Tag: Contra Costa County

East Bay neighborhood celebrates early Halloween for girl battling cancer

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An East Bay neighborhood was celebrating Halloween earlier than usual on Friday night.

It was a VIP experience for Jia, a 3-year-old who will not be able to trick-or-treat on Halloween night.

Jia was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of pediatric cancer.

It was spotted following a trip to the hospital in January, after Jia got sick.

“There’s the initial shock that your daughter can have something that’s terminal,” said Dena Kim, Jia’s mother.

Kim says seeing Jia go through multiple rounds of chemo and giving birth to her now 7-month-old during this period has been the hardest thing she’s ever gone through.

Jia’s most recent chemotherapy kept her in the hospital for two months and wiped out her entire immune system.

“Even when we come home and she’s doing well that is kind of filling my mind that I might not have many years left with her,” Kim said.

With Jia being immuno-compromised and unable to be around large groups, this Halloween Kim wanted to do something special for her daughter.

They’ve always gone to the Hercules waterfront to trick or treat, so she posted a message to a Hercules Facebook group to see if a handful of homes could celebrate early for her daughter who was battling cancer.

The neighborhood answered the call.

“Within 30 minutes I had 10 people reach out…now we’re up to 44,” Kim said.

And the Hercules neighborhood did not disappoint – home after home, they were coming out to greet jia, who they were meeting for the first time.

“To see the look on Jia’s face, that made every moment worth it,” said Jon Siapno, from Hercules.

Other neighbors say Jia’s story stuck a personal chord and were happy to help her enjoy Halloween a bit early.

“Being a mom, being a parent, it’s one thing when you kids are the one who gets sick, that really got to me,” said Gayle Usana.

“I wanted to cry but at the same time you want to stay strong, no kid should have to go through what she’s gone through,” said Lashante Smith.

Kim says her daughter still has a long road ahead, with more chemotherapy through next year.

This is why moments like the early Halloween celebration Friday night was so special – to allow Jia to feel like a kid again.

“It’s what we needed today before we go to radiation. Grateful is the biggest understatement,” Kim said.

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Pete Suratos

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October 18, 2025
Letters: Trump succeeds in Mideast where diplomats have failed

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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

Trump succeeds
where diplomats failed

Re: “Trump must be a disrupter in the Middle East” (Page A7, Oct. 16):

The writer seems to think that Donald Trump isn’t up to the task of dealing with the problems in the Middle East because he went to business school, not the School of Foreign Service. Well, all of those people who went to the right schools don’t seem to have done very well in the Middle East.

On the face of it, things haven’t changed that much, but it’s apparent that significant change is now possible. In league with Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump has quieted the Iran threat for now. Trump then talked Netanyahu into stopping the firing of further missiles into Iran unnecessarily. Then Trump persuaded Netanyahu to publicly apologize to the leader of Qatar.

Any progress could disappear as quickly as another Oct. 7 event takes place, but at least this is a promising step in the right direction.

Daniel Mauthe
Livermore

U.S. should help
the poor, not the 1%

How do we justify pulling support from life-saving measures in order to save billionaires money?

Certain members of Congress support our president in punishing poor people in our country and around the world, because they were not lucky enough to have a father who could give his son a real estate empire.

Donald Trump has taken SNAP (food vouchers) and Medicaid from working families, and also fired people who work for the government. He destroyed foreign aid that supports worthwhile programs like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which have saved over 70 million lives and billions of dollars of medical care since its inception.

I believe we should help the poor people in the U.S. and the world, not the richest people who could not have made their fortunes without healthy, educated workers who make a living wage.

Bill Nicholson
Martinez

Prop. 50 a childish
ploy for dominance

How do you tell the difference between people acting like mature adults or like overgrown children? Mature adults accept that things don’t always go the way we want them to go and that other people have the right to have things the way they want them, at times, even when it’s not the way we like them.

When President Biden took office, there were Democrats who proclaimed that “the adults were back in charge,” but I see plenty of Democrats acting childishly these days, with Proposition 50 being a prime example. Most Democrats today seem to think that “preserving democracy” equals dominance by Democrats on all levels. (And, yes, many Republicans wrongly seek GOP dominance.) But either would actually be the destruction of democracy. And many seem to think that even the courts should always rule the way they think they should rule. Sorry, people, but that is childishness.

Christopher Andrus
Dublin

Climate change won’t
wait for solutions

Climate change threatens our planet through extreme weather, melting ice and rising sea levels, all stemming from excessive greenhouse gases.

This environmental degradation endangers resources, with rising temperatures leading to droughts that harm crops and water supplies. NASA reports a 1-degree Celsius temperature increase since the late 19th century, causing significant impacts. Climate change also intensifies extreme weather events, displacing communities and causing economic damage.

The direct cause is burning fossil fuels, while deforestation and unsustainable farming practices indirectly contribute. A key solution involves investing in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. Governments, businesses and individuals must act to promote clean energy policies and reduce carbon footprints.

I urge support for climate-change solutions to protect our planet for future generations.

Aidelen Lara
Hayward

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Letters To The Editor

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October 17, 2025
Letters: Left-wing billionaires are pushing Proposition 50

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Left-wing billionaires
are funding Prop. 50

Re: “Hedge fund billionaire Steyer gives $12M to back Proposition 50 redistricting vote” (Page B6, Oct. 12).

If you are wondering how to vote on Proposition 50 gerrymandering, look no further than who is funding the “yes” campaign. Billionaires Tom Steyer and George Soros are pouring millions of dollars into it. These are far-left-wing elites.

They are not interested in the people or what is good for the state of California. They are only interested in increasing their stranglehold over voters. They are the power-hungry force behind all the terrible policies that are destroying California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom conjured up this gerrymandering scheme. He has created this costly special election, hoping that turnout will be low and that people won’t care.

We do care. We need to say no. Vote no on Proposition 50.

Jay Todesco
Concord

Citizens can flex
their economic might

Re: “Tech billionaire Marc Benioff says Trump should deploy National Guard to San Francisco” (Oct. 11).

My first reaction to this news was, “Who the hell cares what this guy thinks?” Do only billionaires’ voices matter? If Donald Trump rigs future elections, is peaceful protesting the only power we have? Not by a long shot.

Even as Trump tries to sabotage the power of the vote, we have the power of the purse. It worked on Disney during the Jimmy Kimmel fiasco. It will work on any company that sells to consumers. Www.goodsuniteus.com tracks corporate political donations. When, collectively, people stop shopping and subscribing to the brands that do not share their values, companies notice in a hurry. Trump may not listen to us, but he does listen to his billionaire buddies.

It may be time to start keeping corporate leaders up at night, watching their market shares tank. It may be time to remind billionaires that the money that drives this country comes from us.

Janice Bleyaert
El Sobrante

Cal must do more
to support students

UC Berkeley is regarded as the No. 1 public university. However, the students who make Berkeley great are facing hunger at an unacceptable rate. The 2022 UC Basic Needs Report shows that 47% of UC students have faced food insecurity.

