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Tag: Solano County

  • 69 Jelly Belly Fairfield employees to be laid off amid broader economic strain in Solano County

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    Amid broader economic strain in Solano County, Fairfield is facing another round of job losses as Ferrara Candy Company prepares to permanently lay off 69 corporate employees at its Jelly Belly campus, even as the factory, warehouse and visitor center operations remain open.

    According to a WARN notice received by Mayor Catherine Moy, “Ferrara Candy Company is ceasing its Fairfield corporate-commercial operations” at multiple addresses along One Jelly Belly Lane and North Watney Way. The layoffs are scheduled to begin in June and will be completed by the end of 2026.

    Ferrara confirmed in a statement to CBS News Sacramento that the cuts affect corporate positions only and will not impact manufacturing, warehousing or visitor center roles at the Fairfield facility.

    “Ferrara Fairfield and its Jelly Belly manufacturing, distribution and Visitor Center teams remain a critical part of Ferrara’s operations,” a Ferrara spokesperson said.

    The business group also said the affected workers “are invited to stay with Jelly Belly and Ferrara until the positions are closed.”

    There are currently 374 employees at the Fairfield location. The 69 affected positions represent corporate workforce reductions following Ferrara’s acquisition of Jelly Belly Candy Company in late 2023. Corporate operations are being consolidated to the company’s headquarters in Chicago. 

    Fairfield City Manager David Gassaway informed the City Council in a letter that the reductions were anticipated following the acquisition, according to a post Moy put out on social media last week. He said Ferrara reiterated that it has no plans to close the factory and will continue providing philanthropic support in the community at similar funding levels.

    “They are assessing some of the organizations previously supported that may not align with Ferrara’s corporate values,” Moy said Gassaway wrote in the letter.”However, the amount of funding they donate in the community will remain the same.”  

    The layoffs come at a difficult moment for Fairfield, which is also navigating the closure of the Anheuser-Busch Budweiser facility. That plant’s shutdown impacted more than 230 workers, with its last day of operation on Feb. 22.

    Mayor Moy previously told CBS Sacramento there has been interest from two companies — a beverage company and a biotech firm — in potentially purchasing the Budweiser plant.

    Across Solano County, more than 1,000 layoffs have been announced since December alone, as CBS Sacramento has previously reported.

    The timeline, as shown through WARN Act filings, is as follows: 

    December 2025: 

    Since January 2026: 

    • No WARN notice – Early 2026 announcement revealed CVS in Fairfield will close, laying off 40 employees; in addition, a CVS in Vallejo will close, laying off 50 employees  
    • Jan. 13 – Valero’s refinery in Benicia will cease operations, laying off 237 employees
    • Feb. 12 – Harbinger in Vallejo could close down, with potential layoffs of all 290 employees without a new contract
    • Feb. 20 – Ferrara Candy Company is reducing corporate operations at Jelly Belly in Fairfield, laying off 69 office employees

    The Solano County Workforce Development Board is working to help affected employees find new jobs and access retraining resources.

    “Obviously, this is a very dynamic moment that we’re in. But the good news is we’ve been doing a lot of things to prepare to transition to higher value jobs in Solano County, and even though it’s going to be a little tough in the short term, I see tremendous opportunity for us to create more higher value jobs,” said Chris Rico, president and CEO of the Solano Economic Development Corporation. 

    Rico told CBS Sacramento he remains optimistic during this trying time and that Solano County is ‘prepared for this moment.’

    “Before the pandemic, we were in the top quartile nationally in terms of diversity of industry. Coming out of the pandemic, we were in the bottom quartile, that dramatic of a transformation in a short amount of time.” 

    Rico said that looks like lawmakers and regional stakeholders, including the controversial billionaire-led project California Forever, are putting a focus on bringing shipbuilding back to Solano County through a designated Maritime Prosperity Zone designation and creating more advanced manufacturing jobs. 

    “We’re two years in to looking at all of our industrial areas and saying, how do we provide the infrastructure necessary so that we can attract advanced manufacturing, more higher value jobs? We’re already doing that,” Rico said. 

    In an open letter to the community published in a local newspaper, Vacaville Mayor John Carli said that job losses do not have to define the region’s future. He pointed to major potential aligned with the existing mission at Travis Air Force Base. 

    “We can actively recruit defense and aerospace companies and build a Solano aerospace cluster of our own,” Carli said in the letter. “Let’s stop watching the future fly over our heads and start building it here.” 

    The latest job cuts underscore a broader effort underway across Solano County to stabilize its workforce while attracting new employers to offset recent losses.

    In:

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    Richard Ramos

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  • NCS basketball playoffs: The best of Wednesday’s opening round

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    Ronnie Selleaze notches triple-double to lead San Lorenzo past Heritage. Mission San Jose, Piedmont roll. Moreau Catholic girls cruise to second round.


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    Nathan Canilao, Darren Sabedra

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  • East Bay juvenile, 4 others arrested after police chase

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    A pursuit in Vallejo last week led to the recovery of three loaded firearms and two suspects booked into Solano County Jail.

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    Thomas Gase

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  • Letters: Aisha Wahab’s BART anger is campaign theater

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    Wahab’s BART anger is campaign theater

    Re: “Irvington station project delays irk area officials” (Page A1, Feb. 5).

    The frustration around the Irvington BART station is understandable, but what rings hollow is the sudden outrage from Aisha Wahab, who has been absent from the regional transportation conversation until launching a campaign for Congress.

