Newssite of Contra Costa County student Journalism

CC Spin

CC Spin

CC Spin
News
Lisa Ling touched on today’s polarized landscape during her talk as part of the Lesher Foundation’s Newsmakers: Speaker Series. “When you erase someone’s history, you make it easier to erase their humanity,” Ling said. “Books that tell uncomfortable truths that are necessary for progress are the books we have to support.”
‘Erasing history doesn’t protect us, it weakens us’: Lisa Ling speaks from the heart about career, political climate
Yonglin Zhu, Special to Contra Costa Youth Journalism • July 17, 2025

Award-winning journalist Lisa Ling drew a full house at the Lesher Center for the Arts’ Hofmann Theatre in Walnut Creek on July 10, sharing powerful reflections on her identity, career and personal experiences...

Journalist and television producer Lisa Ling will be the featured speaker at the Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series on July 10 in Walnut Creek.
Lisa Ling up next for Lesher Newsmakers series
July 5, 2025
Some students acknowledge that many of their peers refrain from voting because they don’t want to speak up, while others might not have strong opinions or be informed enough on political issues. Photo credit: gorodenkoff via Istock
Youth voter interest becomes more important amid political polarization
June 2, 2025
Author and columnist Dave Barry brought his unique humor to the Lesher Foundation's Newsmakers: Speaker Series in Walnut Creek on May 13. "Humor is mostly just observing what’s going on around you. I think most of the things that people find most funny are not weird, exotic topics that would just scream out, ‘Well, this is weird and exotic, so you should write a column.’ It’s more like things that everybody has dealt with."
Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry leaves them laughing
May 22, 2025
West County Mandarin School in Pinole was one of eight Contra Costa County schools named a 2025 California Distinguished Schools. Photo courtesy of the West County Mandarin School
Eight schools in Contra Costa County honored as state Distinguished Schools
May 21, 2025
More than half of California is abnormally dry and for youth in Contra Costa County, the future is not looking so bright. Photo Credit: Norm Hughes/California Department of Water Resources via Bay City News
Contra Costa County has plans to address climate change – but for youth, the new ‘normal’ is a fact of life
May 19, 2025
Viewpoints
Apply for CCYJ's 2025-2026 Program
Apply for CCYJ’s 2025-2026 Program
August 15, 2025

Contra Costa Youth Journalism (CCYJ) offers a news reporting training program tailored for public high school students in Contra Costa County. During the 2025–26 school year (September–June), participants...

Richmond, California, with the Chevron Refinery and Mount Tamalpais in the background. Photo credit: Cary-Bass-Deschenes via Wikicommons.
Richmond is in a health crisis
May 27, 2025
It seems like these days the elderly have gathered as candidates for the position of president of the United States. Politicians have been getting older. Illustration by Viktoria Lutsenko, California High School
Aging, politics and the U.S. presidency
November 2, 2024
Pittsburg High’s Mental Health Awareness Spirit Week flyer, which was held in May on campus. Some students say events are announced at the last minute, which contributes to low student participation. Photo credit: Associated Student Body Board on Instagram.
Pittsburg High students seek to rekindle school spirit, event participation
July 9, 2024
Students have mixed viewpoints on how effective English Language Development (ELD) programs are in helping them to learn English. Photo courtesy The Yuri Arcurs Collection via Freepik
Contra Costa County students look at ups, downs of ELD programs
June 23, 2024
Meet the Staff
Caroline Donahoe
Caroline Donahoe
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Features
An aisle in a local drug store is filled with makeup, some of which may have to be altered as a result of the new state law that bans 26 chemicals in cosmetics and fragrances.
Law bans cosmetic chemicals starting in 2027
Caroline Donahoe, Contra Costa Youth Journalism • May 31, 2025

More than two dozen chemicals will be banned in popular cosmetic products like perfume, nail polish, and hair care. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in October 2023 Assembly Bill 496, which...

Boilermakers Local 549 union’s training center offers on-the-job training in industrial welding, specialty welding, rigging, heavy-duty equipment operations, routine maintenance, and steelwork. A young visitor, left, at the training center in Pittsburg tries out some of the equipment during an apprenticeship class. Photo courtesy Cameron Zamora/Pittsburg Unified School District
Boilermakers union hopes to keep trade thriving by introducing it to students
May 21, 2025
Bella Alaniz, 6, pulls names during a raffle drawing at The Hallmark House in December. Bella and her family were recipients of the 2024 Tunnels of Joy fundraiser. Photo credit: Facebook
Brentwood community spreads holiday cheer with ‘Tunnels of Joy’
January 28, 2025
Members of Deer Valley High School's folklórico club practice their dance moves in Antioch.
Hispanic groups share their culture through dance and music
January 3, 2025
Alhambra High School counselors, left to right: Maribel Guevara, Denise Johnson, Janice Quek-Collins, Karen Armosino, Melissa Gilbarg. Photo courtesy Alhambra High School
Alhambra High’s equity program begins second year
December 21, 2024
Arts & Entertainment
Author and columnist Dave Barry brought his unique humor to the Lesher Foundation's Newsmakers: Speaker Series in Walnut Creek on May 13. "Humor is mostly just observing what’s going on around you. I think most of the things that people find most funny are not weird, exotic topics that would just scream out, ‘Well, this is weird and exotic, so you should write a column.’ It’s more like things that everybody has dealt with."
Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry leaves them laughing
Keerthi Eraniyan, Contra Costa Youth Journalism • May 22, 2025

Nearly 800 people packed the Lesher Center’s Hofmann Theatre on May 13 as Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry took the stage, delivering a laughter-filled performance that touched on everything from picking up his son...

‘Class Clown’ Dave Barry to take the stage in Lesher speaker series
May 9, 2025
‘If you will it, it is not a dream’: Henry Winkler, Marlee Matlin stress importance of resilience when pursuing a dream
April 3, 2025
Winkler, Matlin bring unique friendship to Newsmakers series
March 15, 2025
College Park students ‘showcase’ their work at Pleasant Hill Library
March 12, 2024