Martinez

Marching and chanting, more than 100 demonstrators took to the steps of the Contra Costa County courthouse in Martinez on Friday, demanding officers involved in a racist texting scandal be fired.

Contra Costa County has lifted a health advisory for downtown Martinez, eight days after a mercury spill was discovered near the Amtrak station.

Health officials in Contra Costa County say they are making progress on a hazardous substance spill in Martinez, but that the downtown Amtrak station will remain closed through the weekend as cleanup continues. 

A two-car crash on state Highway 4 near Martinez late Wednesday night left one person dead and another with major injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.   

The ongoing mercury spill discovered days ago in the Martinez Amtrak parking lot continued to disrupt surrounding areas Wednesday as crews worked to remove every spec of the toxic chemical.

Contamination from the mercury spill discovered in the Martinez Amtrak parking lot on Monday is wider than initially believed, according to Contra Costa County health officials. A garbage truck inadvertently spread the hazardous waste. 

The Amtrak station in Martinez remains partially closed as Contra Costa County health officials investigate a hazardous materials spill involving mercury in the parking lot.

Heath officials in Contra Costa County are advising residents and those who garden near the Martinez refinery not to eat the food they grow, at least not until soil testing is complete.

Contra Costa Health (CCH) on Tuesday advised residents near Martinez Refining Company (MRC) not to eat produce grown in soil that may have been exposed in November to "spent catalyst" with heavy metals, saying further environmental testing needs to be completed.

One person died and another was hospitalized Wednesday after an apartment fire in Martinez. 

The California Highway Patrol shut down the westbound lanes of Highway 4 in Martinez early Wednesday because of a fatal traffic collision.

Firefighters responded Tuesday afternoon to reports of a fire at a refinery in Martinez.

A man is dead after colliding into an 18-wheeler Friday morning near Brentwood.

A pitbull that bit at least three people, including a little girl, was surrendered by the owner and euthanized Thursday by Contra Costa County Animal Services for violating a potentially dangerous animal permit.

An 8-year-old girl was attacked by a pitbull outside her home in Martinez, just three months after it bit another neighbor in her driveway on the same street. The dog is now under quarantine.

Dozens of Pomeranian dogs and several cats were removed from a home in Martinez on Tuesday, after firefighters responded to a report of garage fire at the property.

There could be legal fallout stemming from the Thanksgiving weekend release of metal-laden dust at the Martinez Refining Company.

A raccoon allegedly broke into the Martinez Refining Company and caused a power interruption that resulted in last week's flaring at the refinery.

A refinery in Martinez experienced intense flaring Friday evening that was caused by an equipment issue, the refinery said.