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  • East Bay man faces combined murder trial in Solano County

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    Attorneys continued presentation of evidence to a judge in Solano County Superior Court Friday, part of arguments over whether a Martinez man charged in connection with two murders, committed months apart, in 2022 can be tried on both allegations at once, or whether the two shooting deaths should be tried separately.

    The hearing on the allegations against Richard Raymond Klein, 54, and the motion to sever the two murder charges will resume on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Fairfield courtroom of Judge John B. Ellis.

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    Robin Miller

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  • NCS girls basketball playoffs 2026: What to know after Sunday’s seeding meeting

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    NCS basketball 2026: Top storylines from Sunday’s girls basketball seeding meeting.


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    Nathan Canilao

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  • California Forever, regional coalition push for federal designation to revive shipbuilding

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    There is a new push by a coalition of regional stakeholders to revitalize shipbuilding in Solano County and the surrounding area, asking the federal government to designate the California Delta as a “maritime prosperity zone.” 

    “We’ve seen what happens when jobs go away. It’s going to be great to see if shipbuilding, maritime jobs come back to the region,” said Chris Rico, president and CEO of the Solano Economic Development Corporation. 

    The effort is backed by the Solano EDC, Cal Poly’s Maritime Academy, the owners of Mare Island, the Nimitz Group, the Bay Area Council, and California Forever, which released the announcement Thursday.

    California Forever is the group of tech-billionaires looking to build a new city of more than 400,000 people, an advanced manufacturing park and a shipyard in Solano County. The group is now the county’s largest landowner. Their total acreage is greater than the size of the city of San Francisco. 

    California Forever CEO Jan Sramek says he supports reviving Mare Island in Vallejo alongside their own efforts to create what they call the Solano Shipyard, proposed for Collinsville.

    “The proposal revives Northern California’s contribution to America’s maritime power,” Sramek wrote in a thread on X announcing the coalition’s plans. 

    The group of regional leaders says their goal is to attract private investment, thousands of jobs and bring back large-scale shipbuilding to the West Coast. 

    “I think it’s a really good signal to the market that we want to bring those jobs here,” said Rico. “I can tell you that my peers across the water in Contra Costa and Alameda, even folks in Yolo and Sacramento, they know that even though the location is in Solano, the opportunity is for this whole region.” 

    Proposed California Delta federal “maritime prosperity zone” 

    California Forever 


    In response, Rep. John Garamendi, a Democrat representing much of Solano County in Congress, says this aligns with a bipartisan push moving through both houses of Congress right now to build more American ships. 

    “I’m excited. I’m very, very pleased. This is the first of this in the nation,” said Garamendi. 

    Garamendi is working to get the SHIPS for America Act signed into law this year, promoting both national security and economic development in bringing back American shipbuilding. It is an effort President Trump has already supported through executive order aimed at ‘restoring American maritime dominance.’

    “The United States has maybe 50 deep-water commercial ships. China has over 5,000. We simply are not in a position to support our military using our own American-flag vessels. That was one of the reasons that I got into this a decade ago on the Armed Services Committee,” said Garamendi. 

    Garamendi has been critical of California Forever. In previous interviews with CBS Sacramento, he has called their vision to build a new city both a “pipe dream” and “dumb growth,” representing the worst of California’s urban sprawl. But on the topic of shipbuilding in Solano, he says they are aligned. 

    “I am looking for support wherever we can get it. California Forever is motivated for economic reasons, and that’s fine. Other participants who signed the letter have similar motivation, and that’s good,” said Garamendi. 

    So what is a federal maritime prosperity zone? 

    Garamendi says the designation does not actually exist now, but it would if the SHIPS Act passes. 

    It creates tax breaks, incentives and regulatory relief to promote the maritime industry and help streamline the creation of thousands of shipbuilding jobs. 

    “We will use this support to push the legislation, advance the legislation, and it will undoubtedly cause other regional ports to also participate,” said Garamendi. 

    The announcement comes on the heels of the Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo recently announcing they had to lay off more than 80 workers right at the start of the new year. 

    Garamendi said he wanted to correct the record and that the dry dock has not closed permanently, as was previously reported by the city of Vallejo to CBS Sacramento. 

    “The panic was caused by an inappropriate description of the problem. Mare Island Dry Dock did not shut down. It simply lost a bid, laid the folks off for lack of work. They continued to search for work and hopefully will be successful in obtaining additional bids,” said Garamendi.      

    Garamendi added that they are aggressively working right now alongside the U.S. Coast Guard to secure a new contract that would mean some, if not all, of those laid-off workers would get their jobs back at the dry docks. 

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • Transportation commission investigating false toll fee claims in Solano County’s new express lanes

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    Some Solano County drivers have been quick to report frustration with the new express lanes on Interstate-80 that recently launched in Vacaville and Fairfield.

    The lanes, which serve drivers who wish to pay to bypass traffic in the busy Bay Area corridor, officially started tolling on Dec. 16. Construction by Caltrans wrapped up around the fall of 2025. 

    Several drivers have now claimed they were erroneously charged for driving in the lane, which they say they never did. CBS Sacramento reached out to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which manages the FasTrak system across the Bay Area, to get answers on the issues. 

    “At this stage, it appears that these are isolated incidents because we have not received a flood of incoming calls or messages to the fast track customer service center,” said John Goodwin of MTC. “I just think it’s really too early to draw conclusions, but I want to reassure drivers in the corridor that we tested the equipment before the lanes opened last month, and everything was shipshape at that time,” said Goodwin. 

    Leon Ward contacted CBS Sacramento and posted on social media saying that he was falsely charged the $0.75 fee for entering the lane on Dec. 22, 2025, just after 5 a.m. near Fairfield. He says he never entered the lane and disputed the charge with FasTrak. 

