A Flock Safety webinar taught officers to pitch license‑plate readers to city councils, prompting fresh scrutiny as Bay Area cities reconsider contracts. Privacy groups say vendor‑led coaching blurs procurement lines.

Phil Galer, a 25-year Pittsburg PD veteran, was sworn in as the city’s 11th police chief today, stepping into leadership after Steve Albanese’s retirement.

UCOP has added about $30 million to systemwide legal reserves for 2026–27 as outside‑counsel costs and federal litigation pressure force higher spending. The change follows costly settlements and a string of government actions affecting UC campuses.

Gov. Newsom signed an executive order directing California to study AI‑driven job disruption, from WARN updates to severance, training and a public dashboard.

Pleasanton’s Alternate Response Unit won an Alameda County EMS award after hundreds of evaluations and a drop in student psychiatric holds.

AT&T has taken its landline fight to the FCC and federal court while pledging $19 billion to speed a switch from copper to fiber; regulators and residents warn losing landlines could endanger emergency access.

Some East Bay residents could receive two different June ballots — the June 2 statewide primary and a June 16 special primary to fill Eric Swalwell's vacant seat.

The Registrar posted Ballot Drop Stop visits May 18–22 at libraries, senior centers and community sites across the East Bay. Check ACVOTE for exact times.

Two Contra Costa supervisors face no challengers while the county grapples with Medicaid cuts, a proposed sales tax and looming service cuts.

A retired El Sobrante teacher and the ACLU have asked a federal court to block Contra Costa County's sign rules after a $4,300 fine and a lien were imposed.

California is rolling out more than $1 billion in point‑of‑sale rebates to help fleets buy electric trucks, with dealers able to apply discounts starting June 26.

A new Emerson poll puts Xavier Becerra on top as Steve Hilton tightens the GOP lane and Tom Steyer trails closely. With ballots mailed and early voting starting May 23, undecided voters could decide who advances.

California funded a UC Berkeley database of police misconduct files — but the public portal appears to lack cases from the past two years, raising fresh transparency concerns.