I’m grateful for the opportunities this university has presented to me. However, a reason I and many other students hesitated in committing to Berkeley is due to the city’s basic cost of living. Attending Berkeley for most will be their greatest investment, so it should be on the university to support students contributing to the legacy of such an institution.

Currently, students can only visit Berkeley’s Basic Needs Center once a week, which is not enough for the students who rely on this resource the most. Working to expand on this resource could make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of the great minds we have at Berkeley.

Kennedy Jones
Berkeley

Medical community must
loudly denounce RFK Jr.

After eight months of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doing his best to unravel decades of advances in medicine and the development and use of tested and proven vaccines and medications that have saved millions of lives, saved millions of people from years of suffering, and prevented epidemics of many deadly and debilitating diseases — culminating in Donald Trump’s unhinged and unsubstantiated medical advice to America’s pregnant mothers not to take Tylenol because it causes autism in their children — I have one question: Where the hell has the medical community been?

The medical community in this nation has to stand up loudly to condemn and stop this devastation of what has allowed us all to live longer and healthier lives.

Michael Thomas
Richmond

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October 14, 2025
Photos: Season’s first big rainstorm drenches the Bay Area

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Flood advisories are in effect across the Bay Area as a storm system moves through the region this evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The biggest storm to hit the Bay Area in roughly seven months began to douse much of California on Monday afternoon, slowing motorists, dropping snow in the Sierra Nevada, and providing a clear signal that the winter rainy season has begun.

A cold front from the Gulf of Alaska was expected to bring half an inch to 1 inch of rain for most Bay Area cities, with up to 2 inches in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur by the time it was all over.

The steady rain began around lunchtime Monday, hitting the North Bay first and working its way south. Forecasters said it was likely to continue overnight into early Tuesday, stopping around mid-morning as the system passes through to the east.

The average monthly rainfall total for October in San Francisco is 0.94 inches, 0.88 in Oakland and 0.80 in San Jose, meaning this storm has the potential to bring a month’s rain in two days. While there have been huge storms occasionally in October, like in 1962 and 2021, it’s not normally a rainy month.

Pedestrians are reflected in shop windows as they walk in the rain in downtown Palo Alto, as a storm arrives in the Bay Area on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

Cars make their way along a flooded High Street near Interstate 880 in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A shopper at Broadway Plaza shields themself from the rain in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. A rainstorm is set to arrive in the Bay Area Monday afternoon and stay through Tuesday, bringing with it showers and a chance of thunderstorms. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Police respond to an accident as traffic backs up near the Fruitvale Avenue exit in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

People spend the morning enjoying themselves before the expected rain arrives later this afternoon while at Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. A rainstorm is set to arrive in the Bay Area Monday afternoon and stay through Tuesday, bringing with it showers and a chance of thunderstorms. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Pedestrians walk in the rain in downtown Palo Alto as a storm arrives in the Bay Area on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

Mount Diablo is surrounded by clouds as hawk flies in the horizon at Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. A rainstorm is set to arrive in the Bay Area Monday afternoon and stay through Tuesday, bringing with it showers and a chance of thunderstorms. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Michelle Lemos, of San Ramon, walks in the rain while holding her water lilies umbrella while shopping at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. A rainstorm is set to arrive in the Bay Area Monday afternoon and stay through Tuesday, bringing with it showers and a chance of thunderstorms. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

A pedestrian walks in the rain in downtown Palo Alto as a storm arrives in the Bay Area on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

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Jane Tyska, Jose Carlos Fajardo, Dai Sugano, Paul Rogers

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October 13, 2025
Californians spend $8,640 more than other Americans. Where did it go?

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We all know that California is a pricey place to live.

However, what drives those higher expenses is not just housing, although putting a California roof over your head is the largest expense.

To gain insight into California costs, my trusty spreadsheet reviewed detailed consumer spending statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. These numbers allow us to track key components of household expenses in 2024 for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It’s calculated per resident, so much like an average, the biggest and smallest spenders can influence the results.

California’s overall consumer spending in 2024 equaled $65,340 per resident, the fourth-highest among states. That was $8,640 more than $56,700 spent nationally.

Most of California’s extra spending was tied to buying services – and this math sees housing as a service.

Californians spent $46,360 for services per resident, the third-highest level among the states. That was $8,070 extra compared to the nation’s $38,290.

Contrast that large gap with the smaller one for goods. Thanks to the state’s highly competitive retail market, online shopping, and its huge agricultural industry, Californians can buy goods at prices closer to the national norm than you may think.

Californians spent $18,980 per resident on goods last year, just $570 above the $18,410 spent nationally.

Big paydays

California’s lofty spending isn’t just about the state’s high cost of living.

Do not forget the state’s substantial earnings, which also contribute to increased spending.

Consider the personal income per resident yardstick, the bureau’s comprehensive measurement of all types of incomes, including those from jobs, businesses, investments, and government assistance.

California’s $86,300 personal income per resident ranked fifth-highest among the states for 2024 – and was $13,100 above the nation’s $73,200.

And California life is different.

More spending on services, outside of shelter, reflects affluence – plus a younger population, good weather and lifestyle choices.

And some transportation spending may surprise folks about a car-loving state. However, compared to the typical American, Californians drive fewer miles, own fuel-efficient cars, and use mass transit.

Where did it go?

It’s zero surprise that California’s housing and utilities expenses – the costly bane of the Golden State – had the biggest gap with the national norm.

Californians spent $12,840 per resident (fifth-highest among the states) on shelter. That’s $2,250 above the national expenditure of $10,590. So, roughly a quarter of California’s above-average spending is allocated to housing.

The second-largest spending divide was for healthcare. Californians spent $11,050 per resident (No. 11) – $1,310 more than the $9,740 expended by a typical American.

Other excess

Consider other parts of a household budget where California tops the U.S., ranked by the size of the gap…

Personal services: $1,180 more – Californians spent $6,100 per resident last year (sixth-largest among the states) vs. $4,920 nationally.

Dining out/accommodations: $1,170 more – $5,370 spent (No. 4) vs. $4,200 nationally.

Recreational services: $1,000 more – $3,290 spent (No. 3) vs. $2,290 nationally.

Transportation services: $610 more – $2,550 spent (No. 6) vs. $1,940 nationally.

Financial/insurance: $560 more – $5,150 spent (No. 12) vs. $4,590 nationally.

Clothing/footwear: $490 more – $2,050 spent (No. 2) vs. $1,560 nationally.

Food and beverages: $450 more – $4,800 spent (No. 12) vs. $4,350 nationally.

Recreational goods: $210 more – $2,160 spent (No. 14) vs. $1,950 nationally.

Jewelry, watches, luggage, sports gear: $160 more – $1,020 spent (No. 3) vs. $860 nationally.

Home furnishings/appliances: $60 more – $1,500 spent (No. 16) vs. $1,440 nationally.

Below par

California spent less than the national norm last year in three categories.

