West Contra Costa students continue to make progress in English and math comprehension, but the district lags behind the statewide average.

• John Swett schools improve in English, drop in math
• Education: STAR results | Blog | More

The complicated conflict in Georgia engenders mixed reactions among Russian immigrants in the Bay Area.

• Statement by President Bush on Georgia situation

The three-alarm blaze burned through California Rehearsal Studios, causing about $500,000 in damage to the building.

Legal community helping three pay for college

The percentage of John Swett school district students who scored proficient or above in English improved slightly over last year, but math scores dropped slightly, according to state standardized test score data released this week.

n Sacramento detective shoots dogs in attack on worker; owners had won judgment against Richmond police

Company opts not to renew lease, many seniors in community upset to lose neighborhood store

San RamonFATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH: Investigators believe speed was a primary factor in a motorcycle crash that killed a 47-year-old Tracy man early Friday in unincorporated Contra Costa County, the California Highway Patrol said.

It is hard to believe that I'm already reporting news about September and upcoming fall events.I recently heard from Tena Gallagher, president of the Danvill/Alamo branch of the American Association of University Women.

Police make arrest at Fremont jewelry story

BARTs Civic Center station was closed and evacuated near noon today after a person was struck by a train, BART officials said. Only one line was passing through the station - the Pittsburg/Bay Point to San Francisco International Airport line. Others were...

Authorities held out hope Saturday that they could find a clerk who was abducted at gunpoint in a crime captured by the security cameras in a rural grocery store, a sheriff said. Officials were questioning a suspect. Archer County Sheriff Ed Daniels said law...

Democrats stance against offshore drilling has shifted more, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaling on Saturday her willingness to consider opening up more coastal areas to oil and gas exploration. In her partys weekly radio address, Pelosi said opening...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger missed co-hosting an environmental summit in Tahoe today to have a torn meniscus examined by a doctor in Los Angeles. The governor suffered the knee injury while exercising several days ago but hasnt had time to get it looked at,...

President Bush warned Russia on Saturday against trying to pry loose two separatist regions in Georgia and said Moscow must end military operations in the West-leaning democracy that once was part of the Soviet empire. Bush told reporters at his Texas ranch...

Five children, a teenager and a mother died Saturday in a fire that engulfed a Memphis home, witnesses and fire officials said. Memphis Fire Department Lt. Keith Staples said two teenagers and an 11-year-old boy escaped and were hospitalized in stable...