Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from October 2007

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from October 2007

Disney star-making is practically an art form.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Chuck Barney When it comes to creating the Next Big Thing, Disney steadfastly sticks to its reliable synergistic playbook: Find a fresh face; plop her/him into a Disney Channel production; record an album for the Disney record...

Temblor near San Jose rattles nerves in East Bay.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Scott Marshall Oct. 31--A moderate earthquake that struck near San Jose on Tuesday evening was felt throughout the Bay Area, but damage appeared minor. The magnitude 5.6 quake, which struck at 8:04 p.m., was centered five...

Pipettes a retro blast from the past: Trio's sound a melodious mix of '60s girl groups and the 21st century.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Jim Harrington Oct. 31--The Pipettes are a marketing dream come to life. The band consists of three spunky and gorgeous young ladies, who go solely by cutesy first names -- Rosay, RiotBecki and Gwenno. It doesn't matter if a...

Suit says legal aid firm runs a scam: Plaintiffs say they deposited money into a bank account but never received services.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Bruce Gerstman Oct. 31--Albert Leonard called directory assistance asking for "Legal Aid" after his landlord sent him an eviction notice earlier this year. The operator connected the 72-year-old Richmond man, who is blind...

BRIEF: Halloween off-limits for sex offenders: Those convicted of sex crimes can answer door only to law enforcement.
October 31, 2007... Byline: John Simerman Oct. 31--No faux spider webs. No scary pumpkin. No lights, candy, interaction. That's the message the state is sending to paroled sex offenders with "Operation Boo," a Halloween night clampdown aimed at easing...

Niche industry feels housing crisis: Walnut Creek-based mortgage insurance firm posts loss as more borrowers are unable to make payments.
October 31, 2007... Byline: George Avalos Oct. 31--WALNUT CREEK -- PMI Group Inc., a major provider of home mortgage insurance, posted its first quarterly loss as a public company Tuesday, an ominous hint that the slumping housing market may deteriorate...

Woman, grandson shot going to Richmond church.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Karl Fischer and Scott Marshall Oct. 31--RICHMOND -- A woman and her grandson were wounded Tuesday night in a drive-by shooting by a group of men who were firing at someone else, Richmond police said. The 7:25 p.m. shooting...

STRUGGLING TO GET BY: School administrators in East County are hurting for substitute teachers, and with cold and flu season nearing, the situation likely won't improve.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Rowena Coetsee Oct. 31--Youngsters at Antioch's Carmen Dragon Elementary School didn't get a full week's worth of classes recently because there weren't enough substitute teachers to go around. Regular instructors had to step...

Historical Society elects new board: Pinole group's main project is turning Faria House into city museum.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Tom Lochner Oct. 31--The Pinole Historical Society, invigorated by a recent 4-to-1 matching-funds pledge by the city and a surge in membership, has selected a new nine-member board of directors and new officers. New board...

Envisioning a gateway to Pittsburg: Developer hopes building spurs renaissance in city's downtown area.
October 31, 2007... Byline: George Avalos Oct. 31--PITTSBURG -- A veteran East Bay developer intends to build Pittsburg's tallest office building, an indication that the city's economic revival remains sturdy. Joseph Garaventa is planning to construct a...

Supervisors get tough on illegal alcohol service: OAKLAND: Alameda County panel advocates strict fines for those who serve drinks to minors.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Karen Holzmeister Oct. 31--Cheaper annual fees may be good news for the 140 alcohol sales outlets in Alameda County's unincorporated urban areas subject to an education and enforcement program. But a revised regulation also...

Big baby brings big joy to family: When Rodeo girl was born last year she weighed 12 pounds, 14 ounces; today she is normal size, doing great, mom says.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Andrea Wolf Oct. 31--Michaela Briana Arias made quite an entrance coming into the world just more than one year ago. Baby Michaela was the largest baby delivered in recent history at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in...

King comes through, Pinole Valley advances: The senior delivers on match point as her Spartans doubles team prevails over El Cerrito.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Robert Jordan Oct. 31--Laura King knew the pressure was on her, and she let the crowd gathered around the Martin Luther King Middle School tennis courts in Berkeley know it, saying "You can't double fault on match point." ...

