Contra Costa Herald

Steve Hilton shares about his campaign for California governor at a fundraiser in Brentwood in Eastern Contra Costa County on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photos by Allen D. Payton

Calls Delta tunnel “completely ridiculous”; will make first $150 grand of residents’ income tax free

By Allen D. Payton

Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for governor of California, stopped in Brentwood on Tuesday, Aug. 11th, and shared about his campaign platform during a fundraiser. He specifically addressed a concern to Eastern Contra Costa County residents when he stated his opposition to the proposed and planned tunnel to move more water south, known as the Delta Conveyance. (See related articles here and here)

In answering a question from Discovery Bay Town Councilwoman Carolyn Graham, Hilton called it a “scheme” and said, “it seems to me like another high-speed rail” which he also opposes. “I think it’s completely ridiculous and I’m totally, dead against it and will do everything in my power to stop it,” Hilton exclaimed.

The event was held at the McCauley Estate Vineyards, hosted by the McCauley and Billheimer families and catered by Lavish Grazing. Prior to the main event, a VIP reception with the candidate was held for those who contributed additional funds, where he autographed copies of his book entitled, Califailure.

Hilton autographs his book, Califailure and speaks with VIP guests at a pre-reception to the fundraiser on Aug. 11, 2026.

Shares About Campaign Platform

After being introduced by Contra Costa Republican Party Central Committee District 3 Chair and the campaign’s Contra Costa Volunteer Director Pamela Neitte-Garcia, Hilton shared a new part of his platform that he just announced that day. He said, “Your first $150 grand tax free” meaning no state income tax on the first $150,000 Californians earn each year. It will cost the state budget $20 billion he later shared.

“That means cutting spending. You can only cut taxes if you cut spending,” Hilton stated.

“Do you know what they’ve done to the budget of California in the last 10 years?” he asked. “It actually more than doubled. Ten years ago, the budget was $170 billion. The one that Newsom just signed off…$350 billion.”

“Is everything twice as good?” Hilton asked. “Don’t tell me we can’t find some savings to go with those tax cuts.”

“We’re calling it Operation Zero Waste,” he continued. “The best way to help people with the cost of living is to get more money in their pocket. Right? Well, what’s the quickest, most direct, simple, way of getting more money in people’s pockets? The government to take less out in the first place.”

East County veterans leader J.R. Wilson speaks with Steve Hilton during the fundraiser Aug. 11, 2026.

Hilton then shared how he would cut spending.

“Number one, cancel high-speed rail,” he stated to cheers and a loud round of applause. “That is $4 billion, right there.”

“It’s a fiasco of epic proportions,” Hilton added. “We’re going to shut it down and stop it in its tracks. Except they haven’t laid any tracks,” which garnered laughter from the attendees.

“Secondly, no more free health care for illegal immigrants,” he stated, next. “That will save $11 billion.”

“Next, we’re going to cancel the vanity projects…all this stuff is so much bloat in this budget,” Hilton continued. “We’re going to shut down the non-profit scam and rip-off.”

“We’re going to shut down the homeless industrial complex where billions of dollars are going into these apartment units for homeless people at about a million dollars each,” he stated.

“We’re going to be doing a very modest, five percent efficiency saving across all government departments in Sacramento,” Hilton shared. “That’s $18 billion, right there. We’re over the twenty billion already.”

He then mentioned his final cost saving proposal of reducing the number of “bureaucrats in Sacramento,” which increased by 40,000 people during Newsom’s terms.

“We’re going to take the headcount right down, back to where it was,” Hilton stated. “We’re basically at thirty-seven billion and we haven’t even had to try very hard.”

“So, there’s no question we will find that money to deliver what we need, especially for working people in California,” he said. “We’ve done the work. I’ve been at this for a long time.”

Hilton mentioned his latest campaign slogan of, “Enough is enough.”

Steve Hiton speaks from the McCauley Estate Vineyards in a video on his X account Aug. 11, 2026. Video screenshot.

He also touched on the other planks of his campaign platform under what he calls “Califordable” which were displayed on a banner, including $3.00 per gallon gas, cut utility bills in half and starter homes for young families. In response to a question about education, Hilton shared briefly about part of what he calls the “Califuture” portion of his campaign platform showing another of the large banners in the room with the list. It read, “Every Student Reads by 3rd Grade” and “Skills Training in Every School.” The list also included, “Bust the $745 Billion Job-Killer Bloat” and “Abolish $800 Small Business Tax.”

Hilton concluded by saying he wants “to make California the best place of anywhere in the world to start and raise a family, to start and grow a business. That’s California and we will be back.”

In a video of the candidate posted on his personal X account the next morning recorded at the McCauley Estate Vineyard following the event he said, “Alright everyone. I know you think of wine country as Napa and Sonoma. But look at this. Beautiful vines. It’s so mellow. Lovely evening. We’ve had an event here in Brentwood, Contra Costa County. You don’t think of that when you think of wine. But we’ve had a wonderful time, and this is what it’s all about. Every part of our state, every business, every family, we’re here for you to save our beautiful state of California. Please join us.”

For more information about Hilton’s campaign visit https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com. His next event in the county will be another fundraiser at the Blackhawk Country Club on Sept. 2. For details call (916) 849-1546 or email julie@stevehiltonforgovernor.com.

Hilton faces Democrat Xavier Becerra in the General Election on November 3rd.

Map of the service are for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California led by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. “Bill” Essayli. Source: USAOCDC

Despite sanctuary state laws; part of Operation Take Back America

Almost all charged with illegally re-entering U.S. following removal

By Allen D. Payton

In an Aug. 12, 2026 post on X by First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California Bilal A. “Bill” Essayli, he wrote, “Last year I launched Operation Guardian Angel to force sanctuary jurisdictions to hand over criminal illegal immigrants. It’s been a tremendous success. We’ve picked up hundreds of criminal illegal aliens from local CA jails despite state law making it illegal for local law enforcement to cooperate with us. This program is a model for the rest of the nation and a proven strategy to compel states to hand over criminal illegal immigrants to @ICEgov.”

