So This Happened…Week of June 30 through July 6, 2025
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (July 6, 2025) — The community came together to celebrate the Fourth of July – all decked out in red, white and blue. Check out the Pioneer’s coverage of the festivities in Concord, Clayton and Pleasant Hill.
Girl power: Young women learned what it takes to be a firefighter at the first Girls Empowerment Camp. “It’s about giving you, the youth of our community, the opportunity to learn, grow and see yourself in a role that too often goes unseen by young teenagers,” said firefighter Deandra Van Houten, who organized the weekend. “It’s about breaking down barriers and showing that the fire service is not just for the strong, but the brave. Not just the tough, but the determined.”
Sifting through AI: The Pioneer’s Pete Cruz delves into how Artificial Intelligence is creating fake news – and you may not even realize it. “When AI produces false information, AI creators call it a ‘hallucination,’ one that arises from the way AI gathers and outputs information,” he noted.
More local news
Here are some other stories the Pioneer covered recently:
In sports: Pioneer Athlete Spotlights on Keirabella Brown of Concord High and Fabian Gomez of Clayton Valley.
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From the police: Concord PD arrest two for DUI, plus the latest Concord crime report.
From Deputy DA Knox: A look at the district attorney’s failure to implement Prop. 36.
On the menu: Pastries, sandwiches, schmear – say no more.
For your pet: Taking stock of traditional pet foods, and special diets support pets with kidney and liver disease.
In real estate: Freedom to move: Why Independence Day inspires new beginnings.
From the Assistance League of Diablo Valley: Scholarships benefit 68 students.
Obituary: Brent Kirk Egle.
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Bev Britton
Bev Britton graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of North Dakota and moved to the Bay Area with her soon-to-be husband Jim in 1986. She was features editor at the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek before becoming managing editor of the Contra Costa Sun in Lafayette in 1995. She retired from newsrooms in 2001, but an ad for the Clayton Pioneer drew her back in. The family moved to Lake Wildwood in the Gold Country a few years ago - but working at the Pioneer keeps her in touch with her old neighborhoods in Concord and Clayton.