Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Strike averted: Sutter Health, SEIU-UHW reach tentative agreements on contracts 

By Leave a Comment

For more than 4,700 frontline healthcare workers across Northern California, securing progress on staffing, pay, working conditions 

By Jennifer Kelly, Media Relations, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW)

OAKLAND, CA – As of Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, frontline healthcare workers at eight Sutter Health facilities across Northern California have reached a tentative contract agreement with Sutter executives, averting the strike workers had overwhelmingly authorized. The new agreement addresses critical issues around staffing and working conditions by ensuring fair pay and benefits for frontline healthcare workers, allowing them to continue serving patients without disruption. (See related article)

“This tentative agreement shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside. “Reaching this agreement wasn’t easy but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do every day.”

The tentative contract agreement needs to be voted on and approved by the members before it is final. If approved, the agreement will provide 14 percent across-the-board raises for workers. The agreement also protects healthcare and retirement benefits for these frontline healthcare workers.

The tentative agreement averts a strike at eight Sutter Health facilities in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Vallejo, Antioch, Castro Valley and San Francisco, where thousands of workers had been preparing to strike.

SEIU-UHW represents a variety of workers across Sutter Health, including nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, environmental services, food services, x-ray technicians, respiratory therapists and others. The ratification vote will be scheduled for later this month.

Sutter Health Issues Statement

According to a Sutter Health spokesperson, “Sutter Health and SEIU-UHW reached tentative agreements for new contracts on Saturday covering more than 4,400 employees at eight hospitals.

The parties have negotiated in good faith since July for an agreement that recognizes and rewards employees while supporting our ability to deliver safe, high-quality care. We believe the tentative agreements meet those goals.

SEIU-UHW will soon hold a ratification vote for its membership. We encourage all eligible employees to participate in the vote and support this fair contract offer.”

About SEIU-UHW

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health’s integrated, not-for-profit system of associated clinicians, employees and volunteers support more than 3 million patients in diverse communities across two dozen counties. Headquartered in Northern California, Sutter provides access to high quality, affordable care through its hospitals, medical foundations, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent and walk-in care centers, telehealth, home health and hospice services.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Despite test score gains California students still lag behind pre-pandemic levels

By Leave a Comment

Students in a Fresno Unified School District classroom. Credit: Fresno Unified / Flickr

Black and Latino students make progress; pandemic widened math gender gap; more English learners are proficient

New Titles for Four Levels of Achievement: Advanced, Proficient, Developing or Minimal

By Diana Lambert, Zaidee Stavely, Betty Márquez Rosales and Daniel J. Willis, EdSource.org, republished with permission

Top Takeaways

  • California test scores show students still struggle with learning loss five years after the Covid pandemic.
  • Students improved by 1.8 percentage points in math and English language arts last school year, the largest year-over-year increase since before the pandemic.
  • Despite increases, serious equity gaps persist.
  • Science scores were the only ones to return to pre-pandemic levels

Five years after the Covid pandemic closed schools and pushed students into a year of distance learning, California test scores show that — despite increases — students are still struggling with learning loss.

During the 2024-25 school year, the number of students who were advanced or proficient in math and English language arts improved by 1.8 percentage points in each subject — the largest year-over-year increase since before the Covid pandemic, according to Smarter Balanced test scores released Thursday. Science scores increased by 2 percentage points.

“There is greater progress this year than we had last year,” said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. “Gains in ELA and science are about four times the level of the gains last year, and the gains in math are about twice the level of the gains last year. So, it feels like there is some momentum toward improvement.”

New Titles for Four Levels of Achievement: Advanced, Proficient, Developing or Minimal

The titles of the four levels of achievement are different this year. In March, the California State Board of Education chose new titles to describe how students perform on standardized tests, including the Smarter Balanced tests.

Students will now be labeled as advanced, proficient, developing or minimal to describe their knowledge and skill level.

Students who are advanced, proficient and developing are all working within their grade level band, while students who are at the minimal level are not consistently showing grade-level standards, said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond.

“Proficient is a pretty high bar because that is very thorough mastery of grade-level standards and advanced is very sophisticated,” she said.

Smarter Balanced tests are given to students in third through eighth grades and in 11th grade as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), which also includes the English Language Proficiency Assessment.

CAASPP test scores for California nearly 1,000 school districts and 10,000 schools are available on EdSource’s searchable database.

Despite the improvement at all grade levels, the number of students who were advanced or proficient in English language arts last year only increased to 48.8%, 37.3% in math, and 32.7% in science.

That wasn’t enough to bring scores up to pre-pandemic levels when more than half of California students, 51.7%, met or exceeded state standards in English language arts, and 39.7% met or exceeded state standards in math.

Science scores were the only ones to return to pre-pandemic levels, with 2.8% more students scoring proficient or better last year compared to 2018-19.

Equity isn’t improving fast enough

“I think certainly these scores are headed in the right direction,” said Christopher Nellum, executive director of EdTrust-West, an education advocacy organization. “I would argue, at the wrong speed if we’re serious about equity … we need double-digit gains, not incremental gains.”

The California School Boards Association is also calling for a state plan to close the achievement gap that includes increased funding for school districts with a large population of high-needs students, as well as increased accountability and transparency from the state.

“We shouldn’t let a point or two in a positive direction detract from the fact that millions of California students are still being underserved and those students are disproportionately concentrated in certain demographic groups that have been lacking for decades,” said Troy Flint, chief information officer at the CSBA. 