Gasoline/energy: $80 less – $1,220 spent (No. 36) vs. $1,300 nationally.

Drugs, personal care and cleaning supplies, toys: $310 less – $4,490 spent (No. 31) vs. $4,800 nationally.

Vehicles/parts: $410 less – $1,740 spent (No. 50) vs. $2,150 nationally.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

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Jonathan Lansner

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October 13, 2025
Shutdown closes Bay Area home of the ‘father of the national parks’

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In fewer than 15 minutes, two separate carloads of people pulled up to the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez last Saturday. But then they turned away because the 325-acre park, with its Victorian mansion, historic pear orchard and visitor’s center, had been closed to the public without notice.

“What’s going on?” a man in one car asked. When told that the park was closed because of the federal government shutdown, he said, “I didn’t expect a historic site to be closed. I feel bad.” He had driven an hour from Santa Clara to Martinez, having heard that a famous American once lived there.

That eminent figure is Muir, the Scottish-born naturalist who founded the Sierra Club and hosted President Theodore Roosevelt on a camping trip in Yosemite in 1903. Muir is called the “father of the national parks,” in part because the writing he did in his Martinez study persuaded Americans to see their wilderness areas as treasures to preserve, not as resources to be exploited.

John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, pictured on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, is closed to the public due to the government shutdown. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

But since Oct. 1, Muir’s home has been shuttered, a closure Jonathan Jarvis, the director of the park service from 2009 to 2017, and Mark Rose, Sierra Nevada and clean air senior program manager of National Parks Conservation Association, said was emblematic of the murky future of the National Park Service.

Popular national parks in the Bay Area such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore remain open during the shutdown, though some of the larger open-air parks will offer bare-bones services. But three smaller, historic parks have been closed in Contra Costa County: Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord, and the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville.

Tao House, located at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville, where playwright Eugene O’Neill and his wife, Carlotta, lived from 1937 to 1944, is one of the national parks closed due to the federal government shutdown. (Cindi Christie/Staff Archives)

Jarvis and Rose said they fear the shutdown could become a pretext to drastically reduce funding for the country’s public parks, even as they broke attendance records in 2024, with 332 million visits. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump proposed $900 million in cuts to the park service — as detailed in a May 2 letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations from Russell Vought, director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget — potentially wiping out budgets for at least 350 of the 433 parks, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

Even though a House Appropriations Committee proposal would avert the administration’s “most damaging” cuts, the park service has still lost a quarter of its permanent staff since earlier this year, the parks association said. With the shutdown, more than 9,200 parks employees have been furloughed without pay, according to the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service Contingency Plan.

Friday, Vought announced on X that “The RIFs have begun,” referring to reductions-in-force of the 750,000 federal employees currently furloughed because of the shutdown. Politico confirmed with an OMB spokesperson that the reductions “are substantial” and “not furloughs.”

“The administration has been calling it a reduction in force, but it would just be a mass termination of potentially hundreds of thousands of additional park service staff,” Rose said.

The park service, in an email, said it “remains committed to maintaining as much access as possible to park lands during the lapse in appropriations. Critical functions that protect life, property and public health will continue to be staffed.”

The spokesperson did not respond to a question about potential layoffs, saying, “We do not have comment on personnel matters.” The White House Press Office’s automatic reply email stated media members could expect delays in responses because of the shutdown.

In contrast to the official parks service statement, Rose and Jarvis describe a more dire situation: To stay open, larger open-air national parks are relying on skeleton crews, which may be challenged to stop vandalism, harm to wildlife or damage to natural resources. Rose also said public safety is compromised, as help could be delayed if visitors get lost or injured.

This situation is the result of “a combination of incompetence and intent,” said Jarvis, who lives in Pinole. During a 2013 government shutdown, he closed all the national parks and said it’s “stupid” that parks are not all closed right now, though this move would be politically unpopular. He said the circumstances around this shutdown are unlike anything he’s seen. “It’s chaos upon chaos,” he said of the current state of the national park service.

Jarvis and Rose describe a top-down style of leadership in the U.S. Department of the Interior, which runs the park service, resulting in confusing information about what’s open, what’s closed and how the public should be notified. The national parks shutdown contingency plan stated that park websites and social media would not be updated, nor will regular notices of road or trail closures be posted.

Jarvis has raised concerns that the Trump administration is setting up national parks to fail. In a worse-case scenario he described in The Guardian, the parks’ failure would give this administration an excuse to privatize the park service’s high-visitation “cash cows,” such as Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon.

As for the hundreds of smaller parks, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in May proposed the idea of transferring them to state agencies, as recommended by the Office of Budget and Management. Jarvis said that wouldn’t be easy, given that each national park was established by Congress and new legislation would be needed to strip them of their status. It’s also questionable whether many states could step in to run these parks, he said.

The John Muir site and the other Contra Costa parks fall into that category. The park service manages more than 130 sites that highlight places related to significant figures and events in American history. This includes famous battlegrounds, presidential homes and others that have been established to elevate narratives about those sidelined in traditional texts.

Interior of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park visitor center on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Richmond, Calif. This site is closed to the public due to the government shutdown. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

So the Bay Area is home to the Rosie the Riveter park, which spotlights women who contributed to the war effort, local Japanese Americans and Black migrants from the segregated South. World War II also provides the backdrop for Concord’s Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, which honors 320 Black soldiers killed in a 1944 explosion while unloading munitions — a tragedy that led to desegregation of the military.

Even if the Trump administration doesn’t have the legal authority to offload these sites, Jarvis expressed concern about the “moral aspect” of sending the message that they should be removed from the national park system.

“You’re basically saying that the people that the stories that these parks represent are not relevant to the American experience, and that’s just horrible,” Jarvis said.

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Martha Ross

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October 11, 2025
San Pablo man sentenced to life for killing ex-girlfriend in 2017

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RICHMOND — A judge on Friday sentenced a 51-year-old San Pablo man to life in prison for gunning down his ex-girlfriend in front of her children more than eight years ago, prosecutors said.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Lawyer McBride of murdering 29-year-old Rashanda Franklin on April 4, 2017, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

On the day of the fatal shooting, McBride waited for Franklin in a church parking lot where she dropped off her children for school. Prosecutors said McBride had been following and harassing Franklin for weeks after she broke off their two-year relationship.

Franklin called 911 and drove away with her sons, then ages 9 and 5, still in the car.

McBride followed Franklin in his car. As they neared the intersection of Rheem Avenue and 29th Street in Richmond, McBride swerved in front of Franklin and got out to confront her.

A recording of Franklin’s 911 call captured her desperate plea: “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride replied, “I ain’t playing with you,” and then shot and killed her.

The horrified screams of Franklin’s children were also caught on the 911 recording.

McBride was arrested a short time later, but it took eight years for the trial to get underway.

In addition to murder, McBride was sentenced for the related offenses of firing into an occupied vehicle, stalking and using a firearm to cause death, according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said McBride received a determinate sentence of 20 years and four months in prison, to be followed by an indeterminate sentence of 75 years to life in prison.

