A newly released 171‑page consultant draft accuses St. Helena city government of chaotic budgeting, weak staffing and outsized executive pay. The study offers concrete personnel and technology fixes.

A San Jose mom flew to India for a quick H‑1B renewal and has been stuck since new vetting slowed consular appointments, leaving her family separated. Local attorneys say the backlog has ripple effects across Bay Area tech households.

A 15‑story, 220‑unit affordable tower at 470 South Market is poised to start construction this summer after public and private financing lined up.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum said it will put its SoMa building on the market after a prolonged closure and steep operating losses. The move reshapes the neighborhood’s cultural landscape.

An Alameda judge vacated Franklin Lynch’s conviction and death sentence after finding prosecutors’ racially biased jury tactics. The ruling grows out of a wider county review that has already altered many capital cases.

BART republished a note saying shorter trains let police cover cars faster, keep trains cleaner and save roughly $12M a year while experts warn of capacity trade-offs.

San Mateo County warns that rolling federal and state changes to Medi‑Cal and CalFresh could affect eligibility and renewals. Officials say updating BenefitsCal info and responding to county mail is critical.

San José police announced Wednesday they arrested a suspect in a 2019 cold-case homicide, posting the news on X. Details remain limited while detectives continue the probe.

A 34-year-old Newark woman and her dog were struck and killed Monday night on Cedar Boulevard near Joaquin Murieta Avenue as investigators probe the collision.

An appellate panel heard arguments over claims that WCCUSD used long‑term substitutes at Helms, Stege and Kennedy. The decision could reshape how California enforces the Williams guarantee.

A traffic stop outside MacArthur BART led officers to seize crack, meth, heroin, pills and a loaded pistol; two people were arrested and face felony counts, per court records.

Acme Burger founders Todd and Erica Kniess will open Bohemian Bistro in the former Hazel space in Occidental. Chef James Millar will lead multi-course prix‑fixe dinners.

SummerHill paid roughly $18M for two El Camino Real parcels and has filed plans for 29 townhomes that would replace a motel and a commercial strip. The project is now in the city's review pipeline.