Prosecutors say charges link four ambush-style killings and a prison stabbing to a North Richmond gang crew in a multi‑county investigation.

Oakland will warm into the mid‑70s Saturday with only a small chance of showers; the North Bay could see isolated storms and light rain Sunday.

Café Bolita has opened in West Berkeley, bringing Bolita Masa’s nixtamalized-corn cooking to a permanent corner. The cafe starts with takeout and parklet seating while renovations finish.

Mayor Barbara Lee backed a campaign to stop military equipment leaving Oakland for Israel, while the Port says federal law limits what it can do and supports federal action.

Contra Costa DA released a public report on Feb. 27, 2026 about the Aug. 4, 2025 Richmond officer‑involved shooting and posted the full press release and report online.

An internal El Cerrito police review found federal agencies were able to query photos from the city's Flock license‑plate readers during rollout and later isolated searches. The department will explain the findings at a March 10 community meeting.

Longtime Oakland leader Wilson Riles Jr. is recovering at home after a massive stroke; friends and family have launched a fundraiser to help cover in‑home care.

Livermore police say a Feb. 17 search warrant at a Pine Street home uncovered six firearms, meth, Xanax and large‑capacity magazines; a 38‑year‑old man was charged. The department posted details to Facebook on Feb. 26.

Oakland warms into the low‑to‑mid 70s Friday under mostly sunny skies. A brief cooldown and a slight chance of light rain arrive late Sunday into Monday.

A 1930s Shell station on Russell Street has been reborn as The Station, a smashburger stand serving $10‑ish burgers, fast eight‑minute tickets and long lines. The tidy menu and patio vibe have made the corner a quick‑bite destination in South Berkeley.

North Italia will open a large Walnut Creek restaurant at Plaza Escuela on March 25, with fresh‑made pasta, weekend brunch and seating for about 200.

A winter surge of death cap and lookalike mushrooms has hospitalized dozens in California, with Spanish‑speaking and Mayan immigrant communities among the hardest hit.

CalRecycle has filed an administrative accusation seeking $3.4M from the Drug Takeback Solutions Foundation as the nonprofit says it will end California takeback programs on June 30, 2026.