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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.
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News by Category
Elections: Coverage of local candidates and voting.
Obituaries: Obituaries for Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill and surrounding communities.
Letters to the Editor: Submitted by our readers.
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.
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Recent Pioneer stories:
Concord Police arrest report for the week of Sept. 3 through 9, 2025
CONCORD, CA (Sept. 12, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Sept. 3-6, ...
Red Devils football team opens season with victory days after new Mt. Diablo High football field damaged by illegal fireworks
CONCORD, CA (August 31, 2025) — Mt. Diablo High School and its football team concluded a bizarre week like no ...
Step into the mysterious world of the Bohemia
(Aug. 31, 2025) — Before I begin to sing the praises of Chris Pavone’s latest literary thriller, “The Doorman,” let ...
With Pioneer gone, let’s keep honoring the stories of our seniors
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 31, 2025) — As The Pioneer publishes its final issue this month, I want to take a ...
There’s more to a dog’s scoot than meets the eye
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Aug. 30, 2025) — It isn’t a sexy topic, but for pet owners whose dogs (and ...
Blue Devils B unbeaten season with third straight Open Class Pacific Championship outshines their world famous A Corps
CONCORD, CA (August 28, 2025) —Blue Devils B, the Open Class ensemble of BD Performing Arts in Concord, concluded an ...
Mt. Diablo Unified School District celebrates modernization of 3 elementary schools funded by Measure J
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (August 30, 2025) — The day before this school year began Mt. Diablo Unified School District ...
Local businesses are the heart of Concord community
CONCORD, CA (August 30, 2025) — As I ride through Concord and take in the incredible variety of local businesses ...
NBA Alum Drew Barry headlines De La Salle’s 2025 Hall of Fame Class
CONCORD, CA (August 30, 2025) —De La Salle High School has announced its 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Class, led ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of August 20 through 26, 2025
CONCORD, CA (August 30, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Aug. 20-26, ...
How to fill the information void without The Pioneer
PLEASANT HILL, CA (August 28, 2025) —Endings are never easy — they are often filled with sadness and a sense ...
Concord City Council approves speed reductions on 20 streets to improve safety
Concord, CA (August 28, 2025) – On Tuesday, August 26, the Concord City Council voted unanimously for an ordinance to lower ...
The Pioneer’s Summer 2025 calendar of events and activities, Aug. 24 update
Clockwise from left: Annie Sampson performs at Concord's Music and Market, Sept. 18. Monument Impact celebrates the completion of Atiana's ...
So This Happened…Week of August 20-25, 2025
Editor’s Note: This will be the final installment of The Pioneer’s week in review as the newspaper winds down publication ...
School year underway without shuttered School of Performing Arts
WALNUT CREEK, CA (Aug. 24, 2025) — School bells have been ringing this month as tens of thousands of local ...
Through life’s twists and turns, art remains close to his heart
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 24, 2025) — Frank Senor has called Clayton home for nearly three decades, but his artistic journey ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of August 13 through 19, 2025
CONCORD, CA (August 21, 2025) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from Aug. 13-19, ...
Beat of Diablo columnist grateful to highlight the local scene
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Aug. 21, 2025) — Over these last four years, I’ve done my best to bring attention ...
Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Jackson Buechter, CVCHS
Grade: Senior School: Clayton Valley Charter Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field CONCORD, CA (Aug. 21, 2025) — Whether he’s ...
Experts identify ‘creep’ on southern Concord Fault
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 21, 2025) — The threat of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake now extends to a larger swath of ...
The Pioneer’s Spring 2025 calendar of events and activities, Aug. 19 update
COSTA COUNTY, CA, (August 19, 2025) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole family ...
So This Happened…Week of August 11-19, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Aug. 19, 2025) — When Tamara Steiner took over The Clayton Pioneer in 2003, she sought ...
Some final tips for faithful gardeners
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 20, 2025) — After 22 years of being your Garden Girl, this column will be my last ...
De La Salle highlights high school football schedules stepping back on National stage in season opener vs. Florida powerhouse
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 19, 2025) — De La Salle looked to have a shot at ending the stranglehold Southern California ...
Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Chooch, Charley and Cole Branich
Chooch, Charley and Cole Branich Team: Dana Hills Swim Team Sports: Swimming & Softball CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 19, 2025) — ...
Clayton is on the move, with new staff and projects
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 18, 2025) — Earlier this year and throughout the spring and summer, our city manager, Kris Lofthus, ...
We reuse more because our future deserves it
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 18, 2025) — I have watched my three Gen Z children grow up increasingly aware of the ...
70 years later, despite challenges, Park & Shop still a hub of dining and shopping in Concord
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 18, 2025) — It was exactly 70 years ago this fall that the booming city of Concord ...
Paper’s swan song brings community praise from near and far
CLAYTON, CA (Aug. 15, 2025) — When word started circulating that The Pioneer would cease operations this month, readers immediately ...
Girl Scouts craft new bookshelves for Winter Nights
WALNUT CREEK, CA (Aug. 15, 2025) — The answer “no” can work out to be a good thing. And for ...