Catch Me Up: Daily news roundup for May 29, 2025

This Daily News Roundup for the 24 hours from 4:00 PM Wednesday 5/28 to 4:00 PM Thursday 5/29 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 Thursday, May 29th, 2025. Here is a look at some of the top stories from across the region.

San Francisco District Four Supervisor Joel Engardio will officially face a recall election in September. The San Francisco Department of Elections announced Thursday that the petition to recall Engardio over his support for closing the Upper Great Highway to traffic seven days a week has qualified for the ballot. Supporters gathered over ten thousand valid signatures, exceeding the nine thousand nine hundred eleven needed. The recall will be held as a special election on September 16th, and only registered voters in District Four are eligible. Engardio’s decision to close the highway angered some constituents, despite the closure being approved by citywide voters in November through Proposition K. However, over seventy percent of voters in some precincts of Engardio’s district opposed the measure. Engardio has launched a campaign to fight the recall, raising over four hundred thousand dollars.

Shifting our focus to the environment, Bay Area air quality officials have issued the first Spare the Air alert of the year for ozone, effective Friday. This alert comes as triple-digit inland temperatures are expected to combine with motor vehicle exhaust, leading to high levels of harmful pollution. The Bay Area Air District warns that air quality is forecast to be unhealthy due to ozone, also known as smog. Ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion, and chest pain, and is particularly harmful for young children, seniors, and individuals with respiratory and heart conditions. Officials recommend limiting outdoor exercise to early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower. Residents can sign up for text alerts or visit SpareTheAir.org for more information.

In San Joaquin County, Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency, nearly a year after a significant levee breach on Victoria Island. The breach, which occurred on October 21st, 2024, caused a two thousand-foot section of the Victoria Island Levee to collapse, releasing an estimated six thousand gallons of water per minute through the base of the structure. No injuries were reported, but county officials stated the failure endangered over six thousand acres of farmland, nearby State Highway Four, and critical water inlets. Governor Newsom said the disaster’s scale has exceeded the capacity of local authorities, necessitating broader state support. The declaration allows California agencies to assist local efforts and waive certain regulations to expedite repairs and recovery, with the state’s Office of Emergency Services coordinating support under the California Disaster Assistance Act.

Moving to San Jose, a grant program aimed at reducing social isolation among older adults is slated for elimination due to a multi-million-dollar city budget deficit. The city’s Older Adult Health and Wellness Grant Program, managed by the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department, faces over five hundred twenty-six thousand dollars in proposed cuts. This would freeze funding for nonprofits that educate seniors on health, social, and nutrition programs. Executive Director Jennifer Masuda of Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service stressed that such services are essential for seniors to thrive, preventing social isolation. City council is expected to vote on the proposed budget on June 10th, and nonprofits are urging reconsideration, highlighting the increasing older adult population and the critical role these services play.

In Fairfield, police have arrested a man believed to be responsible for a fatal stabbing on Tuesday night. Officers tracked thirty-seven-year-old Kristopher Johnson to a Vallejo hotel, where he was arrested without incident on Wednesday night. Police had received a nine-one-one call on Tuesday, May twenty-seventh, reporting a stabbing at a home in the two thousand block of Eagle Way. The male victim died at the scene. Authorities believe the victim likely knew Johnson, a Fairfield resident, and that an argument at the home escalated into a physical confrontation. The Solano County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the victim’s name. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Fairfield police.

Finally, Mendocino County will recognize the LGBTQ+ community by raising the Pride flag at its administration office. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors last week approved flying the Pride flag at the administration office on Low Gap Road in Ukiah. Supervisors Maureen Mulheren and John Haschak sponsored the proposal to celebrate June as Pride Month and to acknowledge the county’s diverse LGBTQ+ community. Supervisor Haschak emphasized the importance of recognizing the strength in diversity, especially as the federal government has been fighting against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. During a public comment period, a Willits resident expressed how crucial this representation is, stating it shows the county’s support and brings great pride. The flag raising will take place at nine A.M. on Monday, June second, at the Mendocino County Administration Center.

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