    He just happened to notice the fee when he checked his FasTrak account. 

    Leon Ward post in Solano County community Facebook group

    The toll lane camera captured his car, as MTC confirmed to CBS Sacramento, but the photo was too dark to prove which lane he was in.

    CBS Sacramento asked if the camera was faulty. Goodwin responded that it was likely the rain and haze on that December morning that made the picture quality so poor, otherwise, he said, the cameras are in proper working order day and night. 

    Ward got a refund for the charge, MTC confirms. 

    “The customer who got in touch with you all, we were able, thanks to you, to identify that that was Westbound Interstate 80, at Highway 12. So already that’s on our radar,” said Goodwin. “Let’s watch that location. We may need to reset the cameras at that spot, particularly if you get a couple or more instances of people contacting the customer service center. So, we’re keeping a really close eye on this.”

    Leon’s post, however, green-lighted several other comments on his social media post from at least five other drivers who claim they too got a false fee from the new fast lane.  

    MTC tells CBS Sacramento that, despite those concerns, only one other official complaint has been filed with customer service from a driver who was charged after partially entering the lane then exiting. 

    MTC says they, too, will be refunded. 

    “If people do believe that they have been charged in error for travel along the newly opened express lanes in Solano County, we really do encourage people to contact the customer service center by phone,” said Goodwin. 

    Even the mayor of Suisun City, Alma Hernandez, posted on her social media page that she had called regional transportation leaders with the concerns. 

    Bay Area FasTrak was quick to respond in the comments.

    mayor-fb-post.jpg

    Post on Facebook page of Mayor Alma Hernandez 

    “That did prompt our investigation so that we were able to send the alert out to the customer service center, hey, let the staff know if you get any calls or any other messaging about ostensibly erroneous tolls on the 80 express lanes, so that we can investigate,” said Goodwin. 

    The message is to slow down when reading through your FasTrak bill or any toll charges you may get in the mail. 

    If they are wrong, MTC says they will do what they can to make it right, and if necessary, repair their equipment in the case of a more widespread issue. 

    “If there is a problem, we want to know about it and we want to fix it fast,” said Goodwin. 

    MTC says false charges like this are rare, but cited an incident from several years ago in Contra Costa County, also on northbound Interstate-680, when a significant number of drivers reported to customer service that they were falsely charged the express lane toll. 

    As it turned out, MTC needed to recalibrate the camera so it was not reading FasTrak tags from the lane adjacent to the express lane. 

    Call the number 877-BAY-TOLL or 877-229-8655 with any concerns. 

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • Woman dead, man injured after wrong-way crash in Solano County

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    Woman dead, man injured after wrong-way crash in Solano County

    Updated: 8:51 PM PST Jan 7, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    A woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Solano County on Wednesday night, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash happened around 6 p.m., on Interstate 505, just north of Allendale Road, according to CHP.CHP said the crash involved a Subaru Forrester and a Toyota Prius. The Prius was headed in the wrong direction as the Forrester was traveling southbound. The driver of the Prius was pronounced deceased. The man driving the Forrester was taken to a Vacaville hospital with injuries. The highway was temporarily closed due to the crash but has since reopened. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    A woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Solano County on Wednesday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.

    The crash happened around 6 p.m., on Interstate 505, just north of Allendale Road, according to CHP.

    CHP said the crash involved a Subaru Forrester and a Toyota Prius. The Prius was headed in the wrong direction as the Forrester was traveling southbound.

    The driver of the Prius was pronounced deceased. The man driving the Forrester was taken to a Vacaville hospital with injuries.

    The highway was temporarily closed due to the crash but has since reopened.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Man killed in crash on I-80 in Solano County, CHP says

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    Man killed in crash on I-80 in Solano County, CHP says