Raiders lose defensive stalwart Kelly for year: The lineman has a torn ACL; receiver Williams is waived; Dwight is signed.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Steve Corkran Oct. 31--The Raiders' worst fears about the extent of the injury to starting right defensive end Tommy Kelly were realized Tuesday when it was learned that Kelly sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his...

Bears' fall has players reaching for the remote: Cal recommits to the details -- again -- after third consecutive defeat.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Oct. 31--BERKELEY -- ESPN's college football ratings have taken a hit in the Berkeley area lately. "I don't watch anything with college on it," Cal wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins said. "If something college...

These QBs refuse to be passed by.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Bill Soliday Oct. 31--Quarterbacks. We love 'em. We hate 'em. We toast 'em and roast 'em. We use 'em, then abuse 'em. They keep breaking. Sometimes you wonder why anyone would want to be one. Cynics will say it's the money....

Warriors crushed by Jazz.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Geoff Lepper Oct. 31--OAKLAND -- The Warriors could really use an older brother right about now. The new school year -- aka the 2007-08 NBA season -- began Tuesday night at Oracle Arena, only it looked an awful lot like how...

Dobbert nets another Cougars' BVAL title: With Carondelet moving to the EBAL next year, the sophomore tennis player has a special place in the record book.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Ben Enos Oct. 31--It would have been enough that Carondelet High School sophomore Chloe Dobbert simply won her first Bay Valley Athletic League girls tennis title Tuesday at Heritage High School. But to make it sweeter,...

Mt. Diablo's hall names first female: Ex-track star Carter is among eight individuals honored by the school.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Curtis Pashelka Oct. 31--Mt. Diablo High School will induct eight individuals, including its first female, and one team into its sports hall of fame Saturday night at Zio Fraedo's Restaurant in Pleasant Hill. Antonette...

Monte Vista serves up perfect EBAL regular season: Mustangs sweep the doubles matches, defeat rival San Ramon Valley.
October 31, 2007... Oct. 31--The Monte Vista High School girls tennis team completed an undefeated run through the East Bay Athletic League, stopping Danville-rival San Ramon Valley 6-3 at Monte Vista on Tuesday. The teams split the singles matches, but the...

Seinfeld keeps comedy real in animated 'Bee Movie'.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Susan Young Oct. 31--Jerry Seinfeld's a guy who knows how to generate buzz -- not that there's anything wrong with that. The comedian has been busy the past four years writing, producing and starring in the animated film "Bee...

BRIEF: S.F. arts groups receive grants.
October 31, 2007... Oct. 31--The New York-based Wallace Foundation will grant $6.3 million to 11 San Francisco arts organizations to reward and support their programs for increasing attendance and public participation. The foundation today announced grants...

Hearing slated on psychiatry job moves: CONTRA COSTA: Mental health panel decides to use unlicensed social workers instead of licensed clinical specialists.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Oct. 31--A hearing on job changes in the psychiatric unit at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center has been scheduled for Monday. It involves a plan approved by county supervisors to switch open positions in the...

Dog owners face tougher standards: Several maulings have forced Bay Area counties to take another look at how they enforce laws on potentially vicious canines.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Malaika Fraley Oct. 31--PG&E meter reader Richard Aquino lay on a gurney with "penny-size holes" in his cheek when the first animal control officer arrived at the Washingtons' Pittsburg home, a place he had been to before. ...

Parasitic plant spreads quickly around county: Japanese dodder is capable of squeezing the life from trees and plants.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Katherine Tam Oct. 31--Armed with a chain saw, Vince Guise mounts a tree at a San Pablo home to battle a pernicious, spaghettilike vine that he fears will spread if left unchecked. Like something from a sci-fi movie, the...

Oaks still occupied despite ruling: BERKELEY: Judge orders group protesting UC training facility to come out of trees, but at least one 'staying put'.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Kristin Bender Oct. 31--BERKELEY -- Burlap, for one, said he won't come down from a tree where he has lived for at least 150 days and nights, even after a judge on Monday ordered a hefty fine and jail time for tree sitters who...

