demand Over 400 Contra Costa Ballots
U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Walnut Creek) objected to U.S.
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Contra Costa and Four Bay Area Counties Vote Nov. 3 on $980M Annual Regional Transit Tax
On Nov. 3, voters across Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties will decide on the Regional Transit…
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Berkeley Voters Weigh Measure Z Parcel Tax to Establish Municipal Public Bank
Voters in Berkeley are deciding on Measure Z, a November ballot measure that would levy a six-year square-footage parcel tax to…
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Proposition 40 Billionaire Tax Divides California Unions and Economists Ahead of Nov. 3 Vote
With Election Day set for Nov.
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Proposition 45 Splits Bay Area Pro-Housing Groups Over CEQA Timelines and Sprawl
Proposition 45 on the Nov. 3 ballot would impose strict review and litigation deadlines under the California Environmental Quality Act…
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Oakland Committee Advances $30 Minimum Wage Proposal to Dec. 1 Council Vote
Oakland’s Rules and Legislation Committee voted 4-0 to place a proposed $30 hourly minimum wage measure before the full City Council…
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Golden Gate Bridge passes wind-fairing checks before winter gales
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has completed its late-October structural, corrosion, and aerodynamic…
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SFPUC signs off on Sunset Reservoir basins and 24,000-panel array
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has completed its autumn structural and electrical reliability inspection at Sunset…
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Supervisors pause new data centers for 45 days to study the grid
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously enacted a 45-day urgency ordinance pausing permits for new large-scale data…
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San Francisco Moves to Widen Downtown Office-to-Housing Boundaries as Transit Study Cites $18,437 Savings
Supervisor Danny Sauter drafts legislation expanding adaptive reuse zones while APTA report ranks city among top commuter savers.
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California Adopts Santa Clara Homelessness Prevention Model as Valley Water Declares El Niño Emergency
Assembly Bill 1924 mandates first statewide prevention blueprint while South Bay water directors fast-track winter flood protections.
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Yountville Approves Year-Round Decorative Street Lighting as Eames Retrospective Opens in St. Helena
Town council dedicates annual maintenance funds for Washington Street illumination while Napa Valley MAC debuts iconic design showcase.
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Hayward City Council Enacts 45-Day Moratorium on New AI Data Centers Over Grid and Water Concerns
Urgency ordinance pauses high-density server facility permits along industrial corridor while planners draft environmental standards.
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Berkeley City Council Approves $1.4 Million Expansion for Hillside Wildfire Sirens and Optical Sensors
Emergency preparedness investment deploys dual-spectrum thermal cameras and acoustic alert towers across Panoramic Way and Claremont…
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Alameda County Water District Cuts Ribbon on 3.5-Megawatt Solar Microgrid and Clean Energy Facility in Fremont
Regional utility integrates rooftop solar arrays and battery energy storage to ensure uninterrupted water distribution during grid…
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Considers Co-Naming Cesar Chavez Corridor to Honor Las Campesinas
Mission District cultural advocates and labor organizers champion ceremonial street signage recognizing women farmworkers and…
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Pittsburg City Council Debates 45-Day Interim Moratorium on Heavy-Load Industrial Data Centers
Civic leaders respond to community concerns over electrical grid capacity, water cooling demands, and proximity to residential…
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Berkeley and Oakland Firefighters Halt 1.5-Acre Panoramic Hill Brush Fire Near Historic Tunnel Fire Site
High-angle wildland teams defend hillside homes as dry winds test East Bay defensible perimeters on disaster anniversary.
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State auditor flags urgent repair backlog on Central Valley levees
Emergency oversight report finds nearly one-third of regional reclamation districts failing routine inspection standards ahead of…
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California State Workers Represented by SEIU Local 1000 Authorize Historic Statewide Strike Action
Civil service union members vote overwhelmingly to sanction walkouts over staffing shortages, wage adjustments, and telework mandates.
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Prop 3 asks voters to make the high-earner tax extension permanent
Voters evaluate landmark ballot measure to secure permanent funding streams for K-12 public education and community healthcare.
