Stand Up on the Delta by local non-profit connects U.S. veterans with community and critical services like housing and jobs
By Ella Sogomonian
Antioch, CA –Delta Veterans Group continues its mission to serve those who served our country. The local non-profit is inviting U.S. veterans on Friday, Sept.11 to the VFW Post 6435 in Antioch for the inaugural “Stand Up on the Delta”. This one-day event (video here) connects vets with medical treatment, housing, jobs, as well as mental health and drug counseling. In addition to these critical services, the event builds a sense of camaraderie for veterans who have a hard time creating a sense of community after they end their military service. DVG partners with East Bay Regional parks to take vets and their families fishing on the Delta shores. They will provide a backpack, collapsible fishing pole, tackle and lunch will be catered. Competitions, such as farthest cast, will also take place. There is a 50 veteran limit for the fishing experience.
“As a vet myself I understand how critical it is to extend a helping hand and create a welcoming space,” said J.R. Wilson, Founder of Delta Veterans Group. “Veterans serve their country and community so we give them a new mission to serve the community and these events bring them together to make that happen.”
Since 2015, the non-profit has helped more than thousands of veterans by finding permanent housing, serving over 23,000 meals, providing half-a-million-dollars in dental care, and sleeping bags.
Who: U.S. military veterans and their families
What: Stand Up on the Delta resource event
When: Friday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: TWO LOCATIONS: Resource fair at VFW Post 6435, 815 Fulton Shipyard Road Antioch, CA 94509 & fishing experience at Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline Pier at Bridgehead Road at Wilbur Avenue in Antioch, CA 94509
Photos: (Left) MTC (Right) Credit John Huseby, Caltrans
Carpools allowed in bus lane only during weekday peak periods
By Cindy Ramirez, CHP, Bart Ney, Caltrans and John Goodwin, Bay Area Toll Authority
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9, 2026. . . The California Highway Patrol, in partnership with Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority, this month will resume concentrated enforcement of the laws governing the westbound approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This includes strict enforcement of vehicle-type and vehicle-occupancy laws in the bus/carpool lane that bypasses the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza at the far-right side of the roadway.
This lane — which can be accessed by traffic approaching the bridge from Interstate 80, Interstate 880 or West Grand Avenue — may be used by buses, motorcycles or carpools with three or more occupants during the weekday commute periods of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Only buses may lawfully use the lane at other times, including all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Drivers cited for improper use of the bus/carpool lane outside weekday commute hours are subject to a fine of $490 or more.
“The signs at access points to the lane are clear and unambiguous. They read ‘Buses Only,’” noted Lt. Ed Clarke of the CHP’s Oakland Area. “But many drivers have not consistently followed the rule in recent years.” The CHP, Caltrans and BATA agree that focused enforcement will help address ongoing violations, improve compliance with the posted restrictions, and ensure the lane remains available for its intended use.
Acting Caltrans District 4 Director and BATA Commissioner Doanh Nguyen reminds drivers that the toll booths at the Bay Bridge and other state-owned toll bridges will soon be a thing of the past. “The transition to open-road tolling already is underway, with the new system set to debut next year at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge,” he said. “The comprehensive reconfiguration of the approaches to every state-owned toll bridge will improve safety and efficiency by allowing drivers to pay their tolls without having to slow down to squeeze past the obsolete toll booths.”
BATA administers all toll revenues from the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Caltrans owns and operates the state highway system, including state-owned toll bridges such as the Bay Bridge.
La Policía de Caminos de California (CHP) se enfoca en el acceso al puente Bay Bridge para una campaña de reforzar el control
Los vehículos compartidos solo pueden circular por el carril de autobuses durante las horas pico de los días laborables
SAN FRANCISCO, 9 de septiembre de 2026. . . La Policía de Caminos de California (CHP), en colaboración con Caltrans y la Autoridad de Peajes del Área de la Bahía, reanudará este mes la aplicación intensiva de las leyes que rigen el acceso en dirección oeste al puente San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Esto incluye la aplicación estricta de las leyes sobre el tipo y la ocupación de vehículos en el carril para autobuses y vehículos compartidos que evita la plaza de cobro del puente San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge por el lado extremo derecho de la carretera.
Este carril — al que pueden acceder los vehículos que se acercan al puente desde la Interestatal 80, la Interestatal 880 o West Grand Avenue — puede ser utilizado por autobuses, motocicletas o vehículos compartidos con tres o más ocupantes durante días laborables en los horarios pico de 5 a.m. a 10 a.m. y 3 p.m. a 7 p.m. Solo los autobuses pueden utilizar el carril en otros momentos legalmente, incluyendo todo el día los sábados y domingos. Los conductores
que reciban una infracción por el uso indebido del carril para autobuses y vehículos compartidos fuera de los horarios pico de los días laborables están sujetos a una multa de $490 o más.
