Latest News
The Almost Daily Briefing, May 14, 2026
The Almost Daily Briefing, May 14, 2026
The Almost Daily Briefing
Published news articles from local, regional, and national media on topics of interest to the #LoveLafayette Community separately
LOCAL NEWS
Lafayette advances major infrastructure, road projects … the push and pull is part of the Capital Improvement Program for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, along with a five-year roadmap stretching through 2031, outlining how Lafayette will spend transportation, utility, and development funds to maintain and modernize core infrastructure. (Patch/MSN)
Contra Costa Supervisors Appoint Veteran Fire Department Leader - On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Aaron McAlister as Fire Chief of Con Fire, placing a longtime district administrator in charge of fire protection and emergency medical services for more than 790,000 residents across 13 cities and 11 unincorporated communities. (Patch) Related:
- Veteran Con Fire official Aaron McAlister to lead one of Bay Area's largest fire districts (Local News Matters)
- Aaron McAlister appointed as new Con Fire chief (Richmond Standard)
Home-Based Restaurants Get Green Light In Contra Costa County - County approves permanent microenterprise kitchen program allowing residents to legally prepare and sell small-scale meals from home. (Patch)
Bay Area air regulators split on whether to move forward with ban on gas water heaters that will cost homeowners $3,500 - The air district staff estimates it will cost an average of $3,500 more for homeowners to buy and install an electric heat pump water heater instead of a traditional gas-powered one. The first-in-the-nation rule was approved by the air board in 2023, and is scheduled to be mandatory for all residents of the nine-county Bay Area in eight months. (East Bay Times)
Scams targeting elders are on the rise: Here’s how to stay safe (East Bay Times)
FROM LAMORINDA WEEKLY
Read the May issue online
- Local high schools affected by national cyber incident
- Downtown Lafayette Parking Management Study presented to city council
- City of Lafayette secures $3.7M state funding to construct portion of Aqueduct Pathway
- Voters to decide on Lafayette School District Measure H in June
- Moraga Chamber celebrates Business and Nonprofit of 2026
- Moraga School District’s Ballot Measure I gets endorsement from Town Council
- New Town banners bring spring to Moraga skyline
- Town required to upgrade technology in Council Chambers
- Flag display policy discussed during Town Council meeting
- Contract is finally awarded for update to Orinda’s Crossroads Plaza
- Divided Orinda city council vote on traffic signage actions around Ivy Drive
- Broschard reinstated to Fire Chief role pending a permanent replacement
- New Rescue 1 grant aids MOFD
- SMC holds Active Shooter Response Workshop
- Lamorinda celebrates Earth Day in a variety of ways
- Lamorinda middle school students honored for character, unveil ‘Peace Through Art’ Project
- NCL-Acalanes Chapter recognizes 21 graduating seniors
- LAA ‘Spring to Summer’ exhibition at Papillon Café
California’s second-largest home insurer to raise rates this fall Farmers Insurance Group, the second-largest home insurer in California, is set to raise overall policy rates for homeowners by 1.5% this fall. Its rate hike, approved Monday, will take effect for the insurers’ nearly 915,000 homeowners at their next renewal date following Sept. 15, 2026… – (San Francisco Chronicle)
California’s new plastic recycling rules spark fights from all sides - Under new rules, plastic producers have to cut single use plastic, increase recycling rates and pay $5 billion to remedy harms from plastic pollution. Plastic producers have until June to come up with a plan for how they’re meeting state mandates. (Cal Matters)
Almost 40% of LA fire survivors face a housing crisis - A survey of Los Angeles-area fire victims revealed that nearly 40% of families who lost homes in the 2025 fires have either run out of temporary housing insurance payments or are expected to run out soon, reports Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times. (Planetizen)
FEMA Review Council pushes disaster responsibility to cities, states - The council’s final report recommends streamlining aid programs, accelerating funding delivery and giving local governments greater operational and financial obligation for emergency management. (Smart Cities Dive)
FEMA slows Grizzly Flats rebuild after Caldor Fire. ‘We need to help ourselves’ -When the Caldor Fire hit Grizzly Flats, Jenny Magidson packed her Mazda Miata with grocery bags as her dog sat in the passenger seat. Ashes fell as they fled with the convertible’s top open. (Sacramento Bee)
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Chamber of Commerce's annual Taste of Lafayette – downtown on Tuesday, May 19
Lafayette Vistas – Spring Edition now available
Lafayette Planning Applications Received
Major Development Projects Map
Lafayette Community Information & Emergency Radio AM 1670
Shop, Dine & Gather in Lafayette
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND CITY PLANNING
Walnut Creek Senior Housing Initiative Moves Forward Following Record Signature Effort - Friends of Walnut Creek Senior Housing, sponsored by Hall Equities Group, a Walnut Creek-based real estate investment company announced they have submitted over 7,200 signatures to qualify the Walnut Creek Senior Housing Transit Village Initiative for the November 2026 ballot. (Contra Costa News)
Wildfire Resilience Has Always Been the Goal. Now It’s a Number - For the first time, a land manager in Oregon, a county planner in California or a federal agency in Alaska can look up a single number — the Wildfire Resilience Index (WRI) score — for any community, watershed, congressional district or management unit in western North America, and see exactly where resilience to wildfire is high, where it is dangerously low, and why. (Edhat.com)
Cameras led to nearly 80% drop in speeding, SFMTA says - According to data released Wednesday, speeding 10 mph or more over the speed limit fell nearly 80% in the first year of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Speed Safety Camera Program. (San Francisco Examiner)
There is a difference between an e-bike and an e-moto. Here’s why it matters - As e‑bikes grow in popularity, it’s increasingly important to understand how they differ from e‑motorcycles. To the untrained eye, they look quite similar. In Orange County alone, authorities say, three serious crashes with teenagers illegally riding e-motorcycles led to two deaths and two parents facing charges. (Mercury News)
MIXTAPE
Lamorinda teachers will compete for 'top' award
Mt. Diablo Barbeque Comes into Focus
Tick advisory issued by East Bay parks officials
Bart Boosts Service For Bay To Breakers Race Sunday
New poll shows what San Francisco residents really think about Waymo cars
Strangers to family: Southern California senior citizens lean into home-sharing
E-Bikes and Scooters Are Getting Even Safer in Europe: Data
MEANWHILE IN ANOTHER LAFAYETTE
HGTV names two Colorado cities to hottest suburbs list
&
Greater Lafayette's 'Bike to Work Day' to host two group rides
AND FINALLY…
World Cup 2026: A guide for Bay Area soccer fans, visitors, residents and everyone else
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Editor's Note: If you are also a subscriber to the City's "Weekly Roundup", please note that there will not be a Roundup issued this week.
The Almost Daily Briefing (ADB) is an aggregation of links to news articles from local and regional newspapers, magazines, websites, and other news sources. Its purpose is to alert readers to current issues and affairs that may impact Lafayette. The ADB does not promote, favor, disfavor, support, reject, or endorse any position, candidate, campaign, or proposition, and nothing about the ADB, including the selection, presentation, arrangement, or content of the links presented should be construed as an advocacy position.
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