Contra Costa Herald

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

Pleasant Hill Holiday Theft Suppression begins! 16 people arrested for retail theft

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Four of the 16 individuals arrested for retail theft in Pleasant Hill. Photos: Pleasant Hill PD

7 adults from Concord, 2 from San Pablo, 1 each from Brentwood, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond & Vallejo and 2 juvies from Berkeley

Many have histories of arrest, some as many as 10 to 21 times

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

As we’ve entered the holiday shopping season, we continued our special theft suppression enforcement efforts with local retailers throughout the city. Officers worked together with loss prevention to arrest 16 people in two evening operations occurring within the last week. Those who qualified under new laws have had formal charges filed by the District Attorney’s Office related to these operations. All other cases will be sent to the district attorney for review. Two juvenile arrests (residents of Berkeley) were not included below.

Many have histories of arrest, some as many as 10, 17 and 21 times.

Stolen items, a knife and tools used in the retail thefts seized by police during the operation. Photos: Pleasant Hill PD

Juis Lara 37 – Brentwood – According to localcrimenews.com, he has a history of nine arrests since 2018 for drugs, burglary and more.

Margarita Bravo 38 –Concord

Rosalinda Leach 37 – Concord – According to localcrimenews.com, she has a history of 11 arrests since 2021 for vehicle theft, hit-and-run, grand theft, using stolen ID’s, check fraud, drugs and more.

Jose Navarro 46 – Concord

Johan Omar-Matchusa 25 – Concord

Alexis Pellette 34 – Concord – According to localcrimenews.com, an Alexis Coquette Pellette was previously arrested three times, once for assault and twice for assault with a deadly weapon.

Clara Sanchez 35 –Concord

Maria Rogel 35 – Concord

Christina Mendivil 47 – Pittsburg – According to localcrimenews.com, she has a history of 10 arrests since 2014 for child cruelty, vehicle theft, petty theft, receiving stolen property, drugs and more.

Daniel Garcia-Vasquez 28 – Pleasant Hill – According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested in 2022 for possession of burglar’s tools and drugs.

Stacie Gaskins 47 – Richmond – According to localcrimenews.com, she has a history of 20 arrests since 2015 for vehicle theft, grand theft, burglary, robbery, shoplifting, theft, petty theft, forgery, forged driver’s license or ID, using stolen ID, driving without a license, trespassing, drugs and more.

Devoreah Allen 27 – San Pablo

Kendra Timmons 57 – San Pablo – According to localcrimenews.com, she has a history of 17 arrests since 2013 for robbery, burglary, grand theft, shoplifting, carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, addict in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of tear gas, forgery, using stolen ID, check fraud, drugs and more.

Jade Hill 20 – Vallejo

These holiday theft-suppression operations will continue throughout the holiday season. Would be grinches beware, we will be on high alert to protect our retail partners and community members.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

State Office of Traffic Safety awards $60,000 grant to the Oakley Police Department

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For traffic enforcement program to increase road safety

By Danielle Navarro, Oakley Assistant City Manager

Oakley, Calif. – The Oakley Police Department announced today that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. The grant program runs through September 2026.

“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” said Oakley Police Department Sergeant Steve Soares. “Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

  • DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
  • High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
  • Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
  • Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
  • Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
  • Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
  • Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

“Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we’re working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads,” said OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty. “By encouraging people to prioritize safety in their daily choices, we are creating a strong road safety culture together.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Report: The CSU fuels nearly every aspect of California’s growing economy

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Source: CSU

From strengthening California’s workforce to contributing billions in statewide industry activity, the CSU’s massive economic impact is undeniable.

By Jason Maymon, Senior Director & Amy Bentley-Smith, Director of Strategic Communications, CSU Media Relations & Public Affairs

(November 18, 2025) Today, the California State University (CSU) released its 2025 economic impact report, underscoring the system’s broad contributions to fueling nearly every aspect of California’s economy

The report, Moving California Forward: The Economic Power of the CSU, details the role the CSU plays in strengthening the state’s key industries and preparing a skilled workforce essential to driving economic vitality. The report finds that in 2023–24 alone, CSU-related spending contributed more than $20 billion directly to California’s economy, generating $31.6 billion in statewide industry activity, supporting 210,800 jobs, and producing $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.

