A Danville advisor admitted to running a decades-long Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say took at least $9.5 million from more than 93 investors.

A pickup reported stolen out of Napa County led to a neighborhood search in Petaluma; CHP and Petaluma police recovered suspected stolen property and detained a female passenger. The driver remains at large.

UC Berkeley Law will bar most student use of generative AI in coursework and exams this summer, citing fabricated citations and faulty legal analysis. The policy keeps narrow exceptions for AI‑fluency training.

A Sacramento jury convicted D’Anthony Chaney of first‑degree murder in a 2022 South Land Park shooting outside a liquor store. Sentencing is set for July 31, 2026.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera arrives at the Orpheum on May 28 in a refreshed touring production that runs through June 21. Tickets are on sale now.

Antisemitic graffiti and other hateful symbols were found inside a campus facility at an East San Jose elementary after a weekend break‑in, prompting an investigation and alarm among families.

Beijing‑born Cotti Coffee is opening two San Francisco locations, including a Financial District site at 99 Drumm Street. The fast‑growing chain uses heavy promotions and app‑first ordering.

Full liquor licenses in San Francisco have tumbled from roughly $250K in 2022 to near $100K today, a shift that could lower the barrier for new openings while wiping out sellers' gains.

Golden Rule, from the Che Fico team, opens May 23 in Thrive City with mini‑martinis, retro snacks and a small walk‑in bar.

Gov. Newsom vetoed SB 682 after industry and chef pushback, leaving PTFE nonstick pans legal in California while environmental groups regroup. The state debate over PFAS continues.

USA Properties Fund paid $11.5M for a Centerville parcel that will fund Centerville Plaza — planned as a 290‑unit, 100% affordable development with phased financing.

A 21‑acre Alamo compound known as Fieldhaven sold for $21.5M this month, approaching a county record. The sale highlights renewed demand for private Bay Area estates.

Volunteer testing found Linda Mar Beach exceeded health limits in 72% of 2025 samples, putting the Pacifica surf spot on Surfrider’s ‘hot spots’ list.