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.
News by Category
Obituaries: Obituaries for Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill and surrounding communities.
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.
Recent Pioneer stories:
Clayton Art and Wine a proud tradition of local fun
CLAYTON, CA (Apr. 18, 2024) — Given the ongoing popularity of the Art & Wine Festival, organizers are relying on ...
Pleasant Hill toasts city/park employees, nonprofits
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Apr. 18, 2024) — On May 2, the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation (PHCF) will recognize nonprofits improving ...
Clayton Valley voices rise to the top at choir competition
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 18, 2024) — Clayton Valley Charter High School’s choirs swept the awards as part of the World ...
Concord Police will Conduct DUI Patrols this Friday
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 17, 2024) — The Concord Police Department will be out April 19, 2024 from 7:00 p.m. to ...
Dueling priests, scandalous letters and the candy man
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 17, 2024) — Can a young upstart teach an older, settled priest some new tricks? ...
Concord to review signatures challenging rent ordinance
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 17, 2024) — As the deadline approached, about 100 residents canvassed the town gathering signatures for a ...
Get ready for a blueberry bonanza at Concord’s farmers market
“You ought to have seen what I saw on my way To the village, through Mortenson’s pasture to-day: Blueberries as ...
Keys to successful resolution with neighbors
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 16, 2024) — Q. We are new to our neighborhood and first-time homeowners. People here ...
The fun will flow at Pleasant Hill’s gatherings
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Apr. 16, 2024) — As we head into summer, I’d like to extend an invitation to come ...
Concord’s Music & Market Concert Series returns June 6
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 15, 2024) — The City of Concord has announced that its popular concert series, Music & Market, ...
The Pioneer’s Spring 2024 calendar of events and activities, April 14 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (April 14, 2024) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole ...
So This Happened…Week of April 8 through 14, 2024
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 14, 2024) — Clayton native Kara Kohler qualified for her third Olympics in rowing, competing ...
Two critically injured in Walnut Creek as car collides with Contra Costa Fire truck
WALNUT CREEK, CA (Apr. 14, 2024) — Contra Costa Fire Protection District reported that four Contra Costa Fire firefighters were ...
Stay at home and catch up on shows like ‘Invincible,’ ‘Shogun’
(Apr. 14, 2024) — Post-Oscars, there was nothing I wanted to see in the theater other than “Dune: Part Two” ...
More police are using private cameras for video evidence
(Apr. 13, 2024) — Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., are among major cities slated to launch a Real-Time Crime Center ...
This delightful Rose Glen single-story home in Concord is well-loved and maintained
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 12, 2024) — Ready and waiting for you. This delightful, north-facing Rose Glen single-story has been well-loved ...
College Scholarship Award program announced by Concord Police Association
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 12, 2024) — The Concord Police Association has a strong commitment to the community youth. They have ...
Honks heard for rent control in Concord
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 12, 2024) — Beginning with a brief, 20-minute rally at Cambridge Park to kick off the Sunday, ...
Suspect arrested in Concord sexual assault case
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 11, 2024) — On April 8, 2024, at 6:25 PM, Concord Police officers responded to a sexual ...
JOR Fine Art Gallery brings Tina Turner Tribute to Clayton art scene
CLAYTON, CA (April 11, 2024) – JOR Fine Art Gallery, Clayton, is proud to announce ‘Tribute to Tina” as the ...
Obituary — Ellen Christine Findlay Herdegen,
August 15, 1951 – March 23, 2024
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 11, 2024) — Ellen lost her 21-year battle with cancer and passed peacefully at home surrounded by ...
Concord Police arrest report for the week of April 3 through 9, 2024
CONCORD, CA (April 5, 2024) — The report below shows arrests made by the Concord Police Department from April 3 ...
Clayton rower Kara Kohler headed to her 3rd Olympics this summer in Paris
CLAYTON, CA (Apr. 9, 2024) — Kara Kohler will head to Paris after qualifying for her third United States Olympic ...
‘Spring into Action’ with White Pony Express fundraiser
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Apr. 9, 2024) — This spring is about new beginnings and transformation at White Pony Express (WPE), ...
Pliny pursuit pays off with hoppy memories
SANTA ROSA, CA (April 8, 2024) – Three hours might seem a long drive for a beer, but it’s well ...
The Pioneer’s Spring 2024 calendar of events and activities, April 7 update
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA, (April 7, 2024) — The Pioneer Calendar lists local events, performances and activities for the whole ...
So This Happened…Week of April 3 through 7, 2024
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 7, 2024) — Using a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Concord ...
Embrace Earth Day with these Concord clean up and park maintenance events
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 7, 2024) — Volunteers in Concord will have many opportunities to celebrate Earth Day on April 20 ...
Concord feels pinch of closures of two 99 Cents Only Stores
CONCORD, CA (Apr. 6, 2024) — 99 Cents Only Stores’ closures are the latest ripple effects to shake the local ...
Help tidy the town at the April 20 Clayton Cleans Up event
CLAYTON, CA (April 5, 2024) — Clayton Cleans Up returns to town on Sat., April 20. Grab your family and ...