High fire-risk California homes must limit trees, plants, fences under new ‘Zone 0’ rules
▲ 10 r/bayarea

High fire-risk California homes must limit trees, plants, fences under new ‘Zone 0’ rules

Homeowners in some high-risk fire areas in the Bay Area and around California will need to remove flammable materials including plants, fences and gates around their homes over the next five years under regulations passed unanimously by state authorities Wednesday.

The "Zone 0" rules have been plagued by delays and public uproar over costs of compliance and potential loss of valued vegetation. This has been a contentious issue in the Berkeley hills and other places.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 4 hours ago

How Valkyries star’s elite defense overshadows her scoring breakout

Much has been made of Gabby Williams’ defensive prowess, but don’t overlook her offensive impact, writes reporter Joseph Dycus. She has improved as a shooter and is "developing into our closer," said coach Natalie Nakase.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 5 hours ago
▲ 20 r/SanJose

San Jose City Council stops short of endorsing plan to quadruple housing density

After the backlash to the idea of quadrupling the density in San Jose's neighborhoods, the City Council has stopped short of endorsing the plan. Instead, the officials decided to explore a range of options to boost housing.

At the meeting, many homeowners pushed back against the assertion that the density would result in more affordable housing. They argued that the density would threaten the character of their neighborhoods and the homes that they worked hard to afford, and cited concerns that more density would strain traffic, parking, and utilities. Many claimed the city should focus on building more housing in areas that were already urbanized.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/19/san-jose-city-council-resident-neighborhood-density-plan/?share=ln9hneoonri6ecasrsne

u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 7 hours ago

California olive oil: 2026's hot trends to maximize health benefits and flavor

Reporter John Metcalfe writes that California olive oil is experiencing a second renaissance, as producers have begun co-milling and co-crushing it with chilies and ginger to create new flavors. He highlights the East Bay's largest olive orchard in Livermore and other Bay Area producers.

Metcalfe also discusses how it's attracting wine growers who have seen alcohol sales fall and are looking for alternatives. The industry is touting olive oil's health benefits because of its naturally occurring polyphenols.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 8 hours ago

Boss Mhoon says he won't transfer to Riordan after CCS ruled him ineligible

If anyone is into high school basketball, The King's Academy star Boss Mhoon said he won't be transferring to Archbishop Riordan. He attended the Sunnyvale school for his first two years of high school and is considered the top rising junior in Bay Area high school basketball, as well as a four-star prospect.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 1 day ago

Savory pastry honors Fra'Mani Salumi's 20th year

If you're a fan of limited edition dishes, Model Bakery is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Berkeley-based Fra’Mani with a Salami Crostata that includes three types of salumi. They served it Aug. 15, and they'll do it again this Saturday for the last time.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 1 day ago
▲ 13 r/bayarea

Los Gatos shopping center bounces back with new grocery and fitness club

After losing Nob Hill Foods, Los Gatos is on track to get a new family-owned grocery store in Gus's Community Market, writes business reporter George Avalos. The Cornerstone of Los Gatos shopping center is also getting a Club Studio fitness center.

Los Gatos represents Gus’s first location outside of San Francisco.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 1 day ago
▲ 86 r/alameda

East Bay apartment complex is nearly full and starts adding retailers

Star Harbor Apartments, a 372-unit residential hub, has signed its first retailers, business reporter George Avalos writes. LuxFit, an indoor and outdoor fitness experience, and Highwire, a coffee roasting and tea merchant, will set up shop on the ground-floor spaces, according to real estate firm Maven Commercial.

The apartments are 96% occupied, the firm said.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 1 day ago
▲ 182 r/eastbay

Brentwood moves to revoke HOA permit for Flock license plate cameras

The City Council mistakenly allowed the Shadow Lakes Homeowners Association to install its own Flock cameras, believing it was part of a police program. Now, neighbors who aren't part of the HOA are upset, calling the surveillance cameras pointed at homes "pretty invasive" and a massive breach of privacy.

