Catch Me Up: Daily news roundup for June 4, 2025

This Daily News Roundup for the 24 hours from 4:00 PM Tuesday 6/3 to 4:00 PM Wednesday 6/4 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 Wednesday, June 4th, 2025. Here is a look at some of the top stories from across the region.

In Monterey County, a law firm representing 800 people affected by the January 16 fire at the Vistra Moss Landing battery facility held a rally there on Wednesday. Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich joined the event, which highlights ongoing lawsuits against Vistra Corporation and PG&E, among others. Attorney Knut Johnson of Singleton Schreiber stated that PG&E was complicit in the facility’s design, alleging negligence, despite its own Elkhorn facility not burning. The lawsuits claim health impacts, decreases in property values, and loss of businesses following the fire.

Meanwhile, community anxieties surrounding the Moss Landing facility remain high following PG&E’s recent attempt to reboot its adjacent Elkhorn battery facility on Sunday. The effort failed due to a clamp and coolant leak. Monterey County officials have urged PG&E to delay the reactivation, stating that an emergency action plan, requested after the January fire, has not yet been finalized. Attorneys for the affected community also voiced opposition to PG&E going back online, expressing concerns for people who have been traumatized since January, and are worried about their health and future.

In related news from Moss Landing, a community survey released last Friday by Monterey and Santa Cruz public health departments revealed significant health concerns. Eighty-three percent of the 1,275 respondents experienced at least one health symptom after the fire, especially those living closest to the facility. Common complaints included burning eyes and lungs, sore throat, headaches, and a metallic taste in the mouth. The survey also showed that most people received information about the incident through news reports and social media, rather than county alert systems. Out of frustration, community groups conducted their own grassroots environmental tests, which showed the fire’s plume settled ash and particulate metals in the area. While official environmental testing has also shown the presence of battery metals in nearby soil and waterways, conclusive evidence of dangerous levels is still pending. Vistra, the facility operator, stated that to date, no risks to public health have been observed. Monterey County has also launched a new map-based data dashboard on its website to share information.

Shifting our focus to Alameda County, supervisors have approved nearly $270 million for maintenance and vital repairs at the Santa Rita Jail. This five-year project addresses long-standing issues at the 36-year-old facility, which houses over 1,600 individuals. Kimberly Gasaway, director of the Alameda County General Services Agency, emphasized the critical need for these repairs to ensure life-safety. The project includes upgrading fire alarms, security systems, and electrical infrastructure, addressing a key concern from Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez regarding consistent power failures impacting medical and behavioral health services. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of the expenditure, with Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas casting the sole dissenting vote. Public speakers strongly criticized the project’s scope and perceived lack of transparency. Richard Speiglman, chair of the Interfaith Coalition for Justice in our Jails, questioned the need for such extensive rehabilitation when the jail population is less than half its capacity. Tash Nguyen of Restore Oakland called the project “shocking and heartbreaking,” arguing the funds could instead build 2,100 supportive housing units, especially given the county’s $108 million deficit. However, Supervisor Lena Tam supported the proposal, clarifying it’s not an expansion, but essential for the safe operation of the facility and the well-being of inmates and staff.

Finally, a report from San Rafael. A fire damaged an apartment complex there on Wednesday morning, but fortunately, no residents or firefighters were injured. Emergency dispatchers received reports of an explosion and fire at 1350 Lincoln Avenue just before 10 a.m. Fire crews arrived to find one apartment unit engulfed in flames. The resident and two dogs managed to escape safely. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes, containing it to the single damaged unit. Other units in the building can be reoccupied once PG&E restores power. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
And those are some of the top stories we’re following.

Thank you for joining us for Bay City News.