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s webpage, “the Central District of California serves the seven counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. This includes a population of nearly 20 million people – the largest of any federal judicial district in the country. The role of the Office is to enforce the laws and defend the interests of the United States. It does so through three primary litigating Divisions: Criminal, National Security, and Civil.”

A former California State Assemblyman, Essayli, “leads a team of 500 lawyers, special agents, and staff members enforcing federal criminal law.”

Contra Costa County is located in the Northern District of California led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian.

The operation was launched in May 2025, as “a program that seeks to neutralize California’s sanctuary state policy and protect Americans from criminal illegal aliens incarcerated in county jails by issuing federal arrest warrants for them.” The announcement claimed, “The Central District of California…is home to an estimated 1.5 million illegal aliens. Among this population are gang members and other dangerous felons.”

According to a May 19, 2025 FOX News report the operation is “a task force, made up of assets from ICE, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), DEA, FBI, ATF and Border Patrol.”

An article by the California Post, published earlier Wenesday, entitled, Inside feds’ stealth mission to deport California killers, rapists and child molesters, shared additional details about the operation.

“Federal authorities snared a child molester, a rapist and an accused killer in a sophisticated operation that has rid Southern California of hundreds of criminal illegal migrants” and “has so far collared 362 previously deported illegal migrants using federal law to defeat California’s controversial ‘sanctuary state’ rule prohibiting local police from cooperating with immigration agents even if they wanted to.”

An announcement on Wednesday by the Central District office’s PIO, Ciaran McEvoy, provided details about the operation.

“Since its launch last year, Operation Guardian Angel, a program that seeks to neutralize California’s sanctuary state policy, has resulted in 362 arrests of criminal illegal aliens from county jails into federal custody in the Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, and the Central Coast.

“Operation Guardian Angel’s goal is to apprehend criminal illegal aliens incarcerated in county jails, (who are) prohibited by ‘sanctuary state’ laws from cooperating with federal immigration officials. SB 54, also known as the California Values Act, signed into law in 2017, limits state and local police cooperation with federal immigration officers and restricts local resources from being used to remove illegal aliens – including violent felons.

“Operation Guardian Angel works by securing federal arrest warrants for aliens recently arrested by local law enforcement. Once issued, local jails are legally required to honor the arrest warrants and must hand over the criminal illegal alien in their custody to the federal government.

“The operation began in May 2025 and has resulted in 769 arrest warrants issued, and the actual transfer of 362 defendants – 347 of whom are federally charged with illegally re-entering the United States following removal, or another federal offense. Other federal charges include unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, using a firearm in drug trafficking or a crime of violence, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

“Broken California ‘sanctuary state’ policies endanger the public and cannot go unchallenged by the federal government,” said Essayli. “Operation Guardian Angel is an answer to these misguided policies. Through this task force we are forcing California to do the thing it hates most: handing hundreds of criminal illegal aliens into federal custody to face justice and deportation.”

“ICE ERO’s mission is to identify, arrest, detain, and remove those who are in the United States illegally,” said Thomas Giles, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Los Angeles Field Office for Enforcement and Removal Operations. “Unfortunately, California’s politicians are forcing local law enforcement agencies to release criminal illegal aliens back into our communities to create more American victims. Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in the Central District of California through Operation Guardian Angel allows us to keep rapists, gang members, and murderers, who shouldn’t be in the U.S. at all, off the streets of California. We will not be deterred. We are not going away. We will continue to enforce the laws passed by the people’s representatives in Congress here in California and everywhere in the United States.”

“Among the defendants taken into federal custody under this program are:

• Jaime Rodríguez Ladesma, 70, of Long Beach, an illegal alien from Mexico who was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court in October 2023 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and who was removed in December 2023. He subsequently illegally returned to the United States and was convicted of being found in the U.S. following removal. He was removed to Mexico in March 2026.
• Héctor Bueno-Moreno, 55, of San Luis Obispo, an illegal alien from Mexico who was removed in September 2001 and January 2020, whose criminal history includes a 1995 rape conviction in Kern County Superior Court. He was arrested in August 2025 by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office on a bench warrant out of Santa Barbara County prior to his federal arrest. He pleaded guilty last year to improper entry by an alien. He was removed to Mexico in September 2025.
• Ricardo López Jaramillo, 50, a.k.a. “Sharky,” of Pasadena, a five-times-deported illegal alien from Mexico and gang member whose criminal history includes multiple felony robbery convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court, and a 2007 conviction in San Diego federal court of three counts of illegal entry, for which he was sentenced to three years in federal prison. In November 2025, he was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a single-count information charging him with illegal alien found in the U.S. following removal. He was removed to Mexico in June 2026.
• Alejandro Lima Ramírez, 46, a.k.a. “Fidel Garcia Vasquez,” of Santa Maria, a four-times-deported illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes convictions for drug trafficking, stalking, domestic violence, robbery, theft, and driving under the influence. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office transferred him to federal custody last year after Lima was arrested for drug-and-traffic violations. He is serving a 30-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in October 2025 to illegal alien found in the U.S. following removal.
• Andrés Velásquez Ocampo, 37, of Santa Ana, an illegal alien from Mexico who was deported in January 2019 and was arrested in South Gate in May 2025 on drug charges. His criminal history includes convictions for carjacking and hit-and-run with property damage. He pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal alien found in the U.S. following removal, was sentenced to three months in federal prison, he was removed to Mexico in December 2025.
• In February 2025, José Cristián Saravia-Sánchez, 31, of Mexico, shot and killed an Inglewood man who tried to stop him from stealing a catalytic converter. Despite the fact he was an illegal alien who had been convicted of vehicle theft, was removed from the United States in 2013, and had been arrested 11 times between June 2022 and August 2024, local law enforcement was prevented by state law from complying with an immigration detainer request. While his state criminal case is pending, he also faces federal criminal charges of illegal alien found in the United States following removal and alien in possession of a firearm.

