The city of Mendota rolled out a one‑day bash that blends birds, art and local pride. The event kicked off at 9 a. m. on June 14 with a nature‑journaling class and a guided walk around Lake Kakusha, letting folks spot birds and learn to record their observations. A few hours later the downtown
A small idea at a pumpkin patch turned into a traveling petting zoo that now visits schools, parties and community events across East Contra Costa County and beyond. Robert and Katy Kerling started the venture after a neighbor asked them to run a petting zoo at a local pumpkin patch in 2023. Their o
New York’s push for rapid solar energy growth has left locals and wildlife in the dark—literally. A law passed in 2019, meant to fast-track renewable projects, skipped basic environmental checks. Developers were handed a blank permit to build giant solar farms wherever land was cheap, ignoring warni
The Alley, a landmark in Avondale that has served punk, goth, and metal fans for decades, is looking for a new leader. Mark Thomas, who opened the shop in 1976 after buying jewelry‑making gear with a savings bond, now faces health issues and doubts about how long he can keep running the store.
A 17‑year‑old from Gateway High School entered a district art contest hoping to honor her Peruvian roots. She originally planned to create her work at a local Hispanic community center, but the place was nearly empty because many staff members feared that any visit could attract immigration official
A quiet Saturday morning in Healdsburg took a sharp turn when an SUV plowed into Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, turning a 16-year-old restaurant into a scene of shattered glass and overturned furniture. The crash happened around 7:50 a. m. , leaving behind a mess that will take six to eight weeks just to cle
A sudden hospital closure in Oak Park has left a Chicago neighborhood struggling to get quick emergency help. When Rev. Ira Acree’s wife needed medical care recently, the trip to the closest hospital took 20 minutes by ambulance instead of the usual five-minute drive. That extra time can mean the di
A small but growing organization in Reading has quietly changed the game for local students by funding adventures most could never afford. The group offers things like field trips to Broadway, hydroponic gardening classes, and summer camps—all aimed at showing kids that their city is just the starti
Chicago’s warmer months bring two things: sunshine and hard choices. Every April, flyers pop up online promising “Hyde Park takeovers, ” big teen meetups that sometimes turn into fights, theft or worse. Last year a 14-year-old died after one of those nights. This year, adults in Hyde Park chose a di
A small town police department in Massachusetts is stirring up controversy with its bold approach to social media. Instead of hiding arrests behind closed doors, Rochester Police recently shared booking photos and humorous details about recent detainees online. Chief Assad defended the strategy, say