“This comprehensive report clearly demonstrates that resources entrusted to the CSU should not be considered an expenditure, but rather an investment – and an investment with a powerful and tangible return,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “Importantly, the report measures not only dollars, jobs and industry activity, but also the CSU’s impact on our students’ lives and families, our contributions as a research powerhouse, and the countless benefits our universities deliver to our workforce, to communities across California, and to our nation.”

Source: CSU

“Education opens doors — and there is no greater or more prestigious educational system than California’s public universities,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “These schools are a lifeline for first-generation and working-class students and channel vital talent straight into our workforce. From classrooms to clinics, fields to film sets, CSU graduates power the services, industries, and innovation that make California dominate and thrive.”

“Across California, the CSU is moving California and the state’s workforce forward,” said Stewart Knox, secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency. “Nearly half of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in our state come from the CSU – preparing talent that meets California’s evolving workforce needs in every region and major industry.”

Source: CSU 2025 Economic Impact Report

A Strong Return on Investment for California 

For every dollar California invests in the CSU, the system generates $7.69 in statewide industry activity, which increases to $35.53 when factoring in alumni earnings, the report finds. CSU alumni, whose incremental earnings totaled $97.8 billion in 2024, create a ripple effect across industries and communities statewide.

Beyond the financial return, CSU’s role in educating more than half a million students delivers transformative social value by expanding access to higher education and accelerating upward mobility for the nearly 125,000 graduates who walk the commencement stage every year prepared to contribute and lead in their fields.

Source: CSU’s 2025 Economic Impact Report

Powering California’s Workforce and Key Industries

As the producer of nearly half of California’s bachelor’s degrees, the CSU is providing the diverse, educated and skilled professionals required to meet workforce needs in the state’s top in-demand industries. Specifically, within the education and health services and professional and business services sectors, which together account for more than 1 million projected job openings by 2033, the CSU is producing over half of related bachelor’s degrees. CSU’s engineering and construction program also provides more than half of the state’s general engineering graduates, which supports infrastructure growth.

In the 2023-24 academic year, CSU campuses conferred:

  • 29,000 degrees in health care (representing 46% of such degrees awarded in the state)
  • 23,000 degrees in business and professional services (48%)
  • 14,000 degrees in humanities and social sciences (56%)

The CSU also produces:

  • 78% of the state’s agriculture graduates
  • 46% of graduates in public policy and criminal justice
  • 49% of graduates in media, culture and design
  • 37% of new multiple subject credentialed teachers

Source: CSU’s 2025 Economic Impact Report

Regional Impact: Strengthening Communities Across California 

Each of the CSU’s 22 universities serve as anchor institutions, fueling job creation, innovation, and opportunity in their local community. The Economic Impact Report highlights significant regional benefits:

  • Bay Area: $4.8 billion in industry activity and 31,000 jobs supported.
  • Central Coast: $3 billion in industry activity and 31,500 jobs supported.
  • Inland Empire: $1 billion in industry activity and 9,218 jobs supported.
  • Los Angeles: $10 billion in industry activity and 74,900 jobs supported
  • North Coast: $718 million in industry activity and 6,598 jobs supported.
  • Sacramento Valley: $2.8 billion in industry activity and 24,613 jobs supported.
  • San Diego: $3.9 billion in industry activity and 32,760 jobs supported.
  • San Joaquin Valley: $2.6 billion in industry activity and 25,300 jobs supported.

These impacts demonstrate how the CSU powers California’s regional economies, ensuring that every corner of the state benefits from higher education, innovation, and workforce development.