“Operation Guardian Angel is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”

About Operation Take Back America

Established in March 2025 as a single initiative, Operation Take Back America Organized that combines the resources of the DEA’s Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, launched in 1982, and the USDOJ’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, launched in 2001, to implement core policy objectives established by President Trump and the Attorney General which were outlined in a memo, here. The focus of the operation is “to address the Justice Department’s core enforcement priorities: stopping illegal immigration, eliminating Cartels and TCOs (Transnational Criminal Organizations) and ending illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings.” According to the memo, “In a February 5, 2025 memorandum, the Attorney General established a charging policy around a core principle: in the absence of unusual facts, prosecutors should charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense.”

The operation includes “all efforts to target TdA (Tren de Aragua), MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Northeast Cartel (Los Zetas), New Michoacan Family, United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, and any other Cartel or TCO designated pursuant to the process established in Executive Order 14157, entitled Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”

Residents select fresh produce at a White Pony Express public pantry in Antioch. Photo: White Pony Express

Able-bodied must now document 80 hours a month of work, job training or volunteering

By Tyler McCarthy, Outreach Associate and Eve Birge, CEO, White Pony Express

Until this June, if you were 55 to 64 and on CalFresh, you were exempt from the program’s strictest work rules. Not anymore.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025, adults in that age range who are considered able-bodied and don’t have a child under 14 at home must now document 80 hours a month of work, job training or volunteering — or lose their food assistance after three months. California’s rules changed June 1.

Think about who that catches. Too young for Medicare. Too early for full Social Security without a permanent cut to the check. Often job-hunting in a market that stopped calling back the moment their resume showed 20 years of experience.

Learn about the new rules for other age groups, here.

Nationally, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) enrollment has dropped by four and a half million people since the law passed — about 11 percent. Fewer people getting help is not the same as fewer people needing it, and this is exactly the age group already reporting the most hardship. Food insecurity among adults 50 and older has been climbing for two decades, and it shows up later as worse health, poorer diets and a harder time managing chronic disease. Meanwhile, groceries cost around 30 percent more than they did before the pandemic. More than 4 in 10 older adults now say prices at the store have outrun their budget, according to AARP.

White Pony Express meets them where they already are. Nearly all its 144 partner agencies serve older adults; 18 serve seniors exclusively. Its drivers bring fresh produce, dairy and protein to senior housing and community centers, and set it out like a farmers’ market, not a handout, so people choose what they want and stay to visit, share recipes and build community.

The program coordinator at a food pantry in San Pablo explained it best: “We serve seniors who have a fixed income and use it to pay bills and rent. Food is something they have to find. They survive through this kind of service.”

Since 2013, White Pony Express (WPE) has done this at no cost to its nonprofit recipients and no cost to the people they feed. Help WPE reach more neighbors: volunteer or donate at whiteponyexpress.org.

White Pony Express is a food rescue nonprofit based in Concord, California.

Sources:

1. Until this June, if you were 55 to 64 and on CalFresh, you were exempt from the program’s strictest work rules. Not anymore.
   1. “OBBBA raises the age limit for ABAWD work requirements, from 55 to 64.” (Think Global Health, 2026)
2. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025, adults in that age range who are considered able-bodied and don’t have a child under 14 at home must now document 80 hours a month of work, job training or volunteering — or lose their food assistance after three months.
   1. “Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, more adults need to prove they work or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month to access food benefits. These work requirements now apply to veterans, homeless individuals, young adults aging out of foster care, parents with a child between 14 and 17, and people between 55 and 64.” (NPR, 2026)
   2. “People who have to meet the work or community engagement requirement must participate in qualifying activity for up to 20 hours per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly. Qualifying activities include:

• Paid employment
• Volunteer work or community service
• Job training or work programs
• Education
• Workfare
• Combination of any of the above.” (CDSS, 2026)

1. California’s rules changed June 1.
   1. “Starting June 1, 2026, the federal government’s rules on CalFresh work and community engagement requirements are changing in California. This means that some CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18-64 will have to meet work and community engagement requirements to keep their CalFresh benefits.” (CDSS, 2026)
2. Nationally, SNAP enrollment has dropped by four and a half million people since the law passed — about 11 percent.
   1. “We estimate that SNAP participation nationwide fell by more than 4.5 million people (11 percent) between the law’s July 2025 enactment and April 2026, based on the latest month of data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and data from the Georgia Department of Human Services provided in an open records request.” (CBPP, 2026)
3. Food insecurity among adults 50 and older has been climbing for two decades, and it shows up later as worse health, poorer diets and a harder time managing chronic disease.
   1. “Food insecurity among older adults has risen over the past two decades, contributing to poorer diet quality, declining physical health, heightened risk of cognitive impairment, and more challenging chronic disease management.” (Think Global Health, 2026)
4. Meanwhile, groceries cost around 30 percent more than they did before the pandemic.
   1. “The price of food purchased for home use rose 33% from 2019 through June 2026.” (AP News, 2026)
5. More than 4 in 10 older adults now say prices at the store have outrun their budget, according to AARP.
   1. “In a December 2025 AARP survey, more than 4 in 10 adults ages 50-plus said grocery prices now cost more than they can afford, compared with one-third of adults under 50.” (AARP, 2026).

