Catch Me Up: Daily news roundup for May 19, 2025

This Daily News Roundup for the 24 hours from 4:00 PM Sunday 5/18 to 4:00 PM Monday 5/19 is based on news articles created by Bay City News reporters and editors. We prompted ChatGPT to analyze the articles produced by our staff and to choose 5 stories to highlight. Then we used ElevenLabs and other tools to help us convert the text into audio based on the voice of Leslie Katz, one of our Bay City News editors. This content was verified by a human editor.

Hello, and welcome to Bay City News for Monday, May 19, 2025. Here is a look at some of the top stories from across the region.

Former Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover has died at the age of 69. The county announced his passing on Sunday, May 18th, 2025. Glover, the county’s first African American supervisor, held his seat for an impressive 23 years, representing District Five which encompasses communities like Hercules, Rodeo, Martinez, and Pittsburg, where he also previously served as mayor and councilmember. The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors remembered his leadership and tireless commitment. His wife, Janis Glover, spoke of his unwavering commitment to justice and equity. Glover, who received a life-saving heart and kidney transplant in twenty-twenty, announced last year he would not seek re-election. Born in Pittsburg and one of twelve children, he was lauded for his compassion. He is survived by his wife, two children, and grandchildren. Memorial plans are yet to be announced.

Shifting our focus to Marin County, authorities there are highlighting a recent arrest in an elder fraud case. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday, May 19th, 2025, that twenty-four-year-old Balraj Singh of Torrance was arrested on May 12th. Singh is suspected of involvement in a ‘cash courier pick-up scam.’ In these schemes, perpetrators often pose as federal agents, convincing victims to withdraw large sums of cash to supposedly protect their funds, then arrange for a courier to collect it. Officials allege Singh attempted to retrieve fifty-thousand dollars from a victim before law enforcement intervened. Investigators believe Singh may be connected to a larger criminal operation. He was booked on felony charges including attempted grand theft and elder abuse, and is being held without bail. A similar scam led to an arrest in February.

Meanwhile, in San Mateo County, an Oakland man is in custody following a weekend incident involving gunfire in San Bruno. The San Bruno Police Department reported on Monday, May 19th, 2025, that officers were alerted to gunshots near Crestmoor Drive and Oxford Lane around nine thirty-five p.m. Saturday, May 17th. Upon arrival, they discovered shell casings. Police identified a Hummer as the suspect vehicle. Roughly an hour later, officers spotted the Hummer in Burlingame. According to police, the Oakland man driving the vehicle allegedly attempted to discard a firearm in some bushes, unaware he was being monitored by a police drone. Officers recovered the weapon, described as a loaded and unserialized firearm, and arrested the suspect. He was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of various weapons-related crimes.

Turning to San Francisco news, the city is expanding its nightlife and economic initiatives with the establishment of five new entertainment zones. Mayor Daniel Lurie made the announcement on Friday, May 16th, 2025. These designated areas will allow businesses to sell to-go alcoholic beverages during special events. The move is intended to stimulate local business and enhance the city’s vibrant atmosphere. This development also saw the official launch of a previously approved entertainment zone in the Castro District, complementing its monthly Night Market. The five new zones are situated along Valencia Street, Pier thirty-nine, Ellis Street, Folsom Street, and Yerba Buena Lane. According to the mayor’s office, the city’s first such zone on Front Street has seen significant success. This brings the total number of approved entertainment zones in San Francisco to twenty-one.

From city initiatives to emergency responses, a dramatic rescue occurred in Santa Cruz on Sunday, May 18th, 2025, when firefighters pulled an unconscious man from a burning motel. The Santa Cruz Fire Department stated that crews responded to the Aqua Breeze Motel on Second Street, near the popular Beach Boardwalk. Arriving units observed heavy smoke billowing from a first-floor room. Occupants who had already evacuated were reportedly screaming that someone with a disability was still trapped inside. As firefighters worked to control the blaze, they located an unconscious male within the affected room. He was quickly extracted, received immediate medical treatment at the scene, and was then transported to a local hospital. His condition was not publicly updated as of late Sunday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though officials said it does not appear suspicious.

Finally, for a taste of local success, a San Jose eatery is earning praise for its commitment to authentic Mexican cuisine over thirty-five years. Taqueria Tlaquepaque, under the ownership of Ubaldo Navarro-Castillo, has evolved from a simple taqueria to a beloved full-service restaurant on Willow Street. As reported by San Jose Spotlight, Navarro-Castillo’s culinary journey began with recipes from his mother in Jalisco, Mexico. The restaurant prides itself on from-scratch daily cooking, with complex dishes like mole simmering for eight hours. Navarro-Castillo emphasizes fresh ingredients, noting that quality suffers with shortcuts. This dedication to authentic flavors, evident in popular dishes such as their Bistec a la Mexicana, has built a devoted customer base, even through the pandemic’s trials. Seeing happy customers, he says, is the ultimate reward.

And those are some of the top stories we’re following. Thank you for joining us for Bay City News.