California Watch /New America Media, News report, Louis Freedberg and Hugo Cabrera, Posted: Nov 20, 2009 Editor's Note: This article is part of a new collaboration between New America Media and California Watch , a new nonprofit journalism project at the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Most of California's largest school districts are increasing class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, eroding the most expensive education reform in the state's history.

He couldn't tell what his winning percentage was. It's just pretty darn good, which explains why the Vallejo native continues his reign as the No.

REACHING OUT TO others has long been an activity in Central County, but with the poor economic climate, such efforts are more welcome than ever.

Hey! Today is Friday the 13th. Good luck! My husband and I were taking our morning walk Tuesday by way of La Casa Via, behind John Muir Labs in Walnut Creek, and saw a mountain lion in the open area behind the houses.

A Diablo man jailed on domestic violence charges is accused of trying to get a fellow inmate to murder his wife.

English teacher Janet Headington loves to share her passion for learning with her students at Hercules High School, providing them with an experience that often goes outside the classroom.

Deeper into Meditation - 2 p.m. Nov. 7. Dr. Marshall Zaslove, a board-certified psychiatrist, author and meditation practitioner for over 30 years, will offer simple, effective techniques and will demonstrate the most practical methods of controlling and befriending the mind for better meditation, as well as many other health benefits.

Save Mount Diablo is now working to "Save Tassajara Valley." To this end, the organization is offering hikes to show off the new Hidden Valley Open Space in San Ramon and to talk about development threats.

Some kindergartners at Westwood Elementary School in Concord were unable to go to a pumpkin patch this year because chaperones could not get fingerprinted in time.

"I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries." Carl Sagan Learning tree station.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi comfortably defeated his four opponents in a special general election Tuesday for an open U.S. Congress seat in the East Bay, according to complete unofficial election results.

TWISTS AND TURNS abound in Center Rep's intriguing production of "Witness for the Prosecution," which opened last week at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

There isn't much of a pattern to the naming of locations in California. A few counties tried and left us the likes of "Avenue 20 1 2." Many of our place names are descriptions of natural features in the area, some are named for places that the original settlers left behind, others are transliterations of Native American place names, some indicate ...

The environmental impact review of the city's draft downtown plan will proceed without an additional low-density alternative sought by homeowners' groups.