    ON THIS WEATHER IMPACT DAY. ALL RIGHT, LET’S CHECK IN ON HOW MUCH SNOW WE’VE PICKED UP ALREADY. SO, PALISADES TAHOE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, 14IN MOUNT ROSE 11. SAME WITH HEAVENLY SIERRA TAHOE PICKING UP TEN INCHES. AND TODAY IS ACTUALLY WHEN WE EXPECT TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT SNOW COMING DOWN. SO WE ARE BY NO MEANS DONE YET. NOW THERE ARE CHAIN CONTROLS IN PLACE ON 8050 AND ON 88. ON 80 IT IS DRUMMED TO BOCA, TWIN BRIDGES TO MEYERS ON HIGHWAY 50 AND ON 88 THAT IS COOK STATION TO WOODFORD. SO MAKE SURE YOU’VE GOT THOSE CHAINS WITH YOU. SLOW DOWN. MAYBE AN EMERGENCY KIT TO SOME EXTRA BLANKETS TO KEEP WARM, SOME EXTRA BOTTLES OF WATER. ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE AS WELL. NOW AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY, YOU DO STILL SEE THAT RAIN SHOWERS MOVING THEIR WAY EASTWARD NOW IN THE VALLEY, IT’S BECOMING MORE SCATTERED, BUT WE ARE SEEING SOME LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AROUND ROSEVILLE AROUND SACRAMENTO, ALSO BACK TOWARD DAVIS VACAVILLE AND EVEN DOWN TOWARD FAIRFIELD LODI SEEING SOME OF THOSE RAIN SHOWERS, SO IS THE GALT AREA. AND THEN AS YOU HEAD OVER TOWARD SAN ANDREAS. NOW, AS WE HEAD UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS, WE ARE SEEING THE SHOWERS WRAPPING UP IN GRASS VALLEY. FOR NOW, WE’RE NOT BY ANY MEANS DONE, BUT THOSE SNOW LEVELS HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN FACT, JUST BELOW 5000FT AS WE’RE SEEING ACCUMULATING SNOW AROUND BLUE CANYON. AND THEN THAT SNOW ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH TRUCKEE, EVEN UP TO THE STATE LINE HEADING DOWN TOWARD HIGHWAY 50. THIS THE CHAIN CONTROLS START AT TWIN BRIDGES. THOSE ARE GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH MEYERS. WE ARE SEEING SNOW AROUND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, KIRKWOOD BEAR VALLEY. ALSO SEEING QUITE A BIT OF THAT LIGHT RAIN AROUND WEST POINT. AND AS WE HEAD FURTHER TO THE SOUTH, ARNOLD, YOU’VE BEEN SEEING SOME LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN. IT’S POURING IN SONORA RIGHT NOW, ALONG WITH COPPEROPOLIS AREA, AND THEN AS WE HEAD BACK TOWARD TRACY LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN, A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK IN THE ACTION IN STOCKTON, BUT YOU’VE GOT MORE ON THE WAY. AND IN MODESTO YOU’VE GOT SOME MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN COMING DOWN. YOU’VE GOT MORE COMING AS THEY’RE STILL THERE, MORE BACK TO THE WEST. NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT FUTURECAST FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. FOR THE VALLEY, IT’S GOING TO BECOME MORE AND MORE SCATTERED. THERE IS, THOUGH, A CHANCE THAT WE COULD SEE SOME THUNDERSTORMS FIRING UP AS WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON, ESPECIALLY IF WE GET SOME SUNSHINE AND SOME INSTABILITY GOING. THE SNOW SHOWERS SHOULD BE PRETTY STEADY THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE DAY HEADING INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THEN AS WE GET INTO TOMORROW, THIS IS WHERE THE MODELS ARE CHANGING A LITTLE BIT. NOW FOR TOMORROW, AT LEAST WITH THIS ONE. THE GRAPH. WE ARE SEEING QUITE A BIT OF RAIN COMING DOWN IN PARTS OF THE VALLEY ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT SNOW LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE STAYING MUCH FURTHER TO THE NORTH, SO IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE SIERRA. ALTHOUGH PREVIOUS MODELS HAVE SHOWN THAT IT WILL. SO WE’RE STILL GOING TO KEEP AT LEAST THE CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON MONDAY FOR THE SIERRA. BUT AS WE GET INTO TUESDAY, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO START TO DRY OUT NOW. HOW MUCH RAIN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, INCLUDING WHAT’S ALREADY FALLEN THIS MORNING, WE COULD SEE UP TO ABOUT TWO MORE INCHES UP TO THREE INCHES AS YOU HEAD UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS. AND THEN SNOWFALL TOTALS. WE’RE ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 4FT OF SNOW AROUND DONNER SUMMIT BY THE TIME THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE ON MONDAY, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SEVEN DAY FORECAST. SO IT IS AN IMPACT DAY TODAY FOR THE ENTIRE VIEWING AREA. RAIN, POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS. SNOW IN THE SIERRA, LINGERING SHOWERS MONDAY AND THEN DRYING OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT. WE GET A CHANCE TO CLEAN UP AND GET READY FOR MORE, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY NEED THE RAIN IN THE SNOW. WE ABSOLUTELY DO. BUT

    A man was killed, and another person seriously hurt after a crash on Interstate 80 in Solano County on Sunday, the California Highway Patrol said. The crash happened near the Redwood Parkway and involved a Honda Accord and a Toyota Prius, CHP’s Solano division said. (Nov. 4 forecast in the video above.)The Honda’s driver, a man in his 30s, died. The vehicle’s passenger was taken to a hospital with major injuries, CHP said. The driver of the Prius was taken to a hospital as a precaution after a complaint of pain. Traffic was diverted around the shoulder until all lanes reopened. See our traffic map. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. —

    A man was killed, and another person seriously hurt after a crash on Interstate 80 in Solano County on Sunday, the California Highway Patrol said.

    The crash happened near the Redwood Parkway and involved a Honda Accord and a Toyota Prius, CHP’s Solano division said.

    (Nov. 4 forecast in the video above.)

    The Honda’s driver, a man in his 30s, died. The vehicle’s passenger was taken to a hospital with major injuries, CHP said. The driver of the Prius was taken to a hospital as a precaution after a complaint of pain.

    Traffic was diverted around the shoulder until all lanes reopened.

    See our traffic map.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Solano County’s new I-80 Fastrak lanes to start tolling mid-December

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    Drivers who live in or travel through Solano County are about one month out from seeing tolling start on the newly constructed express lanes in both directions of Interstate 80.

    As CBS Sacramento first reported in July, Caltrans wrapped up construction of a brand new express lane this summer in Vacaville that stretches down to Fairfield, where an existing HOV lane was converted to an express lane. The project took about a year and a half to complete.

    Caltrans


    The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) announced the tolls will be operational starting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and will run daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., including on weekends.

    Caltrans wants drivers who have been using the new lanes for free over the past few months to be aware that the changes are coming soon.

    “Currently, it’s running as an HOV lane and nobody’s being charged for it. So the big thing drivers need to be aware of is that as soon as it’s the 16th, if you’re in that lane, you’re going to be charged,” said Sabrina Martinez, a Caltrans spokesperson.

    The project came about through a partnership between MTC, Caltrans and the Solano Transportation Authority. The daily operations will be overseen by MTC’s Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority affiliate.

