Santa Clara thinks it has all but clinched the 2016 Super Bowl, crime problems plague Richmond BART station, Barbara Boxer says she’ll push for labeling on genetically modified foods, more.
- Red flag warnings for high winds in the North Bay and East bay hills were eased Thursday but not before smoke wafting from fires in the North Bay obscured visibility over much of the Bay Area. Chronicle
- Santa Clara could all but clinch hosting the 2016 Super Bowl in the 49ers’ new stadium to open next year, and the outcome could be known as early as today, the Mercury News says.
- Police say that roving bands of youths are helping drive up robberies around the Richmond BART station. Contra Costa Times
- Maureen Mancuso, 59, of San Ramon, and a member of the group Roman Catholic Womenpriests, plans to be unofficially ordained as a Roman Catholic priest tomorrow, after which she expects to be excommunicated. Contra Costa Times
- Under pressure from students, UC Berkeley is jumping ship from the UC Student Health Insurance Plan in favor of a campus-specific plan. SF Business Times
- Deanna Brown was appointed president of Byliner Inc., the San Francisco-based digital publishing house for short stories and nonfiction. SF Business Times
- The woman suspected of tainting orange juice in a display case at a San Jose Starbucks was expected to be released without charges, at least temporarily, while authorities attempt to verify the substance in the juice bottles. Mercury News
- Mill Valley is expected to lower pension benefits and raise the retirement age for new city workers when the City Council votes on a reform package next week. Marin IJ
- The SEIU and its Oakland-based United Healthcare Wrokers’ West local claimed victory in a re-do of a controversial union representation election at Kaiser Permanente. SF Business Times
- A San Rafael citizens group upset over housing plans and other issues announced it wants to try and recall Marin supervisor Susan Adams. Marin IJ
- U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer, in Emeryville, said she’s determined to push a bill requiring the labeling of genetically engineered foods with provisions similar to those in a state ballot measure that was defeated last year. Political Blotter
- Police arrested a San Francisco man after finding more than 500 marijuana plants in a home in Antioch. Contra Costa Times