Graphic source: Don Amador

By Don Amador

A recent High Country News article entitled, A Ban on Chainsaws in Wilderness is Performative, Not Practical, has sparked renewed discussion about one of the most sensitive issues in public land management. While the article focuses on whether chainsaws should be used to clear trails in designated Wilderness Areas following the unprecedented destruction caused by Western megafires, I believe the larger story is not about chainsaws at all. It is about finding common ground on stewardship of designated Wilderness areas.

For decades, wilderness stewardship has been guided by principles established in the Wilderness Act of 1964, a landmark law that has served our nation well by protecting some of America’s most treasured landscapes. At the time, few could have imagined the scale of the ecological changes that would occur during the first quarter of the 21st century. Today, millions of acres of federal forests have experienced repeated high-severity wildfires, widespread insect infestations, prolonged drought, and extensive tree mortality. Across much of the West, trails that once connected visitors to remote landscapes are now buried beneath thousands of fallen trees or surrounded by hazardous stands of dead timber.

These conditions have created management challenges unlike anything previous generations of land managers encountered. The question is no longer simply whether trail crews should use crosscut saws or chainsaws. The more important question is whether our current management framework is keeping pace with the realities on the ground.

Fortunately, this is not a new challenge for public land management. Throughout my career, I have watched federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, recreation groups, local governments, industry representatives, scientists, and volunteers come together to solve difficult resource issues that once seemed impossible to overcome. Collaborative efforts addressing post-fire recovery, watershed restoration, sustainable trail management, forest health, invasive species, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation have repeatedly demonstrated that the best solutions rarely emerge from one stakeholder acting alone.

That same collaborative model should now be applied to the growing challenge of maintaining access and stewardship within our National Wilderness Preservation System.

Unfortunately, much of the current discussion appears to be occurring within isolated circles rather than through an open, transparent collaborative process. Some conversations are taking place within the Forest Service. Others involve wilderness advocacy organizations, outfitters, volunteer trail groups, or local communities. Yet there has been little evidence of a broad national dialogue that intentionally brings together the full range of interests that care deeply about America’s wilderness.

The Forest Service has not adopted a nationwide policy authorizing chainsaw use in Wilderness, nor should anyone expect such a significant policy question to be resolved through isolated project decisions. Instead, the agency continues to evaluate requests under the long-established “minimum requirements” process authorized by the Wilderness Act. While that approach provides flexibility on a case-by-case basis, it does little to answer the larger question facing land managers across the West: How should wilderness stewardship evolve as our forests continue to change?

A collaborative forum would allow participants to move beyond the emotionally charged question of “chainsaws versus crosscut saws” and instead examine broader issues such as post-fire forest conditions, trail sustainability, volunteer capacity, workforce limitations, visitor safety, ecological impacts and long-term stewardship objectives. Rather than debating a single tool, stakeholders could focus on identifying management strategies capable of preserving both wilderness character and meaningful public access for future generations.

Decisions developed through open dialogue are far more likely to gain public acceptance than policies developed behind closed doors or through litigation. Even when consensus cannot be achieved, participants gain a better understanding of one another’s perspectives and often discover common ground that would otherwise remain hidden.

This issue also offers an opportunity for the Forest Service to demonstrate leadership. The agency has decades of experience participating in collaborative partnerships throughout the West. Applying that same collaborative model to wilderness trail management could help establish a thoughtful path forward that respects both the intent of the Wilderness Act and the unprecedented conditions facing today’s land managers.

None of us knows what the final answer will be. It may involve increased funding for traditional trail crews, expanded volunteer training, improved post-fire restoration strategies, additional research, carefully limited administrative flexibility, or perhaps entirely new approaches that have yet to be considered. Those solutions should emerge from collaboration rather than confrontation.

Massive wildfires in the American West have changed many forested lands dramatically over the past fifteen to 20 years. Rather than asking whether chainsaws belong in Wilderness, perhaps the more important question is this: Can we bring together the people who care most about these remarkable places and work collaboratively to ensure they remain healthy, accessible, and resilient for generations to come? – That is a conversation worth having.

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy, post wildfire recovery and recreation management profession for 35 years. He served as chair of the CA State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Commission (circa 1994-2000). Don also served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons.  

Bright Starts Center, a Head Start site in south Los Angeles, provides learning opportunities via play, meals and dual language instruction. Photos credit: Betty Márquez Rosales

Top Takeaways

• Current regulations aim to ensure consistency across Head Start sites regardless of geographical location or other local factors.
• The proposed changes would cut over 100 pages of regulations down to about 10 pages.
• Federal officials say program quality would not be jeopardized; proposal’s critics say Head Start’s standards are what make it high quality.

By Betty Márquez Rosales, EdSource, republished with permission

On a recent Thursday morning, 12 preschoolers at Bright Starts Center in south Los Angeles moved between Spanish and English as they cleaned up after painting and playing with blocks. They stretched before outdoor play and reviewed how to stay safe on the slide, at the water station and while riding bikes.

A teacher and assistant stayed with the children throughout the morning. A third adult prepared meals in the kitchen — mini banana loaf with apple, homestyle cheese pizza with mixed veggies and apple chips with a colby jack cheese stick.

The routines at Bright Starts illustrate the holistic approach toward educating children while caring for them that has defined Head Start for more than six decades. Federal rules set standards for staffing, nutrition, physical activity and services for children who are learning English, among other areas, with the goal of providing low-income children and their families with education as well as behavioral screenings, parent engagement opportunities and other support.

Now, the Trump administration seeks to dramatically reduce those federal regulations with a shorter set of rules, and give states and local programs more authority over how Head Start operates.

The proposal’s critics say it would cut down present regulations, over 100 pages long, to about 10 pages, and fundamentally change Head Start as it’s known now. The changes, if approved, would eliminate regulatory requirements governing classroom ratios, group sizes and services for children who speak languages other than English. It would also require English-only instruction.