Source: CSU’s 2025 Economic Impact Report

Bay Area Regional Impact

CSU spending through campus operations, capital investment and student spending on and off campus stimulate the economy of the Bay Area region. As detailed in Appendix B of the report, the direct spending for each campus is estimated using CSU financial data, enrollment figures, average student budget estimates and an analysis of California-based alumni earnings over time.

CSUs in the Bay Area had a direct spend of over $3.6 billion during the 2023-24 academic year, comprising the following four categories:

  • $1.7 billion on operational expenditures
  • $279.6 million on capital expenditures (four-year average)
  • $206.2 million on auxiliary expenditures
  • $1.4 billion on student expenditures

Many CSU alumni from campuses in the Bay Area region remain in California, contributing to the local economy. In 2024, they earned $19.5 billion in incremental earnings due to their CSU degree. That money, when spent in the local economy, sparked secondary impacts.

Source: CSU’s 2025 Economic Impact Report

During the 2023-24 academic year, CSUs in the Bay Area region generated a substantial economic impact across the region, supporting over 31,000 jobs and contributing $2.2 billion in labor income. Campus operational activities were the largest driver, accounting for more than 20,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in wages. Student spending and auxiliary services supported more than 8,000 jobs and injected nearly $1.7 billion into industry activity. Capital expenditures, while smaller in scale, supported 2,300 jobs and over $230 million in wages. Altogether, these activities culminated in $4.8 billion in industry activity and $321 million in tax revenues, underscoring the campuses’ vital role in regional economic vitality and public finance. Table 3 provides a further breakdown of results.

For more information, view CSU’s 2025 Economic Impact Report at calstate.edu/impact.

About the California State University

The California State University is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 470,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU’s 22 universities* provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 125,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.​

* Transition to 22 universities in progress (Cal Poly SLO and Cal Maritime integrating). The integration process is anticipated to be complete by fall 2026. 

County urges immigrants eligible for Medi-Cal to enroll before end of 2025

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El condado insta a los inmigrantes elegibles para Medi-Cal a inscribirse antes de finales de 2025

By Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

(Martinez, CA) – Contra Costa County strongly encourages adult undocumented residents without health insurance to enroll in Medi-Cal this year while they are still eligible.

Starting Jan. 1, people ages 19 and older with what the state defines as unsatisfactory immigration status (UIS) – a category that includes undocumented residents and others who do not meet federal eligibility criteria – will no longer be able to enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, including seniors. The change in eligibility is the result of state budget cuts.

“We want undocumented members of our community to know they need to act quickly and sign up for Medi-Cal before it’s too late,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Candace Andersen. “Enrolling now will ensure they’re covered when the rules change.”

State residents with UIS status who are already enrolled in Medi-Cal before Jan. 1, 2026, will be able to keep and renew most of their benefits, though adults 19 and older will lose dental coverage beginning in July 2026.

“Under the new rules starting on January 1, 2026, it is very important for Medi-Cal recipients who meet the definition of UIS, to stay in contact with the county and check their mail for any notices or renewal forms. One good way to stay in touch is to create an account in BenefitsCal,” said Marla Stuart, Director of Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD). “Current UIS Medi-Cal recipients who do not complete a renewal on time will lose their Medi-Cal full coverage and will only be eligible for emergency services when they reapply.”

After the new rules take effect, immigration status will not affect Medi-Cal coverage for children under 19 and pregnant women and their infants. Adults 19 and older who are classified as UIS will still be able to receive Emergency Medi-Cal, which covers emergency medical treatment.

“Sign up today. Having Medi-Cal is one of the best investments you can make in your health,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, CEO of Contra Costa Health. “Whether it is through a primary provider, specialist, in urgent care or in the emergency room, having Medi-Cal it key to getting healthcare for you and your family.”

In Contra Costa, residents can call EHSD at (866) 663-3225 for information about enrolling in Medi-Cal or apply online at BenefitsCal.com.

For more information, read the Department of Health Care Services’ Medi-Cal Immigrant Eligibility FAQs.