    “Designed to enhance mobility through the heart of Solano County, the new express lanes will improve transit reliability and access for emergency response vehicles, and provide time savings and reliability for Solano County residents and others traveling through the county,” an MTC spokesperson said in a statement.

    Caltrans wants to be clear: the toll is not required for all drivers. It is optional for those who want to race through this often gridlocked stretch of I-80.

    “You’re paying to get through faster so you’re not stuck in the slower traffic,” said Martinez. “The ultimate plan is getting all of California connected to make it easier for consumers, commuters to get around easily.”

    Drivers must have a FasTrak toll tag to use the lane. They can be purchased in-store at retailers like Costco and Walgreens and ordered online.

    Here is the breakdown of how the tolls are tallied, according to MTC:

    • Carpools with three or more people, vanpools, buses and motorcycles travel toll-free with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the “3+” position.
    • Two-person carpools pay half-price tolls with a FasTrak Flex tag set to “2”.
    • Solo drivers may pay the full toll to use the Express Lanes with either a standard FasTrak toll tag or a FasTrak Flex tag set to the 1 position.

    Those car passenger totals include the driver of the vehicle.

    How much will it cost? It depends on how far you drive and how heavy traffic is at that time.

    “Tolls rise as traffic increases and fall as traffic declines. Digital signs over the roadway display the toll rates for various destinations. Customers always pay the toll displayed when they enter the Express Lane, even if toll rates change during their trip. Toll-paying customers pay for each toll zone they enter. The I-80 Solano County Express Lanes feature four toll zones in each direction,” an MTC spokesperson said.

    The cost for one zone can range anywhere from 50 cents to $15. MTC told CBS Sacramento in July that those costs are, on average, relatively low.

    “For reference, the most recent data for average toll assessed on the I-680 express lanes in Contra Costa County was about $4.00 and over 60% of paid trips cost drivers less than $3.00,” an MTC spokesperson previously told CBS Sacramento in a statement.

    For drivers who use the lane without paying, they will be mailed a bill for the toll invoice plus a $10 penalty.

    This project is not just about Solano County bumper-to-bumper traffic. Caltrans is eyeing regionwide upgrades. Plans are already in the works for an express lane from Davis to Downtown Sacramento, as CBS13 has previously reported.

    Caltrans says there is also “the gap” from Dixon to Davis that they would want to fill in.

    “We want to extend express lanes all the way into downtown Sacramento,” said Vince Jacala, a Caltrans spokesperson.

    Meaning, the future of freeway traffic could look like an express lane that drivers can take all the way from downtown Sacramento to the Bay Area and everywhere in between.

    See more frequently asked questions regarding express lanes at this link.

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • I-80 Solano County Express Lanes tolling to begin in December; tolls to be taken daily

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    The Metropolitan Transportation Commission announced that tolling on the new Express Lanes on Interstate 80 in Solano County will begin in December, with drivers being required to pay tolls every day of the week.

    In a statement Friday, officials said tolling is expected to begin on Tuesday, December 16. The date could be revised due to inclement weather or late technical issues.

    The Express Lanes, which stretch in both directions from Red Top Road in Fairfield to Interstate 505 in Vacaville, will operate from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. FasTrak toll tags will be required to use the lanes.

    As with other Express Lanes in the Bay Area, solo drivers must pay the full toll to use the Express Lanes, either with a standard FasTrak toll tag or a FasTrak Flex tag set to the “1” position. Meanwhile, two-person carpools pay half-price tolls with a FasTrak Flex tag set to “2.”

    Carpools with three or more people, along with vanpools, buses and motorcycles can use the lanes toll free, with a toll tag set to the “3+” position.

    Tolls will be determined based on traffic conditions, with digital signs displaying the toll rates for various destinations. Officials said drivers will pay the toll displayed when they enter the Express Lane, even if toll rates change during their trip.

    Additional information about the lanes, including how to sign up for FasTrak, can be found by visiting expresslanes.511.org.

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    Tim Fang

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  • Fairfield: I-80 closed at Travis Boulevard

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    By Bay City News

    Traffic on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 in Fairfield was stopped on Saturday morning after the interstate was closed because of police activity on the Travis Boulevard overpass.

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    Bay City News Service

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  • State energy commission hears from energized Vacaville neighbors on proposed lithium-ion battery facility

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    Generating a lot of buzz in Solano County are multiple proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, one being the Corby Project by NextEra Energy. As of last month, the company submitted its official application to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for approval.

    California changed state laws back in 2022 to fast-track battery storage plants to help the state meet its clean energy goals and desire for more power grid resiliency, allowing the CEC to approve energy storage projects that can now bypass the county or city approval process.

    “The state has very ambitious goals. We’re aiming to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045 and we’re we’ve made it quite a ways. We’re about two-thirds of the way there, but we have a long way to go, so we have to have a lot more building take place in California of renewable energy and storage,” said Drew Bohan, executive director of the CEC.

    The proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility would sit just outside the Vacaville city limits near Kilkenny Road and Byrnes Road in Solano County on 40 acres of privately owned farmland.

    By law, before the CEC can approve a project like this, it must hear concerns from the community in a public forum.

    Thursday night, the state agency hosted its first meeting in Vacaville at the Ulatis Center from 2 p.m. to just after 6 p.m. for drop-in public comment.

    “I implore you to put yourself in my shoes,” pleaded one neighbor in a public comment who lives near the proposed site.

    About 100 neighbors showed up throughout the afternoon and evening.

    “Our ag land is precious. Once you destroy ag land and the water systems, you can’t get that back,” said another neighbor.