The changes could theoretically add, according to federal officials, over 200,000 slots for children nationwide while reducing administrative costs. Federal officials say the changes would reduce administrative burdens, give programs greater flexibility and could allow Head Start to serve more children. Critics say the proposed changes could lead to lower quality and considerable variation from program to program, even within states.

Federal officials disagree. Lizbeth Casco White, director of the federal Office of Head Start, said in announcing the proposed changes that they would not “create a patchwork of standards” or compromise quality.

“Head Start would still exist, but it would not be Head Start as we know it and love it today,” said Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start California.

“One-size-fits-all mandates from Washington cannot fully account for the realities facing more than 1,600 local grantees serving vastly different communities across America,” Casco White said. Her remarks echoed statements from Alex Adams, who leads the federal Administration for Children and Families that controls billions in childcare and preschool funding.

The proposed changes are subject to a 60-day public comment period. Hundreds of comments have already been submitted, and the administration must review public feedback before deciding whether to finalize the changes.

A child enrolled in Head Start at Bright Starts Center cleans his workstation after finishing a painting.

Critics say Head Start would fundamentally change

Federal officials have said that lower administrative burden and greater flexibility for local programs are, in part, why the regulatory changes must be made.

Luis Bautista, executive director of the Head Start and Early Learning Division at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, said reducing some administrative requirements could allow programs to spend more resources on children and families — but only if they do not risk quality.

“I think all of us who are in the program will welcome the opportunity to reduce any unnecessary administrative burden, especially when those changes allow us to spend more time serving children and families,” Bautista said. “But flexibility should never come at the expense of quality or safety or equitable access. And some of these proposed changes are going to actually impact all of those things.”

The L.A. County education office is the state’s largest Head Start grantee — teaching thousands of babies, toddlers and young children — and works with the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees the Bright Starts Center.

While federal officials say the changes would give local programs flexibility, critics question how much discretion programs would have in practice if federal funding does not increase.

Head Start programs receive federal grants, and their budgets are tied to the number of children they are funded to serve, and the requirements attached to those grants. Cottrill, of Head Start California, said that could limit how much flexibility programs actually have.

Head Start programs are currently required to meet specific staff-to-child ratios.

“When we ask for that grant, we have to justify it. We can pay that many teachers because we’re required to. While the Office of Head Start is saying ‘you’ll have flexibility,’ they still have the ultimate say on those grants,” she said.

Cottrill said she fears that if the federal office requests local programs to serve more children without increased funding, the proposed changes could lead to reduced staffing or services to accommodate the additional enrollment.

“How do you do that? Well, you hire people who are less qualified. You give them more children. You cut services like toothbrushing and monitors on buses and all those wraparound things that make Head Start such a unique program that really creates positive results for those kids,” said Cottrill.

The Office of Head Start did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Casco White of the federal Office of Head Start has said federal regulations are not what solely drive early education services like Head Start.

“Federal regulations establish minimum requirements. They do not define the ceiling of excellence,” she said in announcing the proposed regulatory changes.

The proposed changes come after months of uncertainty for Head Start, including a federal budget proposal that called for eliminating funding altogether. After opposition from Head Start’s advocates, Congress ultimately restored funding to roughly its previous level. Some local Head Start programs temporarily shut down because furloughed federal staff were not able to process grants during last year’s historic federal shutdown.

Five 2-year-olds enrolled at Bright Starts Center in Los Angeles at the end of outdoor activity time.

The Trump administration has pursued other changes to the program as well. In May, federal officials proposed removing certain wage and benefits requirements for Head Start staff, saying the move would “restore needed flexibility and autonomy to local programs” while reducing paperwork.

Most recently, in June, right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation published a report outlining why Head Start should be deregulated “until officials end it.”

Back at Bright Starts, the children returned to their classroom after outdoor play, moving between Spanish and English as they settled into their next activity.

For now, the routines that shape their day remain in place — two adults in the classroom, time for physical activity, meals and snacks, and opportunities for children to learn English while maintaining their home language.

Whether those practices remain federal standards or are left to states and local programs to decide could depend on what happens next. If the changes are approved, legal challenges are likely, particularly in response to new requirements such as English-only instruction.

Bautista said the outcome should ultimately be measured by what happens to children in classrooms like Bright Starts.

“Will these changes improve outcomes for children?” he said. “I think we have to stay rooted in that.”

Betty Márquez Rosales is based in Los Angeles and covers juvenile justice, youth homelessness and other education topics.

Viola Ncube. Source: LinkedIn

Following $55,000 loss, year-long investigation; worked remotely

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

After a year-long criminal investigation, felony charges have been filed against a former employee for the Pleasant Hill Tourism Improvement District, known as Visit Pleasant Hill, in connection with an embezzlement and bribery scheme.

In July 2025, the City of Pleasant Hill received a report from a contracted company regarding possible fraud involving former Tourism Improvement District Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sibongile Viola Ncube. The Pleasant Hill Police Department subsequently began an investigation.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department determined that Ncube overcharged invoices and bills paid by the Tourism Improvement District (PHTID) and received unauthorized monetary kickbacks. The fraudulent activity occurred between September 2022 and July 2025 and resulted in an estimated loss of approximately $55,000.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department requested assistance from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, including a forensic review of bank statements and related financial records. Following its review, on July 24, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony charges against Ncube, 641.3(a) PC – Commercial Bribery and 508 PC – Grand Theft Embezzlement.

Ncube is scheduled to be arraigned in court later this month.