Nation’s third graders have similar scores

California’s third-grade reading scores are similar to most other states in the country, which have grown about 1% a year between 2022 and 2025, said David Scarlett Wakelyn, a partner with Upswing Labs, a nonprofit that works with school districts to improve reading instruction. California has had 0.7% annual growth in reading scores in those years, Wakelyn said.

Third grade is considered a crucial year for students to begin reading to learn, a key indicator for academic success. Last school year, 44.21% of California third graders were proficient or advanced in reading. The year before that, it was 42.8%.

Only Louisiana has returned to pre-pandemic levels for third-grade reading, Wakelyn said. The state, which doesn’t use the Smarter Balanced test, has high-quality curriculum and instructional materials in use across the state, he said.

More English learners are proficient

Slightly more English learners tested as proficient on the English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) than last year. Students who speak a language other than English at home and have not yet achieved proficiency in English are classified as English learners and must take the ELPAC every year until they achieve proficiency.

The test measures proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening in English, and has four levels of proficiency — “beginning to develop,” “somewhat developed,” “moderately developed,” and “well developed.”

The percentage of English learners with “well developed” English went up from 14.6% in 2024 to 15.5% in 2025, while the percentage of students at the other levels stayed relatively the same. In 2023, however, 16.5% of English learners achieved the “well developed” level of English.

Students’ progress on the ELPAC is important because once students are reclassified as “fluent English proficient,” they generally do better than native English speakers on English and math tests. For example, 60.2% of former English learners who are now considered proficient met or exceeded the standard in English language arts in 2025, compared to 53.3% of native English speakers.

Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together, an organization that advocates for English learners statewide, said she’s happy that more students have progressed to “well developed” English on the ELPAC, but that the state needs to help more students learn English.

“We need to continue investing in professional development focused on comprehensive English Language Development, especially integrated ELD for all teachers across all subjects. I think that’s critical,” Hernandez said, adding that she was hopeful that the state’s new initiatives to teach reading and math with more focus on including instruction for learning English will help students.

She also said English learners need more access to bilingual programs, since research shows students have stronger outcomes in English when they are enrolled in bilingual programs.

Black and Latino students make progress

The number of Black and Latino students who met or exceeded the standard in English language arts, math and science grew somewhat, with the percentage of students in both groups increasing between 2% and 2.4 % over the last year.

Still, the overall percentage of both Black and Latino students meeting or exceeding the standards remained low, compared to white and Asian students. Only about a third (32.8%) of Black students met or exceeded the standard in English, and only about a fifth (20.1%) did so in math.

Among Latino students, 38.8% met or exceeded the standard in English and a quarter (25.7%) did so in math. In comparison, 61.8% of white students met or exceeded standards in English, and 51% in math, and among Asian students, 74.36% met or exceeded standards in English and 70.3% in math.

Students from all groups are still below pre-pandemic levels in both English and math.

“I don’t get why we are not outraged when two-thirds of any subgroup is not meeting proficiency in core areas like reading and math,” said Tyrone Howard, professor of education at UCLA. He said that state and school districts need to examine what may be helping some Black and Latino students and do more of it.

“I think we know to a large degree what works — high-dosage tutoring, that Black students have access to highly trained, culturally competent teachers, that we have the appropriate language supports for multilingual students,” said Howard. “We just haven’t been committed to it.”

Travis Bristol, associate professor of education at UC Berkeley and faculty director for the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity, said the small growth among Black and Latino students’ test scores should be celebrated.

“The fact that we see increases in Black and Latinx students suggests, at least to me, that some of the state’s strategies to improve outcomes for these students appear to be working,” Bristol said.

He said successful strategies include a state grant program that provides $25,000 incentive awards for national board-certified teachers in schools with large populations of low-income students, English learners or foster youth, as well as the community schools program, with wrap-around health and other services in schools.

“Because they’re paying off, we need to double down and continue to invest so we are not at a place where only a third of Black students meet or exceed the standard in English language arts, or only a quarter of Latinx students meet or exceed the standard in math,” Bristol said. “No one wants that.”

Pandemic widened math gender gap

For the second school year in a row, both girls and boys improved their scores in math and English language arts. This year’s scores show that 52% of girls met or exceeded English language arts standards versus 45% for boys. In math, 35% of girls and 39% of boys met or exceeded standards.

The difference, however, is in how quickly those improvements are occurring.

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24, math scores for girls and boys improved by 0.79 and by 1.04 percentage points, respectively. In comparing the rates of improvement between 2023-24 and 2024-25, girls’ math improved by 1.59 percentage points while boys’ scores jumped by 1.9.

And in English language arts proficiency, girls improved at about the same rate as boys in 2023-24. But the test scores for the most recent school year show a shift, with girls improving by 1.63 percentage points and boys by 1.91.

Due to the difference in the pace of improvement, boys’ scores are much closer than girls to their pre-pandemic math and English scores.

A difference of a few percentage points between students might not be a big issue, “but what could be happening is that girls are interpreting that in a way that makes them feel discouraged about pursuing different types of careers,” said Ian Thacker, an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio who previously also taught math and physics in California.

Prior to the pandemic, girls were advancing in math at such rates that they either nearly or fully closed gender gaps across California. But since the pandemic, the gap has widened. A recent analysis by the Associated Press, using data from the Stanford Education Data Archive, found that girls had higher math scores than boys in 62% of California districts in 2018-19, but in only 4% in 2023-24.