    Many neighbors say they do not want it in the proposed location because close by are homes, the hospital and Interstate-80. They worry about incidents of massive fires and thermal runoff, citing what happened at the Moss Landing battery storage facility in Monterey County when a fire prompted evacuations in January.

    “These are real people, and that plant is going to be right in front of their house,” Noelle DeMartini, a member of the “Keep Vacaville Safe” community group, told CBS Sacramento.

    Drew Bohan, executive director of the commission, says all community concerns are valid and the CEC is listening.

    “The biggest concern was fire and the toxins that may come from a fire,” Bohan said. “We are required, through state law, to evaluate a number of concerns. Noise, fire, toxics, all those different things, and local land use ordinances. So we have to look at that and then and then evaluate it, and then either decide to follow it. The statute gives us the authority to essentially override the local government’s decision, but we don’t do that lightly. We look very carefully at each individual situation,” said Bohan.

    Solano County recently ended its moratorium on BESS projects, after the Board of Supervisors prioritized adopting a local ordinance limiting where they are allowed to be built before the Corby Project gets too far along in the state approval process.

    The city of Vacaville hosted a heated community meeting in late October, asking the community to help draft a similar ordinance for the city.

    Bohan says, regardless of the state’s energy goals, they will disapprove a project if they feel it is not right for the community.

    Since the 2022 law change giving them the authority to approve these projects, Bohan says the CEC has only approved one project in Fresno County. Staff has recommended that they reject a second project.

    About seven more projects, including the Corby Project, are currently working through the state approval process.

    “We absolutely place public safety at the top of our list,” Bohan said.

    Neighbors with “Keep Vacaville Safe” say they want the CEC to reject the project, adding it sets a precedent for more companies already eyeing Vacaville and Solano County land to move in.

    “I think, if you’re from here, or if you have lived in a small town like this before, you could resonate and know this isn’t a good thing,” DeMartini said.

    No decision was made Thursday night. This was an informational meeting only.

    The timeline for the energy commission to vote is 270 days since they received the application, which they got a month ago

    A vote is expected to take place on the Corby Project in summer 2026. More public hearings will be held before a decision is made.

    The company NextEra Energy hosted a community meeting on the project in July in Vacaville.

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • CalFresh payments will be paused in November amid ongoing government shutdown

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    With the federal government still shut down, CalFresh recipients will now officially see their November benefits delayed, according to the California Department of Social Services.

    The deadline for the government to reopen before federal food programs like SNAP would see their funding dry up was Thursday, October 23. 

    The disruption will impact the more than 5.5 million Californians who rely on CalFresh benefits to be loaded onto their EBT cards each month. More than 60% of those enrolled are seniors and children.  

    “It’s not only challenging, it’s a bit of a crisis,” said Caitlyn Sly, CEO of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties.   

    The food bank is already feeding 65,000 households a month, which makes up nearly 3 million meals, between the two Bay Area counties. 

    Sly anticipates many neighbors will be needing the food bank’s help for the first time in light of the CalFresh delays. She says state data shows only one-third of CalFresh recipients also utilize help from a local food bank statewide. For that group and the remaining two-thirds, she anticipates there will be a huge influx of need. 

    The food bank posted a message of warning on its website. 

    An alert on the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano website 

    “We know that we’re going to see tens of thousands of more people coming to us,” said Sly. “We are prepared to ramp up service at all of our sites and support our partner agencies as well.”

    The delays will impact real people like Christina, who chose not to provide her last name, of Fairfield. 

    Christina relies on monthly CalFresh payments to keep food on the table. 

    calfresh.jpg

    Christina, a recipient of CalFresh benefits in Fairfield, Calif. 

    “It changed my life. It takes a lot of burden off me, so it’s not so stressful,” Christina said. “Because I’m a diabetic and it’s good to get veggies and fresh fruits and healthy foods, not processed food.” 

    Christina used to line up for free food at St. Mark’s food pantry in Fairfield, which is a partner agency of the Solano food bank. Now, she volunteers there almost daily and knows she can relate to those who show up on an empty stomach. 

    “It’s going to be a lot of people out there doing some crazy stuff. People need the food stamps, they need to eat. They’re going to be very desperate,” said Christina. 

    She worries, with CalFresh payments paused, where she and others in need in Solano County will be. 

    “I’m on a fixed income, so I’m going to have to figure out how I’m going to buy food and it’s going to be hard,” said Christina. 

    In light of federal funding cuts in early 2025 for food programs nationwide, Sly says they are working with fewer resources and an ever-growing need. 

    “We just really look to our local community to step up and help us during this time,” said Sly. “It’s very critical, especially as we go into the holiday season, which is a time when we always have an increased need and try to do more for families that can’t put a holiday meal on the table.”

    The food bank says they have no choice but to be ready to respond. 

    “It is emotional, because all of us deeply care about our neighbors. We also know it could be you. It could be me. It doesn’t take much to need food,” said Sly. 

    Another layer to this, Sly says, is the economic impact of a CalFresh disruption. 

    “Grocers are going to be impacted. Food vendors, food producers, the people that drive the delivery trucks. It’s all part of the ecosystem. For every $1.00 of CalFresh benefits that are put on somebody’s EBT card, that generates $1.54 in local economic activity. So, it really does impact all of us,” said Sly. 

    To the politicians in Washington, Christina urges action to end the government shutdown. 

    “Get your act together and get it done. Get it done,” Christina said. 

    For help finding food in Solano County, visit the food bank’s website.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced his plan to deploy California National Guard members to help food banks statewide respond to an increased need for their services, also fast-tracking up to $80 million in state funds. 