“Las señales en los puntos de acceso al carril son claras e inequívocas. Dicen ‘Solo autobuses’,” señaló el teniente Ed Clarke del Área de Oakland de la CHP. “Sin embargo, muchos conductores han omitido cumplir la norma de forma consistente en los últimos años.” La CHP, Caltrans y la BATA coinciden en que una aplicación rigurosa de la ley ayudará a abordar las infracciones continuas, mejorará el cumplimiento de las restricciones establecidas y garantizará que el carril siga disponible para el uso previsto.
El director interino del Distrito 4 de Caltrans y comisionado de la BATA, Doanh Nguyen, recuerda a los conductores que las casetas de cobro en el puente de la Bahía y otros puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal pronto pasarán a ser historia. “La transición al sistema de cobro de cuotas en carretera abierta ya está en marcha, y está previsto que el nuevo sistema entre en funcionamiento el próximo año en el puente Richmond-San Rafael. La reconfiguración integral de los accesos a todos los puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal mejorará la seguridad y la eficiencia, al permitir que los conductores paguen sus cuotas sin tener que reducir la velocidad para pasar por las casetas de cobro obsoletas.”
BATA administra los ingresos de peajes de los siete puentes de peaje de propiedad estatal en la región. Caltrans es propietario y opera el sistema de carreteras estatales, incluyendo los puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal como el puente Bay Bridge.
Do you wish to see less litter around our marine environment? Join California’s more than 35,000 volunteers in cleaning up local areas and waterways for Coastal Cleanup Day.
Volunteer alongside your families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups and service clubs. Help us preserve wildlife by taking trash out of the environment and our waterways.
Register now and be part of our group of volunteers at the Antioch Marina and the Antioch Water Park.
Volunteer letters can be used toward community service hours, youth community engagement requirements, college and scholarship applications, and much more.
The Antioch Recreation Department is happy to provide letters highlighting the volunteer hours completed for this event for any participant or organization. Please email La’Nae Jackson to inquire about how to receive your volunteer letter for yourself or your organization.
How to Volunteer
To register for the Antioch Marina site: Click Here
To register for the Antioch Water Park site: Click Here
Lovable new mascot will bring fun, fresh ideas and a helping hand to Safeway shoppers, stores and community events
By Kent Streeb, Director of Public Affairs & Communications, Safeway Northern California Division
PLEASANTON, Calif. – There’s a fuzzy new face zipping through Safeway aisles that shoppers will soon be seeing often. Safeway Northern California Market introduced Scoot™, the market’s lovable new mascot and goodwill ambassador. Fun, furry and always ready to help, Scoot will guide shoppers toward great savings, fresh finds and family-friendly fun at Safeway stores and community events throughout Northern California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii.
With bright red fur, a leafy green sprout, signature Safeway visor, and red sneakers, Scoot is easy to spot and hard to forget. Scoot loves kids, people and lending a helping hand. Scoot will appear at community events, support hunger-relief initiatives, champion charitable causes and create memorable experiences for children and families. Whether Scoot is pointing shoppers toward a can’t-miss deal, sharing a healthy fresh dinner idea, or greeting families at a neighborhood celebration, Scoot’s mission is simple: make shopping more helpful, more rewarding and a whole lot more fun.
“Scoot may be new, but what Scoot represents has been a part of Safeway for generations: helping people save money, serving neighborhoods and making quality, fresh food and products easier to find,” said Kelly Mullin, Regional President of Marketing and Merchandising for Albertsons Companies California Region. “Scoot brings that spirit to life in a joyful new way. We believe Scoot will quickly become a familiar and beloved friend to children, families and shoppers throughout the communities we serve.”
Your Shortcut to Savings & Fresh Finds
Scoot will serve as a friendly guide at Safeway, helping shoppers discover:
Special savings and featured promotions
Peak-season produce and fresh food favorites
Freshest dinner ideas
New products and unexpected finds
Opportunities to support local communities and important causes
Shoppers will encounter Scoot in Safeway advertising, on social media, at pop-ins to stores, and at special events. Scoot will help point customers toward featured offers, digital coupons and some of Safeway’s biggest deals.
Showing Up for the Community
Like Safeway, Scoot’s role will extend well beyond the grocery aisle. In 2025, Safeway in Northern California donated $55 million in food and financial support to charitable organizations serving local communities. From food drives and charitable campaigns, to store celebrations and family events, Scoot will bring energy, smiles and a spirit of service to community appearances that will reinforce Safeway’s longstanding commitment to supporting local organizations and helping our neighbors in need. To celebrate Scoot’s arrival, Safeway will donate $5,000 to a local nonprofit.
Follow Scoot’s Adventures
Follow Scoot on Instagram and TikTok at @safewaysscoot for savings tips, fresh discoveries, community appearances and behind-the-scenes fun.