The city has started the process of removing them.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 2 days ago

Senate bill, other measures, look to solve problematic Bay Area e-bike use

There have been a lot of posts on e-bikes here recently, and our reporter Sierra Lopez wrote about several bills going through the Legislature that aim to regulate them more. Some of them range from clarifying high-powered e-bikes from e-motorcycles in advertising and putting an age limit on some e-bikes.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 3 days ago
▲ 262 r/SanJose

Restaurant in South Bay Eataly closed after cockroaches found in kitchen

Heads up, a restaurant inside Westfield Valley Fair's Eataly has failed a health inspection, writes reporter Luis Melecio-Zambrano. Inspectors found pests in the kitchen area, according to the report. It was ordered closed immediately but later reopened today.

Edit: The reporter has updated the story, confirming that Terra is open today and that the issues have been rectified.

This is a gift link.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/16/eataly-san-jose-santa-clara-closed-cockroaches/?share=e2e18n8alratcsslsa0e

u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 3 days ago
▲ 20 r/eastbay

Jerry Garcia, Prince, Aretha Franklin murals adorn Oakland Arena walls

Constantine Abramson used to impress crowds as Thunder at the Warriors games at then-Oracle Arena. Now, as a muralist, he paints Oakland Arena's walls with works depicting the venue's musical history, writes music critic Jim Harrington.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 4 days ago
▲ 22 r/eastbay

OPD releases video of fatal July police shooting in Fruitvale

Senior breaking news reporter Jakob Rodgers writes that Oakland officials released footage of a deadly police shooting in July, in which two officers fired at a man who was wielding knives affixed to long metal poles in the Fruitvale District.

Authorities for the first time named the person, though the coroner's office has yet to confirm his identity. Police accountability advocates said the shooting added to concerns about the Oakland Police Department potentially leaving federal oversight.

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 6 days ago

Twins who lost parents in Peninsula street racing crash awarded $33 million

This is a follow-up on a tragic case that happened in 2022. Reporter Jason Green writes about a car crash that killed the parents of twin girls who were 7 at the time. Cesar Morales was already convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter after he crashed into the family's car while he was street racing. Now, in a wrongful death suit, a jury has awarded the orphaned girls $33 million.

The other person in the street race was also convicted.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 7 days ago
▲ 165 r/eastbay

‘We need answers’: Woman yet to regain consciousness after being hit by car driven by 6-year-old boy

Reporters Jakob Rodgers and Harry Harris spoke to the aunt of 31-year-old Kiara Bowling, who was struck by a Toyota Camry that police said was driven by a 6-year-old boy with his 4-year-old brother as a passenger.

“I don’t blame the children — I do not blame the children at all,” Bowling's aunt Karon Markham said. “If your kids are up and you’re too tired, hire somebody to come in. Because if you have raised children at all, kids can get into anything. It can be markers, writing all over the wall. If they see you strike a match, they’re going to try to do that.”

“You have to stay woke physically and mentally,” she added. “We need answers.”

eastbaytimes.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 8 days ago
▲ 24 r/Hayward

Hayward food pantry set to close Friday

Reporter Kyle Martin writes that the South Hayward Parish Food Pantry will close after more than 50 years. It originally served homeless residents as the Westminster Hills Community Outreacher Center nearly 50 years ago, and since 2019, it has served more than 43,000 people when the church moved to a new building, Hallie Hottle, senior pastor for First Presbyterian Church of Hayward, said.

She also explained the reason for its closure.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 8 days ago
▲ 38 r/SanJose

‘Independent boutique grocery store’ coming to downtown San Jose

Business reporter George Avalos writes that downtown San Jose is getting another grocery store. The other one is the recently opened Sakura Market. It will be located on the ground floor of two housing towers in the San Pedro Square neighborhood.

A real estate executive said it will be "an independent boutique grocery store," but the store's name wasn't immediately available, according to the report.

Those towers have been at the center of A LOT of news stories that include loan delinquencies, an HOA condo auction and a proposal to turn one tower into housing for San Jose Unified School District staff and teachers.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/11/store-san-jose-home-grocery-retail-economy-build-property-develop-jobs/?share=yms0mooop1orloeripe8

u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 8 days ago

Nosh on hundreds of classic Asian dishes for $3.79

Reporter Pueng Vongs highlights the upcoming 2026 West Coast Asian Foodie Festival. It features samples from a variety of cultures for less than $5. They have lechon, takoyaki, curry fish balls and more. It's this weekend.

mercurynews.com
u/BayAreaNewsGroup — 8 days ago