“This tragic case underscores the devastating reality of domestic violence, which claims far too many lives,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. “While no verdict can bring back a mother taken from her children in such a senseless act of violence, this sentence provides the victim’s family with a measure of justice and accountability.”

Becton said the sentence “also sends a clear message that stalking and harassment are warning signs that must be taken seriously, and that those who perpetrate such violence will be held responsible under the law.”

Anyone experiencing domestic violence can call STAND! For Families Free of Violence at 888-215-5555. Help is also available at cocofamilyjustice.org and staysafecontracosta.org.

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Jason Green

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October 10, 2025
Contra Costa County man honored for saving girl from burning car on Highway 4

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A Contra Costa County man has been awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism after saving a little girl from a burning car in 2024.

On May 2024, Troy White was driving his daughter from soccer practice on Highway 4 when he saw the scene of a car crash. A woman had managed to get out of the car, but her 3-year-old daughter was trapped inside the burning wreckage.

White then climbed inside the car, released the girl from her car seat and pulled her out to safety moments before the car exploded.

Now, he says he would do it again in a heartbeat.

“I didn’t think I deserved it. 17 others honored several died. I didn’t do anything unusual, I’d do this every single day if I needed to,” White said.

The Carnegie Medal for Heroism it’s the highest civilian honor that can be given for heroism. It’s an award designed to honor everyday people who do extraordinary things to help save others from extreme danger.

This is only the second time someone from Contra Costa County has been awarded the medal.

“That is exceptional, and this is an ordinary man, and I love the fact that we can honor this lovely man who did this extraordinary thing, not because he had to, not because he got paid, but because he is just a hero and we have heroes among us,” said Diane Burgis, Contra Costa County supervisor.

Burgis presented the award to White in front of his family at Tuesday’s Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting. She told White it was a huge honor for her.

Along with the medal, White was awarded $7,000 and will get ongoing medical and educational support if needed.

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Jodi Hernandez

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October 9, 2025
Bay Area high school football roundup 2025: Best of Week 6 action
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Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football roundup.

Here, you’ll find all the details from the weekend’s action in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses teams that play in leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Check back every Saturday during the season for scores, highlights and top performers, updated throughout the day.

If you have not already, please subscribe here for complete digital access all season long. Your contributions keep us going.

On to the roundup …

Ranked teams

No. 1 De La Salle 35, Cathedral Catholic 14

Quarterback Brayden Knight rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns as host De La Salle dominated San Diego powerhouse Cathedral Catholic. The Spartans ended the night with 250 rushing yards. Nathan Canilao was in Concord and has the story here.

No. 3 Pittsburg 30, No. 5 Los Gatos 27

Pittsburg made the long trip down to the South Bay and beat Los Gatos on Luis Rodriguez’s 43-yard field goal with less than 20 seconds to play. It was Rodriguez’s second clutch kick of the fourth quarter after he nailed a 37-yarder to tie the game. Christian Babcock has the recap from Los Gatos here.

No. 6 San Ramon Valley 49, Granada 13

Owen Power’s 30-yard pick-six set the tone as SRV routed visiting Granada. Quarterback Cole Dawes had five touchdown passes to five receivers. Power also added a 10-yard rushing score. “Overall it was a great team win in all three phases of the game,” SRV coach Aaron Becker said. SRV (4-2) will begin East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division play next week at Amador Valley. Granada dropped to 3-3. – Nathan Canilao

No. 8 California 40, Livermore 22

Luke Taylor remains on a roll for California as the Grizzlies’ all-purpose player scored three touchdowns against previously unbeaten Livermore. Taylor caught two TD passes and ran one in for Cal, which is 6-0. Arjun Banerjee ran in a TD and tossed two scores. Jordan Lee had a rushing TD, and Henry Dupin snatched a pick-six. Livermore fell to 5-1. — Christian Babcock

No. 10 Archbishop Mitty 32, No. 12 Valley Christian 7

Mitty stretched its winning streak to four games as Joseph Engin passed for two touchdowns and ran for one to lead the Monarchs over Valley Christian in a WCAL game at Foothill College. Engin threw an 11-yard TD pass to Marquis Marshall and a 7-yard scoring pass to Kai Sniffen. Lazaro Faraj-Washington’s 6-yard run capped the scoring for Mitty, which also had field goals by Chase Graff from 53 and 32 yards out. Graff also contributed eight tackles, including a sack. Faraj-Washington accounted for 122 yards, and Engin passed for 163. Rome Leota-Pritchard’s 66-yard TD pass to Riley McElvane gave Valley an early 7-0 lead. Mitty improved to 4-1, 2-0 heading into a league game next Friday at St. Francis. Valley fell to 2-3, 0-2. – Darren Sabedra

No. 11 Campolindo 35, Alhambra 6

Campolindo scored the first 28 points, rolling to a nonleague victory at home over Alhambra to improve to 5-0. Everett Zellmer (12-yard reception), Jacob Gocobachi (5-yard dive), Rai Marchetti (21-yard fade) and Ryan Erickson (5-yard out) scored first-half touchdowns for Campo. Colton Nakano’s TD reception in the third quarter cut the margin to 28-6 for Alhambra, which also got strong defensive play from free safety Calvin Spellman. Erickson’s 62-yard jet sweep completed the scoring. Alhambra fell to 2-3. – Darren Sabedra

No. 20 Salesian 51, Ygnacio Valley 8

Sophomore quarterback Izeah Buchanan threw two long touchdown passes, one apiece to Carlton Perrilliat and Joseph Tarin in the first quarter to set the tone for Salesian’s rout. Four running backs scored touchdowns for The Pride as longtime coach Chad Nightengale subbed in his JV and deep varsity reserves by the middle of the second quarter. Salesian led 37-0 at halftime. Roberto Mora made a 43-yard field goal for the Richmond school, while Micheal Johnson connected with Isaiah Moala-Robson for Ygnacio Valley’s only touchdown. Salesian (5-0) travels to Vallejo to start TCAL Rock play on Friday, while Ygnacio Valley (0-5) will take on Berean Christian in DAL Mountain play. — Joseph Dycus

No. 22 Wilcox 49, Capuchino 0

Wilcox finished its nonleague slate by routing Capuchino at home in Santa Clara. The Chargers (3-2) got three touchdowns from Santino Barragon, two on the ground and one on a fumble return. Jeremiah Arevalos added another defensive score, returning an interception for a TD. Freshman Myles Cheney caught three passes and scored on one. QB Kai Imahara ran in a TD and threw another to Cheney. Wilcox begins Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play at home against Palo Alto next week. Capuchino (1-4) will start league action next Friday at Carlmont. — Christian Babcock

