Newssite of Contra Costa County student Journalism

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CC Spin

CC Spin
News
Frank Abagnale returns to the Lesher Newsmaker Series in Walnut Creek on Sept. 30. Photo courtesy of Abagnale.com
Catch him again: Frank Abagnale returns to Lesher Speaker Series
Emma Mayta Canales, Contra Costa Youth Journalism • September 15, 2025

Frank Abagnale, a former con artist who turned into a respected authority on fraud detection and cybersecurity for the FBI, will be the featured speaker in this season’s seventh installment of the Lesher...

More than 70 people signed up to hear a panel discussion on the impact proposed federal funding cuts will have on Contra Costa County services. The event was held at the Walnut Creek Library on Sept. 3. Photo courtesy of Walnut Creek TV
A warning about looming federal budget cuts in Contra Costa County
September 9, 2025
Contra Costa Youth Journalism reporters Nakalya Conner, left, of Pittsburg High School, and Ishita Khanna of Heritage High School, receive photojournalism training from Ray Saint German, a CCYJ mentor and Bay City News photo editor.
Two Bay Area journalism groups receive global recognition award
September 4, 2025
The Trinity Center Mural in Walnut Crrek was a 2023 collaboration between many entities and artist Trent Thompson. The nonprofit, which serves the homeless, receives up to 25% of its funding from the government. Photo courtesy of the Trinity Center.
County, city leaders assess ‘Big Beautiful Bill’s’ impact on local services, nonprofits
August 27, 2025
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano works to provide essential and emergency food to those in need throughout the two counties. Rising food costs brought on by tariffs are affecting the food bank’s ability to provide enough food for the communities they serve. Photo courtesy of Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Food bank, local nonprofits struggle to meet demand under Trump tariffs
August 26, 2025
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
July 17, 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
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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