    The state of California posted answers online to frequently asked questions about the shutdown and its impact to CalFresh recipients.  

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • Solano County man sees success slowing onset of Alzheimer’s decline thanks to new treatment

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    Ahead of Solano County’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Saturday morning in Fairfield, one Rio Vista man reflects on how the meaning behind the walks has changed for him in recent years.

    Over the past couple of years, Dennis Beck has raised more than $10,000 through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, supporting Alzheimer’s research.

    Beck has a long family history of dementia. Flipping through photos of his mother, Lillian, he reflected on just how much they had in common.

    It wasn’t just their shared sweet tooth but the fact that both would be diagnosed with dementia. Lillian passed from the disease more than a decade ago.

    Dennis Beck and his mother, Lillian 

    “It was very, very, very difficult,” Beck said.

    His diagnosis of late-stage, mild-onset Alzheimer’s came about a year and a half ago. It followed his sister’s diagnosis, too. However, her disease has progressed to the point where she has to be cared for in an assisted living facility.

    “It did come to mind that, you know, maybe I’m in line for this. But it didn’t own me,” Beck said of his family history.

    Beck started to notice just over a year ago that he was having trouble using his computer and with his short-term memory.

    He decided he would not sit back and let the disease just take over his life.

    Instead, he travels with his wife, Cindy, from Rio Vista to Sutter Health in Sacramento every two weeks for leqembi infusions, a treatment fully approved by the FDA in the summer of 2023.

    “It slows the disease down so it allows you more time to be cognitively alert before the decline,” Beck said. “I’m forgetful, but I’m not as forgetful as I was during that peak period before the infusions had started.”

    CBS Sacramento first told you about these treatments back in 2023 when a local man was participating in the clinical trials.

    Today, Beck sees a big difference in his own cognitive function.

    “I am grateful because of the treatment that I’m getting that wasn’t available to my sister, it wasn’t available to my mother, it wasn’t available to my aunt. So, I am beyond blessed,” Beck said.

    There is no fear when he looks to the future, even though he knows all he can do is slow down this terrible disease.

    “I find worrying about the future is not a positive. So, I don’t take my days for granted at all. I’m just grateful that I have a good day every day,” Beck said.

    Hope outshines the darkness of dementia. Beck believes one day, Alzheimer’s disease will be forgotten.

    “I believe that one day there’s going to be a cure. Maybe because I have it and I’m hopeful. I don’t know if it’s going to be in my lifetime. But I think it’s going to come about and this killer disease can be reversed,” Beck said.

    CBS Sacramento anchor Marlee Ginter is emceeing the Solano County Walk to End Alzheimer’s Saturday morning.

    For details on the event or to register, check out their website. Money donated supports the Alzheimer’s Association and research to find a cure for the disease. 

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    Ashley Sharp

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  • Mandatory water conservation in Benicia doesn’t stop city’s annual Oktoberfest celebration

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    Since Wednesday, the city of Benicia has been under a mandatory water conservation order following the failure of a main supply pipeline. Repairs are still underway, but that didn’t stop the city’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, an event that doesn’t rely much on water anyway.

    The city wasn’t saying exactly what caused the water pipeline break, but on Saturday morning, the news was generally good.

    “The crew completed the welding and they’re still working on final testing and repairs,” said Benicia public information officer Colette Schow. “Residents should expect to receive a notification from the city to release the 40 percent mandatory conservation probably mid next week.”

    Luckily, when it came to the city’s fifth annual Oktoberfest celebration, water was about the furthest thing from people’s minds.  Kate Gogiel talked about the water shortage as she was frying up some Weinerschnitzel at the German Guys’ food booth.

    “I heard about it a little bit before we came, but it’s not affecting us,” she said.  “Yeah, it’s more beer than water.”

    The authentic German foods being served were a big hit, but the real star of the show was, of course, the beer.  And it too was authentic, 88 kegs of five different brews, all from the Weihenstephaner Brewery in Bavaria, which has been making beer for nearly 1,200 years.

    “We’ve been lucky to have scheduled it on the exact same day that Germany’s official Oktoberfest kicks off,” said Dawson Urban, an organizer with the Benicia Chamber of Commerce. “So, if you’re in Germany today, you’re doing exactly what we’re doing!”

    In Germany, Oktoberfest officially begins on Sept. 20 and goes until Oct. 5. It began more than 200 years ago to celebrate a royal wedding, but later, to avoid October rains, they moved most of it up to September. In Benicia, the music and dancing were also classic Oktoberfest, with long tables set up under a tent, just like the massive beer halls in Munich.

    “It feels just like this, with the tables and all the people drinking, having a good time. It’s a community event and it feels just like this,” said one Benicia resident who visited the celebration in Munich in 2015. He remembers sitting in the huge Lowenbrau tent as the normally no-nonsense Germans began standing up on the tables to drink.

    “And everybody cheers them on and hopefully they finish their whole pint,” he said, pulling up a video on his phone. “Well, this lady stood up in 2015 and this is what happened. Poured it all over her head. She never drank a single bit of it, but everybody cheered. It was great and I’m just glad I got the whole event on video.”

    In Benicia, it was a bit more relaxed with people savoring typical German foods like sauerkraut, schnitzel and gravy.  And one curious dish is sausage in a red curry, known as “currywurst.”  Adrian Gogiel, with The German Guys, said it may not be traditional, but it sure is popular.

    “If you go to Berlin, the capital of Germany,’ he said, “on every single corner is currywurst.  It’s like the tacos here…this is our tacos!”