Researchers say there is no known definite reason for this shift, but theories range from higher rates of mental health challenges among girls during the pandemic to gendered differences in academic expectations for girls and boys.

A study Thacker co-authored in 2022, for example, showed differences in teachers’ beliefs about their students’ capacity to succeed in math.

“It’s more than just ‘how skilled are these students,’” Thacker said. “There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface, especially when it comes to cultural social stereotypes, kind of driving people’s self-perceptions.”

Megan Kuhfeld, director of growth modeling and data analytics for the education research company NWEA, has found California’s scores mirror national trends.

“It is important for districts to reexamine classroom dynamics and instructional practices, particularly in STEM classes. If pandemic-era shifts in behavior and teacher attention have disproportionately benefited boys in STEM classrooms, this may be contributing to the divergence we see in achievement,” Kuhfeld said.

Economically disadvantaged students make gains

Statewide, about 38% of socioeconomically disadvantaged students met or exceeded English language arts standards, up from 37% from the prior year, and just over 26% met or exceeded math standards, up from 25% from the prior year.

The socioeconomically disadvantaged subgroup includes students who meet one of eight criteria, including those eligible for free or reduced-priced meals, experiencing homelessness, enrolled in school while at juvenile hall, and eligible for foster care.

While their test scores remain lower than pre-pandemic levels, they have improved year-over-year, with the most recent test scores showing that socioeconomically disadvantaged students are less than 1 percentage point away from their 2018-19 English language proficiency levels and 1.29 percentage points below their math proficiency levels.

What stands out is that the rate of improvement slowed down this year, particularly in math.

During 2023-24, this student group improved by 1.54 percentage points in English and by over 2 percentage points in math. The most recent scores show they improved by 1.4 in English and by 1.2 in math.

Several of the students included in this subgroup have some of the highest rates of chronic absenteeism and often live in unstable environments, at times moving repeatedly due to changes in foster placement or inability to get to school on time because of inconsistent transportation.

Local context is critical, noted Kuhfeld. “State and national data provide helpful starting points, but the real value comes from using those data to guide deeper, community-level inquiry into which students need the most support and where resources can have the greatest impact.”

It’s important to be aware that a focus on proficiency rates could “obscure meaningful trends,” she added.

“Given what we know about how achievement dropped off for lower-performing students during the pandemic, paying attention to those students is critical,” Kuhfeld said. “Without that level of detail, we risk missing the students most in need of support.”

Save Mount Diablo launches Advisory Council

By Leave a Comment

Wildflowers in the Panoche Valley and Hills, southern Diablo Range. Photo: Scott Hein

10-member, all-volunteer Council will further land conservation mission

By Laura Kindsvater, Senior Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo

WALNUT CREEK, CA—Save Mount Diablo has created an Advisory Council to help further our organization’s land conservation mission for Mount Diablo and the mountain range it is a part of and sustained by, the Diablo Range.

Save Mount Diablo’s all-volunteer Advisory Council consists of distinguished individuals who are willing to contribute their expertise, guidance, connections, and support to further the organization’s mission.

The organization’s Board of Directors and staff will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the Advisory Council members. Advisors will also act as ambassadors for Save Mount Diablo helping the organization positively connect with strategic peoples and communities.

There are multiple reasons why Save Mount Diablo created its Advisory Council. It gives the organization a way to honor and recognize individuals for their distinguished service to Save Mount Diablo.

It provides a way to involve people who are willing to give critical assistance but have limited time. It provides a way of involving people who would be good candidates for the Board of Directors, but who are unable, or may not be ready, to serve in that role right now.

It provides a way to keep important supporters closely connected to the organization. It creates a direct link to important professional and technical expertise. It elevates and empowers selected people to serve as ambassadors for the organization.

It is a way to assist in efforts to increase philanthropic support. It enlists various types of needed help from the Advisors and their networks.

The basic structure of Save Mount Diablo’s Advisory Council is as follows. The organization’s Board Governance and Nominating Committee reviews and recommends appropriate Advisory Council candidates to the Board of Directors for approval.

Advisors must be elected by the Board of Directors. Advisory Council members advise and assist the organization largely on an as-needed basis. The Advisory Council will be invited to meet at least once annually, typically as part of a Board of Directors meeting or event.

Organizational communications with the Advisory Council, as a group or individually, will typically come from the Executive Director or Board President. The Advisory Council has no governing function within the organization.

The Board of Directors will determine term lengths, if any, the total number of members for the Advisory Council, and other related details.

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors approved creating an Advisory Council at their January 2025 annual Strategic Plan retreat.

After that, Save Mount Diablo’s Board Governance and Nominating Committee worked on creating a list of talented people to invite to be part of the inaugural class of the Advisory Council.

This inaugural class for our Advisory Council, which was approved by the Board of Directors at their October 1, 2025, meeting, consists of the following people:

Stewart Beatty

Stewart Beatty is the Head Chef at Postino, where he specializes in creating farm-to-table dishes that highlight fresh, locally sourced ingredients. A lifelong resident of the Mount Diablo area and current Clayton resident, Stewart has a deep connection to the region and its community. He generously shares his culinary talents by providing meals for Save Mount Diablo’s Four Days Diablo and summit dinners, bringing people together to celebrate and support local land conservation efforts.

Joseph Belli

Joseph Belli has been a dedicated Save Mount Diablo donor since 2021 and is a conservation biologist and author, widely recognized as one of California’s leading experts on the Diablo Range.

