Hospital patient crashes into police vehicle, bystander in allegedly stolen patrol cruiser

A man, who is a patient at a San Jose hospital, was arrested Monday after an alleged altercation with hospital security, where he also stole a police patrol vehicle and caused two separate crashes, police say. 

Food bank says one in four Alameda County residents need help getting groceries

Even with the pandemic entering its third year, new people keep coming to the Alameda County Community Food Bank, many who never needed this kind of help before.

California will end mask mandate on Feb. 15, LA County will not align with state's changes

California's indoor masking requirement will end next week for vaccinated people but masks still are the rule for schoolchildren. However, local health officials can continue their own requirements.

MLB stops testing athletes for steroids amid lockout, AP sources say

Two people familiar with the sport’s Joint Drug Program tell The Associated Press that Major League Baseball has stopped testing players for steroids for the first time in nearly 20 years due to the expiration of the sport’s drug agreement.

Donors needed: Breast milk in short supply amid COVID-19 surge, winter weather woes

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America said it is in urgent need of donor breast milk which is essential to “saving the most vulnerable babies’ lives.”

Ottawa declares state of emergency as ‘freedom convoy’ protest enters 2nd week

Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment as the so-called “freedom truck convoy” protest enters its second week.

Jobs increase by large amount in U.S. last month, surprising experts

Many experts expected job numbers to fall last month. Instead, they increased, suggesting a lot more hiring is likely to come.

Highly virulent HIV variant discovered in Europe

Thursday’s report isn’t cause for alarm: HIV medicines worked just as well in people with the mutated virus as everyone else and its spread has been declining since about 2010.

Sonoma County to lift capacity caps on indoor, outdoor gatherings

Sonoma County will lift its restrictions on large gatherings next week as the county's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline, county Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said Friday.

California tops 80,000 COVID deaths as virus cases tumble

Coronavirus deaths in California have topped 80,000 and another 3,000 people are projected to die by month’s end even as infections, hospitalizations and intensive care cases are falling.

Oakland First Fridays returns as omicron recedes, U.S. COVID deaths hit 900k

The COVID-19 death toll has reached 900,000 people in the U.S., with the most recent 100,000 lives lost in a short period since mid-December.

Starbucks blames store closures, reduced hours on staff shortages from COVID

The coffee chain says it will continue to pay workers who take time off for COVID related reasons, but that means that some locations will be restricting hours or in some cases temporarily closing down to provide enough time for workers to recover.

Contra Costa County not requiring proof of vaccination at some indoor businesses

Contra Costa County announced Friday that it will lift its requirement that patrons of indoor businesses like restaurants and gyms verify their full vaccination status.  

US job growth soars past expectations with 467,000 added, shaking off omicron surge

U.S. job growth blew past expectations in January, as the economy brushed off a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide that threatened to sideline millions of workers and kept many consumers at home.

COVID falling in 49 of 50 states as deaths near 900,000

With the brutal omicron wave rapidly loosening its grip, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 of 50 states, even as the nation's death toll closes in on another bleak round number: 900,000.

Shaq rips COVID vaccine mandates: 'You shouldn’t be forced to take something you don’t want'

"But it’s just, people don’t want to take it, and you shouldn’t be forced to take something you don’t want," Shaquille O'Neal said of the NBA's mandated COVID-19 vaccination policies.

Spain to drop masks outdoors as omicron surge decelerates

Spain will end a mandate to wear masks outdoors next week, reversing a late December order against an unprecedented surge of coronavirus infections fueled by a highly contagious mutation, Health Minister Carolina Darias said.

CAR-T cell therapy: Patients cancer-free 10 years later, doctors say

After just 30 days following the CAR-T cell therapy, both patients were in remission and even 10 years later, both patients have remained cancer-free.

San Francisco updates mask guidance for youth sports, quarantine guidelines for childcare programs

San Francisco children in youth sports programs who have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses for which they are eligible will be allowed to remove their masks during indoor practices under new guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health.