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Tag: Richmond

  • Trump’s $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities – WTOP News

    A proposed ICE facility just north of Richmond, Virginia, drew hundreds of people last week to a tense public hearing of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.

    A man takes photos of a warehouse as federal officials tour the facility to consider repurposing it as an ICE detention facility Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Belton, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(AP/Charlie Riedel)

    With tensions high over federal immigration enforcement, some state and local officials are pushing back against attempts by President Donald Trump’s administration to house thousands of detained immigrants in their communities in converted warehouses, privately run facilities and county jails.

    Federal officials have been scouting cities and counties across the U.S. for places to hold immigrants as they roll out a massive $45 billion expansion of detention facilities financed by Trump’s recent tax-cutting law.

    The fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota have amplified an already intense spotlight on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, increasing scrutiny of its plans for new detention sites.

    A proposed ICE facility just north of Richmond, Virginia, drew hundreds of people last week to a tense public hearing of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.

    “You want what’s happening in Minnesota to go down in our own backyard? Build that detention center here, and that’s exactly what will happen,” resident Kimberly Matthews told county officials.

    As a prospective ICE detention site became public, elected officials in Kansas City, Missouri, scrambled to pass an ordinance aimed at blocking it. And mayors in Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City — after raising concerns about building permits — announced last week that property owners won’t be selling or leasing their facilities for immigration detention.

    Meanwhile, legislatures in several Democratic-led states pressed forward with bills aimed at blocking or discouraging ICE facilities. A New Mexico measure targets local government agreements to detain immigrants for ICE. A novel California proposal seeks to nudge companies running ICE facilities out of the state by imposing a 50% tax on their proceeds.

    The number of ICE detention sites has doubled

    More than 70,000 immigrants were being detained by ICE as of late December, up from 40,000 when Trump took office, according to federal data.

    In a little over a year, the number of detention facilities used by ICE nearly doubled to 212 sites spread across 47 states and territories. Most of that growth came through existing contracts with the U.S. Marshals Service or deals to use empty beds at county jails.

    Trump’s administration now is taking steps to open more large-scale facilities. In January, ICE paid $102 million for a warehouse in Washington County, Maryland, $84 million for one in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and more than $70 million for one in Surprise, Arizona. It also solicited public comment on a proposed warehouse purchase in a flood plain in Chester, New York.

    Federal immigration officials have toured large warehouses elsewhere, without releasing many details about the efforts.

    “They will be very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards,” ICE said in a statement, adding: “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.”

    Detention site foes face legal limitations

    State and local governments can decline to lease detention space to ICE, but they generally cannot prohibit businesses and private landowners from using their property for federal immigrant detention centers, said Danielle Jefferis, an associate law professor at the University of Nebraska who focuses on immigration and civil litigation.

    In 2023, a federal court invalidated a California law barring private immigrant detention facilities for infringing on federal powers. A federal appeals court panel cited similar grounds in July while striking down a New Jersey law that forbade agreements to operate immigrant detention facilities.

    After ICE officials recently toured a warehouse in Orlando, Florida, as a prospective site, local officials looked into ways to regulate or prevent it. But City Attorney Mayanne Downs advised them in a letter that “ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate.”

    Officials in Hanover County also asked their attorney to evaluate legal options after the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter confirming its intent to purchase a private property for use as an ICE processing facility. The building sits near retail businesses, hotels, restaurants and several neighborhoods.

    Although some residents voiced concerns that an ICE facility could strain the county’s resources, there’s little the county can do to oppose it, said Board of Supervisors Chair Sean Davis.

    “The federal government is generally exempt from our zoning regulations,” Davis said.

    Kansas City tries to block new ICE detention site

    Despite court rulings elsewhere, the City Council in Kansas City voted in January to impose a five-year moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities. The vote came on the same day ICE officials toured a nearly 1-million-square-foot (92,903-square-meter) warehouse as a prospective site.

    Manny Abarca, a county lawmaker, said he initially was threatened with trespassing when he showed up but was eventually allowed inside the facility, where a deputy ICE field office director told him they were scouting for a 7,500-bed site.

    Abarca is trying to fortify Kansas City’s resistance by proposing a countywide moratorium on permits, zoning changes and development plans for detention facilities not run by the county or a city.

    “When federal power is putting communities on edge, local government has a responsibility to act where we have authority,” he said.

