BRENTWOOD — Authorities on Monday publicly identified a motorcyclist who died last month in a crash that also injured his passenger. Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | Scooter rider dies after being struck by two drivers in San Jose Crashes and Disasters | San Jose: Woman dies from injuries sustained in April crash Crashes and Disasters | Two men die in Oakland traffic collisions; person detained in one death Crashes and Disasters | One killed in Highway 101 crash in Sunnyvale Crashes and Disasters | Fourth deceased victim identified in Pleasanton electric vehicle crash Mark Rozel ..read more

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge ruled that it should be up to a jury to determine the legality of a Brentwood officer’s failure to call off his dog after a woman suspected of retail theft surrendered to police — paving the way for a civil trial or potentially a higher settlement in the case, court records show. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin’s 24-page order notes that Brentwood Officer Ryan Rezentes waited 40 seconds to call off his K9, Marco, after plaintiff Talmika Bates told police she was coming out of a bush where she was hiding. During those 40 seconds, the dog chomped on Bates repeatedly ..read more

BRENTWOOD – Liberty coach Andrew Lonsdale had more on his mind than the commotion Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn caused at Thursday’s Bay Valley Athletic League game.  Yes, Liberty graciously switched up the home-and-away two-game series with crosstown rival Heritage to allow the Patriots to honor their famous alum on his day off. And Lonsdale and the Lions applauded as Blackburn posed for photos with family and friends.  Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn holds a sign commemorating his jersey number being retired during a pre-game ceremony at Heritage High School in Brentwood, C ..read more

BRENTWOOD — Two decades after it was first proposed, a regional amphitheater and event center project in southern Brentwood is on hold, with a smaller, outdoor community-oriented performance venue now planned. Costs have skyrocketed from $8 million to $14.5 million in the first phase of The Vineyards at Marsh Creek amphitheater/event center. The City Council, at a special meeting on Tuesday, was asked by staff whether to continue the project in south Brentwood, to pause it or to revisit its scope. In January, the council directed staff to move forward with an environmental review and examine s ..read more

California’s population grew for the first time in three years as legal immigration rebounded and the great California exodus during the COVID pandemic dramatically slowed as remote workers returned to the office, according to a state report released Tuesday. The overall population gains were relatively small — a net increase of some 67,000 people to raise California’s population to 39.1 million people in 2023, according to the California Department of Finance. Some Bay Area counties lost population, including Alameda and San Mateo, as layoffs took hold last year and residents continued to see ..read more

BRENTWOOD — A 37-year-old motorcyclist was killed and his passenger badly injured in a collision with a vehicle Saturday night, police said Tuesday. The name of the man killed, a Brentwood resident, was not immediately released. The collision happened about 10:33 p.m. Saturday on northbound Brentwood Boulevard at Valdry Court, police said. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Moped rider killed in collision near Bay Bridge Crime and Public Safety | Boy killed in East Bay crash Crime and Public Safety | Father, two children identified as v ..read more

In California, rattlesnakes bite about 800 people in a typical year; approximately two are fatal in a year. The threat usually begins in April and will decrease by September. Rattlesnakes are not confined to rural areas. They have been found near urban areas, rivers, lakes and golf courses. Rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking defensively. Related Articles Environment | Bird flu’s disturbing new turn into cattle — are California herds safe? Environment | Northern California dog owners warned by state wildlife officials to keep their canines away from raw fish Environment | Giv ..read more

SAN JOSE — Dunn-Edwards, a big paint retailer, will greatly widen its footprint in Northern California by adding 17 stores in the region, an expansion poised to fill several former Kelly-Moore Paints sites. The 17 paint retailing locations include 10 new stores in the Bay Area and some stores near the region, Dunn-Edwards Paints stated. 4156 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, a former Kelly-Moore Paints location that Dunn-Edwards Paints has picked for a store site.  The expansion will increase the number of Dunn-Edwards Paints sites in Northern California by more than 50%. The Dunn-Edwards move ..read more

PITTSBURG — Heritage didn’t play its best game.  But when it mattered most, the Patriots found a way to get the job done.  After struggling to score runs for five innings, Heritage came alive late to beat Pittsburg 4-3 on Thursday and firmly secure its spot as the top team in the Bay Valley Athletic League standings.  Heritage junior Alonzo Alvarez was 3 for 4 and had two doubles. Elijah Ward totaled two hits and scored a run while KC Karbowski had a hit and an RBI.  Patriots pitcher JJ Kinnaird pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out three while allowing two runs.  “All w ..read more

A generic threat tied to the demanded release of Russian prisoners put a scare into several Bay Area school districts Wednesday. Schools throughout Contra Costa County and Alameda County received the threats, according to authorities and school districts in the areas. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Two men fatally shot in East Oakland Crime and Public Safety | Two suspected to be involved in East Bay slaying of delivery man arrested in Sacramento Crime and Public Safety | East Bay woman gets 2-year sentence for killing woman in 2022 DUI crash Crime and Public Safety | DA files ..read more