Letter on primary election sent to wrong list of voters: Some confused by notice about procedure for Feb. 5 primary election.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Kristin Bender Oct. 31--OAKLAND -- An employee error is being blamed for a mass mailing mix-up that has confused some voters about procedures for the Feb. 5 presidential primary election. A letter intended for nonpartisan...

Richmond gunfire wounds toddler, grandmother.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Karl Fischer and Scott Marshall Oct. 31--RICHMOND -- A woman and her grandson were wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night by a group of men who were firing at someone else, Richmond police said. The 7:25 p.m. shooting...

BRIEF: Police investigate Antioch home invasion robbery.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Scott Marshall Oct. 31--ANTIOCH -- Two men awakened and robbed two people at gunpoint shortly before noon Tuesday at a Hillside Road home, according to Antioch police. One of the robbers held the two victims at gunpoint while...

Bank of the West sidesteps housing meltdown, posts gains: Profit is up because firm avoided subprime loans, spokeswoman says.(Financial report)
October 31, 2007... Byline: George Avalos Oct. 31--Bank of the West, bolstered by a cautious lending philosophy, reported a slight increase in profit for its third quarter ended in September. The San Francisco-based bank, which has more than 2,000...

Report cites deficiencies at school: Adams Middle School has structural problems that could pose trouble in earthquake, 2002 evaluation says.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Kimberly S. Wetzel Oct. 31--One of the seven West Contra Costa Unified schools being considered as a new site for El Cerrito's seismically challenged Portola Middle School has some seismic issues of its own. Adams Middle...

DVC tries to protect image abroad: PLEASANT HILL: Dean travels to Indonesia, which sends many students to the U.S.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Matt Krupnick Oct. 31--A Diablo Valley College dean traveled to Indonesia this month to allay fears that the school's grade-changing scandal had diminished its reputation. The trip by Krista Johns, dean of English and...

Two brothers arrested, accused of drug dealing: HAYWARD: Lafayette house among sites raided; men face marijuana distribution, money laundering charges.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Jason Sweeney Oct. 31--Federal agents arrested two brothers early Tuesday and seized a Lafayette house after they were indicted on charges that they ran a multimillion-dollar drug operation out of a Hayward-area medical-marijuana...

Pleasanton may file suit over airport: City officials say Livermore should have conducted environmental review before expanding operations.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Meera Pal and Eric Kurhi Oct. 31--Pleasanton soon may file a lawsuit against the city of Livermore for approving an increase in operations at their city airport without first analyzing potential environmental effects. "We...

Man found guilty of shooting officer: Jury convicts felon of attempted murder for firing gun in Berkeley.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Kristin Bender Oct. 31--OAKLAND -- Howard Street has been found guilty of attempted murder for shooting a Berkeley police officer two years ago, and he could be sent to prison for the rest of his life, an Alameda County...

Board casts wide net for superintendent: Albany schools to look outside district to replace retiring leader.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Shelly Meron Oct. 31--The Albany school board plans to conduct a broad search to replace retiring Superintendent Willie Wong rather than focus narrowly on internal candidates. The board rejected a proposal from board...

BRIEF: Man shot outside Pittsburg courthouse.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Matthias Gafni Oct. 31--PITTSBURG -- A man was shot today in City Park during a fight that started in the parking lot of the Pittsburg courthouse, authorities said. Police and sheriff's deputies are searching for the shooter...

BRIEF: Antioch High evacuated after suspected prank.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Simon Read and Robert Salonga Oct. 31--ANTIOCH -- Several thousand Antioch High School students were evacuated from campus this morning after a hazardous materials team was brought in to respond to what police now believe was a...

Teen arrested in Richmond homicide.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Karl Fischer Oct. 31--A relative of a woman involved in a fistfight over the weekend gunned down her rival's boyfriend afterward, Richmond police said Wednesday after taking the 17-year-old suspect to jail. Detectives say...

BRIEF: Rig crash cleared from Bay Bridge toll plaza.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 31--OAKLAND -- The morning commute into San Francisco was slowed this morning by a collision between a sedan and big rig at the mouth of the Bay Bridge, the California Highway Patrol said. The crash...