    Kansas City is looking to follow a similar path as Leavenworth, Kansas, which has argued that private prison firm CoreCivic must have an operating permit to reopen a shuttered prison as an ICE detention facility.

    As other ICE proposals have surfaced, officials in Social Circle, Georgia, El Paso, Texas, and Roxbury Township, New Jersey, all have raised concerns about a lack of water and sewer capacity to transform warehouses into detention sites.

    Nationally, it remains to be seen whether local governments can effectively deter ICE facilities through building permits and regulations.

    “We’re currently in a moment where it is being tested,” Jefferis said. “So there is no clear answer as to how the courts are going to come down.”

    New Mexico targets existing ICE facilities

    The Democratic-led New Mexico House on Friday passed legislation banning state and local government contracts for ICE detention facilities, sending it to the Senate. Similar bills are pending in Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.

    The Otero County Processing Center, 25 miles (40 kilometers) from downtown El Paso, Texas, is one of three privately run ICE facilities that could be affected by the New Mexico legislation. The facility includes four immigration courtrooms and space for more than 1,000 detainees. The county financed its construction in 2007 with the intent to use it as a revenue source, and plans to pay off the remaining $16.5 million debt by 2028.

    Otero County Attorney Roy Nichols said the county is prepared to sue the Legislature under a state law that prevents impairment of outstanding revenue bonds.

    Republicans warned of job losses and economic fallout if the legislation forces immigrant detention centers to close.

    But Democratic state Rep. Sarah Silva, who voted for the ban, and said her constituents in a heavily Hispanic area view the ICE facility as a burden.

    “Our state can’t be complicit in the violations that ICE has been doing in places like Minneapolis,” Silva said. “To me that was beyond the tipping point.”

    Copyright
    © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

    WTOP Staff

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  • How should Richmond spend its $550 million Chevron settlement? City leaders want to know

    RICHMOND — As half a billion dollars from Chevron start to flow into Richmond’s coffers, city leaders want to know exactly how residents would like to see that money spent.

    To get those answers, councilmembers have agreed to set aside up to $300,000 to contract out support that would facilitate community feedback. A central goal of the initiative, approved during a meeting Tuesday, is to develop a “just transition” away from the fossil fuel industry while ensuring community buy-in for how the dollars are spent.

    “We’re in that moment where we actually do have to be as careful and as thoughtful as we can to make decisions for the future,” said Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, who drafted the item with Councilmember Claudia Jimenez and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. “We’re making a huge turning point for our city if we do it right. Or we can do it like the way people who win the lottery, go out and buy a bunch of fancy things and then be broke in 10 years.”

    The $550 million Richmond is poised to collect stems from an agreement it negotiated with the Richmond Chevron Refinery. In exchange for the funds, the council agreed to remove a tax measure, dubbed the Make Polluters Pay campaign, from the November 2024 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would have brought in between $60 million and $90 million annually by charging Chevron for every barrel of raw material that was processed at the plant.

    Sierra Lopez

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  • MLK Classic: Salesian’s depth, defense wear down Modesto Christian in showcase win

    MLK Classic at De La Salle: Salesian defeats Modesto Christian again behind stingy defense.


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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Prep roundup: Pinewood finishes strong, shuts down Salesian’s rally to remain unbeaten

    Bay Area girls basketball: Pinewood uses late run to defeat Salesian at home


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    Nathan Canilao, Christian Babcock

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  • Following controversy, vote to censure Richmond mayor pushed back

    A vote to punish the mayor of Richmond has failed over his alleged anti-Semitic social media posts.

    After the attempt failed Tuesday night during the city’s council meeting, Richmond Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda called to add a last-minute agenda item to vote on a resolution to censure Mayor Eduardo Martinez for what he posted online.

    Last month, the mayor shared posts on social media that appeared to be anti-Semitic, with the posts specifically calling a mass shooting at a Jewish festival in Australia a false flag.

    The mayor has since deleted those posts and apologized.

    The proposed resolution wasn’t asking the mayor to resign, even though that’s what some people want.

    Instead, the resolution asked the mayor to take a number of actions, including collaboration with Jewish community leaders to affirm his opposition to antisemitism, 16 hours of antisemitism training by the end of March and a deferral of some of his salary to a non-profit focused on brining the community together.

