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
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:Â 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:
Stop! The last place that Qtip should be is in your ear
(May 18, 2024) — Did you hear that? No? Perhaps that’s due to the industrious nature of your ceruminous glands ...
Open House this weekend for Peacock Creek single-story executive home
CLAYTON, CA (May 17, 2024) — Introducing Peacock Creek’s most desirable contemporary single-story executive home, perfectly situated on a spacious ...
The 3rd Annual Clayton Pride Parade returns Sunday, June 2
CLAYTON, CA (May 17, 2024) — Clayton Pride proudly announces the return of the largest Pride parade in Contra Costa ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of May 8 through 14, 2024
CONCORD, CA (May 17, 2024) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from May 8 ...
Contra Costa County Office of Education Reaches Tentative Agreement with Teachers
PLEASANT HILL, CA (May 17, 2024) — The Contra Costa County School Educators Association (CCCSEA) and the Contra Costa County ...
Former College Park High athlete Amit Elor is headed to Paris on Olympic wrestling team
PLEASANT HILL, CA (May 17, 2024) — When she was just three or four years-old Amit Elor loved to tag ...
Divided Concord council retains eviction policy for single-family homes
CONCORD, CA (May 16, 2024) — The City Council voted 3-2 on May 14 to keep single-family homes in the ...
Concord enacts new rent rules after referendum fails
New drop-in times to guide landlords through provisions. CONCORD, CA (May 16, 2024) — As the city begins implementing its ...
Teachers group holds rally in Contra Costa County, may strike if no deal reached
PLEASANT HILL, CA (May 16, 2024) — Teachers with the Contra Costa County Schools Education Association (CCCSEA) hosted a rally ...
Old Fry’s building to see new life with Urban Air adventure
CONCORD, CA (May 16, 2024) — Urban Air Adventure Park promises an extreme experience – from 40-foot climbing walls to ...
Interim city manager ready to lead Clayton staff
CLAYTON, CA (May 16, 2024) — At the April 16 meeting, the City Council welcomed interim city manager Adam Politzer ...
At Guitars Not Guns, the message is simple – and heart-felt
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 16, 2024) — I’ve heard of Guitars Not Guns for years, however, I’ve personally never ...
Monkeys, Bluey and Dinos star at 33rd Bay Area KidFest in Concord
CONCORD, CA (May 15, 2024) — KidFest opens its door next Saturday for the 33rd version of the Bay Area’s ...
It’s so sweet finding cherries at Concord’s farmers market
CONCORD, CA (May 14, 2024) — We’re jumping for joy because farmers are telling us that California’s sweet cherries are ...
Two-story executive style home in Clayton’s coveted Oakhurst/Eagle Peak
CLAYTON, CA (May 14, 2024) — Introducing a two-story executive style home in Clayton's coveted Oakhurst/Eagle Peak. This property features ...
Join the Father’s Day Run for Rotary, June 16 at Concord’s Newhall Park
CONCORD, CA (May 14, 2024) — Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Rotary Club will host the 2nd annual Father's Day Run for ...
Concord YouTuber found guilty of reckless driving, speeding, and fleeing Police
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 13, 2024) — On April 3, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office convicted a ...
To Sell or Not to SellÂ
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 13, 2024) — We love our homes.  They are cozy, organized (or perfectly unorganized) just the ...
Officials investigating downtown Concord fire
CONCORD, CA (May 13, 2024) — Cleanup of a two-alarm blaze in a vacant downtown commercial building kept roads closed ...
The Pioneer’s Spring 2024 calendar of events and activities, May 12 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (May 5, 2024) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole ...
So This Happened…Week of May 6 through 12, 2024
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 12, 2024) — Four defendants pled no contest to charges in the 2021 murder of ...
‘Music means happiness’ at Mt. Diablo student music festival
CONCORD, CA (May 12, 2024) — Students from local schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District performed a year-end ...
Lisa Chow: A rich life that put others first
By David Scholz Her husband (and Pioneer correspondent) PLEASANT HILL, CA (May 12, 2024) — For 60 years, Lisa Chow ...
Concord seeks youth members for Parks Commission
CONCORD, CA (May 10, 2024) — Concord is conducting a recruitment to fill two youth member positions on the Parks, ...
The Firebird — A magical fairytale flies into the Lesher Center next week
WALNUT CREEK, CA (May 10, 2024) — Diablo Ballet closes its 30th, 2023 – 24 Season with the world premiere ...
East Bay Times gets it so wrong! CNWS is NOT $40 million in the hole
CONCORD, CA (May 9, 2024) — [Editor's note: On the front page of the May 6 issue of the East ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of May 1 through 7, 2024
CONCORD, CA (May 9, 2024) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from May 1 ...
DA secures conviction in 2021 murder case at the center of Racial Justice Act Violations
Martinez, CONCORD, CA (May 8, 2024) — On May 6, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a resolution in ...
Learn origami and help the Concord Ambassadors honor Asian American Heritage Month
CONCORD, CA (May 8, 2024) — Help the Concord Ambassadors and the Concord Library celebrate Asian American – Pacific Islander ...
As weather warms, watch out for rattlesnakes in East Bay parks
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 7, 2024) — In early spring, snakes emerge from winter hibernation and become more active ...