The PHTID was formed by the City Council in January 2017. According to the Visit Pleasant Hill 2024-25 Annual Report the District assesses all lodging businesses available for public occupancy located within the boundaries of the City of Pleasant Hill. According to the organization’s LinkedIn profile, it is the “Destination marketing organization advancing Pleasant Hill’s visitor economy,” which, according to their Facebook page, “provides official visitor information and promotes local businesses, experiences, and events in Pleasant Hill, CA.”

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ncube worked in the position with Visit Pleasant Hill remotely from May 2023 to August 2025, after starting as Director of Sales & Marketing from April 2020 to April 2023. She has since worked remotely on a contract as Director – AI, Sales & Marketing for Aspire Hospitality from Aug. to Oct. 2025 and now works as Director of Sales & Marketing Omni Hotels & Resorts, full-time since Oct. 2025.

She earned a MBA in Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management from Oxford Brookes University in 2003 and an Associate’s degree in Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management from City St George’s, University of London in 2000. Ncube also earned a credential in Advanced AI in Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute in 2025 and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Certified Professional from Destinations International Issued in 2022.

Her Facebook page shows Ncube’s last post was in June 2025. It also shows she lives in Los Angeles, is the Founder and CEO of My Black Beauty Box and The Black Book Consultant, still works for Visit Pleasant Hill, and references the Bible verse Isaiah 55:5.

According to an undated report by Black Meetings & Tourism, “Viola has held VP and Director roles specializing in the luxury hotel brands, holding key positions such as Regional Sales Manager with Accor Hotels (3200 hotels), then moving to Director of Sales with the prestigious hotel group Red Carnations (16 global hotels) before joining US based L.E. Hotels (400+hotels) as Director of Business Development – EMEA. Viola then joined the luxury Pineapple Hotels firm as Director of Corporate Sales before being head-hunted in 2011 to set-up Global Hospitality Services for a private investor, a hotel sales & marketing representation company, where she held the position of Vice President.

“Viola Ncube founded The Black Book Consultant in 2017, a boutique full-service management, sales & marketing consulting agency specializing in a curated selection of luxury hotels and DMO’s worldwide. The Black Book Consultant has since acquired several contracts within its first few years of operation, including managing the $300 million dollar opening of Svart.no and Melody Maker Cancun. Viola is currently contracted as VP of Sales & Marketing with Stay Pleasant Hill, the tourism district for the city of Pleasant Hill, CA.

“In 2012, Viola founded iROCK! UK, a social enterprise, an empowerment program, mentoring women into employment & business enterprise.”

The Pleasant Hill Police Department extends its appreciation to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for its thorough forensic review and assistance throughout the investigation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Suspect Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez and victim Todd Stewart. Photo sources: (left) Victor Mellor for Congress, (right) Blue Lives Matter.

Committed during burglary while out on conditional release; pleads not guilty

Faces life without parole

Now, labeled by Homeland Security as “criminal illegal alien”

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, California – On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony complaint charging 36-year-old Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez of Martinez with the murder of Todd Stewart of Martinez, who was 68 years old at the time of his death.

On August 6, 2026, at approximately 5:10 pm, Iriarte-Valdez stabbed Todd Stewart to death with a knife while committing a residential burglary. The Martinez Police Department quickly identified and located Iriarte-Valdez with assistance from the public and through multiple investigative sources. This included video surveillance capturing events related to the crime, as well as physical evidence processed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab. (See related article)

On August 11, 2026, the Martinez Police Department presented the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review. That same day, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Iriarte-Valdez with one count of murder for the unlawful killing of Todd Stewart.

The complaint also includes three additional enhancements to the murder charge:

• Killing during a burglary: The District Attorney’s Office alleges the murder took place while the defendant was committing, attempting, or fleeing a burglary. This special allegation, if found true by a jury, means the defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• Use of a knife: The complaint alleges that Iriarte-Valdez personally used a knife during the commission of the crime, which qualifies as a serious felony enhancement under state law.
• Committed while out on conditional release: At the time of the killing, Iriarte-Valdez was out of custody on electronic monitoring, as ordered by the court, in a separate, unrelated burglary case.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said, “Our office will pursue this case with diligence and integrity to hold Iriarte-Valdez fully accountable under the law for this devastating act of violence. Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones and the larger community as they navigate this unimaginable loss. Our Victim-Witness Assistance Program is available to guide the family members through the criminal justice process and connect them with the services and support they may need.”

Iriarte-Valdez was arraigned Thursday in Contra Costa Superior Court, pleading not guilty to the murder charge and denying all enhancements. Judge David Goldstein, who presided over the arraignment, called the defendant “a risk to public safety” and ordered him held without bail. The case returns to court September 9th at 8:30 am before Judge Michael Nieto in Richmond to set a preliminary hearing date.

According to charging documents, the suspect faces life without parole for the murder charge. 01-26-04140 – Charging Document

As previously reported by FOX News and ABC7 Eyewitness News, the Department of Homeland Security has labeled Iriarte-Valdez a “criminal illegal alien” as the agency had placed an immigration detainer on him on Sept. 23, 2025.

In addition, according to the California Globe, “On August 8, 2026, ICE placed a detainer on him with the Contra Costa County Jail.”

Case No. 01-26-04140 | The People of the State of California v. Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

The Coach Beam Service Award inaugural winners are Coaches Virgil Hart and Charlie Ramirez. Sources: Photo collage – Alex Kith on X, Virgil Hart on X and (bottom far right) courtesy of CBLF.

Service Award established in memory of John Beam, beloved Oakland Football Coach and Educator

Honorable Mentions for Fremont, Concord coaches

By Tish Gallegos, Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation

Oakland, CA (August 12, 2026) – Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation has announced its two inaugural Bay Area winners of the Coach Beam Service Award. The foundation recognizes Virgil Hart, head football coach and women’s head basketball coach at Hayward High School, and Charlie Ramirez, head football coach at Pittsburg High School. The newly established award honors coaches who lead with heart, purpose and community to transform the lives of student-athletes. Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation announced the 2026 winners during the Oakland Ballers baseball game at Raimondi Park in West Oakland.