En Español

(Martinez, CA) – El condado de Contra Costa recomienda encarecidamente a los residentes adultos indocumentados sin seguro médico que se inscriban en Medi-Cal este año mientras aún sean elegibles.

A partir del 1 de enero, las personas mayores de 19 años con lo que el estado define como estatus migratorio insatisfactorio (UIS), una categoría que incluye a los residentes indocumentados y otras personas que no cumplen con los criterios federales de elegibilidad, ya no podrán inscribirse en los beneficios completos de Medi-Cal, incluidas las personas mayores. El cambio en la elegibilidad es el resultado de los recortes presupuestarios estatales.

“Queremos que los miembros indocumentados de nuestra comunidad sepan que deben actuar rápidamente e inscribirse en Medi-Cal antes de que sea demasiado tarde”, dijo la presidenta de la Junta de Supervisores, Candace Andersen. “Inscribirse ahora asegurará que estén cubiertos cuando cambien las reglas”.

Los residentes del estado con estatus de UIS que ya estén inscritos en Medi-Cal antes del 1 de enero de 2026 podrán mantener y renovar la mayoría de sus beneficios, aunque los adultos mayores de 19 años perderán la cobertura dental a partir de julio de 2026.

“Según las nuevas reglas que comienzan el 1 de enero de 2026, es muy importante que los beneficiarios de Medi-Cal que cumplan con la definición de UIS, se mantengan en contacto con el condado y revisen su correo para ver si hay avisos o formularios de renovación. Una buena manera de mantenerse en contacto es crear una cuenta en BenefitsCal”, dijo Marla Stuart, directora del Departamento de Empleo y Servicios Humanos del Condado de Contra Costa (EHSD). “Los beneficiarios actuales de Medi-Cal del UIS que no completen una renovación a tiempo perderán su cobertura total de Medi-Cal y solo serán elegibles para los servicios de emergencia cuando vuelvan a presentar la solicitud”.

Después de que entren en vigor las nuevas reglas, el estado migratorio no afectará la cobertura de Medi-Cal para niños menores de 19 años y mujeres embarazadas y sus bebés. Los adultos de 19 años o más que estén clasificados como UIS aún podrán recibir Medi-Cal de emergencia, que cubre el tratamiento médico de urgencia.

“Inscríbase hoy. Tener Medi-Cal es una de las mejores inversiones que puede hacer en su salud”, dijo el Dr. Grant Colfax, director ejecutivo de Contra Costa Health. “Ya sea a través de un proveedor de atención primaria, un especialista, en atención urgente o en la sala de emergencias, tener Medi-Cal es clave para obtener atención médica para usted y su familia.”

En Contra Costa, los residentes pueden llamar a EHSD al (866) 663-3225 para obtener información sobre cómo inscribirse en Medi-Cal o presentar una solicitud en línea en BenefitsCal.com.

Para obtener más información, lea las preguntas frecuentes sobre la elegibilidad de inmigrantes de Medi-Cal del Departamento de Servicios de Atención Médica.

13 County DA’s reach multi-million-dollar environmental settlement with pesticide companies

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

Martinez, California – Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton and other California district attorneys have reached a $3.15 million settlement with Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Orkin Services of California, and Crane Pest Control.

The settlement resolves allegations that the companies violated state laws by disposing pesticides and hazardous waste into trash bins destined for landfills not authorized to accept such materials. The settlement also resolves the allegations that the companies discarded customer records containing private information.

“The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to ensuring companies are held accountable for conduct that endangers the environment and our citizens,” said DA Becton.

The investigation, led by Contra Costa and San Mateo County District Attorneys, was initiated in 2021. From March 2021 through February 2022, investigators statewide conducted undercover inspections of 40 dumpsters at 22 separate Clark and Orkin facilities. These inspections uncovered thousands of unlawfully disposed items including pesticide containers with liquids, powders, foams, baits, pellets, and aerosol sprays, plus hazardous batteries, e-waste, hand sanitizers, adhesives, and cleaning solutions. Inspectors also found thousands of privacy law violations: customer records that were not shredded — or rendered unreadable — and dumped in regular trash, including service orders, contracts, invoices, and route reports containing personal information.