    And at the booth next door was One House Bakery, where, along with the pretzels and apple strudel, co-owner Hannalee Pervan was serving up another Teutonic treat.

    “So, these are the gingerbread hearts,” she said. “Essentially, at the beginning of every Oktoberfest, you go and get your loved one a heart and you put it around their neck.  They said if you’re wearing a heart, it signifies that somebody loves you. You don’t see that a lot in the States, but we definitely wanted to bring that tradition, make it authentic.”

    Events like Oktoberfest take a year to plan, and nobody could have foreseen that it would fall on a day when the entire city was being asked to limit its consumption of water. But then again, maybe that was the perfect day for it to happen.

    John Ramos

    John Ramos accidentally launched a lifelong career in journalism when he began drawing editorial cartoons and writing smart-alecky satire pieces for the Bakersfield High School newspaper.

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  • 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)
    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)
    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. 

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Why Laver Cup conflict looms over potential Valkyries postseason home game

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    SAN FRANCISCO — If the Valkyries reach the postseason in their inaugural year, one of the biggest questions will be where they will actually play. 

    A scheduling conflict with the Laver Cup — an international tennis tournament that includes stars Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz as well as legend Andre Agassi as a coach — presents Chase Center’s biggest hurdle in trying to accommodate a Valkyries playoff game. 

    In all likelihood, the Valkyries will not get a Top 4 seed in order to host two games in the first round, meaning their possible lone postseason game will take place either on Sept. 16 or 17. 

    The Laver Cup runs from Sept. 19-21, but setting up the state-of-the-art tennis court and allowing players time to practice before the tournament starts is the biggest challenge. The event was booked before the Valkyries became a franchise. 

    Golden State officials said an update on a decision on where the team will play will be coming in the next few days. 

    “We are finalizing details regarding our potential playoff venue and will share a comprehensive update with fans and season ticket holders in the coming days,” the Valkyries said in a statement sent to this news organization on Thursday. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the logistics of the possibility of a historic inaugural playoff run and pre-existing scheduling conflict at Chase Center.”

    A Golden State Valkyries fan wears a winged helmet while sitting courtside in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Valkyries’ issues with scheduling their playoff game hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the league. 

    “You want to think that you’re past it,” Stewart told SFGATE on Monday. “We want to think that we’re, like, better than this. Listen, sometimes it’s out of the control of everyone involved. But it’s just … You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”

    The Valkyries will have other venues to consider should Chase Center not be available. 

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Valkyries keep defending champion Liberty in check, extend win streak to four

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    SAN FRANCISCO — The Valkyries looked as connected as they have all year on Tuesday night. 

    Playing the star-studded New York Liberty, Golden State made all the right plays, hit all the necessary shots and kept the visiting team’s high-powered offense in check.  

    The result: The expansion team played perhaps its best game of the season, defeating the defending champion Liberty 66-58 in front of its 20th consecutive sellout crowd of the season. 

    “I think when we’re communicating and we’re executing the game plan, I think, like I said, we’re pretty dangerous,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Credit to our players for believing, trusting and executing.”

    Temi Fágbénlé led the Valkyries with 16 points and five rebounds. Janelle Salaun had 10 points. Kate Martin came off the bench and scored 11 points.

    Monique Billings made her return to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a right ankle sprain. She played 20 minutes, scored five points and grabbed three rebounds.

    Guard Natasha Cloud was a bright spot for the Liberty, leading New York with 19 points. Walnut Creek native Sabrina Ionescu missed Friday’s game with a toe injury. 

    The Valkyries held the Liberty to 31.6% shooting and didn’t allow the Liberty to get to the line consistently in the first half, holding the visiting team to two free throw attempts. Breanna Stewart saw only four of her 15 shots go through the basket, but got most of her points at the free throw line. 

    “We stayed very connected throughout the whole game, through the ups and downs, through the runs. That’s the main thing,” Fágbénlé said. “Communicating throughout the whole game really helped us, and sticking with the schemes.”

    With the win, the Valkyries now have a one-game lead over the Indiana Fever for the sixth seed. A Los Angeles Sparks loss against the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday and a Valkyries win over the Dallas Wings on Thursday would clinch a playoff spot for Golden State. The Valkyries are also a game and a half behind the Liberty for the fifth seed.

    Golden State fell behind by four points after the first quarter, but an offensive explosion in the second period gave the Valkyries a comfortable halftime lead. 

    Martin scored all 11 of her points in the second quarter, hitting 3-of-6 of her 3-point attempts to lead the Valkyries in the first half. 

    The Valkyries held the Liberty to 32.3% shooting through the first two quarters and led 40-26 going into the intermission. 

    New York’s eight second-quarter points is tied for the fewest points a Valkyries’ opponent has scored all season. 

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Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün (13) celebrates her 3-point basket 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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Golden State ballooned its lead to 24 early in the third period, but the Liberty finished the quarter strong by forcing seven Valkyries turnovers. The home team went into the final 10 minutes of play with a 12-point lead. 

But much like they have done during this home stand, the Valkyries didn’t let up in the fourth quarter.

Golden State’s inside-out attack paced its offense against a more athletic Liberty defense. On the other end, the Valkyries got timely stops and didn’t allow New York’s trio of post players consisting of Stewart, Emma Meesseman and last year’s Finals MVP Jonquel Jones to get going.

During this home stand, the Valkyries have beaten teams by average of 19 points.

The Valkyries will play their final two home games on Thursday and Saturday, starting with a matchup with the Dallas Wings followed by the regular season finale against the Minnesota Lynx two days later. 

Originally Published:

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Nathan Canilao

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