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Sea Cliff mansion in deed-fraud case heads to public auction
Resolution returns contested luxury property to tax rolls following multi-year municipal investigation into forged title scheme.
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Berkeley Voters Consider Measure Z to Capitalize First Regional Public Bank in East Bay
Proposed six-year parcel tax would fund public banking institution dedicated to affordable housing, clean energy, and small businesses.
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Gilroy extends data center moratorium while it writes zoning rules
Municipal planners draft comprehensive zoning standards governing industrial water usage, electrical grid impact, and acoustic…
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San Mateo County declares emergency ahead of atmospheric river season
Resolution establishes inter-agency readiness taskforce and frees infrastructure capital ahead of projected atmospheric river season.
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Oakland and Berkeley Fire Crews Halt Vegetation Fire Along Tunnel Road Corridor
High-angle wildland units contain two-alarm blaze on thirty-fifth anniversary of 1991 East Bay firestorm.
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Mountain View names its first chief transportation officer
Veteran transit planner selected to spearhead Caltrain grade-separation projects, autonomous shuttle pilots, and Vision Zero bicycle…
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Alameda City Council Approves Pacific Avenue Safety Redesign and Alameda Point Aerospace Lease
Municipal leaders endorse protected bike lanes on key West End corridor while greenlighting commercial lease for advanced maritime…
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Richmond City Council Finalizes Public Engagement Timeline for $550 Million Chevron Settlement Projects
City leaders establish participatory community framework to direct historic municipal environmental mitigation funds toward clean…
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Concord Planning Commission Evaluates Permit Extension for 140-Unit Clayton Road Senior Community
City commissioners review design modifications, pedestrian connectivity, and construction timeline extension for assisted-living…
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Alameda County Tax Collector Issues First-Installment Notices for 2026-2027 Secured Tax Roll
County treasury mails 230,000 annual tax bills funding local public schools, healthcare clinics, emergency dispatch, and flood control…
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Napa County Issues Secured Property Tax Notices Funding Rural Wildfire Defense and Road Upgrades
Treasury department sends annual statements across Napa Valley, allocating crucial revenue for volunteer fire stations, paramedic…
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Investors eye AI data center in empty San Francisco Centre floors
Investment partnership submits preliminary zoning inquiry to convert upper retail floors of former Market Street shopping complex into…
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Napa Valley Vineyard Robot Thorvald Named to TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 List
Saga Robotics' autonomous UV-C treatment vehicle recognized internationally for eliminating chemical fungicides across premier…
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Napa Farmers Market Expands Market Match Nutrition Program for County Families at Expo Grounds
Civic non-profit doubles CalFresh food assistance matching benefits to $30 per market day, supporting 40 local growers and low-income…
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SFPUC files final $2.5bn bid to buy PG&E's San Francisco grid
City commissioners submit final municipalization purchase offer to state utility commission, projecting lower electricity rates and…
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SEIU Local 1000 calls one-day strike hitting DMV, EDD and state parks
Union representing 100,000 California civil servants schedules unfair labor practice walkout over mandatory return-to-office orders…
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Palo Alto limits overnight RV parking, adds $850,000 for safe lots
Municipal ordinance balances residential street parking regulations with $850,000 in transitional safe parking subsidies and social…
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Bonta wins $6m settlement and security mandates over 23andMe breach
Consumer privacy enforcement action mandates multi-factor authentication, annual third-party audits, and genetic data protection…
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City launches $500,000 pilot fund for Mid-Market arts and theaters
Supervisor Bilal Mahmood and business foundation announce direct grants for performance residencies, venue lighting, and evening…
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UC Berkeley Journalism School Launches Emeryville Today Independent Digital Newsroom
Non-profit civic reporting initiative provides daily investigative coverage of municipal governance, local housing, and environmental…
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Berkeley District 7 rivals clash on student housing, Telegraph safety
Southside neighborhood election forum focuses on commercial rent stabilization, off-campus safety ambassadors, and municipal zoning…
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