After prosecutors notified Clark and Orkin of the violations, the companies cooperated fully and promptly updated their policies and procedures to ensure proper waste management and protect customer privacy in California.

Under the stipulated final judgment, Clark, Orkin, and Crane will pay a total of $3.15 million consisting of:

  • $2,017,000 in civil penalties.
  • $400,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects.
  • $333,000 in investigative costs.
  • $400,000 in credit for Supplemental Environmental Compliance Measures.

The judgment also requires the companies to comply with a permanent injunction mandating significant operational reforms for a period of no less than five years, including:

  • Retention of a third-party auditor to conduct dumpster audits at a minimum of 10% of its facilities each year for five years.
  • Report the findings of the dumpster audits to the prosecutors.
  • Require that all facility employees complete a training program that ensures compliance with applicable pesticide waste and hazardous waste management and maintain proof of the training for three years.
  • Devote a minimum of two thousand hours per year for each year in which the judgment remains in effect to enhanced environmental compliance measures, including compliance reviews of waste accumulation areas, oversight of waste minimization efforts by company technicians, and oversight of enhanced hazardous waste compliance management.

Joining Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton and San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe in this lawsuit are the District Attorneys of Alameda, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Ventura counties.

Case No. C25-03346 | The People of the State of California v. Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Inc., a California corporation, Crane Pest Control, a California corporation, and Orkin Services of California, Inc., a Delaware corporation

U.S. Postal Service Operation Santa now open for letter adoption

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New team option, expanded online catalog make fulfilling kids’ and families’ Christmas wishes easier

Santa’s Gift Shoppe — powered by Toys“R”Us — is back

Ship gifts by Dec. 13 to help ensure on-time delivery for the holidays

By Meiko Patton, AI Communications Specialist, USPS

CALIFORNIA — The U.S. Postal Service today announced that USPS Operation Santa is now open for letter adoption for the 2025 holiday season. Starting today, individuals, families, workplaces and community groups can go to USPSOperationSanta.com to adopt letters to Santa and help make the holidays brighter for children and families across the country.

This year, USPS is placing a special emphasis on adopting family letters — including a new way to do it as a team — to help ensure letters from the same household are adopted and fulfilled together.

“We invite the public to join us in spreading holiday cheer by adopting a USPS Operation Santa letter,” said Sheila Holman, the Postal Service’s vice president of marketing. “Every year, we receive far more letters than those adopting. So if you have the means, we encourage you to adopt a letter. And this year we’re making it easier for groups to adopt family letters — making the holidays brighter for everyone in a household. And they’re fun and easy to complete with friends or coworkers.”

Letter Adoption Now Open

Adopters can visit USPSOperationSanta.com and follow the steps below to fulfill a letter:

  1. Create a login and verify your identity;
  2. Browse available letters from across the U.S;
  3. Adopt the letters you love — including family letters;
  4. Shop for the perfect gift through Santa’s Work Shoppe or on your own; and
  5. Ship your gift right away through our online catalog or from a Post Office location

To help ensure gifts arrive in time for the holidays, adopters should ship gifts no later than Dec. 13. Sending gifts as early as possible helps families know their holiday wishes have been met.

Adopt Family Letters as a Team

USPS is highlighting a feature that makes it easier to fulfill letters from the same household together:

  • Join forces to fulfill the whole crew — One person creates the team and invites friends, family, or coworkers to help fulfill a family’s letters.
  • Each person take a page — Team members can claim the letter from the family that speaks to them and invite others to adopt the rest.
  • You’re in charge — All letters in the family must be adopted. The team admin can see unclaimed letters and adopt the remaining ones to make sure the family is fully covered.