His deep knowledge and passion for the region have made him an invaluable contributor to Save Mount Diablo’s mission. Joseph has participated in our BioBlitz events and Mary Bowerman Science and Research program, and served as the opening speaker for our first annual Diablo Range Convening in June 2025. In July 2025, he was also featured as a speaker for Save Mount Diablo’s Executive Director Speaker Series, sharing his insights on the unique ecology and conservation challenges of the Diablo Range.

Tom Dowd

Tom has a passion for helping organizations and individuals and transforming people’s lives. He was the founder and CEO of a chemical distribution company (Dowd and Guild, Inc.); he serves on the John Muir Health Foundation Board of Directors as well as on the Advisory Board of Heritage Bank of Commerce. Tom founded Keiretsu Forum Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raised $1 million for more than 100 charities. After selling Dowd and Guild, Inc., Tom has shifted to full-time charitable work.

Robert E. Doyle        

Robert E. Doyle, General Manager Emeritus, East Bay Regional Park District, worked for 47 years as a park professional at the East Bay Regional Park District in Oakland, California. Bob was a founding Board member of Save Mount Diablo, working with California State Parks to expand one of the original “Olmsted State Parks.” He was also a founding Board member of the East Bay Conservation Corps. Bob currently serves as Board member and Advocacy Co-Chair of the Washington, DC–based City Parks Alliance. He has served as a Board member for the National Association of Olmsted Parks and is a member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, where he was awarded the prestigious Cornelius Pugsley Medal. In 2024, Bob joined the San Francisco–based Save the Redwoods League Board of Councilors. Bob has received a Save Mount Diablo Mountain Star award for his good work.

Peter Frazier

Peter Frazier, a retired investment professional, has been a Save Mount Diablo supporter for over 40 years, demonstrating a strong commitment to land conservation and environmental education. As a dedicated contributor, Peter helps support programs that inspire and educate future generations about the importance of protecting the Diablo Range and its natural resources. Peter has also helped make possible other important projects for Save Mount Diablo, like the organization’s 50th anniversary oral history project with the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

John Kiefer

John Kiefer is a retired systems applications specialist at Pacific Bell, inventor of the Kiefer Sustainable Chicken Coop, and a longtime supporter of Save Mount Diablo since 1975! He has remained deeply involved through leadership, advocacy, and community building. He is especially supportive of Save Mount Diablo’s environmental education programs and efforts to connect more people to nature and each other. Over the years, John has led hikes on Mount Diablo and has supported Save Mount Diablo in many ways, from hosting events at his home to funding community breakfasts and other events. His passion for trails and open space led to his service on the Lafayette Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commission (1986–1994), where he worked hands-on to maintain trails, collaborated with landowners to create public access, and later served as the city’s field representative for trails. In recognition of his contributions, the John Kiefer Trail was dedicated in his honor in 2014.

Beverly Lane

Beverly Lane has been a dedicated Save Mount Diablo supporter since 1988 and is a respected local historian, published author, and curator of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. She helped found the Contra Costa History Alliance and the Tri-Valley History Council, fostering the preservation of regional history. Beverly served as Mayor of Danville and represented central Contra Costa County as a Director for the East Bay Regional Park District from 1994 to 2022. She is also an active member of the Anza Trail Foundation, which promotes the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, and Friends of San Ramon Creek, reflecting her lifelong commitment to conservation, history, and community.

Doug McConnell

Doug McConnell is a long-time Save Mount Diablo supporter and renowned television host and storyteller with a passion for exploring and protecting the natural world. He hosted NBC Bay Area’s OpenRoad with Doug McConnell beginning in 2009 and served as host and editor of the beloved series Bay Area Backroads from 1993 to 2008. Doug is the founder of Convergence Media Productions, creating content that highlights conservation and outdoor adventure. In addition to his media work, he serves as an Advisory Board member for San Francisco Baykeeper, advocating for the protection and preservation of the Bay Area’s natural resources. Doug has received a Save Mount Diablo Mountain Star Award for this good work.

Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone is the CEO of Diamond Construction and co-founder of Enkasa Homes, bringing extensive expertise in environmentally sensitive building and development to his work. A dedicated supporter of land conservation, Jeff served as a Save Mount Diablo Board member (2016–2025). He continues to contribute his leadership, expertise, and passion to support Save Mount Diablo’s land conservation work.

Jeanne Thomas

Jeanne Thomas has been a Save Mount Diablo donor since 1989 and is a proud member of the Diablo Legacy Circle. A retired employee of Kaiser Industries, Jeanne has been a steadfast supporter of Save Mount Diablo for decades, serving on the Development Committee from 2006 to 2014. She has played a vital role in supporting events, acting as a liaison to the Rossmoor retirement community, and was honored with the Mountain Star Award for her dedication. An avid nature enthusiast, Jeanne has spent countless hours hiking Mount Diablo and photographing its wildflowers, reflecting her deep love for the land she helps protect.

We are very grateful that this talented and special group of people answered the call to serve on Save Mount Diablo’s Advisory Council!

With the creation of our Advisory Council, made up of such terrific people, Save Mount Diablo has successfully and strategically expanded our team to help further our land conservation work for Mount Diablo and its Diablo Range.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo has been preserving lands on and around Mount Diablo and educating the public to the mountain’s natural values since 1971. We are biologists, conservationists, hikers, bikers, equestrians, bird watchers, and people who just love to look at the mountain. Save Mount Diablo is a tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (tax ID 94-2681735). For more information visit savemountdiablo.org.