    NBC Bay Area’s Bob Redell has more in the video above.

    Bob Redell

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  • Person of interest in Richmond homicide turns gun on self

    SAN PABLO – A person of interest in a fatal shooting at a Richmond eatery shot himself Tuesday in the parking lot of the San Pablo Police Department, according to police and media reports.

    The Richmond and San Pablo police departments announced the development at a joint news conference late Tuesday evening.

    “Our officers heard one single gunshot from within the parking lot of the San Pablo Police Department,” San Pablo police Capt. James Laughter told reporters. “We then located a male subject lying on the ground with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

    The person was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, KTVU FOX 2 reported.

    The Richmond shooting happened just before 1:45 p.m. Monday at an IHOP in the 3400 block of Klose Way, where the victim and the person of interest worked together.

    Coworkers initially believed the victim was hurt in an accident, but the injuries “appeared suspicious” to firefighters, who called officers to the scene, according to the news station.

    The victim ultimately died from a gunshot wound at the scene, KTVU FOX 2 reported.

    Before the person of interest shot himself, he approached an officer at the police department, but there was a “language barrier” and he walked away, according to the news station.

    Authorities did not release any additional details about the Richmond shooting Tuesday.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.

    Check back for updates.

    Jason Green

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  • Richmond police investigating after person found injured near Hilltop Plaza dies


    Richmond police said they are investigating a homicide that happened Monday afternoon.

    Around 1:43 p.m., officers were called to the 3400 block of Klose Way for reports of a person being injured.

    When officers arrived, they found a person who was seriously injured and began life-saving efforts.

    According to police, the person died at the scene.

    Police said the person’s injuries did not look accidental, and homicide detectives are now investigating the person’s death. 

    Jose Fabian

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  • Loud generators has some San Francisco residents demanding answers from PG&E

    In the Richmond District, people have been dealing with blackouts and now noisy generators.

    The constant humming sound started to push some residents to the edge.

    “I just keep hearing it, every night since it came up, I’m just hearing this constant buzz,” said Jakub Mosur. “Anywhere I go in the house, I can hear it. It’s non-stop.”

    Mosur lives around the corner, but he can still hear the noise from the large trailer-sized generator that PG&E says temporarily provided power to customers this week. He admits it’s starting to impact his life.

    “It kind of wears you out after a while, and I’m having trouble concentrating and just doing usual tasks,” Mosur explained. “Just not in the best place at the moment.”

    This is just after a massive power outage left Mosur without electricity for nearly two days last week, requiring him to throw away food he bought for the holidays.

    He says it’s even worse for some other people who live closer to the large generators.

    “I’ve talked to some of my neighbors over here and they say they can feel the vibrations through the ground as well,” Mosur said, explaining how the sound travels.

    Annette Carnegie lives right across the street from the generators, which are next to PG&E substation K.

    “We’ve never had problems with the substation,” Carnegie explained. “In fact, it’s been great to live near the substation because when there’s been outages in other parts of the city, we’re usually very good. So I have no understanding of the connection.”

    Carnegie says after all this is done, she hopes for answers from PG&E.

    “PG&E does have a lot of explaining to do about why this happened, why it took so long to communicate and how they can make things so this never happens again,” Carnegie said.

    Mosur agrees, saying he is disappointed by the lack of communication; he feels that they were left in the dark both literally and metaphorically.

    He wants someone take responsibility.

    “If this was a public energy company, we could have our politicians say, ‘Hey, you’re not doing your job, we can impeach you or remove you from office,’ but here I don’t feel like anybody has any responsibility,” said Mosur. “I don’t think anybody is going to get fired for this. It’s very unfortunate.”

    PG&E said it would begin switching customers back to the grid Sunday night and anticipated an outage to last about an hour. 

    “Please note: This is not the final step to fully restore the circuits to normal,” PG&E said in a message to customers. “More outages or generator use may be needed in the future. We’ll share updates as soon as we have more information.”

    Amanda Hari

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  • Multiple suspects arrested in CHP operation targeting Northern California organized retail theft ring

    A California Highway Patrol task force this month arrested 13 people and recovered over $800,000 in stolen merchandise in connection with an organized retail theft ring that operated across Northern California. 

    The CHP Valley Division’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which includes investigators from the Sacramento Police Department and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, was alerted in September to a pair of retail theft suspects operating in Placer County and at multiple other locations throughout the state, the agency said in a press release. 