Infection strikes school district: Teacher, three students diagnosed with strain that doesn't respond to drugs.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Shirley Dang Oct. 31--Related Links --aPARENTly Speaking blog --More from the Family & Relationships section Days after a teacher's drug-resistant staph infection was reported at Sequioa Middle School, three student...

Pumpkin unplugged: Porch props and pies are only the beginning.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Jackie Burrell Oct. 31--Holiday happenings --Map: Halloween hot spots --Area scares up Halloween fun --More ghoulish goings-on Spooky cinema --Local filmmaker behind 'Headless Horseman' flick --'Saw IV'...

Time for concern at Cal, but not to make wholesale changes.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes BERKELEY, Calif. _ Don't expect major changes because Cal is on a three-game losing streak. That's not because Jeff Tedford hasn't considered it. The Bears coach admitted that he's looked in the mirror and...

49ers-Falcons could be nap time.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Tickets for Sunday's NFL slugfest are as high-priced as those for a Hannah (No Relation to Joe) Montana concert. This big game we speak of pits the undefeated New England Patriots and...

Concord police reach contract with city.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Tanya Rose Oct. 31--City leaders on Tuesday approved raises for the city's 146 police officers and sergeants, upping salaries by 6 percent retroactive to July. The contract also calls for a 5.5 percent raise in fiscal year...

BRIEF: Prank causes hospitalizations, evacation.
October 31, 2007... Byline: Simon Read and Robert Salonga Oct. 31--ANTIOCH -- Twenty-two people were taken to local hospitals and most of Antioch High School was evacuated this morning after a chemical scare that police now believe was a Halloween prank. ...

Help son have his big day his way.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: My ex and I have been divorced for eight years. After a few growing pains, we've done pretty well in the co-parenting department. My 17-year-old son is graduating from a special school and...

Replacing Snickers with some stickers: Supervisor Gioia says Halloween treats without sugar are better for youths.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Sara Steffens Oct. 30--Fistfuls of candy corn. Tons of Tootsie Rolls. All those itty-bitty Almond Joys. Bingeing on Halloween candy ranks among America's most cherished childhood traditions. But with youth obesity rates...

'Mythbusters' still happily blowing stuff up.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Susan Young Oct. 30--'Mythbusters' still happily blowing stuff up "Mythbusters" 9 p.m. Wednesday on Discovery Channel By Susan Young STAFF WRITER Really, does it get any cooler than testing out the classic...

Chevron to pay $5.5 million in wrongful termination suit.
October 30, 2007... Oct. 30--In a $5.5 million verdict, a federal court jury on Monday held San Ramon-based Chevron Corp. liable for retaliation and wrongful termination of Kiran Pande, a former petroleum engineer with the energy giant. A San Francisco jury...

Tip leads police to arrest suspect in homicide case.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Karl Fischer Oct. 30--RICHMOND -- A Richmond man accused of beating his girlfriend so savagely that she died the following day went to jail Sunday after police found him aboard a Greyhound bus. Rodell Edwards, 31, left the...

Brain tumor a detour on way to diploma: After diagnosis, Antioch teen finds new focus.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Rowena Coetsee Oct. 30--ANTIOCH -- As a trumpet processional signaled the start of the proceedings, a beaming James Chandler III rolled down the aisle toward his reward. He extended both arms to collect high-fives from...

Residents invited to meeting to discuss future uses of park.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Eric Kurhi Oct. 30--Livermore residents are invited to a second public meeting regarding future development and uses of Robertson Park, home of the city's rodeo grounds and many sports fields. The purpose of the meeting is to...

Long-standing feud tied to man's death, police say: RICHMOND: Women met by chance and engaged in fistfight; hours later, boyfriend of one was killed.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Karl Fischer Oct. 30--A fistfight between two women evolved into a shooting that killed one of their boyfriends, police said Monday. Detectives say they need help from the public in identifying one of the parties and the...

Security grant will bolster BART safety: Federal money will be used for camera network to detect and monitor potential station dangers.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Oct. 30--BART will receive the first slice of a $1 billion fund to beef up security among the state's public transportation systems, the state Office of Homeland Security announced Monday. The $5.4 million...