San Pablo man sentenced to life for 2017 Richmond murder of ex-girlfriend

By 1 Comment

Lawyer Dushan McBride (2017 Richmond PD photos) and murder victim, 29-year-old Rashanda Franklin. Photo source: gunmemorial.org

51-year-old Lawyer Dushan McBride convicted of killing Rashanda Franklin with her children in the car

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

Martinez, California – A judge today, Friday, October 10, 2025, sentenced 51-year-old Lawyer Dushan McBride (born 1/14/1974) to life in prison after a jury found him guilty earlier this year of murdering Rashanda Franklin in 2017. (See related article)

The Honorable Judge Mary Ann O’Malley sentenced McBride to 95 years to life in state prison. This consists of a determinate sentence of 20 years and 4 months, followed by an indeterminate sentence of 75 years to life.

McBride, who was 43 at the time, waited for Franklin, 30, in a church parking lot where she dropped off her children for school. He had been following and harassing her for weeks after she ended their two-year relationship but was not the father of the children. Fearing for her safety, Franklin called 911 and drove away with her children still in the car.

As both vehicles neared the intersection of 29th Street and Rheem Avenue in Richmond, McBride cut off Franklin’s car and got out to confront her. The 911 recording captured Franklin’s desperate plea: “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride replied, “I ain’t playing with you,” then shot and killed her.

In addition to murder, McBride was sentenced for related offenses of firing into an occupied vehicle, stalking, using a firearm to cause death and inflicting great bodily injury in circumstances involving domestic violence.

Rashanda Franklin. Photos: Facebook

“This tragic case underscores the devastating reality of domestic violence, which claims far too many lives,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “While no verdict can bring back a mother taken from her children in such a senseless act of violence, this sentence provides the victim’s family with a measure of justice and accountability. It also sends a clear message that stalking and harassment are warning signs that must be taken seriously, and that those who perpetrate such violence will be held responsible under the law.”

See surveillance video in ABC7 News report.

According to localcrimenews.com, McBride is Black and was also arrested in November 2020 for theft as reported by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 220-pound convict was arrested on May 2, 2025, and is currently being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

For anyone experiencing domestic violence, help is available at Contra Costa’s Family Justice Centers cocofamilyjustice.org, by calling STAND! for Families free from Violence 1-888-215-5555, or at StaySafeContraCosta.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Dialysis workers in California file complaints over safety, working conditions at Satellite Healthcare, Fresenius clinics

By Leave a Comment

Workers demand public health department investigations into claims of unsafe staffing, unsanitary conditions, dangerous care practices

Fresnenius denies workers’ allegations, Satellite does not respond

By Renée Saldaña, SEIU, Press Secretary, SEUI – United Healthcare Workers West

CALIFORNIA –  Dialysis healthcare workers in counties across California delivered complaints to local Departments of Public Health on Tuesday and Wednesday that detail alarming and persistent violations inside dialysis clinics operated by Satellite Healthcare and Fresenius Medical Care in Stockton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Imperial Valley, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, and the Bay Area.

The complaints, filed by members of SEIU–United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), outline conditions that workers say create unsafe working conditions and put vulnerable dialysis patients at serious risk, including chronic understaffing, infection control failures, unsanitary facilities, and unsafe equipment.

“Dialysis patients deserve safe, quality care – but instead, we’re seeing clinics where workers are stretched so thin that even basic safety protocols can’t be followed,” said Mike Badilla, a patient care technician at Satellite Healthcare in Gilroy.  “We’re speaking up because these conditions are unacceptable for workers and our patients. These companies know what the problems are. They’ve been warned before. But until they’re forced to change, patients will keep paying the price.”

The complaints detail a disturbing pattern of systemic issues across multiple facilities, including:

  • Unsafe staffing levels leaving workers responsible for more patients and tasks than can be safely managed, leading to skipped safety checks, improper infection control procedures, and missed treatments.
  • Equipment failures and unsafe environments such as broken Hoyer lifts requiring firefighters to move patients, leaking water treatment rooms, broken air conditioning systems, and debris left around treatment areas during renovations.
  • Infection control lapses including visible blood stains in patient areas, improper disinfection procedures, and insufficient time between treatments to safely clean equipment.

“Our clinics are understaffed, under-resourced, and run by executives more focused on profits than worker and patient safety,” said Bonnie Oconer, a patient care technician at Fresenius Medical Care in Riverside. “We’re calling on public health departments to investigate these conditions and hold these companies accountable.

Dialysis workers have been raising alarms for years about unsafe conditions in the dialysis industry. Despite past citations from state inspectors, similar safety failures continue, and caregivers say that without stronger enforcement and meaningful changes from employers, workers and patients will remain at risk.

SEIU-UHW represents more than 700 dialysis caregivers at Fresenius, Satellite Healthcare and U.S. Renal in various job classes, including registered nurses, patient care technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified clinical hemodialysis technicians, dietitians, social workers, clinical administrative coordinators, and receptionists.

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

UPDATE: Fresenius Responds, Denies Workers’ Allegations

In response, Kirsten Stratton, Senior Manager for Media Relations, Global Communications of Fresenius Medical Care provided the following company statement:

“SEIU-UHW’s allegations are not supported by facts. Objective government quality metrics routinely demonstrate that our dialysis centers in California lead and outperform the rest of the industry.

The latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-star quality ratings showed that our California centers have a higher ratio of 4- and 5-star ratings than any other dialysis provider across the country. Our employee hiring and retention far outpace California and nationwide trends. From 2022 through 2024 in California, our average time to fill a position improved by 22%, open positions by 68%, and voluntary turnover from 22% to 10%.

As has been the case throughout this process, our focus will be on bargaining in good faith and providing high-quality, life-sustaining care.”

An effort to also reach Satellite Healthcare for comment was unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any additional updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

California’s Equal Pay Act signed by Governor

By Leave a Comment

Commission-sponsored bill

By Yating Campbell, Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG)’s co-sponsored legislation, SB 642 (Limόn) Pay Equity Enforcement Act, has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. CCSWG co-sponsored SB 642 along with the California Employment Lawyers Association and Equal Rights Advocates.

“SB 642 signifies an important victory in advancing gender equity in the workplace on the 10-year anniversary of the California Fair Pay Act, while also recognizing that there is still much to be done to achieve true progress,” said Chair of CCSWG Dr. Rita Gallardo Good. “We thank Governor Newsom and Commissioner Limόn for their leadership and continued commitment to California’s women and girls.”

SB 642 revises outdated gender binary language, allows workers to recover for up to six years of lost pay, harmonizes the statute of limitations with other wage and anti-discrimination statutes, and limits how wide pay ranges may be in public job postings

“With many families continuing to stretch to make ends meet, we reinforce our commitment to equal pay laws that strengthen the economic security of California families and communities,” said Senator Monique Limón. “On Latina Equal Pay Day, I am incredibly proud that Governor Newsom is building upon our pay equity legacy here in California. The Pay Equity Enforcement Act will help narrow the wage gap by providing workers with more negotiation power at the start of their career, while also strengthening workers’ rights to recover lost wages – this is a win for workers and an even bigger win for California families.”

“As a proud co-sponsor of SB 642, we thank Governor Newsom for his signature of SB 642, which will advance pay and gender equity in the state of California for millions of women and girls,” said CCSWG Executive Director Darcy Totten, “SB 642 addresses several critical pay transparency gaps and revising references to gender to be more inclusive and reflective of California’s values. We also thank the author, Senator and Commissioner Limón, for her relentless support of women’s rights and protections in the workplace.”

Research demonstrates that women continue to make 79 cents for every dollar made by their male counterparts. Women of color are shown to be even more severely and disproportionately impacted. Studies also show that, on average, women nationwide lose a combined total of almost $1.7 trillion every year due to the wage gap, impacting the ability to afford basic needs like housing, food, childcare, and preventing women from building long-term financial security. SB 642 remedies these obstacles by enabling women to build long-term economic security and wealth. The provisions of the bill will go into effect January 1, 2026.

“The gender wage gap costs California women billions in lost wages each year—money that could otherwise go toward rent, groceries, childcare, and other essentials that families depend on,” said Jessica Ramey Stender, Policy Director & Deputy Legal Director of Equal Rights Advocates. “SB 642 ensures California remains at the forefront of advancing pay equity. Ensuring women and all workers are paid fairly is not only critical for their financial stability, but also for the economic security and well-being of families across the state.”

“One of the biggest barriers to advancing pay equity is that workers often don’t know that they are being paid unfairly until it is too late,” said Mariko Yoshihara, Policy Director for the California Employment Lawyers Association. “We applaud Governor Newsom for signing SB 642, which will comprehensively strengthen our equal pay laws and extend the ability to recover lost wages due to pay discrimination.”

For more than 50 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. Established as a state agency with 17 appointed commissioners in 1965, the Commission regularly assesses gender equity in health, safety, employment, education, and equal representation in the military, and the media. The Commission provides leadership through research, policy and program development, education, outreach and collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Learn more at www.women.ca.gov.

Contra Costa Elections to test public ballot tabulation equipment to ensure accuracy Oct. 10

By Leave a Comment

 

Herald file photo

By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department

Ballots have been mailed for the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election and the Elections Office is ready to receive voted ballots sent by mail or dropped in drop boxes. The Contra Costa County Elections Division will perform the County’s official logic and accuracy testing on central ballot tabulation and processing equipment at 10:00 am Friday, October 10, 2025, a at the Elections Office, located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez and the public is invited to observe.

Logic and accuracy testing is a standard pre-election procedure. The test will confirm that all central count equipment is in working order and functioning properly. A set of test ballots will be run through each scanner to ensure they are properly programmed and operating as expected.

If you would like to observe this process, we encourage you to let us know in advance by contacting the Elections office at 925-335-7800. On the day of testing, visitors will be asked to check-in at the Elections lobby on the first floor.

CA credit unions mobilize relief for federal employees during government shutdown

By Leave a Comment

By Karla Davis, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, California’s Credit Unions

Ontario, CA (Oct. 9, 2025): California’s Credit Unions today announced a broad package of financial relief options for employees of the federal government impacted by the government shutdown.

Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperative financial institutions that offer services like checking and savings accounts, auto loans, debit and credit cards, low-cost or free financial counseling, and much more.

How Federal Employees Can Get Help Today

According to Congressional Research Services, over 155,000 federal employees work in California. This does not include the thousands of employees who work for federal contractors and may also be impacted.

