OAKLAND — Operation of the aging Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant — which has become a key element of California’s strained electricity grid — could shove PG&E monthly bills higher, some experts warn. The Diablo Canyon nuclear energy complex, perched along a scenic stretch of the California coast in San Luis Obispo County, was scheduled to cease operations starting in 2025. But when it turned out that California faced the forbidding prospect of electricity shortages without the nuclear plant, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a law to keep the plant operating for years beyond its proposed retire ..read more

OAKLAND — A downtown Oakland office tower has been seized through a foreclosure that points to a huge plunge in real estate values and a feeble Bay Area commercial property market. 1700 Broadway, a 10-story highrise in downtown Oakland’s bustling Uptown district, is now owned by its lender following the foreclosure, documents filed on June 7 with the Alameda County Record’s office show. 1700 Broadway, a 10-story office tower in downtown Oakland, street-level view, April 2023. (Google Maps) Bank of the Sierra seized the Oakland tower during a public property auction. Since no buyer emerged ..read more

Marin County sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect who allegedly robbed a Kentfield store in pursuit of water. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported Tuesday afternoon at Zee’s Deli, Wine & Spirits on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. An employee told deputies that a shirtless and “disheveled” man came in holding a hammer like a weapon, sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn said. The man said he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he needed water. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man to stand trial for murder of missing Capitola woman found buried in East Bay park Crime and Pu ..read more

Novato police arrested a teenager who allegedly distributed illicit online images involving other youths. A school resource officer began investigating the case after being notified by Novato Unified School District employees who were concerned about social media posts. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man to stand trial for murder of missing Capitola woman found buried in East Bay park Crime and Public Safety | Man arrested in attack on Pinole Police Department employee Crime and Public Safety | Four teens nabbed for a string of break-ins at fast-food restaurants, liquor stores ..read more

A condo in Palo Alto that sold for $866,000, is the most affordable real estate sale in Palo Alto in the past week. For comparison, the overall average price of real estate in Palo Alto over the last week was $3.8 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $1,746. A total of 24 home sales were recorded for the period with an average square footage of 2,174 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms. The top 10 list below includes the best deals on real estate priced between $10-$10,000,000. The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the ..read more

Three years ago, California did something truly remarkable and forward looking by approving historic legislation that allocated a record $6 billion to bring equitable and affordable high-speed broadband service to all its citizens. The multiyear investment aimed to close the digital divide by building the largest “middle-mile” and “last-mile” high-speed broadband internet project in the nation. However, with the state facing a record $44.9 billion budget deficit this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to cut $2 billion for the program he previously championed. California lawmakers must not backtrac ..read more

SANTA CRUZ — A 54-year-old El Cerrito man charged with killing his girlfriend and hiding her body beneath a pile of rocks in a Berkeley park was held to answer on charges Wednesday. Theobald “Theo” Brooks Lengyel. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)  After a two-day preliminary hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Nancy de la Peña ruled that the prosecution had provided sufficient preliminary evidence needed to send Theobald Lengyel to trial on felony charges of murder, burglary and vehicle theft. The family of Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani He ..read more

Restaurants are using gift card deals to lure dad away from the grill this Father’s Day weekend, but there’s also bacon, beer and, at one chain, really large steaks. The holiday falls on Sunday, June 16, but many deals start early and run longer. Here are some of the promotions restaurant chains have announced in news releases or on their websites. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Dads who buy a $50 e-gift card June 15-16 will get a 20% off VIP card to redeem from June 17 to July 8 and a specialty pint glass. bjsrestaurants.com Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: A three-course meal fea ..read more

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kat Dennings, 38; Chris Evans, 43; Tim Allen, 71; Stellan Skarsgard, 73. Happy Birthday: Take your time to ease into anything unusual, unexpected or foreign. Maintaining what you have rather than focusing on expansion will ensure your long-term safety regarding reputation and position. Gather what you require to build a solid foundation for growth and peace of mind. Don’t rely on others; minimalize what’s essential, and you’ll find it easier to adjust to a minimalistic lifestyle. Your numbers are 3, 11, 13, 25, 34, 38, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Reach out, gat ..read more

PINOLE – A 65-year-old San Pablo man was arrested on suspicion of attacking an employee at the Pinole Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Four teens nabbed for a string of break-ins at fast-food restaurants, liquor stores, Oakland police say Crime and Public Safety | Ex-Antioch officer, on trial for assault, admits he fudged details in police report Crime and Public Safety | 77-year-old homeowner arrested in suspected burglary-turned-killing in Oakland Crime and Public Safety | Initiative to amend Prop. 47 qualifies ..read more