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:
Obituary — Richard “Rick” Brick,
1942-2025
CLAYTON, CA (Mar. 18, 2025) — Richard “Rick” Elmer Brick, 82, departed our earth Mon., Feb. 17, 2025, from terminal ...
Yoga with Puppies — Snuggle a puppy, save a life
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 18, 2025) — Ever wonder what a working service dog is worth? The expertly trained service dogs ...
Diablo Women’s Chorale prepares for out-of-this-world adventure
ALAMO, CA (Mar. 18, 2025) — The Diablo Women’s Chorale invites you to reach for the stars with its spring ...
The Pioneer’s Spring 2025 calendar of events and activities, March 16 update
COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Mar. 16, 2025) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole family ...
So This Happened…Week of March 10-16, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 16, 2025) — Pioneer columnist Nathalie Montijo writes about the importance of the World Health ...
Looking for good films? Try ‘Complete Unknown,’ ‘I’m Not a Robot,’ ‘Oddity’
(Mar. 15, 2025) — For the first time since perhaps middle school, I had not seen a single Best Picture ...
Concord BART station begins installation of Next Generation Fare Gates
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 15, 2025) — The scheduled installation of BART’s Next Generation Fare Gates started at the Concord station ...
Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Ruby Bartholomew, Clayton Valley Charter High
Grade: Senior School: Clayton Valley Charter High School Sports: Softball & Flag Football CONCORD, CA (Mar. 14, 2025) — Accomplished ...
Downtown Pleasant Hill Easter Celebration planned for April 18
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Mar. 14, 2025) — Downtown Pleasant Hill invites holiday revelers of all ages to its Annual Easter ...
Join Hope Hospice for the 2025 Hike for HOPE!
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 13, 2025) — Are you ready to make a difference while enjoying the beauty of ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of March 5-11, 2025
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 13, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from March 5-11, ...
Work on Pleasant Hill Rd. Bridge over Taylor Blvd. expected to cause travel delays
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 12, 2025) — Contra Costa County Public Works will begin work on the Pleasant Hill ...
Fire Hazard Severity Zone updates for Concord: What you need to know
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 12, 2025) — As required by state law, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL ...
Mark DeSaulnier announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 11, 2025) — Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA10) announced that he will again host the Congressional ...
Installation work to begin March 14 for Next Generation Fare Gates at Concord Station
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 11, 2025) — On Friday, March 14 BART will begin the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates ...
Clayton Cleans Up: Join the Community Effort on April 19
CLAYTON, CA (Mar. 11, 2025) — Mark your calendars! Clayton Cleans Up is happening Saturday, April 19, from 8 AM ...
‘Twice the Family’ explores the adoption of twins
(Mar. 11, 2025) — A successful memoir usually has a hook that draws a reader in, something in an author’s ...
WHO loses without world health group? The U.S. does
(Mar. 10, 2025) — With the news of the United States withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), I wanted ...
Contra Costa Historical Society offers membership discount
MARTINEZ, CA (Mar. 10, 2025) — To celebrate the county’s 175th anniversary, the Contra Costa County Historical Society (CCCHS) is ...
The Pioneer’s Winter 2025 calendar of events and activities, March 9 update
COSTA COUNTY, CA, (Mar. 9, 2025) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole family ...
So This Happened…Week of March 3-9, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 9, 2025) — As the Concord City Council OK’d $20,400 to continue the Downtown Welcome ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of Feb. 26 – March 4, 2025
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 7, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Feb. 26 ...
Embracing sustainable living and fitness in Concord
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 7, 2025) — As we moved into 2025, many of us were filled with the energy of ...
Cemeteries allow us to reconnect with our past
LAFAYETTE, CA (Mar. 7, 2025) — Families visit cemeteries for many reasons. Sometimes, it’s because a loved one has recently ...
With Los Vaqueros expansion canceled, water options remain slim
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 7, 2025) — Last month’s devastating fires in Los Angeles brought attention to the need ...
Live jazz, cajun cuisine and dancing – Support CVCHS music on March 29
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 6, 2025) — Join Clayton Valley Instrumental Music program at the Walnut Creek Center for Community Arts ...
Three key ways Contra Costa County residents can prepare for wildfires
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 6, 2025) — Last month, the wildfires in Los Angeles County devastated several communities, claiming ...
From lumpia to barbecue, Filipino food stars at local eateries
CONCORD, CA (Mar. 6, 2025) — On Super Bowl Sunday morning, customers lined up to place orders at Mama’s Lumpia ...
County Historical Society gets $20,000 boost
MARTINEZ, CA (Mar. 5, 2025) — The Contra Costa County Historical Society (CCCHS) received a $20,000 donation from the California ...
Choosing the right ornamental tree for springtime charm
CLAYTON, CA (Mar. 5, 2025) — The bare branches of the trees incorporated in our street meridians, lining our sidewalks ...