East Bay

Amador Valley 17, Dublin 14

Oliver De La Torre kicked a 47-yard field goal with under a minute left to lift Amador Valley over Dublin at home. The Dons held a 14-3 lead at halftime, but Dublin stormed back with three points in the third quarter and eight in the fourth. Andre Armendariz 1-yard rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion tied the score with eight minutes left. With a minute left, Amador Valley marched down the field to give De La Torre a chance to win it. The senior delivered. Amador Valley’s Vincent Maiorana had a rushing score and quarterback Nicco Kovacs threw a touchdown pass to Anthony Harrington. Dublin’s Isaiah Kelley threw a touchdown score to Tiras Campbell. – Nathan Canilao

Bishop O’Dowd 54, Castro Valley 42

Lamar Ellis rushed for five touchdowns to lead O’Dowd to a comeback victory over Castro Valley in a battle of WACC Foothill Division teams. The Dragons entered the fourth quarter down eight, but exploded for 34 points in the final period to escape a Castro Valley upset. Isaiah Latu was a standout on defense, intercepting two passes. O’Dowd (3-3, 2-0) will host Berkeley on Friday. Castro Valley (0-6, 0-2) will travel to Moreau Catholic for its next game. – Nathan Canilao

Concord 42, Encinal 14

Juan Gonzalez passed for four touchdowns and ran for one as Concord rolled to a nonleague win over Encinal in Alameda. Erik Madayag caught two of Gonzalez’s TD passes. The others went to Max Dashner and Andrew Lopez. Jacari Gibson added a 65-yard touchdown run. Aiden Cunningham, Isaiah Singleton and Emmanuel Owens stood out on defense for the visitors. Concord improved to 4-2. Encinal dropped to 1-4. – Darren Sabedra

Miramonte 38, College Park 14

Used as only a kicker last season, Miramonte senior James Rogers told his coaches he could do more for the team this year. Friday, he intercepted three passes, was on the receiving end of two touchdowns and kicked a 43-yard field goal that was partially blocked to lead Miramonte to a nonleague victory at College Park. David Roman and George Gilbert each added an interception and a touchdown reception. Carson Blair threw for about 220 yards and Jonah Imberg and Charlie Hwang combined to run for about 100 yards, including a TD by Hwang. Wyatt Strand had a sack and Harrison Feusier contributed six tackles as Miramonte improved to 4-2. Jayden Auld and Demorian McCray caught TD passes from Ethan Havens for College Park (1-5). – Darren Sabedra

Oakland 54, Dougherty Valley 3

Oakland routed Dougherty Valley in its final nonleague game of the regular season behind a monster game from Colorado State commit Yasser Jackson. Jackson caught five passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 27 yards and a score. Jackson was also a force on defense, racking up nine tackles – three of which were behind the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Lenox Colvin completed 9-of-11 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Running back DK Hicks had 189 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. – Nathan Canilao

Redwood Christian 27, Kennedy-Richmond 0

Elijah Simmons scored on touchdown runs of 5, 33 and 7 yards to lead undefeated Redwood Christian to a nonleague victory on the road over Kennedy. The second-year program from San Lorenzo improved to 6-0 while dropping Kennedy to 0-3-1. Landon Devoe-Krowicki’s 9-yard touchdown run opened the scoring for Redwood Christian, which led 20-0 at halftime. – Darren Sabedra

South Bay/Peninsula

Leland 15, Oak Grove 14

Leland, down 14-0 in the fourth quarter, mounted a stirring comeback to steal this one on the road. Sam McFarland cut into the initial deficit with a 5-yard TD run, then Ian Qi scored the two-point conversion to make it 14-8. With four minutes to play, Cole Markos caught a TD pass on a deep ball from Phil Arsintescu. David Ahlgren converted the game-winning PAT for the Chargers. Leland picked up its first win and is now 1-4. Oak Grove dropped to 0-5. — Christian Babcock
Related Articles
MacDonald 44, Cupertino 7

MacDonald remained perfect in its second season of varsity football, getting started from the get-go as Pablo Guzman returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a TD in a PAL Lake rout of Cupertino. Wideout Ethan Bugarin had three catches for 100 yards and two TDs. Nate Pullickial had a 75-yard pick-six and a rush TD. Kush Patel had five touchbacks, went 5-5 on PATs and kicked a 39-yard field goal. MacDonald is 5-0, 2-0, Cupertino is 0-5, 0-2. — Christian Babcock

Silver Creek 17, Gilroy 7

Senior Jordan Thompson rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Raiders to a win on the road over Gilroy on Thursday. Silver Creek rushed for 260 yards as a team, with seven runners touching the ball. Senior Tyler Nguyen led Silver Creek’s defense with seven tackles while junior Marvin Saldivar had two hurries and a pass deflection. Silver Creek (3-2) will open league play at Pioneer on Friday. Gilroy dropped to 1-4. – Nathan Canilao

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Darren Sabedra, Nathan Canilao, Christian Babcock

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October 4, 2025
Is it better to rent or own in California? That depends.

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The debate over renting vs. owning has long posed a challenge for households in California. Arguments have morphed in recent years as home prices and mortgage rates soared beyond the increasing rents. To illustrate the complexities, we’ve created a hypothetical rent vs. buy scenario to track housing finances over a 30-year period. However, the math doesn’t account for the intangibles: the flexibility of renting compared to the stability of owning.

HOW MONTHLY COSTS COMPARE

Key in any housing calculation is monthly cost. Our example estimates California house rent today at $4,000 a month vs. buying a $900,000 house with a 10% down mortgage at 6.5% plus property taxes, insurance, association fees, and repairs. The scenario assumes costs grow with historical inflation and the mortgage rate is lowered twice by a half-point through refinancing.

RUNNING THE TAB

Homeowners need to repay their mortgage plus cover a range of additional costs. So renting’s total costs run cheaper for nearly two decades. But owning ends up costing slightly less over time. Here’s cumulative costs by year, in thousands of dollars.

THE BOUNTY: Ownership’s edge

Owning’s true financial benefit arises from the increasing value of the home. Assuming historical gains of 5% per year, the owners gets a $3.8 million asset after 30 years. The renter, who hypothetically invested the $90,000 down payment in the stock market, would accumulate $929,000. Here’s investment value by year, in thousands of dollars.

WHERE IT GOES

Look at the slices of 30 years of housing expenditures, rent vs. own. The renter just pays the landlord. Owner costs go to principal and interest on the mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, association fees, and repair and maintenance costs. Note: Interest payments and property taxes can be tax deductible.

A HISTORY LESSON

Look at the past 30 years of historical returns for three key factors in this rent vs. buy calculation, using 10-year moving averages for rent (California Consumer Price Indexes); home values (federal California index) and stocks (Standard & Poor’s 500).

Unfathomable, unaffordable

California’s long-running and steep affordability crunch makes the rent vs. buy debate a moot argument for many people. Housing costs throttle numerous California family budgets. The state’s flock of high- paying jobs pushes up housing costs well past what more typical paychecks can easily afford. That’s true for households considering renting or buying.