During the shutdown, credit unions throughout California are offering various support services, which may include:

  • Loan Relief: Loan payment deferrals and temporary hardship modifications.
  • Emergency Assistance: Short-term, low- or no-interest loans to cover essential expenses.
  • Fee Waivers: Waiving late fees, overdraft fees, and penalties.
  • Financial Counseling: Access to financial wellness counselors to provide budgeting and debt management guidance.
  • Online Resources: Tools and information on our website to help with everyday expenses such as food, utilities, housing and healthcare.

“Credit unions are financial institutions focused on their mission of ‘people helping people.’ This includes times of need and emergencies, such as the government shutdown,” said Stephanie Cuevas, Senior Vice President of Federal Advocacy for California’s Credit Unions. “Credit unions are moving quickly to offer support to federal workers — from TSA agents to air traffic controllers, service members, and more. The goal is to support families during these times of uncertainty while the shutdown is resolved in Washington, D.C.”

Contact, Ask, and Explore

Federal employees can get help today by:

  • Contacting a credit union. Those reaching out should mention shutdown-related assistance. You can find a local credit union here.
  • Asking about eligibility. Every credit union has its own unique method to serving the community. Be sure to ask about how you can receive support.
  • Exploring options. The credit union will want to tailor financial solutions to your needs and circumstances.

California’s Credit Unions

Headquartered in Ontario, CA, California’s Credit Unions exists to help credit unions change people’s lives by supporting their operations, guidance, strategy, and philosophy. Our trade association helps local credit unions in California serve more than 14.4 million members. Credit unions are for people, not profit.

Latinas stand to lose $1.2 million over course of a career 

By Leave a Comment

IWPR Report released on 10th Anniversary of Latina Equal Pay Day 

By Tonya Williams, Institute for Women’s Policy Research

WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), a leading national think tank advancing women’s equity, released a new report showing that a typical Latina working full-time year-round stands to lose about $1.2 million over the course of a 40-year career due to the wage gap. The report was released on the 10th anniversary of Latina Equal Pay Day—a campaign that uplifts the hard work and resilience of Latinas while calling attention to the stark wage gap they face.

IWPR analysis finds that Latinas are paid 54.1 cents to every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men. This number includes all Latinas with reported earnings, like part-time, seasonal, and migrant workers. For full-time, year-round workers, the wage gap is 58.0 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men.

“It is imperative that we continue to bring attention to the topic of unequal pay broadly, and Latina equal pay specifically,” says Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR. “Because we know that when the issues of the most vulnerable among us are addressed, there is progress for everyone. Through our analysis, IWPR researchers want to illustrate the cost to a community when the labor of women is undervalued.”

“For a decade, we’ve been tracking the wage gap for Latinas, and despite progress, their pay still hovers barely past half that of White men. The gap won’t close for well over a century,” says Dr. Martha Susana Jaimes, senior research economist at IWPR. “These numbers not only tell a story about economic disparities, but about the values that our larger society places on the type of work Latinas often do—low-wage jobs with very few workplace protections, such as farm work, child and elder care, and domestic and hospitality work. This, coupled with the current racist attacks on immigrant communities, only deepens the structural economic inequities faced by Latinas and their families.”

Additional key findings from the fact sheet include: 

  • It will take well over a century to achieve pay equity. Based on trends since 2002, it will take until 2160 for Latinas working full-time year-round to reach pay equity with White men. For all Latina workers, who are more likely to work part-time and seasonally, it will take until 2178, meaning pay equity is still more than 150 years away.
  • Latinas earned less than half of what White men were paid in 28 states in 2023. In these states, they also earned less than $23,000 a year—an income below the 2023 federal poverty threshold of $24,549 for a single adult supporting two children.
  • Latinas working full-time year-round continued to be paid less than White men in all states and the District of Columbia in 2023.
  • Several factors contribute to the lower earnings of Latinas, including systemic inequities such as discrimination, educational attainment, immigration status, and overrepresentation in lower-paid fields.

Policy recommendations include: 

  • Mandating salary transparency and banning the use of salary history in hiring decisions.
  • Raising the federal minimum wage and increasing investment in low-wage, care-based sectors.
  • Expanding access to paid family and medical leave.
  • Increasing funding for affordable child and elder care.
  • Ensuring and enforcing pay equity and protections against discrimination and harassment.

Read the full Latina Equal Pay Day fact sheet here.

The IWPR is the nation’s leading think tank working to win economic equity for all women. Through evidence-based research, policy solutions, and advocacy, IWPR is advancing the power and well-being of women across the US. Learn more at IWPR.org.

Las Latinas perderán cerca de $1.2 Millones a lo largo de su carrera

Informe publicado por IWPR en el décimo aniversario del Día de la Igualdad Salarial de las Latinas en Estados Unidos

WASHINGTON, DC — Hoy el Instituto de Investigación de Políticas para las Mujeres (Institute for Women’s Policy Research y sus siglas IWPR en inglés), un centro de investigación que lidera la lucha por la igualdad de género, publicó un nuevo reporte donde se calcula que una mujer Latina con ingresos típicos y trabajando tiempo completo, puede perder hasta $1.2 millones a lo largo de una carrera de 40 años como consecuencia de la brecha salarial. Este reporte ha sido difundido como parte del décimo aniversario del Día de la Igualdad Salarial de las Latinas en Estados Unidos (Latina Equal Pay Day), una campaña que desde 2015 busca resaltar el trabajo, esfuerzo y resiliencia de las Latinas y a la vez alzar la voz y documentar la marcada brecha salarial que ellas enfrentan en el mercado laboral estadounidense.