    On October 1, the Rocklin Police Department located the suspects with help from the Valley Division ORCTF. The suspects identified others who were purchasing stolen merchandise from them and reselling it for profit at flea markets in Oakland, San Jose, Galt, Modesto and Stockton, the CHP said. 

    Investigators used information provided by the suspects to conduct surveillance operations and establish links among the theft suspects, the stolen merchandise buyers and resellers, and the flea-market locations, the CHP said. Search warrants were obtained for six homes, three storage lockers, and one storage lot.

    Evidence seized during the CHP’s “Operation Silent Night” targeting an organized retail theft ring.

    California Highway Patrol


    On December 11, the CHP said multiple law enforcement agencies conducted Operation Silent Night, executing warrants in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro, and Galt. The operation resulted in 13 arrests and the seizure of over 400 boxes and 200 bags of stolen merchandise, along with two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, five vans, two passenger vehicles, and two trailers, the CHP said.

    The stolen merchandise included cosmetics, household goods, clothing, power tools, toys, alcohol, and diapers. The day after the raids, Cal Expo provided an exposition hall to help investigators process and catalog the recovered merchandise, which amounted to 44,140 stolen items valued in excess of $800,000. 

    retail-theft-3.jpg

    A Cal Expo warehouse with recovered evidence from an alleged organized retail theft ring.

    California Highway Patrol


    The following suspects were taken to the Placer County Jail for booking. They were identified as:

    • Isaid Garcia Chapas, 41, Oakland
    • Irene Cruz Barragan, 35, Oakland
    • Daniela Cruz Barragan, 33, Oakland
    • Robert Lorenzo Luna-Varela, 34, Oakland
    • Jefferson Isaed Garcia-Rivera, 22, Oakland
    • Jennifer Garcia Cruz, 19, Oakland
    • Elan Rosales Montes, 35, Oakland
    • Claudia Ivet Cruz Barragan, 42, Oakland
    • Yolanda Carrillo Martinez, 45, Oakland
    • Ivan Miranda Espinoza, 33, Oakland
    • Bach Ngoc Thi Bui, 53, El Sobrante
    • Yuridia Sandoval Ramirez, 35, Oakland
    • Eryn Wilfred Corea Guevara, 29, Oakland 

    “Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. It impacts businesses, workers, and communities across California,” said CHP Valley Division Chief Tyler Eccles in a prepared statement. “This investigation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and our retail partners, and our commitment to holding organized theft networks accountable.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom established the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force in 2019 to target sophisticated theft rings, beginning in Southern California before expanding to the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of the state. In 2021, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 331, which permanently extended the task force and gave the CHP more authority to coordinate regional property crime efforts.

    According to the CHP, since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the agency has been involved in over 4,200 investigations, with over 4,700 suspects arrested and the recovery of nearly 1.5 million stolen goods valued at over $68.7 million statewide as of November 30. 

    Carlos E. Castañeda

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  • Altercation ends with gunfire near Richmond school

    An altercation involving students and adults near a school Monday afternoon ended with gunfire, police said.

    Nobody was injured, but a building at the Sylvester Greenwood Academy in the 800 block of Chanslor Avenue was damaged. In a statement, police said somebody fired at least one shot after the confrontation happened.

    Rick Hurd

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  • CCS, NCS football playoffs: Best of Saturday’s semifinals

    Saturday’s games

    CCS Division II

    No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 63, No. 3 Santa Teresa 27 

    The game was tied at seven in the first half Saturday, but that’s as close as Santa Teresa would get as SHC routed the Saints to advance to the section title game, where the Fightin’ Irish will play rival St. Ignatius next week. SHC used a 28-point second quarter to propel the San Francisco school to the win. Quarterback Michael Sargent accounted for six touchdowns – throwing for four and rushing for two. Running back Jaylen Malcom had three touchdowns for Santa Teresa, which finished 11-1. – Nathan Canilao