“We hope this service award will allow Coach Hart and Coach Ramirez to continue focusing on helping their student athletes in a significant way,” said Monica Beam, co-founder of Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation. “We recognize the great work they are doing in their communities and how they extend Coach Beam’s dedication to uplifting young people through sport and education and building lasting character.”

Coach Virgil Hart – Hayward High School

Coach Virgil Hart returned to his alma mater with a mission that extends far beyond football. In addition to serving as head football coach, Hart works as an academic and social-emotional counselor, allowing him to support students both on the field and throughout the school community.

Under his leadership, Hayward football has compiled a 20-10 record and a league championship, but Hart’s greatest impact can be seen in the relationships he builds with students. His program places a strong emphasis on academics, mental health, leadership, and personal growth. Student-athletes participate in year-round study halls supported by college tutors and math teachers, while the program uses NCAA academic tracking to help athletes prepare for college opportunities.

Hart also prioritizes mental wellness, partnering with graduate students in sports and performance psychology to work with athletes on resilience, mental toughness, and personal development. Perhaps most importantly, Hart creates a safe and supportive environment where students know they have an adult they can turn to.

“He is not simply focused on developing athletes; he is committed to developing well-rounded young people who are prepared for life’s challenges,” wrote one of Hart’s nominators.

Coach Charlie Ramirez – Pittsburg High School

Coach Charlie Ramirez, aka “Coach Ram”, has dedicated more than two decades to Pittsburg High School, first as a player and assistant coach and now as head football coach, teacher, and mentor.

His accomplishments on the field are extraordinary. Since becoming head coach, Ramirez has led Pittsburg football to a 36-0-7 record, multiple BVAL and NCS championships, a NorCal D1AA championship and a state championship game appearance.

But his greatest contribution is the culture he has created around those accomplishments.

Ramirez works closely with administrators, counselors, families, and student-athletes to ensure players are prepared academically and positioned for college opportunities. His program has significantly reduced the number of academically ineligible student-athletes and increased the varsity team’s GPA. The varsity program has also had zero academically ineligible players over the past three seasons.

His commitment extends into the community through civil rights advocacy, campus initiatives, youth coaching clinics, and opportunities that teach players leadership and civic responsibility.

“He protects, disciplines, advocates for, and loves them like family,” one recommender wrote.

Awards

The two Coach Beam Service Award winners will receive individual recognition with a $7,500 stipend and program support through a $5,000 grant for their athletic program. Awards are renewable for up to three years based on continued good standing.

Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation’s nine-member selection committee also named two 2026 honorable mention coaches: Nathan Boyes, head women’s basketball coach at California School for the Deaf in Fremont, and Lanette Stanziano, cross-country and track and field coach at Concord High School. Each will receive a $1,500 donation to their programs.

The Coach Beam Service Award highlights coaches of all sports in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in California, who create safe, supportive environments where student athletes can truly thrive. By celebrating those who lead with compassion and integrity, the Foundation ensures Coach Beam’s legacy of unwavering commitment continues for generations to come.

The next round of nominations will open in Spring 2027. Criteria include serving as a high school coach in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties, possessing a minimum of three years coaching experience, and demonstrating a commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community impact. To learn more, visit www.coachbeamslegacy.org/service-award.

Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation operates under the fiscal sponsorship of The AthLife Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting student-athletes in promising communities across the country.

For more information about Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation, its mission, and how to donate, visit www.coachbeamslegacy.org.

About Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation: Founded in 2025, Coach Beam’s Legacy Foundation was established by the Beam family to honor the life, values, and lifelong service of Coach John Beam. The Foundation exists to ensure that his name, his work, and his unwavering commitment to uplifting others continues to live on and positively impact the community he loved. Rooted in Coach Beam’s belief in the transformative power of sport, the Foundation seeks to develop well-rounded student-athletes and the leaders of tomorrow by focusing on five core pillars: Leadership, Academics, Financial Literacy, Mental Health and Social Justice. Guided by his enduring words – “I believe in you so you can believe in yourself”– the Foundation strives to empower young people to realize their potential, strengthen their communities, and create meaningful, lasting change. Learn more at www.coachbeamslegacy.org. 

About The AthLife Foundation: Founded in 2010, The AthLife Foundation is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure that every kid who plays can achieve lifelong success beyond sport. Through grant funding, training and industry leading resources, we help schools create a critical professional staff position in secondary education, called an Academic Athletic Coach. That Academic Athletic Coach works year-round to create high impact programming, taps into a student’s passion for their sport and drives holistic development. We’ve reached tens of thousands of student-athletes in schools across multiple states, strengthened by partnerships with organizations such as the Heisman Trophy Trust, Joe Moore Award and Foundation for Teamwork, NFL Foundation, New York Community Trust, St. Luke’s University Health Network, State of Connecticut, State of Pennsylvania, Under Armour Foundation, and many others. Learn more at athlifefoundation.org or join our professional network at 3ace.connectedcommunity.org.

Simplified pass name, updated sign-up period makes it easier than ever for fourth graders and their families to visit 54 state parks for free

By California State Parks

SACRAMENTO — California fourth-grade families can now add a California State Parks pass to their back-to-school shopping list. And unlike the backpack, notebook and pencils, this pass is absolutely free!

Just in time for the 2026-27 school year, State Parks is updating its free pass program for fourth graders with a simplified name and new sign-up period. Now, incoming California fourth graders in public school can get their Free Fourth Grade Pass at the same time as all their other school supplies and start the new academic year with unlimited free access to 54 participating state parks. Parents and guardians can download the free pass for their incoming fourth graders at ReserveCalifornia.com.

