English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Concord, CA

BAY AREA, CA — Cold, rainy conditions are expected to hit the Bay Area, according to forecasts, with king tides adding extra punch in coastal areas and power outages another layer of winter woes.

Power outages spread across the Bay Area, with more than 2,500 PG&E customers in Contra Costa County reported without electricity, even while service was restored to thousands in San Francisco after a transformer fire.As of early Monday morning, more than 2,500 Contra Costa PG&E customers remained without power.

In Napa, the number was reported at 100.

PG&E restored power to 11,000 San Francisco customers after a transformer fire left the Richmond, Golden Gate Park, and Presidio dark Sunday night.

The outages come on top of a cold-weather turn in the Bay Area and flood warnings.

A cold weather advisory is still in effect this morning for much of the Interior Bay Area and Central Coast. "This goes for everyone, but especially those still without power," according to the National Weather Service for the Bay Area.

Generators and grills should not be used inside because they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, the agency warned.

The Weather Service also issued a coastal flood advisory beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday until 2 p.m. Sunday for the Pacific Coast and Bay shorelines. Up to 1.8 feet of inundation above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, forecasters warned.

King tides, driven by the alignment of earth, moon, and sun, are expected this week, amplifying tidal impacts in the Bay Area:

• A full moon on Jan. 3.• The moon is closest to the earth on Jan. 1.• The earth is closest to the sun on Jan. 3.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA - According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 2.3 magnitude quake occurred close to Pacheco on Thursday around midday.

It was reported that a tremor struck the region at 1:25 p.m. The epicenter was situated roughly 1 mile southeast of Pacheco, at a depth of 10 miles.

Did you feel it?

If you noticed the earthquake, you can share your experience using the USGS Felt Report form.

Tremors last week

Last week, there have been 11 tremors of magnitude 2.5 or above centered nearby. The strongest, a 4.0 magnitude quake, was recorded near Glen Ellen four days ago.

The five largest nearby quakes in the last week:

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

United Robots California

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA - A preliminary 2.6 magnitude quake was registered near Concord Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The tremor, which rattled the area at 3:50 a.m., was centered about 1 mile west-northwest of Concord. It occurred at a depth of 10 miles.

Did you feel it?

Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form. So far, the agency has collected 21 online responses from individuals saying that they experienced the quake.

Earthquakes last week

Three tremors of magnitude 2.5 or above have been recorded in the region over the last week. The most significant was a 2.9 magnitude earthquake that struck near Orinda four days ago.

The three largest earthquakes nearby in the last week:

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom. No human journalist was harmed in this experiment. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com.

A special meeting Dec. 1 will be held to consider plans by an organization for one of Concord's oldest structures.

CONCORD, CA — Concord officials have called a special meeting Dec. 1 to consider plans by an organization for one of Concord's oldest structures.

Concord's Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee will hear an early plan for reviving the nearly 200-year-old Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe.

Built in 1844, the Pacheco Adobe is listed as a historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places, by the California Office of Historic Preservation, and locally as a historic city landmark.But the building next to Hillcrest Park needs "significant stabilizing and preservation work" to address long-term structural deterioration and to support future public use, according to a report to the Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee.

The sole proposal came from an umbrella organization, IGBO Union, that represents the Ndi Igbo diaspora in Northern California. The Igbo have origins in West Africa, primarily in what is now Nigeria, Cameroon, and nearby.

The Igbo Union proposal includes a two-part project: rehabilitation of the Adobe and development of a new multigenerational community facility on the adjacent land. The Adobe would be restored for use as a museum, interpretive center, cultural facility, and community gathering space. The second part is a 10,000-square-foot building with space for classrooms, an auditorium, meeting rooms, child care, food service, and outdoor gathering.

Financing for the project would come from private debt, community fundraising, and a $2 million state grant, according to a report from the city manager's office.

The next step includes a detailed written description from the Igbo Union of the proposed uses and zoning details. If the proposal moves forward, the city will hold a neighborhood meeting facilitated by the organization to present the proposal and gather community feedback.

The Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee will meet Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. in the Garden Conference Room, 1950 Parkside Drive, Wing A, Concord.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Three pest control companies accused of improperly disposing of hazardous waste and failing to secure customer records have agreed to pay more than $3.15 million to settle a complaint brought by more than a dozen district attorneys' offices.

Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Orkin Services of California, and Crane Pest Control settled complaints that they violated state laws by illegally disposing pesticides and hazardous waste into trash bins that were destined for dozens of landfills.

The settlement also resolves claims that the companies discarded customer records containing private information.

The investigation, led by the district attorneys of Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, was initiated in 2021.

From March 2021 to February 2022, investigators statewide conducted undercover inspections of 40 dumpsters at 22 separate Clark and Orkin facilities.

“The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is dedicated to ensuring companies are held accountable for conduct that endangers the environment and our citizens,” District Attorney Diana Becton said. In addition to Contra Costa and San Mateo, the suit included Alameda, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura counties.

The inspections uncovered thousands of unlawfully disposed of items, including pesticide containers with liquids, powders, foams, baits, pellets, and aerosol sprays, as well as hazardous batteries, e-waste, hand sanitizers, adhesives, and cleaning solutions, according to a statement by the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office.

Inspectors also found thousands of privacy law violations, including customer records that — instead of being shredded, or rendered unreadable — were dumped in regular trash, including service orders, contracts, invoices, and route reports containing personal information, according to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office.

After prosecutors notified Clark and Orkin of the violations, the companies cooperated and updated their policies and procedures to ensure proper waste management and protect customer privacy in California, the district attorney's office said.

The $3.15 settlement orders Clark, Orkin, and Crane to pay $2 million in civil penalties, $400,000 in environmental projects, and $400,000 in credit for supplemental environmental compliance measures. The settlement also includes $333,000 in investigative costs.

A spokesperson for Orkin said the company had worked with investigators to resolve the issues and was taking steps — now also required by the settlement — to correct the violations.

"Since being notified that a few of our brands in California were being investigated, we quickly began working cooperatively with the District Attorneys' offices. Since that time, we have improved our operational and service processes and policies to better reflect the highest industry standards," a company spokesperson said.

Since being notified of the investigation, Orkin "quickly began working cooperatively with the District Attorneys’ offices," according to a prepared statement by the company.

The three companies agreed to pay more than $2 million in civil penalties, as well as third-party auditors to monitor a portion of their dumpsters. They will be required to make reports of the audits, train employees on legal waste disposal, and pay for thousands of hours of audit and compliance-related measures, the district attorney's office said. The settlement also includes $400,000 for supplemental environmental projects.