Pinole welcomes interim director of development.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Tom Lochner Oct. 30--Pinole has hired a longtime San Jose official to be its interim community development director. Darrell Dearborn was senior deputy city manager of San Jose from 1989 to 2003. There, he oversaw the...

Groups sue over mothball fleet: Environmentalists want government to safely dispose of toxic material in ships in Suisun Bay.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Mike Taugher Oct. 30--Environmentalists on Monday sued to force the federal government to clean up toxic material in its decaying fleet of ships near Benicia and produce a cleanup plan for the U.S. Maritime Administration's ships...

Soil tests are key to future of Discovery Bay community center, officials say.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Hilary Costa Oct. 30--Ten years into the process, the Delta town of Discovery Bay has identified a site where it would like to build a community center for its 15,000 residents. Officials are waiting on the results of tests...

From boarded-up to a busy bank: Point Richmond residents saved structure at key intersection.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Katherine Tam Oct. 30--For more than a decade, Point Richmond's century-old railway building sat vacant, its windows boarded up and its floor damaged by rain seeping from the ceiling. It was destined for the wrecking ball --...

Judge strengthens ruling against Cal tree sitters: BERKELEY: Anyone who won't come down from perch faces fine and five days in jail.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Kristin Bender Oct. 30--Anyone living in a tree outside Memorial Stadium must come down from his perch or face a $1,000 fine and five days in jail, an Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled Monday. Judge Richard Keller has...

John Muir officials offer naming rights to donors.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Theresa Harrington Oct. 30--Naming rights for rooms, wings, lobbies, lounges, departments, the birth center, helipad and a new road planned for John Muir Medical Center's expanded campus in Walnut Creek are up for grabs to those...

Eden center spreads across the East Bay.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Karen Holzmeister Oct. 30--CASTRO VALLEY -- Mention Eden Medical Center, and the sprawling campus on Lake Chabot Road immediately comes to mind. However, the center operates several hospitals and facilities with 387 patient...

Sutter ready to fix up Eden, take charge: CASTRO VALLEY: In deal, aging center will be revamped, but directors will have to step down.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Karen Holzmeister Oct. 30--CASTRO VALLEY -- Sutter Health has owned and operated Eden Medical Center for nearly a decade. Eden Township Hospital District voters approved the transfer in 1997 to ensure the hospital would have...

BRIEF: Driver rams into Concord home, two injured.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Scott Marshall Oct. 30--CONCORD -- A motorist lost control of a car and slammed into a house on North Sixth Street in Concord on Monday night, leaving two people with minor injuries, according to Contra Costa firefighters and...

Highway 4 bypass won't eliminate traffic issues: Bottleneck likely where route gradually drops from three lanes to one.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Hilary Costa Oct. 30--BRENTWOOD -- Completion of the first phase of the $214 million Highway 4 bypass is within sight, but transportation officials are warning motorists not to expect a traffic relief miracle when it opens early...

BRIEF: Coughlin sets 100 back record.
October 30, 2007... Oct. 30--Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin lowered her own standard in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2007 FINA Swimming World Cup in Singapore late Sunday. Coughlin, a Carondelet High School and Cal graduate, completed the short-course...

Alameda finally has a team -- an NCS champion team.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Jordan Oct. 30--BERKELEY -- Emily Childs has waited the last two-and-a-half years for some company in the fall postseason. A senior girls golfer at Alameda High School, Childs has spent the past three postseasons...

Halloween petacular!:Readers enter 200-plus cleverly costumed critters.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Ann Tatko-Peterson Oct. 30--Who says Halloween is just for kids? Our readers demonstrated their pets can get into the holiday spirit, too, by sending us more than 200 photos of dogs, cats, horses, even guinea pigs in the "Dress...

Shoppers unfazed by long lines as WinCo opens in Pittsburg.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Blanca Torres Oct. 30--PITTSBURG -- Shoppers who came to the opening of the WinCo Foods on Monday were greeted at the entrance with yellow store maps and a warning: "There's a one-hour wait to check out, but our prices are worth...