Stagnant ownership

Stubbornly high ownership costs have kept California’s share of people living in homes they own relatively stable, except for a temporary surge in the early 2000s when mortgages were too easily obtained. Those risky loans played a key role in the Great Recession, as borrowers defaulted in huge numbers.

Housing afforability index

It’s tough to be a California homebuyer. The estimated number of Californians earning the statewide median income who could comfortably purchase a single-family home is falling sharply, according to a California Association of Realtors index. The Golden State share of qualified buyers is significantly below the national norm.

Housing-cost stresses

The 2024 edition of Census housing data details how California’s cost of shelter varies between renters and homeowners — with or without mortgages on the property.

But because renters typically earn less than owners, it’s more likely that their housing costs exceed 50% of their household incomes, an extreme level of financial stress.

Big housing worries

A statewide survey last year asked “How often do you worry about the cost of housing for you and your family?” Those who said “every day” or “almost every day” …

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Jeff Goertzen1, Jonathan Lansner

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September 28, 2025
Heartbreaker: San Jose State’s hopes of second straight win over Stanford dashed in final seconds

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STANFORD — Walker Eget passed for 473 yards and three touchdowns, including a score early in the fourth quarter that gave San Jose State a 12-point lead, but the Spartans’ hopes of defeating Stanford for the second year in a row were dashed in a 30-29 loss on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.

It was the third time in four games SJSU’s fate was decided in the final seconds. The Spartans (1-3) missed a pair of field goal attempts in the final 90 seconds of their season-opening 16-14 loss to Central Michigan, and held off Idaho 31-28 a week ago on Denis Lynch’s field goal as time expired.

San Jose State Spartans’ Leland Smith (1) catches a long pass against the Stanford Cardinal’s Collin Wright (6) in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Saturday night, the Spartans allowed nine points in the final 5:54 in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, including Stanford’s go-ahead touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.

SJSU led 29-21 on Lynch’s 31-yard field goal with 7:51 remaining and had a chance to hold off the Cardinal on the final drive. The Spartans had the Cardinal stalled near mid-field on 4th and 10, but allowed a 34-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Stanford’s go-ahead score came four plays later.

San Jose State had just enough time to run three plays but didn’t get beyond it’s own 46 yard line.

SJSU has a chance to defeat Stanford in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they won three three in a row from 1998-2000. The Spartans won 34-31 last year in San Jose.

Saturday night, SJSU almost entirely abandoned the run against Stanford, running just 12 designed run attempts for 32 yards. Eget had 19 yards on scrambles.

San Jose State Spartans’ Kyri Shoels (4) celebrates his touchdown with a teammate afteer scoring against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

The gameplan coming in was to attack the Cardinal secondary that has struggled against the pass and it allowed for the Spartans to have three receivers over 100 receiving yards: Danny Scudero (135 yards on 11 catches), Kyri Shoels (147 yards on 10 catches) and Leland Smith (101 yards on six catches).

Lynch, coming off his winning kick the previous week against Idaho, made his first two attempts against Stanford, but then missed attempts from 28 yards and 22 yards before converting his fourth-quarter kick.

The Spartans led 20-14 at halftime and had sacked Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson four times by intermission, but were unable to stop the Cardinal from scoring on its final three drives of the game. Gulbranson passed for 444 yards and two touchdowns.

The Spartans open Mountain West play on Friday night against New Mexico (3-1, 0-0 MW) at CEFCU Stadium.

Originally Published: September 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM PDT

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Aaron Johnson

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September 27, 2025
Map: Starbucks in the Bay Area that are on the closure list
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After Starbucks announced it would be shutting hundreds of stores, its website is listing dozens in the Bay Area as being closed as of Sunday, Sept. 28.
To check if a store is on the closure list, go to the Starbucks store locator online, find your desired outlet and click the information icon to check whether it will be open beyond this week.

As of Sept. 26, the following stores were slated for a Sept. 28 closure:

South Bay

22390 Homestead, Cupertino

127 Ranch Drive, Milpitas

2410 Charleston, Mountain View

1380 Pear, Mountain View

670 River Oaks Parkway, San Jose

125 Bernal Road, San Jose

1847 E. Capitol Expressway, San Jose

1574 S. Bascom, San Jose

1600 Saratoga (Westgate), San Jose

Peninsula / San Francisco

321 Gellert, Daly City

2227 Broadway, Redwood City

1391 Saratoga, San Mateo

4094 18th St., San Francisco

1501 Fillmore, San Francisco

49 Jefferson, San Francisco

44 Montgomery, San Francisco

462 Powell, San Francisco

350 Rhode Island, San Francisco

689 Townsend, San Francisco

East Bay

1799 Solano Ave., Berkeley

3839 Emery St., Emeryville

200 Broadway, Oakland

3013 Broadway, Oakland

470 Lake Park, Oakland

799 A St., Hayward

38012 Mission Blvd., Fremont

41093 Fremont Blvd., Fremont

1601 Mount Diablo, Walnut Creek

1900 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill

6000 Bollinger Canyon (Bishop Ranch), San Ramon

11000 Crow Canyon, Danville

223 S. Vasco Road, Livermore

4521 Livermore Outlets Drive, Livermore

Originally Published: September 26, 2025 at 11:48 AM PDT
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Bay Area News Group

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September 26, 2025
Student arrested on suspicion of bringing gun to Brentwood campus

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BRENTWOOD – A student was arrested on suspicion of bringing a gun to school Tuesday in Brentwood, police said.

Around 8:15 a.m., staff members at Adams Middle School were alerted to a report of a student with a firearm concealed in their backpack, the Brentwood Police Department said in a news release.

Staff members contacted the police department and a school resource officer was dispatched to the campus.

An investigation determined the firearm was real, police said. The student was arrested and taken to juvenile hall.

Police said they are working closely with the school, the Brentwood Union School District and the student’s parents to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We take any report of a weapon on campus extremely seriously and are thankful for the students who reported their concerns, along with the swift response from school staff,” police said.

“Based on our investigation, this is an isolated incident,” police added.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 925-809-7911.

Originally Published: September 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM PDT

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Jason Green

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September 23, 2025
Is that a great horned owl making un-owl like sounds in San Jose?

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DEAR JOAN: We live in an urban area of San Jose, and sometimes at night hear the hooting of an owl of some sort. Recently we heard that repeated hooting, but interspersed with a call that I can only describe as more like a peacock!

Several hoots, followed by a sort of “waahh” then more hoots. I checked on Bird.net, which told me it’s a great horned owl and that females can make more unusual calls such as the one we heard. Is that true? And, we didn’t know that great horned owls live in urban areas!

— Malcolm Smith, San Jose

DEAR MALCOLM: That’s absolutely true. Great horned owls don’t have the repertoire of a song bird, but they do have some range.

The call of the great horned owl is described as hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo, and the female will often add in a one syllable call that is more guttural.

Young owls make a high-pitched demanding squawk when telling their parents they’re hungry. When angry or threatened, the owls make a rapid clicking sound with their beaks.