This option is designed for offices, teams, community groups and organizations that want to make a bigger impact together.

Santa’s Gift Shoppe Makes It Easy to Shop and Ship

To help make letter adoption easier than ever, Santa’s Gift Shoppe — powered by Toys“R”Us — is back this year with a much larger selection of items. Adopters can send gifts directly from the newly expanded online catalog, saving a trip to a Post Office location and keeping the experience seamless.

Santa’s Gift Shoppe is designed to:

  • Give adopters a quick, easy way to find the perfect gift
  • Save time and money — with free shipping on orders over $49
  • Streamline sending gifts directly to the recipient — because all packaging and shipping is handled for you
  • Support adopters who want to fulfill multiple letters — including family letters — in one session

“We want to make it as easy as possible to participate,” Holman added. “You can adopt single or family letters as a team, shop for the perfect gift quickly and easily online, and get it delivered directly from Santa’s Gift Shoppe, all from the comfort and convenience of home. And the best part is, the earlier you adopt, the sooner you can help make somebody’s holiday wish come true.”

How to Get Started

  • Visit USPSOperationSanta.com;
  • Adopt letters beginning Nov. 17;
  • Ship gifts by Dec. 13; and
  • Encourage friends, colleagues, and community groups to adopt family letters

For more information, visit USPSOperationSanta.com.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Sutter Hospitals honored by Leapfrog for Safe Patient Care

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Photo: Sutter Health

Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch earns an “A” – the only hospital in Contra Costa County to do so

By Monique Binkley Smith, Manager, Media Relations, Sutter Health 

Fifteen Sutter hospitals earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit focused on patient safety. This recognition is awarded to hospitals for their exceptional performance in patient safety and quality of care.

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to patient safety and quality care,” said Dr. William Isenberg, chief medical and quality officer at Sutter Health. “Earning an ‘A’ grade is a testament to the dedication of our teams and their focus on delivering the safest possible care for our communities. This recognition reflects the trust our patients place in us and our shared commitment to creating safer, healthier neighborhoods across California.”

Hospitals that did not receive an “A” grade have established workplans to improve performance in the next evaluation cycle, drawing on best practices from Sutter hospitals that have consistently earned “A” grades.

Locally, Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch earned an “A” grade for safe patient care –the only hospital in Contra Costa County to do so.

“Earning an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group is a tremendous honor for Sutter Delta Medical Center — and even more meaningful because we are the only hospital in Contra Costa County to achieve this distinction for Fall 2025,” said Trevor Brand, CEO. “This recognition reflects the relentless dedication of our entire team to put patient safety at the heart of every decision and every interaction. Our community trusts us with their health, and we embrace that responsibility with a commitment to excellence today and a vision for even safer, higher-quality care tomorrow.”

Commitment to Safety

As a high-reliability organization, Sutter promotes a culture of safety in which everyone is empowered to speak up about potential safety concerns. Being high-reliability is more than a process — it’s a promise to make care safer and more consistent for every patient, every time. Efforts around this work include:

  • The launch of Sutter Safe Care in 2018. The program kicked off Sutter’s journey to becoming a high-reliability organization, with comprehensive training of over 65,000 leaders, physicians, advanced practice clinicians and staff.
  • Targeted training to onboard new leaders, employees and physicians, to ensure everyone adopts Sutter Safe Care’s high-reliability behaviors and key practices.
  • A reliability coach program empowering frontline staff to support their peers with high-reliability behaviors. Currently, there are over 1,100 frontline reliability coaches across Sutter Health, and participation in the program continues to grow, year over year.

Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

To explore full grade details, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

Sutter hospital campuses earning an “A” grade include:

  • Sutter Delta Medical Center (improved from “B” in Spring)
  • Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Summit Campus
  • Sutter Amador Hospital
  • Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
  • Sutter’s CPMC – Mission Bernal Campus
  • Sutter Davis Hospital
  • Sutter’s Eden Medical Center
  • Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
  • Sutter’s Memorial Hospital Los Banos
  • Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
  • Sutter’s Novato Community Hospital
  • Sutter Roseville Medical Center
  • Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
  • Sutter Solano Medical Center
  • Sutter Tracy Community Hospital

Sutter hospital campuses earning a “B” grade include:

  • Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus
  • Sutter’s CPMC – Van Ness Campus
  • Sutter Coast Hospital
  • Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center

Sutter hospital campuses earning a “C” grade include:

  • Sutter’s CPMC – Davies Campus

 

HOUSING: Harder introduces new bill to force CA Housing Department to lower home costs

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Representative Josh Harder. Official photo

California leads nation in housing prices; Harder’s Bring Down Housing Costs Act would expand federal oversight of new state housing agency if housing costs continue to skyrocket

By Kevin Winslow, Communications Director, Office of Congressman Josh Harder 

WASHINGTON – Today, Monday, November 17, 2025, as California considers yet another housing agency, Rep. Josh Harder (D, CA-09) introduced new legislation to hold Sacramento bureaucracy accountable and stop housing costs from continuing to skyrocket. The Bring Down Housing Costs Act would establish a federal task force to investigate and conduct oversight of states failing to curb rising housing costs and develop emergency action plans to make housing more affordable.

Despite reforms, Sacramento’s housing bureaucracy is still an expensive mess: 

  • Years of prioritizing process over outcomes has created a bureaucratic monster covering everything from horse racing and alcohol, while also in charge of housing reform.
  • The state’s new housing agency, set to start in 2026, is already falling short of prioritizing the most basic housing reforms.
  • Bureaucratic bloat has caused California to have the highest housing prices in the nation, making homebuying in the Valley entirely unaffordable.

“Our families are getting priced out of an affordable life in the Valley. We need real action, not another round of musical chairs by Sacramento bureaucrats,” said Rep. Harder. “My bill holds Sacramento’s feet to the fire and makes housing our #1 priority by bringing new federal oversight to yearslong chaos. If these out-of-touch bureaucrats continue to fail, they should be held accountable and fired.”

How the Bring Down Housing Costs Act cleans up Sacramento’s mess:

  • New Oversight – Creates a new federal housing task force to investigate states with the highest rising housing costs.
  • New Partnerships – Brings together representatives from across the federal government and housing experts for the first time to bring down housing costs in the worst markets.
  • Emergency Plans – Issues emergency action plans and best-practice guidelines for states facing year-over-year median home price increases.

As a fifth-generation resident of the Valley, Harder is committed to restoring the affordable dream that brought so many families to our community in the first place. Harder is leading federal efforts to pass the biggest housing reform legislation in decades that would modernize outdated regulations, incentivize smarter land use, and build more homes.

Harder currently represents Discovery Bay in the Contra Costa County portion of the district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Based on the new district boundaries approved in Prop. 50, District 9 now includes Antioch, Pittsburg and portions of Oakley. The congressman plans to run for re-election in the new district.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakland couple arrested for Walnut Creek carjacking, armed robberies in Antioch, Pittsburg, El Sobrante

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One of the two suspects arrested for carjacking and armed robberies. Photo source: Walnut Creek PD

Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakland PD’s, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office assist

Both of history of arrests: Julio Villalobos held on no bail, Britney Zuniga held on $850,000 bail

By Walnut Creek Police Department

On October 20, 2025, at approximately 2:20 pm, a victim called WCPD dispatch to report that his work vehicle had just been stolen. The victim described two suspects driving a grey Dodge Challenger. A short time later, an armed carjacking was reported at 1805 Ygnacio Valley Blvd. with the same vehicle and suspect description. At the time of the call, no suspects were taken into custody.

It was quickly learned that these suspects had committed three additional armed robberies in the City of Pittsburg, the City of Antioch, and the City of El Sobrante. With the collaborative help of Antioch PD, Pittsburg PD and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, and the Oakland Police Department, Julio Angel Villalobos, a 21-year-old (born 11/4/2004) and Britney Ashanti Zuniga, a 23-year-old (born 9/6/2002), both residents of Oakland, were safely taken into custody. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office filed 11 felony counts for Villalobos and seven felony counts for Zuniga.

