Danielle Parenteau-Decker | The Contra Costa Pulse

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, a Black man, stands at a lectern with the Seal of the Governor of the State of California. Looking on with a smile is Gov. Gavin Newsom.

10 Apr

Antioch Mayor Calls for Independent Audit of Police Department’s Hiring Practices

Amid the Antioch Police scandal, Mayor Lamar Thorpe called for an inspection of the department's hiring and internal affairs processes....

Young woman standing in front of a brick wall covering her face with a book

07 Apr

‘When Life Hits Like a Whip’: Students Try to Deal With Mental Health Themselves But Want More Support

Kennedy High students told us how they deal with mental health issues and what schools and parents could do to increase mental wellness in teens....

View looking over seated audience from behind toward Gov. Gavin Newsom standing at a lectern with trees in a hilly and foggy area behind him

06 Apr

State Makes Progress in Protecting Californians From Climate Change

California has made strides in its efforts to protect people from the devastating effects of climate change, according to a progress report released Wednesday....

People standing around a casket adorned with flowers that has not yet been lowered into the grave. The photo is framed so that the people's heads are not visible.

06 Apr

My Parents Paid the Ultimate Price for Disinformation

Misinformation peddlers have been spreading lies about health and disease for decades — and for journalist Natalie Hanson, the cost is personal....

An older white woman in a home office-type setting on a Zoom call

05 Apr

Richmond Extends Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer Moratorium

Richmond City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to extend a moratorium on building permits that require new sewer connections to the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer....

Five people in city council meeting. The words "California opportunity lives here" are visible behind them, along with the U.S. and California flags.

05 Apr

Antioch Reconsiders Smoke Shop Restrictions

At its March 28 meeting, the Antioch City Council considered rescinding restrictions from its local tobacco ordinance regarding the sale of tobacco products....

A smiling young Latina woman wearing a black apron and T-shirt holding a plate of tacos and a green beverage in front of a wood-paneled wall with leaves running down it.

04 Apr

Oakland Woman Brings Vegan Mexican Food to Richmond

Marbella Zepeda, a financial advisor and immigrant, opened the Vegan Vibes/Vibras Veganas pop-up to make vegan Mexican food more accessible....

Screenshot of two women on video conference call

03 Apr

Increasing Access to Healthcare Reduces Poverty, Policy Group Finds

On March 30, the Public Policy Institute of California presented its research report on how health insurance affects people living in poverty....

Two Black men in suits and an older person in a mask. One of the men is shaking the older person's hand

03 Apr

S.F. NAACP Clarifies Statement on $5M Payouts: Reparations Should Be Cash Payments, Plus ‘Investments’

The San Francisco NAACP says it believes in "cash-plus" after urging the San Francisco government to reject a reparations proposal....

There is a 23 percentage-point gap between low-income and higher-income households reporting a loss of employment income

02 Apr

Data Shows Some Bay Area Populations Struggling Financially in Post-COVID Economy

The Bay Area Equity Atlas found that "low-income adults and people of color are continuously struggling to cover their usual expenses."...

01 Apr

Antioch Police Union’s Attorney Criticizes Mayor for Briefing About Officers Placed on Leave

An attorney representing Antioch's police union criticized the city's mayor Friday for a press conference regarding the placing of officers on leave....

Head-and-shoulders shot of a Black woman on a Zoom video call. A chyron identifies her as Allison Briscoe-Smith.

31 Mar

College Corps Program Rewards Students for Giving Back

California students can apply now for the College Corps program, which provides financial assistance in exchange for community service work....

Six in 10 low-income adults are still unable to cover their usual expenses. Percent of adults in the Bay Area reporting it was somewhat or very difficult to pay for usual expenses. The line graph fluctuates around 40-60% for low-income people and around 10-30% for higher-income adults from October 2020 to October 2022.

31 Mar

Status Update on Bay Area Health Developments

In the Bay Area's up-and-down economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, many low-income households and communities of color are getting left behind....

30 Mar

‘Several’ More Antioch Police Officers Put on Leave This Week During Another Investigation

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe said Thursday that "several" police officers have been placed on administrative leave due to alleged policy violations....

Box that says Narcan nasal spray. Use Narcan nasal spray for known or suspected opioid overdose in adults and children. The box is held by a person in a camouflage military uniform whose hands and chest are visible.