We have all sorts of wildlife living largely unnoticed in our suburban jungle, which is why it’s important to not do things that might harm them.

DEAR JOAN: One of our cats is a challenge to pill and I have found a different solution that works for us. We have a pill syringe.

We place a pill in the syringe and open our cat’s mouth and with the syringe shoot the pill to the back of the mouth. If you get the pill past the hump of the tongue, the cat has to swallow the pill. The plus to this method is you can’t accidentally put your fingers between the cat’s teeth.

— Scott Gerken, Bay Area

DEAR SCOTT: I’m all for avoiding a cat’s teeth. Thanks for the tip.

DEAR JOAN: Your recent column on a cat not willing to allow flea medication resonated with me.

I needed to figure out a way to trim my cat’s claws without taking her to the vet every time. My cat loves wet food so I put her food into her bowl and immediately grab the trimmer and get to work. I pick up each paw, separate the toes and nip off the sharp ends.

I had to acclimate her to this by rubbing her toes while she scarfed her tasty food. I then started gently getting the trimmer near the claws until I had success. It took about a week but now it’s pretty easy to do.

The wary cat in your column might also benefit from having very tasty kibbles while “mom” gently rubs the spot where flea medication will eventually be applied.

— Celia (and Mimi the cat), Santa Cruz

DEAR CELIA AND MIMI: What a great tip. Thank you.

DEAR JOAN: My technique with my dog is to grind the pill with a mortar and pestle until it is broken down, like fine sand. Then I mix it into wet pet food really well. Usually works really well.

— Steve Kessler, Bay Area

DEAR STEVE: Excellent idea, although I’d check with my vet to see that it’s OK to do that. Some medications are supposed to be given whole.

The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.

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Joan Morris, Correspondent

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September 22, 2025
How to watch the 49ers’ home opener against the Cardinals on Sunday

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The San Francisco 49ers battle the Arizona Cardinals in their home opener at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1:25 p.m. PDT.

The Niners are coming off consecutive road victories to open the season, including a 26-21 win in New Orleans with backup quarterback Mac Jones directing the offense.

Arizona comes in at 2-0 on the season, as well, after beating the Saints and Panthers.

Brock Purdy just may make his return for the 49ers as he returned to practice this week.

How to watch on local TV

FOX is broadcasting the game in California; in the Bay Area, tune in to KTVU-TV (channel 2) with an antenna or a cable TV provider. You can also log in to the FOX Sports app or website with your cable TV subscription credentials.

How to stream

DirecTV Stream includes Fox in its local channel lineup. Subscriptions currently start at $49.99 for the first month.

FuboTV offers a free trial and $10 off the first month; after that, it is $55.99 per month.

Hulu+Live TV is a premium service with all the local channels and starts at $82.99 per month.

NFL+ is a mobile app that streams all local and primetime games. Plans start at $6.99 per month or $39.99 a year.

YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month, but it’s currently on sale for $49.99 per month for the first two months.

How to watch outside the Bay Area

If you are outside the local coverage area, you have some options.

NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV broadcasts all the games on Sunday afternoon outside of the matchups showing in the local market. If you are a Niners fan living in another state, this is a good option. New users can get the service at the starting price of $34.50 a month for eight months or $85 a month, cancellable anytime.

NFL+ Premium carries live audio of all regular-season NFL games, and video only after the game has concluded. You have the choice of full or condensed replays on a computer, phone or tablet only for $14.99 per month.

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Pueng Vongs

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September 20, 2025
Win or go home: Valkyries face monumental Game 2 vs. Lynx

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SAN JOSE — The Valkyries’ season hangs in the balance.

Down 1-0 in their first-round series against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, Golden State faces a win-or-go-home Game 2 at SAP Center on Wednesday.

The expansion team has lost each of its last five games against the Lynx, and most recently suffered one of their worst losses of the season in Game 1 on Sunday in a 29-point defeat.

But while the Valkyries will be clear underdogs playing in an arena they haven’t called home, the gritty first-year team is confident anything can happen in front of their favorable crowd.

“It’s win or die time,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said after Tuesday’s practice. “We understand that, but we’ve been approaching it every game since the time we played the L.A. Sparks (Aug. 9) and we made it a thing. In order to make the playoffs, it’s a must win mentality.

“We don’t think of it potentially being our last, we just think it’s a must win. And then we got to do our job. Minnesota did their job at home and we got to take care of doing our job here at home. It’s a must win.”

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, drives past Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

With the season on the line, the Valkyries will be playing in front of a sold out crowd on Wednesday night. Golden State opted to stay in San Jose and held practice at SAP Center on Tuesday.

Here are three keys for the Valkyries going into Game 2:

Stopping guard penetration

While Napheesa Collier is the driving force of Minnesota’s offense, it’s been the guard duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the viral steaming pair called the StudBudz, that have given Golden State’s vaunted defense problems.

Williams, the steady floor general, has a knack for finding a way to get into the paint to score or dish to shooters. The veteran point guard is a threat to pull up from the 3-point line or in the mid-range as she has averaged 13.2 points per game on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.1% from the 3-point line.

Point guard Natisha Hiedeman has torched the Valkyries coming off the bench. The sixth woman of the year candidate has scored 24, 21, and 18 points in the last three games against the Valkyries and has routinely been the spark plug for Minnesota in stopping the Golden State’s runs.

Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) reacts after making a three point shot against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

On Sunday, Hiedeman posted the second-highest plus-minus rating in Lynx postseason history with a +32.

“We really need to try to be more solid on defense, but as a unit,” Valkyries center Iliana Rupert said. “Be more aware when to shift and try to help more. Even if there’s a lot of rotations, at least not letting them get easy buckets. So we saw all of that on the video, and hopefully tomorrow will get even better.”

Make open looks

This one is simple. The Valkyries need to hit more shots.

After a hot start in which they hit nine of their first 18 shots, and five of their first eight 3-pointers in the first quarter, the Valkyries finished the game making just 11 more field goal attempts.

In the five games the Valkyries played against the Lynx this season, they shot just 36% from the field and 25.7 from beyond the arc.

A common thread in each of the five losses has been Golden State’s inability to stop Minnesota when it gets on a roll. The Valkyries have kept the game close in spurts, but the Lynx have always been able to deliver a crushing run that puts the game out of reach,

“We have to respond better,” Valkyries shooting guard Kate Martin said. “We have to know that basketball is about a game of runs, and they’re a really good team. So they’re gonna go on their runs. We’re gonna have to limit that as much as possible and make adjustments quicker.”

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 14: Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)

A big factor going into Wednesday’s game will be if the Valkyries could get consistent scoring out of sharpshooting forward Cecilia Zandalasini.

Zandalasini will be playing in her fourth game since coming back from a calf injury that kept her sidelined for eight contests. She shot just 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line on Sunday.

Play off the momentum of the crowd

While the venue will be new, the Valkyries have consistently shown that they are at their best when they could feed off the home crowd’s energy.

