NEW: Pardon seekers are routinely being asked to pay $1m+ to lobbyists & lawyers claiming access to Trump, often with bonuses if clemency is granted. I investigated the Trump Pardon Industrial Complex, & detailed the backstory behind 1 interesting pardon.

Antioch cop kidnapped while on duty, shot his abductor inside speeding car after 4-minute ordeal: www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/05/e...

If the war in Iran continues — as President Trump has foreshadowed — the economic drag could become much heavier and the cost to U.S. taxpayers much greater. Here are the ways Americans may feel the effects.

He told police he was digging for treasure but felt drawn to the spirit inside the bag of legs. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/03/04/m...

It started as a routine traffic stop. Moments later, a CHP officer was the victim of an alleged kidnapping, as he and his abductor hurtled down an I-880 shoulder, both unrestrained, at 80 mph: www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/03/y...

A mysterious person — or people — snipped and stomped hundreds of blooming flowers in Calla Lily Valley, a favorite stopover along Highway 1 in Big Sur.

'I don't think I'm going to chase this guy,' Officer Kirby Painter said. 'He's just being too reckless. I can't keep up with him.'

‘Please don’t do that’: Brentwood releases footage of officers shoving woman into patrol car, where she passed out before death www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/02/27/p...

Residents of the Las Vegas apartment complex — most with rents under $1,000 a month — fear the arrangement is coming to an end after the nonprofit that operated the apartments was evicted. STORY: lvrj.com/post/3713774

Important story from our John Simerman about Cade Cole, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, who helped draft a law, then ruled on it from the bench (casting a vote that its ballot language was good to go before voters). Is that allowed? www.nola.com/news/louisia...

Grape acquisition fraud and supply theft targeting competitors...a glimpse into the cutthroat side of the wine industry: mercurynews.com/2026/02/27/i-thought-i-was-in-control-ex-napa-valley-winemaker-apologies-as-hes-sentenced-in-2-5-million-grape-scam/?mrfhud=true

In Austin: 3 dead and 14 injured in mass shooting www.kxan.com/news/crime/p...

Jasmine Crockett’s team called The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey a “top-notch hater”—then armed guards escorted our reporter out of a rally. Listen to the audio here:

Federal records describe fallout from an FBI investigation and a fight over $4.2 million, jewelry, gold, silver and foreign currency seized by agents.

Finally figured out my password to get back on here lol

Worked with @nategartrell.bsky.social on this piece. We still have questions unanswered. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/19/a...

Prosecutors have cited “confidential reliable sources” in at least eight criminal cases since June.

sfstandard.com/2025/10/09/f... by @kevinbtruong.bsky.social @allaboutgeorge.com @jonahowenlamb.bsky.social @mclaughlinnews.bsky.social @kevinvnguyen.bsky.social @jonsteinberg31.bsky.social #SanFrancisco #sfnews

The suspect allegedly bragged about being paid in crack cocaine for the homicide: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...

The Supreme Court has declined to take up Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal. The move leaves a potential pardon from Trump as the only obvious path for Maxwell to avoid serving a 20-year prison sentence.

He built the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland with his dad, then served as deacon right up until the day police told him his DNA had been found at two murder scenes: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/09/27/h...

Breaking News: Flawed policies and old equipment slowed down evacuations as the Palisades and Eaton fires spread in January, a report found.

The agreement includes $1 billion in penalties and $1.5 billion in refunds to an estimated 35 million customers, averaging about $51 each.

The career switch cost him 13+ years in prison: www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/23/h...

Oh. Ok. Then. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Supervisor Joel Engardio was found in violation of San Francisco’s open government rules. This comes less than two weeks before Engardio’s district decides whether or not to recall him from office.

Investigators have no suspects.

Airline pilot arrested at SFO amid investigation into child sex crimes https://trib.al/jpmDhcS

Dog facing euthanization stolen from Oakland Animal Services shelter https://trib.al/IyQ54SZ

NEW: A criminal defendant filed the first of what coudl be many challenges to the authority of Acting U.S. attorney Alina Habba. The matter has been sent to a district judge in PA because all the NJ judges are conflicted out. w/ @ryrivard @joshgerstein www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Driver arrested on DUI charge after fatal motorcycle crash in Brentwood https://trib.al/iJd95a2

After years of patch jobs and careful monitoring, Caltrans landed on a solution for highway battered by landslides — at a cost of $2.1 billion. While political leaders aren’t sure where they’ll find the funds, they also see no other option.

A Delta co-pilot was arrested by federal agents moments after landing at SFO on Saturday, stunning passengers aboard Flight 2809 from Minneapolis.

Who wants to spray perfume onto shit for $70,000 per year?

President Trump was informed by Pam Bondi in the spring that his name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files, three people with knowledge of the exchange said. It was not clear what those documents were, or in what context the president’s name was raised. https://trib.al/zLNCcDd

Richmond council and police chief align, diverge on civil grand jury report https://trib.al/Rkof9I1

#NEW: After 16 years, a Denver woman has been arrested and charged with murdering her newborn daughter and dumping the body near her Union City apartment: www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/02/n...

Gerard Flaherty alleged begged the teen student at his school to get an abortion, stating he would "go to jail" and "ruin" his life if she had the baby. But it was too late -- police were listening in on the call: www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/01/p...

Civil grand jury accuses San Mateo County sheriff of corruption, misconduct https://trib.al/Yd6xnYe

Victims recounted traumatic sexual abuse by Simon Meyer, while friends former colleagues at fire departments spoke up for the man one supporter said was always "there for kids." One girl said he molested her on 13th birthday and she kept his secret for years: www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/30/h...

The water beneath our feet that we use to bathe, drink and water crops is vanishing faster than ever in the Colorado River Basin, according to a new study.

The city has been trying for years to curb this downtown food stand. When he allegedly socked an inspector it streamlined things: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/06/27/o...

He spent 2 years in jail over a Concord homicide, but maintained his innocence. A jury took his side, now he's out: www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/25/o...

He's a local advice author with an edge, encouraging readers to self-improve and take ownership of their lives by breaking the law at will. But now he's run into some legal troubles, with prosecutors contending he murdered his own brother: www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/25/b...

Ads for consumer A.I. are struggling to imagine how the product could improve your day — unless you’re a barely functioning idiot. It’s time to ask why. https://trib.al/Wdsr8bw

#NEW: Morteza Amiri, the ex-Antioch cop who became the face of both the corruption and racism police scandals in East Contra Costa, was given 7 years in prison today: www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/24/h...

Carpenter Media, a Mississippi-based chain, bought the Pamplin newspapers a year ago.

As California lawmakers make a show of banning face masks for cops, they’re green-lighting a law that would roll back transparency for “undercover” officers’ misconduct files. My latest for @us.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

The @sandiegouniontribune.com, now owned by PE equity firm Alden, fired Hispanic editor after she wrote an Op Ed crticial of ICE,which it did not publish www.sandiegoville.com/2025/06/san-...