News and Features
News: Stories covering Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas.
Weekly Summaries/So This Happened: Our weekly roundup of news.
Pioneer Newspaper PDF archive: Read past issues of the monthly print paper in PDF format. We have issues going back to 2003.
News by City
- Concord: News from Concord, CA.
- Clayton: News from Clayton, CA.
- Pleasant Hill: News from Pleasant Hill, CA.
News by Category
Elections: Coverage of local candidates and voting.
Obituaries: Obituaries for Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill and surrounding communities.
Sports: News and athlete profiles from local teams and alumni, sports organizations and more.
Crime: Police reports and news about criminal activity.
Performing Arts: Reviews and promotions for local theater productions and live music events.
From the Desk of: News and commentary from city, county and state officials.
Schools: News, features and accomplishments from the schools serving Concord, Clayton and Pleasant Hill.
Pioneer Columnists
Our columnists each bring you their personal reflections on a variety topics from restaurants to films to gardening to pet care, and more.
Recent Pioneer stories:
‘Ladies Night’ settlement leads to closure of Concord’s popular Lima restaurant
CONCORD – The last day of 2024 marked a bittersweet end for popular Peruvian restaurant Lima. “We are closing the ...
BART postpones Concord/Walnut Creek BART service shutdown scheduled for Jan. 18-19
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 17, 2025) — The track shutdown and bus bridge that had been planned between Walnut Creek and ...
Clayton City Council tightens meeting rules
CLAYTON, CA (Jan. 17, 2025) — In a decision that critics say centralizes power and reduces public participation, and despite ...
Ongoing sewer projects continue to press patience of Concord drivers
CONCORD – The 2024 sewer upgrade projects that tore up streets across town and frustrated motorists will continue to be ...
19 local athletes earn fall league MVP honors
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Jan. 16, 2025) — Athletes from six local high schools received Diablo and East Bay athletic ...
Takin’ it easy with local ambient offerings
SF BAY AREA, CA (Jan. 16, 2025) — I enjoy a wide array of music styles, but ambient music is ...
No Concord to Walnut Creek BART service Jan. 18-19 due to repairs
UPDATE JAN. 17, 2025: BART has announced that the previously scheduled closure has been postponed. Expect regular service on Jan ...
The Gin Game brings poignant comedy to Martinez theater audiences
MARTINEZ, CA (Jan. 14, 2025) — One of the most challenging plays for older actors just opened at The Campbell ...
Get out in the garden and prune, baby, prune
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Jan. 14, 2025) — This January feels more like spring, and we have some timely garden ...
Concord launches accessory dwelling unit rebate program
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 14, 2025) — The City of Concord has launched a rebate program that will provide up to ...
Focus on realism in ‘Nosferatu’ takes away from its greatness
Robert Eggers is nothing if not thorough; he spares no detail in his films. While this is to be lauded ...
The Pioneer’s Winter 2025 calendar of events and activities, January 12 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Jan. 12, 2025) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole ...
So This Happened…Week of Jan. 6-12, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Jan. 12, 2025) — The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has filed a three-count felony ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of Jan. 1 through 7, 2025
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 10, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Jan. 1-7, ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of Dec. 25 through 31, 2024
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 5, 2024) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Dec. 25-31, ...
Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Brady Coddington, CVCHS
Name: Brady Coddington Grade: Senior School: Clayton Valley Charter High School Sports: Wrestling and Golf “Never say die” is accomplished ...
Concord and Pleasant Hill Libraries ring in Lunar New Year with Lion Dances
CONCORD and PLEASANT HILL, CA (Jan. 9, 2025) — The Concord and Pleasant Hill library branches will celebrate the 2025 ...
1930s folk songs of Contra Costa immigrants come to life at Concord museum event
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 9, 2025) — During the Depression in the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was formed to ...
Pleasant Hill police warn of scam attempts
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Jan. 8, 2025) — The Pleasant Hill Police Dept. has received reports of recent attempts to spoof ...
‘What in the World’ art show coming to Centre Concord
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 7, 2025) — The Concord Art Association (CAA) presents a new collection of work from local artists ...
Concord Art Association, seven other arts groups receive $2,000 grants
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Jan. 7, 2025) — The Concord Art Association is among the recipients of the first District ...
Contra Costa DA files additional charges against convicted kidnapper
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Jan. 6, 2025) — The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a three-count felony complaint against ...
The Pioneer’s Winter 2025 calendar of events and activities, January 5 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Jan. 5, 2025) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole ...
So This Happened…Week of Dec. 30-Jan. 5, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Jan. 5, 2025) — The Concord City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting ...
Work to begin on Pleasant Hill’s Oak Park Blvd. overpass Jan. 7
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Jan. 4, 2025) — A repair project on Oak Park Boulevard is set to begin next week ...
PG&E planned power outage to affect Pleasant Hill Library on Monday, Jan. 6
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Jan. 4, 2025) — In order to complete needed repairs, Pacific Gas and Electric has scheduled a ...
Pleasant Hill Christmas tree collection schedule for Jan. 2025
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Jan. 4, 2025) — Now that the holidays are past, Republic Services will do their annual tree ...
Concord library looking for prom dress donations
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 4, 2024) — In anticipation of the prom season, the Concord Library is accepting donations of new ...
Clayton Police Report for December 2024
CLAYTON, CA (Jan. 4, 2025) — This report details police activity for the Clayton Police Department during the month of ...
Concord City Council, Planning Commission to Discuss Potential Rezoning for Housing
CONCORD, CA (Jan. 2, 2024) — On Tuesday, January 7, the City Council and Concord Planning Commission will hold a ...