Thanks to our partners in law enforcement for their assistance in the successful arrest and filing of charges against these violent criminals.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 185-pound Villalobos is being held in the Matinez Detention Facility on no bail and has a court appearance on Dec. 9, at 8:30 a.m. in Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested six times, all in 2023, by Alameda County Sheriff’s Department and Oakland PD for crimes including burglary, vandalism of $5,000 or more and attempting to or escaping from jail, prison or an industrial road camp, court jurisdiction of child for parental neglect, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, vehicle theft, possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm on person or in vehicle while in a public place, carry a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm on a person, possession or control of firearm before age 30 when person has been a ward of the juvenile court, trespassing, vehicle robbery and carjacking.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, three-inch tall, 130-pound Zuniga is in the West County Detention Facility on $850,000 bail and has a court appearance on Nov. 21 at 8:30 a.m. in Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, Zuniga was previously arrested three times by San Jose and Oakland PD’s, for crimes including assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and threats of violence.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Sentinels of Freedom award $5,000 for LMC Veterans Resource Center

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Mike Conklin, Chairman and CEO of Sentinels of Freedom presents the donation check to LMC President Pamela Ralston on Nov. 6, 2025. They were joined by Tara Sanders, LMC Foundation Director (left), Melissa Jackson, LMC Veterans Services Program Coordinator (right) and LMC student veterans affiliated with the Veterans Resource Center. Photos: LMC

Funding to support in-person math tutoring

By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, CA – Mike Conklin, chairman and CEO of Sentinels of Freedom, came to Los Medanos College Nov. 6, 2025, with words of wisdom and a hand-written check worth $5,000 for LMC’s Veterans Resource Center.

Just ahead of presenting the check, Conklin spoke to students attending LMC to gain the skills and education needed to transition from military service to civilian life.

“I’m here to tell you, people in this community want to see you succeed,” Conklin said, after sharing personal stories about the military service of his son whose combat injuries resulted in a stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  “They all respect your service and sacrifice for this country.”

Mike Conklin speaks with the LMC student veterans.

He noted that Sentinels of Freedom, a nonprofit organization of veterans, aims to help wounded and injured post-9/11 veterans transition into civilian life. Through personalized support, the group provides guidance to veterans pursuing higher education, establishing careers and working toward self-sufficiency. The donation, he said, would support in-person math tutoring for student veterans at LMC. The college has 168 student veterans enrolled this fall.

Conklin also led a workshop for the group on budgeting and financial planning.

“Many veterans return to college after years away from the classroom, often facing challenges in subjects like mathematics as they transition back into academic life,” said Rikki Hall, LMC director of Admissions and Records. “This grant provides essential, targeted support to help them build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and ultimately succeed in achieving their educational goals.”

Los Medanos College Veteran Services focuses on meeting the needs of military-affiliated students, while honoring their distinct experiences and contributions. LMC is approved for education and training under applicable federal and state laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

About Sentinels of Freedom

The San Ramon, CA-based Sentinels of Freedom are committed to empowering severely wounded and injured post-9/11 veterans during their transition into civilian life. Through personalized support, they provide guidance to each veteran in pursuing higher education and establishing fulfilling careers, facilitating their seamless integration into society and self-sufficiency.

The idea for Sentinels for Freedom began with our founder, Mike Conklin, whose son Kris was wounded in Iraq. While visiting Kris in the hospital, Mike spoke with others who were also wounded. It was then that he realized the tremendous physical and emotional hurdles these war–torn men and women faced when transitioning back to civilian life.  Conklin established the organization as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007. For more information visit https://sentinelsoffreedom.org.

About Los Medanos College (LMC)

LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood. For more information visit www.losmedanos.edu.