Oakland – November 02, 2026 -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is offering free in-home gas safety checks, and technicians will also re-light pilot lights on heaters and other appliances that were switched off during warmer months.

Technicians inspect water heaters, furnaces and ovens

The checks are meant to confirm that gas appliances are working safely and efficiently, which lowers the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning at home. CO is especially dangerous because it can't be seen, smelled or heard.

Oakland – October 14, 2026 -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) may shut off power to about 88,000 customers in 29 California counties, starting Wednesday evening, October 14, as a statewide fire weather system moves through.

The planned outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Customers have already received multiple notices, and PG&E says it will notify them again within four hours of their planned shutoff. Six Tribes may also be affected.

Oakland – October 14, 2026 -- Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) says a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff could affect about 88,000 customers, running from Wednesday evening, October 14, through Saturday afternoon. Customers can check their address at pge.com/pspsupdates.

Oakland, Calif. – October 01, 2026 -- Blue Shield of California has unveiled its 2027 Medicare plan lineup, giving eligible residents new coverage choices ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026.

Oakland – September 30, 2026 -- BodySpec has opened a new storefront in downtown Oakland offering medical-grade DEXA body scans for under $60, giving East Bay residents a fast way to track muscle mass, visceral fat, and bone density as GLP-1 weight-loss drug use rises.

The 12-minute scan measures body fat, visceral fat, lean muscle mass, and bone density, paired with a digital dashboard and a conversational AI agent that explains results and suggests personalized next steps.

San Francisco – September 14, 2026 -- The California Highway Patrol, working with Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority, is stepping up enforcement this month on the westbound bus/carpool lane bypassing the toll plaza on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.