San Jose officials have canceled this year’s Independence Day fireworks celebration at Almaden Lake Park, marking the first interruption of the popular event in a decade. The decision comes after serious safety concerns were raised following incidents during last year’s celebration, which drew more than 30,000 visitors to the neighborhood. For longtime resident Cathie Bacosa, the cancellation is a relief. Last July 4, she awoke around midnight to a fire raging in her b

The much-anticipated Alameda County Fair 2025 kicks off Friday in Pleasanton, bringing with it a vibrant mix of entertainment, rides, food, and family-friendly attractions that will run through July 6. The opening night will feature a live concert by the legendary band WAR, followed by a spectacular fireworks and drone show at 9:30 p.m. Drone shows will continue nightly after each concert, excluding July 4. Concerts

Rite Aid, the once-prominent national pharmacy chain now navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is preparing to shutter 56 additional store locations across California, bringing the total number of confirmed closures in the state to 235 by 2025. As part of its ongoing financial restructuring efforts, the company is systematically downsizing its retail footprint, with California emerging as one of the hardest-hit states in this process. The latest wave of closures reflects the pharmacy chain’

A search is underway on the other side of the world for a man who grew up in Northern California and was reported missing after venturing out alone on a hike in the Himalayas. Samuel Vengrinovich, 44, was last seen on the afternoon of June 6 after setting out on a glacial trek near Mount Triund, close to the town of Dharamsala in northern India. Samuel's family, who reside in California, are grappling with his sudden disappearance and the limited information that has followed.

In an unprecedented show of domestic force, President Donald Trump has deployed more military personnel to Los Angeles than currently stationed in Iraq and Syria combined. A total of 4,700 troops including over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines have been sent to quell immigration-related protests that have rocked the city for six consecutive days. For comparison, the Pentagon confirms that only 2,000 troops remain in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq.

In a controversial and incendiary statement, US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday called for California Governor Gavin Newsom to be "tarred and feathered" amid intensifying political clashes over the federal government’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles. Johnson made the comment during a House Republican leadership press conference, where he stopped short of advocating Newsom’s arrest but said the governor should be publicly punish

An emergency curfew was imposed in downtown Los Angeles as the city faced a fifth consecutive day of protests sparked by recent federal immigration raids. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of hundreds of U.S. Marines to control the escalating unrest, triggering backlash from California state officials. Despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom and other leaders, Trump activated 4,000 National Guard troops, asserting that the situation

On June 7, a major food safety alert was issued after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that approximately 1.7 million eggs are being recalled by a California-based egg producer due to potential salmonella contamination. The recall specifically affects brown cage free eggs produced by the August Egg Company, a facility located in Hilmar, California, about 20 miles south of Modesto. These eggs were distributed to numerous grocery store chains and retail outlets across nine U.S. s

A group of young innovators from San Ramon has made their mark on the international stage. A team of 6th and 7th graders from Windemere Middle School earned second place out of 100 teams at the prestigious Destination Imagination Global Finals, held earlier this month. Their success didn’t stop there they were also honored with the coveted Da Vinci Award, which recognizes teams that display extraordinary creativity and innovative thinking.

Looking to bring home a new four-legged companion? This Saturday, June 7, the East Bay SPCA is hosting a fee-waived pet adoption event at both its Dublin and Oakland centers as part of the second annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day. The event gives residents across the Bay Area an opportunity to adopt a dog or cat at no cost, with all animals spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. More than 150 animal shelte

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has officially identified the suspect in the city’s first homicide of the year 2025, marking a tragic start to what is typically a quiet year for violent crime in the area. Officers believe 44-year-old Jesus Aguilera of Sunnyvale fatally shot a man outside a residence on South Wolfe Road on the evening of Thursday, May 29. Aguilera is currently at large, and authorities warn that he is considered armed and dangerous. Residents are urged not to a

Montara State Beach in San Mateo County was shut down over the weekend after a surfer narrowly escaped a shark attack, according to officials. The incident took place at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, when Jens Heller, 42, of Albany, had a close call in the waters just 15 minutes into his surf session. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, a shark bit into Heller’s surfboard, knocking him off. Fortunately, the shark released its gr

A major workforce reduction has been implemented by one of the leading professional networking platforms, as it confirmed the layoff of 281 employees across various offices in California. The layoffs took effect earlier this month and impact several of the company’s locations throughout the state. According to a recent workforce adjustment notice, the largest number of job losses occurred at the company’s Mountain View office, where 159 employees were let go. The San F

The majority of Livermore residents are satisfied with their quality of life, according to the results of the 2025 National Community Survey. The survey, conducted by the National Research Center at Polco, randomly selected 3,000 households in Livermore, with 374 responding. The results were carefully weighted to ensure diversity across age, gender, race, ethnicity, housing status, and geography. According to the findings, 95% of residents expressed satisfaction with living in Liver

A new 2025 report from personal finance platform WalletHub confirms what many California residents already suspect: owning a home in the Golden State is becoming increasingly unattainable. In fact, nine out of the top ten least affordable cities for homebuyers in the U.S. are located in California. At the bottom of the list is Santa Barbara, which ranked 300th out of 300 cities studied, making it the least affordable city in the country. Other California cities in the bottom 10 include Santa

  Imagine stepping into a high school where students aren't weighed down by repetitive lectures or standard tests but instead are energized by meaningful projects and real-world challenges. At 1331 E Calaveras Blvd, such a learning space has come to life. The Milpitas High School (MHS) Extension, located at the newly developed Innovation Campus, opened in August 2024 and welcomed its inaugural batch of 70 freshmen and sophomores. These students embarked on a unique educatio

Dublin’s favorite summer destination is making a splash again The Wave Waterpark is officially reopening its gates this Memorial Day, offering a season of fun and cool relief from the rising California heat. Set to welcome families starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025, the water park promises an exciting array of attractions and programs for all ages throughout the summer. Following its grand opening on Memorial Day, The Wave will operate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the

A fast-moving grass fire that broke out Thursday afternoon near Livermore, California, has scorched 261.8 acres but is now reported to be 60% contained, according to the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD). Known as the Midway Fire, it started around 2:51 p.m. near Patterson Pass Road and Midway Road, just outside of Mountain House. As of 6:03 p.m. on Thursday, forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Initial containment efforts were quickly escalated as the fire jumped the

A former California police officer has been charged with defrauding the workers’ compensation system by falsely claiming a disability while leading an active lifestyle that included skiing, running, and attending music festivals. Nicole Brown allegedly collected more than $600,000 in tax-free workers’ compensation benefits after reporting an injury sustained while on duty in March 2022. Despite claiming she was unable to work due to a traumatic brain injury, Brown was seen engaging i

In a strong show of community solidarity and mental health advocacy, over 100 residents, civic leaders, first responders, and youth representatives gathered at San Ramon's Central Park last week to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The event marked a countywide dedication initiative aimed at spreading awareness of the vital mental health resource across Contra Costa County during Mental Health Awareness Month. Hosted by the Leadership San Ramon Valley Class of 2025,