The Valkyries have not been worried about the change in location as they have faith the home crowd will come through.

Golden State Valkyries fans watch the action during the fourth quarter of their WBNA game against the New York Liberty at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

“Someone told me the arena is smaller than Chase Center, but I’m sure the fans are going to come through,” Valkyries rookie forward Janelle Salaün said. “I just know the fans are going to come through and it’s going to be amazing.”

The Valkyries are 14-8 at home this season.

Notable

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase revealed that she was fined by the league after her comments regarding Game 1’s officiating. The first-year coach said she didn’t know how much the fine was, but said she stands by what she said.

“I heard it’s a tax write off,” Nakase said. “I moved on. We’ve already talked about the new game plan, offensively and defensively. That’s where I got to make sure my girls are at.”

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) reacts to a call during their game against the New York Liberty in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

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Nathan Canilao

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September 16, 2025
Preliminary 3.5 magnitude earthquake strikes near Clayton

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A preliminary 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Clayton in Contra Costa County, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The temblor was reported at 3 p.m. Monday and centered 4.8 miles east of Clayton.

Further information was not immediately available.

BAY AREA QUAKE CENTRAL
You can take steps to plan and prepare for the next big one. Access our Bay Area Quake Tracker, the latest earthquake stories, extensive quake prep checklists, videos and many other disaster preparedness resources all in one place: NBCBAYAREA.COM/QUAKES

Are you prepared for the next big one?

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NBC Bay Area staff

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September 15, 2025
Teenage boy dies after falling from Interstate 80 on-ramp after sideshow

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A 16-year-old boy died after falling 75 feet off an Interstate 80 on-ramp during a sideshow in Crockett, according to a Facebook post by the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities at CHP’s Contra Costa office received a call around 3:26 a.m. Saturday of a sideshow involving over 100 vehicles blocking the intersection of Pomona Street and Merchant Street near the entrance and exit ramp for I-80 westbound on Pomona Street.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers received reports of a spectator who climbed over the concrete safety barrier of the Pomona Street entrance ramp to westbound I-80 and fell to the ground. The responding officers went to the site where the teenager fell. Their preliminary investigation indicated that the boy had climbed over the barrier and accidentally fallen to the ground below. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP said the incident is under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it are instructed to contact CHP’s Contra Costa office in Martinez at 925-646-4980 or email your contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer.

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Nollyanne Delacruz

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September 14, 2025
4-day Antioch resource fair offers free services to hundreds of homeless veterans

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For Marine Corps veteran Deborah Taylor, a fishing trip organized by Delta Veterans Group in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District on Sunday was more than just a chance to cast a line. It was a chance at a new life.

“I hadn’t been fishing since I was a little girl. I thought it’d be fun to come out,” she said.

Taylor caught three fish at the Antioch Regional Shoreline, but her real hope is to find permanent housing. For now, she sleeps in her car.

“I’m hoping to find housing in Antioch,” she said.

Taylor was one of hundreds of veterans who attended the four-day Stand Down on the Delta event this weekend at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. Organized by the Delta Veterans Group, the biennial fair brings together about 70 organizations to offer free services such as haircuts, medical checkups, dental care, meals, and housing placement.

J.R. Wilson, president and founder of the Delta Veterans Group, said the event also focuses on helping veterans reconnect with their communities.

“It’s about getting veterans that served their country to serve their community. So we give them that new mission,” Wilson said. “And this fishing [trip] is part of that. It’s to really teach them how to reconnect into their community, so then, they can launch off just like they did in the military.”

Wilson said supporting veterans’ mental health is key to helping them succeed in other areas of life.

Navy veteran Gabriel Alfonso is a testament to that.

“I was homeless on the streets with my dog. [Back then], it felt like no one cared for me. And my life changed when I walked through those doors of Stand Down,” Alfonso said.

Since then, he has found a job, a home, and stability. Now, he volunteers at the event.

“It’s nice to be able to encourage and give hope to another veteran, because I’ve been in their shoes before,” he said.

Coleman Nee, national commander of the Disabled American Veterans, said success stories like that of Alfonso’s give them hope.

“[They need to] say, ‘Yeah, I need a hand up. Can you help me up?’ ” Nee said. “When they’re willing to do that, there are 1.3 million hands being stretched out to try and help them.”

Taylor said she is ready for that help.

“I have an interview on Monday. So hopefully, things will work out,” she said. “I feel very optimistic. I think things are going to turn around.”

Organizers estimated the event would help nearly 500 veterans and their families before it wraps up on Monday.

Da Lin

Da Lin is an award-winning journalist at KPIX 5 News. He joined KPIX 5 in 2012, but has been reporting the news in the Bay Area since 2007. Da grew up in Oakland, and before his return to the Bay Area, he spent five years covering the news at three other television stations in Texas, Southern and Central California. He also spent five years reporting at KRON 4.

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September 14, 2025
Spectator dies after fall at Crockett sideshow

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A sideshow in Crockett early Saturday morning ended in tragedy when a spectator apparently fell to their death from a freeway overpass.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Merchant Street, just off Interstate 80 and the Carquinez Bridge. According to witnesses, a group of young people had been trying to get a better view of the cars spinning donuts in the intersection by jumping across a gap between freeway ramps — an off-ramp bridge, the other an on-ramp.

Drone footage, filmed by neighbor Joe Pallotta IV, showed dozens of people gathered at the overpass gap soon after, shining phone flashlights through the gap. A short time after the cars cleared out, California Highway Patrol officers found a body 40 to 60 feet below the ramps.

“It’s just an unfortunate situation,” said neighbor Vince Gorden, who called 911 when the sideshow woke him up. “They come here. They think that everything’s going to be OK and it’s a great time, but it’s pretty dangerous.”

Gorden believed one of those jumps went wrong, leading to the fatal fall.

“They bunny hopped from one side of the freeway over to this side so they can get over and a closer view,” said Gorden,

Gorden estimated there were about 150 cars and more than 200 people at the sideshow. He described the scene as chaotic.

“It’s over the top loud, it’s crazy,” he said. “As they’re spinning (donuts Saturday morning), the guy set off fireworks in the middle of it. It’s nuts.”

The CHP said investigators were working to determine exactly how the fall occurred and whether foul play was involved. A few witnesses stayed behind to speak with officers.

Gorden said sideshows have been a recurring problem at the intersection for at least six years. He has previously asked Contra Costa County to consider installing a roundabout or other deterrents to prevent such gatherings.

“Hopefully, kids start thinking before they do this sort of thing,” he said.

Authorities said the victim’s identity will be released after their family is notified.

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Da Lin

Da Lin is an award-winning journalist at KPIX 5 News. He joined KPIX 5 in 2012, but has been reporting the news in the Bay Area since 2007. Da grew up in Oakland, and before his return to the Bay Area, he spent five years covering the news at three other television stations in Texas, Southern and Central California. He also spent five years reporting at KRON 4.

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September 13, 2025