ScootTM word and design trademarks are owned by subsidiaries of Albertsons Companies, Inc.
About Safeway
Safeway is one of the most well-recognized grocery retail brands with a long-standing reputation for quality and service, proudly serving Northern California since 1926. Today, the company operates over 283 stores across Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii, under various banners, including Andronico’s, Safeway, and Pak N’ Save.
Safeway’s Antioch store is located at 3365 Deer Valley Road in the Crossings Shopping Center.
DA Investigators searching for additional victims in multi-state case
Held on $600k bail, has history of arrests
2nd Antioch man arrested for human trafficking this year
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, CA – Investigators with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office are asking the public for help identifying and contacting victims in a years-long human trafficking investigation.
Raymond Jamar Brooks, 32, of Antioch, (born 5/28/1994) is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on $600,000 bail, facing multiple charges related to human trafficking. The investigation into Brooks’ alleged offenses found that he engaged in commercial sex acts with minors and adult woman through force, fraud, coercion and other means associated with sex trafficking.
The investigation has already identified several victims, whose accounts have uncovered evidence of trafficking activity spanning multiple states. To protect their privacy and safety, their identities are being withheld as the investigation continues.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Brooks, or who has additional information about his alleged involvement in sex trafficking in California or elsewhere, is urged to contact Senior Inspector Ann Shiraishi of the Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force at (925) 917-6857 or ann.shiraishi@contracostada.org.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Tip Line at *69 (925) 957-8658 to leave a tip for law enforcement. Confidential support and resources are also available through Community Violence Solutions at 1 (800) 670-7273.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall Brooks is non-Hispanic but also listed as Black, he was booked into custody on July 22, 2026, at 8:17 p.m. and his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. in Dep’t. 5 in Martinez.
According to localcrimenews.com, Brooks has a history of arrests dating back to 2017, including by Antioch Police on April 7 this year for disobeying a domestic relations court order and for warrants or holds only on Jan. 3, 2019. He was also arrested in 2020 by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for procuring another person for purpose of prostitution on Jan. 5, 2019, and for pimping in 2017.
He’s the second Antioch man arrested this year for human trafficking. It was announced in February, the arrest of 38-year-old Keith Earnest Haywood. He was arrested again on July 30th and according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood is charged with pandering, pimping, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. He is now being held on remand at the Marsh Creek Detention Facility with bail set at $100,000. Haywood’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 5 in Martinez.
Asregadoo was asked where Brooks was arrested and by what agency. He responded, “Brooks was arrested in Antioch on April 9, 2026, by the Contra Costa County Probation Department for a probation violation. The Contra Costa DA’s Office leads the investigation in this case, since it runs the Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with local police, the FBI, and community groups.
“Brooks’s next court date is 9/11/26 at 8:30 am in Department 29 (Judge Glenn Kim) at the A.F. Bray Courts Building in Martinez. This is a setting date, where the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney schedule future court dates. It’s typically a brief, administrative hearing.”
As co-chair of the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, the District Attorney’s Office is committed to a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach in its work with survivors of human trafficking and all other victims of crime. Any victim who comes forward in response to this request will be offered supportive services and resources.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Enjoy cool jazz, bebop, Latin rhythms, Broadway hits and patriotic favorites
By El Campanil Theatre
Let’s fill our house with a FREE evening of Jazz with the USAF Band of the Golden West – The Commanders Jazz Ensemble on Mon. Sept 21st at 7:30 pm.
The Commanders Jazz Ensemble swings through the Bay!
Join us for four special performances in the Bay Area and beyond, sharing big band classics, brand new originals, and favorite songs you’ve never heard quite like this.
Source: USAF Band of the Golden West
The Band shared, “Enjoy a free Antioch performance of cool jazz, bebop, Latin rhythms, Broadway hits and patriotic favorites. The performance is FREE and open to the public! For more information visit www.afbandconcerts.com. We’ll see you there!”
Check the map above for the meeting location. We hope to see you there!
Another Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting will be held this Thursday, Sept. 10. See details here.
About Antioch Neighborhood Watch
The City of Antioch’s Neighborhood Watch is part of the Antioch Police Department’s Crime Prevention programs.
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.
Neighbors working together for mutual assistance.
Recognizing suspicious activities or people in your area.
Implementation of crime prevention such as home security, night patrols, etc.
Report code violations, unsafe street conditions, or other issues that degrade the quality of life in your area.
Keep your block clean and free of graffiti
Provide a safe environment for you, your children, and/or your pets.
Become a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. Learn the roles and responsibilities by visiting Block-Captain.
The Antioch Council of Teens is collecting gently used coats during their 5th Annual Coat Drive from Sept. 1 through Nov. 3, 2026. Gloves, scarves and boots are also accepted.
Donation Locations:
• Community Resources Department inside the Antioch Community Center at Prewett Community Park – 4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