Fourth graders previously couldn’t sign up for the pass – formerly known as the California State Park Adventure Pass – until September, after the school year had already started in many districts throughout the state. In addition to opening at the beginning of August, the pass is now valid for up to 13 months, through Aug. 31 of the following year, so it can be used from the time students start fourth grade until they begin fifth grade.

“California State Parks is committed to making it as easy as possible for fourth graders and their families to experience California’s unparalleled natural and cultural treasures. The updates to our Free Fourth Grade Pass program do exactly that,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “As the new school year begins, I encourage every California fourth-grade family to get their free pass and start exploring the nation’s largest and most diverse state park system. Parks are living classrooms filled with opportunities to learn, discover, and create lasting memories together.”

Outdoors for All

The free pass is a cornerstone of Outdoors for All, Governor Gavin Newsom and the First Partner’s commitment to equitable park access, ensuring all Californians can enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of the outdoors. Since the free pass program was launched in September 2021, more than 100,000 passes have been distributed to fourth graders and their families.

Along with all fourth graders in public school, California residents from all walks of life — including families receiving public assistance and anyone with a library card — can access free parks passes as part of Outdoors for All:

• California State Library Parks Pass: Allows library cardholders to check out a pass from any public library for free vehicle day-use entry at 200-plus state parks. It’s just like borrowing a book, with more than 33,000 passes available at over 1,100 public and tribal libraries in the state.
• Golden Bear Pass: This free annual pass provides vehicle day-use entry at over 200 state parks for families who receive CalWORKs, individuals who receive supplemental security income, income-eligible Californians over age 62, and participants of California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. To date, Californians have received more than 145,000 Golden Bear Passes.

State Parks also recently completed a wildly popular free promotion of its Historian Passport, which saw more than 454,000 passes downloaded in just over two weeks.

Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

The 54 participating state parks help complement the fourth-grade curriculum, bringing to life what fourth graders are learning in the classroom. Fourth grade is a unique time in a child’s development where they begin to better understand how the world around them works in concrete ways, and they are more receptive to engaging with nature and the environment.

Studies indicate that access to parks and green space can lead to improvements in children’s physical well-being, social-emotional learning and academic outcomes, with children experiencing reduced stress and demonstrating more enthusiasm for school.

How to Get Your Free Fourth Grade Pass

Signing up for the Free Fourth Grade Pass is easy. A parent or guardian can apply on ReserveCalifornia.com (account required) to download the pass. The only information required is a name, address, phone number and email address.

For more information about the Free Fourth Grade Pass program, visit parks.ca.gov/4thGrade.

Suspect Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valde (top left) and in surveillance video footage next to his vehicle and victim Todd Stewart. Photo sources: Top left – Victor Mellor For Congress, top right – Blue Lives Matter Facebook page, bottom two, Martinez Police

One day after suspect released from custody on other charges

By Martinez Police Department

On Thursday, August 6, 2026, at approximately 5:09 pm, the Martinez Police Department received multiple 9-1-1 calls regarding a subject who was reportedly stabbed on Francis Court in front of a residence.

Officers responded and upon their arrival they located a 68-year-old male, identified as Todd Stewart, on the ground with injuries consistent with being stabbed. Fire and medical responded, but the subject was declared deceased at the scene.

Detectives from the Martinez Police Department Investigations Bureau responded to the scene along with crime scene investigators from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect fled the scene in a Cadillac SUV vehicle pictured above.

He was later apprehended and identified as 36-year-old Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez (born 4/25/1990)

According to a Facebook post by Blue Lives Matter, Iriarte-Valdez is a “criminal released the day before” Stewart was killed. “Surveillance video shows 68-year-old Todd Stewart screaming for help as he is stabbed to death on his front lawn. The attack happened while Stewart was working in his open garage.

“Iriarte-Valdez…was already on pre-trial release for residential burglaries committed in Orinda in April. On August 4 he was taken back into custody for violating the terms of his home detention. The very next day a judge ordered him released on his own recognizance and referred him back to monitoring.”

“Authorities say the ankle monitor was not placed back on him until Friday morning, after Stewart had already been killed.”

According to an Aug. 12th FOXNews report, “The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital it placed an immigration detainer on Iriarte-Valdez Sept. 23, 2025. The DHS said that Valdez was from Venezuela with citizenship in Spain.”  He “had a prior criminal record and was facing burglary charges stemming from at least two incidents elsewhere in Contra Costa County…when a judge…ordered him released.”

According to an Aug. 12th ABC7 Eyewitness News report, “Investigators say the video shows him wearing a tactical vest before putting on a mask.” Iriarte-Valdez “appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to murder charges” and “now, the Department of Homeland Security [is] involved and has labeled the suspect a ‘criminal illegal alien’.”

According to the California Globe, “On August 8, 2026, ICE placed a detainer on him with the Contra Costa County Jail” and the judge “is Nichelle Holmes, a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her in March 2024.”

According to localcrimenews.com, he was also arrested on April 29, 2026, for burglary, receiving or concealing stolen property, aggravated trespass, trespassing by driving on private property and loitering, prowling, wandering upon the private property of another.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Iriarte-Valdez is listed as White and was booked on May 15th then released on his own recognizance on Aug. 5th at 7:03 PM.

Also, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, two-inch tall, 175-pound suspect is Hispanic and being held in the West Re-Entry Treatment and Housing facility in Richmond on no bail. He has another court appearance scheduled for Sept. 9th at 8:30 AM in Martinez Superior Court Dept. 5.

But according to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, the case returns to court September 1st at 8:30 am before Judge Michael Nieto in Richmond to set a preliminary hearing date.

The investigation is active and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Dominguez at (925) 372-3451 or at cdominguez1@cityofmartinez.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.