    CCS Division V

    No. 1 Piedmont Hills 41, No. 4 Jefferson 14

    Piedmont Hills will play in its first section final since 2010 after making quick work of Jefferson at home. Senior Diego Arias was excellent on both sides of the ball, getting a 32-yard pick-six and throwing a 50-yard touchdown to Travis Linane. Running back Alijah Torres had two rushing scores. Quarterback John Palomo ran for a touchdown and kicker Cash Martinez knocked in field goals from 26 and 32 yards away. Jefferson quarterback Robert Saulny-Green accounted for both of his team’s touchdowns with a rushing score and a passing TD. The Pirates will play Sobrato for the D-V championship next week. They will try to avenge a 40-30 loss to the Morgan Hill school this season. Jefferson ended its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao

    No. 2 Sobrato 27, No. 3 Terra Nova 19

    Brady Lennon rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns to help Sobrato to the win and the program’s first appearance in a CCS title game. Lennon broke a 70-yard scoring run on the second play of the game. Brandon Huighes connected with Jacob Sorrentino on a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0. After Terra Nova drew to within 20-19, Lennon’s 26-yard TD run with 1:46 left gave Sobrato (8-4) an eight-point lead. Then when kicker Kyle Gurney recovered a fumble on the subsequent kickoff, the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock. For Terra Nova (8-4), QB Joey Donati rushed for 93 yards and passed for 184 and touchdowns to Robbie Johnson and Holden Najar. – Glenn Reeves

    NCS Division V

    No. 2 Ferndale 35, No. 3 Salesian 7

    Salesian traveled more than 250 miles up Highway 101 for its semifinal game against Ferndale, hoping to return home to Richmond with a shot to capture the program’s eighth NCS championship next week. For three quarters Saturday, there was still hope. The Pride trailed 14-7 with 12 minutes to play. But the home team found another gear down the stretch, scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter to advance to play top-seeded St. Vincent de Paul for the championship next Saturday at Rancho Cotate High in Rohnert Park. Instead of Salesian playing for an eighth NCS crown, Ferndale (12-0) will be seeking its 15th. Salesian finished 10-2.  – Darren Sabedra

    Nathan Canilao, Darren Sabedra, Glenn Reeves

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  • Bay Area stores seeing less business due to shoppers not having SNAP benefits

    The lapse in SNAP benefits is affecting Bay Area stores where recipients would do their shopping. One store owner said he was not only worried for the well-being of his shoppers but for his business as well.

    Lucky Breimah knows just about everyone in this North Richmond neighborhood. His store, Rancho Market, has been a fixture, a small grocery store and deli in an area that’s otherwise a food desert, referring to a neighborhood without many other grocery stores nearby.

    “I know everybody here. Twenty years, I watched them growing up,” said Breimah. 

    That’s why it was so hard when he wasn’t seeing the families and seniors who came in using their CalFresh benefits.

    “I was really worried about them, and the first three days it was really troubling, like how are they going to survive?” he said.

    He said he offered them as much help as he could.

    “I do give away what I can, but I can’t give much. You can’t help so many people, you know?” said Breimah.

    He estimates 25-30% percent of his sales are on CalFresh cards, and without the benefits continuing, he couldn’t afford to stay in business through the end of the month.

    “They don’t have too many stores. A lot of them have faded out, so this is essential to this area here. It’s very important to keep this store here,” said Katrena Ledbetter who grew up in the area.

    She said a lot of the people who live in the area are limited on transportation, often walking to the store to get what they need.

    “We have just seen a lot of chaos and anxiety as people struggle to figure out whether they’re going to be able to put food on the table,” said Caitlyn Sly, the executive director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

    She said at one of their distribution events on Sunday, 100 extra families showed up compared to the previous events.

    “We will usually see 10 or 20 new people depending on the site, but that many new folks coming to us really tells us that without benefits, people aren’t able to afford groceries,” said Sly.

    The severe impacts of the cuts mean recovery will take some time.

    “It’s a big chain, chain reaction. Sometimes people think it’s so little, but that little thing has so much chain reaction. It affects me. It affects my family,” said Breimah.

    Contra Costa County supervisors approved an emergency debit card program for CalFresh recipients if benefits were not restored for November. It looks like they don’t need that this month, but it could come in handy in December if the government shutdown continues.

    Katie Nielsen

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  • Delays hamper BART riders after maintenance and police activity

    OAKLAND — BART passengers were experiencing delays Sunday due to maintenance operations and police activity that hampered trips on sections of the Bay Area transit system.