SEASON ON BRINKGrind begins for Warriors, Nelson.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Geoff Lepper Oct. 30--OAKLAND -- From tonight's opening tip against the Utah Jazz, the NBA regular season will stretch on for 170 days. During that time, the Warriors will endure more than 50 plane flights, hundreds of cups of...

Cal's Christopher likes pressure of expectations: Bears coach Braun compares the sophomore to ex-UCLA star Afflalo.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Jeff Faraudo Oct. 30--BERKELEY -- Whatever success Cal sophomore Patrick Christopher enjoys this basketball season will be the result of equal parts inspiration and perspiration. The former was provided by the opportunity to...

Cal's Randle has biopsy on kidney, out 3-4 weeks.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Jeff Faraudo Oct. 30--BERKELEY -- Cal sophomore Jerome Randle, projected as the team's starting point guard this season, underwent a biopsy on his kidney Monday and will be sidelined for a minimum of three to four weeks. ...

Deer Valley golfer puts past behind her, wins NCS title.
October 30, 2007... Byline: James Leonard Oct. 30--BERKELEY -- Ashley Edwards did everything she could to ignore visions of her past on Friday, and with good reason. The Deer Valley High School senior was missing one major distinction from her...

Hannah Montana tickets still in reach for lucky 10: BRENTWOOD: Area businessman raffling off chance to see concert from luxury box for free.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Hilary Costa Oct. 30--Having a childhood idol: priceless. The lifelong memories of a first concert: priceless. A ticket to Thursday night's Hannah Montana show at Oracle Arena: $750. That is what scalpers are asking for...

Student struck and killed by train: PLEASANTON: Police, school district officials suspect death was a suicide, waiting for coroner's report.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Roman Gokhman Oct. 30--A teen was killed early Monday morning when a Union Pacific train struck him, police said. William Russell, 16, was a junior at Amador Valley High School, said John Casey, superintendent of the...

Warriors rookie Lasme had long road to the NBA.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Geoff Lepper LOS ANGELES _ It's more than 8,000 miles from Oakland to Port Gentil, the seaport town of nearly 100,000 on the western coast of the central African nation of Gabon. Rookie Warriors forward Stephane Lasme thinks...

Brit stars Pipettes bring sass act to S.F.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Jim Harrington Oct. 30--The Pipettes are a marketing dream come to life. The band consists of three spunky and gorgeous young ladies, who go solely by cutesy first names -- Rosay, RiotBecki and Gwenno. It doesn't matter if a...

BRIEF: El Sobrante crash blocks San Pablo Dam Road.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--EL SOBRANTE -- A two-car collision this morning has resulted in injuries and is blocking San Pablo Dam Road, the California Highway Patrol said. A Mazda MX6 and a Cadillac collided just after 8:30 a.m....

BRIEF: Bay Point carjacking suspects at large.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--BAY POINT -- Authorities are looking for two men suspected of holding a father and his son at gunpoint at their home while they stole their van Monday night, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said....

BRIEF: Driver crashes into construction truck on Hwy. 24.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--LAFAYETTE -- A 35-year-old Danville man suffered minor injuries Monday night when his sport-utility vehicle slammed into a big rig on Highway 24. Gerardo Santiago was driving west near the central...

BRIEF: Biking child struck near Alamo.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--ALAMO -- A child riding a bicycle was struck by a vehicle near a southbound Interstate 680 offramp this morning, the California Highway Patrol said. The accident occurred around 7:50 a.m. on the Stone...

BRIEF: Motorcycle crash cleared from I-580 in Livermore.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--LIVERMORE -- Crews have cleared a motorcycle crash that temporarily blocked a lane on westbound Interstate 580 this morning, the California Highway Patrol said. The collision, which occurred around...

BRIEF: Crews extinguish pair of East County fires.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--Firefighters responded to a pair of single-alarm fires in east Contra Costa County this morning, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said. The first was reported in Bay Point at 3:53 a.m....

BRIEF: Microquake hits near Concord.
October 30, 2007... Byline: Robert Salonga Oct. 30--CONCORD -- A 2.9-magnitude earthquake that struck near Concord in the early afternoon today has yielded no reports of injuries or damage, authorities said. The microquake -- or a quake with a magnitude...