De acuerdo con el análisis publicado por IWPR, las Latinas reciben un pago de 54.1 centavos por cada dólar percibido por un hombre blanco no hispano. Esta cifra incluye a todas las Latinas que reportaron ingresos en 2023, y quienes realizaron trabajos de medio tiempo, estacionales, y el realizado por trabajadoras inmigrantes. Para las Latinas trabajando tiempo completo a lo largo del año, la brecha salarial llegó a tan solo los 58 centavos por cada dólar de ingreso de un hombre blanco no hispano.

“Es imperativo que sigamos dando visibilidad a la desigualdad salarial en general, y la desigualdad salarial de las latinas en particular.” dice la Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, presidente y CEO de IWPR. “Cuando se abordan los problemas de los más vulnerables entre nosotros, hay progreso para todos. A través de nuestro análisis, las investigadoras del IWPR quieren ilustrar el costo que enfrenta una comunidad cuando se subvalora el trabajo de las mujeres.”

“Durante la última década hemos hecho seguimiento a la brecha salarial de las Latinas en Estados Unidos, y a pesar de los avances, ellas todavía enfrentan un pago que escasamente supera la mitad de lo que un hombre blanco percibe por el mismo tipo de trabajo” explica la Dr. Martha Susana Jaimes, economista senior de IWPR. “Estos números no sólo nos hablan sobre disparidades económicas, también son muestra de la manera como nuestra sociedad valora el tipo de trabajos realizados por las mujeres Latinas. Estos son trabajos esenciales pero de bajos ingresos y baja o ninguna protección social, tales como trabajos agrícolas, de cuidado infantil y de adultos mayores, trabajo doméstico, y trabajos en el sector de servicios gastronómicos y de hotelería. Esto se une a la reciente ola de ataques racistas a las comunidades inmigrantes, lo cual solo profundiza las desigualdades estructurales a las que se enfrentan las mujeres Latinas y sus familias.”

Algunos hallazgos clave incluidos en la publicación:

  • A las Latinas les tomará más de un siglo alcanzar la igualdad salarial.  Con base en la tendencia a partir de datos desde el 2002, a las Latinas trabajando tiempo completo a lo largo del año les tomará hasta el año 2160, alcanzar la igualdad salarial. Para todas las Latinas trabajadoras que reportan ingresos, la igualdad salarial solo se alcanzará hasta el año 2178, para ellas la igualdad salarial está a más de 150 años.
  • Las mujeres Latinas recibieron un pago de menos de la mitad del pago a un hombre blanco en 28 estados durante 2023. En estos estados, ellas también recibieron ingresos de menos de $23,000 dólares al año, un ingreso por debajo de la línea federal de pobreza ($24,549) para un adulto y dos menores de edad.
  • Las Latinas que trabajaron tiempo completo a lo largo de 2023 también recibieron ingresos por debajo de los ingresos percibidos por los hombres blancos en todos los estados y el Distrito de Columbia.
  • Diferentes factores contribuyen a los bajos niveles de ingresos de las mujeres Latinas, entre estos se incluye la discriminación, el bajo nivel educativo, el estatus migratorio, y la sobre representación en trabajos de baja remuneración.

Las recomendaciones de política incluyen:

  • Mandatos de transparencia salarial y la prohibición del uso de la historia salarial para la toma de decisiones de contratación.
  • Aumentar el salario mínimo federal e incrementar las inversiones públicas en los trabajos del sector de cuidado y de baja remuneración.
  • Expandir el acceso a la licencia familiar y médica remunerada.
  • Aumentar la financiación para aumentar el acceso al cuidado de niños y adultos mayores de manera asequible.
  • Garantizar y reforzar el camino a la igualdad salarial, así como aumentar la protección contra la discriminación y el acoso laboral.

Lea la publicación completa aquí.

El Instituto de Investigación de Políticas para Mujeres (IWPR, por sus siglas en inglés) es el principal centro de estudios del país que trabaja para lograr la equidad económica de todas las mujeres. A través de investigaciones basadas en evidencia, soluciones de política pública y acciones de incidencia, el IWPR promueve el poder y el bienestar de las mujeres en todos los Estados Unidos. Conoce más en IWPR.org. 

Gracias especiales a Li Cuéllar, Co-fundadore y  Co-directore de Sentiido

 

East County: 60-hour weekend closure of Hwy 160 Oct. 10-13

By 2 Comments

Southbound auxiliary lane

By Nathaniel Fowler, Health & Safety Specialist, Caltrans

Caltrans has scheduled a 60-hour weekend closure of the southbound State Route 160 (SR-160) auxiliary lane between Wilbur Avenue and East 18th Street/Main Street. The closure will begin Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM and remain in effect until Monday, Oct. 13 at 5:00 AM.

Please be advised that Wilbur Avenue On-Ramp to southbound SR-160 and E. 18th Street Off-Ramp on southbound SR-160 will remain closed throughout the closure. This extended closure is required to safely and efficiently complete construction activities in the area.

Detour signs will be posted, and Changeable Message Signs (CMS) will alert drivers of the closure. Drivers should expect delays, allow extra travel time and exercise caution while navigating the detours. All work is weather permitted. Caltrans appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation while crews perform this critical work.

For 24/7 traffic updates, follow 511.org on Twitter/X. For real-time traffic, visit Caltrans QuickMap.