    In one occurrence, a 10-minute delay had occurred Sunday morning at the Coliseum station in Oakland in the direction of Daly City due to police activity. It wasn’t disclosed which law enforcement agency was involved. By 9:30 a.m., that delay had ended.

    BART also reported Sunday morning that a 10-minute delay was underway on the San Francisco line in the direction of Berryessa in San Jose, Antioch, and Millbrae due to overnight track maintenance. By 10 a.m., that advisory had ended.

    In recent months, BART passengers have suffered through mammoth delays and systemwide shutdowns that snarled the regional transit system.

    In May, a fire near the San Leandro station disrupted service on the lines to the Berryessa (San Jose), Dublin and Lake Merritt (Oakland) stations.

    In September, the entire BART system shut down due to a computer failure that halted service through the Transbay Tube for several hours.

    In October, an equipment problem on the track in the Transbay Tube snarled trips through the underwater connection between Oakland and San Francisco for three hours during the morning commute.

    George Avalos

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  • House Speaker calls Virginia lawmakers back to Richmond as possible redistricting fight brews – WTOP News

    Surprise special session for Virginia lawmakers comes just days before Election Day, with Democrats weighing plans to redraw congressional lines amid GOP accusations of a “power grab.”

    This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury. 

    Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, on Thursday called lawmakers back to Richmond for a special session Monday afternoon, setting off speculation that Democrats are preparing to act on redistricting plans just days before voters elect a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 members of the House of Delegates.

    In a letter to House members, Scott cited constitutional provisions and joint resolutions authorizing the General Assembly to reconvene the 2024 Special Session I “to consider matters properly before the ongoing session and any related business laid before the body.”

    The House will meet at 4 p.m. Monday in the Capitol chamber, he wrote, adding that the clerk’s office will soon provide logistical details.

    “My office has spoken with Senate leadership and has been assured that a similar communication … will be made by the Senate Clerk’s Office to Senate members,” Scott wrote.

    He did not explain why the legislature is being recalled, and neither he nor Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, responded to inquiries from The Mercury on Thursday.

    Redistricting speculation

    Several Democrats and legislative staffers told Virginia Scope that part of the session’s focus will be redistricting — a move that could reopen debate over how Virginia’s 11 congressional boundaries are drawn. Six of these are currently held by Democrats, and sources told the outlet that Democrats in Washington believe a new map could yield at least two additional Democratic-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Virginia voters in 2020 approved a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission of lawmakers and citizens, but the panel deadlocked in late 2021, leaving the Virginia Supreme Court to draw the current maps.

    With Democrats now holding narrow control of both legislative chambers, some strategists have discussed using their majorities to revisit that framework.

    Options under discussion include breaking up heavily Democratic districts to make them more competitive while reshaping Republican-leaning areas to favor Democratic candidates.

    Timing is key — under Virginia’s amendment process, a constitutional change must be approved twice by the General Assembly with a House election in between before being placed on the ballot for voter approval or rejection.

    According to Virginia Scope, Democratic leaders are considering an initial vote before the Nov. 4 election, followed by a second vote during the 2026 session, potentially allowing a referendum next spring and new maps as early as April — two months before congressional primaries.

    Still, many Democratic lawmakers remain uneasy about the plan. Senate Democrats held a caucus meeting Wednesday night, and several members told the outlet they had been “kept out of the loop” about the special-session agenda.

    National backdrop

    Across the country, redistricting battles are intensifying as both parties look to lock in advantages ahead of the 2026 midterms.

    Earlier on Thursday, the New York Times reported that Virginia’s Democratic leaders are considering “joining a growing number of states” seeking to counter what they call partisan gerrymandering efforts encouraged by the administration of President Donald Trump.

    “We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” Surovell told the Times, suggesting Democrats view their move as a corrective to Republican-led redistricting maneuvers in states such as Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.

    Those states have recently pushed new maps designed to cement GOP control after a series of federal court rulings loosened constraints on mid-decade remapping. The Supreme Court is currently weighing a major redistricting case from Louisiana, another sign of how important the issue is to legislators and voters nationwide.

    In August, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, hinted publicly that Virginia could soon act.

    Sharing a post by former President Barack Obama on X, formerly Twitter, praising California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approach to mid-decade redistricting, Lucas wrote: “Every state in the nation should follow suit. Stay tuned for Virginia …”

    Political fallout

    Republicans swiftly accused Democrats of scheming to rewrite the rules ahead of a pivotal statewide election.

    Republican Party of Virginia Chair Mark Peake, a state senator from Lynchburg, in a video on X characterized Scott’s move a sign of Democratic desperation.

    “Desperate Democrats are pulling a pathetic, political stunt,” Peake said, accusing the majority of “doing anything they can to take attention away from their horrible candidates.”

    He added that “the General Assembly hopes they can do something with this ruse about redistricting,” but urged voters not to “fall for it.”

    The campaign of Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP nominee for governor, blamed Democratic contender Abigail Spanberger for supporting the idea of dissolving the independent commission.

    “In a stunning display of arrogance, Abigail Spanberger wants to overrule the will of Virginia voters in favor of a cynical power grab,” campaign spokesperson Peyton Vogel said in a statement Thursday.

    “She came out in favor of abolishing Virginia’s Independent Redistricting Commission and wants to hand control back to the politicians in Richmond so they can guarantee their own reelection. … It’s never been about the voters or what’s best for Virginia. It’s always been about what’s best for Abigail Spanberger.”

    However, in an interview with WJLA in late August, Spanberger said she opposed mid-decade redistricting and warned against “politicians trying to tilt the playing field in their favor,” aligning herself with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s call for fair-maps legislation.

    What comes next

    With the state legislature reconvening Monday afternoon, both chambers are expected to gavel in briefly before potentially taking up redistricting-related measures later in the week.

    Procedural resolutions adopted earlier this year would allow lawmakers to address “matters properly before the ongoing special session,” giving Scott wide latitude to add topics to the agenda.

    Any move to alter Virginia’s redistricting process would likely trigger intense legal scrutiny and political backlash — especially given the proximity to Election Day. But Democratic strategists across the country argue that Republican-led states have already rewritten maps to their advantage.

    Ciara Wells

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  • Letters: Left-wing billionaires are pushing Proposition 50

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

    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

    Letters To The Editor

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  • Shutdown closes Bay Area home of the ‘father of the national parks’

    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.

    Martha Ross

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  • San Pablo man sentenced to life for killing ex-girlfriend in 2017

    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.

    Jason Green

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  • 7 arrested after weekend smash-and-grab at Bay Area mall




































    CBS News Live



    CBS News Bay Area

    Live

    Seven people, six of whom are under the age of 18, were arrested following a smash-and-grab burglary at a shopping mall in the Bay Area over the weekend, police said.

    According to the Concord Police Department, officers were called to the Sun Valley Mall around 3:50 a.m. Sunday after security reported a burglary in progress. Police said a “large group” of suspects had forced entry into the mall through glass doors.

    A photo shared by officers showed a shattered glass door on the floor of the mall.

    concord-sun-valley-mall-smash-and-grab-100525.jpg

    Scene of a smash-and-grab robbery at Sun Valley Mall in Concord on Oct. 5, 2025.

    Concord Police Department


    When officers arrived, they found suspects leaving the mall. Four of the suspects got into a vehicle and led officers on a brief pursuit.

    Police said the driver lost control and crashed the vehicle before fleeing on foot. The three people left behind in the vehicle were taken into custody.

    The driver was found a short distance away, police said, hiding in bushes. He was taken into custody.

    No injuries from the crash were reported.

    Three suspects who were left behind at the mall were also taken into custody. According to police, one of the suspects was found with a firearm with modifications that made it an assault weapon.

    In a statement Sunday, police said there are no outstanding suspects and that those arrested are facing an “extensive list” of charges.

    The six juvenile suspects, whose names are not being released due to their ages, were booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall. Police said the youths are residents of San Pablo and Richmond.

    Police identified the adult suspect as 18-year-old Marcos Ramirez-Castro of Richmond. Ramirez-Castro was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

    Tim Fang

    Tim Fang is a digital producer at CBS Bay Area. A Bay Area native, Tim has been a part of the CBS Bay Area newsroom for more than two decades and joined the digital staff in 2006.

    Tim Fang

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  • Is it better to rent or own in California? That depends.

    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” …

     

     

     

    Jeff Goertzen1, Jonathan Lansner

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  • UPS worker dies in Richmond workplace accident

    RICHMOND — A woman died Sunday in an industrial accident while working for UPS in Richmond, her family said.

    Rick Hurd

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